TVDC 57: A Kiss

In the evening after school, He Zhiyuan arrived first at the door of Qiu Xuning’s classroom to wait for him.

Yang Siyue originally wanted to go home with Qiu Xuning. So when she saw He Zhiyuan, she wasn’t very happy inside.

Qiu Xuning also knew if he had to choose between He Zhiyuan and Yang Siyue, without a doubt, he would choose He Zhiyuan. So, feeling embarrassed, he said to Yang Siyue, “My ge is here to pick me up, so… I have to go home with him.”

Yang Siyue said, “Then go with your brother.”

Qiu Xuning felt that she didn’t seem unhappy. The corner of his mouth curved up, showing a smile, “Then I’ll leave?”

Yang Siyue saw his cautious expression, and her heart softened. She said, “You go back, I’ll go with Xiao Qinqin.”

Xiao Qinqin is a girl in the class. Yang Siyue had already integrated into the class within a week and had made good friends with some of the girls.

Qiu Xuning also understood in his heart, so the psychological burden of leaving Yang Siyue behind was much lighter. He walked out of the teaching building with He Zhiyuan, facing the sunset, and found his electric scooter in the parking lot.

He Zhiyuan rode the scooter out, and Qiu Xuning got on, grabbing He Zhiyuan’s clothes.

On the way home, He Zhiyuan rode halfway and stopped at the bridge.

Qiu Xuning tugged at his clothes with some confusion. “Why did you stop?”

He Zhiyuan replied, “Look.”

Qiu Xuning followed his gaze. It was the scene of the setting sun.

On the horizon was the brilliant sunset glow, with clouds interwoven in golden-red, spreading like fire. The light falling down was also golden-red, scattering on the people. Even the faces of the people were illuminated with a faint golden-red glow.

This was undoubtedly a very beautiful scene, like a masterpiece painted by the finest artist, making it hard for anyone to look away.

Qiu Xuning was entirely focused on He Zhiyuan, and didn’t notice the beautiful scenery.

He Zhiyuan stopped the scooter, got off, and moved it to the edge of the bridge. He leaned on the railing and admired the beautiful scene.

Qiu Xuning also stood next to him. Below the bridge, the river water gently flowed with boats passing by. The sunset glow on the horizon only left a faint shadow in the yellowish river.

The two of them didn’t say anything and just quietly watched the sunset. After a long while, the sunset was now just a small sliver, and the sky grew darker as well. Then He Zhiyuan finally said, “Let’s go back.”

Qiu Xuning suddenly noticed that He Zhiyuan said “go back,” not “go home.” He rummaged through his memory and realized that He Zhiyuan always said “go back,” not “go home.”

From a person’s words and actions, you can actually tell a lot. He Zhiyuan probably never considered his house as his own, so he doesn’t even say “go home.”

This was actually very normal for him. The Qiu family home was never his, and when he became an adult, he would leave.

Qiu Xuning couldn’t help but feel a sense of panic in his heart. His hand, which had been holding He Zhiyuan’s clothes, slowly tightened and turned into an embrace around He Zhiyuan’s waist.

He Zhiyuan glanced back at him, then turned back around. Qiu Xuning gently leaned against his back and whispered, “I’m always afraid you’ll lie to me.”

His voice was very soft, but he was still speaking directly to He Zhiyuan. The wind carried his soft voice over so that He Zhiyuan heard it clearly. He Zhiyuan said, “What have I lied to you about?”

Qiu Xuning tilted his head up, slowly resting his chin on He Zhiyuan’s shoulder, and then said, “It’s just that, in the future, will you stay here, or is that a lie?”

He Zhiyuan said, “There’s no need to lie to you. What do I gain from lying to you? Money? Benefits?”

Qiu Xuning said, “Lying to me like this… is just to make me happy.”

He Zhiyuan didn’t say anything.

Qiu Xuning grinned slightly and whispered, “By not saying anything, does that mean you’re agreeing?”

He Zhiyuan still didn’t say anything. It seemed like he didn’t want to pay attention to Qiu Xuning.

Qiu Xuning didn’t say anything else, and when they got home, He Zhiyuan got off the scooter and finally said, “Letting you live with me is the real lie.”

Qiu Xuning was stunned, and his face slowly turned red. “What did you say?”

He Zhiyuan lowered his eyes and softly said, “I said I wanted to live with you, that’s why I lied to make you agree.”

After a brief pause, He Zhiyuan continued, “I won’t leave, I will wait for you.”

Qiu Xuning stammered and asked, “Wait for me?”

He Zhiyuan smiled. His eyes gazed deeply at Qiu Xuning and he said, “Yes, I’ll wait for you, until you come of age.”

Yet Qiu Xuning’s focus was different. “But you’re a grade higher than me. By the time I come of age, you will already be in college.”

He Zhiyuan paused for a moment and said, “You’re right. So when I go to college, you need to behave and not fall in love.”

Qiu Xuning was stunned. When he came to his senses, his gaze flickered. “Why do you care whether I fall in love or not…”

He Zhiyuan looked at his fair, delicate cheek, which slowly showed a suspicious blush, and his voice softened a lot. “If you fall in love, it’s early love. I’ll tell your parents.”

Qiu Xuning: “…”

Qiu Xuning glared at him, embarrassed and irritated. “I won’t fall in love early, and I won’t date. Why have you turned into a tattletale?”

He Zhiyuan smiled, and the emotion in his eyes softened.

After glaring at him, Qiu Xuning saw the pure smile on his face, and his heart softened, feeling a bit warm. He lowered his eyes and softly asked, “Why wait until I’m of age?”

And why can’t he date yet? Doesn’t he know that saying things like this can easily lead to misunderstandings?

He Zhiyuan paused for a moment and slightly reined in the smile at the corner of his lips, then softly said, “After you come of age, there are things you couldn’t do before that you’ll be able to do.”

Qiu Xuning asked further, “What things can’t be done?”

He Zhiyuan didn’t answer, but his gaze at Qiu Xuning was filled with meaning, and it made Qiu Xuning’s heart pound fiercely. Unwilling to let it end there, he continued to ask, “Tell me clearly.”

He Zhiyuan said, “Let’s go inside, or your mom will say something.”

Qiu Xuning couldn’t help but complain. “You always brush me off like this, I don’t even know what you’re thinking.”

He Zhiyuan glanced at him with lowered eyes and said, “Do you want to know?”

Qiu Xuning nodded and said with some frustration, “But I think it’s no use, you won’t say anything anyway.”

He Zhiyuan reached out and messed up his hair, them said, “I’ll tell you later.”

Qiu Xuning swatted his hand away, glared at him unhappily, and then stopped speaking.

Today is a holiday. Qiu Xuning brought a watermelon from outside, with a melon hanging from his wrist. He was trying to decide which one to eat when Qiu Zhaozhao squatted on the ground, patted the watermelon, and said, “Let’s eat the watermelon first.”

Qiu Xuning was easy to persuade, and agreed right away upon hearing it. He then placed the cold, fresh watermelon in the water.

Qiu Xuning remembered that she had already taken the monthly exam a few days ago, and asked Qiu Zhaozhao, “Has your result come out? How many points did you get?”

Qiu Zhaozhao paused for a moment, and her voice softened a little, “Not many points.”

Qiu Xuning listened and couldn’t help but look at Qiu Zhaozhao, “Jie, you didn’t do well?”

Qiu Zhaozhao said softly, “My brain isn’t as good as yours.”

Qiu Xuning reached out and patted her back. He then said, “Why do you always say such discouraging things? Even if you’re not as smart, don’t they say ‘the dumb bird flies first’? Just work harder, and you’ll catch up to others.”

Qiu Zhaozhao glanced at him and didn’t say anything.

Qiu Xuning saw that she didn’t want to speak. He thought for a moment and asked, “How about letting He Zhiyuan tutor you?”

Qiu Zhaozhao jumped up. “I don’t want that!”

Qiu Xuning saw her strong reaction and couldn’t help but pressed his lips together.

Qiu Zhaozhao said, “His grades aren’t that great. I don’t want him tutoring me.”

Qiu Xuning said, “He’s in the top 100 of the entire grade, and you still think that’s not good?”

Qiu Zhaozhao didn’t say anything. The top 100 in her school held more weight than the top 10 in her old school, and she wasn’t even in the top 10 herself. Upon reflection, of course, He Zhiyuan was qualified to tutor her, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Qiu Xuning vaguely understood her mindset, shook his head, and said, “Jie, if you keep this up, you’ll be at a disadvantage.”

Qiu Zhaozhao said stubbornly, “I’d rather find anyone else than him. You like him, but I don’t like him at all.”

Qiu Xuning looked down at the watermelon and said, “It should be good to eat now, let’s have some watermelon.”

Qiu Zhaozhao noticed that he changed the subject and felt somewhat uncomfortable inside. She squatted down and asked Qiu Xuning, “What’s so good about him? Why do you keep revolving around him?”

Qiu Xuning said softly, “At first, I just thought it was unfair that our family treated him badly, so I wanted to make it up to him… Yet now, I just think he’s great in every way.”

Qiu Zhaozhao felt a bit uncomfortable and didn’t say anything.

Qiu Xuning said, “Let’s cut the watermelon.”

Qiu Zhaozhao took the knife and placed the watermelon on the stone table, cutting a few pieces. She watched as Qiu Xuning didn’t eat any himself and was the first to send it over to He Zhiyuan, feeling a bit speechless. She had never seen Qiu Xuning act so ingratiatingly towards anyone.

Qiu Xuning gave the watermelon to He Zhiyuan. He Zhiyuan said, “I can’t eat anymore, you eat it.”

Qiu Xuning asked worriedly, “What’s wrong? You don’t have an appetite?”

He Zhiyuan shook his head and said, “You eat.”

Qiu Xuning saw a copybook on his desk, with his flowing, calligraphic writing on it. Qiu Xuning glanced at it and softly asked, “You’re practicing calligraphy?”

He Zhiyuan softly responded with a “hmm.”

Qiu Xuning saw that he really didn’t want to eat, so he had no choice but to take the watermelon out. Yet soon, he returned.

“Do you want to eat some melon?” Qiu Xuning asked.

He Zhiyuan still politely declined. Qiu Xuning had no choice but to run off.

After a while, he washed his hands and, like a clingy cat, came over. “I see you’re good at writing now.”

Qiu Xuning said while taking out a wet wipe and wiping the table in front of him.

He Zhiyuan glanced at him, but didn’t say anything.

Qiu Xuning only dared to put his hands on the table after wiping it clean. He placed both hands on the table, propped his face in his hands, and watched He Zhiyuan write.

He Zhiyuan’s writing was very beautiful. It was full of strength with sharp strokes, yet with a sense of restraint, not careless. It had a personal style, just like him.

Sometimes, handwriting really reflects a person’s character. Qiu Xuning’s handwriting was very neat, elegant, and clean. It was often said that his handwriting looked like a girl’s.

Qiu Xuning kept watching, and his gaze slowly fell on He Zhiyuan’s hands. His hands were large with long fingers. Although his skin was tanned all over, the color of his palms was lighter, which made the veins on the back of his hands slightly visible.

Qiu Xuning still remembered the feeling of his hand holding his own—warm, with a slightly itchy sensation, heavy and full of strength. Being held by such hands unexpectedly gave him a sense of security.

His gaze was too focused, and he didn’t even notice when He Zhiyuan turned his head to look at him.

He Zhiyuan noticed that Qiu Xuning kept looking at his hand, but didn’t say anything. He turned his head back and continued writing nonchalantly. Summer always makes people restless but writing helps calm the mind. Writing and practicing calligraphy had almost become his daily routine.

After he finished writing a full five pages, he turned his head to look at Qiu Xuning again. At this moment, Qiu Xuning had already fallen asleep on the desk.

He Zhiyuan paused, gently pushed the copybook and pen aside, placed his hand on the table, and slowly leaned closer to Qiu Xuning.

Qiu Xuning seemed to feel his breath. His eyelashes fluttered slightly, but he didn’t open his eyes.

He Zhiyuan reached out his hand, and his long fingers gently slid along Qiu Xuning’s rounded, curved cheek. His gaze scanned Qiu Xuning’s eyes with neither too light nor too heavy a touch. He seemed to be sleeping deeply, his breathing was steady, and there was no sign that He Zhiyuan had woken him up.

He Zhiyuan quietly looked at his fair, rounded face, and his gaze slowly moved to Qiu Xuning’s rosy, full lips.

He didn’t know how long he had been staring. He slowly lowered his head, just as he was about to kiss Qiu Xuning’s lips, but he barely stopped himself, paused for a moment, and placed a feather-light kiss on Qiu Xuning’s soft, fair cheek.