Translator: reiyu; Editor: GlitteryPanda
They sat on the bench under the tree and listened to Shen Fengsheng singing. There were few tourists in the old house, so Lin Feiran daringly pillowed his head on Gu Kaifeng’s shoulder, and Gu Kaifeng put his arm around Lin Feiran’s waist. Two or three tourists passed by and glanced curiously at the two beautiful youths leisurely leaning against each other under the poinciana tree. Lin Feiran moved, a little uncomfortable, but Gu Kaifeng held him in place and said, “Lean on me. It’s fine.”
Lin Feiran smiled happily, like a cat taking an afternoon nap.
Gu Kaifeng held a poinciana flower that had fallen from a branch and said, “In flower language, the poinciana means parting ways and thinking of someone.”
Lin Feiran looked at him with admiration. “It’s rather fitting, then.”
Gu Kaifeng understood astrology and he knew the flower language, very befitting of a man born gay! Not at all like straight men who had no understanding of romance at all!
The two remained under the tree, listening to the singing, but they didn’t end up staying till closing time. They still had to bring the costume spirit’s original form, which was the costume, to the museum. After returning it, the costume spirit’s original form would be preserved here, and the costume spirit would be able to keep Shen Fengsheng company.
Lin Feiran had intended to say goodbye to the costume spirit, but seeing that Shen Fengsheng was still singing with no intention of stopping and the costume he wore would not turn back into a human, Lin Feiran tapped Gu Kaifeng and said, “It’s about time. Let’s go.”
They looked for someone who worked in the museum office. Lin Feiran explained the situation to the employee, and because they had talked on the phone before, everything went smoothly. According to procedure, Lin Feiran filled out some forms and documents, then turned the costume over. The employee said he would do his best to verify it. After the donation had been verified as one of Shen Fengsheng’s belongings he would inform Lin Feiran and give him a donor’s receipt.
As they walked out of the old house, Shen Fengsheng was still singing, not in the least bit tired. By the light of evening, the poincianas were unbearably beautiful, as if a god had accidentally spilled paint into the mortal world.
“Whoo…” Lin Feiran let out a breath, extended his arms and stretched. He exclaimed, “Another matter resolved.”
“RanRan is really amazing.” As usual, Gu Kaifeng gave praise. “A self-taught Yin-Yang master.”
Lin Feiran said modestly, “Don’t. I’m still a ways from being a Yin-Yang master.”
Gu Kaifeng turned away and smiled to himself.
Lin Feiran rubbed his stomach and licked his lips like a hungry cat. “Come on, I’ll take you to that underground restaurant. Everything there is delicious. I’ll order a variety of dishes so you must eat more.”
“All right.” Gu Kaifeng was also so hungry his chest was touching his back. “I think I can eat two bowls of rice.”
(T/N: So hungry your abdomen seems hollow/empty: with nothing in between, your chest would touch your back.)
Lin Feiran replied instantly, “I can eat three!”
Neither of them were willing to lose!
Lin Feiran had come to A City before, so over the next two days he took Gu Kaifeng to all the places he liked best. During the day, the two of them ate, played and shopped their fill, and in the evening, they returned to the hotel and raced to finish their homework. On the evening of the last day of vacation, they took the high-speed rail back and successfully got their luggage back into the dorm before the school gates closed. They distributed gifts produced locally in A City to their classmates, and their vacation ended perfectly.
The next week, a special delivery from A City arrived at Gu Kaifeng’s house. In it was the donation recognition letter from Shen Fengsheng’s old residence’s museum, a small confirmation booklet with a bright red covering. Gu Kaifeng opened the package in the entryway and picked the booklet out with two fingers. Glancing at the excited Lin Feiran beside him, he teased, “Why does the recognition letter look like this? It looks like a marriage certificate.”
Lin Feiran draped himself over Gu Kaifeng. “Does it?”
“It does.” Gu Kaifeng flipped open the booklet and read out with a serious face, “… The marriage application fulfils the rules of marital law, and is now registered. This acknowledgement and the undersigned, Lin Feiran…”
Lin Feiran’s eyes had crinkled with his smile. With a disappointment that was hard to notice, he said, “You read it like it’s real.”
Gu Kaifeng keenly noticed Lin Feiran’s feelings. He caught hold of the back of Lin Feiran’s neck, looked down and pressed his forehead to Lin Feiran’s. Calmly, he said, “RanRan, in the future, it’ll definitely be real.”
Lin Feiran blinked his beautiful eyes. “Mm.”
Gu Kaifeng touched Lin Feiran’s nose with his own. “When we graduate from university, we’ll go out of the country and get married. What kind of wedding would you like, Chinese style or Western style? Shall we go on a holiday and get married there?”
“It’s still too early to talk about marriage. We don’t have to think about it yet…” Lin Feiran could not stop himself from smiling. Several seconds later he whispered, “Western style then. We can wear suits together. I’ve already picked out several styles that you’ll look very handsome in.” As Lin Feiran spoke he blinked innocently and said, blushing, “I.. I just sometimes have free time to look at such things…”
“All right.” Gu Kaifeng’s gaze was heated. “I know you can’t wait to marry me.”
Lin Feiran: “No…”
Gu Kaifeng picked him up and said gently, “Let’s go to my room and you can explain slowly.”
Several small fires seemed to have been set in the house. Even the air in the room seemed to be heated from them both.
At the same time, a thousand miles away, the garden full of poinciana was also blooming like fire. The crowns of the trees waved in the wind, red flying through the sky.