Chapter 91 Farewell
Chu Yu himself could not explain why he was so impulsive to bring Chu Yan to this secret cabin in the woods.
Perhaps it was because, after his parents' conversation about "the responsibilities of thirty years old", when his heart was in turmoil and he had no one to talk to, he urgently needed a space where only he and Chu Yan were there, an island that could temporarily isolate him from all the troubles in the outside world.
To this end, he even defied his parents' wishes regarding a series of Spring Festival social activities and declared, with extreme force, that he would be taking a few days off, turning off his phone, and not allowing anyone to disturb him. This was the first time in his life that he had acted so willfully and decisively.
Chu Yan, on the other hand, remained completely indifferent. He didn't seem to care where Chu Yu took him, whether it was a bustling city or the wilderness; to him, it probably made no difference. This near-total trust and indulgence left Chu Yu's heart even more bitter.
Entering the cabin, Chu Yan took off his heavy coat, leaving only a thin sweater on, and lazily nestled into the soft sofa in front of the fireplace, like a sated cat. The orange-red flames danced on his delicate profile, flickering.
Chu Yu stood not far away, looking at Chu Yan like this, his heart seemed to be violently hit by something, beating wildly, a mixture of despair, desire and desperation growing wildly in his chest.
He took a deep breath, his fingers trembling barely perceptibly, as he began to unbutton his clothes. Coat, shirt, trousers... one by one, until he was completely naked. The winter chill didn't seem to have penetrated the small room, but his exposed skin still broke out in a layer of tiny bumps.
He walked towards the sofa, his steps firm.
Chu Yan raised his head and looked at him quietly, his eyes deep and calmly accepting everything about him.
Chu Yu pursed his pale lips, raised his legs, and sat on top. The excitement and shame brought by this extremely active action instantly overwhelmed his nerves, and a few drops of physiological tears were forced out of the corners of his eyes and slid down his tense cheeks.
Chu Yan's eyes darkened, and he reached out to hold his thin waist firmly, but did not give too much control. Instead, he let the person on him move awkwardly and eagerly, as if he wanted to confirm or forget something through this most primitive intimacy.
Outside, the cold wind howled through the woods, stirring up piles of snow. Inside, the flames from the fireplace danced, casting overlapping shadows on the wooden walls, swaying and filling the room with the vibrant colors of spring.
After the extreme passion, Chu Yan held the sweaty and still slightly trembling Chu Yu in his arms, his fingertips stroking his smooth back from time to time. His voice was low and gentle, with a hoarseness of satisfaction: "Baby, you are so great today."
This sudden and affectionate name made Chu Yu's breathing suddenly stop. His heart seemed to be tightened. The mixture of soreness and sweetness made him almost breathless. His breathing, which had just calmed down a little, became rapid again.
"So, baby," Chu Yan lowered his head and kissed his sweaty temples, his voice so soft as if coaxing, "Can you tell me now what happened?" Chu Yu's condition today was too abnormal. The almost desperate madness and demands showed that he was greatly stimulated.
[I detected that Chu Yu's parents were arranging a blind date for him, apparently hoping to arrange a meeting during the Spring Festival holiday.] The system's prompt sounded in my mind at the right time.
Chu Yan suddenly understood. The pressure on the family had finally been lifted.
Chu Yu opened his mouth, the anxiety suppressed in his heart almost blurted out. But when he looked at Chu Yan's clear eyes that seemed to see through everything, all the words choked in his throat.
What could he say? Should he tell Chu Yan that he was being pressured by his family to get married and have children because he was almost thirty? Should he beg Chu Yan to stay and face the immense pressure from his family and society together? Chu Yan was only twenty years old, his world had just begun, vast and boundless, free and unrestrained. How could he be so selfish as to drag him into this mess in the name of love, making him bear unnecessary accusations and criticism?
The number "thirty" was like a ferocious roadblock, completely blocking his path to Chu Yan regardless of his feelings. He didn't dare to approach, but he was also reluctant to leave. He stood on the razor's edge of love and responsibility, caught between a dilemma and bleeding.
In the end, he could only shake his head violently, turning all the pain and struggle that could not be expressed into an even more intense kiss. He covered Chu Yan's lips almost fiercely, as if he wanted to tear the other person apart and eat him into his stomach, becoming one with him, so that he could briefly escape the suffocating and hopeless reality.
They stayed in the isolated cabin in the woods for four full days.
During these four days, Chu Yu's phone flashed countless times in the corner, and the screen was almost filled with missed calls and message reminders, but he didn't even look at them.
He was like the most devout and crazy believer in the Middle Ages, completely dedicating himself to the god before him, not caring about tomorrow or the world, but only greedily absorbing the warmth and joy of the moment, as if he wanted to burn out all the love of his life here.
On New Year's Eve, snowflakes silently drifted outside the window, completely enveloping the wooden house into a pure white island. Inside, Chu Yan and Chu Yu huddled under thick blankets, their tablets playing the raucous Spring Festival Gala, though neither of them truly paid attention.
The two people's cell phones continued to ring relentlessly, with messages of New Year's greetings and constant urging from the outside world.
But none of them touched it.
When the New Year's countdown bell rang on TV and when the cheers of midnight came through the speakers, Chu Yu turned his head and took a deep look at Chu Yan beside him. His eyes were extremely complicated, with an intense love that could not be dissolved, a deep reluctance to leave, and an almost tragic determination.
Then, he kissed Chu Yan again, opening himself completely with a gesture of devotion, throwing himself unreservedly into this doomed sinking into nothingness, as if he was using this method to hold a silent funeral for his love.
New Year's Day, early morning.
The sunlight reflected through the snow, illuminating the area around the cabin with a dazzling brightness. The white snow covered everything, yet it also brought with it a cold loneliness.
The two packed up everything and prepared to leave this short-lived utopia.
Standing in front of the wooden house, breathing in the crisp cold air, Chu Yan smiled and looked at the silent Chu Yu beside him, his tone relaxed and frank: "Brother Yu, no matter what decision you make in the future, I will support you unconditionally."
Chu Yu's heart felt like it was stabbed by these words. After the sharp pain, a numbness of peace and contentment followed. He pursed his lips, trying hard to suppress the bitterness in his eyes. Finally, he smiled very slightly and nodded.
[?] The system sent a signal of doubt in Chu Yan's mind. It seemed that it didn't fully understand the undercurrents beneath this calm surface.
Chu Yan kept a smile on his face and explained to the system in his mind: [Can't you see? Chu Yu has given up on me.]
Chu Yu's existence had never been part of Chu Yan's mission plan from the very beginning. His appearance was an unexpected encounter, an episode that deviated from the course.
Unlike Gu Xu and Gu Ye, Chu Yu was burdened by a complex family network and inherently heavy responsibilities, neither of which allowed him to truly act recklessly. Chu Yan, for him, was a dazzling aurora in his orderly life, yet also a doomed calamity.
He didn't have Gu Ye's reckless fervor and courage, nor did he have Gu Xu's desperate determination and ruthlessness. He couldn't drag Chu Yan along to fight the whole world, nor could he completely throw away the burden on his shoulders.
So, after a painful struggle, he chose the only way he could take - retreating beyond the safety line. From then on, he stood at the place closest to and farthest from Chu Yan, just in the name of "brother", guarding silently and watching others throw themselves into his arms silently.
This was a silent farewell, a period drawn by Chu Yu himself.
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