The May Day holiday arrived quickly. The group had packed their things the night before, and the next day, Shen He drove over to pick them up. Following the address provided by Chu Xi, Chen Qingtang set the navigation, and they reached their destination in just two hours. The location was not far, near a scenic spot on the outskirts of the city. Since it was May and the weather had warmed up, the lawn was lush and green, dotted with all kinds of wildflowers, making it incredibly beautiful.
As the four of them got out of the car, they felt their spirits lift at the sight of such scenery. Wei Yan gave a thumbs up: “It was worth the trip!”
Luo Xin smiled as well: “Where are we setting up camp?”
Chen Qingtang replied: “My friends are by the river up ahead; let us go find them.” He opened the trunk of the car and grabbed his suitcase, but he stumbled under the weight. Just as the suitcase was about to tip over, Wei Yan, who was closest, noticed it first.
Wei Yan quickly stepped in to support the case: “Tsk, just let it go; I have got it. I am strong.”
Chen Qingtang smiled. “Okay.”
Just as Wei Yan was about to take over, a hand pressed down on the suitcase. Looking back, Shen He was watching Wei Yan with a strange expression that made Wei Yan’s skin crawl.
Wei Yan twitched his mouth: “What is wrong?”
Shen He said expressionlessly: “I will take it.”
Wei Yan was bewildered: “Alright then, you take it.”
Shen He dragged Chen Qingtang’s suitcase out with one hand and carried it off just like that. The three of them split the remaining luggage among themselves. Midway, Wei Yan noticed Chen Qingtang was running out of energy and stepped up to help, only to have Shen He intervene again.
Shen He: “I will take it.”
Chen Qingtang was happy to be free of the burden: “Fine, you guys take it; I will go find my friends first.”
After Chen Qingtang had walked a few meters away, Wei Yan asked Shen He: “Shen, what is wrong with you? You have been acting weird all day.” Every time he tried to talk to Chen Qingtang, Shen He interrupted. Every time he got close to Chen Qingtang, Shen He inserted himself in the middle and stared at him with an indescribable look that made him feel uncomfortable.
Shen He remained expressionless: “Stop peacocking so much.”
Wei Yan: “What did I do? How am I peacocking?” He usually interacted with big, burly guys; as a hardcore straight man, who was he supposedly peacocking for?
Shen He ignored him and strode forward. Wei Yan, holding a luggage bag in each hand, chased after him: “Hey, clarify that! Do not slander my innocence!”
During the May Day holiday, there were many people camping there. By the time Chen Qingtang’s group arrived at the spot, there were at least a dozen tents set up on the lawn. They did not waste time and started working together to set up camp. While putting up the tent, Chen Qingtang realized they had forgotten to bring a hammer. He wanted to ask Chu Xi to borrow one, but Chu Xi had gone into the woods nearby to gather firewood.
Chen Qingtang and Shen He looked at each other: “Should we wait a while? When my friend comes back, we will have a hammer.”
Just as Shen He was about to speak, a hand reached over from the side. A boy offered one openly: “Take it and use it; we do not need the hammer for now.” As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Chen Qingtang, not blinking even once. Because it was the suburbs, the air was fresh and airy, so Chen Qingtang had rarely worn his mask. He usually wore it in school because of the lack of vegetation and the dust blowing everywhere. Chen Qingtang’s nose was particularly sensitive to dust, making it unbearable. Out in the wild, he did not have to worry about that. With his mask off, Chen Qingtang’s face, stunning enough to make anyone look twice, was exposed, attracting many eyes.
Shen He suddenly turned around, perfectly blocking the boy’s view of Chen Qingtang.
Chen Qingtang said politely: “Thank you.” Since someone offered, I might as well use it.
The boy moved around Shen He, approached Chen Qingtang, and handed him the hammer: “Do you need any help?”
Chen Qingtang smelled an unpleasant odor coming from the boy. After taking the hammer, he pursed his lips and stepped back slightly: “No need. Thank you.”
The boy did not notice the gesture, but Shen He saw it and raised an eyebrow subtly.
The boy took the chance to say: “Can I add you on WeChat?”
Chen Qingtang: “My phone is out of battery, sorry.”
The boy had to say: “Then you guys go ahead; I will come back for the hammer later.”
Chen Qingtang nodded. After the boy left, Chen Qingtang looked at Shen He: “What do you think of this person? He seems to want to hit on me.”
Shen He took the hammer and started working: “He smells bad.” His tone was certain and confident. Shen He was confident that Chen Qingtang would not be interested in this guy.
Chen Qingtang’s mouth curved slightly: “Yeah, true. I will not give him my WeChat then.”
Thump. It was the sound of Shen He swinging the hammer onto the stake. This strike was louder than the previous ones, carrying a crisp, clear tone.
Soon, the tent was set up. Chen Qingtang said to Shen He: “Let us go into the woods and pick up some dry firewood.” It would be cold at night; burning wood would be warm, and it created a nice wild-camping vibe.
The two walked through the crowded tents, gathering all sorts of attention. During this time, someone else came to hit on him—a boy with a delicate, handsome face who looked like a top-tier catch in the gay circle. The boy blushed slightly, encouraged by his friends to speak to Chen Qingtang: “I noticed you as soon as you arrived. Can I add you on WeChat?”
Chen Qingtang smiled lightly: “Sorry, I do not have my phone on me.”
They are matching signals. Did he look like a top?
After walking away, Chen Qingtang asked Shen He: “What do you think of him?”
Shen He’s expression had darkened slightly: “Too feminine.”
Within half an hour of arriving at the campsite, two people had already hit on Chen Qingtang. Why, why were there so many? After returning with the firewood, Chu Xi came over with friends from the debate club to chat with Chen Qingtang.
Chu Xi whispered to Chen Qingtang: “We are playing games tonight; you bring Shen He too. I will create an opportunity for you two.”
Chen Qingtang: “What kind of game?”
Chu Xi: “The King’s Game. We draw lots; whoever draws the King card can instruct any two numbers to perform a designated action.” He shot Chen Qingtang a hint.
Chu Xi: “Let us be clear, no backing out. Anyone who does not want to play, leave now. Is anyone quitting?”
They looked around, and no one responded. Only then did Chu Xi continue: “The game begins. Draw your cards.” Everyone reached out to take the cards on the table.
When Chu Xi drew his card, he pushed two specific cards toward Shen He and Chen Qingtang. However, Shen He did not take the marked card as Chu Xi had anticipated. Consequently, Chen Qingtang did not take the marked card either.
The person who drew the King card in the first round was Zhou Chen. He thought for a moment: “Let us do this. Number 3 and Number 5, you two play rock-paper-scissors; the loser has to roast a chicken wing for the other.”
The crowd let out a disdainful tch.
Chu Xi hinted tactfully: “Brother Chen, play something more exciting so the atmosphere picks up. Things like this will not work.”
Zhou Chen laughed: “It is my first time playing, I do not know how.”
Chu Xi hooked his lips into a wicked smile: “Then let me give you a demonstration.” His gaze swept over everyone’s cards, and he knew exactly what he was doing: “Number 1 and Number 7, both eat a banana at the same time until there is almost nothing left.”
Number 1 was a girl, and Number 7 was a boy. They looked at each other, then at Chu Xi: “How?”
Chu Xi climbed up, grabbed a banana from the fruit plate, peeled it, and held it with his hands between their heads: “Eat, eat just like this, one bites from each end.”
The crowd immediately let out a loud “Woah!” and cheered, saying this was good. Number 1 and Number 7 both looked shy but did not resist. They slowly moved closer and began to bite into the banana held by Chu Xi’s hand. During this process, they both tacitly used the middle of the banana as a boundary, carefully nibbling only their side without crossing that line. They also made sure their lips did not touch the other’s. The movement, the process—it was so awkward and shy that it made the onlookers blush.
Chen Qingtang narrowed his eyes with interest, but his peripheral vision caught Shen He’s body tensing up. He leaned in to tease him: “What is wrong?”
Shen He’s ears were red, and he frowned: “What is so fun about this?”
Chen Qingtang smiled without answering. Of course Shen He would not understand. People who can be invited out during such holidays are usually in the ambiguous stage of their relationship. The reason he asked Chu Xi to host was that they trusted Chu Xi, and they must have discussed it privately long ago. Chu Xi seemed to be just hosting, but in reality, he was the controller of the whole game. The others had the sense to consciously facilitate the lovers. Heh, they are perfectly willing. Probably after tonight, several couples will be formed here.
Soon, the second round began. Shen He and Chen Qingtang still did not follow Chu Xi’s intended plan. While others were playing, Chu Xi could not help but message Chen Qingtang: “What is going on with you? I set everything up for you, what are you doing now?”
Chen Qingtang looked at Shen He beside him, who was lowering his eyes and staring at the ground.
Chen Qingtang: “Wait a little longer, it is not the right time yet.”
The atmosphere was not stirred up enough, and the pheromones had not fermented. He needed to let Shen He see more of these ambiguous scenes and let him feel more, to intentionally or unintentionally spark the fire in his heart. Only then could Chen Qingtang make that fire burn bigger and hotter.
Chu Xi: “Fine.”
In the third round, the two people chosen were already a couple. They tongue-kissed on the spot. Everyone screamed, egging them on to kiss harder, stir their tongues more, and entangle more tightly.
Shen He’s ears flushed deep red. He gritted his teeth, turned his face away, and covered Chen Qingtang’s eyes with one hand. But those ambiguous scenes, even if he did not listen, transformed into many subtle sounds that burrowed into his ears like snakes.
Chen Qingtang smiled, reached up, and covered the back of Shen He’s hand, his thumb gently rubbing his wrist: “What is wrong? You do not like to watch, so you will not let me watch either?”
Shen He: “Do not watch. It is indecent.”
Chen Qingtang’s chest trembled slightly. He removed Shen He’s hand, rested his chin on his shoulder, and whispered seductively: “Since we are out, just relax and let yourself go, okay?”
Shen He held his breath: “I cannot play this game.”
Chen Qingtang pinched his ear with one hand: “Relax. It will not go too far; Chu Xi knows what he is doing.”
Shen He could not believe it and stopped talking. And maybe it was his imagination, ever since just now, Chen Qingtang’s little physical actions had been a bit too much. Rubbing his wrist, leaning on his shoulder, touching his ear…
In such an intensely ambiguous atmosphere, Shen He felt a bit lost, his heart inexplicably itching.
Soon, the fourth round began. Chen Qingtang felt it was time. Following Chu Xi’s instruction, he took one card and pushed the matching one toward Shen He. Shen He did not want to play anymore and was about to say he was quitting.
Chen Qingtang suddenly leaned over and whispered: “Take that card with the missing corner. Hurry.”
Shen He did not understand what he meant and did not move. Chen Qingtang urged him in a low, eager voice: “Hurry up, that card is a pair with mine. If you do not take it… Ye Ting is going to take it.”
It just so happened that Ye Ting reached out his hand at that moment.
Shen He immediately reacted subconsciously, snatched the card before Ye Ting could, and then cast a side-glance at Ye Ting.
He was like a wolf baring its teeth to defend its territory. Chen Qingtang curled his lips into a satisfied, invisible smile.