Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Huh? Did I mishear, or did he say that wrong?

Who, me?

At that, Song Nian blinked slowly, pointed at the clothes, looking unsure, then at himself.

"You mean... these clothes are for me?"

"Yeah."

"Is there a party coming up, or some other important occasion I need to attend?"

"No."

If not, then why buy me clothes out of the blue? So random.

Song Nian was confused.

"Your wardrobe is empty."

Probably noticing his confusion, Li Yanchuan said slowly and gently, explaining with unusual patience.

Through their time together, he'd noticed Song Nian didn't have many clothes—just a few sets he wore on rotation.

And the styles were ridiculously simple, all mostly solid colors, obviously not high-end—looked like they were picked up somewhere cheap.

Even though he'd already given Song Nian a black card, there were never any big purchases. He always wore cheap clothes, and even his phone had a cracked screen.

It was downright embarrassing how frugal he was.

Yet Song Nian seemed perfectly content, completely unfazed—nothing like the aloof, detached person the rumors said he was.

If word got out, people might think the Li family was mistreating him.

Plus, Song Nian had been obedient lately and did his tasks well, so giving him a little reward wouldn't be a bad idea.

With that thought, Li Yanchuan convinced himself, contacted his assistant, and arranged for a private shopping appointment with a luxury store to bring over the latest seasonal collection for a personal shopping session at home.

Hearing his words, Song Nian's eyes flickered. It took him a moment to process, looking a bit touched.

He wasn't materialistic—a few sets to rotate were enough, especially since there was no need to dress up.

But he was surprised. Li Yanchuan, cold and busy as he was, always buried in work, had actually noticed such a small detail.

And he'd even gone out of his way to set up a luxury store visit to refresh his wardrobe.

Tough on the outside, soft on the inside—awfully sweet.

Thinking that, Song Nian softened, sidled up to Li Yanchuan, and gently tugged his sleeve.

"Thanks, hubby!"

He curled his lips into a sweet, grateful smile.

Then, like a cheerful butterfly, he flitted over to the dazzling racks of clothes.

That bright, sincere smile caught him off guard. The gentle tug on his sleeve touched something deep inside him. Li Yanchuan felt a little moved, a tiny grin tugging at his lips.

The store manager smiled and said, "Sir, please take a look over here. Besides clothes, we also have matching accessories."

The store manager smiled, her manager's instincts telling her that this young man was the real VIP today, and he had a close relationship with CEO Li.

It was then Song Nian noticed the name tag on her chest, with her name and title.

No wonder he didn't recognize her—she wasn't anyone important to Li Yanchuan.

That oddly cheered him up. Like a peacock showing off, he was excited about everything, listening to her introductions while gleefully looking through.

But there were so many clothes—several full racks taking up most of the living room. You'd think it was a fashion show.

All the latest collection from a major international brand, expensive and some even limited editions not yet released, not available for purchase yet.

Even with the store manager's patient guidance, Song Nian was overwhelmed, nearly suffering from choice overload. It took him a while to finally pick out a few sets.

"I'm done choosing."

He held up the clothes to show Li Yanchuan, about to ask his opinion, but Li Yanchuan frowned.

"You only picked these few?"

His eyes swept over the items in Song Nian's hands, displeased.

"Huh...?"

Why the sudden change of expression? Not knowing what to make of it, Song Nian shrank back, thinking maybe he'd taken too many.

"Then, should I put a few back?"

He ventured carefully, but as he started walking away, Li Yanchuan stopped him.

"If you don't like these styles, have them send another batch over."

When Li Yanchuan actually called over the store manager, Song Nian quickly stopped him:

"What? No, I love them—they're gorgeous."

He liked them a lot, actually. There were too many to choose from already. Isn't that just a waste?

"If you like them, why only pick so few? Song Nian, are you worried I can't afford it?"

Li Yanchuan narrowed his eyes, casting a scrutinizing look.

"No, no—I just don't think I'll wear that many. These are really enough."

Afraid of being misunderstood again, Song Nian hurriedly explained.

Seeing him flustered and waving his hands, Li Yanchuan sighed. Instead of getting angry, he said in a deep voice,

"Go pick out the ones you don't like."

Though confused, Song Nian complied, pulling out a few that really weren't his style.

Li Yanchuan gave them a casual glance, nodded slightly, then turned to the manager and dropped a bombshell:

"Okay. Leave those out. We'll take everything else."

"HUH?!"

Hearing this, Song Nian's eyes instantly widened, his mouth forming a huge "O" shape, his expression one of utter shock.

For a moment, he didn't know whether to be more shocked by how much all those clothes would cost, or by the fact that Li Yanchuan was buying him so many clothes.

Just as Li Yanchuan was about to swipe his card, Song Nian immediately lunged forward and grabbed his arm to stop him:

"This is way too many. There's no way I can wear all of those."

"Not too many. You didn't bring much luggage anyway."

But Li Yanchuan remained unmoved, just gave him a cool glance, pulled his hand free, and continued handing over the card.

In contrast, the store manager's face lit up with a big smile. Being a shrewd businesswoman, she immediately sensed something unusual about their relationship and didn't forget to flatter them a bit:

"Thank you, President Li! The two of you have such a good relationship. Wishing you two a long and happy life together!"

The two of them, now misunderstood, exchanged looks: ...

But in a way, it wasn't exactly a misunderstanding.

Song Nian discreetly glanced at the expression of the man in the wheelchair. Seeing that the man showed no reaction, Song Nian cleared his throat and pretended not to have heard it.

Meanwhile, in a spot Song Nian didn't notice, Li Yanchuan touched the tip of his nose, lowered his gaze, and struggled to keep his composure.

He thought buying clothes would be the end of it, but unexpectedly, no sooner had that large crowd left than the doorbell rang again.

With a sense of foreboding, Song Nian turned to look suspiciously at the man.

But he only got a slight eyebrow raise and a confirming nod.

After buying clothes, what else could there possibly be?

Curious, he went to open the door. After clearly seeing what the new wave of people were delivering, he fell silent.

Well, there really was more.

This time, what was delivered was a huge batch of the latest electronics from various well-known brands.

Most of them were mobile phones.

As Song Nian stood there in shock, he heard the sound of a wheelchair approaching from behind, and then Li Yanchuan's voice:

"Your phone screen's cracked, right? Perfect time for a new one."

Reminded like this, Song Nian then remembered the small crack on his phone's screen.

He himself hadn't paid attention to it, since it didn't affect the phone's use at all, but he didn't expect Li Yanchuan to have remembered.

Not only had he bought him clothes, but now he wanted to replace his phone too.

"Th-this really isn't necessary. The phone still works fine."

He clenched his fists in a fluster, then relaxed them, overwhelmed by this sudden warmth and care.

But Li Yanchuan didn't respond. He simply lifted his chin to gesture at the store manager, signaling her to handle it.

"Hello, sir. Let me show you what we have."

Receiving the signal, the store manager immediately understood and stepped forward to give Song Nian a warm smile.

Before Song Nian could even say a word of refusal, he was pulled aside without further ado.

Just as he was caught in a dilemma, unsure what to pick, it was Li Yanchuan who made the decision for him.

"Just these three."

Li Yanchuan casually pointed to the three most expensive phones.

The store manager was all smiles as she received the instruction. Recognizing who was really calling the shots, she promptly took the card.

"How could I possibly use that many phones?"

Seeing this, Song Nian hinted tactfully.

You can rotate wearing extra clothes, but there's no reason to buy multiple phones; it's not like I'm running a wholesale business.

"You can use them as backup phones."

"Who needs two backup phones?"

"Now you do."

Song Nian: ...No need for that.

After some persuasion, Li Yanchuan finally agreed to keep just one new phone.

Looking at the living room full of clothes and the latest phone, his heart softened, as if a warm current flowed through his chest.

It was as if someone he thought hated him had suddenly stuffed a handful of candy into his hands. He was happy for the sweetness of the candy, and also delighted by the other person's gesture of goodwill.

Because this meant his efforts had paid off, and that Li Yanchuan didn't entirely dislike him.

He crouched down, his eyelashes curving, and thanked the man earnestly and sweetly:

"Thank you, honey."

Unlike the professional, well-practiced smiles of the store managers just now, Song Nian's smile came from the heart, sincere and radiant.

Completely different—it had a unique charm, a power that pierced straight through people's hearts.

It even moved Li Yanchuan.

Faced with such a dazzling smile, his Adam's apple bobbed. His breath suddenly hitched, and he had to turn his head away, pretending everything was fine, to hide the emotions on his face.

"Mm."

He responded only with a quiet "Mm."

His low voice was like a breeze drifting from a distant horizon, always carrying a biting cold that deterred many who tried to get close.

But when one truly crossed through the frost into the heart of the cold wind, only then would one realize that there was actually warmth deep inside.

————

After taking a shower that evening, Song Nian flopped down onto the big bed with a thud, feeling incredibly comfortable.

At that moment, he was wearing the pajamas Li Yanchuan had bought for him today.

He turned his head to look at the wardrobe. Originally empty, it was now stuffed to the brim, with not a single empty compartment left.

Everyday clothes for different seasons, sleepwear, and even suits and formal wear had all been prepared—every type imaginable.

And the phone placed on the bedside table had also been swapped out for a new one.

It has to be said, Li Yanchuan seemed indifferent on the surface but was actually very thorough.

He even remembered things Song Nian hadn't given a second thought.

Did this mean his standing in the other person's heart had gone up just a tad?

Thinking of this, Song Nian glanced at the phone beside him, then looked down at the sleepwear he had on, and couldn't help but break into a silly smile.

In the past, even his parents had never gone this far for him.

The more he thought about it, the happier he got. Hugging his pillow, he rolled around excitedly on the bed.

—He made up his mind: he had to do something for Li Yanchuan too.

He silently made up his mind.

At the same time, in another room.

The man in the wheelchair sat at the desk, a faint blue light casting shadows across his cheeks.

His eyes were locked on the figure on the screen without blinking.

He watched him toss and turn on the bed.

Seeing something so adorable, Li Yanchuan let out a soft laugh, his expression softening—which was rare.

A gentleness appeared on his features that even he hadn't noticed.

————

That morning, Li Yanchuan was handling company affairs online in his study when he suddenly heard a knock on the door.

As soon as he said yes, a fluffy chestnut-brown head poked in.

It was Song Nian.

“Honey, are you busy?”

He was gripping the doorframe with both hands, flashing a smile so bright it looked like flowers were blooming around him.

“Not really—what’s up?”

Already guessing who it was, Li Yanchuan didn't even bother to look up.

“Could you at least look at me?”

A bit unhappy with the indifferent reply, Song Nian complained without any real resentment, his voice rising like he was urging.

It had a hint of spoiled affection.

Hearing this, Li Yanchuan paused and looked up, meeting his eyes.

The moment their eyes met, the other person tilted his head slightly, his smile widening; his curved lashes like crescent moons in the night sky, as if filled with a clear pool.

“Ta-dah——”

The next second, the young man raised an eyebrow triumphantly and suddenly jumped out from behind the door and bounced into the study.

Like a rabbit springing forward.

Only when he was right in front of him did Li Yanchuan get a good look at what he was wearing today.

He wore white casual trousers that fit him perfectly—not too loose, showing off the smooth lines of his legs, giving off a relaxed, easygoing vibe.

On the front of his pure white top was a warm yellow five-pointed star, and the collar and cuffs were made of blue-and-yellow checkered fabric, giving it a lively, playful look without being boring.

This light-colored outfit would highlight flaws on most people, but on Song Nian, it instead made him even more dazzling, easily grabbing anyone's attention.

It looked really good.

Also, if he remembered right, this was one of the outfits he bought yesterday.

As if something had been touched deep inside, Li Yanchuan thought to himself, oddly pleased by the gesture—as if he had been petted.

“Does it look good?”

As he spoke, Song Nian spun around 360 degrees in front of him, proudly and triumphantly showing off his carefully picked outfit.

“Not bad.”

He looked away and gave a flat response.

If it were the original him, hearing that reply would definitely be taken as a perfunctory, careless response.

But Song Nian was different—he never overthought things or kept his feelings bottled up.

Although it seemed like a brief answer, he understood the guy's personality well and automatically read the subtext:

Hehe, that means he's praising me.

He walked cheerfully, like a little dog showing off its scent with its tail held high, then stood in front of Li Yanchuan and rubbed against him like a peacock flaunting its feathers.

Ever since he confirmed that he was truly allowed into the study, he no longer held back and would happily walk in the moment he knocked.

“Honey, I really like this outfit. I like everything you've given me!”

He praised him without holding back, his words full of enthusiasm and sincere gratitude.

It was like blinding sunlight falling right in front of him, making Li Yanchuan pause for a moment before lowering his eyes, unwilling to look straight at the brilliant light.

As if that could keep his hidden emotions from being seen.

“Mm, if it’s not enough, I’ll buy more,”

he said softly.

“Hehe, no need for now.”

Changing the subject, Song Nian suddenly spoke up.

“By the way, honey, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Can I redecorate the room a little?”

Seeing Li Yanchuan's questioning look, afraid he might be misunderstood, he quickly explained.

"Just want to add a few small things, not going to tear down the house."

As he spoke, he raised a finger, emphasizing that it was really just a little.

The man across from him remained silent for a long moment, as if deep in thought, his gaze steadily fixed on him.

Like he was trying to see through him and find flaws, staring so hard that Song Nian couldn't help but feel nervous.

Even though he hadn't done or planned to do anything wrong, he was tense for no reason.

His posture even straightened up a bit, as he pulled in his long limbs and stood stiff as a soldier.

After a long moment, Li Yanchuan finally gave his answer.

"Suit yourself."

With that, he looked away, like he was agreeing to something totally unimportant.

After all, given how obedient Song Nian had been, even buying him a whole new house wouldn't be too much, let alone letting him redecorate.

"Great, thank you, hubby!"

Hearing this, Song Nian's eyes lit up instantly. He jumped up excitedly, looped his arms around his arm, rubbed his cheek against it, then dashed out of the study, impatient to put his ideas into action.

He dashed off in a whirlwind, leaving only a rush of air.

And the study door wide open.

Li Yanchuan: ...

Just as he was about to go close the door, less than a minute later, the figure that had rushed out so hastily stealthily retreated.

A head appeared around the doorframe, blinking, meeting the eyes of the person behind the desk. He had a sheepish grin, then carefully reached out and eased the study door shut.

As if the door-closing incident never happened.

Staring at the closed door, recalling the guilty movements, Li Yanchuan rested his forehead on one hand and looked back down at the papers, as if unconcerned.

But for a long time, not a single word on the page sank in.

Then, hiding his mouth, a faint smile touched his lips.

————

With permission granted, Song Nian rolled up his sleeves, ready to start a big project.

He wasn't actually going to renovate the villa's interior; he simply wanted to make some handy adjustments specifically for Li Yanchuan and add certain amenities.

After all, Li Yanchuan was confined to a wheelchair and had limited mobility. Adding some convenient features might make his life more comfortable.

For instance, putting bumper strips on the edges of tables and cabinets to stop him from getting scratched or bumping his head, and putting in small ramps to make it easier for the wheelchair to get around.

Another example: installing a small call bell by the bedside so that whenever he needed anything, he could quickly call him over.

But as he worked, Song Nian felt a bit uneasy, worried he might make things worse and get on his bad side.

Because Li Yanchuan was a proud man—what if doing this hurt his pride?

But if he didn't, something like the fall last time could happen again, and that would be trouble.

He decided to act first and beg for forgiveness later.

At worst, he'd get scolded again; it wasn't like it would kill him.

He could consider it a thank-you for the man splurging and buying him so much stuff yesterday.

After all, Li Yanchuan wasn't a bad person—just a little cranky and stubborn. Deep down, he was a good person.

Meanwhile, in the study, Li Yanchuan heard no loud demolition sounds outside, only the constant back-and-forth of footsteps. He was a little puzzled.

He said he was going to decorate—how come he hadn't even called any workers?

He checked the security camera but found Song Nian wasn't in the bedroom.

Instead, the living room camera showed him moving things in and out of the living room.

Not decorating the living room or his own bedroom—where was he planning to add things?

Confused, Li Yanchuan frowned.

Just as he was about to go out and check, Song Nian came to find him first.

"Hubby."

The man had an eager grin plastered on his face as he trotted over.

From his look, he was either guilty or looking for praise.

Either way, it was clear he had something up his sleeve.

"I'm done decorating. How about I show you what I did?"

He stepped forward, insisting on pushing him out, and made sure to add:

"But first, promise me you won't get angry, and you won't say a word."

Not get angry? Could it be he had accidentally torn a door off its hinges, smashed a window, or caused some other trouble?

Or maybe he had created something that didn't match the rest of the house?

Li Yanchuan raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of suspicion.

"What's with that look? Just promise me first, or I won't take you to see it."

"...Fine."

Hearing this, Song Nian's face immediately broke into a bright smile. Happily, he pushed the wheelchair toward the bedroom.

They weren't heading to Li Yanchuan's bedroom, but to the master bedroom.

"What's this?" Li Yanchuan asked, pointing to a small hook stuck on the lower left side of the door before entering.

"Oh, that—I just stuck it there casually. It can't be taken off, so you can use it as a handle."

Saying this, Song Nian scratched his cheek guiltily and crouched down to demonstrate.

Because someone in a wheelchair sits at a different height from a standing person, reaching the door handle is hard, and the hook stuck lower down acts as a lower handle, making it easier to open and close the door.

His stammer was really obvious; although he said it was just casually stuck on, it was obviously a lie.

He did it on purpose.

Staring at the other person's back, Li Yanchuan's expression darkened, his emotions unreadable, but he said nothing.

Seeing this, Song Nian ventured to keep pushing him into the room.

After entering the room, he first went to the window and pulled open the curtains:

"You need to open the curtains first and let the sunlight in."

Instantly, the usually dim bedroom was flooded with sunlight, bathed in golden radiance, bright and open, just like the brightly lit living room.

No more damp, shadowy corners remained.

The glaring light made Li Yanchuan squint. He was about to tell him off and make him close them, but after a moment's hesitation, he remained silent.

The long-missed sunlight fell on him, warm and comfortable, not at all unpleasant.

So he pursed his lips and watched impassively as the other showed the small ramp in the bathroom, the corner guards on the cabinets, the non-slip mats on the floor, and the call button by the bed.

Each time he mentioned an added item, Song Nian took care to stress that it wasn't specially arranged, but just something convenient, a coincidence, or an accidental addition.

Like he was handling something fragile.

After speaking, Song Nian stood nervously beside him, waiting for a reaction and stealing glances up at him.

Although Li Yanchuan remained expressionless, Song Nian couldn't gauge his thoughts. Even if his intentions were good, what if he misunderstood?

The man in the wheelchair still looked calm, scanning the changes in the room, his face betraying no emotion.

After a long moment, he spoke:

"You... just did all this?"

"Uh... is it too much?"

On hearing this, Song Nian blinked fast, not quite understanding his meaning.

"No, it's not."

Li Yanchuan said no more. He wheeled himself forward, reached for the call button on the wall, and stared at it.

Given his personality, if anyone else had done this, they would have been kicked out long ago.

Because he didn't need these things—things that would advertise his weakness.

But for some reason, when it came to Song Nian, he didn't feel offended at all.

Perhaps it was because those sincere, clear eyes had imprinted on his heart, gradually lowering his defenses, making him want to trust him a little more.

"Um, I didn't mean anything else. I just thought in case of an emergency, you could use this to notify me, and I'll come right away."

"And it's not too noisy. The ringtone only plays on the receiver. Don't misunderstand or overthink it. If you don't like it, you can just use it as a nightlight."

Seeing Li Yanchuan staring with a blank expression, Song Nian swallowed hard and explained nervously, afraid that, like last time, he'd think he was making fun of him.

Unexpectedly, this time Li Yanchuan had a completely different reaction.

He didn't darken his expression or say anything sharp.

He just gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and nodded slightly:

"Mm, good job."

Not only did he not feel offended, but he even thanked him.

This made Song Nian let out a sigh of relief and also feel a bit surprised, with a little joy bubbling up inside.

————

After his evening shower, Li Yanchuan wheeled himself out of the bathroom.

The ramp made the wheelchair move especially smoothly. He glanced down at his feet from the corner of his eye, paused for a moment, then continued forward.

He looked at the call button by the bed and lowered his gaze.

Then, as if compelled by some impulse, he raised his hand and gently pressed the button.

Sure enough, just as Song Nian had said, there was no harsh, continuous ringing, as if nothing had happened.

But the next second, the door was flung open, and a figure rushed in.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

Song Nian, his hair still dripping wet, rushed into the room anxiously, panting as he spoke.

This flustered appearance made Li Yanchuan inappropriately think of a puppy.

A puppy that, upon hearing its owner's call, would dash recklessly and hurry over.

————

Just now when he heard the ring, Song Nian's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately rushed over.

His hair was still dripping wet, not even toweled dry, and one side of his pajama collar was folded wrong. He didn't bother with anything and just ran straight over.

Actually, regarding this call button, he'd figured that, given Li Yanchuan's temper, not ripping it off was already the best-case scenario; he probably wouldn't use it and would at most treat it as a decoration.

But he hadn't expected the bell to ring so early in the evening.

Had something big happened, to the point where Li Yanchuan was willing to use this to call him?

Alarmed, Song Nian dashed to the master bedroom, and because he had just showered and was running too fast, he even slipped in the hallway.

But as soon as he arrived at the bedroom and saw Li Yanchuan still sitting safe and sound in his wheelchair with no signs of injury, his heart calmed down right away.

"Honey, did you need me for something?"

"No, nothing."

Seeing this, Li Yanchuan was silent for a long time, but then said no.

If nothing was wrong, then maybe he just wanted to test the effect of the bell?

Song Nian glanced around sideways, a guess forming in his mind.

He slowly stepped forward, bent down to his ear, and said softly:

“Don’t worry, no matter when you call for me, I’ll be here.”

His voice was gentle and soothing, with a calming effect, like a babbling brook in a deep forest, able to wash away every trace of dust from one’s heart and nourish the parched, cracked ground.

The truth was, the instant he pressed the call button, Li Yanchuan had indeed been testing him.

“I’ll come running.”

He wanted to see whether Song Nian’s words were just talk or if he would actually follow through.

When he saw the figure that had suddenly slammed the door open, Li Yanchuan had to admit his resolve had wavered.

When Song Nian glanced at him with a questioning look, he felt flustered, as if his hidden thoughts had been exposed, and instinctively turned his head away, avoiding his gaze.

“…Mm.”

The barely perceptible reply was like a wisp of smoke drifting into his ear.

Faint, but there.

Hearing this, Song Nian cocked his head, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile directed at him.

Meeting his gentle smile, Li Yanchuan slowly closed his eyes and thought to himself:

Song Nian, don’t lie to me, or else…

—

Li Yanchuan found himself once again tossing and turning all night.

Even though this had improved recently, tonight it had flared up again.

No matter how tightly he closed his eyes, a restless murmur echoed in the depths of his heart, keeping his mind on edge.

Li Yanchuan raked his hand through his hair in irritation and pushed himself up to a sitting position.

The moon was bright and the stars were few; his phone’s dim screen showed it was already two in the morning. The dead of night was always completely silent, apart from the occasional rustle of leaves, there was nothing else.

The dark room seemed swallowed by endless loneliness, easily stirred the darkest corners of his heart.

Whether it was the silence in his ears or the darkness before his eyes, everything made Li Yanchuan feel restless and uneasy, as if something was about to break through from within, leading to irreversible consequences.

This feeling of losing control bothered him.

He tsked in annoyance and snapped on the desk lamp.

He probably used too much force, a trace of anger in the motion, the noise was startling.

The light came on, casting a small, warm glow, dispelling some of the dark and bringing a measure of peace.

Out of the corner of his eye, Li Yanchuan noticed the call button on the wall.

—If he pressed this, Song Nian would appear.

—He really hadn’t lied; he had kept his promise.

The image of him rushing into the room surfaced in his mind. Li Yanchuan stayed silent, a sudden impulse rising in his heart.

An urge to press the button right now and see Song Nian.

That bright, radiant, naive, and reckless face, always wearing a smile—once seen, probably never forgotten.

Light always stands opposite to darkness. He used to love sitting alone in the dark, but today he only felt gloom.

His large, well-defined hand slowly reached out, but stopped halfway.

Then he blankly pulled it back.

Even he didn’t know what he was trying to grasp.

Li Yanchuan irritably smoothed his hair, his brow deeply furrowed.

He reached for the laptop beside him and opened it.

The screen flickered to life, revealing a familiar scene.

And the familiar person inside it.

In the second bedroom’s big bed, Song Nian was breathing evenly, already fast asleep.

He was nestled deep in the soft pillow and mattress, the blanket was puffed up like a big roll, as if he were the filling in a soft bread bun.

Though he was slim, sleeping on his side squished his cheek into a small, soft round, with faint creases.

It made one want to pinch it.

As the camera zoomed in, Song Nian’s sleeping face filled the screen.

As if they were face to face, as if he were sleeping right beside him.

Staring intently at the person on the screen, Li Yanchuan’s furrowed brow unconsciously relaxed.

A hint of barely perceptible softness crept in.

The usual coldness faded from his face, replaced by a rare gentleness.

The impulse in his heart was satisfied, but still not enough.

It was as if a crack had opened in his heart, an endless emptiness flooding in, leaving it hollow, urgently needing something to fill it.

But he didn’t know what could fill it.

All he knew was that as he stared at the person on the screen, the restlessness in his heart somehow quieted a bit.

Thus, as the moon gradually faded and the sun broke over the horizon, Li Yanchuan finally tore his gaze away from the laptop screen.

He looked dazedly out the window, stunned for a moment, realizing it was already morning.

He had been staring at Song Nian’s sleeping face all night.

He must be going crazy.

Suddenly aware of the absurdity of his actions, Li Yanchuan pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration and slammed the laptop shut.

—

When Song Nian got up the next morning, he was surprised not to see Li Yanchuan anywhere.

According to human routine, normally at this time he should be getting up, so why is the door still tightly shut today?

Puzzled, he came to the master bedroom and was about to raise his hand to knock, but on second thought, in case he was still sleeping, it might not be appropriate.

Maybe he was sleeping in.

Song Nian figured as much and left him be.

After breakfast, he sprawled on the big sofa in the living room, with nothing to do. Suddenly remembering he hadn't used the media room yet, he jumped up energetically and thumped down to the basement.

The media room was as spacious as the living room, with a huge projection screen and super-soft sofas, even more comfortable than a private cinema.

Well-prepared, Song Nian brought his own drinks and fruit downstairs, plopped onto the soft sofa with a grunt.

He grabbed at random a recommended movie and settled into the sofa, sipping juice as he watched.

The movie playing was a romance, the super-emotional kind, telling the story of a man and a woman who break up and reunite multiple times with understated storytelling, that makes anyone tear up.

Seeing the male and female protagonists put through wringer and forced apart, Song Nian sniffled hard, his juice swapped for tissues as tears welled in his eyes.

—I just wanted to watch a movie to relax, how did I end up picking such a cry-fest!

Besides, he was naturally empathetic and had a low tear threshold. Once he started crying, he went all out crying.

He almost cried himself unconscious.

In fact, he did eventually faint, but only because he was worn out from crying and watching, so he fell asleep.

His eyes were swollen from crying, almost too puffy to open, and drowsiness deepened as the movie's timeline moved.

Gradually, his eyelids grew heavy, and the things in front of him turned blurry.

He forced himself to stay till the credits, his head lolled and he dozed off, completely satisfied.

The viewer had drifted off, but the movie continued on the screen.

Also joining in was the sound of the elevator opening and the soft creak of a wheelchair.

It was Li Yanchuan.

Perhaps because he had only fallen asleep at dawn, he had slept until noon today, waking up with the sun already blazing.

He took the elevator to the first floor, but was surprised to find no trace of Song Nian.

Not in the living room, nor in the bedroom.

After hesitating for a moment, Li Yanchuan was about to pull up the surveillance footage, but before he could, he picked up the faint sound of a movie coming from the basement.

Was that a movie playing? Was Song Nian in the basement?

Going down to the basement, he indeed saw the figure on the sofa.

Unlike his usual chattering self, Song Nian was unusually quiet, slouched against the armrest of the sofa, his eyes closed in sleep.

This sleeping face was just like the one he had seen through the screen last night.

Except this time, they were truly face to face, close enough to touch.

How come he fell asleep here?

Li Yanchuan frowned, pushing his wheelchair forward. When he got closer and saw the tear stains under the man's eyes, his brow furrowed deeper.

Tears? From the movie?

He glanced at the projection screen, watching the long list of credits roll, and recognized it as a well-known tragic love story.

He had seen it before, but after watching, he felt nothing inside, even finding it exaggerated and boring—unlike Song Nian, who cried his eyes out.

His glistening eyes caught the light, and Li Yanchuan's expression darkened.

He couldn't understand—why would Song Nian get so invested emotionally in just a fictional movie?

Just as he had never understood Song Nian himself.

He is so sincere and passionate, openly wearing his heart on his sleeve, and able to give kindness and trust to strangers.

This baffled Li Yanchuan.

Because since he was a child, his way of protecting himself was to never trust others easily, nor to show his feelings on his face.

Otherwise, it would become a weakness, a target for others to exploit.

Like a fragile neck that could be twisted with a single snap, ending a life as fragile as a cicada's wing.

Thinking this, Li Yanchuan couldn't help but reach out.

His palm first covered the man's cheek, squeezed—softer and smoother than he imagined.

Then he moved down, stroking the slender neck.

Smooth, pale, cool to the touch.

Yet with a perfect curve.

“Mm...”

A sudden murmur from the sleeping guy snapped Li Yanchuan awake.

He immediately came to his senses and withdrew his hand.

But Song Nian didn't wake up—he just mumbled in his sleep, turned over, and continued sleeping.

The thin blanket that had slipped off slid to the floor.

He stared intently at the sleeping face, then moving down to his neck and collarbone, Li Yanchuan's expression darkened with a hint of something murky.

A fragile, tiny seed called trust quietly pushed out a sprout.

Such a sprout was meant only for that one special person who was willing to overlook his icy demeanor and keep coming closer no matter what.

Forget it. So what if he's fragile, being innocent works too. Given his current strength, he could still protect him.

Considering the man's current behavior and that brilliant smile, a bit of trust wouldn't hurt.

Of course, he could also let a few boundaries slide for now.

Li Yanchuan thought to himself, his eyes softening a little.

He picked up the blanket, gently covered the person with it, and then turned to leave.