Chapter 43
On the plane back home, Liang Xusheng couldn’t stop staring at Lu Xun. He’s so handsome! Incredibly handsome!, he thought, his eyes practically sparkling.
Lu Xun, noticing his gaze, chuckled. “Close your mouth, you’re drooling.”
“He’s so handsome,” Liang Xusheng sighed, unfazed. “I’m so lucky to have such a handsome husband.”
Lu Xun put down his phone and gently touched Liang Xusheng’s cheek. “Just realizing how handsome I am?”
“You’re especially handsome today,” Liang Xusheng said. “Unbelievably handsome.”
Lu Xun, amused, asked, “Does realizing your feelings change your perception of beauty that much?”
“I was blind before,” Liang Xusheng admitted.
Lu Xun laughed, unable to contain his joy.
“Did your perception of me change after you realized your feelings?” Liang Xusheng asked.
Lu Xun typed something on his phone.
Liang Xusheng looked at the screen. Lu Xun had written: Before I realized I liked you, I had a post-coital cigarette every night. Not anymore.
What does that mean?, Liang Xusheng wondered.
Lu Xun continued typing: When you like someone, you don’t fantasize about them. Liking someone is pure.
Pure, Liang Xusheng thought, liking the sentiment. He smiled at Lu Xun, who smiled back and ruffled his hair.
As they walked through the airport, Liang Xusheng, noticing Lu Xun’s hand dangling by his side, reached out and took it.
Lu Xun stopped and looked at him.
“What?” Liang Xusheng asked innocently.
Lu Xun just smiled and tightened his grip on his hand, continuing to walk.
Liang Xusheng, satisfied, smiled. He was still getting used to holding hands, but like the urge to kiss Lu Xun at the conference, he couldn’t resist the desire for physical contact.
In the taxi, he asked, “Are you going back to the office? Should we start our date tomorrow?”
“Is there anywhere you want to go?” Lu Xun asked.
“Not really,” Liang Xusheng replied. “Let’s just go to the mall and have dinner.”
“Okay.”
“Are you two a couple? Like, meeting for the first time?” the taxi driver asked.
“No, he’s my husband,” Liang Xusheng replied. “Legally married.”
“Oh,” the driver said, surprised. “I thought you were just dating, the way you were talking about where to go.”
“Isn’t my husband handsome?” Liang Xusheng asked, grinning.
The driver looked at Lu Xun through the rearview mirror and gave him a thumbs-up. “Very handsome! You’re a lucky man. Where did you find him?”
“We’ve known each other since we were in diapers,” Liang Xusheng replied.
“Oh, a childhood romance!” the driver exclaimed.
They all laughed.
At the office, sitting on the new Da Vinci sofa, Liang Xusheng stared at Lu Xun, who was working at his desk. So handsome. My husband. Mine. He giggled inwardly, feeling like a giddy teenager. He took pictures of Lu Xun and sent them to Lulu: [Handsome, right?]
Lulu: [Smiling emoji. Are you okay? How many pictures have you sent me today? You’re really not holding back. Why don’t you send me some pictures of his abs? Smiling emoji.]
Liang Xusheng: [Nope, those are mine. You can’t see them.]
Lulu: [Slapping you emoji. Go away.]
He continued taking pictures of Lu Xun and sending them to his parents and friends: [Handsome, right? My husband.]
Everyone: “…?”
Lu Xun, checking his phone, saw the pictures and Liang Xusheng’s message asking if he looked handsome. He smiled, knowing Liang Xusheng had accidentally sent it to him. [Handsome. Thumbs-up emoji.]
On their way home, Lu Xun bought another bouquet of roses. Liang Xusheng, beaming, accepted them, practically glowing with happiness.
Later that night, after they had gone to their separate rooms, Liang Xusheng went to the walk-in closet.
Lu Xun, hearing the door open, got out of bed. He found Liang Xusheng rummaging through their clothes. “What are you doing?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe.
“Choosing my outfit for tomorrow,” Liang Xusheng replied, holding up a shirt against himself.
“What’s wrong with your clothes?” Lu Xun asked, confused.
“I need to look good! It’s our first official date!”
Lu Xun chuckled and joined him, helping him choose an outfit and picking one for himself.
They spent over half an hour in the closet, both unusually meticulous about their clothes.
“Time for bed?” Lu Xun asked, as they left the closet.
“Good night,” Liang Xusheng said, then paused, pulling up his pant leg to reveal his smooth calf. “Want to touch?”
Lu Xun, amused, shook his head. “Go to bed.”
“Don’t blame me for being stingy,” Liang Xusheng said, with a playful pout.
Lu Xun pretended to lean in for a kiss, and Liang Xusheng, startled, ran back to his room, covering his mouth.
“I thought you weren’t stingy,” Lu Xun teased.
Liang Xusheng quickly closed his door.
He couldn’t sleep that night, his mind racing with excitement. He tossed and turned, replaying the events of the past few days in his mind: the conference, the confession, the kiss, the wedding, their married life…
Humans are strange creatures, he thought. Before I realized my feelings, everything was normal. Now, Lu Xun is like a shining beacon of light.
He picked up his phone and messaged Lu Xun: [Are you asleep?]
Lu Xun: [Not yet.]
Liang Xusheng: [I can’t sleep.]
Lu Xun: [Me neither. Haven’t been sleeping well lately.] Too excited.
Liang Xusheng jumped out of bed, grabbed his pillow, and went to Lu Xun’s room. Lu Xun, not surprised to see him, patted the pillow beside him. “You don’t need to bring your own. I have one.”
Liang Xusheng threw his pillow on the bed and lay down beside Lu Xun.
“Here to let me touch your legs?” Lu Xun asked, joking.
“Not for free,” Liang Xusheng replied, playing along. “100 yuan per touch.”
Lu Xun chuckled. “I can afford to make you bankrupt then.”
They lay there in silence for a moment.
“Feelings are strange,” Liang Xusheng said. “We’re both straight.”
“Mm,” Lu Xun agreed, then added, “But you’ve always been special to me.”
They both knew this was true. As a child, Lu Xun had been emotionally distant, his parents worried he might have a developmental disorder. He had no friends, no interest in toys or games. It was Liang Xusheng who had brought him out of his shell, his playful energy drawing Lu Xun into his world. While other children’s childhood memories were filled with toys, clothes, and playtime, Lu Xun’s only childhood memory was Liang Xusheng.
“You were always so grumpy,” Liang Xusheng said, remembering those days. “No one wanted to play with you, except me. I was like a little puppy, always following you around.”
“You were born to bring joy to others,” Lu Xun said.
“So this fake marriage turned into something real,” Liang Xusheng said.
“A happy ending,” he added, grinning. “No need for divorce now.”
“I never wanted a divorce,” Lu Xun said.
“Me neither,” Liang Xusheng admitted. “I didn’t think that far ahead. When I suggested we get married, I just wanted to live with you. It sounded fun.” He added, “So you know how much it hurt when you said you’d let me go.”
“I just said that to make you feel bad,” Lu Xun confessed. “I knew you’d be soft-hearted. It was a dirty trick.”
“I’ll never forget you mentioned divorce,” Liang Xusheng said, crossing his arms.
“I’m sorry,” Lu Xun said quickly. “I was being manipulative.”
“I’m not talking about that now,” Liang Xusheng said.
Lu Xun leaned in and kissed him gently on the forehead.
This time, Liang Xusheng didn’t pull away or protest. He just closed his eyes.
“How does it feel?” Lu Xun asked softly. “Do you hate it?”
Liang Xusheng opened his eyes and smiled faintly. “Your kissing skills need work. Twenty-something years of being a virgin is showing.”
Lu Xun chuckled. “Kissing your forehead doesn’t require any skill.”
“It needs improvement,” Liang Xusheng insisted.
“Okay, okay, I’ll improve,” Lu Xun said, his voice full of affection. He kissed Liang Xusheng’s forehead again. “Better now?”
“Slightly,” Liang Xusheng said, trying to suppress a smile.
Lu Xun leaned in again, and Liang Xusheng pushed him away, laughing. “Stop it! Don’t tickle me!”
Chapter 44
Liang Xusheng was enjoying their newfound relationship.
The next morning, dressed impeccably, they went on their first official date. Liang Xusheng was in a particularly good mood, the clear skies and lack of traffic adding to his cheerful disposition. He chatted with Lu Xun, listened to music, and hummed along.
Lu Xun, glancing at him, smiled.
“What are you smiling about?” Liang Xusheng asked.
“What are you smiling about?”
“I’m happy.”
“Me too.”
Liang Xusheng punched him playfully on the arm.
“You’re in a good mood. We should go to the arcade,” Lu Xun suggested.
“Yes! Let’s play some games!” Liang Xusheng agreed.
“Let’s eat first,” Lu Xun reminded him.
“Okay,” Liang Xusheng said. “Let’s have buffet.”
“Whatever you want,” Lu Xun replied.
“Listening to your wifey?” Liang Xusheng teased.
“Of course,” Lu Xun said, smiling.
“Then turn right,” Liang Xusheng said.
Lu Xun immediately changed lanes without signaling, earning a honk from the car behind them.
“Be careful!” Liang Xusheng exclaimed.
“Listening to wifey,” Lu Xun grinned.
“Get lost,” Liang Xusheng said, laughing, and waved apologetically at the other car.
At the mall, they raced to the buffet restaurant.
“Loser pays!” Liang Xusheng yelled.
Lu Xun chased after him, Liang Xusheng’s laughter echoing through the mall.
Lu Xun arrived first, but Liang Xusheng insisted on paying. “I like you, so I’m paying,” he said, snatching Lu Xun’s phone.
Lu Xun, hearing those words, let him pay. The cashier looked amused as Liang Xusheng then exclaimed, “Use the group-buying coupon, silly!”
As Lu Xun stood beside him, he couldn’t resist pinching the back of his neck. The waitresses giggled, clearly enjoying the scene.
Inside the restaurant, Liang Xusheng was practically bouncing with excitement. They both laughed when they saw their plates; they had both picked out each other’s favorite dishes.
“Let’s test each other’s memory,” Liang Xusheng suggested, exchanging plates.
“I’ll get a perfect score,” Lu Xun said.
“I’ll get a 10,000!” Liang Xusheng retorted.
They filled their table with food and ate until they were stuffed.
“Why did you get me ten egg tarts?” Liang Xusheng asked, laughing.
“You could eat forty in high school,” Lu Xun replied.
“Thanks for the fifty slices of roast beef,” Lu Xun added.
“You’re welcome, hubby,” Liang Xusheng replied.
They left the restaurant, the waitresses giggling again.
“Isn’t my husband handsome?” Liang Xusheng said to them, pointing at Lu Xun.
“Let’s go,” Lu Xun said, pulling him away.
At the arcade, they played the claw machines and other games, Liang Xusheng’s enthusiasm infectious. Lu Xun, watching him, was happier than he had ever been.
They then went shopping for clothes and shoes, playfully arguing over who would pay.
“I’ll pay,” Liang Xusheng said.
“Let hubby pay,” Lu Xun replied.
“No, I’m paying!” Liang Xusheng insisted. “Don’t you love me anymore?”
Lu Xun immediately gave in. The sales associates were amused.
They left the store, laden with shopping bags, attracting stares and even some photos.
“My husband bought me all this,” Liang Xusheng announced to the person filming them.
Lu Xun just smiled indulgently.
Liang Xusheng posted photos of their date on WeChat Moments, along with the caption: Date with my hubby. So happy!
At dinner, their legs accidentally touched under the table. Liang Xusheng blushed, thinking, So this is flirting.
Lu Xun, noticing his blush, smiled and subtly touched his leg with his own.
He really likes my legs, Liang Xusheng thought, but he didn’t move his leg away.
They went to the cinema.
“This is a real date,” Liang Xusheng thought happily, as they sat down.
“If people see us, will they call us names?” he asked, munching on popcorn.
“Probably,” Lu Xun chuckled.
Liang Xusheng laughed. “Here, doggy number one.”
“Thanks, doggy number zero,” Lu Xun replied.
Liang Xusheng elbowed him. “Shut up.”
After the movie, Liang Xusheng skipped over to Lu Xun. “Hubby, hubby, are you buying me flowers today?”
“Every day from now on,” Lu Xun replied, smiling indulgently.
Liang Xusheng beamed.
Lu Xun, looking at him, felt his heart flutter.
