Chapter 13

After finishing breakfast, Xu Zhou sprawled on the sofa, scrolling through his phone, while Shen Yan tidied up the kitchen.

“I’m going to Xincheng tomorrow. Might be gone for two or three days.”

“Attending a seminar?”

“Mm.”

Shen Yan came out of the kitchen, wiped his hands, and walked over to the sofa. He gently flipped Xu Zhou over and lifted him into his arms.

Xu Zhou settled into a comfortable position against him.

“I’ll come find you in Xincheng once I finish my work.”

Xu Zhou lowered his head into Shen Yan’s waist. “Don’t waste too much time on me. Besides, Xincheng’s my hometown. I won’t get lost.”

Shen Yan reached out and stroked his hair, eyes full of warmth. “You won’t get lost, but I’ll miss you.”

“Shen Yan…” Xu Zhou lifted his head, as if recalling something.

“Mm?”

“I never knew you could be so clingy. You’re completely different from before.”

Shen Yan held him closer, pulling him in. “Different how?”

Xu Zhou thought for a moment and reached up to touch his face. “Before, you rarely showed any expression… not even anger. Always so cool and distant. That annoyed me, but I liked seeing your expressions, so I often…”

He stopped mid-sentence.

“Mm? Often what?” Shen Yan’s lips curved in a faint smile.

“Uh… nothing…”

Xu Zhou’s face gradually flushed with guilt. Shen Yan found it cute, pinched his cheek, and then stopped, leaning down to kiss the corner of his lips.

“Zhouzhou, let’s go on a date this afternoon.”

“A date?” Xu Zhou froze, never having thought about it before.

“Mm. Want to see a movie?”

Xu Zhou blinked, suddenly remembering something.

“I want to go to an amusement park.”

“Okay.”

—

That afternoon, Xu Zhou finally arrived at the amusement park. Seeing all the rides up close, he felt a faint excitement in his eyes.

It was his first time here in his life.

Shen Yan reached out and brushed his hair.

Ten minutes later, Xu Zhou tugged Shen Yan into the Ferris wheel. Leaning against the glass, he watched the ground grow farther away. He felt a little scared, but the excitement far outweighed his fear.

“It’s kinda high!”

Shen Yan’s eyes sparkled with amusement. Seeing Xu Zhou like this—sweet and childlike—he felt a mix of delight and a touch of bitterness.

“Do you like amusement parks?”

“Not especially, I just wanted to come.”

“Zhouzhou, have you heard a story?” Shen Yan lowered his voice slightly.

“What story?”

“Couples who kiss at the top of a Ferris wheel stay together forever.”

Xu Zhou paused and glanced outside. They were nearly at the top.

“Do you believe that?”

Shen Yan looked at him, eyes dark as stormy waters. “I didn’t before… but now I want to.”

Before Xu Zhou could reply, Shen Yan leaned in and kissed him, warm breath mixing with rapid heartbeats.

Xu Zhou knew his heart was already racing. If time could pause in this moment, he would willingly let it.

After a long while, Shen Yan finally let him go.

When they got off the Ferris wheel, hand in hand, Xu Zhou lowered his head, lost in thought.

As a child, Xu Chen had everything he wanted, while Xu Zhou only received what Xu Chen didn’t want.

His father ignored him, and his stepmother, Li Qing, pretended to care but was harsh in private.

He remembered once in first year of middle school, Xu Wensong said the whole family would go to an amusement park that weekend. He counted the days in excitement. But the night before, he felt ill. The next day, his stepmother locked him in his room.

He overheard his father’s conversations with the family from his room and remembered them to this day…

“Zhouzhou, what are you thinking?” Shen Yan’s voice pulled him back to reality.

Xu Zhou didn’t answer, pressing his lips together.

Shen Yan wrapped an arm around his waist and rested his head on Xu Zhou’s shoulder.

He didn’t know much about Xu Zhou’s family—only that he had a stepmother. When he first saw her at a parent meeting in elementary school, he had found it odd. Xu Zhou looked like a doll, beautiful and delicate, yet his stepmother’s face was completely different.

Over time, he realized she wasn’t Xu Zhou’s biological mother. A mother wouldn’t look at her son with such a discomforting expression.

Shen Yan’s gaze darkened slightly, a vague understanding settling in.

“I’ll always accompany you, no matter what you want to do.”

Xu Zhou quietly wiped his eyes and left Shen Yan’s embrace.

“I want to go to the haunted house.”

Shen Yan raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“Yes!”

Half an hour later…

Xu Zhou emerged from the haunted house, pale as a sheet. He hadn’t left Shen Yan’s arms the entire time, yet he had been thoroughly frightened.

“I’ll never come again…”

“Don’t be scared. Your boyfriend’s here.”

Shen Yan’s tone carried amusement, though his gaze softened with concern as he saw Xu Zhou’s pale face.

He led him to a nearby bench while going to buy water.

When he returned, two girls were trying to get Xu Zhou’s contact info.

“Handsome, you’re so good-looking! Can I add you on WeChat?”

One of them practically glued her eyes to him.

Before Xu Zhou could answer, Shen Yan strode over, sat beside him, and wrapped an arm around his waist, expression cold.

“He has a boyfriend.”

The girls froze, struggling to control their expressions.

“Sorry! Sorry!” they stammered, quickly turning and leaving.

Once far enough away, they whispered excitedly to each other:

“Those two guys are so handsome! They’re such a perfect match!!!”
“Handsome guy with another handsome guy!!! If it weren’t for the scary look of that other guy, I might have screamed—first time seeing a couple this attractive!!”
“He’s holding his waist!!! Such possessiveness! I’m dying here!!!”

…

Shen Yan held Xu Zhou tightly, jealousy bubbling. “So many rivals… what do I do?”

Xu Zhou blinked, a small smile on his face. “You get jealous over a little girl?”

Shen Yan snorted, letting him go. He opened a water bottle and handed it to him.

The thought of Xu Zhou leaving for Xincheng for three days, with him unable to stay by his side, left him restless.

“Shen Yan, are we still watching a movie tonight?”

“What do you want to see?”

“A new cop movie…”

“Okay.”

“There’s a romance one that looks good too.”

“Your choice.”

…

By the time the movie ended, it was nine p.m.

Shen Yan held Xu Zhou’s hand, walking with him through the city streets. Every corner felt warm and romantic.

The distant skyscrapers and lights were the scenery Xu Zhou had always envied. He had often imagined what it would be like to have a normal, happy family.

Shen Yan squeezed his hand tighter. From now on, for meals, seasons, and everyday life, he would always be there.

…

Back home, it was past ten. Xu Zhou was busy packing.

Shen Yan came out of the bathroom, just as Xu Zhou finished, sitting on the bed chatting with someone.

Shen Yan went up behind him, arms around his waist, lips close to his ear. His voice was soft but direct. “Want to…”

Xu Zhou’s ears instantly flushed red. He tossed his phone onto the bed and jumped up.

“I… I’m going to shower…”

When he finished, Shen Yan was already waiting at the bathroom door. As soon as Xu Zhou opened it, Shen Yan lifted him and carried him to the bed.

Placing him down, he leaned in and kissed him. The air between them thickened with desire.

Their clothes were half removed. Shen Yan’s large hands gripped Xu Zhou’s waist.

Xu Zhou strained to lift his head.

“Shen Yan… I have a flight tomorrow…”

Shen Yan’s lips returned to his, demanding more.

“Tomorrow… an eight a.m. flight…”

“Mm…”

“I won’t wake up… what do we do?” Xu Zhou lightly pushed his shoulders.

Shen Yan caught his hands and placed them on his own waist.

“I’ll arrange a private plane for you…”

Then lifted his legs…

…