Sea breeze, windmills, sandy beaches—this was the kind of treatment you only expected from a graduation trip.
Gu Shiying wanted to step onto the sand, but he was still in his sneakers.
With so few people on the beach, he glanced at Fu Huan. “Can I take my shoes off?”
Fu Huan: “Go ahead.”
Gu Shiying didn’t want to play alone. That would just make him look childish.
Without a shred of ceremony, he plopped down on the sand and started unlacing his shoes. “You too. I’m not playing by myself.”
Fu Huan began removing his shoes and socks, placing them neatly side-by-side with Gu Shiying’s.
He joined Gu Shiying, barefoot in the sand.
The last time Gu Shiying had been on a beach was when he was very young, the memories now distant and blurred. All he remembered was the sensation of soft sand shifting beneath his feet.
He walked on the sand until the waves rushed up to meet him. The seawater crept over his instep, making him scrunch up his neck at the chill.
Gu Shiying: “Whoa, the water’s so cold.”
Fu Huan: “It’s not really summer yet—the weather hasn’t gotten hot. Don’t stay in the water too long; you’ll catch a cold.”
Gu Shiying: “Relax. I’ve got a strong constitution.”
Fu Huan gave a small smile. “Oh, really?”
Gu Shiying: “That smile sounds skeptical.”
Fu Huan: “Not at all. You have a great constitution.”
Gu Shiying pointed at the ocean, issuing a demand: “Then tell the ocean: Gu Shiying is a macho man.”
Fu Huan: “You turning into a muscle-bound hunk wouldn’t look good.”
Gu Shiying thought to himself: Perfect! Don’t gays—specifically tops—hate muscle-bound macho men?
He kicked at the waves lapping over his feet. “And what do you know about my aesthetic standards?”
Fu Huan: “You like abs, lean muscle—but not the protein-powder bodybuilder type. Probably something close to my physique.”
Gu Shiying crouched down, tilting his head to look at him. “You’re so narcissistic.”
Fu Huan: “Am I wrong?” He sounded very sure.
Gu Shiying laughed and splashed seawater at him playfully. “Detective Fu, my admiration for your physique aside—that doesn’t change the fact that I want you to shout ‘Gu Shiying is a macho man.'”
Fu Huan stepped forward a bit, cupped his hands around his mouth, and faced the vast ocean. He shouted at the top of his lungs: “Gu Shiying is a macho man!”
Gu Shiying couldn’t believe Fu Huan actually had zero idol baggage. He felt like he was still far from truly knowing Fu Huan.
He was absolutely dying of laughter.
He’d never imagined that Fu Huan—who normally seemed so cold and aloof—would actually shout into the ocean like that.
Fu Huan turned back to him. “Satisfied?”
Gu Shiying nodded. “Very. Then I’ll shout one for you too. What do you want me to yell?”
Fu Huan suddenly looked at Gu Shiying, falling silent. Gu Shiying mentally cursed—he’d gotten carried away in his excitement. What if Fu Huan asked him to shout, “I like you”? He’d be done for.
“Wishing us smooth sailing in everything, and a long life of a hundred years!”
Gu Shiying froze, staring blankly at Fu Huan. Maybe… he was the one with the small-minded thinking.
Fu Huan smiled slightly. “What’s wrong? Not trendy enough to shout out?”
Gu Shiying shook his head. “No… I really like this blessing. I just didn’t think of it.”
Fu Huan, unusually, prompted him: “Well, go on, shout it.”
Gu Shiying stood up. “Alright, alright. Wishing us smooth sailing in everything, and a long life of a hundred years—may everything keep getting better and better!”
There was so much to do on the sand.
During the sunset hour, Gu Shiying captured dozens of shots. Once done, he wanted to collect some seashells, but the tide was coming in, and dusk was darkening the sky fast.
This wasn’t a tourist hotspot, so there weren’t many visitors. Once darkness fell, only the street lamps on the road provided any light. Everything else was deeply shadowed.
He lamented, “Ah, can’t get shells anymore.”
Fu Huan, having anticipated his disappointment, said: “We can come back early tomorrow morning to watch the sunrise.”
“Yes, let’s do that!” But as Gu Shiying reacted, a new thought struck him. “Wait—watch the sunrise? That means we’re not going back to school tonight?”
Fu Huan replied, as if it were completely logical: “It would take over three hours to drive back. I’d be exhausted. Don’t want to drive tired.”
Gu Shiying thought: And you think I don’t know your little scheme? “So where are we staying tonight?”
Fu Huan: “Already booked a room. Somewhere nearby.”
Gu Shiying marveled at his speed. “When did you book it?”
Fu Huan: “On the drive here.”
“You work fast.” Gu Shiying tugged at his own clothes. After all that playing around, he’d worked up a sweat. Winter would be forgiving, but in this weather, there was definite body odor territory. “We didn’t bring any spare clothes.”
Fu Huan: “Don’t worry. I bought some.”
Gu Shiying remembered now. “You predicted we wouldn’t be going back tonight before we even went into that clothing store, didn’t you?”
Fu Huan didn’t want to admit that in an incredibly short span, he’d already decided they were staying the night outside. He just wanted to be with Gu Shiying.
“Mm. The guesthouse we’re staying at has a whole street that’s nothing but BBQ stalls.”
Gu Shiying: “You’re changing the subject rather clumsily.”
Fu Huan didn’t mind being seen through. “There’s this one BBQ place that’s really incredible. They have an especially authentic oyster omelette—soft, savory, sticky, and fragrant.”
Gu Shiying successfully took the bait. “Fine. I guess I can condescend to stay one night.”
Fu Huan reached out to gently ruffle his hair. “Now you’re acting all princely? Get in the car, young master.”
Gu Shiying threw him a side-eye. “Stop mussing my hair.”
Fu Huan didn’t detect any real annoyance. “It was messy from the sea breeze. I was smoothing it down.”
Gu Shiying: “Excuses.”
Five minutes later, Fu Huan drove them into the guesthouse area near the beach. This spot was far livelier than the windmill zone—many guesthouses indeed. Glancing out, it looked like a fishing village that had been renovated. Near the waterfront, a dock was immediately visible.
The village was built against a hillside, clinging right to the sea. The road they’d come in on actually ran above the village, which cascaded down below. Cars could be driven right up to the guesthouse entrance.
However, upon reaching the guesthouse, Gu Shiying received some devastating news.
The landlady apologized profusely. “I’m so, so sorry! My husband messed up the room types. We’ve only got a room with one large bed left. Do you mind?”
Gu Shiying: “You have no twin rooms at all?”
He didn’t mind sharing a room with Fu Huan. But sharing a bed was a different story. They were dorm-mates, not bedmates!
The landlady apologized again. “There really aren’t any. I’m terribly sorry. Can I at least give you a small discount?”
Fu Huan: “Should we try another guesthouse?”
The landlady explained, “Finding another one might be tough this late. We’re having a seaside fireworks festival these couple of days, so tons of tourists poured in. I’m pretty sure every place nearby is fully booked now.”
Gu Shiying: “So… stay here?”
Fu Huan, actually, wanted to switch places even more desperately than Gu Shiying. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control himself.
Ever since he’d realized his feelings for Gu Shiying and the intensity of his desire had grown day by day, he’d rented an apartment off campus. Whenever the other two roommates were away on weekends, he’d chosen to stay there, terrified he’d snap and try to get too close to Gu Shiying.
Today, he’d mentally prepared for one room, two beds—that was manageable. But he hadn’t planned on the boss screwing up the room type.
Fu Huan: “If you’re fine with it…”
Gu Shiying had to put on a tough front. “We’re both dudes. What’s the big deal sharing a bed for one night?”
It was honestly agonizing—not being able to openly acknowledge that he knew Fu Huan liked him.
So, there was no choice. They had to share the double room.
Feigning nonchalance, Gu Shiying said, “Let’s go eat first?”
Fu Huan: “The fireworks on the beach start at seven. About half an hour left.”
Gu Shiying: “How about we watch the fireworks first, then eat?”
When they’d arrived earlier, the entire village had been ablaze with lights—very atmospheric. He could film more material.
Seated on the sofa, Fu Huan’s heart was anything but calm. In a spot Gu Shiying couldn’t see, his fingers were practically clawing into the cheap faux-leather sofa. He wasn’t afraid of sharing a room with Gu Shiying—he was excited. He was losing control of himself.
He stood up just as quickly as he’d sat down. “Let’s head out now, then. You can get more nighttime material.”
Gu Shiying raised an eyebrow. “You know me pretty well, huh?”
Fu Huan gave a small smile. He’d been observing Gu Shiying for a long time. How could he not know him well?
While looking for a parking spot earlier, he’d noticed Gu Shiying’s sheer fascination with this place, his eyes practically sparkling out the car window. In that moment, Fu Huan had thought: no matter how long it took for Gu Shiying to fall for him, he was willing to wait. Even a lifetime.
“Let’s go. Getting there early might get us a front-row spot.”
“Okay.” Gu Shiying agreed readily, walking toward the door ahead of Fu Huan. With his back turned, he let out a deep, shuddering breath.
The room wasn’t large. Two people just standing there made it awkward. Even someone as slow on the uptake as him could see the raw affection and adoration in Fu Huan’s eyes.
Fu Huan had no idea how blatantly he looked at him.
Could they really sleep in the same bed tonight? The bed wasn’t even a queen size—it was a full, barely 1.5 meters wide. Two people couldn’t possibly avoid rolling over. And one roll meant facing each other directly. Maybe he should just pull an all-nighter. They had to wake up early for the sunrise tomorrow anyway.
The fireworks hadn’t started yet, but the beach was already crowded. The sandy expanse wasn’t large, so with everyone clustered together, it felt exceptionally packed.
Gu Shiying and Fu Huan avoided the densest crowd, finding a slightly less populated spot. But they were still only a small distance away from others. If anyone in front stepped backward, they’d collide. Just too many people.
At seven sharp, fireworks rose above the sea—unlike any Gu Shiying had ever seen.
He raised his phone to record the ascent, the burst, the bloom of light.
Fu Huan stood behind him, phone also raised. But he was recording Gu Shiying’s face, lit with a smile more brilliant than the fireworks themselves.
Gazing up at the starlike sparks in the night sky, Gu Shiying marveled, “So beautiful!”
Fu Huan agreed, his gaze fixed on Gu Shiying’s profile, illuminated by the glow. He only glanced at their shared, sparkling sky for a moment.
He said, “Really beautiful.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A massive firework suddenly erupted. A girl in front jumped with excitement. “Honey, look! It’s gorgeous! Carry me on your back!”
The woman made her sudden request, and the man immediately crouched to hoist her up.
Their abrupt movement pushed Gu Shiying back a step. His foot found an unseen hole someone had dug in the sand, and he stumbled backward. Fu Huan caught him instantly, steadying him.
As those scorching fingers gripped him tight, Gu Shiying’s heart skipped a beat.
[Gu Shiying, I hope you’ll like me.]
