Chapter 22 Weary Bird Returns to Nest

Chapter 22: The Weary Bird Returns to Its Nest

Kahn didn’t mock him; instead, he said, "..."

Of course, he didn’t speak. The atmosphere wasn’t suitable for speaking rashly. He blinked his large, doll-like eyes, rapidly like signal lights, frantically sending waves of confusion toward Chen Yi, accompanied by a dramatic triple eyebrow raise.

Chen Yi lived up to Oliver’s trust, naturally tuning into the same wavelength with this friend he’d known for less than ten minutes: "I don’t know either."

Oliver: "Didn’t we just agree to camp on the rooftop tonight? So why is everyone standing around like statues? Are we planning to all cosplay as solar streetlights or gather to absorb moonlight for cultivation?"

Chen Yi: "Speaking of which, why hasn’t anyone moved?" Indeed, after Bai Suizhi finished speaking, the five of them stood there silently, frozen like five petrified statues.

Oliver: "I don’t know. Since no one else is moving, I don’t dare to move either."

Chen Yi sighed in frustration: "Why are you so timid?"

Oliver: "Then why aren’t you moving?"

Chen Yi: "I'm socially anxious."

Oliver: "..."

Five young people, whose combined ages didn't even reach a hundred, stood motionless in the darkness of the apocalypse at an age when they should have been the most energetic, as if engaged in the deepest contemplation—a moment that seemed destined to transcend time and become eternal.

In reality, two semi-strangers were engaged in a telepathic conversation, two people fully engrossed in holding hands seemed to have forgotten where they were, and one gloomy-faced person resumed studying the tips of his shoes.

Finally, Oliver broke the silence: "Since we’ve already agreed, why don’t we find a place to lie down?"

Chen Yi chimed in: "We’ve laid out some cloth strips as bedding under the small roof on the rooftop. If we spread them out, it should be enough for five people."

Oliver: "Wow! That’s great! Let’s go check it out together, hahaha..."

Oliver’s awkward laughter grew even more desolate as no one responded. He glared at Chen Yi: "How can you bear to let me suffer this embarrassment alone?!"

Chen Yi gave him a helpless look: "It’s not that I don’t want to support you, but I have an embarrassing condition."

Oliver’s attention was instantly diverted: "What condition?"

Chen Yi: "Secondhand embarrassment."

Oliver flew into a rage: "You jerk! I ****!" The foreigner not only had an interest in Chinese culture but had also mastered its essentials.

Kahn suddenly spoke up beside them: "Oliver, go with them first. I need to talk to him alone."

Bai Suizhi looked at Kahn in surprise. Kahn glanced at him but said nothing.

Chen Yi quickly stepped away from Oliver’s vicinity and pulled Gu Ze along: "Let’s go. We’ll tidy up the bedding." Oliver followed closely behind, casting a "Death Glare" skill at their backs.

Gu Ze kicked a small pebble on the ground and grumbled, "Those rags can hardly be called bedding."

Chen Yi, long accustomed to the young master’s sharp tongue, agreed: "Yes, yes, we’ve been sleeping on rags these past few days."

Gu Ze grew even angrier, shaking off Chen Yi’s hand and walking ahead on his own.

In truth, Gu Ze and Bai Suizhi held no deep grudges against each other. They had even met only a handful of times. Aside from sharing a mother, they had no connection and naturally harbored no special feelings toward one another.

Yet, meeting in such circumstances felt awkward and uncomfortable. This discomfort wasn’t caused by any specific incident—it arose naturally, and no one could explain why.

Bai Suizhi obediently let Kahn lead him to a small corner of the rooftop. He quietly watched Kahn, waiting to hear what he had to say. Kahn also silently gazed at Bai Suizhi, as if waiting for something. The two stared each other down for three full minutes.

Bai Suizhi finally gave in: "Did you want to say something to me?"

Kahn furrowed his beautiful brows: "Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?"

Bai Suizhi, unsure what came over him, replied, "Then why didn’t you ask?"

Kahn smoothly changed his approach: "What did you want to say to me?"

Bai Suizhi was at a loss for words. *I don’t know what I want to say to you either!*

Under Kahn’s expectant gaze, Bai Suizhi felt immense pressure. His mind raced, and suddenly an idea struck him. Earlier on the helicopter, Kahn had told him to share whenever he felt unhappy. So now, Kahn must have thought he was upset and pulled him aside to collect his unhappiness?

Bai Suizhi tentatively asked, "Did you think I was unhappy?"

Kahn looked matter-of-fact: "Even Oliver noticed." Oliver probably never expected to become a unit of measurement.

Bai Suizhi carefully assessed his current mood and honestly said, "I’m not unhappy. It’s hard to describe how I feel now. It’s like confirming something I’ve known for a long time, so there’s a sense of inevitability? I don’t know." He shrugged, feigning nonchalance.

Though his words were difficult to understand, Kahn tried his best to comprehend: "Hmm... is it because of Gu Ze?"

Bai Suizhi blinked at the mention of Gu Ze’s name and habitually twitched the corner of his mouth—a gesture he often used to mask his emotions.

Kahn: "Don’t smile if you don’t want to, Bai Suizhi."

Bai Suizhi’s half-formed smile froze instantly, twisting into a strange expression.

He looked into Kahn’s eyes, and Kahn stared back. The light blue eyes cast a soft halo around the reflection within.

Bai Suizhi found it strange—why did he look so pitiful in Kahn’s eyes? Like a stray dog drenched in rain, staring pleadingly at passersby, begging for a shred of comfort.

Kahn blinked, his long lashes lowering and disrupting the reflection. Bai Suizhi snapped out of it, laughing at his own self-pity.

Kahn: "What were you thinking just now?"

Bai Suizhi admitted openly: "I was wondering why I look so pitiful in your eyes." *Like a dog wagging its tail for pity...* He left the latter unspoken, perhaps to preserve what little dignity he had left.

Kahn didn’t mock him; instead, he said, "Then do you need comfort?"

Bai Suizhi was surprised that Kahn’s words aligned with his thoughts once again. Kahn read the answer in his eyes and, without hesitation, embraced Bai Suizhi.

Bai Suizhi once again found himself in that familiar, warm embrace. His tense body relaxed abruptly. Instinctively, he buried his face in Kahn’s neck, his hands naturally resting on Kahn’s lower back. His tall, sturdy frame curled into a vulnerable arc, like a young animal shedding its claws and fangs, leaving only dependence and attachment.

Kahn raised a hand to gently pat the man’s back. Bai Suizhi was like a weary bird that had wandered far from its flock, finally finding its way back to its nest.

The first thing the weary bird did upon returning was not to rest but to pour out the loneliness and grievances buried deep in its heart: "My parents divorced right after I was born. Neither of them wanted me. Eventually, my father compromised and took me in."

Those few words made Kahn’s heart ache. He, who had been abandoned due to his physical imperfections, could still find some justification. But how could anyone bear to abandon someone as smart, gentle, and kind as Bai Suizhi? It was simply unforgivable!

Kahn felt almost angry. Bai Suizhi, unaware of the emotions stirring in the man holding him, continued: "After I turned eighteen, I moved out and lived on my own. It wasn’t so bad, really. While others only had one source of living expenses, I had two."

Kahn repeated his earlier words: "Bai Suizhi, don’t smile if you don’t want to."

Bai Suizhi nuzzled Kahn’s neck. Kahn flinched—it was too ticklish—but soon leaned back, pressing his cheek against Bai Suizhi’s. Noticing the movement, Bai Suizhi tried to pull away, but Kahn held him in place: "It’s fine."

Bai Suizhi let out a soft laugh, his warm breath brushing against Kahn’s neck. The low, husky sound grazed Kahn’s sensitive skin, leaving a flush of pink on his pale complexion.

Kahn shifted uncomfortably but maintained close contact with Bai Suizhi, earnestly fulfilling his duty to comfort him: "What is it?"

This time, he didn’t suspect Bai Suizhi of forcing a smile—anyone could sense the joy and lightness in that laughter.

Bai Suizhi teased: "Why are you so well-behaved, Comrade Kahn?"

Kahn’s body stiffened instantly. Bai Suizhi pulled back to look at his expression, and Kahn didn’t stop him—his brain had short-circuited. Bai Suizhi got what he wanted: Kahn’s face was as red as a tomato, even more adorable than he had imagined.

Bai Suizhi couldn’t resist pinching Kahn’s smooth, soft cheek. Kahn didn’t resist, just stared blankly at Bai Suizhi, wondering which step had gone wrong to turn a sincere, serious conversation into... this.