Chapter 10

After playing with the dog for a while, Shu Shiyun was ushered into the villa. Looking at the familiar decor inside, he felt a sense of comfort.

Although he was no longer viewing what Shang Cheng was doing from a detached, bird's-eye perspective, seeing Shang Cheng sit down on the sofa opposite him now still felt incredibly heartwarming.

"Is your mother very concerned about your personal life?" Shu Shiyun couldn't help but ask.

Shang Cheng knew he had heard the voice on the phone earlier. "Yes, but this is my freedom. They can nag if they want to."

Shu Shiyun felt he had already been proactive enough; he couldn't bring himself to be any more direct. Besides... he couldn't help but suspect that Shang Cheng didn't actually have very strong feelings for him. After all, he had dropped so many hints, both subtle and overt.

"Elders are all like that," he sighed, deciding to hold back a little. "My mother used to hope I would date more and find someone suitable."

Upon hearing this, however, Shang Cheng suddenly asked, "The people you dated before must have been girls."

Shu Shiyun didn't react in time. He fell right into the trap, blankly explaining, "I dated once in college, but it only lasted for a week. I felt it wasn't what I had imagined, so we ended things amicably."

Shang Cheng asked again, "It wasn't your ideal mode of dating?"

"That’s not it either..." Shu Shiyun actually still remembered that she was a very gentle and pretty girl. When she confessed to him, she was very brave; that steady, persistent gaze had made his heart race, and in a moment of impulse, he had agreed to seriously consider it. He hadn't wanted to waste her time, and thinking he didn't dislike being with her, he confirmed the relationship.

Later, he learned from the "model boyfriends" around him, buying her breakfast, picking out gifts, and going out together. Yet, he gradually discovered that he never felt that spark in his heart. Only then did he realize that perhaps he was simply moved by her persistence, not actually in love. The girl was quite reserved and slow to warm up; after spending some time together, she also felt they weren't a perfect match. They talked it out, and the breakup was natural, without any drama.

"I haven't met anyone I liked since then, so I haven't dated," Shu Shiyun felt a bit embarrassed recalling it. "I decided too rashly back then; I really felt sorry for her. Fortunately, she didn't mind."

Shang Cheng said, "Dating is indeed something that requires careful consideration; otherwise, it’s easy to delay others and end up hurting yourself."

For some reason, Shu Shiyun felt that Shang Cheng was implying something, but he didn't know how to ask, so he turned to a question he was more curious about. "What about you? Have you ever liked anyone before?"

He didn't have many thoughts when asking this, but seeing Shang Cheng lower his eyes, hiding his emotions from view, his own heart began to feel restless. Shang Cheng was ten years older than him; he was bound to have seen more of the world, and during his formative years, he must have been moved by someone. There was nothing to be jealous of.

Yet, even though he had thought this through clearly, his heart still ached with a dull pain. He had seen Shang Cheng looking sad and troubled for his sake; if it were for someone else... it must have been that same look.

Unexpectedly, Shang Cheng smiled helplessly. "You might not believe my answer."

Shu Shiyun was slightly startled and replied without hesitation, "I'll believe whatever you say."

"I," Shang Cheng paused, "have never dated."

Shu Shiyun: "..."

He had just said he would believe anything, but now that he had the answer, he stared at the other man in a daze for a long time, his mind struggling to process the disbelief. Is this reasonable?

Shang Cheng was quite calm. Aside from a flicker of awkwardness in his eyes when he finished that sentence, he looked perfectly normal now. "I didn't think much about it during my school years. Between my studies, certifications, and other things, I was busy. After graduation, there wasn't anyone suitable around, and I didn't have the heart to think too much about personal matters. It just dragged on until now."

Hearing this, Shu Shiyun’s heart gradually relaxed. He nodded in understanding. "No wonder your mother nags you so much; there’s a reason she’s worried."

Shang Cheng chuckled. "It’s better to let things take their natural course."

"Then why do you like me?" At this moment, only the phrase "no one suitable" remained in Shu Shiyun's mind, and he asked instinctively, "When you confessed to me at Shuiyuntian that day, was it just a whim?"

Seeming to notice that his mood was off, Shang Cheng withdrew the smile from his face. "Shiyun, I was very serious at that time."

Shu Shiyun, however, was starting to doubt. Since arriving at Shang Cheng's house, he had been trying to suppress his emotions, not wanting to be annoying by asking questions, but in the end, he couldn't help it. He had assumed Shang Cheng was no stranger to pursuing others, which was why he didn't seem to care about his reactions. But if Shang Cheng had never dated and lacked experience, what was the meaning of his hot-and-cold behavior?

"I don't understand. Why did you start avoiding me after I agreed? It makes me feel like you regret confessing to me. If you really regret it, you could just tell me clearly." As he spoke, his eyes felt sore, and it was becoming difficult to speak. "You make me feel so sad. I don't know what to do. I was very serious about what I said to you before, but you..."

He couldn't continue.

As if he hadn't expected Shu Shiyun to suddenly lose control of his emotions, Shang Cheng stood up and came to his side, gently wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes with a tissue, his brows furrowed as he watched him.

"I didn't mean it that way."

Shu Shiyun actually felt ashamed. He had never cried in front of anyone before, but perhaps because he knew the person in front of him was Shang Cheng, he felt that it didn't matter.

"Then can you tell me clearly? If you don't want to be with me, I can keep my distance. At worst, I won't appear in front of you again. I can go back—"

Before he could finish, he felt his nape covered by a warm palm, and a gentle warmth pressed against his forehead. His eyes, soaked with tears, widened slightly, his long lashes trembling; he was so startled that he stopped talking immediately.

He sat stiffly on the sofa, not knowing how to react, while Shang Cheng kissed his forehead. When he leaned down again, there was no helplessness on his face, only solemnity in his eyes.

"I’m sorry, Shiyun."

His heart skipped a beat; Shu Shiyun suddenly didn't understand what he was going to say.

"My actions after that day were indeed a bit excessive, but everything was just too sudden. I didn't expect you to agree immediately." Shang Cheng paused. "I don't not care about you; it’s just that because I want to cherish you, I wanted to give you time to think it through."

Shu Shiyun’s eyes were red, his porcelain-white face stained with tears, but he kept his gaze fixed on him without blinking.

Shang Cheng reached out to touch his face. "You are still young; in truth, you aren't really a match for me, but I really do like you. I invited you out that day just to see you, but once we met, for some reason, I couldn't hold back. I said those things on impulse, and you have every right to scold me."

"You aren't old at all," Shu Shiyun murmured.

Shang Cheng was amused by his words, but instead of treating it as a joke, he nodded very seriously. "I know. So... if you have truly thought it through, I hope you can still be with me. I will try my best to be good to you. Perhaps you don't lack anything, but as long as I can do it, I am willing to do everything in my power for you."

His words weren't novel, but to Shu Shiyun’s ears, they sounded like a solemn promise.

His heart missed a beat. Without thinking, he caught the hand Shang Cheng had placed on his cheek. "Whatever you want, I will try to satisfy you, too."

It was meant to be a response to Shang Cheng’s promise, but for some reason, the words came out sounding quite strange.

Shang Cheng laughed in spite of himself and nodded. "Okay."

He reached out and took Shu Shiyun’s hand into his palm, gently squeezing his knuckles, and raised his hand to wipe away his tears again. His movements were very gentle. Shu Shiyun closed his eyes obediently, yet he felt as if something was still missing.

So, a second later, he opened his eyes and met the gaze of Shang Cheng, who was looking at him. Amidst their locked gazes, he suddenly felt a bit shy. His eyes drifted to the other man’s pale, thin lips, and he gathered his courage to lean over and peck the corner of his mouth.

The soft, moist touch lasted for only a fleeting moment before he pulled away, but the sensation lingered for a long time.

"Consider that a seal," Shu Shiyun pursed his lips, his cheeks flushing. "From now on, I am your boyfriend, and you are not allowed to avoid me anymore."

His skin was naturally fair, and his palm-sized face was flushed with a soft red from crying, now tinged with a delicate color, making him so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.

Shang Cheng’s eyes darkened, but in the end, he simply nodded in agreement, doing nothing more.

-

The first thing Shu Shiyun did when he got home wasn't to prepare his streaming equipment, but to send a message to his mother about his new relationship.

The response from the other end was almost instantaneous. Three messages in a row weren't enough, and finally, she couldn't wait and called him directly.

He strode into the study dedicated to his live broadcasts and answered the phone.

"Mom."

Shu Lian didn't laugh; instead, her tone was very serious. "Shiyun, is what you sent me true?"

Shu Shiyun had been impulsive when he sent the message, and only now, having calmed down, did he realize it might have been too sudden.

"Mom, are you unable to accept it?"

He didn't get to see his mother often each year. Although many men had expressed interest in him in the past, he had never seriously thought about whether he liked men or women. Now that he said it so suddenly... his mother must be shocked.

Shu Lian sighed. "As long as you’re happy, Mom won't interfere with these things, but this is just so sudden. I thought I had misread it."

Hearing her words, Shu Shiyun finally felt relieved.

He leaned over to turn on his computer and stood up to find the clothes he would wear for his broadcast that night, mentioning Shang Cheng to her in passing.

"He is great in every way, except that he's older than me."

Shu Lian was a bit guarded. "How much older?"

"Ten years older." Shu Shiyun was afraid she wouldn't be able to accept it, so his voice became very small. "It should be fine, right? He actually looks quite young."

"..."

There was no sound from the other end for over ten seconds, only the soft sound of breathing from the receiver, indicating she was still there. Shu Shiyun was full of anxiety, and just as he was about to elaborate on Shang Cheng, he heard Shu Lian take a deep breath.

"Is he ten years older than me?"

"..." Shu Shiyun was stunned, immediately reacting, and he couldn't help but laugh or cry. "Mom! Stop reading those jokes on the internet; he's only ten years older than me."

Before Shu Lian could say anything else, he heard some background noise, as if someone was talking to her.

"Okay, I understand," Shu Lian replied.

As it grew quiet again, Shu Shiyun asked curiously, "Mom, who is talking?"

Shu Lian said, "It's nothing, your uncle just went to pack his luggage. I told him to bring a thick coat; hasn't the temperature dropped back home?"

Shu Shiyun realized something. "Uncle is coming back to the country? Didn't he say just two days ago that he wouldn't be back until the end of the year?"

"I don't know why he suddenly changed his mind."