By the time they reached the seaside, the sunrise was almost over. The early morning clouds filled the sky, and the sea was covered in a layer of orange-red, perfectly hued. Zhuang Fanxin ran barefoot along the coastline, his straw hat blown by the sea breeze, dangling and swaying on his neck.

Gu Zhuoyan was resting under a palm tree. A tumultuous breakfast had nearly made him breathe his last at the dining table. The culprit bought a box of wax apples and sat down, saying, "Why don't you go with your little neighbor to splash in the waves?"

"Give me a break," Gu Zhuoyan put on his sunglasses. "I'm afraid he'll ask me what the figurines look like."

Lu Wen chuckled. "Bro, I've been wearing myself out for you. Last night, I even told Pei Zhi that your little neighbor belongs to you, and he better not get any extra ideas."

Gu Zhuoyan said in agony, "Can you think about yourself for once?" The eyes behind his sunglasses revealed a sense of helplessness. He mimicked Zhuang Fanxin's bragging, "Pei Zhi has a partner, from Harvard."

Lu Wen was shocked. "Then you have to work harder, don't embarrass your little neighbor."

Gu Zhuoyan was driven crazy by this idiot. He was still sleepy from waking up early, so he simply leaned against Lu Wen to catch up on sleep. 'Looks like my brother was exhausted last night, he's so weak,' Lu Wen thought, quickly putting an arm around Gu Zhuoyan. But on second thought, he couldn't help but wonder, how was Zhuang Fanxin so full of life?

Before Lu Wen could figure it out, Pei Zhi walked past holding a drink. Seeing them snuggled together, he approached, squatted down, and said in a low voice, "Gu Zhuoyan belongs to my friend, you better not get any extra ideas."

Lu Wen said, "I'm just looking after him for your friend. Don't think everyone you see is gay."

Pei Zhi teased, "You don't have a girlfriend, maybe you really are gay?"

"...Bullshit! I just haven't met my ideal type. Once I do, I'll love more passionately than anyone!" Lu Wen shoved Gu Zhuoyan away abruptly. Gu Zhuoyan's head hit the tree, and he woke up in pain.

Pei Zhi reached out and patted Lu Wen's head, like coaxing a child after making them angry. His hand was slightly cool, and Lu Wen shivered when it brushed against the tip of his ear. With a playful look in his eyes, Pei Zhi tossed out a flippant remark, "Little Mr. Straight is quite sensitive."

Lu Wen's face instantly turned red. He turned his head to avoid the hand, his mind in a jumble as he tried to think of a clever comeback. Finally, he wracked his brain and came up with, "Didn't you say you didn't have a partner? A gay man's mouth is full of lies."

Pei Zhi burst out laughing but didn't bother to explain, "We're not close. Do I have to explain everything to you?"

Lu Wen stared, "If we're not close, what are you doing squatting in front of me? Go away, don't block my view of the beauties!"

Pei Zhi smiled, pursing his lips, then got up and walked towards the sea. Lu Wen glared at his back and bared his teeth, then his mouth twitched. "You're really leaving? Are you mad?" He really didn't understand gay people. He picked up a wax apple and threw it over. "Here, have one!"

Pei Zhi turned and caught it, coaxing him like a child again, "Brother will pick a shell for you, okay?"

Zhuang Fanxin had started learning to draw at age three. His first major award-winning piece was titled "Gathering from the Sea"—the elderly, women, and young children searching and picking up the gifts brought by the seawater after the tide had receded. At this moment, he was squatting in the fading morning glow, his figure a small dot against the vast sea behind him. His straw hat was taken off and placed to the side, and everything he found was tossed into the hat.

Digging through the sand, he unearthed another piece of sea glass, a mint blue with very low saturation, already polished into an oval by the sea. This stuff wasn't valuable, but it possessed a fresh gentleness that gemstones couldn't imitate.

Pei Zhi found him and said in surprise, "You've collected so many?"

Zhuang Fanxin picked one up and held it to the light. "After filtering out the ones with bad shapes and colors, this still isn't enough."

Pei Zhi asked, "What are you planning to do with them?"

Zhuang Fanxin said, "I want to design a piece of jewelry with sea glass as a birthday present for Gu Zhuoyan." He glanced towards the palm tree. "His birthday is next March, so I have plenty of time to prepare."

Making jewelry was a time-consuming task. He had thought it through. Next year would be Gu Zhuoyan's eighteenth birthday, and it would also be the first birthday he celebrated with him. He would pick the sea glass piece by piece, then design and create it himself. He wanted to make a gift for Gu Zhuoyan with his own hands.

Under the palm tree, Gu Zhuoyan woke up from a nap and walked towards the sea, carrying Zhuang Fanxin's sneakers. He found the long trail of footprints Zhuang Fanxin had left, walked up behind him, and bent down to flick the back of Zhuang Fanxin's head.

"Eh?" Zhuang Fanxin turned around. "You're awake? Pei Zhi said you were sleeping."

Gu Zhuoyan also squatted down. "What are you picking so much glass for?"

Zhuang Fanxin wanted it to be a surprise, so he hid the truth. "I'm picking them for my mom. They look really nice in flower pots." The hat was almost full. He stood up, but his legs were so sore and numb that he fell and landed on his butt.

"Just sit for a bit," Gu Zhuoyan said, reaching out to grasp Zhuang Fanxin's ankle. Those feet were covered in sand. His palm rubbed the sole of Zhuang Fanxin's foot. It must have been ticklish, as Zhuang Fanxin hugged his knees and curled his calf several times.

After patting the sand off bit by bit, Gu Zhuoyan held Zhuang Fanxin's feet together. "Why are they so cold?"

Zhuang Fanxin tried to pull them back. "The seawater is too cold in the morning."

Gu Zhuoyan said, "Want me to warm them up for you?" He gently lifted his jacket, grabbed Zhuang Fanxin's feet, and tucked them against his abdomen. His feet warmed up instantly. Zhuang Fanxin could feel Gu Zhuoyan's warm, dry stomach, and could even trace the outline of his abs... His calves trembled, and he lowered his head as if disarmed and surrendering.

Gu Zhuoyan loved seeing Zhuang Fanxin get shy. He even went a step further and tickled the sole of his foot. As he was teasing him, he noticed Zhuang Fanxin's hand drawing something on the ground. Looking closely, he saw that Zhuang Fanxin was silently writing their names in the sand.

"My god, why are you so cringey?"

Zhuang Fanxin pretended not to hear, put on his shoes, and slipped away with his hat full of sea glass. After laughing at him, Gu Zhuoyan quietly drew a heart before leaving, enclosing their names within it.

Boarding the ferry to leave the island, they again failed to get seats. Standing on the outer deck, they watched Gulangyu Island gradually recede. Lu Wen waved his hand forcefully. "—Gulangyu Island! Goodbye! Sayonara!"

After getting off the boat, they took a taxi and rushed to visit Huandao Road and Zengcuo'an. Their last stop was South Putuo Temple. It was nearing dusk, and the pure land of Buddhism had gained a touch of magnificent gentleness.

Each person took a stick of incense to offer prayers in front of the hall. After praying, they stepped into the temple. Lu Wen couldn't help but ask Gu Zhuoyan, "Bro, what did you wish for?"

Gu Zhuoyan said, "For you to get into a bachelor's program."

Lu Wen rolled his eyes. "That's a long shot."

Gu Zhuoyan was annoyed by this. Not wanting to get physical in front of the Buddha, he didn't act on it. Lu Wen left him to find Zhuang Fanxin and asked, "Little neighbor, what did you wish for?"

Zhuang Fanxin said, "For Gu Zhuoyan to get into Harvard."

Lu Wen felt uneasy. "Are you guys crazy."

He remembered there was still Pei Zhi. He looked back but didn't see him, finally finding him in the main hall of the temple. Pei Zhi was kneeling devoutly on a cushion, so piously that one didn't have the heart to disturb him.

Lu Wen backed out. By this time, Gu Zhuoyan and Zhuang Fanxin had left him and gone up the mountain. He didn't chase them and sat down under the corridor. Pei Zhi came out after praying and sat next to him. As if asking a question but also talking to himself, he said, "I wonder if this temple is effective."

The words "it's not" were on the tip of his tongue. Lu Wen never believed in these things, but he swallowed them and said instead, "Sincerity makes it effective." He hadn't forgotten the way Pei Zhi was kneeling inside and felt it was better to say this.

As expected, Pei Zhi smiled. "What did you wish for?"

Lu Wen said, "I want to become the next God of Songs. A Mandopop Prince would also be fine."

Pei Zhi burst out laughing. "Well, good luck with that."

Lu Wen laughed along with him. He had thought Pei Zhi would mock him. He asked, "You prayed for so long, what did you wish for?"

Pei Zhi said, "Nothing much. I hope my grandmother lives a long and healthy life."

Taking a shell out of his pocket, Pei Zhi handed it over. Lu Wen, who had grown up with a silver spoon and was used to fine things, immediately said without reservation, "You spent all that time just to pick one this small?"

"How big did you want?" Pei Zhi put it back in his pocket.

Lu Wen's expression changed. He smiled obsequiously, hooked his arm around Pei Zhi's, and swayed back and forth. "Don't be mad, Brother Xiao Pei, I was just kidding."

Pei Zhi kept a straight face, then suddenly turned his head to look at Lu Wen, his gaze unusually serious. Lu Wen couldn't help but let go, feeling a bit lost. "It's not that serious, is it?"

"Lu Wen," Pei Zhi said, "I'm happy to have met you. We probably won't have many chances to see each other in the future. Whatever happens to you from now on is none of my business."

Lu Wen nervously looked away, thinking he was about to get a lecture. But then, a pain shot through his ear. Pei Zhi was pinching his ear, making him turn back. He said, "My mother risked her life to give birth to me, and so did yours."

Lu Wen's eyes flickered. "What else do you want to say? I'm listening."

Pei Zhi said, "If you just put in one-tenth of her effort into living your life, that would be good enough."

Lu Wen didn't realize he had nodded. By the time he reacted, the shell was in his palm. It was still so small, but it seemed to have gained some weight.

The sun had completely set, leaving only a final, lingering glow. After Gu Zhuoyan and Zhuang Fanxin came down the mountain, they left South Putuo Temple for dinner. They had a seafood feast, as well as peanut noodles and oyster omelets. When they boarded the train, they were so full they couldn't stop burping.

After returning to Rong City, they first dropped Pei Zhi off at his home. Lu Wen stuck his head out the car window and yelled, "Brother Xiao Pei! I will definitely turn over a new leaf! I'll visit your grandmother again next time I'm in Rong City!"

The SUV started up again. Gu Zhuoyan felt a sense of injustice. "You didn't listen to all the advice we gave you, but you've only known him for two days and you're already turning over a new leaf?"

Lu Wen said, "You don't understand. He struck a chord in my soul."

It was past ten o'clock. The SUV sped homeward. As they reached the small intersection, a strong beam of light shone in their direction, a horn honked, and a black Porsche turned in first.

They both looked over and saw the Porsche drive all the way to the end of the lane, stopping in front of the Xue Family's house. The SUV also stopped. Lu Wen said worriedly, "It can't be that you-know-what got exposed... and your dad is here to catch you, right?"

Gu Zhuoyan wasn't sure. He said to Zhuang Fanxin, "It's fine, you go home first. Get some sleep."

Zhuang Fanxin went inside with a worried look on his face. The door closed, and Gu Zhuoyan and Lu Wen walked toward the end of the lane. Two men got out of the Porsche, one after the other. As the two boys got closer, they saw them clearly. Gu Zhuoyan was stunned. "Uncle?"

Lu Wen was already dumbfounded. "Fuck, it's my dad."

Lu Zhanqing, with an iron-like expression, got straight to the point. "Go pack your things."

Lu Wen scrambled inside. The commotion was so loud that it brought Xue Maochen out of the building. Lu Zhanqing went forward to greet him, apologizing, "Uncle Xue, Lu Wen has troubled you for so long. It's my failure to discipline him properly, please forgive me."

Xue Maochen was very fond of the younger generation and said, "Not at all. With Xiao Lu here with Zhuoyan, the two brothers are very happy."

Lu Zhanqing had come to get him personally, so the situation was set. Lu Wen didn't dare to delay and came downstairs after hastily packing his suitcase. Seeing them to the main gate, Lu Zhanqing said, "Please, don't trouble yourself. I'll be taking this rascal with me now."

Xue Maochen urged, "Don't be too hard on the boy. Consider it a favor to me."

Lu Wen shouted "Grandpa" with tears of gratitude, pulled open the car door, and managed to get five minutes before leaving to speak with Gu Zhuoyan alone.

They turned onto a small side path where a broken streetlight stood. The two of them stood under it to say their goodbyes. Lu Wen hung his head. "Bro, I have to go."

Gu Zhuoyan opened his arms for a hug. Lu Wen said in terror, "This trip won't lead to my premature death, will it?"

"Don't be like that. That other man is probably a senior executive from the branch here. With an outsider present, you'll at least be safe on the way," Gu Zhuoyan said. "Send me the flight number when you get to the airport. I'll contact Ming-zi and Su Wang and have them go to your house at that time. That way, your dad won't be able to get too angry."

Lu Wen sniffled. "Zhuoyan, I've always known you're good to me. Because I don't have a mom, you never use harsh words when you're advising me or when you disapprove of me. I get it."

Gu Zhuoyan said evasively, "What's the point of saying all this? Aren't you going to turn over a new leaf? Your brother supports you."

Lu Wen asked, "When will we see each other again?"

The next long holiday could only be the winter break, but Gu Zhuoyan wanted to spend the New Year in Rong City this year and not be separated from Zhuang Fanxin. Lu Wen guessed as much and nodded in understanding. "I've never seen you treat anyone this well. You must really like your little neighbor, right?"

Gu Zhuoyan smiled. "I really like him. My heart won't change unless the sky falls and the earth shatters."

Lu Wen suddenly raised his head. "Zhuoyan, actually, I didn't tell you. Yu Yao came to see me before I left. He asked me how you were doing. I said you were doing great."

Gu Zhuoyan was silent for a moment. "Oh."

Lu Wen licked his lips. "He said he was sorry, and started crying halfway through..." He paused. "When you came out back then, I don't know the specific details, but it was because of him, right?"

Gu Zhuoyan didn't say it explicitly, just gave a vague "Mm."

"You took the fall to protect him, just so he'd be okay. You had a falling out with your family and transferred schools. Was it worth it? Since you like your little neighbor now, you have to break it off cleanly with him, no matter what. What if your little neighbor finds out..."

Five minutes had passed. Lu Zhanqing rolled down the car window and ordered Lu Wen to get in. Lu Wen had no choice but to swallow the rest of his words.

Gu Zhuoyan followed a step behind. As he walked off the path and turned the corner, he looked up and saw Zhuang Fanxin standing there blankly.