After closing the door, Yu Ju looked at the two bags in his hands, feeling a bit conflicted.

The question Zhao Yi asked earlier, Yu Ju’s response was: “No, stop overthinking.”

Then Zhao Yi asked again: “Do you think he’s afraid you’ll reject him, so he asked me to bring it to you?”

Yu Ju: “How would I know? You can go ask him.”

Zhao Yi said: “I’m too scared.”

The coffee was still warm. After being carried for so long, the air was now filled with the fragrance of coffee.

Just smelling it already made it feel like it was going to taste especially good.

Just as he was about to walk inside, the doorbell rang again.

It was Zhao Yi again.

Yu Ju placed the items on the counter and turned to open the door.

“By the way,” Zhao Yi said, “there’s something I almost forgot.”

Yu Ju: “What?”

Zhao Yi: “There’s a tutoring job. Do you want to take it? It’s for a senior in high school, wants to catch up on math, physics, and chemistry, especially physics. It’s tutoring, and he still thinks it’s…”

“Sure,” Yu Ju nodded.

Zhao Yi: “I’ve already negotiated the price for you. It’s pretty good. It’s on Beihuai Road. As for the time, I’ll send it to you on WeChat later. You can talk to his parents.”

­

“Okay,” Yu Ju smiled. “Thanks.”

Zhao Yi: “No need to be polite.”

Thanks to Zhao Yi’s vast network, Yu Ju had picked up quite a few tutoring jobs through him.

Although Zhao Yi often rambled on, he was very reliable.

Despite his constant act of “I can’t live without a boyfriend,” he was actually quite independent. He had his own studio, his own client base, and his own social circle.

After talking about all this, Zhao Yi smiled at Yu Ju.

It was a very bright smile, and Yu Ju froze for a moment: “What’s going on?”

Zhao Yi: “I love you so much.”

Yu Ju wrinkled his brow in disdain: “What’s with you?”

Zhao Yi laughed heartily and stretched out both hands: “Give me a hug. I haven’t hugged you in ages.”

Yu Ju gave him an even more disdainful look.

But he still took a step toward Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi gave him a particularly strong hug.

Yu Ju patted his shoulder meaningfully: “What’s going on?”

Zhao Yi: “Nothing.”

Yu Ju: “Did Zhou Jinye bully you?”

Zhao Yi: “Does he dare bully me?”

Yu Ju pushed him away: “So what’s with the mood?”

Zhao Yi let out a chuckle.

He was just being dramatic.

Earlier at the coffee shop, Zhou Jinye had mentioned his parents, saying they were always uncertain about him, and they had been arguing recently.

That’s when Zhao Yi suddenly thought of his own experience—when he was in college, he had been dismissed by both his classmates and his professor in the same group.

At that time, he and Yu Ju weren’t very close yet. It was purely that he had returned to his dorm feeling very down, wanting to vent to someone.

That someone, unfortunately, happened to be Yu Ju.

He had been full of self-doubt, feeling really down, and had spent the whole night talking and crying with Yu Ju.

Yu Ju didn’t find him annoying, and no matter what he said, Yu Ju listened seriously. He even cheered him up, and every word he said seemed to hit the mark.

When he said he didn’t deserve to live, Yu Ju had been genuinely scared.

The next day, when Zhao Yi woke up, he was in Yu Ju’s dorm. He also discovered that Yu Ju had done his overdue assignments, staying up late to finish them for him.

Looking back now, he still wanted to cry. How could Yu Ju be this good?

To Zhao Yi, Yu Ju seemed indestructible. It felt like nothing could shake him.

He appeared carefree, but he was truly a good person. Every time Zhao Yi felt down, he’d look for Yu Ju, and not once did Yu Ju get impatient with him.

“You’re really up to something, aren’t you?” Yu Ju asked Zhao Yi, once again with a look of disdain.

Zhao Yi let out another chuckle.

Maybe it was the thought of that incident that made his expression somewhat goofy.

“Ah, it’s nothing,” Zhao Yi waved his hand. “I’m leaving.”

Yu Ju grabbed his wrist: “Is it really nothing?”

Zhao Yi: “Really, it’s nothing.”

Yu Ju: “If there’s something, just say it.”

Zhao Yi: “There’s really nothing,” and then he blew a kiss at Yu Ju. “Love you.”

Yu Ju let go of him: “Go away.”

Soon enough, Zhao Yi sent over the parent’s WeChat contact.

It seemed like Zhao Yi had already worked things out earlier, so after a brief conversation, they set the tutoring time.

Before going to bed that night, Yu Ju found himself distracted by the coffee cup on the table.

Actually, it wasn’t exactly like that; it was more like the hundredth time it drew his attention.

He had already finished the coffee, and it was really delicious—he hadn’t left a drop.

Yu Ju glanced at the suitcase on the floor. The snacks that Gu Qianxing had bought for him were already packed inside.

Gu Qianxing was truly amazing. He sent the things over without saying a word, leaving Yu Ju restless the whole night, constantly checking his phone, his efficiency at an all-time low.

After turning off the lights and getting into bed, Yu Ju still couldn’t resist opening Gu Qianxing’s WeChat.

But after thinking for a long time, he didn’t type a single symbol.

This invisible pull was making him feel uneasy, his mind all tangled up.

Soon, he backed out of the chat and found Zhao Yi’s WeChat.

Yu Ju: [Do you have Gu Qianxing’s phone number?]

This kind of thing, Zhao Yi was always eager for.

Sure enough, less than ten seconds later, a string of numbers was sent over.

It was just the number—nothing else.

But Yu Ju didn’t think Zhao Yi had suddenly turned over a new leaf; who knows what he might be holding back on the other side of the screen.

Yu Ju wasn’t sure why he even wanted to call Gu Qianxing.

But as he thought about it, the sound of the phone dialing came through.

At the same time, his whole body tensed up in nervousness.

He took a deep breath and shrunk further into the bed, covering half his face with the blanket.

The dialing tone lasted only three seconds, and then the call was answered.

Yu Ju became even more nervous, his throat dry.

He didn’t speak, and the other side remained silent as well.

The only sound around him was the thumping of Yu Ju’s heartbeat in his ears, thump thump thump.

The surroundings were very quiet, so quiet that every one of Yu Ju’s senses was particularly sharp.

“Aren’t you asleep yet?”

A few seconds later, Gu Qianxing spoke first.

His voice was deep, and because of the radio transmission, it had a magnetic quality to it.

It sounded so good.

Yu Ju unconsciously pulled the blanket up, gripping it tightly. “Mm.”

Gu Qianxing said, “It’s getting late.”

Yu Ju murmured, “I know.”

There was no polite preamble, no formal greeting—Gu Qianxing always made their interactions feel incredibly natural.

“Why’s your voice muffled?”

“I finished the coffee.”

They both spoke at the same time.

Yu Ju gave a small “oh” and pulled the blanket a little farther from his mouth. “I’m under the blanket.”

Gu Qianxing asked, “Was it good?”

Yu Ju inexplicably lowered his gaze. “It was okay.” Then he asked, “Why did you buy me food?”

Gu Qianxing replied, “I heard someone got so absorbed in studying that they often forget to sleep and eat.”

It was obvious Zhao Yi had said that.

Yu Ju replied, “It’s not that serious. If I’m hungry, I’ll eat.”

Gu Qianxing laughed. “Then you’re really good.”

Yu Ju asked, “Why?”

Gu Qianxing laughed even more.

Gu Qianxing said, “They’re all in small packets, so you can put a few in your pocket when you go out.”

Yu Ju replied, “Oh.”

Gu Qianxing added, “Eat when you’re hungry.”

Yu Ju responded, “I know.”

There was another quiet pause.

After a while, Yu Ju asked, “What did I promise you yesterday?”

Gu Qianxing laughed after hearing that.

Yu Ju asked, “What are you laughing at?”

Gu Qianxing replied, “I thought you didn’t care.”

Yu Ju paused for a moment.

“I’m just asking,” Yu Ju said, “After all, I had some drinks. When I drink too much, I tend to say random things.”

Gu Qianxing replied, “Is that so?”

Yu Ju remembered the pitiful little cat that Gu Qianxing had sent, and with the tone Gu Qianxing was using, it really felt like Yu Ju had done something to disappoint him the night before.

“Do you care?” Gu Qianxing asked.

Yu Ju’s heart skipped a beat, and he replied nonchalantly, “I want to know.”

So, say it already—what did I promise?

“Do you often drink too much?” Gu Qianxing still didn’t answer the question.

Yu Ju replied, “Not really.”

In reality, it was just this one time. Even though he had drunk a lot during his graduation year, it hadn’t been as bad as last night. At least, he was still conscious back then.

Oh, and there was something else.

“My hand is fine,” Yu Ju said.

Gu Qianxing hummed softly in response. “Keep it in mind.”

Yu Ju laughed. “Do I really look like such a clumsy person?”

Gu Qianxing quickly answered, “Yes.”

Yu Ju muttered under his breath, “It’s your fault.”

Gu Qianxing laughed. “Little cutie.”

Yu Ju scoffed, “Cute your head.”

There was silence on the other end, but Yu Ju could tell Gu Qianxing was smiling.

After a while, Gu Qianxing suddenly asked, “Do you still like cats?”

“Cat?” Yu Ju asked, “I like cats, what’s up?”

Gu Qianxing didn’t answer immediately, and during the brief pause, Yu Ju suddenly thought of something.

Yu Ju asked, “Is the cat in your profile picture yours?”

Gu Qianxing replied, “Yes, it’s mine.”

“Your cat?” Yu Ju’s voice raised in surprise. “You have a cat?”

Gu Qianxing’s voice carried a smile. “Yes, I have a cat.”

Yu Ju asked, “Where is it?”

Gu Qianxing responded, “In F City, I haven’t brought it over yet.”

Yu Ju stammered, “So… so…”

Yu Ju wanted to ask many things but didn’t want to seem too curious.

Gu Qianxing seemed to understand what he was trying to say and completed the thought for him.

“The profile picture is from when he was younger, but he’s all grown up now,” Gu Qianxing said. “I’m planning to bring him over.”

Yu Ju asked, “You’re bringing him to A City?”

Gu Qianxing answered, “Yes.”

Yu Ju exclaimed, “That’s great!”

Gu Qianxing said, “But he has a lot of things, and I can’t bring it all by myself. I’m not sure what to do.”

After saying this, Gu Qianxing fell silent again.

Yu Ju hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, “Do you need help?”

On the other end, Gu Qianxing smiled slightly, pressing his lips together.

Gu Qianxing: “Yes.”

Yu Ju almost raised his hand, “I can help carry things.”

Gu Qianxing: “No need, you can just carry the cat.”

Carry the cat.

Such a simple phrase, but when Yu Ju thought of the little cat Gu Qianxing was carrying, it felt so cute.

Yu Ju asked again, “Does it have a name?”

Gu Qianxing: “Yes.”

Yu Ju: “What’s it called?”

Gu Qianxing: “Guess.”

Before Yu Ju could say “How would I know,” Gu Qianxing spoke up.

He said: “It’s called Comma.”

“Comma,” Yu Ju repeated, “Oh.”

He didn’t dare ask why.

Gu Qianxing didn’t elaborate either.

Yu Ju asked again, “When are you going to pick it up?”

Gu Qianxing: “Wait until you come back.”

Yu Ju thought for a moment: “Do you need to go to F city?”

“If it’s inconvenient for you, just come to the airport,” Gu Qianxing replied. “It’s just that Comma has too many things. You know, little cats have a lot of toys.”

“I can do that, I can go,” Yu Ju asked, “Just the two of us?”

Gu Qianxing: “And another cat.”

Yu Ju chuckled.

That wasn’t what he was asking.

But once Gu Qianxing mentioned it, Yu Ju immediately pictured the scene.

He and Gu Qianxing standing side by side, with him holding the cat and Gu Qianxing holding the little cat’s toys.

Help.

How could Gu Qianxing have a cat, and it’s so cute?

“Alright,” Gu Qianxing said, “It’s getting late.”

Yu Ju looked at his phone and saw it was almost midnight.

He also realized that, because of talking about the cat, he felt so excited that his tone had become much lighter.

Gu Qianxing: “What time do you wake up tomorrow?”

Yu Ju: “Six o’clock.”

Gu Qianxing: “Go to sleep then.”

Yu Ju: “Oh.”

After saying that, both ends of the phone call fell silent again.

Yu Ju calmed down too. He realized his breathing had steadied, and he had crawled out of the covers and was now lying properly.

“Still not hanging up?”

A few seconds later, Gu Qianxing asked.

Yu Ju made a sound of acknowledgment. Truthfully, he had wanted to wait until Gu Qianxing hung up first before ending the call himself.

But since it came to this: “Bye-bye.”

Gu Qianxing said: “Goodnight.”

So smooth, so pleasant to hear.

Yu Ju paused for a second, then awkwardly replied, “Goodnight.”

Right after he said it, he suddenly felt inexplicably warm, and without realizing it, he burrowed back under the covers.

After hanging up, Yu Ju remained dazed for a while, his mind full of the image from earlier—just the two of them and a cat.

Comma. The cat’s name was Comma.

You couldn’t stay in a spring blanket cocoon for long. Not even a minute had passed before Yu Ju found it too stuffy and wriggled out again.

The air outside the blanket was cool, brushing against his almost-sweaty skin and making it feel refreshed.

He stared off into space for quite a while, when suddenly the phone beside his pillow made a sound.

Gu Qianxing sent him a message.

Gu Qianxing: [You promised me that from now on, every time you wake up, you’ll say good morning to me.]

That simple?

Yeah, just something that simple.

And yet, Yu Ju’s heart felt all tingly and numb.