The Return of the God Level Assassin [BL]

LUO YAN looked at his reflection in the mirror. He wore a cream-colored turtleneck sweater tucked loosely into a pair of dark gray jeans. A simple leather belt held it all in place, and on his feet were a pair of clean white sneakers.

Satisfied with what he saw, Luo Yan walked out of his room. His small luggage was already packed and waiting by his bedroom door, so the moment Shen Ji Yun arrived, he could grab it and head out. But first, breakfast.

When he reached the dining room, he was surprised to find only his uncle and aunt seated at the table. "Good morning," he greeted them with a smile.

"Good morning, Xiao Yan," Aunt Xiulan greeted him warmly, while Uncle Chen offered a smile from behind his teacup.

"Where's Brother Ze and Xiao Ye?" Luo Yan asked as he settled into his usual seat.

"Ah Ze is still asleep. He must have had a late night," Aunt Xiulan said with a helpless smile. "And Xiao Ye is still asleep too, as usual."

Since it was winter break, she sometimes let her youngest stay up a little later than normal. As for Bai Ze, well, he had gone out and come home late. If she had to guess, he had been with that girlfriend of his. Or, as her son called her, his friend.

Luo Yan nodded, and the three of them began eating. He was halfway through a spoonful of his abalone and sea cucumber congee when Uncle Chen cleared his throat. Luo Yan lifted his head and looked at him.

"So, Xiao Yan, what day are you and Xiao Yun planning to come back from your trip again?" his uncle asked.

"On Sunday evening," Luo Yan answered. "If things go according to schedule."

His uncle nodded, and then an awkward expression crossed his face, as if he was reluctant to say what he would say next. "Uhm, Xiao Yan, you and Xiao Yun are both young, so I'm sure you'll want to... enjoy your time together. Just remember to be... careful. That's all." He cleared his throat and quickly took a sip of his tea.

Luo Yan blinked. Was his uncle really saying what he thought he was saying? One look at the embarrassed expression on the older man's face confirmed it. And he had a feeling his father was the one who put him up to this.

Aunt Xiulan looked at her husband and gave his arm a light, playful slap. "Oh, stop it. Xiao Yun and Xiao Yan both have good heads on their shoulders. They don't need you reminding them of things you have no business bringing up."

"It's not like I wanted to. Wei Tian sort of put me up to it," Uncle Chen muttered.

Luo Yan chuckled softly at the confirmation of what he already guessed. The rest of breakfast passed without any more awkward moments. They talked about lighter things, and the topic of his trip with Shen Ji Yun didn't come up again.

~~~

Shen Ji Yun arrived thirty minutes after Luo Yan had finished breakfast. His uncle had already left by then for work, and both his cousins were still asleep. So the only one at the driveway to see them off was Aunt Xiulan.

"You two take care, alright?" she said. "Just send at least one message to the family chat before you go to sleep, so we know you're both safe."

"Yes, we will," Luo Yan said, just as he had assured his father and brothers when they talked on the phone the night before.

"Don't worry, Aunt Xiulan. I'll take care of Yan Yan," Shen Ji Yun said as he placed Luo Yan's small suitcase into the trunk and closed it.

Luo Yan glanced at Shen Ji Yun and reached for his hand. "We'll take care of each other," he corrected gently.

Sun Xiulan smiled as she watched them. They looked so natural together, the way Luo Yan reached for Shen Ji Yun's hand without thinking. It made her feel warm inside. She was happy for them.

The two of them got into the car, Luo Yan in the passenger seat and Shen Ji Yun behind the wheel. Sun Xiulan stood at the edge of the driveway, waving as they pulled away. Luo Yan waved back through the window, a small smile on his face.

***

They arrived at the airport just in time for their flight. Luo Yan was clearly excited, his steps quick as they walked through the terminal. Shen Ji Yun glanced at him and then looked down at their hands clasped together. Luo Yan had reached for him as soon as they started walking and was holding on without a second thought. They were in public, surrounded by people, and he didn't seem to care. He wasn't worried about anyone staring or whispering. He just held Shen Ji Yun's hand without a second thought. That simple act was enough for his heart to ache in happiness.

They checked in and cleared security without incident. After a brief wait at the gate, they boarded the airplane and took their seats in the first-class cabin. The wide, comfortable seats were arranged in a 2-2 configuration. Luo Yan settled into the window seat, with Shen Ji Yun in the aisle seat beside him. Flight attendants moved through the aisle, and soon the plane began to taxi toward the runway.

"You're really excited about this trip, aren't you?" Shen Ji Yun said, a hint of amusement in his voice as he watched Luo Yan.

Luo Yan turned to him with a look of playful indignation. "Of course I am. We're not just celebrating your birthday, we're also celebrating Valentine's Day." He fixed Shen Ji Yun with a serious stare. "Aren't you excited?"

"I am. Believe me," Shen Ji Yun said, his voice softer now. "I know I don't look as excited as you, but that's not because I don't want to be here. It's because the place doesn't matter to me. What matters is that I'm with you."

That earned a smile from Luo Yan. "How come you always know what to say?" He reached over and took Shen Ji Yun's hand. "But you're right. What matters is that we're together."

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