The flickering blue light of the television cast shifting shadows across the living room, painting the walls with the grim hues of a horror movie.
But Shi Wang's eyes, soft and unwavering, were not on the screen. His gaze was fixed entirely on the man sleeping peacefully in his lap.
Yang Zi was slumped against him, a dead weight of exhausted contentment. His head rested against Shi Wang's thigh, soft dark hair fanned out, tickling Shi Wang's skin.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on Yang Zi's lips, a stark contrast to the grimaces of terror on the screen behind them. Shi Wang's fingers, surprisingly gentle for a hand that usually dealt with heavy machinery or firm negotiations, traced a slow path through Yang Zi's hair, smoothing it back from his forehead. Each brush sent a quiet tremor through Shi Wang's chest, making his heart pound a rhythm against his ribs – a rhythm that had nothing to do with the manufactured jumpscares on the TV.
"He must be so tired," Shi Wang murmured, the words barely a whisper, lost in the ambient sound of screams and suspenseful music.
A wide, genuine smile stretched across his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes.
Indeed, Yang Zi had been a whirlwind of energy all afternoon, chasing Tian and Yu Han around the yard, his laughter ringing out alongside theirs, before joining them in the exhilarating, noisy chaos of bursting firecrackers.
The sheer joy of the day had clearly taken its toll, leaving him utterly spent. Shi Wang didn't glance at the screen even once. The grotesque monster grappling with a terrified victim held no sway over his attention. All of his world, at this moment, was distilled into the warmth and stillness of Yang Zi's sleeping form.
Time, however, refused to stand still, marked only by the growing ache in Shi Wang's legs. What began as a pleasant warmth slowly morphed into a dull throb, then a distinct numbness. He tried to shift subtly, easing his position, but Yang Zi remained undisturbed, his breathing even and deep.
Shi Wang gritted his teeth, enduring the discomfort, unwilling to break the peaceful tableau. But eventually, a sharp, insistent pain shot up his thigh.
"Ahhh, my legs," he groaned softly, wincing. He glanced at the antique grandfather clock in the corner, its golden pendulum swinging with silent authority. 2:13 AM.
The luminous hands declared the late hour with stark clarity. It was far later than he'd realized, lost as he was in the quiet intimacy of the moment.
With a resolve born of necessity, Shi Wang carefully moved one hand to Yang Zi's waist, the other sliding under his knees. He braced himself, then with a surprisingly fluid motion, he scooped Yang Zi up.
The man was lighter than he looked, a comfortable weight in Shi Wang's arms. He moved effortlessly, holding Yang Zi close, one arm providing a secure cradle, the other supporting his back. Yang Zi stirred slightly, a soft sigh escaping him, but didn't open his eyes.
Shi Wang navigated the dimly lit living room, the horror movie still playing its silent, macabre drama to an empty seat, and made his way to his bedroom. Inside, the large bed was already occupied.
Tian, a tiny bundle of limbs under a plush duvet, lay sprawled in the very center, blissfully unaware of the late-night maneuvers. Shi Wang carefully positioned Yang Zi on the side of the bed, maneuvering around Tian, gently lowering him onto the soft mattress. He pulled the blanket up to Yang Zi's chin, ensuring he was warm and snug.
After placing Yang Zi comfortably, Shi Wang moved to the other side, stepping over Tian's sleeping form, and lay down himself, pulling the blanket up to his chest.
He reached for the bedside lamp, its soft glow casting a warm circle of light on the sleeping faces. Before plunging the room into darkness, he paused.
His fingers, still tingling from the weight of Yang Zi, gently caressed Yang Zi's cheek. "Good night," he whispered, his voice a low, tender murmur that promised peaceful rest. Then, with a click, the room was swallowed by darkness.
The house settled into a deep, comfortable silence. The three of them slept soundly, wrapped in the quiet embrace of the night, until a small, urgent stir broke the peace.
Tian's eyes cracked open in the profound darkness. The room was a vast, formless expanse, more daunting than usual. A desperate need was bubbling within him. He shifted, his little body squirming, and then began to poke at the person closest to him.
"Mama… Mama…" he whispered, his voice thick with sleep and urgency. "T-toilet… I need to use the toilet."
With the sudden movement and the whispered plea, Shi Wang's eyes, too, cracked open. He was instantly alert. "Tian? What happened?" he asked, his voice still heavy with sleep but laced with concern.
"I… I need to use the toilet, Mama," Tian repeated, a little louder this time, his voice on the verge of a whine.
Shi Wang pushed his body up, fumbling in the darkness for the bedside lamp switch. The soft light flooded the immediate area, chasing away the shadows. He reached for Tian, scooping the small boy up from the bed. "Come here," he said, his voice gentle. He swung his legs out of bed and, still carrying Tian, paced swiftly towards the bathroom.
As Shi Wang reached for the toilet door to close it, Tian's small hand shot out, grasping his wrist.
"Don't go…" he pleaded, his eyes wide and fearful in the dim light of the bathroom. "I feel scared alone."
Shi Wang knelt, his hand gently stroking Tian's hair. "I'm not going anywhere, Tian. I'm right here. Don't worry, do your business."
He stood in the doorway, providing a comforting presence, his gaze falling on his wristwatch. 4:33 AM. The night was still deep, but dawn was not so far off.
Once Tian was done, and his small hands thoroughly washed, a surprising burst of energy seemed to surge through him. The urgency of his bladder temporarily forgotten, replaced by the boundless curiosity of a refreshed child. "Uncle Zi! Uncle Zi!" he chirped, suddenly loud.
Shi Wang, anticipating the disturbance, quickly clapped a hand over Tian's mouth, hushing him.
"Shhh… don't shout, your uncle is sleeping. Don't disturb him." But it was already too late.
Yang Zi's eyes, previously shut in a peaceful slumber, fluttered open. He blinked slowly, scanning the unfamiliar room, his gaze hazy with sleep. He pushed himself up, his movements still sluggish, and glanced at Shi Wang, then at Tian, confusion clouding his features. "What am I doing here?" he asked, his voice rough with sleep.
"You were sleeping," Shi Wang explained simply, removing his hand from Tian's mouth.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Yang Zi rubbed at his eyes, trying to clear his vision. "What time is it?"
"It's just four and a half," Shi Wang replied, seeing the worry forming in Yang Zi's expression. "It's too early. You can sleep more."
A jolt of alarm went through Yang Zi. He was fully awake now.
"No!" he exclaimed, his voice sharper than intended. He scrambled off the bed. "We have to go home! My sister will panic if she can't find Tian at home."
Shi Wang understood the urgency immediately. "Then let me drive you home," he offered, already moving towards his dresser for his car keys.
"No, no, you should sleep," Yang Zi insisted, shaking his head. "We can go on our own."
Shi Wang paused, keys in hand, turning to face Yang Zi.
"Yang Zi, where would you find a taxi at this hour? It's the middle of the night. You went to all that trouble, came all this way, just for me. Please, let me drive you home. It's no trouble at all." He didn't wait for another refusal. With a swift movement, he scooped Tian back up, who had started to rub his own sleepy eyes again, and paced towards the door.
Yang Zi, seeing the unyielding determination in Shi Wang's eyes and sensing the futility of further argument, simply followed in silence.
Out in the cool pre-dawn air, Shi Wang unlocked his car. Yang Zi opened the rear passenger door. "Give me Tian," he said, holding out his arms.
Shi Wang carefully passed the still-sleepy boy over, and Yang Zi settled him into his lap. Shi Wang then got into the driver's seat, the engine purring to life, and began their silent journey home.
Tian, nestled securely in Yang Zi's lap, quickly succumbed to sleep once more, his soft breathing a gentle rhythm in the quiet car. Yang Zi held him close, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, a lingering sense of warmth mixed with the early morning chill.
The pre-dawn gloom still clung to the world outside, but inside Shi Wang's car, a bubble of quiet warmth prevailed. The road ahead was eerily clear, a smooth, dark ribbon unspooling beneath the headlights without a single other vehicle in sight. The city was still asleep, a gentle hum the only indication of its eventual awakening.
Shi Wang kept his eyes on the road, his profile illuminated intermittently by the dashboard lights. "You should sleep more, I'll wake you up when we get there," he suggested, his voice a low, comforting rumble in the confined space. He glanced briefly at Yang Zi, who was slumped slightly in the passenger seat, eyes unfocused on the passing, darkened scenery.
Yang Zi stirred, a soft sigh escaping him. "I don't feel like sleeping anymore," he replied, running a hand through his slightly disheveled hair. His mind felt strangely alert, a jumble of thoughts keeping slumber at bay. It had been a long night, and the adrenaline, though fading, hadn't completely receded.
"Hm," Shi Wang hummed, considering. "Do you want to eat anything? We could grab something quick at a convenience store if you're hungry."
Yang Zi shook his head, a small, dismissive gesture. "Ah, no, I'm fine. Really," he added, trying to sound convincing. His stomach felt knotted, not empty.
A moment of silence settled between them, broken only by the gentle thrum of the engine. Then, as if a thought had suddenly struck him with the force of a physical blow, Yang Zi's eyes widened. He hadn't contacted Yu Han since last night. Not a single text, not a call.
He quickly pulled out his phone, the screen blooming to life in the dim light. He navigated to his messaging app, his heart doing a nervous little flutter. His notifications were disappointingly, devastatingly "dry like desert," as he often thought of it.
Not a peep. A wave of mild disappointment washed over him, quickly followed by a rationalization: "Maybe he came home and just crashed. He was probably tired too."
To pass the time, and perhaps to distract himself from the gnawing emptiness of his inbox, Yang Zi opened Instagram. As if on cue, a post from Shi Wang's fandom group appeared on his screen, a direct result of his late-night scrolling through Shi Wang's official account.
Yang Zi's gaze flickered from his phone screen to the man beside him." I'm sitting beside such a prominent figure," he thought, a strange mix of awe and disbelief swirling within him.
"Geez, should I ask for his autograph or a picture?" His mind raced, picturing the excited reactions of his friends, the envy of his few followers. But just as quickly, another voice, sharper and more critical, cut through his thoughts.
"Stop it, Yang Zi! These are cheap things, superficial. You're not some star-struck fanboy, you're… you don't care about his fandom, aren't you?" He mentally cursed himself, a flush creeping up his neck.
Shi Wang, perhaps sensing the shift in Yang Zi's demeanor, or catching the subtle movement of his eyes, turned slightly towards him. "What happened?" he asked, his tone curious, not intrusive.
Without a word, Yang Zi simply held out his phone, tilting it so Shi Wang could see the screen.
"You have your own fandom," he stated, a hint of genuine surprise lacing his voice. The post was a collage of Shi Wang's candid photos, accompanied by adoring captions.
Shi Wang briefly glanced at the brightly lit screen, his a single eyebrow rising in genuine astonishment. "I—I have a fandom?" he repeated, a slow smile spreading across his lips. "I didn't know about this. I'm not really active on social media, you know." There was a touch of humble amusement in his voice.
Yang Zi let out a soft "Ohhh…" sound, suddenly feeling a little awkward but also intrigued. "Girls are crazy over you," he observed, the words tumbling out before he could stop them.
At that, Shi Wang leaned back slightly and started laughing, a deep, rich sound that filled the car. It wasn't mocking, but an expression of genuine, slightly bewildered mirth. Yang Zi, however, didn't respond to the laughter. He just pulled his phone back, his thumb already scrolling through the endless stream of posts, his mind still elsewhere. The image of Yu Han's silent phone kept flashing in his thoughts.
After what felt like both an eternity and mere minutes, Shi Wang gently slowed the car, pulling into a quiet alley near Yang Zi's apartment building. The first tendrils of dawn were just painting the sky a soft, bruised purple and orange. "We are here," he announced, turning off the engine.
Yang Zi carefully gathered Tian,who had been nestled peacefully on his lap throughout the journey. He unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the car door, and stepped out onto the cool asphalt, Tian tucked securely in the crook of his arm. "Thank you… Shi Wang," he said, his voice softer than he'd intended, a genuine gratitude welling up inside him.
Shi Wang unclipped his own belt and turned fully towards Yang Zi, a warm smile on his face. "Ah, there's no need to thank me. I should thank you, actually. I really enjoyed your company."
As they exchanged a few more pleasantries, Yang Zi's gaze drifted past Shi Wang's shoulder, settling on two figures in the distance, walking slowly down the alley towards them. He focused his eyes, a vague sense of familiarity tugging at him. Following Yang Zi's intently fixed gaze, Shi Wang also turned his back, staring in the same direction.
The figures came closer, their forms becoming clearer in the nascent light. Yang Zi felt a sudden, sharp intake of breath. His eyes popped out, as if they might physically detach from his skull. It was Yu Han. And beside him, laughing freely, was Li Hao. But it wasn't just their presence that sent a shockwave through Yang Zi. His eyes drifted irrevocably downwards, landing on their hands.
They were holding hands. Their fingers were intertwined, a natural, comfortable clasp. And their faces were alight with big, unrestrained smiles, completely oblivious to the world, and to Yang Zi, standing frozen just meters away.
The sight hit Yang Zi like a physical blow, stealing the air from his lungs. All the exhaustion, all the quiet anxiety, all the forced calm shattered into a million pieces. A primal, guttural sound tore from his throat, echoing strangely in the still alley.
"YU HAN!!!!!!"