A huge thanks to Katy for the Kofis. Enjoy the bonus chapters!

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Over the next two years, Lu Yi went to college, while Qin Zhou prepared for the college entrance exams. Though they weren’t exactly distant, they didn’t keep in touch very often either. 

Without exception, all of Qin Zhou’s college applications were for schools up north. It seemed as though he was subconsciously chasing after someone. Of course, no one could read his mind, and both the Qin and Lu families were exceptionally supportive of him. 

After all, having the two children together meant they could look out for each other. Indeed, two years later, Qin Zhou was admitted to a prestigious key university in the north, just as he’d hoped. It was located in the same university town as Lu Yi’s university. 

On the day he was to register at the school, Qin Zhou’s parents were too busy with work, so he had to go alone. The journey was long, but Qin Zhou didn’t want them to drive him. 

But Qin Zhou wasn’t exactly alone. After all, he had his childhood “big brother.”

After getting off the plane, Qin Zhou followed someone’s directions all the way to the airport exit. 

From a distance, a certain person in a flashy outfit was waving at him.

“Qin Zhou.”

Both he and the convertible sports car beside him were quite eye-catching. Qin Zhou walked over with his backpack slung over his shoulder. 

“You’re a real show-off.”

Lu Yi: “?”

“Well, that’s interesting. The day after tomorrow, I’m driving you to school in this car. Are you happy about that?”

Qin Zhou: “…No, I’m not.”

“Well, that makes me happy.” Lu Yi chuckled. “Get in. I’ll take you to where you’re staying.”

This caught Qin Zhou off guard. “I’m not staying at the school?”

“Why would you stay at school?” Lu Yi said matter-of-factly. “Of course you’re staying with me.”

“I haven’t heard of that.” Qin Zhou frowned.

“Well, now you have.” Qin Zhou’s frown deepened

.“Hey, why are you frowning? Is it such a hassle to stay with me?” Lu Yi snapped.

“Two rooms or one?” Qin Zhou asked. 

Lu Yi enunciated each word: “Two! Separate! Rooms!”

“Then let’s go.” 

As expected, he met Lu Yi’s glare. Qin Zhou smiled, got into the car, and fastened his seatbelt.

“I’ve quit that.”

“What?”

“The bad habit of sleeping while holding someone.” Lu Yi stood tall, chest puffed out. 

Qin Zhou paused, his dark eyes betraying no emotion as he simply replied, “Okay.”

……That evening, Qin Zhou watched the person who was slightly tipsy and kept burrowing into his arms, remaining silent for a long time.“Didn’t you say you’d quit?” Qin Zhou didn’t move, sitting on the sofa as he brushed the hair from his forehead.

“Mm…” Lu Yi nuzzled against his chest, mumbling indistinctly, as if in response.

“You seem pretty happy.” To have drunk this much.

No one answered, so Qin Zhou resignedly wrapped his arms around his waist.

It was strange; every time Lu Yi was in his arms, his chest would grow hot.

His palms couldn’t grasp that warmth; it felt as if it were all an illusion.

It was as if, even in his dreams, he felt the same way.

Laughter echoed from the TV—it seemed to be a particularly funny show—but Qin Zhou wasn’t paying any attention.

He held Lu Yi in his arms for a long time. 

Long enough for his arms to go a little numb, long enough for the person in his arms to seem to have sobered up a bit.

“Qin Zhou.”

“Mm.”

“How much longer until you turn eighteen…”

“Two months.”

“Oh.”

Lu Yi clung to his neck and whined, “When I’m eighteen, I’ll tell you a secret.”

Qin Zhou: “…What secret?”

“In two months… I’ll tell you then.” Lu Yi’s eyelids drooped; he probably didn’t even know what he was saying.

Qin Zhou wrapped his arms around his waist: “Can’t you tell me now?”

Lu Yi looked up, his eyes hazy, “Hm?”

“I know.” 

Lu Yi hung onto his neck, “I can’t right now…”

“Then you’ll sleep alone tonight.”

Lu Yi tilted his head, getting annoyed a beat too late, “I’m your older brother!”

Qin Zhou watched his lips move, his gaze growing deeper, “So what if you’re my older brother?”

“Your older brother sleeps with you—you can’t refuse…”

As he spoke, he tilted his head like a spoiled child, resting it on Qin Zhou’s shoulder.

Qin Zhou paused, then picked him up and walked toward the bedroom.

Something must be wrong with him. 

Otherwise, how could he have almost kissed him?

From his very first day on campus, Qin Zhou had been the center of attention.

Standing at 6’3”, he stood out wherever he went, not to mention his good looks. Especially on registration day, the sight of Qin Zhou and Lu Yi together was simply too eye-catching.

There were even students from the school photography club asking for Qin Zhou’s contact information.

Unfortunately, Qin Zhou didn’t live on campus.

Every day, he commuted to Lu Yi’s apartment outside the university town, living his college life quietly and steadily.

“Qin Zhou, you’re so hard to get a hold of. You can’t be too low-key—you still need to socialize,” a classmate reminded him. “Why don’t you come with us to the KTV later?”

“I have plans today. Sorry,” Qin Zhou politely declined.

It was true—two months into the new semester, today was Qin Zhou’s birthday.

He had plans.

After class, he quickly freshened up and headed straight to someplace.

The bar was located some distance from the university town. It lacked the usual bar’s raucous atmosphere and was more opulent and lavish. The place Lu Yi had chosen, fit for a young man in his early twenties.

As he led Qin Zhou toward a private room, Qin Zhou keenly noticed something.

The place was crowded, mostly with couples.

‌And… there were more men with men than anything else.

A cool, woody scent lingered in the hallway, but it couldn’t mask the undercurrent of flirtatious tension between the people.

“Mr. Qin, we’re here.” The waiter pushed open the private room door and gestured for him to enter.

Qin Zhou walked inside; Lu Yi was the only one there.

He was wearing his white shirt, his hair slightly tousled. Holding a glass of wine in his hand, he sat on the sofa in the dim light, sipping thoughtfully, as if deep in thought.

The waiter thoughtfully closed the private room door.

“Qin Zhou.” Lu Yi raised his glass and smiled at him.

Qin Zhou set down his shoulder bag and walked over to him.

Lu Yi picked up the expensive bottle of liquor, poured Qin Zhou a full glass with a gurgling sound, then held it out to him. “Congratulations on coming of age.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone throw someone a birthday party and end up getting completely wasted by theirself.” Qin Zhou took the glass, sipped it, set it down, and then set Lu Yi’s glass down as well.

Lu Yi flopped back onto the sofa: “I’m not drunk.”

His eyes were bright and clear, showing not a trace of intoxication.

“I’ve even got the birthday cake ready.” Lu Yi clapped his hands, and immediately, someone pushed a cake out from the inner room.

Qin Zhou’s head.

The two male waiters pushing the cake were dressed quite differently from the host at the entrance. Under the dim lighting, their outfits were practically revealing, with their abs even faintly visible.

Qin Zhou raised an eyebrow.

He knew Lu Yi had something big planned for today, but starting with male models was still beyond his expectations. 

“Happy birthday, Mr. Qin,” the two said.

Qin Zhou gave no response, turning to Lu Yi with a heavy look in his eyes.

“They can sing and dance,” Lu Yi said, sounding a bit guilty. “I paid them to liven things up—they’re the entertainment crew.”

“We don’t need that kind of service. You can leave now,” Qin Zhou said calmly.

The two male models froze for a moment, both instinctively glancing at Lu Yi.

“Just go out first,” Lu Yi said, sounding a bit irritated.

The two tiptoed out of the private room.

Qin Zhou picked up his glass and took a sip.

“What’s the matter? Don’t you like it?” Lu Yi stared intently at Qin Zhou. “You’re an adult now; you should have no inhibitions.”

Qin Zhou paused, then said, “Then call them over.”

Lu Yi: ?

“The one on the left looks pretty well-behaved.”

Clink.

The glass in Lu Yi’s hand fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.

He narrowed his eyes, glaring at Qin Zhou with displeasure. “They’re just here for atmosphere; they don’t provide any special services.”

Qin Zhou glanced at the shards on the floor, his expression unreadable, “Oh.”

The atmosphere was a bit tense.

But Lu Yi, who had smashed the cup, just curled up on the sofa and huffed, “He’s not well-behaved at all.”

Qin Zhou’s expression softened slightly. “Is it my birthday or not?”

“!”

Lu Yi jumped up again to grab the cake box from the cart.

Qin Zhou grabbed his waist. “Glass shards.”

The distance between them suddenly closed considerably.

Lu Yi’s body stiffened slightly. Dim light fell upon him, resting on his long, slightly trembling eyelashes.“You know what I came to tell you today,” Lu Yi said.

“You like men.”

Lu Yi: “That’s not it.”

“I like you,” he said. 

Qin Zhou’s hand around his waist froze.

“What’s wrong? Scared?” Lu Yi curved his lips in self-mockery.  “You didn’t act like this when you held me while we slept every night, little brother Qin Zhou.”

Qin Zhou raised an eyebrow. “Wasn’t it you who came running to my room every night?”

Lu Yi was speechless on the spot. The advantage of being childhood friends was that no matter how much Lu Yi tried to put on a front, it was useless. Qin Zhou knew him too well.

“Well, that’s great. My confession failed,” Lu Yi said, spreading his hands. No more pretending. “What do we do now that it’s failed?”

“I’ll drug you and lock you up. Then…” Lu Yi smiled, narrowing his eyes, leaving something unsaid, “…I’ll go grovel for forgiveness from my uncle and aunt.”

Qin Zhou scooped him up and plopped them onto the sofa. “That’s a crime.” 

Lu Yi’s throat tightened, and he felt a surge of irritation. How could Qin Zhou be so effortlessly smooth? 

Fuming, he raised an eyebrow. “You’re right. Then I’ll just have someone else do it.”

“No way.” Qin Zhou wrapped his arms around Lu Yi’s waist. “Where’s the drug?”

“What?”

Lu Yi froze for a second, but Qin Zhou had already pressed his lips against Lu Yi’s, mumbling, “If I take it myself, it doesn’t count as a crime.” 

Confession failed? No way. He liked his older brother. Ever since he first fell in love, a very, very long time ago. If he had to wait until he was eighteen to be his lover…Then he’d wait until he was eighteen.……The two of them stayed out all night. 

When he woke up, it was the next morning. Not only had he missed his morning classes, but he’d also missed the call from his parents wishing him a happy birthday.

“It’s over. I’m really going to get a beating this time.” Lu Yi rubbed his aching back, peered at Qin Zhou’s phone, and said with a wry smile. Qin Zhou: “I’m the one who’s picking on you.”

Lu Yi raised an eyebrow. “I’m the older brother.”

Qin Zhou said nothing. Lu Yi ruffled Qin Zhou’s hair a couple of times, then patted his cheek. “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back this time.” Qin Zhou.

“Only this time?” Lu Yi looked innocent. 

“What? What did you just say?”

Lu Yi jumped out of bed. “Nothing. We should get up.”

Qin Zhou: ?

Qin Zhou looked up just as the sun had risen high outside the window. The light fell into his eyes, and he instinctively flinched.

“Lu Yi, I have a strange feeling that Mom and Dad won’t be too upset.”

“Of course not, because they love us.”

“True.” Qin Zhou gazed out the window, while Lu Yi looked at him. Heart. Everyone would love him. That was the very reason he had come into this world.

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T/N: And that’s the end of Qin Zhou and Lu Yi’s journey, thank you all who have been with us in this translating journey, I hope you enjoyed this story as much as we did.