I like him. Could you tell?

After they finished cooking, Shan Ye went to ask his parents, "Would you like something to eat?"

"You two eat. Your dad and I ate on the way home."

Shan Ye didn't press them and returned to the dining table to eat with Fan Jin.

Fan Jin actually felt very uncomfortable throughout the meal. He rarely dealt with people outside his circle, especially people like Shan Ye's parents. He could tell Shan Ye had a happy family, with open-minded, highly educated parents.

They were the hosts, and Fan Jin was the guest.

That thought made Fan Jin even more uncomfortable, but he didn't show it, maintaining his cool demeanor.

Shan Ye chatted with him from time to time to ease the atmosphere, but even so, Fan Jin remained nervous.

Because he knew that, one way or another, he would have to meet Shan Ye's parents in a little while.

Even if he left, he would still have to say goodbye to his hosts.

Seeing that he'd barely eaten, Shan Ye smiled and said, "Nervous, Fan Jin?"

"...A little," he admitted.

"Don't be nervous. I'll take you to have some tea with them in a bit. Once you've chatted a little, you won't be scared anymore."

Fan Jin said nothing, lowering his head to take another couple of bites.

Shan Ye set down his chopsticks. "Fan Jin, my parents really are easy to talk to. Besides... they know I like you."

Fan Jin's chopsticks paused, and he looked up. "What did you say?"

"I said they know I like you. My mom asked me before, so I told her."

Fan Jin frowned, seemingly uneasy. "What did you tell her?"

"That I'd fallen for a coffee shop owner who was handsome and a good person." Shan Ye counted the qualities off on his fingers, his eyes curving with his smile. "My mom was really happy to hear it."

Fan Jin sat stunned for a long moment. He hadn't expected Shan Ye to care so much about him that he'd already told his parents about him.

After they finished eating, Shan Ye took the initiative to clear the dishes. Fan Jin wanted to help, but Shan Ye pressed him down onto the sofa. "You sit here. I'll wash the dishes."

Shan Ye's mother sat on the other sofa, looking kindly at Fan Jin.

I'd be better off washing the dishes...

Shan Ye's father poured him a cup of tea and sat down across from him.

Fan Jin sat ramrod straight, both hands resting on his knees. It felt like being back in the military, standing for inspection by a commanding officer.

"Fan Jin, right?" Shan Ye's father said with a warm smile. "Don't be nervous. We're just having a chat."

Fan Jin nodded. "Hello, sir."

"Shan Ye said you served in the military?"

"Yes, for ten years."

"Good. Military service is a good thing." A little more approval entered his eyes. "It teaches you endurance and responsibility."

Fan Jin didn't know how to respond, so he could only nod.

"Do you have any other family?"

Fan Jin was silent for a moment. "My grandmother."

Seeing that he didn't want to elaborate, Shan Ye's father didn't press him. Instead, he turned the conversation to coffee. Fan Jin was more familiar with that subject and began talking a little more.

When Shan Ye came out after washing the dishes, that was the scene he found: his dad and Fan Jin sitting on either side of the coffee table, each with a cup of tea, getting along comfortably.

He walked over and naturally sat beside Fan Jin, their shoulders touching.

"What are you talking about?"

"Coffee beans," his father said with a smile. "Fan Jin knows quite a bit."

Shan Ye smiled at Fan Jin. "He runs a coffee shop. Of course he knows a lot."

Before long, Shan Ye's father said, "Your mother and I only got off the plane a little while ago, so we're going to rest. Shan Ye, take good care of your friend."

Shan Ye nodded. "Okay. Go get some rest."

Mother Shan smiled at Fan Jin. "Don't feel shy, Fan Jin. Make yourself at home and relax."

Fan Jin nodded and thanked her. He could tell that Shan Ye's parents were saying they needed to rest because they were worried their presence would make him uncomfortable.

They really are good people...

That afternoon, Fan Jin decided to head back, and Shan Ye walked him downstairs.

Once they were outside the residential complex, Fan Jin stopped and looked at him.

"I'm going back to Osmanthus City first thing tomorrow."

Shan Ye looked a little shocked. "So soon?" He frowned. "You only just got back."

"My grandmother's there on her own. I'm worried about her."

Knowing there was no way to stop him, Shan Ye gave a subdued "Oh."

Seeing him like that, Fan Jin hesitated, then reached out and gently patted his shoulder. "I'll be back in a few days."

"Then tell me as soon as you get back."

"No, come see me."

Fan Jin said, "...Okay."

The wind picked up, tousling Shan Ye's hair. His eyes shone as he spread his arms. "Want a hug, Fan Jin?"

Without hesitation, Fan Jin slipped his right arm around Shan Ye's lower back and pulled him into his embrace.

This time, he held him tightly with both arms.

Shan Ye froze for two seconds, then smiled and hugged him back, burying his face in the crook of his neck.

"You're so warm, Fan Jin," Shan Ye murmured, his voice muffled.

"...Am I?" Fan Jin kept holding him tightly.

Nothing else reached their ears. Not the car horns, not the voices of passersby. All they could hear were two hearts aching, resonating with each other.

Fan Jin went home, then stopped by the coffee shop.

Zhang Nan had been handling the shop alone all this time, though Xu Jing occasionally came to help.

When Fan Jin walked in, Zhang Nan instinctively assumed he was a customer. Keeping his head lowered as he made coffee, he said, "Welcome."

Only when Fan Jin came closer did Zhang Nan realize who it was. He smiled as though he'd seen family. "Boss, you're back."

"Yeah. Has the shop been busy these past few days?"

"It's been okay, about the same as usual. I've just about managed," Zhang Nan said.

Fan Jin looked at him. "Thanks for all your hard work."

"But I have to leave first thing tomorrow."

Zhang Nan looked puzzled. "Where are you going? Osmanthus City again?"

"Yeah. My grandmother's still there."

"Then... why did you come back this time?"

Fan Jin was silent for a moment. "Some personal business."

"I'll be back in a couple of days."

Zhang Nan nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

The next day, Shan Ye came to the shop for coffee and casually asked, "Did Fan Jin stop by yesterday?"

"How did you know the boss was back, Mr. Shan?" Zhang Nan was still puzzled.

Shan Ye looked perfectly innocent. "He's been at my place these past two days. How could I not know?"

Zhang Nan nearly spilled the milk, his eyes widening in shock. His boss had come all the way back just to see Shan Ye!?

So that was the personal business his boss had mentioned.

Personal business!!

Zhang Nan set down what he was holding, walked over to Shan Ye's table, and sat down, his face full of curiosity. "Mr. Shan, can I ask you something personal?"

"Sure." Shan Ye didn't mind at all.

"You and... and the boss, are you two together?" He blinked twice.

He didn't dare ask Fan Jin something like that, but Mr. Shan looked much easier to talk to than his boss.

Shan Ye laughed. "You're that nosy?"

"Oh, please, just tell me. I asked the boss before, but he wouldn't say." Zhang Nan put on a pitiful look.

Shan Ye took a sip of coffee. Zhang Nan was only a kid, after all, with no ill intentions. Since he was always polite and well-behaved, Shan Ye decided to give him a little advance information.

He set his coffee cup on the table. "We're not together yet, but I like him. Could you tell?"

"I could tell ages ago." Zhang Nan couldn't help patting the table. Judging by his years of experience reading BL comics, Shan Ye's feelings were far too obvious.

And he was very likely the bottom.