Chapter 39
Seven years ago…
The spring air on the mountaintop was still chilly. As Song Jingmo started to doze off, he’d used his violin case as a windbreak, huddling against Xie Zhang by the tree trunk.
He woke up nestled in his new friend’s arms. Having attended university abroad, surrounded by more physically affectionate peers, and being gay, he wasn’t used to this kind of close physical contact with friends.
But Song Jingmo wasn’t one to overthink things. Looking at the red mole so close to his face, he simply felt a sense of… novelty.
Dawn hadn’t broken yet, the sky just beginning to lighten, promising a beautiful day.
Song Jingmo, unfazed by their proximity, watched as Xie Zhang, who had already been awake for a while, stiffened.
Xie Zhang hadn’t dared to move, his arm draped protectively around Song Jingmo twitching nervously.
He’d been frozen like that for what felt like an eternity.
As Song Jingmo’s eyes fluttered open, Xie Zhang quickly withdrew his hand, clenching it into a fist behind his back.
Song Jingmo, realizing Xie Zhang had been awake, sat up, slightly embarrassed, his attention immediately captured by the sunrise.
“Beautiful.”
He leaned against his violin case, gazing at the view.
Xie Zhang wasn’t particularly interested in the sunrise.
But he saw the golden light illuminating Song Jingmo’s hair.
After a moment, he murmured in agreement: “Mm.”
Song Jingmo turned to him, smiling: “We’re really lucky, aren’t we? We saw the sunset together, and now the sunrise.”
Xie Zhang’s lips moved.
He wanted to say something, but the words felt too forward.
He hesitated.
His hesitant demeanor seemed like distress to Song Jingmo.
Glancing at his watch, he asked: “Do you need to leave?”
Xie Zhang’s fingers tightened around the tree bark behind his back.
No…
“I’m free; let’s go down together!” Song Jingmo declared cheerfully. “We can chat, and we won’t get lost.”
Xie Zhang’s tense fingers relaxed. He spoke quickly: “I have a car. We can go down together.”
Song Jingmo paused.
He didn’t question why Xie Zhang, having a car, had chosen to spend the night on the cold mountaintop. His smile widened.
“That’s great! I can drive too!”
“Here! My license!” He rummaged through his violin case, showing Xie Zhang his driver’s license, then muttered: “This photo is so bad… I should get it changed…”
“It’s not bad.” Xie Zhang looked at the younger face on the license. “It’s… nice.”
“Really? But I think…”
They stood up, stretching, and walked towards Xie Zhang’s car.
Halfway there, they both started sneezing.
“Damn it! We caught a cold!”
Sitting in the passenger seat, Song Jingmo rubbed his nose, turning away to sneeze.
Xie Zhang retrieved a blanket from the back seat and offered it to him.
Song Jingmo’s voice was clearer now, but he gratefully accepted the blanket, wrapping it around himself.
He rubbed his face, chattering non-stop, trying to make conversation and keep Xie Zhang awake.
Xie Zhang checked the route down the mountain, then started the car, Song Jingmo’s chatter filling the air.
…
Xie Zhang found a nearby guesthouse, intending to drop Song Jingmo off.
But Song Jingmo insisted he stay, even leaving his violin in Xie Zhang’s car as collateral.
They were both chilled and needed a hot shower.
Xie Zhang could leave after they’d warmed up.
But finding a room during peak season was difficult, especially without a reservation.
Hearing the doorbell, the receptionist, who had been dozing, straightened up, looking at the two men who entered.
He blinked.
Song Jingmo smiled: “Good morning, do you have any vacancies?”
The receptionist: “We do, but only an ocean view room with a king-sized bed.”
Song Jingmo: “?”
He turned to Xie Zhang, then back to the receptionist, genuinely confused: “Why can’t we have a double room, or two singles?”
Xie Zhang remained silent, but Song Jingmo noticed his ears turning pink.
The receptionist, realizing his gaffe, apologized and quickly checked the system: “We have a single room available later, but you’d have to wait a few hours.”
“Would you like to book it?”
The window in the lobby was open, the wind chimes tinkling.
Song Jingmo sneezed again.
Xie Zhang said softly: “Rooms are scarce, especially near the old town. This place is a bit remote.”
And the “ocean view” was probably not that great, which was why it was still available. Looking for another room would be time-consuming and risky.
Song Jingmo understood.
The view didn’t matter; they just needed a shower.
But this thought made the situation even more… awkward.
Getting a room together…
They’d only just met!
He realized his violin case was in Xie Zhang’s car.
Worried that Xie Zhang might leave, he leaned closer, poking his finger, his voice barely a whisper:
“The ocean view room is fine. We just need a shower… don’t want to catch a cold…”
Xie Zhang felt his finger burning where Song Jingmo had touched it.
He cleared his throat: “…Okay… mm.”
The air between them thickened, their gazes meeting briefly before they both looked away.
The receptionist blinked.
So they were a couple having a lover’s quarrel.
Who traveled without any luggage?
They must be making up.
Look at those blushing ears.
Song Jingmo felt the warmth radiating from Xie Zhang, a strange sensation.
He pulled out his ID and bank card: “An ocean view… king-sized bed, please.”
The words felt awkward on his tongue.
The receptionist: “Okay, we need both your IDs.”
Song Jingmo: “…”
Could he explain that Xie Zhang wasn’t staying, just showering?
That sounded even weirder.
He heard footsteps, then felt Xie Zhang’s hand beside his face, holding out his ID.
Song Jingmo tried to maintain his composure, his toes curling inside his shoes.
Why was he so embarrassed?!
They weren’t planning on doing anything…
His mind reeling, he took his ID back, glancing at it.
—Why was his ID photo so serious?
—But he was handsome.
His thoughts wandered, then he saw the room key.
Xie Zhang.
Song Jingmo.
Ocean View Suite 309.
Aaaaaaaaaah!!!
He mentally screamed, maintaining a calm facade, his movements stiff as he returned Xie Zhang’s ID.
Xie Zhang took it back, his expression neutral.
The receptionist watched them walk upstairs.
They were a handsome couple.
He thought to himself, then he saw the man in the hoodie stumble slightly on the stairs, catching himself on the banister.
He rushed over, then paused, his expression perplexed.
He was… clumsy.
Such a handsome, cool guy, and he couldn’t even walk up the stairs properly.
What a shame.
…
Song Jingmo didn’t know about the ocean view.
But the suite had two bedrooms, two bathrooms.
One on each side of the living room.
Excellent.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
At least they’d avoided the awkward “shared bathroom” scenario.
No time for a bath, he immediately turned on the shower.
But showering, especially a hot shower, tended to… loosen one’s inhibitions.
His mind wandered, conjuring up romance novel scenarios.
And he couldn’t help but insert his and Xie Zhang’s faces into those scenarios.
Stop it!!!
You weren’t here for romance!
You were here to clear your head!
To decide about your future!
To decide about your career!
He ruffled his wet hair, frustrated by his own romantic tendencies.
But…
He let the warm water wash over him.
He’d already met him; getting to know him wasn’t so bad.
Right?
Yes!
