RYF chapter 22

Meanwhile, at the Shaos’ residence, guests were gathered in a festive atmosphere to celebrate the occasion.

Shao Guokang was busy attending to the guests. He turned around and noticed his son, who seemed distracted by his phone. He teased, “Waiting for a message from someone?”

Shao Cheng placed his phone in his pocket and replied, “I told you, I have plans tonight. When will you let me go?”

Shao’s mother chimed in, “It’s your dad’s birthday today. Can’t you stay home for a little while longer? You hardly ever visit us, even though we raised you.”

“Ah, kids grow up,” Shao Guokang chuckled. “Look at him, so absentminded. It’s New Year’s Eve today, he must have a date with his girlfriend!”

Shao Cheng responded, “Dad, I’ve been helping you entertain guests all day. I don’t have much to do now. Can I leave?”

Shao’s mother was about to scold him further, but Shao Guokang gestured for her to stop and waved his hand at Shao Cheng, saying, “Alright, go ahead. But remember to bring her home next time to meet us!”

With the permission granted, Shao Cheng immediately stood up and headed towards the door.

It was Shao’s father’s birthday, and guests had been arriving since morning. Some doctors and nurses from the hospital also came to congratulate him. Shao Cheng had been busy receiving guests all day. Seeing that it was already nine o’clock and the event was not ending, he contemplated skipping his visit to Bai Yang and letting him rest early. After all, they could have dinner anytime.

However, after sending the message, he received no reply. It was unusual, as Bai Yang was usually quick to respond.

…………

Feeling a sense of urgency, Shao Cheng quickened his pace and headed towards the residence building. He noticed some of Bai Yang’s old textbooks piled up in front of one of the doors. He knocked on that door vigorously, but no one answered. He took a step back and charged forward, forcefully pushing open the collapsing wooden door.

The small apartment came into view at a glance. Shao Cheng’s gaze swept over the dishes on the table and in the kitchen, but then fixed on the figure curled up on the small bed.

Bai Yang had felt too upset after receiving the message, and his spirit had waned. Combined with the drowsiness induced by the fever-reducing medicine, he unknowingly drifted into sleep. As a result, he didn’t hear his phone ringing.

At the sound of the door crashing open, he half-opened his eyes in a daze. He seemed to see Shao Cheng approaching him.

But Shao Cheng had clearly said he wouldn’t be coming that night. Maybe he was just dreaming…

Since it was a dream, Bai Yang cast aside his reservations. When Shao Cheng reached him and bent down to look at him, he exerted his remaining strength, weak and feverish as he was, and boldly embraced Shao Cheng’s neck, drawing closer to his seemingly cold and distant face. He closed his eyes and shivered slightly, brushing his lips against Shao Cheng’s lips and leaving a gentle kiss.

At last, his wish was fulfilled.

It felt like a tender and sweet touch between lovers.

The real kiss was reserved for the person Shao Cheng truly liked. This one gesture was enough for Bai Yang… even if it was just in a dream.

However, the Shao Cheng in the dream didn’t push him away coldly like usual. Instead, he held the back of Bai Yang’s head, leaned down, and planted a precise, dry, and cool kiss on his lips—a real kiss, desperate and a bit aggressive.

Indeed, it was a dream.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Bai Yang felt a sense of peace. Before the waves of sleep engulfed him once more and he closed his eyes completely, he murmured to the person in his dream, confessing a desire he had never dared to voice before:

“Could you maybe like me… even for just a second?”