TAHDO Chapter 62

Liang Yan looked at him in silence.

He had to admit , Ji Qiu had improved this time. Unlike before, he could actually meet his eyes now.

Still, compared to the first confession, it wasn’t that much better.

Completely driven by emotion, blurting out whatever came to mind whether they were waiting for a table in a restaurant or sitting in a small apartment.

The sun was nearly setting, but the light still streamed in.

Winter sunlight was always strange it looked weightless, almost faint, yet when it fell on someone, it carried an unexpected warmth.

Just like this person before him.

He had always been like this during his confession, and even now.

Never minding the time or the place.

Just pouring everything out, wanting to give every piece of himself away.

Liang Yan leaned forward a little, closing the distance between them.

“Are you proposing to me?”

Ji Qiu froze, finally realizing what he had just said.

“No! No, I just—” He suddenly seemed to notice the setting they were in, afraid Liang Yan might find it too plain. “I just wanted to tell you that…”

That I’ve never had any other thoughts — that I only want to prove myself, that I’ll never leave you.

“Oh.” Liang Yan’s lips curved slightly, without his usual coolness. “So it’s not a proposal?”

“No, no, no, it is! I mean— yes, it is, but I just thought it might seem too hasty…”

By the time he finished, Ji Qiu felt utterly stupid.

Had he always been this dumb?

Before Liang Yan could say anything, he already sensed something was off and quickly shut up, sneaking a nervous glance at him.

“…Yan Yan?” he tried calling softly.

Liang Yan turned his gaze toward him.

“I must sound completely incoherent, huh…”

Ji Qiu wanted to die on the spot.

Can’t do anything right but always wins first place at saying the wrong thing.

Liang Yan looked at him, but still said nothing.

It’s over, Ji Qiu thought grimly.

This time, it wasn’t going to be something a single scolding could fix.

It’s really over.

Just as Ji Qiu was about to cover his face in despair, Liang Yan’s voice sounded again.

“So that’s how casually you’re proposing to me?”

It’s over, for real—

Ji Qiu felt his heart sink. Frustration even began to bubble up, how could he mess things up again?

A sense of helplessness washed over him.

No matter how much he studied, he could never seem to figure out how to be smarter when it came to Liang Yan.

His head drooped in defeat.

But then, Liang Yan paused and finished his earlier sentence.

“Where’s the ring?”

Every movement in Ji Qiu’s body stopped.

He stayed frozen, looking up at Liang Yan, his eyes slightly widened the only sign that time hadn’t truly stopped.

His Omega still carried the scent of winter sunlight, and a faint smile lingered on his face.

“Gone dumb again?” Liang Yan poked his Alpha’s forehead twice with a finger. “I asked you a question where’s the ring?”

The moment stretched out, quiet and long.

It took Ji Qiu a second to process what Liang Yan meant. Afraid he might have misheard, he looked at the smile on Liang Yan’s lips and only then dared to believe it was real.

Words failed him; his body moved first.

“I’ll get it, I’ll get it!” Ji Qiu finally reacted, instantly clinging to him like sticky toffee. He threw his arms around Liang Yan, pressing him deep into the sofa. “I’ll get it! Yan Yan, wait for me, it won’t take long!”

Liang Yan was nearly crushed, his head resting against Ji Qiu’s shoulder. He could even smell the faint trace of pheromones that had escaped from Ji Qiu’s glands in his excitement.

Of course, he knew what Ji Qiu meant. He also knew this whole emotional storm had only happened within the past day, there was no way Ji Qiu had prepared anything.

And truthfully, the ring didn’t matter. He had only wanted to see how Ji Qiu would react.

Liang Yan couldn’t help thinking maybe he was being a little mean.

But the result was just as he expected.

He never needed Ji Qiu to be clever — that was for everyone else to see.

Silently, he smiled and patted Ji Qiu’s back. “Are you trying to crush me?”

“…No.”

Ji Qiu immediately loosened his grip, helping Liang Yan sit up a little, though he still refused to let go completely.

Liang Yan let him hold on, leaning quietly in his arms, his thoughts drifting lazily.

He felt a little sleepy, letting his mind wander aimlessly.

He remembered how panicked he’d been at the time, too many uncertainties laid out before him. The KB issue still hadn’t been resolved, Yin Tongguang might be startled again, his father would surely be angry if he found out, and everyone at school still thought the two of them were just two Omegas dating each other…

Forget it. Whatever.

That fool wasn’t going anywhere anyway.

With that thought, Liang Yan actually fell asleep just like that.

Ever since learning about his own condition, once the initial panic faded, he had gradually accepted his tendency to feel drowsy. So he simply let himself nap on the sofa.

The faint scent of the other’s pheromones surrounded him, better than any sleeping aid.

Liang Yan often felt sleepy, but never for long.

When he woke again, the sky outside had only just darkened.

What surprised him was that Ji Qiu was still holding him, barely having moved an inch.

The room was dark, and seeing Ji Qiu’s silhouette in the dim light gave him an inexplicable sense of peace.

Except… he realized Ji Qiu hadn’t eaten since coming back.

“Ji Qiu,” Liang Yan called softly.

The other nodded in response.

“Time to get up,” Liang Yan said.

But the person clinging to him didn’t seem eager to move.

He sighed and patted him again. “You haven’t eaten yet.”

Ji Qiu’s shoulders shifted slightly, but there was no reply.

Curious, Liang Yan nudged him with a bit more force. “What, talking’s enough to fill your stomach now?”

No reaction.

Liang Yan thought he was just being clingy again like before, but after all this time, he should’ve gotten up already.

So he gave Ji Qiu a firm pinch. “Still not getting up?”

Normally, when he used real strength, Ji Qiu would squeal dramatically and complain that it hurt, then reluctantly obey.

But not this time.

Ji Qiu just flinched slightly at the pain and stayed put.

Liang Yan began to feel that something was off.

He reached out and pushed Ji Qiu. The man tilted backward onto the sofa cushions, and Liang Yan started to stand up to turn on the light—

—but was pulled back.

“Yan Yan,” Ji Qiu said softly, “wait a little before you turn it on.”

Liang Yan thought of something, reached out, and brushed his thumb across Ji Qiu’s face. His skin felt dry.

But something still didn’t seem right.

“…You weren’t crying, were you?” Liang Yan asked, doubtful.

“I wasn’t!!” Ji Qiu blurted, like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on.

“Mm, alright, alright, you weren’t,” Liang Yan replied easily this time, not teasing him further.

After all, it wasn’t as if he hadn’t heard the rasp in Ji Qiu’s voice.

Liang Yan didn’t turn on the lights. He waited as Ji Qiu sat quietly on the sofa, then went to warm up the food. Only after that did Ji Qiu slowly change into his ridiculous green dinosaur onesie, tail swaying behind him as he shuffled over.

The little dinosaur called to him timidly.

“Mm?” Liang Yan responded. “You want me to turn the light on now?”

“…Yeah.”

Warm yellow light filled the room, and suddenly even the simple little apartment felt cozier almost like a home.

“Yan Yan,” the little dinosaur tugged at his sleeve, “I… I really didn’t cry.”

Liang Yan nodded. “Mm.”

Ji Qiu’s hair was messy, the light catching on his lashes and casting a faint, soft shadow.

There was still a subtle dampness in his eyes as he spoke.

“I… I was just happy.”

“I know.”

Energy returned to Ji Qiu’s face, and he grinned eagerly. “Then, before I eat, can I kiss you once?”

Liang Yan gave him a side glance. “And what if I say no?”

This time, the little dinosaur understood the meaning behind his words and leaned in, eyes half-closed, to kiss him.

I really didn’t cry. I was just happy.

Happy that, in this brief lifetime, I met you. Happy that even though I’m clumsy and foolish, you still smile and accept me.

Ji Qiu gently traced Liang Yan’s lips with his thumb.

You are the rose dyed with all the blood in my heart.

And I’m willing to be your nightingale.

[mfn] If you enjoy my translations, you can show your support by leaving a comment or donating to my Ko-fi. It will be much appreciated. Thank you! [/mfn]