Chapter 6

Xu Er felt as if he had been dreaming for a long time.

He awoke in what seemed like the middle of the night, his mouth feeling a bit dry.

Then his mind underwent a series of rapid changes.

There was water by the bedside, something off about the pillow, a faint fragrance—someone was beside him?

With a swift motion, Xu Er sat up and instantly cleared his mind, scanning his surroundings.

His brain processed everything so quickly that surprise had already taken root before he finished looking around. Only then did his mouth involuntarily utter a soft, “Ah.”

That sound was just right—not too loud, not too soft—enough to wake the person beside him.

In the dim light, Xu Er saw the dark silhouette beside him stir slightly. He turned around, followed by the click of a switch, and the room brightened.

Xu Er first adjusted to the light, then met the sleepy gaze of a man with curly hair who slowly turned back toward him, eyes half-closed and drowsy.

After a nontraditional two-second eye contact, Xu Er blurted out the second thing he said after waking up that night: “Song Ruichi, you’re so handsome.”

Having said that, he immediately averted his eyes, randomly glancing elsewhere.

It wasn’t that he meant to say it—it just slipped out.

He laughed to himself.

Honestly, he didn’t even know why those words came out.

Probably because waking up in the middle of the night, realizing the situation, and calming down to see a person beside him with tousled hair from sleep, a dazed gaze yet clearly defined features, made it impossible to hold back such a boast.

That was the only explanation.

The one being praised suddenly laughed.

It was indeed quite funny.

So, the next moment, Xu Er quickly tried to say something normal: “Where is this?”

Song Ruichi lay back comfortably, closing his eyes and resting his elbow on his forehead. “My place.”

Xu Er continued, “Why am I at your place?”

Song Ruichi responded, “Good question.”

Though the words were simple, they carried a deeper meaning: maybe you should ask yourself what you did yesterday.

Xu Er immediately felt guilty.

He started searching his memory.

But all he could recall was the apple-flavored cocktail.

“I…” Xu Er guessed hesitantly, “drank too much?”

Song Ruichi clearly replied with two words: “Isn’t it?”

Xu Er nodded: “True.”

He then asked, “What did I do?” Thinking a bit more, he added, “Something stupid.”

“Something stupid,” Song Ruichi echoed, confirming the term.

Then he fell silent.

Xu Er waited and waited, wondering if Song Ruichi had fallen asleep. Finally, the man spoke.

“You said you didn’t want to go home, asked me to hold you, carry you, sleep with me, and…”

Song Ruichi stopped there, leaving Xu Er wide-eyed and utterly shocked.

His eyes were even wider than when he first woke, and his tone suddenly heightened: “Ah? Really?”

Song Ruichi remained silent.

Xu Er took that as confirmation and felt even more guilty.

Was this how he acted when drunk?

“What else did I ask for?” Xu Er asked timidly.

Song Ruichi opened his eyes slowly, turned his head gently, and met Xu Er’s gaze: “Don’t remember anything?”

Xu Er confessed honestly: “I remember the first half of drinking.”

Song Ruichi chuckled softly: “Hm.”

Then he turned his head back.

What did that mean?

What did it mean?

“Mr. Xu,” Song Ruichi closed his eyes again, returning to his previous pose, “I’m so tired.”

Xu Er hesitated a moment and said, “Sorry.”

Song Ruichi smiled again, this time warmly, raising his hand as if to touch something.

Xu Er instinctively leaned his head closer.

It was a familiar gesture—Song Ruichi gently ruffled Xu Er’s hair from side to side.

“No need to apologize,” Song Ruichi withdrew his hand and said, “Lie down and sleep.”

Xu Er acknowledged with an “Oh” and obediently lay down.

At the same time, he heard Song Ruichi say, “Want to know what else you asked for?”

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After asking, Song Ruichi turned off the light.

With a click, the room plunged into darkness.

Xu Er settled in comfortably, hands on his chest: “Mm,” he said, then added, fearing Song Ruichi hadn’t heard, “I want to know.”

Song Ruichi seemed to pull the blanket up, and Xu Er felt it rise slightly on him.

“Are you fully awake now?” Song Ruichi asked.

Xu Er nodded: “Awake.”

Song Ruichi said, “You said the same thing yesterday.”

Xu Er pursed his lips.

Though Song Ruichi’s tone was normal, Xu Er faintly sensed a hint of grievance in it.

“Yesterday…”

Xu Er swallowed nervously: “Did you… hold me?”

Song Ruichi laughed again—for the umpteenth time tonight: “You ask that question?”

Xu Er was puzzled: “Huh? What else?”

Song Ruichi: “No else.”

Xu Er felt wronged: “What’s that supposed to mean?”

What’s that supposed to mean?

Saying nothing—what exactly did he do?

“Nothing, nothing at all,” Song Ruichi sighed, “Just kidding. You didn’t make me hold or carry you.”

Xu Er pressed on: “You didn’t say I wanted to sleep with you either?”

Song Ruichi chuckled: “No.”

Xu Er was confused: “Then what did I do?”

Song Ruichi gave a perfunctory “Hmm,” then lazily said, “We’ll talk tomorrow. Sleep now.”

Xu Er was speechless.

Song Ruichi added, “Yeah, I’m just teasing you.”

Xu Er was speechless again.

After a few seconds, he muttered softly, “Why are you like this?”

In the darkness, Xu Er felt his head touched again.

“That’s just how I am.”

Song Ruichi’s voice floated softly.

Then silence.

Well then.

What else could Xu Er say?

This time, Song Ruichi truly fell silent.

Xu Er could tell he was very tired, so he naturally refrained from doing anything, feeling guilty that Song Ruichi was probably tired because of him.

But he didn’t dwell on it long because he was tired too.

In fact, he even thought about Little Bear—wondering if he had won him over.

Probably he did, given how formidable Song Ruichi was.

Oh well, he’d ask tomorrow.

Before long, he fell asleep.

In the blink of an eye,

Morning arrived.

This time when Xu Er woke, he quickly grasped his situation, so upon opening his eyes, he looked toward Song Ruichi’s side.

Good—no one there.

He touched the blanket, warm—probably just got up.

Xu Er closed his eyes again, briefly dozing before dragging his heavy head up.

The sun had risen, light streaming through the curtains’ crack.

No dreams, a rather comfortable sleep.

His phone lay on the bedside table, charging, beside a clear cup of water.

The battery was full; Xu Er unplugged the charger. The screen showed 9:33 a.m., with a new WeChat message.

From Song Ruichi.

“Warm water.”

Xu Er glanced at the water, then picked up the cup.

The warmth seeped through the glass into his palm—indeed lukewarm. Yet he didn’t drink immediately, instead sniffing first.

“Da Lang, drink your water.”

A voice suddenly came from the other side of the bed.

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Xu Er turned to see Song Ruichi emerging from the bathroom.

“No poison,” Song Ruichi added.

Xu Er quickly said, “No, I’m not…”

He wasn’t sure what to say—sniffing water was odd—so he just tilted his head back and drank.

Nearly half a cup emptied in seconds.

Then he said, “Song Ruichi, you’re so funny.”

Song Ruichi replied, “Mr. Xu, you’re quite the one to say surprising things.”

Xu Er smiled and asked, “Am I funny too?”

Song Ruichi: “Yes, yes.”

Probably just finished washing up, Song Ruichi looked much fresher, his bangs still damp at the roots.

On his loungewear—

Xu Er reached out to warn, “Your clothes are wet.”

Song Ruichi seemed aware. After Xu Er spoke, he crossed his hands, grabbed, and slowly pulled off his shirt.

It wasn’t a big deal until—

“Your pants are wet too,” Xu Er said.

Apparently soaked through.

But Song Ruichi didn’t immediately take off his pants; instead, he turned and opened the wardrobe.

Xu Er just kept watching him, watching his fingers flip through clothes, watching him pull out a garment.

He had a good figure—broad shoulders, a strong back, a slim waist.

Xu Er swallowed without realizing it.

After Song Ruichi put on the clothes, he placed his hands at his waistband.

Then paused.

Then turned his head.

When their eyes met, Xu Er’s pupils trembled.

Men changing clothes in front of each other was normal, but staring like that was a bit improper.

Xu Er blinked, pretending he had only glanced casually, then slowly looked away.

He gazed at the curtains, the table, the cup in his hands.

Song Ruichi turned his head back, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Xu Er took a big sip of water.

The bedroom was quiet; the rustling sound of Song Ruichi changing pants came softly from his peripheral vision.

Xu Er licked his lips and finished the water.

After finishing the cup, suddenly a set of clothes was tossed onto the bed.

A white T-shirt and loose dark brown elastic-waist pants.

Xu Er asked, “For me?”

Song Ruichi: “Mm.”

Xu Er: “Where are my clothes?”

Song Ruichi: “In the washing machine.”

Xu Er: “Did I shower yesterday?”

Song Ruichi: “You did.”

Xu Er: “How did I wash up?”

Song Ruichi: “I helped you.”

Xu Er: “Ah?”

Song Ruichi laughed: “Just kidding. You did it yourself.”

Xu Er was speechless: “Why do you keep joking with me?”

Song Ruichi: “I didn’t expect you’d believe everything.”

Xu Er sat up straighter: “I don’t believe everything.”

Song Ruichi: “After your shower, I helped you change clothes.”

Xu Er paused: “Ah?”

Song Ruichi laughed again: “Nope.”

Xu Er: “…”

Didn’t expect you’d believe everything.

Xu Er: “Fine then.”

But soon he sat up straighter: “I won’t believe you anymore.”

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