Finally Being Snatched Away at My Wedding by My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Parting Like Rain

In the deserted early autumn, the ripples on the creek sparkled with fragmented golden light, like ten thousand eyes.

Pei Xing had never thought he would kiss someone, but when that person was Su Yuan, he seemed to have envisioned it a thousand times in his mind. He even felt he should have kissed him on that evening when the sun fell upon the sea’s horizon.

Kissing, licking further inside the moist, polished teeth was Su Yuan’s soft tongue.

The moment their bodies lost gravity and fell into the creek, they were still kissing. With no one around, the current slid from their cheeks to their pressed chests; the kiss grew tighter, and their breathing deepened.

Su Yuan leaned against the damp, moss-covered cliff wall, his legs wrapped around Pei Xing’s waist. A sturdy arm slanted down from his lower back, a large hand gripping his thigh to fix him firmly between the cliff and the scalding chest.

At this moment, he found a racing heartbeat more controllable than holding his breath.

The high autumn sky, the banyan tree shedding leaves, the wind brushing past the swing, the silently churning creek beneath them… everything surrounding them might be erased by the changing seasons and flowing time, but the minutes and seconds of their kiss would not disappear, remaining forever in that autumn.

“Xin Xin,” Pei Xing left his lips, grazing them with gentle pecks, “Your heart is beating so fast.”

The glint of the grass waves behind Pei Xing made Su Yuan daze, his eyes moist. “Pei Xing, I feel like I’m going to die.”

He hooked his arms around Pei Xing’s neck and leaned in, closing his eyes so Pei Xing could kiss them, letting him live once more within love.

Pei Xing kissed his eyes, unable to distinguish between tears and creek water.

“You won’t,” Pei Xing held him tight, using his tall frame to block the wind attacking him. “Xin Xin will live to be a hundred.”

Leaving the creek, Pei Xing immediately stripped Su Yuan’s wet clothes, wrapped him in a bath towel, and carried him back to the room.

Before heading out, he had already set wormwood to soak in the constant-temperature bathtub; the entire room was filled with the scent of medicinal herbs.

“Is the smell too strong?” Pei Xing asked him.

Su Yuan, wrapped in the towel with another balanced on his head like a little bird just rescued from the water, shook his head. Pei Xing adjusted the warm air and ventilation in the bathroom and closed the door.

Su Yuan didn’t enter the tub immediately. Instead, he pulled open the cabinet door behind the mirror, took out an orange cylindrical medicine bottle, poured out one tablet, thought for a moment, poured another, and washed them down his throat with warm water.

As the medicine took effect, Su Yuan’s body truly came back to life.

He couldn’t soak for long as it would cause tachycardia, but poor circulation left his hands and feet icy; only soaking in hot water allowed him to feel a momentary warmth. Thus, medicine was always prepared in the bathroom.

Pei Xing knocked lightly on the door. “Xin Xin, don’t soak too long or you might get dizzy.”

Gurgle—

The person outside the door froze for a second. “Su Little Fish, get out of the water.”

The room was extremely warm. Pei Xing had been terrified by Su Yuan’s last low-grade fever, so he had turned on the heater and floor heating in October. The pajamas Su Yuan was to wear were warmed inside the bedding. After his hair was blown dry, he was tucked in as well.

“I won’t get sick again.”

A lump formed under the quilt; Su Yuan, required to change into his pajamas inside, became a caterpillar.

“Mhm,” Pei Xing unwrapped a newly bought thermometer. “Open up.”

Su Yuan obediently opened his mouth to take the oral thermometer. After he was dressed and lying down, Pei Xing measured him again with an ear thermometer. Before Pei Xing went to shower himself, he tucked the quilt in tightly, forbidding him from showing any part of his body except his head.

“Pei Xing, come here.”

Pei Xing leaned down. Su Yuan tilted his face up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. A brief, soft kiss.

“My mouth was already on the outside, you know.”

“Mhm,” Pei Xing smiled and kissed his forehead. “Be good.”

By the time Pei Xing finished cleaning himself and the bathroom, Su Yuan had tilted his head and closed his eyes, falling into a quiet sleep.

He sat by the bed, just as he had on their first night back in Fu County, quietly watching Su Yuan’s face.

As the sky darkened, the cardiac tremors brought by the kiss finally settled in Pei Xing’s chest. It allowed him to speak the third and the true confession, driven not by hormones but by solemnity.

“Su Yuan, I love you,” Pei Xing embraced Su Yuan, who slowly opened his eyes and turned to look at him. “I love you so much.”

Thank you for not giving up on me when I was cowardly and retreated.

Under the fluffy, soft bedding, Pei Xing’s heart beat heavily once more. He tightened his arms, holding the person in his embrace even closer, his lips ceaselessly kissing Su Yuan’s soft hair and the ears and cheeks that would flush during a kiss like the trembling beak of a captured bird.

Su Yuan’s body gradually warmed under his kisses; his naturally soft skin was like strong wine set before him, impossible to let go of.

Su Yuan hugged the arm crossed over his chest, his cheek brushing against it. “Pei Xing, you have to kiss me more…”

“Mhm.”

Pei Xing kissed his neck and shoulders, something he had wanted to do to Su Yuan since last night. “Xin Xin, I love you so much.”

Su Yuan turned his head to kiss him. Though it was a newly learned skill, it was like a fuse that, once lit, erupted between them. They now continued to enjoy the aftershocks of that burning fire.

“Pei Xing, when you kiss me, my heart beats so fast, it feels like it’s come alive, and so have I… so you have to kiss me more.”

You seem to have given me a second heartbeat.

Pei Xing didn’t know what Su Yuan was thinking; he only wanted his body to stop being so cold. He warmed Su Yuan’s feet with his legs, their chests pressed together, feeling Su Yuan slowly return to temperature in his arms, unwilling to let go for a moment.

“Xin Xin, were you waiting for my confession?”

Whether dazed from the kissing or simply exhausted, Su Yuan’s voice was sticky and light. “Yes, I’ve been waiting for a long time.”

As he spoke, Su Yuan seemed to sense his regret. He reached out and rubbed the top of Pei Xing’s head. “Now is also good, I like it all. Pei Xing, you are wonderful, and I love you too.”

Suppressed emotions crashed through Pei Xing’s chest. After one final kiss, he released him.

“Where are you going?” Su Yuan didn’t like being the only one in the bed at all now.

Pei Xing grabbed his fingers and kissed them. “I’ll be right back.”

It wasn’t “right back.” Su Yuan was nearly asleep by the time Pei Xing embraced him again and whispered goodnight.

With his eyes closed, Su Yuan’s right hand interlaced with Pei Xing’s under the covers, while his left rested on the arm he was using as a pillow. He let out a yawn. “I can help you next time, when I’m not this sleepy…”

Pei Xing gave a light laugh and kissed his cheek.

The year’s final heat arrived like an expanding wave. They escaped into the mountain forests, holding onto the last trace of summer amidst the sprawling green.

The wild fruits were ripe. Su Yuan and a black stray dog that had followed them stood under a tree, looking up and waiting for Pei Xing to return with a full load.

Pei Xing leaped down, shielding the wild grapes in his arms. “Wash them before eating.”

Su Yuan retracted his hand sullenly and pointed to the dog. “Give some to Xiao Hei first then.”

“Dogs can’t eat grapes,” Pei Xing said with a smile, taking out water to wash them.

Su Yuan took the cleaned grapes. The thin, long stems were hung with dense clusters of tiny red-purple grapes. “Like little charms, the color is so beautiful.”

Su Yuan lifted the grapes. The sunlight refracted off the water droplets and fresh fruit, casting a glow on his cheek. Pei Xing leaned in and kissed him.

“Try some. It’s been sunny these past few days; they should be very sweet.”

Su Yuan plucked one and slowly savored it in his mouth. His already large eyes brightened instantly. “So sweet! Pei Xing, you try too.”

Pei Xing took the grape he fed him. “Want more? I’ll pick some more.”

“That’s enough,” Su Yuan pointed between the two of them and the dog. “Xiao Hei can’t eat them, so just one cluster for each of us. The rest should be left for the little animals in the mountains.”

Pei Xing hummed in agreement, shouldered the backpack, took Su Yuan’s hand, and used a wooden stick to tap the grass as they walked deeper.

The little dog bounded ahead to lead the way, stopping at forks in the path to wait for them.

“I’ll keep this cluster and paint it later… ooh, I could also make a cluster of grapes like this out of crystal. Even if I can’t eat them, looking at them makes me feel sweet inside. Don’t you think?”

Pei Xing squeezed his hand. “Mhm, Xin Xin is right.”

They stopped under a wild chestnut tree. This time, after climbing the tree, Pei Xing pressed down a branch that wasn’t very high to begin with, allowing Su Yuan to reach it by standing slightly on his tiptoes.

“Watch your hands, it’s a bit prickly.”

Su Yuan carefully plucked a green burr tinged with brown. It was so scratchy he couldn’t hold it, and it fell to the ground. He squatted down, picked up a stone, and gently hammered it open; soon, the plump chestnut inside fell out.

“Look,” Su Yuan held one up, “I hammered it open myself.”

Pei Xing raised an eyebrow and gave a thumbs up. “Impressive. Try to see if you can get the shell off too.”

Su Yuan placed the chestnut on a flat stone, held the rock, and hammered. Nothing happened. He used a bit more force and smashed the white, fresh chestnut kernel into a powder.

He looked at the person before him with a hint of grievance.

Pei Xing smiled. “It’s okay. Dogs shouldn’t eat too many chestnuts anyway.”

Pei Xing called Xiao Hei over, then took a chestnut and squeezed it with both hands. The shell cracked open, and he handed it to him. Su Yuan rubbed his hands, took it, and peeled it to get a whole kernel.

He broke it in half, stuffing one piece into Pei Xing’s mouth and eating the other himself.

“So sweet, I’ve never eaten chestnuts like this before.” Su Yuan thought for a moment. “Will the roasted chestnuts bought on the street be this sweet? I’ve only ever had chestnut cake, a very small piece.”

Pei Xing looked at him. “Why didn’t they let you eat them?”

“Grandfather thought I wouldn’t be able to digest them, but I actually can.”

“Mhm, then we’ll buy some for you when we get back to Huaicheng.”

Su Yuan looked up and smiled. “Okay. What about you? Do you like chestnuts?”

“I ate too many when I was little, so I don’t really want them now.” Under his gaze, Pei Xing continued, “When I was hungry, I would go into the mountains to find food. Chestnuts fill you up easily.”

The smile in Su Yuan’s eyes slowly faded. He reached out and pulled on Pei Xing’s finger. Before he could speak words of comfort, Pei Xing said first: “It won’t be like that anymore…”

Su Yuan was about to nod when Pei Xing continued: “I won’t let you go hungry with me.”

He was stunned, then leaned smiling against Pei Xing’s shoulder, saying softly: “I know. Besides, I’m very rich, I won’t let Pei Xing go hungry either.”

Pei Xing kissed his hair. “Xin Xin, I don’t know how to say nice things. I also know that right now, I don’t deserve you and can’t give you the life that should belong to you, but I want to give you more. Give me some time, I will definitely do well.”

Rising to prominence had always been ethereal, but giving Su Yuan the life he deserved was a concrete goal, like a 1% competition ranking and he was starting that competition now.

He had never lost, and he wouldn’t lose this time.

“Now it is already very good,” Su Yuan looked up. “I know what you’ve said, and I believe in you.”

Under the chestnut tree, beside the mossy path, they exchanged a kiss.

They hammered cracks into each chestnut that had fallen to the ground, so the landing birds, nimble squirrels, and busy ants could easily eat the sweet kernels.

The setting sun was obscured by thin clouds, losing its earlier scorching heat.

The grass by the creek was like a back of fluffy wool. Su Yuan lay flat on it and closed his eyes.

Pei Xing squatted by the creek to wash the watercolor brushes he had just used. He then came to Su Yuan’s side and sat cross-legged on his right, looking at the ginkgo trees on the opposite bank which had already turned golden.

“Pei Xing.”

“Mhm?”

Su Yuan’s fingertips scratched lightly on the back of Pei Xing’s hand. “I don’t want to go back to Huaicheng at all. I want to stay here with you forever. Winter in Huaicheng is so cold.”

Pei Xing lay down beside him, his warm hand gripping his. Heat and a sense of security were transmitted bit by bit through every second of their hand-holding.

What he feared wasn’t winter, but the Huaicheng where they would be disturbed and separated.

When a person’s perception of happiness reaches its peak, they unconsciously begin to wonder when it will end, and whether they can bear the consequences when it does.

Su Yuan didn’t want them to end at all.

“We won’t be separated.”

Pei Xing leaned over to kiss him, as he was nearly in tears, soothing him with a steady, gentle voice. “When we can’t meet, we’ll call; when we can’t call, we’ll text; when we can’t text, I’ll miss you…”

Su Yuan laughed through his tears, turning on his side to look at Pei Xing. “Why won’t you let me miss you too?”

“If we can’t even send a text, the little bird must have been locked in a cage again.” Pei Xing’s hand rested gently on Su Yuan’s face. “The bird must be very sad. You should find happy things to do; it’s okay if you don’t think of me.”

“But, I will still miss you…”

“Mhm, then we won’t be separated.”

On their last night in Fu County, the bedroom was lit with a very warm, shallow light, casting flickering shadows on the curtains.

Their bodies brushed against each other tentatively, like candle flames one feared to touch, until finally leaning together in failed resistance.

Su Yuan felt himself become a sky lantern, flying lightly into high altitudes he had never reached during the entangled night, unable to land. He wanted to fly higher, but the rope to his body was gripped tightly in Pei Xing’s hand, refusing to let him go further.

“Pei Xing…”

“Baby,” Pei Xing felt his pulse, “Your heart is beating so fast.”

After Su Yuan fell asleep, Pei Xing held him tightly from behind like he was guarding the most precious treasure, until dawn.

The early autumn morning didn’t come particularly early, but it was softer.

Pei Xing picked up the person who had just woken and fed him some water.

“Why?” Su Yuan’s voice was soft and sticky; no matter how many times he asked, it sounded more like acting spoiled than reproaching.

Pei Xing sat on the bed, dressing him. “Maybe it’s because you sweated outside yesterday and then caught the wind. Your body was so hot, and your heart was so fast it seemed like it would jump out. How could I dare?”

Su Yuan said nothing more. After putting on his top, he threw himself into Pei Xing’s arms, his head nuzzling about. “Next time then…”

Pei Xing cradled his face and leaned in to kiss him. “Mhm, next time.”

Early that morning, Pei Xing had gone to the town pharmacy to buy medicine and applied it to his inner thighs, but he still felt a bit uncomfortable. On the high-speed train back to Huaicheng, Su Yuan lowered the airline seat and lay down for the whole journey.

Pei Xing had him eat some food from a thermal box before sleeping, fed him some water midway, and didn’t disturb him further, being very careful when taking his temperature.

Meanwhile, the train passed through tunnels, paralleling river waters and rainbows over fields.

Pei Xing took out his phone to take a photo, thinking Su Yuan would definitely like it. After saving it, he used the cover of Su Yuan’s blanket to kiss his forehead. Su Yuan turned his head briefly and tilted his face to respond to the kiss before continuing to sleep.

After getting off the train, Su Yuan was picked up by bodyguards.

His gaze crossed through the layers of the crowd to meet Pei Xing, who remained where he was. Pei Xing waved his phone at him.

[Pei Xing: (Image)] [Pei Xing: The rainbow is also looking at Xin Xin after he fell asleep.]

Su Yuan laughed at the phone screen. He lowered the car window, suddenly feeling that autumn in Huaicheng wouldn’t be so hard to endure.

[Xin Xin: Tomorrow let’s go have lunch on the lawn in the Goldenrain forest; I’m going to monopolize your entire lunch break!] [Pei Xing: Okay, King Xin Xin.] [Pei Xing: What fruit do you want to eat?] [Xin Xin: It seems there are no more peaches in autumn, so I want to eat very sweet, crunchy plums.]

The chat box had no new messages after Su Yuan said he arrived home.

Pei Xing didn’t send him any more either. Su Yuan had said it wasn’t convenient for him to use his phone for long at home, and he was even more worried his family would check his phone just like last time when they took it away and answered a call without permission.

He got off the bus one stop early and went into a supermarket.

The plums in the supermarket weren’t very good. Pei Xing only bought fruit wash and airtight containers, planning to wake up early tomorrow to buy some at the morning market.

Walking toward the school, he saw a boutique fruit shop.

Very expensive, but indeed good.

Pei Xing bought a box.

Back at the dorm, the other roommates had also returned from the holiday. Pei Xing remembered Su Yuan’s advice: social interaction and activity participation in college were important, not just grades, and he encouraged him to try making friends.

He didn’t go to the study room again, but chatted with his roommates about their holiday. The roommates were startled by his sudden initiative, but soon disappeared back into laughter and chatter as the floodgates opened. He listened more than he spoke, but at least he had taken the first step.

One final specialized class remained in the morning.

Pei Xing glanced at his phone, which had received no new messages, and put it back.

The elevator was crowded, so he took the stairs. Just as he reached the hallway, he saw a boy with blue-grey hair standing at the classroom door. His biker jacket and the graffiti on his sneakers made him look like a cynical rich kid.

Pei Xing caught a glimpse and bypassed him to enter the classroom.

Suddenly, his arm was grabbed.

“So you’re the one called Pei Xing?” The boy let go, hands in his pockets, chewing gum as he looked him up and down. “You look… just okay, not that handsome. Only second to me.”

Pei Xing had no desire to deal with him and turned to continue into the classroom.

“Hey, I’m talking to you, didn’t you see me?”

Pei Xing sat down in the second to last row in the middle, put down his bag, and took out his books. “If you have something to say, say it.”

The boy sneered. “Ha, quite the arrogant personality. How could Su Yuan…”

The last few words were swallowed back, but the name still caused Pei Xing to look up. “Who are you?”

“I—Chu Fei!” Chu Fei gave a thumbs up, pointing to himself. “Su Yuan and I grew up together; I’m his favorite little brother!”

At least not a fiancé.

Pei Xing inappropriately thought of the ballet he had seen with Su Yuan.

He crossed his arms, looking at Chu Fei calmly. “Who did Su Yuan tell you I am?”

“Yeah.” Chu Fei curled his lip. “Otherwise why would I come looking for you.”

Pei Xing took his laptop out of his bag. “Oh, he never mentioned you to me.”

“……”

Chu Fei’s soul suffered a heavy blow, and he ran out with a grimace.

Little brat.

After the last class of the morning ended, he declined Yao Xing’s invitation to the cafeteria and returned to the dorm alone.

After washing the plums one by one, he soaked them in water according to the ratio, ensuring each plum was submerged. He went out to buy some random food, packed the plums, and went to the lawn where he and Su Yuan had agreed to meet.

It had rained in Huaicheng these past two days, and the grass was still a bit damp.

He took off his jacket and spread it on the grass, pressing it down, hoping Su Yuan wouldn’t feel too cold when he sat on it. Then, he took out his phone and bought a picnic mat online, then sent a message to Su Yuan.

Su Yuan hadn’t replied to the two messages from this morning. It was normal; Su Yuan was exceptionally focused when painting and often forgot to check his phone.

But as message after message went unanswered, unease began to well up like an underground spring.

He called Su Yuan; the phone wasn’t off this time, but no one ever answered.

This time, he hoped Su Yuan was “resting” at home as before at least that meant he was safe and had family with him but he also worried if something had happened. Concern felt many times stronger now that they had just established a relationship.

Pei Xing couldn’t wait in place, yet he knew of no other way to find Su Yuan.

During the lunch break, he ran to the Academy of Fine Arts to find Su Yuan’s department teacher to inquire. The reply was exactly the same as before: Su Yuan was on leave, a common occurrence.

But this didn’t ease Pei Xing’s worry at all; he felt as if his throat were being strangled without a definitive answer.

On the third day of losing contact with Su Yuan, Pei Xing thought of Chu Fei.

Chu Fei was performing magic tricks for girls in a Finance Department classroom. The rose originally hidden behind his back vanished. He turned around and saw Pei Xing.

“What are you doing?!” Chu Fei was immediately on guard. “Do you want to use verbal violence to hurt me again?!”

Pei Xing glanced at the people around them and walked out of the classroom. Chu Fei followed, asking what he actually wanted.

“Where is Su Yuan?”

“What?”

Chu Fei was initially confused, but after hearing Pei Xing’s words, he also turned serious. He immediately pulled out his phone to call Su Yuan; sure enough, it was powered off.

“I don’t know, we were just at his house for dinner two nights ago and he was fine… wait, not exactly fine, he hardly ate anything in the evening and went upstairs after a few words. He seemed very sleepy, but he seemed…”

“So you don’t know either?” Pei Xing interrupted his rambling. “You can contact his family, right?”

Chu Fei nodded, then reacted to Pei Xing’s intense gaze and dialed the phone.

“Uncle, are you busy?”

……

“I was calling Su Yuan…”

Pei Xing watched as Chu Fei suddenly cut off his words, then gave him an obviously guilty look and walked away with his phone covered. The hand hanging at his side suddenly clenched just like when he was working at his grandfather’s house and the call came about his father’s death in a car accident; his grandfather had also avoided him and walked out into the courtyard.

In an instant, more and more uneasy thoughts surfaced in his mind.

Chu Fei came back. “Uh, Su Yuan is just not feeling well and is resting at home, it’s nothing.”

Pei Xing wanted to judge the truth from Chu Fei’s expression and tone, but more than that, he wanted to confirm one thing.

“Su Yuan’s family is by his side, accompanying him, right?”

“Right,” Chu Fei nodded with certainty.

“Okay, thank you.”

Pei Xing forced himself to calm down. At least Su Yuan was safe; it didn’t matter even if they couldn’t meet.

But he didn’t expect that it would be another month before he saw Su Yuan again.

The night Su Yuan returned home, he entered the hospital.

A missed heart skip, a blank like a little bird trapped in a cage crashing about.

The maid who brought medicine to the room saw Su Yuan collapsed on the floor and immediately called for help. After the family doctor performed emergency aid, he was sent to a private hospital.

The phone lay quietly under the bed, the screen showing words he hadn’t managed to send to Pei Xing.

After staying in the cardiac monitoring ward for two weeks, Su Yuan was unwilling to take any more anti-anxiety medication; it made him look lifeless.

Su Zhen sat by the bed. “Xin Xin, the doctor said you must avoid emotional stress to prevent aggravating the condition.”

Su Yuan leaned against the hospital bed, staring dazedly at the square sky outside the window. “I don’t want to be hospitalized. I’m already better; the doctor said I only need to take some more metoprolol. I don’t want to have exams every day, the sounds of the machines are so noisy… You won’t let me have my phone or read books, you only let me lie in bed. I’m not that jade crested ibis, I don’t want to just lie in a box…”

“Xin Xin, you need bed rest.”

The rims of Su Yuan’s eyes slowly turned red. “It’s already been two weeks. I want to go home, I want to go back to school…”

Su Zhen didn’t feel good either, his voice hoarse. “Xin Xin, in a few days when you’re better we’ll go home. The weather isn’t good lately, so we won’t go to school for now. Let’s take a leave of absence and go back next year when the weather is better.”

Su Yuan felt like he was crying, but those sedatives were still constantly being released in his body; his body couldn’t feel weight, and he couldn’t even manage to cry.

“I don’t want to take a leave…”

“Xin Xin, let’s not talk about that for now, you just rest well.”

“I don’t want to take a leave…!”

On the other end of the lines extending from Su Yuan’s body, the cardiac monitor emitted a piercing sound. Su Yuan fainted from agitation in front of Su Zhen. After waking again, Su Zhen didn’t dare mention the leave of absence again, promising he could return to school once his body recovered.

He looked at his grandfather’s grey hair and the wrinkles on his face and didn’t make any more excessive demands, reaching out to hug him. “Grandfather, I know you’re worried about me, I’ll take good care of myself…”

At the end of October, the children’s ward area had a Halloween party prepared for the kids.

Su Yuan, who had just been allowed to leave his room, secretly asked for two candies—one in his mouth and one in the pocket of his white hospital gown, saved for Pei Xing.

The flowers in the garden had been replaced with seasonal osmanthus, chrysanthemums, and cotton roses; as if to offer comfort to the patients, each one bloomed with extreme brilliance.

He suddenly thought of the jasmine he gave Qi Xiaoxi, and then he thought of Pei Xing.

Su Yuan rubbed his eyes, suddenly understanding why Pei Xing told him not to miss him.

It was a very sad thing.

He didn’t know if Pei Xing would blame him for a whole month without a single message. Pei Xing must have been very worried about him.

Su Yuan walked deeper into the garden, his steps slow, wanting to pick the prettiest pebble from the gravel to give to Pei Xing, wondering if Pei Xing would like it.

He squatted down, and just as he picked up a milky white little stone, a tall figure cast a shadow over his head.

Su Yuan’s hand paused; he knew who it was, yet felt it was impossible.

“Su Xin Xin,” the voice came from above, “Not replying to my messages, but you’re here picking up stones to play with, huh?”

Su Yuan’s eyes turned red instantly.

He slowly looked up. Pei Xing was standing before him, his black windbreaker zipped to the top, his handsome face wearing a smile just like the day they parted.

A hand was offered before him. Su Yuan stared at Pei Xing and slowly placed his hand upon it; Pei Xing’s face appeared more and more clearly before him.

Su Yuan’s tears hung in his eyes. His hand was gripped tightly, and Pei Xing’s body heat bit by bit warmed his hand; only then was he truly certain the person before him wasn’t a hallucination.

Pei Xing had come to find him.

Pei Xing’s eyes were moist, yet his lips still held a smile. “Had the heart surgery?”

Su Yuan had no time to think about how Pei Xing knew, or how he had found him.

He just looked at the boyfriend he hadn’t seen for a month and shook his head, giving an honest answer. “Not yet. The doctor said my health is too poor; I can’t survive open-heart surgery. I have to wait a few years, until I’m 25.”

Worried Pei Xing would be sad thinking of his mother who passed away from a heart attack, Su Yuan spoke faster to comfort him. “But it’s not actually that serious. I rarely have acute attacks. This time the doctor prescribed new medicine to take together, so it won’t happen again. Pei Xing, don’t worry about me…”

His words were interrupted by Pei Xing’s embrace.

“Stupid Su Xin Xin…”

That was the first time he saw Pei Xing cry.