Not knowing the path ahead, not knowing where to go.

Every day, Qin Fang was woken up by Xing Yan, got ready and got into his car, not asking where they were going or how far, and Xing Yan wouldn't take the initiative to tell him either. Qin Fang was like a tourist being led with his eyes closed, following the arrangements and enjoying every part of the journey, which was enough.

Qin Fang was very good at making friends. No matter what environment he was thrown into, he could blend in well. In a few days, he became familiar with most people, eating, chatting and joking together, quickly hitting it off with these older brothers.

If Xing Yan was slow to warm up, then Qin Fang was the fast-heating type. Sometimes even Xing Yan would be amused listening to him chat with others. Qin Fang was indeed different from his peers that he had interacted with.

During the day, the two of them experienced the vastness of the world together on the road. At night, they would sleep wherever they ended up, both happy.

Going further and further, deeper and deeper, they finally stopped in the mountains.

This was their last stop before taking a different route back starting tomorrow. That night, everyone would be sleeping in tents, truly camping outdoors.

More than a dozen tents were not far apart. Some had two or three people crammed together, while others had their own individual tents.

Midway through, Qin Fang bought a bunch of mosquito repellent spray to share with others. He and Xing Yan also applied a lot on themselves. He secretly bought a few mosquito repellent bracelets but was too embarrassed to take them out, sneakily tying them on his own and Xing Yan's wrists and ankles inside the tent.

"How old are you?" Xing Yan sat with his legs bent, watching Qin Fang roll up his pant leg and fasten the bracelet around his ankle.

"My younger brother uses a lot of these every year," Qin Fang laughed with his head down, "It definitely works for kids, don't know if it'll work for us."

The two had taken turns earlier washing up in the mountain stream, and the dampness on their bodies hadn't fully dried yet. After fastening Xing Yan's, Qin Fang let his pant leg down to cover it, deliberately saying, "It's fine, can't see it from the outside, won't affect your aura."

"Get lost." Xing Yan cursed at him, a hint of a smile on his face, casually picking up a tissue and throwing it at Qin Fang's shoulder.

With such a nice environment, it was a pity to stay cooped up in the tent. Qin Fang dragged the mat out from the tent and lay directly on it with Xing Yan.

Insects chirped and birds sang under the starry sky. Not far away, a few older brothers had set up a small light to play cards. There were also small groups of three or two huddled together chatting in low voices.

Qin Fang had one arm pillowed under his head and the other resting on his belly, lying comfortably while gazing at the sky. The air was cool, and occasionally a gentle breeze would blow by, a refreshing feeling that couldn't be experienced in the city.

"Oh no," Qin Fang suddenly remembered something and said to Xing Yan, "I forgot to take photos."

"Take photos of what?" Xing Yan casually responded.

"Xiao Gong asked me to take some photos for him to post on Weibo." Qin Fang took out his phone to check. "I didn't take a single one."

"Don't bother with him," Xing Yan said, "Too lazy to take them himself."

Qin Fang laughed, "I'll take a few for him on the way back."

Although Qin Fang had known Xing Yan for quite a while, they had never really talked much. Every time they chatted, it was about trivial matters. The past few days of traveling had rapidly brought them closer, at least in Qin Fang's mind. He felt that they were quite close now.

Qin Fang turned his head to look at Xing Yan, who was using Qin Fang's bag as a pillow and absentmindedly twirling a thin grass stalk in his hand.

"Yan-ge," Qin Fang called out to him.

Xing Yan turned his head and their eyes met. This was already their countless time making eye contact. Qin Fang said softly, "Thank you for your ease."

Under the moonlight, there was a glimmer in both their eyes. Xing Yan didn't say anything, only the corner of his mouth curling into a very slight arc. Then he raised his hand and flicked Qin Fang's head.

This action surprised Qin Fang quite a bit. Xing Yan actually kept a distance from everyone and rarely had those gestures of physical contact with others.

If it were someone else, Qin Fang might have dodged, feeling a bit awkward as someone who considered himself straight as an arrow. But since it was Xing Yan, Qin Fang very readily accepted it.

Perhaps it was because the journey had brought him and Xing Yan very close, or perhaps it was Xing Yan's smile and gaze at that moment that once again enchanted him.

"I never asked you," Qin Fang also randomly plucked a grass stalk, aimlessly winding it around his fingers, "What's the relationship between you few?"

Xing Yan adjusted the bag under his head and asked him, "What do you think our relationship is?"

Qin Fang thought for a moment and said, "It's really hard to say. At first I thought you were friends, but it didn't seem like it. Besides, friends don't need to all live together, right?"

"Mm," Xing Yan made this sound in response.

Qin Fang didn't make any more guesses after that. Xing Yan's voice sounded quite cool in the night as he calmly said, "We grew up together."

Grew up together.

These few words were quite simple, yet not that simple. At the very least, these words from Xing Yan let Qin Fang know everything he wanted to know. Not friends, not childhood playmates, just grew up together.

This was almost exactly as Qin Fang had previously guessed.

They lived in that house, too used to life together. The tacit understanding between them wasn't something that could form overnight. None of these four went home - that house was like home.

Xing Yan had said before that he started racing at the age of ten in Wu-ge's car because his dad liked it.

But he didn't ride in his dad's car.

When Xing Yan looked over, Qin Fang smiled at him and raised an eyebrow, asking, "So you're childhood friends?"

These past few days, every time Xing Yan's gaze landed on him, Qin Fang could feel it. He didn't know if Xing Yan still wanted to chat. If Xing Yan didn't want to continue, he could just say "yes" to go along with what Qin Fang said and the topic would pass.

Xing Yan was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "You could say that."

Qin Fang made an "mm" sound, not intending to ask further.

"We don't have homes," Xing Yan unexpectedly spoke up, "None of us do."

A certain string in Qin Fang's heart trembled, but his face remained calm. He also didn't turn his head. He understood very well what kind of reaction the other person needed at this moment, what a listener should have.

There were many more stars in the wilderness compared to the city. Qin Fang looked at the starry sky overhead and heard Xing Yan say, "We needed to be tied together growing up."

Qin Fang was still twirling that thin grass stalk in his hand. After another half a minute, making sure Xing Yan had nothing more to say, he finally turned his head and said in a low voice, "...I don't have a home either."

Neither of them spoke again, quietly lying on their backs, gazing straight up at the sky.

Under the low-hanging night, in the cicada-filled summer night, the starry river witnessed the young men exnging a secret with each other.

On the way back, in order to take a different route, they had to take a detour. The journey would be longer than when they came, but the scenery was still very good, even better.

On the way back, Xing Yan occasionally drove Qin Fang away from the convoy to visit a small city. The two of them stopped and walked around, and in the evening they caught up with the convoy and rested with everyone.

This also gave Qin Fang time to take photos. He specifically took the camera from Guo-ge's car. Qin Fang hung the camera around his neck and took pictures of whatever he saw.

Qin Fang also picked a few photos and posted them on his Moments, one of which was a side shot of Xing Yan leaning against the car. In the photo, the boy was dressed in black with a white helmet in his hand.

Qin Fang captioned: Coooool boy.

Hua Tong commented below: Holy shit, who is that?

Before Qin Fang could reply, Hua Tong's message had already arrived: Who is that? Don't tell me it's Zhou Siming.

Qin Fang: Are you blind? Does Zhou Siming look like that?

Hua Shan Handsome Old Tong Tree: That's good then, damn. Your photo doesn't show his face.

Qin Fang said: That's Xing Yan.

Hua Shan Handsome Old Tong Tree: ......

- Damn.

- Are enemies nowadays so stylish? I won't dare to fight recklessly in the future.

Qin Fang replied with a smile: What enemy? They will all be friends in the future.

Hua Tong said: I really admire you, you can make two friends out of a fight.

Qin Fang didn't refute his words and chatted with him about other things. In fact, this was not accurate. He and Zhou Siming were not considered friends until now. They had only spoken a few words in total, and if they said one more word, they wanted to fight.

"Yan-ge," Qin Fang called out to the front, "Look back."

Xing Yan turned his head as instructed, and Qin Fang took a picture of him with the camera. Xing Yan was quite cooperative and didn't dodge. He even raised his arm to block his eyes with his forearm and made a V sign.

Making a V sign with a straight face, the scene was too funny. Qin Fang laughed while taking pictures of him, and after taking the pictures, he gave Xing Yan a thumbs up and said, "You don't forget your temperament even when making a V sign, what a hidden treasure."

Xing Yan glanced at him and asked, "What are you laughing at every day?"

Qin Fang said with a smile, "I'm in a good mood. Everything I see makes me want to laugh."

At first, Xing Yan ignored him, but after a while, he lowered his head and also laughed softly, saying in a low voice, "Like a fool..."

No matter how low his voice was, Qin Fang heard it. He was stunned for a moment, then imitated Hua Tong and said "damn", pouncing on Xing Yan. Xing Yan ran a few steps forward, and Qin Fang pounced on his back, his arms around his neck, "What did you just say? Huh?"

Xing Yan was bent over by his weight, and the cool boy was also very handsome when he laughed, "I said you're always laughing, like a fool."

"Damn, damn, damn..." Qin Fang used a little more force with his arms, holding Xing Yan's chin, "You don't seem to be convinced."

Xing Yan's double eyelids were very pretty when he laughed, "Convinced."

"Are you convinced?" Qin Fang raised his eyebrows.

Xing Yan nodded, his hand gripping Qin Fang's wrist to pull him away, "Convinced, Fang-ge."

It was the first time he called him that, and Qin Fang couldn't help but chuckle.

After Xing Yan stood up straight, he spread his hands at him, indicating that it was not him who said he was like a fool.