Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 193: Extra — Please Come In

Three major events happened this summer.

Qian Ai signed with a company, transforming from an unknown streamer to a reserve Internet celebrity broadcaster with backing and publicity. Actually, it might not even be appropriate to call him “reserve” anymore. Right after signing the contract, the company launched a marketing campaign for him, allowing him to taste a bit of fame after years in the industry. He is now working even harder to turn this small flame of success into a roaring fire.

The latter two events are relatively straightforward: Kuang Jinxin graduated, and Chi Yingxue got his driver’s license.

“Brother, the car keys.” On a rare leisurely weekend without social obligations, President Chi was enjoying some downtime in his home’s second-floor study when his younger brother came looking for him.

Chi Zhuolin was initially surprised. It was only ten in the morning, and Chi Yingxue, who usually wakes up in the afternoon, appeared refreshed and obviously ready to go out. Upon hearing his brother’s request, his brow furrowed. “You just got your driver’s license yesterday, and you want to drive today?”

Chi Yingxue looked at him incredulously. “Isn’t that the whole point of getting a license?”

Chi Zhuolin placed his iPad on the desk, took off his Bluetooth headset, and said earnestly, “What I mean is, you’ve just got your license. It’s best to choose a car you’d like to drive and get familiar with it over a few days before hitting the road for real. The stuff you learn for the driving test and actual road conditions are quite different.”

“Never mind, I’ll just rent a car.” Renting a car seemed less hassle than taking one from their home garage.

As Chi Yingxue was about to leave, Chi Zhuolin, having no other choice, quickly changed his tone. “Alright, which one do you want to drive?”

Chi Yingxue stretched out his hand. “The G500.”

Not a sports car, but a Mercedes G-Class convertible SUV, which was a bit unexpected for Chi Zhuolin, who thought his brother was itching for a speed thrill.

Suppressing his surprise, he called the driver to bring the car out.

Soon after, the driver came upstairs to knock on the study door, delivering the keys.

Chi Yingxue took the keys, casually thanked him, and then naturally headed out.

These days, Chi Zhuolin occasionally hears a word of thanks, which has somewhat boosted his immunity, but not enough to prevent a burst of happiness at this moment. Just as this bloom of joy blossomed, his brother was about to vanish from the doorway. President Chi hurriedly asked, “Where exactly are you going?”

Without turning back, Chi Yingxue waved his hand and cheerfully replied, “For a drive.”

After sitting in the SUV, Chi Yingxue belatedly realized that the iPad Chi Zhuolin had placed on the desk had its screen on, playing something. He had been too focused on getting the keys to notice. Now, thinking back, the interface seemed familiar and flashy, and the silhouette on the screen was vaguely recognizable.

But that was as far as the recognition went. With limited peripheral vision and attention elsewhere, remembering even this much was good.

“Still wearing headphones in your own study,” Chi Yingxue muttered as he started the car, attributing his failure to recognize to Chi Zhuolin not playing the sound out loud.

From a second-floor window, Chi Zhuolin watched the SUV drive off, followed by an inconspicuous Toyota, which reassured him. He returned to his chair, put the Bluetooth headset back on, picked up the iPad, and fell into serious contemplation about what to have for lunch.

When Chi Yingxue arrived at Kuang Jinxin’s school, it was just past eleven. External vehicles weren’t allowed on campus, so he parked and strolled leisurely into the campus.

The sun was scorching, but the campus was shaded by lush trees. Walking under the shade, Chi Yingxue passed by students without realizing the attention he was drawing, only focused on what Kuang Jinxin’s expression would be upon seeing him.

Crossing the shaded path to a grassy square, he saw people in graduation gowns posing for photos in various formations, enthusiastically taking photos.

Oh, it’s graduation season.

Chi Yingxue was unfazed and continued forward, stopping abruptly after taking a step.

Xiao Sijin was also a senior.

He looked back at the wide lawn, his gaze scanning the crowd in graduation gowns like a facial recognition system, finally resting on a group near a sculpture.

The sculpture was abstract and incomprehensible to Chi Yingxue, who found the scene under it of several young men in gowns, each holding a cup of tea, creating quite a Buddhist-esque scene.

“One, two, three.” The photographer clicked the shutter.

The group, dignified a moment before, burst into laughter, lively and vibrant like the bright summer.

A boy jumped onto Xiao Sijin’s back, only to be playfully tossed off, leading to a retaliatory scuffle. The others joined in, turning the scene into a playful mess, with gowns getting tangled together.

Chi Yingxue approached the nearest tree, squinting against the bright sunlight.

Kuang Jinxin didn’t discover Chi Yingxue until much later. By that time, they had almost finished shooting and were quite tired, preparing to go to the cafeteria together. When he looked up, he saw someone under the tree at first glance.

He was stunned and hurriedly asked his classmates to go ahead without him, and he rushed over in one breath. The joy was still on his face, but there was an additional kind of happiness in his eyes.

“When did you get here?” His face was flushed and running too fast made him a bit out of breath. “Why didn’t you say something in advance?”

Not long after leaving the Owl, he had taken his friends around his school and enjoyed a meal at the cafeteria. Kuang Jinxin hadn’t expected Chi Yingxue to visit again.

“Do I need to announce my visit in advance?” Chi Yingxue leaned against the tree, showing no intention of moving.

“Why are you making such fuss?” Kuang Jinxin, in high spirits, spoke his mind. “I was just worried you’d miss me if I wasn’t at school today. Besides, you saw me, why didn’t you call out?”

“I thought you’d see me soon enough,” Chi Yingxue replied confidently.

Kuang Jinxin couldn’t help but laugh and reached out to pull his arms. “Come on, let’s go for some sweet and sour pork ribs.”

Last time, Chi Yingxue ate two portions in a row and seriously considered poaching the cafeteria auntie.

Chi Yingxue looked down at his arm being grabbed by Kuang Jinxin, gave up resisting, and followed him.

Near the end of their meal, Chi Yingxue mentioned, “I got my driver’s license. I’ll take you for a drive.”

Kuang Jinxin was stunned. His chopsticks paused in mid-air as he said, “Ah?”

Chi Yingxue frowned, feeling slighted. “What’s with that reaction?”

“It’s not that,” Kuang Jinxin hurried to clarify, misunderstanding the concern. “I’m not against going for a drive with you, but we have a class gathering this afternoon for a farewell meal.”

“Why have a gathering if you’re already parting ways?” Chi Yingxue glanced at their empty plates, reminding, “You just finished eating.”

“We’re meeting in the afternoon for some singing and board games, then dinner in the evening,” Kuang Jinxin patiently explained the schedule. As for why the group had to have a farewell gathering, Kuang Jinxin doubted whether Chi Yingxue would understand.

As more people gathered in the cafeteria, the noise grew louder.

Chi Yingxue said, “Then go to your gathering,” then walked away.

On his plate, there were still two pieces of ribs left—the two largest pieces of the portion. He liked to save the best for last, something Kuang Jinxin remembered well.

Throughout the afternoon, Kuang Jinxin was somewhat distracted, until the evening when the whole class gathered for a meal and the atmosphere of parting became real. It was then that he snapped back to reality, feeling a surge of reluctance as memories of the past four years welled up in his heart.

The dinner lasted until after ten o’clock, when the male class monitor got so drunk that he ended up crying and hugging anyone he saw. The other boys quickly protected the girls, dragging the class monitor into a taxi.

Once the class monitor left, the gathering dispersed. Everyone gathered in twos and threes at the roadside to hail cabs. A black Mercedes G500 stopped across the street, honking a long, deliberately drawn-out honk.

“Wow, that car is cool,” a male classmate beside him said, eyes gleaming. “Hey, he seems to be looking at us.”

The convertible’s top was down, and the driver, with one hand on the steering wheel, turned and looked steadily their way. His features weren’t clear in the night, but his gaze pierced the darkness, coming straight at them.

Kuang Jinxin swallowed unconsciously.

He made an excuse that he still had things to do, intentionally waiting until all his classmates had left before turning back to the restaurant.

Chi Yingxue narrowed his eyes, his irritation building to its peak after simmering all evening.

Kuang Jinxin came out again, holding something in his hand. Only when there were no cars passing by did he dash across the street to the car. “You didn’t wait here all evening, did you?”

“And all afternoon.” Chi Yingxue has never been one for “modesty”.

“You couldn’t have sent me a message?”

“Weren’t you going to have what’s it called,” Chi Yingxue paused, thinking, “Oh, right, the farewell dinner.”

So, he waited in silence, from outside the KTV to outside the restaurant.

“Are you stupid?” Kuang Jinxin was both angry and sympathetic, shoving something into his hand.

A bottle of orange-flavored soda, just taken out of the fridge, cold and refreshing, instantly dispelling the sultry heat and irritation of a summer night.

Chi Yingxue rolled the soda bottle across his face, soaking up the coolness. “Get in.”

Saying it was a drive, they really went for a drive. The car never stopped once they started, driving all the way past the Sixth Ring Road. Eventually, Kuang Jinxin no longer recognized the area. Eventually, it wasn’t even a road, but a dirt track surrounded by wasteland. The desolation made Kuang Jinxin anxious, fearing Chi Yingxue was truly angry and planning to leave him in a deserted place, unable to return to school.

At half-past midnight, thankfully, the car stopped.

Kuang Jinxin’s face was numb from the wind. He thought he’d never want to go for a drive again for the rest of his life.

The car stopped in a vast field, which had unknown grasses growing, emitting a special plant smell that was light and simple yet pleasant.

Chi Yingxue turned off the car.

The night sky in the suburbs was clear, with each star visible.

“How is it here?” Leaning back in the seat, Chi Yingxue glanced over, moonlight highlighting his beautiful profile.

“Open, vast,” and somewhat lonely. Kuang Jinxin didn’t say the last part out loud. Looking around, he made a new discovery. “There are no mosquitoes here.”

In the summer wilderness, it was practically a base for mosquitoes, but here there was only the distant sound of cicadas and close-up tranquility.

“Yan Wang says it’s because the grass here repels mosquitoes.” Chi Yingxue placed his hands behind his head, gazing at the night sky.

Kuang Jinxin stared at him blankly. “Yan Wang?”

The wind blew across the field, rustling the grass.

“Yan Wang likes to come here.”

Kuang Jinxin’s seat was reclined to the same angle, and he lay back, feeling somewhat uneasy. Finally, he turned to face Chi Yingxue, leaning against the back of the seat.

Chi Yingxue was still looking at the sky. “I used to wake up and find myself lying here.”

Kuang Jinxin was puzzled. “Aren’t you supposed to know everything Yan Wang does? It shouldn’t be a surprise.”

“I would know if I wanted to, but most of the time, I’m not really interested in his affairs.”

“But this, I’ve always been curious about.”

“What?”

“Why he likes coming here.”

Kuang Jinxin paused before asking, “Do you like it here?”

“I don’t.” Chi Yingxue answered quickly and with certainty.

His nose and jawline created a beautiful profile, which looked good no matter whether he was being unreasonable or petulant.

“You’re not telling the truth.” Kuang Jinxin bluntly pointed out.

Chi Yingxue turned and raised his eyebrows.

Kuang Jinxin raised his eyebrows too, deliberately meeting his gaze. “If I had just gotten my driver’s license, I’d definitely go to my favorite place first.”

Their eyes locked, and suddenly the air was still. Even the sound of the cicadas seemed to disappear.

Chi Yingxue leaned in, completely flattening the backrest, pressing down on him, and kissed him. He pinned him down firmly yet kissed with extreme caution, as if testing the boundaries of what wouldn’t be rejected.

Kuang Jinxin was a bit disoriented by the kiss, vaguely recalling the first time Chi Yingxue kissed him, which could hardly be considered a kiss but more like a unilateral stamp of possession, flaunted before competitors.

It was a slight sting.

Kuang Jinxin suddenly came back to reality, the one who bit his lip came back for more, gently licking the bitten spot. A slap followed by a sweet date.

Suddenly, that person stopped, propped up his upper body, and looked down at him with a hint of confusion and unease. “Why are you being so good today?”

Kuang Jinxin didn’t speak; he just looked at him, his eyes bright.

The simple plant smell filled the night air, as if the moonlight itself was tinged with it.

This was a place hidden deep within Chi Yingxue’s heart.

This was the first time he had opened that door, inviting him in, saying, “Please come in.”

At this moment, Kuang Jinxin thought, if Chi Yingxue was also willing to look into his heart, he would continue to be good.

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