Sunrise and Us
[📘 Content Warning:
This story contains Boys’ Love (BL) themes. Reader discretion is advised. Please read the disclaimers mentioned in the Instagram post.]
The fire crackled gently, sending tiny sparks into the night as the four of them sat huddled in a loose circle.
Beer bottles clinked, skewers sizzled over the flame, and soft music hummed from a speaker perched on a nearby rock.
The air smelled of grilled meat, smoky wood, and the cool mountain breeze that swept in from the river.
Chen leaned back on his elbows, stretching his legs toward the fire.
His gaze drifting to Yibo and Zhan sitting close together, Yibo with his knees drawn up, one arm resting casually behind Zhan, and Zhan holding a beer bottle between his hands, fingers slowly rotating the cold glass.
“You know, Zhan-ge…”
Chen said, voice a little loose from the alcohol.
“… this guy really needs someone like you.”
Lele nodded instantly, nudging Chen’s knee with his own.
“For once, Chen’s right. Only someone like you can actually handle him, Ge.”
Zhan gave a soft smile but didn’t respond, taking a quiet sip from his bottle.
Yibo scoffed, turning his head toward them.
“Come on, I’m not that hard to handle. In fact, Zhan-ge should feel lucky to have me. Right, ge?”
He threw a mischievous grin at Zhan.
Zhan didn’t even try to suppress the laugh that escaped.
“Of course. I’m blessed.”
He said playfully, leaning just a little toward Yibo.
Chen chuckled.
“No, seriously. We’re happy for you guys. Yibo… he really needed someone in his life. He shouldn’t always be alone, you know?”
The firelight cast a warm glow across Zhan’s face as he reached out and placed his hand gently over Yibo’s.
“He’s not.”
Zhan said, glancing at Chen with soft certainty.
“Not anymore. Not as long as I’m here.”
Lele tilted his head, his voice soft but steady.
“But ge, you both know it’s not going to be easy, right?”
Zhan smiled faintly, eyes dropping to the ground.
He took a slow gulp from the bottle in his hand, the firelight flickering in his lashes.
Yibo watched him closely, quietly.
Zhan leaned forward, voice low but sure.
“We know. It’s not gonna be easy… it might be difficult. But not impossible, right? I think for now, that’s the hope we need.”
As he spoke, he turned to Yibo, his fingers tightening just slightly around his hand, and asked.
“Right, Bo?”
Yibo nodded with a smile, eyes steady.
“Yes.”
He glanced down at their joined hands, then up at Zhan with a slow, quiet smile… like the kind of happiness he didn’t know how to put into words.
Lele and Chen exchanged a glance, then both nodded in quiet agreement.
The night stretched on, filled with soft banter, occasional bursts of laughter, and the comfort that comes from being surrounded by people who truly see you.
The flames died down to glowing embers, and the music faded into the hush of mountain winds brushing through the trees.
Around midnight, Yibo pushed himself to his feet and stretched.
“Alright, guys. We should sleep. Gotta get up early for the trek tomorrow.”
Lele smirked, glancing sideways at Chen before whispering a little too loudly.
“See, Chen? He wants to go back early. We know why.”
Chen laughed.
“Yeah, someone’s in a hurry to snuggle in that cozy tent.”
Yibo rolled his eyes.
“Shut up, guys. Have some shame.”
Zhan looked down, hiding his face behind the curve of a smile.
One by one, they put out the remnants of the fire, cleared up the bottles, and made their way toward the tents.
The campsite fell into a quiet hush save for the soft rustle of sleeping bags and the hush of river water nearby.
And under that dark sky, with stars scattered like stories untold, they slipped into the kind of peace that only comes from feeling like you belong.
—————————————-
Inside the tent, everything was quiet but for the soft rustle of sleeping bags and the distant hum of the river.
Zhan lay curled against Yibo, his head resting gently on Yibo’s shoulder.
A gentle stillness hung between them, as if the world had paused just for this moment.
After a quiet moment, Zhan lifted his face, eyes searching Yibo’s.
Then their lips met in a slow, tender kiss… unhurried, full of quiet meaning.
As they pulled back just enough to breathe, Yibo’s voice was soft, almost hesitant.
“You like coming here, ge?”
Zhan smiled, his fingers softly running over Yibo’s chest, feeling the warmth through his tee.
“You don’t know how happy I am.”
He murmured.
“I never thought I’d get to live moments like this, Bo. All thanks to you.”
He pressed a slow kiss to Yibo’s neck, holding him tighter.
Yibo didn’t say anything for a while… just held Zhan closer to his chest, like holding a quiet cat curling into warmth, content and safe.
Yibo’s hand slid slowly over Zhan’s cheek, a heartfelt smile playing on his lips.
“You’re here with me now, ge. That’s what matters, right?”
A mischievous spark lit up Zhan’s eyes as he smiled.
“Oh really? Just that matters? Is that enough? I mean, I thought you promised me all kinds of things to get me here. Where did all that go?”
Yibo blinked.
“What promises?”
Zhan gave him a look.
“Seriously, Bo…?”
Then Yibo paused… and realization hit.
A slow, sly smirk curved his lips.
“Oh… you mean those promises.”
Zhan narrowed his eyes, amused, but before he could say more, Yibo had already slipped his arm around Zhan’s waist and rolled him onto his back in one smooth movement, pinning him beneath.
Zhan giggled, cheeks flushing pink.
“You really need a reminder for this?”
He asked, breathless with laughter and fond disbelief.
Yibo smiled and leaned in, brushing their noses together before capturing Zhan’s lips in a slow, lingering kiss.
It deepened gradually… hungry, possessive, like he’d been holding back for far too long.
His lips trailed along Zhan’s jaw, then lower to his neck, where he licked deliberately before sinking his teeth in with a gentle, claiming bite.
Zhan let out a breathy moan.
Immediately, Yibo covered Zhan’s mouth with his hand, grinning as he whispered.
“Shhh, ge… keep it down… if those two hear you, they’ll roast me alive. Do you want those two clowns teasing me till I die?”
Zhan chuckled into his palm and nodded, eyes shining with amusement and desire.
Slowly, clothes fell away in a quiet flurry of touch and want.
And there, in the dim hush of the tent, under the weight of stars and the warmth of shared laughter, they made love.
Slowly, then wildly…. passionately, then gently.
Yibo moved over Zhan slowly, deliberately, his breath shallow against Zhan’s cheek.
“Don’t make a sound.”
He whispered, voice hoarse and low.
“They’re right next to us.”
Zhan nodded, lips parted, his eyes already clouded with want.
But the second Yibo began to move, his body reacted instinctively, his back arched, breath hitching.
His moan rose sharp and high in his throat—
Yibo covered Zhan’s mouth again in an instant, his palm firm and warm.
His gaze met Zhan’s, dark and steady.
And his voice a ragged whisper against Zhan’s ear.
“Sorry, ge… I have to do this.”
He breathed with a quiet grin.
“If you make a sound and if they hear us, we’re both dead. They’ll never let us live it down.”
Zhan, eyes wide and glazed with pleasure, could only nod beneath him, unable to look anywhere but at Yibo.
His fingers dug into Yibo’s back, holding on as if it would help him stay quiet.
But every deep thrust pushed him closer to the edge, his body trembling, desperate to cry out as he tilted his head back.
Yibo moved deeper, faster, chasing his release, control slipping more with each second.
His hand still pressed over Zhan’s mouth, silencing every moan… yet their eyes locked, the pleasure shining in Zhan’s gaze impossible to hide, mirrored by the wild fire burning in Yibo’s.
Zhan bit down on the inside of Yibo’s palm, desperate to stifle the sounds spilling from his throat, teeth sinking in just enough to hold back the moan rising in his chest.
His eyes squeezed shut, breath trembling.
Yibo winced at the bite but didn’t pull away.
Instead, he leaned closer, gaze locked on Zhan’s, his voice a breathless whisper.
“Shhh…. I know it’s too much, ge… just a little bit more… am… I’m almost there.”
Yibo began moving faster.
Just as he felt himself getting close, he moved his hand from Zhan’s mouth and crashed their lips together in a deep, desperate kiss, swallowing his broken gasp.
His hand slid down, fingers curling around Zhan’s length, stroking him in a smooth, steady rhythm that matched his deep, pounding thrust.
Yibo came hard, spilling inside him with a growl, his body jerking and just moments later, Zhan followed, a trembling moan muffled by their kiss.
They came together, wild and breathless, like they couldn’t get close enough.
He collapsed against Zhan with a heavy sigh, still catching his breath.
His face buried in the curve of Zhan’s neck, trembling and breathless in his arms.
While Zhan, just as shaken and gasping for air, held him close, hearts pounding in sync.
For a moment, the world was breathless.
Then only silence.
Only the soft sound of their breathing, skin against skin.
“O-okay…”
Yibo mumbled, voice hoarse and muffled.
“Pretty sure I’ve just risked my life for that.”
Zhan let out a soft, breathless laugh, running his fingers lazily through Yibo’s damp hair.
“You mean because of the noise?”
Yibo groaned dramatically.
“Because of you, ge. Those sounds you make… they make me want to go even harder. But tonight? They’re a damn risk.”
Zhan smirked, tilting his head to nudge Yibo’s temple.
“With the way you were moving, how the hell was I supposed to stay quiet? So much for silence, racer boy.”
He let out a low, breathless laugh, still catching his breath.
“Alright, we’re done and dusted, and nobody heard a thing.”
Yibo lifted his head just enough to grin.
“Who said I’m done?”
Zhan gasped, narrowing his eyes in mock outrage.
“Shut up and sleep now. We have to get up early in the morning, remember?”
He gave Yibo a pointed look, then smirked again, softer this time.
“You’ve risked enough for tonight. And I might not be able to keep quiet a second time… So, if they hear anything, don’t you dare blame me.”
He gave a light flick to Yibo’s forehead, playful but firm.
“So, sleep.”
Yibo pouted, clearly reluctant, but nodded.
“Fine…”
He muttered, dragging the word out with a dramatic sigh.
They both sat up slowly, bodies still warm and heavy from everything they’d shared.
In comfortable silence, they cleaned up, slipped back into their clothes, before curling back beneath the blanket together.
Yibo curled into Zhan, laying his head against his shoulder, arms wrapping around Zhan tightly like he never wanted to let go.
As his breath began to slow, Zhan gently took Yibo’s hand, brought it to his lips, and pressed a soft kiss over the bite mark inside Yibo’s palm.
“Sorry, Bo…”
He whispered.
Yibo chuckled, his eyes crinkling with warmth.
“Don’t be sorry, ge. It’s all part of the game.”
He winked, teasing, and Zhan rolled his eyes with a quiet smile.
—————————————–
The night had grown cooler, and under a single shared blanket, Zhan held Yibo in his arms.
His arms wrapped around Yibo, pulling him close in the kind of hug that said everything words couldn’t.
Just let the silence wrap around them like a second blanket.
Then, Yibo’s voice came again, quiet but thoughtful.
“I’ve been missing all my races.”
Zhan shifted just slightly.
“Illegal races, you mean.”
Yibo made a face, lifting his head just enough to pout at him.
“I can’t afford professional racing, neither do I have the kind of resources for training. I go with what I can. It’s still my passion.”
Zhan looked down at him, brushing a thumb along his jaw.
“I know, Bo. And that’s why I never stopped you. Even if I don’t agree with it, I support you… because I know how much it means to you.”
Yibo grinned suddenly, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he propped his chin on Zhan’s chest.
His whole expression lit up like he was about to say something completely ridiculous.
“Ge, when we have a boy, I’m gonna train him to be a racer.”
Zhan blinked, his eyes wide as laughter bubbled up… half shock, half disbelief.
“When we have a Boy?! Who’s going to give birth, you or me?”
He let out a short laugh, eyebrows raised.
“I didn’t realize we were rewriting the whole biology tonight.”
Yibo gave him a playful nudge in the chest.
“I didn’t mean like that, ge. I meant we’ll adopt.”
Zhan blinked, his smile faltering for a moment, caught off guard by the weight of what Yibo had just said.
They’d never talked about a future like this.
Not out loud. Not seriously.
His heart stuttered in his chest as he looked at Yibo, something deep and warm flickering behind his eyes.
“You’ve really thought about this, huh?”
Yibo nodded, curling their fingers together between them.
“Yeah. We’ll adopt a baby boy. I’ll teach him everything about bikes, engines, racing lines. He’ll grow up with oil on his hands and speed in his blood. And he’ll bring home trophies… we’ll be so proud of him.”
Zhan couldn’t help the way his lips curved.
There was something so tender in hearing Yibo talk about a shared future.
A family.
“And what about books? Poetry? Painting?”
Zhan asked with a teasing tone.
“What about my side of things?”
Yibo chuckled, eyes glinting.
“Yeah, for that… we’ll have a baby girl later. She can learn all that from you. The boy will be mine, and the girl will be yours.”
Zhan laughed.
“So we’re having two kids now?”
“Why not?”
Yibo said with a shrug.
“But first, a boy.”
Zhan rolled his eyes fondly.
“Okay, what are we naming this future racing champion of yours?”
Yibo didn’t even hesitate.
“Rowan. Rowan Xiao Wang.”
He looked up, hopeful.
“Nice, right?”
Zhan blinked, stunned again.
Yibo hadn’t even paused to think, he already had a name.
A real one.
“You already picked a name, Bo?”
Yibo tightened his fingers around Zhan’s and smiled.
“Yeah, ge. I’ve thought about all of it. Us. Our home. Our kids. A quiet life. We’ll be so happy.”
He paused, eyes soft and steady.
“And you… you’re the reason I can dream about all this. Because I trust you. I know you’ll be there with me to see it all come true.”
Zhan couldn’t help but leaned in and kiss him… a soft, lingering kiss full of emotion.
But when they pulled apart, Zhan saw a flicker of worry pass across Yibo’s face.
“Ge, I just hope it really happens one day.”
Yibo said softly.
“I hope whatever we have… it never fades. That it never breaks.”
Zhan’s brows pulled together.
He reached up, brushing Yibo’s cheek.
“Why would you say that?”
Yibo didn’t answer right away.
So Zhan continued.
“As long as I’m with you, Bo… I won’t let anything touch what we have. Whatever dreams you carry for us… I’ll fight the whole world to make sure they come true. Just stand beside me.”
Yibo looked at him, a spark of emotion rising in his eyes.
“I will never leave your side, ge. You’re all I have. You know how much I love you, don’t you?”
Zhan met his gaze, a quiet determination shining in his eyes.
“I know, and your love is the only strength I need to face whatever comes our way—no matter how hard it gets.”
Zhan’s voice softened, eyes glistening with emotion.
“If I ever fail… it’ll only be because you’re not by my side.”
Yibo tightened his hold on him, shaking his head gently.
“You’re never going to be alone in this, ge. Not now, not ever. As long as I breathe, I’ll be right here… with you.”
They kissed again, gently.
Then Zhan pulled the blanket up over them and said.
“It’s already late, we should sleep now.”
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Yibo’s forehead.
“Good night, Bo. Love you.”
Yibo smiled, eyes already drifting shut.
“Good night, ge. Love you more.”
He wrapped his arms tighter around Zhan.
And just like that, wrapped in warmth and each other, they both slipped quietly into sleep.
———————————————–
Next day before sunrise, the four of them set off for their trek, sleepy-eyed but buzzing, the thin, cold air urging them on so they could reach the viewpoint in time for sunrise.
The trail wound through thick trees, wildflowers blooming along the edges, and the sound of the river somewhere below kept them company.
Lele, like always, was the loudest one joking around.
Just five minutes into the trek, he was already pretending to be exhausted.
Chen laughed at his drama and passed him a bottle of water.
When they finally reached the peak of the valley, they stood there in silence, catching their breath, the sky still cloaked in soft pre-dawn blue.
They waited, eyes fixed on the horizon.
And then, slowly, the sun began to rise… spilling light over the mountaintops, golden beams pouring across the valley like a blessing.
It was breathtaking.
Chen and Lele whistled, grinning at the perfect view, like the sunrise itself was their reward for making it all the way up.
Zhan quietly reached for Yibo’s hand, their fingers intertwining.
They turned their faces toward each other, golden light brushing their skin, eyes meeting in a moment that felt suspended in time.
“Let this sunrise be one we’ll never forget.”
Zhan whispered, his voice soft, full of something deeper.
“The first of many we’ll watch together.”
Yibo smiled, stepping closer until their shoulders touched.
“It already is…”
He murmured, eyes never leaving Zhan.
Then, together, they looked back out toward the horizon… where the sun continued to rise, slow and golden… and so did their hopes.
It felt like one of those perfect memories meant to last a lifetime.
Then came the photos – group shots, silly poses, individual snaps, and quiet candid moments that would later remind them not just of the view, but of how it felt to be there together, at that exact moment in time.
Before noon, they were back at the campsite, the tents packed, the last of the trash thrown away, the embers of the bonfire cold and grey.
They loaded into the car again, tired but buzzing with a quiet joy that only came after a good day.
The drive back was filled with soft music, sleepy laughter, and the smell of leftover barbecue still clinging to their clothes.
Lele and Chen nodded off now and then in the back seat, their heads bumping against each other.
Zhan sat beside Yibo as he drove, both of them staring ahead at the road, but every now and then, their eyes met.
A look.
A silent smile.
A memory passed between them.
Because they knew…
They knew how much this trip meant.
The laughter.
The shared silence.
The stolen kisses under the stars.
The warmth of a body held close through the night.
The dreams they had spoken out loud, and the quiet promises made in between.
The feeling of being young and free and together.
It wasn’t just a getaway.
It was their beginning.
A memory neither of them would ever forget.
And as the car wound back through the curves of the road, with sun filtering through the trees and the soft thrum of tires on gravel…
They were still smiling, fingers intertwined… holding on, quietly… to the moment and to each other.
[To be continued…]
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Author’s Note:
Heyyy, you made it to the end of the chapter! 😄
Hope you enjoyed it — and if you did, please don’t forget to like & comment on my Insta post. 💖
Think of it as your way of telling me, “Hey, I’m here, and I loved it!” — it means the world to me and truly keeps me inspired to write more for you! ✨
The Red Ribbon 