Happy New Year

Shen Yanlang kissed him for quite a while before realizing Duan Xu had stopped breathing. Reluctantly, he let him go and chuckled. "How did you forget to breathe?"

"Ah..." Duan Xu only then came back to his senses and hurriedly took several deep breaths, then realized how stupid he had been.

Hadn't they kissed before? Why did it still feel like the first time?

Too cute!

Shen Yanlang lifted his chin again and kissed him. This time, the kiss was deep. His possessiveness stirred, making his movements fiercer than before.

How could Duan Xu have known a deep kiss was like this? Before long, his legs went weak. Luckily, Shen Yanlang had one arm around his waist, and he himself braced against the counter, or he would have fallen.

Who knew how long it had been before the water came to a boil? Only then did Shen Yanlang reluctantly release Duan Xu. Seeing his lips glistening with moisture, he brushed them with his thumb.

Duan Xu's whole face had turned red, and his eyes shimmered with tears. He sighed inwardly: So this was what a real kiss felt like!

But if he could barely take just kissing, then later...

Shen Yanlang had no idea what Duan Xu was thinking. As he dropped twelve dumplings into the pot, he relived their kiss.

Xuxu is so good to kiss, but it's not enough. It'll never be enough. I want more.

With his face and ears red, Duan Xu shifted aside to avoid looking at Shen Yanlang. Shen Yanlang put the lid on the pot, looked at him, and gave a low laugh.

Neither of them spoke. The kitchen held only the sound of the flame burning and the water boiling.

After a while, Shen Yanlang pulled Duan Xu around and held him in his arms. "Xuxu, you need to get used to it. In the future, I'll do even more excessive things."

Like taking off Xuxu's clothes, touching him, holding him, and... him.

Duan Xu drew in a quiet breath, his almond-shaped eyes widening. Unable to hold back, he smacked Shen Yanlang. Sure enough, once they became boyfriends, he had become even more of a hooligan!

"Hehe..." Shen Yanlang laughed as he took Duan Xu's hand, then laced their fingers together.

Duan Xu's ears itched from his laughter. He wanted to rub them, but both his hands were held by Shen Yanlang, so he simply rubbed against Shen Yanlang's chest instead.

Shen Yanlang's body tensed for an instant. He lowered his gaze to stare at him and said hoarsely, "Xuxu, did you do that on purpose?"

"Uh..." Duan Xu felt something and abruptly looked up, his expression filled with disbelief. "You, you're already..."

Shen Yanlang could not deny it. "I like you too much. I can't help it."

"Then, then let me go first." Duan Xu felt that he was in danger. Now that they had the status of boyfriends, there was no need to be too restrained about anything.

Of course Shen Yanlang would not let go. Instead, he pressed him more firmly into his arms, making Duan Xu unbearably embarrassed. "Shen Yanlang! Be a decent human being!"

Shen Yanlang laughed again and simply held Duan Xu. He did not dare do anything else, though, in case he could not hold himself back.

Ten minutes later, Shen Yanlang glanced at the pot and released Duan Xu. "The dumplings are done."

Duan Xu immediately backed away, then glared at him fiercely. "You handle it!"

"Okay."

Shen Yanlang nodded with a smile. Under Duan Xu's direction, he took two bowls and two pairs of chopsticks from the cupboard, scooped out the dumplings separately, and added some broth.

It was too late to bother making dipping sauce, so they carried everything to the dining table and started eating.

Eating the steaming hot dumplings put Duan Xu in an especially good mood. Although he had not been able to spend New Year's with his parents this year, he had a boyfriend now. Ringing in the New Year and eating dumplings with his boyfriend was meaningful too.

Shen Yanlang was happy as well. Looking at Duan Xu across from him, the corners of his lips unconsciously lifted.

I hope I can ring in every New Year with Xuxu.

Duan Xu looked up at Shen Yanlang, smiling knowingly as he spoke Shen Yanlang's inner thoughts aloud. "I hope I can ring in every New Year with you."

At that moment, Shen Yanlang could clearly hear his own heartbeat. Then he smiled and replied, "Okay."

Only then did Duan Xu remember to check his phone. It was filled with messages saying "Happy New Year," and he replied to them one by one while eating.

Seeing that, Shen Yanlang took his phone away. "Eat first. Reply after you finish."

Duan Xu obediently gave an "oh" and focused on eating his dumplings.

Shen Yanlang gave a soft laugh. "You're so obedient."

I want to bully you.

Duan Xu huffed. "Eat your dumplings."

"Okay."

After eating, Duan Xu and Shen Yanlang sat in the living room for a while longer, both holding their phones and replying to messages.

In the group chat with eight people.

Xue Jingshu: [Happy New Year, everyone! May everything go your way!]

Han Xi: [Happy New Year!]

Zhou Zhou: [Happy New Year, everyone!]

Xiao Xu: [Happy New Year!]

Du Shen: [The Spring Festival is here, and good fortune shines upon us with smiling faces. Wishing everyone a new year, a new starting point, a new journey, new hopes, and new blessings. Happy Spring Festival!]

Ye Xinyu: [Happy New Year, Happy New Year!]

Ye Xinyu: [Du Shen, was that a mass message?]

Du Shen retracted a message.

Zhou Zhou: [Hahaha...]

Zhou Zhou: [By the way, why haven't Yanlang and Xuxu responded yet? Don't tell me they're asleep? This early?]

Xue Jingshu: [Impossible.]

Du Shen: [They're definitely not asleep. Maybe they're on the phone together!]

Xiao Xu: [Makes sense.]

Duan Xu: [Happy New Year, everyone. We're not on the phone.]

Shen Yanlang: [We're just sitting close together and watching TV.]

Ye Xinyu: [???]

Du Shen: [Holy shit! You went to find Duan Xu?]

Xue Jingshu: [Bold move. /applause]

Zhou Zhou: [Xuxu, didn't your parents say anything?]

Shen Yanlang: [Uncle and Auntie aren't home.]

Zhou Zhou: [...]

Du Shen: [thumbs-up.jpg]

Ye Xinyu: [Bro, take it easy. Don't bully Xuxu.]

Seeing that message, Duan Xu glanced at Shen Yanlang, only for Shen Yanlang to snatch his phone and send a message using it.

Duan Xu: [I'm not being bullied. He treats me very well.]

Duan Xu: "???"

"Don't send random messages." Duan Xu shot Shen Yanlang a glare and took his phone back.

Shen Yanlang curled his lips. "I was telling the truth. Do you think I said anything wrong?"

"...No." Duan Xu had no way to refute him.

In the group chat.

Ye Xinyu: [I really don't want to eat the first bowl of dog food of the new year.]

Du Shen: [It's fine, we'll send some too. Xiaoyu, come here. /kiss]

Ye Xinyu: [Get lost!]

Xue Jingshu: [Are we starting a competition to see who can send more dog food?]

Han Xi: [I'm not participating.]

Xue Jingshu: [All right.]

Zhou Zhou: [Hahaha...]

Xiao Xu: [Hahaha...]

At last, the group chat finally settled down.

"Brother Yanlang, do you think Zhouzhou and Brother Xiao Xu are together yet?" Duan Xu closed his phone, genuinely curious.

Shen Yanlang also put his phone away and said indifferently, "More or less."

"What do you mean, more or less?" Duan Xu asked.

Shen Yanlang looked at Duan Xu and explained first, "More or less like us. They'll probably officially get together after school starts."

"Oh..." Duan Xu nodded in understanding.

Then Shen Yanlang added, "Xuxu, shouldn't we give each other a more intimate nickname?"

Everyone else can call him Xuxu, and Xuxu calls me Brother Yanlang along with everyone else. There's nothing special about it.

"Uh..." Duan Xu blinked. It was possible, but what should they call each other?