Chapter 49: Boyfriend

After saying this, there was silence for several seconds.

Just as Jian Mingzhou was about to lift his head, he was suddenly hugged.

Enveloped by the cool night breeze.

Xie Jing held him tightly, his arms tightening, and he buried his face in Jian Mingzhou’s neck.

As if greatly stimulated, his heartbeat pounded violently and irregularly. The warm breath fell on Jian Mingzhou’s shoulder.

“Uncle, you said you liked me…”

Jian Mingzhou’s heart raced. “Yes.”

The arms behind him tightened even more. “I’m so happy. When you let go, I thought I was rejected.”

A distant glimmer of light adorned the scene.

Jian Mingzhou, with the night reflecting in his eyes, retracted his fingertips and said, “No…”

The breath on his neck paused, and Xie Jing stood up.

One hand cradled Jian Mingzhou’s face, and his dry, warm fingertips brushed over his flushed eye corner. The face, warmed by alcohol, felt hot, as if the two of them were trembling in each other’s breath.

Xie Jing’s gaze fell gently on his face.

After a moment, Adam’s apple moved.

As if unable to resist the emotions, he lowered his head against Jian Mingzhou’s forehead and softly asked, “So, can we be together now?”

As the distance closed, breaths intertwined, and the warmth in the dimness became ambiguous and confusing.

Jian Mingzhou’s mind was swaying, looking at Xie Jing’s lips, which were almost about to descend.

It seemed that as long as he nodded, Xie Jing would kiss him.

… A kiss? Amidst the rising intoxication, he unconsciously tightened Xie Jing’s loose coat. As if it were a signal, Xie Jing’s arm tightened around him, and he lowered towards him.

Eyelashes trembled gently.

As they got closer, a dazzling white light suddenly swept across—

Both of them seemed startled! Jian Mingzhou, his senses returning, instinctively pulled back.

A car with its headlights on turned from the street; the light flashed past and quickly disappeared into the night.

His heart thumped rapidly. He didn’t know if it was due to the sudden shock or the fact that they almost… kissed.

He slightly loosened his fingertips.

Xie Jing took a deep, hot breath and looked at him, “… Uncle.”

The momentary heart palpitations of emotional excitement lingered.

Jian Mingzhou regained his thoughts, maintaining a hint of rationality. “Xiao Jing, have you thought it through? At your age, it might be an unrestrained kind of liking… Of course, I like that about you.”

His heart raced, and his gaze towards Xie Jing became warmer.

“But your family, your parents…”

“It doesn’t matter, Uncle.”

Xie Jing spoke gently, almost taking it for granted, “Bro won’t mind. If he minds, what kind of Bro would he be?”

“…” Jian Mingzhou’s words trailed off.

Was Xie Jing morally coercing his father!?

In their gaze, Xie Jing’s eyes were bright and warm.

After a few seconds of looking at each other.

Perhaps because Xie Jing’s gaze was too intense or perhaps the alcohol was taking effect, Jian Mingzhou’s heart also felt warm.

After a moment, he steadied his mind and was about to speak.

Suddenly, Xie Jing asked, “What about you?”

The topic paused, and Jian Mingzhou asked, “What?”

Xie Jing’s lips moved slightly, as if contemplating, and he asked, “I’ve never heard you mention your parents, Uncle.”

So, that was what he wanted to ask.

Jian Mingzhou spoke softly, “They probably don’t mind either. They are photographers, traveling all around the world. I rarely have contact with them.” Unstable time, unstable locations, and an unstable schedule. “They go off the grid at any moment.”

“…”

After a while, Xie Jing looked at the person who seemed to have drifted into his own world, whispering, “Uncle. What you said is probably called another dimension.”

Back at home, it was already close to eleven.

Jian Mingzhou had just walked into the living room when he was suddenly encircled from behind. Xie Jing rested his head on him.

“So, are we together now?”

Xie Jing’s tall figure almost entirely enclosed him.

Jian Mingzhou’s heart skipped a beat. Suppressing the warmth, he shook Xie Jing’s wrist with his hand. “Yes.”

Xie Jing nuzzled his head and tightened his grip. “I’m so happy… I’m your boyfriend now, Uncle.”

The term he used filled Jian Mingzhou with a forbidden feeling—

From the coccyx to the back of his neck, Jian Mingzhou felt a sudden rush of heat, and his neck turned slightly red. Facing away from Xie Jing, he nodded calmly and said, “Yes.”

“Just ‘yes’?”

He prepared, “… We’re mutually each other’s, right?”

A hand glided up to his face, and Xie Jing’s warm voice assessed, “You seem not quite sober yet; go take a bath first.”

“…”

He took some clothes and entered the bathroom.

The hot water, which had stopped abruptly before he left, had now been restored. The hot stream poured down from above.

Jian Mingzhou’s chaotic brain gradually calmed down.

Today had been too eventful.

After many years, the class reunion, the sudden revelation of his identity in the private room, and the tense confrontation afterward—

All culminating in the confession he almost received under the night sky.

Splash! Jian Mingzhou suddenly raised his hand to cover his face. The hot water splashed, and his palm felt scalding.

They were really together with Xie Jing.

…

He woke up after ten in the morning.

Waking up felt a bit surreal.

Jian Mingzhou pushed open the bedroom door, only to see Xie Jing still at home, breakfast already arranged on the table.

He blinked slightly. “Why didn’t you go to training?”

Xie Jing seemed nonchalant. “The coach has something in the morning, so half a day off.”

“Oh,” he thought…

Jian Mingzhou felt like he might be overthinking a bit. He composed himself and walked over to sit down. Then he heard someone say,

“So, I wanted to spend time with my boyfriend.”

Jian Mingzhou almost choked!

Boyfriend, that term still felt a bit…

He raised his head and saw Xie Jing leaning on his head, his lips curling up. “So, do you have something in the morning?”

His face felt a bit warm. He hesitated for a moment and said, “… Maybe, I do.”

Xie Jing sat up slowly. “?”

Jian Mingzhou took out his phone. He had already left the class reunion group yesterday and only added a few people he got along with as friends.

He opened a chat window. Let’s meet and talk.

After a few minutes, the other side replied, Okay.

“I’ll be going out for a while.”

Jian Mingzhou said, putting away his phone. As soon as he raised his head, he met Xie Jing’s quiet gaze. The guy was hanging his eyelashes, an expression reminiscent of [a big dog curling up into a ball] in a meme.

He felt his heart heat up and said casually, “… Do you want to come with me?”

The eyelashes in front of him lifted slightly.

The lost expression on Xie Jing’s face disappeared instantly, and he eagerly said, “Yes, I do.”

“…”

—

The meeting point was the rooftop of a nearby building.

The floor wasn’t high, and it still used an old-fashioned staircase. Xie Jing waited downstairs, and Jian Mingzhou climbed up.

The rooftop—it really was a classic scene from a manga.

Pushing open the door from the top-floor stairwell, a familiar figure was already waiting there.

Jian Mingzhou walked over and stopped. “Monitor.”

Zou Wensong turned around, glanced at him, and quickly lowered his head. “S-Sorry, Mingzhou.” His eyes turned red. “I didn’t sleep all night yesterday, and I still had an 8 AM…”

Jian Mingzhou fell silent for a moment. “So what are you doing now?”

“I skipped class.”

“…” Wasn’t this 996 to the max?

Jian Mingzhou pursed his lips but ultimately said nothing; he just nodded indifferently and said, “Okay.”

They both understood what had happened yesterday.

The secret that only Zou Wensong knew and the expression that declared everything.

But Jian Mingzhou wanted to know, “Why?”

Zou Wensong clenched his hand at his side, ashamed and in pain. “I’m sorry, I was just… too envious of you. You’re doing what we all love and doing it so well… so yesterday in the private room, in a moment of impulsiveness…”

Jian Mingzhou didn’t say anything; he just looked at him.

Zou Wensong suddenly blurted out, “I regretted it as soon as I said it! Really, I didn’t want things to turn out like that yesterday…”

“But things did turn out like that.”

After saying this, the blood drained from Zou Wensong’s face.

Jian Mingzhou watched him, and emotions surged in his heart.

He didn’t actually harbor any resentment. After what happened yesterday, he unexpectedly felt relieved in his heart.

It’s just that he suddenly remembered the lunch break in high school.

The first time he skipped lunch break to hide in the top-floor stairwell to read manga, he happened to run into Zou Wensong. His heart was in a panic, but the other party suddenly pulled out a BL manga from behind as well and said to him, I’m the same.

The memory seemed so close yet so far away at this moment.

Jian Mingzhou’s emotions fluctuated for a moment. “Monitor, I was actually quite happy to reunite with you.”

Zou Wensong was stunned, his eyes even redder, and hope emerged again. “Then, can we still…”

Jian Mingzhou said, “Let’s not contact each other anymore.”

He didn’t harbor resentment, but that didn’t mean he would forgive. Even if Zou Wensong apologized, they were no longer on the same path.

He came here today just to put a period on that memory.

“I’m leaving.” Jian Mingzhou glanced at the time. “My boyfriend is still waiting for me to have a meal together.”

Zou Wensong looked over in shock!

Jian Mingzhou finished speaking without looking at him, turned, and left the rooftop.

As his figure disappeared behind the door.

Zou Wensong stood there in a daze for a while. Amidst remorse and shock, he suddenly remembered the incident during lunch break:

[Mingzhou, what do you want to do in the future?]

[I want to be a BL manga editor and do what I love.]
[That sounds really fun. I want to be a BL manga editor too. We’re in the same class now; let’s be coworkers in the future.]

…

A cigarette was lit, and white smoke slowly circled between the high-rise buildings against the blue sky.

He gazed at the sky with melancholy.

Back then, they both had the same dream.

…

Jian Mingzhou went downstairs and saw Xie Jing waiting at the door.

He had just referred to him as “boyfriend” to the outside world, and now he felt a bit nervous. He was about to speak when his hand was pulled over and looked at.

Jian Mingzhou’s fingertips moved. “Xiao Jing, what are you looking at?”

Xie Jing careingly asked, “Didn’t you give him a punch? Check if your hand is red.”

“… This is a civilized society.”

Xie Jing laughed. “Did you block him?”

“I didn’t block him.”

Xie Jing frowned slightly, his lips about to move. Jian Mingzhou smiled gently. “I’ll frequently post couple photos, messages, and moments in the circle of friends, visible only to him.”

“…” Xie Jing stayed silent for two seconds. He then softly said, “Uncle, I just like your gentleness and kindness.”

Jian Mingzhou’s face warmed slightly. “I’ve always been like this.”

—

A taxi arrived quickly.

They were planning to have lunch nearby.

After getting into the car, Jian Mingzhou leaned against the seat, looking out the window as the street scenes gradually retreated. He heard someone beside him speak.

“What are you thinking, Uncle?”

He snapped back to reality and said, “I was thinking that being able to do what you love is truly fortunate.”

The play of light and shadow outside flickered in his eyes.

Xie Jing’s gaze shifted, and he smiled and said, “Hmm.”

Jian Mingzhou leaned back again. “And all the people I’ve met have been like-minded individuals, making me feel that the world is beautiful. Of course, except for yesterday…”

“Those people from yesterday won’t have any intersections with you in the future.” Xie Jing spoke gently. “Those who can stay by your side are people like you.”

After he finished speaking, there was a bit of silence in the car.

Jian Mingzhou looked ahead, his eyes slightly firm. “So, with so many neurotic people around me…”

“Because you are the head nurse,” Xie Jing quickly added.

“That’s true.” He reassured himself and closed his eyes.

…

They had a meal nearby and then returned home.

When they arrived home, the midday sun was just right.

Warm sunlight poured in from the balcony, lazily spreading across the floor.

Xie Jing’s training wouldn’t start until two o’clock.

Jian Mingzhou put down his bag and asked, “Xiao Jing, do you want to take a nap during lunch?”

“What about you?”

“I’ll take a nap too.”

There seemed to be a brief silence beside him, followed by, “Okay.”

Immediately, a pair of long arms reached out, and before Jian Mingzhou could react, he was scooped up.

His heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and his feet left the ground.

Jian Mingzhou widened his eyes. Wait, aren’t we supposed to nap separately?

Xie Jing’s arms circled around his waist, easily lifting him up and moving towards the balcony.

He hastily held onto the arms around his waist, his face flushed with embarrassment. “Xiao Jing, don’t…”

Xie Jing propped up his head, speaking kindly, “It’s okay, Uncle. There’s nothing shameful about being hugged by me.”

“…!!”

In just a few steps, they reached the balcony.

After he was gently placed down, Xie Jing sat on the recliner, and Jian Mingzhou ended up directly in Xie Jing’s embrace.

He felt as if he had been brought into a wolf’s den.

…No, that’s not right. Wasn’t Xie Jing a big dog?

Just as he was about to move into Xie Jing’s arms and get up, he was pulled back by a hand. The breath behind him seemed to be in disorder for a moment, and then it gently leaned in.

“Don’t move, Uncle… Just a hug.”

Jian Mingzhou stopped, his ears heating up. “Xiao Jing, I want to take a nap.”

“Sure, you go ahead. I’ll read manga for a while.”

How could he sleep like this?

As he was thinking, a sentence came from behind: “What’s wrong? Can’t sleep like this?”

Jian Mingzhou tightened his fingertips. If he said he couldn’t sleep, wouldn’t it be admitting that he was flustered? He swallowed lightly and said with feigned indifference, “Why would I?”

Xie Jing chuckled. “Oh, that’s good then.”

“…” Jian Mingzhou’s gaze shook. Did he fall into a pit set by Xie Jing?

After saying that, Xie Jing took out a manga and started reading.

Jian Mingzhou could only slowly calm his emotions.

But being nestled like this wasn’t uncomfortable at all. Xie Jing was quite large, and being enclosed in his arms gave him a sense of security.

The sunlight gently spilled in, and everything felt quite comfortable.

Except for the heart pounding too fast and the inability to sleep, everything was fine.

Jian Mingzhou couldn’t sleep, so his gaze could only fall on the manga in front of him.

Just as Xie Jing turned a page—

[Clang, the desk was bumped.]

[You confessed first; why did you say we should end our friendship? I have feelings for you too… Ugh!]

[The sound of desks and chairs moving made him press down and kissed.]

…! Jian Mingzhou’s eyes widened silently, and his heartbeat quickened even more.

With a rustling sound, the pages turned.

Then he saw a page full of entangled lines, passionate gazes, hot breath spraying, and lips and teeth entwined.

In the enlarged details, he could even see the strands of silver hair.

Wait, isn’t this a bit too much?

In the place where the two were pressed together, Xie Jing’s heartbeat also seemed to become erratic. Their temperatures were close, and in an instant, they surged.

Jian Mingzhou moved slightly, and his shoulder suddenly felt heavy.

Breaths fell on his ear.

Long and distinct fingers traced over the entwined kissing scene. “In manga, after confessing, don’t they usually kiss?”

Jian Mingzhou’s lower back trembled, and his breathing became rapid.

The sunlight flowed through the pages.

Xie Jing asked softly, “Uncle, what does it look like when two men kiss?”