A single sweet, syrupy endearment caused the black-clad man who had just stood up to freeze, and he stood even more rooted to the spot when he clearly took in the facial features of the person leaning against He Yun’s shoulder.
The long-haired man was wearing a mask, but a single casual glance was enough to leave anyone lost within those amber-flecked eyes.
It left him with no spare thought to continue speaking, nor any desire to bicker over the open disdain in the newcomer’s eyes; he simply wanted to gaze at him a little longer.
Not just him, the two people in the booth bristled like hedgehogs encountering their natural enemy, completely forgetting what they had even been about to do as they stared unblinkingly at him.
Why did you come in?
Seeing you hadn’t come out for so long.
Si Yu squinted slightly, letting He Yun adjust the mask tightly over the bridge of his nose.
Then, He Yun released his hand. Si Yu walked up to the three-person table and raised his index finger:
Lunatics.
Foul-mouthed.
Sour grapes.
Slowly lowering his hand, Si Yu brushed a lock of hair away from the side of his face.
Finally figured out where this city-wide sexual harassment epidemic comes from. You see someone good-looking and glue yourselves right to them, and when they ignore you, you sit around whining and chattering.
Who do you think you are, you…
Shut up, your breath is foul enough to knock someone dead. I thought you just forgot to check the mirror before leaving the house and didn’t wipe the lipstick off your teeth, but it turns out you forgot to exhale and smell yourselves. Absolutely rank.
The man in red sat stunned for a moment, breathed into his hands, and slumped back down.
Who the hell are you, we were talking…
I’m your daddy, you shut up too. If you have time to flap your gums at your daddy here, you’d better hurry up and change out of that jacket made of padded cotton-shoe lining material that even my second-uncle’s uncle wouldn’t wear. Hideous.
The man in black sat stunned for a moment, took off his jacket, and slumped back down.
Finally, Si Yu’s gaze landed on the person called Bai Bai, but he said nothing at all.
A single up-and-down sweep of his eyes combined with a light cluck of his tongue was more than enough.
Spinning around, Si Yu reclaimed He Yun’s hand, his eyes curving into crescents: Hubby, I’m thoroughly nauseated. Let’s not eat here, let’s go.
Layers of withered, yellow leaves carpeted the steps.
After He Yun sat down, Si Yu settled onto his lap, adjusting his position until he was completely nestled inside He Yun’s embrace.
Why aren’t you saying anything?
Pillowed against He Yun’s forearm, Si Yu reached out to stroke his jawline.
Do you think I was too fierce?
No.
He Yun set down his coffee cup, caught Si Yu’s hand, and pressed a kiss to his knuckles.
Very cute.
Pulling down his mask, Si Yu asked with a hint of surprise, Really?
Really. He Yun showered him with gentle kisses. Extraordinarily cute, even when you’re scolding people.
No one had ever used the word cute to describe him before. A term as ordinary as that, upon He Yun’s lips, somehow sounded like a confession of love.
Want to see something even cuter?
Catching the flash of mischief in Si Yu’s eyes, He Yun raised an eyebrow slightly.
Don’t open your eyes, okay?
Mm.
Make sure you don’t peek!
Alright.
He Yun figured he had guessed the destination right.
Whether from the scent of fresh grass in the air or the travel route he knew by heart, everything pointed toward the suburbs, yet he had guessed wrong all the same:
Isn’t he cute!
At that, He Yun slowly opened his eyes and froze completely.
Holding the reins, Si Yu kept soothing the little fellow that was nuzzling against his cheek.
Suddenly, he noticed He Yun hadn’t answered.
Well? Is he cute or not… He Yun?
The smile faded from Si Yu’s lips as he walked toward He Yun, who had lowered his head.
What’s wrong? You…
Si Yu.
Si Yu was pulled straight into He Yun’s embrace.
Thank you.
He Yun said.
It felt like the sum total of all the words he could possibly utter, his heart battered by a massive wave called gratitude.
Si Yu, who shone brilliantly under the spotlight and at the very center of camera lenses for all the world to see, had stepped right down into his tail-spinning, scandal-ruined life.
Si Yu had bought a property for him, calling it a home of their own; Si Yu had taken his mother’s hand, praising her as the best dance partner in London; Si Yu, Si Yu had brought…
I was just thinking, Oliver must miss you a lot too.
No sooner had Si Yu finished speaking than the black pony behind him, hearing its own name, strode proudly toward the embracing pair.
It seemed to recognize He Yun as well, stretching out its tongue to lick its master over and over.
Si Yu had brought his very own pony.
Four years ago, He Yun had personally cut its umbilical cord in the estate’s stables.
The family’s horse trainers had all declared that Oliver failed to inherit its parents’ exceptional genetics and wasn’t worthy of having He Yun as its master.
If he rode it into a polo match, it would be left far behind by the carefully selected racehorses of Earl Spencer’s family.
Yet He Yun refused to believe it. During that period, he would scale the boarding school wall every single night to return home, standing guard until Oliver finished every last mouthful of feed; He even brushed off weekend and holiday trips, staying right by Oliver’s side to train, walk, and talk with it…
Stop talking. Si Yu spun around and clapped a hand over He Yun’s mouth. Any more and I’ll get jealous.
Whoa.
He Yun tugged gently on the reins, bringing Oliver to a well-behaved halt.
You’re jealous of Oliver?
Yep.
It’s a horse.
Can’t I be?
He Yun leaned forward to glance at Oliver, whose nose was twitching, before turning his gaze back to Si Yu, whose face was etched with absolute seriousness.
Can’t I?
Si Yu pressed on.
You can.
He Yun said.
That’s more like it. Si Yu laughed, snatching the reins straight out of his hand. Giddy up!
Clueless as to what was happening, Oliver sprang forward into a gallop at Si Yu’s command.
You seem to know me awfully well.
Watching Si Yu groom Oliver on the far side, He Yun couldn’t help asking.
True that. Si Yu patted Oliver’s leg and kept brushing. Better than you think.
Why?
Does it need a reason?
Ever since we first met, you’ve acted like you’ve known me inside out.
True Love. Si Yu blinked at him. True love.
He Yun tried to search Si Yu’s expression for any trace of a flaw, but found none whatsoever.
Setting down his brush, he couldn’t help leaning in for a kiss.
Before he could even slip the tip of his tongue past, a familiar voice drifted over from behind.
Brother Yun.
Song Ge?
He Yun stood up, missing the flicker of displeasure across Si Yu’s face.
You aren’t wearing your gear. Weren’t you coming for training today?
Yeah, I heard Oliver’s buyer arrived today, so I figured I’d come take a look. Didn’t expect it to be Brother Yun.
Oh, it’s…
Aren’t you going to introduce us?
Si Yu’s cold voice cut in.
He Yun, still completely oblivious, made the introduction as usual to the youth standing before them, who possessed a similarly youthful, striking Eurasian appearance.
Song Ge, this is Si…
He Yun instinctively reached out to grasp Si Yu’s shoulder, but caught himself immediately and pulled back, widening the distance between them.
This is Si Yu. He’s Oliver’s buyer.
Hello, Si Yu.
Song Ge extended a hand.
Is that really how you’re introducing me?
The retreat of He Yun’s foot just moments ago struck like a blade, instantly stiffening Si Yu’s entire body.
Song Ge’s gaze circled between the two of them, withdrew his hand, and quietly stepped back to one side.
Si Yu, I meant…
Si Yu shot He Yun a sideways glare, marched straight up to Song Ge, who was still wearing his boarding school uniform, stripped off his gloves, and held out his hand. Hello, I’m Si Yu, He Yun’s boyfriend.
Hello, Brother Si Yu.
Song Ge grasped his hand with both of his, looking obedient and sincere.
Did you learn how to introduce me properly now?
Si Yu looked back at He Yun.
With that, he yanked his hand back, kicked a bucket aside, and stormed out of the stable.
Stunned, He Yun murmured an apology and hurried after Si Yu.
Si…
Baby!
Turning a deaf ear, Si Yu kept walking while shedding his heavy waterproof riding gear.
I buy a house! I groom a horse! And all you can do is introduce me as your buyer! Buyer! Look at what I’m going to do to you today… Let go!
His wrist had been caught in a grip.
Si Yu tried to shake him off, only to find He Yun gripping him all the tighter.
When he finally realized he couldn’t shake free, he forced himself to look up at He Yun, though the sour ache in his chest refused to subside.
Let go.
He said it again.
This time, He Yun obeyed.
Staring down at his empty wrist in blank astonishment for a few seconds, the realization only fueled Si Yu’s fury even further.
You actually let go?! He Yun, have you got a death wish?!
I don’t.
In the next instant, Si Yu was pulled straight into He Yun’s warm embrace, the feel of the large hand stroking his back growing steadily softer.
That way I can hold you properly.
He Yun’s voice drifted down from above: Baby, don’t be angry, okay?
The flames of his anger seemed appeased, yet a vast wave of grievance welled up in their place.
Who says I’m angry!
Mm, it’s me. I was the one in the wrong.
His face was cupped, leaving him no room to refuse as he was forced to lock eyes with He Yun.
I was just worried I might bring trouble your way, which is why I didn’t introduce you that way.
He Yun stroked his cheek with his thumb.
If I could, I’d want to shout it to the entire world: I, He Yun, am your boyfriend.
Si Yu slowly raised his eyelids and asked in a tiny voice, Really?
The next second, He Yun’s lips met his.
The nerves Si Yu had just managed to soothe were instantly reignited by He Yun pulling away from the embrace, prompting him to land a kick straight against He Yun’s knee.
Cut that out! Don’t think you can brush me off this easily with just a kiss!
Then… He Yun raised a hand and flashed a peace sign. Two?
…He Yun!!!
Song Ge, who had just been about to slip away, watched He Yun get tackled to the grass and thoroughly pummeled, instantly quickening his pace as he backed away.
Yet he didn’t escape:
He Yun: Song Ge, this is Si Yu. You might recognize…
Si Yu: Say it right!
Startled by the sharp swing of Si Yu’s hand, Song Ge panicked, terrified the blow might land on him, and hastily took another step back.
He Yun: Ahem. Si Yu, the pride of the Chinese diaspora, the youngest Best Actor winner across the three major European film festivals, the proud possessor of a beauty that even Adonis and Narcissus would envy…
Si Yu: And?
He Yun: My boyfriend.
Fourteen-year-old Song Ge: Ah…
He Yun took a shallow breath, leaned close to Si Yu’s ear, and murmured, I told you, Song Ge is just a kid. How could he possibly…
No wonder. When I first saw Brother Yun, he looked just like he always did, yet somehow I felt like something was different. Coming to think of it, it must be because standing beside Brother Si Yu adds this otherworldly, extraordinary aura, making anyone feel like only you could ever be worthy of Brother Si Yu. To sigh and call you a match made in heaven is no exaggeration at all.
He Yun: …?
Si Yu: Hmph hmph.
He Yun had never heard Song Ge string together so many words in one breath.
Yet watching Si Yu’s expression soften under the barrage of match made in heaven, absolute perfection, and peerless jade and gold, He Yun couldn’t help casting a grateful glance in the boy’s direction.
Song Ge gave a covert OK sign, turned, and strode away, leaving his merit cloaked in deep mystery.
A match made in heaven and absolute perfection were words He Yun couldn’t bring himself to say, but Si Yu was undeniably, breathtakingly gorgeous.
As proven by the hundreds of thousands of followers who flooded his Instagram feed within minutes.
[Photo]
[@ssssy: Oliver says I’m his master’s favorite~ [Cloud] [Cloud] [Cloud]]
[Little Pony Baoyu!!!]
[Lady Nuwa! Your graduation project is finally open for business!!]
[Baby, mwah~ You should be the one who’s his favorite master!]
[I-I-I’m changing my name to Oliver! Ride me, big sister/queen!]
…
He Yun’s brow twitched as he continued scrolling down through the comments.
[He stops working the moment he’s filming, but the second he’s on vacation he drops a massive nuke ahhhhh! Where did brother-in-law take you to play this time?! #MashedPotatoRemarriage]
[Must be back at the old Jianggang estate! Haven’t seen Little Mashed Potato in ages! #MashedPotatoRemarriage]
[That’s not Little Mashed Potato. The color and the name are both wrong.]
[Could brother-in-law have bought another pony for big sis? So spoiled!!! #MashedPotatoRemarriage]
Brother-in-law? Little Mashed Potato?
He Yun paused his scrolling, lifting his gaze to watch Si Yu riding Oliver over a jump.
[K-drug chicken go die!!!]
[Big sis went abroad a few days ago, stop trying to claim a brother-in-law here, they broke up eight hundred years ago!]
[Is Little Mashed Potato the only horse in the entire world? Is Shen Que the only person on earth who can afford a horse?]
[Seriously done with this. People trying to share a daily moment and getting treated like conspiracy addicts. Did everyone forget how some asshole mentioned the Shen surname in the comments last time and made A-Yu lock his account straight to private?!]
He Yun’s gaze grew heavier and heavier.
Finally, he tapped on the hashtag repeatedly flooding the comment section:
#MashedPotatoRemarriage
Like opening Pandora’s box, photo after photo of Si Yu and Shen Que crawled out, clawing across the screen in He Yun’s hand.
Si Yu wearing a high school uniform, a white athletic headband bound across a sweat-drenched brow, grinning as he held up a trophy—with Shen Que hoisting him high on his back.
Si Yu in a loose hoodie, a small red tide-pooling bucket sitting on the steps beside him as he snapped a photo of a tiny crab—with Shen Que kneeling to wipe his feet.
Si Yu in form-fitting riding gear, sitting astride a brown steed in tall black boots, adjusting his gloves with a solemn expression—with Shen Que gently touching his face.
[@ssssq: I know there are people in this world who are afraid of growing up, but you never have to be. Happy 18th birthday. [Cupcake]]
Si Yu sitting on a bed, cradling a mashed-potato cake with a burning rainbow candle lit on top, looking up at the person taking his photo, smiling with his eyes curved like crescents.
Baby!
He Yun lifted his head, watching Si Yu step right out of the photograph and walk toward him.
What is it?
Si Yu hugged He Yun and asked softly.