Qiushi swallowed hard. His hands felt clammy, his chest tight, but he forced the words out before he could lose his nerve again.
"I like you, Ruan Nanzhu."
The moment the words left his mouth, the world seemed to still. Chestnut gave a soft, questioning chirp in Nanzhu's arms, but Qiushi barely heard it. His gaze stayed fixed on Nanzhu's face, searching for any sign of surprise, discomfort… rejection.
Instead, Nanzhu's lips curved into the slowest, most devastating smile Qiushi had ever seen. "Finally."
Qiushi blinked. "…What?"
"I was beginning to wonder how many hints I'd have to drop before you caught on," Nanzhu said, setting Chestnut gently on the floor. He leaned in, one arm draping over the back of the sofa, trapping Qiushi in place without touching him. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you to say that?"
Qiushi's ears burned. "Y-you… knew?"
Nanzhu's smile deepened, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "I hoped. And now I know."
Before Qiushi could respond, Nanzhu closed the distance, his forehead resting lightly against Qiushi's. "I like you too, Lin Qiushi. Always have."
Qiushi's breath caught. Somewhere between disbelief and relief, he let out a shaky laugh. "You could've just told me."
"But then I wouldn't have gotten to watch you trip over yourself for weeks," Nanzhu teased.
Qiushi groaned, hiding his face in his hands—but he couldn't stop the smile tugging at his lips.
***
That night, the apartment felt different.
It wasn't the lighting, or the quiet hum of the air conditioning—it was the way Qiushi kept catching Nanzhu looking at him. Not in the subtle, fleeting way from before, but openly, without any attempt to hide it.
They sat together in the living room, the coffee table cluttered with tea cups and the half-finished snacks they'd forgotten about in favor of simply… talking.
Every time Nanzhu laughed, Qiushi's chest warmed. Every time their knees brushed, the warmth deepened, until it was almost dizzying.
At one point, Chestnut jumped into Qiushi's lap, curling into a loaf. Qiushi scratched under her chin, only to realize Nanzhu had leaned forward, watching with that small, private smile again.
"What?" Qiushi asked, a little defensive.
"Nothing," Nanzhu said, but his eyes softened. "Just thinking how well you fit here. With me."
Qiushi's ears went pink. "…I'm already here."
"Not like that," Nanzhu replied quietly. "I mean with me."
The silence that followed was comfortable, almost heavy in its meaning. Qiushi didn't answer right away—his throat felt too tight—but he reached out under the table and brushed his fingers against Nanzhu's hand.
Nanzhu didn't pull away. In fact, he turned his palm upward, letting Qiushi's hand slip into his with an ease that felt like it had always been meant to happen.
They stayed like that for a long time, saying nothing, just listening to the steady tick of the clock and the quiet purring of the cat between them.
Qiushi thought, If this is what it feels like to be with him, I never want it to end.