“Sure, it’s possible, but would he agree?” Lu’s mother asked.
“He will,” Lu Jingcheng replied.
Lu’s mother didn’t think so. At this age, children were sensitive. Even though Lu Jingcheng had good intentions, their family wasn’t Ye Qingyang’s, not even related to him. It was likely that Ye Qingyang wouldn’t be willing.
In fact, Ye Qingyang did feel a little awkward.
“It’s not awkward,” Lu Jingcheng reassured him. “It’s just the four of us. You already know everyone. After dinner, we’ll go back to our rooms; you won’t have to make small talk with my parents if you don’t want to.”
Ye Qingyang chuckled. “So you do think it’s awkward.”
“Exactly, so don’t worry.”
Lu Jingcheng held his hand. “Come home with me. I can’t leave you here alone. If you don’t go now, I might have to ask the driver to bring me over on New Year’s Eve.”
“I can’t let you spend the New Year alone,” Lu Jingcheng said earnestly. “I like you. When we’re older, we can be together. Even if we can’t get married right away, we can live together, celebrate the New Year together, and share every holiday.”
“Ye Qingyang, beyond our age, we’re meant to spend New Year’s together, aren’t we?”
Ye Qingyang listened to the sincerity in his words and slowly smiled.
He had seen many people, many teenagers, but only Lu Jingcheng had become a different color in his life.
Strong yet gentle, fearless in the face of anything, always shielding others from danger, yet inside soft and clear. He laid bare his feelings without reserve, and even though it was young and immature love, his purity made it feel timeless.
Ye Qingyang never doubted how long Lu Jingcheng’s affection would last, for his love was too pure. One time, one life.
Ye Qingyang thought for a moment. “Alright, but when I come back, you have to let me return.”
“Of course.”
Lu Jingcheng helped him pack and then brought him home.
Lu’s mother, seeing them arrive, greeted warmly: “Xiao Ye, you’re here! Welcome! The housekeeper has prepared the guest room for you—it’s the one you stayed in before, next to Chengcheng’s. Is that okay?”
“Why prepare a guest room?” Lu Jingcheng said, finding it unnecessary. “Ye Qingyang will stay with me.”
Ye Qingyang froze.
“I’ll stay in the guest room,” Ye Qingyang hurriedly said, worried that Lu’s mother might notice anything unusual between them.
Fortunately, Lu’s mother didn’t think much of it. She smiled, “It’s fine. If you two want to stay in the same room to chat or study, that’s okay. Xiao Ye, don’t be shy. Just tell Chengcheng if you need anything, according to your preference.”
“Thank you, Auntie.”
“You’re welcome.”
Lu Jingcheng carried Ye Qingyang’s small suitcase upstairs and placed it in his room. “You’ll stay here.”
Ye Qingyang was helpless. “You’re just afraid your parents will know, aren’t you?”
“They’ll find out sooner or later,” Lu Jingcheng said calmly. “I don’t intend for our relationship to be secret.”
“Even so, not now.”
Lu Jingcheng pulled him to sit down. “Relax, they won’t notice yet.”
If you keep this up, Ye Qingyang thought silently, they might eventually notice.
The atmosphere at Lu’s house was warm. Lu’s mother was gentle and caring, Lu’s father stern but approachable, and with lively, adorable Lu Jingxi around, the house was always cheerful.
Soon, New Year’s Eve arrived.
Ye Qingyang had dinner with them. Lu Jingxi wanted to watch fireworks, and Lu Jingcheng accompanied her. She jumped around excitedly in the yard, waving a wand, laughing joyfully.
Watching her, Ye Qingyang thought of his own younger sister and couldn’t help smiling.
He wondered if his parents and sister were celebrating the New Year too. If so, he wished them happiness, health, and peace in the new year.
Lu Jingcheng, noticing him staring, waved him over to join the fireworks.
Ye Qingyang walked over, lit a fuse, and watched the firework shoot up with a “whoosh,” bursting brilliantly in the sky.
Lu Jingcheng looked at him, and when Lu Jingxi wasn’t paying attention, he sneaked a kiss.
Fleeting, like a cat stealing fish.
Ye Qingyang glanced at him, smiling silently.
They finished the fireworks and returned to the room.
Lu’s parents called them and Lu Jingxi over, giving each of them a red envelope.
Ye Qingyang felt embarrassed to accept it, but Lu’s mother smiled: “Take it. Chengcheng has improved so much this year, thanks to you. Please continue to help him.”
“It’s no trouble,” Ye Qingyang said.
“Take it,” Lu Jingcheng said, holding his hand. “You can’t refuse a New Year’s red envelope—it’s the lucky start of the year.”
Ye Qingyang had no choice but to accept, sincerely thanking Lu’s parents.
They went upstairs, waiting for midnight.
After a game ended, Lu Jingcheng got a bit hungry and went downstairs for snacks. Ye Qingyang, bored, went to the window to look outside.
Though night had fallen, the neighborhood was still bright, lights like lanterns.
Ye Qingyang breathed on the glass and drew a little leaf.
He was about to draw a sun when he felt someone behind him. An arm crossed over his shoulder, drawing a heart around his leaf.
Ye Qingyang laughed softly and drew two wings next to the heart.
He turned to Lu Jingcheng, who looked at him warmly, smiling.
He kissed Ye Qingyang’s eye and then his lips.
They shared a secret, gentle, careful kiss by the window.
“Come eat, I got snacks,” Lu Jingcheng said, glancing at the clock. “Wow, it’s past midnight.”
Ye Qingyang peeked. “Really?”
“So at midnight, we were…”
Ye Qingyang smiled. “Looks like our relationship will be steady this year.”
“Of course.”
Ye Qingyang stayed at Lu’s house until the sixth day of the New Year before returning home.
Lu Jingcheng, reluctant to let him go, accompanied him home.
Lu’s mother sighed, “I feel like I’ve raised a son for Xiao Ye. You cling to him every day—want to marry him?”
Lu Jingcheng excitedly replied, “That’s not impossible.”
His mother chuckled, “I’m afraid Xiao Ye wouldn’t like you.”
“He wouldn’t? He likes me the most, right?”
“Next time, I’ll put some daffodils at home. From now on, seeing daffodils will remind me of you.”
Lu Jingcheng: …
“Put the prettiest ones!” he added.
Ye Qingyang’s tenant arrived on the sixth night, surprised to see Lu Jingcheng still there.
“Xiao Lu, you didn’t spend the New Year with your boss here, did you?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why are you still here?”
Lu Jingcheng replied, “Am I not allowed to stay if I want? If you can be here, so can I.”
The tenant shook his head, thinking this guy was really loyal and clearly close to his boss.
Ye Qingyang’s tenant started work, and a month later, school resumed.
With the new year, everything restarted. Lu Jingcheng, after tutoring and winter training, ranked in the top ten in the first monthly exam, closing the gap with Ye Qingyang and surprising teachers and classmates alike.
Lu’s parents were thrilled, sending care packages to the dorm every day.
Lu Jingcheng received so many that he called, “Enough, stop sending!”
His mother refused. “These are for Xiao Ye, not you. Didn’t you see it says ‘Ye Qingyang’ on them?”
Lu Jingcheng: …
He hung up in frustration but comforted himself that sending to Ye Qingyang was like sending to him—happy mother-in-law, happy son-in-law.
By the end of second year, Lu Jingcheng’s grades stabilized at second in class, top thirty in grade, while Ye Qingyang was first in class, first in grade.
On the first day of senior year, Cheng Yan spoke with them about transferring to the “Rocket Class.”
“You already meet the standards. Staying in this class won’t help your growth. After discussion, we want to transfer you to Class One.”
Ye Qingyang didn’t want to go. He was used to Class Ten—the camaraderie, helping peers, monitoring during study periods, laughing together.
He looked at Lu Jingcheng, who felt the same. His friends were all in Class Ten; he didn’t want to leave them.
Outside the office, they leaned on the railing, sharing thoughts. Ye Qingyang didn’t need a quiet, studious environment—he could excel anywhere as long as Lu Jingcheng was there.
Lu Jingcheng only needed Ye Qingyang. With him, he had motivation and pressure to work hard.
“Then let’s stay,” Ye Qingyang said with a smile. “We’re doing fine in Class Ten anyway.”
Lu Jingcheng nodded, holding his hand. “Where you are, I’ll be.”
They told Cheng Yan. She felt regretful but touched. Staying in Class Ten was better for them, and she personally felt lucky to have witnessed their growth.
“Tell me if you change your mind,” she said.
Ye Qingyang nodded. “We will.”
Cheng Yan gazed at him warmly, thinking, “All the other teachers envy me for turning a student from last to first. It wasn’t my teaching—it was his effort. Ye Qingyang, you are the strongest and most talented student I’ve ever seen. I am lucky to have met you. You will surely be outstanding.”
“Wherever you are, strive toward your goals.”
“Yes, Teacher Cheng.”
Ye Qingyang carried that promise into senior year.
Life seemed both the same and different. Even the least motivated students started to understand the importance of studying.
Ye Qingyang became the most popular student—everyone wanted to sit with him or hire him as a tutor.
But his seat was taken by Lu Jingcheng, and Zhang Ye got tutoring priority, so others could only sigh.
In the last month before college entrance exams, thirty days left, classmates began taking graduation photos and signing yearbooks.
Ye Qingyang took photos and signed yearbooks for many.
Lu Jingcheng didn’t mind, but never stopped him.
He was possessive but never restrictive; his affection was closeness, tolerance, and respect.
On the eve of exams, the school organized class photos. Lu Jingcheng and Ye Qingyang, top in Class Ten, sat by Cheng Yan in the first row.
Ye Qingyang faced the camera, while Lu Jingcheng secretly looked at him.
Their hands brushed and slowly held.
At the click, Ye Qingyang turned to meet Lu Jingcheng’s gaze. They smiled gently at each other.
Laughter and youth, captured in the graduation photo, preserved in time.
When the ivy climbs the wall of years,
you are inside,
and also in my heart.
When I look at you,
the world in your eyes
is my whole world.
The past is within reach,
the future is near.
Youthful and tender,
you are my first and last love.