Part 2
Moreover, the mature aura of the members post-disbandment was captivating, leading some netizens to wonder which company this “newly debuted” group belonged to.
The Weibo comments sections of the four members were piled high with fan messages.
There was no controlled commentary, just pure expressions of feelings.
Tang Yue saved several Tang Mian memes, unable to resist saving them to WeChat and sending a bunch to Liang Yi.
Past 3:00 AM, Liu Xichao updated his Weibo.
@Away_LiuXichao: [Image] Revisiting an old haunt.
A humble alley noodle shop, old-fashioned lighting. Old friends are also new friends; the visible friendship remains the same.
— Ahhh! Although the positioning in this photo is the same as before, Jiang Shulu is holding Tang Yue’s hand.
— Thankfully the flash wasn’t on this time. It has such a film camera vibe.
— I grew up with them, and things will only get better and better!
— Off-topic, but are these noodles really that delicious?
Tang Yue replied in the comments: Really delicious.
Liu Xichao: He ate the Captain’s pork chop.
Jiang Shulu: I told you not to give him the braised intestines.
Yao Lixin: If you guys won’t eat it, I will.
The next day, Tang Yue took Jiang Shulu to the small village town where he lived.
Tang Mian was still reluctant to part with Yao Xuanyu and was on a video call with him in the car.
Jiang Shulu had seen the environment when Tang Yue first appeared on the show via the livestream replay. At that time, the bullet screen comments were full of heartache and surprise.
Now standing in front of the door, looking at the rust-covered gate, the dated floor tiles inside, and Tang Mian’s writing and height chart on the wall, he didn’t know what to say for a moment.
Tang Yue hugged him from behind, having used a small run-up to generate force, causing Jiang Shulu to stumble slightly from the impact.
Jiang Shulu: “Where is Xiao Mie?”
Tang Yue: “He went to his room to organize his things. He’s still video calling Xuanyu, saying he wants to show Xuanyu his treasure chest.”
Jiang Shulu: “What is that?”
Tang Yue: “Just his toys.”
Jiang Shulu nodded. Tang Yue continued, “Is my house not good? Actually, it just looks dilapidated on the outside, but the inside was designed by people Yi-jie found for me. It’s very nice.”
Jiang Shulu could tell, of course. The traces of life here were just too obvious—so obvious that Jiang Shulu could imagine Tang Yue’s day-to-day life here.
Tang Yue used to like Nordic-style kettles, and now there was that exact kind of kettle in the kitchen.
And the toothbrush holder in the bathroom was basically the same model from their old dormitory.
It was shaped like a crab. Yao Lixin used to complain every time that grabbing his toothbrush felt like getting a taste of the sea.
The slippers were a motley assortment, clearly Tang Yue’s style.
Tang Mian’s drawings were on the wall; Tang Yue had pasted up so many of them.
There were also many Polaroids of the two of them. You could tell quite a few were taken with a timer.
The ones further down must have been taken by Tang Mian. Some showed Tang Yue sleeping on the desk, pen still in hand, and others were close-ups of Tang Yue’s expression of disbelief while holding a broken bowl.
Written underneath: Tang Mian, three years old. Loves playing with the camera. Made me look so ugly.
In comparison, Jiang Shulu’s house seemed desolate.
He looked and looked, unaware that he had taken several deep breaths. When Tang Yue pounced on him, he subconsciously held Tang Yue’s hand.
Tang Yue pulled him to the sofa on the side and leaned in to look at Jiang Shulu’s face.
Tang Yue: “Ge, did you cry?”
Jiang Shulu: “No.”
Tang Yue: “I told you it’s okay to cry in front of me.”
He went to hug Jiang Shulu again, as if trying to fold him into his embrace. “I never realized Shulu-ge was so emotional before. It’s actually quite cute.”
Jiang Shulu had never been called “cute” in all his life.
But Tang Yue said it with such sincerity—so sincere that Jiang Shulu closed his eyes and nuzzled Tang Yue’s forehead.
Having seen so much of how Tang Yue interacted with Tang Mian, he seemed to have been subconsciously influenced. He didn’t realize that Tang Yue was comforting him in much the same way he comforted Tang Mian.
Kissing, hugging, snuggling.
Tang Yue, who came from Planet 9787, had been lonely for too long. Tang Mian was his treasure, and Jiang Shulu was a gem that had fallen from the sky for him.
Tang Yue: “Shulu-ge, do you want a tour of my studio?”
In the past, Tang Yue didn’t like to talk. His manager was terrified he was the brooding, secretive type, and had asked several times if he had any secret online accounts, fearing a scandal would one day be exposed.
Tang Yue really had nothing.
He appeared quiet inside and out.
But Jiang Shulu had unlocked a new Tang Yue.
His desire to share was intense. perhaps writing songs had become an outlet before, which was why his inner thoughts could evoke such empathy.
Tang Yue: “It was made for me by Yi-jie. The equipment is top-notch.”
“Look, look at this. Is it the same as before? I use it very frequently.”
“Previously, Er-ge said my hulusi flute playing had no style, but now that I’ve learned it, I feel it’s pretty good. Shulu-ge, do you want to hear it?”
The walls were covered with Away posters.
Photos of various sizes and from various events were all there.
The signed photo from Jiang Shulu’s sea-view room, which Tang Mian had exposed on the show, was also there. It was pasted right in front of Tang Yue’s workbench, as if every time Tang Yue looked up from his work, he was looking at Jiang Shulu.
Tang Yue was still introducing his various equipment and the process of making OSTs over the past few years.
He also complained a few times about how some songs were hard to produce because he was given the lyrics first and had to go read the original novel, and so on.
The young man’s voice was like gold striking stone. Before, hearing it briefly just gave an impression of unique elegance, but now, with such enthusiastic introductions, the contradiction made him even more moving.
Jiang Shulu’s hand had been held by Tang Yue the whole time. When Tang Yue praised him again saying, “Ge, this pink long hair looks good on you too,” Jiang Shulu finally couldn’t resist pulling him into his arms.
He said, “I’m sorry.”
Tang Yue paused for a moment, then smiled. “I’ve said it many times, Shulu-ge didn’t wrong me.”
Jiang Shulu held him very, very tightly. So tightly that it felt like he had completely embedded himself into Jiang Shulu’s life. What ‘Protagonist Gong‘, what ‘I’m in a book’…
None of it mattered anymore.
Tang Yue thought: I already have my own world. This world has this person holding me, and my child.
This was a happy life that Tang Yue of Planet 9787 hadn’t even dared to hope for.
Jiang Shulu’s body was trembling slightly. The five years of missed opportunities and the traces of Tang Yue’s life in this house turned into regret that washed over him.
Even though this ending was already very good, he still felt regret.
If only.
Suppose.
What if.
So many ‘if only we could start over’s.
The source of his courage, the end of his desire, was actually more open-minded than him.
Tang Yue pat Jiang Shulu’s back, his voice wrapped in thick affection. “Shulu-ge, I thought about it from your perspective. You knew nothing; I was the one being baffling.”
Tang Yue thought about the bits and pieces of life here with Tang Mian, and had considered whether he should hate Jiang Shulu.
But there was no reason.
To like is to like. Back then, he had the chance not to keep Tang Mian; Liang Yi had asked him many times.
But Tang Yue just wanted him.
Even knowing he shouldn’t become that stumbling block, he still wanted a connection with the person he liked.
It was also his greatest connection to this world.
Jiang Shulu: “That’s not it.”
Tang Yue: “This was all my own choice.”
He also took a breath and said somewhat muffledly, “I feel so sorry towards Xiao Mie. He should have been able to see a broader world.”
Jiang Shulu: “But he likes being with you.”
Tang Yue: “He is my baby, and I didn’t want to miss him growing up.”
Tang Yue cupped Jiang Shulu’s face again. “So Shulu-ge, don’t be sad. things are already very good now.”
Tang Yue was already a strange person in others’ eyes.
Whether it was his reactions on the show or his curiosity in daily life, it was easy to make people want to treat him a little better.
Jiang Shulu had thought such a quiet young man wouldn’t express himself passionately.
But once Tang Yue’s heart was knocked open, this person’s love was simply tumultuous.
Every kiss, every holding of hands allowed Jiang Shulu to feel his unceasing devotion.
It easily made one’s eyes sting, making one wish to stay with him until the end of time, never to part.
Jiang Shulu: “I…”
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