Chapter 5: Tenderness

Wen Shuyan slept deeply, not even hearing the sound of Shang Zhu going to the bathroom to freshen up.

After waking up, Shang Zhu stayed with Wen Shuyan for a long time, cuddling him and sending a few work messages. It was close to eleven in the morning when he finally got up to cook.

Wen Shuyan preferred light flavors for brunch, so Shang Zhu spent some time rummaging through the refrigerator before settling on a few tomatoes and some pasta.

He skillfully chopped vegetables and boiled water, the butter melting in the skillet forming a beautiful arc.

The melted butter bubbled in the pan, filling the room with a fragrant aroma that roused Wen Shuyan from his slumber. He lay in bed for a while, and the slightly ajar door was pushed open from outside.

“Lunch is ready,” Shang Zhu sat on the edge of the bed, brushed aside Wen Shuyan’s messy hair, and kissed his forehead. “Are you getting up?”

“Mm.” Wen Shuyan reached out and hooked his arm around Shang Zhu’s neck, rubbing their noses together for a morning kiss. Then, Shang Zhu hugged him around the waist and lifted him out of bed, settling him into a chair in the dining room.

Shang Zhu didn’t prepare anything too complicated for lunch, just tomato and shrimp pasta and a ham and cheese salad, along with some fresh seasonal fruits.

Wen Shuyan was still a bit groggy from just waking up, and since Shang Zhu wasn’t very talkative, their first meal at home after returning was unusually quiet.

After lunch, Wen Shuyan sat on the couch with a fruit plate and took a work call.

Shang Zhu loaded the dishes into the dishwasher, then fetched a game controller from the TV cabinet, holding up two game cartridges to signal Wen Shuyan who was on the phone.

Glancing at the game cartridges, Wen Shuyan said to the person on the other end of the phone, “Let’s talk about it on the plane the day after tomorrow.”

He hung up, tossed his phone aside, and walked over to Shang Zhu, squatting down to ask, “Which game did we play last time?”

“This one,” Shang Zhu raised his left hand.

Wen Shuyan pointed to the cartridge in Shang Zhu’s right hand. “Let’s play this one today.”

“Okay.”

Shang Zhu inserted the cartridge, briefly explaining the gameplay to Wen Shuyan while they waited for it to load.

Although Wen Shuyan said he understood, within five minutes of starting the game, the character he was controlling was running all over the map, chased by Shang Zhu, until finally being cornered and defeated.

Wen Shuyan wasn’t much of a gamer and only played occasionally on weekends when he was with Shang Zhu. Being unfamiliar with the controls of the new game, he ended up losing more than winning in a few rounds.

“I’m done playing,” Wen Shuyan decisively tossed aside the controller to escape reality. “I never win against you anyway.”

He pouted and gave up, but Shang Zhu remained unaffected.

Ignoring his nearly flawless winning streak on the screen, Shang Zhu learned from Wen Shuyan, tossing aside the game controller and leaning over to press against his soft waist, pressing him down onto the couch for a kiss.

Shang Zhu kissed him with restraint, teasingly deepening the kiss before pulling back slightly to allow Wen Shuyan to catch his breath.

Outside the window, the setting sun hung low, casting its glow between the distant skyscrapers. Large swathes of clouds, tinged orange by the evening glow, drifted to the floor-to-ceiling windows of the balcony, partially obscuring the fiery red sunset.

On the weekend before the business trip, Wen Shuyan packed his luggage accompanied by Shang Zhu in the living room, and the scenery outside the window was similar.

Shang Zhu changed his position, sitting up while holding Wen Shuyan. “What time is our flight the day after tomorrow?”

“11 o’clock in the morning,” Wen Shuyan leaned against Shang Zhu’s chest, lightly tapping his fingertips on Shang Zhu’s palm. “We’re not going to the office, we’ll leave from home.”

The residual light of the setting sun shone on Wen Shuyan’s face, his slightly parted lips glistening with moisture. The skin on his cheeks and neck, warmed by the lingering heat, flushed with a rosy hue.

Shang Zhu averted his gaze and buried his face in the crook of Wen Shuyan’s neck. “I’ll see you off.”

The warm breath fell on the sensitive skin behind Wen Shuyan’s ear, and the damp tickle made him instinctively dodge for a moment before being pulled back by Shang Zhu’s embrace.

Shang Zhu persisted in wanting a kiss, and Wen Shuyan kissed the tip of his nose, smiling as he replied, “Okay.”