That night, Wen Lin naturally stayed over. There was only one bed in the room, and neither of them had any intention of sleeping on the sofa. Wen Lin, having showered, sat on the bed in a bathrobe, handling messages on his phone. 

Ming Che was in the bathroom blow-drying his hair. Once dry, he walked out and saw Wen Lin’s legs spread apart. The bathrobe was loose, and from Ming Che’s angle, he could see everything. 

He lay down on the other side, and Wen Lin turned off his phone, placing it on the coffee table, then reached over to turn off the bedside lamp. 

The bed dipped beside him as Wen Lin lay down. Sharing a bed while fully awake was a first for them. Ming Che said goodnight, closed his eyes, and was about to sleep when he suddenly heard Wen Lin’s voice. 

“Why did you just leave back then?”

After all this time, Wen Lin finally asked him this question.

“Lu Hai invited me for an interview. I wanted a change of life, so I came.”

“I meant, why did you leave like that, not why you left.”

Why did he disappear without a trace after doing that to him?

“I thought you wouldn’t want to see me.”

Normally, if someone was suddenly treated like that, they wouldn’t want to see that person again.

In the darkness, Wen Lin turned his head to see the vague outline of the person beside him. It should have been like that; he should hate this person.

“You’re really irresponsible. You liked me back then, didn’t you?”

Ming Che lightly hummed in agreement.

He had to give a reasonable explanation.

“And now? If I hadn’t found you, you would have forgotten all about me, right?”

Wen Lin had too many questions. Ming Che reached over, found his head, and pulled it slightly towards him.

“So sleepy, let’s sleep.”

Wen Lin didn’t struggle. He was too impulsive today and said things he shouldn’t have.

“Seems like I quite like you.”

The sudden voice by his ear made Wen Lin freeze. He doubted his hearing and quickly lifted his head, only to bump solidly into Ming Che’s chin.

Ming Che gasped in pain.

“Are you okay?”

Wen Lin reached for the switch on the wall and turned on the light with a click.

The sudden brightness made Ming Che squint. Wen Lin was nervously holding his chin, examining it.

“It’s nothing, just bit my tongue when you bumped me.”

“Let me see.”

Ming Che reluctantly stuck out his tongue, showing a clear circle of teeth marks with blood oozing out.

Wen Lin frowned deeply, “It’s bleeding, looks serious.”

“It’s fine, it’ll heal on its own.”

Ming Che didn’t want to fuss anymore and pulled Wen Lin to lie down.

After a moment of silence, Wen Lin suddenly sat up again.

“What did you mean by what you just said?”

“Just what it sounds like.”

Ming Che thought about it. If he wasn’t interested in Wen Lin, he wouldn’t have been entangled with him for so long, nor would he feel pleasure when kissing him.

He thought it could be called liking, but he was a bit unsure.

“Probably quite like you.”

Wen Lin was no longer the kid from five years ago who would be scared away. His eyes were dark, hiding some unknown stubbornness.

“You were the one who approached me first.”

He pounced on Ming Che, biting his exposed shoulder.

Ming Che was a bit puzzled.

Why was he getting hurt today, first his mouth, then his tongue, and now his shoulder?

Ming Che flipped over, pinning Wen Lin beneath him.

Wen Lin: “What are you doing?”

“?”

Is it only allowed for the official to set fires, but not the common people to light lamps?

Ming Che unceremoniously bit his shoulder, controlling his strength to leave a complete circle of teeth marks.

“Returning the favor.”

Ming Che reached over to turn off the light and lay back down, finally able to get a good night’s sleep.

…

Ming Che was woken by the movement beside him. He struggled to open his eyes and found the person next to him already up. Wen Lin stood by the bed, fully dressed.

Wen Lin looked at him, “I have to go back.”

Ming Che wasn’t fully awake, mumbled a response, and went back to sleep. When he woke up again, he was alone in the room.

Later, Wen Lin seemed to have said something else, but he forgot.

[977, what did Wen Lin say to me?]

[He asked if you were free on the first of next month.]

Ming Che took out his phone and checked. The first of next month wasn’t any special holiday, so why did he suddenly ask?

Ming Che didn’t think much of it. He had plans for the next few days, needing to return to the company today, and then attend magazine shoots and brand events.

Since they were in different places, Ming Che spent a lot of time flying back and forth. The Flowing Pearl also started airing, and he needed to complete live streaming tasks.

After a somewhat busy period, Ming Che checked his phone and realized it was already the end of the month. There were only two days until the first, and today he needed to meet with the director of his new drama, then he’d be free.

Barring any surprises, he could return on the first.

…

The flight was delayed.

Ming Che sat at the airport, so tired his eyes could barely stay open. He took out his phone, contemplating whether to call Wen Lin. His finger hovered over the screen but didn’t press down.

The assistant had just gone to inquire; the delay was at most two hours. He would definitely fly back today.

There didn’t seem to be a need for this call.

Ming Che took a nap. At 8 PM, the plane arrived, and passengers began boarding. Ming Che sat in his seat, wearing an eye mask, and continued to sleep until the plane landed, and the assistant woke him.

They went straight back to Wen Lin’s house. It was already 11 PM, and taking a taxi would take another forty minutes, possibly delayed by traffic. Ming Che wasn’t sure if he could make it by midnight.

On the way, Ming Che remembered his phone was off. When he turned it on, he found a missed call from Wen Lin.

Should he call back?

But at this hour, he should be asleep, right?

At 11:50, the car stopped at the villa entrance. Upon opening the door, the house was completely dark, showing no signs of anyone being home.

[977, did Wen Lin say what he wanted me for?]

[No, he just asked if you were free, and you just hummed in response.]

At that time, he hadn’t heard what Wen Lin was saying, probably just responding instinctively.

The assistant was exhausted and went straight to his room after saying goodnight. Ming Che looked upstairs, thought for a moment, and decided to go up and check.

He hadn’t been up here before, but Wen Lin’s room should be this one. Ming Che turned the doorknob, finding it unlocked. The room was dark, seemingly unoccupied. He was about to close the door when he heard a sound.

In the moonlight from outside, he seemed to see the outline of a person. Ming Che was about to turn on the light when he was stopped.

“Don’t turn on the light.”

It was Wen Lin’s voice. Ming Che walked over to him, and as he stood in front of him, a lighter’s flame suddenly appeared, illuminating Wen Lin’s face, though his lowered lashes hid his emotions.

“You came back late.”

“The flight was delayed.”

Ming Che looked at his hand.

“Isn’t it hot?”

The flame disappeared instantly, and Ming Che felt Wen Lin lean closer, sensing something was off.

“Is today a special day?”

“Not a special day.”

No, something was wrong.

Ming Che carefully recalled all the details. He felt the lighter in Wen Lin’s hand and took it.

“Today is your birthday, isn’t it?”

After being adopted, Wen Lin had no reason to remember his real birthday, so May 18 wasn’t his actual birthday.

Ming Che pressed the lighter, the flame flickering in the air.

“Happy birthday.”

Wen Lin looked up at him and blew out the flame.

The next moment, Ming Che was tightly hugged. It was their first pure embrace, Wen Lin’s head resting on his shoulder, hair brushing against his neck, causing a slight tickle.

Somewhere in his heart felt like it was being gently brushed by a feather.

Ming Che’s hand hung by his side for a long time before finally lifting to hug him back.

He seemed a bit more certain now.

“Where’s my birthday gift?”

“What do you want?”

“The gift you gave me five years ago.”

“Are you making things difficult for me, Wen classmate?”

How could that thing still exist?

A slight pain came from his shoulder, bitten again. Ming Che was puzzled; he hadn’t noticed Wen Lin had this habit before.

He pinched Wen Lin’s chin.

“Are you a dog?”

“Heh.”

Wen Lin snorted, proving the point with his actions.

“Don’t bite randomly.”

Words were useless, so Ming Che had to take action. He pinned Wen Lin against the wall, pressing both his hands against it.

“I told you, don’t bite randomly.”

Most of the time, Ming Che was gentle, like a calm water surface, only rippling slightly when the wind blew. But now it was different; a huge whirlpool had formed in the water, the rushing currents threatening to drown someone.

Ming Che plundered wantonly, sensing Wen Lin’s hands gradually losing strength. He let go, then traced down to his waist.

“Do you want to sleep, or continue?”

Ming Che whispered in his ear, his hand slipping under his shirt, feeling the smooth skin, warm and close to his own temperature.

This should count as something excessive.

“Does silence mean both?”

Continue… sleep.

Wen Lin belatedly realized it wasn’t a choice.

Ming Che lifted him onto the bed, covering him with a blanket.

“Goodnight.”

He tucked him in, then stood up.

Wen Lin’s eyes widened in the dark, but before he could say anything, the person in the room left.

[Host, why did you stop?]

According to 977’s data, after reaching that point, they should proceed to the next step.

Ming Che smiled without speaking.

Why did he stop? Because he could feel that what he wanted to do to Wen Lin was likely the same as what Wen Lin wanted to do to him.

Late at night, he didn’t want to fight, nor did he want to do anything bad on someone’s birthday.