Chapter 31

When his tongue slipped out of his mouth, the tongue piercing cooled slightly upon contact with the air. That touch of iron-silver against the wet heat made the action exceptionally sensual.

Zhu Yu’s arms were still tightly wrapped around him, his face close to Bai Chen’s ear. His warm breath brushed against Bai Chen’s ear, again and again, and the small mole behind his ear—where he had just been licked—began to heat up.

The warmth gathered there, flowing steadily into his otherwise calm heart, plucking at a taut string before spreading downward—to his abdomen, to the depths below.

Saying he was unmoved would be a lie.

He stood still, but the heartbeat about to burst from his chest betrayed him.

“Senior Brother.” Zhu Yu’s lips pressed against Bai Chen’s ear, his muffled voice slipping in. “I know you probably don’t like this kind of setting, but I didn’t drag you to this Halloween party just to be unreasonable.”

A drunk person’s speech was especially slow, each word drawn out, his voice slurred. But Zhu Yu still tried his best to make himself sound clear.

“I just wanted to make you a little happier.”

“Because you’re always unhappy.” His tone was serious, carrying a trace of something like heartache. As soon as he finished speaking, he closed his eyes and leaned against Bai Chen’s broad back.

Wrapped in Bai Chen’s coat, Zhu Yu inhaled the warm scent of locust flowers. He wasn’t cold. On this wide and steady back, sleep came easily to him.

A breeze stirred.

Strands of Zhu Yu’s hair brushed against Bai Chen’s ear.

The aroma of red wine mingled with the distinct scent of camellias that clung to Zhu Yu, filling Bai Chen’s nose. His words still echoed in Bai Chen’s mind.

They were already close to the apartment. This quiet little road was empty—no one around, not even a single eerie pumpkin lantern, just the rustling of leaves in the wind.

And… a faint sound of wind chimes from some unknown place, drifting perfectly into Bai Chen’s heart.

Ding-ling-ling.

Zhu Yu remained fast asleep on his shoulder.

Even when Bai Chen finally carried him home and placed him on his bed, he didn’t wake.

Bai Chen bent down and gently nudged his arm, his voice low and hoarse. “Xiao Yu.”

“Xiao Yu, wake up and remove your makeup,” he said.

Zhu Yu mumbled something incomprehensible. Bai Chen leaned in to listen, but Zhu Yu had already gone quiet again.

Left with no other choice, Bai Chen went to the bathroom, filled a basin with warm water, and found Zhu Yu’s makeup remover on the sink before returning to the bedroom.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he wrapped an arm around Zhu Yu and carefully wiped away his makeup himself.

Beneath the layers of cosmetics was a face both rebellious and exquisite.

His eyes were slightly red at the corners, his cheeks flushed. His long, thick eyelashes curled naturally, trembling faintly. His lips were slightly parted, his breathing steady.

Zhu Yu had applied a very light shade of lipstick. Bai Chen wasn’t sure if he had removed it completely, so he raised his hand and gently wiped Zhu Yu’s lips with the pad of his thumb. No trace of lipstick was left at the corners of his mouth.

Zhu Yu didn’t seem too comfortable in his sleep. His slightly parted lips unconsciously brushed against Bai Chen’s fingers, and his soft pink hair strands brushed against Bai Chen’s face and ears.

Bai Chen’s gaze lingered on Zhu Yu’s lips, his breath hitching.

Hurriedly, he helped Zhu Yu lie back down on the bed. Strands of pink hair spread across the pillow, revealing his smooth forehead. His face was small, his delicate features taking up almost all of it.

Bai Chen leaned down and carefully removed Zhu Yu’s earrings.

In a daze, he heard Zhu Yu murmur softly from the bed, “Senior Brother…”

Bai Chen quickly lowered his ear to listen, but Zhu Yu didn’t say anything more.

Sometimes, Bai Chen felt that Zhu Yu was like a little princess—proud, spoiled, yet innocent. He had a lot of charming little tempers and was like a small sun, always surrounded by people drawn to his warmth.

So if there was anything Zhu Yu didn’t lack, it was people who adored him, right?

Bai Chen silently watched his sleeping face, lost in thought.

He had been busy for quite a while, but fortunately, Zhu Yu wasn’t the type to cause a drunken fuss.

When he returned to the room, Zhu Yu had already pulled the blanket over himself, leaving only half of his head exposed. Bai Chen stepped forward, preparing to help him change into sleepwear.

But when he lifted the blanket halfway, he saw that Zhu Yu’s bow tie had been yanked off and thrown somewhere. Three buttons of his shirt were undone, the fabric slightly wrinkled, revealing his delicate collarbones.

There was also a faint flush on his neck, a lingering mark of intoxication.

He really had no sense of self-protection.

Bai Chen’s hand paused at Zhu Yu’s collar. In the end, he only helped him take off his vest before resigning himself to tucking him back in.

Lowering his gaze, he glanced at himself. From the moment Zhu Yu had licked that mole behind his ear on the way home, more than twenty minutes had passed, yet his body still hadn’t settled down.

If he actually helped Zhu Yu change clothes now, tonight might not end well for him.

In Room 514, the sound of running water filled the bathroom. The temperature wasn’t particularly high, but the man inside panted with short, heavy breaths. Water cascaded over Bai Chen’s body, yet it did nothing to calm the restless thudding of his heart.

Lifting his hand, he hesitantly touched the mole behind his ear. The instant his trembling fingertips made contact, it felt scalding—like a branding iron—so hot that he immediately withdrew his hand.

Then, his gaze shifted toward the sink, where Zhu Yu’s small decorations were neatly placed.

He found himself reassessing things.

But this time, it wasn’t his past that he was examining.

It was his feelings for Zhu Yu.

Even when Bai Chen lay back in bed, the night deepened, and a thin layer of mist gathered on the windowpane, he still didn’t understand—

Why, on that silent and empty road, after Zhu Yu had finished speaking, had he heard the sound of wind chimes that shouldn’t have been there?

And later, whenever he heard that sound again, that feeling—not quite heart-stirring, yet more than heart-stirring—would rush back to him.

But that was a story for another time.

—

Dawn broke, and the morning light slipped through the gaps in the curtains.

The leaves of the fortune tree beneath the window rustled softly as the morning breeze squeezed through.

On the bed, someone lay face down, fast asleep, with a fat cat sprawled across the back of their head.

The clock hands ticked.

Everything was silent, except for the occasional cooing of pigeons drifting in from outside.

The next second, the pink-haired head under the weight of the fat cat suddenly jerked up. The cat tumbled off with a roll, letting out an indignant meow.

Zhu Yu lifted a hand and pressed Liu Bo’s head down, tilting his own head as he glanced around.

Plop.

Then, he flopped right back onto the pillow.

Only a stubborn tuft of hair on his head stood up defiantly.

Ah…

Did he drink too much again?

Zhu Yu started recalling bits and pieces of last night after getting drunk.

From the moment he stepped into the restroom, his mind had gone fuzzy. What had he done after coming out?

Oh, right—he saw someone trying to hit on Bai Chen, so he had stepped in to help turn the lady down. What did he say again…?

Liu Bo finally managed to wriggle free from Zhu Yu’s grasp and was about to reclaim his spot atop Zhu Yu’s head when the lump on the bed suddenly shot up into a kneeling position.

This time, Liu Bo rolled right off the bed entirely.

Fur bristling with displeasure, it let out a sharp “Meow!”

But when it looked up, it saw that Zhu Yu’s fur had also bristled.

He clutched his head, his face filled with despair, and let out a wail:

“Doomed—I’m doomed!”

Sorry, he’s my daddy!!!

Did… did he really say that?!

Daddy… daddy…

It was all Bai Chen’s fault for giving him that kind of overwhelming presence all the time! Zhu Yu could recall with painful clarity that when he blurted those words, he hadn’t thought at all.

Someone as serious and reserved as Bai Chen—what would he think of this?!

Zhu Yu buried his face in his hands.

Thank god he had been drunk when he said it.

As long as Bai Chen didn’t ask, Zhu Yu wouldn’t say anything. But if Bai Chen did ask, he’d cover his mouth in shock and deny it three times in a row—I don’t know. I don’t remember. That wasn’t me.

And then what?

Zhu Yu continued recalling what happened next, but… there wasn’t much else.

He got drunk, and Bai Chen carried him home.

Hmm, he needed to properly thank him for that later.

“Oh my god…” Zhu Yu smacked his forehead with his palm. Drinking always led to trouble.

Never again.

Zhu Yu made up his mind.

He lifted the covers and got out of bed, realizing he was still wearing the same outfit from yesterday. No wonder he hadn’t slept well.

After changing into fresh clothes, he headed to the bathroom to wash up. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he saw that his makeup had been removed completely.

He didn’t even need to guess who had helped him with that.

A warm feeling spread in his chest.

Zhu Yu squeezed some toothpaste onto his toothbrush and stuck it into his mouth. While brushing, he sent Bai Chen a morning greeting.

【Zhu Yu: Good morning, Senior Brother ^^】

Although… it wasn’t really morning anymore. It was almost 1 o’clock.

He had slept for over twelve hours.

【Zhu Yu: Thanks for last night!】

【Zhu Yu: I slept really well. How about you?】

Bai Chen hadn’t replied yet. After finishing his morning routine, Zhu Yu swapped out his tongue piercing. As he looked at the various styles in the box, he had a nagging feeling that he had forgotten something…

But…

He was starving.

So hungry that he didn’t want to waste brainpower recalling more details from last night.

The worst thing should be what he said when turning down that woman for Bai Chen. If there was anything worse than that, his poor heart wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Just as he finished putting on his earrings, Bai Chen finally replied.

【Bai Chen: Good afternoon, Xiao Yu.】

【Bai Chen: I’m out right now. There’s breakfast in the microwave.】

【Bai Chen: Just leave the dishes. I’ll wash them when I get back.】

Zhu Yu yawned and glanced at the date on his phone—Tuesday.

Come to think of it, Bai Chen always went out every Tuesday. Zhu Yu had no idea where he went, but he also didn’t want to pry into Bai Chen’s private matters.

He simply replied with an “Okay” and added that he missed Senior Brother today too.

Then, he went to the cupboard and poured Liu Bo a bowl of cat food.

Bai Chen’s home was neat and tidy, as if it had just been thoroughly cleaned.

Yesterday afternoon, Zhu Yu had made a huge mess while doing his Halloween makeup at Bai Chen’s place. At the time, he had even promised Bai Chen that he would help clean up today.

But in the time it took for him to sleep in, Bai Chen had already tidied everything up.

Previously, Zhu Yu had a sudden whim and took all the plush toys from his wardrobe. Since his own sofa couldn’t fit them all, he had brought some over to Bai Chen’s place.

So now, Bai Chen’s sofa was lined with a whole row of Zhu Yu’s colorful plush toys. Of course, the bedroom Zhu Yu had slept in also had a few scattered around.

Zhu Yu felt a little embarrassed.

He took out the breakfast Bai Chen had prepared for him from the microwave—a large bowl of rice noodle rolls. Then, he naturally went to the kitchen to grab a pair of chopsticks.

On the dining table, right in front of his usual spot, there was also a carton of milk. Zhu Yu casually poked in a straw and took a sip.

The familiarity of it all made him pause for a moment.

It was as if he had completely taken this place as his own home—as if Bai Chen’s care was something he took for granted.

That… didn’t seem quite right.

—

“Darling, you look like you have a lot on your mind.”

Sister Chloe walked up beside Zhu Yu and lightly patted his shoulder.

Zhu Yu was startled.

He picked up the rag that had fallen onto the table and asked, “How can you tell?”

“Because in just a few minutes, you’ve wiped this table four times.” Chloe held up four fingers. “Meanwhile, that other table over there has been completely neglected.”

Chloe was a mature and charming woman. At first, Zhu Yu thought she might be difficult to talk to, but after getting to know her, he realized she was just like a caring older sister.

Zhu Yu sighed and moved on to wipe the other table.

“If you want, you can tell me about it,” Chloe said, walking over to him.

The café was about to close, and with the sky darkening and no customers left, they had plenty of time to chat.

Zhu Yu hesitated. “It’s not really a big deal… I think I might just be overthinking things.”

He didn’t want to talk too much about Bai Chen with others.

Chloe shrugged. “Alright. But I think you can clock out now.”

“I’ll finish wiping the tables first,” Zhu Yu replied.

Chloe glanced toward the entrance. “Then I suggest you hurry up. That gentleman by the door seems to be waiting for you—he’s been looking at you for quite a while.”

Zhu Yu’s ears twitched. He glanced outside through the café’s glass window.

Bai Chen was sitting on a low chair outside the door.

When Zhu Yu met his gaze, Bai Chen curved his lips into a slight smile.

Eh? Eh?! EH?!!

Zhu Yu was about to rush outside but suddenly paused, then turned back to the front counter. “Sister Chloe, I’m clocking out now!”

After saying that, he hurried to the back to change out of his work uniform.

Then, without wasting a second, he dashed out of the café.

“Senior Brother! What are you doing here?!” Zhu Yu was overjoyed, his expression filled with surprise and excitement. “Why didn’t you come inside? Aren’t you cold?”

Three questions in a row.

Bai Chen stood up from the low chair, his smile warm. “I asked the staff, and they said the streetlight downstairs won’t be fixed until tomorrow, so I came to pick you up from work.”

“I just got here and saw that your café had already mopped the floor, so I decided not to go in. It’s not cold outside today.” He answered Zhu Yu’s questions one by one.

Zhu Yu was deeply moved. He sniffled dramatically. “Senior Brother, you’re so good to me… wu wu…”