Chapter 36
Tan Ning couldn’t go abroad because he hadn’t had time to apply for a passport.
Although there were a few visa-free countries to choose from, Tan Ning didn’t quite like them. He used a red pen to mark up a tourist map, as if he were correcting Lin Qi’s homework, and then told Lin Song’an, “Let’s go here.”
The southernmost point—a seaside island.
There was a road extending to the sea, a green and white lighthouse, and candy-colored cottages on both sides.
Without even looking, Lin Song’an kissed him like a foolish monarch and said, “Sure, let’s go there.”
A five-hour flight.
Lin Song’an put sunglasses and a sun hat on Tan Ning and held his hand as they walked out of the airport.
The salty sea breeze blew over, lifting Tan Ning’s long hair.
Tan Ning hadn’t cut his hair in a long time; it had grown past his shoulders. Lin Song’an used his fingers as a comb, teasingly running them through Tan Ning’s hair against the wind.
He transferred some money to Tan Ning, then turned off his phone and tossed it into the suitcase. Tan Ning scrolled through his WeChat page, counting how many digits were now in his wallet.
“Little money-grubber,” Lin Song’an teased, biting his ear.
And so, they escaped just like that.
Although Lin Song’an’s term was “eloped.”
No planned route, no research, they simply booked plane tickets, packed their suitcases, and set off.
It wasn’t until they reached their destination that Tan Ning remembered to inform He Qingrui. He Qingrui replied: [So when are you coming back?]
[I don’t know, probably not too long.]
Tan Ning truly didn’t know.
Lin Song’an probably didn’t know either.
This was an impulsive and haphazard trip.
“Ning Ning.”
Hearing Lin Song’an call him, Tan Ning looked up.
With the sun behind him, Lin Song’an extended his hand toward Tan Ning, smiling as he said, “Ning Ning, let’s go.”
Tan Ning was momentarily stunned.
Lin Song’an wore a sky-blue short-sleeved shirt and white beach shorts. His smile carried a clean and refreshing youthful vibe. When he raised his eyebrows at Tan Ning, he reverted to his noble young master demeanor.
As Tan Ning placed his hand in Lin Song’an’s, he suddenly realized that Lin Song’an was only one year older than him.
They hadn’t discussed the details of the trip; Lin Song’an just pulled him forward, and Tan Ning didn’t ask: Where are we going? Do you have a plan? Should we book a hotel room?
With Lin Song’an around, it seemed he didn’t need to do anything.
Turns out he relied on Lin Song’an so much.
Before boarding the plane, Lin Song’an had arranged everything. They checked into a sea-view room; everywhere they looked was blue.
Lin Song’an lay on the bed and then pulled Tan Ning onto it. Tan Ning, unsteady on his feet, ended up fulfilling Lin Song’an’s wish by falling into his arms. The two of them lay side by side on the 2.3-meter-wide bed, with the sound of waves in their ears.
Tan Ning was a bit dazed. Lin Song’an covered his eyes and told him, “Don’t think about anything, Ning Ning.”
Lin Song’an used one hand to cover half of Tan Ning’s face. Tan Ning’s eyelashes brushed against Lin Song’an’s palm, easily stirring him again, but Tan Ning pushed against him with both hands.
“Why can’t you ever get enough?”
Feeling wronged, Lin Song’an buried his face in Tan Ning’s neck.
Tan Ning was wearing a white long-sleeved sweatshirt, looking soft and cozy.
After they messed around for a while, Tan Ning promptly dragged Lin Song’an out. The two of them strolled leisurely along the seaside road, enjoying local delicacies as they went.
Tan Ning didn’t like sweets, but when he saw cute little pastries and desserts, he couldn’t resist stopping. He’d buy them, take a couple of bites, and then hand them to Lin Song’an.
The young master willingly acted as his trash bin.
Later, feeling a bit guilty, Tan Ning bought some barbecued skewers. He offered the first bite of a chicken wing to Lin Song’an. Lin Song’an lowered his head to take a bite, then looked at Tan Ning with smiling eyes. Tan Ning avoided his gaze, somewhat unnaturally looking elsewhere.
“It’s delicious,” Lin Song’an said.
“You ate the burnt part,” Tan Ning insisted on spoiling the mood.
Lin Song’an went along with him, “How wicked of you, little cat Tan, giving me the burnt bits and keeping the crispy, tender parts for yourself.”
Tan Ning held back a laugh and walked quickly ahead.
He hadn’t taken more than two steps before Lin Song’an wrapped an arm around his waist. Lin Song’an said, “Give me another bite.”
Tan Ning said, “No.”
“I’m so hungry.”
“No.”
Lin Song’an sighed, “What can I do if you won’t give it to me? I can’t go home without a phone; all the money is with my boyfriend, and my boyfriend doesn’t want me. How pitiful I am.”
Annoyed by his chatter, Tan Ning handed him a skewer of grilled small yellow fish. Lin Song’an shook his head, “Only kittens eat fish; I want what you’re having.”
Tan Ning stuffed the small yellow fish into Lin Song’an’s mouth. “You’re so annoying.”
They chased each other, running and laughing. After finishing their food and shopping, they finally sat by the beach to watch the sea.
In the sky were clouds intertwined with shades of blue and orange, like a spilled painter’s palette. A family of three passed in front of Tan Ning—a three or four-year-old child carrying a small bucket, skipping along.
“Do you like children?” Lin Song’an suddenly asked.
Caught off guard by the question, Tan Ning’s thoughts hadn’t caught up, and his ears reddened first. But with his long hair covering them, Lin Song’an didn’t notice.
Seeing that Tan Ning didn’t answer, Lin Song’an thought he had overstepped and explained, “I think kids are noisy. Like when Lin Qi was little, every time he came to my house, I’d have to lock my room door.”
Supporting his chin with his hand, Tan Ning said, “Oh.”
He was obviously not interested in this topic.
Lin Song’an pulled him into his arms. At first, Tan Ning struggled, but then, feeling a bit cold from the sea breeze, he lazily nestled into Lin Song’an’s embrace.
Lin Song’an lowered his head and kissed him.
“Ning Ning.”
“Mm?”
“Kiss me.”
Tan Ning looked up, meeting Lin Song’an’s gaze. If he moved a bit closer, they would be kissing. But Tan Ning wasn’t used to taking the initiative; offering a kiss felt like signing a contract, as if he were giving himself entirely to Lin Song’an.
Tan Ning felt scared.
He could imagine what he’d be doing twenty years from now, but couldn’t imagine where he and Lin Song’an would be two days later.
Lin Song’an’s tone carried a hint of coquettishness. He urged again, “Ning Ning, kiss me.”
Tan Ning just looked up, staring straight at Lin Song’an.
He didn’t move, and Lin Song’an had no choice. Smiling, he kissed Tan Ning, biting his lips and teasing his tongue. “Who made me like you so much?”
After the kiss, Tan Ning lay in Lin Song’an’s arms. Both of them fell silent simultaneously.
They were both thinking about how many missed calls and unread messages might be on Lin Song’an’s powered-off phone now.
But Tan Ning told himself: Don’t think about it.
They were eloping.
A mischievous child kicked a soccer ball over, nearly hitting Tan Ning. Lin Song’an immediately stood up and kicked the ball back, only to find that there was more than one child. They came running aggressively, and Lin Song’an grabbed Tan Ning and ran.
The soccer ball flew over again. Lin Song’an brought the ball to Tan Ning’s feet and said with a smile, “Ning Ning, your turn.”
Since the age of eight, Tan Ning hadn’t participated in such activities. He was momentarily stunned, looked at Lin Song’an, then at the five or six children opposite. He couldn’t help but curve his lips into a smile. He kicked the ball back.
It happened to hit the leading boy’s calf. The boy pretended to cry out dramatically.
Lin Song’an pulled Tan Ning, running toward the setting sun.
Tan Ning laughed out loud.
“You’re so childish, Lin Song’an!”
They didn’t know how far they ran, almost reaching the end of the beach. Not far away were colorful cottages adorned with small lights.
Lin Song’an turned around, one hand around Tan Ning’s waist, the other tidying Tan Ning’s long hair, then lowered his head to kiss him.
Tan Ning’s hands were hidden in his sleeves, gripping the hem of Lin Song’an’s clothes tightly.
The temperature difference between day and night by the sea was significant; the sea breeze became colder. Lin Song’an took Tan Ning to the market. In the southeast corner, there was a crowd of people. With nothing else to do, Lin Song’an went over to see what was happening.
The guy selling pineapple smoothies next to them told them, “We have a very spiritual Wishing Tree here. Many people line up every day to make wishes. You can buy wishing plaques over there.”
“Shall we get one?” Lin Song’an asked Tan Ning.
Since they had nothing else to do, and queuing could pass the time, Tan Ning nodded.
The wishing plaques had words like “Love,” “Studies,” “Health,” “Peace,” and so on. Lin Song’an wrote on a “Love” plaque and looked for Tan Ning in the crowd. Turning around, he saw Tan Ning holding a red wooden plaque with “Health” written on it, standing on tiptoe to hang it on the tree.
Lin Song’an wanted to help him, but he wouldn’t let him.
He used his hand to block, as if it were a secret he didn’t want to share.
Lin Song’an grumbled discontentedly, “Doesn’t Ning Ning want to be with me forever?”
But then he thought, “Health is good too. Ning Ning being healthy and safe all his life is what makes me happiest.”
Tan Ning silently hung up his plaque.
He didn’t believe in gods or Buddhas. Outside Xuan City No. 3 High School, there was a sacred tree. Every college entrance exam season, offerings filled the area in front of the tree, but Tan Ning never stopped there. But at this moment, standing under the red wooden plaques, he looked devout, hands clasped together.
“Wishing Tree, I’m not greedy. I only have one wish: please bless Lin Song’an with safety and health.”
He opened his eyes and looked up. The wind blew the wooden plaques, causing them to sway.
As more and more people gathered, Lin Song’an finally managed to escort Tan Ning out to a quiet place.
“Heaven only blesses the sincere. For little liars like you, Ning Ning, with sharp tongues and a habit of saying hurtful things while meaning the opposite, heaven won’t pay attention,” Lin Song’an teased him.
Tan Ning suddenly stopped, staring blankly at Lin Song’an.
Seeing him not moving, Lin Song’an asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”
“Won’t it really bless me?” Tan Ning asked seriously.
Lin Song’an was stunned.
Just as he was about to explain, Tan Ning suddenly ran back, squeezed into the crowd, found his own wooden plaque, and clasped his hands together again.
“Wishing Tree, I confess voluntarily. I told a lie today. Actually, it wasn’t a lie; I just didn’t tell the truth. Please forgive me.”
“Today, when Lin Song’an asked me if I like children, I wanted to answer.
“I wanted to say, if you like them, then I like them too.”
