By Zephyria 
After waking up, Jing Mian couldn’t fall back asleep.
The brief conversation he had just shared with his husband replayed in his mind, stirring an inexplicable tension within him.
He tried to reassure himself, perhaps the event had ended earlier than expected, and Mr. Ren had returned ahead of time to take him out for a late-night snack.
Though they had never officially gone on a date, whenever he missed dinner due to club training, the two of them would occasionally stroll through the small night market about a kilometer from Maple Leaf, buying some snacks they liked before heading back.
Jing Mian sank into the sofa, his gaze drifting to the bouquet by the floor-to-ceiling window in the distance. Despite careful preservation, the colors remained vibrant, though the edges of the petals had begun to wilt slightly.
He pressed his lips together, lost in thought.
Qixi Festival…
Should he buy flowers for his husband?
Even though they were married, even if theirs was a contractual marriage, they should still uphold the same sense of ritual as any ordinary couple.
Besides, Mr. Ren had done the same for him more than once.
The thought solidified into resolve, and Jing Mian acted decisively.
He stood up, put on his coat, but just as he was about to leave, it occurred to him that stepping out now might mean missing his husband, who could arrive home at any moment to pick him up.
Leaning against the entryway, Jing Mian pulled out his phone, its faint glow illuminating his face.
On the screen were listings for the florists nearest to Maple Leaf.
His fingers swiped, and just as he completed the order, a soft ding-dong sounded from the entryway.
It was the automatic chime that played whenever the villa’s front door was unlocked by its owner.
Jing Mian: “!”
Had his husband arrived home so soon?
The young man lowered his eyes and saw that the order status now read “Processing, No Refunds Allowed Without Merchant Approval.”
His lashes fluttered slightly as he quickly dialed the florist.
“Hello? Yes…”
The voice on the other end answered cheerfully: “Hello, sir! You just placed an order, correct? Would you like to include a message on the card? Or is it simply for your beloved?”
Jing Mian’s lashes trembled again. The words asking to cancel the order stuck in his throat. After a brief hesitation, he found himself changing his mind and murmuring, “Just write… ‘Happy Holidays, Husband.'”
The florist responded brightly, “Got it! We’ll deliver it right away.”
Jing Mian hurriedly interjected, “Wait—”
“Could you deliver it a bit later?”
The clerk asked, “What time would you prefer, sir?”
Jing Mian glanced at the clock. “Around ten… Would that work?”
By then, no matter where Mr. Ren took him, they would likely be back home.
“No problem! Given the holiday, we’ll be open until midnight.”
Before hanging up, Jing Mian lowered his voice. “Thank you.”
The customer’s voice was pleasant and polite, and the clerk responded with enthusiasm:
“You’re very welcome. Thank you for your patronage!”
As the screen dimmed, the sound of the door unlocking echoed from the entryway.
Dressed and ready, Jing Mian found himself locking eyes with Mr. Ren, who had just stepped in from the night.
Jing Mian froze, his heartbeat inexplicably quickening.
“You’re back so soon?”
The man replied, “The event ended early.”
The clock ticked softly in the background.
They stood there in the dimness, staring at each other, an odd silence stretching between them.
Perhaps the significance of this particular holiday had subtly influenced them as well.
Jing Mian realized he hadn’t even changed his shoes yet.
Pressing his lips together, he broke the quiet tension first, bending down slightly as he murmured, “Husband, just give me a moment…”
He slipped off his slippers, fingers reaching behind to pull on his shoes one by one.
Jing Mian was about to bend down to tie his shoelaces when he suddenly noticed a pair of leather shoes stopping right in front of him. The previously motionless man now blocked the soft, dim light with his tall silhouette.
Abruptly, one of those legs slightly bent and lowered.
By the time Jing Mian realized what was happening, a hand had already reached past his fingers to take the shoelace. A faint warmth transmitted through the touch, those hands were slender, pale, and distinctly knuckled. The shoelace wound around slightly curled fingertips, twisting and looping.
Mr. Ren… was tying his shoelaces for him.
Jing Mian’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as he stammered, “Husband, um, I can do it myself…”
By the time his words trailed off,
One shoelace had already been neatly tied.
Jing Mian looked down at the bow, ten times more perfect than anything he could manage himself: “…”
A few seconds later,
An identical bow appeared on the other shoe.
As Jing Mian watched the man straighten up, he thought silently,
Was there anything in this world Mr. Ren couldn’t do?
“Why are you embarrassed?” Standing up brought them unusually close. The hanging straps of Jing Mian’s jacket brushed against the man’s lapel, causing them to lift slightly. Lowering his gaze, Jing Mian heard Mr. Ren’s voice: “Didn’t I do this for you many times when you were little?”
Jing Mian’s throat moved slightly.
Being little… was entirely different from now.
Of course, he couldn’t say that out loud. Jing Mian could only murmur in protest, “…I’m not embarrassed.”
Once everything was settled, they set off quickly.
It wasn’t until Jing Mian was seated in the passenger side that he realized he still didn’t know their destination or plans for the evening.
So he asked, “Where are we going?”
Just as Jing Mian fastened his seatbelt, he heard Mr. Ren’s low voice:
“A date.”
The metallic click of the seatbelt seemed to freeze abruptly in the car’s interior. Jing Mian’s fingers paused, his chest pressing against a suddenly rampant heartbeat.
“I’m sorry.”
Mr. Ren’s deep, magnetic voice broke the silence as he said quietly, “I didn’t spend last Valentine’s Day with you.”
“I didn’t realize it was such a meaningful occasion for partners.”
“But I’ll make it up to you.”
Mr. Ren’s expression was so earnest that Jing Mian couldn’t look away.
“Whatever others have, my little one must have too.”
Husband said.
Jing Mian pressed his lips together slightly.
His throat felt dry, his breath momentarily forgotten.
“I’ve never been in a relationship before.”
Ren Xingwan’s voice was quiet as he continued, “But I can learn.”
“Learn how to be a good boyfriend, a good husband.”
……
Jing Mian’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.
The car started moving slowly.
The buildings of Maple Leaf Residence began receding behind them, yellowed leaves covering the soil as a crisp breeze rustled across the ground.
Yet his heartbeat only grew louder.
Dating.
In this context, it was probably… just another term for their contractual marriage.
Jing Mian silently reminded himself that he was overthinking it.
Only…
“You’re already perfect as you are.”
Jing Mian held onto the seatbelt as the car left Maple Leaf Courtyard, murmuring softly, “The way you are now is just right.”
This time, Mr. Ren didn’t respond.
Only his fingers on the steering wheel lingered for a long moment before finally tightening slightly.
During school, Jing Mian rarely went out for meals or leisure with others. Even when he had free time, it was almost entirely devoted to club training, livestreaming, or exam preparation.
Thus, his experience with dating activities was equally lacking.
But considering Mr. Ren’s status, their options were likely limited, they couldn’t go anywhere with dense crowds, for starters.
Mr. Ren didn’t specify their destination, and Jing Mian guessed the possible options might include a restaurant, cinema, ice rink, or karaoke bar…
But the latter two clearly didn’t match his husband’s temperament, so Jing Mian silently ruled them out.
Then the car left the city limits.
The journey took so long that Jing Mian dozed off briefly.
When he opened his eyes again, the scenery outside had grown increasingly unfamiliar. With the car window rolled down, the air turned cool and moist, carrying a distinct briny freshness.
As they neared the port, Jing Mian’s bewilderment grew.
Because stretching before them along the expansive coastline was a magnificent cruise ship, its lights shimmering brilliantly against the harbor’s edge.
The closer they got, the more enormous the vessel’s silhouette became.
…
A cruise ship?
?
??!
Jing Mian thought to himself, this couldn’t be real.
For an ordinary couple’s Qixi Festival celebration, surely Mr. Ren wouldn’t actually bring him to a cruise ship?
These doubts only dissipated completely when the man parked the car, took his hand, and they were escorted by what appeared to be staff through the ship’s private entrance.
He’d never been to such a place before, or rather, the last time he’d boarded a private yacht was for a business event with his father, but that had been much smaller and far less luxurious.
Instinctively tightening his grip on Mr. Ren’s hand, he suddenly remembered the attendant was still present and quietly withdrew it.
“You can hold my hand.”
The man glanced sideways, lowering his voice slightly as he leaned down, as if offering reassurance: “No one here will talk.”
Jing Mian’s eyelashes fluttered.
A place with no restraints, undisturbed by anyone.
Had… the entire ship been chartered?
From what he could see, Jing Mian could roughly identify various facilities and areas, themed restaurants, movie screens, bars, outdoor pools, hot springs… Everything was impeccably clean and luxurious, spanning from bow to stern.
But the most breathtaking space was undoubtedly the deck.
As Jing Mian stood awestruck, he spotted Yu Nian in a crisp suit waving at them from a distance:
“Brother Ren! Mr. Jing!”
Yu Nian jogged over and asked Jing Mian, “Are you hungry? The chefs have prepared dishes and pastries—you can dine on the sixth floor or the open deck.”
Jing Mian politely declined: “We ate dinner earlier, not hungry yet.”
“Thank you, Brother Yu Nian.”
“Don’t mention it.” Yu Nian smiled. “Just let me know whenever you want something—the chefs are on standby.”
“Though you came a bit too late for the sunset. They say the best view is from the starboard side near midship.” Yu Nian pointed toward the glass railings nearby. “Right where we’re standing now, tourists often come specifically for this spot. The scenery is spectacular.”
Jing Mian shook his head slightly: “It’s alright, the view now is beautiful.”
“Even just feeling the breeze is wonderful.”
After chatting briefly with the young man, Yu Nian, for some reason, kept glancing at his watch with unusual frequency.
Soon after, Yu Nian nodded and excused himself.
Night enveloped the deck, the darkening sky tinting the railings’ edges with quiet solitude.
In such a place, far from familiar streets and crowds, it felt like being stranded on an isolated island surrounded by endless sea, as if only he and Mr. Ren existed in this world.
Holding his husband’s hand, Jing Mian softly murmured after gradually processing the overwhelming experience:
“Thank you, Husband.”
Just then, he heard a faint sound.
The sound didn’t seem nearby, but rather came from the distant emptiness, more precisely, like the boundless night sky far beyond the yacht.
Suddenly, a muffled explosion burst forth from the night sky.
Following it was a dazzling firework.
It almost instantly illuminated Jing Mian’s face.
Jing Mian froze.
His gaze gradually stilled.
Because as that firework faded, it was followed by countless more sounds and a grand display of fireworks that nearly filled the entire horizon and sky.
It was too sudden, the originally calm sea was instantly dyed in shimmering light, interwoven with overwhelming sounds that enveloped his hearing.
Jing Mian was stunned for a long time, watching almost dazedly.
“MianMian.”
The voice wasn’t loud, but the boy still heard it.
“Hmm?”
“Can you hear me?”
Jing Mian: “Yes.”
When Jing Mian regained his senses, he noticed the man leaning down.
A familiar and pleasant scent drew near, enveloping him as Mr. Ren turned his striking, well defined profile, and kissed the boy’s cheek.
The touch was soft, landing lightly, as if carrying unspoken tenderness and solemnity.
Jing Mian held his breath.
His pupils trembled.
His lips parted slightly in surprise.
The first cheek kiss from his husband.
In that brief, silent moment, tiny sparks spread from that spot, gathering into an electric current that exploded, instantly numbing half his face.
The brilliant fireworks reflected in his eyes were now entirely replaced by the man’s deep, handsome features.
Mr. Ren’s irises were very light, yet his lashes were thick and dark when they met his gaze, casting interlaced shadows that seemed to captivate the soul.
His deep voice suppressed all the indescribable excitement around them, mesmerizing yet solemn.
Jing Mian’s fingers curled slightly as he lifted his face in confusion to look at the man. His heartbeat slowed abnormally at this moment, until it was soundless.
Mr. Ren gazed down at him,
and spoke softly:
“I like you.”