Two more days passed, and before Ning Wen even realized it, a full week had slipped by. For the first time in his life, he couldn't keep track of the days or numbers. Everything moved so smoothly, so quietly, so comfortably… almost too comfortably.
And as the new week arrived, a knot of anxiety formed in his chest.
The faster the days passed, the sooner the camp would end.
And the sooner it ended, the sooner he and Tang Zeyan would have to separate.
He never said it out loud, but the thought alone made his heart tighten.
The morning went by normally. Checking patients, writing notes, walking through the tents. Yet every now and then, Ning Wen would lift his eyes and catch Tang Zeyan's gaze from the corner of the tent. He always stayed nearby… either leaning against a pillar, talking softly to a patient, or simply existing in that quiet way of his.
And somehow, Tang Zeyan's presence alone settled Ning Wen more than any deep breath ever could.
"I'm so damn excited for the festival and the lanterns!" Zhang Kai announced loudly, munching on a packet of chips now that he was finally done checking his patients.
"Me too," Liang Yue replied, though his eyes were locked on the chips instead of the idea of lanterns. He kept inching closer, planning theft, but Zhang Kai immediately pulled the bag out of reach and mocked him.
Liang Yue cursed under his breath and sulked like someone had robbed him of his life savings.
"When are we leaving?" Ning Wen asked calmly, folding a few papers into his clipboard.
"An hour later. Let's rest a bit," Hu Fang replied with a tired stretch that cracked half his spine.
Liang Yue finally stopped glaring at Zhang Kai long enough to glance at Tang Ruihan, who was rummaging through his bag. A second later, Tang Ruihan held out the exact same brand of chips Liang Yue had been trying to steal from Zhang Kai.
Liang Yue gasped dramatically. "Lil Han, you're amazing."
He threw him a flying kiss before immediately diving into the chips, then shot Zhang Kai a victorious smirk. Zhang Kai rolled his eyes like he was witnessing a crime against humanity.
"You know," Wu Ming piped up, "they say if you make a wish while lighting your lantern, it'll definitely come true."
"And an even wiser person said that if you confess to the one you love under the lanterns, they're guaranteed to say yes," Zhang Kai added in an annoyingly sneaky tone, his eyes flicking between Tang Zeyan and Ning Wen.
"And who exactly said that?" Qiu Lei asked flatly.
"Me! I'm the wise person!" Zhang Kai declared proudly. "So, darling, confess to me tonight, okay?"
"In your dreams," Qiu Lei deadpanned, not even bothering to look at him.
Tang Zeyan, hearing all that nonsense about confessions under lanterns, felt his lips twitch upward. The idea slid into his mind way too smoothly for his own good. He shot a side glance at Ning Wen, who was pretending to be unbothered but clearly feeling his heartbeat doing cartwheels in his chest. Ning Wen could already picture something... but the fear of actually doing it made him freeze.
Meanwhile, Liang Yue had the IQ moment of the century.
"Wait, then I'll light a lantern tonight and pray for someone to confess to me too!"
The entire group stared at him like he just announced he'd try flying off the balcony.
Their eyes shifted straight to Tang Ruihan, who inhaled sharply through his nose like he needed the oxygen to survive whatever this man just said.
Wu Ming scoffed. "Seriously, Liang Yue, you might be the dumbest person I've ever met."
"Blind too," Hu Fang added without mercy.
"How did they even let you become a doctor?" Zhang Kai asked, looking personally offended.
"Shut up!" Liang Yue snapped. "Why? What did I do? What's wrong with wanting someone to confess to me?"
He looked genuinely confused, which only made everyone sigh and shake their heads in synchronized disappointment.
Tang Ruihan finally stepped in, voice soft and gentle. "Ignore them, brother Yue."
Liang Yue puffed his cheeks, pouted for exactly one point five seconds, then relaxed with a small nod, munching on his chips again like nothing happened.
And Tang Zeyan, the menace quietly falling in love, kept stealing glances at Ning Wen… already plotting under the warm lantern lights.
Their senior Zhang Hui clapped loudly to gather everyone. "Move it. Festival time. And stay together unless you wanna get kidnapped by fireworks."
Naturally, Liang Yue heard exactly none of that and blasted off like a firecracker, sprinting ahead with zero hesitation.
Tang Ruihan didn't even think. His legs just took off after him automatically, carrying both his own bag and Liang Yue's bag.
Wu Ming dragged a hand down his face. "He's got Ruihan acting like a full-time servant at this point."
"Facts," Hu Fang said.
"Honestly I'm starting to feel bad for Ruihan," Zhang Kai added, dead serious. "Liang Yue is so clueless he wouldn't notice unless someone screams it directly into his ear."
Wu Ming nodded with the passion of someone signing a petition. "Exactly that."
Qiu Lei sighed like he aged ten years in five seconds. "Whatever," he muttered and started walking.
"Darling, wait for me!" Zhang Kai yelped and sprinted after him.
Soon Wu Ming and Hu Fang followed, complaining the entire way but still trailing behind like responsible adults... or at least pretending to be.
Ning Wen kept watching the two figures ahead, Liang Yue practically skipping and Tang Ruihan carrying half his life like an obedient golden retriever. He finally sighed and looked at Tang Zeyan. "What's your brother even up to?"
Tang Zeyan lifted a shoulder, casual but not really. "Pretty sure he's got a little liking for brother Yue."
Little. Right. The man was one heartbeat away from worshipping the ground Liang Yue walked on.
Ning Wen frowned, the kind that meant his brain was stress-overthinking. "Are you sure he's in love with Liang Yue…" He paused, correcting himself like it mattered. "I… don't really know him well. I don't know how he was before this camp, but during it I've seen he's genuinely caring toward Liang Yue. And that's good. I just hope he knows what he's doing. Once Lil Yue gets attached, he won't be able to let go. And I don't know if Ruihan can handle that. I hope he isn't just playing around with Yue to pass time."
The seriousness in Ning Wen's voice was a whole different level. Anytime it involved Liang Yue, that quiet protective streak of his slipped out like instinct.
Tang Zeyan glanced at him, amused and weirdly touched. He loved this side of Ning Wen, the soft but fierce one. "Don't worry, brother Ning. I'll make sure of it." His voice stayed steady. "And I know my cousin. He's… complicated. His past wasn't the best. But after he met Liang Yue, he actually changed. So I really doubt it's something shallow."
Ning Wen's shoulders relaxed, just a little, and he nodded then added, "I'd also hope that… because I won't sit back if he hurts Liang Yue in any way."
Tang Zeyan had chuckled at that, the sound warm and stupidly fond. "Don't worry. He won't."
Ning Wen nodded again, small and thoughtful. And Tang Zeyan just stared at him, head tilted like he was studying a piece of art instead of a stressed, overprotective doctor. A soft laugh slipped out.
Ning Wen frowned. "What's so funny?"
Tang Zeyan tried, truly tried, to keep a straight face. Failed miserably. "Just… you're so damn adorable."
"There you go again." Ning Wen tried to sound annoyed, but that tiny smile ghosting on his lips sold him out. He adored those compliments, even the cringe ones, because with Tang Zeyan they never felt fake.
Then Tang Zeyan leaned in slightly, voice dropping into that mischievous tone he used whenever he wanted to get a reaction. "I meant it. I'm amazed at how protective and possessive you are of Brother Liang Yue. Makes me wonder if you'd be the same with me."
Ning Wen rolled his eyes. "Yes, I will."
Tang Zeyan froze.
Ning Wen stepped closer, eyes locking onto his like he was challenging him to doubt it. "Do you have doubts about that?"
Tang Zeyan's breath stuttered when Ning Wen lifted his brows in that new, unpredictable way and touched a single finger to his chest.
"I'm actually a very difficult person to be with." Ning Wen's voice dropped, smooth and unhurried. "If you want me to feel that way about you, you better be prepared. I'm not gentle when it comes to things like this. And I think you know exactly what I'm talking about."
His finger tapped once against Tang Zeyan's jacket, right over his heartbeat, then slid up to nudge at the slightly crooked collar. A tiny adjustment. A quiet claim. A faint smile. And then Ning Wen walked past him as if he hadn't just rearranged Tang Zeyan's entire internal wiring.
Tang Zeyan finally remembered how lungs work, sucking in a shaky breath and pressing a hand to his chest like that would calm the wild thudding underneath.
Ning Wen in that moment was a different creature altogether. His voice lower, his gaze sharp, a teasing dominance threading through every word. It nearly took Tang Zeyan out. Now, he wanted more. Way more.
And prepared?
Yeah, he was beyond prepared.
If Ning Wen wanted intensity, possessiveness, storms, whatever… Tang Zeyan would take all of it, gladly, just like the obedient puppy he proudly admit he'd already become.
Liang Yue trekked up the hill where the festival was held, the highest point reserved for lighting the lanterns. He kept going until his legs finally gave up on him. He glanced ahead at Tang Ruihan, who walked with that maddeningly elegant posture, barely winded.
"Ruihan, I'm tired!" he complained.
Tang Ruihan turned, and something softened in his expression. A quiet yes without a single word spoken.
"Wait… really? You'd do it?" Liang Yue blurted, his voice full of disbelief.
"If you want it, how could I refuse?" Tang Ruihan asked, steady and gentle.
Liang Yue stared at him, a faint ache blooming in his chest. He swallowed it down quickly, masking it with a dramatic laugh before he wasted even a second more. With zero hesitation and the entitlement of someone who'd rehearsed this in his dreams, he hopped onto Tang Ruihan's back.
Tang Ruihan caught his legs immediately, securing him with a firm grip.
"This feels great. I feel taller too," Liang Yue said through a burst of giggles, arms looping around Tang Ruihan's neck. His voice echoed close to Tang Ruihan's ear, each breath brushing against his skin.
Tang Ruihan kept walking like nothing had changed, calm, composed… even though every step betrayed the faint tremor in his breathing.
"Am I heavy?" Liang Yue asked, swinging his legs slightly, enjoying the view from his perch.
"No. I can handle it," Tang Ruihan replied calmly.
"What do you mean, handle it? Are you indirectly saying I'm heavy?" Liang Yue teased, eyes narrowing playfully.
Tang Ruihan shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. It wasn't Liang Yue's weight at all—he honestly wondered where all the snacks and endless food had gone, because Liang Yue was surprisingly light. It wasn't the weight that challenged him but the closeness—the warmth of Liang Yue's chest against his back, the soft lilt of his voice near his ear, the subtle mix of sweet scent and shampoo lingering in the air.
Tang Ruihan's heart raced in a way that startled him, his breaths catching as he walked steadily, holding Liang Yue securely. The world seemed smaller, more intimate, every step somehow heightened by the closeness. He didn't want to think, just let himself enjoy the feeling of having Liang Yue this near. It was simple, yet it made him feel overwhelmingly happy—something he didn't know he could feel just by carrying someone on his back.
"See? Told you I could handle it," Tang Ruihan added, voice low, almost a whisper against Liang Yue's ear, and Liang Yue's giggle floated back to him, making his chest ache with a quiet, sweet kind of joy.
Liang Yue tried to act cool, laughing and teasing like nothing was happening, but he couldn't ignore the warmth radiating from Tang Ruihan's back—or the subtle, manly scent that mixed woody notes with something crisp and minty.
He frowned, half to himself, half in disbelief. How does he manage to smell this good at such a young age?
But he wasn't complaining.
Without overthinking, Liang Yue leaned a little closer, tightening his grip over the other's neck, letting himself enjoy the warmth and the scent.
Tang Ruihan didn't stop him; in fact, he seemed perfectly content to let Liang Yue settle there, his steady presence grounding and oddly comforting.
From a few steps behind, Wu Ming and Hu Fang: "..."
Wu Ming finally muttered, voice flat. "Okay… this is utterly ridiculous."
"So agreed!" Hu Fang replied, eyes wide, shaking his head in disbelief.
Ning Wen and Tang Zeyan trailed behind the others, slowly making their way up the hill. The path was familiar, almost next to the one they had visited a few days ago, but the climb still left a slight ache in their legs. Ning Wen didn't complain, his calm composure unshaken, yet Tang Zeyan couldn't help but ask, "Brother Ning… want a drink?"
Ning Wen merely nodded, giving a small smile.
Tang Zeyan disappeared briefly toward a small shop nearby, returning with a cool drink in hand. Ning Wen stood quietly, taking in the surroundings, when a small, hurried figure caught his eye. A child, clutching a tiny plant pot, dashed past him. Ning Wen gently reached out and held the boy by his shirt, stopping him.
"Oh… Doctor Ning!" the boy exclaimed, face lighting up.
"Yes, it's me," Ning Wen said, feigning sternness. "But didn't I tell you not to run?"
The boy, Xiao Yu, giggled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry… I was too excited."
Ning Wen arched a brow. "And what could make you so excited, hmm?"
Xiao Yu didn't answer with words. Instead, he grabbed Ning Wen's wrist and tugged him forward. "Come with me!"
A little surprised, Ning Wen followed, still keeping his composure, but quickly sent a brief text to Tang Zeyan letting him know where he was, just in case the younger man started to worry.
Ning Wen's eyes scanned the hilltop, taking in the scene. The empty, abandoned spot from before had transformed into something lively and full of purpose. Children of all ages, clustered around Xiao Yu, were carefully planting small trees and flowers, each with tiny pots, watering cans, and eager little hands. Rows of green leaves and bursts of color from blooming flowers created a delicate pattern across the hilltop, orderly yet charmingly innocent.
"What's going on?" Ning Wen asked, tilting his head slightly.
Xiao Yu beamed, holding up his little rose plant. "Big brother said this hilltop is special! If we plant little trees here and take care of them, our wishes will come true and we'll grow up healthy and strong too! Everyone started two days ago, but I just learned and bought my plant quickly! Isn't mine the prettiest?" He waved it proudly.
Ning Wen crouched slightly to get a better look, his lips curling into a soft smile. "It really is… very beautiful."
He watched the children, marveling at their careful organization—trees on one side, flowers on the other, each plant given enough space to grow, watered and nurtured with pride. Ning Wen couldn't help but feel a strange warmth in his chest at the sight: small hands working together, eyes sparkling with focus and excitement, and a hilltop transformed into a vibrant tapestry of hope.
Ning Wen chuckled, ruffling Xiao Yu's hair. "So… what wish did you make?"
Xiao Yu's eyes sparkled. "To get all the candies on the earth!"
Ning Wen laughed softly. "Then you better take care of your little tree every day, okay?"
"Of course! Big brother said if I skipped even a day, my plant would get sad, I'd trip more, and my wish wouldn't come true either," Xiao Yu said with mock-seriousness.
Ning Wen raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "May I ask… who is this Big Brother?" He genuinely wanted to know who came up with such a clever idea—turning an abandoned hilltop into a mini garden, keeping the kids engaged and responsible while giving them a meaningful purpose.
Xiao Yu giggled and scoffed. "It's that big brother who was with you that day! The one who said he was my dad… even though he's definitely not."
Ning Wen blinked, trying to process the words. Xiao Yu pointed beside him. "There he is."
Ning Wen turned to see Tang Zeyan walking up calmly, handing him the cold drink. His lips quirked into a teasing smile. "What's going on? What did I miss? Hey, little brat… were you bad-mouthing me?"
Xiao Yu stuck out his tongue at him playfully before dashing off to help the other kids tend their plants, leaving Ning Wen and Tang Zeyan standing there with soft smiles, the hilltop alive with laughter, color, and warmth.
Ning Wen blinked, his grip on the cold drink tightening just slightly as he studied Tang Zeyan's calm expression. "You… did it?"
Tang Zeyan nodded, eyes steady and voice casual, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. "Yes."
"Why?" Ning Wen asked, heart thumping in his chest, curiosity and something deeper twisting inside him.
Tang Zeyan's gaze locked onto his, unwavering. "Didn't you want it?"
Ning Wen froze, caught off guard by both the words and the intensity of those hazel eyes.
"You wanted it. So I made it happen. No big deal," Tang Zeyan added, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
Ning Wen struggled to keep his composure, forcing his voice even. "Why… why would you… just do it for that?"
"If it makes you smile, I'll make it happen," Tang Zeyan said, voice low, warm, and serious, his eyes glistening as if holding every ounce of his sincerity. "And this… this really isn't anything. These kids are innocent—they agreed with just a few words. Trust me, they'll take care of the plants and keep their promise." He tilted his head slightly, a gentle, almost innocent smile softening his features.
Of course, Tang Zeyan had quietly arranged for upper-class plant department professionals to come by, inspecting the soil and making sure everything was set just right. They would also check in on the plants regularly, guiding the kids whenever they slipped up or forgot to care for them properly. After all, these were little children—leaving the plants entirely in their hands wouldn't have been wise.
Ning Wen, unaware of all that behind-the-scenes effort, simply smiled. He tried to act cool, to maintain that composed facade, but he couldn't. He couldn't remember the last time someone had taken his words seriously and actually fulfilled a wish he had casually expressed.
Seeing Ning Wen smile, Tang Zeyan felt a swell of fulfillment. "Now, let's go to the festival. I want to light a lantern too," he said, extending his hand toward Ning Wen.
Ning Wen nodded and placed his hand in Tang Zeyan's palm. Tang Zeyan's heart skipped a beat as he intertwined their fingers, hesitating just a little at first. But seeing Ning Wen's approving look, his heart soared—he felt as if Ning Wen had entrusted him not just with his hand, but with a piece of his heart. He couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face.