adult
The class schedule on his birthday was very full, and Shen Yu didn't come out of the teaching building until the evening. As soon as he turned the corner, Jiang Yizhou covered his eyes.
"Guess what?" Warm breath swept across the earlobe, with a hint of the sweetness of orange candy.
Chen Yu smiled and struggled: "What else can it be besides cake?"
When his hand was released, a small string of star-shaped lights lit up before his eyes, wrapped around the rooftop railing, casting a flickering shadow on Jiang Yizhou's face. He held a box in his hand, which he opened to reveal a handmade cake. The cream had been twisted into the shape of an "18," and a candle was stuck next to it—not the usual number candle, but a sharpened matchstick, its flame dancing happily.
"Happy coming of age." Jiang Yizhou handed over a plastic knife. "Make a wish. I heard that wishes at eighteen are particularly effective."
Chen Yu closed his eyes, listening to the wind blowing through the rooftop, the whistle from the distant basketball court, and Jiang Yizhou's furtive breathing. He wanted it to be like this forever, with this person by his side, with light in his eyes and warmth in his heart.
The moment he blew out the candle, Jiang Yizhou suddenly took out a photo frame from behind him. Inside was a Polaroid photo: In the photo, Shen Yu was sleeping on a table piled with test papers. Jiang Yizhou made a rabbit ear gesture above his head, and the clock in the background just pointed to midnight.
"I took this photo three months ago," Jiang Yizhou scratched his head. "At that time, I thought I would give it to you when you come of age."
Chen Yu touched the edge of the photo frame and suddenly remembered that he had indeed been awakened by the flash that morning, but he thought it was an illusion at the time. When he looked up, he met the light in Jiang Yizhou's eyes, brighter than the stars.
"Oh, and this." Jiang Yizhou took out a small notebook. "I asked a lot of people and put together an 'Adult Survival Guide.'"
Shen Yu flipped it open and saw on the first page, "Don't drink more than three glasses of wine, otherwise Shen Yu will nag you"; on the second page, "Be sure to let Shen Yu read the contract before signing it, he is more serious than a lawyer"; the last page had a picture of two little people standing hand in hand in the sun, with the words "No matter how old you are, I am here" written next to them.
The wind on the rooftop suddenly became very soft. Chen Yu buried his face in Jiang Yizhou's shoulder and said sullenly, "It's really badly written."
"It's rotten, why are you reading this so seriously?" Jiang Yizhou smiled and hugged him back, resting his chin on the top of his head, "You're eighteen years old now, and you'll be an adult from now on."
"Yes," Shen Yu responded, his fingers clenching the guidebook, "Then as an adult, I order you - no longer allowed to use matches as candles in cakes, it's too dangerous."
"As you command, Lord Shen."
The streetlights in the distance lit up, stretching their shadows like an unbreakable thread. In the wind of eighteen, there were secrets sweeter than cake, and promises that lasted longer than forever.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
