Chapter 427: a tad bit longer

SHEN JI YUN stared at the red-string bracelet tied to his wrist and uncontrollable smile appeared on his lips. He and his uncle were in the first-class cabin of the plane flying back to B City. But his mind was still back at Chengdu. Specifically, the moment when he received this red-string bracelet.

His memory couldn't help but go back to that moment.

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Shen Ji Yun looked down at the red-string bracelet inside the box. It was exactly the same bracelet as the one he bought at the shop near Wenshu Monastery. The only difference was that the character carved on the green jade was 'Yun' instead of 'Yan'. 

"Really, what a coincidence."

He raised his head when he heard Luo Yan said that and what he saw was the other smiling at him gently. His heart skipped a beat and he felt like he was just struck by lightning. His breathing shortened and his heart started beating fiercely. It's pounding so hard that it felt like it would jump out of his chest.

The two of them bought the same thing to give to each other. There was no talk beforehand, not even a single precedence. They didn't even go to the shop together. And yet they still ended up buying the same thing. 

This was really just a coincidence. It's just that, this 'coincidence' was so great that he might as well call it 'fated'. Like the machinations of destiny. As if a greater power above was pulling them together.

Maybe they truly were destined.

Luo Yan seemed to be amused by his thunderstruck reaction. "Why is Brother Ji Yun not saying anything? Don't you like my gift?"

"No!" Shen Ji Yun quickly refuted. "I like it very much. Thank you, Yan Yan."

Luo Yan looked down at red-string bracelet in front of him, his gaze softened. "I also like Brother Ji Yun's present. Thank you." Then he raised his head and looked at him. "What was that saying? Ah, 'great minds think alike'. We really embodied that at this moment. Don't you think?"

Shen Ji Yun could only nod. "Yes."

Rather than that, he still thought that the two of them were 'destined'. Of course, he wouldn't say that directly. He wouldn't want him to think that he was being too cheesy. 

"Could you tie it for me?" Luo Yan asked, stretching out his hand towards him. 

Shen Ji Yun looked at the jade-like hand in front of him. It was a rare opportunity to touch his rabbit. How could he just pass it off? "Okay."

He had to fold up the sleeve of the other's panda jacket to reveal his wrist. After that, he picked up the bracelet he gave Luo Yan and then held his hand. Luo Yan's hand was so soft, it almost felt like he was holding a marshmallow. A strong urge to pinch it almost overcame him. It's a good thing that he had good self-control. Or else he would really look like a pervert. Rubbing the other's hand over and over again.

He took a deep breath to calm his nerves before tying the red-string bracelet on Luo Yan's wrist. The visual impact of the red-string against Luo Yan's white wrist was so strong, he almost couldn't turn his gaze away.

Luo Yan took back his hand. He smiled at him while showing off his bracelet. "Is it pretty?" 

Shen Ji Yun looked at the bracelet before looking at Luo Yan's face. "Yes."

[You're the prettiest.] – He almost blurted out. Good thing he managed to stop himself before he did.

He turned his gaze to the bracelet that Luo Yan gave him. He also wanted to ask his rabbit to tie it for him. But he suddenly felt shy and embarrassed. It's like the words just became stuck in his throat. No matter how much he wanted to say it, it just wouldn't come out. 

It's a good thing that he was often expressionless. Or else, his awkwardness would have already shown on his face.

"Do you want me to also tie the bracelet for you, Brother Ji Yun?" he heard Luo Yan asking as if he had read what's on his mind.

He sharply raised his head. Luo Yan was still smiling sweetly at him. If he wasn't confident with his expressionless face all year round, he might have thought that Luo Yan noticed the entanglement on his face. 

"Yes," he quickly said before Luo Yan could change his mind.

He folded the sleeve of his coat himself and then stretched out his arm towards the other. Luo Yan held his hand and he once again felt the softness of his palm. He picked up the red-string bracelet and then tied it carefully on his wrist.

"There," Luo Yan said when he finished. "Now we matched."

'Matched'. That word greatly affected Shen Ji Yun. That's right. They now matched. It almost as if the red-string of fate was tying them together.

He looked at the red-string bracelet on Luo Yan's wrist and then looked at the on his. He suddenly remembered something he read on the internet. Could this be called a 'couple bracelet'? 

He felt his face heating up because of that thought. But more than that, his heart was suddenly filled with sweetness. He only had one thought in his mind – 'ah, it's truly wonderful to be in love'.

"Should we go back?" Luo Yan said. "I think that waiter was glaring at us because we're not ordering anything," he added in a joking tone.

Shen Ji Yun nodded. He carefully put the gift-wrapped box of the red-string bracelet into the paper bag and carried it. Of course, he had to preserve this. It was also part of Luo Yan's gift, after all.

They walked out of the restaurant and towards the elevator.

"Brother Ji Yun."

He turned towards Luo Yan and he suddenly felt a soft body pressing against him, enveloping him with warmth. 

"Take care going back to B City." 

Before he realized what was happening, the warm feeling was already gone. And he saw Luo Yan going inside the elevator, waving at him.

"See you at the game!"

When the elevator closed, his could feel his whole face heating up like some molten lava. His rabbit just hugged him!

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Thinking about that, Shen Ji Yun was a bit regretful that he didn't react fast enough. If he did, then he could have hugged Luo Yan back. Then, he could soak in that warm feeling for just a tad bit longer.