After being moved to tears by the sworn enemy's pheromones - Chapter 84

Thinking about how Shen Jin spent last year’s New Year alone, Gu Yu couldn’t help but grab his hand and stuff more food into it. “If you like, I can rewatch last year’s New Year’s Gala with you—”

“Huh?” Shen Jin looked at him, and after realizing Gu Yu meant “let’s rewatch last year’s New Year’s Gala,” Shen Jin was so shocked he almost sat up straight. “Even dogs wouldn’t watch that.”

Gu Yu, clearly rejected, was silent for two seconds before grabbing Shen Jin’s chin, shoving food in his mouth as he asked, “Aren’t we watching it right now?”

Shen Jin bit into the yogurt bar Gu Yu gave him and muttered, “I used to like playing video games during the New Year… It’s all your fault for making so much delicious food. If it were the old me, I’d kneel down and beg for a bite. Who’d want to play games?”

“…Oh.” Gu Yu coldly reached out, pretending to snatch the yogurt bar. “It’s all my fault. I choked you, senior.”

“Hey, hey, stop.” Sensing danger, Shen Jin quickly raised Gu Yu’s arm and hugged him tight, deliberately praising him, “Other than your oversized strawberries*, nothing can choke me.”

Gu Yu blushed and frowned, feeling wronged. “…When did I ever choke you with that?”

In fact, Shen Jin was usually the one being proactive, diligent, and exploring with great effort, while Shen Jin, despite his flashy words, was actually clueless, only knowing how to bite into pillows, sobbing and choking. So Gu Yu never expected Shen Jin to “get hands-on,” fearing the “rabbit” might lash out and actually bite him if things went too far. So where did this idea of choking him come from?

“Choking my mouth doesn’t count as choking? Some alphas are just so irresponsible.” Shen Jin always had his twisted logic. “Speaking of strawberries… I want some fries.”

“Cut down on fried foods,” Gu Yu sighed, feeling like he was acting more like Shen Jin’s parent than his peer. He cupped Shen Jin’s face before heading to the kitchen, “…Just this once. Don’t get used to it.”

A few minutes later, when Gu Yu returned with freshly fried fries, Shen Jin was gnawing on them as if they were bars of gold. Unable to resist, Gu Yu wrapped his arms tightly around Shen Jin, resting his chin on his shoulder as he murmured, “Oh well… It wouldn’t be so bad if I were actually your dad.”

As for Shen Jin, full of question marks, diving into Gu Yu’s arms and demanding he be called ‘big brother’ or ‘husband’ to establish their rightful status—well, that came later.

Soon, the sounds outside the window grew louder, approaching midnight. Shen Jin held a half-full bottle of low-alcohol wine in his warm hand and asked Gu Yu, “You sure you don’t want a sip?”

“I’m sure,” Gu Yu replied, fully aware of his poor alcohol tolerance. “I’d hate for no one to take care of you when you fall asleep.”

He definitely didn’t want Shen Jin’s memory of New Year’s Eve to be him getting drunk, vomiting, and making a scene, with Shen Jin having to help him wash his face, take off his shoes, brush his teeth, and drag him to bed.

“Since when do I need you to take care of me to sleep?” Shen Jin, though nowhere near tipsy, had a glimmer of laughter in his eyes. “You’re treating me like a toddler—no, a newborn baby.”

Gu Yu’s face was calm as if he weren’t joking at all. “Different people, different constitutions. There are giant babies who are six feet tall.”

The faint aroma of fermented wine lingered in the warm light. Shen Jin suddenly quieted down without responding, simply sitting on his lap, hugging his neck, and smiling for a long time. Even his breath smelled sweet and warm.

Gu Yu, following the moment, gently stroked Shen Jin’s soft clothes, pulling him closer. The smell of alcohol filled the space, seeming to warm his chest and heart.

The TV was still playing the lively New Year’s Gala, and Gu Yu couldn’t help but ask, “What are you thinking? Why did you suddenly stop talking?”

At the very least, Shen Jin wasn’t drunk—not with his alcohol tolerance.

Shen Jin nuzzled Gu Yu’s ear with his cheek in response but still said nothing.

Gu Yu chuckled softly, threading his fingers through the ends of Shen Jin’s hair, brushing the back of his head. “Even if you don’t say it, I can guess.”

“Trying to bait me won’t work,” Shen Jin replied, his breath sounding pitiful and muffled against Gu Yu’s shoulder. “I won’t say a word. You’ll never guess.”

Gu Yu ignored him and pressed on, “Are you thinking how nice it would be if Uncle Lu were here right now?”

He didn’t hesitate—after all, Shen Jin’s thoughts were easy to guess. One moment he’d be happily munching on snacks, and the next, his ears would droop, and his mood would deflate. It had to be because he thought of something sad.

Sure enough, the second Gu Yu said it, Shen Jin clenched his shirt—full of frustration at being seen through, but in the end, he gave up struggling and clung to Gu Yu’s shoulder, wiping his eyes. Or rather, he had been holding it in for so long, it wasn’t exactly sudden.

Gu Yu knew it.

The TV was showing a boring sketch about family reunions, and he patted Shen Jin’s back, teasing, “Only you, senior, would cry watching this.”

Shen Jin was desperate to deny it but unable to hide, wriggling in Gu Yu’s arms like an ant on a hot pan. Finally, he huffed in frustration, “…The Spring Festival Gala director should pay me!”

It was clear that Shen Jin’s sadness only deepened. “Even though I never met Uncle Lu, I still miss him a little. So I suddenly wondered, maybe you miss him more than just a little…”

“…I knew I shouldn’t have let you drink.”

Gu Yu sighed, lowering his gaze. Just as he raised his hand to pat Shen Jin’s back, Shen Jin immediately pretended to hiccup, using the excuse of being drunk to cover up—Gu Yu’s brow furrowed, and he pressed harder with his palm. “Stop pretending.”

Shen Jin, who had been nuzzling into his neck, whined like he was really in pain, complaining, “Be gentle. How can you abuse your wife on New Year’s Eve?”

Satisfied, Gu Yu ruffled Shen Jin’s hair and said, “Good thing you’re sensible.”

As he patted Shen Jin’s back, listening to the sounds from the TV, the screen seemed a little blurry. Yet, for the first time, Gu Yu didn’t feel the tightness in his chest or the difficulty breathing—just a pure sense of longing. He said, “That actress is the one my dad liked most in the Spring Festival Gala. He thought her sketches were actually funny. But unfortunately, during our last Spring Festival together, she didn’t make the lineup.”

Shen Jin tightened his grip, as if he felt guilty and wanted to rub his face against Gu Yu to comfort him, but Gu Yu gently said, “You don’t have to feel bad, senior.”

Shen Jin mumbled, and before he could hold back his tears, he buried himself in Gu Yu’s arms. Hugging him felt like holding a warm, soft ball of fur. Gu Yu couldn’t resist rubbing his face against it, fearing that this fragile little fluff ball might cry itself breathless over such a small thing.

The bright, warm light illuminated them, just like the moonlight behind that streetlamp years ago—unchanging.

Even though Shen Jin was crying, Gu Yu couldn’t help but feel that the embrace was filled with warmth, like the scent of freshly baked cake, always sweet and soft. He gently patted Shen Jin’s back, as if half-joking, “Don’t worry, life’s only a few decades. It’ll go by fast.”

But really, Gu Yu was more like telling Shen Jin that they had a long, good future ahead.

“When we meet him again after a few decades, I’ll confidently tell him that I made good use of the life he gave me, that I had dreams, friends, people who cared for me and loved me, I ate lots of good food, went to fun places, and lived happier and more fulfilled than anyone else.”

As he spoke, Gu Yu slightly loosened his arms and looked into Shen Jin’s tearful eyes. “Then I’ll introduce you two formally, and tell him that because of you, I didn’t waste the most important thing he gave me.”

He thought, if he hadn’t met Shen Jin, his life probably would have drifted by aimlessly like that. But Shen Jin misunderstood his words and cried even harder. “…Are you saying you used to think about suicide?”

Gu Yu froze, his mouth slightly open to explain. “Not really…”

Feeling that life had no meaning and actually planning to commit suicide were fundamentally different.

But Shen Jin didn’t believe him. He hugged Gu Yu even tighter, even punched his thigh twice. “…I’ll tattle to Uncle Lu when the time comes.”

“Hmm—” Even though Gu Yu was quite the materialist, he was starting to feel like something wasn’t right. “Actually, your Uncle Lu can be really long-winded. Senior, can you give me a break?”

Shen Jin shook his head hard, unable to speak soon after, so Gu Yu had to pull out two tissues and say, “Crying like this, the director should not only pay you but also invite you to be a live audience member.”

The other could only grab at his clothes in protest, and while he was still unable to make any sound, Gu Yu secretly opened his phone’s camera, capturing the image of his almost-tearful yet smiling face and the back of Shen Jin’s stubborn head.

After all, a New Year’s post on social media always needed a candid, real-life shot.

As the clock crept closer to midnight and the TV hosts were getting ready for the countdown, Shen Jin, who had cried enough, suddenly sat up, worried that he might not get to watch the fireworks right on time.

But Gu Yu picked up his slippers and, in one swift motion, carried him toward the balcony, as if knowing he didn’t want to miss this moment.

The city lights shone brightly, and beams of light converged into the brightest river in the universe. Before Shen Jin could even react, he was already placed in front of the balcony railing. As the final second of the countdown sounded, the sky lit up with the most spectacular fireworks, illuminating his once-panicked eyes.

“Happy New Year—Shen Jin.”

In the cold wind, Gu Yu’s voice was unbelievably gentle and serious, as if he had waited for many years just for the day he could say this to Shen Jin.

Cheers of the New Year exploded all around, and Shen Jin hurriedly tried to look up at him, only to be stopped halfway by Gu Yu bending over.

In Gu Yu’s eyes, there seemed to be melting snow from the spring, or perhaps a whole galaxy flowing.

Shen Jin stared blankly for a few seconds until Gu Yu lowered his head and gently kissed his forehead, finally snapping him out of it. Shen Jin quickly grabbed his hand and whispered, “Happy New Year, Little Strawberry.”

The sound of fireworks bursting was loud, but Gu Yu’s soft laughter drowned out all the noise and melted into Shen Jin’s heart.

Shen Jin had watched New Year’s fireworks many times before, but somehow, those celebrations never felt like they were truly his.

On New Year’s Eve, his family would always squeeze together in the living room to watch a boring show, and whenever he tried to grab some snacks from the coffee table, his mother would tell him to eat less in case there wasn’t enough for everyone. Little Shen Jin would always feel anxious and disappointed, but he never said anything. He would obediently put down the candy in his hand and sit quietly to continue watching TV.

The jar of crisp candies was huge. He didn’t know why his mother wouldn’t let him have one, nor did he understand why she would angrily pinch him and scold, “It’s not like I’m forbidding you from eating.” He would lower his head in fear, unsure of what to do, until his father would step in, grab a handful of candy, and offer it to him, finally calming his mother’s temper as she said, “I didn’t want to get mad on New Year’s Eve.”

Year after year, he had never had any expectations for New Year’s Eve, and eventually, the day came when he and his parents became distant strangers.

He no longer had to stay home, instead making up excuses to leave—going to the stadium with friends to release lanterns, sneaking off to smoke in a hidden corner, or just standing behind Gu Yu’s neighborhood. Anything was more interesting than celebrating with his family.

Back then, his buddies would always tease him, “Doesn’t this count as peeping? Never thought you and your rival had such a twisted thing going on.”

“I’m not peeping at him taking a shower,” Shen Jin bit the cigarette between his teeth, looking at that warm window through the biting north wind. “What’s the big deal if I take a look at him? He should be grateful.”

One of his friends was curious. “So, what? You actually want to peep at him taking a shower? Aren’t you afraid he’s bigger than you?”

“…” Shen Jin thought about it and realized it made sense, so he shamelessly spread a rumor, “He’s an omega too. How could he possibly be bigger than me?”

The friends who knew a bit about his situation immediately started shouting, “Gu Yu, from Class X, Grade X, Shen Jin from F District’s No. 5 High School is formally inviting you to a knife fight!” Shen Jin was so startled he kicked them twice before they ran off.

Fortunately, when he looked back, Gu Yu still hadn’t appeared at the window. Shen Jin let out a sigh of relief but couldn’t resist punching his buddy. “Do you want me to mess you up tonight?”

His friend smirked mischievously. “If you like him, just confess. Worst case, you’ll have to use your butt to dominate him. What’s there to be afraid of?”

“Me, like him? You should be performing on New Year’s Eve!” Shen Jin glanced back a few times, silently praying for Gu Yu to appear, but as they reached the corner, he had to give up. He pulled his coat tighter and shouted, “Let’s pick up the pace and find somewhere to drink.”

His friend looked puzzled, wondering who was walking so slowly. Shen Jin changed the subject with a few quick remarks and led him away, all the while thinking he could sneak back later that night.

With each passing year, Shen Jin thought the days when he could see Gu Yu were becoming fewer.

When he turned eighteen and left high school, he and Gu Yu would go down completely different paths in life.

He didn’t want to fight for Gu Yu’s affection, didn’t want to change their constant rivalry, nor did he expect some melodramatic ending where he and the pampered young master would go through trials and tribulations to end up together forever.

In his mind, all he hoped for was that one day, when he retired and opened up an auto repair shop back in District F, Gu Yu—now a wealthy and successful businessman—might come by to wash his car, or even just roll down his window to mock him.

The fireworks were bright. Shen Jin told Gu Yu this was the best ending he had ever envisioned.

“If only I could see you every day,” Shen Jin said, gazing at the dazzling night sky. “Even if I can’t, I hope that after you’ve achieved success in your career and have a happy family, you’ll still remember me when you come back to District F.”

Gu Yu lowered his eyes and brushed his fingers across Shen Jin’s face, which was glowing from the fireworks. “You talk as if there’s any chance I could forget someone like you.”

“…Yeah, true.” Shen Jin actually felt a bit proud. “After all the times I’ve beat you up, even if you get Alzheimer’s, you’d probably still remember there was someone called Shen Jin.”

Knowing that Gu Yu was about to make a move, Shen Jin quickly bent down to dodge his attack. Triumphant, he jumped in front of Gu Yu, leaned his head against Gu Yu’s chest, and grabbed his hand, signaling for him to wrap his arms around his waist. “So you better hold me tight, got it?”

Gu Yu tried to put on a reluctant expression, but he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t help but pull Shen Jin closer, tightly wrapping him in his arms, burying his head low, wanting Shen Jin to hear his heartbeat, louder than the fireworks.

The sky was lit up by crackling fireworks, and Shen Jin raised his hand to pat Gu Yu’s head. “Every year when I watch the fireworks, I make a wish—since you’re so smart, Little Strawberry, why don’t you try to guess what it is?”

Gu Yu stubbornly shook his head and answered, “Don’t wish on things like fireworks; they don’t work.”

The fleeting chemical creations wouldn’t fulfill anyone’s wishes, but Shen Jin laughed so hard his shoulders shook as he revealed the answer. “Every year, I wish that you’ll grow slower—so you won’t get taller, stronger, or have more strength than me. But not a single year has worked. It’s driving me nuts.”

Gu Yu could clearly feel the rise and fall of Shen Jin’s stomach as he laughed. Annoyed, he turned Shen Jin around so he couldn’t watch the fireworks anymore. “That’s the wish you’ve been making? And here I thought you’d wish for something more meaningful. If you have any wishes in the future, don’t waste them on fireworks. Just tell me, and I’ll help you make them come true.”

Shen Jin tilted his head up, ready to shamelessly admit his mistake, but before he could say anything, Gu Yu’s gaze landed on those soft, plump lips. In less than a second, he lowered his head and kissed him.

A burst of the most brilliant fireworks lit up the sky, blending into a cluster of dazzling flowers, forming a luminous curtain for their entwined lips. As Shen Jin’s legs grew weak from the effects of his heat, Gu Yu noticed and scooped him up, deepening the kiss. During a brief pause for breath, Gu Yu asked, “Are you cold?”

Shen Jin, dazed and limp in his arms, mumbled softly, “…Anyway… Anyway, I need a blanket…”

Gu Yu touched his damp forehead and immediately lifted him up. “Alright, I won’t let you feel cold, Senior.”

The winter night stretched on, and waves of warmth surged through Shen

 Jin, carrying a long-held dream into the New Year’s eve sky.