The first time Chu Lai stayed over, he had at least made the effort to take out his pajamas, but this time, he didn’t bother, leaving everything for Cen Wei to handle on his own. Once the sound of water running from the bathroom reached his ears, Chu Lai threw his tablet onto the carpet, and the little dog jumped down as well.

His phone, tucked into his waistband, buzzed with a message from Liu Yuan. Opening WeChat, Chu Lai realized he hadn’t replied to Xuan Rongqing yet. Faced with a string of voice messages, it felt awkward to respond with text, so he recorded a voice message: “Ah Wei is in the shower and staying at my place tonight. Don’t worry, Auntie.”

Chu Lai still felt embarrassed calling Xuan Rongqing “Mom.” Just that one time during dinner at the Cen family’s home had been uncomfortable enough. Now, his tone was polite and proper. In the quiet of the night, with the sound of running water in the background, it wasn’t even a lie.

Xuan Rongqing replied with a simple “Okay,” then asked, “Aren’t you two planning to live together?”

Chu Lai thought: We’re not even a real couple—why would we live together?

Out loud, he replied: “My lease isn’t up yet, so moving in together now would be a waste.”

Satisfied with the response, Xuan Rongqing didn’t press further. Chu Lai went back to completing his daily tasks in the game. By the time Cen Wei came out, Chu Lai had shifted from sitting upright on the sofa to lying down, now dressed in loose pajama pants. Combined with the apartment’s cozy decor, the scene looked like something out of a picture book.

The dog, having grown accustomed to Cen Wei’s presence, wagged its tail at him as he walked out.

After blow-drying his hair in the bathroom, Cen Wei stepped into the living room, and Chu Lai gave him a once-over. “Done with your shower?”

The man nodded, “What about you?”

Chu Lai lazily flipped over, his arm dangling off the side of the sofa. “You go to bed first. It’s not my bedtime yet.”

Last time they shared a bed, Cen Wei had been stiff as a board, only relaxing halfway through the night. Though, once he had loosened up, Chu Lai, who seemed cold on the outside, clung to him as if he had an insatiable craving for affection, leaving Cen Wei a little taken aback.

Cen Wei wasn’t unfamiliar with being pursued or admired for his appearance, but what set Chu Lai apart was this stark contrast—his willingness to accept affection from anyone who met his physical needs, regardless of who they were.

Lying in bed now, Cen Wei rolled over. The pillow and blanket smelled like Chu Lai, making it impossible for him to fall asleep.

As the heir to Lianxin Umbrellas, Cen Wei came from a wealthy family with plenty of friends he’d grown up with, but not many of those friendships ran deep. After the scandal of his ex-boyfriend being stolen by a childhood friend spread, people couldn’t talk to him without a hint of pity. Only Jiang Liyong’s attitude remained somewhat normal.

Cen Wei thought back to what Xuan Rongqing had said as they left the Cen household.

“Your grandfather still hopes you’ll have a wedding. If you don’t want to plan it, we’ll take care of it.”

But Chu Lai was clearly someone who hated unnecessary trouble. With the kind of wedding the Cen family would plan, Cen Wei couldn’t shake the feeling that he was trying to patch a hole in the wall with pieces from another.

Maybe it was the apologetic tone in Xuan Rongqing’s voice messages to Chu Lai that made Cen Wei feel a little awkward. His carefully hidden past, which he hadn’t even wanted Shen Ke to know about during their relationship, was now known by his fake wife from this contract marriage.

It wasn’t that he rejected the situation—it was more that…

They were supposed to have no real connection, yet here he was, feeling guilty for dragging someone like Chu Lai, who hated complications, into a mess.

After completing his game tasks and taking a shower, Chu Lai turned off the lights. He was so used to being alone that he nearly forgot there was someone else in bed with him tonight. Before breaking up with Shen Quanzhang, his ex-boyfriend would often find excuses not to come home, but Chu Lai never pressed the issue.

He trusted fully. When Shen Quanzhang said he was on a business trip, Chu Lai believed him. When Shen Quanzhang said he had something to do, Chu Lai believed that too.

Perhaps it was because Liu Yuan had cursed Shen Quanzhang so thoroughly that Chu Lai now found himself thinking about Shen Quanzhang’s parents’ attitudes back then.

Lost in thought, he had no idea how unsettling he looked, standing still at the bedside.

Cen Wei, who hadn’t fallen asleep yet, heard the footsteps but didn’t expect Chu Lai to remain standing for so long. When he opened his eyes, he saw the young man’s silhouette just standing there, dead still.

Unable to help himself, he asked, “What are you doing?”

Chu Lai snapped back to reality and muttered, “I was thinking about that guy.”

His tone was flat, but the four words were clearly about Shen Quanzhang.

Cen Wei asked, “Do you still like him?”

Chu Lai gave him a little push to make room, though the touch was light through the blanket. He couldn’t move Cen Wei at all, so it felt more like a tap.

“No, I don’t like him anymore.”

Then he simply climbed over Cen Wei and lay down.

Cen Wei wasn’t sure how to respond, so he said nothing.

Lying in bed, Chu Lai started playing on his phone again, the dim light casting a soft glow on his face. Cen Wei turned his head and switched on the bedside lamp.

Chu Lai asked, “Can you sleep with the light on?”

Squinting at him, Cen Wei replied, “I really can’t sleep.”

There was a hazy quality to the man’s voice, deepened by the late hour. Chu Lai remembered the reminder Cen Wei had given him earlier while he was holding the tablet. “If you wanted me to turn on the light to play on my phone, you could’ve just said so.”

“I think letting me go to bed was a mistake on your part,” Cen Wei said.

Chu Lai chuckled, “Didn’t you sleep here last time?”

Then he added, “I’ve had a boyfriend before; don’t treat me like a kid.”

Chu Lai could tell that Cen Wei had been trying to take care of him. His appearance and style made it easy for people to forget his age—his company’s interns even seemed more mature than him at times.

But Chu Lai had been an adult for a long time and had plenty of life experience.

He was lazy, but not easily fooled. It was just his stubbornness in certain areas that made him seem out of place.

Cen Wei replied, “I don’t see you as a kid, it’s just…”

“You’re a nice guy,” Chu Lai interrupted, setting down his phone and turning to face the man lying so close to him.

The proximity made the moment feel intimate, though Chu Lai’s gaze was clear, without any of the warmth or fluttering emotions that usually accompany such closeness.

“Have you thought about how we’ll explain things to our families when our contract ends?” he asked.

The bed wasn’t big, and they were lying so close that they could feel each other’s breaths. The soft light came from a small mushroom-shaped nightlight plugged into the wall. The blankets formed a rising contour between them, casting the illusion that they were more connected than they actually were.

After some thought, Cen Wei replied, “We’ll just say we grew apart.”

Chu Lai had learned about Cen Wei partly through Liu Yuan and partly through online searches after they decided to get married. It wasn’t the best method and could have easily led him into a scam.

Even Cen Wei thought Chu Lai lacked caution.

Liu Yuan had said, “I think your flash marriage wasn’t just about that hug addiction of yours; you were also probably fed up with Shen Quanzhang’s cheating.”

Chu Lai had denied it, but reflecting on it now, he realized there was some truth to it.

After all, he wasn’t a saint. He hadn’t completely brushed off the anger, or he wouldn’t have taken that bottle of ¥2,999 whiskey from Shen Quanzhang when things ended.

When Chu Lai said Cen Wei was a nice guy, it was based on their first meeting and his recent visit to the Cen family’s home. Despite their wealth, the Cen family didn’t make him feel stifled.

The grandparents were fun, Xuan Rongqing was gentle, and Cen Wei had been worried about Chu Lai being overwhelmed by their warmth.

The only things that made him uncomfortable were the million-dollar bank card and the offer of a house.

The Cen family was so far outside Chu Lai’s normal social circle that it was a surprise.

If their relationship ended, the only thing Chu Lai would really miss might be Cen Wei’s hugs.

Chu Lai hummed in response, “Just make sure to give them a heads-up so they’re not hurt when it happens.”

Cen Wei could tell from how Chu Lai had reminded him to reply to his mother that, in some ways, Chu Lai was very considerate, even if he no longer had anyone to report back to himself.

“Alright.”

As he responded, Cen Wei couldn’t help but glance at Chu Lai, who had already closed his eyes. His hair, now dry and fluffy, splayed across the pillow, carrying the same scent of body wash that lingered on both of them.

Sensing his gaze, Chu Lai, still with his eyes closed, asked, “What time do you start work tomorrow?”

“Nine.”

Chu Lai let out a soft “oh” adding, “Aren’t bosses like you supposed to be off work by now?”

Having visited Cen Wei’s company earlier, Chu Lai had the impression that he was always busy. It confirmed his suspicion that being in charge wasn’t easy.

If it weren’t for needing to make a living, Chu Lai would have preferred to be a shut-in, living off rent from properties.

“How is that possible?” Cen Wei replied.

Chu Lai closed his eyes again, burying his face in the pillow. To someone like Cen Wei, who was used to firm pillows and mattresses, everything in Chu Lai’s apartment felt too soft, making the whole room seem like a dream.

It was hard to adjust to the idea that he was suddenly married, bringing someone home, and now living as someone who, as Xuan Rongqing put it, had a family.

“I’ve seen CEOs in manga… big-time bosses like you. Isn’t your job just about closing deals in luxury cars, playing golf with partners, attending banquets, and boarding yachts…?”

Chu Lai’s description was so vivid that it amused Cen Wei.

“Do you want to hear the truth?” Cen Wei asked.

Opening his eyes, Chu Lai saw that the autumn night was perfect for staying cozy in bed. With his large frame, Cen Wei resembled a warm, plush bear, and just as he had done before, Chu Lai instinctively moved closer to the heat source.

“Do you want me to hold you?” Cen Wei offered.

Chu Lai lazily replied, “I already told you—you’re really warm.”

His choice of words was odd, making Cen Wei chuckle, “People’s body temperatures are all the same, aren’t they?”

Chu Lai responded, “But warmer than Shen Quanzhang.”

Even though Chu Lai claimed not to be a child, it was still hard for Cen Wei to imagine him in a romantic relationship.

But for Chu Lai to make such requests of someone who was only a contractual partner, maybe his cold exterior masked a clingy side in private.

In that case, why would he need anyone else?

“He just thought I was annoying,” Chu Lai continued, recalling how Shen Quanzhang used to complain. “Every day, I needed a hug—it was like clocking in for work.”

He still remembered Shen Quanzhang’s complaints. Once a breakup tears down the façade, the time spent together often feels ridiculous in hindsight.

Late at night, the warmth of someone else’s embrace made Chu Lai feel content. “It’s not my imagination—your body really is warmer than his. It makes my heart feel full.”

Laughing, Cen Wei asked, “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

He didn’t have much experience with this sort of thing. Most of the few hugs in his life had come from Chu Lai, and at this rate, it seemed they would continue for a long time.

Chu Lai replied, “It’s a compliment, thank you.”

Remembering the card Chu Lai had stuffed back into his hands earlier, the feeling grew stranger for Cen Wei.

“By the way, what did you mean earlier when you asked if I wanted to hear the truth?”

Chu Lai’s bed only had one blanket, and with the autumn weather getting cooler, the heat from Cen Wei’s chest was comforting. As Chu Lai lay on top of him, even his breath hit Cen Wei’s skin, leaving him feeling increasingly awkward but unable to move. He could only try to distract himself.

“Well, the whole business-deal-in-a-luxury-car thing happens sometimes, and there’s golf too.”

“Really?” Chu Lai asked.

“But it’s not usually me.”

Cen Wei was straightforward, “Those things cost a lot. It’s not necessary.”

Chu Lai let out an understanding “oh” adding, “So you’re not as rich as I thought.”

Cen Wei didn’t know how to respond to that. After a few seconds, he said, “The family business has been declining for a while.”

Chu Lai asked, “So, if you go bankrupt during the contract, do I have to go down with you…?”

His imagination ran wild.

“Don’t worry, it won’t happen that fast,” Cen Wei reassured him.

Realizing he was being a bit mean, Chu Lai apologized.

“If you want to experience business deals in luxury cars, or golf, or yachts, it’s not hard. I can take you along someday,” offered Cen Wei.

Chu Lai shook his head slightly, his cheek pressed against Cen Wei’s firm chest. The sensation alone was enough to make him feel secure.

In Chu Lai’s eyes, yachts and luxury cars couldn’t compare to playing a game. What he valued more was the tangible comfort of a hug.

He said, “No need, you’d better just hug me more.”

Cen Wei was silent for a few seconds before responding, “Isn’t this enough?”

Chu Lai mumbled, “Are you really that tired?”

The deep night was silent, with only the sound of heavy rain and thunder outside the window. Cen Wei, having been hit with multiple emotional “blows” throughout the day, had no temper left.

He said, “This doesn’t even require any physical strength.”

“Your ex is probably the one who couldn’t handle it, right?”

Unexpectedly, the person in his arms stayed quiet for a long time, seemingly recalling something. After a while, Chu Lai finally replied, “That’s not quite it.”

“I don’t even know how you are, so there’s no way to compare, and also…”

Before he could finish his sentence about not needing to compare, he was suddenly rolled from the edge of the bed to the other side by the person holding him.

His agreement-marriage partner, who was a few years older, sincerely asked, “Then how do you want me to prove it?”

This rolling movement brought them even closer, and surprisingly, Chu Lai liked it. He ended up lying on top of Cen Wei, saying, “You’re so childish.”

He patted Cen Wei’s shoulder, rolled off him, and took half of the blanket with him. From the other side came a muffled “good night.”

Cen Wei turned off the bedside lamp, his heartbeat still irregular, and pressed his hand to his chest, assuming it was because Chu Lai had irritated him.

Maybe their closeness just now had been too much, and now, with his arms empty, Cen Wei found himself feeling unaccustomed to it.

Cen Wei thought: Is this weird habit contagious?