Wang Yibo spent his childhood in City A.
Old Wang rarely visited them, fearing his presence might bring danger to their mother and son. Young Wang Yibo tried to hide his disappointment and puffed up his chest in front of his gentle mother who was mending his clothes.
"If Old Wang doesn't come, then he doesn't! I'll just pretend I don't have a dad!"
His mother chuckled and patted his head. "What are you saying! Don't talk nonsense. And stop calling him 'Old Wang.'"
Old Wang himself didn't mind. Rather than a father-son relationship, their dynamic was more like that of two brothers with a big age gap. In contrast to his underworld identity, Old Wang loved cooking. Every time he visited, he would chop up chicken, duck, and fish with great joy.
Young Wang Yibo would mutter from the kitchen doorway. "I watched Young and Dangerous today. The gang members died so tragically."
Old Wang didn't even turn his head. "I'm not a lackey, I'm the boss."
The kid continued muttering. "The boss dies even more tragically."
Old Wang threw him a side-eye. "Trying to talk me into going straight again, huh? Sorry, your old man's business is doing great. I have no plans to quit just yet. But thanks for the concern."
The child grumbled with resentment. "I'm not worried about you. I'm worried Mom will be sad if something happens to you."
Old Wang laughed. "I'll be careful for her sake. Wang Yibo, you little brat—just going to stand there while someone else is cooking? Get in here and help!"
When Wang Yibo turned ten, Old Wang took him go-karting. Both of them loved speed and adrenaline. After several laps, Wang Yibo finally beat Old Wang in one, and his excitement cracked the serious face he usually wore—betraying the secret that he didn't really dislike Old Wang after all.
Old Wang, moved by the boy's joy, beckoned him over. Wang Yibo skipped happily to him.
Old Wang looked a bit shifty. "There's something even cooler than go-karts."
Young Wang Yibo's eyes widened. "Wow, what's cooler?"
Old Wang grinned mischievously. "Don't tell your mom I told you this—just say you saw it on TV. When you're older, I'll get you a motorcycle!"
So, on his sixteenth birthday, Wang Yibo had his first taste of motorcycles.
Just one ride, and he was hooked. He loved riding alone down empty roads, the thrill of speed like nothing else. Only one other feeling came close—his mother hugging him after a good exam result, pride and joy lighting up her tired face.
Wang Yibo wasn't like Old Wang. He wanted to study hard, get into a top university, choose a lucrative major, and find a job that paid well—so his mom wouldn't have to work so hard. Her health had been deteriorating in recent years. Aside from cooking, which Wang Yibo had no talent for, he took care of everything else around the house.
Old Wang's visits remained rare. Their father-son disagreements remained frequent.
Still, Wang Yibo would help Old Wang in the kitchen.
His college entrance exam results were excellent—so good he earned a full scholarship to University B. It was his first time leaving City A, stepping into the bustling, unfamiliar world of City B.
In university, Wang Yibo discovered even more of his talents: dancing, racing, excelling academically, and an extraordinarily handsome face that quickly earned him the title of "department heartthrob" in the finance faculty.
But none of that mattered to him. He managed his time precisely, focusing only on his studies and his few passions.
Everything else, he barely paid any attention to.
In early summer 2011, during his second year, Wang Yibo went out for hot pot with friends from the dance club. One of them brought along some other guys, including someone from the math department—Mo Ran.
Mo Ran had a sore throat and a fever that day, but none of the guys noticed—especially since most of their attention was on the girls. Several girls had shown up just because they heard Mo Ran would be there, much to the guys' delight.
Halfway through the meal, the only one who noticed was Wang Yibo, who quietly poured Mo Ran a glass of watermelon juice.
"If you're not feeling well, try to eat less spicy stuff."
Through the rising steam of the hot pot, Mo Ran's heart thudded wildly all night thanks to the handsome junior, Wang Yibo. When their eyes met—clear and calm—Mo Ran's heart skipped a beat.
He swore he heard Cupid flap his wings.
...
Xiao Zhan was from City B.
His father and Jiang Cheng's father were old schoolmates and good friends. Even though Jiang's father had become rich through business while Xiao Zhan's family was just ordinary, it didn't affect the closeness between the two families.
Jiang Cheng occupied most of Xiao Zhan's childhood, and even more beyond that. From as early as he could remember, Jiang Cheng followed him everywhere, repeating over and over, "I like Zhan Zhan. I want to be with Zhan Zhan when I grow up!"
Childish words. No one took them seriously.
The two fathers laughed while playing chess. Xiao Zhan's mother smiled as she wiped sweat from his brow. Jiang Cheng's mother busily made beauty salon appointments over the phone.
Until Jiang Cheng's 18th birthday, when he came out at his party—publicly—and said the same thing.
"I like Zhan Zhan. I want to be with Zhan Zhan."
Only now, no one saw it as a joke. Jiang Cheng made it very clear—he meant every word.
His parents were furious, their faces dark. Xiao Zhan was equally grim. He had already rejected Jiang Cheng countless times. Now that he had made such a scene, Xiao Zhan had no choice but to reject him again—in front of everyone.
"Jiang Cheng, I'll say it again. I'm straight. I'll never be anything else."
Jiang Cheng was beaten so badly by his father for his reckless stunt that he ended up in the hospital.
Xiao Zhan bought some fruit and went to visit. When he saw Jiang Cheng's bruised and battered face, he couldn't help but laugh, though he tried to hold it in. Jiang Cheng saw that beautiful smile and softened, finally relenting.
The next day, the first thing he said to Xiao Zhan was:
"Xiao Zhan, if you ever change—if you ever stop being straight—promise you'll come find me, okay?"
Xiao Zhan was convinced he'd always be straight. That kind of hypothetical didn't even warrant thought.
"No problem. If I ever bend, you'll be the first in line."
Later, when he told Wen Qing about it, she laughed at how easily he agreed—never considering how unpredictable the future could be.
Wen Qing was a good friend Xiao Zhan met in university. They clicked instantly, even though she studied medicine and he studied finance. It never affected their growing bond. She came from a modest family and got into University B's biology department through sheer hard work, fighting to get into med school with everything she had.
Xiao Zhan often thought Wen Qing was the most rational girl he'd ever met. But even the most rational girls weren't immune to love.
"Life's not even over yet—why are you so sure about the future?" she teased. "Instead of laughing at me, why don't you go deal with that young master downstairs?"
Xiao Zhan nodded toward the window.
Downstairs, a flashy Porsche was parked. Fang Tianze was holding a hundred roses and shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Wen Qing, come down already! I can't hold them anymore! They're gonna fall!"
Wen Qing, suffering from this auditory assault, looked down with Xiao Zhan. The moment Fang Tianze saw her, he stopped yelling and flashed a dazzling smile.
Wen Qing rolled her eyes—but her cheeks clearly turned red. "Idiot."
She said that, but Xiao Zhan knew this was exactly the kind of thing she liked.
People who were too smart rarely liked others like themselves. Fang Tianze had a wild imagination, a weird way of thinking, and most importantly, he truly loved Wen Qing. That hit the mark.
The chasm of problems between them... was something for later.
...
The rain was heavy—raindrops like pearls hitting jade, crackling loudly.
All across University B's campus, students were seeking shelter. Soon, no one was left beneath the trees. Xiao Zhan hadn't brought an umbrella either. Just as he was about to run to a nearby building, he spotted a small, injured puppy curled up under the trees.
By nature, Xiao Zhan wasn't particularly kind—but once he saw something, he couldn't ignore it. He ran through the rain and gently picked up the puppy, who was cold, trembling, and clearly in pain.
In that time, he got completely soaked. Rain blurred his vision and stung his eyes.
The rain roared down.
Not far behind, someone holding a dark green umbrella hesitated, then slowly walked toward Xiao Zhan.
Xiao Zhan wanted to run for cover, but the dog was hurt—every touch seemed to cause pain. He didn't dare move too much.
As he crouched there, thinking of what to do, the rain suddenly stopped falling on him.
Not the rain itself—it was still pouring. But now, over his head, was the edge of a dark green umbrella.
Someone was holding it over him.
He blinked, water dripping from his lashes. Somewhat disoriented, he turned around.
And saw a beautiful boy standing there in the rain, under the dark green umbrella.
Xiao Zhan thought he looked familiar, but he was sure they'd never met. The boy was striking—elegant and distant. Xiao Zhan stared for two seconds before smiling and saying,
"Thank you."
The boy shook his head. "It's nothing."
His tone was calm, and he shifted the umbrella closer to cover Xiao Zhan more. "You need it more than I do."
Xiao Zhan shook his head and slowly stood up, careful not to jostle the puppy. He stepped under the umbrella.
He smiled brightly.
"No," Xiao Zhan said, hugging the dog. "The one who needs it most is him. Let's take him to the vet."
Wang Yibo liked Xiao Zhan's smile. It was warm—with the feeling of summer sunshine.
He silently tilted the umbrella even more toward Xiao Zhan, and his voice, usually cold, came out soft and gentle.
"Okay."
In the lush summer of 2011, under the trees on University B's campus, Xiao Zhan met Wang Yibo.