After Running Into My High School Crush at the Dentist

On New Year's Eve, Qi Feng's wisdom tooth gets inflamed, sending him to the dentist in the middle of the holiday.

The doctor is cool and gentle.

Qi Feng catches sight of the name badge and turns to leave.

Song Shiqing. The guy he'd had a crush on all through high school.

Even if he had to die, even if he had to jump out of the clinic's third-floor window, he would never let his crush see him drooling like this, even after he was healed.

Qi Feng manages a personal best of one minute in his battle against pulpitis.

"...I'll have it pulled."

After all these years, his dream guy hasn't gone bald. He's just as handsome as Qi Feng remembers, and he's wealthy, emotionally steady, and totally Daddy material.

As the light falls across him, Qi Feng can't help staring at his face. "Doc... does this hurt?"

"Open your mouth." The anesthetic needle draws near. Song Shiqing's voice is low and warm. "Be good and it won't hurt."

He says it won't hurt, tells him to be good and stay still, then comes at him with a power saw.

He keeps up the gentle deception while not letting the sawing slow him down for even a second.

Qi Feng: (▼ヘ▼#)

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As a dentist, Song Shiqing has picked up plenty of occupational habits, and some of them have followed him into his love life.

For instance, his hands are incredibly steady, steady enough to stitch an eggshell membrane.

At certain times, you can't push him away, no matter how hard you try.

He's great at taking care of people. Even at the most critical moment, his voice stays impossibly gentle.

His words leave you dizzy, while his hands keep doing exactly what they need to do.

Calm, precise, and willing to use any means necessary to get what he wants.

He knows how to coax people.

He doesn't know when to stop.

1. Both are each other's first and only. The top is face-blind.

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Upcoming novel, "After Mistaking My Brother for My Boyfriend and Stealing a Kiss":

Jiang Chengzi has night blindness. When he gets home late, his brother worries about him and always comes downstairs to meet him.

The summer before ninth grade, Liang Lu'an, his brother's friend and senior schoolmate, comes to stay with them.

That year, Jiang Chengzi has two handsome big brothers guarding him on either side every night on his way home. He feels like a real big shot.

After graduating from high school, Li Zhi asks him what he wants for his coming-of-age gift.

Jiang Chengzi says he wants to see him.

Li Zhi agrees to fly back from the capital to celebrate with him.

Hearing footsteps outside, Jiang Chengzi blows out the birthday candles ahead of time.

In the pitch darkness, he feels for the bracelet on the man's wrist.

He made it himself. He's only ever given one to two people: Li Zhi,

and his brother, who went to the United States for a year-long exchange program.

Jiang Chengzi gathers his courage and confesses, "Brother Li Zhi, I want you to be my boyfriend."

Then he rises onto his tiptoes, cups the man's face, and showers him with a flurry of puppy-like, eager, clumsy kisses.

The muscles beneath his fingertips are rigid.

The man says nothing and turns to leave.

Jiang Chengzi panics and runs after him.

As he passes the doorway, the man pauses for a moment. Even now, he still remembers to turn on the light for him.

The light snaps on.

Jiang Chengzi sees Liang Lu'an striding away.

1. Both are each other's first and only. Liang Lu'an is the top.

2. The top and bottom are not related by blood and aren't listed in the same household register.

Theme: To heal the world and care for people with a healer's compassion.