The Sesame Cake Shop Around the Corner

【You are my thirty-first birthday present】 【You are the destination of my drifting, rootless life】 Pan Xing has watched over the sesame flatbread shop on the corner for twenty years, from the age of ten to thirty. His heart is here, his roots are here, even his life is here. He has nowhere else to turn, no one else to rely on. On his thirtieth birthday, Pan Xing put up a closed sign. As he bent down to pull the rolling shutter closed, a hand stopped it. “Boss, are you hiring? I just need a meal.” Pan Xing lifted the door and frowned at the man. He had curly hair and a black stud in his ear. When he looked over, his peach-blossom eyes were bright and full of affection. That was the first time Pan Xing saw Yu Chengli, and the first time he sent him away. “I'm not hiring.” Pan Xing saw Yu Chengli for the second time the next day, and turned him away for the second time. He pulled up the rolling shutter, and someone suddenly sprang into the doorway. “Come on, Bro, just hire me. Look how strong I am. I can handle hard work.” Yu Chengli sidled up with a cheeky grin. Pan Xing walked straight into the shop without looking back and refused without a second thought. “I'm not hiring.” No one could resist Yu Chengli's puppy-like clinginess. Soon, Pan Xing's flatbread shop had a new odd-job helper. Along with the fragrant smells came Yu Chengli calling out “Xing-ge” again and again. Pan Xing looked at Yu Chengli so many times, but the third time he sent him away, he was holding the door, his exposed neck covered in purplish bite marks. “Get out.” Pan Xing's voice was hoarse. He pointed outside. “Get the hell out. Don't let me see you again.” Pan Xing's flatbread shop was once again just him alone. On his thirty-first birthday, Pan Xing leaned against the shop door and watched the moon, silently waiting for the cigarette in his hand to burn out. Ash covered the ground. Only three cigarettes remained in the pack. Pan Xing turned around and pulled down the rolling shutter. Just before it reached the bottom, a hand reached in from outside and stopped it. Yu Chengli arrived in a rush, road-worn and breathless. He gazed into Pan Xing's eyes and called out, “Xing-ge.” That night, Yu Chengli handed Pan Xing the leash he'd been wearing around his neck. His peach-blossom eyes were still full of affection, but serious now. “Xing-ge, I'll be your puppy.” “Only yours.” My roots are here. You gave me a reason to stay. My heart tells me with unwavering conviction: I love you. (Eight-year age gap, younger seme) A tough-talking, soft-hearted uke × a straightforward puppy-like seme 【Slice-of-life fiction, growing up, companionship, and healing】 【Thank you for liking and supporting this story】 Theme: Longing for freedom and beauty