Chapter 15

Chapter 15

"It hurts..."

Xie Zhigui awoke with a headache splitting his skull. Clutching at his head, he propped himself up to sit but noticed something felt amiss in his hand.

He remembered falling asleep hunched over the desk. How had he ended up in bed? And what was this solid, icy sensation in his grasp?

He struggled to peel apart eyelids that seemed glued shut, squinting down at his body. First, he blinked in confusion, then his pupils dilated, struck as if by lightning!

What he had been absentmindedly touching was the wide-open chest of Ming Fei Yu's garment. He retracted his hand as if it were burning hot charcoal.

No, no, stay calm, he must stay calm. He stiffened, daring not to move, repeatedly convincing himself internally.

Soon, he steadied his emotions. Holding his breath, he stole a glance at Ming Fei Yu, who remained asleep. Seizing the opportunity, he planned to quietly slip out of bed and pretend nothing had happened.

Mapping out the path in his mind to maneuver around Ming Fei Yu and off the bed, Xie Zhigui took a deep breath, deliberately slowing his movements, ever mindful of Ming Fei Yu's condition as he reached for his coat that lay on Ming Fei Yu's side.

However, just as his hand touched the coat and not a second to relax, a voice he wished not to hear at this moment sounded.

"What are you doing?"

Xie Zhigui froze, then turned mechanically to look down. Ming Fei Yu was awake, or perhaps he had been awake all along. Seeing Xie Zhigui's wide-eyed, panicked expression, he found it rather endearing. It brightened his early morning mood, and a lazy smile played across his lips.

"Aren't you getting off?" Ming Fei Yu teased, tilting his head.

Reminded by Ming Fei Yu, Xie Zhigui realized both his hands were at Ming Fei Yu's sides, a posture that suggested he was about to pin Ming Fei Yu down. With sudden awareness, he withdrew his hands like a startled creature, shrinking back to the safety of the corner at the speed of a blink.

As Ming Fei Yu sat up, he saw a blush climb to the tips of Xie Zhigui's ears. Avoiding his gaze, Ming Fei Yu understood that all of Xie Zhigui's assertiveness and composure were as paper-thin as a tiger.

With his thoughts in turmoil, Xie Zhigui decided it was better to take the initiative rather than passively be teased. Forcing his spirit, he made himself look directly into Ming Fei Yu's eyes.

He challenged, "Was it you who carried me up here?"

Ming Fei Yu gestured to his injured leg with a tilt of his chin, "What do you think?"

“……”

"I came up here by myself?!" Xie Zhigui was incredulous.

Ming Fei Yu smiled without a word, his silence an affirmation.

Xie Zhigui countered weakly, "When did I start sleepwalking? I didn’t even know myself."

Ming Fei Yu shook his head, a touch of helplessness in his gesture as he cradled his forehead, "You not only sleepwalked last night but also talked in your sleep."

"...What did I say?"

Ming Fei Yu thought back seriously, "Nothing much, just some mumbles calling for mom and sister."

Xie Zhigui felt his heart, which had been in his throat, settle down somewhat.

That was a relief, thankfully he hadn't uttered anything strange.

"However..." Ming Fei Yu's tone suddenly stretched, his gaze on Xie Zhigui holding a teasing glint.

"You also called out 'Second Brother'."

Xie Zhigui paused, pondering for a moment as if he had heard this term somewhere, or maybe not. A confused expression appeared on his face, "I don't have a brother. Could you have misheard?"

Ming Fei Yu was adamant, "I heard correctly. You were indeed calling 'Second Brother', and the tone you used was different from when you called for your mom and sister. You even cried."

"I cried?!"

Xie Zhigui touched his eyes and discovered indeed there were still wet traces at the corners, which explained the soreness he had felt upon waking.

If that was the case, everything Ming Fei Yu said was true.

He had cried for someone he had no recollection of.

Ming Fei Yu pressed on with unexpected eagerness in his eyes, "Who is he? Your lover?"

Xie Zhigui's face was cold, his patience wearing thin under Ming Fei Yu's insistent probing, "I've never been in love; how could I have a lover?!"

"Really?"

Ming Fei Yu looked him up and down, and unexpectedly, a laugh escaped him.

Xie Zhigui saw the mocking in his laughter and glared at Ming Fei Yu with annoyance, "What's so funny?!"

Ming Fei Yu watched him, a playful arch in his eyebrows, "I never would have thought. With such a pretty face and surrounded by admirers, you've never even been in a relationship."

“……”

"Or is it that you excel at manipulating hearts, with only perpetual exploitation in mind, devoid of lasting emotions?"

Xie Zhigui shifted his gaze away, his lips pressed tightly, remaining silent.

In the midst of conversation, taking advantage of Xie Zhigui's lack of attention, Ming Fei Yu moved stealthily closer, like a venomous snake winding around his beloved branch.

From this angle, this proximity, he could see Xie Zhigui's dense lashes fluttering slightly with unease, and a swath of pale skin from below his collarbone to above his chest came fully into view, soft and fragile like a clump of clouds, stirring the urge to press him down and crush him, or to mark him with the rouge of cinnabar.

Suddenly, he felt a thirst in his throat.

His voice was hoarse: "Have you ever been kissed?"

"What?"

Caught off guard, Xie Zhigui turned around only to nearly collide with Ming Fei Yu; their lips grazed lightly, their breaths instantly entangled, indistinguishable.

Eyes wide in shock met ones filled with mockery. Xie Zhigui was stunned for three seconds before he pushed Ming Fei Yu away with all his might, staggering backward only to find a wall behind him, with no escape.

He glared fiercely at the invader of his personal space, on full alert, and rebuked, "Why are you getting so close!"