Chapter 96: Small Town 2

Chapter 96: Small Town 2

"In the dead of night, you dragged me to this deserted riverbank. Are you planning to commit a crime of passion?" Gu Jiabei looked around, only to see dark silhouettes of trees, not even a bird in sight.

"Isn't this atmosphere romantic?" Yun He faced Gu Jiabei with a grin. "It's pitch black and windy – perfect for a spontaneous encounter."

"You want to play that game?" Gu Jiabei stepped closer to Yun He, pushing him against a tree behind.

Yun He quickly placed his hands on Gu Jiabei's firm pectorals to prevent any further closeness, fearing an unintended spark between them. "Stop joking around."

"Not what you wanted?" Gu Jiabei tilted his head, looking at Yun He.

"I... we can talk about it next time we have a chance..." Yun He didn't want the young boss lurking nearby, witnessing their outdoor intimacy.

"The timing isn't right now?"

"Wrong!" Yun He declared firmly.

"So you didn't drag me here to discuss stars, moon, poetry, literature, life goals, and aspirations, did you?" Gu Jiabei lowered his head slightly, rubbing his forehead against Yun He's cheek, his lips barely grazing Yun He's skin.

"Don't... please respect yourself..." Yun He felt his blood boil under Gu Jiabei's deliberate advances, so he could only push the man away desperately. He began to regret calling the young boss over.

Gu Jiabei hesitated for a moment, speculating, "Role-playing? Want me to overpower you?"

In the meantime, two others were watching them from a distance, their eyes locked in a cold stare.

"They're... so close to each other..." The young boss's voice trembled slightly, and his gaze on Lai Bao wavered.

"Yeah, they're practically glued together." Lai Bao maintained a cold expression. "Brother Xiaochuan, when are we going to set off the fireworks? I'm getting tired."

Feeling a bit guilty, He Chuan replied, "Let's wait a bit more. He said he'll give me a signal – when he points to the sky, that's when we can start."

Lai Bao glanced at the entangled couple under the tree, then at He Chuan, and remained silent.

"I actually have something to tell you," Yun He said, still pressed against the tree trunk, but with a serious tone.

Gu Jiabei raised an eyebrow. "Is there anything you can't say in bed? Does the echo by the river sound better?"

"I'm not joking around. Can't you be serious for once?" Yun He was already nervous, and Gu Jiabei's playful remarks only made his face involuntarily stiffen.

Gu Jiabei straightened up, looking at Yun He, "What do you want to say?"

Yun He reached into his pants pocket, fumbling around for a while before extending his tightly clenched fist in front of Gu Jiabei, "This... I want to give it to you."

Yun He slowly opened his fist, revealing two woven grass rings in his palm.

"Grass rings?" Gu Jiabei had a guess in his heart, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, but he quickly suppressed it.

Yun He stammered, "Um... these are... engagement rings."

"You're proposing to me with grass rings? And these were even made this afternoon when I learned how to weave them from someone," Gu Jiabei chuckled helplessly, "Yun He, there's no such thing as getting something for nothing, but you really took that phrase too literally."

"I can't help it, I'm just hopeless at crafting. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't learn it. I wanted to make them myself, but I just don't have the skill, listen to my excuse," Yun He complained pitifully.

"You're just making excuses."

"I did order a pair of rings, but that stupid vendor sent them to the wrong address. I still haven't received them yet," Yun He said indignantly, "So unreliable, they're messing with my life-changing moment!"

"So you planned on marrying me with two pieces of grass?" Gu Jiabei teased.

"And my unwavering love," Yun He held Gu Jiabei's hand and placed it against his pounding heart, gazing at the captivatingly handsome Gu Jiabei under the moonlight. He said earnestly, "Baby Gu, would you be willing to have only me in your eyes and heart from now on?"

Gu Jiabei chuckled. "Isn't it the other way around? You're the one proposing, so shouldn't you be the one promising to have only me in your eyes and heart?"

"I have more than just my eyes and heart set on you," Yun He leaned closer to Gu Jiabei, blushing. "You're the only one within me, too."

Yun He pushed his palm closer to Gu Jiabei's face. "Then, will you take this ring?"

Gu Jiabei extended his left hand, his tone a bit playful. "Back when you gave me the watch, you clearly said you'd buy a huge diamond ring to marry me someday. Yet, here we are—"

Yun He promptly slipped the woven ring onto Gu Jiabei's left ring finger. "Here, it's all yours. The ring and my life, both."

Gu Jiabei laughed upon hearing that. He pinched the other grass ring between his fingertips and looked into Yun He's eyes with his enchanting peach blossom gaze. "Do you know what my third wish was for my seventeenth birthday?"

Yun He shook his head.

Gu Jiabei slid the ring onto Yun He's finger, inch by inch. "I hoped that the person by my side on every future birthday…" He cupped Yun He's face and leaned in, his voice soft. "Would be named Yun He."

Gu Jiabei pressed Yun He back against the tree, their fingers intertwining tightly. Their hearts echoed as they kissed, sealing their love for one another, their beloved.

Behind the tree, He Chuan was deeply shaken by the intimate kiss he witnessed. Unconsciously, he took a step back but bumped into a solid chest.

"Brother Xiaochuan, is this what you meant by something I don't understand?" Lai Bao's deep voice brushed past He Chuan's ear, causing his ears to flush and his heart to tremble slightly. He dared not turn around to meet Lai Bao's gaze.

"I..."

"Aren't you going to light the fireworks yet?"

"He... hasn't given the signal..." He Chuan swallowed nervously.

Lai Bao chuckled softly. "Do you really think he has the mind for that now?"

He Chuan, still dazed, glanced back at the couple beneath the tree. Their kiss had become more passionate, their hands no longer interlocked but exploring each other's bodies, leaving no room for any signal pointing towards the sky.

Just as He Chuan was about to speak, Lai Bao had already walked to where the fireworks were placed. With a flick of his wrist, he lit them all up efficiently.

In an instant, a myriad of vibrant fireworks raced towards the night sky, striving to illuminate the surrounding darkness with their dazzling glow.

As they exploded, hearts filled the heavens.

Fireworks illuminated the sky, and stars shimmered brilliantly.

Lovers embraced, their intimacy too beautiful for words.

"I prepared this surprise for you, even though it might be a bit cliché—" Yun He panted, gently parting their lips.

"Remember when you promised to give me a sky full of hearts?" Gu Jiabei looked up at the heavens, his eyes bright and moist. The fireworks reflected in his dark irises, forming heart shapes that made him emotionally unable to resist leaning down to kiss Yun He again. "You kept that promise after all."

"Mmm...hn..." Unable to respond to the kiss, Yun He could only utter fragmented sounds from his throat.

He Chuan watched the passionate embrace, quickly turning around to leave. "Lai Bao, let's go... home." Without waiting for a response, he stumbled forward, his steps hurried as if he couldn't bear to stay another moment.

Silently following behind He Chuan, Lai Bao observed the ongoing dazzling display of fireworks in the sky. They walked down an empty, quiet road.

After turning into an old alley, Lai Bao suddenly stepped forward, grabbing He Chuan's wrist and pulling him close. With one hand on He Chuan's shoulder, he pressed him firmly against the wall.

"Lai Bao..." Startled, He Chuan lifted his head, meeting Lai Bao's gaze.

Trapped between Lai Bao's towering frame and the wall, He Chuan felt a wordless sense of constraint within the embrace.

"Brother, you already knew about their relationship?" Lai Bao's voice was low, his gaze filled with curiosity.

He Chuan frantically shook his head. "No... I didn't expect them to be so, so..." Struggling to find the right words, he stammered, "In love..."

"In love?" Lai Bao lowered his head even more, his dark and profound eyes fixated on He Chuan. "Brother, do you like men?"

He Chuan was completely flustered. Pushing away the heat-emitting Lai Bao, he felt an uncontrollable flush. "Don't talk nonsense. You... move aside, aren't you tired... hurry home."

He Chuan tried his best to push past the person in front of him, but despite his efforts, Lai Bao, standing at a towering height of 1.75 meters, remained steadfast. His unreadable eyes observed He Chuan's struggle, like a trapped rabbit desperately trying to escape its predicament.

As a shimmer of tears started to form in He Chuan's eyes, his voice quivered, "Lai Bao... please... move... I beg you..."

There was a softening in Lai Bao's stoic expression. After a long moment, he reluctantly took a step back, releasing the frightened rabbit.

The little rabbit fled without looking back.

Left alone, Lai Bao stood there, staring intently at the dark alleyway where He Chuan had disappeared.

Meanwhile, Gu Jiabei and Yun He walked slowly back to their lodging along the same path.

"Did you ask the noodle shop owner to help with the fireworks?" Gu Jiabei sounded surprised.

Yun He nodded and then looked at Gu Jiabei with a gossipy expression. "He's one of us."

"How did you know that?" Gu Jiabei smiled helplessly.

"I also know he has a secret crush on his shop assistant," Yun He said smugly.

"So, based on your calculations, do they have a chance?" Gu Jiabei played along.

Yun He shook his head, looking a bit regretful. "The young boss seems quite bashful, not the type to easily confess his feelings."

Seeing Yun He's concerned look, Gu Jiabei took his hand and couldn't help laughing. "Who else has the courage like you, to drunkenly kiss someone at such a young age?"

"But you responded to me back then. If you hadn't, I would've taken matters into my own hands," Yun He protested. "It was you who tempted me first, yet now you blame it all on me."

"Hmm? When did I tempt you?"

"Well, there were plenty of times. The first time you played guitar and sang, your eyes kept darting over to me."

"When I saw you playing basketball at school, among all those people, you insisted on having me as your substitute."

"You made me call you brother and took care of me when my arm was injured during the fight with Zhao Ming."

"On the bus when we encountered a pervert, you protected me, fought for me, and couldn't help being angry."

"And when your ex-girlfriend came from afar to reconcile with you, you left her behind and brought home the drunk me," Yun He paused, looking at Gu Jiabei. "Gu Jiabei, aren't these incidents a sign that you had feelings for me too?"

"You've got quite the memory. Looks like you've relied on those memories for quite some time," Gu Jiabei teased.

"Stay on topic. Be honest, did you have even a tiny bit of affection for me back then?" Yun He pressed.

Taking Yun He's hand, Gu Jiabei intertwined their fingers, the woven rings on their hands entwining together.

"At that time, it was more than just a little bit of affection."

"And now?"

"Now, my heart beats faster just at the thought of you."