"Where should we put this, Ge?" Sheng Wang asked, waving the photo frame in his hand, his voice laced with playful impatience as he tried to catch Jiang Tian's attention.
Ge…
It was both endearing and amusing that even now, after they'd officially become a couple and everyone around them knew, Sheng Wang still called Jiang Tian by that familiar nickname.
The term "Ge," which meant "older brother," was something he'd used from the days when they had been close but nothing more than what others saw—stepbrothers bound by their parents' fleeting relationship.
Yet, even after those family ties had been cut short and their connection had evolved into something much deeper, Sheng Wang continued to call him "Ge," as if the familiarity of the term held a special significance.
Jiang Tian had long ago stopped trying to correct him. He could have asked him to call him something else, something more fitting for a lover, but deep down, he couldn't deny how much he liked it.
There was a unique charm in the way Sheng Wang said "Ge"—sometimes innocent, other times a little sultry, and, on rare occasions, with a sweetness that Jiang Tian secretly found both adorable and, if he was honest with himself, rather attractive.
And while Sheng Wang hesitated to call him anything else, Jiang Tian himself wasn't as shy about endearments. From time to time, whenever he felt like it or simply wanted Sheng Wang's attention, he would drop a sweet nickname or two.
Today happened to be one of those days.
"Anywhere you want, babe. You decide," Jiang Tian said softly, his eyes gentle as he looked at Sheng Wang.
The casual but affectionate tone of his voice made Sheng Wang pause, his cheeks quickly flushing with a hint of pink.
As the word sank in, Sheng Wang's mind wandered.
Just one word, and his heart was racing, his earlier mischievousness melting away into something softer and vulnerable.
Without even replying, he placed the photo frame on the nearest table with little regard for positioning; the task suddenly became a little too trivial.
With a warm smile that stretched nearly from ear to ear, Sheng Wang walked toward Jiang Tian, who was currently occupied with adjusting the furniture in their living space. His arms snaked around Jiang Tian's waist from behind, leaning into him in a way that made Jiang Tian pause.
Feeling Sheng Wang's gentle hold, Jiang Tian immediately stopped what he was doing and turned around, letting his own arms fall naturally around Sheng Wang, returning the embrace.
The silent conversation passing between their glances as they stood there in each other's arms made everything feel warmer than the rays of the sun during that weather. Jiang Tian gently ran his fingers along Sheng Wang's back, drawing him even closer, reeling from the fact that they are now indeed free to show each other and everyone around them that they are in love.
Sheng Wang's face was still flushed, his eyes bright and soft. "Ge," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper as he buried his face in Jiang Tian's shoulder, "I still feel… shy sometimes. It's strange, but I think that's why I keep calling you Ge. It just… feels surreal. When I started liking you, my first response was I should stay as far away from you as possible. But I just couldn't. I'm sorry for making you feel like I was abandoning you and my promises to you before. After being separated from you for years, I just realized that it's much harder to be away from you than to muster up my courage and tell you how much I wanted to be with you."
Jiang Tian smiled, his fingers absentmindedly tracing circles along Sheng Wang's back. "I don't mind it," he replied gently. "Honestly, I like it. It reminds me of everything we've been through. All those years, the ups and downs, and now, here we are… together. You don't need to apologize for the past. What matters now is that we can freely love each other without worrying about what other people will think of us or what they will make us do. We hold our present and future. I love you, Wang-zai. I will hold onto your hand for as long as I still have the strength left, as long as I live, and even after my death."
Hearing this, Sheng Wang's grip tightened.
It was in these quiet moments that he felt their bond most profoundly—a connection forged over years, through shared memories, whispered promises, and now this rare, precious feeling of belonging with one another.
The room went silent except for the subtle rustle of their clothes as they held each other.
For Sheng Wang, it felt as if the world around them had faded, leaving only this moment. All the teasing, the awkwardness, the hesitations—they all melted away in the simple warmth of Jiang Tian's embrace.
"We should probably finish setting up the room before we both just… stand here forever," Jiang Tian joked after a few minutes of silence.
Sheng Wang chuckled softly, the sound muffled against Jiang Tian's shoulder. "Or we could just take a break. Maybe go for a little walk or buy a snack," he suggested, lifting his head to look up at him, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"A break?" Jiang Tian repeated, raising an eyebrow but clearly amused. "We've barely started. I don't know if that counts as deserving of a break."
Sheng Wang shrugged, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Does it matter? I mean, we're in our own place now. We can do whatever we want, right?"
Jiang Tian couldn't help but laugh at that. He knew there was no reasoning with Sheng Wang when he was in one of his playful moods, and frankly, he didn't want to try. They had worked hard to get to this point in their lives, and it felt good to be able to share these carefree moments together.
"Fine," Jiang Tian relented, pulling him close again. "But just this once. Next time, we actually finish what we started. What do you have in mind?"
Sheng Wang's eyes sparkled as he nodded, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "I'm craving some iced coffee," he said.
"Iced coffee it is," Jiang Tian replied. He gently unwrapped Sheng Wang's arms from around him, then reached over to the couch where his denim jacket lay. He shrugged it over his sleeveless shirt.
Seeing Jiang Tian's style, Sheng Wang quickly grabbed his own denim jacket, slipping it over his inner shirt.
Unlike Jiang Tian, he wasn't wearing a sleeveless top, but he couldn't resist matching his boyfriend's look.
Besides, it felt nice to mirror Jiang Tian, as if their clothes subtly declared that they belong to each other.
Hand in hand, they stepped out into the afternoon sun and made their way to the café down the next block, eager for their cool drinks.
The café was a cozy little place, bustling with soft chatter and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. They ordered their iced coffees and sat down by a window, savoring the refreshing chill of each sip.
But their peaceful moment was interrupted when a group of teenagers burst through the door, their laughter filling the room as they slid into the seats directly across from Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian. At first, Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian paid them no mind, but then the conversation drifted over to their table.
"Is it true? Someone actually bought the house on the next block?" one of the teens asmed, his voice full of disbelief.
"Really? Well, I hope they're brave," another replied, laughing softly. Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian exchanged a quick glance, their brows furrowing as they listened more closely. They realized the teens were likely talking about their new house—the very one they'd just moved into. It was, after all, the only place on that street that had recently gone up for sale after the previous owner left.
"I wonder if they know about the girl in white who's been seen in the attic window at night," a third teen chimed in, her voice dropping to a hushed tone, as if sharing a ghost story.
Sheng Wang felt a sudden chill creep along his spine, the tiny hairs on the back of his neck standing up.
He glanced at Jiang Tian, whose expression was just as surprised as his own. They hadn't heard any rumors like this when t
They first visited or even during the sale. They'd chosen the house purely because it was close to Old Ding's old place and seemed to have a nice and quiet charm.
Jiang Tian leaned in, lowering his voice. "Did you hear anything about that… girl in white?"
Sheng Wang shook his head slowly, feeling the unease settled deeper. "No. No one mentioned it to us. Not the realtor nor anyone in the neighborhood."
The two exchanged a look, both feeling a sense of mystery—and a bit of nervousness—about what they might find in their new home.
Was there really a lady in white in the attic window?
Or was this just a local tale, meant to entertain?
As they finished their drinks, neither of them could shake the thought.
They'd have to see for themselves first.