Chapter 41: I Think I Crossed the Line

Chapter 41 I Think I Crossed the Line

When Xu Zhou entered Xu Xingli's room, the latter was leaning against the balcony railing, his gaze fixed intently on him.

Xu Xingli didn't stir until Xu Zhou reached the sliding door of the balcony.

The boy walked towards him, gently nudging him into the room. "Don't go out there," he said. "You'll just get dizzy again, and I'm not saving you."

Xu Zhou curved his lips into a smile.

Afterward, Xu Xingli settled onto the sofa, looked up at him, and asked, "What was that piece you just played?"

Xu Zhou gazed at him unblinkingly, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he replied, "Did you like it that much?"

Xu Xingli awkwardly touched the tip of his nose. "It was alright," he mumbled. "What's it called?"

Xu Zhou's smile deepened. "Tell me the truth," he coaxed. "If you like it, say you like it; if you hate it, say you hate it. You used to be very honest with me, Xingxing." His tone suddenly softened, with a light chuckle, like a playful tease. "Tell me your true feelings, and I'll tell you the name."

Xu Xingli was a bit speechless. But he couldn't deny he really liked that piece of music.

He bit his lower lip, finally giving in. "I really like it," he admitted. "And I want to know its name."

Delight filled the corners of Xu Zhou's eyes as he took a step forward. Under Xu Xingli's gaze, he reached out and gently ruffled Xu Xingli's hair.

"It doesn't have a name," Xu Zhou said.

Xu Xingli froze.

He immediately widened his eyes, staring at Xu Zhou in utter disbelief.

Xu Zhou just smiled.

How could he still be smiling?

Xu Xingli was so angry he almost jumped up to hit him!

He opened his mouth to curse, but Xu Zhou promptly cut him off. "I wrote it," he said.

Xu Xingli: "..."

His surging anger was immediately extinguished.

How terrifying. Is this what talent is?

Xu Xingli couldn't help but sigh, a strange pang of sadness hitting him.

"I need a pianist."

Just as he was lost in thought, Xu Zhou suddenly spoke.

The next second, a large hand reached out and stopped in front of him.

Xu Zhou's expression softened uncharacteristically, and his tone was very gentle. "Xingxing," he said, "would you be my pianist?"

Xu Xingli completely crashed.

His central nervous system instantly went on strike, taking all his senses with it. Only his hearing aid, external to his bodily functions, continued to work excitedly.

"We can complete this piece together," the hearing aid conveyed a soft, blurred instruction.

Xu Xingli was stunned, opened his mouth, and stammered, "We... us?"

Xu Zhou nodded. "I believe we'll cooperate very happily," he said.

Xu Xingli blinked. "But that's your creation," he said. "Can I...?"

Xu Zhou smiled. "I've only completed a small section at the beginning; there's a long way to go, and it's all up to you. It's nothing. Besides," he paused for a moment, lowered his eyes to meet Xu Xingli's, and then continued, "This song was originally written for you. It exists because of you, so of course, you have the right to take over it."

Xu Xingli was completely speechless.

But Xu Zhou continued, like dropping a bomb, unleashing the next atomic bomb. "It doesn't have a name yet," he said. "You can call it whatever you want. If I had to give it a name, you could call it—Blue Hour."

"Boom—!"

A mushroom cloud exploded before his eyes, and Xu Xingli's world began to spin.

It took him a long time to recover.

How could anyone recover from that? His mind had flown off to outer space.

Finally, Xu Zhou pinched his face, reminding him, "You still remember that melody, right? Go write it down, play it a few more times. It's almost time for bed."

As it turned out, Xu Zhou's last sentence was moot.

Because after Xu Xingli wrote down that melody, he felt enlightened, his inspiration burst forth, and he continued to write several more sections. It was very late, and the rest of the Xu family was about to go to bed, when Xu Xingli finally stopped playing the piano. However, he could still compose without playing the piano, so he lingered for a while longer. It was only when Xu Zhou forcibly turned off the lights, confiscated the paper and pen, and sat on the sofa watching him fall asleep, that he gave up the idea of composing all night.

When their eyes met again, Xu Xingli was a little speechless. "I'm going to sleep," he said. "Do you really have to stay here and not leave?"

He takes off his hearing aid when he sleeps, and Xu Zhou knows. He nodded slightly, signing in the dark. "I'll wait until you fall asleep," he signed.

Xu Xingli: "..."

He spoke directly. "I can't sleep with you watching me," he said.

Xu Zhou was silent for a second, then actually lay down on the sofa and continued to sign. "Then I won't watch you," he signed. "I'll sleep with you."

Xu Xingli: "..."

He was careless, and Xu Zhou found another loophole.

He spoke again. "I can't sleep with you here," he said. "Can you go back to your own room?"

Xu Zhou remained still.

He was like a noble jade sculpture, frozen on the small sofa covered with a plush cover.

This sofa wasn't large; Xu Xingli had to curl up slightly to rest on it. For someone like Xu Zhou, half of his calves dangled in mid-air, which looked exhausting.

His brother's sleeping posture was upright; he refused to bend his body, sleeping stiffly on the sofa. He even tried to look cool by bending one leg and raising his right hand to cover his eyes, revealing only his smooth jawline.

He was so annoying!

Xu Xingli suddenly turned over, his back to his brother.

Xu Zhou actually used a honey trap!

But the handsome man was also a bit pathetic. He was the one who called him up, and he helped him with such a big favor, but now he had to squeeze uncomfortably onto the small sofa.

He couldn't get something for nothing; he didn't like owing favors, let alone to Xu Zhou.

Although according to his experience in the previous life, Xu Zhou deserved this. But he always felt there was more to it.

Moreover, what if the truth wasn't what he thought? This Xu Zhou only existed in this life. If he was good to him but received no response, how sad would that be? Xu Xingli had experienced this kind of sadness too many times, and it was a very unpleasant feeling.

He huddled in his quilt, lost in thought. Finally, as if he had found an excuse, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and was about to slowly turn back when the bed beside him suddenly dipped.

Xu Xingli froze, and before he could open his eyes, a slightly cool hand had already reached his left ear, gently rubbing his soft earlobe. This action brought a faint, almost imperceptible woody scent, this time without the smell of tobacco—cold and refreshing, like a Nordic forest in winter.

Xu Xingli went rigid all over, momentarily forgetting to open his eyes.

Then, the cool sensation moved from top to bottom, along his neck, gliding over his delicate skin.

Just as this hand brushed past his Adam's apple, Xu Xingli thought to himself that if Xu Zhou dared to touch him further, he would definitely punch him in the face.

However, Xu Zhou did not cross his bottom line. Because the fingers stopped at his neck, immediately after brushing past his Adam's apple.

Xu Zhou seemed to realize something was amiss and quickly withdrew his hand, without the slightest lingering.

Xu Xingli was a little nervous, and for some reason, felt displeased.

He could feel Xu Zhou looking at him, which made him even more flustered.

He didn't know how long Xu Zhou had been looking at him, but just as Xu Xingli was about to give in and open his eyes to question what he was doing, his hair was gently stroked.

Then, almost immediately, his left hand was taken, and two extremely soft things touched it.

Xu Xingli was utterly astonished.

His thoughts were shaken, and his heart was collapsing.

He immediately recoiled like a startled animal, pulling his hand back and scrambling away.

"You... what are you doing?" he stammered.

The pale moonlight streamed through the balcony door, falling on Xu Zhou by the bed.

Xu Zhou's eyes were too dark to see through, and his lips were slightly parted. "Did I wake you up? Sorry," he said. Although it was a question, he didn't seem surprised, his expression calm and composed.

Xu Xingli clutched the blanket tightly, his chest heaving violently, as if he'd just finished a marathon.

He didn't know why he was so agitated. This agitation wasn't happiness, but anger and pain.

In fact, ever since he couldn't control his heartbeat when facing Xu Zhou and realized certain things again, he had been in this superimposed state.

Before, he had always been confused, but now he suddenly understood. He couldn't fall in love with Xu Zhou in any lifetime. This was his principle and his bottom line. It should have been like this from the beginning; this love should not have existed, otherwise, he wouldn't be in so much pain.

Love that defied convention was too heavy; he couldn't bear it. He didn't want to be trapped in it without dignity again. Perhaps Xu Zhou was also trapped.

The truth was, Xu Xingli couldn't bear Xu Zhou.

And Xu Zhou couldn't bear Xu Xingli.

Their best relationship was to stop here. Then, they would each find peace.

However, it seemed both of them were constantly pushing their own boundaries, getting entangled and involving each other in their lives.

He had no resistance to Xu Zhou in this life. He had to admit it.

Even now, facing Xu Zhou's words, he could only say, "What are you apologizing for again?"

Xu Zhou paused at his words. Then, with an almost imperceptible upward curve of his lips, he said, "I think I crossed the line."

What "think"? He clearly had!

Xu Xingli glared at him angrily, then gestured towards the door with his chin. "Get back to your own room!" he snapped.

Xu Zhou was stunned, looking at him blankly. It was as if this sentence was more surprising than Xu Xingli's sudden awakening.

Xu Xingli immediately turned his head away and said coldly, "I'm not hitting you because you helped me with such a big favor. If there's a next time, be prepared to taste my fist."

Xu Zhou didn't move for a moment. Xu Xingli was also stubborn and remained silent.

After an unknown amount of time, Xu Zhou slowly stood up. As he reached the door and grasped the doorknob, he suddenly turned his head.

Xu Xingli quickly shifted his gaze, their eyes brushing past each other.

In his peripheral vision, Xu Zhou stared straight at him, then made a gesture—goodnight.

Xu Xingli closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Xu Zhou." Just as Xu Zhou was about to leave, Xu Xingli spoke.

"Don't do that again in the future. We... I'm very uncomfortable."

For a long time afterward, neither of them made a move.

Until the very end, when Xu Zhou opened the door and left, Xu Xingli received no reply.

Yet, he suddenly felt a sense of relief.

It was too tormenting.

He had thought this matter would be enough to give him a headache, but to his surprise, a meal a few days later shocked everyone.

Song Yijin came out at a small gathering jointly hosted by the Xu and Song families.