The Stars In Your Eyes

Winter is coming soon, and this autumn closure is colder than last year. Mid November used to be the month where people start to use their coat outside but not yet wear their thick winter coat.

Bai Yutang is sensitive to cold weather, and his lover is very fussy about that. Every morning his lover will remind him to wear a sweater and wrapping shawl around his neck. His lover also frowned when Bai Yutang rejected his suggestion to take a taxi to his campus.

One week ago, his lover told him to take a taxi this morning while they grilled fish from last night's dinner with jasmine rice porridge. Bai Yutang cooks the porridge with chicken broth sprinkled with green onion and chopped baby carrot. The rice he used was really fragrant and his lover loved it so much.

Bai Yutang often cooks baby carrots lately, because his lover asks for them. His lover lately has been busy, editing his professor's research and needs to look at the computer screen for hours these days.

His lover originally had minor myopia and astigmatism, but he rarely used his glasses because it didn't disturb his sight in daily life.. It's only when his lover reads too much that his nearsightedness will worsen. Jian Kang Lu said if he eats many carrots, his sights will soon come back to normal.

Thus Bai Yutang lately always adds carrot in their menu, and makes carrot juice everyday for his lover.

"Baby, you'll have your mid term exam today, why don't you just take a taxi today?"

Bai Yutang speechless with his lover's creativity to ask him to ride a taxi instead of a bus. There are hundreds of reasons previously thrown and he rejects each of his lover's unreasonable suggestions.

"Baby, it's so hot today, why don't you just take a taxi today?"

"Baby, the forecast said it will rain today, why don't you just take a taxi today?"

"Baby, you look tired after those jobs you took lately, why don't you just take a taxi today?"

"Baby, yesterday I read in the news that someone got robbed in the train station, why don't you just take a taxi today?"

"Baby, I want to have your cook for my lunch, why don't you just take a taxi today?"

What is the connection between asking for a lunch box and taxi? Bai Yutang sometimes can't understand how his lover's brain works.

It wasn't a big deal to ride a taxi, but Bai Yutang just didn't want to change himself into a pampered man. He still holds his own principle not to use too much money. 

His trauma when his father suddenly left them with a tight financial situation still imprinted in his heart. He doesn't want to get back to his old self that uses money without much worry and then thrown into harsh reality.

If he is really tired, or the rain truly heavy, he doesn't object to his lover's suggestion to ride a taxi. Because a few times he nods his head for his lover's suggestion, making his lover tend to say these taxi requests often lately.

"Gege, we have already talked about this many times. There are thousands of students having exams and still riding the bus everyday. I'll be fine." Bai Yutang answered while preparing hot coffee for his lover.

"But TangTang, it's cold outside." His lover is still pleading with puppy eyes. Bai Yutang is just wondering how this man that already turned 38 year old still looks fresh every morning even though he hasn't slept much everyday lately. 

Bai Yutang sighed when he remembered his shabby appearance and dark eye bags this morning in the mirror. Result from staying awake due to preparing his mid term exams.

Sometimes, God really is not fair in the creation process.

His lover also stayed late, working at the research. Published research needs a lot of finishing touch for their data. Since his lover is the best in data processing and arranging words for published papers, all the professors prefer him to finalise their research paper instead of Jian Kang Lu's other junior.

His lover never told him that, but Bai Yutang heard the nurses and the resident speak about that. Bai Yutang could see the admiration in those resident's eyes when they speak highly about his lover.

"Gege, I will be fine. I'll wear my coat and shawl, and bring hot tea too." Bai Yutang's tone is still flat. He trained to reject his lover's pleading with a flat face and tone. Somehow if he does that, his lover will retreat and accept his defeat.

As usual, his lover tightens his shawl and kisses him before he opens the door, preparing to go to the campus.

"Take care, and let me know once you reach your class." His lover stood in the door and watched him until Bai Yutang out of his sight, when the lift door closed. That was his lover's habit since before they were lovers. Just like his habit to open and hold the door for Bai Yutang or take a heavier groceries bag from Bai Yutang's hand.

Bai Yutang put on his earphone every time he stepped out from the apartment complex, and memorised the material he recorded for today's exam while waiting for the bus until he reached university.

Zhen Guo once told him, those questions in their university exams seem like unimportant matters in real life. Many fresh graduate architects just pass their exams for the sake of grade. But if you pour those theories into your own designs, it will prove very useful.

Those words make Bai Yutang never underestimate those theories, and try to carve those in his every project. For example, the theory about the characteristics of a ramp that is handicapped accessible. Or which materials have the highest shading coefficient.

Being an architect was not only about designs. But how to combine every matter and shape your imagination into reality which fulfil the purpose of the building. Designs, material, purpose, comfort, price, environment, and many more.

No wonder, in his university, architecture students need 5 years to graduate. But the result, their architecture faculty is the best in the country.

After the exam finished today, Bai Yutang really famished and they plan to eat at their favourite cafe near their dorm. Four of them walked from the dorm to the cafe in the afternoon. 

Tang Yuxuan, Liu Xiang, and Yu Dong talking about the exam and future upcoming projects announced before the exam. Because of his absence last year, Bai Yutang can't talk about the same exam with them since they took different classes.

Suddenly Tang Yuxuan changed the topic.

"What you guys think about Fei Hong?"

Since their internship last time, Fei Hong often interacts with Tang Yuxuan and they still close after this semester begins. Bai Yutang can guess what Tang Yuxuan means with that question.

"This wife thinks she's nice, and pretty. She's famous since our first year, but never heard she had a boyfriend before." Liu Xiang is the first to answer that question.

Yu Dong also nodded, "She was not a picky eater, it means she's a good girl."

Liu Xiang looks at Yu Dong, and doesn't understand what his criteria of a good girl means. And Liu Xiang speechless when he saw Bai Yutang also nod his head in response to Yu Dong's comment. No wonder they were used to being excellent roommates.

"Why do you guys put a good girlfriend criteria on someone who was not a picky eater?" Liu Xiang curiously asked.

Bai Yutang and Yu Dong look at Liu Xiang with pity. But Bai Yutang answered, "Eating together is the most important part in a relationship. So when your partner is not a picky eater, it will guarantee you having a smoother relationship and could enjoy your time together better. Besides, someone who was not a picky eater also means she was not afraid of trying something new and tends to be more open with suggestions."

Liu Xiang listened to this ramble with disbelief, "You are a single dog from birth, why did you speak like an expert on this part? This wife could understand if Yu Dong is the one who said that."

Bai Yutang calmly answered, "I have a sister, remember? She's not a picky eater, and she tends to be adventurous compared to my other relatives of the same age."

Tang Yuxuan nudge Bai Yutang, "It reminds me. Fei Hong once asked about you. She was curious and asking me about the girl you liked. It makes daddy jealous with you at that time. But Fei Hong said you reject Feng Mian with that excuse. I am confused since daddy never heard you liking someone, nor being in a relationship until now. We also didn't see you eyeing any girl until now. When I asked why she wanted to know about you, she said Feng Mian really likes you."

Liu Xiang was surprised. "Why do I just hear about this now? This wife is jealous! Who are you eyeing, TangTang? You even reject the Economic Goddess for that person."

Liu Xiang then shows his most serious face, "You need to be careful, her fans club is no joke. Remember that filthy rich business management student that she rejected last year? It blew up in the forum. Poor that guy, he confidently asked her in public with that gigantic roses bouquet and even prepared real diamond earrings to woe her. But she coldly turned him down, saying that she prefers rubies."

Yu Dong nod, it was a really hot topic last year. That guy is well known for having many beautiful girlfriends, riding sports cars to the campus. His yellow Lamborghini was super famous on the campus. His face is also handsome. The typical perfect boyfriend material. Some said his family owns the shopping mall in B city.

That incident led to girls in their campus using the idiom 'I prefer rubies rather than diamond' to express something they despised.

Bai Yutang also knew that this idiom was famous on campus when he started his semester this year, but he had no idea that the source was Feng Mian.

"You guys must be kidding me. Who would believe that Feng Mian likes me? She's not blind." Bai Yutang really didn't believe that Feng Mian liked him even though he already saw Feng Mian almost cried that day. He just can't understand why.

Tang Yuxuan shook his head and looked at him, "No offence TangTang, but daddy also can't believe that at the first time. Then Fei Hong told me that Feng Mian really likes your calm attitude. Quoting Fei Hong's words, Feng Mian said you look very elegant and soothing."

Yu Dong and Liu Xiang also turn their heads and look at Bai Yutang in silence, and Yu Dong's word is the next to be heard. "No offence too, TangTang. I can't see it. I think it was just us boys who can't understand what's on a girl's mind. Especially a Goddess like her. This Feng Mian's taste may be a little bit different compared to normal girls."

Even Bai Yutang also thinks that way. Maybe people with superior genetics tend to have weird tastes? Just like his lover that always said that he was handsome. Maybe ordinary people with common genetic patterns could never understand what these superior species have on their mind.

Four of them soon arrived at the cafe, and they sat down in the corner. This is the same cafe where Bai Yutang heard Mu Xiaoya and her sisters talking about him and Jian Kang Lu for the first time. The cafe where he scold them for thinking that he and Jian Kang Lu is gay couple.

Who could predict that now it was turn to be true. They are a couple now. Bai Yutang wants to laugh if he remembers that.

Nothing in this world is absolute. This world keeps moving, and humans will never know what the future will bring.