The man had been struggling with insomnia lately.
Every day after work, he would go home exhausted, but never really tired enough to sleep. He would toss and turn for a long time before finally feeling a little sleepy.
Tonight seemed like another sleepless night.
Just before 4 a.m., he had only just fallen asleep when he woke up again.
The winter sun had just risen, the sky half dark, half light. His dark eyes stared blankly at the ceiling for a while before he slowly got out of bed.
He put on a black sweatshirt and running shoes, silently heading out the door alone.
On the quiet path, with earphones in, listening to music, it was perfect for a morning run.
This had always been his habit. No matter how tired he was, he insisted on it every morning.
In the beginning, he would drag Gu Huai out to run with him. But as time went on, he noticed how much the other hated waking up early, so he stopped forcing him.
After all, it was just running; it didn’t need to be done with someone else.
Running through the empty streets, under the dim lights, he would occasionally think of Ye Mu.
That person, in fact, loved to sleep in more than anyone, but always managed to get up on time to run with him every morning.
When asked why, the person said that running alone was boring.
He remembered just laughing it off at the time, not really agreeing.
But now, for some reason, at this moment, he wished there was someone beside him, running with him.
Even if it was cold in the winter, even if the road was long, he would not be afraid.
He didn’t know when it started, but no matter how many routes there were for his morning run, he would always choose the one that passed by Ye Mu’s house.
Once, twice, three times, four times, five times, six times.
He never encountered that person, but he never got tired of it.
The more time passed, the more he couldn’t understand himself.
In his mind, images crossed and intertwined, and there was always that person over the years.
Smiling, crying, so vivid in his memory.
Did he like him?
The answer was no.
If at the beginning there was more sympathy or pity, then later there was only the familiarity of being in each other’s company.
Between him and Ye Mu, it had never been about love.
Now, all that remained was nostalgia.
Reaching that familiar intersection again, Yan Chen slowed his pace and stopped, silently standing there.
A slight sheen of sweat appeared on his fair, handsome face, but he didn’t notice.
“Buzz buzz”
His phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a call from Gu Huai.
Yan Chen stopped, looking down as he answered the call.
“Where are you?” Gu Huai’s voice was a bit rushed.
Yan Chen’s expression was indifferent. “What’s up?”
Gu Huai frowned tightly. “An email came in last night, involving Ye Mu’s case. It contains a lot of evidence of your crimes from back then. You should come home right now.”
Yan Chen was silent for a moment, his deep voice calm. “Who sent it?”
Gu Huai glanced at the screen and replied, “Chen Mo.”
Yan Chen’s thin lips moved slightly. “What’s his motive?”
He knew this person well. If it wasn’t necessary, he wouldn’t strike so unexpectedly with this evidence.
Gu Huai scrolled to the end of the email, hesitated for a moment, and didn’t answer.
Yan Chen wasn’t in a hurry. He just held the phone, waiting for a reply.
After a while, the cold voice came through the phone. “He’s using this evidence to blackmail us into dropping the charges against Ye Mu.”
Yan Chen stared straight ahead, his dark phoenix eyes void of emotion. “I don’t care, it’s up to you.”
Gu Huai was furious. “What do you mean by that?”
Yan Chen’s expression remained blank. “We each take a step back, or you let me go to prison with him. It’s your choice.”
Gu Huai was seething with anger. “The truth is, you just can’t bear to let that b*stard go!”
Yan Chen sounded tired. “Gu Huai, I don’t want to argue with you.”
Gu Huai let out a cold laugh, his tone sharp, “Then just admit it already. What’s the point of pretending all the time?”
Yan Chen’s expression remained indifferent. “What am I pretending about?”
Gu Huai’s eyes were filled with sarcasm. “You’ve actually liked that b*stard for a long time, but your pride won’t let you admit it.”
Yan Chen remained silent for a moment, leaning against the wall with a detached expression. “Gu Huai, if you keep being unreasonable like this, I don’t think I can continue with you.”
Gu Huai’s eyes immediately turned red. “Just answer me honestly—who do you actually like more, me or him?”
Yan Chen lit a cigarette, barely hesitating before answering, “You.”
Gu Huai bit his lip. “Stop lying. You even went to secretly meet him a few days ago, didn’t you?”
Yan Chen frowned slightly, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “I only went to destroy some documents. The private detective you hired put a listening device on me. Didn’t he report back to you?”
Gu Huai looked down. “Then why do you keep calling out his name in your sleep?”
Yan Chen took a deep drag of his cigarette, the rising smoke softening the sharp lines of his handsome face. “I’ve answered this question before—it’s just a habit. If someone who has been by your side for eight years suddenly leaves, you’d find it hard to adjust too.”
Gu Huai closed his eyes, as if making a difficult decision. When he opened them again, his expression was a mix of restraint and resignation. “After you withdraw the lawsuit this time, will you still keep the promise you made before?”
Yan Chen exhaled a puff of smoke and replied with an even tone, “I promised you I wouldn’t initiate contact with him again.”
Gu Huai smiled bitterly, his voice faint, “And what if you’re lying to me?”
Yan Chen stubbed out his cigarette and, after a pause, said calmly, “Then, like before, you can leave me and go abroad.”
Gu Huai’s smile was full of despair. “Would that affect you at all?”
Yan Chen lowered his gaze slightly. “You wouldn’t understand. Since the day you left, I’ve messaged your account every day, waiting for you to come online, reminiscing about the days we spent together, playing games, chatting, feeling carefree, and the moments of affection. Gu Huai, if possible, I truly wish we could go back to how things were.”
The silence was suffocating.
On the other end of the line, there was no response for a long time.
Yan Chen frowned, just as he was about to check his phone screen, Gu Huai suddenly spoke.
“I wish that too.” Gu Huai bit his lip so hard that it bled.
—Just this once, he thought, let him be despicable, no matter what.
Seeing Gu Huai’s softened tone, Yan Chen’s voice grew low and magnetic. “If that’s the case, should we stop arguing?”
Gu Huai pursed his lips, forcing a dry smile. “No more.”
Yan Chen raised an eyebrow slightly. “Why not?”
Gu Huai turned his gaze away, after a moment of silence, he replied softly, “Because arguing hurts our relationship.”
Yan Chen’s thin lips curved slightly, and under the light, his sharp features appeared both handsome and gentle.
If it were possible, he wanted to be with this person forever.
He loved Gu Huai.
He always had, and he always would. That would never change.
