2022 Valentine’s Day Extra

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Lovely Allergen: 2022 Valentine’s Day Extra

It was almost Valentine’s Day — the weather was starting to warm up.

Yue Zhishi really wanted to go to the aquarium, and he’d mentioned it a good few times. Song Yu didn’t say anything, but he secretly applied for leave and bought tickets — he kept quiet even up to the day before Valentine’s Day.

But Yue Zhishi was very understanding; he knew Song Yu needed to write a paper and didn’t have the time to go out and play with him, so he simply, secretly prepared a present for him, planning to give Song Yu a surprise. 

The night before Valentine’s Day, he snuck out of bed in the middle of the night and made Song Yu a loving packed lunch. It might’ve been called a ‘packed lunch’, but it was actually just some apples cut into bunnies and some daifukus he personally made.

Yue Zhishi really wasn’t any good at cooking, but he still wanted Song Yu to be able to bring something to the research lab the next day — so he made some simple, easy things.

But the daifukus took so long to make, and even though he followed the video Aunt Rong had sent over step by step, he still couldn’t get them to look as beautiful as the ones she made.

Forget it. This should be good enough.

Once he finished, he placed the box into the fridge and climbed back into bed as softly as he could.

Yue Zhishi held his breath when he felt Song Yu shift, but then Song Yu pulled him into his arms the very next moment.

Song Yu’s voice was a bit husky — most likely because he was still mostly asleep. “Cold?”

He must’ve thought he’d gone to the bathroom…

A bit unable to believe his luck, Yue Zhishi smiled and said, “No, I’m not cold.” He flipped over, returned Song Yu’s hug and snuggled into the side of Song Yu’s neck. “Sleep, gege.”

The next morning, Yue Zhishi was very hard to get out of bed; he clearly hadn’t had enough sleep, only blearily sitting up after Song Yu tried to wake him up three or four times. He saw Song Yu standing by the side of the bed, very slowly and leisurely buttoning up his shirt.

“Morning, gege…” Yue Zhishi yawned. Right as he was about to speak, another button up shirt flew onto his face, covering his head.

“It’s not that early anymore,” Song Yu mildly said. “Go clean up and put that on. Quickly.” 

“Huh?” With some surprise, Yue Zhishi pulled the shirt off his head and looked at it, realising it was the same as the one on Song Yu’s body — they were matching.

“You don’t want to go on a date?”

“I do!” It finally dawned on Yue Zhishi, and he flew off the bed. “Gege, wait for me. I’ll be really quick!”

Song Yu didn’t respond, finishing with his final button and forcing down the curl of amusement on his lips.

Before they left, Yue Zhishi took out the box of fruit and sweets he made and gave it to Song Yu.

“So you went to make this last night,” Song Yu said, opening it to look inside.

“You knew?” Yue Zhishi pouted slightly. “And here I thought you thought I went to the bathroom.” 

Smiling, Song Yu didn’t speak — he opened the car door for Yue Zhishi.

Yue Zhishi happily turned on a very sweet song once he got in. There were so many people selling fresh flowers on the streets, and people were walking around in pairs and groups. The first rays of the morning sun shone on the road, and it almost looked like a thin layer of sugar syrup; everything glimmered with a glorious, beautiful light. 

When the car stopped in front of the aquarium, Yue Zhishi became ridiculously excited, catching hold of Song Yu’s arm and swinging it a good few times. “How’d you know I wanted to come here?”

Once he finished parking, Song Yu reached over to release Yue Zhishi’s seatbelt. “Is there anything about you I don’t know about?”

Yue Zhishi gave him a smooch on the cheek with a grin. “No. Gege knows everything.”

Song Yu brought Yue Zhishi in — their first stop was at an animal performance at the seaworld with massive sea lions and clapping seals. As he watched, Yue Zhishi actually subconsciously followed along; he started clapping along with the seals.

“Ah, they got water on me!” The seals splashed water as they moved, and it all landed on the people sitting in the front row. Yue Zhishi was like a drenched little puppy, shaking his head around. When he turned around to help Song Yu with his clothes, he was smiling just like a child — and through that smile, Song Yu saw how he looked at three, at thirteen. 

“Can this handsome young man please come up and play with our seals?”

The trainer on stage reached out a hand to Yue Zhishi. Stunned, he pointed at himself and asked, “Me?”

“Yes, you! Would you like to come play with our darling seals?”

Yue Zhishi stood up in excitement. “Of course!”

As he walked over, he turned and gestured to Song Yu, his movements telling him to help him take photos. 

And so Song Yu could only take out his phone; he recorded everything for Yue Zhishi.

Yue Zhishi caused a wave of attention as soon as he got on stage. He had been born beautiful, and every single one of his movements was filled with the innocence and cheerfulness of a child — it was very easy for him to attract everyone’s gaze.

“Wow, that boy’s so good-looking.”

“Would they ask him to go up if he wasn’t?”

“He’s so handsome, take some photos, hurry!”

Listening to the people around him, nothing showed on Song Yu’s face — but he couldn’t hold back from feeling a bit unhappy.

Honestly, he was just too attractive.

Animals naturally loved Yue Zhishi, and he received the seals’ enthusiastic welcome as soon as he got on stage; they went up to him, clapping the entire way. Under the trainer’s help, Yue Zhishi stroked the seals’ heads and was unbelievably happy — he also kept looking back at Song Yu.

A seal jumped and almost pounced onto Yue Zhishi, and yet his first reaction was to say, “No no no, gege bought me this shirt, don’t…”

“Hahahahaha.”

Everyone below the stage laughed.

“All right, now let’s ask this handsome young man to choose a lucky member of the audience. The person he chooses will be given a gift!”

Yue Zhishi’s eyes glowed, and without even thinking, he immediately pointed at Song Yu. “Him, I choose him! Can I?”

“Of course you can…” The trainer was caught off guard, a bit surprised. “You chose so quickly?”

Docilely, Yue Zhishi nodded. “Mn. I want to choose him.”

Everyone in the audience turned to look at Song Yu.

He was particularly calm and unperturbed, quietly sitting there and watching the grinning and active Yue Zhishi on stage. For some reason, his cool face looked somewhat proud.

“Very well then, we shall give this gentleman a surprise gift! And thank you to this handsome young man for your help today — have a great Valentine’s Day!”

There was a small seal plushie in Yue Zhishi’s hands when he finally came back down.

“Gege, look!”

“Mn.” Song Yu wiped off the water on his face and handed him some water. “Have a drink.”

“Mn.” Yue Zhishi obediently drank a large mouthful.

“Why get other people to give this to me?” Song Yu was pinching the plushie’s face. 

Yue Zhishi didn’t hesitate at all and countered back, “Why would you ask that? I definitely would’ve chosen only you — only you are my lucky audience.”

The corners of Song Yu’s mouth crooked up, and he gave the plushie back to Yue Zhishi. “Other people would find it strange. They don’t know who I am to you.” 

Yue Zhishi felt like Song Yu was being a bit weird; it was like he was trying to say something very enigmatically.

“What are you trying to say, Song Yu Cat.” 

Arching a brow, Song Yu said, “Nothing.”

Once the show finished, everyone left one by one.

They were following the people out of the stadium, and when they reached the doors, Yue Zhishi saw two young girls standing there and looking over at them; he glanced at Song Yu.

And as expected, one of the girls called out to them just as they were about to walk past.

“Hi.” She didn’t look timid at all, appearing very lively and full of energy. “Can I add you on WeChat?”

Yue Zhishi essentially answered out of reflex, grabbing Song Yu’s arm and saying, “Sorry, he’s my boyfriend.”

The girl’s eyes widened, obviously quite startled. “Huh? B-Boyfriend…”

The other girl’s eyes were bright, and she asked Yue Zhishi to clarify, “You have a boyfriend?”

Nodding, Yue Zhishi said, “Yeah.” And then he looked up at Song Yu.

The look on Song Yu’s face said he wanted to laugh.

He was being so protective — but he’d gotten it wrong.

“He has a boyfriend,” she said to the girl who’d initially called out, nudging her shoulders.

“Oh, I see…” The other girl smiled with some regret. “Then I wish you guys a great Valentine’s Day!”

Only then did Yue Zhishi understand — the girl had been asking for his WeChat.

Somewhat embarrassed, he ruffled his hair. “Thank you. I hope you guys enjoy today as well.”

Staring at the apologetic look on Yue Zhishi’s face, Song Yu waited for the girls to leave, and then he asked, “Are you regretting it?”

Yue Zhishi looked up at him, finding his question a bit random. “Regretting what?”

“That you didn’t give her your WeChat.” Song Yu deliberately said, “You probably feel really bad. You should be able to catch up to her if you chase after them now.”

Yue Zhishi chuckled and caught Song Yu’s hand. “Why do you like drinking vinegar so much?”

And then, he raised Song Yu’s hand and gave it a kiss. “You’re really like a cat.”

Song Yu didn’t say anything — he was actually very susceptible to this version of Yue Zhishi’s coaxing.

The Arctic region of the aquarium was very cold, but the little penguins were way too cute. Yue Zhishi was pretty much plastered onto the glass, both of his hands pressed onto it, and his face wasn’t too far away from coming into contact with it as well. He peacefully observed the baby penguins inside the exhibit.

“You like them that much?” Song Yu gave the back of Yue Zhishi’s neck a squeeze. “You’ve watched them for almost ten minutes now.”

Ticklish, Yue Zhishi curled his neck away, turning around to smile at Song Yu. “They’re really cute.”

You’re really cute too.

Song Yu let out a soft laugh. “Then go ahead and keep watching them. We can stay here the entire afternoon.”

“No, no. I want to look at the sharks and stingrays too.”

The Valentine’s Day atmosphere was very thick — all the guests in the aquarium were set off into groups of twos. A small child had actually managed to sneak in to sell some flowers. Yue Zhishi didn’t have much resistance to other people’s begging, so when the child cutely asked if he could buy some flowers, Yue Zhishi bought one of his roses.

“Thank you, gege. You’re so handsome, gege.” The child smiled, and his teeth were bright and shining.

Yue Zhishi bent at the waist and gave him a pat on the head. “What a sweet talker.” 

He waited for the child to walk away before straightening back up.

“Here, for you,” Yue Zhishi said to Song Yu, handing the rose to him with a laugh.

And yet Song Yu pushed the flower behind Yue Zhishi’s ear, even studying for a moment before saying, “Mn.”

“Mn what?” Yue Zhishi smiled.

“It really suits you.”

Song Yu had ordered a big bouquet of flowers, and since it hadn’t arrived yet, he left this single flower in Yue Zhishi’s care.

They arrived at the shark area in the aquarium, and the luminous blue water, blocked by glass as it surrounded them, glistened and shimmered. It was a weekday morning, so there weren’t many people around; Song Yu and Yue Zhishi stood in the middle of the seawater, their eyes watching those beautiful dancing, fluttering schools of fish.

Yue Zhishi turned to look at Song Yu. Blue light rippled across the side of his handsome yet elegant face, and there was a pair of silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. The schools of fishes floated across the lenses like a nebula, hazy and indistinct.

“Didn’t you want to look at the sharks?” Song Yu wasn’t looking at him, only quietly asking, “Why are you looking at me?”

Yue Zhishi couldn’t hide his amusement. “I don’t think the sharks will come out.”

“Why not?” Song Yu turned to look at him.

He had been waiting for this turn of the head — Yue Zhishi suddenly rose onto his toes, wanting to kiss him.

Except Song Yu intentionally pulled back a bit, his own eyes fixed on Yue Zhishi’s eyes.

Yue Zhishi frowned at having his kiss ‘rejected’, and he let out a small whine like a puppy without even realising. He looked so very sad.

“Unhappy already?” Song Yu chuckled and lowered his head to kiss him.

The fishes gathered together temporarily before scattering in all directions at a sudden wrinkle in the water; they were like the stars, twinkling in and out. 

Yue Zhishi, having received the kiss he wanted, lightly landed back down on his feet. His eyes were clear and pure, and now, he answered Song Yu’s previous question with a satisfied heart. “The sharks won’t come out because they don’t want to be lightbulbs.”

Song Yu’s mouth curled up imperceptibly, and then he turned away, staring at the fishes in the water. He was silent for a good few seconds.

It was as though he was embarrassed.

“Gege.”

Yue Zhishi took a step closer to him, his head landing lightly on Song Yu’s shoulder.

The shadows of their bodies were reflected in that everflowing, ever fluctuating blue light.

“Thank you for coming here with me.” His voice carried a pure happiness. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Mn.” Song Yu lifted a hand. His hand was a bit cold, but Yue Zhishi’s cheeks were very hot — very warming.

He shifted his face over slightly and gave the top of Yue Zhishi’s curly head a kiss.

“I love you.”

Hearing that, Yue Zhishi felt like joy rushed in and filled up his heart completely — there wasn’t a single shred of empty space left.

“I love you too, gege. I’ll love you forever.”

The fishes, coming and going, witnessed their love.

“Oh by the way, how long is your leave, gege? I think there’s a hot spring hotel nearby, maybe today we can…”

“Yue Zhishi, you sure do ask for a lot.”

Yue Zhishi stroked his arm. “Because it’s Valentine’s Day today.”

15 January 2023 Extra