Shangguan Yu froze.
“…Can I?”
Zuo Zhou waited patiently, his voice low and steady when he didn’t receive an answer.
Shangguan Yu had never been kissed before, nor had he imagined what his first kiss might be like. But in this moment, standing here with Zuo Zhou, the thought of giving his first kiss to him felt… right.
Yet, Zuo Zhou was deliberately teasing him. Their faces were already impossibly close, his hand still holding Shangguan Yu in place, the slightest movement all it would take to close the distance. But instead of taking that final step, he simply waited—like a gentleman, stubbornly seeking permission.
“…Can I?” Zuo Zhou asked again.
Shangguan Yu gave him a slightly exasperated look before reaching out, grabbing the front of Zuo Zhou’s shirt, and pulling him down—just enough.
Zuo Zhou hadn’t expected the sudden motion, and before he could react, their lips met.
A shiver ran through his entire body, the calm, in-control mask he had worn just seconds ago shattering instantly.
Shangguan Yu wasn’t faring much better. His fingers trembled where they clutched Zuo Zhou’s shirt, his heart hammering in his chest.
It was a brief, fleeting kiss, ending almost as soon as it began. Zuo Zhou gasped softly, resting his forehead against Shangguan Yu’s, his face burning with embarrassment.
Shangguan Yu’s pulse raced as he met Zuo Zhou’s gaze—nervous, excited, expectant.
“That one doesn’t count,” Zuo Zhou said breathlessly. “Let’s do it again.”
Before Shangguan Yu could respond, Zuo Zhou leaned in once more, this time pressing his lips against his with quiet devotion.
Shangguan Yu closed his eyes, surrendering to the warmth, the tenderness, the way Zuo Zhou kissed him with infinite care.
The silent emotions between them swelled, filling the space, the moment stretching into eternity—until Shangguan Yu began to feel lightheaded. His chest tightened, air becoming scarce.
Reluctantly, he lifted a hand, pressing gently against Zuo Zhou’s chest in silent request for release.
Zuo Zhou, just as inexperienced, found himself breathless as well. Gasping for air, he finally released Shangguan Yu and, without thinking, dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around Shangguan Yu’s waist.
“Brother Yu, I like you so much.” He nuzzled his face against Shangguan Yu’s abdomen, his voice carrying a playful whine. “So much that I don’t even know what to do with myself.”
Shangguan Yu chuckled softly, his fingers gently running through Zuo Zhou’s hair.
Come to think of it, Zuo Zhou had confessed so many times before, yet he had never once responded with equal clarity. That wasn’t fair. If Zuo Zhou was his person, then he shouldn’t have to endure even the slightest hint of uncertainty.
Clearing his throat, Shangguan Yu finally spoke, his voice steady. “I like you too.”
The moment those words left his lips, Zuo Zhou froze. Then, with a jolt, he straightened up, eyes wide with shock and delight, staring at Shangguan Yu as if he had just heard the most unbelievable thing in the world.
Shangguan Yu, slightly flustered by the intensity of that gaze, shifted uncomfortably. “What? You don’t like hearing it?”
“Are you kidding? I love hearing it! I really love hearing it!” Zuo Zhou blurted out, his excitement spilling over. “Brother Yu, you don’t know—I would have done anything just to hear you say that!”
“You don’t need to do anything,” Shangguan Yu said calmly. “Just be yourself.”
“I know… And you too, Brother Yu.” Zuo Zhou tightened his arms around him again, voice soft but unwavering. “I want you to be yourself, always, without holding anything back.”
As he hugged him, he murmured against Shangguan Yu’s waist, “Leave everything else to me. I’ll take care of you. I’ll give you a good life. Just give me a little time, Brother Yu—I can do anything.”
Hearing the quiet determination in Zuo Zhou’s voice, Shangguan Yu couldn’t help but smile. “Alright. I believe you.”
After the new semester started, Zuo Zhou seemed busier than ever. More than half his week was spent at school, leaving him noticeably less time at home to keep Shangguan Yu company.
Despite this, he still managed to keep Shangguan Yu’s life perfectly organized, just as before.
As for Shangguan Yu, after confessing their feelings and officially becoming a couple, his outlook on life had noticeably improved.
This change was most evident in one particular habit: on the days Zuo Zhou was at school, Shangguan Yu would spend his time at home planning dinner.
In the past, his only concern when it came to food was whether it could fill his stomach. What he ate didn’t matter at all.
But after being with Zuo Zhou, his tastes had changed. His once simple palate had been completely spoiled. Gone were the days of plain boiled vegetables and bland meals—there was no going back now.
He wanted to share delicious food with Zuo Zhou. He wanted to create memories of them sitting together, enjoying every bite, relishing the warmth of a shared meal.
So, while Zuo Zhou was busy with school, Shangguan Yu stayed home, starting right after his afternoon nap, preparing a rich, nutritious feast for the two of them. Then, he would wait for Zuo Zhou to return in the evening so they could share a candlelit dinner together.
After dinner, they would clean up the kitchen side by side, then settle into the living room to watch a movie together before finally retreating to their separate rooms for the night.
Their days passed in this quiet, peaceful rhythm—simple, yet filled with warmth.
Before they knew it, spring had arrived.
As the weather grew warmer, Zuo Zhou began finding every possible excuse to take Shangguan Yu out.
Weekend road trips were a given, but that wasn’t enough. Even on regular weeknights, after dinner, Zuo Zhou insisted on taking Shangguan Yu out for a walk.
At first, Shangguan Yu resisted the idea completely.
He wasn’t used to strolling around the neighborhood. He didn’t want to deal with the stares, the judgment, the way people would look at him differently.
But Zuo Zhou was persistent. He reassured him over and over—promising they would take the quieter paths, swearing that if anyone dared to look at Shangguan Yu the wrong way, he’d glare right back at them.
After enough coaxing, Shangguan Yu finally relented.
That evening, after dinner, Zuo Zhou was practically vibrating with excitement as he prepared to take Shangguan Yu out for a walk.
Since he had already agreed the night before, there was no backing out now. Reluctantly, Shangguan Yu nodded.
Zuo Zhou wasted no time getting ready, stuffing his backpack with all sorts of things—his water bottle, wet wipes, and who knows what else. By the time he was done, his bag was bursting.
“Alright! Let’s go!” he announced enthusiastically.
Shangguan Yu gave him a deadpan look. “We’re just going for a short walk around the courtyard. Do you really need to bring all that?”
Zuo Zhou patted his backpack confidently and grinned. “Better safe than sorry! And besides, it’s not heavy.”
Shangguan Yu sighed but chose to keep his thoughts to himself. After all, he wasn’t the one carrying it.
The spring night was cool and refreshing, with a gentle breeze drifting through the air.
The neighborhood was lively, with small groups of people out for an evening stroll. Not far away, a gathering of elderly men and women were dancing to music in the open square, their movements full of energy and enthusiasm.
Keeping his promise, Zuo Zhou quickly turned onto a quieter path as soon as they left the building.
He moved fast, using the cover of night to his advantage. For now, no one seemed to notice Shangguan Yu.
Before long, Zuo Zhou wheeled him into a dimly lit little garden.
It was tucked away between two apartment buildings—secluded and silent, with no one else around.
Shangguan Yu glanced around curiously. “How did you find this place?”
Zuo Zhou grinned, looking rather pleased with himself. “Sometimes, before heading home, I walk around the complex to see which areas are usually less crowded. This garden is newly built, so it’s pretty simple—just some grass and a few stone arrangements. It’s small, so not many people come here. I thought it’d be the perfect spot for us…”
He paused for a moment, then leaned in with a playful smirk. “For a private date.”
Shangguan Yu’s face instantly flushed red. Panicked, he reached out and pushed against Zuo Zhou’s shoulder. “Not so close! We’re outside!”
Unlike Shangguan Yu’s obvious nervousness, Zuo Zhou remained completely at ease. With a mischievous chuckle, he leaned back slightly—but at the same time, his hand effortlessly found Shangguan Yu’s, wrapping around his cool fingers.
“Alright, alright. Whatever you say.”
“…”
After that first evening stroll, Shangguan Yu gradually settled into the routine. Slowly but surely, it became a habit.
Every night, after dinner and cleaning up, he would quietly get dressed, waiting for Zuo Zhou to gather his things and take him outside.
As the weeks passed and the weather grew warmer, Zuo Zhou noticed that Shangguan Yu had become more accustomed to their nightly walks. Seeing this, he began subtly encouraging him to step outside on his own during the day, especially when the weather was nice.
“Brother Yu, look,” Zuo Zhou began his analysis, “you have elevators for going up and down, barrier-free access at the entrance, and the slopes are nice and gentle. As soon as you step out of the building, there’s a big open area—everything is super convenient.”
“And the weather is amazing right now! The sun is warm and comfortable, and since it’s a weekday, most people are either at work or school. The courtyard is practically empty. Going out for a bit, getting some fresh air, soaking up the sunlight—it’d feel great!”
“…”
Even so, Shangguan Yu still hesitated. “But I can get sunlight at home too. The balcony has a nice view.”
Zuo Zhou immediately understood his reluctance. Instead of pushing, he simply smiled gently. “Alright. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
……
That Friday, Shangguan Yu was ready to go all out, planning a lavish hot pot dinner for Zuo Zhou.
On Wednesday, he had already given Zuo Zhou a long shopping list, filled with all sorts of ingredients they’d need.
As always, Zuo Zhou took his trusty shopping cart to the supermarket, stocked up on everything, and came back fully loaded.
Shangguan Yu hadn’t thought much of it at the time. After all, Zuo Zhou had never once forgotten anything on a grocery run.
But that Friday afternoon, after waking up from his nap, Shangguan Yu entered the kitchen to start prepping dinner—only to discover that the hot pot base was missing.
…?
He rummaged through the bags multiple times, checking and rechecking, but it was nowhere to be found.
Without wasting another second, he grabbed his phone and sent Zuo Zhou a message.
[Where did you put the hot pot base?]
A moment later, Zuo Zhou finally replied.
[Ah! I think I forgot! I grabbed everything else at the store, but I couldn’t find the hot pot base anywhere. I must’ve gotten distracted picking something else up and just… forgot to ask. 😭]
[I’m so sorry, Brother Yu! I didn’t mean to!]
[I can pick it up after class tonight, but I might be a bit late. Remember that software development project I mentioned? The professor wants me to follow up on it.]
Shangguan Yu stared at his phone for a while before replying.
[It’s fine, don’t worry. I’ll just go to the community supermarket and get it myself. Can’t make hot pot without it.]
Zuo Zhou was probably busy, as he didn’t respond immediately. Not wanting to wait, Shangguan Yu put his phone away, went to his bedroom, and dressed properly before maneuvering his wheelchair out the door.
The afternoon sun still hung in the sky, casting golden light across the pathways of the residential complex.
Shangguan Yu moved along the quiet road, alone.
As he basked in the sunlight, he suddenly felt an odd sense of unreality.
So this is what it feels like…
The warmth of the sun directly on his skin—so different from when it was filtered through a glass window.
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