Ye Mingxuan froze for several seconds before processing Tan Sizhe’s words. His face instantly flushed like a boiling teapot, steam nearly rising from his entire body.
Tan Sizhe found him utterly adorable, his heart itching with desire. He reached out to hold Ye Mingxuan’s head, leaning down to kiss him. But before his lips touched, a shadow pounced. Tan Sizhe was knocked flat onto the floor.
Ye Mingxuan panicked: “Sir!”
Ajin lay sprawled across Tan Sizhe, barking softly, his front paws pressed firmly against Tan Sizhe’s chest. Tan Sizhe: “…”
Bai Yu clutched his stomach, laughing hysterically from behind: “Ajin thought you were going to bully Mingxuan!”
Lying on the grass, Tan Sizhe grabbed Ah Jin’s muzzle to prevent his drool from soaking him. “No big bone for you today.”
Ah Jin: “!!!”
This was a harmless little incident. They sat together eating barbecue and chatting. Soon the sun dipped below the western mountains. Bai Yu and Yangyang pitched a tent by the lake.
Inside the RV, they’d originally planned for Yangyang and Ye Mingxuan to sleep there. But Yangyang insisted on sleeping in the tent with Ah Jin, so Tan Sizhe switched places and went up to sleep with Ye Mingxuan.
However, Tan Sizhe had set up an extra tent. Before heading to the RV, he could stay in the tent with Ye Mingxuan to enjoy the scenery.
Soft cushions lined the tent. Ye Mingxuan sat inside, and Tan Sizhe soon squeezed in beside him.
The small space filled with the man’s presence. Ye Mingxuan felt enveloped from all sides—warm and comfortable.
He realized that since becoming pregnant, only Tan Sizhe’s presence could soothe him. Being near his husband brought him profound peace.
Today, Ye Mingxuan wore a striped long-sleeved shirt with a Snoopy print over the heart. His face looked soft and youthful, resembling a sixteen-year-old high school student.
Tan Sizhe suddenly wondered what high school Ye Mingxuan had looked like: “Do you have any photos from your high school days?”
Ye Mingxuan nodded, flipping through his phone gallery: “But I only have graduation photos.”
Tan Sizhe lowered his eyes. His gallery contained little—just lecture slides taken during class and some scenery shots, nothing much else.
Suddenly, he flicked past a familiar photo. Ye Mingxuan reacted quickly, swiping it away, but Tan Sizhe had already seen it.
“What’s this?” Tan Sizhe reached for his phone.
Ye Mingxuan panicked, covering it. “N-nothing…”
Tan Sizhe’s long arm swept around him, seizing Ye Mingxuan’s wrist. Ye Mingxuan’s grip slipped, and the phone fell to the floor.
He reached to pick it up, but Tan Sizhe was much quicker. He grabbed the phone first, saw the photo, and raised an eyebrow. “So you were secretly taking pictures of me.”
The evening glow tinted Ye Mingxuan’s skin. Hugging his knees, he whispered, “I was just taking pictures of the fireworks…”
Tan Sizhe studied the photo. It was from that New Year’s Eve when they’d set off fireworks. Ye Mingxuan had been photographing the blooming fireworks in the night sky, but the camera’s lower right corner had captured the broad shoulders of a man.
Ye Mingxuan had only intended to capture the fireworks, unaware that his camera had shifted slightly to the right, drawing Tan Sizhe into the frame.
He never imagined Tan Sizhe would see this photo!! So embarrassing!!
His stubborn denial made Tan Sizze want nothing more than to pull him close and give him a proper scolding.
Tan Sizhe pulled Ye Mingxuan into his embrace, teasingly tugging at his earlobe. “Next time you want to take my picture, just do it openly. It’s not like I won’t cooperate with you.”
Ye Mingxuan’s back pressed against Tan Sizhe’s scorching chest, his waist twisting uncomfortably. Tan Sizhe clenched his teeth and gave him a sharp pinch: “Dare to twist like that? Is this on purpose?”
“N-no!”
Ye Mingxuan clutched his buttocks and jumped back. Tan Sizhe pressed forward, pinched his chin, and kissed him, smacking his lips with loud pops.
“Mmm, mmm…” Ye Mingxuan felt lightheaded, his hands pushing Tan Sizhe losing all strength.
Tan Sizhe slid his hand beneath Ye Mingxuan’s shirt, about to slip his tongue inside, when he paused abruptly.
Everything around them had grown dim. The setting sun sank into the lake, reflecting the shadows of the trees and casting dazzling golden light.
Ye Mingxuan climbed up and crawled out of the tent. Yangyang and Akin also emerged from their tent.
Akin barked excitedly and sprinted along the lake. Yangyang exclaimed, Wow, it’s so beautiful!”
Ye Mingxuan’s pupils sparkled with the sun’s light as he walked a few steps around the lake. “It really is beautiful.”
Something flashed through his mind. He suddenly turned, bumping his nose against the chest of the person behind him. He stumbled back a few steps. “Sir, I’m so sorry!”
Tan Sizhe pulled him close: “Let me see. Did you hurt your nose?”
Ye Mingxuan shook his head: “It’s fine. Doesn’t hurt much.”
Tan Sizhe’s chest muscles were incredibly well-defined, rock-hard, nearly flattening his nose.
Ye Mingxuan gave his nose a rough rub, not even frowning. Instead, he grinned. “Sir, I think I know what I’m good at drawing now!”
Tan Sizhe: “?”
Ye Mingxuan pointed at the scenery around them. “Light and shadow. And plants.”
He smiled. “Thanks for bringing me out to sketch, sir.”
Tan Sizhe tilted his head, genuinely pleased for Ye Mingxuan. The light on their faces dimmed as the sun sank below the horizon, plunging the surroundings into complete dusk. Soon, tiny specks of green light began to emerge from the grass.
Ye Mingxuan’s gaze was instantly drawn to them. “Fireflies.”
He walked toward the swarm of dancing fireflies, a faint glow surrounding him like a free-spirited forest elf.
Tan Sizhe watched the scene intently, his heartbeat growing clearer in the darkness. Moments later, he lifted his feet lightly and moved behind Ye Mingxuan.
–
Teacher Qi extended the assignment deadline to Tuesday, so Ye Mingxuan made some revisions in the studio on Monday.
Since he excelled at light and shadow, he poured his strengths into this painting. A few scattered figures remained in the classroom, all making last-minute revisions before the assignment deadline.
As evening approached, people gradually left until only Ye Mingxuan and Li Ran remained.
“Yufan, have you finished? The assignment’s due tomorrow.” ” someone asked Ye Yufan as they passed during break.
Ye Yufan snorted. “I finished ages ago.”
Such a simple piece—he’d drawn it effortlessly.
Carrying his backpack home, Ye Yufan passed the art studio and suddenly heard Li Ran’s exclamation: “Wow, Mingxuan, your painting is amazing!”
Hearing that familiar name, Ye Yufan paused, turned back, and hid behind the window, peering through the glass into the classroom.
The classroom lights were on, bright as day. Li Ran sat beside Ye Mingxuan, watching him paint.
“You’re the best painter I’ve seen so far,” Li Ran said. “You’ll definitely get the highest score on this assignment!”
Ye Mingxuan dabbed on white paint, flustered by Li Ran’s praise.
He finished his drawing, exhaled in relief, and scrutinized his work once more. “That’s it. I gotta head home.”
Li Ran packed his backpack. “Yeah, I should go too. Stayed a bit late today. My parents are nagging me.”
The weather forecast predicted rain tonight. Ye Mingxuan and Li Ran gathered their things, closed the windows and lights, then stepped out of the classroom and locked the door.
Only after they left did Ye Yufan enter the classroom and turn on the lights.
“That Li Ran sure knows how to suck up. Ye Mingxuan has never studied painting—how good could he possibly be?”
Seeing Ye Mingxuan in the classroom had already annoyed Ye Yufan. He couldn’t stand the thought of Ye Mingxuan sitting in the same classroom as him, let alone attending Master Qi’s lectures together. Did he even deserve it?
He was determined to see what kind of nonsense Ye Mingxuan had painted. Ye Yufan kicked aside someone else’s palette and walked over to Ye Mingxuan’s easel. He was struck dumb, as if struck by lightning.
Impossible… Ye Mingxuan actually, actually painted better than him!
Ye Yufan couldn’t believe it: “Ye Mingxuan must have hired a ghost painter!”
But many people had indeed seen Ye Mingxuan paint this piece. Back then, several students had gathered around him, watching and praising his skill. Yet Ye Yufan hadn’t paid attention, convinced they were blind.
“… ” Jealousy gnawed at Ye Yufan’s heart, his entire body trembling with rage.
Piano playing, painting—what exactly was Ye Mingxuan trying to do?! Did he want to hog all the glory on campus?!
He absolutely wouldn’t let Ye Mingxuan succeed! Ye Yufan clenched his teeth tightly and reached for Ye Mingxuan’s painting….
After two days of rain, the air was damp and slightly chilly. Ye Mingxuan wore a dark green trench coat over a thin wool sweater, which made his skin appear fair.
As he entered the classroom, several girls stole glances at him, unaware that Ye Mingxuan carried a man’s child within him.
Ye Mingxuan couldn’t take off his coat, for doing so would reveal his rounded belly.
Fortunately, the weather wasn’t hot, so Ye Mingxuan obediently wrapped himself in his trench coat.
Everyone arrived punctually, holding their breath as they waited for Qi Lin to announce the highest score on the first assignment.
Who among them would capture Teacher Qi’s eye?
Teacher Qi, wearing reading glasses, smiled warmly at the class. “Looks like everyone’s eager to find out, huh?”
“No way—!”
“Hahaha!”
Ye Mingxuan laughed along with everyone else. He hadn’t expected Teacher Qi’s class atmosphere to be so lively, nor that his classmates here were so humorous.
Qi Lin: “I spent all last night reviewing every single one of your paintings. You’ve all done exceptionally well—far beyond my expectations.”
The students felt encouraged, their eyes now filled with admiration as they looked at Qi Lin.
Qi Lin: “I selected one top-scoring piece from your assignments. I could see what this student excels at throughout the entire work.”
He adjusted his glasses and looked down at the audience: “Congratulations, Ye Yufan.”
…Ye Yufan?
Everyone turned to look at Ye Yufan in surprise, including Ye Mingxuan.
Ye Yufan stood up and smiled. “Thank you, Teacher Qi.”
Qi Lin: “Keep up the good work.”
Ye Yufan sat back down amid the envious gazes of the class, lifting his chin.
Li Ran: “No way… It wasn’t Mingxuan?”
He glanced at Ye Mingxuan, whose eyes flashed a fleeting hint of disappointment before he composed himself.
Qi Lin opened the slideshow: “I specifically photographed Ye Yufan’s artwork. Everyone can use this as a learning opportunity.”
As the image filled the screen, Ye Mingxuan looked up and recognized the painting instantly.
Li Ran spotted the indentation in the lower left corner of the canvas and gasped, “Mingxuan, this… this is your painting?!”
