Can I love you?

Mei Wei dreaded going to the park always because there, all the girls and boys were hitting on Aman.

Mei Wei could admit that his Aman was very pretty, but he was only his.

All the people there would stare at them. Some girls would squeak and jump. Some boys even asked for Aman's number, but of course, everything they got was a cold look from Mei Wei and a polite rejection from Aman.

Aman already knew that Mei Wei wouldn't like it, but he was too polite with people to outrightly reject them.

He would carefully explain to them how he didn't have a mobile phone, which baffled a lot of people.

It was not a lie; Aman really didn't have a mobile phone.

Whenever Mei Wei asked him why he didn't use a mobile phone, Aman would answer that mobile is too complex for his brain and he didn't know how to use one. 

Anyway, it was good for Mei Wei too. Without the disturbance of mobile phones, he could receive Aman's whole attention.

Sadly, these people were too annoying and creepy. They even tried to call the house telephone number, but all they got was a scolding and some threats from Mei Wei.

Today, when their car reached the park, Mei Wei said to Aman, "Aman, I really don't want to go."

Aman looked at him with a confused look. "But the doctor said it's good for you, my prince."

"And why are you scared? All of them are people from good families," Aman comforted Mei Wei.

Mei Wei was still hesitant; he said with a serious face, "I am not worried about myself but about you. You don't know how those people stare at you like they want to eat you alive. They really have malicious intentions towards you. Believe me." Mei Wei nodded solemnly, like he was telling a universal truth.

Aman looked at him and said jokingly, "Is that true? Then I don't need to be worried."

Mei Wei was about to interrupt, but Aman continued, "Because I have you to protect me."

Mei Wei said proudly, "Yeah, I'll save you from them—no, not only from them, I'll save you from every evil in this world."

Aman's smile flattened for a moment, but then he smiled again and patted Mei Wei's head. He spoke in his mind. "You also said that too, and you fulfilled it too. You saved me until..."

Seeing that Aman was lost in thought, Mei Wei tugged the corner of his shirt and said, "Aman, let's get over with it."

Aman nodded and helped Mei Wei with his wheelchair. Together, when they reached the park, Mei Wei groaned internally. They had just entered the park when three girls saw them and squeaked. After seeing them, they ran into the park, probably to inform others too.

After walking for some time, a girl who looked rather shy came towards them and asked shyly, "Excuse me. Can I ask you a question?"

Mei Wei was curious. This girl did not look like the type of girl who would ask for their number but looked rather shy. Out of curiosity, Mei Wei nodded.

The girl looked relieved and asked, "Are you two a couple?"

Hearing this, a strange expression appeared on both of their faces. The girl said hurriedly, "Don't misunderstand me. I write boys' love novels, and both of you seem rather close. So I wanted to ask, May I ship both of you in my novel?"

After hearing this, Mei Wei started coughing deliberately. "I'll get some water," Aman said and hurried away to get a water bottle from their car.

After Aman went away, Mei Wei stopped coughing and asked the girl, "Do you really see us as a couple? And wants to write a story where he will be mine?"

The girl nodded hesitantly and said, "Yes, yes. But I need your couple photos for reference, as I am planning a manhwa as well."

Mei Wei took out his phone, unlocked it, and handed it to the girl. "Give me your number, and I'll send you the photos. Don't forget to send me the story and write a very beautiful story with great romance."

After saving her number, the girl gave him his phone back. Mei Wei saw that the number was saved with the name Mo Chan.

Mo Chan asked Mei Wei again, "By the way, you still didn't answer my previous question; are you a couple?"

Mei Wei smiled mysteriously. "Not yet, but one day I will make him mine and treat him like the king of the world." 

Mo Chan grinned, "Aww! You are so cute."

Mei Wei saw Aman coming, and he said, "He is coming; go."

Mo Chan started to walk away when Mei Wei called from behind her and said, "And don't forget to add some hot scenes to it too."

Mei Wei looked at Aman again and saw that a handsome man was standing beside him. Mei Wei took his automatic wheelchair near Aman and heard the man talking, "Aman, you look more handsome today. A girl asked me out today, you know, but I rejected her. And I told her that only you were in my heart. You know our couple will look the best in this whole city."

The man was trying to hit on Aman openly. Aman looked uncomfortable, but regardless, he was smiling out of politeness.

This young man's name was Alex Cooper; he was the only son of a very rich businessman, Mark Cooper. He was also the Mei family's neighbour. He was one of the boys who always flirted with Aman.

And Mei Wei had to admit bitterly that he was really charming.

Mei Wei reached there, grabbed Aman's hand, and said, "Aman, the butler has called; we have to go back to the house now."

Aman looked relieved and said to Alex, "I have to go now, Mr. Cooper."

"It's Alex for you, darling," Alex said. Mei Wei and Aman walked away, their hands still conjoined.

Seeing this, Alex commented, "I don't know, why doesn't he just leave that impaired brat and go out with me?"

Both of them had heard him, and Aman said, "Don't mind his comments." 

But this thought settled in Mei Wei's heart.

Mei Wei was going to be twenty years old in a week, but he made a habit from the past year that unless Aman tucks him into his bed, he won't sleep. Sometimes Aman even told him some stories about a strange magical world. But today Mei Wei wanted to ask a question first, so he did and asked Aman, "Aman, those boys and girls are all good-looking and healthy, yet you always reject them. Why is that?"

"This question came from Alex's remark, right?"

Mei Wei shook his head, but Aman caught his lie. "Don't lie to me, My Prince; I know you very well. To answer your question. Yeah, all those people are good-looking and healthy, and they also want to have only a good-looking partner."

Mei Wei was puzzled. "Isn't it good to have a good-looking partner?" 

Aman explained, "It is good, but tell me something: if someday your partner doesn't remain beautiful, would you leave them?"

Mei Wei looked at Aman's face and thought of it as ugly, but then he remembered his love for Aman and Aman caring for him. He smiled and shook his head. "Never.".

Aman looked satisfied and said, "Yes, you won't. But those people may only like a person for their face. Beauty is more of a curse than a blessing."

"How so?" asked Mei Wei.

"If you're beautiful, people won't see the inner you, only the outer you. And that type of liking is temporary. Moreover, beauty brings out people's inner lustful beasts outside," Aman said; his tone was not good.

Seeing this, Mei Wei hurriedly changed the topic to "Then tell me about real love."

Aman looked at him and said, "What do you want to know about love?" 

Mei Wei thought and said, "Like, who should I love? How should the person be?"

Aman told him, "It's all up to you—who you want to love. Love has no boundaries. You can love anyone you want."

Mei Wei thought in his heart, 'Can I love you then?'

After putting Mei Wei to bed, Aman returned to his own room. He looked into the mirror at his face and said to himself, "This beauty is really a curse for me."

After that, he started to cry, but suddenly a blow of cold wind swept at his face.

Aman smiled a watery smile and said, "Alright, I won't cry anymore for your sake, my lifeline..."