Extra: Dreaming of Youth Part 3

Qi Shi'an slid a glass of cola to him. “If you don’t like wine, try this.”

Shen took a sip of the cola. “Still bad.”

“How about juice?” Qi Shi'an handed him another glass.

“Awful.”

“What do you want, then?” Qi Shi'an flipped through the menu. “Coffee? Milk tea? Pure milk?”

The table buzzed with laughter and photos as friends chatted and posed for keepsakes. Qi Shi'an, still deliberating over drink options, leaned closer.

“Don’t forget about me,” Shen Duoyi whispered softly.

Qi Shi'an finally understood why nothing tasted right.

Under the table, he grasped Shen Duoyi’s hand and replied in an equally soft voice, “Then wait for me.”

Dreaming of Youth 10

On the day of his departure, Qi Shi'an paid a visit to Qiuye Alley. Arriving at the courtyard, he heard Shen Duoyi reciting English inside, so he sat on the doorstep with his suitcase, waiting.

Shen Duoyi, timing his schedule meticulously, was preparing to head to work at the hotel after finishing his study session. Emerging from the house, he saw Qi Shi'an sitting on the step with his back turned. Quietly, he tiptoed up behind him and covered his eyes with both hands.

“Seriously?” Qi Shi'an chuckled. “That’s so outdated.”

Shen Duoyi pulled his hands away. “Is this not in style anymore?”

“It wasn’t even in style back in my parents’ day.” Qi Shi'an stood, checking his watch. “Let’s walk together. I’ll drop you at State Guest before heading to the airport.”

They walked side by side toward the alley’s entrance, separated only by Qi Shi'an’s suitcase. The noontime streets were deserted, as families were gathered indoors for lunch. Beneath the shade of a large tree near the alley's exit, Qi Shi'an broke the silence.

“It’ll be years before I come back.”

“You won’t come back for holidays?” Shen Duoyi asked.

“Probably not,” Qi Shi'an replied, looking at the ground with exaggerated seriousness. “Flying back and forth is a hassle. Better to spend the break on research projects with classmates. Don’t you think?”

Shen Duoyi nodded, inwardly thinking, 'that’s nonsense'.

A military aide waited in a car at the street corner. They climbed into the backseat, Shen Duoyi leaning against the car door, hoping the driver would go slow. But no matter how slow the ride, the destination inevitably came.

The car stopped outside the State Guest Hotel.

Qi Shi'an turned to the aide. “Xiao Zhao, could you grab me a bottle of water from the store across the street?”

With the car now empty save for them, Shen Duoyi knew it was time to part but hesitated, fingers fidgeting with the door handle. Turning to Qi Shi'an, he asked, “Is there anything else you want to say to me?”

“Nope.” Qi Shi'an’s reply was crisp and to the point.

Shen Duoyi’s disappointment was unmistakable. “Then... I wish you a safe—”

Before he could finish, Qi Shi'an leaned in, enveloping him in a half-embrace. Their breaths intertwined, and Qi Shi'an’s lips met his. Shen Duoyi froze, overwhelmed by the warmth of the moment, even as sweat beaded on their foreheads in the summer heat.

The aide returned with the water. Panicked, Shen Duoyi clung tightly to Qi Shi'an’s shoulders instead of pushing him away, their embrace only tightening.

Qi Shi'an chuckled and shouted toward the window, “Not room temperature—get a cold one!”

The aide jogged off again.

“Did you just... use your tongue?” Qi Shi'an teased, forehead pressed against Shen Duoyi’s, his expression infuriatingly smug.

Face burning, Shen Duoyi retorted, “You started it! I just... licked you back.”

Qi Shi'an sighed dramatically. Why had he waited until now to make a move? As the aide returned, Shen Duoyi stole a glance outside, knowing it was truly time to say goodbye.

“Duoyi, life abroad will be tough. Think of me a little more often, okay?” Qi Shi'an’s voice was low, tinged with reluctance and a touch of playfulness.

Shen Duoyi replied, “Sure. If it’s too hard for you, you can think of me every other day instead.”

Their embrace ended. The door opened and closed. As the car pulled away, Shen Duoyi stood in the rearview mirror until he was out of sight.

Because of their prolonged goodbye, Shen Duoyi was late for work and had to stay late sorting through suggestion box notes. By the time he left, it was nearly dark.

Walking alone through the alley, he wondered how far Qi Shi'an had flown by now.

Back home, he sat on the doorstep to unwind, the cool breeze a balm to his tired body. Yet his mind was consumed by the memory of their embrace, of the sweat mingling between them.

“Duoyi, make sure to lock the door when you come in,” Lin Yuzhu called from inside.

“Got it,” he replied.

Looking up at the door, he noticed faint writing illuminated under the dim light. Was it something Qi Shi'an had scribbled earlier while waiting for him?

This time, the uncertainty was gone, replaced by clarity.

“Duoduo, I really like you.”

Dreaming of Youth 11

Shen Duoyi’s nose tingled as he fought back tears. This time, he didn’t wipe it away.

Dreaming of Youth 12

“Senior, are you free tonight?”

“Heading to the library? Sure.”

Meng Liang had a habit of trailing Shen Duoyi, pestering him for help despite Shen Duoyi’s packed schedule. Even now, as Shen Duoyi was interning, Meng Liang would visit his dorm daily.

“Senior, is work exhausting?”

“Not really. Mr. Meng is easygoing, so it doesn’t feel like work.” Shen Duoyi tucked his ID badge into his pocket and grabbed a textbook from his shelf. “Let’s go. You study, I’ll prep for exams, and we’ll keep each other on track.”

Between interning and preparing for his actuary exams, Shen Duoyi spent every evening studying at the library until it closed, returning to his dorm only to shower and sleep.

The fatigue was worth it, though—lying in bed at the end of the day was pure bliss.

And in those quiet moments, he’d wonder: Is Qi Shi'an almost back?

Years passed like this. Qi Shi'an pursued his dreams abroad while Shen Duoyi navigated high school, university, and their scattered exchanges. Beneath the surface of their brief messages lay a deep longing, with every day counting down to their reunion.

One night, on the brink of sleep, Shen Duoyi sent a message: “You said you’d teach me to shoot after my exams. Was that just talk?”

Qi Shi'an stared at the message for a moment before turning off his phone.

Shortly after, the plane tilted upward, carrying him home.

Dreaming of Youth 13

When he left, it was summer. After several springs and autumns, he returned in the heart of winter.

As the plane landed, Qi Shi'an closed the book in his hands. The arrivals area was bustling, with many awaiting passengers. His driver stood prominently in the first row. After loading his luggage into the car, Qi Shi'an glanced at the time and said, “You go ahead. I have something to take care of.”

He hailed a cab and headed into the city, arriving at an old street lined with quaint shops. The area wasn’t wide, but it was bustling with small bookstores—seven or eight of them—alongside numerous restaurants. Behind the storefronts stood faculty housing, where even passersby exuded an air of intellectualism.