I Only Want You chapter 22

Yan Lan showed no embarrassment about the cheating scene being exposed. He lifted Tiantian, who was still lying on the ground, placing him on his lap. He took off the puppet gloves and wiped the fine sweat from Tiantian’s forehead with the back of his hand.

Xie Yun Zhi found it amusing and asked the person still sitting on the ground in a gentle tone, “Do you want to win that badly?”

Without lifting his head, Yan Lan nodded lightly.

Xie Yun Zhi chuckled softly, then turned his gaze to Tiantian and asked him in sign language, “Do you want to go to the amusement park and ride the carousel with Teacher?”

Tiantian nodded without hesitation.

Xie Yun Zhi shook his head in resignation and raised his hands, “It seems that you have won the bet. I’ll follow your lead now. I’ll agree to whatever you say.”

Yan Lan hugged Tiantian in his arms. Upon hearing Xie Yun Zhi’s words, he turned his head to look at him with a determined gaze.

Xie Yun Zhi didn’t avoid his gaze. Instead, he revealed a faint smile and suggested, “Let’s go downstairs. It looks like lunch is ready.”

At noon, Auntie had prepared a table full of dishes. Tiantian, in a good mood, ate heartily, his little belly becoming round. After finishing, he put down his spoon and eagerly watched Yan Lan and Xie Yun Zhi, his small head turning back and forth between the two, looking very busy.

Knowing that Tiantian was eager to go out and play, Yan Lan quickly finished the remaining half-bowl of rice and left his seat, taking Tiantian upstairs to change clothes. He opened the wardrobe and let Tiantian choose for himself.

In the end, Tiantian picked a set of bright yellow overalls embroidered with sunflowers and a small yellow hat with sunflower petals for the brim.

Xie Yun Zhi also changed out of the suit he wore in the morning into more casual attire.

This was the first time Yan Lan had seen him in something other than a suit and a white shirt. The refined and dignified demeanor did not diminish; instead, it added a touch of elegance and comfort. Yan Lan couldn’t help but tilt his head to look at him.

As they left the house, Tiantian was carried by Xie Yun Zhi because he had already started to feel tired and didn’t want to walk.

Yan Lan, a few steps behind, watched him until Xie Yun Zhi noticed and stopped, turning around to find him. Seeing his somewhat ambiguous expression, Xie Yun Zhi thought he might also be tired. “Are you tired too? Let’s find a place to rest.”

Yan Lan looked at him and gestured with sign language, expressing that he wanted to hold his hand.

Xie Yun Zhi was momentarily surprised but then extended a hand toward him, freeing up one hand while still holding Tiantian, “Come.”

Almost impatiently, Yan Lan took a couple of quick steps forward and placed his hand into that warm palm.

The amusement park was lively in the evening, and there was a fireworks show scheduled. Xie Yun Zhi wanted Tiantian to see it, so they had dinner at the park’s restaurant. After dinner, Tiantian felt much better. Yan Lan opened his phone’s camera function, letting Tiantian take pictures of the fireworks.

Tiantian took the task seriously, holding up the phone to capture a bunch of blurry lights and shadows. Despite the lack of clarity, Yan Lan found it amusing. Not only did he not delete any of the pictures, but he also chose one to set as his WeChat profile picture.

Seeing this, Xie Yun Zhi took out his phone. “Send it to me, I’ll use it too.”

So, both of their WeChat profile pictures turned into blurred images of fireworks. At first glance, it looked like a romantic couple’s profile, unexpectedly adding a touch of romance.

After leaving the amusement park, just before getting into the car, Yan Lan suddenly grabbed Xie Yun Zhi’s arm and used sign language to express that he needed to buy something. Xie Yun Zhi offered to accompany him, but Yan Lan gestured for him to look after the sleeping Tiantian and assured him that he would be back soon.

Watching Yan Lan swiftly cross the zebra crossing as the traffic light turned green, Xie Yun Zhi couldn’t help but be curious about what Yan Lan was buying.

Half an hour later, Yan Lan, who had run back breathlessly with disheveled hair, approached the car. He held a beautifully packaged… bunch of grass?

It was the first time Xie Yun Zhi had seen bellflowers arranged into a bouquet. Intrigued, he couldn’t look away. “Who is this for?”

Yan Lan pointed at him and placed the bouquet in the middle of their seats without disturbing the peacefully sleeping Tiantian, cradled in Xie Yun Zhi’s arms.

“…for me?”

Yan Lan nodded.

Xie Yun Zhi still couldn’t grasp the situation. “Why suddenly give me flowers?”

Yan Lan: Because I like you, so I’m giving them to you.

After conveying this in sign language, Yan Lan immediately turned his head to look out of the car window, leaving Xie Yun Zhi to ponder over the gesture.

Xie Yun Zhi, bewildered, asked, “Can you stay tonight? Don’t go back. I’ll have Auntie prepare a guest room for you.”

Yan Lan’s heart raced at this unexpected invitation. He neither nodded nor shook his head, seemingly lost in thought. He didn’t even realize the car had arrived at the entrance of the Xie family’s home.

It was only when Xie Yun Zhi got out of the car and said to him to help carry the flowers that Yan Lan snapped out of his daze, picking up the bunch of bellflowers and following them inside.

Auntie was waiting in the living room. Seeing Xie Yun Zhi carrying the sleeping Tiantian from the entrance, she wanted to come forward and take him. However, Xie Yun Zhi shook his head, instructing her, “Prepare hot water and towels. Just wipe Tiantian’s body gently. Don’t wake him up. Wait until tomorrow to give him a bath.”

Auntie nodded and followed Xie Yun Zhi upstairs.

With the flowers in his arms, Yan Lan trailed behind them. Standing outside Tiantian’s bedroom, he watched as Xie Yun Zhi gently laid Tiantian on the bed and tenderly removed his shoes and clothes. Tiantian was sound asleep, showing no signs of waking up.

When Auntie brought hot water and towels to wipe Tiantian’s body, Xie Yun Zhi finally turned to Yan Lan, holding his wrist and leading him to the end of the corridor, toward his own bedroom.

Yan Lan had not anticipated being led into Xie Yun Zhi’s room. Holding the flowers, he felt completely at a loss, not knowing where to put his hands and feet.

The bedroom was a very private space. Yan Lan didn’t dare to turn his head, and his exquisite and beautiful eyes were filled with confusion as he looked at Xie Yun Zhi.

However, Xie Yun Zhi simply turned on the bedroom light, walked up to Yan Lan, and took the flowers from him. “Thank you. I really like them. It’s the first time I’ve received bellflowers arranged as a bouquet. Is there any special meaning behind these flowers?”

Yan Lan lowered his gaze.

Xie Yun Zhi placed the flowers on the table, then walked back to him. “Although you often appear distant and cold, and sometimes even cold towards me, I still want to see you. Because the night I got drunk, I felt that the person I saw then was the real you.”

Yan Lan lifted his head upon hearing this: You remember even when you’re drunk?

“Not very clearly, but I could see your face, very gentle. I remember you helping me loosen my tie, very gentle, as if afraid of hurting me. No one has ever treated me like that, so I kept thinking about it, and couldn’t forget.”

Yan Lan stared at him, and Xie Yun Zhi continued, “The next day, I woke up and saw you. I told you I needed to think about it, but what I must tell you is that even after careful consideration, I still believe I am not gay.”

Yan Lan’s expression remained unchanged, but his heart felt like it was plunged into ice. He felt a chill with every breath, as if his nasal passages were carrying a freezing breeze.

“I say this because I once imagined myself with other men, be it popular male idols, actors, or just a handsome or not-so-handsome man. When I imagined kissing them, I felt disgusted, to the point where I couldn’t bear it. But oddly, I don’t feel disgusted with you. When I imagine kissing you, there’s joy in my heart and anticipation.”

Yan Lan stared at him in astonishment, completely shocked by this sudden change in conversation. His three souls and seven spirits seemed to fly out of his body, do a twirl, and return, bringing back a heartbeat so vigorous that it felt like it could thaw the ice around his heart.

With a slightly embarrassed expression, Xie Yun Zhi said, “I’m not sure if this can be considered ‘liking,’ and I’m not sure if it’s a decision without regrets. All I know is that I don’t want to lose you, don’t want to not see you in the future, and don’t want you to be taken away by someone I don’t know, whether it’s your junior or someone else. I hope you can come more, accompany Tiantian or even accompany me. And if you need, I’ll accompany you too.”

Yan Lan nodded lightly: Have you thought it through? Are you deciding to be more than friends?

“Yeah, actually, I’ve been hoping for a chance to tell you these things, but I was always worried that you wouldn’t believe me.”

Yan Lan was curious, watching him nod.

Xie Yun Zhi leaned slightly toward him and lightly touched his lips with a force so gentle, proving his words, “See? I can kiss you while completely sober.”