In earlier years, Lake Park was a wild wetland located on the city outskirts, surrounded by numerous factories. The lake water was contaminated, presenting a faint reddish hue.

Joshua's father's machinery factory was also situated nearby. Stephen had been in the factory for several years but had never visited that place. The first time was when Joshua brought him here.

At the beginning of their acquaintance, Stephen showed consideration for Joshua's introverted personality, expressing his liking and closeness in a subtle manner.

Stephen didn't have many friends in the factory, and Joshua was a loner. Besides helping Joshua get familiar with the business, they gradually became lunch companions, eating together in the cafeteria after work.

As they grew more acquainted, the shy Joshua became more comfortable in his presence. Stephen started trying to invite him to go shopping downtown on holidays, have a meal together, or watch a movie, and so on.

Joshua accepted a few invitations initially, but later he started finding excuses to decline Stephen's invitations.

In front of the staff dormitory building, Stephen watched Joshua hesitantly and awkwardly came up with excuses to refuse. Unable to hold it in, he asked, "Are you annoyed by me? If that's the case, I won't bother you anymore."

Joshua's eyes slowly widened, taking a moment to catch up before hurriedly shaking his head. "I'm not annoyed by you... but going out with you, you always treat me, and refuse my treat. I feel it's not right; you work hard for your money..."

Thinking it more, Stephen should understand that being treated every time made Joshua feel even more embarrassed and hurt his pride twice as much as an ordinary person.

But at that time, Stephen himself was also inexperienced and naive in matters of the heart, unable to resist showcasing himself in front of Joshua. Joshua was the boss' son and naturally financially well-off. He thought the words meant that he didn't earn much money, a sympathetic consideration, so he left with a casual "nevermind."

Two days later, when he had come to the realization that Joshua was also just a man and hoped they could have an equal relationship, he couldn't figure out how to step down from the first confrontation.

On a Saturday afternoon, there was no evening shift. Just after getting off work, Stephen was changing clothes, intending to go to the bathhouse first to take a shower, when another manager from the same room came in and winked at him, saying, "The junior boss is looking for you at the entrance."

"The junior boss?"

"You're not always glued together with Joshua every day?"

After many years, Stephen still remembers the elation he felt at that moment when the clouds parted, and the sun shone through.

"Stephen, I don't get it. Why are you cozying up to the boss's wimpy son? I heard his old man won't retire for a while..."

He quickly put on his clothes, and stepped out through the door at a brisk pace.

Joshua was standing by the entrance, carrying a bag. People coming and going in the corridor turned their eyes towards him, making him feel awkward and flustered.

Their eyes met, but Joshua averted his gaze. Before Stephen could speak, he awkwardly whispered, "Put on your jacket. It's cold outside."

Stephen went back to put on his jacket.

One after the other, they left the staff dormitory building, exited the West Gate, and left the factory premises.

The air was dry and cold, with the breath turning into mist. Unmelted snow lined the sides of the road. Joshua led the way ahead, and Stephen, without questioning why or where they were going, simply followed his lead.

It has been half a year since their first meeting. Joshua's hair had grown longer. Stephen stared at the slightly curly ends of his short hair, and as they walked side by side, his heart also became entangled.

After walking for more than ten minutes, they arrived at a wild lake.

Joshua pressed down on the dry grass by the lake, signaling Stephen to sit. Then Joshua opened the cotton bag he was carrying. Inside was a large thermos. Joshua removed the lid, used it as a bowl and handed it to Stephen, then began pouring the contents inside.

The winter lakeside was deserted, with no water birds or wind over the frozen lake surface. It felt as if there were only two of them in the entire world, along with the spreading aroma of chicken soup.

The scent molecules condensed in the cold air, and the fragrant aroma became intensely warm, the sole source of warmth in this icy and snowy landscape.

Then, Joshua pulled out a pair of chopsticks and two steamed buns from his pocket, the kind provided by the cafeteria, large and substantial. He gave one to Stephen and stuffed the other one back: "Eat quickly, it will get cold."

Stephen swallowed his saliva. "What about you?"

"I've already eaten. I didn't go to the factory this afternoon," Joshua explained. "My dad asked me to stew the soup, and there was too much, so he asked me to bring some for you."

Stephen knew that his boss valued him. But why did Joshua bring him to this lakeside to endure the cold wind instead of leaving the food in the dormitory?

Seeing Stephen looking at him, Joshua felt embarrassed. "Hurry and eat before it gets cold and loses its taste."

Stephen bowed his head and started eating.

The factory was a distance away from the city, and they only had Sundays as their day off each week, so they didn't often go out. The cafeteria, no matter how good or bad the food was, would become tiresome when eaten for a long time.

This bowl of chicken soup was a delicious taste that Stephen hadn't experienced in a long time. The chicken meat was tender and boneless, with various mushrooms, making it savory and fragrant.

"Did you make this yourself?"

"Yeah."

"You know how to cook?"

"I can make a few home-cooked dishes," Joshua looked at him, hopefully. "Is the soup good?"

"It's delicious... It tastes like my mom's."

"...I was asking for your opinion seriously, but you're teasing me," Joshua lowered his eyelids, appearing disappointed.

Seeing his expression, Stephen couldn't help but smile. "Actually, I haven't really eaten my mom's cooking. Both of my parents are high school teachers and are busy. They don't cook at home, so I eat in their school cafeteria... The chicken soup is really tasty and fragrant, better than the restaurants outside."

"There's still more in the thermos. Let me pour you some more." Joshua picked up the thermos and refilled his bowl. After putting away the thermos, Joshua's head also drooped. "I misunderstood you last time. Inviting me to dinner and a movie was originally a kind gesture..."

"I was being presumptuous."

"No," Joshua suddenly looked up at him. "When my dad doesn't want to eat in the cafeteria, he asks me to cook for him. I can cook for you too. You treat me, and I'll treat you."

Joshua smiled at him, his eyes curved, a smile clearer than the lake water.

Stephen stared at him, a blush spreading across his face, tinted red by the setting sun. How could one not want to get closer to him, to kiss him, with that expression on his face?

Under Stephen's gaze, an even deeper blush appeared on Joshua's cheeks. In his urgency, he suddenly pointed at the far side of the lake. "Look, it's so beautiful."

A matte sun hung on the horizon, its light extinguished, a vivid red, like a cold heart soaked in blood.

In contrast to this stunning sight, Joshua's lips were a light shade of pale pink, looking even more gentle and tender.

The sunset was beautiful, but Stephen just wanted to kiss him.

Chris was indeed, as he had claimed, skilled and not boasting. Stephen could feel it from his long, minty kiss. 

They returned to the city from the Lake, and Stephen treated Chris to dinner.

They chatted for a while, and the atmosphere was pleasant. Their body language became increasingly intimate. Chris smiled and stared into Stephen's eyes, resting his hand on the other's knee. As he pinched upwards, he couldn't help but imagine the man's firm and powerful thighs, thinking they would be amazing in bed. 

They talked late into the night, and the ambiance was just right. Suddenly, Stephen asked, "Where else would you like to go?"

"It's late. Where else can we go?"

From the afternoon to the evening, Chris's emotions were completely aroused. Usually, it was the other person who was eager, but today he couldn't wait. He didn't want to go anywhere; he just wanted to quickly find a hotel, so they could be "open and honest" with each other. 

Stephen glanced at his watch. "It is quite late," he stood up. "Let me drive you home."

"Huh?"

They drove for a while, and Chris couldn't hold it in any longer. "Bro, are you really planning to drive me home?"

"Where else do you want to go?"

"...I mean, spending the whole day watching the sunset, listening to stories, and then just sending me home like that. Do you look down on me or something?"

The traffic light turned red, and Stephen looked at him seriously again.

Chris frowned, feeling unhappy. His little temper made him seem quite cute, so Stephen couldn't help but ruffle his hair. "I haven't dated such a good-looking man like you before."

"So?"

"So, it's not that I don't like you..."

"Does that mean you have genuine feelings for me and want to cherish me, not wanting to rush into anything on our first meeting?"

"It's not that either. I said I don't like things happening too quickly, and I don't engage with someone I'm meeting for the first time. It's a personal principle."

"Damn it."

"Want someone to cherish you?"

"Not at all. It's just that older men always say these things before doing it."

"And then?"

"And then they take off their pants faster than anyone else."

Stephen laughed. This brief encounter left him with a good impression of Chris.

His straightforwardness and carefree attitude would make their time together simple and relaxed, without any worries. 

They quickly arrived in an upscale residential area, and they exchanged contact information in the car. 

Chris asked, "Tell me, how many more times do we need to see each other before we can go to a hotel?"

Stephen helplessly replied, "That depends on the situation, at the right time."

"Can I see you tomorrow then?"

Stephen took out his phone and checked his schedule. "Tomorrow won't work. Are you free on Friday?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll come find you then." Stephen paused and suddenly became serious. "Chris, I had a pleasant time with you today, and I hope to establish a long-term relationship with you. And during this time we spend together, I hope you won't have any physical relationship with anyone else. Besides my husband, I promise I won't have any relationship with anyone else. If you feel that this is unfair to you, I can offer some financial compensation..."

"Uh, uh, I don't accept being kept like that," Chris interrupted, waving his fingers left and right.

"I didn't mean that..."

"It doesn't matter, your other requests are fine. We can discuss that next time we meet."

Stephen unlocked the car door and leaned over to kiss his face. "Goodnight..."

Before the words could finish, Chris suddenly turned around, pushing him into the narrow space between the back seat, the car door, and the steering wheel. With one leg kneeling on the passenger seat, he cupped Stephen's face and kissed him. 

The warm and moist breath, soft and slippery lips and tongue, the minty taste of a candy, they circled in each other's mouths until they melted.

After a while of teasing, Chris let go, nestled his head on Stephen's shoulder, and murmured, "Is it really okay to just go back like this? I could sneak you back to my place."

Stephen patted his back. "Don't do that. It wouldn't be good if your parents found out."

"Do you really... I won't be able to sleep tonight."

"If you can't sleep, message me."

"You can message me in front of your husband too, or we can even call each other?"

The young man's sudden mischief made Stephen appear quite tolerant. "If you really want to call, then go ahead."