You're impossible

As the weather gradually cooled, Shan Ye went to the café every day after class to keep Fan Jin company.

They saw each other every day, and that afternoon, Shan Ye brought a bouquet with him.

Fan Jin spotted him the moment he walked in, wearing a coat and carrying a bouquet of red roses.

He raised an eyebrow. "What made you buy flowers all of a sudden?"

"They're for you." Noticing that Fan Jin wore only a thin hoodie, he frowned reflexively. "Tsk, I told you this morning to wear more layers, but you wouldn't listen. It's November already. It's getting cold."

"Don't go catching a cold."

Fan Jin smiled as he took the flowers. "You sound like an elder."

Perhaps it was being with Shan Ye, but Fan Jin had started smiling more often and talking a little more than before.

Watching them from his seat nearby, Zhang Nan shook his head and sighed. "Tsk, now I'm the only single guy left in the shop. There used to be two of us."

Catching the teasing in his voice, Fan Jin said sheepishly, "No one's stopping you from dating."

Zhang Nan immediately cut him off. "No thanks. Watching you two date is enough for me. Heh."

When he got home, he would keep working on his serialized BL comic about a café owner and a university lecturer.

He had drawn Fan Jin and Shan Ye into his comic, taking inspiration from real life.

Shan Ye leaned over the counter and tilted his head at Fan Jin. "Fan Jin, teach me how to make coffee."

"You?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Shan Ye protested. "I've watched you make it so many times. It shouldn't be that hard."

The corners of Fan Jin's mouth lifted.

"Come on, teach me." Shan Ye drew out the words, looking up at him from the counter with bright eyes.

Zhang Nan was wiping cups nearby, his ears pricked for every word.

Fan Jin looked at him for a couple of seconds, then took a portafilter from the rack and handed it over. "All right. Grind the beans first."

Shan Ye took it and eagerly walked over to the grinder. Standing behind him, Fan Jin pointed at a button. "Just hold this down. Stop when the grounds reach here."

Shan Ye pressed it, and the grinder hummed to life. Coffee grounds poured out. Watching them fall, he thought it seemed pretty easy.

"That's enough," Fan Jin said from behind him.

Shan Ye let go and looked down. The grounds filled the basket to overflowing, heaped above the rim.

"...Too much?" he asked tentatively.

Without a word, Fan Jin took the portafilter from him and scraped off the excess. His movements were deft; one pass left the surface perfectly level.

"Tamp it." He handed him the tamper.

Shan Ye took it and pressed down hard. He put plenty of effort into it, using his whole arm.

"Too light," Fan Jin said.

"I'm already pressing really hard."

Fan Jin said nothing. He stepped behind him, covered Shan Ye's hand with his own, and guided him downward. The position practically enclosed Shan Ye in his arms, his chest pressed against Shan Ye's back.

"Like this." Fan Jin's voice was right beside his ear, low and deep.

His voice passed through Shan Ye's ears like an electric current. His head buzzed, and he had no idea what Fan Jin was saying.

"Got it?" Fan Jin asked.

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm." Shan Ye nodded vigorously, though he hadn't taken in a single word.

Fan Jin released him and stepped back. Shan Ye drew a deep breath, locked the tamped portafilter into the coffee machine, and pressed the extraction button.

As the coffee flowed out, it looked pretty convincing to him. The color was nice, and the crema was thick.

"What next?" He turned to Fan Jin.

"Steam the milk."

Shan Ye poured milk into the pitcher, inserted the steam wand, and turned on the steam. The milk swirled around with a hiss. Watching it gradually expand, he thought he might actually be doing all right.

"Turn it off," Fan Jin said.

Shan Ye shut off the steam and lifted the pitcher. The foam was as thick as cream, its surface covered in large bubbles.

"...Is this normal?" he asked.

Fan Jin glanced at it without speaking, took the pitcher, and picked up the coffee cup to pour. The foam went into the coffee in a shapeless clump.

Fan Jin pushed the cup toward him. "Try what you made."

Shan Ye stared at the cup for a couple of seconds, then picked it up and took a sip. The foam was so thick that his mouth filled with air. It completely smothered the bitterness of the coffee, leaving no flavor at all.

He pouted. "It doesn't taste very good."

Fan Jin smiled and took the cup from him. "Let me try."

He took a sip. There was a coffee flavor, but something was missing. "It's normal for your first try."

Shan Ye set the cup down and stared at Fan Jin. "Was your first coffee like this too?"

"More or less."

"Then how long did you practice before you got as good as you are now?"

Fan Jin thought for a moment. "Two or three months."

Shan Ye fell silent for a moment, then picked up the milk pitcher. "Let's try again."

That evening, with closing time approaching, Shan Ye was still figuring out how to make coffee.

Zhang Nan had already left for the day, and there were no customers left. Fan Jin slipped his arms around Shan Ye's waist from behind, making him jump.

"What are you doing, Fan Jin? I'm helping you grind beans. You scared me."

Fan Jin kissed the tip of his ear and murmured, "Time to clock out, Mr. Shan."

Shan Ye looked around the café. Even the last customer had gone. He put away the beans he was holding. "All right. Let's go home."

The arms around his waist didn't loosen. Fan Jin rested his chin on Shan Ye's shoulder, his voice low. "Where are you going tonight?"

Shan Ye smiled. Turning around to lean back against the counter, he brushed their noses together. "Where do you want me to go?"

"Come to my place tonight. Okay?"

He hadn't been to Fan Jin's place in almost a week.

"If you say so." Shan Ye's gaze moved from Fan Jin's eyes to his lips, looking utterly alluring.

They walked home, planning to shower first when they got back.

Once they arrived and closed the door, Shan Ye leaned against the entryway wall and looked up at Fan Jin.

"Are you showering first, or am I?" he asked.

"You first."

Shan Ye took off his coat, draped it over the back of a chair, and went into the bathroom. When the water started running, Fan Jin poured himself a glass of water in the kitchen and took a couple of sips. Then he went out onto the balcony for a while, stubbing out his cigarette after smoking only half.

About fifteen minutes later, the bathroom door opened. Shan Ye wore Fan Jin's pajamas, the loose neckline hanging around his collarbones and exposing a stretch of fair skin. His hair was still wet, and droplets trickled down his neck.

Fan Jin glanced at him, then quickly looked away, got up, and headed for the bathroom.

Shan Ye sat on the bed toweling his hair and heard the water start running in the bathroom. He blow-dried his hair until it was half dry, slipped under the covers, and leaned against the pillows to browse his phone while waiting for Fan Jin to finish showering.

Fan Jin came over and sat on the edge of the bed to towel his hair.

Shan Ye got up, knelt behind him, and took the towel from his hands. "Let me."

Fan Jin stayed still. Shan Ye laid the towel over his head and gently rubbed. His close-cropped hair prickled against his hands, and after a couple of rubs, it barely dripped anymore.

"Done," he said.

Shan Ye wrapped both arms around his neck from behind and breathed in his scent at the crook of his neck. Fan Jin turned his head, suddenly bringing their faces close.

"Fan Jin, we use the same body wash, so why do you smell a little better than me?" Shan Ye asked out of nowhere.

Fan Jin leaned in and kissed the corner of his mouth. With one hand, he effortlessly pulled Shan Ye onto his lap, and they began kissing without another word.

Kissing was the best way to express their feelings. Fan Jin's hand naturally settled on Shan Ye's waist, his thumb tracing a circle along his side.

They kissed for a long time before Shan Ye pulled away to catch his breath. He ran his tongue over his lips. "Fan Jin, let's learn something else."

"What else do you want to learn?" Fan Jin asked.

Coffee wasn't the only thing Shan Ye wanted to learn.

"I want to learn something else." Shan Ye's voice was husky. He had started feeling hot back in the bathroom, and after a few touches from Fan Jin, he could barely stand it anymore.

Fan Jin's fingers sank into the soft flesh at Shan Ye's waist. "Like what?"

Shan Ye didn't answer. He removed the towel from around Fan Jin's neck and tossed it onto the nightstand. Then he straddled his lap, wrapped his arms around his neck, and rested their foreheads together.

"Like the secrets of communicating with our bodies," he said, then kissed him.