SHEN YI MU felt like a basin of cold water was just poured on his head. And that coldness was slowly prating into his veins. But before it could travel into his heart, his brain activated.


    He carefully examined Jiang Yue’s words. The other said that it was not possible for him to fall for someone like him. So, it’s better to just forget about the whole confession.


    He carefully analyzed each word and what he understood was this; Jiang Yue didn’t reject him because he didn’t feel the same but because he thought that he didn’t suit him.


    Which only meant one thing. There’s still a chance for reversal!


    "Brother Mu, let’s just forget it, okay? We- I- I want to still be like before. Being the closest of friends is enough."


    "No."


    Jiang Yue raised his head abruptly when he said that. Although Shen Yi Mu couldn’t see his expression right now, he knew that Jiang Yue must be shocked by his refusal.


    "T-then, are we not even going to be f-friends anymore?" Jiang Yue asked, his voice was trembling, as if he could cry at any second.


    Shen Yi Mu steeled himself to not be soft so as not to immediately coax Jiang Yue. He had to make the other understand that he was serious with his confession. That he was not mistaken about his feelings.


    "Ah Yue, listen to me," he started. "When I said I love you, I meant it with everything in me. I love your smile, I love your sense of humor, I love the shy look on your face whenever you feel embarrassed, I love everything about you. So, you questioning me how I could possibly fall for you was like you looking down on yourself. And you’re not allowed to look down at the man I fell in love with."


    He saw Jiang Yue’s shoulder trembling, as if he was silently crying. He couldn’t really tell because of the thick sses that covered his eyes. But when he saw those pearl-like tears flowing down Jiang Yue’s cheeks, it confirmed his guess.


    Shen Yi Mu finally couldn’t remain stern and he just pulled Jiang Yue into his arms, patting his back gently. "Sshh... Ah Yue, don’t cry."


    "H-how could you say those things so easily? H-how could you be so g-good to me?"


    "It’s not easy for me to say those things. It took me months to even summon the courage to tell you my feelings." If Shen Yi Mu didn’t see Jiang Yue crying like that and telling him not to go abroad, he might not even have that courage. "And how could I not be good to you?"


    He didn’t even notice that he said thatst part as if being good to him was the most natural thing. Which was probably why Jiang Yue cried even harder.


    "Ah Yue, don’t cry. Howe you became such a big crying bag?" Shen Yi Mu said distressed while gently patting the other’s back.


    "Isn’t this Brother Mu’s fault?" Jiang Yue said wile sniffing and sobbing at the same time. "What are you doing, falling in love with another man?"


    "Well, I’m gay, so there’s that," Shen Yi Mu admitted honestly.


    Jiang Yue raised his head when he heard that. Because he was leaning on Shen Yi Mu’s shoulder for quite a while now, his sses became askew. That’s why Shen Yi Mu could see his shocked expression. The flow of his tears even stopped. Probably because of too much shock.


    "You—"


    "Yes. So, if you think there’s another guy out there who suited me more, then go ahead and reject me again."


    Jiang Yue suddenly pouted and hit Shen Yi Mu’s chest. "Brother Mu is a bad guy."


    Shen Yi Mu only thought that Jiang Yue was adorable but he still asked, "Why am I a bad guy?"


    "Because you’re ckmailing me into agreeing to your confession."


    "How am I ckmailing you?" he asked, feeling a bit funny.


    "You said that I should reject you if I think there’s another guy that suited you more," Jiang Yue said aggrieved. "How can I say that?"


    "Why can’t you say it?" Shen Yi Mu asked, removing Jiang Yue’s sses and squeezing his satiny cheek.


    Jiang Yue seemed to take a sharp breath because of Shen Yi Mu’s action. And then, he stutteringly said, "B-because I don’t like to see you being good and sweet to another guy." He stopped and then as if finally making a decision, he raised his hand and held Shen Yi Mu’s hand that was still on his cheek. "I- I want Brother Mu to be only sweet to me."


    Shen Yi My smiled brightly, his heart bursting with happiness. He felt like he would float any minute now because of too much happiness. He finally couldn’t help but hug Jiang Yue into his arms once again.


    "Could I take that answer as Ah Yue indirectly telling me that you also feel the same way?"


    He felt the person in his arms nodding. He almost flew up to the sky because of that.


    "If- if Brother Mu is okay with me, then- then let’s be together."


    "Okay? You’re perfect!"


    Because of excitement, Shen Yi Mu lowered his head and kissed the other’s soft cheek. Jiang Yue’s whole face quickly turned red, showing a lovely blush. Seeing that, Shen Yi Mu couldn’t help but kiss his other cheek.


    "Brother Mu, stop eating my tofu!" Jiang Yue said with a shy and annoyed tone.


    Shen Yi Mu grinned and kissed the tip of Jiang Yue’s nose. "You’re the sweetest tofu."


    And he happily hugged his treasure once again.


    =====


    "That day, the two of us became lovers," Shen Yi Mu said, a sweet nostalgic smile on his lips. "Our rtionshipsted for a decade. It was a decade full of love and happiness. But at the same time, it was also filled with struggles, challenges, and sadness. We tried our best so we could keep the promise we said to each other at the beginning. That, no matter what kind of problems we faced, we would not give up. We would face it together."


    But sometimes, things simply didn’t go as nned.


    And seven years ago, Jiang Yue simply left him.