Hand in Hand

[There are too many typos, so I’ll be revising the entire text soon. Note from 26.9.23] [Highlight: I recommend subscribing chapter by chapter. If it’s not for you, cut your losses in time and protect your wallet.] The commissioned artwork is now up as an illustration. Those who have subscribed should be able to claim it. It’s mainly for display, with no extra cost. Also, the full text was revised after completion. Pirated versions may differ, so please refer to the official version~ Blurb: They met as teenagers: the school heartthrob and top student, and his brilliant junior. From getting to know each other to falling in love, their passion burned bright and fierce. No one could have known that the brightest moments of their lives would one day have to be repaid in loneliness. Ten years apart. When they met again, they were both well into their thirties. They tentatively tried to draw closer, only to realize they had been apart for too long. In all those quiet years without him, the begonias bloomed and withered, and people, like trees, had grown up, spreading lush branches and standing tall and proud. Gu Yian stood before the floor-to-ceiling window. After a long silence, he said, “We’ve each lived our own lives all these years. I’ve done pretty well, and you’ve grown a lot, too. It seems that even apart, outside each other’s lives, we’ve both been able to keep moving forward just fine.” “But I still feel like it’s a shame.” “For ten years, I missed every change you went through, every song you sang on Christmas Eve, even every time the begonias bloomed, and every good morning and good night from you...” Gu Yian’s voice was still hoarse and low. As he stopped there, Yu Rui saw him gently close his eyes, then repeat himself once more: Yu Rui, I still feel like it’s a shame. You have the freest soul and me, the person who loves you most. So there’s nowhere in this world you can’t reach. Hedgehog genius bottom (Yu Rui) vs. devoted, catlike top (Gu Yian) Reader’s guide: 1. Both leads are doctors. The romance is the focus, with their careers as a secondary element. Professionals are welcome to offer corrections, but please don’t take things too seriously. 2. A second-chance romance. The college romance and the present-day romance run in parallel, with the college scenes interspersed throughout. The pacing is on the slow side, but every scene and character has a purpose. I recommend reading chapter by chapter. If it’s not for you, cut your losses in time. Also, there are plenty of BL side couples, so if that bothers you, please cut your losses in time as well. All characters and locations are fictional, with no real-life inspirations. Please don’t read them as such. 3. Both leads are each other’s one and only. One more keyword for the top: a devoted flirt who wants to reconcile but would rather die than say so. He made you chase him fifteen years ago, and he’ll still make you chase him fifteen years later. 4. They spent ten years apart, each having their own experiences and personal growth. Their views on love differ somewhat between their student days and their reunion as adults, and their personalities change accordingly, but their essential selves remain the same. Follow the story; everything will be explained. 5. Although the characters are fictional, I believe they each have their own independent personalities and thoughts. Please read thoughtfully, respect the differences between people, and respect every character in the story. Thank you. 6. The author’s notes can be rather long-winded. Remember to hide them if you don’t want to read them. 7. The story takes place in 2023–2024. Finally, I’m grateful they met and walked alongside each other for a time. I hope they find their happy ending, and I hope everyone who reads their story has a good time. Blurb last revised 2026-2-4 One last reminder: after completion, details and some plot points were added to the full text. Pirated versions have not been revised. Please refer to the version published on Jinjiang for the complete story! Thanks to our artist Tong for the two-character illustration, to E for the chibi art, and to Qingkong for the Xinglin Yuan illustration. The names are listed in no particular order. I’m grateful to you all~ Theme: There are always things worth holding on to for a lifetime.