On New Year's Eve, Yu Qing got up before dawn.
He counted all the gifts he wanted to bring to Huo Qu's home, and then painstakingly picked out the clothes he would wear at night. He was busy, like a little ant on a rainy day, going one trip after another.
Huo Qu didn't know what Qinghuan was doing and felt unable to help. He sat straight on the bed with his hands on his thighs and his eyes focusing on Yu Qinghuan.
Yu Qinghuan chose a very formal suit and looked back at Huo Qu.
He opened his mouth but turned back helplessly.
Forget it. He wouldn't get an answer from Huo Qu.
He carefully filtered the consulting candidates in the brain. Zhao Rui was certainly not suitable, the man wore sacks every day; Yu Xin was even worse. Even Ruirui refused to wear the clothes he chose for her.
So… Zhao Qingyuan was the only one who was normal in aesthetics.
He asked Huo Qu to sit on the nearby chair. And then, he spread his clothes all over the bed, taking photos one by one and sent them to Zhao Qingyuan.
"Which is better?"
Qingyuan probably read the photos very carefully. It took five minutes for him to reply, "The second one."
"Okay."
It was a couture long black windbreaker from Ada, neither too formal nor casual, perfect for visiting Huo's family.
Yu Qinghuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Following Huo Qu's rule, Qinghuan hanged up the clothes in the cabinet according to color and sent Zhao Qingyuan a thank you message.
"Thank you so much. I have a terrible headache selecting clothes."
Zhao Qingyuan replied, "What are you going to do?"
Yu Qinghuan pondered for a while, but still told the truth, "Go to Huo's tonight."
"Oh, yes, you told me last time, I forgot."
He was quite interested in Yu Qinghuan's visit to Huo Qu's parents. Thinking typing was too slow, Zhao Qingyuan dialed Qinghuan directly. He talked excitedly with Yu Qinghuan, from entering the door to sleeping at night. People who did not about them would think that Qingyuan was the one who would come home with Huo Qu.
In the end, he even said to Yu Qinghuan, "Let me take you there. You haven't got your driver's license, and Huo Qu can't drive, either. So there's a shortage of a driver."
Zhao Qingyuan was rubbing his hands and was eager to do that.
Yu Qinghuan was embarrassed, "Thank you. Yu Xin will give us a ride."
Zhao Qingyuan insisted with a lewd smile, "Why bother your agent for personal matters? It is better for me to go. What do you say, Qinghuan?"
Yu Qinghuan, "…"
The expression on Yu Qinghuan's face was complicated, "Qingyuan, you really don't need paddles in rowing…"
Zhao Qingyuan, "? ? ?"
Zhao Qingyuan, "What does it mean?"
Yu Qinghuan, "All depends on waves."
Zhao Qingyuan, "…"
After he finally finished chatting with Zhao Qingyuan, Yu Qinghuan hung up the phone.
Even though he had seen the Huo Qu's parents more than once, he was still a little nervous when he first came to Huo Qu's house. In the afternoon, he got into Yu Xin's car and set off with Huo Qu.
The Huos had been waiting for them at home for a long time. With the doorbell rang, the door was opened immediately from inside.
"Qinghuan, welcome," Mrs. Huo smiled and stood sideways to let them in. She brought Yu Qinghuan a pair of slippers from the shoe rack, "Help yourself."
"Thank you, Mrs. Huo," Yu Qinghuan felt flattered. He handed the hostess the gift in his hands, "I don't know what you would like, so I bought some as I thought."
Then he leaned to one side and let Huo Qu come up, took the bouquet in Huo Qu's hand and handed it up, "This is also for you."
"It was so generous of you." Mrs. Huo stretched out her hands to accept the present. Her eyes suddenly lit up when she saw the delicate and charming flowers.
"Qinghuan, you're so sweet."
She bowed her head to sniff the fragrance, let Huo Rong took care of Yu Qinghuan and went upstairs happily to find a vase to arrange those flowers.
"Come in and sit down," Huo Rong led Yu Qinghuan to the sofa and poured him a cup of tea. Mr. Huo put down his newspaper and said to Yu Qinghuan with a smile, "It's cold outside. Take a sip of tea to warm up."
Yu Qinghuan nodded, "It's a little cold, but we came by car, so it's fine."
Mr. Huo looked serious on the surface, but he was never a person difficult to get along with. He was afraid of Yu Qinghuan being nervous so he was much gentler than usual. The two had much to talk about. From small household affairs to the literary epics, making Huo Rong shock off his chin.
When did his father become so gentle? Well, except for Huo Qu, all his sons grew up suffering a beating. How could the storm change into a gentle breeze and drizzle when it encountering Yu Qinghuan?
At this time, Mrs. Huo finally came down from the upstairs, holding a large delicate and transparent vase in her hands. Her face beamed, "I haven't received flowers in many years." Seeing Huo Rong, she said, "What's the use of having three sons!"
Before coming to the Huo family, Yu Qinghuan thought for a long time about the gifts. His family lacked nothing. No matter what he sent, it didn't make much sense.
After he browsed a lot of useful information on the Internet, the final gift given to Mrs. Huo was a set of jewelry made of natural pearls and a bunch of flowers, which was exquisite and thoughtful. The gift given to Mr. Huo was a bottle of fine wine obtained through Zhao Qingyuan's relationship.
Hearing this, Huo Rong turned supercilious look, "All right, we're useless. Yu Qinghuan is useful."
"It's excellent that you know." Mrs. Mrs. Huo put the vase on the tea table of the sitting room and enjoyed it for a while. Then she looked up smilingly and said to Yu Qinghuan, "The meal will be ready soon. Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something first?"
Yu Qinghuan shook his head, "Thank you, Mrs. Huo, I'm fine." After a pause, he asked, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Don't bother," Mrs. Huo waved, "You're my guest."
Their New Year's Eve meal was very rich. It also took care of Yu Qinghuan's taste. There were many spicy dishes on the table. Mrs. Huo was afraid that he would feel shy to fill his belly so she kept picking up food for Yu Qinghuan.
"Miaomiao." At this time, Mr. Huo suddenly called his wife, "I remember we have a Dongpo Braised Pork, why didn't you bring it here?"
"Huh?" Mrs. Huo put down her chopsticks, "I'll go and see."
"My wife had a bad memory," Mr. Huo shook his head and followed Mrs. Huo, "Wait for me."
"Senior, when did we make the dish? Why don't I know?" Mrs. Huo asked with a confusing face while walking.
Mr. Huo did not answer, pulling her to one corner and saying, "I just find an excuse to take you out."
"Why?"
"You are acting too enthusiastic," sighed Mr. Huo, "The child was a little uneasy. Be more natural."
Mrs. Huo struck dumb. "I, I just want him to take here as his own."
Mr. Huo shook his head, "Treat Qinghuan as the way you treat your sons. You can prefer Qinghuan, but not too much." After a pause, he added, "Do you always pick up food for the eldest brother and the second brother?"
Mrs. Huo blurted out, "Of course, not!"
Mr. Huo continued, "So the more you act like this, the more Qinghuan looks like as a guest."
Mrs. Huo hesitated for a few seconds and nodded, "I see."
After that, Mrs. Huo had been much normal treating Yu Qinghuan, and the latter also breathed a sigh of relief.
After a happy meal, the family chatted and sat on the sofa watching the Spring Festival Gala.
Occasionally, Mrs. Huo would point to the TV screen and ask Yu Ainghuan if he knew about the gossip of these stars. The atmosphere was very harmonious.
Toward zero, the second brother went upstairs to rest, leaving the space to the young couple.
The Spring Festival Gala was coming to a close. As time went by, Huo Qu became impatient to sit still. So the couple went back to their room.
This was Yu Qinghuan's first visit to Huo Qu's room, but the decorating and arrangement was much familiar.
Everywhere was neatly packed, there was not a wrinkle on the bed, even the quilts were folded square.
"Wash up, let's go to bed right away," Yu Qinghuan pushed Huo Qu and closed the door behind him.
Huo Qu nodded and stepped forward. Suddenly, there was a roaring blast outside the window. It was the unique sound of fireworks in the sky.
Fireworks had been banned in the city, but the villa area was in the suburbs, where fireworks were set off along the river bend every year.
The two involuntarily looked toward the sound source. Huge jellyfish fireworks slowly bursting in the black night sky, bright as if gathered the galaxy's brightest stars, colorful, lining the dim moonlight.
This was his second New Year with Huo Qu.
Yu Qinghuan smiled. In the future, they would have gatherings and watch fireworks like this for countless New Year.
Huo Qu suddenly called him, "Qinghuan."
Yu Qinghuan smiled and raised his head, "What?"
Huo Qu held the back of Qinghuan's head, lifted it slightly upward, and bowed his head to kiss Qinghuan's lips.
This was the most tender kiss between them. Yu Qinghuan's chest throbbed and his eyelashes quivered slightly. A moist red color ran down his cheeks and extended to his ears.
The whole world seemed to have disappeared, leaving only their two.
This feeling was so good that he couldn't help putting his arms around Huo Qu's waist. At this moment, a knock sounded on the door outside. It was Huo Rong, "Fruit platter."
Yu Qinghuan pushed Huo Qu away in panic. He tried to support himself with the table behind his back but accidentally touched the cup filled with water.
Huo Qu did not allow others to enter his room, so a small table was placed at his door to facilitate his family to send him things. Before Huo Qu came back, Mrs. Huo specially asked the maid to fill up the cup according to Huo Qu's habits.
With a 'bang', the cup fell to the ground. Fortunately, it was not broken, but the water splashed Yu Qinghuan all over his feet.
"It's okay," Yu Qinghuan said to Huo Qu after adjusting his breath. Pulling open the door and taking the fruit platter, he said 'Thank you' to Huo Rong.
"You're welcome. Good night." Huo Rong quickly turned to leave.
Yu Qinghuan breathed a sigh of relief and put the fruit platter on the table. Just as he was about to pick up the cup, Huo Qu had already done that ahead of him.
"I'll wash the cup and pour another one for you later." Yu Qinghuan put a piece of apple into his mouth and told Huo Qu.
Huo Qu nodded and looked at Yu Qinghuan and then at the ground. Suddenly he drew some paper towels from the table and squatted down.
Yu Qinghuan thought Huo Qu was again struck by obsessive-compulsive disorder and felt uneasy seeing water on the ground. Just as he was about to make fun of Huo Qu, the latter stretched out his hands and grasped Qinghuan's ankle, "Take it off."
The cotton slippers were already half wet, but Yu Qinghuan was too nervous to notice. Unexpectedly, Huo Qu saw it.
Without receiving a response, Huo Qu looked up at him, "Qinghuan?"
Yu Qinghuan felt sour and sweet in his heart. He lifted his leg slightly and pulled his foot out of his slippers.
The floor was warm to step on it with bare feet. Yu Qinghuan did not know about this so he felt a little shy. He curled up his toes and wanted to ask Huo Qu if there were any new slippers in his room. Huo Qu lowered his head again and helped him wipe the water droplets splashed on his ankles carefully and clumsily.
Yu Qinghuan looked at him with stupefied eyes, only to feel that his chest was like a sail bulging with the wind, which was propped up and swollen.
How could this person be so good? He should be lofty as many geniuses and could only see himself. But now, even such tiny things that happened on Qinghuan could be detected by him at the first time.
"Huo Qu…" Qinghuan's eyes turned reddish and he mumbled the man's name. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something. Suddenly, several tiny objects fell out of Huo Qu's trouser pocket.
Mobile phone, plus two condoms.
Yu Qinghuan, "…"
Yu Qinghuan, "???"
For an instant, the air seemed to freeze.
All the touching moments disappeared. Yu Qinghuan took a deep breath and pulled his ankle out of Huo Qu's hand angrily, gnashing his teeth, "Huo Qu!"
How could the man bring that stuff all the time even Qinghuan was being a guest to his home?
Was he crazy?!
Or did he have any unspeakable preference?!
"Why are you carrying this all the time?" Yu Qinghuan looked at him with a darkened face. "Is there nothing else in your mind except that?"
"I didn't." Huo Qu refuted him in a low voice. Seeing Yu Qinghuan getting angrier and even lifting his feet to go, he hugged Qinghuan's thighs, rubbing on it like a dog. "I… I just want to be closer to you every day."
Like ice water falling from the sky, the words instantly doused the fire in Yu Qinghuan's heart.
He paused for a moment, sighed helplessly, bent down and touched Huo Qu's depressed head.
What else could he do? He would always let Huo Qu do whatever he wanted.
"Huo Qu."
"Hmm?"
"Come home with me in a few days. I mean County Tao. I want to burn incense to my parents."
"Sure."