Agreed to Just Once - Chapter 16:Good Friends
Chapter 16:Good Friends
The concert venue was vast, filled with unfamiliar faces beaming with smiles amidst the crowded stream of people. Jiang Yinian eventually found their assigned seats.
The audience was still filing in, the surroundings buzzing with chaotic noise.
Though they had entered the venue, there was still some time before the concert officially began.
He Wenshuo pulled out two sheets of stickers from his bag—purchased from a vendor while waiting outside earlier. From the array of patterns, he selected the most exquisite one, peeled it off, and looked at Jiang Yinian, contemplating where to place it.
Under the venue lights, Jiang Yinian’s face appeared even more refined, especially his eyes, which seemed to hold countless glimmers of light, exceptionally dazzling.
He Wenshuo studied him intently for a moment before finally sticking the small decal on Jiang Yinian’s cheek.
Mnjok had many fans, but due to certain reasons, he hadn’t held an offline concert in nearly five or six years.
This was Jiang Yinian’s first time attending one, and his curiosity outweighed his excitement. His gaze continuously swept across the central stage and the large screens positioned around the venue—until he felt something on his face.
Turning his head, he met He Wenshuo’s intensely focused eyes, and his expression softened.
He Wenshuo was pleased—with the pattern he’d chosen and its placement. There, it looks good on you.
Jiang Yinian reached up to touch the small design on his cheek, then glanced at the sticker sheet still in He Wenshuo’s hand. Should I put one on you?
He Wenshuo obligingly lowered his head. Go ahead.
Jiang Yinian took the stickers, peeled one from the middle, and examined He Wenshuo’s face. The venue lights also fell upon He Wenshuo, accentuating his handsome features—sincere and harmless.
Jiang Yinian pressed the sticker onto He Wenshuo’s face. Done.
In the first half of the concert, the moment Mnjok appeared on stage, he was met with thunderous applause. He performed several songs beloved by his fans, and in the audience, glow sticks waved tirelessly, forming a uniquely stunning spectacle.
It wasn’t until the intermission that the noise in the audience showed any sign of subsiding. The customary audience interaction segment began, and the first group of lucky attendees selected by the camera appeared on the large screens flanking the central stage and other areas.
A young man and woman wearing matching couple outfits appeared on screen. When the pair realized they had been chosen, they exchanged an excited glance, drew close, and shared a kiss.
The audience erupted again, the fervor that had just begun to fade surging back. The glow sticks, once waved for the music, were now brandished in hopes of catching the camera’s attention.
The screen lingered briefly before shifting. This time, the camera focused on two girls wearing fan headbands. They appeared to be friends; upon seeing themselves on screen, they briefly expressed surprise and excitement before raising a banner that read Forever with Mnjok.
Perhaps inspired by the previous couple, the two girls affectionately pecked each other on the cheek just as the camera was about to move on.
The audience’s enthusiasm for the interaction remained high, their cheers as loud as ever.
Then, the camera shifted direction, and the image on the large screen changed again, with faint laughter echoing from the surroundings.
When Jiang Yinian saw himself and He Wenshuo appear on the big screen, the surprise in his eyes was unmistakable.
In such a massive venue, with so many people around—fans waving glow sticks, eagerly awaiting the camera’s attention—this lucky moment had somehow landed on the two of them.
But they hadn’t planned to take photos, declare their love for mnjok, nor was there any possibility of publicly displaying affection.
Jiang Yinian simply turned to glance at He Wenshuo, waiting for the venue camera to briefly linger on them before moving away.
He Wenshuo also noticed themselves on the screen and looked up in surprise, patting Jiang Yinian’s arm. We’re on the big screen!
On the screen, He Wenshuo appeared ordinary due to his usual lack of photogenicity, but Jiang Yinian was anything but ordinary.
With his delicate features and clean hairstyle, he exuded an indescribable aura under the venue’s lighting, and the teasing from the crowd grew louder.
So handsome.
He’s so good-looking!
A girl seated next to He Wenshuo in the audience enthusiastically reminded them, They’re filming you! Do something quickly.
But what could they do?
Jiang Yinian looked at He Wenshuo, silently conveying that they should ignore the crowd and wait for the camera to pass.
He Wenshuo caught Jiang Yinian’s gaze and raised an eyebrow.
He understood!
He had just seen how other audience members on screen had reacted.
He Wenshuo lowered his head and, without a second thought, leaned closer to Jiang Yinian.
The noise from the surrounding audience suddenly intensified, filled mostly with teasing cheers.
Jiang Yinian: ?
He stared in shock and confusion as He Wenshuo’s face grew larger in his vision.
Could He Wenshuo be thinking of…
This wouldn’t do!
Jiang Yinian froze for just a few seconds, but a warmth had already touched the tip of his nose. It was too close. He froze again, never having seen He Wenshuo from such an intimate distance before.
Amid the chaotic sounds of the venue.
He Wenshuo rubbed his nose against Jiang Yinian’s, his smiling eyes meeting Jiang Yinian’s—as if to confirm, This is what we’re supposed to do under the camera, right? Look how excited they are.
The surrounding noise did grow slightly louder than before, but fortunately, on the big screen, the image of the two facing each other, noses touching, lasted only two seconds before the venue camera shifted to other lucky audience members.
Jiang Yinian’s breath hitched, and he immediately pulled away from He Wenshuo. The searing warmth on his nose hadn’t faded, and his chest throbbed with a heartbeat denser than the drumbeats from the stage.
This wasn’t right.
It wasn’t right at all.
He couldn’t explain why, but when He Wenshuo suddenly leaned in, an undeniable tension had surged in his heart.
Perhaps… it was influenced by that inexplicable dream from that afternoon.
For a fleeting moment, he had genuinely thought He Wenshuo might kiss him.
He Wenshuo touched his own nose, then reached out to touch Jiang Yinian’s. Why is it so cold? Are you chilly? Is the air conditioning here too strong? Here, wear my jacket.
Jiang Yinian avoided He Wenshuo’s hand and shook his head. No.
He gradually calmed his emotions and settled down.
Nothing was wrong.
This was how they had always interacted, how it had always been.
Nothing felt off.
There was no hidden meaning.
After knowing each other for so many years, being friends for so long, and maintaining their relationship for such a duration—it wouldn’t change.
He Wenshuo persistently reached out to touch Jiang Yinian’s cool nose again: Really not cold?
Jiang Yinian affirmed: I’m not cold.
The second half of the concert remained thrilling. Mnjok encouraged the audience to sing along, pushing the heated atmosphere in the venue to new heights until the concert concluded perfectly.
Following the staff’s directions, they exited the venue in an orderly manner. Outside, the sky had already turned completely dark.
He Wenshuo looked up at the sky and naturally suggested: Should we grab something to eat first?
Even though they had shared a bag of snacks and drinks before entering, several hours had passed, and everything had long been digested.
But this time, faced with the suggestion to eat first,
Jiang Yinian unusually shook his head: I want to go home first.
He Wenshuo reached out to check Jiang Yinian’s forehead temperature. Earlier in the venue, his nose had been cold, and now he had no appetite. Are you feeling unwell? A headache?
Jiang Yinian silently reminded himself not to mind He Wenshuo’s almost habitual small gestures: I’m really fine. Let’s go back.
He Wenshuo: Alright.
On the way back, Jiang Yinian kept his eyes closed, resting silently the entire journey, while He Wenshuo watched him the whole time.
He felt something was off, but he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was wrong.
As soon as they got home, Jiang Yinian retreated into his room. Familiar surroundings made it easier to relax and avoid overthinking or internal conflict.
He Wenshuo called from behind: Aren’t you going to eat?
Jiang Yinian: The car ride was too long. I have no appetite. I don’t want to eat.
How could skipping a meal be okay? He Wenshuo closed the front door, muttering to himself. Jiang Yinian already struggled to gain weight; if he didn’t eat, wouldn’t he become as thin as a stick again?
He decisively went into the kitchen, prepared two bowls of wontons, then pulled Jiang Yinian out of his room and sat him down at the dining table.
Eat a little. If you lose weight, how am I supposed to explain it to Grandma when I go back?
The aroma of wontons filled the dining table.
Jiang Yinian breathed in the scent of the hot soup and actually started to feel a bit hungry. Out of habit, he picked up his spoon and stirred the bowl.
When he looked up, he saw He Wenshuo observing him from across the table.
Jiang Yinian: Why are you watching me instead of eating your own food?
He Wenshuo worriedly said: You’re not acting like yourself.
Jiang Yinian:?
He Wenshuo: You’re not even enjoying your food today.
Jiang Yinian couldn’t be bothered to respond and silently finished his bowl of wontons.
He Wenshuo felt Jiang Yinian was acting strange, but he couldn’t figure out why. Seeing that it was getting late, he had no choice but to return home to sleep, still without any answers.
Only after hearing He Wenshuo leave,
Did Jiang Yinian get out of bed once more. Perhaps he had dozed off too much during the car ride back—now he felt wide awake.
Since he couldn’t sleep, he decided to find something to do and started tidying his room.
He went through the desk, drawers, and cabinets one by one.
Then, while organizing the wardrobe, he saw the small dress and shirt hanging inside.
The culprits.
Jiang Yinian found a large bag and stuffed all those dresses and shirts inside.
It was better to get rid of the source of the trouble.
But after carrying the bag around the living room for a while, he couldn’t find a suitable place to put it. With no other choice, he carried the bag back to his room and stuffed it into the most inconspicuous corner of the cabinet.
Out of sight, out of mind.
After finishing the cleaning and tidying up, he grabbed some clothes and went to take a shower.
The small shower stall filled with warm steam, and Jiang Yinian’s mind finally began to relax. He came to a conclusion.
It must have been because today’s schedule was too packed and exhausting, which led to his wild thoughts.
As long as today passed, everything would be fine. Tomorrow, they would still be good friends, just like before.
Author’s note: