43

The moment he stepped through the door, Ji Su went straight back to the bedroom, unzipped his suitcase, and began hanging his clothes back into the wardrobe.

Gu Zhao leaned against the doorframe, watching him put his things away.

After a while, with most of the packing sorted, Ji Su suddenly noticed that the pajamas draped over the head of the bed seemed to have vanished.

Those pajamas had been prepared for him by Gu Zhao, so he had never intended to take them along in the first place.

Gu Zhao opened his mouth. 'What are you looking for?'

'My pajamas.' Ji Su turned in a slow circle. 'I'm sure I left them right at the head of the bed yesterday — how did they disappear...'

Gu Zhao's expression did not so much as flicker. 'I took them to wash.'

Ji Su frowned, puzzled. 'When?'

'Last night. I threw them in with mine while I was at it.' Gu Zhao straightened up from the doorframe. 'What do you want for lunch?'

Distracted by the change of subject, Ji Su forgot to press the matter of the pajamas. 'Anything's fine. Whatever you cook, I'll like it.'

'Oh?'

Ji Su nodded. 'Really.'

Gu Zhao turned to head out. 'Go play for a bit. I'll call you when lunch is ready.'

After lunch, Ji Su settled onto the sofa and began to think about what he ought to do with the rest of the summer.

He could certainly keep taking on the online commissions, but there were still long stretches of empty time left over, and he did not want to let himself grow idle.

After turning the matter over and over in his mind, Ji Su decided to look online for a part-time tutoring job.

Gu Zhao came over with a cup of warm water and held it out to him. 'What are you looking at?'

'Thanks.' Ji Su took the cup. 'I'm checking whether anyone online is hiring university students as tutors.'

Students from A University were, after all, very much in demand on the private-tutoring market.

Gu Zhao sat down beside him and asked, offhandedly, 'Short on money?'

'No, I just thought — being idle all summer is still being idle.' Ji Su paused for a beat, and his voice dropped a little. 'All right, honestly, I want to save up.'

Gu Zhao asked again. 'Save up for what?'

Ji Su answered, a touch embarrassed. 'To buy a house, eventually.'

Something shifted in the space between Gu Zhao's brows. 'You want to buy a house?'

'That's right. When the time comes, I can design the renovation myself.' Ji Su smiled as he answered. 'It doesn't have to be big — just a home that belongs to me, completely, from start to finish.'

Gu Zhao narrowed his dark eyes, faintly, as though turning something over in his mind. 'I see.'

Ji Su had not quite caught it. 'What did you say?'

'Nothing.' Gu Zhao stretched out a pair of long legs. 'If you want to tutor, why not tutor me?'

'Huh?' Ji Su leaned back, a tactical retreat. 'What could I possibly teach you?'

'Plenty.' Gu Zhao laughed, once. 'For instance — teach me how to catch up to you.'

Ji Su let his gaze slide away. 'I'm being serious, you know.'

Gu Zhao replied, 'So am I.'

Ji Su said nothing more. His lashes lowered, and he went on scrolling through his phone.

Gu Zhao suggested, 'How about this, then — teach me to play the Piano?'

'That won't work. I can't teach you.' Ji Su shook his head. 'I'm not a music student. I can't go around leading people astray.'

Gu Zhao was silent for a few seconds, then, without warning, switched the subject. 'Is there somewhere you've always wanted to go?'

Ji Su's fingertip stilled. 'Yes. I've always wanted to see the sea.'

'Good.' Gu Zhao answered, and opened his phone screen.

When no follow-up came, Ji Su went back to browsing his part-time listings.

After a while, Gu Zhao spoke again. 'I've booked the tickets for tomorrow morning. We leave tomorrow to see the sea.'

It took several seconds for Ji Su to register what he had heard. He repeated it, incredulous. 'We're going to see the sea tomorrow?'

'Mm.' Gu Zhao lifted his eyelids. 'The summer's only just begun. There's no harm in looking for a tutoring job after we've seen the sea.'

Ji Su's feelings were a tangle. On the one hand, he did not want to dampen the other's enthusiasm; on the other, he truly did want, at least once, to see the real sea.

After weighing it over, he silently opened WeChat. 'How much were the tickets? I'll transfer it to you.'

'Keeping such careful accounts with me?' Gu Zhao reached up and pinched his cheek.

The flesh of Ji Su's cheek was caught between Gu Zhao's fingers, and his full, rosy lips pushed out into a small pout — the picture of someone asking, wordlessly, to be kissed.

Gu Zhao's gaze deepened. 'If pursuing someone means giving nothing at all, what kind of pursuit is that?'

Ji Su pushed his hand away and muttered, very softly, 'Could you stop keeping that word on your lips all the time?'

Gu Zhao's smile was half-real, half-not. 'Which word?'

The tips of Ji Su's ears flushed red. 'That one...'

'You mean pursuit?' Gu Zhao leaned in, closer. 'If you accept my pursuit, I won't keep it on my lips.'

Ji Su slipped sideways, rising from the sofa. 'I'm going back to the room for a nap.'

Gu Zhao watched his retreating back, and laughed once, the meaning of it impossible to read.

*

Early the next morning, Ji Su packed two changes of clothes into his backpack.

Before they set out, Gu Zhao had already prepared breakfast; once they had eaten, they took a taxi to the airport.

Ji Su had not slept well the night before, so once he was on the plane he put on an eye mask and leaned back against the seat to catch up on rest.

Gu Zhao sat in the seat beside him and, almost absently, picked up a book to read.

His looks and his bearing were the sort that drew the eye without effort, and passengers in front, behind, and to either side kept stealing glances at him.

At last, a beauty with long, straight black hair could not help herself; she walked boldly over and asked, in a low voice, 'Hello — are you also going to—'

Gu Zhao lifted his gaze and, expressionless, made a small gesture for silence.

Only then did the young woman notice that someone was still sleeping beside him — and even with an eye mask covering half his face, the line of his jaw and the shape of his lips made it plain that he was a strikingly beautiful young man.

The young woman smiled, embarrassed, and mouthed back, 'I'm so sorry to have bothered you.'

Once she had gone, Gu Zhao lifted one hand and gently took hold of Ji Su's, which lay resting on his stomach.

And indeed, from then until the plane was nearly ready to land, no one else came over to strike up a conversation.

When Ji Su woke and tried to raise his hand to take off the eye mask, he discovered that one of his hands was being held.

Gu Zhao reached over and removed the eye mask for him. 'Did you sleep well?'

Ji Su blinked, dazed, at the handsome face so close to his own, then looked down at their hands, still clasped together.

Gu Zhao released his hand as though nothing had happened. 'Woke at just the right moment — we're about to land.'

Ji Su: '...'

Once they had reached their destination, the two of them took a taxi to the Hotel they had booked in advance.

The Hotel stood not far from the sea — a standalone, two-storey Villa, spacious, and entirely private.

After setting down their luggage, they ate a little something simple; Ji Su changed into a pair of shorts and ran impatiently toward the water.

The azure sea stretched on without end, sea and sky melting into a single unbroken wash of blue.

The Beach was dotted with visitors — young couples, families of three, and others lying flat on the sand, soaking up the sun.

Ji Su was like a curious child, padding barefoot over the fine, sun-warmed sand, letting each incoming wave wash over his pale, jade-white insteps.

Gu Zhao, walking a step behind, called out to him. 'Ji Su. Come here.'

Ji Su turned back. 'What is it?'

'Put on a pair of sunglasses — keep the light off your face.' Gu Zhao reached up and settled a pair of shades over that snow-white face.

'Thanks.' Ji Su smiled at him, brows and eyes curving, and went running after the waves again.

Gu Zhao had never seen him so openly playful; the corner of his usually cold, set mouth lifted of its own accord, and his gaze stayed fixed on that slender, upright back.

And as he watched, his gaze drifted, of its own weight, down to those straight, slender calves.

Ji Su played on the Beach for the better part of the afternoon, and only made his way back to the Hotel at dusk.

After a shower and a change of clothes, the two of them set out for dinner.

Ji Su had assumed they were going to some ordinary restaurant; he had not expected Gu Zhao to take him to an open-air restaurant right on the Beach.

A few steps from the sea, the table was dressed in a white lace cloth, with candlesticks and fresh flowers at either end; the flickering candlelight mirrored the dim sky, romantic and warm.

Ji Su stared a little. 'Isn't this... a bit too formal?'

'No.' Gu Zhao pulled out a white chair for him. 'Sit.'

Though the sea called for seafood, Ji Su was allergic, so they ordered other dishes instead.

Gu Zhao opened a bottle of red wine as well, but Ji Su — having learned from the previous two times — was unwilling to fall into the same pit a third time, and only sipped at a single glass, small mouthful by small mouthful.

When they were nearly finished eating, Ji Su lifted his gaze and noticed a server across the way pushing a delicate, beautiful three-tiered cake toward them.

He glanced once, then looked away, assuming it was for some other guest's birthday.

But the server stopped at his side, beaming, and said, 'Mr. Ji Su, happy birthday!'

Ji Su's mind went blank for a few seconds; on instinct, he turned his face toward Gu Zhao across the table.

Gu Zhao asked, 'You don't remember what day it is?'

Only at that moment did Ji Su recall — today was his birthday.

He looked again at the cake: atop it sat a small crystal figurine, and beside it, a miniature Villa.

Gu Zhao rose, walked to the cake, picked up the figurine and the model and set them on the table, then lit the candles with a lighter.

Twenty candles in all; he lit them one by one with patience.

When Gu Zhao lifted his gaze again, the scattered candlelight reflected in those dark, deep eyes, like stars strewn across the whole sky. 'Ji Su — happy twentieth birthday.'

Ji Su felt his eyes sting suddenly, the tip of his nose too; he could only lower his head in haste, trying to hide the emotion that had come over him without warning.

'Make a wish, little birthday star.' Gu Zhao's voice was low and magnetic, and in the sea breeze it carried a certain tender, lingering warmth.

'Okay...' Ji Su closed his eyes, hands pressed together before his chest.

But his thoughts were in too much disarray, and he wasn't familiar with the ritual; for a moment he didn't know what to wish for.

In the end, he thought to himself: may he and Gu Zhao both become the people they want to be, and do the things they love.

No matter whether, in the future, they would always be together.

Ji Su opened his eyes and blew out the candles in one breath.

Gu Zhao handed him the cake knife. 'Here — cut the cake.'

Ji Su cut a large piece and held it out to Gu Zhao. 'The first piece is for you.'

Gu Zhao did not refuse; he took the cake and tasted a bite.

Ji Su cut a piece for himself as well; the cream in his mouth was sweet and soft, like sweet little clouds.

'Ji Su.' Gu Zhao's voice sounded at his ear. He lifted his face, and something cool touched the tip of his nose — a dab of white cream.

Gu Zhao smiled at him, then extended the tip of his tongue and licked the remaining cream from his fingertip.

Ji Su's face flushed for no reason; he lowered his lashes, not daring to meet his gaze.

Gu Zhao turned to the server. 'For the rest of the cake, please share it with the guests at the other tables.'

The server assented and pushed the cake away to ask the other tables.

The guests all accepted the Birthday Cake gladly, and from afar wished Ji Su a happy birthday one after another.

Ji Su smiled back. This was the first time on his birthday he had received so many people's well-wishes — though apart from Gu Zhao, the rest were all strangers he had never met.

He felt as if the heart in his chest had been drenched in hot syrup — sweet, scalding, soft — and when tugged, it stretched in sweet, sticky threads.

Gu Zhao sat back across from him and pushed the Villa model toward him.

Ji Su came back to himself and picked up the model, examining it closely.

Gu Zhao made a promise. 'Whenever you've decided, you can bring this model and exchange it with me for the real thing.'

'Really?' Ji Su joked. 'You're going to give me a Villa?'

Gu Zhao stared at him. 'Ji Su, you know what I mean.'

Ji Su's fingers tightened around the model; his raven-feather lashes trembled.

Fortunately, Gu Zhao did not press further; he poured him another glass of red wine and clinked glasses with him. 'Happy birthday. I hope that for every birthday of yours to come, I can be there to spend it with you.'

Ji Su pressed his lips together. 'Thank you really, Gu Zhao.'

He tilted his face back and drained the red wine in his glass in one go.

*

After dinner, Ji Su walked back to the Hotel with the model cradled in both arms, as though holding something most precious.

Back at the Hotel, he set the model in place and went to wash up.

When he came out of the shower, the alcohol in his body had also begun to rise.

Wanting to clear his head, Ji Su opened the floor-to-ceiling window and lay on the sofa by it, letting the sea breeze wash over him.

A moment later, Gu Zhao came out of the shower as well.

He walked to the window, his gaze settling on the figure on the sofa.

Whether from the shower or the wine, his usually pale skin had taken on a faint pink flush; the neckline revealed a wide expanse of skin, white shot through with pink.

Two long, pale legs rested on the sofa; the silky hem of his sleep pants had ridden up, revealing a sliver of tender upper thigh, with a small red mole at the side half-hidden, half-revealed.

Gu Zhao's Adam's apple moved slightly; he lowered his voice. 'Are you asleep?'

Ji Su lifted his long lashes, his tone carrying that particular languor wine brings. 'Not yet. I'm catching the breeze.'

Gu Zhao sat at the foot of the bed, hands braced behind him. 'Did you have a good day today?'

'Happy. Especially happy.' Ji Su lowered his legs and sat up properly. 'It's the happiest birthday I've had since... since my parents got divorced.'

Back then, when his parents' love for each other was still strong, he had been a child who knew their affection; whatever gift he wanted for his birthday, he could have, and his parents would even throw him a birthday banquet.

But after he turned six, no one had ever specially celebrated a birthday for him again.

Gu Zhao smiled. 'As long as you're happy, that's enough.'

Ji Su's gaze drifted to the window. 'Gu Zhao, do you know why I've always wanted to come see the sea?'

Gu Zhao answered, 'Why?'

'Because the summer before my parents divorced, they'd promised to bring me to the sea.' Ji Su looked at the moonlit water, where light shimmered and danced like gold, and sank into a memory long past. 'After that, once, my dad promised Qin Auntie he'd take us on a seaside holiday together, but it happened that I was sick at the time, so that trip never happened either.'

A person is forever imprisoned by the one thing they could not have in youth.

He knew he carried that wound; it was the thing he had long feared most.

Gu Zhao walked to him and bent down. 'Then — did the sea you saw today live up to what you'd hoped for?'

'More than that.' Ji Su lifted his face, a bright, radiant smile breaking across it. 'From now on, whenever I think of the sea, I won't think of the childhood disappointment anymore — I'll only remember everything that happened today.'

Everything beautiful, moving, worthy of longing for.

The sea breeze was cool; the waves sounded, one after another.

Gu Zhao gazed at him deeply, and asked in a low voice, 'May I kiss you?'

Ji Su was already a little dizzy, and was further made flushed and breathless by the hooks in those dark eyes; without thinking, he licked his upper lip.

Gu Zhao leaned in and kissed those water-red lips.

A shiver ran down Ji Su's spine; almost on instinct, he obediently parted his lips.

Gu Zhao's breath caught; he leaned forward in one motion, pressing Ji Su into the sofa as he kissed him.

After several times, he seemed to have mastered the technique of kissing, and no longer kissed so fiercely.

Only when Ji Su, gasping for breath, tried to push him away, would he instead kiss deeper — until his tongue nearly reached the back of his throat — before pulling back just enough to let him breathe a little fresh air.

A few seconds later, he kissed him again.

Such a tender, tormenting kiss — too stirring — and after several broken, intermittent rounds, neither of them was quite right anymore.

Ji Su's face was flushed, his gaze unfocused, his red lips wet; his whole body had gone soft in Gu Zhao's arms like a pool of water, except for—

Gu Zhao licked the dampness from the corner of his lips, his breathing heavy, his voice hoarse. 'Happy birthday. There's one more gift for you tonight.'

Ji Su's reactions had grown very slow. 'What...'

Gu Zhao laughed softly, and slowly leaned down.

The kiss-dazed brain cleared by a fraction; Ji Su was both startled and embarrassed. 'Gu Zhao... no, mm—'

A burning large hand gripped his waist; the other hand held his slightly fleshy thigh.

Through the thin fabric of his sleepwear, Ji Su was burned by the heat of that palm, his whole body trembling.