Chapter 22: When you give up, you're also giving up your future in the process.

"Young master..." Song Xuqi called when he found Lan Xing and Hong Yue in the ice-skating rink. Since Hong Yue has a weak constitution, the two of them are just watching.

Lan Xing and Hong Yue turned. "Xuqi!" Hong Yue exclaimed. "You really found us..." he said as he looked at his butler in surprise.

"..." shouldn't I? Song Xuqi thought and just smiled. "I've already returned it to you." He told Hong Yue.

"Eh? When?!" Hong Yue thought as he checked his pockets.

Song Xuqi chuckled. "I'll be leaving first, young master." He told Hong Yue before he nodded at Lan Xing. "Young master Lan. Please take care of my young master." He told him.

Lan Xing nodded. "I will." He said.

When he heard Lan Xing's reassurance, only then did Song Xuqi truly left Haifeng. "I hope I'd learn how to skate someday..." Hong Yue muttered as he enviously watched the happy kids skate on the ice.

"I can teach you." Lan Xing told him.

"... you're multi-purpose, aren't you?" Hong Yue helplessly sighed, but there's a smile on his face. He remembered that time in America, Huang Anyi freely skated in front of him. In an impulse, he cracked the ice. However, he immediately regretted it and he saved her. He pulled her up but he's the one who replaced her being submerged in the water. He thought he's going to die, but Huang Anyi cried and pulled him with all her might.

Huang Ziming was suspicious of what happened, but Huang Anyi told her father that it was an accident as she skated on thin ice.

Sometimes, Hong Yue was thinking if Huang Anyi was just acting brave in front of him and that she's really actually scared of him deep inside. However, he had proven himself wrong since she dared to slap him when he was eaten by his depression again and attempted suicide. He tried to choke her, but the look in her eyes are fierce. She really wasn't afraid. Sometimes, he really wanted to crack open her skull and see what's inside it. However, he knew it'll just be disgusting liquid, so he didn't dare try it.

"Hong Yue. Hong Yue." Lan Xing called and pulled his hand.

Hong Yue was startled and he jerked his hand, pulling it free of Lan Xing's grasp. "W-what's wrong? What happened?" he asked.

"Well... you've been in a daze." Lan Xing told him.

"Oh. Sorry." Hong Yue absent-mindedly apologized.

"Are you tired?" Lan Xing asked.

"No." Hong Yue said.

"Then, let me take you somewhere." Lan Xing told him.

"Hm?" Hong Yue was puzzled.

After the vehicle brought them to the place, he thought he was brought to a different world. It's lush green all around them, and on both sides of the road are flowers. And furthermore is –

Hong Yue loudly gasped when he saw a small body of water with white sand. He raised his head and saw the sunny sky. "This place is beautiful..." he muttered under his breath.

"The sky is just a projection in the dome. It'll change into the night sky with the milky way and andromeda galaxy, including the aurora borealis." Lan Xing explained. "This place isn't opened to the public yet. We're the first ones to be here." He told him. "Do you want us to go back tonight? It'll become more breathtaking." He said.

Hong Yue nodded as an answer. Both sides were lined with coconut trees. This is an indoor beach! He exclaimed in his mind. He took off his shoes and felt the fine white sand beneath his feet. "This is amazing!" he exclaimed as he played in the water. He giggled when he felt the waved crashed against his feet.

Lan Xing smiled when he saw Hong Yue was enjoying himself. "Do you want to swim?" he asked.

Hong Yue's eyes sparkled. "Okay!" he answered.

"I'll get us towels and slippers." Lan Xing said as he picked up Hong Yue's shoes and placed it on a chair before he ran towards one of the cottages. When he came back, he heard a splash of water and saw Hong Yue beautifully swimming on the clear water. He stopped in his feet and stared at him floating carefreely. His wet clothes are sticking on his fair skin. He could see those two pinkish points on his chest –

He was startled when his phone suddenly rang. He dropped the towels on the sand and immediately answered the call without looking at the caller. "Son, wipe your nose. It's bleeding." It was Zhou Tianshan.

Lan Xing's eyes widened and he immediately felt his nose, only for his face to darken since there's no blood. "Zhou. Tian. Shan!" he called.

"Hey. I'm your father. How disrespectful of you to call my name." Zhou Tianshan told him. "Did your little friend like the indoor beach?" he asked.

"Don't smear our friendship." Lan Xing frowned.

Zhou Tianshan rolled his eyes and signed with Ruan Cheng. Who would believe it's only a friend, with what's between the two of you now. He thought as he dissed his son in his heart. "You don't need to wait for the night to come. We can adjust the temperature and change the walls' settings." He told Lan Xing.

"Really?" Lan Xing said. He was worried of Hong Yue's night job if they'll play in the indoor beach until very late.

"Who are you talking to? I'm your father. Of course, I can do it." Zhou Tianshan said and made a signal to Ruan Cheng.

Suddenly, Hong Yue stopped swimming when he saw the dome closed and the surrounding became dark. However, it was only temporary since the walls and the ceiling changed into stars. "Wow..." he muttered in awe when he saw the milky way and andromeda galaxies, including the aurora borealis.

"Hey. Mister!" Lan Xing called in English with its accent. "What do you think you're doing there?" he asked. Their teacher told them to practice speaking in English.

Hong Yue was startled. He thought there really was a foreigner. However, he remembered it's only him and Lan Xing there. Thus, he realized it was Lan Xing. He laughed out loud. "I'm swimming, sir. Would you also like to swim? The water is warm, so your body won't get cold." He told Lan Xing and splashed him with water.

Having his clothes wet, Lan Xing complied. "Fine, mister." He said and immediately dived in the water without taking off his clothes like Hong Yue. There's no need to, since it's only them around. Instead, it might make things more awkward if they'd be skin-to-skin.