“Don’t talk nonsense.” Wei Yuhe took a few steps back, putting some distance between himself and Lu Yan.

“Wei Yuhe, do you like me?” Lu Yan, as if he’d just uncovered some earth-shattering secret, leapt toward Wei Yuhe with excitement.

“That’s… nonsense.” Wei Yuhe gave up on his water and turned to leave, but Lu Yan clutched his shirt hem, looking up at him with a pitiful expression. “If you don’t like me, then you don’t have to. Why are you getting so mad?”

“Let go.” Wei Yuhe frowned, his gaze fixed on Lu Yan’s delicate hand that gripped his shirt, making it wrinkle.

“I’m hungry.” Not only did Lu Yan not let go, but he held on even tighter.

It was as if he’d found a weakness in Wei Yuhe, teasing him shamelessly without a care in the world.

“There’s nothing in the fridge, and I can’t sleep ‘cause I’m starving.”

He rubbed his stomach, and his two bare, pale legs swayed back and forth in front of Wei Yuhe’s eyes.

“Go put on some pants,” Wei Yuhe couldn’t hold back, blurting it out.

“I told you, the pants are too big and don’t fit.” Lu Yan glanced down at the T-shirt that covered him snugly and thought it wasn’t too revealing, right?

Wei Yuhe remained silent, refusing to look at Lu Yan. Seeing him act all serious, Lu Yan couldn’t resist teasing him even more.

Rising on his tiptoes, Lu Yan leaned in close, practically whispering in Wei Yuhe’s ear, “Why don’t you get me a skirt instead?”

“You…” Wei Yuhe suddenly turned his head to glare at Lu Yan, almost bumping into him with how fast he moved.

“Shameless…” After struggling to find words, he managed to squeeze out just three, his earlobes red as could be, even in the dimly lit kitchen.

Wei Yuhe glared at Lu Yan, his usually calm eyes now tinged with a faint blush.

“And wearing a skirt makes me shameless?” Lu Yan raised an eyebrow, finding the sight of a thoroughly flustered Wei Yuhe incredibly amusing.

“Your mind’s the one that’s dirty. Why blame me for wanting a skirt?” Lu Yan put on an innocent face, accusing Wei Yuhe as if he was in the wrong.

“So, will you get it for me or not?” Lu Yan continued to provoke him with unabated enthusiasm.

“Shut up.” Wei Yuhe finally snapped, utterly exasperated. In all his years, he’d never met someone quite like Lu Yan, who looked so innocent but was actually such a tease.

“Getting me to shut up won’t be that easy.” Lu Yan’s gaze drifted pointedly over Wei Yuhe’s lips, his eyes filled with a heat that made Wei Yuhe backpedal several steps in shock.

Lu Yan couldn’t hold back his laughter; teasing Wei Yuhe was way more fun than teasing anyone else.

“Just make me something to eat, and I’ll naturally shut up.” Lu Yan held tightly to the hem of Wei Yuhe’s shirt, pulling it taut.

“How about it?” he asked.

Wei Yuhe glanced at his own shirt, which Lu Yan was gripping so tightly. “Let go first.”

Obediently, Lu Yan let go of his shirt, then followed Wei Yuhe around like a little shadow. Luckily, the kitchen was spacious enough that even with Lu Yan wandering about, he wasn’t really getting in the way.

“What do you want to eat?” Wei Yuhe focused on washing a pot, not even looking at him.

Lu Yan was surprised. Not only was Wei Yuhe not angry, but he was also calmly asking him what he wanted to eat?

“I can choose whatever I want?” Lu Yan asked, pushing his luck.

Wei Yuhe turned to him. “No.”

Lu Yan pouted. “Then why ask?”

“Can you leave the kitchen?” Wei Yuhe gave him a slight frown, clearly irritated.

“I can help you,” Lu Yan replied, looking at him with a perfectly innocent expression.

“Not needed.” Wei Yuhe rejected coldly.

Lu Yan pressed on, “Then can I keep you company?”

“No.”

“Then will you keep me company?”

Wei Yuhe fell silent, feeling like every time he spoke, Lu Yan would come up with something else to throw back at him.

“I didn’t know you could cook,” Lu Yan remarked, practically clinging to his back, his soft hair brushing against Wei Yuhe’s neck now and then.

Wei Yuhe ignored him, focusing entirely on cooking. After a few failed attempts to start a conversation, Lu Yan finally stopped trying and, bored, wandered back to the living room, curling up on the couch to wait for his food.

Wei Yuhe looked over his shoulder at Lu Yan, who was yawning as he walked away, frowning unconsciously at the sight of him leaving.

This guy had just said he wanted to keep him company, and now, before the water had even come to a boil, he’d already run off impatiently.

Lying sprawled across the couch like a young master waiting to be served, Lu Yan drowsed off as he waited for Wei Yuhe to bring him food. The only light in the house came from the bright kitchen, where Wei Yuhe moved quickly, soon bringing out a bowl of plain noodles.

Clutching a pillow, Lu Yan lay facing the coffee table, already fast asleep by the time Wei Yuhe got close.

The noodles were still steaming. This was the first time Wei Yuhe had ever cooked for anyone else, and he was beginning to feel like he’d been played. Maybe Lu Yan had been teasing him all along and didn’t actually want his cooking.

A little annoyed, he set the bowl and chopsticks down on the coffee table with a quiet thud. Yet somehow, it was enough to make Lu Yan stir, mumbling something unintelligible with a slight frown.

In the faint glow from the kitchen, Wei Yuhe sat across from Lu Yan, watching him.

Actually, the first time he’d seen Lu Yan wasn’t backstage at the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala. It was back when he was a senior in high school, visiting B University one weekend. That was when he’d witnessed Lu Yan break up with his boyfriend.

At the time, he’d just been passing by, overhearing a few snippets by accident. Lu Yan had sent some money to the other boy, then impatiently said, “It was just for fun. Who told you to take it so seriously?”

“I even gave you extra money. Don’t come looking for me again.”

To this day, he could remember the mix of shock, heartbreak, and anger that flashed across the boy’s face.

Curious, Wei Yuhe had watched Lu Yan a little longer, finding his sweet appearance and blunt behavior a total mismatch.

Afterward, he ran into similar scenes with Lu Yan several times, and the people around him all had the same opinion about him.

This was why his first impression of Lu Yan wasn’t exactly positive.

But as the chance encounters piled up, each time involving Lu Yan either breaking up with someone or going on a date, he found himself keeping an eye on him.

Long before Lu Yan even knew he’d have a cute little junior in college, Wei Yuhe was already familiar with him, having witnessed countless moments of his “player” ways.

When Lu Yan squeezed through the crowded hallway during the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, finally reaching the backstage lounge to greet him, Wei Yuhe recognized him right away.

Still, he didn’t understand why Lu Yan was suddenly so interested in him. Did he chase after everyone like this, only to dump them without hesitation once he got bored?

Wei Yuhe had never dated anyone before, never even liked anyone. Lu Yan was the first person to get this close to him, and he was a guy at that.

“Lu Yan.” Without realizing it, he murmured Lu Yan’s name aloud. It was the first time he’d ever called him by name.

He’d even forgotten why he’d come downstairs in the first place, until his dry throat reminded him he’d come down for water.

Lu Yan clutched his pillow tightly, showing no sign of waking up. Seeing the still-steaming bowl of noodles, Wei Yuhe finally gave in and walked over to him.

“Lu Yan.” He gently tapped the pillow in Lu Yan’s arms, trying to wake him up.

When that didn’t work, he patted Lu Yan’s exposed arm.

Though it was only early autumn, the nights were much colder than the days, and Lu Yan’s arm felt icy under his touch.

“Lu Yan.” Frowning, Wei Yuhe pulled the pillow from Lu Yan’s grasp, then tugged on his arm, trying to get him to sit up.

Lu Yan blinked his eyes open, catching sight of Wei Yuhe’s face inches from his own, half-convinced he was dreaming. Otherwise, why would Wei Yuhe be so close?

Still half-asleep, Lu Yan instinctively reached out, grabbing Wei Yuhe’s arm and pulling him down.

Caught off guard, Wei Yuhe stumbled forward, and in the chaos, Lu Yan’s barely open eyes somehow managed to land a bite on his lower lip.