"No, can you stop being annoying," Qin Fang chuckled, "Do I seem like someone with so little self-control?"

"Passion is hard to resist," Hua Tong snickered a couple times, feeling a bit sleazy. He turned away and stopped asking, not prying into their gay matters.

Since the two of them could go two years without progressing a single step, it showed that neither of them were the type to impulsively do something in the heat of the moment.

They were both rational thinkers. Qin Fang wouldn't, and Xing Yan definitely wouldn't. Back when they were passionately in love, Xing Yan was able to stop himself every time, let alone now.

Their current relationship was far from considering that matter. Their interactions were still limited to the pure flirting stage.

But even the rational Qin Fang really couldn't handle the current Xing Yan.

The previous morning.

Xing Yan: Fang-ge, look at the rainbow.

Qin Fang: Got it.

They had a time difference, so often the photos Xing Yan took during the day would be sent at night. Qin Fang deliberately teased him: It was already dark that day, where's the rainbow? Did you steal the pic from online?

Xing Yan directly sent a screenshot of his phone's album. He had taken over twenty photos of this single rainbow, and picked the best one to send over.

Looking at the over twenty nearly identical photos in the album, Qin Fang wanted to laugh, but his heart softened. He said: No need to be so serious, just taking any random one is fine.

Xing Yan: The ones I take seriously are just like the ones you take casually.

Qin Fang: It's not important. You can just take them casually then, I can still understand.

Xing Yan: Okay.

The previous "mm" had now all turned into "mm hmm" and "okay", he had become a soft-spoken youth.

The next morning.

Xing Yan: Fang-ge, look at the rainbow.

Qin Fang: ...

Qin Fang: Hahaha got it.

The picture was of a few colorful arcs drawn with colored pens on paper.

Xing Yan: It rained today and there was a rainbow, but I was in the lab and didn't get a photo.

Qin Fang: Then just forget it.

Xing Yan: Anyway, you told me to take them casually. I think the drawn one looks better than a photo.

Looking at the chat box, Qin Fang replied with a laugh: Can you stop emitting cuteness?

Xing Yan: No can do.

Qin Fang laughed again. Now every morning after waking up, checking his phone first had become a habit, opening his eyes and reaching for his phone to look at rainbows.

Later, Xing Yan changed his avatar to a cartoon little rainbow.

Xing Yan: Fang-ge, look at me.

When Qin Fang first saw this message, he thought Xing Yan was going to send him a selfie. Only later did he realize he meant for him to look at the avatar.

Qin Fang: Hahahahaha.

Xing Yan: It didn't rain today.

Qin Fang: Hahahahaha.

Xing Yan: Got it? You haven't said you got it yet.

Qin Fang: Ggggot it!

Of course Xing Yan understood Qin Fang very well, this guy still had skills. If he pursued him properly, saying sweet nothings from time to time, Qin Fang would certainly be moved.

But after all, they were so far apart now and could only communicate by phone. Saying those things too earnestly every day would easily seem like empty talk, and Qin Fang wouldn't know how to respond.

Instead, sending random stuff like this, going back and forth, the atmosphere was always good and not awkward. Imperceptibly, the slight sense of unfamiliarity between them brought by time was gone.

Previously, Xing Yan's constant cool demeanor was quite attractive to Qin Fang. But now, being like a little cutie made Qin Fang even more infatuated. This Xing Yan had a charm that was hard to resist. Qin Fang would feel bad if he didn't reply to his messages.

One day, Qin Fang said to Xing Yan: This isn't how you used to pursue me.

Xing Yan: I was too immature back then. I've grown up now.

Qin Fang: Hahaha but now you're like a little kid.

Xing Yan: Then do you like how I am now? Or did you like me more before?

This question was a trap. No matter how he answered, it would be that he liked him. Qin Fang didn't take the bait.

Qin Fang just smiled without replying.

After the joking, Xing Yan still spoke seriously. After a while, he sent another message.

- I had thought about it before. If I had another chance to chat with you, I wouldn't be like that anymore. My personality was too bad and I spoke too little, it seemed I could never get it right. If starting over, there has to be some change.

Qin Fang looked at that message for a long time without speaking. Another message came.

- I'm not doing this to coax you into getting back together with me. I just hope I can give you a bit of a sense of security.

Qin Fang lay on his side with his face on his arm, looking at those two messages on his phone. He buried his face in his arm and rubbed it a bit. Later, he slowly tapped out a reply with his finger on the screen.

Qin Fang: Got it, Yan-ge.