Lin Xingchen shot Shao Kang a glare. What nonsense.
Meanwhile, Pei Qingjian sat with his phone, reading travel guides and taking notes. By the time Lin Xingchen came home that evening, he already had a rough itinerary planned.
“When the time comes, we’ll…” Pei Qingjian pulled out his notes and began discussing it with him.
Watching how serious and thoughtful he was, Lin Xingchen could not help but think—he really did put his heart into everything he did.
“Sounds good,” he said.
After all, he was just going along to accompany Pei Qingjian. As long as he was happy, that was enough.
Seeing how agreeable he was, like someone simply tagging along, Pei Qingjian laughed, a quiet sweetness blooming in his heart.
He looked at the calendar on his phone and started counting down the days. As he counted, he was interrupted by a call from Song Ye.
Ever since finishing Drunken River Moon, he had kept in touch with Song Ye, but Song Ye was much busier than him, so they had not met again since wrapping.
“In a few days, a friend of mine is throwing a party. Want to come?” Song Ye asked. “It’ll mostly be people from the industry—you can meet more connections.”
Pei Qingjian naturally wanted to go, but unfortunately, the party date clashed with his travel plans.
“That’ll have to be next time,” he said regretfully. “I’m going abroad in a few days.”
“Work-related?” Song Ye asked.
“No, just traveling,” Pei Qingjian said, his voice bright with excitement.
Hearing that cheerful tone, Song Ye could not help but find him a little endearing. Even after entering the entertainment industry, he could still be so genuinely happy about something as simple as going on a trip.
“Going alone?”
“With a friend.”
Song Ye paused. “That friend who visited you on set before—Lin Xingchen?”
“Yeah.” Pei Qingjian nodded.
Song Ye: …He knew it.
Since entering the industry, Song Ye had drifted from many of his old friends. Seeing how close Pei Qingjian and Lin Xingchen still were now made him feel a bit happy for them.
But… maybe he was overthinking it. Leaning back on the sofa, Song Ye frowned slightly.
Why did their “friendship” feel… different from his own friendships?
He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. “Have fun, then.”
“Mm.” Pei Qingjian smiled. “You enjoy the party too, Song-ge.”
“Will do.”
They exchanged a few more words before hanging up.
Pei Qingjian looked at the date again and resumed his countdown.
Finally, after the second snowfall, the day he had been waiting for arrived.
Lin Xingchen was on holiday—they could go on their trip.
Pei Qingjian happily grabbed his suitcase and headed to the airport with him.
It was his first time leaving the country. Everything felt new, everything interesting.
Sitting in the taxi, he rolled down the window and gazed out at the streets, taking it all in.
Lin Xingchen sat beside him, watching him with a smile.
After arriving at the hotel Lin Xingchen had booked, Pei Qingjian set down his luggage and immediately wanted to go out and explore.
Lin Xingchen had no objections.
They walked side by side through unfamiliar streets, taking in the scenery of a foreign land.
Pei Qingjian carried his camera, snapping photos from time to time—brightly colored shops, unfamiliar products, even strangers who posed when they saw his camera raised, and a lonely little dog sitting outside a storefront, as if waiting for someone.
When they passed a small arched bridge, Pei Qingjian noticed people rowing boats beneath it.
“Let’s go boating too,” he said excitedly.
“Sure.”
They found a rental spot, rented a boat, and drifted along the calm river.
Looking at the scenery on both sides, Pei Qingjian felt completely at ease.
He kept taking photos, until finally, his lens settled on Lin Xingchen.
Lin Xingchen was still rowing. Seeing the camera pointed at him, he smiled. “What, taking my picture again?”
Pei Qingjian paused for a moment before remembering where that “again” came from—
Back when they had first met, he had gone to retrieve belongings from his grandparents’ house and picked up this very camera. Turning around, he saw Lin Xingchen and, out of instinct, snapped a photo.
At the time, Lin Xingchen had said, “Taking candid shots of me?”
Pei Qingjian smiled. “Yeah.”
Tilting his head, he lowered the camera just enough to reveal his eyes, looking straight at him. “Is that okay?”
Lin Xingchen sighed dramatically. “I guess so. What can I do? When you’re handsome, you have responsibilities—like being photographed.”
Pei Qingjian laughed, his smile brightening instantly. “Then, handsome guy, look at the camera. I’m about to take it.”
Lin Xingchen stopped rowing and looked directly into the lens—as if through it, straight into his heart.
For a moment, Pei Qingjian forgot to press the shutter, simply staring at him.
“Did you take it?” Lin Xingchen asked.
Startled, Pei Qingjian hurriedly replied, “I’m about to—I was focusing just now.”
He quickly pressed the shutter.
Click. Another photo of Lin Xingchen was captured.
Looking at the preview, Pei Qingjian felt it was the best photo he had ever taken.
And yet, it still was not enough—not even one ten-thousandth as good as the real person.
He handed the camera over. “Look.”
Lin Xingchen took it and saw himself in the photo, smiling gently.
The evening glow spread across the sky, his smile bathed in its brilliance.
It was a beautiful picture.
“Send it to me later,” Lin Xingchen said.
“Okay.”
Pei Qingjian took the camera back and continued photographing other scenery.
Only when their boat ride was nearly over did Lin Xingchen finally ask for the camera and take a picture of him.
It was the first time Lin Xingchen had photographed him so seriously, and Pei Qingjian felt a little shy.
Lin Xingchen took several shots, then chose the one he liked best and showed it to him.
Mirroring the earlier photo, the background was layered with glowing sunset clouds, edged in gold.
Pei Qingjian stood within that golden light, head slightly tilted, his smile light and sweet—bright, innocent, like a cloud that had fallen into the human world.
“Beautiful,” Pei Qingjian said happily.
“That’s because you’re good-looking.”
“And you took a good photo too.”
Lin Xingchen thought about it, then nodded proudly. “That’s true.”
After the boat docked, he pulled Pei Qingjian ashore. They found someone to take a photo of them together, and then snapped several selfies on his phone.
Looking at himself in the photos—smiling so brightly and happily—Pei Qingjian felt as if his heart were wrapped in sugar.
After spending a few days in the small town, they set off for a nearby beach.
The beach was quite famous, attracting countless visitors every year.
After applying sunscreen, Pei Qingjian and Lin Xingchen rushed straight into the sea.
They swam for a while, then moved on to water activities, playing until nearly sunset before returning to the hotel Lin Xingchen had booked.
After dinner, they made plans to watch the sunrise over the sea the next morning.
“I’ve never seen a sunrise over the ocean before,” Pei Qingjian said.
Lin Xingchen actually had. He had seen far more things than Pei Qingjian, and to him, a sunrise over the sea was just… alright. At least, when he saw it back then, it had not moved him much.
But he did not say that. He only smiled and replied, “Then you’ll get to see it tomorrow.”
Pei Qingjian nodded excitedly and went to bed early to save up his energy.
Before dawn the next day, they headed to the beach in the dark.
Quite a few people were already there, waiting for the sunrise.
They rented a boat and sat on it, waiting.
They did not have to wait long. About half an hour later, the sun shyly revealed a trace of golden light.
Then more and more light spilled out, growing brighter and brighter. The clouds were gradually dyed a rouge hue, and the sea seemed to be soaked in color.
Pei Qingjian watched quietly as the sun finally peeked out from behind the clouds, like a maiden half-hiding behind a pipa.
It seemed to curiously observe the world. And only after that did it boldly emerge, bringing with it vast daylight and brilliant霞光, turning the blue sky into a riot of colors.
Pei Qingjian stared without blinking, then could not help but turn to Lin Xingchen and say, “It’s so beautiful.”
His face was filled with unmistakable joy, glowing in the sunrise, becoming the most lively brightness of all.
“Mm,” Lin Xingchen replied.
Watching him, Lin Xingchen vaguely felt that this sunrise was somehow more beautiful than the one he had seen before.
After watching the sunrise, they returned to the hotel to catch up on sleep.
Still immersed in the excitement, Pei Qingjian tossed and turned for quite a while before finally falling asleep.
When he woke again, it was already noon.
They went out for a local specialty lunch, then returned to the beach for more activities.
For nine straight days, Pei Qingjian had the time of his life. On the last day, they took one more photo together before reluctantly heading to the airport to return home.
At that point, there were only two days left before the New Year back home.
The moment they landed, they were greeted by a strong festive atmosphere.
Small red lanterns hung from trees along the roads. Festive songs like “Wishing You Prosperity” played along the streets. People carried newly bought holiday goods, and roadside vendors sold couplets and “Fu” characters.
The New Year was coming—another year beginning.
Suddenly, Lin Xingchen thought of something: how would Pei Qingjian spend the holiday?
“Are you going home for New Year?” he asked.
Pei Qingjian shook his head. He had no intention of joining the He family’s gathering.
Lin Xingchen had expected that.
But if he did not go home, then he would be alone at their place… That would probably feel lonely.
A sudden impulse rose in him. “How about you come home with me? We can celebrate New Year together.”
Pei Qingjian turned to him in surprise.
Lin Xingchen nodded, affirming his suggestion. “You’ll just be bored alone anyway. Might as well spend it with me.”
“That… doesn’t seem appropriate,” Pei Qingjian said hesitantly. Would his family be okay with it?
“What’s inappropriate about it?” Lin Xingchen coaxed. “My uncle even invited you to his birthday before—you just couldn’t come because you were filming.”
Pei Qingjian hesitated. “But…”
“There’s no ‘but.’ Before, when Shao Kang couldn’t go home for New Year, he came to my place. We’ll just say you’re my friend.”
Hearing that precedent, Pei Qingjian finally nodded. “Then you should ask your uncle and aunt first, see if it’s convenient.”
Lin Xingchen felt there would not be any problem.
After getting home, he called Wen Yuan about it.
Wen Yuan was delighted—his nephew was finally bringing his partner home to meet the family!
And during New Year, no less!
“Of course,” Wen Yuan agreed immediately. “But for Xiao Pei, should we prepare a guest room for him, or will the two of you stay in your room and chat?”
Lin Xingchen: …
He struggled symbolically for about two seconds before answering, “No need to trouble Aunt with another room. That’s too much work. He can just stay in my room.”
After saying it, he felt a bit guilty and quickly added, “He might feel awkward staying alone in our house. If I stay with him, he’ll feel more at ease.”
Wen Yuan pretended not to notice anything and nodded cooperatively. “Mm, that makes sense.”
“Then we’ll come back together in a couple of days.”
“Alright,” Wen Yuan said with a smile.
Author’s Note:
Uncle (overjoyed): Finally, I’m the only one left who hasn’t met Xiao Pei!
Shao Kang: ??? Why don’t you mention that I begged to be brought home back then?! And we stayed in separate rooms! Unlike Xiao Pei—sharing a room, huh. “Friends”? Sure. Friends.
“President Lin: Shut up!”
President Lin clapped a hand over Shao Kang’s mouth.