Chapter 351

Chapter 351

◎Xiao Ye is Happy Again◎

It was unclear which household had stayed up past midnight to set off fireworks, but clusters burst in rapid succession across the sky.

The rapid, booming sounds filled the air, yet they couldn’t drown out Xiao Ye’s pounding heartbeat.

The sensation on his lips was warm and soft, and the scent he knew so well surrounded him completely. He wanted to confirm whether this was real, but he was frozen stiff, like he’d been spelled.

As the fireworks faded, flickering light washed over them.

Ji Nanxing slowly opened his eyes, meeting Xiao Ye’s stunned gaze before chuckling and leaning back a little. Tilting his head, he said with a grin, "If you don’t start breathing soon, you’ll suffocate."

Xiao Ye only then realized he’d been holding his breath. He turned away, coughing twice before inhaling sharply, then snapped his head around to stare at Ji Nanxing—like he couldn’t believe it.

Just as Ji Nanxing was about to withdraw his hand, Xiao Ye grabbed it tightly, afraid he might disappear like a dream.

Ji Nanxing let him hold on, turning to watch the fireworks in the distance, giving Xiao Ye time to process.

When the last firework faded and silence returned, Xiao Ye muttered, still dazed, "Was I... dreaming just now?"

Ji Nanxing smirked and nodded. "Yeah, that late flight must’ve tired you out. So, what did you dream about?"

Seeing the playful glint in Ji Nanxing’s eyes, Xiao Ye jumped up. "No—Naonao, did you just kiss me?"

Ji Nanxing put on a straight face, shaking his head. "Nope. Must’ve been the dream."

Xiao Ye had never felt his mind clearer. He touched his lips, then looked at the boy before him—like a duped puppy who’d suddenly woken up. "You kissed me! That was my first kiss!"

His actual, no-joke first kiss!

His mother had told him since childhood that all “firsts” were important, especially physical ones. She’d warned him not to kiss other kids in kindergarten, saying even his family had only ever kissed his cheeks—never his lips—so he should save his first kiss for someone he truly loved.

This was it. His never-been-kissed-before first kiss!

Seeing Xiao Ye on the verge of an existential crisis, Ji Nanxing finally relented. "What about it? Can’t I kiss you?"

Xiao Ye’s face flushed, shyness finally hitting him. Clutching Ji Nanxing’s hand, he stammered, red-faced: "Y-You gotta take responsibility."

Ji Nanxing bit back a laugh. "For what?"

Xiao Ye tightened his grip, panicked. "For me! You can’t just kiss me and walk away!"

Ji Nanxing arched an eyebrow. "One peck and I’m on the hook? What about all those times we shared a bed?"

Xiao Ye shook his head. "That’s different."

"How?"

"Bros can share a bed, but kisses are only for lovers."

Ji Nanxing chuckled. "You’ve got strict boundaries."

Xiao Ye thought, *Of course.* He wasn’t stupid—boundaries mattered. Even when sharing a bed with Ji Naonao, he’d never dared to push things further than sneaky looks to ease his longing.

Seeing Ji Nanxing smile, Xiao Ye instinctively leaned closer. "Naonao... you weren’t just screwing with me, right?"

If he said yes, Xiao Ye would *literally* cry.

However, just as feared, Ji Nanxing nodded directly: "Yes."

The highs and lows of life came crashing down in that moment. Before Xiao Ye's heart could drop and the tears could start, Ji Nanxing added, "I was teasing you earlier. This time I'm serious."

With that, he grabbed Xiao Ye's collar, forcing him to bend down, then hooked an arm around his neck and kissed him again.

This time, it wasn’t just a light brush of lips, but a gentle pressure to part Xiao Ye’s lips. That tiny movement flipped a switch inside Xiao Ye, who immediately took control, cupping Ji Nanxing’s face with both hands and deepening the kiss.

Neither had done this before, but instinct was all they needed.

A kiss is the most direct expression of love.

Xiao Ye’s kiss mirrored his emotions—passionate yet controlled.

Even as his feelings surged like floodwaters breaking through a dam, he still held back, testing carefully. Only when he sensed Ji Nanxing’s permission and indulgence did he dare ask for more, to go deeper.

They lost track of time. Even seated, Ji Nanxing began losing his balance, bracing a hand behind him to stop himself from tipping backward.

Despite being lost in the kiss, Xiao Ye remained attuned to Ji Nanxing’s reactions. Noticing his instability, Xiao Ye broke the kiss, gasping for breath—though not entirely letting go. Instead, he pulled Ji Nanxing into his arms, gently stroking his back to steady his breathing while reveling in the thunderous beating of their hearts.

Once Ji Nanxing caught his breath and let his head drop tiredly on Xiao Ye’s shoulder, Xiao Ye finally spoke, his voice hoarse: "Naonao, when did you realize I liked you?"

Ji Nanxing chuckled. "I don’t remember. Maybe I sensed it the moment you started falling for me."

Thinking back on those years when he’d foolishly believed he was hiding his feelings well, hiding behind the guise of friendship while doing things everyone else saw right through, Xiao Ye felt both embarrassed and amused. "You’re really mean," he said.

"You're the dumb one," Ji Nanxing replied.

Xiao Ye couldn’t stop grinning, his smile stretching ear to ear. Even being called "dumb" by Ji Nanxing filled him with giddy joy. "So… we’re together now, right? I’m your boyfriend?"

This night felt unreal. He’d arrived on the plane moping like a heartbroken puppy—who could’ve imagined that the biggest turning point of his life was waiting for him here?

Instant bliss couldn’t compare.

Just as he eagerly awaited the answer, Ji Nanxing pulled back. "At most, you’re a probationary candidate."

Xiao Ye was floored. They’d kissed—how could he only be a reserve candidate?!

"No! I refuse! I *am* your boyfriend! You kissed me, I kissed you—that’s official!"

Ji Nanxing: "I’m planning to attend Lanzhou University. If you get into the same school, then you can be my official boyfriend."

The college entrance exam wasn’t the only path in life, but it was the most crucial thing for them right now. Ji Nanxing wasn’t worried about his own grades—his self-discipline far surpassed most people’s. But Xiao Ye was another matter. A boy head over heels would undoubtedly have his mind filled with nothing but Ji Nanxing. It’d be a miracle if his grades *didn’t* drop.

He could already picture it—Xiao Ye grinning foolishly during the exam, writing his name instead of answering questions. That was exactly the kind of thing he’d do.

Originally, Ji Nanxing had planned to wait until after the exams to address this. But plans change.

Xiao Ye promised earnestly, "Don’t worry, Naonao! I *will* get into Lanzhou University with you! Skip the probation period—just make me your boyfriend now!"

Ji Nanxing just looked at him. Xiao Ye relented. "Fine, how about this—I’ll be your boyfriend first, and if my grades drop, you can bump me back to probation. Deal?"

Ji Nanxing laughed. "You’re bargaining over this?"

Xiao Ye: "Why not? Even royal rankings have promotions and demotions! Besides, Naonao, think about it—the timing’s perfect. The start of the new year! From now on, every New Year’s Day will also be our anniversary. Pretty perfect, right?"

Not giving Ji Nanxing a chance to refuse, Xiao Ye declared, "It’s settled!"

As he spoke, he kept sneaking looks at Ji Nanxing’s reaction. Seeing no protest, his happiness soared once more.

The thought of them attending university together and renting a place nearby to live in filled Xiao Ye with excitement for the future: "Naonao, what kind of house do you like? An open-floor apartment or a cozy townhouse? I'll check if there are any nice places near Lanzhou University."

Starting preparations now, he could decorate the house to Ji Nanxing’s liking—their bedroom, a room for the ancestor's altar, preferably a spare room for any lingering spirits, and another for storing talismans. If they renovated and aired it out in advance, it would be ready just in time for their university days.

If the place wasn’t close enough, he’d buy a car to drive Naonao to class every day. Just imagining their cozy life together made him happy.

Ji Nanxing said, "My dad has already prepared a house. We can just move in when the time comes."

Xiao Ye let out an "Oh," slightly disappointed he couldn't handle the decoration himself, but quickly cheered up again. "Your dad is so great!"

Ji Nanxing glanced at him. "You wanna say that to my dad's face?"

Xiao Ye instantly backed down. "Not yet, but I will someday!"

After all, the awkward suitor would eventually have to meet the family. But for now, as high school students, he worried Ji Nanxing’s family might see him as too young and unreliable. He'd have to wait a bit longer.

Ji Nanxing checked the time—it was almost 2 a.m. after all this back-and-forth. Remembering his booked ticket, he opened the app to see how to cancel it.

Xiao Ye noticed the booking and was startled. "You were going to come find me?"

Ji Nanxing replied, "Yeah, wanted to see exactly how much you were overthinking things."

Xiao Ye, recalling his own hesitations over the past two days, wrapped his arms around Ji Nanxing’s waist and nuzzled against him. "People with crushes overthink everything."

Ji Nanxing asked curiously, "How much overthinking?"

Xiao Ye said, "If you reply a minute late, my brain spirals through a hundred worst-case scenarios—whether you're upset, dissatisfied, or angry with me."

Ji Nanxing ran his fingers through his hair. "Your brain must be exhausted every day, thinking so much."

Xiao Ye leaned into his touch. "But I don't mind because my head is full of you."

Ji Nanxing asked, "If you were thinking about me so much, why didn't you confess? If I'd left after the fireworks tonight, how long would you have waited?"

Xiao Ye replied, "Until your eighteenth birthday. By then, we'd both have our admission letters, definitely going to the same university. If you rejected me, you wouldn't be able to run far—I'd just switch from secret crush to full-on courtship."

He wasn’t confident Ji Nanxing would like him back, but he was confident he could stand out from the competition. As long as he shamelessly stuck by Ji Nanxing’s side and proved himself better than other suitors, Naonao would notice him eventually.

Xiao Ye held his hand, intertwining their fingers, and said earnestly, "Naonao, I'm crazy about you. Sometimes I can't help but want to cling to you, to be close to you. This is my first real crush, and I don’t know how else to be good to you—I just want to give you the world. If I ever do something that upsets you, tell me, and I’ll change."

Young love was always this honest. Holding his intense gaze, Ji Nanxing responded just as seriously, "Just keep being you."

No need to change—because I fell for you exactly as you are.