Chapter 32: Staying Over for the Night

The car he ordered through the app was still stuck at a red light. Lin Hexi canceled the order, walked back to the rear door, and closed it securely for the two drunk girls before turning to open the front passenger door.

Just as he was about to sit down, he suddenly remembered something You Chong had said before, and he hesitated, stepping back out.

You Chong turned his head slightly, and frowning as he asked, “What are you doing?”

Lin Hexi stood there, blinking slowly. “Didn’t you say the front passenger seat is off-limits?”

You Chong was momentarily stunned, quickly recalling the incident, and looked at him with mixed emotions. “Just sit.”

A faint smile appeared on Lin Hexi’s face as he bent down and got into the car.

You Chong reminded him to fasten his seatbelt, then asked, “Where do you want to take them?”

Lin Hexi looked down, thinking for a moment before replying, “Let’s go to Chengnan Community.”

You Chong frowned disapprovingly. “You’re taking them back to where you live?”

“Why not?” Lin Hexi turned his head to meet You Chong’s gaze, and curled up his lips casually. “Are you worried I’ll take advantage of them?”

You Chong shot him a brief glance. “Do you really want more unsavory rumors spreading about you?”

Lin Hexi laughed nonchalantly. “One more or one less, it doesn’t really make a difference.”

You Chong’s gaze lingered on Lin Hexi’s face, his frown deepening. After a moment, he shifted his focus to the rearview mirror, where the two drunk girls were slumped in the back seat. “You might not care, but they might.”

When Lin Hexi heard this, instead of retorting, he nodded in agreement. “So there’s a second option.”

You Chong asked, “What option?”

Lin Hexi suddenly broke into a smile, turned to him and said with a sincere expression. “They can sleep at my place, and I’ll go sleep at yours.” His face lit up with joy and anticipation. “What do you think?”

You Chong remained silent, feeling an inexplicable reluctance to refuse.

Seeing that You Chong hadn’t answered after a while, the light in Lin Hexi’s eyes dimmed, and he lowered his gaze in disappointment. “I get it.”

Unable to bear seeing him like this, You Chong felt a slight tension at his temple. He averted his gaze and said in a low voice, “Stop acting. I didn’t say you couldn’t come.”

Surprised by how quickly You Chong agreed, Lin Hexi’s face showed a hint of disbelief. He leaned in closer, examining You Chong’s face up close. “Really?”

“When have I ever lied?” You Chong started the car, keeping his gaze straight ahead. As he found a moment, he lifted his hand and placed it over Lin Hexi’s face.

His broad, warm palm instantly covered Lin Hexi’s eyes and nose, with his long fingers gently pressing against Lin Hexi’s forehead. Lin Hexi couldn’t help but close his slightly heated eyelids.

Seemingly unaware, You Chong pushed his face back a bit. “And remember what you said—keep your distance from me.”

Lin Hexi burst out laughing, then leaned back in his seat, and settled down. But a second later, the smile faded, and he stared blankly ahead, lost in thought.

Wasn’t You Chong supposed to be averse to any form of close physical contact with him? So why did he reach out to touch his face?

They first dropped off Fang Qingning and her friend at Lin Hexi’s place. The apartment he rented had two bedrooms and a living room, but the second bedroom had been unused for so long that there were no bed linens or any other bedding prepared.

You Chong initially thought that Lin Hexi would just settle the two girls in the master bedroom for the night, but Lin Hexi insisted on setting up fresh bedding in the unused side bedroom.

Watching Lin Hexi busy himself, You Chong’s gaze lingered thoughtfully on his back. He soon recalled the earlier celebration party for the racing team, where Lin Hexi had deliberately put on a show for him.

At the time, You Chong had thought Lin Hexi was just putting on an act, but now, reflecting on it, he felt a complex mix of emotions as he realized that the person standing in the dim light back then was probably a more authentic version of Lin Hexi, hidden beneath the facade.

Too many people, himself included, had mistaken the mask Lin Hexi wore as his true self, while dismissing his genuine emotions as mere pretense.

Although Lin Hexi had certainly contributed to these misunderstandings, when You Chong considered the reasons behind his actions and the painful experiences he had once dismissed as jokes or lies, his feelings grew increasingly conflicted.

Suddenly, Lin Hexi turned around, catching You Chong’s gaze before he could look away. With a curious expression, Lin Hexi raised an eyebrow and said, “If you keep looking at me like that, I might start thinking I’m a homeless stray cat.”

You Chong masked his emotions without a change in expression and shifted the topic, asking, “How much longer do you need?”

Lin Hexi replied, “It’s already done, but I just suddenly thought of something—”

He stopped mid-sentence, and his face showed a look of concern.

You Chong coldly prompted, “What is it?”

Lin Hexi looked up, frowning with a sigh. “Can I not sleep on the sofa?”

After a brief silence, You Chong responded, “Fine, you can go make up the bed in the side bedroom for yourself.”

Lin Hexi’s face instantly lit up with a smile as he took a step closer, his eyes curving with mischief. “Then can I also take a shower at your place?”

You Chong remained expressionless, the silence stretching even longer this time.

Just when Lin Hexi was starting to think that You Chong might refuse, You Chong suddenly spoke, “Bring your own clothes.”

Lin Hexi looked surprised.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but it felt like You Chong’s tolerance for him was unusually high tonight.

After settling the two drunk girls in the side bedroom, Lin Hexi left a hastily scribbled note on the bedside table, then grabbed his clothes and a towel before following You Chong upstairs.

As Lin Hexi entered the apartment, he was still wearing the pair of slippers he had used last time. The Alaskan Malamute, hearing the door open, jumped off the sofa in the living room and trotted over to greet them.

Lin Hexi crouched down to pet the dog, and the Alaskan obediently stood still. He set down his clothes and towel, wrapped his arms around the dog’s neck, ruffled its head, and then lifted one of its front paws, shaking it in his hand. Finally, he closed his eyes contentedly and said, “Fantuan, sweetie, your big brother is back.”

You Chong suddenly turned around, and raised an eyebrow as he looked at him. “You call yourself its big brother?”

Lin Hexi released the Malamute and stood up, looking at You Chong with a puzzled expression.

You Chong smirked slightly. “This is my son.”

Realizing what You Chong meant, Lin Hexi wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest. Instead, under the light, he broke into a bright smile and cheerfully called out, “Dady.”

Lin Hexi’s voice was low and drawn out, the two simple words winding with a teasing lilt at the end, as if pulling on invisible strings. Anyone listening would easily sense that he wasn’t seriously calling him “Dady.”

You Chong’s expression darkened, and his tone carried a warning. “Lin Hexi.”

Sensing he had pushed enough, Lin Hexi quickly adopted a look of feigned humility and compliance.

Only then did You Chong, still with a stern expression, go to fetch a blanket and pillow for him.

While Lin Hexi was making up the bed in the side bedroom, You Chong went to the bathroom to take a shower. By the time Lin Hexi had finished arranging the bedding, You Chong emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered.

It was almost as if You Chong had anticipated something, he was dressed in loose-fitting shorts and a t-shirt, covering everything above his knees completely.

Lin Hexi withdrew his gaze with a hint of disappointment.

After the steam from the bathroom had dissipated, Lin Hexi took his clothes and towel inside. He hadn’t intended to cause any trouble, but a small, uncontrollable accident occurred while he was showering.

When he reached for the towel on the shelf, his pajamas, which were tucked into the towel, accidentally fell onto the wet bathroom floor. By the time he picked them up, they were already soaked.

Lin Hexi hung the wet clothes on the lower rack and then called out You Chong’s name through the bathroom door.

Footsteps approached, and You Chong’s voice came from outside the door, “What’s wrong?”

The person inside remained silent.

The bathroom door was pulled open slightly, and a pale arm, still damp with steam, slowly extended out from inside.

You Chong’s expression faltered as his eyes trailed down the bare arm, landing precisely on the wet pajamas hooked on Lin Hexi’s fingers.

Lin Hexi’s muffled voice came from behind the door, “My pajamas fell on the floor and got wet.”

You Chong’s tone was thick with suspicion, “You didn’t drop them on purpose, did you?”

The hand holding the pajamas slowly retracted back inside.

A couple of seconds later, faint rustling sounds came from within the bathroom, but no response followed.

After growing impatient from the wait, You Chong raised his hand and knocked on the slightly ajar bathroom door, reminding Lin Hexi to respond.

Instead of a verbal reply, the door was suddenly pulled wide open.

A wave of steam and heat rushed out, causing You Chong to frown and turn his face away.

Lin Hexi stepped out of the bathroom, wearing only loose shorts, his upper body bare, and asked calmly, “Can you lend me something to wear?”

Upon hearing his voice, You Chong turned back, his gaze unintentionally drifting to Lin Hexi’s slender yet toned shoulders. His eyes traced the smooth lines of Lin Hexi’s shoulders, and paused briefly on the water droplets clinging to his collarbone.

One particularly round, glistening droplet hesitated at the edge of his collarbone before slipping off, and You Chong’s eyes followed its descent almost instinctively.

The water droplet gently landed on his chest, rolling down the curve of its rise and fall into the narrow groove in the middle. It slowly slid down along that concave groove, leaving behind a shallow, transparent water mark between his chest.

You Chong’s gaze followed the trail of the droplet as it slid down his chest inconspicuously.

When the droplet reached Lin Hexi’s navel and dispersed, You Chong suddenly snapped out of his thoughts.

After realizing what he had been doing, his expression changed abruptly. As if suddenly enraged, he turned on his heel and stormed off towards the bedroom without looking back.

Lin Hexi, still standing in place, looked up in confusion, but all he caught was the sight of You Chong’s tense, retreating figure, brimming with anger.

Just weeks ago, during the celebration party, they had stripped off their shirts in front of each other without a second thought. So why was You Chong reacting so strongly now?

Lin Hexi’s eyes were filled with puzzlement.