Chapter 28.2
Editor: Princess
When Zhang Geng came to pick up Yu Pei, it was almost completely dark.
A crescent moon had already pushed through the night sky, hanging on one side of the dark blue heavens. And on the far side of the sky, a few faint stars were scattered, and the whole city of South City felt quiet and peaceful.
However because the school uniform for Nan Hua High School was bright red, it stood out a lot. Hence the moment Zhang Geng drove to the mouth of Orchid Ford Lane, he saw Yu Pei. He was holding a clear box in his arms, standing next to a tall young man, and whatever it was that the young man said to him next, made Yu Pei laugh.
He laughed with his eyes all crinkled up, just like the crescent moon in the sky, bright and gentle.
Zhang Geng had never seen him laugh like this before. Before him, the person who used to drive for the Yu family had already retired years ago, and since then, it had been his job.
And from the very first day he started working at the Yu household, all he ever saw on Yu Pei’s face was a heavy, lifeless gloom.
This teenager, who should’ve been full of energy and freedom, didn’t give off even a trace of being alive. He was like a wilted dandelion, its white fluff carrying a sense of despair, drifting farther and farther, alone under a black sky with no end in sight.
Which was why when Yu Pei got that kind of illness later, he honestly wasn’t surprised. Luckily, all that was in the past now.
He pulled the car up beside them, and that’s when he heard what they were saying—
“Today’s homework isn’t hard. Take a look when you get home, and if you don’t know how to do it, ask me.”
“En en, okay!”
Zhang Geng rolled down the window and smiled at Luo Changzhou. “Hello, Classmate Luo.”
“Uncle Zhang!” Yu Pei called out.
Luo Changzhou looked over at Zhang Geng and smiled too. “Hello, Uncle Zhang.”
“I came to pick Ah Pei up.” Zhang Geng said. He always made sure not to call Yu Pei “young master” in front of others.
“Mm.” Luo Changzhou nodded, then turned to look at Yu Pei. “Ah Pei, see you tomorrow.”
Yu Pei waved at him. “Changzhou, see you tomorrow!”
Even though they’d parted ways, the smile on Yu Pei’s face never faded. And from the rearview mirror, Zhang Geng could see him holding the box in his arms, smiling to himself now and then, which made him curious. He asked, “Little Young master, what are you holding there?”
“Oh, this is Tagimoucia.” Yu Pei told him, immediately letting go with one arm and holding up the box proudly like he was showing off. “I heard it’s the national flower of Fiji!”
Zhang Geng glanced at the flower. It was red, like a bunch of little bells. It was really pretty, so smiling, he complimented, “It’s beautiful.”
And hearing this, Yu Pei’s smile became even brighter.
After getting home, he didn’t even bother putting his backpack down. He ran straight to the balcony with the flowerpot in his arms. Then he placed it on the little white vine table, deciding that every day when he opened the curtains, besides the sunlight, he’d see this flower from Luo Changzhou.
He even posted a status update with a photo of the flower: [Starting today, we’re going to live together! [Photo] ;D]
As soon as he posted it, people started liking it—including Luo Changzhou.
Yu Pei held his phone, then flopped onto his back on the bed, lying flat as he stared at the three characters “Luo Changzhou” over and over again.
Luo Changzhou, the “zhou” of river islet, “Luo” as in riverbank.
This was what Luo Changzhou had said during his introduction on the first day he transferred schools.
Back then, he had thought that someone with a name like that must be really gentle, but now, he was wondering: how could Luo Changzhou be this gentle?
He was so gentle that it made him regret not meeting him sooner.
If only they had met earlier. If only… they could be together forever. Yu Pei thought in a daze.
They were in their final year of high school now. And outside of the holidays, there really wasn’t much time left for them to spend together, and based on his own grades, there was no way he could get into the same university as Luo Changzhou.
In a year—or even less—they’d have to go their separate ways.
Just thinking about this made Yu Pei’s heart feel like it was being squeezed by a pair of big, rough hands. It was so painful it was suffocating.
He didn’t want to be separated from Luo Changzhou. He wanted to stay with him. It was a fierce, burning kind of wish—hot and honest.
Luo Changzhou’s arrival had awakened something in him that had been asleep for a long time. He’d gotten used to hearing “good night” from him every night, to looking forward to seeing him every day.
He couldn’t imagine what it’d be like when the college entrance exam was over and they had to go off in different directions, saying goodbye.
Why couldn’t he bear to leave him?
Why did he want to be with him forever?
Yu Pei asked himself, dazed. Obviously when Gu Zheng left, it didn’t hurt this much, because with phones and texts and all kinds of social apps, there were still a million ways to stay in touch.
But with Luo Changzhou, it wasn’t enough.
He wanted more—
If they could talk, he’d want to meet. If they could meet, he’d want to get close. And if they could get close, he’d want… a hug.
Yu Pei lifted his hand and stared up at the ceiling lights. His fingers were slim and long, and under the warm light, one could see the red flesh and dark bones beneath the skin. Every inch of his skin had nerves that could feel, and so he still remembered what it felt like when Luo Changzhou held his hand today. He remembered what it felt like when he hugged his waist while riding on the back of the bike.
That feeling, it made his tiny heart feel big enough to hold all of Luo Changzhou inside.
He finally understood what he felt for Luo Changzhou.
It was love.
A love way deeper than any little crush he’d had before. A love that made him want to hold onto him tight, see him every day, and never ever let go.