The very last
The living room was a mess, with cushions scattered all over the floor. The bedroom was even more chaotic, with crumpled sheets and clothes strewn about on the floor. A lingering, ambiguous atmosphere, mixed with a faint scent, made it impossible to ignore what had just transpired.
"Do you really have to find someone to see the aftermath of the two men's encounter?" Shen He sat on the bed, his voice clearly impatient.
Chen Yuchuan went to the living room and brought in water, revealing clean and firm muscle lines.
Upon hearing this, he sat down next to Shenhe and hugged him, saying, "Then I'll take you to the hospital."
Chen Yuchuan's voice was close to Shen He's ear, tinged with panic.
He could feel Shen He's body burning hot, and his body was covered in cold sweat. Chen Yuchuan tightened his arms and pulled Shen He closer to him.
Shen He's body trembled slightly, whether from the cold or discomfort, and his breathing was somewhat rapid. He felt like his head was about to explode.
"No need." Shen He shook off his hand, his tone sharp. "Take care of your thing first. Look at you running around naked with that stick standing up, are you even human?"
Chen Yuchuan paused for a moment, then looked down at himself. Sensing the anger in Shen He's tone, he couldn't help but chuckle, raising his hand to pinch Shen He's chin: "You just said you liked me, and this is how you treat me after you've had your fun. Sigh, it's disheartening."
Shen He regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth. He didn't know why he had vented his pent-up anger on Chen Yuchuan. Chen Yuchuan's sudden appearance seemed to rip his tense emotions apart; after enjoying the tenderness, all that remained was irritability and exhaustion.
But Chen Yuchuan hadn't done anything wrong; he was just listening to him. Shen He reached out and hugged Chen Yuchuan, somewhat speechless.
Chen Yuchuan was stunned, then hugged him tightly: "Baby, I was just talking nonsense. If you want to get angry, just do it. It's normal to be in a bad mood when you're sick."
After a long while, Shen He sighed, reached out and patted his head, finally relenting: "It's probably because I missed you too much. I'm sorry, Chen Yuchuan."
Chen Yuchuan's heart trembled, his Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and he wanted to speak but couldn't utter a sound. His chest felt like it was filled with something, a painful, aching tightness. After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse: "Baby, I miss you too, I miss you every day."
"I should have messaged you sooner, and come to find you sooner..."
Chen Yuchuan was still rambling on, and Shen He didn't hear the rest of what he said. He just whispered "thank you." Thank you for filling the emptiness in his heart, thank you for coming to him after being rejected countless times, and for giving him a home after he had completely severed ties with the past.
Chen Yuchuan didn't hear clearly, nor did he ask further, only asking, "Do you really miss me?"
"……real."
"Tell me your thoughts in detail?"
"Too lazy to talk about it."
"Okay, so when you said you liked me, was that true?"
"It's true." Shen He paused, glanced at him, and said, "So could you at least put on some pants, or go take a shower?"
Chen Yuchuan, a shameless person, was unusually embarrassed. He put on Chen He's pajama bottoms and said, "Baby, lie down and rest first. I'll get you the medicine in a bit." He then rushed into the bathroom.
Shen He took her medicine, found Chen Yuchuan a new set of pajamas, and ordered some food for the two of them. She had just put on the pajamas and lay down on the bed when Chen Yuchuan pulled open her shirt. The warm, damp towel pressed against her body, and Shen He couldn't help but close her eyes comfortably.
After wiping his body, Chen Yuchuan slid his hand down his chest, casually pinched it, and said with a laugh, "Why is it so pink?"
Shen He pushed his hand away, warning him that if he messed around again, he would be kicked out. Chen Yuchuan put on his new pajamas and began cleaning the room. Once the room was back to normal, Chen Yuchuan straightened his clothes before solemnly opening the door to let the doctor give Shen He a fever-reducing injection.
After the doctor left, Shen He lifted his shirt and put several fever-reducing patches on himself. Chen Yuchuan looked at the few red marks scattered on his chest and couldn't help but feel a little itchy.
"If it weren't for the fact that you're sick, I would definitely bite your ass hard, since I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to eat it again."
Shen He opened his eyes, a hint of disgust on his brow, his voice hoarse: "Why are you so vulgar now?"
Chen Yuchuan paused for half a second, then laughed out loud, leaned down and kissed his forehead, his tone extremely irritating: "I thought you liked a wild and untamed handsome guy like me now."
Shen He didn't even lift his eyelids: "I don't like it, it's annoying to look at."
Chen Yuchuan complained, "Why are you so hard to please? If I'm a little wild, you think I'm annoying; if I'm a little gentle, you keep talking about suppressing and taming me."
Shen He put on his blindfold and burrowed completely under the covers: "It can't be changed, you'll just have to suffer for it."
She then reminded him, "Remember to go eat."
Chen Yuchuan hugged him: "Okay, okay, I know."
I had a rare good night's sleep.
The next day, Shen He was still feeling unwell. Chen Yuchuan cooked some porridge, and Shen He discovered that his cooking skills were almost as good as his aunt's, so he couldn't help but drink a few more mouthfuls.
After finishing his drink, Shen He sat cross-legged on the sofa. Feeling a bit cold, he wrapped himself completely in the blanket. Chen Yuchuan frowned as he looked at him, reaching out to hug him, but could only manage to hold onto a bundle of blankets.
The TV was showing a VLG match. Although they no longer had the overwhelming dominance of last season, their performance was still among the best in the league. It's just that their playstyle was unattractive; all five players were strong, but they lacked a decisive finisher.
"What a piece of trash competition." Shen He frowned.
"Want to watch something else?" Chen Yuchuan picked up the remote control.
"Alright, let's leave it at that." Shen He rested his head on his shoulder, letting him share the weight of himself and the blanket. "Let's see if Zhou Yifan can make the most of his strengths at VLG."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yuchuan immediately switched the channel to basketball. Shen He was a bit sleepy, too lazy to argue with him, and didn't want to watch the game, so he simply lay down on Chen Yuchuan's lap and closed his eyes.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled patterns on the floor, creating a rare and warm atmosphere.
"It feels like a dream," Chen Yuchuan suddenly said, his voice low.
"What dream?" Shen He didn't open his eyes.
“If you like me, I can be with you.” Chen Yuchuan paused, looking down at Chen He. The warm sunlight enveloped him, making him feel relaxed and at ease. “I never thought you would like me, never thought my dream would come true.”
"...Isn't it normal to like you?" Shen He opened her eyes and looked at him. "Don't you always brag to me about being a gentle, handsome, outstanding, and perfect husband?"
"That's true." Chen Yuchuan said shamelessly, "You should be secretly happy to have a husband like me who is all-around perfect, gentle, affectionate, considerate, rich, and handsome."
Shen He scoffed, stared at him for a few seconds, then closed his eyes again: "If you're so awesome, then what do you like about me?"
"There are too many," Chen Yuchuan said. "How can you explain it clearly?"
"For example?"
Chen Yuchuan thought for a moment, then, unusually serious, said, "I thought you were interesting when I first met you."
What's interesting about it?
“Everywhere was interesting.” Chen Yuchuan reached out and ruffled his hair, his tone filled with nostalgia. “For example, some people would throw stones at frogs by the school pond, and I saw you roll your eyes at them and secretly throw stones at them.”
Shen He smiled and asked, "How did you know?"
"I was smoking behind a tree nearby at the time."
"..." Shen He was silent for two seconds, "Why do I feel like you're a ghost?"
“I wanted to see if those people would notice your little tricks,” Chen Yuchuan said. “But you went from secretly throwing things to openly smashing them. I’m truly impressed.”
“And another thing,” Chen Yuchuan continued, “you planted the flowers that others gave you in a manure pile.”
"How did you know that?" Shen He frowned.
“Hmm.” Chen Yuchuan’s smile deepened. “I just happened to be passing by after beating someone up, and I was especially afraid that you would smell like poop. Later, when we go to the rooftop, you insist on sitting next to me.”
"..."
“And then there was the time to grab that disgusting teacher by the collar and tell him to get lost and stop bothering you,” Chen Yuchuan said. “You have no idea how grateful and admiring the students around you were. Later, that teacher was dismissed for misconduct and breaches of professional ethics, which was quite gratifying.”
Shen He stared at him for a few seconds, then chuckled, "Why do I feel like you're just talking about my embarrassing past?"
“It’s not a dark history.” Chen Yuchuan pinched his cheek. “I think it’s very pure and cute.”
“I like things that are pure and clean, so you are a gift that God deliberately sent to me.”
Shen He frowned: "...It feels a bit cheesy."
Seeing his overly romantic expression, Chen Yuchuan couldn't help but smile helplessly.
“You see, I haven’t eaten, so you always deliberately throw snacks at me, making it seem like you can’t finish them all before giving them to me,” Chen Yuchuan continued.
"Seeing that I'm in a bad mood, you let me play with your precious game console, while you sit there restless because you have nothing to play."
Shen He smiled inwardly. Actually, feeding Chen Yuchuan back then felt like teasing a stray puppy, which was quite fun.
"And you took me to your home for the New Year. That was the first time I had ever spent a holiday with someone."
Chen Yuchuan's voice softened even more, "You said you wanted me to help you with the meals, but you can eat more than anyone else."
Shen He laughed, feeling his mood improve: "Do you remember when we set off firecrackers indoors and blew a big hole in my blanket?"
The two chatted on and on about the past for a long time, and finally Chen He concluded: "Chen Yuchuan, your perspective is really quite unique."
But Chen Yuchuan said, "Baby, I'm especially happy when I'm with you."
Country D is an island nation nestled between mountains and the sea. The sky is a pure blue, and the clouds hang low, seemingly within reach.
The cities are not large; instead, there are rolling pastures and primeval forests. The outlines of snow-capped mountains appear and disappear on the horizon in the distance, and every year, groups of whales migrate here.
Shen He felt this place resembled a large, economically developed rural area—quiet, pristine, convenient, and with friendly people. He had long ago decided this was where he would live permanently. If his plans to go abroad had gone smoothly, he and Chen Yuchuan would likely have settled here much earlier.
However, the country has high-quality education and strict standards, so the two of them had a lot of academic pressure. Their schools were not far apart, only a half-hour drive apart. Since Shen He didn't like driving, he chose to live near his school. Every morning when he woke up, sunlight would filter through the sheer curtains, bathing the entire bedroom in a warm golden light, and he could see the garden in the yard when he opened the window.
Shen He usually bikes to school, occasionally walking. After a year of professional gaming followed by intense studying, he's become quite lax in his exercise routine. His immunity has weakened, making him prone to colds, which worries Chen Yuchuan. The doctor simply advised him to eat more and exercise more, and he certainly should increase his exercise intensity.
On days when they don't have classes, they drive around.
They went out to sea again to see whales. The sky was dyed orange-red, and the waves crashed against the black rocks with a deep roar. Shen He stood at the bow of the boat, his hair disheveled by the wind. Chen Yuchuan stood behind him, secretly taking pictures. Shen He happened to turn around, and his eyes reflected the entire sunset, but in the photo, his face was obscured by his hair, making him look like a wild man.
They went to the glaciers in the south, hiking in heavy down jackets. Chen Yuchuan, trying to show off in front of Shen He, tripped and fell flat on his face, almost breaking a bone. They also went to the famous hot spring town. Shen He was still a bit averse to water, but soaking in a private hot spring under the stars, undisturbed, those uneasy feelings quickly dissipated.
Their phones are filled with more and more photos than they used to take when they went out to play, and now there are even more places and more interesting places waiting for them to discover.
He returned to China to attend Gao Mingyuan's wedding. Gao Mingyuan, dressed in a sharp suit, saw Shen He, his eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over.
"Sinking River!" Gao Mingyuan smiled broadly. "You really came!"
"I'll definitely come." Shen He nodded and handed him the gift. "Congratulations."
"Why are you being so polite with me?" Gao Mingyuan scratched his head and pulled the girl next to him over. "This is my wife. You've seen her in photos."
The girl, dressed in a white wedding gown and wearing light makeup, looked a little introverted and reserved. She nodded to Chen He and Chen Yuchuan and said, "Hello."
“She’s not usually like this,” Gao Mingyuan said with a smile. “She’s actually quite lively. Before, when she was shipping you two as a couple, she would jump around and make a scene at home for half an hour.”
The girl kicked him hard, pulled his head down, and whispered something in his ear. Gao Mingyuan laughed even harder, hugged her, and told her to go play by herself.
Shen He looked at them, a slight smile playing on his lips: "You seem quite happy, Brother Yuan."
"Absolutely." Gao Mingyuan watched his wife walk away, then looked at Shen He, his expression becoming more serious. "Seeing that you're doing well, I'm relieved."
Shen He paused for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, I am very happy too."
Gao Mingyuan patted him on the shoulder and whispered to him, "My wife said she wants a photo of you and Chen Yuchuan together."
He added, "I didn't tell her about your relationship. She was very sad when you retired, saying that her partner had passed away."
Shen He smiled and agreed.
Shen He and Chen Yuchuan entered the hall and found a corner to sit down. Shen He looked around and saw several familiar faces, including ASG teammates, staff, and opponents.
"Brother He!"
A voice came from the side, and Shen He turned his head to see Zhou Yifan running over.
"Long time no see." Zhou Yifan sat down next to him, smiling happily. "How have you been lately?"
“Not bad,” Shen He said. “And you?”
“I’m not bad either,” Zhou Yifan said. “It’s much easier to win on VLG.”
“Yes, I saw it,” Shen He said. “You have a lot of ideas now.”
"Really?" Zhou Yifan's eyes lit up. "You really think so?"
"Yes." Shen He nodded. "You'll definitely get better and better as you play."
Zhou Yifan smiled and said, "Actually, I still think it would be great if we could win the championship together at ASG."
“But I know you won’t be coming back,” Zhou Yifan said. “You’re doing what you like better now, and that’s good.”
Zhou Yifan then talked about her recent life and her newly adopted kitten.
“Look.” Zhou Yifan took out his phone and showed Shen He a photo. “This is what I found.”
The photo shows a fluffy gray cat sleeping in Zhou Yifan's arms, looking rather haughty.
Shen He thought it was quite cute and touched it through the screen. Just as he was about to say something, Chen Yuchuan next to him clicked his tongue impatiently.
Shen He reached out and gently patted the back of his hand, and Chen Yuchuan immediately grasped his hand tightly.
Zhou Yifan noticed this action. He paused for a moment, remained silent for a few seconds, and then looked up: "By the way, the World Championship will be in Country D next year. You must come to the event to see me win the championship."
Shen He patted him on the shoulder: "I will come, and you must keep your word."
After the wedding, Shen He and Chen Yuchuan went back to their hometown and had dinner with their parents.
After ordering, Shen He put down his phone and looked at his parents: "Dad, Mom, I have something to tell you."
"I will stay in Country D from now on, and I probably won't come back."
The mother paused for a moment, her eyes reddening slightly, but she still managed a forced smile: "That place suits your personality very well, it's great."
Shen He paused for a moment, then continued, "Also, Chen Yuchuan and I are together."
The parents exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised. The mother looked at Chen He, then at Chen Yuchuan, and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Xiaohe," her father said gently, "I'm happy as long as you're happy."
“We…” the father paused, then continued, “we just want you to be happy. Whatever life you choose, as long as you’re happy, we’ll support you.”
The mother looked up, her eyes still red, but she nodded: "Your father is right, Xiaohe, do whatever you want, and be happy."
Shen He looked at them, his throat tightening slightly.
It was already dark when they left. Their mother stood at the door to see them off, her eyes reddening again, but she forced a smile: "Xiaohe, you must take good care of yourself."
"Mmm." Shen He hugged her. "You too."
"And you too." The mother looked at Chen Yuchuan, "Xiaochuan, you must take good care of Xiaohe."
She paused, her voice slightly choked: "Besides us, no one has ever wronged him."
“I will take good care of him, Auntie,” Chen Yuchuan said.
The car slowly drove towards the airport. Shen He saw his parents still standing in the same spot in the rearview mirror. He leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
"Are you alright?" Chen Yuchuan asked.
"Hmm," Shen He said, "much better than I expected."
Chen Yuchuan reached out and grasped his hand, their fingers intertwined.
They returned to Country D, but instead of going back to school immediately, they went to another city. It was an old city on the very edge of Country D. The city was small, but it had a long history, with ancient buildings everywhere and a wealth of fossil specimens. Shen He had wanted to see it for a long time, and this time they planned to spend a week there.
As night fell, the temperature here dropped faster than expected.
Chen Yuchuan stood in front of Shen He, took out a dark gray scarf, unfolded it, and draped it over Shen He's shoulders. His movements were very natural; his slender fingers went around Shen He's neck, crossed the scarf at the back of his neck, and then pulled it to his chest and carefully tied a knot.
"Don't move." Chen Yuchuan lowered his head slightly, focusing intently on adjusting the tightness of the scarf.
Chen He let him do as he pleased, turning his head to look towards the square. The scarf was very soft, carrying a faint tobacco scent from Chen Yuchuan's recent secret smoking, and it was still warm when he wrapped it around his neck.
Shen He no longer interferes with Chen Yuchuan's smoking and drinking, but tells him to take care of his health. Chen Yuchuan occasionally can't resist, but he always does it secretly, not daring to let Shen He find out.
The scarf covered half of Shen He's face, revealing only his eyes. Chen Yuchuan took a step back and looked him over, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes: "It's done."
"What's done?" Shen He looked up at him.
"It looks much better now." Chen Yuchuan said, putting his hand on his shoulder with a firm but not too heavy touch, carrying a clear sense of possessiveness. "Let's go."
"Tsk, I know you don't like me usually."
"...Baby, I was wrong. Please give me a chance tonight so I can properly apologize to you, okay?"
"..." Shenhe had never seen such a shameless person.
The two walked slowly along the stone path of the square. The square was large, surrounded by old buildings, and the streetlights lit up one by one, their glow spreading in the cold mist.
Shen He put his hands in his coat pockets and walked at a leisurely pace. Chen Yuchuan's hands restlessly wrapped around his waist, bringing the two very close.
"Are you cold?" Chen Yuchuan asked, tilting his head.
"It's alright." Shen He's voice was muffled by the scarf.
"Don't be stubborn, you can huddle up to your buddy for some warmth."
Shenhe pushed him away: "...Stop calling me 'bro' all the time, I'm really not that close to you."
A deep chime rang out from the clock tower in the center of the square. Immediately afterwards, a huge blue firework burst open in the sky, illuminating the entire square.
Chen He looked up and saw the dazzling light reflected in his eyes.
"There's something in your scarf, straighten it yourself." Chen Yuchuan's voice suddenly came from the side, his tone casual.
Shen He paused for a moment, then looked down at his chest. The scarf was wrapped tightly around his neck. He reached out and smoothed it, his fingertips touching a small, hard object. Pulling it out from under the scarf, he found a diamond ring.
The central stone is large, with a beautifully twisted shape, and a ring of small diamonds adorns it like a galaxy, refracting a cold light. It's clear that a great deal of effort was put into the design; it's flamboyant and luxurious, and the workmanship is indeed exquisite, but it's just too… ostentatious.
Shen He stared at the ring for a few seconds, feeling a mix of emotion and amusement: "Are there really men who can wear this kind of thing?"
Chen Yuchuan frowned: "Doesn't it look good?"
“It’s very beautiful…” Shen He held the ring up to his eyes to examine it closely, a deep smile on his face. “But it’s pretty weird that you’re making me wear this thing, isn’t it?”
"What's wrong? I asked someone in my hometown who specializes in this to do it for me." Chen Yuchuan frowned. "I found the most famous designer, and he said it's the best."
Shen He turned to look at him, her eyes curving into a smile: "...You've made me stupid again."
"What?"
Did you tell him you were going to give it to a man when you made it?
Chen Yuchuan choked, his expression unusually stiff: "I forgot."
Shen He laughed out loud and patted his face: "I knew you were unreliable."
"Okay." Chen Yuchuan took a deep breath and reached out to take the ring back. "Then tell me what kind you want, or what kind is suitable for a man?"
Shen He pushed his hand away, took the ring back into her palm and clenched it tightly: "I've already given it away, there's no reason to take it back."
"Then how will you wear it?"
“Wear it around your neck.” Shen He said, taking out another long box from his coat pocket and handing it to Chen Yuchuan. “Perfect timing, I also have something for you, a male dog… exclusive to men, take a good look.”
Chen Yuchuan was incredibly curious, so he took it and opened it.
It was a black dog leash with a matte silver metal buckle, exquisitely crafted, and engraved with the words: Property of Styx.
Chen Yuchuan: "...?"
Shen He said seriously, "I can only wear that thing you gave me around my neck, but you wear this one I gave you, so we actually look quite compatible."
Chen Yuchuan looked down at the dog leash, the words "They're quite a good match" echoing in his mind. After a long while, he managed to squeeze out, "You really want to play alphabet games, huh?"
Shen He scoffed, "Isn't this hobby the persona you gave me?"
Chen Yuchuan smirked: "Why do I feel like your hobby is just messing with me?"
"You even guessed that?" Shen He patted his head. "You're quite clever."
Chen Yuchuan was a little exasperated, so he pinched his face and kissed him hard twice.
Chen He didn't dodge, letting him mess up his hair. He took off the large gold chain Chen Yuchuan had given him before, threaded the ring through it, and examined it under the light. Both items were exquisitely designed; Chen Yuchuan seemed to have only one philosophy when giving these things: the more expensive, the better.
Shenhe just felt that people like him weren't really suited to wearing these things.
The two items are clearly different styles, but they surprisingly go well together. Shen He took a picture with his phone and couldn't help but complain, "Don't give me jewelry if you don't have good taste. It's such a waste, you know?"
He tucked the items into his clothes, the cool touch making him shiver slightly. But the skin quickly began to burn, as if scorched by a hidden fire, and even his heartbeat quickened.
Shen He lowered his eyes and casually adjusted his scarf.
Chen Yuchuan was still holding the box, carefully examining the dog leash. He took out the collar, weighed it in his hand, and turned to look at Chen He: "Can this thing really be worn?"
"If you can't wear it, just throw it away."
Chen Yuchuan clicked his tongue, put the item back into the box, and stuffed it into his coat pocket: "I can wear it, but you have to give me more extra rewards."
Shen He extended his hand towards him, his voice cold and his tone nonchalant, but his gaze was fixed on the other side of the square: "Reward my ass. What are you standing there for? Want to stay here and be a stray dog?"
Chen Yuchuan looked down at his outstretched hand; the fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles and a beautiful color, the fingertips red from the cold. He didn't speak, but simply stepped forward and intertwined his fingers with his.
Shen He's hands were cold, so Chen Yuchuan gripped them tightly, transferring his body heat to them.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, the bells gradually faded, but the fireworks grew more and more brilliant.
The two walked back, their shadows stretching long and overlapping, making them indistinguishable.
Another round of fireworks rose into the sky, exploding into tiny, dense specks of light in the dark expanse. Chen He stopped and looked up at the sky.
Chen Yuchuan stopped as well and looked up.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Chen Yuchuan asked tentatively.
"Hmm." Shen He nodded, recalling the game Chen Yuchuan had given him, in which the protagonist resolutely walked towards the vast starry sky that belonged to him.
He looked at the fireworks that Chen Yuchuan had given him and said softly, "They look like the Milky Way in my home to me."
Chen Yuchuan turned his head to look at him. Shen He's face was buried in his scarf, only his eyes and forehead were visible, but his eyes reflected the entire starry sky.
Chen Yuchuan moved closer: "Then please invite me to your home for a visit."
Shenhe squeezed his palm: "Okay."
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