Chapter 49: Love Grows Wildly
“Because I missed you, so I came.”
Even with the loud fireworks, Xie Yang could clearly feel his heart pounding in his chest.
So intense.
In that moment, he felt completely surrounded by Qi Xu’s love.
Xie Yang wrapped his arms around Qi Xu’s waist and buried himself in his embrace.
He couldn’t remember how many New Year’s Eves he had spent alone since his grandmother passed away.
Being in a relationship with Qi Xu was truly wonderful; he was always taken care of.
Qi Xu would fulfill his little wishes, consider his feelings, and give him a deep sense of security.
Every moment together felt blissful.
Qi Xu held his waist, his warm hand resting on the back of Xie Yang’s neck. Leaning down, he whispered with a smile, “So, is there a place for me at the New Year’s Eve dinner?”
Xie Yang looked up at him, his voice choked with emotion. “Of course there is.”
Thinking about it, Xie Yang grabbed his hand and nervously asked, “Is it okay that you didn’t have dinner at home? Isn’t it a tradition to have a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve? Won’t your family mind you coming here at this time?”
Qi Xu couldn’t help but laugh at his worried expression. “Don’t worry, it’s fine. No one will mind.”
Xie Yang was puzzled.
Isn’t everyone supposed to have reunion dinner at home?
Qi Xu took out a food box from the passenger seat.
Xie Yang curiously glanced at it. “What’s this?”
Holding Xie Yang’s hand, Qi Xu led him inside while explaining, “I brought you some crabs. Didn’t you mention wanting to eat some a few days ago?”
Xie Yang loved seafood, but in the countryside, crabs were rarely available. They usually had fish, shrimp, and some shellfish.
He had casually mentioned his craving for seafood to Qi Xu a few days ago, not expecting him to remember.
Qi Xu: “I heard the crabs from Yangcheng Lake are good. I’ll take you to Suzhou next October to try them.”
Talking about traveling together made Xie Yang excited. He obediently replied, “Okay.”
Seeing Qi Xu, the little tabby cat happily ran over with its tail up.
“Meow.”
Qi Xu took out a crab from the box, broke off a leg, and placed it in front of the cat.
Smelling the seafood, the cat eagerly gnawed on the crab leg.
Xie Yang served him a bowl of soup. “So, did you have your New Year’s Eve dinner at home?”
Qi Xu: “Yes, we have it early in our family.”
Qi Xu had indeed had his New Year’s Eve dinner before coming over. As Xie Yang had said, today was a day for family reunions, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to skip it.
He had simply eaten earlier and then driven over right after.
After finishing the dinner, he had quickly left.
Qi Xu’s mother, realizing later, thought he must have been hungry.
She didn’t expect him to leave so soon.
Xie Yang: “Can you still eat?”
Originally, he had planned to eat alone tonight, so although he made many dishes, the portions weren’t large. The two of them should be able to finish everything together.
Qi Xu smiled mischievously. “I only had a couple of bites at home before leaving. After driving for a few hours, I’m tired and hungry. I just want to come to my boyfriend’s place to get some food.”
Xie Yang’s tense lips relaxed slightly. He placed a peeled crab in Qi Xu’s bowl and softly said, “You didn’t have to come just for me. On such an important day, you should be with your family.”
Besides, driving back and forth in one day was exhausting.
Qi Xu lightly tapped him with a crab leg. “It’s not about the day, it’s about you being more important.”
Xie Yang blushed deeply, his heart racing.
Qi Xu laughed. “Aren’t you happier with me here?”
He needed Xie Yang and knew that Xie Yang needed him even more.
“If doing something would make Xie Yang happy, he wouldn’t refuse and wouldn’t find it troublesome.”
Xie Yang snatched the crab leg from his hand, blushing, and nodded shyly. “Yes.”
It would make him very happy.
Although fireworks were constantly going off outside, and the sounds of children playing could be heard occasionally, and the Spring Festival Gala was on TV, the liveliness only made his place seem lonelier and colder.
So Qi Xu’s arrival was a pleasant and unexpected surprise for him.
It filled him with a sense of happiness.
Qi Xu had been with him throughout the holidays.
Qi Xu asked, “Have you packed everything?”
On this topic, Xie Yang hesitated before deciding to ask Qi Xu for help: “I want to take the cherry tree from the yard, but I don’t know how to move it. Even if I do, there’s nowhere to plant it. Can you help me figure it out?”
There weren’t many things left by his grandmother, but he couldn’t part with them.
Qi Xu said, “After the New Year, I’ll have someone come and dig it up to plant it in my garden. As for the little tabby cat, bring it home and take care of it there.”
Xie Yang nodded in a daze. He wasn’t sure where Qi Xu meant by “home,” but knowing the cherry tree would be taken care of was a relief.
Qi Xu suddenly said, “I’ll take you to see it tomorrow.”
Xie Yang nervously swallowed. “Didn’t we agree to go back to the apartment?”
Qi Xu’s eyes gleamed, and he smiled playfully, “Bringing you home for the New Year will get you lots of red envelopes from the elders to fill up your savings.”
Xie Yang hesitated, “Won’t it be too sudden?”
Bringing a boyfriend home during the New Year seemed inappropriate.
Qi Xu shook his head, “My family knows about our relationship.”
Xie Yang looked at him in surprise. Coming out so openly?
Qi Xu continued, “I don’t have segmented privacy settings on my social media. They’ve seen your photos and even asked why I didn’t bring you home for the New Year today.”
Xie Yang’s eyes widened, suddenly remembering that Qi Xu’s social media background and profile picture were photos of the two of them together, and he often posted updates about their relationship…
Qi Xu had never intended to hide their relationship.
He was open and honest.
But Xie Yang had been hesitant and cautious.
He realized he had been wrong. From the moment Qi Xu chose him, he never planned to break up with him.
Seeing Xie Yang lost in thought, Qi Xu fed him a spoonful of crab meat and said, “There’s still some time before school starts. Let’s stay at my place for a few days and introduce you to everyone.”
Xie Yang came back to his senses and glanced at Qi Xu.
Suddenly, he didn’t feel so afraid anymore.
As long as he was with Qi Xu, it didn’t matter where they were.
Xie Yang didn’t particularly enjoy watching the Spring Festival Gala; he just felt that keeping the TV on made the house less quiet.
Perhaps because of Qi Xu’s presence, even the boring skits were enjoyable.
With Qi Xu by his side, time didn’t feel so hard to endure.
As the sound of firecrackers gradually increased, a new year arrived.
Midnight.
Xie Yang leaned against the window, watching the fireworks outside, feeling excited.
“Happy New Year.”
“Qi Xu.”
Qi Xu stood behind him, his hands resting on either side, trapping him in his embrace.
“Happy New Year, Xie Yang.”
Xie Yang turned around, looking up at Qi Xu’s face. Even in the dim light, his delicate features were still visible.
He could feel Qi Xu’s gaze on his face.
His heart was pounding, filled with intense love.
Xie Yang stood on tiptoe, wrapped his arms around Qi Xu’s neck, and kissed him gently.
Qi Xu lifted him and placed him on the windowsill.
The evening breeze was gentle.
Their love grew wildly.