The Stars In Your Eyes

While they were walking to the shopping mall, Jian Kang Lu wanted to hold his kitten's hand, but he was afraid his kitten wouldn't feel comfortable with that. Thus he only asks Bai Yutang what he wants to do this day and tomorrow. Tomorrow is their last day in Boston, after that they will go to New York for three days.

Bai Yutang said he wants to see Harvard university. As one of the oldest institutions in the world, it had many historical buildings. It was built more than 300 years ago. Bai Yutang already read about the Massachusetts Hall, Harvard Hall, Widener Library, Fogg Art Museum, and many more.

Jian Kang Lu nodded, "How if we took a short tour? I know there's a tour there, providing us with a tour guide from a current Harvard student itself, so we could enjoy their personal insight of their own campus. Who knows maybe the guide is also an architecture student?"

Bai Yutang nodded his head. Like always, Jian Kang Lu's suggestion is perfecting his own idea. Bai Yutang sometimes wonders, how could this man know so much.

The Italian restaurant is truly nice. It was located on the rooftop, with a glass roof so they could see the weather outside clearly. A lot of plants are hanging inside the restaurant, from the ceiling into the partition between tables. The grey walls on one side, and the other had grey and sandy brick patterns.

It was really warm. Really reflecting Italian's personality. Warm and lively.

The food is excellent. The pasta with egg yolk sauce is really wonderful. Creamy but not sticky, and it had a light taste. The bread they served as an appetizer went well with the pasta and the beef spaghetti they ordered. Jian Kang Lu also ordered oysters.

"Oysters are a must have menu in Boston, they're famous for their seafood. How about having seafood tonight as our dinner. I know a famous seafood restaurant here that I haven't tried yet. Do you want to try it with me?"

Bai Yutang nods, he really likes this oysters here. It was baked with special butter, the salty creamy feeling of oysters melting in his mouth. He loved it. This is the first time he tried oysters this way. Their own country didn't produce good oysters, the taste is a bit bland.

"Okay, I'll reserve the place first. How about tomorrow night? Do you want to try another seafood restaurant or steak? There's one good steak restaurant near our hotel here, but maybe a bit far if we walk." Jian Kang Lu opened the application in his phone to reserve the restaurant.

All good restaurants in Boston need to be reserved on the weekend or they won't get any seat. Jian Kang Lu learned from his mistakes years ago.

Bai Yutang thinking. They'll eat seafood tonight, so it will be better if they tried something else. "I think it's better to go to a steak restaurant, Jian Ge."

"Okay." Jian Kang Lu reserved the steak restaurant too in the app.

They spent the afternoon strolling around the area. There's a lot of stores here around the block. From high end stores, to the unique Boston's specialties. Jian Kang Lu offered Bai Yutang to buy something for his friends and family. Because tomorrow they might not have time for shopping.

Bai Yutang really wants to, but he knows if he buys something that means he will use Jian Kang Lu's money. So he shook his head.

They're passing a pretty store that made custom handmade soap and baths. Jian Kang Lu offered to buy some for his mother and his sister. "I want to buy something for your mother and sister. These things can't be bought somewhere else, why don't you help me choose?"

Thus Bai Yutang helped Jian Kang Lu choose a lot of cute soaps. Every soap with different fragrances and ingredients come with different shapes. There's hundreds of them. Bai Yutang had to hold Jian Kang Lu's hand to prevent him from putting everything in their shopping bag. If Bai Yutang lets this man choose, his sister and mother will have soap supply for ten years.

Jian Kang Lu also bought facial masks suggested by the shopkeeper. She said it was their bestseller product. Because it was customised, the face mask also had a lot of varieties. Bai Yutang decided to just hold this man's hand and not let him choose instead.

They were coming out from the store with six big shopping bags. Bai Yutang feels helpless. But Jian Kang Lu said this also for his colleagues and family. So this actually not a lot, and will immediately gone once they reach home.

Then they strolled around and found a chocolate store and cafe. They sell chocolate from every place in the world. There are more than 20 chocolate varieties. The store also has cakes sold there.

Jian Kang Lu said he wanted to buy something here for his friends, including Yu Dong, Liu Xiang, and Tang Yuxuan. Jian Kang Lu told him that he likes this store's cocoa drink.

They order the hot dark Brazilian cocoa and eggnog, pistachio cake, and orange cake sold in the store. Bai Yutang had to admit, this cocoa drink is the best he ever tasted. Not too sweet, and the bitter taste is left after they drink it.

Bai Yutang knows that Jian Kang Lu always looks at him with a gentle gaze. But today, he could see that face also beam with happiness. Those eyes that used to sparkle with little stars, now brightly lit like a sun shone behind those beautiful black beads.

Bai Yutang still can't believe this is all real. He doesn't understand why Jian Kang Lu likes him. Is it just a pity? Or any reason behind it?

If this is all real, then since when Jian Kang Lu liked him?

They went back to the hotel, and took a bath. But this time they didn't take a bath together. Bai Yutang didn't want Jian Kang Lu to find out that he was easily aroused if he saw Jian Kang Lu's naked body.

After bathing, Jian Kang Lu ordered uber to go to the seafood restaurant located in the haymarket. As Jian Kang Lu guessed, there's a line outside the restaurant waiting to be seated. The restaurant is lined with pressed tin, subway tiles and etched glass. The tiny space exudes an unmistakably retro charm. This restaurant offers a raw bar full of seafood varieties.

The waiter offered their renowned lobster rolls, served hot with butter. The entrees are whole Rockport mackerel served Veracruz-style. Bai Yutang did not order anything heavy, he's amazed with the raw bar. Sea urchin, crab claws, clams, mussels, and of course a lot of variety of oysters.

Bai Yutang ate a lot of oysters that night. He loves the lobster so much, no wonder the waiter said that it was their restaurant's pride. Jian Kang Lu also said this is one of the best lobsters he has ever tasted.

Bai Yutang blushed when he heard what Jian Kang Lu said next.

"But maybe because I eat this lobster here, together with you."

Bai Yutang could only respond meekly, "M-Me too…"

They spend the dinner quite fast, because many people still lined up outside the restaurant. So after they finished the dinner, they went out and back to the hotel. It was still 8 pm, so Jian Kang Lu asked him whether he wanted to stroll around to digest the dinner.

They strolled around and went into one of the bars near the hotel. It was a restaurant and bar combined. But the restaurant had casual elegance American style, while the bar offered the classic American style. In the bar, they offer a wide variety of beer.

Bai Yutang was not a big fan of beer. He didn't really like the bitter taste. So he was doubtful. Jian Kang Lu ordered the American's local beer, Maine Beer. When Jian Kang Lu asked him what he wanted to drink, Bai Yutang told him that he didn't really like the bitter taste from beer. So Jian Kang Lu asked the waiter for a light beer. The waiter suggested Bai Yutang to taste their Allagash white beer.

The beer is very light, with an orange peel and coriander aroma. It served the refreshing balance of citrus and spice. Bai Yutang liked it so much, he finished two big glasses of it. He felt a little bit tipsy after drinking those two glasses.

When Bai Yutang sipped his third glass, he unconsciously giggled when he told Jian Kang Lu about the child and the youngsters that were pestering him at the gala dinner last night.

Jian Kang Lu just listens to him with a smile plastering on his face. Jian Kang Lu told him he also knows some of those children. They meet every year on different occasions. But he didn't talk much to them, because he was busy talking to their parents.

But Jian Kang Lu then frowned when Bai Yutang told him that one of those boys thought that Jian Kang Lu was his uncle. This is one of the things that he feared. He felt that he was too old for Bai Yutang.

No matter what, their age difference is 15 year apart. How if this kitten realizes it then wants to find someone similar his own age.

Those fears won't subside even though Bai Yutang told him that he felt angry when he heard that. "You don't look that old, and we don't look alike at all. You're too handsome to be my uncle."

"Is that true?" Jian Kang Lu smilingly asks him.

Bai Yutang's eyes start to have a glossy layer, and his cheek is red from the alcohol. "Of course, you're the most handsome man i ever met in my life."

"Mmm.. Really? Me and Tang Yuxuan, which one is more handsome?"

"Of course it was you. All of us agreed that you have something inside you that makes us can't take our eyes away from you."

"Then, even though I'm an old man, you don't mind it?"

"You're not old, no one will believe if you say that your age is over thirty." Bai Yutang waved his hands.

"But still, i'm almost 40 years old. How if someday you met a more handsome man and younger than me? Then will you look away from me and look at them?"

Bai Yutang squinting his eyes, he suddenly looked angry. "I still remember that handsome man we met last time. He's really handsome. Is he really your friend?"

Now Jian Kang Lu is stunned. It felt like he stepped into a dangerous zone. This is not even 24 hours passed since they were together. Well that reminds Jian Kang Lu that he hasn't asked his kitten properly to have a relationship with him. But he shamelessly noted today as their first day together.

December 15th.

He won't miss this date, ever. He even already planned what they will do next year for their first anniversary. Jian Kang Lu felt he had changed a lot since he met this kitten. Previously he wouldn't think too much about these kinds of things.

Jian Kang Lu can't answer that question, he was so afraid to answer it.

Looking at Jian Kang Lu who transformed into a stone statue, made Bai Yutang really angry. But he can't say that he was jealous of that guy, or ask why Jian Kang Lu said that he likes him.

Imagining that handsome face with perfect posture, and comparing it with himself, turn Bai Yutang anger into rage, and also frustration. Disappointed with himself, why he had to feel like this, instead of grateful that Jian Kang Lu said that he liked him.

Looking at his kitten who keeps drinking his beer with a fiery face and then turning into a sad face, makes Jian Kang Lu's heart ached. He really can't handle Bai Yutang's sad face.

Jian Kang Lu reached out, put the glass that almost emptied back to the table, and held his kitten's hand.

"TangTang, baby.. Do you really want to know? I can tell you everything you want to know, but maybe not here. Let's wait until we're back in the hotel, shall we?"