Su Xingchuan took a taxi back to the university.
He didn’t dare to pause for even a moment. He didn’t even dare to message Li Xuan, fearing an unwanted reply or that he might back out. Dragging his suitcase, he rushed straight to Li Xuan’s dorm building.
Only then did he have the courage to call him.
After a few rings, Li Xuan finally answered.
Sounding pitiful, he said, “What do you want?”
It wasn’t cold or distant; it was the voice of someone hurt after being repeatedly rejected, a voice throwing a little tantrum.
Su Xingchuan’s tense heart finally eased.
It was all an act.
He pretended not to care, and Li Xuan pretended to give up.
In truth, they were both testing the waters.
“I’m downstairs at your dorm,” Su Xingchuan said.
There was silence on the other end for a full thirty seconds, and then Su Xingchuan heard the sound of a door closing, footsteps descending the stairs, and labored breathing. The next second, Li Xuan burst out of the dormitory doors.
He rushed right up to him.
His eyes were red, and so was the tip of his nose.
Su Xingchuan thought he looked so pitiful. Liking someone can make a person so pitiful.
Su Xingchuan asked, “Weren’t we supposed to just be friends?”
Li Xuan didn’t respond.
Su Xingchuan leaned down slightly, looking into Li Xuan’s eyes. “I thought after you sent that message, you were really going to cut me off completely.”
Li Xuan grabbed the handle of Su Xingchuan’s suitcase, pulling it towards himself, refusing to let him leave. His tone was a mix of grievance and a hint of smug satisfaction. “If you had gone home today without saying anything, I wouldn’t have spoken to you again.”
That familiar tone made Su Xingchuan feel at ease.
“How many days until your birthday?”
“The fifth, July fifth.”
Su Xingchuan counted. “Four days left.”
Li Xuan glanced at Su Xingchuan’s suitcase, suddenly remembering. “Weren’t you going to the station? What about your train—”
“I didn’t have time to cancel it; I came straight back.”
Li Xuan’s ears turned red instantly. He stammered, “How could you not even have time to cancel it? You could have rescheduled.”
“I was afraid someone might be crying in the dorm.”
Anyone else would have said, “I wasn’t crying.”
But Li Xuan wasn’t like others.
He said immediately, “I was crying. I felt so awful.”
Su Xingchuan couldn’t help but smile.
Li Xuan pouted at him, “Don’t laugh.”
“The cake?” Su Xingchuan pinched Li Xuan’s ear and said, “Let’s go, let’s eat. We’ll celebrate your birthday early.”
But Li Xuan didn’t move.
“What’s wrong?”
Li Xuan asked softly, “Are you… going to leave after the birthday?”
Su Xingchuan pretended, “Maybe, depends.”
Li Xuan’s eyes dimmed.
“I need to check if there are any tickets back to Ling’an.”
Li Xuan quickly snatched Su Xingchuan’s phone and tucked it into his own pocket, trying to cover up, “No tickets, none at all.”
Su Xingchuan couldn’t help but laugh. Li Xuan, with his head lowered, muttered almost to himself, “Su Xingchuan, can you not leave today?”
“Not leave? For what?”
Li Xuan stepped forward, slowly leaning closer until he was nearly leaning against Su Xingchuan’s chest but then stopped. He looked up, meeting Su Xingchuan’s deep gaze. In each other’s eyes, there was something different from before. Li Xuan’s lips parted slightly as he asked, “Can you date me for a day?”
Su Xingchuan was stunned.
He should have known all along. From the start, from that small, dim alley, he had already fallen under Li Xuan’s spell.
Li Xuan’s tricks weren’t subtle. They were too obvious, and his intentions were clear in his eyes—persistent and relentless, trying to buy as much time as possible. But Su Xingchuan could never refuse him.
Li Xuan, lacking confidence, mumbled, “Just one day, and you can go home at this time tomorrow.”
Su Xingchuan felt his heartbeat thunder in his ears.
One day—what would happen? He didn’t know.
After a few seconds of silence, he said, “Okay.”
Li Xuan’s smile bloomed instantly.
Su Xingchuan thought: As long as he doesn’t cry, it’s fine.
Li Xuan placed Su Xingchuan’s suitcase by the dorm supervisor’s office and went back upstairs to fetch the cake, handing it to him.
It was a small five-inch chocolate cream cake.
There were two little figures on top.
Su Xingchuan took it.
Li Xuan was displeased. “Aren’t you going to look at the two figures?”
So, Su Xingchuan lifted his gaze. The two figures were both boys, sitting side by side. As expected, Su Xingchuan chuckled, “How did you explain this to the bakery?”
“No need to explain. Just pay extra.”
“…”
As they were about to leave, Su Xingchuan noticed out of the corner of his eye that Li Xuan was still standing by his suitcase, tilting his head at him. He hadn’t realized at first. “What’s wrong?”
It wasn’t until Li Xuan reached out his hand that he understood instantly.
Oh, a one-day boyfriend.
Even while walking, they had to hold hands.
Sometimes, Su Xingchuan felt that Li Xuan was born to counter him. A one-day relationship—only he could come up with such an idea.
He took Li Xuan’s hand.
Li Xuan immediately intertwined their fingers, pulling him closer. He held on tightly, and Li Xuan leaned against him.
Li Xuan was really clingy. He not only stuck to Su Xingchuan’s arm the whole way but insisted on sitting next to him at the restaurant.
Su Xingchuan said, “Sit across from me.”
Li Xuan shook his head decisively, “No.”
Su Xingchuan had no choice but to place the menu in front of him.
“Order.”
Li Xuan tilted his head, “You’re paying?”
“Yeah, I’m paying,” Su Xingchuan said, “I have a scholarship. It’s enough to make you happy for the day, unless you want king crabs and geoduck clams—I can’t afford those.”
Li Xuan rested his chin on Su Xingchuan’s arm, speaking sweetly, “I don’t like those.”
“What do you like?”
“Shrimp, freshwater shrimp—I like them grilled or steamed. But I don’t like peeling them.” Li Xuan never hid his spoiled nature.
“So, you want me to peel them?”
Li Xuan opened his mouth as if biting into air, pretending to eat with gusto. His legs had already quietly settled on top of Su Xingchuan’s.
Li Xuan liked to cling to Su Xingchuan like an ornament.
Though Su Xingchuan didn’t find the position comfortable, he let him do as he pleased. Su Xingchuan asked, “That message you sent today, was it intentional or genuine?”
“If you came back, it was intentional. If you didn’t, it was genuine.” Li Xuan wasn’t foolish; he was quite cunning.
Su Xingchuan chuckled.
“But I knew you’d come back.”
“Why?”
“Because…” Li Xuan leaned close to his ear and whispered, “You already like me.”
His voice was soft and tingly, and it sent a shiver through Su Xingchuan’s heart. He stared at him for a long time until the waiter came over and asked, “Have you decided on your order? Would you like me to recommend something?”
It wasn’t until then that Su Xingchuan snapped back to reality, clearing his throat.
They ordered a few dishes together, then took out the cake. They placed the “20” shaped candles on top, and Su Xingchuan borrowed a lighter from the restaurant. As he lit the candles, Li Xuan leaned on the table, the flickering candlelight sparkling in his eyes.
“Make a wish, birthday boy,” Su Xingchuan said.
Li Xuan clasped his hands together and lowered his head. “First, I wish for my family’s health. Then, I hope I can celebrate every birthday from now on with Su Xingchuan.”
Su Xingchuan watched him quietly.
When he finished, Su Xingchuan teased, “You’re not supposed to say your wishes out loud; they won’t come true.”
“They will. If your heart is sincere, they will.”
Li Xuan closed his eyes, resting his forehead on his clasped hands as he repeated his wish sincerely, then lifted his head.
With two quick breaths, he blew out the candles.
“Happy 20th birthday,” Su Xingchuan said.
Li Xuan beamed with joy, his legs swinging playfully on Su Xingchuan’s lap. He’d done this before, but never with such happiness as today. He swung his legs so much that Su Xingchuan had to hold his knee down.
“Where are you kicking?”
Li Xuan squinted mischievously, “Where did I kick?”
Su Xingchuan raised an eyebrow, not taking the bait. He took a sip of the lemon water on the table.
“You kicked something I need.”
Su Xingchuan almost spat out the water, coughing. He quickly covered Li Xuan’s mouth, “Aren’t you embarrassed?”
Li Xuan blinked innocently, shaking his head.
“I thought you didn’t know anything.”
Li Xuan started swinging his legs again. “It’s okay. If I broke it, I’d fix it.”
“…Thanks, but no need.”
Li Xuan suddenly burst into laughter, burying his face in Su Xingchuan’s arm, unable to stop. Su Xingchuan tried to ignore him.
After they ate, half the cake was left. Su Xingchuan suggested taking it back to the dorm to share with his roommates, but Li Xuan refused.
“Why?”
“I don’t want to talk to them.”
Li Xuan then started sharing stories about his life—his family and campus life, the parents who doted on him, and the roommates he just couldn’t get along with. Li Xuan shrugged. “…But I don’t really care. As long as I’m happy, that’s enough.”
It was strange. Li Xuan didn’t have many friends, but he wasn’t lacking in love.
“Are you happy, then?” Su Xingchuan asked.
Li Xuan nodded. “Today, I am, because I have a boyfriend.” He looked up at Su Xingchuan with hopeful eyes.
He was pretending to be sweet again.
The restaurant was too crowded, so Su Xingchuan had to take him outside.
Li Xuan never once asked: Do you like me? Can you accept my little tantrums? What do you want me to do?
He only kept telling Su Xingchuan: I like you.
When they walked, he would quietly hold Su Xingchuan’s hand, interlocking their fingers. When Su Xingchuan responded, rubbing his thumb over the back of Li Xuan’s hand, a smile would bloom on his face, and his steps would become light and cheerful.
He really was like a child.
After they got together, Qing Lan once asked out of curiosity: “Su Xingchuan, you treat Li Xuan so well, like both his father and mother. What do you get out of this relationship?”
Su Xingchuan thought for a moment and said, “A very pure kind of affection.”
There were many people in Su Xingchuan’s world, but in Li Xuan’s world, there were only his family, a cat, and Su Xingchuan. He asked for a lot of love from Su Xingchuan but gave himself entirely in return.
That day, they walked for a long time.
Li Xuan said he was tired, so Su Xingchuan led him to a small pavilion. From there, they could see the river in the distance. Li Xuan sat beside Su Xingchuan, then blinked at him. After a few seconds of hesitation, Su Xingchuan put his arm around Li Xuan’s shoulders.
Li Xuan naturally leaned against him. The summer breeze was sticky and humid, but they remained close.
Li Xuan played with the hem of Su Xingchuan’s shirt.
The sunset cast a warm orange glow across the sky.
The warm light softly draped over Li Xuan’s face, like a veil. As he lifted his head, Su Xingchuan was about to speak when their gazes locked unexpectedly.
Li Xuan glanced at Su Xingchuan’s lips.
This time, Li Xuan didn’t ask, “Do you want to kiss me?”
Instead, it was Su Xingchuan who leaned in.
He had only felt Li Xuan’s warm, soft lips once—a kiss on the cheek, light and fleeting. Afterward, he would often imagine it in his dreams, each time sinking deeper into it.
Li Xuan sensed Su Xingchuan’s intention.
He held his breath. Their heartbeats were fast, like raindrops hitting cobblestones, overlapping and intermingling.
Su Xingchuan moved closer.
Just then, a childish voice called out, “Those are two boys! They’re hugging!”
A boy on a small bicycle stood not far away, pointing at them, calling to his playmates and parents.
Li Xuan’s eyes flickered with confusion.
Instinctively, Su Xingchuan tightened his hold on Li Xuan’s shoulder, guiding him to bury his face in his chest, shielding him from view.
Li Xuan stayed still, pressed against him.
The boy called his mother over. When she saw the two boys hugging in the pavilion, her expression soured, and she muttered something unpleasant under her breath.
Su Xingchuan even covered Li Xuan’s ears.
After about half a minute, Li Xuan heard him whisper, “The kid’s gone. It’s okay.”
Only then did Li Xuan lift his head.
He asked Su Xingchuan, “Is this what you’re afraid of?”
Su Xingchuan didn’t answer.
Li Xuan lowered his head. Suddenly, Su Xingchuan reached up and pinched his ear. It was as if the energy drained out of him, and Li Xuan leaned against Su Xingchuan’s shoulder, staring at the shimmering river.
At twenty, Li Xuan sighed as he looked out at the river.
He seemed like a kitten who suddenly had worries.
Su Xingchuan wanted to say something but held back.
He took Li Xuan to the street market for dinner, buying him skewers and grilled squid. Li Xuan ended up with sauce all over his mouth, and when Su Xingchuan teased him for looking like a kitten, Li Xuan threatened to wipe his face on his shirt. Su Xingchuan dodged, laughing.
The river breeze brushed along the shore. Li Xuan held a spiral potato larger than his face in one hand and an ice cream in the other. After eating a third of it, he said he was full, so Su Xingchuan finished it.
Li Xuan said, “I’m happy.”
“That’s good,” Su Xingchuan replied.
The riverside was filled with people cooling off and playing. There were many kids, so Li Xuan didn’t cling to Su Xingchuan as he had earlier. They found a quiet corner, sitting side by side, watching the light show from the buildings across the river and listening to the sound of passing cargo ships.
Li Xuan suddenly raised a hand high, held it up to Su Xingchuan, spread his fingers, and then clenched them into a fist. “Shwoosh—”
He said, “Time has stopped. You have to stay here with me until the end of time.”
Su Xingchuan chuckled. “Is that so?”
But time couldn’t stop. When it was time to part, Su Xingchuan walked Li Xuan back to his dorm.
Li Xuan said to him, “See you tomorrow.”
There was still half a day left for their one-day relationship.
Li Xuan looked at him with those hopeful eyes.
Just as Su Xingchuan was about to reach out, more students started returning to the dorm. He had no choice but to let it go.
It seemed like he couldn’t find the right moment to tell Li Xuan what was on his mind. Li Xuan, too, seemed to have something on his mind. From the pavilion to the dorm, he never mentioned kissing again.
Su Xingchuan retrieved his suitcase and watched as Li Xuan turned back three times before finally going upstairs, his reluctance growing.
.
When he got back to his own dorm, his roommate was surprised. “You’re back?”
Su Xingchuan replied casually, “Missed the train.”
Another roommate burst in, shouting, “Look, someone posted a photo of Xingchuan and another guy holding hands on the confession wall—wait, Xingchuan, didn’t you go home?”
Su Xingchuan took the phone and saw the photo.
It was taken from the front.
On the school’s bridge, he and Li Xuan walked side by side. Li Xuan liked walking on the edge of the steps, wobbling as if on a tightrope, and Su Xingchuan held his hand, smiling at him.
Turns out, he was always watching Li Xuan.
Who could tell that it was Li Xuan who was pursuing him?
His roommate thought he’d be embarrassed or angry, but instead, Su Xingchuan just smiled and said, “He’s adorable.”
“Huh?”
Su Xingchuan pointed at Li Xuan. “Don’t you think he’s adorable?”
The two roommates: “…”
As if not satisfied, Su Xingchuan continued, “He’s going to be a doctor one day. Isn’t that impressive? And he’s really smart, has a photographic memory, and is the best at acting cute.”
The two roommates: “…”
With a small smile, Su Xingchuan told his roommates, “Guys, I might not be able to get girls’ numbers for you anymore.”
His roommates were speechless.
Lying in bed, Su Xingchuan noticed his mother had called two hours earlier. He hadn’t answered, so she had sent a message: “Was that your train today? Why aren’t you home yet?”
He replied: “There’s a volunteer activity at school. I might stay for a few more days.”
His mom said okay and told him not to play around all the time.
With the dorm lights off, he replayed the images from their afternoon date, like slides in his mind. He thought again of that kiss that never happened; he really wanted it, but the moment had passed.
He thought: Tomorrow, I’ll take that step.
A vibration pulled him out of his thoughts. He opened his eyes.
Li Xuan had sent him a message.
Cat Cat: [The more I think about it, the angrier I get.]
Cat Cat: [I didn’t get to kiss you today.]
Su Xingchuan felt like his heart was being scratched by a cat’s paw.
He couldn’t wait until tomorrow.
He replied: [Want to make up for it now?]
