This can probably be read on its own or skipped without affecting the understanding of the main plot, but hey~ how doesn't love chinaline? ;)

If anyone get curious about the song mentioned in the story, it is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1p9kj-odnU (which can also be a good BGM if you like to listen to something while reading~)

Note: italic means characters are speaking in Chinese (except in the first part because it will just be way too long to do)

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There are only one pair of hands that he remembers,

And it is his mother’s.

Her hands were frail and chippy, skin darkened by the sunlight with thin wrinkles and small red burnt marks on the finger tips.

They were far from the prettiest, but they were always there to hold him to sleep when he got scared of the shadow in the dark, to shower him with care and love even when he rebelliously misbehaved. 

It was those thin fingers and small hands that defined home as he knew and knit them a safety web that Junhui could fall freely without fear and doubt, letting her softness and warmth brighten up the cold world they live in.

In order to survive and pay the bills, her mother has transformed a small second hand metal cart into a steamed bun, xiaolongbao vending stand.  

Early each morning, the mother and son pair has to advance the heavy cart to the main street where many other table already arrived, waiting for customers who quickly lined up in the much tiny avenue only to savor small piece of heaven to start their busy and stressful day until the clock reaches seven that the young boy quickly gathered his school bags and rushed towards school. 
At the sunset, on the crooked roads, the pair again pushed it back as the young Junhui chewed on the best buns that her mother kept aside for him, to the light breeze of the dawn as the sun turned into a bright orange that ressembled the yolk of eggs that only appears on their table during the few rare moment of luxury. 

The wet and oily smell of the streets, the loud cheer and shout of the merchants and the clatter of the wheels on the graves were all fond sounds deep craved into his dearest memories. The hot and humid weather surrounding them in spring and summer days. Still, Junhui never ever even thought negatively of his past shaping him into who he is. Their neighbours of their village were all kind and friendly, and no body hesitated lead a helping hand to the sometime struggling single mother and son. 

Those, to his memories, were the best years of his life. 

Though growing up in a frugal life, nothing never seemed to be missed at home. His mother would always work magic to find everything they need, and the young Junhui was never demanding to begin with. Even with his naturally smartness, Junhui never quite used his intelligence to study. Like all young boys of his age he was far more interested in games and sports, and most of all pranks. His mother scold him a lot, once for painting a mustach on the face of the sleeping uncle living next door, another time for setting a bucket of water on top of the door as the teacher approached their class. 

But Junhui deeply loved her and would never do anything that would hur her, with his frivolity limited to harmless little pranks.

There is no one he could ever cheerish more than his mother and his grandparents that he get excited to meet at each new year. 

His world crashed completely in a cold October day. It was raining and the cloud, low and weirdly calm in the usually noisy alley. 

Junhui felt a tightning in his chest and had difficulty to concentrate in class. By the time school was dismissed and he reached home, a group of elder ladies that her mother befriended were the ones greeting him but the owner was nowhere to be found. 

Their gloomy and saddened expression spoke stronger than words, but Junhui's heart has already dropped to the ground.

One of them made him sit down and patted him in the back as she told him with a shaky voice she desparetly tried to hide that his mother has been transported to the hospital and he should mentally prepare himself.

When he reached the hospital, his grandparents were already there and as the doctor appeared a few moments later and bowed down to them apologetically. Junhui seem to have lost all five senses, not bulging as grandmother hugged him tightly into her arms and chocked on her sobs as his grandfahter squeezed his hand and tried to not let his tears drop down. 

The sky during funeral ceremony was cleared bright and sunny, just as the days that his late mother prefers, the last comfort he had that she will leave in a day that she liked.

Everyone of their neighborhood came to offer their condolence and make their goobye as well as consoling the mourning small family members and offering their help.

While the people slowing made their way out of the church and directed towards the departed's home, a group of dangerously looking men in black suite and sunglasses were waiting in front of their house.

Junhui was called aside by his grandfather and guided to a tall man in a silver grey suit that he has never met before, yet felt weirdly familiar and strangely pained. His grandmother called him and introduce him to what he felt like the biggest joke of all.

His life couldn’t just have turned into some old, badly written drama.

The man introduced himself as the long lost father, the Junhui secretly envied other children for and that for his safety, he'd like his son to live back with him and promised to take care of his grandparents for him.

Poignancy and fury englobed the young boy, sorrowful that the man his mother so fondly loved didn't show a single sign of remorse and enraged that he didn't even bother bid her one last goodbye. He wanted to shout the most venomous words at him, push them out of the door, yell at him that he never had a father and don't need one, he should never have come here and shall never come back. 
Yet a pat in the back, with his large eyes fixed unto his grand father's, he knew he had to swallow that bitterness back and follow them. His grandmother's weak heart has deteriorated greatly those days after her lost and they could never afford those expensive medications added up to the expenses of the hospital visits fo his grandfather's diabetes. Junhui could only accept to see the bank card past below his eyes casting him out of his worriless realm, his childhood. 

The intruder seems quite content with his decision and accorded him ten minutes to pack everything to bring with him.

And soon, after he bid a last farewell to his grandparents and friends, an expensive looking car was pulled in front of them and Junhui jumped into it without second glance back, refuse to let the mist in his eyes drop. 

The trip lasted quite some time with changing scenery to a secluded view as the street change from gravel to earth, more building disappears, replaced by trees. 

Deep in the seemingly forest, on a large open field stood a tall manor, a castle opened to an iron gate and guided by ivy and ferns growing through the crevices of the stone path. 

As they walked pass the white marble fountain with clear water flowing and reached the large wooden door entrance, a butler looking man greeted them and quickly escorted them inside. 

With his feet pressed unto the finely polished marble floor, his eyes were met with a high ceiling hold with a large crystal chandelier, the luxurious tissue covering the furniture and the fine tapestry surrounding the tall windows. Classical art pieces he have only seen from textbooks were hanging all around the hall.  

While he remained somewhat fazed by the whole display of opulence, one of the servant carefully approached him and invited him to a bedroom on the second floor almost as big as their previous house. 

By the time he descended again, a woman much younger than the man next to her wrapped an arm around his neck, welcoming him back with a sweet and chirpy voice. She was stunning, with dark long hair flowing down her shoulder, wearing a sea blue silky dress and diamond earrings that could probably worth his mother's whole belonging. 

Her gaze traced from his father to him and before Junhui's brain could manage to formulate a sentence, she walked towards him with a wide grin that didn't reach her eyes, almost chilling him to the bones. 

"You most be Junhui that your father mentioned, welcome home sweetie!"

Her exquisitely manicured hands pinched his cheeks, leaving a red mark behind, before gesturing towards two other boys much older than him and adding:

"Don't be rude, come greet your new brother, boys" 

The grimace and disgust on their face clearly despite his sudden appearance and the judge looks in their eyes mocked his unpolished and crude background. 

But under the gaze of their father, they still obeyed as said and nonchalantly presented themselves before the youngest of the two, Wenhan asked: 

"I thought you were fifteen, how come you are so skinny and short for your age?" 

His brother, Yibo retorted and asked viciously:

"He mustn't have much to eat from where he come from, you know, like the poor kids on TV that has never probably seen meat before, we shouldn't mock him for that. But do you know how to read though? Have you ever hold a fork before?"

They continued to bombarded him with insolent questions that Junhui silently endured, until the woman observing the scene step in and scold without a hint of accusation:

"Alright boys, be kind to one another" yet the smirk on her lips said otherwise "After all, he'll be your brother starting from now on."

In the following weeks, Junhui did his best to adapt to his new life style, yet still some hard times wrapping his head around getting dressed in button ups and get his breakfast served on a silver platter by maids. No corners of the house are left without a surveillance eye and men dressed in black touring around, mostly for security purpose, yet nonetheless made him tense every moment of the day. 

The few exchange he manages to grasp between the men and women around him confirmed his worries and suspicion that never left him since the first day his father came to him, this family indeed seem to be making their money from some not quite legal and noble ways. The subordinates of the house never tried to hide those from him to start with since he soon has witness all kinds and variations of drugs to weapons trade in front of him. Yet, Junhui still almost puked out the entire content of his stomach when he first saw a human being killed in front of him, but he'll live, like one of the few words his father has ever addressed to him, the world would not change for one, one should learn to endure the harsh world.  

From the day after meeting his new brothers, Junhui has been smart enough to make himself as unnoticed as possible around the house, voiding to attract the attention of his father as much as he can. He even purposely acted uninterested to follow any martial arts or weapon shooting training, or learn any foreign language or economy knowledge, and all other useful home schooled classes his father considered useful for his sons to continue his empire built on blood and tears of others. 

Instead, he buried himself into science and math books, played his role of nerdy, motivationless child perfectly like an actor on Broadway, leaving his new step mother quite satisfied of his attitude, even praising him from time to time to his father to let him "do what he likes."

He has to be careful about everything he does and everything he said under the constant vigilant gaze of his step mother and brothers though they probably aren't stupid enough to harm his life just yet but he couldn't say the same for their subalterns. 

The only things that reminded him that his old life wasn't all a dream, was the grandparents' occasional phone calls with small exchanges reassuring that he was living a happy life his new home and his mother's picture standing beautifully on his dresser that lured him to sleep at night, but when then he had to sleep with an open eye, always on guard, attentive to the slightest sound and changes. 

After a year of living in constant fear and vigilance, 

his father's second hand man by the name of Luhan, pulled him aside one day after a class into a small library room where their head butler was standing there with another boy by his side. 

Both of them quickly bowed to the newcomers and Luhan shortly introduced the stranger to him:

"Minghao, your personal bodyguard from now on."

Eyebrows frowning into a deep crest, Junhui did his best to hide the twisted expression on his face, questioning if it wouldn't be the other way around.

The younger looked like he didn't even weight half as much as him with skinny long arms and legs and a sickly pale face that offered him a faint smile and occasional shy glances. 

His mother told him to never judge a book by its cover but it was darn hard to do right now.

As if he has read the latter's thought, Luhan added, unusually talkative for once:

"He is the butler's nephew and has been specially trained since he was five for this role."

Junhui mentally sighed before approaching closer and rise his right hand. The younger kid looked quite surprised and shyly reached forward.

His fine fingers were porcelain white and long, like those of a doll, almost feminine looking, Junhui swear he heard the latter's bone crack during their quick handshake. Whether it was that woman's idea to show him his place in this house, or his father's method to demonstrate his disappointment in his lack of motivation to become his heir, Junhui could only accept it.

Even after a few months of contact, Minghao was just as timid as they first met, yet also surprisingly sweet and thoughtful, but the fact the younger would follow him around everywhere he go can be quite painfully annoying. The smaller male always seems to be right out side of his door waiting each morning Junhui wakes up and linger by his side each night before he falls asleep.

He seriously just wanted to tell him to leave him alone, but that would leave a reason for the step mother to bad mouth about him and plus, though he wouldn't admit, Minghao's puppy eyes each time he got scold made the task much harder to ask for someone else replacing him.   

So instead, Junhui simply pretended he wasn't there, after all he wasn't sure whether he should trust the younger at all, he might be another pair of eyes that his brothers set next to him to prevent any of his small moves that would hidden their inheritance. 

Once the children of the house have reached sixteen, they were allowed to freely enter and go out of the house, to the condition of a bodyguard following them behind. Junhui was more than excited when that day finally came, and even that irritating Minghao look more appealing because of his good mood. 

He has planned that exit for a long time and announced to the younger as soon as the permission was granted that they would be leaving for the day.

Inside the slick BMW that was given to him, Minghao timidly asked as he watched the latter drive:

"Where are we going, young master?" 

"To my grandparents" quickly replied Junhui, hard to hide the joy in his voice.

A wide grin spread across the younger's face as well to those words since he got so used to receive a cold shoulder, even Junhui couldn't help but smile seeing the neighboring male being happy at such small things.

When they arrived half an hour later, in front of a robust red brick house, standing tall, same as in Junhui's memories,

as soon the pair descended from their vehicle, they were embraced by his grandfather contently waiting for their arrival.

That afternoon was one of the best since a long time, it has been a while that Junhui could speak and laugh freely without worrying or keeping an eye above his shoulder.

His grandma was especially fond of his younger 'friend' (as she called him) and scold Junhui for the younger being too skinny, making their grandson speechless not knowing how was he remotely responsible for that, yet he said nothing in front of her stuffing Minghao another piece of her famous hand made cake. 

They spent the evening exchanging about news and reminiscence about fun episodes in Junhui's childhood days while enjoying all kinds of delicious food prepared for them.

At the end of the day, Junhui reluctantly stood up and announced it was time to leave.

After comforting his saddened grandparents that he'll visit them as much as possible, they hopped into the car with Junhui's gaze lingering at the two elders waving towards them until the car disappeared in the horizon.

"It was fun." Minghao started gratefully "Young master, your grandparents are really nice."

"Do you want to come back with me again?" Junhui asked 

Yet, no response was returned, instead, when he turned his eyes to the younger, a serious expression never seen before was setting on his features.

"Speed up" ordered Minghao, brown orbs locked at the car behind them in the rear mirror "And turn left at the next intersection."

The atmosphere suddenly tensed up and Junhui did as told without asking for an explanation.

Yet even after the turn, the vehicle was still closely following them before Junhui heard Minghao cursed under his breath and pulled a pistoled out of belt saying:

"Slow down, detach your seatbelt and at the count of three, roll off the car." 

It all happened so quickly, Junhui barely grasped the view of Minghao's hand landing on the steering wheel and yelled "1,2,3." and the intense pain as his shoulder hit the gravel. Yet, he was left no time to wince before the younger quickly dodge the attack one of the men jumping down from the car behind and hit the man with such speed and strength making him pass out, before Minghao quickly reached him and past his bleeding shoulder around the other's thin neck and started to run into the forest surrounding them. 

Junhui wasn't stupid enough to behave like those female leads in drama asking in the most inappropriate moment why they were running into the wood, he kept his mouth shut and let the younger guided him around as he bite into his lips to not whimper about the bruises and tried to remain calm knowing the danger situation they probably were in.

Suddenly, Minghao stopped and and pushed him him down of a hill, and bended both of them down to the ground, behind a large log and soon Junhui could hear footsteps in the crackling of the dead leaves. His heart was racing to his throat when a few people were feet away above them so close that he could distinguish their breathing, almost skimming past their hiding spot. Meanwhile, Minghao's finger has moved to the trigger of the small gun he was holding, ready at all moment to make a move. 

Junhui really thought they'd probably not make it out alive, yet seeminly the blessing of God has been giving that day, since the men chasing seem to not have noticed the two boys in not the best concealed place possible.

They still stayed underneath there for another half an hour to assure they are well alone, before Minghao stood up and offered a helping hand which Junhui willingly accepted.

Once they were on their feet again and trailing through the wood, Junhui opened his mouth again:   

"When did they start to follow us?" 

"Probably fifteen minutes after we left" Minghao added, as if he read the latter's mind: "Sir has set cameras and bodyguards around your grandparents’ house since the first day you moved in, so don't worry about them."

Junhui has chills running down the spine, he didn't notice those men following him at all and if the younger wasn't with him, he would probably be already burried in dirt by now. Speaking of which, maybe he could use that moment to test his doubt about the younger: 

"Wouldn't it be better if you handed me to them?"

"If I was hired to hurt you, there was no better occasion than up there in the hill." commented coldly Minghao, eyebrows twisted in a frown "Also, I know this is the reason you have been so hostile to me, young master" making Junhui blush slightly since his excuse has been exposed before it could even come out of his mouth.  

From that day on, Junhui knew how much he underestimated the younger and has ever since be slightly more open to him now that he knew there was no harm intended from the latter in the first place and that he indeed was fit for the job of a bodyguard.

In fact, Minghao was far more interested than he previously thought, from his general personality to his random preferences such as he started to learn Kungfu since he was three and liked video games and books just like him, he couldn't eat cold noodles due to his weak stomach and his cheeks turned into a light pink each time he got teased. Junhui could even maybe call him a friend, like how his grandma thought they were. 

The younger was taken aback at first with his sudden change in attitude, but he also soon got comfortable and started to behave and speak more and more informally to the latter which isn't complaining. They would watch joke around and play harmless pranks to each others, sometime Minghao would sneak into his room and be watching movies until sunrise laying on their stomach on Junhui's large king size bed. Still, Junhui took the precaution of acting distant to the younger in front of others watching eyes as if they have never been close and is grateful that Minghao didn't even flutter an eyelash at his difference in behaviour in public. 

Winter arrived once again that Junhui has lose count of the years he has been forced into his current life,

leaving footprints in the snow, blowing white fume at each breath, of the whole world covered in silvery white, wandering aimlessly in the immense backyard has became his all time favourite moment of self between courses and different both legal and illegal business trades his father has forced him into learning.

His daydreaming was cut short with a familiar voice he grew increasingly fond of:
"Young master, what are you doing outside? it is so cold!"
A petite body ran towards him and Junhui retorted raising an eyebrow:
"There is no one next to us, stop calling me that." 
After a careful scan that there is indeed only the two of them present, Minghao loosened up his attitude and even rolled his eyes before requestioning: "Alright, Jun, what are you doing out here?"

Junhui flashed him a geniun smile and took out a small bottle of maple syrup from his pocket pouring some on the fresh untainted snow scooped with a small paper cone he made, then explained:

"My mom used to make those for us during winter because we didn't have spare money to spend on snacks and that's the closest we got to shaved ice." before offering it to the younger. 

"It does taste like shaved ice." Minghao nodded in agreement once he took a small bite of it. 

Junhui's gaze trailed back to the scenery in front of him and mumbled half to himself, half to Minghao:

"I used to play so often in the snow when I was younger, building snow castle, playing snowball fight with the neighbours' kids until our clothes were soaking wet, yet since we only had a large heater functioning with wood that wasn't very effective, we often got scolded if we ever arrived at home like that state..."

But his nostalgia was cut short by a small sneeze next to him, before Junhui realized the younger was only wearing a thin cardigan and a pairs of running shoes, shivering in the blowing wind.
Frowning at the younger's attire, Junhui quickly slipped off his coat and laid on the latter's shoulder, grabbing the younger's cold hands and blowing warm air on them before locking their fingers:
"Let's head back."

Things went smoothly between them until a newly arrived maid have grown more intimate with his friend, 

taking the chance to chat with Minghao between them whenever he wasn't around. 

Junhui pretended he didn't notice that change, yet with the days passing and the situation growing worth, 

He still ended up one day cornering Minghao to the wall of his room, after seeing the pair laughing together in the end of the hall. 

In front of clueless Minghao raising an eyebrow at that weird position he was in, Junhui asked nonchalantly:

"Who's that maid and why is she always talking to you?" 

The younger shrugged and explained:

"She's Mrs.Li's niece and Mrs.Li asked me to take care of her since she's new here."

"Why did she ask you in particular?" questioned Juhuin again to which Minghao shrug again in response. 

"But she clearly has a thing for you, and they clearly are trying to set you two up, you should probably keep your distance if you don't like her back." suggested Junhui which came out more like a command, frustrated for a reason unknown beyond him.

"Why does it matter to you anyway if I like her or not?" retorted Minghao, starting to lose patience as well after being questioned like this.

"You're my bodyguard therefore your priority should be protecting me instead of flirting around!" Junhui immediately regrets when those harsh words escaped his lips to the sight of a hurt Minghao. 

"It's my job to protect you but I'd have to get a girlfriend, get married and have kids someday, now if you'd excuse me I'd like to do my job of checking on the security cameras" Minghao let out a heavy sigh before walking away, yet Junhui didn't stop him this time, because the he was right, in which position was he in to forbid him to date anyway?

He was just a protégée, a friend.

But that tiny itch on his heart simply wouldn't go away.

For the days after the argument, they have been ignoring each others as an undescrible emotion sprouted inside Junhui increasingly. Minghao still guarded him around, yet in a safe distance and avoiding any eye contact. The situation lasted for a while, until Junhui slowly recognize the joy they share each time their gaze crossed, the anger he has each time he saw the younger being scolded, the faint blush on both of their cheeks upon their awakening when they fall asleep a little too close to each other and most of all, the fear of losing him were all part of something that he craved for so long, that he almost forgot existed. 

But better later than never, so Junhui stood there, leaning on the window with a glass of champagne in hand, in the middle of a large party hold in honour of the owners' wedding anniversary, planned by his step-mother, which was even more extravagent and luxurious than he expected of her.

His eyes were fixed on his younger friend chatting with a group of girls surrouding him and his mind went on to the future Minghao, probably much taller than now, and more mature and handsome, wearing his best suit, standing at the alter, staring lovingly at the woman walking towards him. 

It was then that it became clear that he knew, in fact, he probably knew it all along but his heart was too shadowed by his past sufferings to see, to confirm the bursting feeling in his chest is real. 

He chucked down the fluid in his glass in a shot, before standing up and directing his feet towards the door leading to the glasshouse garden especially set up for the event, knowing the younger would follow him behind playing his role of bodyguard perfectly.

A few guests were already strolling inside, admiring the colorful daffilis, lilies and roses, surprinsly lively in the Winter time.

As some light footsteps running behind him approached close enough, Junhui grabbed the newcomer by the arm and swinged him behind a bush right next to the door and pinning him to the wall. 

Junhui simply ran his thumb down through his eyes, then nose, until it reached his lips before stopping there and leaning in closer, yet a pair of hands pushed unto his chest softly.

He looked down and Minghao said: 

"You're mad." The younger's voice was slightly trembling, yet his eyes were incredibly calm as an unspoken reminder to the elder of the consequence if they were really to continue unto that path.

"Maybe I am." smirked Junhui before crushing their lips together fiercely. 

Never in his dreams, he would have imagined their first kiss being their body pressed against each other, squished behind a tall greenery next to a half closed glass door where they could be seen any second if someone walked in.

Yet, all that matters to him at that moment was those thin lips pressed unto his and the sight of the younger's softly shaking lashes, for this one moment, he threw away all the fear and worries.