Wen Chaosheng had assumed that this “different” surprise would just be somewhere else in Imperial Capital City. He never imagined Xi Zhui would drive him straight out of the city. The car sped along the highway for over two hours, arriving at a ski resort in the neighboring province.
Perhaps because it was still the tail end of Lunar New Year and already evening, the ski field wasn’t crowded with tourists.
Xi Zhui had arranged things with the resort staff ahead of time. The off-road vehicle glided smoothly up a private snow-packed path, all the way to the highest point in the entire resort.
Once the engine shut off, the heat it had emitted quickly vanished into the crisp, chilly air.
Xi Zhui glanced at the sky, his taut nerves finally easing. “That was close. We made it just in time.”
“…”
Wen Chaosheng hadn’t seen this coming at all. He was still lost in surprise.
Xi Zhui grabbed a scarf and a thick coat from the back seat. “Sunset’s still hanging on. Want to climb up on the roof with me for a look?”
It was an irresistibly tempting idea.
Wen Chaosheng didn’t turn it down. At Xi Zhui’s insistence, he bundled up thoroughly before following him onto the car’s roof.
The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving only a hazy blue-purple twilight that traced the outlines of distant peaks. Stretching out below them was a vast, endless expanse of white snowfield.
Cable cars still hummed along the slopes, their rooftop lights twinkling in rhythm with the clustered glows from the resort village far off—like stars scattered across the human realm.
Xi Zhui passed Wen Chaosheng a hot cocoa he’d bought down at the base of the mountain and drew him into a loose embrace from behind. “Beautiful, right?”
“Mm.”
Warmth bloomed in his palm, a steady presence at his back.
But Wen Chaosheng remained entranced by the breathtaking vista.
The bracing wind up high carried the scent of winter snow, yet he felt no chill at all. Excitement sparkled in his eyes.
“Looks like my planning paid off big time,” Xi Zhui said, a profound satisfaction swelling in his chest at the sight.
He’d anticipated his lover would enjoy it—but not quite this much.
“Mm, I love it.” Wen Chaosheng turned to meet his gaze, unable to hold back the question. “How’d you think to bring me here?”
Few people outside their circle knew it, but these were the moments Wen Chaosheng cherished most—pure, unforced flows of nature, free from the tangle of human relations.
Amid the vastness of heaven and earth, he could be a mote of dust, a single snowflake, a speck of starlight—or simply himself.
Xi Zhui replied, “Back when I first read the script and outline for Contour, I picked up on it from the spaces between your lines. You have a thing for landscapes like this.”
They say a person’s writing lays bare their soul. Xi Zhui could tell Wen Chaosheng was drawn to wide-open expanses.
“And last year in Berlin, right around when we got together, it snowed.”
The Imperial Capital had seen no snow this year. Xi Zhui had originally planned to whisk Wen Chaosheng farther north to a snowy city, but their anniversary had clashed too closely with the Hundred Flowers Award ceremony. There was no carving out reasonable time for it.
Luckily, he’d found this spot.
It was near the Imperial Capital, with solid facilities at the ski field and resort. The open area could be privately booked ahead for a price—and best of all, it allowed for…
Xi Zhui remembered something else. He pulled out his phone with his free hand and fired off a quick WeChat message while Wen Chaosheng was absorbed in the view.
“…”
Winter dusks slipped away in a heartbeat. In little more than ten minutes, only the faintest traces of light lingered in the sky.
Xi Zhui took Wen Chaosheng’s hand. “Cold? Let’s head back inside the car.”
“Sure.”
They climbed back into the vehicle, and Xi Zhui cranked up the heat right away.
Wen Chaosheng figured the scenery was done and they were about to head down the mountain—until Xi Zhui asked, “Brother, want to see some fireworks?”
Wen Chaosheng blinked, scanning the empty ground around them uncertainly. “Fireworks? Here?”
The words had barely left his mouth when two thin trails of sparks shot up from right below the edge of the clearing. They rocketed into the sky, and after three brief, silent seconds—
Bang!
A burst of pink-purple fireworks exploded in a reckless blaze of glory, flooding the windshield in an instant! One after another followed, their radiant waves rippling across the heavens.
Wen Chaosheng watched it all unfold right in front of him, his heart pounding in sync.
They clasped hands, neither in a hurry to speak.
Until silence blanketed everything.
In the roar of his own racing pulse, Wen Chaosheng heard Xi Zhui’s voice—firmer now than it had been a year ago.
“Wen Chaosheng, I like you. Happy first anniversary.”
“I…”
Wen Chaosheng swallowed down the hitch of joy in his throat and gave his clear, unwavering reply for the first time. “I like you too, Xi Zhui. Happy first anniversary.”
Xi Zhui leaned in close, his lips brushing faintly against Wen Chaosheng’s. “Brother, next year too—together?”
Wen Chaosheng’s chest burned with longing as he accepted. “Yeah.”
If he could help it, not just next year—every year after, he wanted to share with Xi Zhui.
For the first time, Wen Chaosheng harbored a selfish wish with perfect clarity: to always be part of Xi Zhui’s life.
—
They had no intention of heading back tonight.
By the time they reached their pre-booked hotel, full darkness had settled in. The room boasted a massive floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the lit-up ski field at night.
They enjoyed a French meal right there by the window—small, elegant portions that tasted divine.
Wen Chaosheng lifted his half-full glass of mixed fruit juice. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the two-meter bed in the master suite, and his thoughts began to drift—
Their anniversary today.
Xi Zhui driving him here. Snowy mountain views. A sky ablaze with fireworks.
Sharing a room as they always did now. Sleeping in the same bed tonight.
Wen Chaosheng warmed up slowly, but he wasn’t clueless. He had a vague sense of what the night might bring—and suddenly, he couldn’t quite bring himself to look at Xi Zhui across the table.
Xi Zhui picked up on the shy evasion but didn’t call it out. Instead, he teased gently. “Heat too high in here? Your face is all flushed.”
“No.”
Wen Chaosheng tipped back the rest of his juice—a dead giveaway. “I-I’m finished. Gonna shower first.”
Xi Zhui arched a brow, his expression turning intrigued. “Now?”
“Yeah.”
Wen Chaosheng wasn’t overthinking it; he just needed a moment to steel himself in private.
What if things got real later?
Harboring that blend of eager shyness, he didn’t wait for Xi Zhui’s okay and bolted for the bathroom.
Xi Zhui watched his slightly panicked retreat with a hidden smile, then took a couple more sips of champagne.
Steam fogged the bathroom.
Wen Chaosheng stood under the showerhead in a daze, warm water streaming over him as his mind wandered far away.
Click.
The unlatched door swung open from the outside. “Brother.”
Wen Chaosheng snapped to, peering through the frosted glass partition at the familiar figure. Tension gripped him out of nowhere. “W-Why’d you come in?”
“Bathrobe’s in the closet out here. You didn’t grab any clothes when you rushed in.” Xi Zhui laid out the facts plainly and slid open the glass door—the last barrier to view. “All done?”
“…”
Wen Chaosheng jolted but had nowhere to go.
Heat had flushed his skin to a tempting pink, water tracing endless paths down his neck and collarbone before vanishing into the steam.
Xi Zhui had seen this sight before, but his eyes darkened all the same.
Overwhelmed by the raw directness of it, Wen Chaosheng twisted away awkwardly, dodging the gaze. “Almost! Don’t come in yet—the water’ll splash everywhere.”
In the next instant, Xi Zhui—still fully dressed—stepped into the shower and pressed against him. “Brother.”
Wen Chaosheng trembled, his breaths coming faster. “You… mm!”
He pressed a kiss to the little mole on Wen Chaosheng’s nape, hands wandering restlessly. “Drunk last night—don’t remember a thing, do you?”
Wen Chaosheng couldn’t form words, managing only a soft hum.
Xi Zhui ramped things up, his voice mild as ever, like a patient tutor. “That’s fine. We went over it this morning, remember? Let me walk you through it again now—really make it stick.”
More than a review: a deeper dive.
Xi Zhui spun him around, backing him against the fogged glass wall, and claimed his lips without hesitation.
Teeth parted, tongues entwined.
Wen Chaosheng’s heart buzzed with numbness. His dangling hands found purchase, clutching desperately at the arms in front of him.
“Xi… Xi Zhui.”
It took ages for a gap in the kiss. “I… I’m not great at this.”
Not a stop—just fear.
Shower water beaded his lashes, flushed his outer corners red, a fragile sheen in his eyes. Pitiful.
“I know. No need to be scared.”
Xi Zhui stroked the back of his neck in reassurance, tamping down his own novice nerves deep inside. “Brother, we’ll go slow together, yeah?”
“Mm.”
…
……
…………….
Daylight from the third round seeped through a crack, spotlighting a tangle of sheets at the bed’s edge.
Wen Chaosheng sprawled bonelessly on the mattress, mind adrift in a haze that blurred day and night. “No more.”
His voice was wrecked, hoarse beyond recognition—pure grievance without even trying.
Xi Zhui’s hand worked gentle circles under the covers, massaging him, while he kissed the now-reddened mole on his nape, complete with bite mark. “Not messing around. Just helping you loosen up.”
Wen Chaosheng wasn’t buying it. He tried to burrow deeper into the bedding, but the all-over ache left him pinned. It only made him feel more hard done by.
“Liar. You’ve pulled that one before.”
He couldn’t recall which night or predawn hour, but Xi Zhui had sworn it was just a relieving rubdown—until it very much wasn’t.
Wen Chaosheng never knew how to say no. A little coaxing from Xi Zhui, and he was putty.
Midway desperation brought only meek pleas.
Plainly, for Xi Zhui—fresh to indulgence and utterly hooked—it didn’t deter. It fueled the fire.
“Not lying this time.” Xi Zhui soothed him. “Want something to eat?”
“No.”
Wen Chaosheng endured the faint spasms in his abdomen for now. All he wanted was sleep.
Xi Zhui didn’t push. They’d eaten in the room a couple of hours earlier. “Alright, then let’s sleep.”
“Mm.”
Wen Chaosheng’s eyelids drooped, his response barely a murmur.
Fortunately, he slept deeply and soundly. When he woke again, the sun was already dipping toward the horizon.
Wen Chaosheng had regained a bit of his strength. He changed into clothes he’d washed and dried two days ago, then settled carefully by the floor-to-ceiling window to take in the view outside.
The sky was still light, and tourists were still enjoying the slopes outdoors.
Gazing out the window, Wen Chaosheng felt a rare flicker of resentment toward Xi Zhui. “We came all this way, and I haven’t gotten to do a thing.”
He wasn’t an expert skier, and he wasn’t particularly athletic, but he’d been stuck in this room since they arrived. It was a bit much.
Xi Zhui handed him a slice of orange, utterly unapologetic. “Haven’t we had plenty of fun?”
“…”
Wen Chaosheng shot him a fierce glare—or what he thought was fierce—and said nothing.
Xi Zhui chuckled to himself, then coaxed, “Next year. I’ll bring you back next year, and we’ll play properly then.”
Wen Chaosheng devoured the orange slice down to the last bit, wasting nothing. “Next year, your popularity might explode. You won’t even be able to step out without getting recognized.”
Actors weren’t as restricted as idols when it came to dating, but they were still public figures.
Xi Zhui replied, “Then we’ll go abroad. Find a quieter ski resort with fewer people.”
Wen Chaosheng considered it and thought it sounded feasible—though next year was too far off to count on anything now.
“I’m heading to Heng City in three days.”
Xi Zhui first updated him on his own confirmed schedule, then asked, “What about you? What’s next?”
Wen Chaosheng held nothing back. He told him all about his plans to start a studio and produce a new film called Cloud End. “Oh, and I want to set up the studio in Haishi City. That way, it’ll be closer to you.”
Xi Zhui’s contract was with Quansheng Entertainment, and the company’s expanding artist film division was based in Haishi too.
Xi Zhui had no objections. “Sounds good.”
“I can fly to Haishi with you at the end of the month. Once I’ve wrapped up the early prep for the new movie, if I have time afterward, I can come find you in Heng City.”
Wen Chaosheng laid out his short-term plans too, nudging encouragingly, “Xi Zhui, work hard on your shoot.”
“I will.”
Xi Zhui had never treated acting like a game. He was serious about it—for his own future, and for Wen Chaosheng’s.
“With your studio in Haishi, I’ll be spending most of my time there too, aside from filming.”
Xi Zhui suddenly remembered something and ventured, “Should I have an agent scout some houses? Somewhere we can live together on our days off?”
Wen Chaosheng weighed the practicalities. “Let’s rent first.”
Neither family was short on cash, but they hadn’t cleared things with their parents yet. Jumping straight to buying felt a step too far.
“Alright, but let’s get a nice one.”
Xi Zhui wasn’t about to compromise on their standard of living, and he respected Wen Chaosheng’s concerns. “Something with a little loft and a skylight. We can set it up like your ideal workspace.”
Wen Chaosheng’s eyes lit up, and he let out a happy “Mm.” He grabbed another orange slice from the fruit plate and popped it into his mouth.
Xi Zhui caught the sheen of juice on his lips and leaned in close. “Sweet?”
Wen Chaosheng answered without thinking. “Sweet.”
No sooner had the word left his mouth than Xi Zhui kissed him, casual as anything. “Let me have a taste, then.”
