UCTOOT CH147

◎ Hope to Always Have the Courage to Face Things Together. ◎

Modern Side Story: Hope to always have the courage to face things together

After returning to modern life and living for a while, the days regained their tranquility.

Once, Shi Shu was pulled into intensive training and couldn’t return to school temporarily. He stayed with his classmates in a dormitory school in the suburbs where the competition was held.

The intensive training was very strict, and the schedule was packed full. They could only look at their phones after training ended. Basically, by the time they got back to the dorms, it was already eight or nine in the evening. A group of exhausted boys would quickly shower and fall asleep immediately, having almost no energy to chat with anyone.

Shi Shu would message Xie Wuchi when he had a free moment. As a seeded player for the championship, he was watched closely by the coach. At night, after showering, he could lie in bed and talk to Xie Wuchi on the phone for a few minutes, often falling asleep mid-sentence.

That day, he happened to have half a day off, and Shi Shu received a text from Xie Wuchi.

“I’m off work, coming over to keep you company for a few days.”

It seemed he had just gotten off work and hadn’t slept well; his plane arrived in the afternoon. Shi Shu used his half-day off to pick him up at the airport. Seeing Xie Wuchi walk out of the terminal still wearing the suit he hadn’t taken off, with faint dark circles under his eyes from staying up late for several days.

Shi Shu, wearing a black training uniform, reached out to take Xie Wuchi’s suitcase and walked in front: “I only have half a day off. Did you pull an all-nighter last night? Go to my dorm and sleep for a while first.”

The sunlight shone on Shi Shu, who had been in military-style training for a week. His hair, which had been cut short, had grown out again, resting against his soft earlobes. He still looked very fair, his youthful vibrancy vivid and vigorous. Xie Wuchi hadn’t slept all night; with calm brows and eyes, he walked behind him, and they got on the bus together.

Shi Shu sat in the seat and naturally pulled Xie Wuchi to sit beside him: “Why did you come all this way specifically? I’m in intensive training right now; the living conditions aren’t very good.”

Xie Wuchi: “Haven’t seen you for almost ten days, wanted to come over.”

Shi Shu: “Then stay with me for two days. It should be fine as long as you don’t run around.”

Shi Shu unscrewed a bottle of mineral water for Xie Wuchi to drink. The sun made the inside of the bus stuffy and hot. When they finally arrived at the training ground, Shi Shu hurriedly pulled Xie Wuchi into the dormitory.

It was a room that wasn’t big or small, but its virtue lay in being clean and tidy. Shi Shu said: “Catch up on sleep, sleep for a few hours, and I’ll take you out to eat tonight. Did you have lunch?”

Xie Wuchi: “Haven’t eaten yet.”

Shi Shu went next door to ask a classmate for half a bundle of noodles and came back to cook them in a pot. Xie Wuchi ate a bit and then sat down on Shi Shu’s single bed.

Before he went to sleep, Shi Shu hurriedly made Xie Wuchi change out of that expensive suit and found a white T-shirt from his suitcase for him to wear first. Before Xie Wuchi slept, Shi Shu went to the female classmates’ dormitory building next door to ask for a few proper hangers to hang up Xie Wuchi’s clothes.

Having not seen Xie Wuchi for quite a while, Shi Shu naturally missed him very much. Xie Wuchi lay on the bed, his jet-black messy hair clinging to his ears, and held his hand too: “Did you miss me?”

Shi Shu: “Of course I missed you.”

“Are the photos I send you every day enough to look at?”

Since they started dating, Xie Wuchi placed great importance on communication between them. He sent selfies to Shi Shu before leaving the house every day, sent selfies when he arrived at the company, and sent them when he had lunch. Shi Shu had once been a bit straight-laced about it: “Why do you send me so many photos?”

Xie Wuchi looked at him for a few seconds and said indifferently: “Okay, if you don’t like it, I won’t send them anymore.”

Then, he really stopped sending them. After chatting dryly and dully for a few days, Shi Shu didn’t know Xie Wuchi’s schedule, didn’t know what environment he was in, and didn’t know Xie Wuchi’s whereabouts. He couldn’t hold back: “Brother Xie, what are you doing?”

Xie Wuchi: “Working.”

Shi Shu: “Let me see how you’re working.”

Xie Wuchi: “?”

Shi Shu: “Let gege see.”

Xie Wuchi didn’t pay him any attention and only replied more than an hour later: “In a meeting.”

Shi Shu felt played by him, so he had to take photos to send to him: training on the playground, having a cup of milk tea with his roommate and challenging who could finish it in a minute first, the class rejoicing over a classmate’s birthday. After sending them to Xie Wuchi, he saw his reply a long while later.

“Is something the matter with sending so many photos?”

Shi Shu immediately bristled and left school to find him. His boyfriend had just gotten off the elevator to the garage when Shi Shu went up and told him three bad jokes. He was pinched on the cheek and kissed by Xie Wuchi for a while before he was finally shown all the photos Xie Wuchi had hoarded over the past few days.

Shi Shu seemed to suddenly understand the significance of reporting in a relationship.

After that, Xie Wuchi told Shi Shu: “There isn’t a moment when I don’t want to see you.”

Since then, Shi Shu formed the habit of always including what he was doing when replying to messages, and Xie Wuchi would also send him photos. Now, Shi Shu said: “It’s okay, but compared to looking at photos, having you here in person is better.”

So, Xie Wuchi rushed through his schedule for the next few days, didn’t sleep, and arrived at Shi Shu’s training school overnight.

The conditions at the training ground were average, and life was simple. Shi Shu let Xie Wuchi sleep for a few hours first, took him out to eat at night, and after returning, they squeezed onto the relatively narrow steel-frame single bed. Shi Shu kissed him a few times, and was immediately held in his arms; dry wood and blazing fire ignited at the slightest touch.

However, the soundproofing of the room was very poor. Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi could only suppress their sounds and kissed for a long time.

Shi Shu’s heart felt compressed as if it were very, very small.

At that time, he felt that he truly liked Xie Wuchi very much.

Xie Wuchi stayed in Shi Shu’s small training room for a few days. Going out to wash up in the morning gave the classmates a jump scare. Wearing a neat white T-shirt, tall in stature, with eyes that looked at people as if looking at dogs and an air of nobility, his long legs walking out of the door indifferently—he seemed out of place with the school’s white walls and grey buildings. It scared the classmate into retreating four or five steps.

The classmate questioned Shi Shu: “Someone’s here with you? Your friend?”

Shi Shu was also preparing to go to the hot water room to wash up: “What’s wrong?”

“Thought a girlfriend was visiting. Boring.” The boy turned and walked away.

Shi Shu: “…”

There are still more heterosexuals in this world.

Shi Shu had been to Xie Wuchi’s company to see the game they had originally transmigrated into. Sure enough, in a huge project group, the technical team, art team, and writing team had completed this game together. It was just that because the technical team used more advanced AI technology, the game evolved partial self-awareness at the time, but it was currently under control and incorporated into a more confidential, even military-use project.

Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi could recall ancient times at any time. Meanwhile, in the art team’s database, Shi Shu discovered the character design drawings of Pei Wenqing, Lin Yangchun, Song Sinan, and even Laifu.

As long as they were paired with CG and AI big data analysis, they could freely converse with people using their character settings.

When Shi Shu stared at these data models in the office building, he shouted repeatedly: “Pei Wenqing, Doctor Lin, Song Sinan!…”

They lived consistently within the data packets.

Pei Wenqing was under the red maples and autumn leaves of that courtyard, a thin green shirt draped over his shoulders. The man of about thirty was refined and sickly, reaching out to stroke Laifu’s head, repeatedly tapping chess pieces on the crisscrossing stone board.

Lin Yangchun had a small mustache and wore a gauze headscarf. He walked back and forth in the pharmacy where light and shadow floated, reciting prescriptions, occasionally reaching out to fiddle with the medicinal herbs on the wooden shelf, revealing a contented smile.

Song Sinan was wrapping bandages around his wrist circle by circle, standing up sternly. The dagger sheathed with a cold glint, he stood among the reeds of Yandang facing the cold wind of the north, the very image of a resilient youth.

When Shi Shu looked at the CG animations with emotion, the head of the writing team told him: “Their self-awareness is very interesting. Everyone sticks to their own position, so after the storm of blood and rain receded, civilization was actually glimpsed from the dust of history.”

Shi Shu specially brought Du Zihan over to watch with him. Du Zihan desperately clicked on Song Sinan’s dialogue box with the mouse regardless of everything: “Sinan! Sinan! I’m willing to watch a one-minute ad to resurrect you! No, ten minutes! One hour!”

Shi Shu held back his grief and persuaded him: “Zihan, don’t be like this! Life must go on—”

But the next second, Shi Shu also saw Laifu’s image and hugged the computer, heartbroken: “Laifu! Laifu! Laifu!”

“Sinan!”

“Laifu!”

“Sinan!”

“Laifu!”

Laifu’s data packet was transferred out separately by Xie Wuchi and made into an App for Shi Shu to raise as an electronic pet. Du Zihan almost brought paper money to the company to burn, but the weather was nice that day. Just as Zihan was crying over the grave, a young male voice actor came in from outside the door and asked: “Is there a schedule today? Why is there no one in the recording studio?”

The copywriter stood up in a panic: “Sorry, sorry, Teacher Xiao Nan. Our project was just bought by a big shot. Forgot to notify you. After today, you don’t need to come to the recording studio.”

Xiao Nan: “?”

The voice actor at the door was only twenty years old, a broadcasting major at Capital Media University, selected as the VA for the young general Song Sinan. The boy was tall and thin, handsome and roguish, with a look of impatience between his brows. He was just about to leave.

Du Zihan, with mixed grief and joy, shouted fiercely: “Stand still!”

Xiao Nan: “What are you doing? Shouting so loud?”

Du Zihan: “Can you shout ‘Du Zihan’ with an angry voice!”

Xiao Nan: “Psycho?”

Before Shi Shu could react, Du Zihan rushed up to ask for contact information. Only then did he realize, you guys even modeled the characters after the voice actors?

The war game’s launch was suspended, and the data packets were permanently sealed.

The only people in this world who possessed that magnificent memory were Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi. Perhaps, that shouldn’t be called a memory at all. Rather, the two of them possessed the unique privilege of traveling through time and space, possessing two lives simultaneously.

The sun set in the west, a patch of autumn grass rustled, and a thin layer of autumn frost formed on the grass.

Laifu circled over the grave. The grave was covered with wild chrysanthemums; this was Pei Wenqing’s grave. He had no father, no children, and few friends. Even the Changyang Xu clan of Hedong Academy was slaughtered during the time when the Central Plains fell into chaos. Therefore, the vegetation on the grave was very deep and lush, giving it a somewhat gloomy and cold feeling.

Shi Shu stood on the grave cutting wild grass: “Why did the writing team have to write Pei Wenqing to death? I really can’t stand these authors who like to hand out knives (tragedy). I’ll send them razor blades some other day to make them behave.”

Xie Wuchi raised his eyes, his long fingers pushing aside branches: “I offer my blood to the Yellow Emperor; bloodshed is necessary.”

Shi Shu cut the grass with swish swish sounds, and seeing a round grave mound revealed, he jumped down. He bought roast goose for Pei Wenqing, but as soon as he put it down, Laifu snatched a piece and ate it, his tail wagging back and forth.

“Hey? Don’t eat it, spit it out!” Shi Shu wanted to dig into Laifu’s throat, but suddenly thought of something and paused his hand: “Forget it, Little Pei spoiled you the most, he definitely fed it to you.”

Shi Shu poured a pot of wine, hung the sickle at his waist, and walked away along the mountain path with Xie Wuchi, gradually going further.

“Why did the world collapse as soon as you became the ruler of the world?”

“It’s a hegemony game; conquering the globe is the game’s destiny. Maybe the follow-up on governing the world hasn’t been written yet; have to urge the project team to make a few more DLCs.”

“Equivalent to a story extra?”

“Perhaps?” Xie Wuchi said.

They entered a thatched cottage together. A newly opened tavern, flags fluttering in the wind.

Shi Shu lay on the wide bench, tossing the money from his bundle up and catching it in his hand: “So now, the follow-up plot hasn’t been deduced yet, what do we do?”

Xie Wuchi was lifting a teacup, clear water rippling in the cup. He didn’t even lift his eyes: “Didn’t you say, private visits in disguise. Walking the story to completion step by step.”

“Great,” Shi Shu sprang up like a carp, “Then can we not walk? Can we both ride horses? Walking like we’re on a pilgrimage to the West is too tiring.”

Xie Wuchi: “Okay.”

Shi Shu used his fingertips to hook Xie Wuchi’s sleeve. He didn’t stand steady and hooked several times before catching it, sitting beside him with a smile, getting closer and closer to him while drinking and eating.

Xie Wuchi: “If you like, you can sit directly on my lap, I don’t mind.”

If it were before, Shi Shu would probably be shy and flustered, but now, he placed his hand on Xie Wuchi’s hand to stroke it, and while the shopkeeper wasn’t looking, leaned in and gently kissed him on the lips.

“Spring has started?”

Shi Shu stretched and smiled: “I’ve been in a very good mood recently, plus you have time to accompany me out of the palace. Handsome guys are indeed a great tonic.”

Xie Wuchi held his hand back, whispering softly, “Where do you want to use me to nourish you?”

No good, sure enough, he couldn’t win against him verbally. Shi Shu turned his head and saw the shopkeeper looking at them too, and hurriedly begged for mercy: “Alright, alright, just a joke. I passed a music house a few days ago, the soliciting servant told me if I had a headache or fever, or felt unwell, looking at beauties and listening to songs could be a great tonic.”

While eating, Shi Shu already sensed Xie Wuchi wanted to “nourish” him, so after eating, he hurriedly ran towards the city. Right now, they were in the middle of desolate mountains and wilds. Shi Shu hadn’t run a few steps when he was pulled and leaned against an elm tree. Xie Wuchi said: “Clarify, how to nourish.”

Shi Shu: “Starting taboo topics again, are we?”

Xie Wuchi: “Use my—”

Those two words weren’t spoken. Shi Shu quickly covered his lips, fingertips touching the bridge of his nose, feeling a burst of warm breath.

The shade of the tree was dappled. When Shi Shu let go, Xie Wuchi said: “Or use yours?”

When Shi Shu came back to his senses, two figures overlapped under the tree, kissing for a long time without realizing it.

Xie Wuchi’s emotions were very stable when they were stable.

In his own words: “When I’m in a good mood, I also give people a pleasant look.”

But when Xie Wuchi was in a bad mood, he killed enemies if there were enemies, and killed himself (metaphorically/self-destructive) if there were none.

When he was in a good mood, he was brought home by Shi Shu to play horror survival games with Shi Shu’s friends. Tang Hui knew how to handle things and shouted respectfully in the speaker: “Sister-in-law Bro.”

Shi Shu’s hand holding the mouse paused instantly: “No, what?”

Xie Wuchi sat behind Shi Shu, almost embracing him in his arms, his chin resting on his shoulder, broken hair covering the depths of his jet-black eyes. He long knew that Shi Shu was actually a ‘cute girl’ (coward) who would throw the keyboard and close his eyes as soon as he saw a real ghost, and laughed softly.

In the team, there were originally two other girls, and everyone was chatting happily on mic. Shi Shu’s voice was also quite pleasant, and one could vaguely feel that people wanted to talk to Shi Shu.

Tang Hui hesitated for two seconds and changed his address: “Young Madam?”

柏墨 (Bai Mo) had always been honored as the Guild Leader, and Shi Shu as the Young Guild Leader. In high school, Shi Shu bore this title, losing his real name for three years. Usually, when begging Bai Mo to assign less homework, it all relied on pushing Shi Shu forward. Shi Shu often stood up in the classroom inexplicably.

At these times, Bai Mo usually had only one sentence: “Go stand in the back!” Shi Shu: “…” Righteousness extinguishing kin.

Shi Shu: “Who are you calling?”

“Yeah,” the girls on the same team also asked, “Who are you calling?”

At this moment, Xie Wuchi finally opened his golden mouth: “Any other titles? Say a few more for me to pick from.”

Tang Hui immediately felt an indescribable sense of oppression. Hey! This brother’s tone was extremely condescending, but why did it make people want to obey?

Tang Hui hesitated: “Then what about… Shi, Sister-in-law Shi (Shi Sao)?”

Shi Shu: “?”

Girls: “?”

Shi Shu’s ears and neck were clean and fair, with faint breath falling on his skin. The competition on the screen straight ahead began. Players crossed heavy checkpoints through abandoned buildings and needed to clear the level within a certain time, but halfway through, ferocious demon NPCs would appear to suddenly attack the players. Eerie music had already sounded faintly.

Just as Shi Shu was about to focus on the game, he heard Xie Wuchi’s breathy sound by his ear, giving an “En,” accepting this title.

I give up.

Shi Shu hesitated to speak but didn’t turn his head; high probability he’d get kissed. However, just as Shi Shu prepared to concentrate on playing the game, his ear was still kissed.

But Xie Wuchi’s gentleness was actually quite limited.

Shi Shu occasionally heard Xie Wuchi answer phone calls, having very low tolerance for some low-level mistakes, using a calm tone: “Go hand over your work, you’re not suitable.”

Basically, he rarely gave people a pleasant face. Part of it was his nature, but living for twenty-something years, it was a social feedback mechanism he adopted when dealing with the outside world; giving fewer pleasant looks maximized the maintenance of his status.

He also rarely got angry in front of Shi Shu, mainly afraid of scaring him.

That relatively unexpected incident happened at the end of the semester. Deep in winter, Shi Shu was busy with make-up classes during finals week. After Christmas, Xie Wuchi returned abroad to stay with his family. Shi Shu kept hanging out with his roommates, a group of people staying up late every day to rush through knowledge points, joking around, and gathering to discuss games.

Shi Shu would message or call Xie Wuchi when he was free, but he also received Xie Wuchi’s replies.

Shi Shu hadn’t moved out of the dorm to live with him yet; hadn’t passed the family hurdle. He was busy reviewing for finals and checking Xie Wuchi’s messages every day, noticing there were fewer than before. He thought Xie Wuchi was being very considerate not to disturb his studies during finals week. On the way home after the exams, he finally reread the chat history of nearly a week from beginning to end.

Summarizing it, sometimes the messages were frequent, sometimes relatively cold. However, when he was frequent, Shi Shu didn’t catch up, and when he was cold, Shi Shu didn’t question it.

As soon as Shi Shu got off the plane, he made a video call. A moment later, Xie Wuchi answered in a quiet place, with the sound of music coming from not far away.

Through the lens, Shi Shu saw fine snow drifting outside the window. Xie Wuchi, in a well-ironed suit, was leaning against the sofa in front of the fireplace, pale light resting on the bridge of his nose, watching the snow with him.

“I’m on break. When are you coming back?” Shi Shu asked.

Xie Wuchi: “Have to wait a few more days, there’s still a wedding to attend.”

Shi Shu heard the other side be quiet for a while before saying this sentence. Actually, growing up, Shi Shu had never been in a relationship. He saw classmates dating in high school, and roommates dating in university. The roommates had to admit, there were quite a few heartless scumbags. The university was worthy of its reputation (implying a university with good looking/popular guys); they were quite good to friends, laughing like idiots doing abstract things all day, but basically, they had been chased since childhood and were very smart about girls or pursuers.

Using the cold shoulder, dating several at once, cheating without psychological burden, even if they didn’t like them much, if the girl was pretty, they could date a bit. For example, when playing games together, if a girlfriend called, the roommates wouldn’t answer, throwing the phone on the table impatiently. And they were all neurotics who needed their partners to coax them.

So the roommates’ partners changed very quickly; Shi Shu basically never recognized them clearly. When they dated, they could easily say, “I like you,” mass-sending it to several people. If they broke up, they generally didn’t mind and could find a new one very quickly.

Shi Shu was different. Every time Xie Wuchi called, if it was convenient, he would answer immediately. If he couldn’t answer, he would send a voice message, saying while looking at the screen: “Wait ten minutes or so, I’ll call you back.”

Roommates would definitely tease: “Tsk tsk tsk, how much do you like that boyfriend of yours?”

“That boyfriend of yours is indeed handsome. If it were me, I’d date seriously too.” “Isn’t it annoying being clingy every day?”

Shi Shu: “Did I provoke you guys? Leave me alone.”

Then he would immediately go to the bathroom to return the call, listening to Xie Wuchi get jealous saying “My turn?”, every time Xie Wuchi got jealous, Shi Shu couldn’t help finding it funny.

He liked Xie Wuchi very much.

Liking is a precious emotion, like moonlight shining on the body. He also knew Xie Wuchi cared about him and liked him, so he often got jealous over harmless things, having eight hundred moods a day. Love is hardly ever plain. Shi Shu didn’t rely on inertia but seriously appreciated him and liked him every day.

Hearing that Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi were dating, his parents specially pulled him for a small meeting. Bai Mo told him: To maintain a relationship for a long time, you must love him every day like the first day you fell in love with him, instead of gradually muddling through because of your own laziness. This way, there won’t be a situation where you fall out of love or the gap becomes too big to salvage, leading to a breakup.

Shi Lun chimed in from the side: That’s right. Before establishing a relationship, you need to love with your heart. After establishing a relationship, it doesn’t mean you can just muddle through. You see, many men are the type who are deeply affectionate simps before chasing, but greasy and obtuse after chasing. He thinks the other party belongs to him, so he stops treating her well seriously.

Bai Mo said: Regardless of whether you are with a boy or a girl, you must love people consistently as if it were one day. This is the secret to happiness.

Shi Lun said: Mainly because you are still young. Isn’t Xiao Xie your first love? You can date like this for once. By the way, your mom is also my first love.

Shi Shu: …I knew long ago that Mom is your first love.

Dad and Mom loved each other very much, so there was Baby Xiao Shu.

Shi Shu sensed that Xie Wuchi’s mood wasn’t quite right: “What’s wrong with you?”

Xie Wuchi whispered: “Went home and met a lot of relatives, a bit tired.”

Shi Shu: “Then do you want to chat with me? I’m on winter break and home now, have nothing to do. I’ll get on the subway later. Have you been good these past few days? I didn’t have internet on the plane just now, reviewed all our chat history from these past few days.”

When Shi Shu was free for a day, he would scroll through the phone album, the family group, or Xie Wuchi’s chat history, ruminating on them.

Xie Wuchi’s voice was very low, with a bit of hoarseness: “Any new discoveries?”

Shi Shu said: “Why did you suddenly send ‘Baby’ on Friday night, and then stopped talking? And on Saturday, who is the back view in that photo?”

Xie Wuchi: “My dad. Called me out to walk with him in the morning, exercise to expel toxic gas. His recent values, aside from physical health, are indifferent to everything else.”

Shi Shu: “Are you two harmonious?”

“Not really.”

Shi Shu dragged his suitcase and followed the hurried crowd into the subway door: “What are you doing now?”

Xie Wuchi: “Cocktail party. Just passed New Year, lots of cocktail parties. Why, is it noisy there?”

“Not noisy,” Shi Shu leaned against the subway, “It’s a bit noisy on my end, can you hear me clearly?”

“So-so.”

Shi Shu: “Wait for me to put on headphones. How many days until you return?”

“Wait a few more days, my mom’s birthday hasn’t passed yet.”

Xie Wuchi’s voice was very pleasant. Just as Shi Shu put on headphones, on the other side, a waiter in a suit appeared at the end of the wide carpet, bowing to Xie Wuchi, using polite standard smiles and elegant foreign language to say that someone outside wanted to meet him.

Xie Wuchi turned his face, paused for a second and told Shi Shu: “I’m going to handle something.”

After that, he hung up the video call.

Shi Shu looked down at his phone, his handsome face reflected on the subway window glass. After recalling for a few seconds, he opened another APP, and a list of large amounts of English and numbers appeared on the screen.

Thinking for another two seconds, Shi Shu dialed Du Zihan’s number.

“An arrow piercing the clouds, Zihan comes to meet.”

Du Zihan: “Here! Zihan is here. Aren’t you going home? Arrived?”

Shi Shu: “No, my English is no good, help me look at something.”

“You found the right person. My English is especially good, My name is Du Zihan. Do you know how much I scored on Level 6?” Du Zihan looked at the interface he screenshotted, “Are you going abroad?”

Shi Shu: “I want to go find Xie Wuchi.”

“There’s a translate page button next to it, press it. Didn’t you go abroad with Brother Xie before? Find him, he’ll arrange it for you with one phone call.”

Shi Shu: “A bit passive…” He most likely wouldn’t let me come.

Shi Shu said directly: “I want to learn how to go abroad. Once I learn, I can do it myself.”

“Alright,” Du Zihan told him roughly about the situation, taught him how to read navigation, and wrote a memo for Shi Shu, “Okay, from now on I won’t answer any of your questions. Teaching people doesn’t work, experience teaches once and you learn. Eighteen is exactly the age to venture out.”

Shi Shu looked at the memo and called his parents to briefly report his itinerary.

Shi Lun and Bai Mo were a bit surprised but agreed: “Go, go. Mom and Dad plan to travel around the world after retirement. You get familiar with the process first, take Mom and Dad out to play later.”

After Shi Shu went home, he took a shower first, took a few clothes, and went out to take a taxi to the airport. It was impossible to say there was no unease in his heart. This was Shi Shu’s first time running so far, transferring flights by himself, observing everything around him in the sea of people, then sitting on a plane for dozens of hours, until the second of landing.

Shi Shu was freezing to death when he left the terminal. Fortunately, his family was messaging to ask about his situation, so he calmed down a bit. After looking at the message sent by Xie Wuchi, he took a taxi to his home.

After a night’s flight, it was almost night when he arrived. The sky was dark blue, and heavy snow was falling continuously. In the passing streets, Christmas trees were placed in front of every house, hung with gifts, with thin snowflakes on the treetops.

Shi Shu got off the car, brewed for a few minutes and said “Thank you.” The driver raised an eyebrow and cracked a joke with him. Shi Shu didn’t understand anyway, and amidst hearty laughter, the driver drove away in the snowy night.

Shi Shu looked at the itinerary again, preparing to walk a bit further. There were messages from Xie Wuchi on his phone. He hadn’t replied for so long, Xie Wuchi was obviously a bit concerned, calling several times, but he didn’t receive them on the plane.

Thinking about what would happen in at most half an hour, Shi Shu couldn’t help wanting to laugh.

However, just as he passed a platform, he didn’t expect to meet the person ahead of time.

Under the eaves on the steps, stood two or three people. All were tall. One middle-aged man was smoking. A step or two beside him, Xie Wuchi stood there in a thin knitted cardigan, staring indifferently straight ahead.

The middle-aged man spoke to him with a peaceful expression. The two didn’t chat much. Instead, in the blink of an eye, Shi Shu walked to a conspicuous place.

Xie Wuchi’s gaze froze. The two looked at each other in the snow.

Shi Shu’s face, originally cold, turned red. unable to help laughing, he squatted on the ground. When Xie Wuchi walked towards him, Shi Shu was instantly a bit awkward. The two stayed in this posture for a few seconds.

Shi Shu spoke first: “No need to thank me (pun on Xie). I came by myself.”

Xie Wuchi grabbed his hat and lifted him up: “How far did you walk?”

Shi Shu: “Not far, just got off the taxi.”

Xie Wuchi brushed the snow off his body for him: “Flight of over twenty hours?”

Shi Shu: “Yes, but I’ve sat before. When I went to another province, I took that green train, lay in the sleeper for two days and two nights.”

Xie Wuchi held his hand: “Hungry? Take you to eat.”

Shi Shu saw the middle-aged man standing nearby. He smoked halfway, extinguished it, and threw it into the trash can. His expression was very plain. Someone in black came to measure his blood pressure. He looked at the data monitor and said a moment later: “Good, boyfriend came?”

Xie Wuchi: “Yes, won’t accompany you for the walk. I’m taking him to eat something.”

Shi Shu paused, too late to greet him, having walked far away with Xie Wuchi. The snow crunched underfoot. Xie Wuchi put on his coat. Shi Shu sat on the bench by the tree-lined avenue. Looked left and right: “So what did you mean by calling me Baby on Friday night and then not talking?”

Xie Wuchi chuckled softly: “What do you think it meant?”

Shi Shu: “I… I don’t know either.”

Shi Shu looked at him. Talking face to face was different from online dating after all. Shi Shu’s fingers were ice cold, letting Xie Wuchi hold them in his palm. He paused and said: “It meant I missed you. But you had an exam the next day, and I didn’t want you to miss me too much to the point of not being able to sleep.”

“Speak straight in the future,” Shi Shu said.

Xie Wuchi stroked his face: “You’ve been thinking back on it for these two days?”

Shi Shu: “Definitely wondered what was up with you. And, I guessed it when you hung up that day.”

Xie Wuchi: “Guessed what?”

“…”

Shi Shu couldn’t say it.

His fingers curled a bit, seeming to recall something. Xie Wuchi lowered his head closer: “Because I didn’t say, ‘Baby be good,’ right?”

Fuck. Shi Shu really couldn’t stand Xie Wuchi talking like this, turning his face away: “Did you just say you’d take me to eat?”

Xie Wuchi: “Kiss twice first, okay?”

Getting polite now.

Shi Shu raised his chin slightly, his side profile cupped by his hands. The next second, lips touched and kissed gently. After Shi Shu adapted, the skin on his ears and neck was rubbed hot. Xie Wuchi clasped his face from the ears, changing from a skimming kiss to a biting deep kiss. Subsequently, prying open the teeth, tongue tips entangled carnally.

Shi Shu’s mind went blank, hugged into his arms again, a hand running through his hair to secure his head. Xie Wuchi’s kiss was as erotic as ever, the soft sound of nose breathing and one or two intermittent gasps could be heard.

“Miss me?”

Shi Shu heard the wet sound of licking, and nodded lightly.

Xie Wuchi: “I missed you very much too.”

Shi Shu was lifted onto Xie Wuchi’s lap. Hearing his voice, he only felt his whole body start to heat up.

A moment later, he heard Xie Wuchi say: “Really want to do it with you out in the wild.”

“…”

Shi Shu’s blurred thoughts instantly cleared, and he was kissed again, “Mn, I know we can’t.”

Deliberately saying such things to stimulate him again. The snow fell denser and denser, landing on hair and collars. The surrounding woods gave a chilling feeling. Shi Shu was kissed by Xie Wuchi for a while longer, stood up, and returned to the villa along the tree-lined avenue. This was his father’s property here.

The house was much warmer; floor heating was installed in Xie Wuchi’s room. Shi Shu was a bit tired from the long-haul flight. After eating and washing up, he sat on the bed. Xie Wuchi also came in, wearing thin cashmere pajamas, and closed the door.

Shi Shu watched Xie Wuchi approach. He held a glass of warm water in his hand, went to the bedside, opened the drawer, and dug out many bottles and jars of medicine boxes.

After pouring them out, he took two pills with warm water.

Shi Shu was messaging his family, sat up: “What is this?”

“Medicine. Staying with them, mood isn’t very good.”

“Xie Wuchi.”

“You feel the fog covering up, the dampness makes one uncomfortable. In this environment, mental strength starts to weaken.” Xie Wuchi lifted the quilt and got into bed. After the two got in, the bed became warmer.

Shi Shu paused for two seconds, moved forward, hooked his arm around Xie Wuchi’s shoulder, and hugged him.

Shi Shu asked: “Is it easy to relapse?”

Xie Wuchi: “No, I just don’t want to fall into a worse situation.”

Shi Shu thought and asked: “What harm will it do if you are like this?”

“Purely bad mood, so I’m afraid my emotions will be unstable, and in a corner I didn’t notice, I might stab you.”

Shi Shu rested his head on the soft pillow, looked at Xie Wuchi for a long time, and reached out to stroke his face gently.

Leaning closer, Shi Shu kissed his lips.

Waking up the next day, the snow outside the window had long stopped. Thin snow caps piled on the treetops in the woods. Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi went to the hospital. Actually, this was just an insignificant interlude in their long time together. The sun was quite nice, shining on the sculptures in the square.

Shi Shu sat on the bench waiting for him to come out. Moments later, pushing open the door, Xie Wuchi held a stack of thick medical records in his hand.

Walking out together, taking the heavy medical records, the sunlight made one feel warm all over.

Shi Shu held his hand, throwing the medical record sheets into the back seat: “Actually, if you don’t like taking medicine and seeing doctors, being like this is fine too.”

Because I like you very much, so for many things, I want to bear them with you.

Plane tickets booked, about to go see Norwegian Wood (forests).

Shi Shu stood on the mountaintop in a ski suit, continuous snow-capped mountains behind him. He pushed up his ski goggles with his knuckles, pushed back with the ski poles in his hands, and his figure sped smoothly down the slope. Fine snow flew up from behind, accompanied by a joyous “Woo-hoo!”

Xie Wuchi sat under the parasol by the wooden house drinking coffee and reading. Shi Shu’s athletic cells naturally yielded to no one. After exercising for a bit, he slid down a slope, nearly completing a flip.

Didn’t complete it. Shi Shu climbed up from the snow pile, returned to the slope, preparing to try again.

——A person who he could play with all day.

Just seeing him made his heart warm.

Very lucky today, the sun was very bright, no blizzard weather. After Shi Shu was tired of playing, the two walked back to the wooden house not far outside the village. At this time, the weather began to turn bad. Days in Norway are very short, and winter sunlight is even scarcer. Seeing the sky start to turn grey, although it was afternoon, night was coming soon.

The wooden house was protected by a fence. Inside the gate, drought-resistant coniferous forests were planted, deep green contrasting with the snowy day. A large floor-to-ceiling window was installed in the wooden house, and the interior decoration was warm and comfortable. After entering, Shi Shu sat by the fireplace. Separated by a few sofas and wooden railings, Xie Wuchi opened the refrigerator to prepare dinner.

When night fell, through the huge floor-to-ceiling window, snowflakes fluttered down, quickly covering the surrounding sounds.

Silence in the wooden house. Shi Shu was really too tired from skiing; sitting on the sofa, he actually felt a bit sleepy.

After putting the lamb chops in the oven, Xie Wuchi sat beside Shi Shu. Flames danced in the fireplace.

He was reading a collection of poems. Shi Shu slept for ten minutes or so and woke up again. Looking up at the overwhelming snow outside the floor-to-ceiling window, it seemed ready to overturn the world right there.

Shi Shu couldn’t sit still, preparing to find something fun in the room. Apart from the projector to watch TV, there were no other entertainment items.

Finally, Shi Shu had to sit back beside Xie Wuchi: “Keep you company for two more days, then go home okay? Mom and Dad are still waiting for us for New Year.”

Xie Wuchi: “How is staying here?”

Shi Shu: “As a trip, I think it’s not bad.”

Xie Wuchi: “So you don’t like it much, but you still stayed with me for a while.”

“I wanted to know what kind of life you live alone.” Shi Shu lowered his head, leaning close to see the book in Xie Wuchi’s hand, “What’s written?”

“Fire: Rumi’s Lyrical Poems, writing ‘Love is a game for the brave’, love can only happen, not be learned.”

Shi Shu: “Huh? Isn’t this similar to me constantly reminding myself to be braver in ancient times?”

Xie Wuchi turned his face, sitting beside Shi Shu, unable to help revealing a smile.

“Mn, hope we always have the courage to face things together.”

–【Extras End】–

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