— Nobelium has come out to his family, causing a significant uproar on their end. As a result, we have decided to temporarily separate. It seems reasonable, considering I was the one who influenced him to explore his sexuality. Since parting ways, many things have become clearer. Uncertain about what the future holds for Nobelium and me, I find myself missing him terribly.

This passage is the preface written by Yu.

It was this text that prompted Lin’er to send a private message to Yu using an administrative ID.

Over the two years after Yu and Nuo graduated, their relationship deepened. During a holiday visit home, Nuo came out to his family. Despite years of subtle hints and clues, it appeared that Nuo's parents were caught off guard by his official coming out. The situation deteriorated, freezing the air with tension.

Having lived for over two decades, Nuo was slapped by his father for the first time and then locked in confinement. This unexpected reaction from what he believed to be accepting parents left Nuo in shock. Before being forcibly deprived of his phone, Nuo sent a WeChat message to Yu.

Wang Nuo: "I've come out to my family. Don't worry, I'll be back in a few days."

Yu did not wait for Nuo in the end, and Nuo ended up waiting for Yu. When they finally met again, they both appeared dishevelled.

Nuo's mother reacted like a madwoman upon seeing Yu at the door, grabbing a trike and beating Yu. Inside the house, Nuo leaned against the door, listening to the muffled sounds, nearly breathless.

Nuo was unaware of what Yu had said to his parents allowing him to gain entry. But upon opening the door and seeing Yu standing there, tears dried on his face.

Yu's mouth and forehead were bruised, with who knows how many more bruises elsewhere. For the first time, Nuo felt calm, in a situation that was utterly absurd.

The man standing in front of him was still the same person he met, exuding warmth even in such a dire situation. However, he had lost weight and appeared worn out, with the muscle definition he worked so hard for now diminished. Looking at Nuo, this was in Yu’s brain.

"Before coming out, why didn't you at least inform me? Hm?" Every word Yu uttered trembled, his voice as soft as unreachable clouds. "Why go on a hunger strike? Hm?"

"You haven't shaved in a few days, have you?" Nuo spoke in a dry, hoarse voice.

He was truly exhausted.

"Let's have something to eat first, OK?" Just like in the past when Nuo comforted Yu when he had a cold, but now more tenderly.

Nuo's eyes were full of Yu, mechanically nodding his head.

Nuo ate some cold food brought in for lunch and then found a pharmaceutical spray for Yu. Yu stopped him from unbuttoning his shirt to continue applying the spray. "Auntie only gave me fifteen minutes." Eight minutes remained. "Do you still remember this?" Yu reached out and touched the Ping buckle hanging around Nuo's neck.

How could he forget? It was the night of Yu's graduation when they escorted Jing back to the hotel, and she gave one to each of them. Jing said, "I chose these two Ping buckles at first sight, hoping they will accompany you both on the path ahead."

She then said to Nuo, “Nuo, I've never seen Yu cherish someone like this before. He has become so gentle. This is all because of you. I sincerely hope for a good result for both of you. You've done nothing wrong, but you will face many difficulties ahead."

Jing's words were heartfelt, making him feel that his mother would also be like this. Since then, both he and Yu have worn these amulets.

"I thought that after all these years of preparation, things would be a bit easier; it seems I misjudged the results of the dependent variables under different conditions."

Yu's body stiffened, noticing the dimness in the eyes of the young man before him.

"I thought their initial shock was due to not being calm yet. I thought that once they calmed down and saw me this way, we could talk things out. I tried to make my parents accept using a mix of affection and rational logic. Now, it seems impossible."

The incessant repetition of the words his mother had just spoken to Yu kept echoing in his mind, magnifying with each repetition. He had never imagined that his highly educated mother would utter such vulgar words.

He felt incredibly foolish, truly foolish beyond belief. How could he be so naive? Despite being able to find reasoning within dense numbers and formulas, he failed to provide a clear answer to his emotions. Because, amidst all the mathematical symbols, there wasn't a symbol for "love."

Yu's lips stiffened into a thin line, trembling hands unsteadily wiping away the tears on Nuo's face. It was the first time he saw Nuo’s cry.

"Nuo, we need some time apart."

Nuo looked at Fuyu in disbelief as he uttered those words. Yu knew how cruel it was to say those words after what had been said earlier. It was as agonizing as cutting his own heart out with a knife. "I promised Auntie to separate from you... for a while. To give you some time to figure out."

"Figure out what? Whether I can still change back to being straight?"

Loving someone has nothing to do with what lies beneath. Who still couldn't understand this simple truth?

"Yes." Yu couldn't help but feel bitter and resentful in his heart. Nuo's mother's repeated words, "Wang Nuo has always liked girls since he was a child, is what you're doing fair to him? Is it fair to our family?" made Yu's remaining sanity crumble, leading to his final concession.

Fuyu touched the Ping buckle on Nuo's neck. Initially, he wanted to say to him, "You are the one I have chosen, the daughter-in-law approved by my parents. As long as you are the solution to my x? y?=1, we will be together." He dared to fight against the world's biases, but he could not ignore these prejudices that kept his most beloved and dearest person away from his heart.

They will prevail for a lifetime when they overcome worldly affairs and views; otherwise, keep him in my heart for the rest of your life.

"How long?" Nuo absentmindedly asked and self-answered, "Maximum value, one month." After being together for so long, how could he not know what was going on in this man's mind?