Winning the male lead

 This winter break, Le Tian and Jiang Yue embarked on a strange relationship. Jiang Yue didn’t know how he convinced Ding Le Tian’s father, but surprisingly, he agreed to let Le Tian stay at Jiang Yue’s apartment.

And so, for the system, the familiar yet torturous life of being a freeloader began again.

After getting a taste, Jiang Yue couldn’t stop—his youthful energy, combined with his well-built physique, made it impossible for Le Tian to keep up. He felt utterly drained, mostly because his physical fitness simply couldn’t match up.

Jiang Yue, being the genius pervert he was, constantly came up with new ways to play. Bathroom play, which Le Tian once adored, was just the beginning. Apron play, glass room snow play, kitchen counter play—Jiang Yue approached this like an academic study, experimenting with all kinds of possibilities.

Every possible position was unlocked. Le Tian felt like his flexibility had improved to the point that he could perform on a ballet stage.

Jiang Yue’s favorite was still taking him from behind, embedding himself completely. Once, he caught Le Tian speaking quietly with Jiang Qu on the balcony. Without a word, he pushed him down from behind. After that, Le Tian didn’t dare to answer Jiang Qu’s calls anymore.

By the end of the winter break, Le Tian was completely molded by Jiang Yue’s arrangements. Now, the moment Jiang Yue touched him, he could barely hold himself back, sparing him the effort of pretending to be innocent.

“Mm…” Le Tian kissed him over the dining table, pecking at his tongue like a little bird snatching food. His hands eagerly roamed over Jiang Yue’s body. Seeing Le Tian’s enthusiasm, Jiang Yue’s lips curled into a faint smile. Leaning back with his arms stretched out, he said lazily, “Do it yourself.”

Le Tian, already familiar with the routine, slowly sat down on him. Jiang Yue held his slim waist, his face full of satisfaction. This thing of his should be like this—eyes only on him, ears only for his words. No one else could take him away.

Jiang Yue’s gaze darkened. Suddenly, he withdrew and pressed him down on the table, taking him from behind.

Just before the new semester started, Le Tian learned that Jiang Yue had arranged for him to take a leave of absence from school. Holding him on the balcony, Jiang Yue leaned down and said, “Let’s go abroad together.”

Le Tian quietly gazed at the pitch-black night sky and softly replied, “Okay.”

Jiang Yue smiled in satisfaction.

He had rarely smiled before—or rather, he almost never did. To him, smiling was merely a mechanical action: the muscles at the corners of his lips pulling up to form an appropriate arc. But now he understood—when he truly smiled, his mouth smiled, his eyes smiled, and every inch of his skin smiled.

Zhang Qingning had contacted Le Tian a few times. Surprisingly, Jiang Yue tolerated her a lot more and didn’t interfere much. She, too, was going abroad to study. On a call, Le Tian reminded her, “Work hard overseas, and find a real boyfriend.”

Zhang Qingning laughed heartily over the phone. “Don’t I already have one?”

Le Tian turned around and saw Jiang Yue cooking in the kitchen. He lowered his voice, “Have you seen Jiang Qu recently?”

Zhang Qingning replied, “He came to me, asking where you were. By the way, where are you? Not at home?”

Le Tian hesitated. His relationship with Jiang Yue was a secret. And how could he even explain it? That they were together? What kind of relationship was this? Friends with benefits? With a bitter smile, he said, “If you run into him, just tell him I’m doing well and preparing to go abroad.”

Zhang Qingning cheered, “That’s great! Where are you heading? Maybe we can meet up overseas?”

“Dinner’s ready,” Jiang Yue’s voice came from behind.

Le Tian quickly covered the phone and said to Zhang Qingning, “We’ll talk later. I’m going to eat.” Then he hung up.

At the dining table, Jiang Yue asked, “Which country do you want to go to?” He had obviously overheard Le Tian and Zhang Qingning’s conversation, though it was unclear if he caught the part about Jiang Qu. Le Tian replied softly, “Didn’t you already get accepted? I’ll follow you.”

Jiang Yue smiled faintly. “I don’t mind. Anywhere is fine.”

Geniuses had that kind of confidence—no matter where they went, schools would welcome them with open arms.

Le Tian poked at his bowl of rice. “Forget it. I’m bad at studying.”

“Everyone has things they’re good at,” Jiang Yue said, placing a piece of rib in Le Tian’s bowl. “Even if you’re not good at studying, you might excel at something else.”

Le Tian was a little touched and said to the system, “That’s the rarest good thing Jiang the Jerk has ever said. I need to remember this.”

System: “…” Does Jiang Yue know you call him that?

Then Jiang Yue added, “Like your butt. It’s especially beautiful.”

Le Tian: “…Never mind. I take it back.”

After dinner, Jiang Yue said he had something to take care of and told Le Tian to stay put. Le Tian was obedient now, nodding without question. Jiang Yue kissed his forehead and left.

The moment Jiang Yue left, Le Tian collapsed onto the couch. “My waist is about to break. Little Jiang is really something… and he’s only eighteen…”

System: “…” He’s a beast.

Le Tian asked, “Guess what he’s up to?”

System: “I don’t know.”

Le Tian smirked, “I bet he’s going to deal with Jiang Qu.”

Jiang Yue had already blocked both of their phones, yet Jiang Qu was relentless in trying to contact them. Le Tian had sensed Jiang Yue’s patience running thin, and today’s call had probably pushed him over the edge.

System: “…Are you the devil?”

Le Tian leisurely turned on the TV to watch some dramatic soap opera. “Our little Jiang has psychological issues. If I don’t push him a little, he’ll never figure things out.”

As he predicted, Jiang Yue was dealing with Jiang Qu. However, instead of confronting him directly, he went to see Jiang Qu’s mother—his aunt.

After a conversation, Jiang Qu’s mother turned pale. Trembling, she asked, “Ah Yue, what should I do?”

Jiang Yue idly swirled his teacup and said calmly, “Send him abroad. With distance, he might get better.”

Jiang Qu’s mother nodded. “That’s the only way.”

That evening, Jiang Qu’s mother called him home. “Ah Qu, I think it’s best for you to study abroad.”

Jiang Qu had already secured his place at a domestic university. He had earned it himself—why should he give it up? “Mom, I want to study here.”

His mother’s expression darkened. “Ah Qu, tell me the truth. Are you refusing to go because of someone?”

Jiang Qu’s heart skipped a beat, and he stood up angrily. “Mom, what are you talking about?!”

“Ah Yue came by today,” she revealed. “Are you… involved with a boy at school?”

Jiang Qu’s rage exploded. “Jiang Yue!”

“Mom! You believe him over me?!” His eyes turned red with fury. “You’ve always been like this! If you like him so much, let him be your son!”

“Ah Qu!” His mother’s eyes also turned red.

“You always think I favor him, but you’re wrong. Because he’s not my son, I have no expectations for him. But you are my son. I’ll ask you just once—do you like boys?!”

By the end, she was screaming.

Jiang Qu’s chest heaved violently. After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and said, “…No.”

His mother paled but nodded. “Then do as I say. Go study abroad.”

That night, Jiang Yue returned to the apartment in a great mood. He took Le Tian on the couch, and afterward, he held him tightly, kissing him repeatedly in a rare moment of relaxation. “I’ve thought about it—we should just study here.”

Le Tian smirked. “Alright.” So Jiang Yue, feeling very satisfied, kissed him again while still connected and started moving slowly. Le Tian reached out and wrapped his arms around his neck.

At that moment, the apartment door was knocked on with a loud “bang bang.”

As soon as Le Tian heard the familiar knocking sound, his whole body tensed up. Fortunately, Jiang Yue was in a good mood this time and let go of him, who quickly grabbed a blanket to cover himself.

Jiang Yue pulled on his pants, opened the door, and stood at the entrance without any intention of letting Jiang Qu in. His expression was relaxed. “What’s up?”

As soon as Jiang Qu saw him like this, he knew exactly what had just happened inside. He gritted his teeth and said, “What exactly do you want?”

Jiang Yue: “That’s what I should be asking you. You keep knocking on the door and disturbing us—what do you want?”

Jiang Qu was furious. He wanted to punch Jiang Yue right now and beat him to a pulp, but he knew he was no match for him. He lowered his voice and said, “Aren’t you afraid that if you push me too far, I’ll tell Uncle?”

“Tell him what?” Jiang Yue’s expression remained indifferent. “That I sleep with men? Go ahead.” His face was full of nonchalance.

Jiang Qu was completely helpless against him. His expression twisted a few times before finally calming down with great effort. “Fine. I just want to ask you one thing. After that, I’ll leave.”

Jiang Yue: “Go ahead.”

Jiang Qu: “Why Ding Le Tian? Do you like him?”

Le Tian had already wrapped himself in a blanket and quietly moved to the corner of the hallway, just in time to hear Jiang Qu’s question. He held his breath.

Jiang Yue’s expression didn’t change, and as he had told Le Tian countless times before, he answered coldly, “He has a nice ass.”

Le Tian: … little Jiang, you don’t understand love. Saying things like this will get you killed.

Jiang Qu’s face contorted into an expression that was somewhere between a laugh and a cry. He pointed at Jiang Yue and said, “Good, very good.”

Jiang Yue remained completely composed. He shut the door and turned to see Le Tian standing behind him, still wrapped in the blanket, his expression unchanged. He stepped forward, pulled the blanket off Le Tian, and carried him back to the bedroom to continue.

Le Tian endured it with a broken heart. The immense pleasure in his body clashed with the emptiness in his heart, tearing him apart into two separate people. He even thought to himself: Fine. At least my body is still attractive to him.

By the time summer arrived, Jiang Qu and Zhang Qingning had both gone abroad. Jiang Yue successfully took Le Tian with him to one of the country’s top universities. Le Tian didn’t know how he did it, but that was just how things turned out.

In the dormitory, the narrow single bed creaked incessantly. Jiang Yue seemed to have a particular attachment to dorm rooms, making him unusually excited. Le Tian was pinned down, barely able to breathe.

Ever since the first time with Jiang Yue, it was as if he had accepted his fate. He no longer resisted anything he wanted to do to him.

Jiang Yue became more and more demanding, making him do even more humiliating things.

“Practice properly.” Jiang Yue peeled a candy ball and put it in Le Tian’s mouth, his gaze deep. “Train well, and we’ll try tonight.”

Le Tian held the candy in his mouth, thinking: I don’t need practice. I’ll give you a surprise tonight.

That night, Jiang Yue was indeed beyond satisfied. He pinned Le Tian down so hard the bed almost collapsed.

Even though they went wild behind closed doors in the dorm, outside, they acted as if they didn’t know each other. In fact, aside from meeting up frequently, Jiang Yue treated Le Tian no differently than anyone else—he was still cold and distant.

Jiang Yue was the campus heartthrob. Someone like him was always the center of attention wherever he went. Meanwhile, Le Tian remained invisible. But since the heartthrob was too unattainable, some people turned to the wallflower instead.

After a large class, Le Tian received a WeChat message from Jiang Yue telling him to come back to the dorm quickly. Just as he was about to reply, a girl stopped him at the classroom door and confessed.

“Ding Le Tian, I really like you. Will you be my boyfriend?” The girl had a round face and big eyes, looking quite cute.

Le Tian blushed and waved his hand. “I have a girlfriend.”

The girl looked disappointed. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not. She’s studying abroad,” Le Tian said sincerely.

The girl then said, “Long-distance relationships don’t last. If you two ever break up, consider me, okay?”

Le Tian lowered his head. “We won’t break up.” Then he quickly ran away, thinking to himself: Girl, you’ve got the wrong person. Just forget about me.

But just a few days later, he saw that same round-faced girl sitting with Jiang Yue in a café on campus, smiling shyly.

Jiang Yue noticed Le Tian standing at the door and waved him over. “Here.”

Jiang Yue had called him there. Le Tian nervously sat down beside him.

The girl was quite excited. “What a coincidence! So you and Jiang share a dorm?”

Le Tian nodded. “Yeah.”

Jiang Yue said calmly, “We were high school classmates.”

“Really?” The girl was surprised, then turned to Jiang Yue. “Jiang, Ding Le Tian told me he has a girlfriend studying abroad. Is that true?”

Le Tian immediately felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Jiang Yue glanced at him and smirked, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Which one? The one in America or the one in the UK?”

Jiang Qu was in the UK, and Zhang Qingning was in the US.

The girl was even more surprised and laughed. “Wow, Ding Le Tian, you have several?”

Jiang Yue took a sip of coffee and said blandly, “Maybe he even has one in China.”

The girl burst into laughter, while Le Tian broke out in a cold sweat.

Back in the dorm, Jiang Yue took off his coat, didn’t even bother to unbutton his shirt, and pushed him down. “Girlfriend?”

Le Tian gritted his teeth and endured it, whispering, “I-I was making it up.”

Afterward, the system emerged from its blocked state and notified him: Zhang Qingning’s love storyline has progressed. Le Tian, inheriting his father’s dumb luck, now has Zhang Qingning’s boyfriend—a rich and handsome German.

Le Tian really wanted a cigarette: I’ve been waiting for this day for so long.  Little Jiang, even though you’re great in bed and insanely hot, I still want to see you cry. After all, I’ve got a better one waiting. Go die.

So he lay in Jiang Yue’s arms and started to stir things up. “Jiang Yue.”

“Hmm?”

“If someone confesses to me again, what should I say?” He asked carefully, full of anticipation.

Jiang Yue responded indifferently, “Say what?”

Le Tian bit his lip. “Do I count as your boyfriend?”

Jiang Yue pondered for a moment. “I’m interested in someone else.”

The next day, Le Tian continued his antics. In the morning, when Jiang Yue was putting on his clothes, he hugged him from behind and shyly said, “Should we find a chance to meet your dad? And you should meet mine too. I haven’t told him yet, but he probably won’t object. After all, you’re so outstanding.”

Jiang Yue fastened the last button, turned around, and said calmly, “Why should we meet them?”

Le Tian froze. “Well… aren’t we…” He didn’t have the courage to continue under Jiang Yue’s cold gaze.

Jiang Yue leaned down and kissed his lips. “I have something to do tonight. I won’t be back.”

Le Tian watched his departing figure with a face full of sorrow. “He says he won’t come back, just like that. A lonely night, a lonely me… Where should I go from here?”

The system: “…” The drama king was at it again.

Le Tian was running wild on his path of mischief, determined to make sure Jiang Yue would never forget him.

“Hmph! Who told him to say I’m small and quick?” he muttered to the system.

The system deeply realized how petty and vengeful he could be.

Jiang Yue had been called home by his father, who got straight to the point. “Go meet the Min family’s daughter in the next few days.”

Jiang Yue’s expression was cold. “Why?”

Father Jiang said, “The Min family’s daughter is very good, a suitable match for you. If things go well, you’ll be engaged by the end of the year.”

Jiang Yue looked at his father with slight confusion. “Why so suddenly?”

“Suddenly?” Father Jiang opened a drawer, took out a stack of photos, and spread them on the table. The top one showed Jiang Yue holding Le Tian’s hand while shopping at a supermarket. Le Tian was holding a bag of candy, and Jiang Yue was leaning down to whisper something to him. In the second photo, he was smiling while Le Tian blushed.

Father Jiang said coldly, “You can play around, but don’t forget what’s important.”

Jiang Yue glanced at the photos and said indifferently, “I know my limits.”

“You know your limits?” Father Jiang suddenly erupted in anger. He stood up and slapped him across the face. “Did you take your mother’s necklace from her safe? Where is it?”

Jiang Yue’s face was turned to the side from the impact. He licked the inside of his cheek, swallowed the taste of blood, and calmly said, “I gave it away.”

Father Jiang grabbed a golf club and roared, “Are you going or not?”

Jiang Yue looked completely unconcerned. “Whatever.”

Father Jiang sighed in relief. “Good. At least you haven’t completely lost your mind. Play all you want, but don’t forget your place.”

“I know.” Jiang Yue remained calm. He had always known he was different from others.

That night, he still returned to the dormitory. Le Tian, half-asleep, mumbled, “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming back tonight?”

Jiang Yue bit his earlobe and murmured, “I want you.”

Le Tian opened his eyes, and they indulged in each other.

Before dawn, Jiang Yue left again, saying he’d be gone for two days.

Le Tian: “Little Jiang has an image to maintain. Got beaten by his dad and doesn’t want me to see it.”

Le Tian had arranged for the photos to be sent to Father Jiang. Last night, in the darkness, he clearly saw Jiang Yue’s swollen face and almost laughed out loud.

The system: “Can’t you just behave?”

Le Tian: “You don’t get it. What’s better than watching a handsome guy cry? Watching a lot of handsome guys cry, hahaha!”

The system: …Has this guy suffered some kind of trauma? Why is he so twisted?

Jiang Yue took two days to recover, and then he met with Min Hui at an upscale restaurant for lunch.

He ate very seriously and didn’t even look at her once. This wasn’t out of rudeness—he was just like that with everyone.

Min Hui had already been warned by her family that the Jiang family’s young master was cold and indifferent, so she wasn’t offended. She quietly finished the meal with him and then smiled. “If we’re getting engaged by the end of the year, I’m fine with it. What about you?” She was quite satisfied with Jiang Yue’s looks and demeanor.

Jiang Yue took a sip of wine and looked at her indifferently. “No.”

Min Hui chuckled. “You’re not interested in me?”

Jiang Yue swirled his glass and said, “I’m not interested in anyone.”

Min Hui raised an eyebrow. “Then do you already like someone?”

Jiang Yue’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. “Like?”

Min Hui nodded with a smile. “If you don’t like me, and I’m objectively an excellent match, the only reason to refuse would be that you already like someone else.”

Jiang Yue gazed into his wine glass. “Does having interest mean liking someone?”

“That depends on the kind of interest.” Min Hui leaned in playfully. “Tell me about it. I’ll give you some advice. I’m the love guru among my friends.”

Jiang Yue’s mind had been in turmoil. His father had been pushing him toward an engagement since he was a teenager, and back then, he had felt nothing. But now, he felt resistant—he wanted to refuse.

A certain face kept appearing in his mind.

Under Min Hui’s curious gaze, he said calmly, “I sleep with him.”

Min Hui nearly choked. She hadn’t expected such bold words from the usually aloof Jiang Yue. Holding back her laughter, she said, “You’ve slept with him, and you still don’t call it liking? Are you saying you’re the type to sleep around? You don’t seem like that to me.”

Jiang Yue took another sip of wine and lowered his gaze. “Apart from him, I have no interest in anyone else.”

Min Hui stopped joking and said seriously, “Then you should be honest with your family.”

Jiang Yue replied indifferently, “Yeah.”

The two ended their meal on good terms. At the restaurant entrance, they shook hands as Min Hui grinned. “Remember to invite me to your wedding.”

Jiang Yue nodded solemnly. “I will.”

At that moment, watching them from a car nearby. Some things that had been unclear to him—he seemed to have finally figured them out.

Sitting in a car on the street corner, watching the handsome man and beautiful woman chatting happily, Le Tian felt bitter.

Jiang’s father sat beside him. “Ding, Uncle Jiang likes you very much. The collaboration with your father has also been going well. I know about you and Jiang Yue, but young people should know when to stop playing around. Don’t waste each other’s time. Your father only has you as his only son—you understand what I mean, right?”

Le Tian lowered his head and said softly, “I understand.”

“Good.” Jiang’s father nodded in satisfaction.

Le Tian thought to himself, I’ll soon arrange your son’s life clearly for him. Trying to pull this trick on me? This kind of tactic has been outdated for hundreds of years.

That afternoon, Jiang Yue returned home and immediately gave his father a heavy punch—”I won’t get engaged.”

Jiang’s father was stunned on the spot. He had seen Jiang Yue and Min Hui come out of the restaurant earlier, and both of them seemed in a good mood. Suppressing his impatience, he asked, “Are you dissatisfied with Min Hui?”

Jiang Yue said calmly, “I already like someone. He’s a boy.”

Jiang’s father knew exactly who he was referring to. His face turned red with anger. Just a few days ago, everything seemed fine—why had he suddenly changed his mind? Furious, he shouted, “Say that again!”

Jiang Yue gave him a confused look as if wondering why he was even asking, then repeated himself.

“I already like someone. He’s a boy.”

Without another word, Jiang’s father grabbed a nearby golf club and struck his leg hard.

Jiang Yue didn’t even make a sound, his gaze cold as he looked at his father. “Go ahead, hit me.”

Even after this beating, he would still do what he wanted.

Jiang’s father showed no mercy, striking so hard that Jiang Yue fell to his knees. He nearly broke the club in the process. Gasping for breath, Jiang’s father supported himself with the club and gritted his teeth. “You’ll be engaged by the end of the year!”

Jiang Yue spat out a mouthful of blood. “You might as well keep hitting me.”

Jiang’s father was so furious that his blood pressure spiked, and he fainted.

Jiang Yue got up without hesitation, limping downstairs. Seeing the butler staring in shock, he said, “Dad fainted.”

The butler was dumbfounded. “Young… young master, you’re bleeding…”

Jiang Yue glanced at his blood-stained pants. “It’s fine. Take Dad to the hospital. I’m leaving.”

The butler wanted to stop him, but one cold look from him made him back off.

The wounds on his body weren’t a big deal—he practiced combat sports and knew these superficial injuries would heal in ten days or so. He took a car back to his old apartment and made a call to Le Tian.

“Hello.” Le Tian’s voice on the phone was very soft.

Jiang Yue, in a relaxed mood, softened his tone slightly. “I have something to take care of. I’ll be back in about ten days.”

There was a long silence on the other end before a soft “Okay” came through.

Jiang Yue continued, “Don’t wander around. Don’t talk to random people.”

“Mm.”

“Wait for me.”

Le Tian hung up the phone, thinking to himself, In ten days, my ashes will already be scattered. I only have one day left.

He sighed. “Jiang Yue must be badly injured, huh?”

The system didn’t think Le Tian was actually concerned about Jiang Yue.

Sure enough, Le Tian added, “Ugh, no farewell sex after all.”

The system: “…” Can you just spare him?

An hour before he was set to leave, Le Tian made an overseas call to Jiang Qu. Jiang Qu, who hadn’t heard from him in a long time, was delighted. “Le Tian! How have you been?”

Le Tian was silent for a moment. “Pretty good.”

Jiang Qu asked hesitantly, “…Has he been good to you?”

Another long silence. “Also pretty good.”

“Jiang Qu, I have some things I’d like to give to him. Can you help me pass them on?”

Jiang Qu was slightly startled. “Why don’t you give them to him yourself?”

“He’s getting engaged. I think… I shouldn’t bother him anymore…”

“What did you say?!”

“The stuff is in the school’s locker… Goodbye, Jiang Qu.”

The call was abruptly disconnected. Sensing something was wrong, Jiang Qu immediately called Jiang Yue, only to find himself blocked. It was late at night where Jiang Yue was, but Jiang Qu rushed downstairs to use the apartment’s public phone while simultaneously trying to call Le Tian, only to hear that his phone was turned off.

Jiang Yue was resting in his apartment, just out of the shower and bandaging his wounds, when his phone started ringing non-stop. The moment he answered, Jiang Qu’s furious voice roared through the speaker.

“Where’s Le Tian?! Is he with you?!”

Jiang Yue frowned slightly. “What’s the matter?”

“Le Tian just called me, saying you were getting engaged and asking me to pass something to you because he didn’t want to bother you anymore. His tone was completely off, and now his phone is off. Go check on him—now!”

Hearing this, Jiang Yue immediately hung up, threw on his coat, and rushed out.

By the time he arrived at the dormitory, his bandages had come loose from the frantic running, and his khaki pants were stained with blood. Many students turned to look at him.

He felt an inexplicable sense of panic. His hands were shaking as he unlocked the door.

When he pushed it open, he saw Le Tian lying quietly on the bed. He let out a relieved sigh, slumped against the door, and sat down. As his tension eased, pain surged through his body. He sat for a while before struggling to his feet and walking slowly to Le Tian’s bedside.

As he got closer, he realized something was wrong—Le Tian’s face was unnaturally pale. Then, his gaze fell on the white pill bottle beside the pillow. A dizzying horror overtook him as he lunged forward and grabbed him.

“Ding Le Tian, wake up!”

But Le Tian would never answer him again—he had stopped breathing.

At Le Tian’s funeral, Jiang Yue knelt before the grave and took a brutal beating from Le Tian’s father. His expression was indifferent—not the same distant indifference he once had, but an emptiness as if he had fallen from the heavens into an abyss.

Jiang Qu, attending the funeral, finally realized—Le Tian was truly gone…

He had cried until he had no more tears left. He walked up to Jiang Yue, took a box out of his pocket, and threw it into his arms, his voice hoarse: “He asked me to give this to you.” The resentment and hostility he had felt toward Jiang Yue had disappeared along with that timid, tearful boy who used to stutter.

Jiang Yue lowered his head and opened the familiar red velvet box. Inside was the star necklace, along with the “Happy Birthday” note he had written. Below it, a small line of words had been added— Sorry, I’m so tired. I don’t think I can wait for you to love me anymore…

Jiang Yue closed his eyes and, surprisingly, let out a bitter smile. “Idiot… you’re such an idiot. Do you really not know whether I love you or not?” After speaking, he lowered his head and covered his eyes. “I’m sorry… it’s not your fault.” Because even I didn’t realize how much I loved you.

Inside the box were also two milk candies, now sticky and melted—identical to the ones Le Tian had once given him, the ones he had cruelly thrown away.

With trembling hands, Jiang Yue unwrapped one and put it in his mouth.

So, the candy he gave really was sweet.

With the sweetness filling his mouth, he finally couldn’t hold back anymore—he broke down in sobs.

He loved candy so much… how did he endure such bitter medicine? How did he manage to swallow it…

Jiang Yue leaned against the tombstone, his legs still bleeding, though he could no longer feel the pain. All his senses had been buried along with that boy in the autumn of their nineteenth year.