After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

The scene of running outside the gingerbread house felt oddly familiar. The temperature difference between inside and outside caused Jiang Shiyu’s breath to turn into white mist, drifting up into the air.

Fearful that this might be a dream or that he was seeing things, he came to a halt just a step away from the person still waiting outside. His mind was a chaotic mix of emotions—joy, surprise, happiness, disbelief—all competing to emerge. Suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind of the Korean drama clip he had seen when he and Li Muzi passed by a flower shop on the night they went to Jena Bridge.

The male lead was crossing a sea of people with flowers in hand, running towards the person he loved, who was on the other side of the street, separated by the crowd and traffic.

Now, with him and Shen Li separated by less than an arm’s length, he stood frozen in place, hesitating to move forward.

Snowflakes drifted between them. The romantic atmosphere of the French streets, whether due to the snow or the Christmas spirit, seemed to envelop every breath of the air.

In his narrowed eyes, the person across from him, holding the bouquet of flowers, moved closer. He lifted his gaze and made eye contact with Shen Li.

“Merry Christmas, little treasure.”

The blessing he couldn’t hear through the glass earlier now resonated clearly in his ears.

He struggled to blink, but his eyes were uncontrollably misty. Warm tears overflowed, mixing with the falling snowflakes, running down his cheeks.

Seeing Jiang Shiyu’s tears, Shen Li, who had tried so hard to maintain his composure, panicked. Throughout the year, he had seen Jiang Shiyu’s red-rimmed eyes and silent tears several times, but he had felt helpless. Now, standing face to face with his beloved, he finally had the chance to comfort him.

Gently, he reached out and carefully brushed Jiang Shiyu’s cheek, the real touch making Jiang Shiyu believe that he had truly come to him.

On this Christmas day, on the first snowfall in France, on the day he had desperately suppressed his longing, Shen Li arrived like Santa Claus.

There was no better surprise than this.

Suddenly, Shen Li was enveloped in a tight hug as Jiang Shiyu threw himself into his arms.

He was taken aback for a moment but quickly softened, his eyes showing tenderness as he lowered his head and embraced him.

On Christmas day, couples hugging in the streets seemed to be a common sight. Passersby glanced and then moved on.

The door to the gingerbread house opened, and the jingling Christmas music continued.

Jiang Shiyu used all his strength, wanting to meld into the long-awaited embrace.

After entering the room, Shen Li tried to place him on the bed, but Jiang Shiyu wrapped his legs tightly around Shen Li’s waist and refused to let go.

Shen Li had no choice but to sit with him on the bed, wrapping him in a blanket after turning on the air conditioning. Jiang Shiyu’s limbs, exposed to the cold outside, had become icy.

He took his hands, tucked them into his coat, and then wrapped him up in the blanket.

“I’ll run some hot water for you. How about a bath to warm up?”

Shen Li spoke softly to comfort him, who buried his head in Shen Li’s neck, shaking his head faintly.

Shen Li, now overwhelmed with concern, didn’t know how to handle him. From the street to the hotel, Jiang Shiyu had clung to him, tears soaking his neck.

After Jiang Shiyu’s hands warmed up a bit, Shen Li carried him to the bathroom, filled the bathtub with hot water, undressed him, and placed him in the bath.

Jiang Shiyu looked up with tear-streaked eyes, watching him.

Shen Li’s heart melted. “Don’t go, I’ll get clothes and come back to keep you company.”

When Shen Li joined him in the bath, the water rose, covering Jiang Shiyu’s chest. Shen Li held him close while he lay sideways with his ear against Shen Li’s chest.

Like a lost cub finally returning to its safe nest, he felt he was finally home in Shen Li’s arms.

The warmth soaked into his entire being, dispelling not only the cold but also the loneliness in his heart.

He leaned against Shen Li’s chest, feeling his strong heartbeat. In the steamy bathroom, he occasionally wondered if Shen Li had really come or if he was still dreaming.

Jiang Shiyu, like a fish stranded on the beach, turned his body in the water. Water flowed from his chest as he knelt in front of Shen Li.

Their differing body types allowed him to fit comfortably in Shen Li’s embrace. He leaned in, his long lashes fluttering.

Their soft lips met, sending familiar electric currents through their bodies. The warm mist made the small bathroom increasingly blurry.

Their hands, resting on his abdominal muscles, slid down slowly. He heard muffled groans of pain, and Shen Li’s large hands tightened around his waist.

In their dream-like intimacy, Jiang Shiyu used his senses to shatter the illusion, feeling the real pain and pleasure. His large, round eyes were filled with satisfaction.

As the water in the bathtub splashed out, Jiang Shiyu, with a dazed gaze, remained in Shen Li’s arms, feeling as if he had just completed a marathon. All his emotions were released, leaving him content and fulfilled.

“When did you arrive? Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice was hoarse when he spoke.

Shen Li brought a glass of warm water from the side, feeding him a sip. “When I arrived at your dorm, I saw you leaving alone. I wanted to call out to you, but after so long apart, I wanted to see how you were living here, so I followed you to the gingerbread house.”

Jiang Shiyu swallowed the water, feeling better. “You followed me all the way?”

“The music at the gingerbread house, the bouquet, and the scratch card—was it all arranged by you?”

“After you went in, I contacted the owner of the shop.”

Jiang Shiyu showed a satisfied smile, although he tried to hide his happiness.

He had imagined many scenarios for meeting Shen Li. He would cry, be happy, be sad, and talk a lot about his experiences this year and show him his school dorm. But at this moment, all he wanted was to stay with him, not to be separated for even a second.

The separation over the past year had made him realize how precious their relationship was. Love could overcome everything. Whether it was past memory loss or the current distance, it proved their bond. This time, he would not retreat.

After drying off Jiang Shiyu and tucking him into bed, Shen Li went to tidy up the bathroom. Jiang Shiyu lay in bed, feeling relaxed and comfortable. For the first time in a long time, he felt carefree.

Without the pressures of academics or looming competitions, everything seemed to revert to Jiang Hua, where he was once just a cat who didn’t need to worry about anything. As long as he stayed with Shen Li, everything would be taken care of.

He felt relaxed and lay quietly for a while. Feeling a bit hungry, he reached for the phone on the bedside, closing his eyes.

When he unlocked the phone, he found it was Shen Li’s.

Noticing the many messages on the WeChat homepage, he waved his hand and saw a message from Chen Xu: “Where are you? Why aren’t you replying? I’m lonely.”

Shen Li’s cold voice came from the bathroom. “Block him.”

Jiang Shiyu was taken aback but still hesitated to block him. After thinking for a moment, he typed a response.

“On a date, please don’t disturb.”

After sending the message and preparing to call for room service, he accidentally tapped on Shen Li’s profile, opening a section of photos.

He was puzzled. He remembered that Shen Li hadn’t posted any photos on social media this year.

Where did these photos come from?

He bit his lip, feeling it was wrong to invade someone’s privacy, but his gaze was drawn to a familiar figure in the photos.

He looked toward the bathroom and then back at the phone.

When Shen Li finished tidying up the bathroom and stepped out in a bathrobe, he noticed something was off. Jiang Shiyu was sitting on the bed with his head down, holding a phone that had water stains on it.

His heart sank. He quickly went over, lifted Jiang Shiyu’s chin, and saw his tear-streaked face.

His brows furrowed deeply. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

Before he could react, Jiang Shiyu leaped into his chest, nearly causing both of them to fall off the bed.

“What’s going on? Are you being clingy, little cat?”

Shen Li paused his soothing motion on his back. A complicated emotion flashed through his dark eyes but quickly disappeared.

“Did you see my Moments?”

Jiang Shiyu nodded. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to look. I accidentally clicked on it.” Even at this moment, his first reaction was to politely apologize for his accidental intrusion.

Shen Li was helpless against him. “It’s okay. What’s mine is yours. You can look at anything on my phone.”

Jiang Shiyu sobbed, tears falling again. “But if I hadn’t accidentally seen it today, were you planning to never tell me that you came to see my competitions this year?”

Shen Li remained silent, his silence confirming the answer.

Jiang Shiyu, frustrated, tapped his chest but didn’t hit too hard.

All the photos on his Moments, visible only to him, were of him secretly coming to France to watch Jiang Shiyu’s concerts.

He had promised him that he would not miss any of his performances. Since he had agreed not to meet him during this year abroad, he came secretly each time, watching the performance and then leaving alone.

So the first time before the competition, when he pretended to be a doctor who treated his injured finger in the dark, the sunflower and the ointment left behind were his work. He had also deceived him in the subsequent phone calls.

He had kept every promise he made, ensuring that he would not miss any of Jiang Shiyu’s competitions and not meet him this year, and he proved it through his actions.

Every performance Jiang Shiyu had was not a solitary battle. There was always someone in the audience, applauding and cheering for him.

Shen Li lowered his head and kissed his hair. “My little treasure, how could there be no loyal audience at your performances?”

Once, he had broken many promises to Jiang Shiyu, but this time he would not go back on his word.

As Jiang Shiyu packed his luggage in the dormitory, Leo poked his head out from the edge of the bed and asked, “Where are you going?”

Jiang Shiyu stuffed a hat into his bag and looked up to answer, “My boyfriend is here.”

Leo’s eyes widened. The legendary boyfriend? During the past year, the most discussed topic was the boyfriend Jiang Shiyu mentioned when he rejected others’ confessions. Nobody had ever seen him, and people speculated whether he really existed.

As soon as Jiang Shiyu finished speaking, his phone rang. Seeing the sweet smile on his face, Leo’s eyes curved into a smile. “I haven’t packed up yet; my bag is already full with just one more piece of clothing.”

Leo didn’t understand the Chinese conversation but could hear Jiang Shiyu elongating his final syllables and his soft tone.

“Are you downstairs? Then wait for me. I’ll come down to help.”

Not knowing what was said, Jiang Shiyu obediently agreed, hung up the phone, and ran to the door. Soon, voices could be heard outside.

He poked his head out from the door. “Leo, my boyfriend is here to help me pack. It will just be a moment. Is that okay?”

Leo, eager to meet this boyfriend, nodded willingly.

Jiang Shiyu quickly pulled his head back, opened the door, and led the much taller man inside.

Leo didn’t immediately notice the handsome guy’s face. He just felt that the dorm, which had been spacious, now seemed cramped with the addition of Shen Li. The light at the door dimmed slightly.

As Shen Li walked into the dorm, he noticed a foreign boy with light-colored hair staring at him. He greeted him politely and said in English, “Hello. Sorry to intrude.”

Leo’s gaze shifted from the initial surprise at the boy’s impressive height to his handsome features. When he saw Shen Li’s face clearly, he gasped.

Given his own good looks and the high standards of those he dated, he  had never seen someone who could be immediately recognized as top-tier in the gay scene like Shen Li.

A person like him, with top-notch appearance and demeanor, would definitely be the envy of the gay circle at their school.

After greeting, Shen Li didn’t linger on Jiang Shiyu’s roommate but turned to help his boyfriend pack.

“Just bring some simple clothes for a few days. If you forget anything, we can come back for it.” he checked the items in the bag, pulled out two unnecessary items, then carried the bag with one hand and held Jiang Shiyu’s hand with the other, preparing to leave.

“Wait.” At the door, Jiang Shiyu stopped him.

“Leo, I won’t be back for a few days. If you need anything, message me. I’ll treat you to a meal another time.” he waved to him.

Leo looked at the perfectly matched couple at the door and shrugged. “Don’t play too hard, okay? Little kitty, be careful not to get eaten by the big bad wolf.”

Jiang Shiyu, blushing, closed the door and looked up to see Shen Li’s slightly raised lips.

He nudged the person next to him. “What are you laughing at?”

“Your roommate already knows, doesn’t he? Little kitty was eaten by the big bad wolf last night.”

Jiang Shiyu’s ears turned red as he punched him lightly.

With only five days left before the competition, Shen Li booked a suite at a hotel near the school. During the day, Jiang Shiyu practiced piano at school. After class, Shen Li would pick him up from the piano room, take him to dinner at a nearby restaurant, and return to the hotel to sleep.

These five days felt like a dream. Before, Jiang Shiyu had been highly tense, constantly worried about the competition, but as the event approached, he had managed to relax, treating it as an experience and enjoyment rather than being obsessed with the outcome.

The night before the competition, after dinner, they decided to take a walk back to the hotel. On the way, Jiang Shiyu suddenly expressed a desire to visit the Yena Bridge.

“When I was here with Muzi last time, I felt regretful about not sharing some of the sights with you.”

Shen Li agreed readily.

Passing by the flower shop again, the screen inside had changed to a new clip, but there were still many couples standing outside the shop.

The flower shop was a symbol of romance. Shen Li noticed Jiang Shiyu’s gaze fixed on the shop, and he was about to buy a bouquet. Suddenly, Jiang Shiyu spoke.

“Do you know? The last time I was here, the screen was showing a clip from a Korean drama. The male lead was holding flowers, running through a bridge like this one amidst the crowd to meet the person he loved. I felt a bit sad because I was about to face my first competition, and the one who promised to always be my audience couldn’t be there in person and couldn’t receive flowers meant for me.”

He looked up at him, his eyes sparkling brighter than the lights of the flower shop behind him, the dazzling lights reflecting in his eyes like a starry river.

“Sunflowers are beautiful. I put them on the piano. Did you see them?”

Shen Li’s dark eyes were filled with lingering tenderness as he nodded. “I saw them.”

Just as the hero of the Korean drama crossed the sea of people to deliver flowers, Shen Li had crossed the darkness to deliver that sunflower to his love.

Jiang Shiyu and Shen Li stood on the Jena Bridge, watching the lights brighten from afar. The entire bridge appeared as a giant lighthouse in the night, bearing a unique romance.

Jiang Shiyu leaned against Shen Li’s chest, facing the dark distance, and slowly opened his arms towards the sky, feeling the chilly wind pass through his body.

He felt like a bird—a free bird—soaring high in the sky, viewing the mountains, rivers, and changing seasons, and finally returning to its safe nest.

On the day of the competition.

Before Jiang Shiyu went on stage, Shen Li pulled him aside and took out a brooch from his pocket, a familiar small rose.

He pinned the brooch on Jiang Shiyu’s chest and gave him a silent kiss.

“Go, little prince. Your stage is waiting for you.”

Jiang Shiyu asked, “Will you be watching my performance from the audience?”

“I will always be your most loyal audience.”

“Will there be flowers this time?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of flowers?”

“Little kitty flowers.”

Jiang Shiyu smiled, his cheeks forming prominent dimples. He adjusted his suit, took a deep breath, and pushed aside the curtain, walking confidently towards the stage under the bright lights and eager gazes.

In the darkness, Shen Li watched his little prince stride towards the glory that belonged to him.