CoP 29

Ji Ling saw Sui Cannong’s Adam’s apple move up and down.

Then he heard Sui Cannong ask, “Why?”

Ji Ling was taken aback and could only continue with the lie he had started. “No reason, I guess I’ve just been a bit tired from work lately. I suddenly… feel a bit nostalgic for my old life.”

“Why now?” Sui Cannong asked. “You could wait until next year’s holiday, or any of the many holidays to come.”

Ji Ling found Sui Cannong’s line of questioning strange.

He paused before saying, “Because I want to seize the moment…”

Sui Cannong had said “try for three months,” but Ji Ling didn’t want their relationship to be limited to just those three months.

Ji Ling wanted to make the most of every remaining day within that time frame to create some beautiful memories.

And on the last day of those three months, Ji Ling wanted to confess to Sui Cannong.

This time, Ji Ling would tell Sui Cannong everything—how he had liked him for a long time, and how he didn’t want to keep this “trial” relationship any longer.

Ji Ling didn’t understand why Sui Cannong was so insistent on getting to the bottom of things. But he knew that his priority was to somehow convince Sui Cannong and get him to agree.

“Maybe something will come up next year,” Ji Ling tried a different approach. “Maybe we’ll be very busy and won’t have many opportunities to go out together. So I want to… seize the moment.”

“Teacher Sui,” Ji Ling’s voice was soft as he asked, “can you spare some of your Christmas holiday for me?”

Ji Ling’s eyes were clear, and since they had known each other, Sui Cannong had never seen such earnest, hopeful expressions in them.

After a long pause, Sui Cannong sighed and said, “Alright.”

Sui Cannong was very worried.

He had studied abroad, and while those years were unforgettable, he only remembered the daily struggle of running between classes, the fresh air that came with an absurdly strong UV index, and the frequent shocks from the giant squirrels that would suddenly appear on the road.

There were good memories, but Sui Cannong had no fondness for that time, and certainly no desire to revisit it.

What troubled him more was that these words came from Ji Ling, and the way he said them was awkward and uncomfortable. Sui Cannong immediately felt something was off.

—This sounded really ominous. Why would a young person suddenly want to revisit a place they had lived before?

Sui Cannong agreed to Ji Ling’s request mainly because he felt that even if he refused, Ji Ling would likely go alone.

It was better to go with him and provide some safety.

The first week of December arrived quickly. From the moment they boarded the plane, Sui Cannong was on high alert.

When they landed, it was already afternoon in London. The weather was damp and cold, and Ji Ling put on a white cashmere scarf.

Sui Cannong didn’t know why, but he liked seeing Ji Ling in heavy, well-layered clothing.

After checking in, they stood outside the hotel, and Sui Cannong saw Ji Ling open his phone and launch the familiar “Plan Through” app.

Sui Cannong couldn’t see the details on the screen, but he could vaguely make out that Ji Ling was listing many new plans.

Ji Ling looked up and asked, “Can we go on the Ferris wheel?”

Sui Cannong looked into his eyes and said, “Sure.”

When it came to the Ferris wheel, their minds conjured entirely different thoughts.

Sui Cannong thought of the “extremely ridiculous height” and “danger, danger, danger,” while Ji Ling thought of it as a “must-visit spot for couples” and “a perfect atmosphere for a kiss.”

As the Ferris wheel slowly ascended, Sui Cannong looked at Ji Ling, who was sitting opposite him, staring intently at the view outside.

Sui Cannong’s heart softened for a moment.

He asked, “Didn’t you say you spent many years in London and never went on the Ferris wheel with friends?”

Ji Ling looked at Sui Cannong and shook his head.

“During my studies, it seemed like every day was busy,” Ji Ling said. “And my interactions with friends were limited to going to the supermarket or eating together.”

The Ferris wheel took about twenty minutes to complete one full rotation, and the enclosed space was perfect for couples to spend time together, as Ji Ling had read in online travel guides.

Ji Ling was a bit frustrated.

When they entered the Ferris wheel, he had instinctively sat opposite Sui Cannong, and the distance between them made any physical contact impossible.

But if he moved to sit next to Sui Cannong now, it would be too obvious.

Ji Ling felt a bit disappointed but knew he would have other opportunities in the coming days.

So he turned his head and leaned closer to the window, continuing to admire the view outside.

Sui Cannong had just replied to a WeChat message when he looked up and saw Ji Ling sitting at the edge of the seat, his forehead pressed against the glass, quietly gazing at the river below.

Even with the thick glass protecting him, Sui Cannong frowned.

Ji Ling was staring at the river when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, and he found himself enveloped in a warm, familiar embrace.

Sui Cannong had sat next to Ji Ling and pulled him into a protective position. He said, “Don’t get too close to the window.”

Sui Cannong’s grip was strong, and Ji Ling had to sit up straight, feeling a bit dazed. He realized his previous position might have looked a bit dangerous.

Although sitting straight made it impossible to see the view, Ji Ling’s heart still raced.

He looked up at Sui Cannong and said, “We’re… on the Ferris wheel.”

Sui Cannong replied, “Yes.”

Ji Ling continued, “We’re a couple.”

Sui Cannong nodded, “That’s right.”

Ji Ling didn’t say anything more.

After a moment, Sui Cannong said, “Oh,” and he lowered his head with a smile. “I understand.”

When they got off the Ferris wheel, both Sui Cannong and Ji Ling’s faces were a bit red.

Ji Ling’s scarf had come undone, so Sui Cannong stood by the river, bent down, and patiently retied it for him.

Then they walked along the riverbank for a while.

The view by the river was beautiful. As Ji Ling took a small step toward the water, Sui Cannong suddenly grabbed his arm and said, “Be careful.”

Before Ji Ling could react, Sui Cannong paused, then moved from Ji Ling’s left side to his right, placing himself between Ji Ling and the river.

Ji Ling was taken aback, and his mind began to fill with questions.

When helping Lin pick up a flag and during the swimming incident, Ji Ling had sensed that Sui Cannong had a strong sense of safety.

This wasn’t a problem; it showed that he was a gentleman and cared about others.

But Ji Ling felt that Sui Cannong was being overly cautious, sometimes even to the point of reflex.

Noticing Ji Ling’s expression, Sui Cannong asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Ji Ling shook his head. “I just feel like you’re a very cautious person.”

Sui Cannong was taken aback and asked, “Why?”

“I don’t know why,” Ji Ling chose his words carefully. “It’s just that when you do something risky, you always seem… more careful than others.”

Sui Cannong was silent for a moment.

The atmosphere had been light, and Ji Ling began to regret his words, realizing he might have said something wrong.

He looked up, about to say something to make amends, but saw Sui Cannong staring straight at him. His eyes were deep, and the emotions in them were complex.

Then Ji Ling saw Sui Cannong turn his face away.

The wind by the river was strong, and after a while, he heard Sui Cannong’s soft voice ask, “You really… don’t know why?”