As soon as he asked the question, Cen Wei regretted it. This wasn’t the right time to bring up something like that.

To his surprise, the young man in his arms seriously pondered it. “If we spent our lives together like this… it might get boring.”

Chu Lai was nothing if not honest. He walked ahead a bit, adding, “Besides, my value to you, Mr. Cen, is only in getting married.”

Even though Chu Lai often complained about Cen’s family being overly enthusiastic, he didn’t seem to dislike them. He continued, “Given your status, finding someone who can help with your career would be a better fit.”

His voice wasn’t particularly loud, but in the cool night breeze, it sounded calm and composed. “After all, we’re just in a contractual marriage.”

Chu Lai glanced at the man walking beside him under the dim streetlights. “But hearing you say that… it makes me happy.”

Cen Wei couldn’t help but say, “I’m serious.”

Chu Lai nodded. “I’m serious too.”

He was just an ordinary office worker, not the kind who had a stable government job. His work was more suited to his youth. Chu Lai’s dream was to save up enough money to pick up his childhood hobby and, hopefully, make it his career.

Though it was a long shot, it was his backup plan.

When talking to Liu Yuan, he’d also say, “It’s unlikely. I’m just daydreaming.”

Chu Lai’s situation was different—he had no family to fall back on, and his safety net had to be built by himself. Unlike Liu Yuan, whose parents could tell him to come back and take over the family restaurant if his job ever became too difficult.

Although Liu Yuan could support him, both of them knew that Chu Lai’s real ambitions were risky. He needed significant financial backing to give him the security he needed, but he wasn’t even close to the fallback position he had mentally calculated.

Cen Wei was an unexpected figure who had fallen into Chu Lai’s social circle, their connection largely driven by fate.

Even though their relationship had progressed further, Chu Lai still held back, keeping Cen Wei at arm’s length from his inner circle.

Cen Wei laughed lightly. “Then why did you say something like that?”

Chu Lai nodded. “I wasn’t flattering you. You really make me feel safe. Maybe it’s because you’re so tall; it feels like you could shield me from the wind and rain.”

Both of them being men, Chu Lai sighed after saying this. “When I was younger, I wanted to grow up to be like that too.”

Cen Wei asked, “Do you take after your mom or your dad?”

Chu Lai replied, “More like my mom.”

The topic quickly passed, and Chu Lai breathed a sigh of relief.

He was genuinely afraid that if Cen Wei asked him one more question, he might not be able to refuse.

A lifetime together felt far too dangerous. Even though Chu Lai had considered the future, this marriage was only solving his immediate problems.

He wasn’t fond of flashy types, and living a quiet, domestic life didn’t seem to fit with Cen Wei’s lifestyle either.

Despite his teasing of Liu Yuan’s supposed attraction to “ugly” people, Chu Lai still believed that someone with just an average appearance felt safer to him.

Affairs weren’t necessarily linked to looks, but they had to be with someone he liked, right?

Chu Lai felt a bit frustrated with himself for even bringing up the idea.

It was as if Cen Wei had jokingly followed his lead.

As they walked, Chu Lai kept his head down, while Cen Wei stayed beside him. Their shadows stretched long as they passed the fountain and the lounge area. When it looked like Chu Lai was about to walk further, Cen Wei pulled him back.

“This way, you’re about to miss the turn.”

Chu Lai nodded, fully awake now from his earlier drowsiness. They walked into the supermarket, with Cen Wei asking, “What do you want to eat?”

The apartment complex had a mid-sized supermarket that stocked everything from fruits and vegetables to seafood, and even desserts.

Chu Lai picked out a bunch of green peppers, asking, “Do you have a grill pan at home?”

Before waiting for a reply, he answered his own question. “Of course not. Good thing I packed mine.”

Cen Wei couldn’t help but laugh. “You like grilled peppers that much?”

Chu Lai retorted, “Don’t you like them too?”

Pets were allowed in the supermarket, and there was even a lawn for walking dogs. Chu Lai figured they could stroll around after dinner.

But it was already late, and the air was filled with the smell of grilled peppers. While watching Da Cai happily eating from a new dog bowl, Cen Wei said, “No rush. We’ve got plenty of time to stroll around later.”

Chu Lai liked to drink, whether alone or with others, and he didn’t mind drinking now either.

He refused to throw away the old utensils he’d bought before, so his mismatched copper bowls and iron plates from online deals now sat alongside the expensive items in Cen Wei’s sleek kitchen, creating an odd contrast.

They had eaten together several times before, and their meals never had any particular starting point. They just talked about whatever came to mind.

Cen Wei’s phone lock screen still showed a countdown to the wedding date.

Every time he picked up the phone, he felt a bit anxious, especially when he glanced at his small cup, while Chu Lai on the other side was drinking straight from the bottle.

The young man loved baijiu, and the pungent smell mixed with the grilled peppers, giving off a bit of spiciness.

Chu Lai, now without his jacket, rested his face on his hand, tapping his phone with slender fingers as he scrolled through WeChat.

Cen Wei didn’t need to guess who he was messaging—it was obviously Mr. Ding from the elevator.

From the moment they sat down to grill the peppers, Chu Lai had been chatting with his long-lost first love.

Chu Lai was starting to get a bit warm from the food, and as he propped his face on his hand, the wide sleeves of his T-shirt slipped down, revealing the striking red mole on his thumb.

Cen Wei looked away, quietly grilling other food. Chu Lai’s favorites were green peppers and mushrooms, and he didn’t seem to care much for meat, making him easy to feed.

He also bought a lot of instant meals, including a whole drawer full of instant noodles, probably because of his habit of collecting the accompanying merchandise.

Suddenly, Chu Lai asked, “Have you ever been to a class reunion?”

Cen Wei, holding a dog-shaped skewer tong, glanced at the TV, which was playing a 90s cartoon.

Chu Lai, unexpectedly, could sing along to the Japanese ending theme.

Focused on the grilling, Cen Wei’s hair fell forward, softening his sharp features. In the warm glow of the lights, when he looked up, Chu Lai had a fleeting thought: Cen Wei looks pretty good too.

“No, I haven’t,” Cen Wei paused. “But one of my current team members was a high school classmate.”

Thinking of Shen Yangxu’s suggestion, he added, “They’ve mentioned wanting to meet you a few times.”

Chu Lai didn’t even lift his eyelids. He tapped the backspace key several times before responding, “You probably turned them down, right?”

Cen Wei replied, “You’re so sure?”

Chu Lai countered, “I’m not your real partner. That’d be awkward.”

He took another sip of his drink, the heat from the grilled peppers causing his lips to flush red, as if he were wearing tinted lip balm.

Cen Wei glanced at him twice before turning to grill some red peppers.

Chu Lai asked, “Why aren’t you eating? You’re just grilling for me.”

He continued, “Are you tired?”

Cen Wei shook his head. “Just getting the appetizers ready.”

“Oh,” Chu Lai said. Then Cen Wei asked, “Do you want to go to the class reunion?”

“The class president from the elevator asked me about it.”

Not knowing how to respond, Chu Lai simply sent a meme back to him.

From what Cen Wei knew of Chu Lai, he figured Chu would have rejected the invitation without hesitation. His hesitation now felt somewhat meaningful.

Cen Wei said, “If you don’t want to go, then don’t. Reuniting with people you haven’t spoken to in years can be pretty dull.”

Chu Lai nodded. “What about you?”

Cen Wei, with his clean-cut appearance, seemed like the type who had breezed through school, the kind of guy who would always eat at fancy restaurants.

Their first meeting at a barbecue stand had shattered Chu Lai’s stereotype.

Who would’ve guessed that someone like him also loved grilled peppers?

“What about me?” Cen Wei asked.

“Do you go to reunions or gatherings often?”

The large TV continued to show the 1:1 animation, while the two of them sat across from each other. Da Cai finished his meal and drank water loudly.

Cen Wei handed a slice of lotus root to Chu Lai. “I attend work-related gatherings, but for personal ones, unless I’m really close to the people, I’d rather come home and relax.”

Chu Lai replied, “You don’t seem like the type to buy those things.”

He pointed to the display cabinet, filled with figures and merchandise. The heavy anime vibe suited Chu Lai, but it seemed completely out of place with Cen Wei.

Cen Wei finally grilled some beef. Meanwhile, Chu Lai’s phone kept vibrating with messages from Ding Xiulin.

Chu Lai stared at the messages for a long time, furrowing his brows before finally declining the invitation.

[Ding Xiulin]: How about we grab a meal together sometime?

[Ding Xiulin]: There are a few pet-friendly restaurants around here.

Chu Lai was tempted.

Cen Wei watched him quietly, not interrupting.

Just then, a message came from Xuan Rongqing. It was about their wedding invitations.

Apparently, she felt awkward asking Chu Lai directly, so she messaged Cen Wei: I’ve been thinking we should invite Lai Lai’s mom to the wedding.

[Marriage is such an important event.]

[Even if they aren’t in contact often, they’re still mother and son.]

This was a topic Xuan Rongqing clearly felt uncomfortable broaching herself, expecting her son to ask instead.

But Cen Wei wasn’t particularly keen on bringing it up either.

Chu Lai hadn’t kept in touch with many people from his past. His only real friend was his college roommate, Liu Yuan.

His WeChat groups for classmates went years without being opened, and the only pre-college classmate he had added was Ding Xiulin.

That one held a bit of special meaning.

So, Chu Lai agreed to meet him.

[Ding Xiulin]: We can have dinner this weekend, or…

[Ding Xiulin]: Where are you working now?

Chu Lai sent him the name of his company, and Ding replied immediately.

[What a coincidence. I signed a contract here on Friday, moved into my apartment on Saturday, and ran into you on Sunday.]

His memes were trendy, many of which Chu Lai recognized from his time browsing the internet, making the conversation feel lighthearted.

Chu Lai hadn’t thought much about it. He didn’t see himself as particularly likable and was quite adept at avoiding feelings.

Rather than finding Ding Xiulin’s messages coincidental, he was more interested in the man’s dog.

He asked, “Was your dog imported from abroad?”

They chatted about dogs for so long that by the time Chu Lai looked up from his phone, the peppers had become limp. He noticed Cen Wei on the other side of the table, intently watching TV.

The man was sitting there casually, not as tightly wound as when they first met, dressed in a suit. Now he seemed relaxed, even smiling occasionally at the cartoon.

It suddenly dawned on Chu Lai that Cen Wei had been grilling everything for him. His plate was full of food, and Cen Wei had quietly been acting like a perfect host, or perhaps, like a well-timed personal assistant.

Even after Chu Lai had finished eating, Cen Wei didn’t hurry him. He simply waited patiently for Chu Lai to be done.

The lettuce leaves were curling up on the grill, and the onions were nearly charred. The TV was playing at a normal volume.

Then it hit Chu Lai, ‘He’s keeping me company while I eat.’

The messages on his phone kept coming.

[Ding Xiulin]: Which floor do you live on? Want to walk the dogs tomorrow morning?

Chu Lai couldn’t remember, so he asked, “Which floor do we live on?”

Cen Wei’s gaze shifted from the TV to Chu Lai, the smile still lingering on his face. “Hm?”

A few seconds later, he replied, “Thirty-sixth floor.”

Chu Lai sent the reply to Ding Xiulin.

Ding Xiulin responded immediately, saying he lived on the thirty-fifth floor—just one flight of stairs away.

Cen Wei asked, “What’s going on?”

Even though he already knew the answer—Chu Lai was messaging Mr. Ding—he still asked for confirmation.

Chu Lai explained, “The class president from earlier lives right below us.”

He said “us” and “our home” which made the situation feel novel for Cen Wei.

Cen Wei had never experienced a first love. His teenage years had been spent buried in books, and he never understood the appeal of romance.

He couldn’t help but ask Chu Lai, “Does he know he was your first love?”

Chu Lai gathered up the dishes, wiping his face with his hand as the alcohol hit him hard, fogging his mind.

After rinsing his mouth, he took a wet wipe and pressed it to his face to cool down. He glanced at the unpacked luggage in the living room and shook his head. “It was just a crush. How would he know?”

Cen Wei was about to say something else, but just as Chu Lai stood up to move, he tripped and nearly fell.

The apartment had tile flooring, unlike Chu Lai’s old place, which was carpeted. Cen Wei instinctively reached out to catch him but wasn’t quick enough. He managed to grab hold of Chu Lai just in time.

Fortunately, the plush recliner next to them softened the fall. Even so, the impact was hard, and the chair let out a creak, threatening to collapse.

Chu Lai’s phone clattered to the floor, rolling a few times. The two of them, tangled in each other’s arms, smelled of grilled food and alcohol. It wasn’t exactly romantic.

So when their misplaced kiss happened, it was more funny than intimate.

Cen Wei got the worst of it, while Chu Lai had a cut on his lip, the taste of blood mixing with the alcohol on Cen Wei’s face.

Dazed from the drink, Cen Wei blinked, while Chu Lai instinctively licked his lips. The aftertaste of peach-flavored mouthwash mixed oddly with the liquor.

Chu Lai softly muttered, “Sorry, I got you all dirty.”

Cen Wei was breathing heavily, gently removing Chu Lai’s hand from his chest. “It’s fine.”

But Chu seemed to get hooked on something. Relaxing in the creaky chair, he said, “Hug me.”

Cen Wei didn’t want to hug him. All he wanted was to get up. Chu Lai asked, “Are you going to break our contract?”

He pressed down on Cen Wei, knowing that hugging couldn’t be done alone. And after all, what Chu Lai wanted was to be hugged.

At that moment, Chu Lai reeked of alcohol, his eyes red as if he’d been gravely wronged, his voice stretched with a secret tenderness.

Cen Wei’s lips still tingled from the brief contact, and he forced out an apology, “Can you wait a bit?”

Chu Lai shook his head. He had drunk a lot tonight and was exhausted from moving, his mind fuzzy.

His thoughts drifted to his high school New Year’s hug, and he murmured something about the class president.

A whirlwind of complicated emotions surged inside Cen Wei, but he still embraced Chu Lai. The way Chu Lai responded, clinging to him tightly, his breath warm with alcohol, only made Cen Wei’s heart more chaotic. After a few moments of hesitation, Cen Wei asked, “Do you want to go back to him?”

Chu Lai shook his head. “He’s not as good as you.”

Cen Wei asked again, “What makes me better?”

Chu Lai snuggled in his arms, seeking a comfortable position, answering, “You’re cold and safe, and I can do whatever I want with you.”

Cen Wei thought he should clarify that being “cold” and having certain “limitations” were not the same thing.

But perhaps there was no need to explain.

Chu Lai had already realized it.

With a confused expression, he looked up and asked, “You’re not expecting some kind of premium service, are you?”

Cen Wei’s response came out like a laugh mixed with exasperation—he asked back, “Premium service?”