Chapter 4 04.

The weekend sky was as clear as a flawless sapphire. Morning sunlight slanted through the gap in the curtains, dancing on the floorboards.

Qi You arrived at Jiang Shan's apartment earlier than usual. He used the key-now a familiar weight in his pocket-to let himself in. In the early morning light, you could see the fine motes of dust in the air. A strangely familiar feeling washed over him, as if he had done this hundreds, thousands of times.

Jiang Shan was already awake, sitting on the sofa and gazing absently out the window. His casted left leg was propped up on a small stool. Hearing the door open, he turned. When he saw Qi You, a flicker of light sparked in his hazy eyes.

"You're here." His voice was still laced with sleep, soft as cotton.

"Mhm, I'm here." Qi You smiled, placing a bag of breakfast on the table. "You're up early."

"I... couldn't sleep," Jiang Shan replied in a small voice, the tips of his ears turning pink. He didn't say the real reason: he'd been looking forward to this 'first date' of theirs. Ever since that intimate moment last night, an indescribable flutter had taken residence in his chest.

Qi You could see the anticipation in his eyes. His heart melted. He walked over and naturally crouched down in front of Jiang Shan, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "Are you hungry? We'll go after we eat."

Jiang Shan nodded, as obediently as a small kitten.

Breakfast was an egg sandwich and a glass of hot milk. Qi You did everything with practiced ease. He helped Jiang Shan wash his face and change his clothes. As he helped him into a white t-shirt, his fingers accidentally brushed against the skin on his back. Jiang Shan shivered slightly, his whole body tensing. Qi You felt it too. His movements faltered for a second before he quickly continued as if nothing had happened, but the tips of his own ears had also turned red.

The air in the small apartment grew charged with a sweet, shy tension. The lie had opened a path for them to be intimate, but it was this very contact that made both of their young hearts flutter in the most genuine way.

"Let's go," Qi You said after everything was ready. He turned his back to Jiang Shan and bent his knees. "Get on."

Jiang Shan hesitated. "Is this... really okay? I'll be heavy."

"Heavy? What are you talking about? You're as light as a feather," Qi You said. "Hurry up, my boyfriend."

Those last two words, "my boyfriend," were like a tiny electric current that ran from Jiang Shan's ears through his entire body. His face burned. He didn't hesitate anymore, wrapping his arms around Qi You's neck and carefully pressing his body against his broad, sturdy back.

Qi You stood up with ease, one hand supporting Jiang Shan's thigh, the other holding him securely. Jiang Shan's soft, thin body was completely enveloped on his back. His breath fanned across the nape of his neck, warm and carrying a faint, gentle scent of shower gel. Qi You's heart thundered in his chest. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Off we go."

Outside the old apartment complex, the bright sunlight made Jiang Shan squint. This was the first time he had been outside since being discharged. Everything felt both familiar and strange. He pressed his cheek against Qi You's shoulder, watching the people pass by, the roadside shops, the lush green trees. From the vantage point of Qi You's back, the world seemed much more vivid and safe. He no longer felt like a lost and lonely individual.

Qi You carried him on foot to a nearby park. It wasn't a long walk, but it was enough to attract quite a few curious glances from passersby. A tall, handsome young man carrying a boy with delicate features and a cast on his leg-it was, after all, a rather unusual sight.

Jiang Shan felt those stares and buried his face in Qi You's back in embarrassment.

"Don't be scared," Qi You said softly, sensing his unease. "Lift your head up. You've done nothing wrong. Just pretend they're admiring us."

His voice was deep and steady, filled with a strength that seemed to dispel all worries. Jiang Shan hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted his head. He no longer looked at the others, focusing instead on the side of Qi You's face. The sunlight caught his long eyelashes, casting a beautiful shadow. The bridge of his nose was high and straight, his lips pressed into a firm, determined line.

So, this was how handsome his boyfriend was.

In that moment, Jiang Shan forgot all his shyness. He only felt a small, secret joy and pride welling up in his heart.

The park was crowded on a weekend. The sound of children's laughter, music drifting from a corner, the chirping of birds. Qi You found an empty bench under the shade of a large flame tree and carefully set Jiang Shan down.

"Sit here and wait for me a moment," he said before running off somewhere.

A short while later, Qi You returned with two ice cream cones, one chocolate, one vanilla. He handed the vanilla cone to Jiang Shan.

"Here, for you. Your favorite flavor." He began his act again.

Jiang Shan took the cone, the chill from it clearing his head a little. He couldn't remember if he liked vanilla or not, but when he took a lick, the clean, cool sweetness melted in his mouth, and he found it delicious.

"Thank you," he murmured.

Qi You sat down beside him, eating his own ice cream. He didn't say anything, just quietly watched Jiang Shan. Seeing him carefully licking the cone, a smudge of white cream on the corner of his mouth without him realizing, he smiled unconsciously. This smile wasn't part of the act; it came from the bottom of his heart.