Everyone knew Xia Xingye was a boy born to shine with warmth and brilliance.
Raised with tenderness and care, he was openhearted, forthright, lively, and free-spirited. He could play ball and piano. His smile was guileless, and deep down he had a pure yet stubborn possessiveness. He knew how to love sincerely. He never hid his feelings, and once he chose someone, he would openly favor them and charge ahead with all the courage he could muster.
Until he sat beside Lin Yuchuan.
The gentlest, quietest top student in school, with straight black hair and gold-rimmed glasses. He was always warm and polite, with just the right sense of distance. Cool and self-possessed, disciplined and clear-headed, he had made his steady way to the top through his own efforts. His emotions were always restrained, his heart always calm.
Xia Xingye approached him without hesitation, striking up conversations between classes, offering him candy, and keeping him company. He lavished every little kindness and all his special affection on Lin Yuchuan.
He was passionate, direct, and frank, believing that if he were sincere enough, he could slowly warm that quiet heart.
But he never understood Lin Yuchuan's gentleness.
Warmth was his facade. Silence was his boundary.
He never refused, never confronted anyone, never stated his feelings. His replies were always mild, always leaving room to retreat. He was used to carrying every burden alone and processing every emotion by himself. He didn't know how to be honest or rely on anyone, much less how to accept the burning, sincere affection of a boy in love.
One kept reaching out, openly showing his affection.
The other kept yielding, gentle and quietly unshaken.
The evening breeze at seventeen was soft, the camphor trees stretched tall, and the two walking side by side hid a secret flutter of hearts and unspoken tension.
It turned out the most agonizing kind of push and pull in the world wasn't arguing or giving each other the silent treatment.
It was you reaching for me with all your heart, while I quietly took it in.
It was you giving me all your affection, while I kept my distance.
It was two boys, both too clear-headed and too stubborn, slowly trapping each other at the gentlest age of their lives.
Theme: Achieving every kind of worldly success doesn't mean you've found redemption.
