Chapter 81: Extra — Ordinary Little Daily Life (2)
Seeing his expression, Yan Yan’s smile faded. He asked cautiously, “Why aren’t you saying anything… is it really ugly?”
Si Jingce wiped his face, picked up a bottle of water, and took a sip to steady himself.
Then he gave his boyfriend some serious encouragement:
“No. I’m appreciating art.”
Maybe he had moved at the exact moment Yan Yan pressed the shutter—that must be why it turned out like this.
In short, not Yan Yan’s fault.
Flattered, Yan Yan insisted on taking more photos, dragging Si Jingce around to shoot from every angle.
After reviewing the full “assignment,” Si Jingce fell silent again.
The truth was obvious—
It wasn’t Yan Yan’s photography skills that were good. The scenery was just so beautiful that any shot looked fine.
But once a moving subject—like a human—entered the frame, his skills fell apart.
“I’m amazing, right? I totally have talent!” Yan Yan clung to him, asking for praise. “I’m going to sign up for a photography class and aim for awards!”
Even birds had dreams.
Si Jingce nodded. “Okay.”
…Yes, a photography class was urgently needed.
But as for this assignment—
Looking at the photos, he closed his eyes.
Yan Yan absolutely could not submit this as-is.
“Since it’s a relationship assignment, there should be some interaction,” he said.
Before Yan Yan could react, he leaned over and kissed his soft cheek hard enough to squish it out of shape, while quickly snapping a photo with his phone.
“Add this one too.”
Yan Yan, still dazed from the kiss, nodded instinctively. “Okay.”
Si Jingce took over organizing the files and emailing them to the teacher.
As for the ugly photo…
He didn’t delete it.
He saved it.
Even if he couldn’t show it to anyone, it was still the first photo Yan Yan had taken of him—worth framing.
They watched the sunrise quietly for a while longer, but soon sleepiness crept back in.
They crawled under the blanket.
“The sunlight’s too bright… let’s sleep a bit more,” Yan Yan mumbled from under the covers. “We still have to go to the amusement park later. So tiring.”
This didn’t feel like a date at all—
More like checking off tasks.
They slept until nearly noon. After checking out and taking the cable car down, they finally got their long-awaited salted egg yolk.
By the time they reached the amusement park, it was already 3:30 PM.
After photos, wandering, eating, and going home to make cake… it would easily be past seven.
Thinking of all this, Yan Yan hurriedly dragged Si Jingce inside and rushed through taking pictures.
This time, Si Jingce kept a close eye—
No disastrous photos appeared.
Barely acceptable.
After a full round, Yan Yan sat on a bench flipping through the album while Si Jingce returned with grilled sausages.
He held one to Yan Yan’s mouth.
Yan Yan bit it without even looking.
“The photos are fine.” Yan Yan leaned back, swinging his legs. “Since we’re here, should we try some rides?”
“What do you want to play?” Si Jingce asked.
Haunted house? Maybe Yan Yan would cling to him in fear.
Carousel? Romantic.
Ferris wheel? Even better.
But Yan Yan slowly lifted his gaze—
Upward.
Si Jingce followed.
The roller coaster loomed above, twisting and towering, screams echoing from it.
His heart sank.
After a long pause, he said, “If you want to ride it… I’ll go with you.”
Once seated—
It was too late to regret.
Yan Yan looked around excitedly.
Si Jingce, expression calm, checked his seatbelt and harness again and again.
…Didn’t feel secure.
The countdown began.
“Don’t be scared,” he said. “If you’re afraid, just scream.”
Yan Yan turned to him, cheeks flushed. “I’m not scared! I’m a bird—I love being in the sky!”
“…That’s good.”
I’m not scared either.
He wasn’t afraid of heights—
But roller coasters gave him the terrifying illusion of being flung out of his seat.
It was the lack of control that scared him.
The ride started.
Slow at first—
Then the climb.
He looked up.
The track stretched into the sky, the machine groaning—
Si Jingce mentally drafted his will.
At the peak, the entire city spread out below.
“So pretty!” Yan Yan exclaimed.
Si Jingce shut his eyes, jaw clenched.
Then—
The drop.
The car tilted ninety degrees.
For a moment, he was hanging in midair.
Spectators gathered below, waiting for screams.
Yan Yan shouted joyfully: “Waaa—!!”
The coaster plunged.
Wind swallowed every sound.
Si Jingce felt like he was tossed into a blender.
Body in front, soul chasing behind.
Yan Yan even spread his arms, enjoying it.
Si Jingce bit down so hard his jaw hurt—worried both Yan Yan and himself might fall.
A nightmare.
At the end, he stepped off, slightly disheveled, completely blank.
“So fun!” Yan Yan hopped off first. “Let’s come again!”
Si Jingce steadied himself. “Want to ride again? I’ll buy tickets.”
Yan Yan glanced at him. “No need. Once is enough.”
He quietly sighed in relief.
Maybe Yan Yan noticed something—
The next ride was chosen by Si Jingce.
He finally got his wish: the Ferris wheel.
…That couldn’t be scary, right?
He was wrong.
When they boarded, the cabin swayed slightly.
Si Jingce grabbed the railing instantly—then casually let go when Yan Yan didn’t notice.
He wasn’t afraid of heights.
It just felt unsafe.
Yan Yan busily took photos.
Si Jingce sat still as the cabin slowly rose to the top.
He suddenly remembered a romantic legend about Ferris wheels—
Just as he was about to speak—
“Take a photo!”
Yan Yan shoved the camera at him.
The cabin shook again.
Si Jingce grabbed the railing.
…Never mind.
After photos, they had already passed the highest point.
Looking at Yan Yan’s face, Si Jingce suddenly hated this assignment.
After getting off, Yan Yan looped his arm around his. “Let’s come again next time!”
Never again, he thought.
“Sure. As many times as you want.”
It was getting late.
Only the cake-making task remained.
The ingredients had been delivered, but neither of them had experience.
On the drive home, Si Jingce had already saved several tutorials.
But once home—
Yan Yan visibly ran out of energy.
Early morning, little rest, constant activity—
Too tired.
But the cake still had to be made.
After resting a bit, Yan Yan dragged himself to the kitchen.
Si Jingce carefully weighed each ingredient.
Yan Yan separated egg yolks, yawning.
“If you’re sleepy, go rest,” Si Jingce said. “I’ll handle it.”
Yan Yan clung to him like a koala, chin on his shoulder.
“Can’t. The teacher said we have to do everything together.”
“Together, huh?”
So—
He let Yan Yan stir a few times, then used an electric mixer himself.
Soon, the batter was ready and in the oven.
Whipping cream took even longer.
Finally, the cake was done.
“It smells so good!” Yan Yan perked up.
Si Jingce cut the cake, feeding him the scraps first.
Yan Yan had barely eaten all day.
Still warm—
He took a bite and gave a thumbs-up. “Delicious!”
He dipped it in cream. “Even better!”
Si Jingce was hungry too.
So—
They ate the cake together.
Piece by piece.
Until—
The plate was empty.
Yan Yan froze.
“…We ate it all.”
Before taking photos.
“What now?” he muttered. “Make another one? I’m full…”
Too full to eat more, but wasting food wasn’t an option.
Si Jingce rubbed his forehead and finally decided:
“I’m telling Xiao Li tomorrow—you don’t need this class anymore.”
This so-called “date practice” felt nothing like their real dates.
No quiet moments, no genuine connection—
Just rushing to complete tasks.
Every couple had their own rhythm.
Dating for homework lost all meaning.
He pointed at himself.
“I’m your best relationship teacher.”
Yan Yan hesitated. “But…”
Si Jingce pinned him lightly against the table, lowering his gaze.
A bit of cream still lingered on Yan Yan’s lips.
He leaned in and kissed him.
Then said, like an unreasonable parent:
“I said you don’t need it, so you don’t. Waking up early every day for this? We’ve been together this long—what can they teach you that I can’t? Might as well let me teach you some vocabulary.”
Yan Yan’s face turned red. He glared at him.
“Pervert.”
“I don’t want to learn English. I already know most words. I’m fluent…”
To prove it, he blurted:
“How do you do?”
Si Jingce stared at him.
“Do.”
Yan Yan: ???
Before he could react—Si Jingce kissed him again, silencing everything.
