Agreement
The next day was the weekend, and for once, there was no blaring alarm clock.
Lin Xiyan woke up a little later than usual, but his biological clock still forced him to open his eyes at the first light of dawn. He didn't get up immediately, but simply lay quietly, watching the gray morning light filter through the gaps in the curtains. Since his senior year of high school, every weekend had felt like stolen time, a luxury, yet burdened by the mountain of homework.
His body was exhausted, but his mind was unusually clear, automatically circling around the classical Chinese texts and tricky mathematical formulas he hadn't memorized yet. He turned over and buried his face in the soft pillow, trying to clear his mind for a while.
At this moment, the door was pushed open very gently.
Lin Xiyan's body stiffened slightly, but he didn't move. There was only one person who could come in without knocking.
Footsteps approached the bed, carrying a hint of the cool air from outside. Then, a corner of the quilt was lifted, and a body with a fresh, damp scent from a bath, but a noticeably elevated body temperature, slipped in, its movements as natural as if returning to its own nest.
Jiang Yibai approached from behind, his arms habitually wrapped around Lin Xiyan's waist, pulling him closer to him, his chin resting on the top of his soft head, and sighing contentedly. Like a large dog that finally found a heat source, his whole body relaxed.
Lin Xiyan's body instinctively tensed at first, then, enveloped by that familiar scent and warmth, it softened little by little. He even unconsciously leaned back, burying himself deeper into the embrace. It had been so long since they'd been this close, so long that his nose felt a little sore.
"Did I wake you up?" Jiang Yibai's voice was hoarse and lazy, as if he had just woken up, and his warm breath brushed against Lin Xiyan's ear.
Lin Xiyan shook her head gently, her voice muffled by the pillow: "...No. I was already awake."
"Yeah." Jiang Yibai murmured, his arms tightening around hers, their bodies fitting perfectly together, leaving no space between them. He held her quietly for a moment, neither of them speaking. The only sounds in the room were the mingling of their breathing and the occasional chirping of an early bird outside the window.
This moment of tranquility and tenderness seems stolen, so precious that one dares not breathe.
After a long while, Jiang Yibai spoke again. His voice was very soft, but it rang clearly in Lin Xiyan's ears: "Did you sleep well last night?"
"...Not bad," Lin Xiyan replied. Actually, she still didn't sleep very well, as she was doing homework in her dreams.
"I didn't sleep well." Jiang Yibai suddenly said, with a subtle sense of grievance in his tone, like complaining, but also like acting coquettishly, "It's too quiet over there. I'm not used to it."
Lin Xiyan felt as if his heart was gently squeezed. It turned out that he wasn't the only one who wasn't used to it.
He pursed his lips, not knowing what to say.
Jiang Yibai didn't expect him to answer, so he continued to speak in a low and steady voice: "Sometimes I'm working on my homework until midnight, and when I stop and hear no sound from you, I wonder if you've fallen asleep on the table and if you're cold."
"I want to go over and take a look, but I'm afraid I'll disturb your rest."
His fingers unconsciously curled up the corner of Lin Xiyan's pajamas and circled it slowly.
"Time flies by so fast. It feels like I'm already a senior in high school." He paused, a rare hint of emotion in his tone. "It's good to be busy. These are the last few months. Let's give it a try. We agreed to go to the same university."
Hearing the words "same university," Lin Xiyan's heart sank. This promise felt like a distant, heavy mountain, weighing down his nerves. It was a top university, a future within Jiang Yibai's grasp, but for him, it would require his utmost effort, and might even be just wishful thinking.
The deep-seated feelings of inferiority and uncertainty surged up again. He took a very light breath, his voice trembling slightly as he whispered the question that had been lingering in his heart for so long:
"Then...what if I fail the exam?"
After asking, he held his breath, as if awaiting trial. He could even feel the rise and fall of Jiang Yibai's chest behind him.
The room fell into a brief silence. Only the gradually growing sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a blurry shadow on the quilt.
Just when Lin Xiyan thought that Jiang Yibai would say "You will definitely pass the exam" or "Don't daydream" in that matter-of-fact and slightly overbearing tone as usual, he felt Jiang Yibai lower his head and his warm lips lightly touched the back of his neck.
The kiss was light, fleeting, yet it held a strange soothing power.
Then, he heard Jiang Yibai's voice ringing in his ears. It was no longer the usual direct and even a little clumsy comfort. Instead, he spoke slowly in a low and firm tone, as if stating the truth:
"Follow this arduous journey to reach the stars."
Lin Xiyan was stunned. Those words were like a gentle yet powerful ray of light, instantly piercing the fog that had thickened in his heart. It wasn't a lighthearted "you can," nor a firm "you must," but rather... an acknowledgment of the hardships of the journey, yet an unwavering determination pointing toward the brilliant starry sky.
Jiang Yibai's arms tightened, holding him tighter, and he continued to speak in a low voice, close to his ear:
"The road ahead is difficult. I know you're tired and under a lot of pressure." His tone was full of understanding, without a trace of perfunctory. "It's the same for me. When I'm puking from practice questions until I feel like vomiting, I also wonder if it's worth it."
"But Xiyan," he paused, his voice filled with an unshakable conviction, "you can see the stars, right? Even if they are covered by clouds now, you know they are there, shining."
"To me, you are my star. Ever since I saw you over the back wall on the first day of school."
"So, don't be afraid of the distance, or the dark. I'm right beside you, and we'll walk this path together. One step at a time, we'll finally reach the starlight."
He spoke slowly, each word resonating clearly with Lin Xiyan's heart. His words were devoid of flowery rhetoric, yet they were more powerful than any encouragement. He acknowledged the hardship, dispelled the loneliness, and made a weighty promise about their shared future.
Lin Xiyan's eyes instantly filled with tears. He turned abruptly, burying his face in Jiang Yibai's chest, and hugging him tightly. All his strength and pretense crumbled at that moment, leaving only a deep sense of grievance and the peace of mind of being held firmly by someone.
Jiang Yibai groaned at his sudden movement, then laughed softly, his chest vibrating. He patted Lin Xiyan's thin back soothingly, like coaxing a child.
"Why are you crying?" He said with a hint of helpless indulgence, "Your snot got on my clothes."
Lin Xiyan ignored him, hugging him tighter instead, her tears silently soaking the fabric covering Jiang Yibai's chest. He didn't need to say anything more. The words, "I will continue this arduous journey to reach the stars," were more weighty and precious than a thousand "I believe in you."
It means that Jiang Yibai clearly saw his struggle and fragility, but still chose to stand shoulder to shoulder with him without hesitation, believing that they would eventually reach the common shore.
After a long while, Lin Xiyan's emotions finally calmed down. He rubbed his face on Jiang Yibai's clothes embarrassedly, then raised his head, his eyes and nose were red.
Jiang Yibai looked down at his pitiful yet adorable appearance, his heart softening. He reached out and gently wiped away the remaining moisture from the corners of his eyes with his fingertips.
"Are you hungry?" he asked, his tone returning to his usual natural tone. "My mom must have made breakfast."
Lin Xiyan nodded.
"Then get up?" Jiang Yibai said, but his arms showed no sign of loosening. Instead, he pressed the person closer to him, nuzzling her head into his neck as he muttered, "Hold me for five more minutes. Recharge."
Lin Xiyan, who had just experienced emotional fluctuations, was particularly docile. She let him hold her and even quietly tightened her arms.
The sunlight finally completely dispelled the grayness and became brighter, shining through the gaps in the curtains and casting warm spots of light on the two people hugging each other.
Tiny dust particles floated in the air, spinning quietly.
At this moment, the countdown and the exercise book seemed to be isolated outside this small, warm bed.
They were just two teenagers clinging to each other and drawing strength from each other.
The promised stars may still be far away, and the journey is destined to be full of thorns.
But at least at this moment, they had each other and this stolen, quiet and warm morning.
And a vow that can light the way forward.
Follow this arduous journey to reach the stars.
The road is long, but they are not afraid of anything when they are by each other's side.
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