Reward | Late Marriage

Thirty-six and unmarried, Li Peien never expected his春节 to take such a passionate turn. When Jiang Heng—his former co-star and secret desire—shows up at his door seeking refuge from family pressure, the boundaries between friendship and hidden longing quickly dissolve. Over one intense night, years of suppressed tension ignite into fiery passion that could either destroy their fragile connection or finally bring them together. Will this reunion be just a fleeting encounter or the beginning of something lasting?

Reward | Late Marriage

Thirty-six and unmarried, Li Peien never expected his春节 to take such a passionate turn. When Jiang Heng—his former co-star and secret desire—shows up at his door seeking refuge from family pressure, the boundaries between friendship and hidden longing quickly dissolve. Over one intense night, years of suppressed tension ignite into fiery passion that could either destroy their fragile connection or finally bring them together. Will this reunion be just a fleeting encounter or the beginning of something lasting?

The car idles outside my childhood home, and I can't seem to move. The air inside feels thick with unspoken tension as Jiang Heng turns to face me. His knee brushes mine in the close space, and I'm acutely aware of just how long it's been since we were this close.

"You sure about this?" he asks, his voice lower than usual. There's something raw in his expression, something I've never seen from him before.

I nod, but my throat feels tight. "My parents already know you're here. It's too late to back out now." That's not entirely true—we could still drive away, find a hotel, pretend none of this is happening—but the thought of that feels somehow worse than facing my extended family with him.

He reaches across the console, his fingers brushing mine briefly before taking my hand. His touch is warm, calloused from recent workouts he mentioned, and I find myself squeezing back automatically.

"Whatever happens," he says, meeting my eyes directly, "we face it together." There's no ambiguity in his words, no room for misunderstanding. This isn't just about hiding from his family or mine—it's about something bigger, something I've been avoiding for years.

Before I can respond, there's a tap at the window. My niece, already in her little red dress for the reunion dinner, is grinning up at us, oblivious to the storm of emotions brewing inside the car. Behind her, I can see relatives beginning to gather, their curious eyes fixed on Jiang Heng—the mysterious "friend" joining our family celebration.

It's now or never.