Qiu Sui had already absorbed plenty from lectures, so he wrapped up the key exam topics in four days. On the fifth, break began. No early alarms—he slept straight through till he woke naturally.
Shen Zhixiao started texting tentatively from eight a.m., finally getting a reply at ten. He threw on his light gray coat, wrapped on the scarf from Qiu Sui, and checked his appearance and hair in the full-length mirror.
His sleep had improved these past days; the haggard dejection was gone. Radiant now, he waited at Qiu Sui’s door for lunch together.
Qiu Sui had replied right after waking, then rolled out of bed in a heap of tangled sheets and pillows.
After washing up on the balcony, he rummaged through his closet, pulling out a grayish fleece-lined leather jacket and cargo pants. He dithered half the time over inner layers.
Twenty minutes flew by just like that. Qiu Sui snatched his phone, saw the time, grabbed the scarf from behind the cabinet door, looped it loosely around his neck, and yanked open the door.
The tall alpha stood ramrod straight outside, who knew how long he’d waited.
Qiu Sui met his eyes, feigning casual as he adjusted his scarf. “Let’s go.”
Their outfits somehow matched in tone. Shen Zhixiao stared at the light cyan scarf—his gift—around Qiu Sui’s neck, then followed with a joyful step.
With no classes, neither wanted campus food. Shen Zhixiao had booked a seafood feast in advance.
In the passenger seat, Qiu Sui buckled up while sneaking peeks at the driver. It wasn’t our first time driving out for a meal, but why did it feel so thrilling and nerve-wracking? Like the first school field trip as a kid.
Shen Zhixiao started the car but didn’t pull out right away. He patted his coat pocket and called softly, “Xiao Sui.”
Caught mid-peek, Qiu Sui jolted, straightened up, and said airily, “What?”
Shen Zhixiao didn’t answer directly. He hooked a finger over the one resting on Qiu Sui’s thigh. Qiu Sui tensed instantly. What now? Holding hands?
Before he could guess, something warm pressed into his palm. He looked down: a bottle of warm milk.
“The restaurant’s a bit far. Have something first.” Shen Zhixiao smiled faintly, a touch embarrassed, and even poked the straw in for him.
Qiu Sui loosely gripped the warm milk, feeling silly for overthinking. He hummed quietly and sipped it slowly.
Shen Zhixiao turned on the heat and music before driving off. Qiu Sui pretended to drink milk and scroll his phone, but really, he nibbled the straw while stealing glances at that handsome profile. Just one outing—if it’s only dinner, that feels like a waste…
The restaurant was indeed a drive from campus. They arrived near noon, but service was quick—no waiting.
Qiu Sui had skipped breakfast. Even after the warm milk, he was ravenous, attacking the food like a whirlwind.
Warm air filled the private room, and as soon as the two entered, they shed their coats and scarves. Beneath Qiu Sui’s gray-white jacket was a stand-collar knit sweater he’d agonized over choosing. The high collar accentuated his slender neck, brushing against his skin with every movement, leaving that patch perpetually half-exposed—and even rubbing his Adam’s apple a bit red.
Shen Zhixiao only glanced over by accident, but his attention snagged there, utterly derailing any interest in eating.
Oblivious, Qiu Sui propped his head on one hand and took a sip of warm water. His Adam’s apple bobbed with the swallow, leaving Shen Zhixiao parched enough to gulp himself. In a gentle voice, he urged, “Eat slower.”
Qiu Sui had a habit of wolfing down his food. He tried to control it on purpose sometimes, but mostly he couldn’t. He slowed a little and shot Shen Zhixiao a glance, only to notice the crab meat on his plate untouched. “You’re not hungry?”
“…”
Shen Zhixiao licked his lips and picked up his chopsticks, his gaze drifting over Qiu Sui like he wasn’t eating seafood at all.
Qiu Sui had figured they’d grab lunch, browse the nearby mall, and head back, so he’d strolled at a snail’s pace.
His hand swung limply back and forth, and after stealing glances at Shen Zhixiao with no reaction for ages, a flicker of irritation stirred in his chest. When Shen Zhixiao finally called his name, he drooped his eyelids and drawled, “What?”
Shen Zhixiao leaned against his shoulder, peering down at him, and murmured softly, “Can we go see a movie together? It’s that new anime that’s just hit theaters.”
Qiu Sui perked up at that, his mind racing through recent hot IPs. “Ah, but it should be sold out by now, right?”
“…I booked two tickets ahead of time.” Shen Zhixiao watched him expectantly and named the movie.
Qiu Sui got it then—this guy had never planned to settle for just lunch. A little thrill bubbled up inside him, but he tamped it down, humming lightly. “What time?”
“The two-thirty showing.”
Qiu Sui checked the time—they’d finished lunch and wandered a bit, and it was already two. He jabbed Shen Zhixiao’s arm in a fluster. “It’s almost starting! Which theater?”
Shen Zhixiao felt no such time crunch, savoring the small poke. He pointed across the way, amusement lacing his voice. “Right there.”
“…”
This guy timed everything perfectly—he’s totally teasing me, isn’t he? Isn’t he?
Qiu Sui stared at the cinema across from them, howling internally, even more convinced when he caught Shen Zhixiao’s lips curving up.
Guess I’ve been too nice to him lately. He’s gotten bold.
Fuming, he balled his fist and thumped Shen Zhixiao’s Alpha chest. Caught off guard, Shen Zhixiao stumbled back a few steps and immediately ducked his head in meek apology.
They looped around the mall until it was time, then headed into the theater.
Shen Zhixiao wasn’t really into these movies. During the screening, his focus stayed glued to Qiu Sui, who watched with rapt delight beside him.
The dim glow from the screen played across Qiu Sui’s face, lighting his eyes bright. Shen Zhixiao itched to touch his hand.
Maybe now’s the moment to get back together with Qiu Sui.
Watching Qiu Sui’s absorbed expression, Shen Zhixiao’s fingers trembled—but in the end, he didn’t reach out and interrupt. He just leaned slightly toward him, tilting his head to steal glances at that profile, missing every bit of the plot.
By the time the movie ended, Shen Zhixiao’s neck ached from all the twisting, but hearing Qiu Sui—chin tucked into his scarf—chat about the story filled him with contentment.
Nearly two hours later, the sky had dimmed by the time they stepped out of the mall.
The day’s slip away left Qiu Sui a bit dazed. He nudged Shen Zhixiao’s shoulder. “Heading back now?”
Shen Zhixiao met his eyes, fingers twitching restlessly at his side—but lacking the courage, he just clenched them and nodded. “Yeah.”
Yeah what? It’s five already—we should just eat dinner out.
Qiu Sui itched to smack him at the answer.
Catching the chill in Qiu Sui’s expression, Shen Zhixiao backpedaled fast. “Or… how about we grab dinner first and head back after?”
The urge to hit eased a fraction. Qiu Sui peeked at Shen Zhixiao’s face, mumbling a shy, “Okay.”
They’d only meant to do lunch, but after the movie, they stayed for dinner too—lingering outside until seven.
Stuffed, they needed a walk to digest. Qiu Sui figured they’d get back to campus no earlier than seven-thirty.
Night brought colder air, though. During the stroll, Qiu Sui’s hands balled into fists inside his sleeves.
Head down, he half-listened to the wind rustling the treetops, footsteps distracted—until his sleeve brushed lightly. He glanced down quick and saw Shen Zhixiao tentatively reaching for his hand.
Qiu Sui: “…”
He wouldn’t hold it when I was swinging it around at lunch, but now that it’s fisted up, he remembers?
Amused by Shen Zhixiao’s obliviousness, Qiu Sui pretended not to notice and relaxed his fist just enough. Their fingers hooked successfully.
Shen Zhixiao’s warmth hit like scorching magma, instantly banishing Qiu Sui’s chill.
His heart picked up speed, fingertips curling with a tremor—only for Shen Zhixiao to grip tighter.
The air thickened into something intimate and lingering, like an invisible barrier shutting out the biting wind, surging with heat that flushed their skin.
But soon, Shen Zhixiao let go. Something new filled Qiu Sui’s palm instead.
Slow on the uptake, he looked down at the little perfume bottle—and his nerves jolted.
“I lost that last bottle, so I made a new one…” Shen Zhixiao gazed at Qiu Sui’s profile, voice shaking. “Will you take this one… baby…?”
The pet name slipped out uncontrollably, low and raw.
It had been so long since Qiu Sui last heard it. The instant it hit, his heart clenched.
Fingers clamping around the hot glass—he had no idea how long it’d been clutched in Shen Zhixiao’s pocket—Qiu Sui’s breath grew stuffy. Only after ages did he manage a soft “mm.”
Emotions flooded Shen Zhixiao as he watched Qiu Sui’s eyes redden. He murmured “baby” again.
Qiu Sui stared at the ground, heart crumpling under the word, a sour ache spreading through every limb and dulling his reactions.
I’d been bracing all day, Shen Zhixiao thought, but I’m still shaking this bad—even a full sentence won’t come out smooth. Hoarse, he pleaded, “So… can we… not break up anymore…?”
Qiu Sui’s heart had leaned that way already, but hearing it unleashed everything—like a valve twisting open, emotions gushing wildly, stinging his eyes.
He blinked his dry eyes furiously, trying to steady himself before answering, but Shen Zhixiao cupped his cheek and gently lifted his chin.
Locking eyes with those reddened ones shattered Qiu Sui’s fragile calm. His vision blurred.
He felt Shen Zhixiao’s fingers wiping under his eyes, their foreheads pressed together as breaths mingled inseparably—but he couldn’t react, not even muster the strength to move his lips.
I didn’t lose the perfume. We’re not breaking up. But the words wouldn’t come, like a snapped nerve leaving him to ragged breaths and tears.
Shen Zhixiao pulled him into an embrace, wiping his eyes over and over, kissing his quivering lids. He apologized repeatedly, nuzzled nose-to-nose, voice choking. “You’re not saying no… so that’s a yes.”
Qiu Sui, lost in the flood, wanted to deck him for the high-handedness—but his body lagged, settling for a light bump at Shen Zhixiao’s waist.
Head tilted up, lashes fluttering, he felt Shen Zhixiao’s soft coaxing kisses trail from eye corner to nose bridge. Finally, control trickled back.
So many words crowded his mind, but his voice came out hoarse and broken: “This is your one chance. Screw up again, and no getting back together.”
