Chapter 565: I Like You

    After feasting his eyes to his heart’s content, Gu Luoxin couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at the man beside him.

    Noir had his arms propped up behind him. Several pieces of delicate snowflakes clung to his hair as his eyes were slightly squinted in comfort, reminiscent of a cat leisurely stretching as it basked in the warm sunlight. Somehow, the image prompted Gu Luoxin to smile. Rarely had he seen Noir this relaxed. In this place, thousands of feet above the ground where heavens seemed close enough to reach, Noir looked completely in his element.

    And didn’t he mention how he often came here whenever he was in a bad mood?

    Come to think of it, he did not seem to know anything about Noir— not his life, his hobby, his likes and dislikes, his hometown, or even his family. All he knew so far was that Noir was a senior student at the Sculpture Department who would graduate in a few months and aside from that... nothing.

    It was a huge shame to admit this about the person he liked, but Gu Luoxin was far more familiar with Noir in the Nightmare Cycle, a formidable player who was a little lazy, rather than Noir as a person. The air of mystery that shrouded him was so thick and impenetrable that it almost looked like he had popped up out of nowhere on Earth one day.

    If this was in the past, Gu Luoxin wouldn’t have dared to probe around. He would have felt content with the bits and pieces of information he had picked up along the way. Asking directly would feel like crossing a certain invisible boundary, like stepping into an uncharted territory where every step forward was filled with the unknown.

    But now... it was different.

    An unprecedented surge of courage and boldness rushed beneath his veins, brought forth by the giddying rush. In his current state, Gu Luoxin felt like he could achieve anything, even the impossible. The visceral urge to learn more about Noir made his heart itch unbearably, and he couldn’t resist broaching the topic, his tone tentative,

    "Is it okay for you to stay here with me, Senior? What about your family?"

    How superb, Xinxin! He patted his back mentally. The question was casual and subtle enough not to sound nosy, yet also delving straight into what he wanted to know the most!

    "No worries, there are no one," Noir responded flatly.

    Gu Luoxin had no idea which surprised him more, the answer or the nonchalant way Noir was speaking. He could only let out a questioning, "Ah...?" while blinking at Noir owlishly.

    Perhaps thinking that the young man did not get it, Noir added one more sentence, "I’m an orphan."

    This time, Gu Luoxin let out a prolonged ’oh’ to indicate that he had understood. It caught him somewhat by surprise. Perhaps it was the quiet yet self-assured way Noir was carrying himself, or how stylishly he appeared every single time, Gu Luoxin imagined that the man had grown up in a loving and supportive household. But the fact couldn’t be more different.

    Gu Luoxin felt a little sheepish and uncomfortable discussing such a delicate topic, and thus he intended to drop it here. But it was Noir who broke the silence once more,

    "I came to the orphanage when I was seven. The director happened to be an art teacher, and she was the first to tell me I had talent. I learned a lot from her— different crafts, different techniques— but more than that, she funded my studies until I sold my first sculpture in high school. That’s when I earned my first pot of gold."

    Gu Luoxin listened intently, absorbing each word Noir said as if he was a pilgrim receiving a divine scripture. He didn’t think he had ever heard Noir speak so many words at once, which made this moment feel all the more precious.

    After Noir fell silent, he spoke softly, "She sounds like an amazing person." Leaning his cheek on top of his knees, he blinked up at the man with round, curious eyes, "Are you still living together, if I may ask...?"

    "She passed away a couple of years ago," Noir’s countenance remained calm and unruffled as he recounted the past. "I moved out and got my own place as soon as I came of age."

    But the more unaffected he sounded, the more Gu Luoxin felt a pang of distress for the imaginary boy in his mind, who had lost his one and only mentor and parent figure at a young age. At least, his situation was somewhat better since he still had his uncle to rely on, but Noir already had to fend for himself.

    "I’m sorry," he muttered quietly.

    Noir shook his head, "It’s been a long time."

    Perhaps it was Noir’s amicable attitude, or it could also be because the mood seemed right, Gu Luoxin couldn’t hold himself back from asking more, "What about before you were seven...?"

    This time, Noir turned to face him, his gaze deep and unreadable. He stayed silent for so long that Gu Luoxin began to feel nervous, thinking that he had asked something he shouldn’t have. He opened his mouth to tell the man to forget it if he wasn’t willing to talk, but Noir preempted him.

    "... Can’t remember," he said, turning his gaze away.

    Huh? Gu Luoxin blinked in surprise. He couldn’t remember the events before he was seven? Had he gotten into an accident back then, perhaps??

    Alas, this time Gu Luoxin was hesitant to ask, fearing that he would trigger some unpleasant memories. Just as he was wracking his brain for a more light-hearted topic, a sudden commotion below drew his attention.

    Without him realizing, a crowd of people had gathered on the streets and the balconies of tall buildings, shouting in unison, "TEN!"

    "NINE!"

    "EIGHT!"

    Gu Luoxin’s eyes flew wide as he whipped his head to Noir, his tone suffused with excitement. "Senior, Senior, look! It’s the final countdown of the year..." his voice petered off when he caught sight of the look in Noir’s eyes.

    The city lights flickered in the distance, but nothing shone as vividly as the quiet warmth in those emerald eyes. It might have been a trick of light, but in that split second, they seemed so incredibly... gentle. The corner of his lips subtly hooked into the barest of a smile, seemingly amused by Gu Luoxin’s childlike excitement.

    Ba-thump!

    Gu Luoxin’s heart abruptly missed a beat. In that fleeting moment, he felt as if he had glimpsed past the man’s detachment and laziness, to see the true self within— something that felt dangerously close to tenderness and indulgence.

    "SIX!"

    "FIVE!"

    "FOUR!"

    For a few seconds that seemed to stretch to eternity, they simply held each other’s gazes, the air between them growing delicate, almost fragile.

    Gu Luoxin’s pupils trembled, and amidst his rapidly quickening heartbeat, he made a sincere wish— he wished for Noir’s future days to be filled with nothing but happiness, for this world to cradle him gently and treat him with a little more kindness, for this beautiful smile to linger on his face forevermore.

    And...

    It would be nice... if he could become one of the reasons behind Noir’s rare smile.

    "THREE!"

    "TWO... ONE!!!"

    A sharp whistle cut through the air, and in the next second, a magnificent display of fireworks erupted in the night sky, painting the world in a kaleidoscope of shimmering colors. Taking advantage of the thunderous booms, Gu Luoxin flashed him the brightest smile he could muster and, following his heart’s impulse, mouthed, "I like you." But he did not pause even a bit before adding with a loud holler, "HAPPY NEW YEAR, SENIOR!"

    "Thank you for bringing me here. This is the best New Year I’ve ever had!"

    He couldn’t help but burst out into laughter when Noir grimaced, clearly uncomfortable with the relentless barrage of explosions rumbling through the air. "Happy New Year," he returned the courtesy, then, "Did you say something just now?"

    "Huh?" Gu Luoxin feigned innocence. "What are you talking about?"

    Noir narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but Gu Luoxin gave him no chance to question as he pointed ahead. "Look! The fireworks are so beautiful! I’ve never seen them this up close hahaha, it’s so amazing!" he clapped and cheered along with the crowd.

    Noir leveled him with an unimpressed stare at this blatant attempt to change the topic. But it’s not like he could force Gu Luoxin to talk either, so he could only set it aside and shift his gaze to the front, watching the fireworks show from this VVVIP seat.

    It took around fifteen minutes before the fireworks began to dissipate. Just then, Gu Luoxin spoke up, "Senior."

    When Noir turned, he found Gu Luoxin gazing at him with a soft smile, tinged with something else he couldn’t quite put into words. The young man’s crisp and cheerful voice drifted to his ears, "Senior, you’re going to graduate in April, right?"

    "Mn," Noir affirmed with a nod.

    "Do you have any plans for what you’re going to do after that?"

    "Dunno. Keep making more sculptures, I guess."

    "Then... do you still remember when I told you I got a role in our campus’ annual production? It will be held throughout the city in June. Senior, will you come and watch me?" Gu Luoxin put his hands together in a fervent and desperate plea. "I will give you a free ticket. You only need to bring yourself! Please, I feel like I can give my 200% if I can see you in the audience seat!"

    Not yet, Gu Luoxin told himself. He wouldn’t confess yet, not when he had not done anything to make himself proud.

    This annual production was extremely important to him as his future career might depend on how well he performed. But Gu Luoxin had another secret, selfish wish when he asked Noir to attend— he wanted the man to see his most dazzling self on stage. He wanted Noir to realize that he, Gu Luoxin, had his own field of expertise and not a mere weakling or a crybaby. He wanted Noir to see him in a different light.

    Only then... only then would he dare to tell this person he liked him. A lot.

    When Noir gave his approval, Gu Luoxin’s face instantly lit up with a dazzling smile. "It’s a promise, then!"

    He held up his pinky finger, his eyes aglow with hope and anticipation. And Noir, albeit expressionless still, had no choice but to go along and hook his own pinky finger with the young man’s.

    Song recommendation: I Like You - Day6