Superficially reserved

"He gave me three days to make a choice, but I gave him the answer in less than a day."

"I hesitated for many years. Ever since I knew my sexual orientation, I have been hiding from them and avoiding them. Later, I set up so many rules when I was in love, and I didn't want to have the possibility of being discovered by them."

"I want to hide quietly in a place where they don't know, and hide as long as I can. It's best not to be found out, and there's never a day of confrontation. Even if there was a riot in Sanya that day, I still hope that after the incident passes You can also sit down and talk calmly, calmly, be kind, and discuss an optimal solution that is acceptable to both of you, and don’t make too much trouble, let alone go to the worst step.”

"But I've really come to the worst step, I've really made a choice, it seems...it's not as scary as I imagined."

"Zhou Ding."

"I'm here."

"Fortunately, there are you."

Water drops fell from his raised hands, and Zhou Ding hugged the person in his arms tightly.

His eyes drooped slightly, he didn't say anything, he just hugged Xia Yu tightly to his chest, let his face close to his heart, and listened to the powerful heartbeat inside.

He knew Xia Yu liked this.

After a while, he stretched out his hand to brush away the wet hair on Xia Yu's forehead, kissed it lightly, and then whispered: "I will always be with you."

"I believe you." After saying that, Xia Yu closed her eyes and relaxed on Zhou Ding's chest.

After soaking in hot water, the joints and cells of the whole body seem to be stretched, and the broad and reliable chest and the heat that fills the bathroom also make people feel smoky.

The head was getting heavier and heavier, and the limbs were getting heavier and heavier, and the feeling of fatigue surged up again.

Xia Yu yawned, and after rubbing Zhou Ding's chest twice, she lay down quietly and fell asleep.

Half asleep, half awake, he felt himself being carried out of the bathroom, his body was dried, and then he was stuffed into the soft blanket again.

His eyelids were kissed, and he heard Zhou Ding's deep and gentle voice——

"Good night."

"I am always here."

Xia Yu slept until noon the next day before waking up.

He blinked, his head was a little dazed for a moment, and he touched the side with his hand. It was empty and cold. It seemed that Zhou Ding should have left for a while.

He yawned, stretched comfortably, and then reached for the phone on the bedside table.

As soon as the phone was turned on, it showed a lot of news, including Zhou Ding's, Senior Ding Chunhuan's, Wu Le and He Xinyang's, and...

Xia Yu's face changed, and he sat up from the bed.

[Sister-in-law: Your dad has entered the operating room again and is paralyzed. 】

[Sister-in-law: It has nothing to do with you, I made him angry. 】

Without even thinking about it, Xia Yu called his sister-in-law. As soon as the other person connected, he quickly said, "Sister-in-law, what's going on? Why did Dad go into the operating room again?"

"I made him angry."

Xia Yu frowned: "Why did you make him angry?"

"I told you something about your brother. If you don't believe me, you can ask your mother."

Xia Yu: "..."

He was silent for a while, then asked, "Where are you now?"

"Martyrs Mountain."

Xia Yu fell into silence again, and after a while said, "Where's Mom?"

"She's fine. Although your father is paralyzed, he's still alive and the backbone is still there. She's still the same as before, busy serving your father."

"……understood."

Xia Yu pursed her lips, "What about you? Are you okay?"

"I'm very good."

Zhao Peilu bent his eyes and looked at the man with a gentle smile on the tombstone, "I've booked a plane ticket for next month, and I'll go on a trip with Xiaoyi after the college entrance examination is over. And you, are you with your boyfriend?"

"Ah."

Zhao Peilu said, "Be good with him."

Xia Yu hummed again: "I will."

After hanging up the phone, Xia Yu called her mother again to find out the situation.

Sure enough, it was exactly the same as what my sister-in-law said, she was okay, and her voice sounded quite energetic, but when he asked what my sister-in-law said to his father, he hesitated and refused to say anything, and just told him to say something. It's fine outside, so don't go back for the time being, just say that his dad will be taken care of by her, and she will call him if there is anything to do.

Things were a little unexpected. After making two phone calls, Xia Yu sat on the bed in a daze and didn't move for a long time.

It wasn't until the phone vibrated several times that he blinked and regained his senses.

【Zhou Ding: Are you still awake? 】

[Zhou Ding: It's twelve o'clock, wake up and eat.I order your food, you press the delivery bell and they bring it to you. 】

[Zhou Ding: Teacher Xia wakes up, I will lose weight again if I don’t eat _(:з」∠)_]

Xia Yu couldn't help laughing, and typed a reply.

[Xia Yu: Wake up. 】

[Zhou Ding: Eat quickly. 】

[Xia Yu: I know, what about you?Where have you been?I remember you didn't play today. 】

[Zhou Ding: [Positioning] I'm training here, does Teacher Xia want to come and see me? 】

[Xia Yu: Will there be reporters over there? 】

[Zhou Ding: Ah, yes, yes, you better not come here, I will go back to have dinner with you in the evening. 】

[Xia Yu: Alright, then I'll wait for you at the hotel. 】

After saying this, Xia Yu still got up, washed and changed her clothes.

After eating, he put on a black baseball cap and mask, went out in a low-key manner, and arrived at the basketball stadium where Zhou Ding was located according to the location.

The basketball arena is very large, and dozens of people sat scattered in the auditorium.

He took a seat in the corner of the last row, then raised his phone and focused on the tall boy in the middle of the court who was practicing shooting from beyond the three-point line.

"Xia Yu?"

Just as they were clapping, a familiar voice sounded in their ears.

He froze for a moment, then turned around and found that it was the coach.

The coach sat down next to him, and asked without waiting for his answer, "To see Zhou Ding?"

"……Um."

Xia Yu looked at the coach sitting next to him, and then at those people sitting in the auditorium in front. He couldn't tell which of those people were reporters, but just to be on the safe side, he said, "Coach, what's the matter?" Go to the side and talk, it's not good to be noticed."

"I just sent those reporters away, it's okay."

After speaking, the coach looked at him, "Are you here because of the photo yesterday?"

Xia Yu thought for a while, then nodded: "Coach, those photos won't affect him, right? I've searched, and all the posts have been deleted, and no one is talking about it anymore, so there shouldn't be anything wrong, right?"

"Don't worry, nothing will happen this time."

Speaking of which, the coach put his arms around his chest and sighed, "He's planning to play in the NBA anyway, as long as he can handle the pressure, those photos won't affect him a few times."

"NBA?"

Xia Yu blinked, "Isn't he going to apply for next year's CBA draft?"

The coach looked at him sideways: "Didn't he tell you?"

Xia Yu looked at the man on the court who was making a jump shot: "...No."

"He just told me about it last night."

The coach thought for a while, looked at him seriously and said, "Xia Yu, you should know how difficult it is to be gay in the sports circle, right?"

Xia Yun hummed and nodded.

The coach said: "You should be able to see that Zhou Ding is a very rare basketball talent. Many scouts came to him when he was a freshman. He is destined to shine in the field of basketball. If he can go well Lidi follows the plan, the future is boundless, but now he has the idea of ​​making it public."

Speaking of this, he paused, and then said, "I have no opinion on homosexuality, but how should I put it, I still hope you can persuade him to take the easy path, why do you have to choose the difficult one? And Basketball is a sport that can be played until he is in his 30s. It’s only a dozen years. It’s good to make it public after he retires. I really don’t want to affect his bright and smooth path because of a sexual orientation. Xia Yu, you understand I mean right?"

Xia Yu frowned, looked at Zhou Ding on the court, and nodded again: "Well, I know you cherish talent."

The coach breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good if you understand. I tried to persuade him yesterday, but it didn't work, so I hope you can persuade him, otherwise it's really a pity for him to behave like this."

Coach Xia Yuchong nodded: "Thank you coach for telling me this, I will think about it carefully. As for whether I can convince him, I can't guarantee it."

The coach glanced at him, couldn't help but shook his head, and sighed: "The young people nowadays are really..."

As he spoke, he patted Xia Yu's shoulder, and without saying anything else, he got up and went to the basketball court.

Just in time for the training break, Zhou Ding went back to drink water. When he raised his head, he happened to see Xia Yu who was sitting at the highest place, and also saw the coach walking away from him.

The movement of drinking water stopped immediately. He screwed on the bottle cap and wanted to go to Xia Yu's side, but his eyes swept over the audience sitting on the sidelines, and his raised feet stopped abruptly. He took out his mobile phone and sent Xia Yu a message.

[Zhou Ding: Why didn't you tell me when you came? 】

[Zhou Ding: What did the coach tell you? 】

[Xia Yu: The coach said you want to make it public, let me persuade you. 】

【Zhou Ding:...】

He raised his head, silently looked at Xia Yu in the audience, then lowered his head and continued typing.

[Zhou Ding: Whether it is public or not, I will listen to you. 】

[Zhou Ding: I just think it's easy to hide for a while, but it's too difficult to hide for ten or twenty years, and I don't have a personality that likes to hide. I want to be with you more openly and aboveboard, and I won't let you and our relationship hide any more. 】

[Zhou Ding: I didn't want to deliberately make public, as long as I can hold your hand outside. 】

【Xia Yu: If you make it public, your future will be very difficult. 】

【Zhou Ding: It won't be difficult if you accompany me. 】

After sending out, Zhou Ding did not receive any new news.

He raised his head and looked at the last row of the auditorium again. Xia Yu was sitting there, wearing a hat and a mask. He couldn't see the expression on his face, but he knew that Xia Yu was looking at him.

After thinking about it, Zhou Ding sent another sentence.

【Zhou Ding: I'll listen to you. 】

[Xia Yu: Well, you train first, let me think about it. 】

[Zhou Ding: Good.By the way, you will walk with me through the side door later, there may be reporters taking pictures at the gate. 】

[Xia Yu: Yes. 】

Zhou Ding sent Xia Yu the location of the side door before putting down his phone.

He took one last look at the auditorium, then turned around and went back to the basketball court.

Because of the intensive competition and the need to conserve energy, their training intensity was not high. At four o'clock in the afternoon, the coach announced their dismissal.

Zhou Ding took a battle shower, changed his clothes before drying his hair, and strode towards the side door.

Xia Yu was already waiting there.

As soon as he passed by, Xia Yu stretched out his hand towards him.

His pace stopped for a moment, Zhou Ding raised his head, looked at Xia Yu as if he felt something, and then at his outstretched hand. The next second, the corners of his mouth could not help but rise, and he strode over to hold Xia Yu in his arms. Yu's hand.

Fingers intertwined, both hands tightly intertwined.

Feeling the warmth of the opponent's palm, Zhou Ding suppressed the joy in his heart, and shouted: "Xia Yu."

"I'm here."

Xia Yu looked up at him, "I've made up my mind."

Zhou Ding licked his lips and looked at Xia Yu almost holding his breath.

His heart was beating faster and faster, and he had a strong premonition—he would get the answer he wanted!

"I'll accompany you on that road, at worst I'll support you."

Xia Yu rolled her eyes as she said, "I can afford it."

really! ! !

The feeling of excitement almost exploded in my chest!

Zhou Ding couldn't help the corners of his mouth rising, he was so happy that he almost jumped up.

But he held back and didn't jump up, but grabbed Xia Yu's hand even more forcefully, and said with difficulty restraining the excitement in his tone: "I don't need you to support me, I just need you to accompany me."

Feeling infected, Xia Yu was also very happy at the moment.

He gave the promise without hesitation: "I will always be with you." Zhou Ding said this to him last night, and now, let him say it to Zhou Ding.

The corners of Zhou Ding's mouth curved even wider. He took a deep breath and felt as if his chest had been hit.

He suppressed his excitement, and kept looking at Xia Yu in front of him.

Xia Yu has indeed lost a lot of weight during this period, and his chin is even sharper than before. Even after a good night's sleep yesterday, the blue color under his eyes has not completely faded, making him look a little pale and weak, as if he would fall down if the wind blows. Down.But he also felt that the Xia Yu in front of him looked stronger, more vivid and brighter than before.

In the past, he was like a white flower hiding in the depths of the night and quietly blooming, afraid of the sun and longing for the sun.

But now, he bravely stood in the sun, his whole body seemed to be glowing.

He couldn't help looking at him.

There is no way not to love him.

"Going out like this, are you afraid?" Xia Yu asked him, shaking the hands they were holding.

Zhou Ding looked at him and shook his head.

Xia Yu smiled and said, "Then let's go together."

Zhou Ding took another deep breath. He lowered his eyes, and his eyes fell on the two clasped hands. Various emotions filled his chest, which seemed to be overflowing.

He pursed his lips tightly, and couldn't help stroking Xia Yu's intertwined fingers.

After a while, he said in a low voice, "Okay, let's go together."

He finally got what he wanted.

……

That night, a Twitter account named [SurvivalistXY] posted a picture with the text: I hold the light.

The picture is a very simple gouache painting, and the content of the picture is also very simple, that is, two hands holding together.

It's just that one hand is bigger, the joints are slightly thicker, and the fingers are long. Looking at it, I feel full of strength. The other hand is smaller, with slender phalanges, fair complexion, and a slight pinkness on the fingertips.

Two hands, one big and one small, were tightly intertwined, fingers intertwined, looking very intimate.

——What the hell? ? Mrs. XY actually updated? ? ?

- let let let let let go!Here I come with a magnifying glass!Let me see first! ……Um?Wait, what's going on, it's not Shitu? !

——? ? ?The wife has been missing for so long and is actually dating?Does this mean it's finished? ?Congratulations to 99 first! ! !

——My wife’s painting suddenly faded, and I’m not used to it. 0-0 Damn it! ! !Happy 99! ! !

——Shouldn’t the big event like being together be more exciting, madam? ! ! !

——I was sticking out my tongue and preparing to shashasha, I put my tongue back in my mouth, wish 99!hum! ! !

——Are you with that 22?

--Um? ? twenty two? ?Grass I remembered!sisters! !I'm excited again! ! !

——The retracted tongue sticks out again, madam, is that 22? ! !Is it? Is it? ! ! !

——It must be!Look at that hand!With such a big palm and such long fingers, is it possible to have such a hand? ? ?The other hand is of course our wife's, the same as the one that touched the abdominal muscles before!Shashaha! ! !

[SurvivalistXY] Reply: Yes, we are together.

[SurvivalistXY] Reply: Thank you for your blessings ^_^

——End of text——

The author has something to say: Thank you everyone for seeing this ^_^

That's it, this is the ending I had planned before.I have written everything I want to write. For other official announcements and public reactions, career, future, etc., I feel that it is more suitable to put it in a side story.

All episodes will be marked with chapter names, and you can choose the chapter names yourself.

There will be a lot of extra episodes. The main CP has already thought of a few, and there are others that I want to write. If you have anything you want to see, you can leave a message in the comment area =3=

There is also publishing. There is a simplified version that is going through the signing process. If you are interested, you can pay attention to my bib.

that's all.

Thank you for your company for three months!See you soon!We still have a special episode!