NASAY CH 58
by SuxxiFacing his idol, Luo Xing instantly became shy.
“N-no, it’s not good.”
Huo Yansheng had always liked Luo Xing—he was well-behaved and thoughtful, and his understanding of each of his books was so unique and precise that it almost felt like they had written them together. On top of that, Luo Xing had translated one of his books with meticulous word choices, making the meaning nearly identical.
Now, seeing Luo Xing’s handwriting so similar to his own, he couldn’t help but like him even more.
Huo Yansheng picked up the calligraphy Luo Xing had written, examined it up and down for a moment, then chuckled.
“So elegant, how long did you practice?”
Luo Xing sneaked a glance at the kitchen, where Huo Xingzhou was, and nodded lightly.
“For how long?”
“…Seven years.”
Huo Yansheng was stunned. Seven years?
Could it be…?
Following Luo Xing’s gaze toward the kitchen, Huo Yansheng immediately smiled.
“You’ve liked Xingzhou for seven years?”
Luo Xing was startled. Seeing Huo Yeshan’s teasing expression, he hurriedly denied,
“N-no! I don’t! You’ve misunderstood! I just… like your handwriting, nothing else.”
“Oh~ I see.” Huo Yansheng smiled knowingly.
Just then, Huo Xingzhou, who had been rummaging for food, happened to hear their conversation as he returned. His brows furrowed so tightly they could reach the sky.
What nonsense were they talking about?
He didn’t like him? He only liked his dad’s handwriting? So he was just an attachment, like an extension of that admiration?
“What are you talking about?!”
Huo Xingzhou snatched the calligraphy piece, frowning as he examined it. He had already found Luo Xing’s handwriting somewhat familiar when he saw his notes earlier, but now that he saw this brushwork, it finally clicked—wasn’t this exactly his dad’s writing style?
Did Luo Xing like him, or was he just using him to get closer to Huo Yansheng?
Huo Yansheng smirked at his son’s reaction, the air around him practically turning saccharine. He added fuel to the fire with a chuckle.
“You must’ve put in a lot of effort. Have you been practicing my handwriting every day?”
Luo Xing had always been reserved and nervous around his idol, Huo Yansheng, answering almost everything honestly. So when he heard this question, he replied sincerely,
“Your handwriting has its own distinct style and strength. I can only imitate the form, not capture the essence.”
Still daring to say that?
Huo Xingzhou let out a cold snort.
“What’s so great about it? It’s just a couple of words, I can write them too.”
With that, he picked up a brush and scribbled a few strokes onto a fresh red-gold paper.
Luo Xing looked at the characters, which were aggressive and exaggerated, then at Huo Xingzhou’s sarcastic expression. He had no idea where this sudden burst of anger came from.
Huo Yansheng noticed it too, and he slammed his cup onto the table in frustration.
“Get out and put up the spring couplets! Paste the ‘Fu’ character upside down. The paste is on the table.”
Luo Xing inhaled sharply, nervous. He didn’t understand why Huo Xingzhou was acting this way on New Year’s Eve. They were supposed to be enjoying the holiday together as a family.
Being able to spend even a second with them was already something he cherished deeply.
“Are you angry?”
Luo Xing tugged at his sleeve and whispered,
“I’m sorry.”
Huo Xingzhou scoffed, glancing down at him from above before grabbing the dried spring couplets and walking away. Luo Xing hurriedly picked up the paste and followed him out.
At the doorway, Huo Xingzhou placed the spring couplets on the entrance cabinet and pulled him back.
“Hey, hey, hey, put on a coat! It’s cold outside—you’ll freeze your nose off!”
Luo Xing murmured an “Oh” and obediently took the down jacket from him, slipping it on. He then carefully observed Huo Xingzhou’s expression and hesitantly asked,
“Are you really not mad?”
“I’m not.”
Huo Xingzhou zipped up his coat, straightened the collar, and wrapped a scarf around him. Then, he lightly flicked Luo Xing’s nose.
“Let’s put up the spring couplets.”
“Okay.” Luo Xing tugged at his fingers softly and coaxed him in a gentle voice.
“Did I say something wrong? Tell me, and I’ll change next time.”
“Figure it out yourself.”
Huo Xingzhou opened the door, pulled out a stepladder, and climbed up. Luo Xing stood below, applying paste as Huo Xingzhou carefully placed each couplet.
The wind was strong, blowing snowflakes in all directions, but none landed under the eaves. Luo Xing squinted slightly as he watched Huo Xingzhou, worriedly holding the ladder, afraid he might fall.
After finishing, Huo Xingzhou prepared to climb down. Seeing Luo Xing’s nervous expression, he suddenly smiled, leaned down, and crooked his finger, beckoning him closer.
Luo Xing hesitated but moved forward.
The next second, Huo Xingzhou lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
Inside the kitchen, Wu Suyan was cooking. She opened the window to pour something out and happened to glance outside.
In the swirling snowfall, Huo Xingzhou stood atop the stepladder, leaning slightly downward, while Luo Xing tilted his head up to meet him. The entire world seemed to fade into the background—silent, colorless—leaving only that pure and quiet moment.
“My goodness.”
Wu Suyan mused to herself.
Who said her son was born without a romantic bone in his body?
Looks like he was fully loaded with those skills—he just hadn’t found the right key until now.
Wu Suyan smiled as she closed the window, thinking to herself, This is already so blatant—who knows how spoiled he must be in private?
After all the spring couplets were put up inside and outside the house, Wu Suyan instructed them to arrange the window decorations and ornaments. By the time everything was done, it was just about time for dinner.
Huo Xingzhou rubbed Luo Xing’s hands and pressed them against his own face, asking,
“Are you cold?”
Luo Xing was still unsettled from Huo Yansheng’s earlier question and from the sudden kiss at the door. He was worried that Huo Yansheng and Wu Suyan might misunderstand, so he quickly pulled his hands away.
“Not cold.”
“My little darlings, it’s time to eat.” Wu Suyan called from the kitchen.
“After dinner, we’ll head back to Grandpa’s place—it’ll take another two to three hours on the road.”
Huo Xingzhou didn’t want him to leave. Wrapping his arms around Luo Xing’s waist, he trapped him in the corner of the staircase.
“Earlier, you asked if I was angry, didn’t you?”
“You said you liked my dad’s handwriting for seven years and even told him you don’t like me. Were you using me to get close to your idol?”
Huo Xingzhou deliberately twisted the story, continuing,
“So I’m just a stepping stone, huh? You’ve used me up, and now you’re done with me?”
Luo Xing panicked at the thought of a misunderstanding and quickly denied it.
“No, no!”
Huo Xingzhou looked down at him, watching his anxious expression, and couldn’t help but smile. But he quickly put on a stern face again.
“Then kiss me—to prove you weren’t using me.”
Luo Xing anxiously glanced toward the kitchen and the stairway. Huo Yansheng seemed to have gone upstairs and could come down at any moment. He wanted to escape, but Huo Xingzhou held onto his waist, keeping him from moving.
“Hurry up, unless you really were using me. Was that whole thing about liking me for ten years just a lie? I finally like someone for once, and this is how it turns out…”
Before he could finish his sentence, his words were cut off.
Luo Xing closed his eyes and leaned up, his eyelashes fluttering like the delicate wings of a butterfly. They trembled softly for a moment before brushing against Huo Xingzhou’s skin.
“…Don’t… don’t leave me.”
Luo Xing’s eyes instantly turned red, and his hands, clutching Huo Xingzhou’s sleeve, started trembling. His voice quivered with a hint of suppressed sobs.
“I wasn’t… I really wasn’t using you. It’s because of you… that I started liking Uncle.
Even though I later truly grew to admire his work, I never used you…”
Huo Xingzhou was taken aback by his reddened eyes, not expecting that his casual words would scare Luo Xing this much. He also never imagined that Luo Xing was so afraid of being abandoned by him.
“Luo Xing? Luo Xing?”
Huo Xingzhou reached out to tilt his face toward him, but Luo Xing avoided his touch, rubbing his eyes with frustration. Damn it, he cursed himself inwardly. It was just a joke—why did I start crying?
Panicked, Huo Xingzhou pulled him into his arms, gently kissing the top of his head. Feeling the way Luo Xing shook slightly in his embrace, denying that he was crying while his breath hitched, Huo Xingzhou felt his heart tighten.
Then, with a sharp motion, he raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face.
Damn it, he scolded himself. How could I joke like that? I knew he had past trauma, yet I still said such careless things?
Luo Xing looked up just in time to see him slap himself and was startled. He quickly grabbed his hand.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry—it was just a joke. I won’t say things like that again. I won’t ever leave you. Even if I die, I won’t leave you,” Huo Xingzhou held onto Luo Xing’s wrist, lowered his head, and gently kissed his teary eyes. Word by word, he promised,
“For the rest of my life, I will never leave you. Don’t be afraid.”
Luo Xing blinked, embarrassed.
“Don’t look at me.”
“Okay, okay, I won’t look.”
Huo Xingzhou pulled him back into his arms and chuckled.
“Silly thing. You actually took my joke seriously? Do you really not trust me that much? Should I punish you?”
Luo Xing shook his head. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Huo Xingzhou—it was just that…
“Hey, what are you two doing here?”
Wu Suyan’s voice suddenly rang out from the stairway.
“I’ve been calling you for dinner! Are you just going to wait until the food gets cold—huh?”
She trailed off, staring at Luo Xing, who had hurriedly pulled away from Huo Xingzhou. His eyes were red, clearly as if he had just been crying.
Immediately, she placed her hands on her hips and glared at Huo Xingzhou.
“You little brat—did you bully him?”
Huo Xingzhou was just about to deny it, but then he realized that he had indeed bullied Luo Xing a little. He hesitated for a moment, and to Wu Suyan, his silence was basically an admission.
The fire of anger flared up instantly. Wu Suyan pulled Luo Xing behind her by his wrist and pointed a spoon at Huo Xingzhou’s forehead, scolding him non-stop for a full three minutes.
“……” Huo Xingzhou remained silent for a moment before saying,
“I plead guilty.”
Wu Suyan scoffed,
“Pleading guilty is enough? You’ll be washing the dishes later, and you won’t be sleeping in the same room with him tonight.”
Then she turned her head toward Luo Xing, her tone suddenly gentle as she coaxed,
“Little darling, don’t be afraid. If he dares to bully you, just speak up. Mama Huo will stand up for you. We’ll stay up for New Year’s Eve together tonight and let him go sleep elsewhere.”
Luo Xing glanced at Huo Xingzhou, who had a look of grievance as if he had suffered an injustice. He couldn’t help but chuckle, but then he felt guilty. This was his problem to begin with, and now Huo Xingzhou was being unfairly blamed because of him. Embarrassed, he quickly explained,
“Auntie, Huo Xingzhou didn’t bully me. I just got something in my eye.”
“Really?”
Afraid she wouldn’t believe him, Luo Xing nodded quickly.
“Yes, really.”
Wu Suyan’s expression finally softened a bit. She smiled and urged him to wash his hands before eating. Then she slowed down and turned her head, glancing at her son, who now had a look of disdain on his face.
“Dear son.”
Wu Suyan lowered her voice, a mysterious look in her eyes as she nudged him.
“What?”
Huo Xingzhou snorted coldly.
“Luo Xing went to wash his hands. Did you call the wrong person?”
Instead of getting angry, Wu Suyan smiled and leaned in conspiratorially.
“Tell me the truth, how exactly were you bullying him just now? Did you make him cry? Hey, let your mom teach you—”
Huo Xingzhou was silent for two seconds before walking away.
“Wait, I was going to teach you!”
Wu Suyan chased after him, exasperated.
After lunch, the four of them set off for their family home with Huo Yeshan driving.
As the drive went on, Luo Xing became increasingly uneasy. He sneaked a glance at Wu Suyan and Huo Yansheng in the front seat. These two had met before thanks to Xingzhou’s arrangements, and they were quite familiar with each other by now. But his own relatives…
Normally, bringing a male friend home for a visit wasn’t a big deal, but during New Year’s—when only family gathered—it was hard to explain his presence.
Although Huo Xingzhou’s parents didn’t seem to mind, he still felt nervous. His fingers twisted together, palms growing damp with sweat.
Huo Xingzhou noticed his tension and quietly took his hand, mouthing the words: “Nervous?”
Luo Xing didn’t deny it. He nodded obediently and whispered,
“Maybe I should just—”
Huo Xingzhou furrowed his brows, tightening his grip on Luo Xing’s hand and placing it on his own thigh. He knew that someone like Luo Xing, who lacked a sense of security and had very little confidence, would already find it difficult to visit someone else’s home—let alone during an important occasion like New Year’s.
It was understandable.
But he didn’t want Luo Xing to always be stuck in such a small, self-imposed bubble, using solitude and isolation as a form of self-protection.
He wanted him to face life without fear, to be able to confront anything with confidence, to never be afraid again.
The car moved steadily forward. Huo Yansheng occasionally chatted with his wife about business matters, sometimes mentioning the younger generation in the family. With his hand held firmly by Huo Xingzhou, Luo Xing’s nervousness gradually faded.
These past few days, he seemed to have been doing okay. Huo Xingzhou’s parents appeared to like him. If they liked him even more, maybe one day they could accept him being with Huo Xingzhou.
Making up his mind, Luo Xing pushed away the last bit of unease in his heart. He just needed to work harder, make them all like him—like they liked Xingzhou.
The Huo family’s old house was located at the foot of a mountain, more than forty kilometers outside Jiangcheng. Far from the noise of the big city, it wasn’t a villa but a row of simple, connected one-story houses.
The yard was enclosed by a wooden fence. On the left were a few small sheds housing chickens and ducks, while the right side, which had previously been filled with vegetables, now lay barren after the harvest, covered with a thin layer of snow.
A red Spring Festival couplet was pasted on the thatched gatehouse. A spirited old man stood there holding a gourd-shaped ladle, tossing handfuls of grain to the chickens.
A wisp of smoke curled into the air, followed by the strong scent of home cooking. Luo Xing and Huo Xingzhou hurried forward with their things, inhaling the familiar, comforting aroma.
“Mom, Dad, why didn’t you wait for us before cooking? You two are already busy enough.”
Wu Suyan smiled as she rolled up her sleeves and walked over to the elderly woman, taking the spatula from her hands.
“Oh, don’t trouble yourself, dear. Go inside and relax. The others just arrived too—we wouldn’t want you getting your nice clothes dirty.”
The old woman smiled as she poured vegetables into the pot. Though she spoke lightly, in her heart, she was thinking about how this eldest daughter-in-law was always the most dutiful, the most capable, and the least concerned with unnecessary formalities.
Wu Suyan stirred the dish a few times and then turned to introduce the newcomers as Huo Yansheng and the others entered with their belongings.
“Mom, Dad, this child is Luo Xing. He’s Xingzhou’s classmate. His parents are overseas and didn’t come back for the holidays, so I thought it was a bit pitiful for him to be alone. I brought him along—hope you don’t mind.”
The old woman, who had always been fond of children, immediately wiped her hands on her apron and pulled out a handful of peanuts and candies from her pocket, handing them to both Luo Xing and Huo Xingzhou.
“Oh my, what a lovely child! How old are you?”
Huo Xingzhou smiled and called out first,
“Grandma, why did you ask him first and not me? I’m your real grandson.”
Grandma Huo patted his hand and laughed.
“Silly boy, don’t I know you well? Getting jealous over a classmate—aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?”
Luo Xing hurriedly accepted the peanuts with both hands, nervously replying,
“Thank you, Grandma. I’m seventeen.”
“What a good boy. Go inside and play; it’s too cold out here.”
Grandma Huo patted his head fondly and said warmly,
“It’s New Year’s, and your parents aren’t here. Don’t feel like an outsider—just treat this place as your own home, alright?”
Luo Xing nodded and followed Huo Xingzhou over to greet Grandpa Huo.
Grandpa Huo wasn’t as warm and affectionate as Grandma. He paused his conversation with Huo Yansheng and turned to size up Luo Xing.
Luo Xing was dressed neatly in a light-colored down jacket and black pants. His small face was fair, and his slim figure standing beside Huo Xingzhou made him look especially delicate. He was quiet when not speaking and didn’t seem like someone who would cause trouble.
Being scrutinized under Grandpa Huo’s sharp gaze, Luo Xing couldn’t help but feel nervous. Though Huo Xingzhou had insisted on bringing him home for the New Year, he couldn’t just declare that they were in a relationship at this moment. When Wu Suyan had introduced him, she had only said he was a classmate.
It wasn’t just about whether the elderly could accept it—Luo Xing himself wouldn’t be able to handle that pressure. But Huo Xingzhou wasn’t worried. Luo Xing was polite and well-mannered, quiet and humble, and with his pretty features, anyone would find him likable. Otherwise, Huo Xingzhou wouldn’t have brought him here.
After a long pause, Grandpa Huo handed the gourd scoop to Huo Yansheng, who took it with a small smile and continued feeding the chickens. His scholarly demeanor somehow blended oddly well with the chicken coop, giving him an almost hermit-like air.
“Do you play chess?”
Luo Xing was stunned, taking a while to process the question.
Huo Xingzhou, on the other hand, thought, What’s wrong with my family? Why do they treat him like some kind of prodigy? He’s just a classmate, and they’re already testing him like this. If I said he was my boyfriend, would they make him win a world championship first?
“Grandpa, he’s just here to—”
“I… I know a little, Grandpa.”
Huh?
Huo Xingzhou stared in disbelief at Luo Xing’s side profile, noticing how the wind had tinted his face slightly red. After a few seconds, he flicked his hand and mouthed, Baby, my grandpa is a chess master. In his eyes, my dad doesn’t even know how to count. Don’t overestimate yourself—if you embarrass yourself, I won’t save you. Even calling me ‘brother’ won’t help.
Luo Xing blinked and nodded.
“Really?”
Grandpa Huo immediately perked up, stepping toward the house.
“Come on, let’s play a game!”
“….” Huo Xingzhou smacked his forehead. This is bad.
The old man was obsessed with chess. Living at the foot of the mountain, he played against himself so much that he would even get frustrated with his own moves. Grandma had long since ignored him, and Huo Yansheng never passed his standards.
No one in the family had ever been able to impress him on the chessboard.
Looking at Luo Xing, Huo Xingzhou scoffed,
“Don’t tell me my dad praised your handwriting a little and now you think you’re a genius? Vanity will get you nowhere.”
Luo Xing had felt somewhat confident at first, but after hearing that, he immediately lost heart. Nervously clutching Huo Xingzhou’s hand, he asked,
“Then… if I tell Grandpa I don’t really know how to play, will he be mad?”
Huo Xingzhou held his hand, feeling a headache coming on.
“Ever since Zhang Xiaoqian died, Grandpa hasn’t found anyone to play chess with for years.”
Zhang Xiao… That Go master?!
Luo Xing’s mouth opened slightly in shock. His nervousness instantly turned into sheer panic. He instinctively tightened his grip on Huo Xingzhou’s hand, and seeing that there was no way out, he had no choice but to steel himself and follow him inside.
As soon as they entered, they were met with a room full of elders who all turned to look at them in unison. Luo Xing instinctively took a step back.
Huo Xingzhou placed an arm around Luo Xing’s shoulders and introduced him with a broad smile,
“Second Grandpa, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, Aunt, Third Sister… This is my classmate, Luo Xing.”
After greeting each of them, Luo Xing stood stiffly under their scrutinizing gazes and gave a small bow.
“H-hello, I’m Luo Xing.”
Huo Xingzhou’s Second Grandpa seemed rather easygoing. He smiled and waved a hand, gesturing for him to sit.
His uncles, however, were not as welcoming. Second Uncle gave him a cold glance before turning away indifferently.
The older cousins weren’t particularly warm either. They merely nodded as a formality, and one of them even let out a mocking chuckle.
Surprisingly, the only ones who were enthusiastic were the little kids on the floor, who immediately rushed over to cling to Huo Xingzhou’s legs.
Huo Yansheng’s family lived far away and rarely interacted with them. They only pretended to be cordial for the sake of the elders.
His aunt, however, was quite kind. She smiled gently at Luo Xing and reminded her son, “Yanyan, don’t be rude to your brother. Share your candy with him.”
Yanyan, acting like a little adult, raised his candy high above his head and said in a soft, childish voice,
“Brother… have some candy.”
Luo Xing quickly crouched down with a smile and accepted it. Just as he was about to speak, Yanyan suddenly stretched out his arms.
“Brother, hug!”
Hearing this, Huo Xingzhou clicked his tongue, then picked Yanyan up from behind.
“You’re already so big, and you still want to be carried? Aren’t you embarrassed? Come on, let big brother carry you.”
Yanyan squirmed in his arms and struggled toward Luo Xing.
“No, no! I want the pretty brother to carry me!”
“What do you mean, ‘pretty brother’? I’m handsome too.”
Huo Xingzhou flicked Yanyan’s forehead and turned his little face toward him.
“Look at me—I’m way more handsome than that so-called pretty brother.”
“Here, take this. I have my own candy.”
Luo Xing, worried that Yanyan would say something inappropriate, quickly unwrapped the candy and handed it to him. He then shot a subtle glare at Huo Xingzhou, warning him to behave.
Huo Xingzhou chuckled and, in full view of everyone, mouthed, Then give me a kiss tonight.
Luo Xing was utterly stunned. His face instantly turned red with embarrassment. Panicking, he glanced around to make sure no one had heard. Realizing they hadn’t, he let out a small sigh of relief—before glaring at Huo Xingzhou even harder.
“Okay?”
Huo Xingzhou blinked, completely shameless, his expression full of confidence. Luo Xing, afraid he would demand something even worse, quickly nodded.
Just then, Second Aunt scoffed and stuffed a piece of candy into her own child’s hands before turning away with a forced smile to chat with Huo Xingzhou’s aunt.
Huo Xingzhou carried Yanyan and led Luo Xing to a quieter corner, where he crouched down to play with him for a while.
“Little darling.”
“Hm?” Luo Xing looked up.
Without speaking aloud, Huo Xingzhou subtly explained the small grudges between his family and his uncles’ families, as well as the lack of real relationships between the older cousins. He reassured Luo Xing not to take their attitudes to heart—they didn’t even like him, let alone an outsider.
Luo Xing nodded.
“I understand.”
He was always sensitive to people’s expressions and body language. From the moment he stepped inside, he could tell who was friendly toward him and who wasn’t.
As someone spending New Year’s at someone else’s home, it was inevitable to receive a cold reception. After all, he wasn’t family.
Luo Xing blinked and overheard the older cousins whispering:
“Is our eldest uncle okay? Bringing an outsider home for the New Year—is that even safe?”
“Exactly. We have so much money and valuables around during the holidays. Who brings a classmate over? What if something happens?”
“Keep your voice down. Don’t let Aunt and the others hear.”
“So what if they do? Can’t I talk in my own house? Classmate—who knows what he really is? You think Xingzhou might be…”
“Stop talking nonsense. If Grandpa hears you, he’ll scold you. He already favors Xingzhou enough—you want to make things worse?”
“Pretty brother, here! Play with this!”
Yanyan suddenly pulled out a strange egg-shaped toy from his pocket, snapping Luo Xing’s attention back to the present.
Luo Xing had never played with it before, but he took it and fumbled with it under Yanyan’s eager guidance.
Without realizing it, he glanced back toward the older cousins, observing them quietly.
“You, child, come here.”
Grandpa Huo poked his head out from the doorway and beckoned to Luo Xing.
Instinctively, Luo Xing looked at Huo Xingzhou, who simply smiled and said, “It’s fine, I’m here.”
Then, he stood up, effortlessly carrying Yanyan with one arm.
“Let’s go~”
Nervously clutching Yanyan’s toy, Luo Xing took a deep breath and followed him into Grandpa Huo’s room.
He actually wasn’t bad at Go, but he had only learned a little as a child. Later, in middle school, he would occasionally play against himself for fun. As he got older and high school became more demanding, he had stopped playing altogether.
If he didn’t play well, would Grandpa Huo be disappointed in him…?