A commotion stirred from the other side as the rest of the group finally remembered to come for lunch. You Si walked over and, surprised, said, “Shutiao, don’t impose on Uncle Duoyi like that. Come down and eat on your own.”

Shen Duoyi smiled, “It’s fine, Miss You. No need to be so polite.”

Sitting beside him to help, You Si said with mild embarrassment, “Kids are like that. Once they’re familiar with you, they’ll act completely spoiled.”

Just as she finished, she noticed an extra skewer of grilled mushrooms on Shen Duoyi’s plate. She looked up and saw Qi Shi’an distributing more skewers to everyone. Delighted, she asked, “You’re wearing the ring? Does it fit well?”

“It fits perfectly,” Qi Shi’an replied. “But just to be clear, I don’t usually wear it.”

You Si immediately turned to glance at Zhang Yiming’s hands and noticed his fingers were bare. Zhang Yiming glanced around the stone table for his ring, only to realize it was gone. Fallen leaves, some green, some yellow, covered the ground along with smooth pebbles, making it impossible to find.

Feigning indifference, he shrugged, “I didn’t wear it. It’s tacky, anyway.”

You Si’s expression remained neutral, but she didn’t look his way again. Instead, she continued chatting with Qi Shi’an and Shen Duoyi. “See my ring? It’s gold. It’s from the ‘Sibling Love’ series. My brother and I each have one.”

As lunch wrapped up, staff came to clean up. By then, it was already mid-afternoon. You Si took Shutiao for a nap, and Zhang Yiming’s companion went to shower and change. Meanwhile, Qi Shi’an and Shen Duoyi packed their bags and headed toward the camping area to set up their tent.

The car rumbled to life. Shen Duoyi looked out the window, noticing Zhang Yiming bent over near the stone table. Curious, he asked, “What’s Mr. Zhang looking for?”

Qi Shi’an chuckled, “Don’t worry about him. He brought it on himself.”

The camping area was built like a dense forest. After registering and collecting a signal light at the entrance, they drove in, winding through the paths until they found a flat, spacious clearing.

It wasn’t very spacious, though; once they parked, the area shrank by half. Qi Shi’an started setting up the tent next to a tree while Shen Duoyi hauled their gear out, trip by trip.

“What’s this?” Shen Duoyi asked, pointing to a piece of equipment.

“A telescope for stargazing,” Qi Shi’an replied.

“You like stargazing?” Shen Duoyi carefully placed it on the ground, remembering the portable binoculars they’d bought. “Why did you get the binoculars, then?”

“Those are for you to mess around with.”

Once the tent was up, they crawled inside to lay out the ground mat and sleeping bags, finishing by hanging a small lantern. Shen Duoyi collapsed onto his back, exhausted. “It’s four o’clock. I want a nap.”

“Go ahead,” Qi Shi’an said, securing the tent flap and lying down beside him. “Sleep until seven. I’ll make instant noodles for dinner.”

They closed their eyes simultaneously. After the long drive and all the unpacking, sleep came quickly.

The forest buzzed with birdcalls and rustling leaves. Shen Duoyi, wrapped in his jacket, slept soundly. As the sun set, a chill crept into his dreams, prompting him to inch closer to the warm presence beside him, nuzzling his face into it.

When he opened his eyes, it was dark. He instinctively reached for a bedside lamp to check the time, only to grasp Qi Shi’an’s ear instead. That’s when he remembered they were camping.

Qi Shi’an caught his hand. “Who’s trying to take advantage of me?”

Shen Duoyi sat up, grinning. “A forest prince heard a handsome stranger arrived. He came in the dark to explore, only to realize the stranger was his long-lost rescuer. Now, he doesn’t know what to do.”

Qi Shi’an thought: So the rescuer took the initiative instead.

They lit the portable stove and a few lamps, illuminating the area. Shen Duoyi followed the signposts to fetch some spring water, returning to find Qi Shi’an already heating a pot.

Once the water boiled, Qi Shi’an dropped in two packs of instant noodles, covered the pot, and left it to sit. Clearly, he had something else in mind.

The aroma made Shen Duoyi’s stomach growl. He ripped open a pack of melon-flavored cookies. “Want one?”

Qi Shi’an glanced over. “No, I hate melon flavor.”

“Picky eater,” Shen Duoyi teased, munching on his cookie. He watched as Qi Shi’an heated a skillet, then opened two packs of marinated steak. His knife skills were practiced and swift.

“You can cook?” Shen Duoyi asked, surprised, as Qi Shi’an fed him a baby corn.

“Of course,” Qi Shi’an replied. “Why do you sound so shocked?”

“I thought you were the type to avoid even touching water,” Shen Duoyi said. “Turns out you can handle both the boardroom and the kitchen.”

The steaks sizzled in the pan. Qi Shi’an eyed the last remaining cookie in Shen Duoyi’s pack. Just as Shen Duoyi bit into it, Qi Shi’an leaned in and took a bite from the other side.

Their lips brushed, eyes locked, and Shen Duoyi clenched the empty snack wrapper tightly.

Qi Shi’an bit down on the cookie, chewed with satisfaction, and swallowed before saying, “I’m even good for the wedding chamber. Forest Prince, you’ve struck gold.”

Under the dim glow of the lamps, they finished the steaks and instant noodles. The warmth filled their bodies temporarily, but as the clock ticked past nine, the mountain wind returned with a vengeance, bringing the night’s chill.

They sat together at the entrance of the tent. Qi Shi’an sat cross-legged, a telescope in front of him and a luminous star chart in his hands. Shen Duoyi, clutching a small pair of binoculars, leaned over and asked curiously, “Is this a good time for stargazing?”

Qi Shi’an nodded. “It’s perfect. I checked the weather forecast. It’s supposed to get cloudy tomorrow, but tonight looks clear.”

He leaned forward to peer into the telescope. What he saw defied description. Shen Duoyi didn’t know what scene was unfolding in the lens, nor did he want to interrupt. Instead, he quietly picked up the star chart to study it.

They say when people pass away, they become stars in the sky. Maybe Mom and Dad are up there too.

When Qi Shi’an noticed the silence, he turned and saw Shen Duoyi staring intently at the star chart, his finger tracing the constellations, the faint green glow of his fingernail catching the light.

“Daydreaming?” Qi Shi’an asked gently.

Shen Duoyi looked up. “No, I’m just getting to know my parents’ friends up there.”

Seeing Shen Duoyi lost in thought, not complaining about boredom or interrupting his stargazing, but instead quietly processing his memories, Qi Shi’an felt a wave of tenderness. He wrapped his arm around Shen Duoyi’s shoulder, pulling him into a gentle embrace. “I think I know their friends. Let’s look together.”

“This is Cetus, the Whale. It’s massive, probably eats more than me.”

“The Spiral Nebula — isn’t it dazzling?”

“And next to it is Yaniv’s Star. If you don’t look closely, you’ll miss it.”

“Cygnus, the Swan — this one’s you. You always call me arrogant, but you tilt your chin up like a proud little swan too.”

As Qi Shi’an softly pointed out each constellation, his voice tickled Shen Duoyi’s ear. Shen Duoyi turned his head and saw Qi Shi’an’s profile, the affection so clearly written on his face. Unable to resist, he leaned in and kissed him.

Qi Shi’an set the star chart down on the grass outside the tent. With one swift motion, he pulled Shen Duoyi completely into his arms, his chest pressed against Shen Duoyi’s back. Adjusting the telescope with one hand, he whispered, “Look, Duoyi.”

Shen Duoyi leaned forward to peer through the eyepiece. The image was blurry at first, but with Qi Shi’an’s hands guiding the focus, the view suddenly cleared. The brilliance before him took his breath away.

“Wow!” Shen Duoyi gasped.

Qi Shi’an’s voice was a soft murmur against his ear. “Your dad is Yunsheng, and your mom is Jiayu. They’re up there, happy, with so many stars as their friends. Whenever you miss them, I’ll bring you here to see them. Anytime you call, I’ll come.”

Shen Duoyi turned around abruptly and threw his arms around Qi Shi’an, holding him tight.

For the love that spilled over and filled his heart.

And for the universe, vast and radiant, embracing them both.