Chapter 27 I Like Boys
The breeze under the shade of the trees carried the distinct scent of rubber and engine oil from the karting track. Chu Yan took the last sip of his milk tea, the cool sweetness dispelling the last trace of fatigue. He stood up, stretched his stiff neck, and drove two laps in a random car. After getting out, he saw Gu Yezheng and A Liang huddled together, pointing and arguing about a certain bend, their faces flushed with excitement.
Chu Yan raised the corners of his lips slightly and walked over.
"Hey, Chu Yan, have you rested up?" Ah Liang was sharp-eyed and the first to spot him, and immediately shouted, "Come on, come on, just in time. Brother Ye just boasted that he could beat you with his eyes closed. Let's put a stop to his boast!"
Gu Ye staggered after being pushed by A Liang. He turned around and glared at him, his ears reddening slightly. He stiffened his neck and said to Chu Yan who was approaching, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Who is bragging? I just... just made an objective analysis."
Chu Yan walked up to them, his gaze fixed on Gu Ye's sparkling, slightly provocative eyes, and smiled: "Technical features? What did you analyze?"
"Ahem," Gu Ye cleared his throat, trying to act like a serious coach. "You're too conservative in cornering, too methodical in your line, and don't give the throttle hard enough. It's obvious you have a lot of theoretical knowledge but not enough practical experience." He spoke more fluently, his chin raised slightly with a hint of pride. "Unlike me, who relies on intuition and talent."
"Oh?" Chu Yan raised his eyebrows, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes, "Do you want some on-site guidance?"
"Let's compete!" Gu Ye immediately accepted the challenge, rubbing his hands together, "Let me show you what true speed is."
They each chose a bike, donned their helmets, and parked their bikes side by side at the starting line amid the clamor of Liang and the others. The referee waved the flag.
The roar of the engine broke out instantly.
Gu Ye was like an arrow shot from a bow, his savage instincts and almost instinctive desire for speed slamming the accelerator to the floor almost as soon as the flag dropped. The kart roared out like a blazing flame. At the first turn, he didn't follow Chu Yan's textbook line at all. Instead, he relied on his strong core strength and precise timing to execute an extremely thrilling yet incredibly smooth drift, almost brushing the guardrail with the car, instantly seizing the inside lane advantage.
Chu Yan's start was a bit slow, but his movements were incredibly precise. Every gear shift and every turn was clean and crisp, executed with a calm grace. He kept close to Gu Ye's rear, narrowing the gap on the straights with more refined throttle control and shorter braking distances. However, at a series of S-bends, Gu Ye's almost brutal approach, driven by physical instinct and immense confidence, proved incredibly effective. He consistently cut in from seemingly impossible angles, passing with minimal loss of speed, and completely crushing Chu Yan behind him.
On the final lap, Gu Ye listened to the roar of the engine behind him, his adrenaline surging. He no longer held back, completely slamming the accelerator. The car's body became a blur of light and shadow on the straight, and with unwavering momentum, it crossed the finish line first.
"Yeah!!!" A Liang and the others instantly burst into thunderous cheers, even more excited than Gu Ye himself.
Gu Ye slowly parked the car and took off his helmet. Sweat flowed down his forehead, wetting his temples. He gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently, but his eyes were surprisingly bright, as if filled with the sunshine of the entire summer. He turned his head to look at Chu Yan, who was taking off his helmet after crossing the finish line right behind him. He tried hard to suppress the crazy upward curve of the corners of his mouth and coughed calmly: "Cough... Well, let's just compare casually, so you can feel the difference. My level is just average." The pride in his tone could not be hidden.
Chu Yan couldn't help but chuckle at the way he was trying to feign composure despite being clearly cocky. He pushed open the car door, got out, and walked over to Gu Ye. He tilted his head slightly, with an extremely innocent yet serious expression on his face. "Well, the difference is indeed huge. Teacher Gu, can you teach me?"
The three words "Teacher Gu" were called out by Chu Yan in a low and slightly magnetic voice, with a hint of ridicule, and seemed to have a bit of inexplicable temptation.
The smugness on Gu Ye's face froze, as if paused. He suddenly met Chu Yan's smiling, penetrating eyes, and his heart felt as if something gripped it tightly, then suddenly released. A scorching heat instantly spread from his ears to his neck and cheeks.
"Who, who is your teacher!" Gu Ye took a step back like a cat whose tail was stepped on, his voice rising a few notes with obvious panic and stuttering, "Don't, don't shout. I... I was just talking casually!" He felt his face was so hot that it could fry an egg. He didn't dare to look Chu Yan in the eye again. He turned around in panic and ran towards A Liang and the others. "A Liang, are the skewers ready? I'm starving."
Chu Yan stood there, watching Gu Ye's fleeing figure and his blood-red ears. The smile in his eyes deepened, like ripples of joy spreading across a lake after a stone was thrown into it. This little wolf cub couldn't stand being teased.
The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky a rich golden red, like an overturned palette. The bustle of the karting track gradually faded, but the young people's revelry had just begun.
Aliang and his friends chose a spot on the lawn with a wide view. They hurriedly set up the barbecue grill they had brought. The charcoal fire quickly ignited, making a crackling sound. They also set up their tents, with several simple camping tents scattered around.
"Brother Yan, Brother Ye. There are not enough tents. Can you two squeeze in?" Huangmao shouted while scratching his head while carrying the last tent bag.
Gu Ye was busy putting the marinated meat skewers on the rack. When he heard this, his hands trembled and he almost dropped the skewers into the charcoal fire. He subconsciously looked at Chu Yan next to him.
Chu Yan was slowly brushing honey on the roasted corn. Hearing this, he didn't even look up and casually replied, "Sure, no problem."
Gu Ye: “…”
He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but seeing Chu Yan's as if it was a matter of course and he didn't think there was anything wrong with it, all his words got stuck in his throat.
The golden glow of the setting sun casts a shadow over the busy figures of the young men, while the evening breeze gently carries the scent of green grass and charcoal. The skewers of meat sizzle over the fire, dripping with fat, sending up tiny sparks and emitting an alluring burnt aroma. The hiss of beer cans popping open, the gurgling sound of foam mingling with the unbridled laughter and bickering of the young men, brimming with vibrant energy.
Chu Yan sat in a folding chair, a can of cold beer in hand, leaning back and relaxing. He narrowed his eyes slightly, taking in the boisterous yet heartwarming scene before him: Aliang and Huangmao nearly came to blows over the last roasted chicken wing; Gu Ye, while disdainfully calling them "starving ghosts," stuffed his perfectly grilled skewers of beef onto the plate in front of Chu Yan; in the distance, the city lights gradually lit up, juxtaposing the last rays of sunset on the horizon.
A long-lost, pure sense of peace, like a gentle stream of water, slowly seeped into his heart. There were no calculations, no missions, no complicated negotiations. There was only the simple joys of these young people before him, and the most ordinary warmth of this mundane world. The corners of his lips curled up unconsciously, his eyes reflecting the young people's vivid faces.
Gu Ye also came over, carrying a can of beer, and sat down in the empty chair next to Chu Yan. The cool night breeze blew away the heat on his face. After a few cans of beer, the alcohol fermented slightly in his body, diluting some of the excitement and tension of the day and strengthening his courage.
He tilted his head and looked at Chu Yan's profile, which was particularly soft and deep under the flickering firelight. His throat tightened a little. After hesitating for a while, he finally couldn't help it and gently bumped Chu Yan's shoulder with his shoulder. His voice was a bit deliberately casual and tentative:
"Hello, Chu Yan."
"Hmm?" Chu Yan turned his head and looked at him.
Gu Ye's heart trembled at his gaze, and he quickly took a long gulp of beer. The cool liquid slid down his throat, bringing a sense of calm. He stared at the beer can in his hand, his fingertips unconsciously picking at the pull ring. His voice was lowered, with a hint of innuendo: "Well, you had a lot of fun today. Next time... next time, can you ask your 'Shan' to come along? It's more fun with more people!"
He paused, trying to sound more natural, more like a friend who cares about his friend's gossip: "It's not a good friend to always hide things. Besides..." He seemed to have found an excuse for himself, and his voice became a little louder, with a bit of self-righteous analysis, "Whose girl is named 'Shan'? It sounds too stiff, it must be a fake name. Tell me the truth, are you afraid that we will laugh at your taste when we meet her?"
Gu Ye finished speaking and quickly took another sip of wine, his eyes secretly glancing at Chu Yan's reaction. His heart was pounding in his chest. He could only use this clumsy, slightly playful and probing method to touch upon the secret that lay deep in his heart and made him uneasy day and night.
Chu Yan listened quietly to Gu Ye's words, watching his profile, slightly tense with nervousness, his fingertips tugging at the pull tab of a beer can, and his eyes, flickering in the firelight, gleaming with anxiety and anticipation. The evening breeze, carrying the scent of grass and charcoal, blew past, and the distant laughter seemed to be blocked by a transparent barrier.
He was silent for a few seconds.
The light from the bonfire danced in his deep eyes, reflecting a complex and difficult-to-determine emotion. He suddenly laughed softly, a very gentle laugh.
Chu Yan placed the beer can on the grass beside him, leaning forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees. He turned his head, his eyes no longer gentle or playful as usual, but with an unprecedented, almost frank calmness, looking straight into Gu Ye's eyes.
The gentleness of the night and the brightness of the bonfire intertwined on his face, outlining a clear outline. He spoke clearly and word by word:
"Shan, it's a boy."
He paused, looking at Gu Ye's eyes, which had suddenly widened and were filled with disbelief and great shock, and added the last sentence clearly. Like a bomb dropped into the deep sea, it set off a huge wave in Gu Ye's world:
"Gu Ye, I like boys."
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