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Chapter 106: I Like You

There was a tennis court near the hotel, and Bai Luochuan had arranged to play with Zhou Tong and the others. Mi Yang had started practicing tennis with Bai Luochuan in middle school, and after a few years, he was quite good. It just so happened that Mi Xue was also choosing a sports class in elementary school, and the little girl wanted to be like her brother in everything, so her first choice was tennis. This time, she also went to the tennis court with them, planning to practice in advance.

Mi Yang went to get a child-sized racket and a tennis ball, and he also changed to a small racket to practice with the little girl, very patiently.

Bai Luochuan’s leg hadn’t healed yet, but he insisted on coming. He sat on the side and was in charge of verbal guidance. “Lift your arm a little higher. Use your elbow and wrist to exert force. Didn’t you eat a lot in the morning? How come you’re so weak?”

The little girl was very unconvinced and said with puffed cheeks, “I want my brother to teach me, not you.”

Bai Luochuan said proudly, “Your brother was taught by me. If you don’t believe me, you can ask him.”

The little girl then looked up at her brother, her little face puffed up. Mi Yang was amused by her and poked her little bun-like face. “Brother Bai is also very good at playing. His posture is more standard than mine. We should all listen to him.”

Only then did the little girl say reluctantly, “Alright then.”

Bai Luochuan was in charge of guiding, and Mi Yang taught her how to swing the racket by hand. Before they went on the court, he even specially took the little girl to do some warm-up exercises, very meticulously. Bai Luochuan, watching from the side, felt that it was no wonder Mi Xue liked her brother. He himself liked him very much. He was both beautiful and well-behaved, and he was also very considerate in everything he did. Standing there in a tracksuit, he felt that he was the most eye-catching person on the whole court.

Bai Luochuan’s gaze was glued to Mi Yang. Just seeing this person could make him smile.

Mi Xue hit a ball and cheered, then turned to Coach Bai. “Brother Bai, did you see that? I hit it!”

Bai Luochuan looked at the person over there and smiled. “I saw. It was very beautiful.”

Zhou Tong and the others had also brought some girls over to play a mixed doubles match. Mi Yang didn’t go and shook his head, pointing at the little girl beside him with a smile. “You guys can go and play. I’ll take care of my little sister.”

Zhou Tong and the others then went. After two games, he himself came down first, wiping his sweat and waving his hands. “I can’t do it anymore. I’m too tired. You guys can continue.” He then ran over to talk to Bai Luochuan. Bai Luochuan chatted with him in a desultory way, his gaze still on Mi Yang, watching him intently.

Zhou Tong also looked over and smiled. “Our Youth League branch secretary is quite good at playing. I remember you were the one who always taught him in middle school. Now he can even be a coach for a child.”

Bai Luochuan said, “It’s alright. He learns fast.”

Zhou Tong sat there and asked him again, “Brother Bai, are you still going to Beijing in a while?”

Bai Luochuan glanced at him. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. It’s just that my brother has a new shop in the Asian Games Village car market and has put together an off-road team. He’s been free lately.” The Zhou family was mainly in the imported car business. It was not certain how rich they were, but they were in contact with rich people. Zhou Tong’s older brother was also an expert in cars. He had heard that he had made a lot of money from reselling cars in the bonded zone before and had taken the money to Beijing to start his own business. He was also a person who was good at getting along with people. Zhou Tong and his own brother were on good terms, and his eyebrows danced as he spoke, “I begged him for a long time last time, and he finally relented. He said he would take us to hunt wild rabbits this time. There’s a very nice grassland near the suburbs of Beijing…”

Bai Luochuan interrupted him. “Let’s talk about it later. I haven’t had much free time for the past six months. I’m not going out.”

Zhou Tong was taken aback for a moment. “What’s wrong?”

Bai Luochuan said seriously, “I have to study. I’m busy.”

Zhou Tong blinked his eyes. “No way, Brother Bai. You’re already first in the whole school. How do you still want to study? Do you really want to be a top student? With your grades, you can choose any school in Shanghai. Even if you take the Beijing University entrance exam next year, it won’t be a problem. Why are you still studying?”

Bai Luochuan thought for a moment. “Not next year. I want to take the exam this year.”

Zhou Tong understood. “Early college entrance exam?”

Bai Luochuan said, “Yes. I’m too lazy to wait another year. I want to try it in advance.”

This time, Zhou Tong did not say anything. The spring early college entrance exam was in the second semester of the second year of high school. Although all the courses had been completed, it was still a year less of review and simulation time than the others. Especially since this one clearly had high aspirations, and the schools he was aiming for were only the top one or two. Analyzing it like this, he really had to seize the next six months to study hard.

Zhou Tong sighed and no longer suggested going out to play. After a while, he couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Then have you discussed it with our Youth League branch secretary? What will he do if you leave? You two have such a good relationship. It’s not appropriate to suddenly leave him like that.”

Bai Luochuan chuckled. “I’ll discuss it with him later.”

Zhou Tong asked, “Are you taking the exam early together?”

Bai Luochuan said, “I’ll listen to his opinion. I won’t make things difficult for him.”

As the two of them were chatting, Mi Yang on the other side also started to talk to someone.

Mi Yang was playing tennis with his little sister. His teaching was serious, and his posture was also beautiful. Someone who had come to play tennis had taken a liking to him and came over, handing him a business card and asking how much his hourly fee was. Mi Yang was taken aback for a moment before he realized and quickly waved his hand with a smile. “No, no, I’m not a coach here. I’m also here to play tennis.”

The man looked down at the little girl who was very dependent on him beside him, surprised. “Then this is?”

Mi Yang said, “This is my little sister.”

This time, it was the other person’s turn to be embarrassed, but he still asked, “You really don’t take on other students? The little girl in my family is also this big. Just teaching her for a few hours on the weekends is enough. The fee is negotiable.”

Mi Yang shook his head and refused. The other person probably saw that Mi Yang had a gentle temper and stood there and talked to him for a couple more sentences.

Someone came over from behind Mi Yang, put his arm on his shoulder, and said with a grin, “Hey Mi Yang, who is this uncle?”

The voice was all too familiar. Who else could it be but Ji Bai’an? Mi Yang turned his head to look, and the young master Bai on the other side also couldn’t sit still and was being helped over by Zhou Tong, his face also quite dark. He used his arm to push Ji Bai’an away a little and smiled. “He’s also here to play tennis. He misunderstood just now and thought I was a coach, and wanted to hire me to teach his daughter.”

The man saw that his friend had come, smiled generously, gave Mi Yang a business card, and left.

Ji Bai’an took the business card and glanced at it. “Oh, he’s a real estate boss.”

He was about to return the business card to Mi Yang when it was snatched away by Bai Luochuan, who had come up from behind. He held it in his hand and looked at it, asking the same question, “Who is that person?”

Mi Yang told Bai Luochuan again. Bai Luochuan said directly, “Don’t mind him. Who knows what he does.”

Ji Bai’an also chimed in from the side, “That’s right. If you want to take someone on, you should take me on first. I’ll sign up in line, and the fee will definitely be higher than his!”

Bai Luochuan said unhappily, “He’s not short of money.”

Ji Bai’an flipped his racket in his hand, raised his eyebrows, and smiled. “Then I’ll treat you to a meal. For the sake of so many years of friendship, you can take me on for two days. By the way, how about we go for Japanese food tonight? There’s a place with good sea urchin. It’s very fresh.”

He was thick-skinned and had turned the conversation to food in just a few sentences. It wasn’t enough to just talk to Mi Yang; he even lowered his head to ask the little girl what she wanted for dessert, as if they had already arranged to eat together.

Mi Xue looked up at her brother, holding his hand and waiting for him to speak.

Mi Yang then shook his head and said politely, “No need. We’re with our parents these few days and have to eat with our elders.”

The corner of Ji Bai’an’s mouth drooped a little. He asked him, “I’m leaving in a few days. Can you take a day off to see me off?”

Bai Luochuan said, “We’ll treat you to Japanese food in a few days. You can choose the restaurant.”

Only then did Ji Bai’an become happy. He pulled Mi Yang to have a match with him, and as he was warming up, he said, “I’ve always played by myself abroad. I’m self-taught. Don’t you laugh at me in a bit.”

Mi Yang took the ball and smiled. “I won’t.”

Bai Luochuan sat back to watch them play. The business card from just now had already been crumpled up and put in his pocket, and he planned to throw it away in a bit. He had not been wary of men before, but today he had suddenly become vigilant. He narrowed his eyes and felt that the whole court was full of enemies, regardless of age or gender.

Zhou Tong saw his serious expression and also became a little nervous. “Is this person very good at playing? Our Youth League branch secretary won’t lose, will he?”

Bai Luochuan frowned. “Probably.”

You could also tell a person’s personality from the way they played tennis. Ji Bai’an’s shots were tricky, and his strength was also heavy. His shots were crisp and neat. Mi Yang’s returns were steady, and his smashes were unexpectedly very heavy, hitting the mark in one go, without any hesitation. From the very beginning, it was a back-and-forth, and the match was very intense. Mi Xue sat on the side and cheered for her brother, her hands red from clapping.

The two of them were tied, and it was only at match point that they stopped.

Ji Bai’an had had a great time. He came over with Mi Yang. Zhou Tong handed him some water. He took it and drank half a bottle in one go, then shook his sweaty hair and smiled. “That was really exciting. Brother, if it weren’t for your leg injury, I would have wanted to have a match with you.”

Mi Yang, on the other side, drank the mineral water Bai Luochuan had handed him, took a towel to wipe his sweat, and then heard Bai Luochuan chuckle. “I’ll have a match with you later. I guarantee you’ll lose and be completely convinced.”

Mi Yang couldn’t help but laugh. He was really taking advantage of people with just a single sentence, not losing out at all.

Ji Bai’an had been used to hearing it since he was a child and didn’t mind at all. He said in a daze, “That’s right. My brother taught you to play tennis, right? I seem to have heard that in a text last time. Then I’ll definitely lose. It’s boring. I’m not playing.”

Bai Luochuan suddenly coughed, as if he had suddenly choked.

Mi Yang glanced at him. The young master Bai’s eyes didn’t dare to meet his and dodged a little.

Ji Bai’an didn’t notice and was still talking to Mi Yang, “Your phone is always out of signal. I’m too lazy to call. I heard from them that everyone is using Penguin numbers to contact each other now. I also applied for one yesterday. Can you add me as a friend? We can chat online in the future.” He said as he took out his phone to add a friend. He was also an impatient person who would do things as soon as he said them. Mi Yang pondered for a moment and said that he couldn’t remember the number. Zhou Tong, beside him, heard that this was Bai Luochuan’s cousin and eagerly took out his own phone. “I have Mi Yang’s friend here. The number is written on it. Here, just add this one!”

Mi Yang: “…”

After Ji Bai’an had added him, he even specially noted his own name. Mi Yang just watched from the side and couldn’t refuse this time either.

Ji Bai’an smiled. “Then I’ll contact you online later. We’ll be online friends in the future.”

Mi Yang thought to himself, I don’t want to surf the internet with you at all. The young master Bai beside him was overflowing with jealousy, and he was about to be knocked over by the smell of vinegar.

After playing tennis all afternoon, Mi Yang and the others left early at a little after four. Zhou Tong and the others asked them if they wanted to go out for a get-together. Mi Yang just smiled and looked at Bai Luochuan. The young master Bai immediately refused sternly, “We have to go back and study. You shouldn’t always play either. If you don’t do well on the exam after school starts, be careful Old Dai doesn’t start crying while reciting the ‘Memorial to the Late Emperor’ again.”

Zhou Tong imagined Old Dai beating his chest and crying and the corner of his mouth twitched. “Don’t worry. I can lose my head and shed my blood, but I absolutely dare not fail the mock exam.”

On the way back from the stadium, the little girl was tired from playing tennis and was acting cute with her brother. Mi Yang just smiled and squatted down to carry her on his back.

Bai Luochuan said habitually, “Let me.”

Mi Yang glanced at his leg and smiled, shaking his head. “Forget it. You’ll be doing me a great favor if you just get your leg better quickly. My mom even asked the other day. I’ve been taking care of you for so long, and it’s about time for some results.”

Bai Luochuan also chuckled and walked with him. It was a short distance back to the hotel, and they would be there in a couple of steps. They walked a little slower, talking as they went. Bai Luochuan turned his head to look at the little girl on Mi Yang’s shoulder, then reached up and put her hat on. He was close to Mi Yang and whispered in his ear, “She’s asleep.”

Mi Yang said “mm” and also lowered his voice. “I’ll take her to my mom’s in a bit. She’ll cry if she wakes up and doesn’t see an adult.”

Bai Luochuan smiled. “I thought she was a little chili pepper. I didn’t expect her to be a little crybaby too.”

Mi Yang then looked up at him. The young master Bai smiled and scraped his nose, and while his hands were both on the child’s back, he took the opportunity to give him a little pinch, saying affectionately, “Mine.”

Mi Yang dodged a little and looked at him with a hint of a smile.

Although it was the same as usual, the young master Bai had just been exposed for his past mistakes at the tennis court, and he was inexplicably a little guilty.

When they returned to the hotel, they first took the little girl over. After Mi Yang returned to his room, he was about to go out again. “I’m going to my mom’s…”

Bai Luochuan immediately grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry!”

Mi Yang had just come back from there and was about to go over again. It didn’t seem right no matter how he thought about it. Bai Luochuan’s first reaction was to apologize to Mi Yang first. He was flustered in his heart and felt that Mi Yang would leave if he didn’t apologize.

Mi Yang said, “Let go.”

Bai Luochuan refused.

Mi Yang sighed. “You have to at least let me sit down to talk to you slowly.”

Only then did Bai Luochuan let go, still a little guilty as he said, “Ji Bai’an asked me for your phone number. I didn’t give it to him.” Seeing Mi Yang still staring at him, he simply gave up. “Actually, I did. I just, I gave him mine… He’s not studying properly and is always thinking about playing. This is a lesson for him.”

He suddenly felt that he was right as he said this and sat up straight, saying righteously, “My little aunt also said that I should supervise him. I’m his older brother. Shouldn’t I manage him?” In short, he had a “I’m not wrong” look.

Mi Yang was so angry he laughed. “You’re really something. What you said is also reasonable, but the only thing you did wrong was not to ask the person concerned first.”

Bai Luochuan said, “Did you want to give it to him?”

Mi Yang thought for a moment and shook his head. “Not really. You can handle it. I’ll leave it to you. But you have to discuss this kind of thing with me first in the future, you know?”

“Okay.” Bai Luochuan also smiled. He was relieved to hear this and leaned over, rubbing against his shoulder and humming, “He’s always competing with me. He’s been like this since he was a child. So annoying.”

Mi Yang asked him, “Competing for what?”

Bai Luochuan: “You.”

Mi Yang chuckled. “I’m not an object. I can’t be competed for. I’m right here.”

The young master Bai leaned over and kissed him again, starting from his chin and giving him a few kisses, then his lips. “I haven’t kissed you all afternoon.”

Mi Yang kissed him for a while and said vaguely, “Stop it. I really have to go to my mom’s. I forgot to get something.”

Bai Luochuan chased after him. As Mi Yang was speaking, the tip of his tongue lightly touched his. A faint blush appeared on the young master Bai’s face, and his eyes were sparkling as he looked at him, as if he had discovered a new continent. He pestered him to open his mouth. “Then one more kiss. Just one.”

Mi Yang didn’t trust him very much, but the other was very clingy. If he didn’t get his way, he wouldn’t be able to get rid of him for a while, so he could only slightly part his teeth and kiss him with his eyes lowered. “Just one… mm!”

The young master Bai’s tongue pressed against his, like a nimble little fish. After the initial probing, he began to lick him domineeringly, completely according to his own will, forgetting everything he had just said. Mi Yang begged for mercy, but he would only be bullied even more if he opened his mouth. He cooperated, wanting to end it quickly, but the other did not stop, clinging to him, his breathing heavy.

Mi Yang bit his tongue, which finally made the other let out a muffled grunt and come to his senses. He lay on him, unhappy. “I haven’t had enough.”

Mi Yang said, “You said just one.”

Bai Luochuan chuckled, his nose rubbing against his as he said shamelessly, “It was one. We haven’t been separated, right? Was my kiss good? Was it comfortable?”

Mi Yang’s face was red from his question.

In the end, he could only vaguely drop a “comfortable” before he was satisfied and let go by the young master Bai, and only then did he leave the room.

When Mi Yang came back with his things, Bai Luochuan was also sitting in the small living room, looking at some materials. A few school materials and application forms were spread out on the coffee table. He saw Mi Yang come in and patted the spot next to him. “You’re back? Come, sit here and look together.”

Mi Yang was a little curious. “Are you looking at school choices now?”

Bai Luochuan agreed, held his hand, and had him look with him. They had both participated in many competitions, especially Bai Luochuan, who had won many gold medals. He had been targeted by some famous schools since the beginning of his second year of high school, and it was common for them to snatch up high-quality students in advance. Mi Yang had always felt that Bai Luochuan was not very anxious about this, especially since he would take time out to help at his family’s company. He had thought that he would have to consider Shanghai after his third year of high school. But the materials in his hand were, without exception, all schools in Beijing.

Mi Yang saw one related to archaeological restoration, picked it up, and flipped through it. He had always been very interested in this major.

Bai Luochuan saw it and smiled. “The School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking Normal University is very good. The most famous is Professor Zhang. I’ve asked someone. He’s not taking undergraduate students from next year. This is his last year.”

Mi Yang was taken aback for a moment. Bai Luochuan then held him in his arms, gave him a kiss, and said proudly, “Little Good Boy, let’s take the exam early, shall we? Let’s go to university early together. You like to study, so we’ll go to the best school and find the best teacher.”

Mi Yang looked up at him. Bai Luochuan’s eyes were sparkling with the passion of a young man, the kind of love that wished he could give him everything. He held his hand, brought it to his lips, and gave it a couple more kisses, then smiled. “I might not be in the same department as you, but it’s fine. We can live outside. I’m sorry, Little Good Boy. I was bragging before. I might not be able to buy a big house. Can we buy a small one first? Just the two of us. I’ll leave a studio for you, and then I’ll have a study. We’ll put a bigger double bed in the bedroom… We’ll study at school during the day, and when we’re done at night, we’ll sleep together, okay?”

Mi Yang was still looking at him. Bai Luochuan’s heart was itching from his gaze. He lowered his head and rubbed his nose against his, his lips also pressing against his as he asked him if it was okay, like a large cat that had retracted its sharp claws and teeth. Now, he would just purr and act cute, making one’s heart feel sweet.

Mi Yang smiled and, looking up, hooked his neck and whispered, “Okay.”

The young master Bai was satisfied and gave him several kisses, as if asking for a reward.

Mi Yang tilted his head slightly and kissed him very seriously with his eyes closed. He really liked this person very much.

He had only said “I like you,” and the other was already wishing he could stride forward and plan their future for the next three, five, or even ten years, promising him a complete future.

After a while of kissing, the lights in the room suddenly dimmed. Mi Yang was startled. “What’s wrong? Is there a power outage?”

Bai Luochuan gave him a kiss on the forehead and smiled. “No, I told the people at the hotel.”

Mi Yang didn’t understand. “What?”

Bai Luochuan then sat on the sofa in the small living room and held him in his arms, his chin resting on the top of his head, and his long legs also wrapped around the other, in a completely protective posture. After he had occupied him, he whispered in his ear, “Look out the window.”

Mi Yang looked up and saw a few whooshing sounds suddenly ring out from outside the window, followed by several fireworks exploding in the sky. In the blink of an eye, the fireworks that had just gone out had instantly turned into a dozen, then a hundred, blooming one after another in the night sky, so brilliant that you couldn’t help but look up at them without blinking.

“Actually, I’ve been preparing for a long time. I’ve been thinking for a long time, and I always felt that it wasn’t good enough. I wanted to wait a little longer before I gave it to you. But I didn’t expect you to say it first. I was so happy that day… but I still wanted to show you.” Bai Luochuan lowered his head and chuckled, saying in his ear, “Little Good Boy, have I ever told you that I also like you?”

Mi Yang leaned against him and, looking up, answered with a kiss.

He knew.

How could he not know? You are the Bai Luochuan who loved me to the point of risking his life.

The courage that had supported him, the bitten wrist, and the hot blood that had been passed into his mouth… he remembered it all clearly. Even if he hadn’t said it, Mi Yang also knew that he loved him as much as his own life.

The two of them kissed under the fireworks outside the window, hugging each other for warmth in the darkness. There was no oppressive weight on his chest that made him suffocate, but Mi Yang could still taste that hint of rusty, bitter, and bloody taste from the depths of his memory in the sweetness.

Bai Luochuan licked the corner of his lips and said with a bit of embarrassment, “I think I used too much force. I bit it a little.”

Mi Yang rubbed his chin with the tip of his nose and chuckled. “A kiss will make it better, but it has to be a little lighter.”

Bai Luochuan lowered his head and gave him a very light kiss on the lips, then tightened his arms and held him tightly, murmuring the two words “I like you” in his ear.

“I like you so much, so much. I like Little Good Boy the most in the whole world.”

“I like you so much I want to elope with you.”

“I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”