Rain Lily

He had not noticed it while walking, but once Ding Ding got home and sat down, his whole body felt as though it were falling apart, and the pain made him grimace.

Bai Congming settled him into bed, then took the tools and went on cleaning the courtyard.

Ding Ding wanted to help, but the moment he moved, Bai Congming, who had been keeping an eye on him, pressed him back down.

"Sick. Rest."

Ding Ding did not know whether to laugh or cry. His gaze wandered around the room before settling on a beautifully wrapped bouquet on the floor beside the wardrobe.

The pink flowers were tiny, hanging one by one from their stems like little bells; layer upon layer of grayish-white wrapping paper delicately enfolded that touch of softness.

Yet it was disheveled, the bottom of the wrapping paper bearing marks of rough handling, as though someone had once gripped it very tightly.

Ding Ding got up, wanting to move closer for a better look, but he had barely stirred before Bai Congming came running in from outside again.

So Ding Ding sat back down and pointed at the bouquet on the floor.

"What's that?"

As though only just remembering it, Bai Congming excitedly scooped up the flowers and stuffed them into Ding Ding's arms.

"Flowers!"

Besides being pretty, the bouquet smelled lovely. Ding Ding instinctively felt that this was not something a fool would have, and his heart immediately tightened as he ventured a question.

"Did someone give these to you?"

Behind a wrapped bouquet, there ought to be someone's affection.

Ding Ding suddenly felt a little at a loss. If someone really had discovered this beauty just as he had, and could give Bai Congming a better life, then he should not keep staying here.

He was also a little angry-angry that this fool kept calling him his wife while accepting flowers from someone else.

Flowers that looked expensive, at that!

Even knowing that the fool might not understand all those complications, he was still so angry that his whole body began to hurt.

"Who?!" Ding Ding shouted. "Who gave them to you?!"

Bai Congming sat down beside Ding Ding with a bashful expression, unable to contain his happiness as he thought about what would happen next, his face flushed.

Xiao Hu had given Xiao Hua Pink Lily of the Valley, and Xiao Hua had held him and kissed him for ages!

"Me. For Brother Ding..."

Ding Ding froze, a breath caught in his chest that would neither go up nor down. It took him a long while to speak.

"...For me?"

"Yes!"

Bai Congming nodded hard and leaned his head closer to Ding Ding, even closing his eyes and puckering his lips impatiently.

"..."

How could Ding Ding not understand what that meant? And yet he felt as though he did not quite understand what it meant.

They remained face-to-face in a stalemate until Ding Ding gave in first and leaned forward to kiss him.

It was light as a dragonfly skimming water, their lips parting as soon as they touched.

"When did you buy them? For me... but how did you know when I'd come back..."

Before he could finish asking, the expression on the face before him suddenly changed, shifting from initial shock to confusion, then into deep sorrow as Bai Congming stared unblinkingly at him.

He stared until Ding Ding began to feel guilty, wondering whether he had misunderstood and rashly taken liberties with the beauty.

"Wh-what's wrong?" Ding Ding reached out and wiped Bai Congming's lips. "I'm not allowed to kiss you anymore?"

"Not like that," Bai Congming said.

"Huh?"

"Not like that!"

Bai Congming's brows knitted tightly. He did not understand why Xiao Hu got such a long kiss for giving flowers, while he only got a tiny peck, and even the warmth left on his lips had to be wiped away.

Heartbroken, utterly heartbroken, Bai Congming grabbed his hair with both hands and forcefully pulled out a small tuft.

Startled, Ding Ding caught hold of him and spoke incoherently.

"Then how is it supposed to be?"

"..."

Bai Congming struggled out of Ding Ding's arms, buried his head in the wardrobe, and rummaged out the comic book.

The plastic bag covering the book was the only way he could think of to treasure it.

"Kissing!"

Bai Congming opened the book to the page where Xiao Hu gave Xiao Hua flowers and pressed a spot with words on it. Two men's voices sounded.

"Xiao Hua, here's your favorite Pink Lily of the Valley, from the man who loves you most."

"Xiao Hu..."

The next moment, silence spoke louder than words.

Ding Ding was stunned. Had the world already advanced this far while he was not paying attention?

There were not many panels on this page, but they certainly kept a person there for quite some time. Once the sounds had completely faded, Bai Congming closed the book.

"Like this!"

"..."

People really did laugh when they were speechless. Ding Ding leaned against Bai Congming's shoulder and laughed for ages before straightening up, cupping his face, and sharing a long kiss with him.

Thoroughly satisfied, Bai Congming got up and left, paying no attention whatsoever to the other man's stirring desire.

Ding Ding struggled to steady his breathing, took a tactical sip of water, picked up a pillow to rest over his lap, and pulled him back.

"So," Ding Ding said, pointing at the bouquet, "when did you buy those?"

Bai Congming thought for a moment, then answered, "Yesterday."

"How did you know I'd come?"

"Didn't know," Bai Congming said. "I went. To find you."

Ding Ding paused. "Where did you go to find me?"

Bai Congming outlined a large square with both hands. "Inside the tall, tall building."

The only place he could find was the company, but the company had changed hands. How could he possibly find Ding Ding there?

Ding Ding had him take off his shoes and get onto the bed, then held him from behind, resting his head on his shoulder at just the right height.

"Didn't I tell you to wait for me to come back?" Ding Ding closed his eyes, though his hands were anything but still. "Then what?"

Bai Congming tucked in his neck. "Brother... Brother Ding..."

"Don't move." Ding Ding turned his head to bite him. "Then what?"

Then what, indeed?

There was only so much room in that head of his, and all of it was occupied. What "then" could Bai Congming possibly come up with?

His awareness gradually blurred, yesterday's exhaustion and hurt melting into his breathing, surpassing even what was in the comic book.

With nowhere to put them, Bai Congming's hands flailed wildly, accidentally pressing the open comic beside them.

Bai Congming could no longer make out anything Xiao Hu was saying, but Ding Ding listened with great interest and even turned another page.

The atmosphere grew more intimate, and Bai Congming leaned limply back against him.

"Brother Ding..."

"I'm here."

After heavy spring and summer rains, little white flowers would always spring up in patches along the roadside. They were called rain lilies.

Though called lilies, they belonged to the amaryllis family. They looked like chives, were nothing precious, and could be found everywhere.

Ordinarily unremarkable, the flowers they put forth after storms seemed more like a surprise from nature.

Bai Congming liked surprises like that.

Dew clung to the little flowers after the rain. Bai Congming's cheeks were burning, and he kept pressing them against Ding Ding's slightly cool arm.

"No cheating," Ding Ding said with a laugh, pushing him away. "Go wash up."

Bai Congming murmured assent but did not move, leaning in Ding Ding's arms for a long while before speaking.

"I can do it too."

"No need." Ding Ding pushed him away. "I don't need you to do these things."

Bai Congming's eyes shifted, and he reached out the way Ding Ding had earlier, only to be stopped again.

Ding Ding smiled and repeated what he had just said.

"I don't need you to do these things."