That Nameless Summer Chapter 66

That nameless summer

When the plane landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris was wrapped in a layer of dusk. The pale golden sky light diffused through the clouds and fell on the tarmac, which was too gentle to be winter.Song Li dragged his suitcase and walked in front, with the brim of his hat slightly lowered. His left hand was casually inserted into the pocket of his sweatshirt. The matte platinum ring on his ring finger gently rubbed against the fabric as he walked, leaving a slightly cool touch.Ling Qingye followed him half a step away, holding only their thin coats and bags in his hands. His eyes were always on his back, quiet and focused, without any wandering.

They didn’t make any plans or schedule in advance. Ling Qingye only said that he would come and stay for a few days so that he could temporarily put aside his training and take a good rest.Song Li didn’t ask any more questions. He knew this person too well. Ling Qingye would never make meaningless arrangements, and there was a firm intention hidden in every step.But his words were still unforgiving, and he just said lightly: “Don’t delay my return to the team.”

The hotel is located in the Marais district. It is an old-fashioned building that retains a century-old texture. The stairs are narrow and steep, and the wooden floor makes a slight creaking sound when you step on it.The room is not big, but it is clean and warm. The floor-to-ceiling windows face a patchwork of red-tiled roofs, and the spire of Notre Dame can be seen in the distance. The lines are calm and classic.Song Li threw the box next to the bed, rushed to the window, leaned on the window sill and looked down. The pedestrians walked slowly on the stone road, and the warm lamps in the cafe lit up one after another, like stars scattered in the streets.

“Are you hungry?” Ling Qingye hung his coat on the hanger behind the door, walked over to him and stood side by side, without unnecessary physical contact, just keeping the right distance.

“A bit.” Song Li didn’t look back, his eyes still fell on the street, “Just find something close to home, I don’t want to take a detour.”

Ling Qingye responded softly, without mentioning the restaurant he had reserved in advance, or saying anything about the arrangements. He just took out his mobile phone and simply replied a message, then stayed with him quietly, looking at the street scene, the darkening sky, and the Eiffel Tower slowly lighting up its outline in the distance.

Song Li’s peripheral vision glanced at him repeatedly, and he felt something was wrong.Today, Ling Qing talked less than usual, but his eyes were extremely serious, as if he was planning something extremely important. Every time his eyes fell on him, he carried an almost pious solemnity.His fingertips unconsciously rubbed the letters and birthday engraved on the inside of the ring. His heart was pounding, but he still spoke harshly and refused to break the delicate atmosphere first.

Dinner was at the community restaurant downstairs. The French onion soup was thick, the roasted chicken was crispy on the outside, and the baguette was hard on the outside and soft on the inside. Song Li had no appetite, but habitually picked away most of the fries on Ling Qingye’s plate.Ling Qingye looked at him and didn’t speak the whole time. He just silently pushed the fries towards him. His fingertips occasionally touched inadvertently. The two rings collided lightly, making a thin and crisp sound that only the two of them could hear.

When the sky completely darkened, Ling Qingye slowly said, “Go for a walk by the Seine River.”

“Cold.” Song Li frowned immediately, with his usual resistance in his tone.

“Not far, ten minutes.”

“…Okay, hurry up.”

The wind on the bank of the Seine carries the moisture of the river, which is slightly cool but not biting.Song Li put his hands in his pockets, lowered his head, and slowly kicked the pebbles on the roadside as he walked forward, as if he was walking downstairs in his own community.Ling Qingye always walked on the side of him facing the road, blocking him from the passing pedestrians and the evening breeze. Only when he was about to empty the stone steps, he stretched out his hand to gently support his elbow, and immediately released it after touching it. He was measured and not overstepped.

When we walked to the river bank near the Alexander III Bridge, the number of pedestrians gradually became less and less. There were only a few couples walking side by side. On the bridge in the distance, there were street performers playing violins. The melody was slow and gentle, drifting in the wind and falling on the sparkling river.The river reflected the lights on both sides, breaking into a flowing golden light. The Eiffel Tower suddenly lit up at this moment, and the entire tower was wrapped in cold white light. It was not dazzling, but calm enough, like a silent mountain, standing in the Paris night.

Song Li stopped and leaned against the stone railing, staring at the river in a daze. The wind ruffled the broken hair on his forehead, and he didn’t bother to raise his hands to tidy it up. He just stood there quietly, letting the evening breeze blow over his cheeks.

Ling Qingye stood beside him, without speaking or urging him. He just accompanied him to watch the river, the lights, and the illuminated iron tower in the distance.

After a long time, Song Li turned his head and looked at the people around him. His tone was still a bit stiff and awkward, but the tips of his ears turned red uncontrollably: “Why on earth did you bring me here? Don’t tell me it’s just for a walk.”

Ling Qingye met his gaze, without avoiding or joking, and spoke very slowly. Every word seemed to have been weighed repeatedly in his heart, calm and clear: “Song Li, from the first time I saw you in the corridor of high school to now, in all these years, I have never thought of letting go of your hand.”

Song Li’s fingertips suddenly clenched the railing, his knuckles turned slightly white, and his throat instantly tightened, but he still managed not to speak, pretending to look at the river calmly.

“You are tough-talking, trouble-loving, and never say anything when you are wronged. You always pretend to be indifferent, but I know better than anyone else that you are soft-hearted and serious, and you will never look back once you have made up your mind.” Ling Qingye continued, without fancy words or sentimental embellishments, just his true feelings. “What I like has never been the perfect you, but the real, awkward, and gentle you. There is no need to change, pretend, or force yourself to be what anyone likes.”

“In the past, when we were together, we could only rely on each other’s hearts to support each other, and we could only rely on a ring as a promise. There was no ceremony, no proof, and we didn’t even dare to hold hands openly in front of too many people.” Ling Qingye paused, his eyes became more solemn, and there was unquestionable determination in his voice, “But it’s different here, Paris, France, same-sex marriage is legal, we can register, we can sign marriage contracts, we can be protected by the law, and we have the same rights, respect and protection as all heterosexual couples.We can stand in the city hall openly, sign, confirm, and be witnessed, without hiding, hiding, or caring about anyone’s eyes.”

Song Li’s eyes were slightly hot. He raised his head stubbornly and looked at the illuminated iron tower. He blinked hard and pushed back the wetness that came up, but the tip of his nose was still sore uncontrollably.

Ling Qingye bent down slightly and took out a small matte black velvet box from the inner pocket. The box was very thin and minimalist in style, without any unnecessary decoration.He knelt down on one knee, his movements were natural, solemn, and not exaggerated. He did not deliberately create drama. It was more like he was completing something that had been decided for a long time and was just waiting for the most suitable time.

Pedestrians passing by accidentally saw this scene, and they all slowed down and stood at a distance, with gentle smiles on their faces. No one came to disturb, no one took out their mobile phones to take pictures, they just quietly gave a silent blessing.The melody of the violin continued, the river breeze blew gently, and the light from the iron tower fell on the side of Ling Qingye’s face, softening his usually slightly cold outline.

The velvet box was gently opened, and inside lay a pair of matching wedding rings. They were made of wide matte platinum, with no diamonds or patterns. There was a very thin groove on the outside, which could fit together perfectly to form a complete circle.The inside of the ring is engraved with their full names, birthdays, and a tiny line of French text – à toujours.

Forever.

“Song Li,” Ling Qingye looked up at him. There was no joking in his eyes, but seriousness and determination deep in his heart.

“I don’t want a romantic performance, I don’t want a formal ceremony. What I want is a legal engagement, a relationship recognized by law, a companionship that is bound, protected, and recognized in sickness and in health, in good times and bad.”

“I want to register our marriage with you at the Paris City Hall, and sign our names on the document. I want this relationship to be witnessed by the law, witnessed by the city, and firmly remembered by ourselves.”

“I don’t ask you whether you want to stay with me, I ask you whether you are willing to marry me, whether you are willing to enter into a legal marriage with me, and never leave me for the rest of your life, in the name of love and the law as evidence.”

Song Li froze on the spot and opened his mouth, wanting to say the usual “Are you bothered?”, wanting to get angry, wanting to turn away and pretend not to care, but all the words were stuck in his throat and he couldn’t say a word.The tears finally couldn’t help but fall down his cheeks, but he still stared at Ling Qingye, crying with a bit of stubbornness, and his voice was hoarse: “You… you did it on purpose…”

Ling Qingye didn’t smile or get up, he just looked at him quietly, waiting for the only answer.

Song Li took a deep breath and wiped his face vigorously. His ears were completely red. He turned away to look at the river and said in a small but clear voice: “…I know.”

“I want you to say it clearly.” Ling Qingye reminded softly, his tone still gentle, but with an unyielding seriousness.

Song Li turned his head suddenly, his eyes were red, but his eyes were filled with unconcealable tenderness and joy. He bit the words and said word by word: “I do.”

The tense expression in Ling Qingye’s eyes instantly melted away, like ice and snow melting into warm water. He stood up slowly, picked up one of the rings, and gently rubbed the old ring on Song Li’s ring finger. Then he accurately fitted the two wedding rings and put them firmly on his ring finger.The size of the ring is just right, fitting the fingertips. The slightly cool metal touch is quickly warmed by the body temperature, and they fit perfectly, as if they were born to belong to each other.

Immediately afterwards, he picked up another ring and handed it to Song Li.

Song Li reached out to take it, his fingertips trembling slightly, and carefully put the ring on Ling Qingye’s ring finger. The two fitting wedding rings glowed softly and matte under the light, low-key, but full of weight.

Ling Qingye gently held his hand and placed it against his heart. The steady and powerful heartbeat came through his palm, clear and true.

“From now on, you are my legal partner, my husband, and the only family member I have in my life.”

Song Li didn’t pull away his hand, nor did he say soft words. He just leaned his face gently on his shoulder, breathing slowly, with a nasal sound after crying, and his voice was so low that only the two of them could hear: “Don’t go back on your word… and don’t leave me.”

“Never in my life.” Ling Qingye held his hand tightly, and the rings intertwined, making a soft sound, firm and gentle.

They stood by the river for a long time. There was no fierce hug or heavy kiss. They just stood side by side quietly, holding hands, watching the lights flowing on the river, watching the Eiffel Tower twinkling, and watching the night in Paris sinking little by little.The evening breeze is gentle, the music of the piano is melodious, and pedestrians are passing by. All the good things fall into this moment, real and hot.

It wasn’t until Song Li felt a little cold that he took Ling Qingye’s hand, frowned and said, “Let’s go back, I’m going to catch a cold if I stay any longer.”

Ling Qingye followed him back obediently, still walking on the outside, but never letting go. His fingertips were tightly clasped between his fingers, and the two fitting rings were close to each other, warm and warm.

When we walked to the corner near the hotel, there was a small cafe with a warm lamp on. A gray-haired old gentleman opened the door and came out. Seeing their intertwined hands and pairs of wedding rings, his eyebrows arched, a gentle and sincere smile appeared on his face, and he whispered in clear and standard French:

“Félicitations, l’amour est l’amour et rien d’autre.”

Congratulations, love is love and nothing else.

————

The years go round and round, the heartbeat of youth, the loneliness of being alone, and the unspoken concerns in the years of disconnection, all come to perfection at this moment.

They met again in that nameless summer.

We also fell in love, and we spent every day and night with each other in the future.

End of text.

2026.02.13