I Did Something... Bad Before My Brother Died

On the day he turned eighteen, Fang Xiangyang gained a supernatural ability: he could see how much time other people had left to live.

The good news was that he could only see the remaining lifespans of a small number of people, so he didn't have to bear any extra moral burden.

The bad news was that his best friend, Jiang Zhuo, was going to die soon.

Stricken with grief, Fang Xiangyang realized there was nothing he could do to change it. All he could do was treat his best friend as well as possible for the time he had left, fulfilling his every request and keeping him company through his final days.

At last, Jiang Zhuo was moved by his painstaking devotion. After a whirlwind of surprise, inner turmoil, and growing affection, he worked up the courage to accept Fang Xiangyang's confession.

Wait, confession?!

Fang Xiangyang forgot to dodge when Jiang Zhuo suddenly kissed him. In a daze, he stared at his best friend, who had somehow turned gay, and felt a pang of guilt.

He had no idea whether he'd turned Jiang Zhuo gay or whether the other guy had always been into men, but... when someone's about to die, none of that matters!

If that's what he wants, then I'll give it to him!!!

The next morning, Fang Xiangyang looked at his best friend, whose life was counting down to zero, and couldn't help but cry. He begged him not to leave and to stay by his side forever.

Before he could hear an answer, Jiang Zhuo's lifespan finally hit zero.

The next second, flames erupted before his eyes, and the heat dried the tears on Fang Xiangyang's cheeks.

Amid the ashes, an identical Jiang Zhuo stood before him again, glowing all over, his gaze gentle and resolute.

"Okay. I promise."

"..."

"...?"

"?!!!"

Fang Xiangyang was aghast. "Y-y-y-you..."

"Huh? Didn't I tell you? The ability I awakened at eighteen was phoenix rebirth."

[A sweet, short story about two idiots in love, both secretly crushing on each other]

Theme: Life holds more possibilities than we imagine. Don't give up too easily.