Chapter 50
On the weekend, Fu Yu rarelу suggested going out for a date, and Xiao Yi naturally agreed with joy. Fu Yu didn’t mention their destination and simply sat in the passenger seat directing the route. Xiao Yi didn’t think much of it at first, but as they drove further, the route became more and more familiar. It wasn’t until they arrived at their destination, looking at the high school gate from his memory, that he realized.
“Are you bringing me here to relive our school days?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’ve always wanted to come back here with you,” Fu Yu replied.
Xiao Yi laughed, “How about I buy the school, and we can live here, pretending to be high school students every day.”
Fu Yu frowned, “That’s nonsense.”
“No, it’s not. There’s nothing I can’t do if I put my mind to it,” Xiao Yi boasted. “But seriously, after all these years, it hasn’t changed at all. They haven’t even renovated. The gate is even chipping.”
Not only had the school remained the same, but the gatekeeper at the school entrance hadn’t changed either. He stopped Xiao Yi as soon as he saw him. “Hey, what trouble are you causing this time?”
Xiao Yi was a bit surprised, “You still remember me?”
“Of course! Other kids used to sneak in through the back door when they were late, but you climbed over the front gate. I’ve been watching the gate at this school for so many years, and you were the worst!” the gatekeeper grumbled.
Fu Yu chuckled and said, “He’s changed now and will apologize to you, right?” He gave Xiao Yi a look that said, “Come on, be polite,” and Xiao Yi had to bow his head and mutter, “Sir, I was immature back then. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”
The gatekeeper snorted, “Fine. You apologized well, so I won’t hold a grudge. You can go in.” With that, he let them through.
The campus was quiet and spacious on the weekend, with only a few students left on the basketball court, working up a sweat and releasing their boundless youthful energy.
“I remember you used to come and watch me play basketball,” Xiao Yi said with a smile. “Is that when you first noticed my handsome charm?”
Fu Yu thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth, “The teacher was afraid you’d cause trouble, so he asked me to keep an eye on you.”
“…”
“But you were really good at basketball,” Fu Yu added, easing Xiao Yi’s frustration.
“Although not as good as my cousin.”
“…”
Xiao Yi couldn’t hold back anymore. “Your cousin, that little guy? He probably can’t even reach my basketball!”
Fu Yu retorted, “It’s been five or six years. He’s about the same height as you now. He just graduated from high school, and he might even be taller than you in the future.”
Xiao Yi was not pleased with this response. “He won’t grow taller in college. You should invite him out one day, and we’ll see who’s better!”
“You’ve already met him, and you almost had a fight. He even took your call for me, remember?”
Xiao Yi suddenly remembered, and said in astonishment, “That was your cousin?” It did seem like he was a tall and strapping young man… Realizing he had been jealous of the guy earlier, he quickly changed the subject and didn’t bring up his own history.
As they walked around, they arrived at the teaching building. The interior had been renovated, but the classrooms’ locations and layouts hadn’t changed much. It was easy for them to find the classroom they had shared once.
Sitting in their familiar neighboring seats, looking at the changes in the classroom, both of them couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. The photo wall displayed youthful and naive faces, and their photos had once been on it too. However, they had now grown out of their youth, and there was no turning back.
Xiao Yi leaned on the desk and looked at Fu Yu with a roguish grin. “Fu classmates, what was your first impression of me?”
Fu Yu, more serious and composed, thought about it and said, “A bit impulsive, immature, and fragile…”
“Okay, okay, stop talking!” Xiao Yi covered his mouth. “I know I had a bad image back then.”
Fu Yu held his hand and pulled it down, then added, “But later, I slowly realized that you’re actually kind and gentle, a trustworthy friend.”
Xiao Yi’s heart softened instantly, and he teased, “Just a friend? What am I to you now?”
Fu Yu lowered his gaze for a few seconds, then raised his eyes to look at Xiao Yi, his eyes soft and warm. “You’re my… lover.”
Xiao Yi’s smile froze for a moment. He had only intended to coax Fu Yu into using terms like “boyfriend,” but the answer he received was far more precious and sincere than he had imagined.
Before he could react, Fu Yu took out a delicate little box from his pocket and opened it in front of him. Inside were two men’s rings with small diamonds, reflecting sparkling light in the sunlight.
This was a surprise that Fu Yu had prepared in collaboration with Zhou Ying, personally designing and having it made. Despite all the complications and misunderstandings that had arisen between them, now that they had resolved everything, he felt safe enough to present it.
Fu Yu took Xiao Yi’s left hand and placed a larger ring on his middle finger, a perfect fit. He bent down slightly, planting a solemn kiss on the ring and then looked at Xiao Yi.
“Will you be my lover forever?” he asked.
Xiao Yi raised one hand to cover his eyes, then dropped it, repeating the gesture several times before finally finding his voice. “Are you… proposing to me?”
Fu Yu nodded with a “yes.”
“I can’t believe you beat me to it. I’m so jealous!” Xiao Yi said, even though his mouth was already beaming with an infectious smile that he couldn’t hide.
Fu Yu chuckled. “This is an engagement ring. You can say it when we’re really getting married.”
Xiao Yi took Fu Yu’s hand and placed the other ring on his finger at the same spot, gazing at it for a long time. He felt a warmth in his eyes, quickly embracing Fu Yu to hide his momentary vulnerability.
They started from this place, missed each other, reconnected, and went through so many bumpy roads from knowing to hating, and now to loving. In the end, they came back to where they started.
But now, he could embrace the person in his arms with all his heart because he knew that the warmth would be returned.
Time had passed, and they had journeyed through changing circumstances, but they were lucky not to have lost each other along the way.
A gentle breeze rustled the trees outside the classroom, casting dappled light and shadow on the two of them.
Fu Yu looked at Xiao Yi with clear, bright eyes and whispered, “You haven’t answered me yet. Will you be my lover forever?”
“Okay,” Xiao Yi replied, lowering his head to kiss Fu Yu’s brows.
“I will love you forever.”
-The End-
