FSGOR Ch78

The Day They Returned to Their Hometown

During the visit home, Jiang Tian learned a lot from Chu Xuyu.

Because he always refused red envelopes or money transfers, Chu Xuyu couldn’t do much about it. So he came up with a clever way that allowed Jiang Tian to accept the money without feeling uncomfortable.

They surveyed development projects in the county’s new district. Based on that, knowing Jiang Tian wanted to quickly pay off his sister’s mortgage for the school district apartment, Chu Xuyu also taught him a bit about investment and earning money.

Jiang Tian was the type who, whenever someone treated him well, always wanted to give something back. He didn’t like constantly spending Chu Xuyu’s money.

However, when his boyfriend said the money was just a loan for investment, which Jiang Tian would need to repay, he finally accepted the transfer.

But Chu Xuyu made it clear: “If you start talking about interest, then you’re treating me like a stranger. If you insist on paying something extra—then use your body to repay me.”

Jiang Tian had no problem with that. It’s just that the “big wolf creditor and bankrupt little puppy” roleplay had already gone on for several chapters—it made him kind of shy.

All in all, they had a pretty wild time in their hometown, and somehow, miraculously, didn’t let Jiang Jing see through any of it.

In private, Jiang Tian was pretty cooperative with Chu Xuyu in everything—except one thing: wearing elephant-trunk overalls. That was absolutely out of the question.

“Why don’t you like them? I think it’s cute.”

Jiang Tian actually acted cute for once, using every trick in the book, trying to talk his boyfriend out of it. “Don’t you think it’s kind of pervy?”

Chu Xuyu was displeased: “It’s just sleepwear, how is it pervy? Just wear it for me.”

Jiang Tian paused and used his own trick against him: “Then would you, baby, be willing to wear it too?”

Hearing Jiang Tian call him baby out of the blue, Chu Xuyu: “…”

Good thing the bedside lamp was on—he clearly saw a nosebleed running down Chu Xuyu’s face.

Jiang Tian jumped up instantly, grabbed tissues in a panic, his hands trembling: “Why are you suddenly getting a nosebleed?!”

“It’s nothing.”

Chu Xuyu thought it was too embarrassing. No way was he going to admit that the nosebleed was just because his lover called him baby.

God forbid he called him husband next.

Chu Xuyu pretended to be sick and insisted on being pampered, but Jiang Tian panicked, thinking he was seriously unwell.

Only then did he quickly explain he was perfectly fine. That little obsession was shelved for the time being, and so were the elephant-trunk pajama pants—they never got their moment.

After staying in the hometown for quite a few days and handling the investment matters, it was time to head back to Ningcheng.

***

After the New Year

Jiang Tian’s friends bombarded him with invitations to hang out—especially to play soccer. They played like back in high school, and after the match, went to their usual barbecue place.

But Jiang Tian noticed that his friends had developed a new habit: taking food pics before eating and sending them to their significant others.

Except for him, Lu Qiao, and Zhao Yuanhao, all the others had girlfriends. A few were in long-distance relationships and could only meet again when school resumed in another city.

During their chat, someone mentioned planning a trip with their partner. Otherwise, texting all day was too miserable.

Jiang Tian also wanted to go on a trip with Chu Xuyu, but he wasn’t sure where to go.

Lu Qiao said, “We are going to Bangkok. He loves Thai food—we’re gonna eat till we explode!”

Zhao Yuanhao said, “We don’t have a specific city in mind, but he wants to leave the province. We’re still discussing it.”

Everyone joined in the excited chatter.

Jiang Tian had a realization: before worrying about flight anxiety, he should probably ask Chu Xuyu where he wanted to go.

Afternoon Tea: In a meeting.

Afternoon Tea: Let’s talk when I get home tonight.

KIRA: Okay.

They chatted briefly. Since his boyfriend was still working overtime, Jiang Tian didn’t bother him anymore and stayed out with friends, eating skewers and drinking beer.

When it ended, he took a cab to Jingting Lake, took the elevator up, scanned his fingerprint, and waited for Chu Xuyu to come home.

Because he was tipsy, and remembering that Chu Xuyu usually had to drink late at work functions, Jiang Tian headed to the kitchen to make sobering soup—for both of them.

He hadn’t expected the barbecue’s beer to be that strong. He didn’t feel that drunk, but his face was flushed bright red, like a steamed shrimp left too long in a pot.

Forget cooking—he could barely stand.

Still, he insisted on moving around slowly in the kitchen, fumbling without making much progress. He didn’t even notice when his boyfriend got home and hugged him from behind.

“Hm?”

Chu Xuyu was dressed in a sharp suit, looking every bit the composed elite. But his hands were anything but proper, slipping under Jiang Tian’s jersey: “How much did you drink?”

Jiang Tian leaned on the counter with one hand, turned his head nervously, and said, “Ge…”

“Your kitchen is kind of scary.”

“…”

Chu Xuyu didn’t get it and chuckled, brushing his fingers along Jiang Tian’s abs. “What’s scary about it?”

Jiang Tian frowned. “I saw a longan turn into a butterfly and fly away.”

Chu Xuyu: “???”

How could someone be so cute when drunk?

Chu Xuyu couldn’t help it—he leaned in close, feeling the heat radiating off that soft body. His breathing grew heavier. “Are you saying this just to seduce me?”

Jiang Tian: “…”

No.

He really was seeing weird things. Not just butterflies from longans—there were crabapple blossoms growing in the sink, and a soccer ball rolling on the cutting board…

It was all ridiculous. Childlike, yet strangely eerie.

But the way he described it in his drunken state was far too adorable. Chu Xuyu instantly kissed him: “Baby.”

“Stop trying to seduce me.”

“…”

Jiang Tian felt wronged.

He was kissed until dizzy, barely able to stand, yet still cupped Chu Xuyu’s face, surrendering completely in his lover’s affection.

They were so wrapped up in each other that the world ceased to exist.

Just as they were about to do something more—

A phone rang.

It was Chu Xuyu’s. Jiang Tian didn’t catch what was said, but his boyfriend’s voice turned ice-cold.

***

Next thing Jiang Tian knew, he was lying in a hospital bed. His friends had all been hospitalized too.

Turns out they’d all been poisoned by wild mushrooms at the barbecue and passed out.

All their trip plans? Canceled. Health came first.

Chu Xuyu sat at his bedside like a man who’d just survived a storm. When Jiang Tian woke up, he let out a heavy breath: “Are you okay?”

Was it just an illusion?

Jiang Tian looked at that handsome face and noticed faint redness around the eyes—like there had been tears: “Ge…”

“I… I’m okay.”

Chu Xuyu held his hand tightly and said plainly: if he’d been even a little later bringing Jiang Tian to the hospital, he didn’t know how he could go on living.

Seeing him like this, Jiang Tian panicked.

Clearly, it was his fault for not realizing what he ate. How could this possibly be Chu Xuyu’s fault?

But Chu Xuyu was truly afraid of losing him.

He stayed up the whole night by Jiang Tian’s bedside, waiting for him to wake up. He didn’t even bother going after the barbecue restaurant’s responsibility—he left all that to the company to handle.

After this ordeal,the bond between them deepened once again.

As the older sister, Jiang Jing saw it all the clearest.

But she couldn’t help collapsing emotionally—

Could heaven please stop testing her little brother and his partner?

Did every wave of misfortune have to arrive in a new, terrifying form?

Fortunately, the soccer jocks had strong constitutions, and no one suffered major harm.

Those who planned to travel went on with it.

As for someone like Jiang Tian— this poor, fragile sweetheart with a CEO boyfriend doting on him— he was back to living his luxurious life in a mansion, pampered and spoiled.

What could hr do?

Chu Xuyu was too worried.

He had always been picky about food safety, but now he’d become even stricter, terrified that another mushroom incident might happen again.

Jiang Tian: “……”

He swore he’d never eat mushrooms for the rest of his life— not because he feared getting sick,
but because he feared seeing Chu Xuyu panic and cry.

Not just class monitor Zhang Wenxuan from high school and Duoya from college, but many of his female classmates often said:

 “A man’s tears are like an aphrodisiac for his lover.”

He didn’t get it before.  But when he recalled that image of Chu Xuyu’s reddened eyes, it hit something deep inside him.

So even after recovering, he kept wanting to see that same look again during intimacy.

But it could only be tears of joy—tears from being overwhelmed with love.

It was only fair—

he wanted to see Chu Xuyu’s eyes redden when he reached climax, and Chu Xuyu, in turn, desperately wanted to see Jiang Tian cry too.

This little competition spiraled— they began treating it like a challenge of stamina and technique.

And so, the inevitable happened. The master bedroom bed, already abused countless times, finally broke under their enthusiastic efforts.

The bed was moved out the next day.

Both their necks were littered with kiss marks.

Their intimacy was obvious.

And when they asked for a new bed, specifically requesting something stronger,

it was… well, a little embarrassing.

“……”

Still, all was well that ended well.

The new bed cost seven figures and was far more comfortable than the old one.

Definitely worth the upgrade.

But Jiang Tian, being Jiang Tian,

counted even the mattress under his own expenses.

By the second half of his freshman year, his hometown investments had begun to pay off.

He not only helped his sister pay off the mortgage, but also sent Chu Xuyu a giant red envelope.

The note on the transfer simply read: “To my darling gege.”

Chu Xuyu, a normally low-profile young CEO, took a screenshot and shamelessly posted it to his friend circle—his intentions barely hidden.

Shen Yan: Showing off your love?

Fu Boxi: Tch.

Their close friends could joke like that, but some company executives and employees used it as an opportunity to suck up:

Executive A: Madam is so good to President Chu! 

Executive B: Sweet! 

Simon: I’m melting ahhhh!

Karina: So jealous of President Chu! I want a red envelope from Xiao Tian too~

Judy: Come eat at our place before my brother starts school again! @Karina

…

Everything was getting better.

Their relationship blossomed more sweetly by the day—
like crabapple flowers in early spring, blooming in every corner of Ningcheng,
their scent filled with love.

Jiang Tian was usually busy with studies.

Under Chu Xuyu’s guidance, he learned how to handle money, but he never showed much ambition to enter the business world.

He was introverted and low-key by nature, and preferred to focus on scientific research.

His days grew busier, until one day— an album notification popped up:

[Your precious memories with “Afternoon Tea.”]

Jiang Tian paused, seeing a photo he’d saved after recovering his old account.

The one that caught his eye most was taken the day he had blocked Chu Xuyu. A shot of him holding coffee on the island.

Time had flown.

At Beijing University, Jiang Tian had become the “senior male god” in the eyes of new students.
Many people quietly gossiped about him and his mysterious boyfriend.

As time passed, he naturally felt all of that growing distant and was reminded of the trip they’d missed over winter break because of the mushroom incident.

Back at the villa.

Like that day in the past, he waited for his boyfriend, who was returning late from a dinner meeting. When Chu Xuyu walked in, Jiang Tian took the initiative: “Ge…”

“Should we go to Guanshan Island this winter break?”

Chu Xuyu was taking off his jacket.

He paused, then suddenly laughed: “Why Guanshan Island out of the blue?”

Jiang Tian looked guilty, not daring to meet his eyes.

“That time… I deleted my account and left you on the island.”

“It’s fine,” Chu Xuyu kissed the corner of his lips, “I drove there myself, after all.”

The implication:

Back then, they hadn’t even gotten together.

Even if Jiang Tian blocked him and disappeared, it was just a misunderstanding by a young boy unsure of how to handle things.

Chu Xuyu could forgive those little mistakes,  just as Jiang Tian, too, had changed in many ways for love.

That’s how relationships work.

 No one is born 200% compatible.

You grow closer by getting through things together, learning to love each other better,  and becoming the person most suited to be their partner.

So, during winter break, they really did go to Guanshan Island.

Same as before self-driving trip, bright skies, and beautiful scenery.

Chu Xuyu, wearing sunglasses, drove with his usual confidence.

The playlist was still his favorite: “Teenage Dream.”

Chu Xuyu chuckled and said: “Your sister said everyone jokes this song is super gay. She listened to it in my car so many times, how did she not realize I liked men?”

 

Jiang Tian sat in the passenger seat, holding up the camera to take pictures of the scenery.
When he heard that, he turned to ask, “Did Jie say anything strange?”

After all his sister had been pretty uneasy about them dating at first.

Chu Xuyu teased him like he was coaxing a child: “She actually did say something.”

“What did she say?”

Jiang Tian pressed, “Ge, don’t be upset…”

Chu Xuyu replied, “I’m too happy to be upset.”

Jiang Tian blinked, “Hm?”

Chu Xuyu smiled, “She said if she had known earlier that I liked men,
she would’ve been more accepting from the start. She might have even immediately agreed to us being together.”

Jiang Tian couldn’t help the slight curve of his lips: “Mm.”

“She knows I really like you.”

They drove along the coastal highway, heading toward the café where they once took shelter from the rain.

But due to what seemed like a GPS error, they took the wrong route—
drifting away from their original destination.

But—

Neither of them minded.

As long as the one they loved was by their side,

their world would never be an isolated island.

Wherever they went—

 as long as I love you,

 and you love me,

 even the ends of the earth would be a journey we take together.

 

– End of Main Story –