Liang Zhendao smiled shyly, “I’ll share the longevity with you, can we celebrate every birthday together from now on?”

For a moment, Shao Mingyin wanted to ask Liang Zhen directly what he meant by that. Did he even know what he was asking?

Shao Mingyin didn’t remember if he agreed or not; he probably did, otherwise Liang Zhen wouldn’t be eating so happily. Yet, he ate that small bowl of longevity beef noodles absentmindedly. Even while washing dishes, he let the water in the sink nearly overflow before he turned off the tap. Holding the dishcloth and bowl, his hands moved slowly as if he was lost in thought.

Liang Zhen noticed that Shao Mingyin had been in the kitchen for a long time and boldly went in himself. Seeing Shao Mingyin daydreaming, he decided to give him a scare. He suddenly hugged Shao Mingyin from behind, his hands protecting Shao Mingyin’s belly from hitting the counter. Resting his chin on Shao Mingyin’s shoulder, he rubbed against him and loudly said in his ear, “I can’t live without you!”

Shao Mingyin felt his whole body go weak from the shout. Liang Zhen tightened his embrace, acting affectionately like a large dog, “I’m addicted to eating your noodles!”

“Liang Zhen…” Shao Mingyin really couldn’t stand him talking like this. “Can you stop saying things with double meanings?”

“I don’t care. That’s what I mean. I can’t live without you!”

“Do you even know what you’re saying?” Shao Mingyin was quite helpless. “Let go of me, I still have to wash the dishes.”

Liang Zhen let go of the hug but eagerly offered, “Let me help you.”

“No, can I let the birthday boy wash dishes?” Shao Mingyin wasn’t pleased. “It’s your birthday, do whatever makes you happy.”

“Really?” Liang Zhen’s eyes lit up, “I can do whatever I want?”

Shao Mingyin sensed something was off but couldn’t pinpoint it, so he absentmindedly said, “Yes.”

“Officer Shao! You said it!” Liang Zhen dashed out of the kitchen like his plan had succeeded, “A policeman must keep his word!”

Shao Mingyin was puzzled, “What do you want to do?” Then he heard a muffled thud, as if something heavy fell on something soft. Worried, he rushed out, thinking Liang Zhen had hurt himself.

But when he came out, he saw Liang Zhen still in his clothes, rolled up in the bed, lying horizontally and dominantly. Seeing him, Liang Zhen poked his head out, grinning widely.

“It’s my birthday today!” Liang Zhen said, “I want to sleep in the big bed!”

Shao Mingyin: …

By the time Shao Mingyin finished tidying up the kitchen, Liang Zhen had already washed up and rushed back to bed, wrapping himself up again. When he saw Shao Mingyin coming out of the kitchen, he sat up straight, still wrapped in the blanket, looking like he was sure Shao Mingyin wouldn’t kick him out, yet also worried that Shao Mingyin might.

In the end, Shao Mingyin didn’t kick Liang Zhen out. After coming out of the bathroom and changing into his pajamas, he stood by the bed, unsure of what to do. Liang Zhen, lying arrogantly on the bed, patted the sheet insistently, “Get in.”

Shao Mingyin laughed, “Liang Zhen, don’t push your luck.”

Liang Zhen immediately dropped his tough act and started to whine, “Get in and sleep with me, please.”

Shao Mingyin looked at him with disdain but still bent his knees and got under the blanket. It was fine until he lay down, but once he did, Liang Zhen started scooting closer to him.

“Stop it,” Shao Mingyin had no room to retreat. If he let Liang Zhen get any closer, their bodies would be touching.

“Are you a pig?” Shao Mingyin pretended to be angry, “Only pigs keep pushing like this.”

“Yes, I am! I just want to push over!” Liang Zhen opened his mouth and mimicked a few pig sounds, continuing to nudge and rub against Shao Mingyin.

Shao Mingyin almost burst out laughing, “Liang Zhen, where’s your dignity?”

“Dignity? I don’t need it!” Liang Zhen shouted, then, sitting up, the blanket fell off him. He raised his hands like claws, growling exaggeratedly, as if he was about to pounce on Shao Mingyin.

Shao Mingyin lifted his leg to kick. In the past, when Liang Zhen tried to climb in his bed, he always kicked him. But today, Shao Mingyin hesitated, considering that Liang Zhen had just eaten a large bowl of noodles. If he kicked too hard and hit the wrong spot, it could hurt him.

Liang Zhen felt smug, knowing that Shao Mingyin wouldn’t attack him now. He had his hands on the pillow beside Shao Mingyin’s head, his waist still bent.

Shao Mingyin was very serious, “If you’re going to sleep, sleep properly.” With that, he pushed a bit harder, causing Liang Zhen to flip to the side and lie down like a corpse, looking frustrated.

Shao Mingyin had precisely pressed against Liang Zhen’s pubic bone.

Liang Zhen, dead.

Liang Zhen wasn’t willing to give up. He lay on his side, staring at Shao Mingyin. When Shao Mingyin asked him to turn off the light, he didn’t move. So, Shao Mingyin got up to do it himself. Liang Zhen was waiting for his chance, and as soon as the light dimmed, he grabbed Shao Mingyin’s hand and hugged his shoulder. Shao Mingyin was caught off guard and tried to break free, but Liang Zhen wouldn’t let go. They ended up playfully wrestling with each other.

It wasn’t clear who started laughing first. Neither of them used much force, just a lot of physical contact. Luckily, it was winter; in summer, they would have been sweating and sticking together. The balcony curtain was open as Shao Mingyin usually kept it, so the room wasn’t completely dark. Liang Zhen didn’t need to get too close to see the expression on Shao Mingyin’s face. At this point, Liang Zhen used his secret weapon: he tickled Shao Mingyin’s armpit. But this trick was only fun for a moment because Liang Zhen was more ticklish than Shao Mingyin. In the end, Shao Mingyin had his knee against Liang Zhen’s spine, one hand grabbing both of Liang Zhen’s wrists, and the other hand tickling his waist and armpit. Liang Zhen, unable to turn over or move, was completely subdued.

Once again, reality proved that Liang Zhen couldn’t beat Shao Mingyin.

Shao Mingyin didn’t hurt him either; he just patted him on the back and asked, “Do you give up?”

The current Liang Zhen had long lost his dignity, so of course he gave up.

Shao Mingyin asked again, “Are you still going to cause trouble?”

Liang Zhen shook his head, “No, I won’t. Let go, it hurts.”

“How could it hurt?” Shao Mingyin knew Liang Zhen was pretending to get sympathy, but he still let go. As expected, Liang Zhen didn’t learn his lesson. Once he was free, he immediately regained his energy and prepared for another attack.

“Really, that’s enough,” Shao Mingyin said, “I’m tired.”

“You’re never tired,” Liang Zhen said, lying on his side very close to Shao Mingyin. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed. You always sleep late, and even when you do, it’s a light sleep.”

“But I have to work,” Shao Mingyin naturally patted Liang Zhen’s hair, speaking gently, “Be good, go to sleep.”

“Oh… okay then.” Although Liang Zhen was still excited, he stopped causing trouble. Shao Mingyin didn’t turn away either; whether Liang Zhen slept or not, Shao Mingyin closed his eyes.

In the silence, Shao Mingyin once again lay in the moonlight. This time, Liang Zhen was very close to him. Just a little closer, maybe their noses or foreheads would touch.

It was as if a Pandora’s box had been opened; Liang Zhen became increasingly greedy and drawn to that little bit of closeness. He found it hard to explain why he wanted to do this. He just did. He couldn’t pinpoint when it started, but whenever he was near Shao Mingyin, he wanted to get even closer, with no reason other than instinct driving him to approach, to touch. Liang Zhen moved slightly downward, not realizing that getting this close meant he wouldn’t touch Shao Mingyin’s nose or forehead. Shao Mingyin noticed and opened his eyes, but didn’t have enough time to pull back. Liang Zhen could have stopped.

But he didn’t.

Without hesitation, he lightly touched Shao Mingyin’s lips with his. Afterward, Shao Mingyin could see the confusion and wonder in Liang Zhen’s eyes, as if saying, “So this is what it’s like.”

Kissing Shao Mingyin, so this is what it’s like.

That look inexplicably threw Shao Mingyin into a panic, as if he had let Liang Zhen down. He propped himself up on his arms, ready to escape. His lips parted, and the first syllable of a name slipped out.

But Shao Mingyin never called out that name.

He didn’t get up either, because when the confusion and wonder faded from Liang Zhen’s eyes, Liang Zhen grabbed the back of Shao Mingyin’s head with domineering force.

When fingers ran through his hair, the light peck on his lips turned into a full-fledged kiss.

A kiss initiated by Liang Zhen, a real kiss.

Shao Mingyin resisted, at first pushing clumsily. But just as Liang Zhen couldn’t win against his grappling skills, Shao Mingyin had no advantage in a contest of strength.

But he could push Liang Zhen away; he could break free. Not like now, being overpowered and having his defenses breached.

He had a way, a way to avoid being so blatantly taken and kissed by Liang Zhen. After breaking free, he would hit Liang Zhen, drive him out, out of the bed, out of the room, and never see him again.

But when he saw who it was, saw clearly that the boy kissing him was Liang Zhen, he couldn’t bring himself to hit him. The thought of causing him pain made him stop himself from biting the invading tongue.

He allowed this kid, six years his junior, to treat him as prey. And then, the hands he had used to resist wrapped around Liang Zhen’s broad back.

He closed his eyes too.

He compromised.

The person in front of him was Liang Zhen, so he compromised.

That moment of compromise was cooperation and also reflected his true feelings.

That moment was with Liang Zhen, so at that moment, Shao Mingyin didn’t want to find a way out.