Chapter 23: Brother is so good, he went in just as I said

“Good night, brother. Remember to dream of me. See you tomorrow.”

This was the message Fu Xingran sent him after midnight. Even through the screen, one could feel the excitement and anticipation.

But he couldn’t sleep.Su Lixu tossed and turned in bed, his mind filled with the memory of Fu Xingran always looking at him and saying those blunt and unreserved words. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed it at all.

Previously, he criticized Fu Xingran’s dangerous idea of wanting to lock people up. Little did he know he would be the one to be confined.

Then there were those photos covering the wall and that painting. He found it hard to believe. Was he angry? Yes, he was. Subconsciously, he touched his wrist. Could Fu Xingran really do such a thing?

He almost thought Fu Xingran would go crazy for him.

And that tattoo – was this guy insane to engrave his name on—

The left side.

He sat up abruptly. Could it be that four years ago, Fu Xingran intentionally bit him?

“…Fu Xingran.” Where did this guy learn so many mischievous thoughts?

Unable to sleep with these thoughts, he grabbed his phone from the bedside table, pulled on a nearby jacket, and walked barefoot towards the floor-to-ceiling window without turning on the light.

Opening the floor-to-ceiling window facing the garden, the cold breeze of late autumn in the middle of the night hit his face, slightly waking him up. Looking up, his gaze followed the lights of the opposite high-rise apartment building, lost in thought.

“My wish is to see you every day.”

He heard that sentence.

He originally thought that no one in this world could influence him anymore. He could live without distractions, live as he pleased. But Fu Xingran’s presence managed to divert his attention.

At first, it was because he resembled his younger brother. However, now it was evident that it went beyond that; Fu Xingran had crossed that line.

His parents left him when he graduated from high school due to a car accident. His younger brother, Su Liyang, witnessed their parents’ death in the accident, causing severe trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, leading to borderline personality disorder. Later treatments even revealed tendencies of bipolar disorder and dissociative symptoms. While pursuing his master’s degree, he took time to be with Su Liyang, but his brother’s condition didn’t improve. Instead, it worsened, eventually leading to the most extreme decision to end his life.

This was the most painful experience of his life.

This was also why he couldn’t let go of Fu Xingran.

He didn’t want to witness someone close to him go through the same thing and couldn’t bear such pain again.

“My life was saved by you. Even if pursuing you my whole life leads to nothing, I have no regrets. At least I’m striving for the goal of my life.”

“So, I won’t regret liking you.”

Su Lixu sighed faintly. He checked the time on his phone – 2:30 in the morning. He was sure He Shi had already rested. He could only send a message explaining his situation and plan to talk to He Shi at home tomorrow. Now he had to rely on He Shi.

Just as he finished sending the message, a call came in – from Fu Xingran.

He hesitated for a moment before answering the call. He was surprised. Wasn’t this guy asleep?

After hesitating for a while, he didn’t pick up the call. Instead, he received a message from Fu Xingran:

[**I’m standing on the balcony. I happened to hear the sound of you pushing the door. Are you on the balcony, or did I hear it wrong?**]

Su Lixu was somewhat surprised, can one hear from such a distance? Walking to the balcony, holding onto the railing, he leaned his head out and glanced to the side. He happened to see another balcony not too far away, and Fu Xingran also leaned out.

In the not-so-far distance, leaning on the railing, their eyes met for a moment, as if time froze in that instant of eye contact, surprised that they could see each other.

“Why haven’t you slept yet?” Su Lixu spoke first, as there was some distance between the balconies, so his voice needed to be louder.

“Thinking of you, can’t sleep.” Fu Xingran casually rested his hands on the railing, noticing Su Lixu came out wearing thin home clothes. He slightly furrowed his brows and said with a slightly commanding tone, “Go inside.”

With a slightly serious tone, carrying a hint of command.

Su Lixu: “?”

“If you don’t go inside, I’ll come over and hug you to sleep.” Fu Xingran added.

Without a word, Su Lixu turned and went inside, also making sure to lock the door behind him.

As he pondered why he was so obedient while leaning on the window, his phone vibrated again. It was Fu Xingran’s call. Without hesitation, he slid to answer, and Fu Xingran’s smiling voice came through.

“Brother, you’re so good, I said go in, and you went in.”

Su Lixu: “… Fu Xingran, why are you standing on the balcony so late at night?”

This guy wouldn’t be thinking of doing something silly again, right?

“Thinking of you, can’t sleep. Even though it’s only been two hours since we parted, even though there’s just a wall between us, I just miss you so much, what should I do?”

Already deep into the night, Fu Xingran’s voice slowed unnaturally, with a slightly hoarse tone, but filled with ambiguous implications in his smiling words. Not to mention using such a tone to say such things. Su Lixu’s back was against the glass door, he slightly put down the phone by his ear, lips pressed together as if relieving something, and the cool glass seemed unable to cool down the sudden heat that flared up in his heart.

When Fu Xingran confessed to someone other than him before, he didn’t feel anything. But now, as Fu Xingran mentions that person, and it turns out to be him, he finds it difficult to remain as calm and composed as they used to be.

Human sexual orientation is not absolute, and he holds the same view about his own sexual orientation.

“It’s very late; let’s talk about it tomorrow. I’m hanging up now.” Su Lixu tried to make his voice sound calm.

“Tomorrow, I want to invite you out. As long as you agree, I’ll go to sleep now.” Fu Xingran on the other end of the call continued his persistent and domineering approach until he achieves his goal.

Su Lixu: “… ”

This guy is really pushing it.

Before he could answer, Fu Xingran added, “Can you give me a chance to ask you out, considering I obediently put away the photos? Consider it a reward, okay?”

On the phone, Fu Xingran’s voice sounded pitiful and pleading, making Su Lixu involuntarily think of a big dog wagging its tail, begging for treats. Usually fierce, but adorable when wanting something.

Fu Xingran clearly knew how to use this tactic against him, but Su Lixu couldn’t afford to indulge him too much, or he might end up at a disadvantage in their already ambiguous relationship.

And this approach might only work on Fu Xingran.

“Fu Xingran, do you want a reward?”

Perhaps due to the overly quiet environment, Fu Xingran listened to Su Lixu’s voice through the phone, and the transmitted sound carried a magnetic quality, gentle yet containing an indescribable meaning, especially the words “reward.”

How long has it been since he heard the word “reward”? During his previous hospitalization, he really wanted Su Lixu’s rewards.

“I want one,” Fu Xingran answered without hesitation.

“Then go to sleep obediently now, don’t think about anything. Tomorrow, I’ll reward you.”

Fu Xingran’s eyes lit up, “What’s the reward?”

“A secret.”

The cool breeze of late autumn brushed against Su Lixu’s cheeks, and the soft voice of “secret” echoed in his ears. It felt like it wrapped around him, scalding and hitting him, and Fu Xingran thought that even if he were naked now, he probably wouldn’t feel cold, completely unaware of how radiant his smile was.

“What about the date?” Fu Xingran asked again.

“Fu Xingran, I’m not that easy to pursue.”

Leaning against the wall, Fu Xingran tightly held his phone, listening to the voice coming from the other end. Su Lixu’s tone was something he had never heard before. It wasn’t the usual gentleness but more like the flowers atop a snowy mountain, enveloped in ice and snow—cold, charming, and unattainable.

So, how much time would he need to get closer to Su Lixu? He hoped it could happen quickly, perhaps even fantasizing about it happening tomorrow.

“Brother, I hope that before long, when I wake up, you’ll be the one sleeping next to me.”

Su Lixu leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window, emotions rippling in his eyes. The phone near his ear turned hot, like a hot potato, as it blushed his ears.

Now it was even more apparent that the dynamics between them had completely changed.If he didn’t know about Fu Xingran’s feelings, or if Fu Xingran’s emotions towards him were simply a pure affection like that of family, it wouldn’t feel like this.

Fu Xingran deliberately broke through this thin layer of paper, carefully planned and calculated, exposing the truth.

Before, he asked if Fu Xingran understood what it meant to like someone. Now it seemed that Fu Xingran understood everything, even more than him, with a mouth full of words that could make anyone blush.—

“I hope that before long, when I wake up, you’ll be the one sleeping next to me.”

“Daydreaming.” Su Lixu lowered his gaze and said softly.”I’m just daydreaming.

“Across the phone, the slightly hoarse voice conveyed a teasing smile that tickled the eardrums.

The meaning of “beauty” was self-evident.

Su Lixu unceremoniously hung up the phone. Leaning against the wall, hand hanging at his side, tightly gripping the phone, his heartbeat accelerated. The emotions almost overflowing from his chest made him feel flustered.

“…This is crazy..”