Chapter 78 Shining Observatory

Chapter 78: Starlit Observatory

The celestial bodies ultimately did not explode, and the morning sun rose in the east as usual.

A smooth, jade-white back was exposed from the bedsheets. Shen Zongnian snoozed the alarm for the third time, smoothed Tan Youming’s messy hair, and said softly, “Time to get up.”

Tan Youming turned over, ignoring him. Shen Zongnian waited by his side for a moment, then gently squeezed his neck and whispered, “You really need to get up now.”

Tan Youming, quick-tempered, kicked the blanket impatiently, hitting Shen Zongnian’s arm. Shen Zongnian didn’t seem to mind the pain and instead rubbed his shoulder.

Tan Youming sat up, and Shen Zongnian bent down to fetch his cotton slippers, kneeling to slip socks onto his feet.

Tan Youming’s eyes were barely open as he rested his foot on Shen Zongnian’s shoulder, pushing him away lightly. The pressure wasn’t strong, but it made Shen Zongnian’s heart race, his throat went dry.

“Are you insane, Shen Zongnian?” Tan Youming’s voice was hoarse, as if settling a score. “Or are you deaf?”

Tan Youming spoke without restraint when angry: “I told you not to… but you just had to…” Shen Zongnian was the type to say nothing once in bed—blind, deaf, and mute, focusing only on his relentless assault.

“You did it on purpose, didn’t you?” Tan Youming shamelessly yelled. “You just wanted to make me black out, watch me beg you in tears. How could you be so cruel? And you even—”

Shen Zongnian let him vent, reaching out to gently touch his stomach. “Does it hurt?”

It didn’t hurt; it felt amazing. Tan Youming stepped on his palm but stubbornly insisted, “It hurts like hell.”

Shen Zongnian frowned and moved to lift his robe to check, but Tan Youming slapped his hand away.

Shen Zongnian’s expression turned serious. “Be good, let me see.”

“I was lying. It felt incredible.”

“…” Shen Zongnian gave his calf a firm squeeze. Tan Youming, feeling lazy, leaned into him like a clinging koala and ordered, “Carry me over.”

Shen Zongnian lifted him with one arm, carrying his shoes to the bathroom. Tan Youming took the toothbrush already loaded with toothpaste and tugged at Shen Zongnian, who was about to leave. “Where are you going? Stay here.”

Shen Zongnian stayed, standing behind him like a wall for Tan Youming to lean against lazily. With one arm around his waist, Shen Zongnian used his other hand to reply to morning work texts.

The electric toothbrush buzzed. After washing his face, Tan Youming was finally somewhat alert. He turned around and hugged Shen Zongnian for a moment. Shen Zongnian put down his phone and touched his cheek, which had regained some plumpness lately, glowing pink like a peeled lychee. He asked again, “Are you really not in pain?”

Tan Youming lifted his face. “I don’t know. Maybe a kiss will make it better.”

Shen Zongnian lowered his gaze, a faint smile in his eyes as he watched him.

Tan Youming raised his head. “If you won’t kiss me, I’ll kiss myself.”

Shen Zongnian pinched his chin with one hand and gently nipped at his cheek.

“Damn, you did that on purpose.” Tan Youming wondered if it left a mark.

After their rowdy night, Shen Zongnian prepared wonton noodles for breakfast, picking the scallions out for him. He made two glasses of lemon tea, one to drink now and one to take along, both iced and sugar-free.

Guan Kezhi, eating a swan pastry, asked Tan Youming, “Are you trying to reach the heavens now?”

Tan Youming felt elated from being waited on hand and foot, but Shen Zongnian was still worried. As they drove to Pinghai, he thought for a moment and said, “Forget it, I’ll stay with you today—”

“No,” Tan Youming quickly refused. He had his own plans for the day and didn’t want Shen Zongnian tagging along.

“I’m perfectly fine. Go to work.” His recovery was going well, and he only needed to check on pixelated game characters occasionally.

“Really?” Shen Zongnian frowned, wrapping a scarf tightly around him.

“Of course. Go ahead.”

Shen Zongnian looked at him quietly. “Call me immediately if you feel unwell.”

Tan Youming got out of the car easily and waved goodbye. Although Shen Zongnian had been intense the previous night, he had been considerate throughout, so Tan Youming felt perfectly fine and even clear-headed during the morning meeting.

“The initial design for the foundation structure and the circular platform is ready. The details will be finalized by next Tuesday. Several news outlets have already started drumming up excitement.”

“The meteorological observatory and astronomical authority are thrilled that we secured the bidding rights for the T70. This will be the first low-light telescope introduced in Asia, and the top brass are taking it seriously. They hope to jointly unveil it with Pinghai on the inauguration day.”

This was an honor with official endorsement, but Tan Youming declined. “No, keep the unveiling ceremony slot open. I’ve already chosen someone for it.”

In the afternoon, Tan Youming ducked out of work for two hours and drove his gaudy pink Ferrari out of the city center, stopping in front of a black-and-gold flower shop.

The shop was a pet project by Xu Enyi and a minor celebrity, and many wealthy young men in their circle ordered flowers here to court starlets or models.

Tan Youming didn’t like the styles or varieties recommended by the florist, feeling they didn’t suit Shen Zongnian. He came to pick them out himself. The shop owner, a friend of Xu Enyi, personally greeted him at the door.

“Young Master Tan,” the owner offered him a cigarette. “Long time no see.” Tan Youming had disappeared from gossip columns since last year, and now it seemed he was making a comeback.

Tan Youming accepted the cigarette but didn’t light it, looking around. “Do you have anything… more lively?”

Shen Zongnian was too aloof, like a handful of fresh snow in the sky. Tan Youming wanted to pull him down to earth.

The owner chuckled, leading him inside while gossiping. “New target?”

Tan Youming replied openly, “What new target? I don’t even have an old one. These are for Shen Zongnian.”

“What?”

Tan Youming laughed, twirling his Ferrari key by the door. “That surprised?”

The owner snapped out of it, muttering, “Well… I guess it’s not that surprising after all.”

“See if there’s anything here you like.”

Tan Youming went row by row, carefully selecting. The owner had seen plenty of wealthy young men blowing money on flowers to impress their lovers, but Tan Youming’s seriousness and focus set him apart. He was choosing the best bouquet to bring home to the person he loved most.

“These will do. Please have the florist wrap them beautifully.”

The owner looked at the large bundle of orange Ecuadorian roses and assured him, “Don’t worry, we’ll make sure it’s perfect.”

The florist worked efficiently, finishing the arrangement before sunset. The golden light of dusk followed the Ferrari, and the paparazzi trailing him saw Tan Youming step out of the shop holding a bright, colorful bouquet.

In the sunset, Tan Youming’s face was even more vivid and radiant than the flowers. He held an unlit cigarette between his lips, frowning slightly as he adjusted the bouquet. The sea breeze gently lifted the hem of his long coat, his demeanor playful yet with a stubborn seriousness.

The flash from *Floral Capital News* was conspicuous, and Tan Youming easily spotted the two paparazzi who had been following him.

In a good mood, he didn’t mind. He suddenly remembered how Zhao Shengge always looked smug in paparazzi photos holding large bouquets of peonies and hydrangeas. Whatever others had, Shen Zongnian should have too.

Tan Youming took the cigarette from his mouth, raised the bouquet, and flashed a rakish grin at the camera, like a radiant star announcing to the world, “This is for Shen Zongnian.”

On a whim, he dropped this bombshell, ignoring the stunned paparazzi, and sped off stylishly, twirling his car keys.

After the magazine-cover worthy candid shot was published, countless men and women who had admired Tan Youming had their hearts broken.

From that day on, *Floral Capital News* established two columns under its main publication: one dedicated to covering Zhao Shengge and the other to Tan Youming, each trying to outdo the other.

One day, a column would write, “The young master reappears in Tai Ping Bay, inseparable with tech magnate,” and the next, the other would report, “Social butterfly in hot romance with cold CEO, suspected passionate kiss in car.” Since no warnings or restrictions were issued, the headlines grew increasingly exaggerated over time, yet they remained a huge hit among the city’s residents.

Shen Zongnian had just finished a meeting and was leading a group of executives back from the marketing department building to the administrative center when a pink Ferrari pulled a flashy U-turn into the compound and slid to a stop right in front of him.

Tan Youming stepped out, holding a bouquet, a smile in his eyes, looking pleased with himself. He strode over cheerfully and greeted everyone, "Off work already?"

Zhong Manqing, now the city investment director, chuckled and said, "We just finished the meeting, Mr. Tan. Here to pick up Mr. Shen?"

Tan Youming glanced at Shen Zongnian and replied with a grin, "Yeah, it's off-work hours. I'm claiming your Mr. Shen for the night."

"..." For the first time, Shen Zongnian was forced to carry the enormous bouquet in front of everyone as he got into the Ferrari.

Once inside the car, Shen Zongnian pulled Tan Youming closer and looked him over carefully for a moment before asking quietly, "Are you feeling unwell today?"

Tan Youming took a moment to admire his serious expression before winking playfully. "No."

Only then did Shen Zongnian release him, chiding, "You skipped work again."

"What do you mean, 'skipped work'?" Tan Youming stepped on the accelerator. "Can't I just be efficient? Besides, I left early for a reason."

"Oh, so you left early then."

Tan Youming turned to glare at him but found himself caught in Shen Zongnian's dark eyes, which held a hint of laughter. His anger melted away. He turned the steering wheel. "Let's go somewhere."

Without asking where, Shen Zongnian rested his elbow on the window frame and gently brushed the orange petals. "Let's go."

The Ferrari sped across the cross-sea bridge as the sunset cast a golden glow. The sports car came to a stop at the foot of Small Pond Mountain.

Tan Youming took a deep breath and pulled out an observatory construction proposal and design drawings from the glove compartment, his demeanor as solemn as if he were presenting an engagement ring.

"Besides the T70 telescope, the observatory also features a sundial—a combination of equatorial and polar designs. I... I modified it myself," he explained. In addition to the twelve two-hour periods, it also displayed daylight hours and lunar phases, with elegant, precise craftsmanship. "Its starting point isn't the Beginning of Spring—it's the Winter Solstice."

While the year begins in spring, in Tan Youming's time zone, the meaning of life began on the day Shen Zongnian was born.

"The chip on its dial records stellar positions and lunar cycles throughout the year. You can watch it anytime via the system on your phone. The chip also collects and stores the sunlight on every Winter Solstice, transmitting it toward space at the meridian."

"Back then... I didn't know when you'd return. I hoped it could send a signal to the ends of the earth that someone was thinking of you, waiting for you."

"Of course, it's nowhere near as impressive as the one you built at Yinghua."

Tan Youming smiled. "You always said I had a short attention span and couldn't sit still—and I agree. But I still wanted to see this through, no matter how long it took."

"I hope you'll always have a place to do what you love. Even when work gets too busy, I hope you can receive signals from beyond our world and space whenever you want to relax. To explore more unknown constellations and a vaster universe."

"Shen Zongnian, this observatory will always belong to you. And so will I."

Profoundly moved, Shen Zongnian lifted his head and gazed quietly at him. Outside the car window, another rare purple twilight unfolded—mulberry-hued clouds, a golden sea, reminiscent of the one at Yinghua years ago, yet not entirely the same.

Tan Youming watched Shen Zongnian's dark eyes nervously until the other man pulled him into an embrace, holding the back of his head, and whispered in his ear, "Tan Youming, thank you. I love it. But—"

"I don’t need an observatory anymore."

-The End-