That summer, Yu and Nuo both stayed in Qianlin for their internships. Yu joined a law company, while Nuo was recommended by a senior to work as a teaching assistant at a training centre. The law company practise "the 996 working hour system" - work from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week. Meanwhile, Nuo is scheduled for six days a week, teaching four classes a day from nine in the morning until eight at night.
Throughout the entire summer, Yu and Nuo often met at the cafeterias of their respective colleges and the breakfast stalls near the uni's gate, but only for about ten minutes each time. These brief encounters were like a mental pillar for Yu, having breakfast together and exchanging a few words about their daily lives, feeling content yet simple.
One Saturday towards the end of summer, Yu leaned against the bus stop sign outside the training centre, observing the crowd leaving after classes and the parents picking up students. After about fifteen minutes, when the crowd thinned out, Nuo was nowhere to be seen.
"Hello," a voice came through on the phone, "Are you off work?"
"Just got off." Nuo replied.
"I'm downstairs at your building, thought you had already left. Want to go back together?" "Give me two minutes, I'll be right down."
Five minutes later, Yu saw Nuo coming out of the entrance, followed by a female student. He paused, preparing to approach, lit a cigarette, and watched with a look of amusement.
In the dim light of the night, the girl handed a piece of paper to Nuo and then turned and walked away.
"Little Prince, what did you do to the girl?" Yu, having only taken a few puffs of the cigarette, walked over with his hands in his pockets and took the paper from Nuo's hand.
It was a math test paper with a prominent score of 138 in 150.
Folding the paper neatly, Yu handed it back to Nuo. Somewhere deep within, a spark ignited from a drop of oil leaking a moment ago, slowly spreading. The reflection of this person in his eyes has become increasingly irresistible with each passing month since their first encounter.
This man, who is of a similar height to him, exudes qualities that are entirely different from his own, a subtle smile graces his face all the way, and his speech and actions are always measured and precise. Every time stay with Nuo, Yu feels as comfortable as basking in the sun with a cup of tea on a lazy afternoon.
These qualities would seem contrived and effeminate on anyone else, but on him, they are just right.
The title of "Little Prince", Nuo is worth the reputation.
"She'll attend to College Entrance Examination next year, stressful and a bit emotional," Nuo said, taking the test paper and putting it in his bag, "Aren't you supposed to be resting today? Why are you here?"
"Had something to do in the evening, dropped by here."
Passing by always seemed to be the most convenient excuse.
"Want to grab dinner together?" Before Yu could answer, Nuo patted his arm and pointed to a noodle restaurant across the street, "I'm hungry, so my treat today - pork intestine noodles."
"Yu, you must be quite popular with the girls, right?"
Nuo was well aware of Yu's good reputation among girls. Since they had met, many girls in their class had asked about Yu's relationship status.
Yu raised an eyebrow and took a sip of soup.
"I'd say we're on par."
Nuo paused.
"I think that type of girl suits you well." Yu casually probed.
Nuo paused his hand with noodles, and said, "Math scores suit me well."
"Little Prince, you should enjoy the incredible feelings of love at your age. I still don't know what type of girl you like, care to share?"
Noticing a hint of melancholy in Nuo's tone earlier, Yu pushed further.
"And you?"
"I..." Yu intentionally drew out the silence before continuing, "I already have someone."
He discreetly observed Nuo's facial expressions, the casual demeanour concealing a deep sense of seriousness.
"He is the warmest person I've ever met, the more you understand him, the more you like him. And the more you like him, the more irresistibly drawn you become," as if recalling a certain scene, a faint smile played on Yu's lips.
"I always, unconsciously, thoughts of the future with him started to occupy my mind, every ordinary day ahead."
"Scumbag and affectionate?" Stirring waves of emotion inside, almost ready to overflow.
The words spoken carried a hint of self-deprecation, barely noticeable but caught by Yu. Grabbing Nuo's wrist, Yu briskly led him out of the restaurant.
"Yu, what are you doing!" Yu's strength was surprisingly intimidating, as Nuo attempted to break free several times, but the grip on his wrist tightened even more.
Both being of similar height, why did there seem to be such a significant difference in strength? Nuo whispered to himself.
In a small alley at the corner, under the orange-yellow street lamp, they leaned against the wall with a fist's distance apart, catching their breath, both looking slightly dishevelled.
"What happened to you today? I knew something was wrong the moment I saw you." the gentle tone carried a hint of urgency and concern.
Yu took a step forward, slightly taller than Nuo, and looked down at him.
His bangs were not neatly combed back as usual during the day, but scattered simply, covering the deep-sea-like eyes. His voice was low and hoarse: "Are you alright today?"
Today, neither of them was alright or the fact was crystal clear to both of them.
Nuo remained silent.
Throughout his life, his emotions were rarely out of control.
In the tutoring class, there was a young girl named Zou Dan who confessed her feelings to him after class today.
He still remembered the young girl's earnest expression as she said to him, "Teacher Wang, I like someone, regardless of their gender, age, or profession. I just want him to know. "
"I knew I would probably be rejected by you early on, but I don't want to have any regrets. Although... my heart feels suffocated right now."
These words seemed to hit a certain pressure point in Nuo, releasing the blocked veins within him.
Yu's call came just as Dan ended her words.
"I like someone, regardless of their gender, age, or profession. I just want him to know."
Throughout the entire evening, his mind was consumed by this statement.
"I have something to tell you." The late summer air was sultry, carrying a hint of heat as if provoking a restless heartbeat. "I didn't come here by chance, I came here on purpose." With each word he was about to say, Yu's voice grew increasingly husky. "The sunset this evening was pink, I watched it and couldn't help but think of you."
Because I suddenly missed you, I came here.
"Do you understand?"
"You... I..."
Nuo's heart filled up instantly, rendering him speechless, as he looked at Yu with a clear and bright gaze.
"I have already come out to my family."
These words which had been hidden in his heart for a long time, Yu breathed a sigh of relief, felt like a weight lifted off his chest.
"Your 'scent', on anyone else, would easily give away that they are a bottom, but on you, the closer I get, the more I feel like you're a straight guy."
"My scent? Am I a rat?" Nuo puzzled.
"No, you are a refined young gentleman with scholarly elegance." The smile was gentle and composed, and came slowly, neither rushed nor delayed.
"I had been planning whether or not to 'turn you'. When you suddenly brought up the topic of a 'girlfriend' in the evening, I thought, maybe you could also... have the same thoughts as me."
The progression of events followed a logical sequence, and emotional fluctuations never lie.
Moreover, the female student had left a note on the test paper: Kept as a memento for you.
Kept as a memento for you.
This was the memento of this summer, a memento of "I like you", a memento of the efforts I made for my affection.
Those little thoughts when liking the same person can easily be exposed by the other person who likes him, too.
"Nuo, do you now understand my thoughts?"
Though it was a question, it carried a certain finality in its tone.
"Do you want to, give it a try with me?" His gaze was fixed on Nuo, making it impossible to ignore or escape.
With the gentle summer night breeze and the bustling nightlife at the corner of the alley, Yu awaited his answer.
As Nuo's gaze traveled from Fu Yu's chest up to his chin, he could clearly see the unrestrained emotions, pure and intense, bursting out of the dark eyes before him, bathed in the dim light of the lamp and moon,
"I like someone, regardless of their gender."
So that's how it is.
Nuo rested his head on Yu's shoulder, his entire weight leaning on him.
"Yu, x²+y²=1," he muttered, the voice huskier than he had imagined.
"Huh?"
Only the light chuckle from the man leaning against his shoulder was heard. "You've turned a straight man gay."
"Then just for me." Yu's hand encircled Nuo's, hesitated for a while, before saying, "I was so nervous just now."
In the days that followed, Nuo became ensure one thing than ever before: the scum was fake, the deep affection was real.