Yichen sat frozen, breathless, his chest rising and falling as he tried to process what had just happened. Zhaoyan's face remained close, their eyes locked.
"I know everything," Zhaoyan said softly.
Yichen blinked, confused.
"What… are you saying?" he whispered.
Zhaoyan didn't look away, his grip firm on Yichen's face.
"I know you've been trying to find a way to get rid of me. You're just pretending to accept this… to accept me."
Yichen's eyes widened. He searched Zhaoyan's gaze for doubt, anger, anything—but all he found was unwavering obsession.
"No matter what you do, Yichen… I can't leave you," Zhaoyan continued.
Yichen opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. His throat felt tight, as if something unsaid was choking him.
Zhaoyan's gaze lowered, lingering on Yichen's lips. A thin trail of blood glistened there—his lip had split from the rough kiss earlier.
Without warning, Zhaoyan leaned in and slowly ran his tongue across Yichen's bottom lip, licking the blood away.
Yichen flinched, eyes snapping wide.
"What… what are you doing?!"
"I'm sorry for this… I'm just possessive when it comes to you," Zhaoyan whispered, almost guilty.
Yichen didn't know how to respond. His heart raced, confusion tangled with something he couldn't name—something darker, deeper, and strangely real. Something he could feel.
Zhaoyan stood, brushing off the tension in the air with a soft smile.
"You must be tired… let's go to bed."
Yichen hesitated, uncertain, but eventually nodded and got up. Before he could take a step, Zhaoyan swept him up into his arms without warning.
"H-Hey! Put me down!" Yichen exclaimed.
Zhaoyan didn't respond, carrying him like he weighed nothing, walking straight to the bedroom. He gently laid Yichen down on the bed with care.
"What are you trying to do…?" Yichen asked nervously.
Zhaoyan's smile deepened, soft and almost boyish, like the anger and pain from earlier had melted away.
"What are you thinking?"
Yichen's cheeks flushed a deep red. He looked away, flustered.
"I-I didn't think anything."
Zhaoyan slid beside him, wrapping his arms around Yichen in a warm, tight hug.
"If you want to do it… it's okay. I'm fine with it," he said softly.
Yichen's face turned even redder. Embarrassed, he buried his face in Zhaoyan's chest, muffling his voice.
"I didn't mean it like that…"
Zhaoyan chuckled softly and stroked Yichen's hair with slow, tender motions.
"Really?" he whispered, patting Yichen's head with care. "Good night."
---
Morning light spilled softly through the curtains.
Yichen was still asleep, nestled in Zhaoyan's arms. His breathing was slow and calm, cheek resting gently against Zhaoyan's chest. Zhaoyan, already awake, lay completely still, eyes fixed on Yichen's sleeping face without blinking—as if memorizing every detail.
He didn't move. He didn't speak. He just stared… as if Yichen were the only thing in the world that mattered.
Meanwhile, downstairs…
Lu Nian quietly unlocked the front door and stepped inside. His eyes instantly widened in shock.
The living room still held the remnants of last night's candlelight dinner. The gentle glow from leftover candles flickered faintly in the daylight, casting soft shadows across the room.
"What the hell…?" Lu Nian whispered.
Confused and uneasy, he tiptoed toward the hallway, drawn toward Yichen's room. Carefully, he reached for the door and pushed it open—just a little.
His breath caught.
There, on the bed, was Zhaoyan… holding Yichen in his arms.
Zhaoyan's cold, sharp eyes shifted instantly—locking onto Lu Nian with an intense, unreadable expression. His gaze was silent, warning.
Lu Nian's heart nearly stopped. He froze, stunned. Then, without a sound, he carefully pulled the door shut.
He stumbled back toward his own room, eyes wide in disbelief.
"W-Was that a ghost… or a real human? I… I shouldn't have interrupted…" he muttered.
He closed his door behind him, pressing his back against it with a deep sigh, still shaken.
---
Some time later…
Yichen slowly stirred awake, blinking against the soft morning light. He glanced around—Zhaoyan was no longer in bed. The space beside him was empty, yet faintly warm.
He stretched, yawned, and shuffled down the hallway. As he turned a corner, the sound of something sizzling reached his ears.
In the kitchen, Zhaoyan stood by the stove, wearing an apron, calmly cooking breakfast.
"Good morning," he said without turning.
"Morning…" Yichen rubbed his eyes, still half-asleep.
He made his way to the dining table and sat down, grabbing his phone. Something felt odd. He tapped Lu Nian's contact to call him.
From inside the apartment, a ringtone echoed—not from a phone speaker, but from behind a door.
Yichen's brow furrowed. "Wait… he's back?"
He stood, walked toward one of the rooms, and slowly opened the door.
There, sprawled on the bed under a messy blanket, was Lu Nian, fast asleep.
Yichen marched over, grabbed the blanket, and yanked it off.
"When did you come back, Lu Nian?"
Lu Nian stirred, groaning as his eyes fluttered open. "This morning… I guess…"
Just then, Zhaoyan stepped into the room, still wearing his apron.
Lu Nian's eyes snapped fully open. He sat up, staring in disbelief.
"Who's this guest?!"
Yichen turned. "Who?"
Lu Nian pointed, eyes wide. "The one with the insanely handsome face."
Yichen's heart skipped. He turned quickly to Zhaoyan.
Zhaoyan stood silently, expression unreadable.
"You… you can see him?" Yichen asked Lu Nian.
Lu Nian nodded, confused. "You mean that guy in the apron? Yeah!"
Yichen sat down, stunned. "That's… Zhaoyan."
Lu Nian blinked. "Yichen… I think it's time I moved out."
Yichen groaned. "Shut up."
He looked back at Zhaoyan. "How can he see you?"
Zhaoyan answered calmly, low and quiet.
"Because… he believes I exist."
Lu Nian's face paled. A nervous sweat ran down his temple.
Yichen's eyes widened. "So anyone who knows about you… and believes in your existence… can see you?"
Zhaoyan nodded. "That's right."
Without another word, he turned and walked back to the kitchen.
Lu Nian swallowed hard, whispering, "Yichen…"
Yichen sighed. "Don't worry. He's not a bad ghost… as long as he's happy."