Gu Beilu didn’t remember how long he stood in the corridor that day, but it was enough time for him to recall every detail of those years.

The hot summer wind kept blowing into his collar, making his burning heart even hotter.

He flipped through the pages of his sketchbook, watching the pictures play out frame by frame, not wanting to miss any of them. He had never seen their relationship so directly before.

But when he tried to find out when his feelings for Yu Xi changed, he couldn’t remember.

Until the phone in his pocket rang, Yu Xi asked him where he was. After finding him, he called his name and ran towards him.

“Derek! Why are you here? I can’t find you anywhere.”

Gu Beilu’s heart seemed to skip a beat at this moment.

When he came to his senses, Yu Xi was already standing in front of him, looking at him with sparkling eyes and putting the milk she bought for him into his hand.

Gu Beilu got the answer at this moment.

His feelings towards Yu Xi had never changed. He had liked him since he first said his name while wearing Little Shark’s clothes.

The little shark that stumbles as he walks.

The little shark that would bandage his wounds even if it was frightened by his ferocity.

The little shark who is easily deceived, cries easily, but whose smile can warm the world.

“Derek, what’s wrong with you?” Yu Xi noticed that his eyes were a little dull, so he spread out his five fingers and waved them in front of him.

The smile of the grown-up boy is still bright and warm, able to melt the coldest iceberg in an instant.

In the breeze, the boy’s clothes fluttered gently, revealing a snow-white waist.

Gu Beilu hugged him in his arms, just like he had hugged him every time in the past nine years.

Yu Xi was used to such hugs, but he also felt that today’s hug was a bit too long. He patted Gu Beilu on the back and asked him if he was tired.

Gu Beilu didn’t answer either, but buried his face in his neck, took a few deep breaths, and hugged him quietly and for a long time.

Yu Xi thought he was just too exhausted during the period of preparing for the high school entrance exam, so he patted his back soothingly again and again, just like when Gu Beilu patted him when he was a child.

After all, all of them only had to take care of their own review, and although Gu Beilu was admitted, he had to take care of the studies of several of them, and also maintained the mini program so that more people could use it.

Gu Beilu has had a very hard time, Yu Xi thought, he must have a good rest this summer vacation.

“Derek,” Yu Xi rubbed his face against his hair and said softly, “Thank you.”

Gu Beilu snuggled in the crook of Yu Xi’s neck, hummed, and was unwilling to move.

This was the first hug he had given him since he was sure of his feelings, and he wanted it to last indefinitely.

It would be best if time could freeze, and they could hug each other like this forever and stay together forever.

The June afternoon sun was very strong. Gu Beilu’s body was like a furnace. Yu Xi’s neck was entangled by the hot breath and he soon began to sweat.

But he didn’t urge Gu Beilu. He just stood there obediently, maintaining an uncomfortable posture.

Gu Beilu remained motionless, but his heart was experiencing waves of boiling heat, as if it was wrapped in magma that had just awakened. He gritted his teeth and couldn’t help but the urge to bite into a little marshmallow.

In the past, he would try every possible means to coax Yu Xi into letting him bite him, but now he doesn’t dare to do that.

He was afraid that once he bit it, he wouldn’t be able to stop.

It was not until Yu Xi found the candy in his pocket that he raised his head, took the candy and peeled the candy wrapper for him.

Yu Xi felt that he was too tired and insisted on giving him the candy.

“I’m not tired, you eat it.” Gu Beilu put the candy to his mouth, “Open your mouth.”

Yu Xi didn’t believe it and asked why he would lie on his shoulder for so long if he wasn’t tired. It was obvious that he was tired.

Gu Beilu felt guilty and looked at the milky white sugar in his hand. If he didn’t eat it, it would melt in the sun.

He rubbed his back teeth, lowered his head and took a half bite.

Then without saying a word, he stuffed the remaining half into Yu Xi’s mouth.

No matter how old Yu Xi is, when he eats candy, he is still like a child. He is extremely happy and doesn’t care how they share the candy.

The familiar milky scent filled his mouth and he unconsciously stuck out his tongue to lick his lips.

Lips are redder and more supple.

Gu Beilu looked away and bit the half candy in his mouth into pieces.

*

During the summer vacation of the second year of junior high school, there was plenty of time. Yu Xi and Shen Di went to the aquarium to volunteer, while Gu Beilu stayed at home to optimize the small program.

His mini program has been popularized in schools across the district. A technology company offered him an offer to buy it out, but he refused and made the right to use it free of charge to all students.

Because of this incident, the Association of Talented Youth invited him to give a speech and to present him with the Youth Leadership Award.

The award ceremony was held in a coastal city in the south, and he asked Yu Xi if he wanted to go on a trip. Yu Xi had always wanted to go to that city because he heard that the sea view was beautiful. But because it conflicted with the arrangement of the aquarium, he couldn’t get away.

Gu Beilu took a look at the work schedule. That week, Manmandangdang^[1]Mandarin Chinese phrase that means “brim full” or “completely packed” was on duty from morning to night, even on weekends.

“What kind of shitty place is this? Can’t we even rest?” He was very dissatisfied and picked up his phone to complain.

Yu Xi quickly snatched the phone away: “Many elementary school students will go to the aquarium during the summer vacation, and a colleague is sick, so there is a shortage of manpower, so we are a little busy.”

Gu Beilu pinched his face, feeling heartbroken. The little bit of flesh he had put on with great difficulty had all been lost in the two weeks of volunteering.

He had originally opposed Yu Xi going to clean up the whale’s poop, and now he was even more dissatisfied with that damn place.

He has raised his baby carefully for almost ten years, and usually he would not let him lift anything heavy. Now he is so tired from sweeping manure!

“Lack of staff is a problem that their director needs to solve, not an excuse to exploit employees.” What’s more, they are free volunteers! The more Gu Beilu thought about it, the angrier he got, but he still insisted on filing a complaint.

Yu Xi was anxious, and when he got anxious he would pull at the corner of Gu Beilu’s clothes. This was a habit he had developed since childhood.

“The director is a very good person. The oceanarium has not been profitable in recent years, and they have invested all the money in treating the animals.” He said very seriously, not carelessly at all, “This is the last oceanarium in our province.”

When he was in primary school, he often went to the aquarium, and he was very happy to be able to interact with marine animals again. This is the only way for children in the province to get in touch with the ocean world, and it would be such a pity if it closed. He sighed sadly at the thought of the possibility of closure.

Gu Beilu threw his phone on the table and said unhappily, “Starting today, you have to eat two bowls of rice for every meal.”

I can’t lose any more weight.

*

Province A, Youth Science and Technology Center.

At the biennial conference to recognize talented young people, Gu Beilu ended his speech amid applause from the audience.

As soon as he got backstage, he put down the trophy and took out his phone. Just as he clicked on the pinned message, a deep voice came from behind him.

“Gu Beilu.”

He turned around when he heard the voice and saw a familiar figure walking towards him: “Long time no see.”

Gu Beilu recognized the other person at a glance.

“Cheng Liang.”

Cheng Liang was wearing a neat suit and his hair was combed neatly, looking like a business elite.

“Congratulations, you really deserve this award. I have been following your performance in the competition over the years, and I knew you would become the youngest winner. You are worthy of being trained by me.”

With anyone else, the conversation would have turned into a business flattery.

But Gu Beilu didn’t respond. He felt that Cheng Liang was different from before.

In terms of age, Cheng Liang is only a freshman or sophomore, but he no longer has the bookish air he once had; he is now more worldly-wise and slick.

Cheng Liang asked him: “Are you free? Let’s have dinner together tonight.”

Gu Beilu glanced at the name tag on his chest and said, “Director Cheng, I’m sorry, I have a flight tonight.”

“Oh? In such a hurry? Not attending the dinner?” Cheng Liang’s expression was somewhat meaningful. “What a pity. My team has a research project that they want to discuss with you.”

There was no emotion on Gu Beilu’s face: “I really have something to go back for.”

Cheng Liang thought this kid was really interesting. He was taller than him now, but his personality hadn’t changed at all.

He smiled and said, “Gu Beilu, you are still so unique. By the way, how is your brother?”

Gu Beilu stopped, his face darkened instantly, and he immediately became alert.

“I don’t have a brother.”

In the past, when people said that Yu Xi was his younger brother, he would not deny it. He even wanted the whole school to know that he was Yu Xi’s older brother, and he would beat anyone who dared to bully his younger brother.

But now, he didn’t want Yu Xi to just treat him as a brother.

This identity will be replaced by another one day.

Cheng Liang said: “It’s that cute little shark.”

Hearing this name coming from Cheng Liang’s mouth, Gu Beilu finally suppressed the anger in his heart.

Back then, when Yu Xi passed by the Science and Technology Society’s booth, he refused to leave and kept praising Cheng Liang as “brother”. This was not a good memory for Gu Beilu.

“His name is Yu Xi.” Gu Beilu’s fists were clenched. He couldn’t stand hearing people calling Yu Xi “little shark” since he was a child.

Cheng Liang paused, and suddenly raised his eyebrows: “Tsk, so nervous?”

Gu Beilu also lost his patience: “What do you want to do?”

Cheng Liang was curious again: “Are you together?”

Gu Beilu said coldly: “What the hell is it to you?”

“Oh, not yet.” Cheng Liang had guessed about 70% from his reaction, “Then you better hurry up. You guys are in high school, right? He’s such a cute guy, he must be very popular in high school.”

Gu Beilu frowned, and Cheng Liang said again: “Don’t believe it? Just look at me and you will know. I met him twice in elementary school, and I can still remember it now…”

Cheng Liang talked more and more frequently, and with every word he spoke, Gu Beilu’s face darkened a little.

In the end, Gu Beilu turned around and left without even saying hello.

He was annoyed with Cheng Liang, but he had to admit that the reason he was so angry was because some of what Cheng Liang said was true.

Ever since he realized his feelings for Yu Xi, he has been feeling a little uneasy, so much so that he has not dared to get too close to Yu Xi recently, for fear of scaring Yu Xi.

*

As soon as the plane landed, Gu Beilu went straight to the aquarium. When he arrived, it was time for Yu Xi to get off work, but he hadn’t come out yet.

The ticket seller at the door said that all the children from the welfare home and interest classes were here today, so there were quite a lot of people and the volunteers were still working inside.

Gu Beilu bought a ticket and went in, also putting on a mask. He hated enclosed and crowded places the most.

I thought the children’s session would be noisy and crowded, but in fact, dozens of children were sitting quietly. Half of them were learning to draw from Shen Di and Lin Yun, sketching a dolphin with just a few strokes. The other half were listening to Su Weifan and Yang Hui’s marine science talk.

He looked around but couldn’t find Yu Xi.

A little kid raised his hand and asked, “Brother, when will the mermaid come out?”

Shen Di looked at his watch, and then said mysteriously: “It’s almost there, just count to dozens more, and the mermaid will swim out.”