Zhuang Fanxin ran back to the fifteenth floor in one breath.

The shock was too much. He closed the door and didn't even take the elevator, so shocked that his heart jumped into his throat. He collapsed onto the sofa with a thud, dizzy and lightheaded, so shocked he felt his eyes might pop out of their sockets.

Before pushing open the door to the pantry, he thought Pei Zhi was making tea, brewing coffee, or having a late-night snack. He never would have imagined, not in a million years, that Pei Zhi would actually be kissing! With a man!

Zhuang Fanxin was scared silly. He didn't get a good look at what the other man looked like at all and wasn't even sure if he was Chinese or a foreigner. Now, whenever he closed his eyes, all he could see was Pei Zhi's figure, leaning against the counter, slender neck tilted up, the corners of his eyes flushed red as he was held by the waist and kissed.

It was just too, too incredible.

The small blanket was forgotten. Zhuang Fanxin didn't feel the cold either, lost in a daze. His large eyes stared blankly into the air, his mind a tangled mess. A wave of gayness that had fallen from the sky enveloped his heart.

There seemed to be footsteps. Zhuang Fanxin panicked, flopping down onto the sofa and burying his face. The footsteps grew closer; he could tell it was Pei Zhi. His body suddenly warmed as the small blanket was draped over him. He could smell the scent of Pei Zhi's shampoo with every breath.

Pei Zhi pulled over a chair and sat down beside him, asking, "Scared you?"

Zhuang Fanxin pretended to be asleep, not reacting.

"I'll head back down then. I haven't had enough kisses anyway."

Zhuang Fanxin heard Pei Zhi get up, and his eyes flew open. Anxious, he clutched the blanket to make him stay. "—Brother!"

Pei Zhi suppressed a smile and sat back down, tucking Zhuang Fanxin in again. His gaze fell on Zhuang Fanxin's face, which showed a mixture of shock, curiosity, disbelief, and a trace of a little boy's bashfulness.

He flicked Zhuang Fanxin's forehead. "So rude. Don't you know to knock before entering a room?"

Zhuang Fanxin was dumbfounded. If he had known what Pei Zhi was doing in there, forget knocking, he probably would have stood guard at the door. He noticed Pei Zhi's rosy lips and blushed for him, hiding under the blanket as if he'd been frightened.

Pei Zhi's eyes were clear. "Don't you have anything you want to ask?"

'How could I not...' Zhuang Fanxin asked in a small voice, "Are you gay?"

Pei Zhi nodded frankly and smiled. "Being gay isn't that rare, is it? Why are you so surprised?"

Zhuang Fanxin said, "I never would have guessed! I couldn't tell at all!"

Pei Zhi moved closer. "Whether someone is gay or straight, they're a person first. Gays aren't some special species. How different can we be from ordinary people, right?"

Zhuang Fanxin mulled over these words. He sat up, wrapped in the blanket, and pondered. He and Pei Zhi had known each other for many years—drawing, traveling, eating, shopping, and even sleeping in the same bed at each other's houses—no different from any other good friends or buddies in the world.

Perhaps it was precisely because there was no difference that he was so shocked to find out Pei Zhi was gay.

Zhuang Fanxin took a moment to digest this, the impact lessening slightly. A gossipy air touched the corners of his eyes and brows. "So... who was that person kissing you just now?"

Pei Zhi lowered his eyes and stood up. "I'm going downstairs to draw."

"Don't go! Brother!" Zhuang Fanxin threw his arms around Pei Zhi's waist. "This is the USA, we're in a competition, it must be someone from your clothing design group! If you don't tell me, I'll find out for myself who your romantic encounter was with!"

Pei Zhi sighed, helpless, and said softly, "He's Chinese, a senior from my first year of high school. He's studying at a university here now. He knew I was here for the competition, so he came to see me."

Zhuang Fanxin let go. "Came to see you, and also kiss you. If I hadn't pushed open the door..."

Pei Zhi teased him, "Then we wouldn't be finished yet."

Zhuang Fanxin pulled the blanket over his head with a whoosh, unable to handle the other's gentle dirty talk. After Pei Zhi returned to the eleventh floor, he curled up on the sofa, wide awake, only succeeding in deepening the dark circles under his eyes.

Beijing time, it was already October 2nd. The concert had extended into a class reunion, and by the time the revelry ended, the sky was already light. Gu Zhuoyan's head was spinning from the alcohol. The driver was waiting by the roadside. After getting in the car, he forced himself to stay awake and opened an unread message. It was a link.

He clicked it open, and the page jumped to their old school's forum. A stickied post floated at the top—"The Singer's First Half of Life, Tonight is a Milestone. — Lu Wen's Concert Live Stream." The poster was Lu Wen himself.

Gu Zhuoyan speechlessly bumped the thread with a reply. After sending it, his phone died and shut down. When he got home, he took a bath and nearly fell asleep in the tub, finally collapsing onto the bed with his hair still wet.

He slept for a whole day and night. The water in the humidifier had run out. When he woke up, he didn't get up, instead lazing in bed and calling for the housekeeper to get his fencing suit and shoes ready. He hadn't practiced in months and was itching to go. He made plans with friends from the fencing club and went out.

The holiday passed by in the blink of an eye, wasted away until the fourth day. Gu Shibo returned from a business trip, and Gu Zhuoyan went to his grandfather's house as if fleeing the plague.

His grandfather, Gu Pingfang, was a former diplomat who now lived alone in a small Western-style house allocated by the state. He had dedicated caregivers and spent his days as a recluse, buried in piles of books doing academic research, determined to become a sociologist before his death.

But the old man had calculated everything except for the fact that his eldest grandson would come out so publicly—it was truly a societal issue. After that, his research focus shifted to the homosexual community, preparing to form a deep understanding before having a proper talk with his son and daughter-in-law.

Gu Zhuoyan arrived, dragging his luggage. He entered the study to pay his respects to the old man. The study had been converted from three connected guest rooms and was ridiculously spacious. He sat down on the sofa. "Grandpa, are you in good health?"

Gu Pingfang said, "Don't be so conventional. How many days are you staying here?"

Gu Zhuoyan calculated. "Three days. My flight is on the seventh."

Having managed countless affairs before retirement, the old man was used to arranging everything in advance. "You'll accompany me today. The next two days, you're free to do as you please. On the seventh, I'll have the driver take you to the airport. I assume you're not eager to deal with your parents."

For once, Gu Zhuoyan was well-behaved, leaning against the armrest of the sofa without moving. After the arrangements were made, he didn't leave, calmly starting to drink his tea. When he finished a cup, he spoke, "Grandpa, you've never asked about my... situation. Aren't you curious?"

Gu Pingfang said, amused, "My own grandson comes out, and you think I wouldn't be curious? If I, your grandpa, came out, wouldn't you be curious?" After laughing, he let out a cold snort. "Your parents sent you over to the other family's place. I couldn't get to you, so I had no choice but to endure it."

Coming out, regardless of whether one regretted it or not, was not exactly a joyous, celebratory occasion. Gu Zhuoyan had never brought it up voluntarily. Today, he had broached the subject himself, clearly having something he wanted to tell the old man.

Gu Pingfang was not a conventional man. He only asked what he wanted to hear. "Tell me, what was your psychological state at the time?"

Gu Zhuoyan said, "My psychological state... a bit conflicted, I guess, and also a little nervous. After all, it was in front of so many classmates." He paused. "Grandpa, aren't you going to ask my reason for coming out?"

Gu Pingfang shook his head. A homosexual person doesn't need a reason to come out, nor do they need to pick a special day. They can come out any which way they want, because it's a natural-born right. The old man said, "Even if there is a reason, that's your private matter. It's up to you whether you tell it or not."

Gu Zhuoyan said, "I'll tell you later then."

He stood up, took the teapot, and poured tea for Gu Pingfang, bowing his head and lowering his eyes in a perfect display of a filial son and grandson's respect. After pouring, he squatted by Gu Pingfang's leg and said frankly, "Grandpa, I like someone."

The old man took off his glasses and studied him.

Gu Zhuoyan said, "He's in Rong City. He's my maternal grandpa's neighbor, and also my classmate. I was being a jerk at first, wanting to use him to piss off my parents, but then I really fell for him. Just hiding it isn't enough, so isn't that why I've come running to you for help?"

Gu Pingfang asked, "Are you two together?"

"Not yet. I'll tell him the next time we meet." Gu Zhuoyan was earnest. "He's a really great person. He studies art and is currently abroad for a design competition."

Gu Pingfang said, "My grandson's taste shouldn't be too bad."

The old man picked up his cup and drank the tea, not leaving a single drop, which meant he agreed. Gu Zhuoyan stayed by his side, handing him books and passing him pens, waiting on him until dusk. Only before dinner did he go upstairs to put away his luggage.

Gu Pingfang rose from his wingback chair, slowly ambled to his desk, and made a phone call. It had just rung twice when the other end picked up, and a respectful "Dad" came through.

"Shibo, Zhuoyan is with me."

Gu Shibo grunted in acknowledgment. "The older he gets, the more insensible he becomes. He's gone to bother you again."

"What do you mean, bother? My good grandson is ever so obedient."

Gu Shibo chuckled. "He's only obedient in front of you. At home, he's always acting like a rascal."

"You bully him, so naturally he's going to resist. It would be worse if he just meekly accepted it," Gu Pingfang said unhurriedly. "You're not an unenlightened person. It's just that the commotion Zhuoyan caused was too big, making you and Xiao Man lose face. After all, you're successful people with reputations to uphold."

Gu Shibo heard the hidden meaning. "Dad, it's one thing to spoil him, but now you're making sarcastic remarks at us."

Gu Pingfang chuckled. "I was clearly spoiling you. That's why I didn't say a word when you sent Zhuoyan away, to let you both cool off. It's been over two months. I'm calling you today just to let you know, I'm taking over Zhuoyan's matter. You and Xiao Man don't need to worry about it anymore."

Gu Shibo said anxiously, "Dad, did he say something?"

"You just need to remember what I said," Gu Pingfang's tone was light. "Send someone to bring my little granddaughter over tomorrow, too. Bye-bye."

At the door of the study, Gu Zhuoyan let out a happy whistle.

He had been clever. Right after coming out, he and Gu Shibo had been at each other's throats, their fights turning the world upside down. He was even locked up at home and later forced to transfer schools. He had endured the most painful and helpless times all by himself. But today, several months later, with all the emotions having faded somewhat, he had taken the initiative to visit, bringing up the old matter with Gu Pingfang in a planned and purposeful way, and then revealing that he liked someone.

Gu Zhuoyan was asking Gu Pingfang for help at this moment for no other reason than this: he wanted to confess his feelings to Zhuang Fanxin and be with him. Gu Shibo and Xue Manzi would find out sooner or later, and he was also aware of his own limited capabilities at seventeen. Therefore, he had to find a protector.

When he received Zhuang Fanxin's call in the middle of the night, it only took a second for Gu Zhuoyan to go from drowsy to wide awake. He said with his eyes still closed, "Haven't heard from you in a few days. Been really busy?"

Zhuang Fanxin said, "It's okay, I got through it! I passed the last design round, but my ranking wasn't great."

"No worries, you can crush them in the next round."

"Haha, okay. For the next round, we have to randomly form groups to cooperate. I'm in line to draw lots now. I hope I don't get grouped with a French person, I don't understand French."

After hanging up, Zhuang Fanxin went to draw his lot and actually got grouped with a French person. Next was a twelve-hour break. He slung his bag over his shoulder and went to the eleventh floor, making reservations with Pei Zhi at a restaurant to have a nice meal.

As soon as they met, Zhuang Fanxin asked, "Your senior didn't come today?"

Pei Zhi was tidying up. "You even managed to run into him when he came in the middle of the night. If the organizers found out, would I even be able to compete anymore?"

Zhuang Fanxin sat on the worktable, scanned the room, and saw an American guy in tight pants. After the person left, he asked in a low voice, "Do you think that Leonard guy is gay?"

Pei Zhi was exasperated. "Do you see everyone as gay now?"

Zhuang Fanxin huffed, "That's your fault."

"Didn't I say it before? Gays are just ordinary people too. Especially those deep in the closet, you can't tell at all."

"So, maybe someone around me..."

Pei Zhi said, "Right. Maybe there's someone around you who's gay, like me. Maybe there's someone else you see every day, hang out with, and you don't even know they're gay too."

Zhuang Fanxin jumped off the worktable, shocked once again.

He carefully went through a list in his head. Qi Nan still didn't like anyone, could he be gay? The Class Monitor rarely mentioned girls, could he be deep in the closet? The owner of the beef ball noodle soup shop was over forty and still not married. Could he have been gay for many years?

My god, besides Gu Zhuoyan, Zhuang Fanxin felt like he was surrounded by gays!