During the lunch break, Zhou Fan hummed a tune as he pushed open the door to Little Cloud. Looking up, he saw Chi Hanqing sitting by the window, resting his chin on his hand and staring blankly into space. A smile curled on his lips. He stepped forward and gave a light, jaunty whistle.
Chi Hanqing snapped out of his daze. Seeing Zhou Fan, a faint smile appeared on his usually cold face. Zhou Fan laughed and asked if he had kept his word. Chi Hanqing answered obediently that he had. Zhou Fan sat across from him and noted that since that was the case, the other boy had to keep his word as well. His slightly mischievous smile made Chi Hanqing immediately grasp the deeper meaning.
The pale and handsome boy lowered his eyes and confirmed he would keep his word. Seeing that the boy’s ears and neck had already turned red from shyness, Zhou Fan smiled and stopped teasing him while turning to order two sets of lunch.
Perhaps because they had something to look forward to, the afternoon flew by in a light and pleasant mood. As soon as the school bell rang, Zhou Fan grabbed his backpack and dashed out of the classroom. Seeing this, Chi Hanqing hurried his movements and haphazardly stuffed his things into his bag before quickly following him out.
Walking out of the school gates, Chi Hanqing looked around but did not see Zhou Fan. Just as he was about to take out his phone to send a message, someone hooked an arm around his shoulders from behind while an object was pressed into the small of his back. He was told not to move because this was a robbery of his beauty. His body stiffened, but he quickly relaxed and whispered that he was already his, so there was no need for a robbery.
The person behind him let out a low laugh and withdrew his hand. Chi Hanqing turned and saw Zhou Fan. He had ditched his school jacket and was now wearing a black and white printed hoodie. The hood was pulled up over a baseball cap to leave only the sharp outline of his lower face visible. He looked both roguish and handsome.
Zhou Fan adjusted the brim of his cap and noted his father was there to pick them up. He mentioned he had to run to get the hat and felt like he was doing spy work. With the arm of Zhou Fan around his shoulder, Chi Hanqing climbed into a black BMW waiting by the curb.
As soon as the car door closed, Zhou Fan grabbed the hand of Chi Hanqing and planted a firm kiss on his cheek. Chi Hanqing startled and instinctively shrank back while looking toward the driver’s seat with panicked eyes. However, the middle-aged man in the driver’s seat was smiling broadly. He turned around and reached out his hand while introducing himself as the father of Zhou Fan.
The eyes of Chi Hanqing widened. Flustered, he reached out his hand and introduced himself. Then, realizing the situation, his face turned completely red as he wondered how the man knew. Zhou Fan arched an eyebrow and asked if the boy really thought he had been introduced as just a normal classmate. He leaned over to help Chi Hanqing fasten his seatbelt then told his father to head home for barbecue.
His father shouted back in agreement but added a reminder to stop at the complex entrance because they were out of beer. Zhou Fan asked if the doctor had not told him to drink less. His father said helplessly that it was for the mother of Zhou Fan. He noted that whenever something happy happens, she needs a couple of drinks and that blocking her was just asking for trouble. He asked if Zhou Fan would like to try and convince her. Zhou Fan paused and noted he would remind his father when they reached the gate.
His father laughed and started the car. Chi Hanqing sat there dazed as he watched the interaction. He had never realized that a father and son could talk and laugh like this. To him, it felt like another world.
Zhou Fan gently squeezed the palm of Chi Hanqing and noted his mother had already prepared pajamas and blankets at home. He mentioned the boy would sleep in his bedroom and added that his double bed was definitely big enough. His father coughed twice from the driver’s seat. Zhou Fan glanced at him and asked his father not to use an adult’s perspective to judge their pure and youthful love. His father shook his head with a smile and noted he could not win the argument.
Listening from the side, Chi Hanqing felt a mix of embarrassment and confusion. He wondered if Zhou Fan truly intended not to do anything with him or if he was just brushing off his father. But he could not ask, so he curled his fingers and squeezed the hand of Zhou Fan back.
The father and son were both excellent conversationalists. Throughout the drive home, the atmosphere in the car never turned cold. The tensed nerves of Chi Hanqing relaxed significantly under their banter and the smiles on his face grew more frequent. As they passed the supermarket, the father asked Chi Hanqing how he managed to pick his son out of so many people on the basketball court. Zhou Fan sat by with a leisurely air while enjoying the show.
The cheeks of Chi Hanqing felt like they were on fire. He hurriedly changed the subject and noted they had reached the supermarket for the beer. His father slapped his forehead and turned into the parking lot while poking fun at his own memory. He noted he had even asked Zhou Fan to remember it for him. Zhou Fan shrugged and asked if Hanqing had not remembered it for him.
After buying the items, the father parked the car and led the two boys upstairs. The complex where the Zhou family lived was a very ordinary and older neighborhood. Chi Hanqing felt as if he had entered the home of his dreams. The house was not large but very cozy. The wooden floors had a warm tone, the living room featured a thick camel colored rug, and cute plush toys were scattered about. The air was filled with the aroma of home cooked food and cheerful laughter from a cartoon played on the television. A little girl with a small ponytail and chubby cheeks peeked out from behind a cabinet and looked at Chi Hanqing with curiosity.
Chi Hanqing curled his lips to give the little girl a friendly smile when he saw her tilt her head. In a tender voice, she asked if he was the golden son-in-law. Chi Hanqing froze. His father burst into laughter behind him. Zhou Fan was changing his shoes and nearly stumbled upon hearing it. He told Miaomiao to stop learning random words from their mother.
His father laughed as he walked into the living room with the bags. Zhou Fan pulled a pair of new slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them before Chi Hanqing then offered to show him his room first. Chi Hanqing put on the slippers then looked at Miaomiao and asked what the term golden son-in-law meant.
Zhou Fan laughed silently for a while before taking his hand. He noted his mother said it casually after finding out what the parents of Chi Hanqing did for a living. He added she thought the task of landing a golden son-in-law would fall on Miaomiao, but her brother succeeded first. Chi Hanqing did not laugh and noted that those things belong to his parents while he has nothing.
Zhou Fan felt helpless and asked why the boy took every joke so seriously. He felt his heart soften and leaned in to kiss the lips of Chi Hanqing. He called him a dummy and noted it was obviously a joke because he liked the boy and not his parents. Before they reached the room, Chi Hanqing glanced warily behind them and asked if both parents knew about their relationship.
Zhou Fan said openly that they did because they support his orientation. He added with a smile that the boy was the first boyfriend he had introduced to them and brought home. Chi Hanqing looked at him and asked if that was really true. Zhou Fan confirmed it was. He pushed open his bedroom door and welcomed the honor student to his humble abode.
At dinner, Zhou Fan sat Chi Hanqing beside him opposite his parents and Miaomiao. The seat beside Zhou Fan had always belonged to Miaomiao. Despite her spot being taken, she did not throw a tantrum and instead stared with curiosity at the beautiful golden son-in-law.
At first, the parents made a show of talking about work. Zhou Fan focused on putting food in the bowl of Chi Hanqing while his hand moved restlessly under the table to gently touch the leg of the other boy. Once two cans of beer were finished, his father asked how he had picked Zhou Fan out of all those people on the basketball court.
The face of Chi Hanqing flushed hot as he looked at Zhou Fan in a panic. Zhou Fan smiled lazily and eventually noted it was because he was handsome. His father remarked on his narcissism and wondered who he learned it from. His mother noted he learned it from his father then told Chi Hanqing that they knew about the relationship. She told him to treat the place as his home and noted he should come over to play again whenever he had the chance.
The word home touched the heart of Chi Hanqing once again. There were no cold rules or constant scrutiny. There was only warm domestic chatter and effortless laughter. The warm light overhead seemed to dispel the gloom in his heart. For the first time, he truly felt that a home was a place filled with life and love.
His father’s icy warning earlier told Chi Hanqing that a next visit was likely an unrealistic dream. But he still nodded vigorously and thanked them. After dinner, Chi Hanqing wanted to help clean up, but Zhou Fan stopped him and suggested he play with Miaomiao for a bit. He laughed and noted she was curious about the golden son-in-law.
Chi Hanqing gave the arm of Zhou Fan a firm pinch then turned toward the living room. Miaomiao was an outgoing girl and not shy at all. She lunged at him while shouting the nickname. Chi Hanqing felt helpless and noted he was not a golden son-in-law. He told her his name was Chi Hanqing and said she could call him Brother Hanqing.
Miaomiao repeated the name then noted he smelled very good. She added that he smelled exactly the same as her brother did that day. Chi Hanqing found himself unable to speak in front of a one year old girl. Zhou Fan finished with the dishes and returned to the living room. He pinched the nose of Miaomiao then turned and winked at Chi Hanqing while noting he told the boy he smelled good.
Seeing that Chi Hanqing was embarrassed, he pulled him into a hug and suggested he play with Miaomiao for a bit. He noted she would be tired soon and they could go back to the room. Chi Hanqing nodded slowly. He suddenly wanted Zhou Fan to kiss him, but he forced the urge down.
Within half an hour, Miaomiao was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open. Zhou Fan handed the change of clothes to Chi Hanqing so he could shower first while he tucked Miaomiao in and kissed her cheek. His parents were snuggling on the sofa as usual while talking softly. Zhou Fan took the opportunity to shower quickly then hurried back to his room.
Opening the door, he saw Chi Hanqing sitting on the edge of the bed and slowly drying his hair. Under the light, the pale skin of the boy looked almost translucent. The chest of Zhou Fan felt as if it had been struck by an invisible force. He entered the room and closed the door quietly. The faint sound alerted the boy on the bed. Zhou Fan could no longer suppress his emotions. He stepped forward quickly, pulled Chi Hanqing into his arms, and kissed his lips.