Shen Kuangye didn't know how to kiss. He didn't even know what he was supposed to do.
But the moment his lips met Lu Xiangyang's, it was as if a switch had been flipped. He cupped Lu Xiangyang's face with both hands, tilting his head carefully as he kissed him. Yet the sweet, fruity scent of Lu Xiangyang's peach liqueur made him want to go deeper.
Compulsively, Shen Kuangye ran his tongue along the seam of Lu Xiangyang's lips. Lu Xiangyang's eyelashes fluttered as he parted his mouth.
Before, Shen Kuangye couldn't understand why so many people were obsessed with kissing. Lips on lips—what was so intoxicating about that?
But now, as he kissed Lu Xiangyang, his mind had only one thought: he wanted to fill Lu Xiangyang's mouth entirely with his own taste.
The kiss deepened, almost to the point where Lu Xiangyang couldn't breathe. He reached out, intending to tug on Shen Kuangye's clothes, but accidentally grabbed the gold medal hanging around Shen Kuangye's neck, pulling him closer. Now it looked like he was the one desperately asking for a kiss.
Shen Kuangye misread the signal, pressing on and pushing Lu Xiangyang toward the edge of the bed.
Once Lu Xiangyang sat down on the bed, Shen Kuangye knelt beside him on one knee, lowering his head to continue kissing him.
Finally catching a moment to breathe, Lu Xiangyang said, "Gege, I have a gift for you."
He had meant to give it yesterday, but first he worried about the competition, and then the schedule had been completely packed, so he hadn't been able to give it on time.
Lu Xiangyang reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box, placing it in Shen Kuangye's hand.
Shen Kuangye almost knew at a glance what was inside, yet he still opened it gently and solemnly.
Inside lay two rings, resting quietly. Shen Kuangye couldn't help but catch his breath.
Each ring had a cute little bear on it.
His gaze darkened as he looked at Lu Xiangyang. In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Do you know what this means?"
Drunk and more honest than usual, he was more direct than ever. All the feelings he had deliberately hidden before now spilled over uncontrollably.
Lu Xiangyang, also heavily drunk, nodded. "I know."
He looked up at Shen Kuangye. "Gege, I haven't given you anything good before. This is everything I have."
Shen Kuangye was too good to him, and Lu Xiangyang didn't know how to repay it. He could only hand over his paycheck, buy small things Shen Kuangye liked, or give him flowers on Valentine's Day. He didn't know how to be worthy of Shen Kuangye's devotion.
He secretly melted down the medal he had won in the autumn finals and crafted it into these two rings.
"Gege."
Lu Xiangyang took one ring and slipped it onto Shen Kuangye's finger.
He said slowly, "Happy birthday."
Then he kissed Shen Kuangye's lips. "Happy 19th birthday, and happy 24th birthday too."
The rings felt a little cool, but Shen Kuangye felt his skin burning where it touched.
With trembling hands, he placed the other ring on Lu Xiangyang's finger. The hands that were so decisive on the battlefield and in turning the tide of matches were unbelievably soft now.
When the second ring was finally on, Shen Kuangye solemnly pressed a kiss onto Lu Xiangyang's hand.
"Do you like it?" Lu Xiangyang asked softly.
Shen Kuangye responded instantly. "I like it."
He kissed Lu Xiangyang's forehead. "I really like it."
Shen Kuangye had once thought he would be lonely forever. Who would have guessed that at the indifferent, solitary age of 23, he would meet his innocent, lively 18-year-old self?
From now on, Lu Xiangyang could finally belong to him.
Hearing Shen Kuangye's answer, Lu Xiangyang felt his eyes burning. He thought of what he wanted to do next, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
Suddenly, he pressed down. Shen Kuangye, unprepared, fell back onto the bed. Before he could even react, Lu Xiangyang straddled him and kissed him with reckless abandon.
"Gege," he breathed heavily. "This is my second gift to you."
I have nothing else to give, so I'll give myself to you.
Shen Kuangye's eyes were almost burning red, yet he tried to stay strong and calm. "Yangyang, not tonight, okay?"
No one could tolerate the person they loved sitting on them like that, looking at them with such passionate eyes, offering such a tempting invitation.
Even though Shen Kuangye was inexperienced, he knew it might be painful. He wanted to learn more first, to gain experience, and wait for the right moment.
But Lu Xiangyang said, "No."
He pressed his forehead against Shen Kuangye's and said softly, "I'm ready."
"And," he paused, "I know you've been holding back, Gege."
Shen Kuangye suddenly felt something placed in his palm. When he glanced sideways, all his rationality vanished.
His mind was filled with a single thought: this person is mine.
Mine from the moment he was born.
Lu Xiangyang thought Shen Kuangye might still be hesitating and wanted to take advantage of the drunkenness to say something bold, but the next moment, he felt the world spin. Shen Kuangye's usually indifferent, cool face was now covered with desire.
Shen Kuangye lifted his left hand to touch Lu Xiangyang's face, whispering, "Call me a few more times."
Before Lu Xiangyang could even speak, Shen Kuangye pressed his lips to him, cutting off all sound.
…
Lu Xiangyang's eyes were red from crying. He lifted his arm, trying to cover his face, but Shen Kuangye forcefully pulled it down.
"Baby, I want to see you."
Shen Kuangye's voice was seductive and commanding.
…
Later, Lu Xiangyang thought there were some things Shen Kuangye shouldn't know about.
"How do you know this stuff, Gege?"
Shen Kuangye didn't stop. He kissed Lu Xiangyang's flushed lips. "You saw it on Weibo that day."
Lu Xiangyang's whole body turned red.
…
At dawn, Lu Xiangyang stared blankly at the swaying ceiling, gently touching Shen Kuangye's sweat-covered face with trembling hands.
His throat could no longer form words.
…
When Shen Kuangye regained a bit of rationality, Lu Xiangyang's eyes were half-closed, his neck, body, and legs covered in marks.
He gently held Shen Kuangye's hand with the ringed one.
"Gege," he said hoarsely, "did I forget to confess to you?"
"I like you."
——
When Shen Kuangye woke up, he felt completely refreshed.
During the months of preparation, he had never felt so light and comfortable.
He looked down. Lu Xiangyang was still asleep, and the air seemed to linger with traces of intimacy.
Shen Kuangye lowered his gaze, seeing the bruises and marks on Lu Xiangyang's shoulders and neck, not even mentioning what was hidden under the covers.
The strength he had wielded so decisively on the battlefield was evident last night.
Shen Kuangye pulled him close, pressing his warm body against his own, feeling as if his heart were completely filled.
He looked at the ring on his hand and couldn't help but smile.
He had never liked wearing jewelry, but he could not bear to take off this ring for even a moment.
While Lu Xiangyang was still sleeping, Shen Kuangye tidied up the mess from the night before.
Last night, Lu Xiangyang had only given him a start—just enough to begin.
Shen Kuangye cleaned the room, turned up the air conditioner a few degrees, and finally sat by the bed, brushing Lu Xiangyang's sweaty hair from his face.
Lu Xiangyang's eyes were still swollen.
Shen Kuangye couldn't help recalling the previous night's events.
"Yangyang," he whispered.
Lu Xiangyang mumbled in response.
Shen Kuangye found him unbearably cute. He happily organized their luggage, pulled out Lu Xiangyang's clothes, and then climbed back into bed to hug him, inhaling his warm, pleasant scent.
Shen Kuangye suddenly remembered the phone he had forgotten for a day. He had added many players recently, and his WeChat was now full of congratulatory messages.
Lu Ning and Xu Wen had already sent theirs last night.
Shen Kuangye replied to each, then couldn't resist opening Weibo.
The trending topic "EAR Wins Championship" was still at number one.
Discussion of this victory remained intense—after all, a comeback story was always timeless.
Some even pointed out that Aurora had returned to Japan overnight, and others analyzed the look Shen Kuangye gave Lu Xiangyang last night, and how, when Lu Xiangyang lifted the trophy, he was holding Shen Kuangye's hand.
The comment section was polarized.
Some said, "They're all straight men; no need to ship them."
Others said, "Isn't this basically coming out?"
Shen Kuangye scrolled through and couldn't resist posting a photo on Weibo without a caption.
The photo showed Shen Kuangye's slender, elegant hand wearing a small bear ring, against a white background that strongly suggested it was on a hotel bed.
Nothing else.
The comment section exploded.
Shen Kuangye didn't care anymore. He was just too happy, wanting to announce to the world that he was in a relationship with Lu Xiangyang.
No longer as "Gege," no more endless teasing and testing—now it was a real, tangible romantic relationship.
Though, everyone around seemed to have assumed they were already a couple.
Shen Kuangye kissed Lu Xiangyang's eyes, waking him gently.
"Gege," Lu Xiangyang rasped.
Shen Kuangye handed him some warm water to sip. Lu Xiangyang obediently drank a few sips, his voice improving slightly.
He looked up at Shen Kuangye, noticing several deep red marks on his neck.
Shen Kuangye asked softly, concerned, "Does it still hurt?"
Lu Xiangyang blushed, shaking his head slowly. "No."
But he realized he couldn't stand up.
Shen Kuangye said gently, "If you're tired, rest a little longer. I'll go get some porridge."
Lu Xiangyang burrowed into the covers, peeking at Shen Kuangye with just his eyes.
Shen Kuangye kissed his forehead. "Be good. I'll be back soon."
After Shen Kuangye left, Lu Xiangyang, feeling bored, checked Weibo and found the second trending topic: "WILD Ring."
His mind went blank for a moment. Clicking it, he saw Shen Kuangye's Weibo post.
March 5th, 3 PM.
All the onlookers received a notification: EAR—SUN had posted a Weibo.
No caption, just a photo.
In the photo, a pale, delicate hand wore a small bear ring identical to WILD's.
—End of text