Chapter 46
Spring came, autumn passed, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed. The first summer vacation of college arrived, and South City was instantly filled with the scorching sun and the chirping of cicadas. For Su Rui, this summer vacation had only one blazing destination: Country J. He practically counted the days, carefully applying for a visa with the money he'd saved and counted over and over again from his part-time job. With a heart that threatened to burst, he flew to the city where Ling Yao lived.
The bustling summer scene in Country J was a stark contrast to South City. Skyscrapers, neon lights flashed, and the pace was dizzying. Su Rui's heart pounded, both because of this unfamiliar city and, even more so, because of the person he was about to meet. He clutched his phone tightly, the screen displaying the "secret route map" he'd saved in advance, sent by Ling Yao—a circuitous subway transfer route, a nondescript exit number, and a photo of a convenience store entrance as the final meeting point.
When he finally followed the instructions, breathlessly, and found the narrow alley hidden behind the shiny building, he saw the familiar figure leaning against the mottled wall.
Ling Yao had lost a lot of weight and was wearing the most ordinary black sweatpants and a hoodie, with the hood pulled up on his head and a mask covering his face, completely covering his face. But the moment his eyes caught sight of Su Rui, they suddenly lit up like stars, a dazzling brilliance. He quickly stepped forward and pulled Su Rui into the deeper shadows, his movements almost swift.
"How stupid! How did you get around that way?" Ling Yao's voice was hushed with obvious nervousness, but the palm of his hand gripping his arm was burning hot, even a little sweaty. He glanced around warily, like a young animal constantly on guard against hunters.
"I... I seem to have taken the wrong exit..." Su Rui panted softly, but her eyes were shining as she stared at Ling Yao without blinking, and she could almost trace the outline of his jaw through the mask.
"There are sometimes 'private stalkers' or tabloid reporters staking out this area, so be careful," Ling Yao explained, subconsciously tightening his grip. Then, as if afraid of hurting him, he loosened his grip slightly, finally tightening his grip around his wrist. "Follow me, and don't look around."
The following "date" turned into an exciting and heart-pounding "city stalking." Ling Yao knew the complex alleys of this area like the back of his hand. He pulled Su Rui along as they quickly weaved through the gaps between residential buildings where clothes were drying, through the back doors of snack shops where the aroma of food wafted in the air, and through secluded corners where miscellaneous items were piled up.
Sometimes, Ling Yao would suddenly stop and pull Su Rui into a doorway or around a corner, pressing his body almost against Su Rui's, holding his breath until the footsteps of passersby faded. Su Rui could clearly hear Ling Yao's rapid heartbeat, smell the faint scent of sweat mixed with the refreshing fragrance of shower gel, and her own heartbeat was so fast that it seemed to be about to explode. The tension strangely mixed with the sweetness of being close to the person she loved, fermenting into a dizzying excitement.
Their final destination was a traditional game hall that looked a bit old. It was hidden on the second floor. The lighting was dim, the music was loud, and it was full of young people immersed in games, which actually became the best cover.
Ling Yao finally seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing. He exchanged a bunch of game coins for something and dragged Su Rui along to try various games. At the basketball machine, he easily racked up high scores, earning Su Rui's admiring glances. In the racing game, he laughed himself intolerably at Su Rui's frantic control, unceremoniously mocking her as a "little fool."
Finally, they squeezed into the somewhat retro photo booth. The small space was instantly filled with their scent. Ling Yao removed his mask and hat, his hair damp with sweat, a few strands sticking to his smooth forehead. He deftly inserted a coin, selecting a colorful background and frame.
"Look at the camera, idiot!" In the first picture, Ling Yao deliberately gave the order with a stern face. Su Rui stared at the screen nervously, his expression a little stiff. "Click!" In the second picture, Ling Yao suddenly leaned in and quickly kissed him on the cheek. Su Rui's eyes widened instantly, her face flushed, her expression innocent and cute. "Click!" In the third picture, Ling Yao made a cool face to the camera. In the fourth and last picture, Ling Yao put away all the jokes, put his arms tightly around Su Rui's shoulders, and pulled him close. The two of them leaned their heads against each other and looked at the camera. Ling Yao's eyes were deep and serious, while Su Rui's eyes were filled with dependence and tenderness that almost overflowed. The background was the pink bubble special effect that came with the machine, which was tacky but just the right amount of sweet. "Click!"
The photo printed out quickly. Ling Yao carefully cut it open, selecting the one with their heads touching, and then carefully split it in half. He pulled out his black wallet and carefully tucked the small photo sticker, warmed by both his body temperature and the heat from the printer, into the transparent photo insert, placing it in the most conspicuous position.
Su Rui followed his example and carefully placed his half of the photo into the compartment of his worn-out wallet, next to his ID card. He looked at Ling Yao's smiling eyes in the photo, so close to him, and felt his heart filled with honey, soft and swollen.
"Keep it safe," Ling Yao pinched his fingers, his tone was unusually serious, even with a hint of imperceptible pleading, "Don't lose it." "Yes! I definitely won't lose it!" Su Rui nodded vigorously, as if making an extremely solemn promise.
Happy times always fly by quickly. The time for separation finally arrived, once again in that hidden back alley. Ling Yao had to get back before evening roll call. "Be careful on your way home. Text me when you get home... no, when you get to school," Ling Yao instructed quickly, his eyes filled with worry and reluctance, his fingers unconsciously caressing the inside of Su Rui's wrist. "You too... remember to eat on time and don't get too tired." Su Rui looked at him, a thousand words clogging her chest, finally condensing into the simplest of words.
Ling Yao hugged him hard one last time, so tightly that he almost strangled him to the bones, then quickly let go, put on his mask and hat again, lowered the brim, turned around and walked quickly into the crowd at the alley, and disappeared in an instant, as if he had never appeared.
Su Rui stood alone, the summer breeze blowing through the alley, bringing a hint of coolness. He lowered his head, opened his wallet, and looked at the photo of Ling Yao gazing tenderly at him. A smile rose involuntarily. This brief, secret, adventurous summer date in Country J, all the tension, hiding, and sweet throbbing, along with this small photo, were deeply treasured in the softest corner of his heart.
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