The weather was getting hotter. EL's development in the country was gradually stabilizing. As a result, Ye Erlan found himself unexpectedly at leisure. He didn't often go to the studio anymore, and even fewer times to the physical store. Most of the time, he stayed at home, drawing sketches and sipping tea. Ning Qian always said that he looked like a noble young master, but in fact, he was more like an old man enjoying a peaceful life.
Ye Erlan didn't get up early today. The power went out around three or four o'clock last night. Without the air - conditioner, the night was extremely sweltering. When he got up in the morning, he felt sweaty all over. So he simply took a shower.
After taking a shower and changing his clothes, he heard someone knocking on the door. Ye Erlan thought it might be Ning Qian. Coming to find him at this time, maybe something had happened at EL. His phone had run out of battery and shut down last night. Even if someone called, he wouldn't have heard it.
He didn't even have time to dry his hair properly. He just wiped it a few times with a towel and then went to open the door.
"Good morning!"
It wasn't Ning Qian who came, but that "mysterious" neighbor, Lin Xian.
Ye Erlan secretly thought that if he had known it was this guy, he should have dried his hair first. Then he asked lazily, "Why are you here?"
"Surprise! Happy birthday."
Lin Xian took out a large bunch of baby's breath from behind him. It was pure white, looking just like the stars in the sky. He thought this flower was just like his feelings for Ye Erlan, true love.
Ye Erlan's expression was a bit dull. Today... What day was it? Was it his birthday? It seemed that he hadn't celebrated his birthday for many years. It started when he went abroad. How could a person who couldn't even solve the problem of food and clothing dare to expect a birthday?
Later, even when he had money and fame, he gradually got used to not celebrating his birthday and slowly even forgot this so - called birthday.
This guy Lin Xian actually remembered his birthday...
When they were deskmates, his birthday always happened to fall during the monthly exams. He wasn't the kind of person who would publicize his birthday everywhere. To be honest, it was just a coincidence. Lin Xian casually asked when his birthday was. Could it be that he remembered it at that time? Somehow, he didn't know if he was touched or warmed. He even felt like crying.
This guy Lin Xian...
He even brought flowers, white baby's breath, which was Ye Erlan's favorite. It represented true love and pure love. Ye Erlan never thought that homosexuality was bad. In his heart, he always believed that it was the most beautiful and purest love in the world.
Seeing that Ye Erlan seemed about to cry, Lin Xian felt a bit panicked for no reason. It was the first time this boy had cried in front of him. How should he comfort him?
"Yezi, don't cry. If you're touched, just... just marry me."
Ye Erlan gave him a sideways glance. This guy was always so rascally. But what could he do? It seemed that after all these years, he was still completely under his spell. This cheeky look didn't seem like the national heartthrob Lin Xian that the girls talked about.
He turned around and walked inside. After walking a few steps, he suddenly turned back, took the flowers, and then continued walking in. After a few seconds, seeing that there was no movement at the door, he suddenly felt like laughing. Was this guy still waiting at the door?
"Aren't you here to celebrate my birthday? I've accepted your flowers. I can't very well keep you out, can I?"
Hearing his words, Lin Xian grinned like a flower and quickly changed his shoes and walked in.
When he reached the living room, Ye Erlan was just about to pick up the hair dryer to dry his hair. Suddenly, as if possessed, Lin Xian walked over, took the hair dryer from Ye Erlan's hand, and inserted his other hand into Ye Erlan's hair, slowly drying it.
Ye Erlan felt inexplicably uncomfortable at the moment. He half - turned and said, "What are you doing?"
"Don't move. I'll dry your hair for you."
His voice was very gentle, like the morning breeze, gently floating into his ears around his cheeks, delicate and heart - tugging.
Lin Xian secretly thought in his heart that this guy's hair was so smooth, and the smell of the shampoo was also nice. Oh, this boy smelled so good. He was just crazy about him.
Ye Erlan's hair wasn't very long. Even though he often stayed up late to catch up on manuscripts, his hair loss wasn't very serious. When he touched it, it was soft and comfortable, like touching a pet.
After the hair was dried, Ye Erlan was just thinking about what topic to start to avoid the awkwardness. While he was still纠结ing, he heard Lin Xian speak, "Have you had breakfast?"
Ye Erlan suddenly looked up. What did this guy mean? Did he want to mess up his kitchen again? This was simply outrageous! Although a plate or two didn't matter, but always doing this would ruin his mood for cooking.
Lin Xian obviously saw what he was thinking. He timidly touched his nose and said, "No. I haven't had breakfast either. I was thinking that if you hadn't eaten either, we could go out and eat."
Fortunately, it turned out that he wasn't going to mess up his kitchen again.
"Okay. I'll change my clothes. Wait a minute."
It only took Ye Erlan a short while to go back to his room to change clothes. But when choosing clothes, as if possessed, he chose a white T - shirt. When he opened the door, he realized something was wrong. Lin Xian was wearing black. His outfit seemed to be a couple's outfit with Lin Xian's.
Fortunately, Lin Xian didn't say anything. He just took Ye Erlan to the garage and drove. After about half an hour, they stopped. There was a wonton shop beside them. It looked like an old - fashioned shop. In this kind of alley, it was probably not easy to find usually.
"I often come to this shop. The taste is very authentic. Although it can't compare with the shop outside our high - school, it's still quite good."
The shop outside the high - school...
It was a shop run by an old couple. It was said that their child was studying there. At that time, the conditions were difficult. There weren't many delicious things outside the school, and parents weren't allowed to send meals. So the two old people simply opened a shop outside the school. They always made the wontons that their child liked the most. The wontons had thin skins and big fillings, and the soup was very fresh.
Gradually, the students in the school all liked the taste of this shop. Later, when their child graduated, they didn't move away. Instead, they always kept the shop. By the time Lin Xian was in school, there were many delicious things around the school. But only this shop, although it was outside the school, seemed to be the signature of their school.
Ye Erlan's first time eating there was also with Lin Xian. At that time, they often said that the wontons in this shop were simply the taste of their dreams. Because Ye Erlan was always obsessed with that shop, Lin Xian also got used to the wontons there.
It was also because Ye Erlan liked it that Lin Xian noticed the shop in front of them now. The taste of this shop was somewhat similar to the one back then. Over the years, every time he missed Ye Erlan, he would come here and order two bowls. He would put one bowl on the opposite table and eat the other one himself. He always felt as if Ye Erlan was accompanying him.
"Xiaolin, why did you bring a friend today? Is he back?" As soon as the landlady saw Lin Xian come in, she quickly greeted him warmly. She also saw Ye Erlan who came with him. He was a new face, but the landlady was almost certain that this was the person for whom Lin Xian had been ordering food all these years.
"Yes, it's him. You have to keep it a secret for me. Otherwise, my fans might disturb your quiet place." Lin Xian joked, and then told the landlady to follow the old rules.
"I'm a regular here. The landlady has always been doing business with the neighbors in this neighborhood. She also wants a quiet place. So here, Lin Xian is just an ordinary Lin Xian."
Ye Erlan smiled faintly, thinking that the last time the two of them ate wontons together was a long time ago. Time had passed like a fleeting cloud. Back then, the two of them were wearing school uniforms and didn't have much money in their pockets. Now, one was a big star, and he himself had also achieved success in his career.
He inexplicably felt a sense of time overlapping.
The landlady quickly served the food. In front of Ye Erlan was a plate of very spicy wontons without scallions or coriander.
Seeing that he didn't pick up his chopsticks for a long time, Lin Xian thought that after all these years, his taste had changed and he no longer ate such spicy food. For a moment, he was a bit nervous. "If... if you don't like it, I'll change a bowl."
Ye Erlan shook his head and picked up his chopsticks to eat slowly. He actually wanted to tell Lin Xian that he was in a daze not because the food didn't suit his taste, but because it suited his taste too well. After all these years, Lin Xian still remembered his eating preferences so clearly.
And the baby's breath just now.
Lin Xian, Lin Xian. Could it be that you're really in love with me...
He ate faster and faster, almost gobbling it up. If Ning Qian were here, she would probably be stunned. In Ning Qian's heart, Ye Erlan always did things slowly, like a noble young master. He never ate so fast.
Lin Xian didn't react much until he saw Ye Erlan cough a few times, with tears in his eyes. He quickly half - stood up, handing over tissues and tea. "Eat slowly. Don't be in such a hurry. If it's too spicy, we'll change a bowl."
"Cough, it's okay. It's delicious." Ye Erlan quickly explained, for fear that Lin Xian would feel bad. He explained a few more words, "The taste is very good. I just ate in a hurry because I like it."
Hearing him say this, Lin Xian didn't insist anymore. Instead, he got up and asked the landlady for another cup, pouring soy milk and letting it cool for Ye Erlan.
After breakfast, Ye Erlan felt refreshed. One reason was that what Lin Xian had done had warmed his heart. The other reason was that the taste of this shop was really similar to the one back then. It seemed that these years had all been a dream.
He and Lin Xian were still the young boys they used to be.