After I Died, My Childhood Friend Became Daddy - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: To Be… Lovers

There were two days of vacation before the Gaokao. The school’s intention was to let students relax. Huo Yan, now acting very much the part of a parental figure, suggested taking Fang Ran to a resort for two days.

Fang Ran didn’t agree at first, saying he wanted to review at home, but he was eventually dragged away by Huo Yan.

Before leaving, Fang Ran didn’t forget to pack two books.

Very hardworking indeed.

The resort was a new project under the Huo Group. It was still in the trial operation phase and not yet open to the public; invitation vouchers had only been sent to some of the Huo Group’s partners.

Unfortunately, when they set off in the morning, the sky was overcast, and by the time they arrived, it was already raining.

It wasn’t heavy just a pitter-patter of rain. Because Fang Ran had been reading in the car, he was a bit carsick. In the end, he was carried out of the car by Huo Yan.

Initially, he felt embarrassed and thought it was too losing face, but his head was truly too dizzy. He hung onto Huo Yan like a koala, resting his head on his shoulder, which felt surprisingly comfortable.

Fang Ran thus gave up resisting.

Inside the resort, there was a shuttle bus. Once the wind blew on him, Fang Ran finally felt a bit better.

But along with the wind blowing in his face came raindrops. Before long, when Fang Ran turned his head, his face was wet, and raindrops hung from his eyelashes like a bedraggled puppy.

Amused, Huo Yan raised his hand to wipe them for him. His fingertip paused slightly when it touched Fang Ran’s eyelashes.

Fang Ran’s eyelashes were very long and felt fuzzy when touched. If he could, Huo Yan really wanted to kiss them right now—to touch Fang Ran’s eyes with his lips and feel his eyelashes fluttering in nervousness.

But in the end, Huo Yan withdrew his hand.

He suddenly spoke, “Ranran, is it convenient for you to tell me about the person you like?”

Fang Ran tensed up instantly, his spine straightening as he stammered, “Why… Why the sudden question?”

Huo Yan’s tone was natural. “Just curious.”

Fang Ran licked his lips nervously and then spoke in a very soft voice, “Him… he has a very good personality, a gentle temper, and he loves to smile. When he smiles, his eyes are very bright…”

The more Huo Yan listened, the colder his heart felt.

Literally not a single trait matched him.

His eyes darkened, and a surge of violence rose in his heart. He thought silently: if, after the Gaokao, Fang Ran tells him that he has fallen in love with some classmate…

What would he do?

Huo Yan’s gaze fell on Fang Ran’s wrist—so slender. He wondered how beautiful it would look if it were locked with a golden chain.

The shuttle stopped in front of a small villa. Fang Ran’s attention was caught; he looked up and exclaimed, “Wow, so pretty.”

The accommodations in the resort were all detached villas styled like small log cabins, decorated with fresh flowers outside.

Fang Ran ran down from the bus happily. After a few steps, he turned back to smile at Huo Yan. “A-Yan, hurry up and get off.”

Huo Yan’s gaze lingered on the smile on his face for a moment before he got out as well.

Huo Yan had specifically chosen this cabin.

There was only one bedroom.

By the same logic, there was only one bed.

But Fang Ran didn’t think anything was wrong. Over these days, through a process of osmosis, he had grown used to sharing a bed with Huo Yan, as if they were meant to live together.

Even though it was still drizzling outside, Fang Ran was already impatient to go out and play.

Huo Yan firmly held him down, put a coat on him, and snapped a hat onto his head. “Come on, I’m taking you fishing.”

In the center of the resort was a pond. With the light rain falling, it was perfect for fishing.

The villa was equipped with fishing gear. Huo Yan took it and had Fang Ran carry the small bucket as the two set off toward the pond.

There were very few people in the resort today, and because of the rain, they barely saw anyone else on the path.

However, unexpectedly, there were two people already sitting by the pond. Looking at their backs, there were also two men.

Huo Yan chose a spot, sat down with Fang Ran, and set up the rods.

Given Fang Ran’s bouncy personality, he really wasn’t suited to be a fisherman. Within minutes he couldn’t help himself, poking his head around to look left and right.

Suddenly he paused, his eyes widening.

The two men sitting next to them… had changed positions!

Just a moment ago they were sitting side-by-side, but now one was holding the other. Both held a single fishing rod, their posture intimate.

Holy crap…

Fang Ran tried to hypnotize himself.

They’re brothers, they’re brothers…

But soon, the taller one lowered his head and kissed the boy in his arms.

Fang Ran felt his vision go dark.

He continued to hypnotize himself.

Brothers can kiss on the mouth too, brothers can kiss on the mouth too…

“Ranran.”

Huo Yan called him from beside him, whispering, “Don’t stare at others.”

Fang Ran quickly retracted his gaze, his face a bit red. “I wasn’t… they just…”

Terrifying. Is this the world of gay men?

Ever since he realized he might be gay, everyone he saw looked gay.

Fang Ran silently condemned himself in his heart.

Huo Yan spoke flatly, “They’re married. The tall one is the youngest son of the Huang family. I even attended the wedding ceremony.”

Fang Ran was shocked beyond measure.

He licked his lips, feeling his palms break into a sweat. Finally, he worked up the courage to speak. “Then you… what do you think?”

Huo Yan raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“About them being married.”

“Respect and blessings,” Huo Yan said succinctly. “After all, I like men too.”

In an instant, Fang Ran’s heart pounded like a drum.

“Then you…”

Before he could finish the next sentence…

Huo Yan suddenly moved, picking Fang Ran up by the waist and pulling him into his lap, holding him in the exact same posture as the couple next door.

Just as Fang Ran was about to struggle, Huo Yan spoke, “Don’t move, a fish took the bait.”

Fang Ran was indeed distracted; he looked over with wide eyes. Behind him, Huo Yan’s lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Yes, a fish had taken the bait.

…

After two days at the resort, it was time for the Gaokao.

They returned in the afternoon of the day before. Although Huo Yan claimed he didn’t care much about this exam, he actually checked Fang Ran’s backpack three times. When he opened it for the final check before bed, Fang Ran was speechless. “I really packed everything, A-Yan. Are you feeling a bit anxious?”

Huo Yan acted as if nothing was wrong. “Not at all.”

In truth, it didn’t really matter what school Fang Ran got into; Huo Yan could always be his support. But Huo Yan had seen Fang Ran’s hard work during this period, and he didn’t want Fang Ran to be sad.

During the two days of the exam, the whole household was on high alert.

Auntie Liu brought out all her skills, wishing she could cook a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast for Fang Ran. Huo Yan kept his phone on silent all day, fearing even a bit of noise would annoy Fang Ran.

Finally, the last subject was finished.

Fang Ran ran all the way out of the teaching building. He knew Huo Yan would be waiting for him at the gate. The crowd was dense, but Fang Ran spotted Huo Yan at a glance and threw himself into his arms. Huo Yan held him tightly as well; neither cared about the many eyes on them, holding each other close.

“Congratulations, Ranran.”

Huo Yan leaned in, whispering into his ear, “Now Ranran is an adult.”

Able to do the things an adult should do.

Fang Ran blinked and snorted. “I’ve been an adult for a long time.”

Huo Yan smiled. “Alright, Little Master Fang, where to next?”

Fang Ran’s eyes were bright. “To the supermarket!”

He hadn’t forgotten today’s mission!

Huo Yan naturally wouldn’t refuse. “Alright, let’s go.”

There was a supermarket near their home. Fang Ran was mostly just talking big; he didn’t actually know how to cook much, but he had saved many recipes on his phone over the days, which gave him quite a bit of confidence.

Fang Ran played it smart, picking up semi-finished products—pre-marinated steaks and the like—which would be convenient to cook.

Finally, Fang Ran wanted to pick out a bottle of red wine, but Huo Yan stopped him.

“We have a wine cellar at home; the quality there is better.”

Quality didn’t matter.

Fang Ran asked Huo Yan seriously, “Can it get someone drunk?”

Huo Yan raised an eyebrow. “Of course it can.”

Fang Ran was happy and nodded. “That’ll do!”

Upon returning, Fang Ran immediately put on an apron, intending to show off his skills. Huo Yan, using the excuse of helping out, also squeezed into the kitchen.

Fang Ran heated the oil and carefully placed the steak in the pan. A few drops of oil splattered out, scaring him into flinching backward. Naturally, the man shielded him from behind and took over the spatula.

Fang Ran was anxious. “Let me, let me.”

Huo Yan blocked him. “Be good, it’s the same whoever does it. Go wash your hands; I’m fast here, we’ll eat soon.”

Fang Ran argued a few times but couldn’t win against Huo Yan, so he had to leave the kitchen. He ran to the wine cellar to pick out a bottle. Most of the labels were in foreign languages he didn’t recognize, so he ended up picking one blindly.

Only now did Fang Ran start to feel nervous.

How should he say it later? Should he just stand up with a wine glass and say, “Huo Yan, I like you”? Would that be too abrupt? Or should he wait until he was tipsy before opening his mouth?

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Huo Yan was also uncharacteristically distracted. As he flipped the steak, he thought silently to himself.

Let it be today.

He would make everything clear with Fang Ran.

To hell with “brothers.”

He had stopped wanting to be that a long time ago.

He wanted to make love with Fang Ran to be lovers.