After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

Chen Xu and Li Muzi planned to stay here for a while but needed to return home soon as the year-end approached.

That night, under Chen Xu’s strong suggestion, they drove over a dozen kilometers to another beach to attend a local bonfire party.

Before coming, Chen Xu had done plenty of research and made a list of things to do and eat during their stay. The weather in Jiang Hua had been awful with freezing rain, and since winter break started, everyone had been cooped up at home and nearly driven crazy with boredom.

The four of them drove an SUV from the villa’s underground parking lot and took the highway toward another small town. The coastline stretched out infinitely, disappearing into the horizon.

By the time they reached their destination, it was getting dark. The setting sun blended with the coastline, and the deep blue sea reflected the fading twilight, creating a serene and profound beauty. A bonfire was already burning on the beach, with flames shooting straight up into the sky from the pile of wood.

The bonfire party took place once a week, and besides local villagers, tourists often came to join in. The beach was bustling with people barbecuing and playing rhythmic music.

Chen Xu, Li Muzi, and Jiang Shiyu got out of the car first, while the driver, Shen Li, went to find a parking spot.

Li Muzi was excited by the lively scene before them and whispered to Jiang Shiyu.

“Wow, so many people, and it’s so lively!”

Jiang Shiyu had been staying near the villa for the past few days, where it was relatively quiet, so he wasn’t used to suddenly seeing so many people. However, his bright black eyes revealed his inner joy.

“They’re barbecuing over there, and that’s a huge lamb—it smells so good. Look over there, they’re playing games, and their traditional costumes are so beautiful!”

Li Muzi and Jiang Shiyu, like two curious kittens, huddled together, their eyes darting around, unable to take it all in at once.

“Do you guys want drinks? I’m going to buy some,” Chen Xu asked from the side.

“I want coconut water,” Li Muzi raised his hand.

“I’ll have coconut water too, thank you,” Jiang Shiyu said softly, his voice gentle in the night.

Chen Xu left to get drinks for them. Meanwhile, the two curious kittens stayed at the edge, watching and envying the gathering before them.

Jiang Shiyu watched others dance for a while, occasionally glancing toward the road. Li Muzi noticed his distraction and asked what he was looking at.

“Shen Li seems to have been parking for a long time. Why isn’t he back yet?”

“There’s a bonfire party here, so parking nearby might be tough,” Li Muzi guessed.

Jiang Shiyu lingered for a moment, then refocused on the towering bonfire before him.

Since he had fallen ill and been hospitalized, he and Li Muzi hadn’t talked much. Now, seeing how they interacted, Li Muzi was bursting with questions.

“Shiyu, have you and Shen Li made up?”

Jiang Shiyu looked down at the sand, absentmindedly tapping his knees with his fingers. “Mhm.”

“Did he remember you?” Li Muzi asked, eyes wide.

Jiang Shiyu shook his head.

“Then what is this, a case of history repeating itself?”

Jiang Shiyu decided to order a book titled *The Art of Conversation* online and give it to Muzi later.

“This is called a fresh start, Muzi.”

“What about everything you went through before? Is it just forgotten?”

Jiang Shiyu took a deep breath, his gaze drifting to the lively crowd in the distance. He no longer seemed as sad or despondent as he used to when discussing his past with Shen Li.

“What happened before will always be there, but it won’t affect what we have now. Whether it’s in the past or the present, I like him, and he likes me. That’s all that matters.”

“Aren’t you going to feel regretful?” Li Muzi asked, resting his face on his hands in confusion.

After all, the memories that belonged exclusively to them now only resided with one person.

Jiang Shiyu’s eyes sparkled as the sea breeze lifted his hair, revealing his fair, full forehead. He smiled calmly and said, “There’s still some regret, but life is always full of regrets, isn’t it? Being content with the present is enough.”

Li Muzi studied him, feeling that his good friend had changed somehow. He seemed to have become stronger and more insightful. Before, he had been fragile like a crystal on the verge of shattering due to Shen Li’s amnesia. Now, that crystal seemed to have built a more robust fortress and was shining even brighter.

As the two chatted, a group of boys suddenly approached, pushing one of them forward amid a lot of teasing. The boy, dressed casually and looking like a student on a trip, blushed as he held out two cups of orange drinks. Jiang Shiyu was lost in thought, wondering where Shen Li had gone and whether he should go out and check. Suddenly, the surroundings became lively.

These boys were indeed college students, here on a vacation. They had been playing games nearby when one of them lost a game of Truth or Dare and was punished by having to ask a stranger for their WeChat. His friends had scanned the crowd and immediately focused on the two boys sitting at the edge—one cold and the other radiant, both with beautiful features.

The dare was to ask one of them for their WeChat. The boy had already noticed Jiang Shiyu and the others when they got out of the car. He had never seen such a delicate and handsome guy before and had been sneaking glances at them during the game.

Li Muzi, being sharp, saw through the boy’s intentions before he even got close. The bonfire party wasn’t that big, and there wasn’t much room to hide, so he just squatted there, watching the boy approach.

It was the boy’s first time asking for someone’s WeChat, so he was naturally nervous. His friends teased him from behind, so he had no choice but to brace himself and step forward. It wasn’t until his shadow fell over them that Jiang Shiyu slowly looked up.

The boy’s face turned even redder when he saw Jiang Shiyu’s face. The hand holding the drink trembled slightly.

Earlier, they could only see his outline from a distance because he habitually kept his head down. Now, with the two of them standing face to face, the boy looked up at him, and his delicate, beautiful face was illuminated by the light. The boy felt his heartbeat quicken, and his breath became hot.

The boy standing before him had a refined and handsome face, with brows like mountains and eyes like water. His skin was fair, and his lips were red, with a small face framed by clear, cold eyes. His long, thick eyelashes fluttered softly, resembling those of a newborn pet, evoking a sense of affection.

Jiang Shiyu looked at the boy in front of him, tilting his head in confusion. “What’s up?”

Not only was the boy good-looking, but his voice was also sweet and soft, like a clear spring in the bamboo grove.

The boy’s face turned even redder, and his throat seemed blocked with cotton, preventing him from uttering a single word.

But his friends weren’t far off, waiting for him to finish the dare. If he chickened out and returned now, they would definitely mock him. Gritting his teeth, the boy handed over the drinks and said, “My friends and I were playing a game just now, and I lost. My punishment is to ask for your WeChat. Is that okay?”

Before Jiang Shiyu could respond, the boy quickly added, “It’s okay if it’s inconvenient. These drinks are for you as an apology for bothering you.”

Jiang Shiyu glanced at the guys nearby who were watching the scene unfold and then returned his gaze to the nervous boy holding the drink, whose hand was trembling. After a few seconds, he reached out and accepted the drink.

The boy’s face lit up with surprise.

“Thank you for the drink, but I won’t add you on WeChat. My boyfriend would get jealous if he found out.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the boy’s expression shifted from joy to disappointment. Boyfriend…

A minute later, the boy walked back to his group of friends who immediately started teasing him, asking if he managed to get the WeChat. They had seen Jiang Shiyu accept the drink.

Li Muzi watched the group walk away, then turned to Jiang Shiyu and noticed him setting both drinks aside.

“You turned him down, so why take the drink if you’re not going to drink it?”

“His friends were all watching. If I rejected him too obviously, it would’ve embarrassed him.”

Li Muzi rolled his eyes and muttered sarcastically, “Good thing Shen Li wasn’t around. If he was, there’d be no face left to save.”

Chen Xu came back with two fresh coconuts, and Li Muzi teased him about taking so long, joking that he must’ve climbed a tree to pick them himself. Chen Xu explained that the vendor broke their knife while chopping coconuts and had to go home to get another one.

As the two bickered back and forth, Shen Li finally arrived. Li Muzi greeted him coolly, “You finally made it. Someone here was about to turn into a lovesick statue waiting for you.”

Jiang Shiyu didn’t mind the teasing and eagerly ran over, asking him why he took so long.

Shen Li took a sip from the coconut Jiang Shiyu was holding and replied, “The parking spots nearby were all full, so I had to circle around to find one.”

Jiang Shiyu raised the coconut and offered it, “Want more? Chen Xu said the vendor broke their knife trying to chop one of these.”

Chen Xu couldn’t help but sigh. Just moments ago, Jiang Shiyu had been sulking and quiet, but now that Shen Li was here, he was practically glowing with happiness. Love really is powerful.

Chen Xu and Li Muzi both covered their eyes. They couldn’t bear to watch the scene anymore.

The four of them moved from the edge of the beach towards the crowd. As the night deepened, more people gathered around the bonfire to dance and sing. Earlier, Jiang Shiyu had spotted a roasting pit with a whole lamb. He clung to Shen Li and whispered in his ear that he wanted to try the roasted lamb.

They made their way to the barbecue area, where food and drinks weren’t free, and Shen Li paid for a box of lamb. The meat was sizzling and dripping with oil.

Jiang Shiyu picked up a crispy piece of meat with his chopsticks and brought it to his mouth, but it was so hot that he nearly teared up.

“Spit it out!” Shen Li saw what was happening and quickly held out his hand, frowning as he urged him to spit it out.

Jiang Shiyu stubbornly kept his mouth shut, not wanting to spit it into his hand even though the trash can was a bit too far away.

Seeing this, Shen Li gently but firmly pinched his jaw, forcing his mouth open. “Spit it out.”

Jiang Shiyu had no choice. The lamb slid out, revealing his bright red tongue and inner lips, which had been scalded.

Shen Li tossed the meat into the trash and wiped his hands. He then returned and gently pried Jiang Shiyu’s mouth open again to check if the inside was seriously burned.

“Mm, mm.” Jiang Shiyu, forced to keep his mouth open, felt drool threatening to spill out.

After confirming that the burns were only mild redness, Shen Li finally let go.

“Next time, don’t be so impatient. Blow on it first.” He then took a piece of lamb that had cooled down and offered it to him.

Jiang Shiyu was still feeling embarrassed. Not only had he been burned, but he also had to spit food into Shen Li’s hand. His emotions were complicated.

He turned his head away. “I don’t want it.”

Shen Li chuckled. Someone was acting like a little kid.

But he was used to indulging him. Kids have their pride, after all. He bent down, his voice soft and coaxing. After a bit of gentle persuasion, Jiang Shiyu finally relented and opened his bright red, moist lips to take the food.

Meanwhile, Li Muzi and Chen Xu watched the whole scene.

Were they just some random background characters? Did no one care about the feelings of the single people here?