The Stars In Your Eyes

"I'll call you when I finish. Don't forget your lunch, TangTang."

Bai Yutang nodded, and kissed his lover's cheek before he got out of the car. He smiled to see the flustered face of Jian Kang Lu and waved goodbye. He was reluctant to separate from his lover even just for a few hours, but he knew he needed to pack his stuff. Moved back to the place they called home.

He hasn't told Xu Chenjie that he will move out. He only texted him last night to invite him for dinner tonight. He was not surprised to see his soon to be ex-roommate sit on his chair, playing games on his PC on this Sunday noon. Xu Chenjie was even more addictive to games compared to Yu Dong. Or maybe because Yu Dong have a girlfriend now and Xu Chenjie was still single.

"You're back?" Xu Chenjie asked him without even turning his head.. His eyes glued on the screen, it seems he and his team are in the middle of war.

"Yes. I have something to tell you, but later when you finished your rank war."

Twenty minutes later Bai Yutang told him that he will move out from the dorm. Xu Chenjie's face clearly showed a mix of surprise and concern.

"Where will you live? Is it because of that?" Xu Chenjie can't help to feel guilty if Bai Yutang moved out because of the malicious comments on the forum. He was the one who told Bai Yutang about that. 

Bai Yutang chuckled, "No, it's not. I just want to move back with my boyfriend."

"Wow, so your relationship with your boyfriend escalated that way?" 

Bai Yutang smiled when he continued to pack his own stuff. "I used to live with him. I just feel more comfortable to live together again compared to staying in the dorm."

Xu Chenjie helped Bai Yutang pack his stuff, and they had their lunch together. When they were waiting for their fried chicken to be delivered, he could not help to ask again. "This is really not because of that, right?"

Bai Yutang really wants to laugh. He could explain, but somehow he doesn't want to tell Xu Chenjie that he once broke up with Jian Kang Lu. "No, it isn't. Really. Oh that reminds me, please don't say anything regarding this matter in front of my boyfriend. I didn't tell him, and I don't want him to know."

Xu Chenjie nodded. He thought maybe Bai Yutang was afraid his boyfriend would get mad if their relationship exposed. That's what his cousin liked to complain about his boyfriend. But in the afternoon he couldn't help but bawl his eyes out when he saw a very handsome man show up in front of their door and introduce himself.

"Hello, nice to meet you. Xu Chenjie, right? My name is Jian Kang Lu. I'm sorry for taking TangTang away from you."

And he even can't help to leave his mouth hanging wide like an idiot when he heard his soon to be ex-roommate's voice.

"This is my boyfriend, Chenjie. We'll call you later and wait for you downstairs, we can go together to Il Mare."

Xu Chenjie could see this handsome man's face was surprised like himself when he heard Bai Yutang's statement. He felt awkward if they started to fight here in front of him. But then this handsome man's face showed him a blinding smile and ruffling his soon to be ex-roommate's hair.

"Let me carry this, TangTang."

It seems his soon to be ex-roommate's boyfriend didn't mind when Bai Yutang introduced him as his partner. So why Bai Yutang didn't want his boyfriend to know about the forum matter? He truly thought Bai Yutang moved out because felt uncomfortable with those stares and whispers.

After helping Bai Yutang put all his luggage and his things inside the car, Xu Chenjie is told that Bai Yutang and Jian Kang Lu want to go to Liu Xiang and Tang Yuxuan's room first. Xu Chenjie took a bath and wore a striped green shirt with black pants. He was warned by Bai Yutang that the restaurant they will visit was not accepting any T-Shirt or slippers.

When he saw Jian Kang Lu this afternoon, he could see that this man is wealthy. Even in his wildest imagination he didn't expect Bai Yutang's boyfriend to look like this. This man is clearly one of the most charming and handsome men he ever saw in his life. Not to mention his class only consists of geeks population like him.

The picture posted in the forum can't capture this man's handsome face clearly. He wondered what makes a man like that choose Bai Yutang to be his companion.

Xu Chenjie can't help thinking about his cousin. His cousin's look clearly a hundred times better compared to Bai Yutang, but even he never got a man like Jian Kang Lu as a boyfriend.

Liu Yijun was 6 years older than him. They lived in the same area. Xu Chenjie's parents are not as wealthy as Liu Yijun. They both work from morning till night to support Xu Chenjie and his sister. So after school, both of them will go back to their uncle's house before being picked up at night by their parents. That's why the three of them were very close to each other.

Liu Yijun was the one who practically raised him as a big brother, and also took care of him. He was the one who took care of him and his sister when they're sick. He is also the one who helps him with their homework.

Liu Yijun is also the one who pampered him. He bought him comic books and snacks using his own allowance, since Xu Chenjie's parents didn't give him and his sister enough allowance to buy those kinds of things.

When Xu Chenjie was still in elementary school, sometimes Liu Yijun would take them to eat outside with his friend. At that time he thought that the man Liu Yijun brought was his best friend since they're so close to each other. Later on he knew that the man was Yijun's boyfriend at that time. It didn't end well. 

When Liu Yijun studied art in C academy, he moved to the dorm. At that time Xu Chenjie was already a junior high school's student, and his sister in high school. They don't need to go to their uncle's house after school anymore. They're big enough to take care of themselves.

Their relationship didn't grow apart. It's like a reversal, his cousin liked to stay over to their place on the weekend. Xu Chenjie was happy every time his cousin visited them, because it means he will have additional comic books or new games. And the food would be much better if Liu Yijun came.

When Xu Chenjie was in high school, he already knew his cousin's sexual preference. He will sit obediently to accompany his sister and his cousin chatter about those handsome actors and singers. Maybe because they were very close to his cousin, they didn't see it as something bad.

"Look, this is my new boyfriend. He's so handsome, right?" Then usually his sister will mock Yijun's taste in men. Xu Chenjie had to admit his cousin is handsome, but his taste in boyfriends sucks. Yijun's boyfriend was a handsome man with a bad attitude.

He and his sister can't help but feel bad every time Yijun cries because of his jerk boyfriend. Their relationship went on and off, leaving Yijun hanging dry. 

"It's the time you moved on, why do you even want to accept that scumbag again? I won't acknowledge you as my cousin if you dare to accept that scumbag again!" His sister often yelled at Yijun and drank her liquor until both of them wasted in Xu Chenjie's room.

They finally broke up for good when Yijun's boyfriend was caught red handed cheating on him. Truly a joke, since Yijun's boyfriend often used that as the reason they broke up. Yijun once boasted his boyfriend was super jealous because he loved Yijun so much. But turns out that was not that the case. He was just a bastard who like to torture his gentle cousin.

One year ago, his cousin told his parents that he was a cutsleeve and would never have a girlfriend when his parents wanted to match him with their friend's daughter. It created a big ruckus, and Yijun kicked out from the house. 

Three of them still like to hang out together once in a while. But the place moved from Xu Chenjie's room into Yijun's apartment. Last month, they gathered together to celebrate Yijun's successful contract. He was an illustrator, a very good one. 

"Liu Ge, my roommate rumoured to be a cutsleeve in the university's forum. It seems he doesn't know about it. Do you think I should tell him?"

"Eh, can't believe elite university students like yours like to gossip too. I thought all of you were just robots who didn't care about 3D humans. Show me the gossip."

Xu Chenjie's sister and Yijun were busy trashing the people who wrote the malicious comments when they saw it. "Poor this lamb.." Yijun said that while telling Xu Chenjie about his own struggle when he was in his university days.

"Just tell this lamb about this forum, and you're free to tell him about me too. I will gladly guide this lamb not to fall for the dark side, and how to choose his partner wisely. Clearly his partner is bad if he let your friend be trashed like this."

That's what Xu Chenjie had on his mind when he sent the link to Bai Yutang that night. He was afraid to listened Yujin's story about how he once consider suicide when he felt people around him didn't accept his sexual preferences.

"You know, i was so lucky to have both of you. Without you standing by my side all these years, i really can't continue to live anymore."

Xu Chenjie was prepared, but turns out the reality was far from what he imagined. Not only did Bai Yutang admit it flatly, he even introduced his boyfriend and they were in the car together right now. Along the way, Jian Kang Lu joked with him, comfortably leading their conversation.

Xu Chenjie was surprised to learn Jian Kang Lu's age. He didn't look that old. And even more in awe when they reached the restaurant. This is one of the high class restaurants he never stepped his foot into. Not to mention he almost choked himself when he saw the price in the menu. 

He felt awkward when Jian Kang Lu asked what he wanted to order, and was saved by Bai Yutang who told him that he too didn't know what to order at the first time. He let Bai Yutang order for him.

He questioned himself if this was the right choice to come to this dinner when he saw Bai Yutang's friends arrive. But he didn't feel awkward for too long, since he saw that Bai Yutang's friend seems to know about Bai Yutang and Jian Kang Lu's relationship. It's hard for Xu Chenjie not to notice when Jian Kang Lu keeps looking at Bai Yutang with his expression clearly showing that he adored his ex-roommate so much. 

He could see that Bai Yutang's handsome friend called Tang Yuxuan seems awkward too and a little bit gloomy. But when they almost finished the dinner, the atmosphere turned warm and cozy. Tang Yuxuan already laughed and joked, and didn't look as gloomy as the first time he came to this restaurant. Xu Chenjie didn't feel like an outsider. These people treat him very well and always engage conversation with him too, didn't leave him out. 

He always felt pity for his cousin, and even questioned why his cousin chose to be open about sexual preferences though it was hard and destined to be doomed. But tonight, he saw that man and man relationship not always like he thought. He could see this couple clearly loved each other, and how this handsome man treated his ex-roommate with utmost care. 

In the deepest of his heart, he felt happy for Bai Yutang. But there's a tiny bit inside him that regret why this handsome man didn't meet his cousin before. His cousin also deserves to get a man like this, who pampered him and wasn't afraid to be open with their relationship. Didn't hide his cousin like he was a plaque disease. Didn't hurt his cousin's heart over and over again.

When they finished the dinner, he said thank you to Jian Kang Lu and said he will go back to the dorm with the others, refusing Jian Kang Lu's offer to send them back to the dorm. Before they parted, he could hear Jian Kang Lu's voice.

"I appreciate all your support for TangTang. Please continue to support him. Let's have dinner again sometime. Just contact me if you guys are free."

Then he saw the couple walk away hand in hand in steady steps. Lift their head high up. Believe in each other. Proud of each other. Love each other.