CH 13

In Hokkaido, March was still lingering in winter, and the travelers who had arrived happened to encounter a light snowfall.

Ji Yao was wrapped in a thin jacket, sitting beside the station, holding a thin travel brochure and examining it closely.

The travel brochure for tourists was printed with various vibrant colors. Famous attractions were highlighted with exaggerated outlines, making them clear even to those who didn’t understand Japanese.

Snowflakes were still drifting in the air. Ji Yao pulled his collar up, took out a short pencil from his pocket, and made a few marks on the brochure before flipping the page to read the travel tips on the back.

After a while, footsteps approached from behind. The soft snow was compacted underfoot, emitting a squeaking sound.

Ji Yao didn’t turn around, still engrossed in studying the thin brochure. A moment later, a hand reached out from behind him, quietly gripping the handle of the luggage beside him.

Ji Yao’s gaze flickered slightly. He lightly tapped the hand with the brochure and before he could say anything, he felt something warm press against the other side of his face.

Ji Yao turned around and realized that Jiang Heng was holding a bottle of warm coffee.

“Young man, are you here for sightseeing?” Jiang Heng bent slightly, gesturing with a welcoming hand motion and smiled, “Do you need a guide? I can offer my services. I’m quite familiar with the tourist sites, and I know some hotels where you can stay.”

“No, thank you,” Ji Yao tilted his head, sizing him up, then seriously shook his head and shifted to make room for another person to sit, saying, “My wife doesn’t let me talk to strangers.”

Jiang Heng chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling as he leaned closer, and pressed a vague kiss against the corner of Ji Yao’s lips.

“Is your wife that strict?” Without waiting for Ji Yao’s answer, Jiang Heng dismantled this little act himself, “Taking advantage of my absence?”

“You’re so childish,” Ji Yao pushed him away a bit, “Even elementary school students don’t play ‘Guess Who I Am’ anymore.”

“Just teasing you.” Jiang Heng handed the hot coffee he had bought to Ji Yao and naturally took the brochure from Ji Yao’s hand, glancing over it briefly, “Any places you’d like to visit?”

The warm sensation dispelled the coldness from the snow. Ji Yao exhaled a warm breath, alternately pressing his palm and the back of his hand against the coffee cup, using the plastic bottle, which was about the size of his palm, as a hand warmer.

“Not really,” Ji Yao said, “They all seem similar.”

Jiang Heng had done some research before coming here. Upon hearing Ji Yao’s response, he suggested, “How about visiting Hokkaido Shrine this afternoon?”

“Why would I pay respects to a Japanese deity?” Ji Yao asked bemusedly, “It’s not like they’ll bless me.”

“Then how about making chocolate?” Jiang Heng offered an alternative, his good-natured personality shining through.

Ji Yao’s dissatisfaction with this activity was even more evident now. He imagined two grown men in a chocolate workshop, turning finished chocolate into sauce and pouring it into molds. He felt like it was a waste of life and was close to writing ‘cheesy’ on his face.

He expressed his resistance without a fuss, and Jiang Heng wasn’t in a hurry. He casually pocketed the brochure, reclaimed Ji Yao’s pencil from between his fingers, and walked around him.

“Never mind,” Jiang Heng said, “Let’s put away our luggage and go have lunch.”

It was still only 11:30 in the morning, and they had plenty of time. Jiang Heng wasn’t fixated on checking off tourist spots. They were here to relax, and as long as they enjoyed themselves, it didn’t matter where they went.

This suggestion seemed much more “normal.” Ji Yao stood up, shook off the snow from his shoes, and only then realized what had happened.

“Why did you buy only one coffee?” Ji Yao asked.

Jiang Heng went around him, grabbed the handle of the luggage, and held Ji Yao’s hand with his other. He slipped it into his pocket.

“Because I had no hands available,” Jiang Heng said confidently as they continued walking side by side.

Ji Yao realized that he was astounded by Jiang Heng’s enigmatic connections. It seemed like no matter what he wanted to do, he could develop a useful network of friends from all corners of the world.

He didn’t know which friend’s connection had led to them booking a completely exclusive hot spring inn that wasn’t open to the public. The inn was located remotely, with a simple exterior that resembled architectural styles of the previous century.

The inn didn’t even have a signboard outside. It was only upon entering that they discovered the hidden gem within.

The interior courtyard featured a well-arranged dry landscape garden, and as they entered, a strong floral scent reached them. The air was humid and warm, with rising steam filling the surroundings. Ji Yao exhaled, feeling as though he had stepped from winter into spring.

The innkeeper, a woman nearing fifty, despite her age, retained traces of the beauty she once had, which added to her charm.

She approached, greeted Jiang Heng and Ji Yao with a smile, and they responded politely.

“We reserved the East Garden room,” Jiang Heng said.

The innkeeper nodded knowingly and gestured to a young lad who helped carry their luggage inside.

Ji Yao’s Japanese was beginner level, with a vocabulary that barely extended beyond basic conversational phrases. Unfortunately, the innkeeper spoke with an accent and at a rapid pace, turning her words into a series of unfamiliar sounds. Ji Yao found himself solving an auditory puzzle, attempting to make sense of her speech by fitting in the known words. Jiang Heng, on the other hand, had no difficulty with this mode of communication, so they didn’t need to resort to gestures and guesswork to check in successfully.

The innkeeper briefly introduced the arrangements and escorted Jiang Heng and Ji Yao to their reserved room. Afterward, she smiled, bowed, and closed their room door.

“There are eight rooms in total, and they are all fully booked,” Jiang Heng thoughtfully translated, “So, at 8:30 tonight, there will be a performance in the main hall. If you’re interested, you can join.”

“What kind of performance?” Ji Yao inquired.

Jiang Heng clearly knew the answer, but he didn’t reveal it outright. Instead, he winked at Ji Yao with a playful smile, “It’s a traditional folk performance.”

As they spoke, someone knocked on the door again. Jiang Heng opened it and found the same young lad who had taken their luggage earlier.

He held two ticket-like slips of paper, similar to flower petals, which he handed to Jiang Heng.

“These are your identity passes,” the boy’s English was evidently not very fluent, and he stumbled a bit while addressing them, “Use these passes to attend the evening banquet.”

“Alright, thank you,” Jiang Heng said.

Outside the East Courtyard, there was an open bamboo grove. Due to the current season, the bamboo looked somewhat yellow and desolate, with thin layers of fallen leaves covering the ground, yet to be cleared.

The hot spring was hidden deep within the bamboo grove, its rising mist creating a picturesque scene against the cold air.

The temperature inside the room was much warmer than outside, and a light layer of sweat covered Ji Yao’s body. After rushing off the plane and spending the morning in the cold, he felt lazy and didn’t feel like moving at all. He simply hung his coat nearby and planned to have lunch in this guesthouse.

Jiang Heng finished arranging the luggage and then realized Ji Yao was missing. He looked around the room, feeling puzzled, and finally found Ji Yao in the room near the courtyard.

Ji Yao had taken off his coat and was wearing only a light khaki turtleneck sweater. He stood by the door, gazing at the bamboo grove outside.

Jiang Heng walked over, affectionately wrapping his arms around Ji Yao’s waist from behind and resting his chin in the crook of Ji Yao’s neck.

“What are you looking at?” Jiang Heng asked.

“I’m looking at the hot spring,” Ji Yao said, “It’s quite relaxing to watch, and it’s a good way to make up for the sleep I lost while rushing on assignments last week.”

Jiang Heng smiled in a slightly muffled manner, his laughter seemed to be contained within his chest, and Ji Yao could clearly feel the vibrations in his chest.

“We have plenty of time,” Jiang Heng nuzzled Ji Yao’s earlobe, lightly nibbling on it and murmuring, “If you like it, you can stay here for the next seven days.”

Ji Yao let out a soft sound, a tingling sensation spreading through half of his body. His earlobes were sensitive, and they would turn red when touched lightly. Jiang Heng found it cute and couldn’t help but lick them.

Ji Yao wriggled out of his embrace and turned to face him, matching his posture.

Jiang Heng licked his lips, lowered his head in this posture, and kissed Ji Yao.

He held Ji Yao’s hand, intertwined their fingers, and pressed Ji Yao’s wrist against the door.

Ji Yao quickly responded – they were both adults, well aware of what this trip meant, and being coy didn’t seem necessary now.

As the kiss ended, Jiang Heng playfully pinched Ji Yao’s knuckles and rubbed his forehead against Ji Yao’s.

“Jiang Heng,” Ji Yao suddenly spoke.

“Hmm?” Jiang Heng raised an eyebrow.

“Ge Xing called me earlier, asking when I’ll start my classes,” Ji Yao said.

“He’s got too much free time,” Jiang Heng quipped, “He might be from the CIA’s Gossip Division, don’t mind him.”

“I actually wanted to ask too,” Ji Yao reached out to touch Jiang Heng’s face: “What do you like about me?”

“Do I need reasons to like someone?” Jiang Heng said, “If I’m happy being with them, and it’s comfortable – it’s that simple.”

Ji Yao blinked, looking at him with a smile that seemed to say more than words.

They faced each other for a moment, and Jiang Heng was the first to give in. He smiled and kissed Ji Yao again.

“I don’t want to share you with others, I want to have you all to myself, to see the side of you that others can’t see. The more time we spend together, the more I want to know about you,” Jiang Heng said, “When novelty is no longer my top consideration, that’s when it’s love.”

Jiang Heng was quite straightforward in this regard. He never concealed his feelings and didn’t think admitting that he liked someone was embarrassing. He said what he felt.

Ji Yao’s gaze softened, and he leaned his forehead against Jiang Heng’s with a smile.

“Then what do you like about me?” Jiang Heng asked.

“I like that you’re safe,” Ji Yao answered quickly.

Jiang Heng laughed immediately, “No one has ever described me using that word.”

“Just know that you’re great,” Ji Yao patted his shoulder where the melted snow had wetted it, and softly said, “keep being this way, and I’ll keep on liking you.”