An Unwelcome Visitor

Gu Ze hadn't planned to say anything yet. But Ye Qing had apparently gotten the wrong idea and was avoiding him so determinedly that Gu Ze began to think Ye Qing might have feelings for him after all.

It wasn't that Ye Qing felt nothing. He just couldn't believe it.

"W-who is it?"

"I once told him he was brave and that he loved helping people. I also told him he was the reason I found meaning in working in the entertainment industry."

"But he doesn't seem to realize I'm talking about him."

"'Right in front of you' is the best answer to that question," Gu Ze said softly.

This wasn't a good place for a confession. They were walking along a path lined with little trees beneath dim yellow streetlights. There were no flowers, not even bright moonlight.

But Gu Ze suddenly didn't want to wait. Rather than hope Ye Qing would figure it out someday, he would tell him himself.

At least things couldn't get much worse than they were now.

At that moment, Ye Qing's suspicions were confirmed. All along, the person Gu Ze liked had been him.

Ye Qing couldn't lie to himself. His first feeling was joy, not aversion.

Still, Gu Ze's sudden confession had startled him. He didn't know what to say.

Should I accept? Ye Qing asked himself.

But he had no answer yet.

Gu Ze could see his hesitation. He didn't need an answer right away.

He had plenty of time. He could wait.

Gu Ze raised a hand and gently stroked Ye Qing's hair. "It's all right," he said in a low, tender voice. "I'm not asking you to answer me now."

"You can take your time. I'll wait."

Gu Ze had touched Ye Qing's hair before, but it had never