“Ouch—!”
Zhou Ze fell to the ground, letting out a painful cry. But actually, the floor was carpeted, Chengyi’s bed wasn’t very high, and with all the cushioning fat on him, it wasn’t a big deal.
“Ye Chengyi, you… you’re not playing fair!”
He groggily got up, sitting on the floor and indignantly pointing at his friend. Then he noticed Chengyi’s strange expression, his whole body stiff as he looked toward the door.
Zhou Ze paused, turning his head and just in time caught Chu Tingyun’s gaze.
The handsome mixed-race boy leaned against the doorframe, his delicate peach blossom eyes half-squinted, watching them with a smirk.
“…”
Zhou Ze had never seen Chu Tingyun before, but he recognized him at a glance as the older brother his friend often talked about.
After all, the boy’s appearance was so distinctive and undeniably good-looking. From this angle, he looked like a beautiful character straight out of a Japanese anime.
Wow, this gege is so handsome… Zhou Ze was momentarily stunned, until his friend quickly jumped off the bed and ran toward the door.
Chengyi didn’t know why he felt a bit guilty, but when he looked at Chu Tingyun, his eyes and tone unconsciously carried a hint of seeking approval.
“Tingyun-gege, when did you come back?”
Chu Tingyun didn’t respond but instead indicated with his eyes toward Zhou Ze, who was still sitting on the floor.
“Who is this chubby kid?”
Zhou Ze: “…”
Okay, he wanted to take back his earlier admiration for this gege.
“Oh, this is my friend, Zhou Ze.”
Chengyi hurriedly helped his friend up and introduced him to Chu Tingyun.
“He lives on our floor too; he’s also a neighbor.”
“Oh, another neighbor, huh…”
Chu Tingyun’s tone was somewhat teasing. He looked at Ye Chengyi, genuinely wondering if this child had some sort of obsession with collecting neighbors.
“So you two have become such good friends so quickly, playing on the bed together?”
Chu Tingyun knew that it was normal for kids to make friends, but he hadn’t been gone for long, and now Chengyi had this close new friend who was also a neighbor. They might even be cuddling up together at night.
These overlapping elements gave Chu Tingyun the impression that he was being replaced.
Children’s affections come quickly and leave just as fast, especially when there’s a long period without contact; no matter how well they got along before, they can easily forget.
Chu Tingyun suddenly felt he didn’t need to care so much about a neighbor’s kid, especially when he had gone out of his way to return during a short break.
“Uh…”
Chengyi also knew this was all quite normal, but he felt a strong urge to explain to Chu Tingyun.
What was there to explain?
Before Chengyi could figure it out, Chu Tingyun turned to leave.
“I have something to do, I’m going back.”
“…”
Chengyi watched him leave, standing there in a daze for a long time.
Until Zhou Ze tugged at his shirt.
“Hey, Ye Ge, don’t make that face; you look just like when my scummy dad got caught cheating… Aah!”
Bang—
Zhou Ze was thrown to the carpet by his friend and fell silent.
That evening, Chu Tingyun heard the familiar knocking sound at the door. This time, the knocks were a bit higher than before.
Kids really do grow fast.
He thought this as he casually opened the door and found Chengyi standing there.
This time, he was wearing a dog-themed onesie, holding his little pillow.
“Gege, I watched a horror movie and got scared.”
“I can get up by myself to go to the bathroom at night.”
He reached out and gently tugged at the boy’s sleeve.
“So can I sleep with you tonight?”
Chu Tingyun couldn’t help but smile: “Huh? Aren’t you afraid of ghosts? Son of a party member?”
“…”
Chengyi hadn’t expected to dig his own grave. He froze in place, struggling to find a suitable excuse, and finally just hung his head and spoke the truth.
“Okay, I really miss you, Tingyun-gege.”
“…”
The boy let out a soft hum, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, but his body shifted to the side.
“!”
That was a sign of agreement!!
So, Chengyi quickly crawled in, heading straight for the handsome gege’s room.
After a short reunion, this time Chu Tingyun didn’t stay for long before leaving again.
Because he was at a rapid stage of growth and needed to keep up his training. While male figure skaters don’t typically face growth-related issues, they often believe that developing muscles can help them perform better jumps, which is somewhat advantageous.
However, figure skating demands a lot from athletes’ bodies; even minor changes can impact their performance. He needed to train extensively every day to maintain his condition and constantly strive to improve since his competitors were also advancing.
So the next time Chengyi saw Chu Tingyun, it was during a live broadcast of the Junior World Championships in figure skating.
Chu Tingyun was competing as a representative of China.
Although Jiang Shenghai had initially agreed to grant his ex-wife custody of their son, he refused to let him change his nationality.
They had argued about this for four to five years until Jiang Shenghai took the initiative to mend relations with his ex-wife, suggesting that the competition in China wasn’t as fierce and that it would be easier to secure an Olympic spot. Plus, Chu Tingyun’s future after retiring would still be in China…
In short, Jiang Shenghai used all sorts of reasoning to persuade her, and eventually, Irina gave up on the idea of having her son change his nationality. The only insistence she had was for Chu Tingyun to train at a figure skating club in Russia.
On the night of the Junior World Championships broadcast, Chengyi stayed up all night in front of the TV.
He watched the black swan gracefully dance on the ice, jumping and spinning, each jump perfect to the point that it made the audience scream and cheer.
That year, at fourteen, Chu Tingyun successfully won the Junior World Championship.
At sixteen, he was officially selected for the national team. After joining, he didn’t return home for two years, consistently earning the highest scores in selection competitions.
So when he turned eighteen, he qualified for the Winter Olympics.
On the day of the competition, Chengyi didn’t wait in front of the TV; he went directly to the Olympic venue.
Unfortunately, at that time, Chu Tingyun had injured his knee. He had received an injection to numb the pain but still made mistakes during the competition.
This was normal since competitive sports are always linked to injuries, but he was just incredibly unlucky.
Despite this, Chu Tingyun still managed to win a bronze medal.
Though it was just a bronze, it still marked a significant breakthrough in China’s figure skating history. However, for Chu Tingyun personally, it wasn’t a perfect result.
After the competition, Chengyi immediately sought him out.
He took off his little pendant and placed it around Chu Tingyun’s neck, mimicking the gesture of putting a championship medal on him.
“Tingyun-gege, in my heart, you’re the champion.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah! Of course!”
Growing up surrounded by his parents’ love, Chengyi was now gradually learning to express affection and comfort.
Chu Tingyun was silent for a moment before pulling a pen out of the pocket of his team jacket. Then, in front of twelve-year-old Chengyi’s confused gaze, he wrote his name on the boy’s face.
After finishing, Chu Tingyun looked satisfied.
“All done, the champion has signed for you.”
Ye Chengyi: “…”
Does the champion gege really have to sign on my face?
Click—
Irina snapped a photo of them.
Later, when Chengyi returned home with that photo, Zhou Ze teased him for quite a while, as his expression in the picture—stunned and ridiculous—was hard to forget.
Even so, Chengyi didn’t hide that photo as an embarrassing memory; instead, he carefully framed it and hung it above his bed.
From that day on, Chengyi consciously began to learn about athlete rehabilitation and therapy.
After the Olympics, Chu Tingyun’s training didn’t end; on the contrary, he entered an even harsher closed training regimen to prepare for the next Olympics.
Competitive sports are inherently cruel; there will always be more talented and hardworking people emerging. Even the previous Olympic figure skating champion can’t guarantee they’ll win again in the next competition.
The only thing athletes can do is work hard, train, constantly push their limits, and maintain their best condition until the competition arrives.
Two years later, fourteen-year-old Ye Chengyi was accepted into the youth program at the University of Science and Technology of China, even having plans for future graduate school recommendations. Although both his parents were highly educated, they had never pressured their child to work so hard academically.
Xie Fengjun noticed that her child seemed eager to grow up.
“What are you in a hurry for, Yan Yan?”
“…”
The boy shook his head, reassuring his mother’s worries.
“I’m not in a hurry, Mom. I just… have my own future plans.”
“Alright.”
Xie Fengjun ruffled her son’s hair.
“Our Yan Yan is really self-assured; whatever you do, your dad and I support you.”
“Mm!”
Entering puberty seemed to accelerate children’s growth; it felt like days passed quickly, turning into years.
Zhou Ze, who truly had a brain not suited for academics, chose to pursue the arts.
At seventeen, he successfully lost weight and got into the Central Academy of Drama. Meanwhile, Jing Shu went to a prestigious school in the U.S. to study finance, arranged by her father.
Recently, she messaged Chengyi saying she had encountered a robbery there, but thankfully a fellow countryman helped her.
“That person was amazing; he picked up a stick from the roadside and scared the robber away. He even helped me get my bag back!”
“??????”
Because Chu Tingyun often called Ye Chengyi “Xun Xun,” Jing Shu also started calling him “Xiao Xun.”
“But you know, when I went to thank him later, I found out that he… um, he has prosthetic legs…”
Jing Shu said the latter part carefully, afraid that any hint of discrimination or pity would show in her tone.
“So I think he’s really incredible!!”
However, after hearing this, Chengyi didn’t find it amusing at all; he was quite worried.
“Sister Jing Shu, why not let Uncle Jiang hire a bodyguard for you?”
“I’ve already hired one; no need to worry.”
They chatted about a lot more, discussing the hero who bravely fought off the robber despite his disability, Zhou Ze’s daily antics with his self-expressive performances, and Chu Tingyun, who was still training hard for the Olympics…
It seemed like the friends from the same floor were all pursuing their own lives.
After hanging up, Chengyi thought he might have to wait until next year’s Winter Olympics to see Chu Tingyun again.
However, unexpectedly, on New Year’s Eve, the latter suddenly returned home.
“Wow, long time no see.”
When the familiar voice came from the doorway, Chengyi stood frozen in place, staring at the person for a long time before regaining his senses.
“Xun Xun…”
Chu Tingyun initially wanted to call him “Xiao Xun,” but seeing that the boy had nearly caught up to his height, he choked on the last two words.
Sixteen-year-old Ye Chengyi was 1.75 meters tall, only about five centimeters shorter than him.
He grew this much in two years???
Not only had he grown taller, but his face had also matured. The cute baby fat from childhood had completely disappeared, and his features now resembled those of a young man. His contours were becoming more defined, showing hints of handsome angles.
Chu Tingyun found himself a bit dazed; he had always thought the kid was cute, but now…
“Tingyun-gege!!”
Chengyi hadn’t expected him to come back today, especially since during their phone call, Chu Tingyun had said he wouldn’t have time before the Winter Olympics started in a few months.
But unexpectedly—
Chu Tingyun had anticipated that Chengyi would leap into his arms, but he hadn’t expected that the little brother could lift him and spin him around twice.
“???!”
Twice?!!
Wow!
When did this kid get so strong?!
hu Tingyun was shocked.
“Stop, stop, stop! Put me down!”
“Hurry up and put me down! Ye Chengyi!”
His impression of the kid was still stuck on the time he pulled him up and spanked him; how could he now be picked up by this little guy?
Chu Tingyun really wasn’t used to it.
Fortunately, Chengyi was also afraid of hurting him, so he quickly put him down. After all, with the Olympics approaching, Chu Tingyun was now as precious as a giant panda.
“Hey? Xiao Chu is back?”
Xie Fengjun heard the sound and immediately greeted him warmly as he came in.
Chu Tingyun was completely unreserved, warmly calling out to Auntie and Uncle, then plopped down at the dining table, ready to wait for dinner.
So this New Year’s Eve, Chu Tingyun finally didn’t spend it with the team, but had a reunion dinner at his little brother’s house.
This time he came back without telling Jiang Shenghai; he just went to see his mother and then came back directly.
So the scummy dad was alone at the company.
Meanwhile, his mother, Irina, was spending it with her new boyfriend.
On New Year’s Eve, Chengyi stayed at Chu Tingyun’s house to keep watch until midnight and didn’t plan to go home, choosing to sleep here with his brother.
Since the other party was only back for two days, it was really too short.
Before going to sleep and while changing clothes, Chu Tingyun once again noticed that the kid was really growing up.
Now, when Ye Chengyi changed into pajamas, he had to lock the bathroom door, as if he was afraid of him seeing something.
“?”
Chu Tingyun had always been the kind of person with a rebellious streak.
If Chengyi changed openly in front of him, he would naturally think everything was normal.
But the other party was so evasive, careful and sneaky, which instead piqued his curiosity.
The more Ye Chengyi tried to hide from him, the more he wanted to see.
Especially when he found out that the other party had even locked the door, Chu Tingyun was practically dying of curiosity.
“Is it really necessary to be like this, Xun Xun?”
“I feel like you’re treating your gege like a thief.”
Chu Tingyun leaned against the bathroom door, trying to peer through the frosted glass to see inside. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t see anything.
Tsk.
Chu Tingyun was a bit annoyed.
He decided to call Jiang Shenghai tomorrow and have that scummy dad arrange to replace this door with a transparent glass one!
“You were a kid, and I’ve seen you everywhere! What are you shy about, sweetheart?”
Every time Irina saw Chengyi, she would sweetly call him “sweetheart,” and later, Chu Tingyun also began to call him that effortlessly.
“…”
Chengyi ignored him, changing into his long-sleeved pajamas and carefully buttoning them all the way to the top before coming out.
Except for his hands, feet, neck, and face, he really didn’t show any skin at all.
This left Chu Tingyun puzzled because the house had underfloor heating, and he was still in short sleeves and shorts.
He looked the boy up and down with a strange expression, unable to understand what he could be hiding.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
Chengyi felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze.
At that moment, Chu Tingyun stepped closer, cornering the boy against the wall.
“Ye Chengyi, honestly confess, did you get a tattoo?”
Aside from this reason, Chu Tingyun really couldn’t think of why he was hiding while changing.
They were too close, causing Chengyi to awkwardly turn his head away.
“…No.”
Ye Chengyi was known throughout the neighborhood, even the entire street, as a good kid. He didn’t smoke, drink, get tattoos, or hang out in bars.
“Is that so? Then take off your clothes and let me see.”
“…”
Chengyi looked at Chu Tingyun with a disbelieving expression.
At that moment, the two of them looked like one was a bully and the other a flustered young lady.
Chu Tingyun felt something was off, but it was just a momentary illusion. Seizing the opportunity while Chengyi was shocked and defenseless, he reached out and lifted the hem of his shirt.
He lifted it from the waist almost to the collarbone.
Of course, there was nothing on the boy’s clean skin.
“Oh~”
Chu Tingyun even whistled.
“Not bad, kid, you’ve got abs already. Tsk, just the pecs are a bit thin.”
“…”
Chengyi never expected him to do this, and he was instantly furious and yanked his shirt down.
“Chu Tingyun!!!”
He was so angry he used his full name.
“Okay, okay, I won’t look anymore.”
Chu Tingyun backed off, realizing the kid was just shy, embarrassed by puberty.
“We’re both guys, what’s there to see?”
As he said this, Chu Tingyun raised his hand to take off his shirt. The hem of his short sleeve was lifted, revealing his slim waist.
“See? Here, isn’t that okay?”
“…No looking!”
Chengyi pressed down on him firmly, but when he noticed the strange look in his eyes, he quickly pulled his hand back.
“I’m going to sleep!”
After saying that, Ye Chengyi turned and dove under the covers, closing his eyes.
“…?”
Chu Tingyun realized that the kid had indeed changed quite a bit in the two years they hadn’t seen each other.
But he didn’t think much of it; it was already two in the morning, and he was tired too, so he got into bed.
Chengyi usually slept well, but for some reason that night, he didn’t sleep very soundly, waking up half-dreaming all night.
He didn’t know if it was because the underfloor heating was too hot, the blanket was too thick, or if it was because Chu Tingyun was holding him too tightly and kept moving around.
In the end, Chengyi woke up at five in the morning, but after waking up, he found he couldn’t move at all.
This was because Chu Tingyun had a terrible sleeping posture. Ever since he was little, he loved to sleep holding something. When alone, he would clutch a blanket or a pillow, and when sleeping with Chengyi, the latter naturally became his pillow.
Chengyi spent a lot of effort pulling himself out of Chu Tingyun’s embrace. He took a gentle breath and peeked under the blanket. It was too dark to see, so he reached out to touch.
“?”
“……”
“!!!”
The physiological changes of puberty hit him late and unexpectedly.
Usually, boys hit puberty around fourteen, but for some reason, Ye Chengyi was a bit late; he had his first experience at sixteen.
The boy sat in a daze for five minutes before quickly getting out of bed, grabbing clothes and clean underwear from the closet, and diving into the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, he finished getting ready quickly, trying not to wake Chu Tingyun.
He just briefly washed his hands with water, too afraid to go back to sleep. He could only gently twist the bedroom door open, planning to go out and dispose of the soiled underwear.
“Hmm… where are you going?”
Chu Tingyun’s sleepy voice cut through the morning silence.
Morning run???
Chu Tingyun glanced outside; it wasn’t even light yet. He even doubted he was dreaming or mishearing.
“What time is it now?”
“Five fifteen.”
“……”
???
Chu Tingyun really couldn’t understand.
Going for a morning run at five on the first day of the New Year???
—What kind of madness was that?
Chu Tingyun cherished these two days of rest during the New Year, so he ignored Ye Chengyi’s sudden insanity and yanked the pillow from under him to hug it close, curling up to sleep again.
When he finally woke up, Chengyi had already returned from his morning run, bringing breakfast for the family.
However, he had something special for Chu Tingyun; instead of buying him breakfast, he bought fresh ingredients to prepare a healthy meal suitable for an athlete.
Ye Chengyi inherited his parents’ good cooking skills; perhaps he was also quite talented in the kitchen, making even healthy meals taste great.
Chu Tingyun rarely got to sleep in, and waking up to delicious food made him feel incredibly happy.
“Such a virtuous boy, Xun Xun~”
He couldn’t help but marvel while eating, watching the boy’s back as he tied on an apron.
“If you were a girl, I’d want to marry you.”
At that time, while the same-sex marriage law had just passed in the country, there was still quite a bit of prejudice surrounding it. Moreover, having spent several years in Russia, Chu Tingyun hadn’t had any thoughts about liking men since returning home, focusing only on training and competitions.
“……”
Chengyi stood in the kitchen, his back turned and silent for a long time before he took off the apron and turned around.
The boy said coldly, “Finish eating and clean up after yourself. I have something to do.”
“?”
Chu Tingyun was surprised.
“Ye Chengyi, what could you possibly have to do on the first day of the New Year?”
Of course, Chengyi had nothing to do. He had specifically told his parents he wouldn’t be going back to their hometown to spend time with Chu Tingyun during his short New Year’s break. He even turned down an invitation from Zhou Ze to go on vacation in Hainan for the holiday and declined friends who wanted him to go watch the New Year’s films together.
So what could he possibly have to do now?
“I need to study.”
“……”
Study???
Surely it wasn’t necessary to study on the first day of the New Year?
Chu Tingyun sensed that his little brother was a bit unhappy.
After reflecting carefully, he realized he had only said two things since getting up: one complimenting the boy’s virtue and another saying he’d want to marry him if he were a girl.
Considering both sides, Chu Tingyun thought maybe Chengyi was angry because he had referred to him as a girl?
What a petty thing!
Why was this kid getting more sensitive as he grew up?
While silently criticizing him in his mind, Chu Tingyun knew he had to coax the boy back.
“Xun Xun, little sweetheart…”
He wrapped an arm around the boy’s shoulders and affectionately swayed him.
“Don’t you want me to be bored alone at home on my rare holiday, hmm?”
“……”
Of course he didn’t want that.
So the angry little brother quickly softened and was coaxed back.
“…Fine.”
Chengyi paused, then asked him—
“Gege, do you want to go watch a movie?”
