TOW 4

They stayed in the small town for another day.

At first, Liang Xuan didn’t seem able to face Xu Fei properly. He used the bike as an excuse and spent almost the entire day holed up at a repair shop.

Xu Fei didn’t see him again until nearly evening. Liang Xuan was sitting at the bar of a small diner, scarfing down his food like he hadn’t eaten in days. He slid into the seat beside Xu Fei like a fish slipping through water, his whole body damp with sweat. There were smudges of dark grease on his neck and hands.

But he was still handsome. Ridiculously, unfairly handsome.

“Did the bike get fixed?” Xu Fei asked casually. Liang Xuan gave a quiet “Mm” and kept his head down, studying the menu like his life depended on it.

Xu Fei reached over and pointed at a dish. “This one’s good.”

Liang Xuan’s eyes dropped to Xu Fei’s fingertip and lingered there for a moment.

The town still hummed with the fading echo of a celebration. In the corner of the diner, a small band was performing folk songs, heads bobbing as they sang. Each of them wore a floral lei around their necks, totally immersed in their joy.

By the time Xu Fei finished eating, the band had wrapped up too, and the place fell quiet. Only the guitar remained, propped against the wall. Under the light, the grain of the wood gleamed like it had been varnished with oil, looking beautiful and warm.

Xu Fei took a sip of water.

The waitress brought over Liang Xuan’s meal. He thanked her and asked for napkins, still avoiding Xu Fei’s gaze.

Xu Fei smirked and tapped his fingers on the table twice before suddenly standing up.

“Can I sing something?” he asked the waitress, pointing at the guitar.

She smiled and nodded. Xu Fei turned around, raised a brow at Liang Xuan’s surprised face, then strode over to the corner. He grabbed the guitar, hopped onto the small stage, and gave the mic a few taps.

“My name’s Xu Fei,” he said.

His voice filled the diner.

Everyone turned to look at him. But Xu Fei only saw Liang Xuan, his confused, furrowed brow, his eyes glinting in the low light, and that smudge of oil on the right side of his jaw. Xu Fei couldn’t help but smile.

“A friend of mine heard me sing the other day,” he said. “It was all over the place, and he still said it sounded good. I think something might be wrong with his ears.”

Liang Xuan’s expression didn’t change, but the corners of his mouth twitched up ever so slightly.

Xu Fei’s heart skipped a beat. The lights above poured down, warming his face, his chest. He cleared his throat, stopped looking at Liang Xuan, and leaned into the mic.

“I promised him I’d sing it properly this time. So… ‘I’m Just a Bird,’ for everyone.”

A few scattered claps echoed through the room. Xu Fei closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His fingers slid across the strings, a low, sliding hum filling the air.

Si-do-si-do-la-si-do. He played the notes again in his mind, then began.

“I’m trapped in a cage, I’m just a bird.”

The sound pierced his own ears, grounding him.

It had been so long since he sang like this. Deep down, there was always fear. Fear of memories, of whistles and cheers, of flashing glowsticks in the crowd. Fear of the sweat between his fingers and that dizzy, weightless feeling in his head.

Fear of the smoke curling out of a clown’s big nose.

But when he opened his eyes, he saw Liang Xuan.

The younger man was looking straight at him, not hiding, not hesitating, his eyes bright like an arrow ready to fly.

Xu Fei almost felt pierced.

He cast his eyes down and leaned closer to the mic, pouring strength into every note.

“The sky is gray, like a giant curtain, wrapping around me.”

Liang Xuan was still watching, unblinking. Xu Fei’s palms started to sweat.

“I want to scream, but my voice is too small. I spread my wings, but I can’t break free.”

A rush of chords followed. Xu Fei glanced at his own fingers dancing over the strings, his heart racing.

“But I want to fly. I know I can fly.”

“Fly through the sky, fly past this world. I’d rather crash like a meteor into concrete.”

“I want to fly. I know I can fly.”

“Fly past lies, past weakness. Past every excuse I’ve used to avoid facing myself.”

“I’m just a bird.”

When the final note fell, the room erupted in applause. Several people called out for an encore, but Xu Fei had already had his fill. He set the guitar down and slipped back to his seat.

“How was it?” he asked Liang Xuan.

Liang Xuan paused for a beat. Then said, “It was beautiful.”

He said it with such earnestness that it actually made Xu Fei a little embarrassed. He didn’t dare tease any further. He faked a cough and turned away, just in time to see a waitress bring over a glass of wine. She pointed to a group of girls behind them and said, “From them.”

Xu Fei immediately raised his glass in their direction. The girls giggled quietly. One of the bolder ones raised her own glass and blew him a kiss. Xu Fei turned back, smug and satisfied.

“See that?” he said to Liang Xuan. “I used to be this popular.”

Liang Xuan didn’t respond, simply glanced at him. Xu Fei frowned.

“You have no idea how crazy people were for rock bands back then. Let me tell you. We were this close to becoming famous. Sometimes when we played at nightclubs, I lost count of how many girls wanted to sleep with me.” He paused. “Guys too, of course.”

Liang Xuan wrinkled his nose and said nothing. Xu Fei rested his chin on his palm, head tilted as he stared at him. After a while, he sighed and said, “So seriously, last night meant nothing.”

Liang Xuan looked up. His eyes were beautiful. Deep black, like the night sky. They made Xu Fei think of sonnets and exaggerated praise. He licked his lips.

“First of all, we were both kind of drunk,” he said. “And then…” he shook his head, thinking for a moment. “When I said you were good, I didn’t mean it as an insult. I was complimenting you. A compliment, okay?”

Liang Xuan blushed again. But this time, he didn’t look away. He stared back at Xu Fei with the determination of someone marching to war. Xu Fei wanted to kiss the faint stubble on his jaw.

“Actually, I should be the one asking you.” He leaned in. “I haven’t even asked how was it for you.”

“How was what?” Liang Xuan blinked.

Xu Fei grinned. “Last night. Your first time. How did it feel?”

Liang Xuan froze. A faint flush spread from his cheeks to his ears and down his neck. It took him a long moment to swallow and finally stammer, “It was… good.”

He looked like someone strapped to a lie detector. Xu Fei wanted to laugh but also felt an unexpected flutter in his chest.

“Hey,” he said.

Liang Xuan looked at him, confused. The light reflected the kiss mark on his neck, and for a second Xu Fei’s brain turned fuzzy again. He reached out and gently touched the red bruise with his fingertip.

Liang Xuan didn’t move. He didn’t flinch, didn’t push him away. Just sat there, eyes down, watching Xu Fei’s finger rest against his neck.

Xu Fei slowly withdrew his hand.

“Let’s head back.” He picked up his coat and stood. Liang Xuan got up too, his fingertips brushing Xu Fei’s arm.

The moment they stepped into the hotel room, Liang Xuan pinned Xu Fei against the door. Xu Fei let out a strained moan, reaching down to unzip Liang Xuan’s pants and stroke his cock through the underwear.

Liang Xuan gasped, kissing him hard, stealing all the air from his lungs, then suddenly dropped to his knees, unbuttoned Xu Fei’s pants, and pulled out his dick.

“How do I do this?” he looked up, eyes wide, lashes fluttering.

Xu Fei touched his lips and chin. “A blowjob?” he asked. Liang Xuan nodded.

Xu Fei groaned. There was no way he could turn that down.

“Just take it in,” he murmured, guiding Liang Xuan’s mouth down around his cock. Watching it slowly slide between those pink lips made Xu Fei’s brain overheat. His cock throbbed with sudden blood flow.

Liang Xuan gave a soft grunt, clearly not fully prepared, but he didn’t back away. Instead, he sucked harder.

Xu Fei’s back hit the door. His legs nearly turned to jelly.

“Don’t—don’t use your teeth,” he gasped, fingers tangled in Liang Xuan’s hair. “Lick the tip… no… maybe a little teeth is fine… fuck… fuck, Liang Xuan… wait…”

Liang Xuan looked up at him, both hands firmly gripping Xu Fei’s thighs. His tongue traced along the throbbing length slowly, inch by inch.

Xu Fei bit his lip, but the moans still escaped through his nose. He thrust his hips forward, trying to push deeper into that tight, wet mouth.

“Lick me… yeah, there… right there…” Xu Fei was losing it. Just watching Liang Xuan’s mouth slide back and forth around his cock, seeing those glistening fluids on his lips, was enough to push him to the edge.

And that tongue. How could Liang Xuan’s tongue be that skilled? Xu Fei suddenly wanted him to eat his ass. He was sure he’d come in seconds if Liang Xuan licked him there.

“Liang… Liang Xuan—” Xu Fei tugged his hair, trying to pull away. Liang Xuan wouldn’t let him go. He swallowed him down deep again.

Xu Fei’s ears were ringing. That mouth was hot and tight, sucking him so good it almost hurt.

“I’m gonna come,” he whispered, dazed. “Liang Xuan… let go, I’m gonna… I’m gonna..”

He came.

Some of it went down Liang Xuan’s throat. The rest spurted across his face.

Liang Xuan blinked, wiped it off, stood up, and grabbed Xu Fei’s chin for a kiss. They kissed messily. Xu Fei could taste his own cum on Liang Xuan’s tongue.

His cock even twitched again.

“You’re amazing,” Xu Fei panted against his lips. “Seriously. Fucking amazing. You’re a total natural…”

Liang Xuan chuckled softly.

Xu Fei reached down and found he was still hard. Precum soaked through his underwear.

“Get on the bed.” Xu Fei stripped, shoved Liang Xuan onto the mattress and straddled his waist.

He kissed him again, one hand slipping into Liang Xuan’s underwear to jerk him off. Liang Xuan groaned, bit his lip, then his neck, his shoulder, and finally the wings inked onto his chest, like a vampire hungry for more.

Xu Fei moaned with every bite, his hand moving faster. Liang Xuan’s cock was hot and thick, rubbing raw against his palm.

He leaned his head back, exposing his chest. The tattooed wings seemed to stretch open in the low light.

Liang Xuan leaned in and bit his nipple.

He came.

Cum spilled into Xu Fei’s hand and splattered across his lower belly.

Xu Fei lazily wiped it up and brought his fingers to his mouth, tasting it.

Liang Xuan pulled back, panting, watching Xu Fei suck his own fingers. His eyes darkened.

Xu Fei smiled, exhausted. “And how about this time?” he asked. “Did it feel good?”

Liang Xuan didn’t say anything. After a while, he leaned in again, cupped the back of Xu Fei’s head, and kissed him until he couldn’t breathe.

When they hit the road again, Liang Xuan still didn’t talk much. Occasionally, when Xu Fei stopped the bike to take photos by the beach, Liang Xuan would just sit quietly by the roadside, watching him in silence.

Xu Fei sang for him. Some were songs he’d written himself, others were covers. He’d deliberately sing off-key, sharp and loud in the sea wind, sometimes earning a middle finger from someone in a passing car. Xu Fei would laugh so hard he almost tipped the bike over.

Whenever they stayed in motels along the way, they had sex in the cramped rooms. Liang Xuan got better at it each time, especially with his tongue.

One night in the bathroom, he rimmed Xu Fei. He didn’t come in seconds like he thought he might, but he still didn’t last long.

When Liang Xuan’s tongue slipped into his hole, warm and wet, swirling and teasing inside him, Xu Fei was so overwhelmed with embarrassment he nearly cried.

He was flushed bright red under the hot water, like a boiled shrimp. He came so hard his cum splattered everywhere.

Afterward, Liang Xuan flipped him over and kissed him, wearing a smug little grin on his face. Xu Fei wanted to punch him, but he also wanted to throw him onto the floor and ride that huge cock until his legs gave out.

On the second-to-last day of the trip, they returned to that small town where the festival had been held. The carnival vibe had died down, the streets were clean, and the crowds had thinned out.

When they went to have dinner, the restaurant owner still remembered Xu Fei and asked him to sing again. Xu Fei couldn’t say no, so he strummed the guitar and sang “We Were All Hurt”.

“If your dreams are shattered,” he sang while seated. The whole diner listened quietly. But only Liang Xuan’s eyes sparkled like stars.

“If you feel torn, heartbroken. If every step you take only brings pain and disappointment. You feel like you can’t stay standing. You feel like you can’t keep going. But remember, no one stays strong forever. We were all hurt once.”

He looked up. In the shifting light, Liang Xuan’s face appeared like a painting, shadow and highlight brushing across his features.

“I’ll catch you. I won’t let you go again. I’ll never let you be in pain alone. So don’t ever think you’ve been abandoned. Because we were all hurt once.”

Back at the hotel, Liang Xuan pinned Xu Fei against the wall and fucked him.

He lifted Xu Fei’s legs and pushed inside, the entire weight of his body pressing him into the surface. Xu Fei gasped nonstop, biting into Liang Xuan’s shoulder.

They moved fast, hard, so hard that the shelves nearby rattled with the rhythm.

Xu Fei came first, collapsing against Liang Xuan’s chest. Liang Xuan pulled out, slipped off the condom, and came all over the inside of Xu Fei’s thigh.

Xu Fei had no strength left. He clung to Liang Xuan’s shoulders like a rag doll. Liang Xuan carried him to bed, grabbed a damp towel, and started wiping him clean.

Xu Fei lay there half-sprawled, watching this young man gently clean his spent body. Then he suddenly spoke.

“Tomorrow we’ll be back on set.”

Liang Xuan gave a quiet “Mm.”

Xu Fei didn’t say anything more. He waited for Liang Xuan to finish, then pulled the blanket over himself and drifted off to sleep.