Once the conversation with Wu Qi had untangled his thoughts, Lin Qiushi returned home.
Home.
Ruan Nanzhu is his home.
Nanzhu was stretched lazily on the sofa, a cup of tea in hand, speaking with Chen Fei about some business matter. The moment Qiushi stepped inside, Nanzhu's gaze flicked toward him.
"Where have you been?" he asked, voice casual but eyes sharp with curiosity.
Qiushi met that gaze—and there it was again, the odd flutter in his chest, the warmth curling low in his stomach. "Had a meal with Wu Qi."
Nanzhu hummed in acknowledgment, turning back to Chen Fei. But a moment later, he felt it—someone's eyes on him. He glanced over his shoulder to find Qiushi sitting quietly, staring straight at him without a word.
A slow smile spread across Nanzhu's face.
Qiushi's heart nearly leapt out of his chest. He jolted upright. "I—um—I'll go shower. Yeah. Shower." And with that, he fled upstairs, leaving Nanzhu blinking after him.
Nanzhu turned back to Chen Fei. "What happened? Am I that scary when I smile?"
Chen Fei, equally confused, shook his head. "Your smile's not scary."
Later, after his shower, Qiushi lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Thoughts of Nanzhu circled endlessly in his mind—the curve of his smile, the way his voice softened when speaking to him, the warmth in his gaze.
He wanted Nanzhu here, next to him, sharing the quiet of the night. Without him, the bed felt far too big.
Should i confess to him? The thought crept in uninvited, leaving Qiushi blushing in the dark. He turned over and drifted into a restless sleep.
***
Morning came and went—though "morning" might have been a generous term. By the time the clock hit 2 p.m., Qiushi was still buried under his blankets.
Nanzhu, deciding enough was enough, padded upstairs. He knocked once. No answer. He knocked again. Still nothing.
So he opened the door.
Qiushi was sprawled across the bed, the sunlight spilling over his face, softening every sharp line. Nanzhu lingered in the doorway, caught off guard by the sight. "He's even cute when he's asleep," he murmured to himself.
He stepped closer, leaning over to gently shake Qiushi's shoulder.
Qiushi's eyes fluttered open—and the first thing he saw was Nanzhu's face. For a dazed moment, he thought he was dreaming. "Are dreams so realistic now?" he mumbled, before promptly closing his eyes again.
Nanzhu chuckled, reaching down to brush his fingers over Qiushi's cheek, giving it a light squeeze. "Wake up, sleepy beauty."
This time, Qiushi's eyes snapped open, the realization hitting him that this was no dream. "What time is it?" he croaked.
"Two thirty-six," Nanzhu replied. "You woke up late. Trouble sleeping?"
Qiushi glanced at him from beneath his lashes. Yeah, because of you., he thought, but only said, "Something like that."
Everyone else had already eaten, but Nanzhu had waited for Qiushi to eat together.
They sat together for a late breakfast—warm bread with butter and marmalade, a freshly cooked egg, and tall glasses of milk.
Qiushi took a sip, only for a smear of milk to cling to the corner of his mouth. Nanzhu noticed.
Without a word, he leaned closer.
Qiushi froze at the sudden decrease in distance, but didn't pull back. His heart was beating far too fast for that.