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The city’s light tumbled through his half-closed eyelids. He could only watch in amazement wherever they went. The neons, the skyscrapers, despite the night being advanced, everything was so alight and alive. So different from where he came from.
"Jin Ling! We need… we need to go see that movie! It looks good!"
ZiZhen pointed to the giant billboard at the entrance of the nearest subway station. His words were slurred by a whole evening of them jumping from bar to bar, enjoying what he dubbed their “first official date in the big city”. Jin Ling had rolled his eyes, arguing that they’ve already had plenty of dates together, but he had to admit - albeit reluctantly - that his boyfriend’s looked too cute in his excitement to deny. After all, ZiZhen had only seen the city by day so far, so Jin Ling agreed to show him around the district that never sleeps.
"ZiZhen, love. That’s a perfume ad."
He looked confused for a few seconds before laughing at himself, and Jin Ling couldn’t help but smile and laugh too.
By around midnight, they’ve been to four of Jin Ling’s top 10 favourite bars and restaurants, and, seeing ZiZhen’s state already, he realized he might have been a little too ambitious with his plans. Despite his height and muscle mass, his farm boy was a real light weight when it came to drinking.
"Come on, he said, putting an arm around his waist, I think it’s time to go home."
ZiZhen agreed, but not before pulling his boyfriend into a kiss that left Jin Ling breathless. When they parted, he put a hand on his chest, voice hoarse.
"Okay, let me just call an Uber."
While they waited outside, underneath the awning surrounding one of the many theaters in that area, ZiZhen pulled his boyfriend into a warm embrace, his chin resting on Jin Ling’s head. The latter hugged back and smiled when ZiZhen rubbed his cheek against his hair. Despite the people coming and going on the street, the world was somehow quiet around them. When he saw a couple being photographed by a third party on the sidewalk, a couple of meters from them, ZiZhen remembered the conversation with Jiang Cheng’s a few weeks prior. The shovel talk had gone much better than he expected, but some of what he said that day still puzzled him. “Do you know who he is, to the public?”, he had asked, and ZiZhen had to admit that, besides being the now young CEO of Jin Corp, he still had no idea who his boyfriend was to the rest of the world, especially not to the media. But he knew one thing for sure.
"If I ever do something that makes you feel ashamed in public, you can break up with me!"
Jin Ling pulled away and lifted his head up, absolute confusion written on his face.
"What?"
"If you feel ashamed of me, ZiZhen repeated serenely, you can break up with me."
"Yes, that I heard, but where is this coming from? Why do you think I would break up with you? Why would I feel ashamed of you?"
Jin Ling was now scowling, his tone irritated… and perhaps afraid? ZiZhen caressed his cheek and kissed the line that formed in between his eyebrows.
"Your uncle… When he gave me the shovel talk, he told me about your public status and -"
"What did he tell you?!"
Jin Ling’s whole body stiffen and he would have pushed away if ZiZhen didn’t hold him there. His boyfriend kept that same calm expression and smiled at him.
"He just asked if I knew about what the public thinks of you, and I just thought… If your public image is that important, I know I’m just a farm boy, and I don’t know that much about the city, so… if I ever do something that would taint your image in any way, you can leave. I love you, and I just want you to be happy, and - "
He got cut off by Jin Ling’s lips on his, pushing him against the pillar of the awning.
"Idiot, he said tenderly when he pulled away, that’s not what Jiujiu meant."
Their Uber driver honked at them once, startling them. Before they climbed in, Jin Ling kissed him again.
"I’ll tell you another time. When I’m ready. And both of us are sober."
***
The car smelled like ice cream. That’s all ZiZhen could think about as they drove in silence through the city, Jin Ling’s hand in his. When they passed in front of the third board advertising yet another brand of ice cream, he turned to his boyfriend, startling him.
"I want gelato."
Jin Ling raised an eyebrow at him.
"We can have some tomorrow."
"It’s already tomorrow, ZiZhen insisted. I want gelato."
"The shops are probably all closed by now," Jin Ling scoffed, yet unable to completely hide his smile at his boyfriend’s eagerness.
"I know this place near 3rd avenue, it’s open 24/7, I can take you there if you want," offered the Uber driver.
"Yes please!"
"Wait!"
Jin Ling turned to his boyfriend.
"If we wait until tomo - later today, I can bring you to the best gelato parlour in town."
ZiZhen shook his head, imperturbable.
"I want gelato now."
Seeing his boyfriend’s unmoved expression, ZiZhen closed the distance between them and softly kissed his cheek.
"Please?"
With a huff, Jin Ling turned to the driver and agreed to his suggestion, much to ZiZhen’s delight.
The gelato parlour was empty save for two seemingly high customers eating their share at one of the tables, laughing at a joke they made five minutes prior. Behind the counter, the tired but welcoming smile of the employee has long turned into an annoyed pout. ZiZhen has been staring at the flavours for the past fifteen minutes now. Jin Ling was already on his second serving.
"Come on, ZiZhen, just pick a flavour!"
ZiZhen looked up, scandal written on his face.
"No! This is my first time having gelato, and I want it to be the best experience I can ever… experience."
"Maybe, but you’re clearly not this poor girl’s first customer. Pick a flavour, and have yourself another serving if you want more."
"It’s not that easy!"
Jin Ling slowly exhaled through his nostrils, exchanging a look with the clerk. He apologetically shrugged, mouthing “I’m sorry”, before taking another spoonful of gelato. Another five minutes passed. He ordered another one.
"Okay. I know what I’ll take," said ZiZhen.
"Fucking finally!"
They sat down on the now empty chairs, ZiZhen carefully tasting the four different flavours in his extra large container. Jin Ling finished his and threw it in the trash can.
"So, how does it taste, Master Chef?"
ZiZhen stared at his cup, spoon hanging between it and his mouth. He pouted.
"Disappointing."
"I told you we should’ve waited to go to the other place."
ZiZhen brought the spoon to his mouth and nodded.
"Can we still go tomorrow anyway?"
Jin Ling smirked.
"You mean today?"
ZiZhen lightly whacked his shoulder with his spoon and pulled his tongue at him, then quickly finished the rest of his gelato. After getting up, he pulled Jin Ling on his feet and held his hand, leaving a taste of coffee and caramel on his lips with a kiss.
"Let’s go home?"
Jin Ling nodded.
"Ya. We can walk from here, it’s not too far."
They left the parlour, fingers intertwined.
***
Home was farther than Jin Ling anticipated. They had been walking, hand in hand, for half an hour, and still, no sign of his apartment building. While they started walking at the same pace, now, Jin Ling had slowed a few steps behind, while ZiZhen kept ahead. But there was no way he would tell his farm boy how much his feet hurt. He didn’t spend these months on his uncle’s ranch to complain about aching limbs so soon. Jin Ling didn’t get to finish his mental pep talk when ZiZhen stopped walking.
"Are you alright?"
Jin Ling frowned.
"Of course I’m alright, what would make you think I’m not?"
ZiZhen looked at his boyfriend and smiled, understanding.
"You’ve been digging your nails in my hand for at least five minutes."
Jin Ling looked at their hands and loosened his grip, noticing the half-moon shape imprinted in ZiZhen’s skin. He kept his eyes on the ground, cheeks reddening.
"I’m sorry."
ZiZhen laughed, and pulled him closer. Jin Ling let out a scream of surprise when what he thought would be a hug became ZiZhen’s arms behind his back and knees, lifting him up from the ground.
"Hey! Put me down! You’re still drunk!"
"I’m not, and your feet hurt."
"So?"
ZiZhen laughed again.
"So, isn’t this more comfortable?"
Jin Ling would have argued, but his pride left in a huff and he answered by weaving his arms around his neck, head dropping on his shoulder. The surprisingly steady rocking of the walk and the heat of ZiZhen’s body slowly lulled him to sleep.
***
He was on his bed when he opened his eyes, ZiZhen curled behind him, Fairy at their feet. Jin Ling turned around, careful not to wake him up and softly kissed the tip of his nose.
"Fine, you deserve another round of gelato," he whispered.
ZiZhen responded with an incomprehensible mumble and pulled him closer. Jin Ling laughed quietly and fell back asleep in the crook of his shoulder.