Bai Yiyi got dressed, adjusted his mood, and opened the door as if nothing had happened. He explained to the person on the sofa:
“I was watching a new anime and lost track of time. Now I’m hungry, so I want to make some cold noodles. Have you eaten? Did you eat enough? Want some more?” He rambled on with a bunch of nonsense to cover up.
As if he had been watching videos and forgotten the time—he had tried to tail his master and failed.
He had searched around several restaurants near the city bureau but didn’t see anyone, so he slunk back home dejectedly. Then he scared himself half to death overthinking for a while. He finally snapped out of his hysterics, felt hungry, and was just about to shift back into human form when Yan Tuo pushed the door open right then.
Yan Tuo’s voice was a bit dry as he simply replied with a “Good.”
It wasn’t him trying to play along; he really didn’t feel full. During that meal with Hua Hongqing earlier, he’d been too busy bantering and plotting countermeasures to eat properly. He’d already forgotten what dishes he’d even had.
Bai Yiyi was mixing noodles in the kitchen while Yan Tuo stared at him from the sofa, thoroughly pleased with the little yellow duck apron he’d bought last time. The guy looked so cute in it, the perfectly proportioned ties cinching out a fine waist.
His mindset had changed, so the way he looked at the man had changed too.
Before, he’d only thought the guy was pretty. Now, it was more than just pretty—it was delectably gorgeous.
He felt hungrier the more he stared, body and soul.
He couldn’t help swallowing.
Bai Yiyi was completely oblivious, vigorously tossing the freshly boiled noodles in front of the fan. Soon, he added oil to cool them quickly, and the cold noodles were ready with toppings and seasonings. The two prepared to eat.
Yan Tuo scooped a small half of the heaping shredded chicken from his bowl and gave it to the other, stirring his noodles while casually asking, “Yiyi, last time you said you like guys?”
Bai Yiyi had just slurped a big mouthful and jerked his head up at the words, feeling his toes curl in shock. What did that mean from his idol? Why bring this up out of nowhere?
“…Yeah, what’s up?”
The guy across from him gazed deeply at him, a faint ripple in his eyes that vanished when he looked again, like an illusion.
The air was quiet for a while before the man finally curved his lips slightly and drawled, “Nothing, just suddenly realized… I think I do too.”
The noodles in Bai Yiyi’s mouth instantly lost their flavor as fireworks exploded “bang bang” in his brain, blasting away all his senses.
I—too—am!
So suddenly? Kicking open the closet door without warning while stirring noodles?
He’d even asked if Bai Yiyi liked guys, then said he did too. Wasn’t that an indirect confession?
Even if not, it was still a step closer, right?
…
The fireworks’ brilliance was destined to be fleeting. After a crackling burst in Bai Yiyi’s head, it quickly fizzled out, and he began secretly cursing his own wishful thinking.
It was just friends being honest with each other, but he always managed to overthink it.
He forced down a few hasty bites, afraid the guy across would notice anything off, and faked a smile with small talk: “Really? No wonder that blind date didn’t work out before. Wrong gender, huh.”
Yan Tuo shook his head: “Has nothing to do with gender. Wrong person, that’s all.”
Bai Yiyi’s heart tightened. He badly wanted to ask: Then why did you suddenly realize now? Did you meet the right one?
But he really didn’t have the guts. What if the answer was yes, followed by some guy’s name? Besides flapping his wings and flying straight back to C Province, what other options did he have?
He could only bury his head like an ostrich and put on a caring senior act.
“Don’t overthink it. It’s natural, and society’s acceptance has improved a lot. Look at your buddy Hua Hongqing—he’s totally chill with it.”
Mentioning his childhood friend made Yan Tuo think of that bastard’s wolfish ambitions again.
Though he didn’t see the guy as any real threat, from a strategic standpoint, he couldn’t underestimate any enemy before achieving his goal. So he started planting precautions.
“He’s chill alright. Out since high school, dated nearly a hundred guys, none lasting over three months—the quickest was two in a week. He really lives up to his name, a true playboy, scum known to all.”
After slamming the imaginary rival, he probed for intel casually: “What about you? What kind do you like? Ever… had a boyfriend before?”
Bai Yiyi couldn’t answer the first half.
Answering would either be a lie or a confession on the spot.
The kind I like? Isn’t it someone like you?
So he could only answer the second honestly: “Never had a boyfriend. In my junior year, I liked a senior and wrote him a letter, but lost it before I could give it. Guess it wasn’t meant to be. No one would want someone like me anyway.”
Yan Tuo felt like there wasn’t enough chili in tonight’s shredded chicken cold noodles—it couldn’t mask the faint sourness.
He set down his chopsticks, ruffled the guy’s hair. “What’re you saying? That was his loss. Your future one will definitely be better.”
After petting his head, his thumb naturally brushed the corner of the guy’s mouth. “Eating noodles like a little baby, sauce all over your mouth.”
Then he casually wiped his hand and slurped up the rest of his noodles.
Bai Yiyi sat stunned, half his body numb. Head pats and mouth wipes—what was this? If he didn’t know his master’s character so well, he’d swear the guy was deliberately teasing him.
God, he’d just returned from his quest and hadn’t even started when he got insta-killed. They were both noobs, but why the gap between people?
Until late at night curled in his coconut shell, Bai Yiyi still felt his claws tingling.
He keenly sensed the atmosphere between him and his idol tonight was subtly ambiguous, but on second thought, he had no concrete evidence.
Cowardly in love, he didn’t even dare approach his master’s pillow, afraid his heartbeat would be too loud and betray his feelings completely.
He held it in, held it in, but couldn’t suppress his doubts. Around 2 a.m., he sneaked out, flew to the phone, and sought backup.
Bai Yiyi: Buddy, my idol was super weird today. I feel like he was testing me.
Shi You: …You’re still up? How so?
Bai Yiyi: He came out to me, said he likes guys too. I was floored—no warning! He was happily blind-dating not long ago.
Shi You: Doesn’t prove anything. You came out to him too, after all.
Bai Yiyi: But he asked what kind I like? If I’ve had a boyfriend!!
Shi You: Just two gays chatting casually, normal. I’ve even sent you seeds to discuss. Go wash up and sleep. Life’s top three delusions: He likes me too.
Splashed with cold water, Bai Yiyi finally sobered up a bit, curled back in his shell, and started pondering countermeasures.
Yan Tuo was tossing and turning sleeplessly in the bedroom too.
Used to chatting a bit with the guy while sleeping on the bed, tonight’s solitude left his mouth dry, ears itchy, his whole body clamoring with loneliness.
Who’d have thought the guy was right next door, yet he missed him this much.
But going out to call the dumpling in to sleep together? He’d just come out, and immediately demanding to share a bed seemed too ulterior.
Even if the current size meant nothing could happen, his liking heart always wanted to get closer, even closer—what if he scared the guy off?
Sigh, no clue what that senior Yiyi once liked was like. Similar to him? Or totally opposite?
Zero intel for reference—total blackout.
Yan Tuo deeply regretted not probing more at dinner. Jealousy made him pivot after a casual compliment. Should’ve asked more, like: What exactly did you like about him?
Long night, sweet and sour torment.
By the time the sky was faintly lightening, Bai Yiyi had finally adjusted his mood, deciding to let nature take its course and keep up their usual interactions to avoid seeming off.
He quietly slipped to the bed’s edge and nestled down. Only then did the guy who’d been pretending to sleep finally relax completely and fall into deep slumber.
…
The National Day holiday arrived, and Yan Tuo broke from his usual habit, arranging shift swaps with his direct boss.
Li Zhong had assumed his last blind date succeeded and wordlessly took the first four days, letting his brother-in-law enjoy the break and sort out personal matters.
Yan Tuo did have plans: He booked a hot spring resort hotel in a 5A scenic area, aiming to confess to his heartthrob amid food and views, seizing heaven, earth, and man to win him over in one go.
The night before departure, Bai Yiyi was chopping veggies in the kitchen when he got great news.
Yao Pei called, excitedly saying the work issue was resolved.
She didn’t know how HQ found out or what they thought, but the emergency transfer order was real. It yanked back that prince’s lackey who’d tried to snag the bargain, letting her smoothly oversee her project to the end.
After rejoicing, she felt apologetic toward her son—said it’d be just days, now half a year.
Poor Yao Pei had no idea her minor regret was double joy for Bai Yiyi: Mom’s career smooth sailing, and he could mooch off his idol another half-year. Perfect.
After hanging up, elation made him hum tunes, cook five big dishes, haul back a case of his idol’s favorite pineapple beer, and prep for a binge.
Yan Tuo got home, learned the reason for the feast, and while the guy was happy, spilled his vacation plans too.
That night became Bai Yiyi’s happiest ever—over-the-top joy. Three pineapple beers down, he was totally disoriented, not even aware when he shifted back to bird form.
Yan Tuo laughed wryly as he dug the dead-drunk little white dumpling out from the pile of clothes. He carefully wiped him down with a towel before cradling him back to the pillow and settling him in for a more comfortable sleep.
His fingers couldn’t resist tracing the soft fuzz on his belly. The feelings stirring in his heart were simply too complex to put into words.
Who could have imagined that his empty life, now in his thirties, would finally have such a little fellow burst into his sight and burrow straight into his heart?
Aww 🥹