After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

Jiang Shiyu, who had been sleepy and about to go back to his room to sleep, now had his eyes wide open as he lay on the rooftop, looking up at the fireworks.

Shen Li had appeared behind him at some point and called his name.

“Jiang Shiyu.”

He turned around, snapping a photo just in time to capture both the boy and the fireworks.

Seeing the camera in Shen Li’s hand, Jiang Shiyu’s excitement turned into surprise, his confused kitten-like expression once again captured by Shen Li’s camera.

Shen Li took several more pictures of him before putting away the camera and walking over to him, showing him some of the photos.

“Look at you, looking so silly.”

Jiang Shiyu immediately recognized the camera.

He didn’t have time to focus on the photos; he grabbed Shen Li’s hand, excitedly asking, “Is this your camera?”

Shen Li gently pried his hand off his wrist, straightening each finger until it was completely open. The next moment, the camera was placed into his hands.

“It’s yours now.”

The slightly heavy camera rested quietly in Jiang Shiyu’s hand. For a moment, he doubted he was dreaming. How could he encounter so many happy surprises today?

He asked in a daze, “You’re giving it to me?”

Shen Li was charmed by his bewildered and dazed expression. He reached out and gently rubbed his cheeks, the touch so delicate that he didn’t want to let go.

Jiang Shiyu seemed to snap out of it a bit, his eyes sparkling like grapes, his face filled with a mix of joy and confusion.

He hugged the camera, let out a small squeal, stomped his feet in place with excitement, and finally threw himself into Shen Li’s arms, breathing heavily, “Shen Li, Shen Li, you’re too good to me. Ah, this is the best gift I’ve ever received. Today is the happiest day of my life.”

Shen Li gently patted his head like petting a kitten. This was the first time he saw him so happy.

Jiang Shiyu was indeed overjoyed, as if he were a kitten even more excited and satisfied than after consuming a thousand catnip.

As the fireworks show neared its end, Jiang Shiyu, captivated by the camera, paid less attention to the fireworks. Shen Li stayed by his side, watching him fiddling with it. Soon, he raised the camera and pointed it at them.

“Shen Li, let’s take a picture together.”

They hadn’t taken many photos or a single group photo when they were by the sea.

In the small camera screen, their heads were close together—one handsome and charming, the other beautiful and cute—with the fireworks blooming behind them. The camera clicked, capturing this moment.

Jiang Shiyu looked down at the photo, very satisfied.

After the fireworks were over, they returned to the room. Jiang Shiyu, still holding the camera, kept fiddling with it on the small sofa.

“This setting isn’t adjusted yet. I read online that adjusting the parameters will make the photos look better.”

“Should I get a lens for it? I’ll check on Taobao.”

“Shen Li, where’s the camera manual? Show me quickly.”

Shen Li took the camera from his arms, placed it on the table, and then picked up the excited little cat from the sofa and put it on the bed.

“Alright, it’s very late. You need to sleep now.”

Strictly speaking, Jiang Shiyu’s heart surgery was still in the recovery period. His body’s resistance hadn’t improved much, and staying up late could harm his heart significantly. Tonight was already an exception.

Jiang Shiyu lay under the covers, his small face showing little resistance. He glanced at the camera on the table and said, “Mm, sleep,” then obediently closed his eyes.

Shen Li lay down, turned off the light, and the person beside him instinctively rolled over and snuggled into his arms.

The room was quiet, with only their breathing audible. Jiang Shiyu rested his head on Shen Li’s neck, speaking in a soft, light voice, “Thank you.”

Shen Li lowered his head and kissed his forehead, “Sleep now, good night.”

The next morning, due to overexertion and excitement from the day before, Jiang Shiyu woke up at eleven. The other side of the bed was already empty.

When he went downstairs, he saw Muzi playing games in the living room on a large high-definition screen—he was thrilled.

Li Muzi looked up upon hearing the sound and greeted him, “Shen Li and Chen Xu went out to buy groceries. They said they would cook at home today and left breakfast for you in the kitchen. Shen Li even steamed some eggs and kept them warm for you.”

Jiang Shiyu brought the breakfast back to the living room and sat next to Li Muzi, eating while watching him play games.

After finishing a level, Li Muzi paused the game and turned to him with sparkling eyes.

Jiang Shiyu spooned some egg custard into his mouth, “What’s up?”

“Hey, was the fireworks last night specially arranged by Shen Li for you?”

Jiang Shiyu’s shy smile couldn’t be contained, “Why didn’t you and Chen Xu come up to watch too?”

Li Muzi pouted, “Forget it. Before going upstairs, Shen Li specifically messaged Chen Xu to do whatever it took to stop me from going to the rooftop. Chen Xu and I just watched from the balcony. To be honest, the expensive fireworks were really beautiful.”

Jiang Shiyu nodded, recalling the fireworks from last night.

“He did so much for you. Aren’t you touched?”

Jiang Shiyu’s face reddened slightly but agreed with him.

Li Muzi leaned back, moaning, “Did we come here to relax or just to eat dog food?”

After saying that, Jiang Shiyu put the breakfast back on the table, ran upstairs, and came back down, panting and excitedly taking out the camera.

“Muzi, look.”

Li Muzi’s eyes lit up when he saw the camera.

“Wow, isn’t this the camera you’ve always wanted? Did you buy it?”

Jiang Shiyu shook his head, excitedly saying, “Shen Li gave it to me last night.”

Li Muzi slapped his thigh, exclaiming, “Oh my gosh, who would have thought that someone who was so adamant about being a straight guy back then could be so thoughtful?”

Jiang Shiyu smiled sweetly.

Li Muzi couldn’t help but reflect on how much had changed in just a few months.

Jiang Shiyu also felt like these months had been a dream. No matter what had happened, as long as Shen Li was by his side, he was content.

The grocery-buying duo returned quickly, carrying several large bags. Jiang Shiyu and Li Muzi went up to help, and the large kitchen was soon in disarray.

Among the four, everyone except Jiang Shiyu came from relatively affluent families. Jiang Shiyu had been pampered and never needed to lift a finger due to his health, so when faced with the spread of ingredients, the others momentarily froze.

But in modern times, with the internet and various software available, there were no dishes that couldn’t be made.

Soon the kitchen was bustling with activity. Shen Li and Chen Xu were in charge of cooking, while Jiang Shiyu and Li Muzi, who were supposed to make desserts, were actually just finding things to keep themselves occupied.

Jiang Shiyu, seriously studying the recipe on his phone, glanced at the butter in the mixing bowl and whispered to Li Muzi, “Muzi, the recipe says a small piece, but I think we might have added too much.”

While Jiang Shiyu followed the recipe precisely, Li Muzi was more free-form and relied on his instincts.

Eventually, they pulled out a tray of blackened, burnt-smelling cookies from the oven. The two of them looked at each other in confusion.

“Well, Muzi, maybe we should head to the living room.”

Li Muzi tossed the baking tray aside, “I haven’t finished my game yet. Let’s go.”

The burnt cookies were quietly thrown into the trash bin by the two. However, the dinner turned out unexpectedly delicious, thanks to Shen Li and Chen Xu’s culinary skills. They enjoyed a satisfying meal.

After spending a few days here, Li Muzi and Chen Xu flew back to Jiang Hua. On the day before New Year’s Eve, Bai Yun and Shen Qinglin returned from out of town to celebrate the New Year together. At the reunion dinner, Jiang Shiyu received a dumpling with a coin inside and a thick red envelope from Bai Yun.

“Good luck, this big red envelope is for you.”

Since Jiang Shiyu’s father had an accident, he had been staying with the Shen family. He had received so much care over the years that he felt he shouldn’t accept her red envelope, but she insisted on giving it to him.

“This envelope is from Auntie and Uncle, and it’s a blessing for you. So much has happened this year. Shiyu, you’ve endured a lot.”

He couldn’t cry during the New Year, and Jiang Shiyu, with reddened eyes, accepted the envelope. After being comforted by Shen Li for a while, he managed to smile through his sniffles.

Bai Yun and Shen Qinglin, having been busy for most of the month, finally had a few days off. They went to bed early without staying up, leaving the two kids to set off fireworks in the yard.

The butler had prepared several large boxes of fireworks. Jiang Shiyu particularly loved the firework displays that resembled trees, but he almost got burned by a stray spark. Shen Li then had him stand aside to watch while he took over lighting them.

He pulled out seven or eight cone-shaped fireworks from the box and arranged them on the beach. Shen Li then lit them.

In an instant, the area in front of the beach lit up as brightly as daylight. A row of sparks shot out from the tops of the cones, spreading like a Christmas tree with twinkling stars falling around.

The sparks that fell to the ground looked like tiny stars falling from the sky, rolling a couple of times before extinguishing.

Shen Li shifted his gaze from the scattered fireworks to the boy beside him. For the New Year, Jiang Shiyu was dressed festively in a bright red sweater and white casual pants, with a pair of elephant slippers on his feet. His cheeks were slightly flushed with excitement and joy, his round, sparkling black eyes brighter than the fireworks on the beach.

Jiang Shiyu was holding two sparklers and turned to see Shen Li staring at him. His pupils contracted, and he froze for a moment before stretching out the sparklers.

“Happy New Year.”

Just then, a series of fireworks exploded in the sky behind them. They were from the small town across the highway celebrating the New Year, followed by even larger and more magnificent fireworks in the distance.

As the clock struck midnight, the New Year arrived.

Shen Li couldn’t describe his feelings at this moment; he only wished time could stay like this a bit longer.

“Happy New Year.”

May every year to come find me by your side.