Li Xuan went into the bathroom to wash up.
Su Xingchuan stepped out onto the balcony to call his mother. It took He Ning half a minute to answer. Su Xingchuan was the first to speak: “Mom, how are you feeling today? Is your head still hurting?”
He Ning had mentioned two days earlier that she had cried so much her head was aching.
There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds before she finally spoke, “It’s not hurting anymore. Yesterday, Li Xuan’s mother came to see me.”
Su Xingchuan froze.
“We didn’t argue; we just talked.” He Ning paused for a few seconds and said, “Xingchuan, you’re not a teenager anymore. You’re already twenty-seven; you are responsible for your own life.”
Su Xingchuan was genuinely surprised. He hadn’t expected his mother’s stance to change so quickly; he had thought it would be a prolonged tug-of-war.
“When it comes to your sexual orientation, your father and I still can’t accept it, but we also can’t change it. Destroying our family’s happiness to give you the kind of happiness that society considers normal and turning you against your parents is unnecessary.”
He wanted to say something, but He Ning continued, her tone resigned, “So be it, Xingchuan. Live your life well.”
She still wouldn’t say, “Your father and I want you to be happy.”
Because she didn’t believe Li Xuan could bring him happiness; she didn’t believe that two men in love could have the same happy ending as a traditional couple.
Before He Ning could hang up, Su Xingchuan quickly said, “Mom, thank you for understanding. But those things you said to Li Xuan back then…”
He hoped his mother would apologize.
He Ning was silent for a long time before she finally said, “I understand.”
After hanging up, he turned and saw Li Xuan standing behind the glass door, waiting. He must have guessed that Su Xingchuan was talking to his parents, and his expression was tense, eyes anxiously watching him.
Through the glass, Su Xingchuan walked up to Li Xuan and pulled a sad face.
Li Xuan immediately panicked, his lips turning down.
Then Su Xingchuan switched to a smile, one full of mischief and relief.
Li Xuan hesitated for a moment, then snorted.
Opening the glass door, Su Xingchuan pulled Li Xuan into his arms. “My mom has softened her stance.”
Li Xuan let out a sigh of relief too.
“We should thank your mom. She went to talk to mine.”
They fell into a brief silence. Resting his face against Su Xingchuan’s shoulder, Li Xuan said, “My mom is great. You’ll know when you get to know her. And… my uncle is great too.”
Su Xingchuan chuckled. “I’ll get along well with them. Is there anything else you’re worried about, Xuan Xuan?”
“I’m not good at dealing with elders.”
“It’s okay. You don’t need to interact much. And if you do, I’ll be there to support you. Don’t worry.”
“Okay.” Li Xuan always trusted Su Xingchuan.
When Su Xingchuan said, “Don’t worry,” he felt reassured.
But…
He still hadn’t fixed the mistake he made this morning. Grabbing the hem of Su Xingchuan’s shirt, he hesitated for a moment before mumbling, “I didn’t mean I would find a younger, handsome guy.”
Pretending not to hear, Su Xingchuan asked, “What?”
Li Xuan quickly repeated, “I won’t find a younger, handsome guy.”
Feigning innocence, Su Xingchuan pretended not to hear again.
Frustrated, Li Xuan refused to say it again.
Though there was a bit of awkwardness, they still spent a warm and comfortable morning together.
On the balcony, there was a hanging swing chair. Su Xingchuan lay on it while Li Xuan lay on top of him, both of them basking in the sun. At first, it was Su Xingchuan doing all the talking, but eventually, Li Xuan joined in, telling stories about his time studying abroad—the people he met, the things he experienced. He spoke slowly, detailing everything. Whenever he mentioned a male classmate, Su Xingchuan would give him a little pinch. Li Xuan turned his face away, saying, “You were the one who asked me to tell you.”
Su Xingchuan smiled. “Go on.”
“It’s nothing special.”
“I want to know.”
Li Xuan continued, and before long, he fell asleep.
Su Xingchuan gently placed him on the swing, covered him with a blanket, and then headed down to the local supermarket to buy groceries.
He was finally fulfilling his long-held wish.
Cooking a big meal for Li Xuan himself.
While he cooked, Li Xuan sat by the kitchen door, watching. When Su Xingchuan got close, Li Xuan mischievously untied his apron strings.
Su Xingchuan shot him a glance, and Li Xuan feigned innocence, hugging the back of his chair in silence.
Su Xingchuan thought Li Xuan would pretend his hand was hurt, as he used to, and ask to be fed. But when the meal of three dishes and one soup was served, Li Xuan obediently sat at the table, holding his chopsticks, waiting for the meal to start.
“Eat up, and try my cooking.”
Su Xingchuan placed a piece of fish in his bowl and poured him a steaming bowl of chicken soup.
Li Xuan held the bowl, sipping the soup slowly.
Glancing down, Su Xingchuan noticed that Li Xuan’s legs were swaying back and forth.
Suddenly, he felt that no delicacy could compare to the happiness of watching Li Xuan eat.
.
After the weekend, Su Xingchuan returned to work at Zhongjin.
Unlike his somber mood of the past few days, his secretary noticed his bright spirit and said, “Wow, Manager Su, you’re in high spirits today. What happened? Did you start dating?”
It was hard for Su Xingchuan to hide his happiness. He replied, “Even better.”
“What is it?” The secretary was curious.
“I got back together with my ex.”
The secretary’s eyes lit up. “So, the match Mr. Xu was going to introduce to you won’t stand a chance now?”
Just as the elevator doors opened and Xu Zhengdong stepped out, he overheard and chuckled. “Indeed, no chance at all. I really made a bad deal.”
Su Xingchuan felt embarrassed.
He followed Xu Zhengdong into the office. After taking off his coat, Xu Zhengdong sat down while Su Xingchuan stood by the desk, saying, “Mr. Xu, I was out of my mind before, saying all kinds of nonsense.”
With a playful expression, Xu Zhengdong tilted his chin, signaling for him to continue.
“I’ve officially gotten back together with Li Xuan.”
“My sister told me. He didn’t come home last night.”
The embarrassment deepened on Xingchuan’s face.
“Relax, I’m not lecturing you,” Xu Zhengdong dropped his usual playful demeanor and spoke seriously for once. “It’s not easy finding someone you truly like. Take good care of my nephew.”
“Understood. I will.”
As he was about to leave, Xu Zhengdong called out to him, “In private, you can change the way you address me.”
Clearing his throat, Su Xingchuan prepared to say “Uncle.”
But the word got stuck in his throat.
It just didn’t feel right.
First, because Xu Zhengdong was only ten years older than him. Second, every time he saw him, he remembered that awkward situation from a few days ago.
The two stared at each other for half a minute.
Su Xingchuan: “…”
Xu Zhengdong: “…”
Finally, Xu Zhengdong said, “Forget it. Just get out of here.”
Feeling like he’d been pardoned, Su Xingchuan turned and left.
*
After work, he drove to the hospital to pick up Li Xuan.
He sent Li Xuan a message, but there was no response.
Li Xuan had been busy in the inpatient ward with an urgent patient issue. When he finally returned to his office, he saw the message that had been sent half an hour earlier. He quickly grabbed his backpack and ran out.
One of the passing nurses was startled.
“Who… who was that?” she asked her colleague.
“Wasn’t that Dr. Li?”
The nurse shook her head. “No way.”
“But who else is there on this floor besides Dr. Li who’s that young and handsome?”
“Dr. Li… has emotional outbursts?”
The emotional Dr. Li rushed out of the hospital. Worried that Su Xingchuan had been waiting for too long, he rehearsed an apology in his mind as he ran. But when he reached the car, he realized it was empty, and the inside was dark.
Panic gripped him, and he immediately called Su Xingchuan.
No answer.
Standing on the steps, Li Xuan scanned the area, feeling a wave of anxiety he couldn’t describe.
He was terrified of losing Su Xingchuan again.
“Baby.”
A voice called from behind. Li Xuan turned and saw Su Xingchuan approaching with two roasted sweet potatoes.
The winter evening was quickly fading, and behind Su Xingchuan was the last hint of daylight. He wore a deep brown coat, and as he walked toward Li Xuan, his hair was tinted by the orange-red glow of the setting sun.
“Look what I got.”
Before he could finish
, Li Xuan dashed forward.
He threw his arms around Su Xingchuan, hugging him tightly.
Grasping his neck, he said with a broken voice, “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
Startled, Su Xingchuan quickly explained, “Did you call me? I didn’t hear it. It’s too crowded here, and my phone was in my pocket, I—”
Li Xuan cut him off. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see your message. A patient was arguing with me about the fees and wouldn’t listen to any explanation. I only saw your message when I got back to my office. I made you wait for half an hour. I’m sorry.”
Confused, Su Xingchuan asked, “Why are you apologizing?”
“Because I’m afraid of losing everything after getting so much. I’m afraid that one day you’ll get tired.”
“Because I’m not good at relationships. When you spoil me, I become like a child and don’t think about your feelings.”
“And… what I said the other morning wasn’t true.”
Xingchuan’s lips curved as he wrapped his arms around Li Xuan’s waist.
Leaning against his shoulder, Li Xuan said with a hint of grievance, “Why aren’t you mad? You used to pretend to be mad. Why are you acting like nothing’s wrong now, like you didn’t hear it? I don’t like this.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I don’t want you to keep things bottled up. Don’t repeat my mistake from seven years ago.”
His expression changed from joy to tenderness.
Seven years had changed Li Xuan too.
He wasn’t as carefree; he now feared loss.
“I won’t find a young handsome guy. I was just joking. And I won’t always rely on you. If we grow old, we’ll take care of each other.”
Stroking his hair, Xingchuan responded, “But I want to take care of you, cathead, forever. What should I do?”
“Are you really not mad?”
“About what you said?”
“Yeah.” Li Xuan slowly released his grip, sniffing as he stood before him. “Are you hurt?”
“Why would I be?”
Leaning down, Xingchuan whispered in his ear, “I don’t think I’m any worse than I was at twenty.”
Li Xuan took a moment to realize what he meant.
He suddenly recalled how Su Xingchuan joked when they reunited about proving his vitality. He said he should be examined by a doctor.
Looks like only Dr. Li could put that theory to the test.
Glancing at the urology clinic’s sign, Su Xingchuan leaned closer. “Dr. Li, I think we need to disprove that rumor about men declining after twenty-five with some hands-on testing.”
Li Xuan tugged on his coat button. “Oh.”
