Chapter 52

Chapter 52

52

It was still early, but it wasn’t completely dark outside—just faintly lit. Ling Yu held his phone for light, about to leave when the door swung open abruptly, startling him.

Standing behind the door, Xu Chi stared at him expressionlessly. Ling Yu scrambled for an excuse. “I just woke up and came down to stretch my legs…” Then he caught sight of what Xu Chi was holding in his hand, and his voice died in his throat.

A deathly silence hung in the air. Ling Yu, unusually flustered, hesitated for a few seconds before saying, “Well... I’ll just go back upstairs then.”

“Wait.” Xu Chi stopped him and turned on the light. The sudden brightness made both of them squint slightly.

Once his eyes adjusted, Ling Yu looked at Xu Chi apprehensively. He hadn’t expected to be caught in the act, nor did he know what Xu Chi intended to do. He surreptitiously studied Xu Chi’s face—expressionless, his gaze lowered—and a thought suddenly struck him.

Was Xu Chi going to burn the letter right in front of him?

Ling Yu admitted that if that really happened, he might not be able to handle it. But he also knew he’d have to endure it—because he had brought this upon himself.

Back then, Xu Chi had loved him so much, yet he had hurt him so deeply. If Xu Chi wanted to burn the letter in front of him now, or even stab him with a knife, Ling Yu wouldn’t take a single step back.

He mentally prepared himself, but Xu Chi simply walked over to the couch, stretched out comfortably, and turned to look at him.

Meeting Xu Chi’s gaze, Ling Yu’s body reacted faster than his mind—he instinctively stepped forward. He didn’t sit but remained standing beside Xu Chi.

Xu Chi handed the letter to him. “Open it.”

Ling Yu took the envelope, utterly confused but complying nonetheless. Holding the letter, he glanced at Xu Chi in bewilderment, only to see Xu Chi grab a pillow, settle into the soft couch, and give a slight tilt of his chin. “Read it.”

Ling Yu froze. He looked at Xu Chi, then at the letter in his hand, then back at Xu Chi—and his eyes lit up instantly.

He should have known. Xu Chi was so kind, so good—how could he ever do something like burning the letter in front of him?

The thought only made Ling Yu feel even more despicable. He had lost someone so wonderful.

Joy and remorse flickered through his heart in turns, but Ling Yu quickly collected himself and looked down at the letter. Remembering its contents, he suddenly felt a little sheepish.

He stood there in silence for a long time, clutching the letter, until Xu Chi glanced at him again. Only then did he begin to read.

What had been a perfectly smooth letter when he wrote it now came out stammering, like a student stumbling through an unprepared recitation in class.

Under Xu Chi’s gaze, Ling Yu’s ears grew redder, his cheeks hotter, waves of shame nearly overwhelming him. Yet he didn’t back down. Whenever his eyes accidentally met Xu Chi’s, he even managed to muster a smile at him.

The smile was a little foolish, utterly devoid of the sharpness of the formidable CEO who commanded respect, more like that of a love-struck fool experiencing his first crush.

As he made his way through the first page, Ling Yu gradually found his stride, reading more smoothly and even infusing emotion into his words.

Slowly, Xu Chi began to sense something amiss.

He suddenly regretted this.

His original intention had been to make Ling Yu back down in embarrassment, but he’d forgotten that while years of power had once made Ling Yu lose himself, here, Ling Yu was slowly rediscovering the person he used to be. And that person had one particularly formidable trait—shamelessness.

Especially in front of Xu Chi.

Ling Yu read more and more fluently, eventually discarding the letter entirely. He looked at Xu Chi, eyes brimming with warmth, and spoke the words of devotion written in the letter aloud.

Xu Chi decided he must be insane—losing sleep on Lunar New Year's Day just to hear his ex-husband recite a love letter.

"That's enough!" Xu Chi finally snapped, cutting off Ling Yu's confession. He stood up and returned to his room, slamming the door shut.

*

Before they knew it, most of the Spring Festival holiday had passed.

Xu Chi and Ling Yu had found a precarious balance in their interactions. They were neither partners nor lovers, not even friends. If one had to define their current relationship, it would be as strangers who knew each other intimately.

After several days of adjustment, though their interactions still carried a hint of awkwardness, there was no rejection or discomfort between them. After all, they were the two people in this world who understood each other best.

After the love letter incident, Ling Yu spent two days in a strange state of excitement, humming while cooking and cleaning, and grinning like an idiot whenever he saw Xu Chi.

Xu Chi couldn't stand dealing with him, though he also felt a flicker of irritation.

To avoid Ling Yu, Xu Chi spent more time in his study, only coming out when absolutely necessary.

Ling Yu, too, realized he was getting way too excited. If this continued, Xu Chi might just throw him out. To prevent that from happening, he mustered all his willpower to calm himself down and act more normally.

Time passed. The snowstorm outside had stopped, but the heavy snow had cut off the mountain passes. Whether it was villagers trying to leave or outsiders trying to enter, it was extremely difficult.

Ling Yu remained at Xu Chi’s home. Sometimes, as he looked out at the snow-covered mountain village, a pang of restlessness would rise in his heart.

The New Year had passed, and the snow would melt eventually. Once the roads were clear, he would have to move out.

Ling Yu knew in his heart that winning Xu Chi over again would take time, and he was prepared for a long battle. But these past few days with Xu Chi had felt surreal.

These were the happiest days he had spent in the three years since their divorce. Ling Yu began wanting more—he wanted this life to continue indefinitely.

On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, after dinner, Ling Yu played fetch with Fido downstairs until half past nine.

He glanced at the closed study door, knowing Xu Chi likely wouldn’t come out. He urged Fido to sleep and not disturb Xu Chi’s writing, then went upstairs to wash up.

Staying up late was unhealthy. As Ling Yu showered, he decided to warm some milk for Xu Chi later. But just as he finished washing up, he suddenly heard voices downstairs.

At this hour? A guest?

No—Ling Yu listened carefully and realized it was dialogue from a TV show. Xu Chi had come out of the study and was now watching television.

Ling Yu’s pulse quickened slightly. Over the past few days, Xu Chi had stayed in the study except for meals. Though they lived under the same roof, their daily interactions hardly added up to two hours.

Two hours—once a distant dream for Ling Yu—now left him craving more.

Downstairs, the TV volume was low, but the late-night quiet made it audible.

Ling Yu dropped the towel and descended the stairs, his hair still damp. As he turned the corner, the bright light from the first floor spilled over him. Xu Chi lay on the sofa, covered with a thin blanket.

Xu Chi had clearly just showered as well. He wore soft, pale loungewear, his dark hair slightly damp and casually tied back, revealing his smooth, delicate face. On the coffee table in front of him was a plate of washed fruit and a few packs of his favorite snacks.

Fido slept soundly on a soft cushion at the corner of the sofa.

Outside, the wind howled, carrying something with it and making a loud noise. But Ling Yu seemed oblivious, his entire focus fixed on Xu Chi, his gaze searing with longing.

The cozy scene before him made Ling Yu think of the past.

Ever since Xu Chi had taken up writing, he had drawn inspiration not just from books but also from films and TV shows. Back then, he had to take care of the elderly during the day, so nights were his only free time. Xu Chi would prepare fruit and snacks in advance, just like now, and lay out a blanket.

When Ling Yu had free time, he would join Xu Chi. The two would snuggle on the sofa, watching movies, dramas, variety shows—anything and everything.

Those distant memories, scenes Ling Yu had thought would never return, now unfolded before his eyes again, making his vision blur and his breath tremble involuntarily.

Slowly, he moved closer to Xu Chi.