Shoutout to Kari for the commission!
His face instantly burned. It sounded like teasing, and even that “Cheng Cheng” felt like a critical hit. Le Cheng’s eyes widened round in the darkness, and after stumbling over his words for a while, he said: “…I’m not…”
“Fine!” Le Cheng reluctantly admitted, “I am a little scared. Zhou Shirui, don’t laugh at me.”
The long trailing note in his voice sounded like he was acting cute. Zhou Shirui’s heart felt as though it had been lightly scratched. He responded with a soft “Mm.” “I won’t laugh at you.”
“Then tell me a story.” Le Cheng said. “I want to hear Little Red Riding Hood.”
Zhou Shirui was very suited to telling stories. His tone was calm and magnetic; this wasn’t the first time Le Cheng had thought so.
“And so, brave Little Red Riding Hood and the hunter joined hands and successfully defeated the Big Bad Wolf.”
Zhou Shirui paused for a moment. “At the end of the story, Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother continued to live happily and peacefully together.”
Le Cheng was growing increasingly drowsy as he listened, his thoughts running wild, and he couldn’t help asking, “Why do fairy tales always end like this…”
“Because they are…” Zhou Shirui thought for a moment. “Fairy tales.”
“So fairy tales all have happy endings.” Le Cheng turned over. “Then what about real stories?”
“Real stories have to be more logical.” Zhou Shirui said. “So there aren’t that many happy endings.”
“Okay.” Le Cheng thought that made a lot of sense. He rubbed his eyes. “I’m sleepy. I want to go to sleep.”
“Mm.” Zhou Shirui’s voice softened. “Good night.”
“Okay.” Le Cheng said. “Good night.”
Just before the call was hung up, Le Cheng suddenly spoke again. “Wait.”
“Mm?”
“Zhou Shirui.” Le Cheng asked, “Do you prefer real stories, or fairy tales?”
The survival instincts he had relied on all his life made Zhou Shirui instinctively want to say “real stories,” but after a long while, he slowly spoke. “Fairy tales.”
“Le Cheng,” Zhou Shirui said, “I like fairy tales.”
I like good endings. No matter what it is, right at this moment, with you.
Le Cheng was a little surprised. It felt as though something inside his heart had been stirred, and he gave a vague “Mm.” “Then… good night.”
After hanging up, Le Cheng lowered his eyes and looked at their chat window. Moving his fingers, he changed [Client Senior Zhou] to [Zhou Shirui].
Fairy tales were nice. He liked them too.
Clearly, he had already made his decision, and everything he had imagined was moving in a good direction, yet Le Cheng always felt uneasy inside.
Why?
Le Cheng touched his chest. What was it because of? Clearly, once they talked things through, everything would be fine, and they wouldn’t have to be like this anymore. Yet he wasn’t happy at all. He was even a little anxious.
Could the movie have been too scary and affected him?
Le Cheng curled up beneath the covers, closed his eyes, and tightly squeezed his fingers.
Perhaps he really was as timid as Zhou Shirui said. Even a horror movie could affect him.
***
Without a computer, Le Cheng could only slack off on his tablet.
He hadn’t slept well last night and had strange dreams. One moment, he dreamed that he was swimming in the sea; the next, he dreamed that he was breaking up with Zhou Shirui. Zhou Shirui agreed, but said that they would never have anything to do with each other again for the rest of their lives. In the dream, Le Cheng couldn’t understand. He went after him, but then the scene changed, and Zhou Shirui said, “Idiot, I was just lying to you.”
Such bizarre and fantastical dreams left Le Cheng, unusually, with two dark circles under his eyes. Yawning nonstop, he doodled away on his tablet.
He was absentminded, unable to stop replaying the dream in his head. By the time he came back to himself, he realized that he had unconsciously drawn one of the scenes from his dream.
It was of him and Zhou Shirui, before they talked about breaking up, watching the stars from a lighthouse in Antarctica.
He remembered that in the dream, when he turned his head, he saw Zhou Shirui’s profile. Beneath the deep blue, tranquil sky, brilliant auroras swayed before them. It was so peaceful, so beautiful, that it made one want to engrave the scene in their mind forever.
Le Cheng stared at the drawing for two seconds. Without even editing it, he directly paired the image with some music and posted it on Douyin.
He hadn’t drawn Zhou Shirui in quite a while. While the image was being reviewed, Le Cheng put down his phone and went to eat breakfast.
As he drank his soy milk, Le Cheng casually opened Douyin. The notifications in his inbox had already piled up to 999+.
He tapped into them and read through them one by one.
[Qiang Qiang Qiang: I’m crying after getting to eat such heavenly food again, sob sob.jpg]
[Amber River: It’s been ten years, artist. You finally remembered our male-model teacher from the shores of Daming Lake.]
[Banban: I thought I was seeing things because I’m getting old!!! I’m eating eating eating!! Chomp chomp chomp!!! Chomp chomp chomp on your butt!!! Tie the artist up!!! Hurry up and draw another thousand pictures!!! Not drawing them??! I’ll chomp your butt!!! Chomp chomp chomp!!!]
[Hot Latte Please: It’s been so long that I thought our male-model CP had died.]
[Invincible Big Pineapple: This is wonderful. So it turns out that, where we couldn’t see them, the artist and the male model were doing well too, sob sob.]
[Only Love-Hate, Sea-Deep Feelings: Come back to life!! My CP!!! Come back to life!! My male-model artist!!]
Le Cheng looked at the screen, unable to describe how he felt.
It was different from the last time, when he thought Zhou Shirui was going to break up with him and thought they would never have anything to do with each other again for the rest of their lives.
This time, the feeling was more subtle, his heart was unsettled, rising and falling. Clearly, this time he was the one who wanted to bring it up. He wanted to change their relationship. He called it breaking up, but it wasn’t exactly a breakup, because they could still be friends.
That anxious, unsettled feeling kept throbbing against his nerves. After Le Cheng finished reading the comments, he didn’t reply to any of them.
It wouldn’t be good to deceive everyone. Once he and Zhou Shirui talked things through, he would explain it in the comments as well.
He didn’t have class that morning, so around noon, he went to pick Zhou Shirui up after class.
Even from far away, he could clearly make out Zhou Shirui. He was simply too tall. He was dressed very simply, but that alone was enough to draw people’s attention. Le Cheng took two steps at a time and hurried over.
Zhou Shirui took his bag and asked, “Are you hot?”
“Not really,” Le Cheng said.
Zhou Shirui shifted the bag to his other hand and walked shoulder to shoulder with him. His fingers hung loosely at his side before naturally reaching over to take Le Cheng’s hand.
They had done this action countless times over the past month, but Le Cheng pressed his lips together slightly and then, without making it obvious, gently pulled his hand free.
Zhou Shirui paused slightly and turned his head. “What’s wrong?”
“Um…” Le Cheng raised his hand and fanned himself in front of his face. “It’s too hot.”
Zhou Shirui stared at the slightly upturned tip of his nose for two seconds. “Do you want something to eat?”
“Then I want ice cream,” Le Cheng said. “Will you buy it for me?”
“I’ll buy it for you.” Zhou Shirui didn’t take his hand again, and there was no telling anything from his expression.
Le Cheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet at the same time, he felt a strange sense of disappointment.
Such behavior wasn’t necessarily intimate, because ordinary friends could hold hands too. But since they were going to draw boundaries and change their relationship, Le Cheng silently thought, he should start getting used to it in advance.
The weather had already become somewhat hot, and a long line had formed at the place selling ice cream. Zhou Shirui lined up for him while Le Cheng stood nearby, propping his chin on his hand as he watched him.
He could still look at him in the future, but right now, he just wanted to look at him a little longer.
After sitting there for only a short while, Le Cheng silently stood up again, walked over to Zhou Shirui, and asked, “Are you hot?”
Zhou Shirui reached out. His long fingers touched Le Cheng’s neck, feeling his temperature. “Are you hot?”
“No.” Le Cheng dodged slightly, his big eyes curving as he couldn’t help laughing. “It tickles, tickles…!”
“I was thinking, there are so many people.” Le Cheng frowned with some hesitation. “Let’s not wait anymore.”
Zhou Shirui withdrew his hand. “Didn’t you want to eat it?”
“I want to eat it, and that means you have to buy it for me?” Le Cheng stared at him.
“Mm.” Zhou Shirui did not avoid his gaze and answered directly and honestly.
Le Cheng felt a little embarrassed under his gaze. He lowered his eyes slightly, hesitated for a while, then asked, “Zhou Shirui, are you the kind of person who has a strong sense of responsibility?”
The topic changed too abruptly. Zhou Shirui paused for a moment before saying, “Yes.”
“What is it?”
“Nothing.” Le Cheng looked at him eagerly. There were words stuck in his chest, but he couldn’t say them.
Actually, he wanted to ask: Then, are you treating me so well now because of the responsibility of being a boyfriend, or because you see me as a friend?
Or was it both?
Perhaps because of his preconceived notions, even though Le Cheng’s impression of Zhou Shirui had changed again and again, it still retained the things he had learned from reading the novel at the very beginning.
But there was no point in asking this question. He didn’t want to keep deceiving him, yet he also wanted to maintain things as they were. That would be a double standard, selfish. He couldn’t do that.
After waiting for about another ten minutes, they finally bought the ice cream. Le Cheng took a bite and casually asked, “Has my computer been fixed yet?”
Zhou Shirui looked at his lips and tongue, which appeared and disappeared as he ate the ice cream, and unknowingly became distracted. Le Cheng asked again before he finally answered: “…Not yet.”
“Not yet?” Le Cheng said. “Is it very difficult?”
“No.” Zhou Shirui said. “Some files and software were automatically deleted by the virus. I’m helping you recover and organize them.”
“Okay.” Le Cheng trusted his technical skills. “What about Xiaobai’s?”
Zhou Shirui said, “I’ll give his back to him very soon.”
Le Cheng wanted to ask if Xiaobai’s was easier to sort out, but after turning the words over in his mind twice, he didn’t say them aloud.
He couldn’t help thinking that they had both been playing games, yet the virus Xiaobai got was actually less severe than his. It was so unfair.
So annoyed that he kicked a small stone by the roadside.
Zhou Shirui noticed his little movement. Because of the computer, Le Cheng suddenly remembered something. “That game you made before, when is it going online?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
“Saturday?” Le Cheng calculated.
“Yes.” Zhou Shirui pressed his lips together. “After it goes online, it’ll be the full version. There’s an Easter egg at the end… do you want to try it?”
“An Easter egg?” Le Cheng tilted his head. “Sure. I’ll give it a try then.”
“But…” Le Cheng frowned a little, troubled. “Will it be very difficult? I’m really bad at games.”
“It won’t.” Zhou Shirui pondered for a moment. “It won’t be difficult for you.”
“Okay.” Le Cheng agreed. “I’ll play it.”
“Mm.” Zhou Shirui stared at him. “Don’t forget.”
“Okay.”
***
Saturday arrived quickly.
The game launched at eight o’clock, and sales rapidly soared. Zhou Shirui’s studio was called [ZONE], and before this, they had already released several highly praised games. Le Cheng watched from his computer as the game continuously climbed the rankings, and he couldn’t have been happier.
Although he hadn’t participated in making it, he had played a part in it too.
For example, that CG.
The other people in the studio all suggested getting together to celebrate.
After discussing it for a while, they all decided to hold it directly at Zhou Shirui’s flat.
It was close by, spacious, had plenty of rooms, and they could even sleep there directly.
Le Cheng and Zhou Shirui arrived at the flat together by car. Zhou Shirui had ordered food and alcohol. Le Cheng sat in the room for a while and drank some water when he heard someone knocking on the door.
Zhou Shirui was busy making something in the kitchen and couldn’t come, so Le Cheng quickly went over.
He opened the door.
“Brother Rui!” Wei Fangyuan was the first to shout, carrying things in his hands. When he saw Le Cheng, he smiled. “Le Cheng? Where’s Brother Rui?”
“Mm.” Le Cheng said. “Zhou Shirui is in the kitchen. He’s busy. Come in quickly.”
Wei Fangyuan said with a smile, “Alright.”
Sheng Ye and Qian Lin, who were following behind Wei Fangyuan, came in as well. They put down their things and said as they walked inside, “D*mn, it’s still cooler in here. The temperature outside must be around 23 degrees.”
“It’s not even summer yet. Why is it already so hot?”
“The weather changes too quickly. I checked the forecast, it says it’ll cool down again the day after tomorrow. Seventeen degrees Celsius.”
Le Cheng naturally began putting the things away. Squatting on the floor, his slender, fair fingers picked through the items. Wei Fangyuan came over to help him. After thinking for a moment, Le Cheng asked Zhou Shirui, “Where should I put this?”
Zhou Shirui glanced at it. “The cabinet.”
“Oh, okay.” Le Cheng nodded. He casually put the item into the cabinet, then clapped his hands. He also straightened some decorations on top of the cabinet that had become crooked. When he turned his head, he discovered that Wei Fangyuan was watching him.
Confused, he asked, “What is it?”
“Nothing…” Wei Fangyuan shook his head. He looked at Le Cheng, then at Zhou Shirui, his gaze moving back and forth between the two of them. For some reason, he felt something that was difficult to put into words.
What kind of feeling was it?
Wei Fangyuan sat down and took a sip of an opened Coke. The slightly sharp carbonation hit his mouth, and suddenly, he understood.
Oh…
It was that they had the feeling of an old married couple.
That very natural, well-matched feeling, as though they had already been living in this home together for a long time.
Wei Fangyuan didn’t know where this feeling came from. Maybe it was the impression Le Cheng gave people. Even though he had only met Le Cheng a few times, he could tell that Le Cheng had a very good personality and was a child who had grown up in a healthy family.
This good nature had nothing to do with whether or not his parents spoiled him. There was a sense of steadiness about Le Cheng, like a flower growing toward the sun, and also like a mirror, reflecting on Zhou Shirui the completely opposite side.
Two people whose inner natures were very different, yet they looked very well matched.
Wei Fangyuan couldn’t figure it out. Le Cheng had already put on his slippers and was pattering into the kitchen to help.
“Wow, so much food.” Le Cheng was a little excited. “Can we finish all of this?”
“We can.” Zhou Shirui glanced toward the living room. “You underestimate the appetites of those three.”
Le Cheng smiled. “Okay, then you have to keep your voice down.”
“Hm?” Zhou Shirui turned to look at him.
“Don’t let them hear you.” Le Cheng said, his eyes sparkling brightly.
Actually, it wouldn’t matter if they heard.
But the meaning behind those words naturally placed the two of them on the same side.
It was a rather nice feeling. Zhou Shirui’s lips curved slightly, and he didn’t refute him. “Mm.”
The dishes were soon placed on the table. Everyone sat scattered around the dining table, and Wei Fangyuan poured drinks for everyone. When it was Le Cheng’s turn, he hesitated for a moment. “Does Le Cheng drink?”
This was Zhou Shirui’s home, and for some reason, that realization gave him an even greater sense of security. Le Cheng nodded. “I drink.”
“Alright.” Wei Fangyuan filled his glass.
The group chatted casually as they ate, and before long, they had already finished half the food.
Only then did Le Cheng completely believe what Zhou Shirui had said.
With everyone here, there was no need to worry about even a bit of food ending up in the garbage can.
Time passed second by second. The sky faded from orange into a vast expanse of black.
“Last summer, I even went to a concert. Being there in person was really awesome.” Sheng Ye had the worst alcohol tolerance. After drinking fewer than three bottles, he was already a little drunk. Letting out a beer burp, he said, “It was so incredible. I invited you guys, and you wouldn’t even go… no taste…”
Qian Lin shot him a sideways glance. “Are you sure it wasn’t because you couldn’t find anyone else? Besides, you and your girlfriend at the time had seats in the front row, while the tickets you gave us were in the very last row.”
Sheng Ye was dissatisfied. “Hey, hey, hey. Aren’t tickets in the back still tickets? Do you know how good it sounds when they start playing the electric guitar? You regret not going now, don’t you?”
“Thanks,” Qian Lin said. “At least I’m not dead yet.”
Wei Fangyuan said, “Alright, enough. Have some drinks, have some drinks.”
“But now that I think about it,” Wei Fangyuan said with a smile, “Brother Rui, don’t you play the electric guitar too?”
Zhou Shirui hadn’t even reacted yet when Le Cheng quickly asked, “Really? You play the electric guitar?”
“Mm, of course. Why would I lie?” Wei Fangyuan said. “I remember there was a high school arts festival once. A performer suddenly couldn’t go on, so they called Brother Rui in to save the day. He played the electric guitar.”
Le Cheng had a hard time imagining it, because he had always thought electric guitars seemed rather wild. Zhou Shirui playing one? What would that look like?
“Yeah, I’d completely forgotten about that.” Sheng Ye said. “On such a great day, why don’t you show everyone what you’ve got?”
Zhou Shirui said flatly, “It’ll disturb the neighbors.”
Le Cheng had originally wanted to join in and urge him on, but upon hearing that, he drooped in disappointment. “Huh? …You really can’t play?”
Zhou Shirui glanced sideways at him. “You want to hear it?”
Le Cheng’s eyes sparkled. “Mm! Is that okay? I want to hear!”
That expression was as if all the stars in the sky had fallen into his eyes, making him very difficult to refuse.
“…Okay.” Zhou Shirui’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “But I haven’t played in a long time.”
“Oh, it’s fine!” Le Cheng immediately stood up. “But didn’t you say it would disturb the neighbors?”
“Go close all the windows,” Zhou Shirui said. “I installed soundproofing panels. The sound insulation is very good.”
Le Cheng obediently went to do it. Wei Fangyuan even went to turn off the lights, leaving only the ambient lights along the wall. Having witnessed how quickly Zhou Shirui had changed his tune, Sheng Ye couldn’t help taking a drink. “Such a double standard. He’s completely forgotten his friends at the sight of a pretty face! Forgotten his friends at the sight of a pretty face!”
Qian Lin said, “Who told you that you don’t have a pretty face?”
“Shut up,” Sheng Ye said unhappily.
After closing the windows, Le Cheng came back and saw Zhou Shirui already sitting casually on the sofa. A black-and-white electric guitar rested across his long legs. Its sleek, beautiful shape made it clear that it was expensive, and his long hands were lightly plucking at the strings as he tested the sound.
Le Cheng immediately sat down across from him. “I closed them all!”
Zhou Shirui raised his eyes and said nothing, the very next second, an impassioned melody suddenly exploded through the living room.
The distinctive texture of the electric guitar echoed around their ears. His long, clearly defined fingers moved up and down across the strings, and the intense melody instantly pulled everyone into a strange and thrilling journey.
Because he was at home, Zhou Shirui wasn’t wearing a jacket, only a black undershirt. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing a section of his strong forearms, the muscles taut with clean lines. The dim blue light of the ambient lamps fell across the side of his face, outlining the tip of his nose and his jawline to perfection.
The calm, restrained air he usually carried suddenly disappeared. As he played the electric guitar, he revealed an untamed wildness to the fullest. Le Cheng unconsciously stared at him, his heartbeat trembling continuously along with the electric guitar.
After playing the final note, Zhou Shirui set the electric guitar down. Le Cheng stared blankly for a moment before remembering to applaud.
“So amazing.” Le Cheng’s eyes were wide open, and he enthusiastically praised him. “You played so well!”
Seeing his expression, Zhou Shirui’s tense body finally slowly relaxed. His lips lifted slightly. “Mm, it was okay.”
Le Cheng thought Zhou Shirui was truly being too modest.
Watching this, Wei Fangyuan thought that his brother had really managed to show off.
Before they had even finished eating, after putting the electric guitar away, Le Cheng suddenly slapped his forehead.
He scrunched up his face, drawing Zhou Shirui’s attention. “What’s wrong?”
“Ah… I forgot to record it just now…” Le Cheng looked very regretful.
“Why did you want to record it?”
“That way… I could take it out and listen to it whenever I wanted.” Le Cheng said as if it were only natural.
Zhou Shirui said, “If you want to hear it, I can play it again.”
Le Cheng paused and raised his head, looking into his deep, dark eyes.
A heart swollen full from being soaked in alcohol felt an inexplicable sadness at this moment.
After several rounds of drinking, nearly everyone at the dinner table was drunk.
Le Cheng was no exception, though he wasn’t the least clear-headed one. Sheng Ye and Wei Fangyuan were already swaying drunkenly, while Le Cheng barely managed to prop up his face, his eyelids fighting each other as they drooped and lifted.
At the entire table, the only ones still able to talk were Zhou Shirui and Qian Lin.
Qian Lin stood up unsteadily, feeling very dizzy. He exchanged a glance with Zhou Shirui and pointed at Wei Fangyuan.
“Mm,” Zhou Shirui said. “Help him into a room.”
“Okay,” Qian Lin agreed.
Zhou Shirui lowered his head and looked at Le Cheng, who was lying facedown on the table, with only a small patch of his fair cheek exposed. It looked soft and adorable. Zhou Shirui stared at it for a while, then reached out and pinched that little bit of flesh.
Le Cheng hummed and whined after being poked by him. He couldn’t help scratching his cheek, a soft gurgling sound coming from his throat.
Zhou Shirui’s heart suddenly softened. He scooped Le Cheng up, and Le Cheng, as though he had no bones in his entire body, leaned against him like an octopus. Dazed, he asked, “S-sleeping…?”
“Mm.” Zhou Shirui spoke softly. “It’s time to sleep.”
“N-no…” Le Cheng suddenly began struggling. “I, I have to brush my teeth…!”
Unable to do anything about him, Zhou Shirui carried him to the bathroom. When Le Cheng couldn’t find the toothpaste, Zhou Shirui held his hand and squeezed toothpaste onto the toothbrush for him.
Le Cheng obediently watched his movements, his big eyes completely focused. Even though Zhou Shirui was holding his hand, it never occurred to him to pull it away. After the toothpaste had been squeezed out, Le Cheng foolishly curved his lips into a smile. “Wow… you’re so amazing!”
Zhou Shirui was slightly taken aback. “Hm?”
“You know how to squeeze toothpaste…” Le Cheng poked Zhou Shirui’s chest with his finger. “Zhou Shirui, I don’t even know how to squeeze it…”
Zhou Shirui held his hand and laughed. “Because you’re drunk and can’t see clearly.”
“…Okay.” Le Cheng tilted his head. His gaze was incredibly unfocused, yet his eyes were also so bright. “I’m going to… brush my teeth! You’re not allowed to watch me!”
“Mm.” Zhou Shirui didn’t argue with a drunk person and simply went along with him. “I won’t watch you. Go ahead and brush.”
Zhou Shirui turned his head and pretended to leave, and only then did Le Cheng obediently brush his teeth.
After fussing around for more than ten minutes, Le Cheng finally finished washing up. Zhou Shirui carried him to the side of the bed. Le Cheng looked as though he had fallen asleep. Zhou Shirui quietly watched him for a while, tucked him in, and had just stood up when he was suddenly grabbed again.
Le Cheng opened his eyes and looked at him. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to take a shower,” Zhou Shirui said.
“Oh…” Only then did Le Cheng slowly let go of him, like a little robot with a delayed response. “Go shower… When you’re done… keep me company…”
This was a little different from how Le Cheng usually was. Though he was just as adorable, at this moment, Le Cheng possessed the particular straightforwardness of a small animal.
“Mm.” Zhou Shirui touched his face. “I’ll be right back.”
After quickly taking a shower, Zhou Shirui returned to the room and saw Le Cheng with his face buried in the blanket and his butt sticking up, looking like an ostrich.
He walked over and dug him out. Le Cheng was uncomfortable from being moved and groggily opened his eyes. His cheeks were flushed red. “Zhou Shirui…”
“Mm.” Zhou Shirui was rather dissatisfied with him burying his face in the blanket. “Come here. Lie down properly.”
Following his movements, Le Cheng lay flat. His eyes shimmered with moisture as he stared at Zhou Shirui for two seconds. Then, acting rather strangely, he suddenly climbed up and demanded, “Zhou Shirui… tell me! D-do you like me?”
The topic changed too quickly. Zhou Shirui was slightly taken aback, but he quickly reacted. “Mm. What is it?”
“Really?” Le Cheng stared straight at him, then suddenly pouted. “Hmph… I don’t believe you…”
Zhou Shirui frowned. Before he could answer, Le Cheng had already turned over, once again presenting his backside to him. Afraid that he wouldn’t be able to breathe properly, Zhou Shirui reached out to pull him out, only to hear him muttering something quietly.
Zhou Shirui paused slightly and leaned closer to listen.
“I, I want to… um… break up with you…”
He suddenly froze. It felt as though his heart had been tightly clenched. Zhou Shirui’s expression turned cold, and he directly pulled Le Cheng out, turning his face toward him with neither too much nor too little force. “What did you say?”
After being pulled out, Le Cheng looked at Zhou Shirui’s extremely cold expression. But he was truly drunk, so he wasn’t afraid at all. His eyelashes slowly fluttered, and suddenly, he laughed. He reached out and tapped the tip of Zhou Shirui’s nose, then threw himself into his arms, happily saying, “Haha, I was lying to you!”
This unpredictable attitude sent his emotions soaring and crashing. Zhou Shirui didn’t move for a long while. Taking a deep breath, he reached out and lifted Le Cheng’s chin, his tone very serious. “You’re not allowed to casually say things like that.”
“No…” Le Cheng turned his face away. His eyes had closed, as though he were about to fall asleep. “I wasn’t saying it casually…”
The latter half was too quiet, and Zhou Shirui didn’t hear it clearly. He pulled Le Cheng down and tucked him under the covers. His emotions still hadn’t calmed. He reached out and held Le Cheng around the waist, as though he could only feel safe by touching him.
But Le Cheng suddenly moved and turned over, consciously rolling into his arms. Reaching behind himself, he hugged Zhou Shirui and buried his head against his chest.
He was still quietly saying something. After the shock from before, Zhou Shirui struggled for a moment before finally lowering his head to listen.
“Hug… hug…”
A hug.
The indescribable turmoil in his heart was suddenly soothed. Zhou Shirui was silent for a moment, then held Le Cheng even more deeply.
“Okay,” he said softly. “Hug.”
Once he was holding him, he would never let go again.
