By the time Zhang Yichen's car pulled into the penthouse apartment garage, Mo Fei was deeply asleep.
Yichen sat still for a moment and looked down at him.
Should he wake him up?
He considered it briefly, then dismissed the idea almost immediately.
Waking Mo Fei would only create more trouble. The man would probably start babbling drunken nonsense again, refuse to move, and somehow turn a simple walk to the elevator into a public disaster.
Yichen stared at the sleeping Mo Fei.
Looking at him like this, anyone would assume he was a charming prince resting peacefully.
But Yichen knew better.
This was a parasite.
A very troublesome one.
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He could simply drag him out by the hair and let him trail behind him.
No.
That would be too cruel.
Though, admittedly, quite satisfying to imagine.
Yichen chuckled under his breath. Then he leaned closer, slipped one arm behind Mo Fei's back and the other beneath his knees. With one swift movement, he lifted him into his arms in a bridal carry.
His expression changed slightly.
Mo Fei was surprisingly heavy.
For someone with such a slender, delicate-looking body, he certainly did not feel light.
What did he eat?
Shouldn't he be watching his weight?
Yichen almost cursed but held it in.
Luckily, he lifted enough weights for this to be manageable.
He carried Mo Fei out of the car and walked toward the elevator. Mo Fei slept soundly in his arms, completely unaware of the inconvenience he had become.
When they reached the top floor, Yichen carried him down the hallway and stopped in front of Mo Fei's apartment door.
He did not know the password.
Yichen looked down at the sleeping beauty in his arms.
"Hey," he called.
Mo Fei did not move.
Yichen sighed. "Mo Fei."
This time, his voice was softer, closer to Mo Fei's ear.
Mo Fei stirred slightly and adjusted his position in Yichen's arms. "Why is this bed so stiff?" he mumbled and snuggled in closer.
Yichen froze.
Mo Fei shifted against him, pressing nearer to his body, warm and completely unguarded. The heat between them suddenly became impossible to ignore.
Yichen's eyes widened slightly.
This was getting out of hand.
For a brief second, he seriously considered dumping Mo Fei in front of his apartment door and leaving him there.
Yichen turned, intending to take him into his own apartment instead, when Mo Fei's door suddenly opened.
Chen Yu stood there.
For a moment, he stared at Yichen.
Then his gaze lowered to Mo Fei, who was asleep in Yichen's arms.
His eyes widened. "What the hell?"
In the next second, Chen Yu's expression sharpened with fury. "What have you done to him, you brute?"
Yichen quickly stepped back. "I haven't done anything."
"Huh?"
Chen Yu's anger paused halfway through its rise. He looked more carefully and realised Mo Fei was sleeping soundly.
His brows drew together. "Where's Louis?"
Yichen shook his head. "I don't know."
Chen Yu narrowed his eyes.
Did Louis forget to pick Mo Fei up? "Here," he said, reaching out. "Give him to me."
Yichen slowly lowered Mo Fei, and Chen Yu stepped closer to take him. Mo Fei leaned heavily against him, still asleep.
Chen Yu adjusted his hold on him, then looked at Yichen suspiciously. "You're sure you didn't do anything to him?"
"I only brought him home," Yichen said, rolling his eyes. "Shouldn't you be grateful your little friend is safe?"
"You arrogant son of a bitch," Chen Yu snapped. "Since when have you ever done anything out of selflessness?"
He had been heading to bed when he noticed Yichen holding Mo Fei through the door camera. Naturally, his first thought had been violence.
Yichen turned and headed toward his own door, casually waving one hand over his shoulder.
Chen Yu clicked his tongue. "Tsk."
Then he looked down at the sleeping Mo Fei in his arms. His expression softened instantly.
"My baby boy," he murmured. "Don't mind that brute. Let's get you inside. You must have had a rough day."
With that, Chen Yu led Mo Fei into the apartment and shut the door behind them. Yichen paused briefly outside his own door.
Then he scoffed under his breath and went inside.
The next morning, Mo Fei dragged himself out of bed.
He was no longer wearing his suit from the previous night. Instead, he had on black shorts and an oversized T-shirt, his hair a complete mess as he stumbled out of his room with a yawn.
He ran a hand through his hair, scratching his head.
His skull was throbbing.
All the alcohol he had taken the previous night had clearly done its work and left him with a vicious hangover.
Never again.
He was never toasting with Sima Li again.
That drunkard.
Mo Fei shuffled toward the kitchen, where Chen Yu was already making breakfast.
"Hiiii," Mo Fei mumbled, yawning again as he dropped onto the chair beside the marble kitchen counter.
Chen Yu walked over to him with a steaming cup. "Here," he said. "This should help."
He had already known Mo Fei would wake up with a hangover, so he had prepared herbal tea beforehand.
Mo Fei's heart melted. No one cared for him more than Chen Yu.
"Thank you," he said, accepting the cup.
"Careful. It's hot."
Mo Fei nodded and blew on it gently.
"Mm…"
He took a small sip, then set the cup down.
How exactly he had gotten home was still a mystery to him.
Had Louis eventually come to pick him up?
His memories were still hazy from all the drinking. Everything after leaving the gala was a blur of lights, cold air, stairs, and shame he could not yet name.
Chen Yu slowly lifted his coffee cup and took a sip.
"So," he said casually, "do you want porridge before or after I tell you that our emotionally constipated refrigerator carried you home like a bride?"
Mo Fei, "…"
What was Chen Yu talking about?
Chen Yu calmly set his cup down, a smirk spreading across his face. "You don't remember?"
"Remember what?" Mo Fei asked, confused. "I don't understand you."
But the smirk on Chen Yu's face made him uneasy.
Deeply uneasy.
"Damn." Chen Yu shook his head.
Mo Fei frowned. "Was it Louis who brought me home?"
"Nope." Chen Yu's grin widened as he raised the cup to his lips again.
Then maybe it was Sima Li.
Mo Fei could not think of anyone else who would have driven him home. It definitely had to be Sima Li. But how had he managed to drive them both back after drinking so much?
How much alcohol could that guy hold?
Impressive.
"So…" Chen Yu blew gently over his cup, steam rising between them. "Should I call you Mrs. Ice Block now, or are we waiting for the wedding invitation?"
Mo Fei nearly choked on his tea. "I beg your finest pardon?"
What exactly was Chen Yu saying?
"Feifei," Chen Yu asked, studying him with growing delight, "you really don't remember?"
Mo Fei shook his head. "You said it wasn't Louis. Was it Sima Li, then?"
"Sima Li?" Chen Yu scoffed. "What would that brainless fowl know about taking care of someone? Ugh, think, Feifei. Think. You really don't know who drove you home?"
Mo Fei frowned.
"If you're not going to tell me, forget it." He made to stand, but then... a memory hit him.
Take me home with you!
Mo Fei stopped.
The voice was his.
But when had he said that? And to whom?
Slowly, he turned to face Chen Yu.
Chen Yu looked as if glitter and sunshine were beaming out of his eyes from pure expectation.
Another flash came.
You'll get hurt if I let go.
Mo Fei's expression cracked.
He laughed bitterly, the sound breaking strangely in his throat, he crossed over to Chen Yu and grabbed his hand.
"Chen Yu."
"Mm?" Chen Yu answered, looking far too entertained.
"Look me in the eyes." Mo Fei held him tighter. "It can't be."
"It is," Chen Yu said.
"It's impossible."
"Very possible."
"I don't believe it."
"You can't deny it."
Chen Yu patted his shoulder sympathetically.
Mo Fei slowly released him, he took two steps backward.
His knees gave out as he fell to the ground and screamed.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Chen Yu calmly took another sip of coffee. Some tragedies were best enjoyed warm.