That sentence nearly melted Xie Lanzhi’s heart.
Qin Shu was still staring at him with those reddened eyes, unblinking, as if waiting for an answer. Normally, in any setting, he could speak appropriately and with perfect poise—but facing this little junior, for a moment, he was struck speechless.
Maybe in times like this, actions mattered more than words?
Xie Lanzhi’s hand slid, as it had long wished to, to Qin Shu’s waist. With a small tug, the soft, pliant junior fell straight into his arms.
His waist was even slimmer than Xie Lanzhi remembered.
Now that he had support, Qin Shu no longer needed to hold himself up. He burrowed his head into Xie Lanzhi’s white shirt and repeated what he had just said: “I’m not as interesting, not as cute as her… What should I do, brother… hic.”
Xie Lanzhi’s breath caught—Her? What her?
His rationality returned at last, and he realized something was off in Qin Shu’s words. The little junior seemed to be comparing himself to someone else, imagining he’d already lost, and was so aggrieved that he’d spoken those words.
Of course, it was possible he was just drunk and rambling. But Xie Lanzhi was willing to believe the grievance was real.
The boy in his arms stopped moving, and his breathing gradually evened out.
“Qin Shu?” Xie Lanzhi called softly.
No response.
Xie Lanzhi shifted him into a more comfortable position, letting him rest his head on his lap. Qin Shu’s tightly knitted brows relaxed, one hand still clutching Xie Lanzhi’s tie, as he sank into deep sleep.
Leaning down, Xie Lanzhi murmured in a voice only the two of them could hear, knowing full well the other wouldn’t: “How could anyone be more interesting, more cute than you.”
The driver pulled the car into the underground garage of Xie Lanzhi’s home and asked, “This lad is really out cold. Want me to help carry him up?”
“Thanks, Uncle Chen,” Xie Lanzhi said, “but carrying him—I’ll do it myself.”
He stepped out first, then scooped Qin Shu up in a bridal carry. Seeing how effortless he made it look, the driver couldn’t help but click his tongue. “Ah, the strength of youth.”
Xie Lanzhi opened the door to his home. Hearing it, Snowball immediately rushed to the entryway, but this time the master didn’t stop to pet her. Instead, he went straight to the bedroom, setting Qin Shu down on his bed.
As his cheek touched the soft pillow, Qin Shu rubbed against it contentedly, showing no sign of waking.
Sleeping in formal wear would never be comfortable. Xie Lanzhi took off his suit jacket, pulled off his tie, tossed them aside, and unfastened the cuffs of his shirt before walking to the bedside and looking down at the boy.
Qin Shu was asleep, quiet and obedient, without the least guard up. Even if something were done to him now, he probably wouldn’t notice.
Xie Lanzhi removed his jacket, slipped off his tie, and carefully unbuttoned his shirt, planning to change him into something loose and clean.
Everything went smoothly—until Qin Shu’s pale chest came into view. Xie Lanzhi, calm a moment before, suddenly froze. His gaze involuntarily fell to two places.
One of them… he’d once “made hurt.” The memory tugged a smile at his lips.
He fetched a rarely worn T-shirt, changed Qin Shu into it, then pulled off his trousers, glanced at those long legs, and tucked him under the blanket.
After all that, Xie Lanzhi poured himself a glass of cold water.
A song in an unfamiliar Japanese tune began to play—it was Qin Shu’s phone ringing. Taking it out of his trousers, Xie Lanzhi saw the caller ID, went to the living room, and answered.
“Hello?”
The person on the other end was clearly startled. “Who are you? Where’s my little brother?”
“Qin Shu is sleeping, I’m his senior,” Xie Lanzhi said. “He’s drunk.”
“I’m his brother, Qin Hua.”
Xie Lanzhi chuckled. “Older Brother.”
Qin Hua: “???” Isn’t this senior a little too familiar?
Qin Hua didn’t dwell on it for now and asked, “Is my brother very drunk?”
“Very,” Xie Lanzhi glanced toward the bedroom, “completely out, didn’t even get his seven hundred thousand’s worth of banquet money back.”
Qin Hua cursed in frustration. “D*mn, I told them to go easy on him.”
Xie Lanzhi said flatly, “Didn’t you want him to drink everyone else under the table? Moutai, Fenjiu, Erguotou—never bow before the King of H*ll?”
…Who was this guy, knowing way too much.
Qin Hua asked again, “Where’s my brother sleeping?”
“At my place.”
Qin Hua didn’t find that strange—everyone has a few close friends. “Then I’ll trouble you. I’ll treat you to a meal at your school another time.”
“Alright.”
After hanging up, Xie Lanzhi went to check the master bedroom. Qin Shu was still asleep in the same position as before. He picked up his own phone and sent a WeChat message to Lu Rulu.
【Shuimenjian: Did you say something to Qin Shu?】
Lu Rulu instantly shot back a three-part denial.
【Red Carp, Green Carp and Donkey: (It wasn’t me, I didn’t, don’t slander me.jpg)】
【Shuimenjian: .】
【Shuimenjian: He already told me.】
【Red Carp, Green Carp and Donkey: Holy sht999, no way he did!!!】
【Red Carp, Green Carp and Donkey: Outrageous, this is betrayal of our □□!】
Even without more info, Xie Lanzhi could more or less guess.
Driven by panic, Lu Rulu began spamming.
【Red Carp, Green Carp and Donkey: I swear on four, I only told Little Love Letter. He was in a bad mood at the time, and I blurted it out.】
【Red Carp, Green Carp and Donkey: Brother Lanzhi, I’m sorry! (Dogesa.jpg)】
【Red Carp, Green Carp and Donkey: I sincerely apologize for my ignorant loose mouth!】
【Shuimenjian: After you told him, how did he react?】
【Red Carp, Green Carp and Donkey: emmm, at first he was fine, just thought you were blind, said the player you liked must be some green tea.】
Xie Lanzhi slowly typed a question mark.
【Red Carp, Green Carp and Donkey: Later, he seemed less and less calm. He even bribed me with a drumstick, asked me to investigate which player you liked, said he wanted to save you from fire and water.】
【Shuimenjian: ……】
What was this—the player doesn’t know itself? I’m jealous of myself?
【Red Carp, Green Carp and Donkey: Brother Lanzhi, honestly, both I and Little Love Letter think a player isn’t a good match. Maybe consider… liking someone else?】
【Shuimenjian: Not changing.】
【Red Carp, Green Carp and Donkey: ???】
Even if all the other fish in the sea were gone, even if they were still there, he wouldn’t change.
So… Xie Lanzhi put down his phone, reached out, and lightly brushed Qin Shu’s eyelashes.
Can you give me all of your liking?
When Qin Shu woke up, the sky was already fully dark. He lay in the blankets, dazed for a long while. The familiar scent on them made him realize he was at Xie Lanzhi’s place.
He remembered drinking a lot at the wedding, Xie Lanzhi blocking the last glass for him, then being taken away—it turned out he’d been brought home.
Qin Shu exhaled into his palm; sure enough, it still smelled of alcohol. He lifted the blanket and discovered he was wearing a large T-shirt, only underwear below. He instantly froze.
So… Xie Lanzhi had changed his clothes?
Qin Shu collapsed back into bed with a thud, writhing around like a worm.
Hearing movement, Xie Lanzhi walked in. “Qin Shu?”
Qin Shu stopped wriggling immediately. Hiding under the blanket, only his black eyes peeking out, he whispered, “Brother…”
Xie Lanzhi turned on the light. “If you’re awake, get up and eat something.”
Qin Shu nodded vaguely. “Where are my clothes?”
“On the chair.”
He changed back into his shirt and slacks, then went to the dining room. Takeout had just been delivered. Qin Shu’s face brightened. “Claypot porridge for dinner, I love that.”
Xie Lanzhi asked, “Anywhere uncomfortable?”
Qin Shu checked himself, then concluded, “Just hungry, nothing else.” He hadn’t eaten much at the wedding, only drank.
Besides a big pot of shrimp porridge, there were seven or eight delicate dim sum dishes. Qin Shu had half a bowl of porridge and two shrimp dumplings, his stomach easing. “Brother, thank you for today.”
“Not a bother,” Xie Lanzhi paused, “you’re very obedient when drunk.”
“Really?” Qin Shu rarely got drunk, so he had no idea how he behaved; if Xie Lanzhi said he was obedient, he probably just slept the whole time. “Oh right, Brother, the flowers I gave you?”
“They’re with my mom,” Xie Lanzhi said. “She’s better at taking care of them.”
After dinner it was already eight. Qin Shu played with Snowball the cat for a while, then said, “I should head back to the dorm.”
“It’s still early,” Xie Lanzhi said. “Stay a while longer.”
Qin Shu blinked. “Stay… and do what?”
Xie Lanzhi smiled faintly. “What do you want to do?”
Qin Shu’s heartbeat jumped. “I—I don’t know.”
Xie Lanzhi took a step closer. “Then… let’s do something.”
…Do something? This late at night, just the two of them—what thing could that be?
Xie Lanzhi murmured, “Are you nervous?”
The distance between them had long surpassed what was normal for a conversation. Xie Lanzhi seemed freshly showered, carrying a faint, clean scent of body wash. Qin Shu thought of his own alcohol-reeking self and quickly took a step back. “I’m not.”
“But your face is very red.”
“I already told you,” Qin Shu said softly, “I blush whenever I see you.”
“I remember,” Xie Lanzhi said. “And why is that?”
“Because you’re too good-looking.”
“Xu Ning is good-looking too. Do you blush when you see him?”
“No. He and Chu Cheng are the real pair.”
Xie Lanzhi raised his eyebrows. “So you’ve completely let go of that?”
Qin Shu froze for a few seconds before realizing Xie Lanzhi was talking about Xu Ning. “I let it go a long time ago.”
Xie Lanzhi nodded. “If you don’t like them anymore, then who do you like?”
Without thinking, Qin Shu blurted out: “I like—”
You.
Qin Shu’s eyes widened in shock.
He could always see through other people’s feelings so easily, but only now did he finally recognize his own.
He liked Xie Lanzhi. There was no need to think about it—he could answer instinctively, right away. He just liked Xie Lanzhi.
Author’s Note: Progress bar for “finally realizing it” complete!
