Mistaken Canary Chapter 78 (Part 1)
Chapter 78.1
Tei Cher didn’t realize something was off with his feelings until half a year later.
One day during winter break, he was at Lae Leon’s house doing homework when suddenly a girl outside called Lae Leon’s name.
It was the class beauty from the next class, standing shyly at the door, her cheeks flushed. “I’m to speak with Lae Leon.”
The implication was clear—outsiders back off.
Tei Cher turned around and went back into the room, feeling restless. Quietly, he tiptoed to the closed door and pressed his ear against the frame to eavesdrop. He heard the girl sweetly say, “This is for you.”
He peeked out and saw Lae Leon accept an envelope.
The girl suddenly noticed Tei Cher, startled, and blushed deeply before glancing at him with embarrassment, then quickly turned and ran away.
“Let me see.” Tei Cher walked out and held out his hand.
Lae Leon was about to hand it over but then pulled it back at the last moment, clutching it tightly in his hand.
Tei Cher felt a surge of frustration. They were so familiar, Lae Leon had even done some quite intimate things for him before, so why did he suddenly have secrets now?
Was he going to be intimate with someone else? Would he even kiss that girl’s face?
The more Tei Cher tried not to think about it, the less he could control his feelings. Watching Lae Leon silently retreat into his room, Tei Cher hurried after him and shut the door behind him.
He grabbed Lae Leon’s shoulder, spun him around, and pressed him against the door, his voice fierce, “Give it to me. I want to see.”
Lae Leon looked up at him, eyes swirling with emotion, seeming even angrier than Tei Cher.
“What do you want to see?” Lae Leon pushed him hard, “Get out.”
Tei Cher froze, then said, “I’m not going back. Do you hate me now?”
“Yes, I really hate you.” Lae Leon turned his back, merciless.
In that moment, it felt like a piece inside Tei Cher’s chest had perished. He felt a sharp pain and his breath caught in his throat.
Tei Cher stood frozen for a long moment, completely forgetting about the pride of being a ‘real man’, tears welling up in his eyes.
He wrapped his arms tightly around Lae Leon from behind, using all his strength, then bit his neck gently.
“No, don’t hate me. I won’t look at those letters anymore. I won’t read anything they write to you.”
Lae Leon turned around, startled for a moment. He gently wiped the tears on Tei Cher’s cheek, sighed softly, and murmured, “Do you even understand?”
Tei Cher didn’t. He couldn’t quite read what was hidden in Lae Leon’s eyes. All he wanted now to be closer, to be the one he’d never resent, the one he couldn’t live without.
So he instinctively used his lips to cover Lae Leon’s mouth, to stop him from saying anything about hate.
Lae Leon made muffled sounds, as if trying to break free, which only made Tei Cher’s heart more restless.
After a while, Lae Leon suddenly bit him back, then took control, slowly showing him that kissing wasn’t just about nipping.
How long passed, neither knew. Suddenly, Tei Cher blushed and said, “My Xiao Lion, help me... I feel uncomfortable again.”
Lae Leon reluctantly stepped back a little, lowered his eyes, and muttered a few curses under his breath.
After a moment, looking at Tei Cher’s earnest face, he asked, “You know buddies aren’t supposed to do things like this?”
“Why not?”
“What if your other good friends did this to you—would you be okay with it?”
Tei Cher’s body soared to the heavens, but his mind plummeted to hell. He blurted out, “That’s terrifying.”
Lae Leon gave a slight smile. “Exactly. You’re such a fool.”
Dizzy and dazed, Tei Cher pondered this. He and his childhood friends grew up running around naked, but now that he’s grown, he has no desire to see their butts or balls.
But he likes his Xiao Lion’s, and he likes letting his Xiao Lion see his.
Right before the climax, Tei Cher glanced at Lae Leon, and suddenly, insight struck.
Not just butts or balls, as long as it was for Xiao Lion, he was willing to do anything.
Lae Leon took a tissue to wipe off, when suddenly he heard Tei Cher say, “I want to hug you.”
“Stop being so annoying.”
“I also want to kiss you.”
“.”
Tei Cher touched his mouth, then suddenly hissed. Sure enough, the next moment Lae Leon leaned over worriedly, “Let me see, is the skin broken?”
Taking advantage of the moment, Tei Cher held his head and quickly returned the learned kiss technique, feeling utterly fulfilled inside.
Nothing could compare to being with his Xiao Lion.
After they cuddled for a while, Lae Leon asked, “By the way, do you still want to read that letter?”
“No,” Tei Cher said, afraid Lae Leon would get mad again.
“Really?” Lae Leon smiled coldly, “It was for you.”
“?” Tei Cher scratched his head, “Nah, it’s fine. I only like looking at you, hehe.”
…
They were secretly dating; only the two of them knew.
Even carefree Tei Cher understood how shocking it was for men to be sweethearts, especially in this small town where it was unheard of.
In ninth grade, Lae Leon forced Tei Cher to study. Every time Tei Cher slacked off, Lae Leon threatened he’d find pretty classmates in high school.
Tei Cher immediately protested, throwing tantrums and demanding kisses before agreeing to buckle down.
Luckily, Tei Cher barely passed the entrance exam, ending up in the same high school as Lae Leon.
Tei Cher’s parents were ecstatic, boasting nonstop about their son in the communal apartment and sending plenty of homegrown vegetables to Lae Leon’s family.
Tei Cher whispered to Lae Leon, “Just think of it as a betrothal gift, okay?”
Lae Leon promptly gave him a good beating.
Both families watched the boys’ roughhousing and laughed happily.
…
Recently, Lae Leon’s mother had bought a camera and secretly snapped a photo of them while they were doing homework.
Lae Leon loved that camera and played with it for over a year, taking countless photos.
…
One day, flipping through a magazine, Lae Leon asked, “Where do you want to go in the future?”
“Hm?” Tei Cher looked up, puzzled. “Go? You mean going to university Mom keeps nagging about? Going to university means I can work an office job, and then we Tei’s will be a respectable family. I’ve heard that so many times my ears are calloused.”
Lae Leon smiled, “Then where do you want to go for university?”
“Don’t know, never really thought about it, it’s still early.” Tei Cher twirled his pencil. “Anyway, wherever you go, I’ll follow. You decide.”
Lae Leon spread the magazine open before him: “I want to go abroad.”
“Go abroad?!”
This was something Tei Cher didn’t even dare to imagine. In his world, their small county was already the largest place he could reach. Even going to Beijing to see Tiananmen Square was considered a huge deal!
“Do you know how big the outside world is?” Lae Leon’s eyes sparkled. “Look here. People here all eat hamburgers. Have you ever tried a hamburger?”
Tei Cher said, “No, isn’t that just a mantou with some meat inside? Eh! These women dress so revealingly, you can even see their belly buttons! I won’t let you go!”
(TLN: Mantou (馒头), often referred to as a Chinese steamed bun, is a white and soft type of steamed bread or bun popular in China. Usually white in color and eaten for breakfast, mantou can also be considered a snack when deep fried and dipped in condensed milk.)
“What do you know? That’s called an open-minded culture, freedom of expression.” Lae Leon flicked his forehead. “Maybe one day we can wear fashionable clothes like that and eat hamburgers every day.”
Tei Cher imagined his mom wearing belly-baring clothes and laughed until he was rolling on the ground.
Lae Leon was amused by the image and chuckled for a while before saying, “Do you know what kind of place allows such freedom?”
“What?”
“I think… it means everyone’s personality and preferences get equal respect,” Lae Leon murmured, imagining it quietly. “Then no one would think we’re strange.”
Tei Cher froze for a moment, curling his finger. “Then let’s go abroad together someday.”
“Alright.”