Chapter 37

Chapter 37

"037"

The crowd was thinning out.

In the end, only Xiao Lancui's elongated shadow remained on the small path.

The rain was still drizzling, the road was clean, with only a few scattered fallen branches lying haphazardly in the water.

The only sound outside the rain came when he stepped on the broken branches.

That black shadow was still in the same place as in the afternoon.

It hadn't moved at all.

It looked like it was really dead.

A streetlamp stood in the poplar grove, diagonally above the stone wall he was leaning against. A warm orange beam shone down, making the thin threads of rain visible in that small space, landing clearly on Lu Ao.

Soon, the rain pounded down, hitting the wide black umbrella surface.

The umbrella kept the rain off but also broke up that small patch of orange light. The glow followed the rain, dripping in a string along the edge of the umbrella, falling beside Xiao Lancui's shoes, splashing into tiny orange sparks.

Lu Ao, sitting on the steps with his knees drawn up, was still tall. Xiao Lancui didn't lower himself; he stood in front of Lu Ao holding the umbrella with one hand, gazed down at the black baseball cap, and asked in a flat voice, "Still hungry?"

The first second, no movement.

The second second, the head under the baseball cap suddenly lifted. The narrow, dark eyes finally showed some other color in the dim light, red and swollen, whether from the rain or from tears.

Lu Ao looked up, his dilated black pupils gradually focusing, finally landing on Xiao Lancui's light ink-like brows and eyes.

A face like dark ink, but with eyes so pale they betrayed almost no emotion.

The once brilliant, flamboyant young master of stunning beauty was buried with his legs the day of the accident.

Even in the moment of his death, his eyes held a knowing indifference.

Only once, during an assassination attempt, Lu Ao threw himself in front of him and took those two arrows.

Only then did Xiao Lancui's eyes flicker.

Lu Ao met those calm, dark eyes. He had been soaked in the rain, but his thin lips were chapped and peeling. Through the mask, his voice was hoarse and muffled, "I'm hungry."

Really hungry.

The unevenly bitten nails dug into his flesh, the sharp pain mixed with blood blurred his clenched palm.

He felt hungry just seeing Xiao Lancui.

A hunger that came from his soul.

Xiao Lancui looked back at those eyes, clear and openly showing longing—he was truly hungry.

Xiao Lancui unzipped his backpack, took out the ice bread and soda water, and handed them to Lu Ao, "Eat."

He heard Lu Ao swallow. Lu Ao's hands moved stiffly; he wiped them back and forth on his soaked shirt a few times before snatching the items.

"Thanks, brother!"

He took off his mask.

In the dim light, the stitches all over his face were like little earthworms, wriggling in unison with his swallowing. His thin lips were pale from cold.

He looked really ugly.

He was very hungry, but still patiently tore open the wrapper with good manners. He glanced up to gauge Xiao Lancui's expression, then lowered his head and silently nibbled the bread, polite as ever. Even though he was starving, he didn't wolf it down. He carefully unscrewed the cap; he was parched, so he drank a little eagerly, but still made no sound.

Completely different.

A wolf and a little dog.

Xiao Lancui also patiently watched Lu Ao eat the bread and drink water. Even now, he couldn't be one hundred percent sure that the little dog in front of him wasn't that wolf.

But it didn't matter.

Even if it was that wolf, keeping him close would make it easier to find his tells.

For an adult male of Lu Ao's size, even eating politely, a piece of ice bread was just a few bites. He finished the bottle of water too.

Lu Ao looked up again and whispered, "Brother, can I have another tissue?"

Xiao Lancui gave him a new handkerchief.

Lu Ao didn't take it. He pursed his lips, "I'll get it dirty."

"It's fine, I have plenty." Xiao Lancui paused. "Things are meant to be used. If they get dirty, they can be washed."

Only then did Lu Ao take it. The familiar handkerchief—he really couldn't bring himself to use it. He dabbed the corner of his mouth, then pocketed it. "I'll wash it and give it back, brother."

Xiao Lancui didn't refuse. He said, "Let's go."

Lu Ao looked up, startled, at Xiao Lancui, "Where to?"

Xiao Lancui said calmly, "Do you want to go back to the Lu family?"

Lu Ao immediately shook his head, his eyes reddening. "They... they give me shots. I'm not sick. I won't go back."

"So, do you want to come with me?" Xiao Lancui was very patient.

Lu Ao was shocked—three parts feigned, seven parts genuine. He hadn't expected Xiao Lancui to take him back so soon.

He couldn't suppress his jealousy.

Jealous of this body that didn't belong to him, jealous of his current self.

With his thin lips tightly pursed, Lu Ao shook his head, lowering his head dejectedly. "Thank you, brother, but I can't go with you."

He clenched his jaw. "They... my dad, stepmom, my brother... they don't like me leaving the villa. Whoever helps me, they'll get angry... I..." His voice was very low. "Brother gave me bread and water, I'm full now. Brother, you should go home. It's cold at night."

Xiao Lancui said, "I'll ask you one last time: do you want to come with me?"

Lu Ao looked up. Xiao Lancui's indifferent eyes were fixed on him. "Those people, I don't care about them at all. You just need to answer: do you want to come home with me?"

Lu Ao hesitated for a second, then nodded repeatedly with red eyes, "Yes!"

Xiao Lancui was satisfied. "Let's go."

He waited for Lu Ao to get up, but Lu Ao suddenly lowered his head and reached both hands toward his left foot. "Wait, brother!"

Ten long, bony fingers grasped the shoelaces that had come undone unnoticed. His hands hadn't recovered yet, and he tied the laces awkwardly.

Lu Ao said, "Your shoelaces came undone."

Xiao Lancui's legs—every bone had been shattered. To the eye, they looked normal, but in reality, they were like two soft strips of mud, completely numb. This was the first time Lu Ao saw Xiao Lancui standing.

His eyes were bloodshot, his fingers trembling. He messed up twice before finally tying his laces.

His mistakes were flawless. Right now, he was exactly what he appeared to be: a puppy who had been soaked in rain all day, his hands broken and still recovering, nearly frozen and starved to death.

Being able to tie shoelaces was already a stroke of genius.

Lu Ao looked up again, his narrow black eyes gazing up at Xiao Lancui with a pleading look. "All tied up!"

His fingers holding the umbrella handle tightened slightly. Xiao Lancui then said, "Let's go."

Lu Ao finally moved, but he had been sitting for too long. As soon as he stepped off the step, both legs cramped up, and he fell back without warning. He quickly looked up at Xiao Lancui, in a tiny voice. "Sorry, brother, my legs cramped up."

Xiao Lancui stopped. Lu Ao was drenched through, his eyelashes twisted into several strands by the rain. His narrow, normally cold eyes now looked wet and pitiful, and his tall body shivered in the cold rain.

The next second, a warm scarf landed in Lu Ao's arms.

Lu Ao caught it instinctively, staring blankly at Xiao Lancui. But Xiao Lancui only said calmly, "Put it on."

Lu Ao quickly stood up. He was too tall, and his hurried movement nearly knocked the umbrella flying. Xiao Lancui had to grip it tightly. Lu Ao grabbed the scarf and tried to wrap it back around Xiao Lancui's neck. Xiao Lancui said flatly, "Not listening?"

Lu Ao froze. He was now a good half a head taller than Xiao Lancui. The wide umbrella suddenly felt cramped with him under it. He lowered his head and his gaze to look at Xiao Lancui, then quickly wrapped the scarf around his neck.

A faint fragrance eagerly filled Lu Ao's nostrils. It was Xiao Lancui's unique scent, still retaining his body heat. Lu Ao couldn't stop trembling. He buried his face in the scarf, afraid of being exposed despite the cover. His voice was hoarse. "Brother, you're so kind. This is the first time anyone has been this kind to me."

Xiao Lancui said flatly, "Are you coming or not?"

Lu Ao nodded silently.

Xiao Lancui glanced at Lu Ao's hands, nearly twice the size of his own. Since he could move now, he said, "You hold the umbrella."

Lu Ao quickly looked up and obediently took the umbrella. Xiao Lancui said nothing more. The temperature had dropped at night, and standing there for just that short while, he was already freezing.

Lu Ao's physical condition was truly monstrous. He had been soaked all day and still hadn't died.

Xiao Lancui didn't speak, and Lu Ao didn't dare to make a sound. He followed Xiao Lancui into the car. The driver hesitated when he saw Lu Ao soaking wet. Xiao Lancui said, "I'll pay an extra 500 for cleaning."

The driver agreed immediately.

They rode in silence all the way back to the neighborhood where Xiao Lancui rented his apartment. Lu Ao, as if it were his first time here, followed Xiao Lancui step by step back to the house.

There were only Xiao Lancui's slippers at home. Lu Ao stood awkwardly in the entryway, wringing his hands, his clothes clinging wetly to his skin, though they had stopped dripping.

The fairly spacious entryway suddenly felt cramped. Lu Ao really took up a lot of space.

The underfloor heating in this neighborhood was decent; the indoor temperature was warm enough for short sleeves and shorts. Xiao Lancui said, "Take a shower first."

Lu Ao hesitated, not moving, in a tiny voice. "I'm dirty. I'll wet the floor."

The Lu family was trash, but their upbringing was decent. Xiao Lancui was still patient. "Remember the handkerchief you just used?"

Lu Ao nodded.

"The floor is the same as that handkerchief. If it gets wet, you just wipe it clean."

Only then did Lu Ao take off his shoes.

It was also at this moment that Xiao Lancui noticed Lu Ao wasn't wearing socks. He looked away, didn't change his shoes, and turned on all the lights in the house. "Go straight in, the bathroom is on the left. Go wash up. I'm going out for a bit."

He was about to leave when his sleeve was suddenly tugged anxiously.

Lu Ao's nervous voice came. "Brother, are you coming back?"

Xiao Lancui turned his head. Lu Ao's terrifying face showed a fear that seemed out of place. Lu Ao suddenly let go of his fingers, apologizing uneasily, "Sorry, I got your clothes dirty..."

Xiao Lancui suddenly realized that Lu Ao—that Lu Ao—with his high sense of entitlement, was actually quite convenient sometimes.

Not so conflicted.

But there was an essential difference between a puppy and a wolf. With a puppy, you had to be more patient.

He nodded. "When you're done washing, you'll see me."

Lu Ao finally relaxed, nodding obediently. "Come back soon, brother."

Xiao Lancui went to the supermarket across the street and bought a new set of toiletries, several sets of men's underwear, outerwear, and slippers. He would have to go to a mall another day for outdoor shoes.

He didn't know Lu Ao's exact sizes, so he just took the largest size for everything. After shopping at the supermarket, he went to a shop that was still open and bought a large bowl of beef noodle soup, adding every possible topping.

A piece of ice bread could never fill anyone up.

On his way back to the neighborhood, he passed a fruit shop. Xiao Lancui rarely ate fruit except for bayberries. After a brief hesitation, he still went in.

He bought some seasonal fruits and also picked up a basket of big, red cream strawberries.

The bags were a bit heavy for Xiao Lancui, so he walked a little slower. Just as he reached the door, it opened from the inside.

Lu Ao had a towel wrapped around his lower body, his upper body bare. He wasn't very muscular, but he still had a few abs.

His body, covered in bruises, couldn't suppress the wild, youthful masculine energy. Yet his smile and eyes were incredibly innocent.

"Brother, you're finally back!"