Orange Storm chapter 60

Perfect for a Date

Christmas Eve was quite busy, and Jiang Zhijin returned quite late that night. He slept until noon, and Fang Xing had gone out in the morning to buy breakfast and spent the morning studying. It wasn’t until the bedroom door was knocked on by Jiang Zhijin that he put down his pen and opened the door. Jiang Zhijin looked like he had just finished showering and changing clothes. Fang Xing could still smell the faint fragrance of shower gel and woody notes from between the collars. Jiang Zhijin lowered his head to finish typing a message before looking up at Fang Xing.

“Get ready; let’s go.”

“Where to?” Fang Xing asked.

“To the mountains.” Jiang Zhijin looked at Fang Xing, who was wearing a single sweater, and added, “Wear something warmer.”

After a moment of hesitation, Fang Xing casually grabbed a gray-white down jacket. As he put it on, he followed Jiang Zhijin out.

It had snowed lightly throughout the night, but today was quite clear. The sky was very blue with almost no clouds. When Jiang Zhijin mentioned “up the mountain,” he was referring to a mountain outside the city. Not very high, it had been developed by Shaojiang City as a cultural and tourist area due to its beautiful scenery, featuring numerous homestays and restaurants.

Both sides of the mountain road were covered in snow. The higher they went, the colder it became, and the snow visibly thickened. Jiang Zhijin drove quite slowly. When the sun shone through the windshield, it felt very comfortable, and Fang Xing felt a bit drowsy.

“Why are we going to the mountain?” Fang Xing asked.

“To attend a wedding,” Jiang Zhijin said.

…Fang Xing turned his head to give him a glance.

As if sensing Fang Xing’s gaze, Jiang Zhijin continued, “The owner who has been supplying wine to Cloud Seven, his daughter, is getting married today. He has asked me several times to bring my family to the wedding banquet.”

“…Oh,” Fang Xing said.

“I thought…”

He paused for a moment and didn’t continue. Jiang Zhijin took a quick look at him, revealing a hint of a smile.

“You thought what?”

“Nothing,” Fang Xing replied.

Jiang Zhijin chuckled and, after a moment, spoke again, “The wedding banquet is in the evening, and there’s still time. There’s an interesting coffee shop up here; I’ll take you to see it.”

Fang Xing didn’t say anything more, closed his eyes, leaned back in the chair, smiled in the sunlight, and suddenly felt better.

The coffee shop Jiang Zhijin mentioned was halfway up the mountain. The entrance had a counter for ordering, and after passing through another wooden door, they entered the coffee shop. It was a rare sight nowadays, with red mud walls and an arched roof covered with a thick layer of thatch. From the outside, it looked like a round thatched house.

Fang Xing followed Jiang Zhijin inside. The ceiling inside was also arched, adorned with scattered white globe lights except where the doors and windows were. All four walls were stacked with books, reaching up to the ceiling.

There were only six or seven low tables, and all of them were surrounded by reclining sofas. They were the kind that, once you sat down, you would sink into them, quite suitable for relaxation. Several people were already inside, reading books or working.

Jiang Zhijin didn’t stop, leading Fang Xing through the room to the innermost wooden door.

That door was quite low, and both of them had to slightly bend to pass through. When they came out, Fang Xing lifted his head, and before him were layers of overlapping green mountains, mixed with the untouched whiteness of the snow.

The coffee shop was close to a cliff, extending a part of it from the mountain. The designer made it a glass terrace, with a semi-circular transparent arched glass covering the top, separating from the cold while presenting a complete view of the mountains. Thick blankets covered the floor, with only two small tables and reclining sofas similar to those indoors. The tables were near the edge of the terrace, and the two sofas were placed together, facing the magnificent mountain range.

There was no one outside. Jiang Zhijin and Fang Xing casually chose a table.

“Interesting, isn’t it?” Jiang Zhijin asked with a smile.

“Yes,” Fang Xing nodded.

Because it was on a cliff, the terrace appeared to be hanging in the air. Sunlight streamed through the glass, making it warm and comfortable rather than cold.

The two of them hadn’t had lunch. They ordered two drinks and some pizza, desserts, and fries. The taste was indeed much better than the average coffee shop.

Fang Xing found it quite incredible that Jiang Zhijin knew about such a place.

“With your usual appearance of finding it troublesome to even take a stroll downstairs, I thought you were too lazy to go out,” Fang Xing said.

“Never mind going downstairs; I need mental preparation just to leave the bedroom. Alright?” Jiang Zhijin laughed for a while. “Someone else brought me here.”

Fang Xing took a sip of coffee. Jiang Zhijin’s order was probably a cappuccino, quite sweet with barely any coffee flavor.

“Who?” Fang Xing asked.

“Take a guess,” Jiang Zhijin said.

Being able to get Jiang Zhijin to go out, drive all the way up the mountain to a coffee shop, enjoy the scenery, have coffee, and chat…

Fang Xing looked at Jiang Zhijin for a while, then slowly spoke, “Li Xingyan?”

Jiang Zhijin probably didn’t expect Fang Xing to say that name. He first showed a clear look of surprise, then a slight smile appeared at the corner of his lips. He kept staring at Fang Xing without saying anything, and the smile grew bigger, ending up sinking into the sofa.

So adorable, Fang Xing.

The young man hadn’t learned to beat around the bush, and his obvious jealousy, straightforwardness about what he wanted to know, along with pretending not to care, seemed somewhat clumsy but undeniably cute.

In fact, Fang Xing regretted saying that name as soon as he said it. Jiang Zhijin’s reaction made him regret even more.

Too foolish.

“Hey,” Jiang Zhijin sighed with a smile, leaning on the sofa and turning to look at Fang Xing beside him.

“No, how did you associate him with this? Can you explain that to me?” 

Fang Xing had scolded himself internally a thousand times. Externally, he remained quite calm. “I guessed. Didn’t you ask me to guess?”

Jiang Zhijin spoke while laughing, “Your guess was way off.”

“He used to pursue you, right?” Fang Xing sighed. “I just thought this place is quite suitable for a date—”

Halfway through, Fang Xing stopped.

He realized that what he said might not be appropriate, and subconsciously turned to look at Jiang Zhijin next to him. Jiang Zhijin’s face still had a lingering smile, and he was still staring at him.

“—that,” Fang Xing bit his lip and finished the last word.

Jiang Zhijin burst into laughter again and, after laughing for a while, said, “When the bar opened, a friend of mine in the bar business invited me. His previous bar was next to Cloud Seven.”

“Oh,” Fang Xing immediately responded, his tone even a bit upbeat, clearly feeling more relaxed.

Jiang Zhijin seemed to find it amusing again.

Being young is wonderful. Happy with just one sentence, touched by one thing, moved by one person, like an unquenchable wildfire, passionate and fierce.

Such infatuations might seem a bit childish or untimely to adults, but Jiang Zhijin often found it cute.

He didn’t want to disappoint such sincerity.

Not feeling very hungry, Jiang Zhijin ate a bit and then sank into the sofa. He casually grabbed a book from the nearby small bookshelf and flipped open a page.

By the time Fang Xing finished eating, the sound of flipping through the book had already stopped. He turned to look, and Jiang Zhijin was using the book to cover his face, seemingly already asleep.

The winter afternoon sunlight indeed had a drowsy effect on people. With a knee blanket placed nearby, Fang Xing pulled one out and covered Jiang Zhijin. He also took the book from his hands. Jiang Zhijin was sleeping soundly, undisturbed.

Fang Xing lowered his head and looked at Jiang Zhijin for a while.

Outside, there were dense green forests, and the remaining snow covered the mountains. When touched by sunlight, the colors varied in depth. Jiang Zhijin had closed his eyes, breathing peacefully, appearing exceptionally serene within this vast landscape.

With his eyes closed, the faint, light-colored mole on his left eyelid was revealed again. It was very prominent on the thin, slightly reddish eyelid, displaying a unique and clean charm.

Fang Xing looked at it for a moment and suddenly wanted to touch it.

Since Jiang Zhijin was sleeping like this, even if someone touched the mole, he probably wouldn’t notice. Just a gentle stroke; if he woke up, he could always play it off…

Fang Xing hesitated for a moment, then extended his right hand, lightly touching Jiang Zhijin’s left eyelid with his index finger.

Thin, soft, with the delicacy unique to that piece of skin. Despite being only slightly warm, it felt like a bundle of fire easily igniting Fang Xing’s entire being.

Fang Xing withdrew his hand, also lying down on the sofa, closing his eyes and gently exhaling.