"You two..." Wang Xu stood grimly in the wind before abruptly glaring up at them. "What's with you two... fuck! You two aren't... don't tell me you two are..."

According to TV drama plotlines, this would be when they both whipped out guns and bang bang, two shots to Wang Xu's forehead, watching him slowly topple back into the fireworks behind him.

"Celebrating Valentine's Day," Jiang Cheng looked at him. At this time and place, facing the impossible to silence Wang Xu, he had nothing left to hide. "Got a problem?"

Wang Xu was probably even more shocked than they had been earlier, gaping speechlessly.

"You, me, him," Gu Fei said in a steady tone. "If a fourth person finds out about this, I'll kill you."

Wang Xu didn't know if it was because of the sudden gust of cold north wind, but he shivered very cooperatively: "Oh, I won't say... I didn't... For this kind of thing, between men... This... I... No objection, no objection."

"Fine," Gu Fei nodded, "You can go back now."  

"Why do I have to go back?" Wang Xu asked.

"Because we're going to set off fireworks here," Gu Fei glanced at him and took a couple steps back to pick up the bag he had dropped earlier.

"I'll be damned..." Wang Xu moved closer to take a look, "I'm fucking convinced."

Neither Gu Fei nor Jiang Cheng said anything, just turning their heads to look at him together.

Wang Xu frowned, staring at the fireworks in the bag, and didn't speak for a long time.

Although the moonlight tonight wasn't very bright, and there were no streetlights by the riverside, Jiang Cheng still noticed a glimmer of tears in his eyes because of their close distance.

"Wang Xu?" He was a little surprised.

"Fuck!" Wang Xu suddenly cried out very aggrievedly, "Fuck! Even men are dating men! Why is it so fucking hard for me to find a girlfriend?!"

"You..." Gu Fei leaned back a bit, startled by his sudden yell, "Didn't Yi Jing come? Did she say anything to you?"

"She said she's not in the mood and won't come, needs to study," Wang Xu said in a nasal voice.

"That's normal. Yi Jing is a top student, of course she'd be busy studying now with just over 100 days left," Gu Fei said.

"So what if she's a top student? Isn't Jiang Cheng a top student too? Way more awesome than her. When he studies, he's like frozen in place, not moving at all," Wang Xu complained, "But Jiang Cheng has a boyfriend too! And it's a guy!"

"Hey," Gu Fei looked at him, "Hey, yell louder, or should I get you a horn so you can yell it in the streets?"

Wang Xu bit his lip and squatted down silently.

The situation became awkward again. Now Gu Fei and Jiang Cheng couldn't just leave immediately, but they also couldn't set off their exciting fireworks right next to the moping Wang Xu.

The three of them could only stand there stiffly, enduring the cold north wind.

"Are you guys setting up some romantic fireworks?" Wang Xu finally broke the silence after squatting for a long time.

"No," Gu Fei said, "We just came to set off fireworks, not to get romantic."

"Oh," Wang Xu looked at them both, "Then... why don't you take mine as a gift, to give you my blessing?"

"Ah," Jiang Cheng was a little surprised.

"I came at 11:30," Wang Xu said, squatting next to his own fireworks, "I bought some fuses and connected them all so setting off one would make them all go off pop pop pop."

"Oh," Gu Fei responded.

"Let's connect yours to mine," Wang Xu wiped his eyes again, "The more the merrier."

Gu Fei looked at Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng nodded.

Might as well connect them, even though they couldn't relate to Wang Xu's feelings. But his sudden sobbing caught Jiang Cheng even more off guard than during the last competition.

Valentine's Day, this was still a unique situation.

The three of them squatted on the ground and connected the fireworks they had brought to Wang Xu's fused strings.

Done with that, Gu Fei stood up and dusted off his hands: "Wang Xu, thanks."

"Why are you thanking me?" Wang Xu sniffled, "Light them up!"

"No," Gu Fei looked at him, "Are you watching?"

"I should give you privacy?" Wang Xu was confused, "Don't you need an emcee, witness, host or something?"

"We just came to set off fireworks," Gu Fei's expression was complex, "Not to get married."

"Oh," Wang Xu looked at them both again, "Then I'll watch."

"What Gu Fei means is he's worried you'll feel upset seeing it," Jiang Cheng explained.

"I won't," Wang Xu sighed, "I'm numb already."

"Then watch if you want," Gu Fei rubbed his hands and took out a lighter. He was probably freezing and tired of wasting time chatting with Wang Xu.  

Jiang Cheng went to stand next to Gu Fei and watched him bend down to light the fuse.

After a small spark, the first bouquet of blue fireworks blossomed in one tube, followed quickly by the second.

Gu Fei's hand reached over to grab his, and Jiang Cheng clasped Gu Fei's hand tightly in return.

Wang Xu's were gold while theirs were colorful, the mingled fireworks looking especially brilliant.

Jiang Cheng squinted against the drifting smoke, watching the bright flashing lights.

"I wish you two lifelong happiness," Wang Xu suddenly cried out.

"Thank you," Jiang Cheng said.

This Valentine's Day was certainly unique. Even if they formally celebrated again next year, it wouldn't be as memorable as today.

Including a weeping emcee and a sincere blessing.

After the fireworks finished, Gu Fei and Jiang Cheng were going to leave, but the downcast emcee just stood there unmoving.

"You're not heading back?" Gu Fei asked.

"I'll... go," Wang Xu sighed again, lowering his head as he walked up to them.

"How did you get here?" Gu Fei asked another question.

"Rode my bike over, but I left it up front and walked all the way here looking for a spot," Wang Xu said.

"Need a ride over?" Jiang Cheng asked.  

"No need, I want to be alone," Wang Xu said, "You guys head back... Oh, about you two, I won't tell anyone, don't worry. I keep my word."

Watching Wang Xu's figure disappear into the flurrying snow from the minivan, Gu Fei finally started the car: "How was this Valentine's Day?"

"Great," Jiang Cheng smiled.

"I'm amazed that Wang Xu came all the way out here to set off fireworks too," Gu Fei glanced back at him, "Did you put him up to it? I heard him asking you for gift ideas the other day."

"My mind's too full to be creative now," Jiang Cheng said, "I just told him to give her a nice pen."  

"Ah," Gu Fei sighed, "Looks like Wang Xu will be feeling down for a while. At least it doesn't affect his gaokao mood."

"I never knew Wang Xu was so serious about it," Jiang Cheng leaned back against the seat and brushed at his dirtied pants, "But he and Yi Jing... wouldn't have worked out anyway."

"Yeah, Yi Jing's family is pretty well-off," Gu Fei said, "She definitely won't stay in this small town. Wang Xu will probably end up running his family's bun shop..."

Jiang Cheng didn't respond, just looking at the back of Gu Fei's head.

"What I mean is," Gu Fei seemed to realize something and turned to look at him, "They're different from us."

"How are we different?" Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue and scoffed exaggeratedly.

"You like me, I like you," Gu Fei said, "That's the difference."

"Smooth talker," Jiang Cheng laughed, "Lately I've just been thinking... Gu Fei."

"Hm?" Gu Fei responded.

"Eyes on the road," Jiang Cheng said, "Tripping while walking is one thing, but you're driving a car now."

"Oh," Gu Fei laughed and turned his head back to the front.

"Gu Fei," Jiang Cheng tilted his head back, speaking slowly, "I've just been thinking there's nothing to overthink. Just keep moving forward, keep going, some things can't be planned for ahead of time so don't worry about it. There will always be a way."

"Mm," Gu Fei nodded.

"There will always be a way," Jiang Cheng repeated, closing his eyes, "Even if we really, truly run out of options and have to give up, it'd have to be after trying with all our might... No, no no no no, wrong, there will always be a way."

"Mm," Gu Fei laughed and reached his hand back to stroke Jiang Cheng's face.

Jiang Cheng grabbed his hand and gently nibbled the pad of his ring finger.