Chapter 67 – Meteor
Since last time, Bai Jinyan’s kisses have become very restrained.
Most of the time, they’re just gentle pecks, brief and affectionate touches.
As time passed, the crushed rose fragrance became increasingly intense.
Even the pre-mixed solution subtly changed its color.
When they parted from the kiss, Qiao Huaiyao leaned against Bai Jinyan’s shoulder and noticed the solution’s color. He suddenly froze for a moment, quickly sat up, “The solution…”
“Hmm?” Bai Jinyan’s hand on Qiao Huaiyao’s waist steadied him. “What’s wrong?”
With a slight pursing of his lips, Qiao Huaiyao added two drops of the residual solution from the test tube into it, and the color returned to normal.
If the solution is exposed to air for too long, it undergoes slight changes.
After readjusting, Qiao Huaiyao glanced at Bai Jinyan. “Brother…?”
Bai Jinyan lifted his hand to pinch Qiao Huaiyao’s cheek, not teasing him to stay and watch but saying instead, “I’ll go prepare dinner.”
Qiao Huaiyao smirked. “Alright.”
As Bai Jinyan left, he didn’t forget to close the door.
Qiao Huaiyao took out a suitable-sized hollow transparent sphere and methodically poured the prepared solutions into it, one after another.
The liquids were somewhat viscous and had different colors; their properties prevented them from mixing.
Only at the boundary where the two colors met did a subtle transition occur, enhancing the natural gradient.
He added crushed flower petals and slowly poured in the smallest portion of the darker solution, filling the last small section of the hollow sphere.
The dark solution gradually took on a light red hue within the sphere, not dispersing but solidifying into a fish-like shape, its tail swaying in the solution.
The result was satisfying, very close to what Qiao Huaiyao had envisioned.
After finishing, Qiao Huaiyao lightly tapped the sphere. Inside, the rose petals fluttered like rain, and the “fish” gracefully moved among the flower shower.
Instead of moving, Qiao Huaiyao called out, “Brother!”
Before his words could fully drop, Bai Jinyan opened the door, “Is it done?”
“Yes.” Qiao Huaiyao smiled, guiding him in and turning off the lights in the room. “Come see how it turned out.”
The solution in the transparent sphere displayed a gradient of blue, reminiscent of the depths of the sea. Without the light, the colors became even more luminous.
The “fish” had a tail resembling a betta fish, swimming agilely amidst the solution and the rose petals.
“It looks beautiful.” Bai Jinyan praised, “The combination of these two solutions is indeed stunning.”
Although the two solutions were quite different, Qiao Huaiyao managed to blend them together perfectly on his first try.
Using simple materials, he created a miniature underwater scene, enhanced with the element of flower petals.
The properties of the two solutions differed greatly, yet a small amount of one added to the other caused them to interact without external force.
Qiao Huaiyao picked up the sphere filled with the solution, which had some weight to it.
Handing it to Bai Jinyan, he said, “It will look even better once the interactions between the solutions settle.”
After combining all the materials together, this brief glimpse of an underwater world emerged.
It was also quite beautiful, though it wouldn’t last long, so he wanted Bai Jinyan to see it first.
Qiao Huaiyao tapped the sphere with his fingertip, watching the petals flutter inside. He mused, “Once it settles down, it will be… a completely different world from now.”
As for when that stillness would come…
Qiao Huaiyao calculated the time as he prepared the mixture, glancing at the clock not far away, silently counting down in his mind.
Bai Jinyan didn’t rush him, keeping his hand in the same position as when Qiao Huaiyao had placed the sphere in his palm moments ago.
Qiao Huaiyao sensed the changes in the solution inside and covered the sphere with both hands.
The room was pitch black, except for a faint glow still emanating from the sphere, not very distinct.
The color of that light kept changing until everything stopped, like the sea ceasing its roar, yet the light emanating from the sphere was dimmer than before.
Qiao Huaiyao lifted his gaze slowly, about to jest, but noticed Bai Jinyan wasn’t looking at the sphere in his hand.
He hesitated for a moment, unable to stop himself from smiling.
He lifted the hand covering the sphere.
Apart from the faint glow, a swath of ink seemed to blend with the night.
Compared to the ocean and fish just moments ago, the sphere now displayed a vast night sky, with meteors dotting the space.
Qiao Huaiyao curled his fingertip, lightly touching the edge, causing a suspended meteor to immediately fall, followed by a shower of meteors.
Rose petals accumulated at the bottom of the sphere, disappearing into the roses after each meteor’s descent.
After this simple transformation, Qiao Huaiyao leaned forward to lightly kiss his lips.
Before Bai Jinyan could react, he had already stepped back. Under the faint light, with clear eyes that didn’t blink, he said, “Giving you the sky and the meteors…”
Qiao Huaiyao paused, then chuckled softly, “A gift from the shooting stars.”
Bai Jinyan felt incredulous and softened inside. He tightened his grip on the decorative sphere and couldn’t help but embrace Qiao Huaiyao gently, kissing him tenderly and murmuring, “I really love this meteor shower.”
Bai Jinyan smirked, “Thank you, baby.”
Suddenly, Qiao Huaiyao lifted his gaze, the hand around his waist unexpectedly tightened, stumbling forward and bracing against the worktable.
The items on the worktable clinked, making a crisp sound.
Due to the shaking and impact, meteors within the miniature landscape sphere continued to fall. Perhaps because there were so many meteors, the room was noticeably brighter.
The light dazzled their eyes.
Bai Jinyan held him, unsure of what to do with his joy, unable to stop himself from wanting to kiss him and hold him close.
Qiao Huaiyao let him hold him, occasionally tapping the miniature landscape sphere to reignite its dim light.
The kitchen’s stew pot emitted a “gulu gulu” sound.
Even through the narrow gap of the door, it was clearly audible.
Yet the intimate atmosphere in the room did not dissipate.
However, it was getting late, and Bai Jinyan remembered Qiao Huaiyao hadn’t eaten yet, so he temporarily placed the miniature landscape sphere on the worktable.
He kissed the corner of Qiao Huaiyao’s mouth and gently said, “Let’s eat first.”
Qiao Huaiyao nodded lightly, “Hmm.”
The miniature landscape sphere remained untouched, seeming still, but upon closer inspection, one could see it resembled a slowly rotating galaxy.
This miniature landscape sphere was better preserved than the roses on paper.
Moreover, after the meteor shower disappeared, new solution could be added to recreate it.
As long as it was properly preserved without damaging the transparent outer sphere, strictly speaking, this miniature landscape sphere had no end to its lifespan.
In this miniature landscape sphere, the shooting stars no longer faded in an instant.
Because the sphere itself emitted light, it might affect sleep if kept in the bedroom.
Bai Jinyan didn’t mind, but he considered Qiao Huaiyao.
So, as much as he liked it, the sphere was eventually placed on the dining cabinet in the living room, not brought into the bedroom.
After a brief holiday,
Qiao Huaiyao and Bai Jinyan immersed themselves once again in their busy studies and work.
Early the next morning, after preparing breakfast, Bai Jinyan went to the film set.
Qiao Huaiyao half awake, half asleep, seemed to hear Bai Jinyan say something to him, but he didn’t catch it clearly.
Upon waking up, he discovered the message Bai Jinyin had sent him.
Bai Jinyan: [Breakfast is in the thermos, remember to eat before class.]
Qiao Huaiyao typed slowly: [Okay. Nodding Cat.jpg]
On the dining table, besides the thermos, a set of utensils was already arranged.
Next to it was a sticky note reminding Qiao Huaiyao to eat breakfast.
Perhaps afraid that he might miss it or that the sticky note would fall off, Qiao Huaiyao didn’t know breakfast was prepared for him. After leaving the note, Bai Jinyin sent him a message to remind him.
Qiao Huaiyao opened the thermos and picked a bun, taking a photo to send to Bai Jinyan. [Good morning, brother.]
Bai Jinyan: [Morning, head pat.jpg]
Qiao Huaiyao nibbled on the bun cautiously. Yesterday’s kiss had been too forceful; even with a mint sheet, the irritation hadn’t improved, so he had to eat slowly.
While eating and texting, he chatted with Bai Jinyan.
During their chat, he couldn’t see the notes he had left for Bai Jinyan because it always showed “typing…”
Qiao Huaiyao typed slowly with one hand, but after sending a message, he always received Bai Jinyan’s reply quickly.
Before he had finished half of the bun, his counselor contacted him privately.
Counselor: [The lab has been approved. Since you applied early, you’re the only one who applied for the lab at this time. There are several labs available. When the time comes, go and see which one you like.]
Generally, labs were assigned by the school, with no opportunity for students to choose.
Although they were all labs, there were still some differences. Previous graduates were randomly assigned, so students who were unlucky might get a less attractive location. It didn’t affect the experiment, perhaps just a smaller space.
However, if a student had a powerful tutor, they could have a say in the lab and help them get a better one.
Now, the school highly valued Qiao Huaiyao and he was the only one who had applied for a lab at this time.
He submitted his application early, and other students had gradually submitted theirs afterward.
However, most students were still preparing or their applications hadn’t been approved.
At this time, Qiao Huaiyao was the only one who could choose a lab.
Rather than letting the school assign one, which would probably be a good one for him, what if he didn’t like it after being assigned?
The advisor finally let Qiao Huaiyao choose his own lab. If he couldn’t find a suitable lab among the available ones, they would find another solution.
Qiao Huaiyao: [Okay, teacher, I’ll go after class.]
In his previous life, the professor assigned him to a lab, and even the worst labs at Tsinghua were above the passing line.
There was no need to choose.
But since the counselor let him choose, Qiao Huaiyao would go after class, which was convenient. After putting down his phone, he heard a knock at the door.
According to the time, it was time for the person who sent the roses every day to deliver them.
Qiao Huaiyao stood up and opened the door.
“Hello, your roses.”
The same staff member delivered roses to Qiao Huaiyao every day, and they had already become familiar with each other.
“Okay, thank you.” Taking the bouquet, Qiao Huaiyao noticed something different from usual.
In this bouquet, there seemed to be more baby’s breath, scattered around the large bouquet of roses like stars in a floral sea.
Qiao Huaiyao couldn’t help but smile faintly, capturing a photo of the roses wrapped in stars.
After sending it to Bai Jinyan, he thought for a moment and then posted it on Weibo, leaving the photo for today.
Unlike his usual Weibo posts documenting daily life, this one only featured flowers without any caption.
His anonymous account was dedicated to following Bai Jinyan-related content; there were no other posts, and Qiao Huaiyao didn’t participate in any fan activities on the platform.