Chapter 64 “Then you said it’s a small game…”

Lu Liu rubbed Lin Zhi’s soft hair at the back of his head and sighed inwardly. He knew Lin Zhi would feel upset after hearing it, but he insisted on listening anyway.

Tears soaked the shoulder of Lin Zhi’s loungewear. Lin Zhi sniffed and looked up, speaking in a nasal voice, “Give me a piece of paper.”

Lu Liu pulled out several sheets, stacked them neatly. After Lin Zhi blew his nose and wiped his tears, he wiped Lu Liu’s clothes, not even thinking about whether the order was correct.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Lu Liu gently patted Lin Zhi’s back. Once Lin Zhi calmed down a little, he continued speaking.

After dealing with Lin Zhi’s affairs, Lu Liu didn’t forget to search for the driver of the small car that caused the tragic accident.

The driver didn’t stop after the accident to help send Lin Zhi to the hospital. Instead, he took a turn and fled. But with so many witnesses and clear footage of the license plate from surveillance cameras, how could he escape?

Lu Liu tracked down the driver by the license plate number. At first, the driver was very hostile. After learning that Lu Liu had already sued him, he offered a death compensation. Lu Liu firmly refused to settle privately. From the surveillance footage, it was clear that the car had been speeding well above the city limit. Lu Liu, along with the lawyer and others, tracked the driver’s location that day and discovered it was an entertainment venue. The street camera footage showed the driver stumbling as he left, obviously drunk.

The lawyer compiled all the evidence and submitted it to the court. When the evidence was laid out, the driver had no choice but to admit he had drunk a little that day. Lu Liu looked at his face, which showed no remorse, and angrily punched him twice. It was because of his casual admission of drinking that someone else had to pay the price with their life.

The driver was sentenced to eleven years in prison for drunk driving, speeding, causing death, and fleeing the scene.

On the day the verdict was delivered, Lu Liu brought a vibrant sunflower to the cemetery to visit Lin Zhi. Lin Zhi had once told him about his father’s illness and death, as well as about Yao Wenjing. Lu Liu had always hoped that Lin Zhi would be more positive and optimistic, like a sunflower. However, after experiencing loss himself, he realized how difficult it actually was.

Lin Zhi pouted, and the tears that had just stopped filled his eyes again.

“Alright, stop crying.” Lu Liu kissed his eyelid and asked, “Do you remember the little boy you saved?”

Lin Zhi shook his head. He hadn’t even seen the boy’s face clearly, so how could he remember?

“When we went to the hospital, the boy’s parents rushed over with him. They kept saying sorry and thank you beside me. I actually resented them a little. If the boy hadn’t run the red light, you wouldn’t have…”

Lu Liu paused, then continued, “I was so frustrated that I shouted at them, but they were sincere. They weren’t angry even after being yelled at. They even helped me a bit when I was suing the driver.”

“Well, I guess I didn’t save the wrong person after all.” Lin Zhi joked bitterly.

“Mm,” Lu Liu kissed his other eyelid. “When I visited your grave, the boy’s family went along too. His parents made him bow three times to you. The boy was very sincere, muttering that you were his reincarnated parents. I guess he must have heard adults say that at home.”

Lin Zhi couldn’t help but smile, but his tear-streaked face made the smile look worse than the crying.

After the boy’s family left, Lu Liu leaned against Lin Zhi’s tombstone and babbled on for a long time, wishing that if time could be turned back, he would have told Lin Zhi who he was earlier. He would have protected Lin Zhi, ensuring that the accident never happened. As he spoke, he gradually fell asleep in a daze.

“I don’t remember the rest,” Lu Liu laughed. “Maybe I fell asleep leaning on your tombstone, and my soul entered it to be with you, so we could meet again here.”

Lu Liu said this as a joke, but Lin Zhi seriously nodded in agreement, “It must be that way.”

“So don’t be sad anymore,” Lu Liu wiped the corner of Lin Zhi’s eyes. “Actually, we aren’t that miserable, are we? Everything is fine now.”

Lin Zhi didn’t respond, slipping into the bathroom to wash his face.

Lu Liu leaned against the door frame, watching Lin Zhi splash water on his face through the mirror. The fine strands of his bangs stuck to his forehead as they got wet. Lu Liu took a dry towel and gently wiped his face and hair.

The towel covered the upper half of Lin Zhi’s face, revealing only his red, tear-streaked nose and the freshly washed, dewy lips. Lu Liu’s Adam’s apple moved, and he lowered his head to kiss him, sucking and nibbling.

Lu Liu kissed him urgently, and Lin Zhi responded fiercely. The towel fell to the floor, and the hem of Lin Zhi’s clothes was pushed up high. Lu Liu’s distinctly knuckled fingers touched the waistband of his pants. Just as the heated atmosphere was about to ignite, the door knocked with a “knock knock.”

Lin Zhi almost shriveled up in fear, suddenly pulling away from Lu Liu. They stared at each other in shock.

Feng Shuyun’s voice came from outside the door: “Lu Liu, we bought some roasted chestnuts, they’re still hot. Do you want some?”

Lu Liu stifled his laughter and raised his voice, “I’ll eat them outside.”

Lin Zhi couldn’t help but find it funny as he adjusted his collar and waistband, thinking, fortunately, they hadn’t started anything yet. If they had been in the middle of things, it could have truly killed the mood. Fortunately, Lu Liu’s room had its own bathroom; otherwise, there’d be no way to explain to Lu Liu’s parents why he and their son were coming out of the bathroom together.

Even so, Lu Xueyi and Feng Shuyun were a bit surprised to see Lin Zhi suddenly “appear” in their home. However, the surprise only lasted a moment before Feng Shuyun warmly greeted him. As she brought over snacks and drinks, she couldn’t help but scold Lu Liu: “Bringing a friend home and not hosting properly? Hiding in the room doing who knows what, and not even offering anything to eat.”

Lin Zhi awkwardly smiled and said, “Thank you, Auntie. We were… studying in the room.”

Having taught for so many years, Feng Shuyun wasn’t going to believe that. Besides, she knew Lu Liu too well. If he were alone at home, sure, maybe he’d study, but with a friend? No chance, especially since they weren’t even studying the same major anymore. What could they possibly be studying together?

Still, Feng Shuyun didn’t expose Lin Zhi’s little white lie and simply told him to relax during the holidays and take it easy.

Lin Zhi agreed to everything, sitting on the sofa, avoiding eye contact, and keeping his hands and feet in check.

Seeing how tense Lin Zhi was, Lu Liu deliberately reached for the chestnuts at the same time Lin Zhi did. When their fingers touched, Lin Zhi resisted the urge to pull his hand back, while Lu Liu maintained a calm exterior but was secretly amused.

Not long after, Lin Zhi suggested leaving. Feng Shuyun and Lu Xueyi enthusiastically invited him to stay for dinner. Lu Liu, instead of helping Lin Zhi out, joined his parents in persuading him to stay.

With no way to decline, Lin Zhi gave in and messaged Yao Wenjing, telling him there was no need to bring him dinner today.

In winter, the days are short and the nights are long. After dinner, they rested for a while, and by the time the sky was completely dark, Feng Shuyun and Lu Xueyi insisted that Lin Zhi stay the night and return home tomorrow morning.

Lin Zhi firmly shook his head, saying he absolutely had to leave.

Half an hour later, Lin Zhi sat on a chair in Lu Liu’s room, pondering whether he should call Lin Qingye to tell him that he wouldn’t be going back tonight and would be staying at Lu Liu’s house.

“Go ahead and call,” Lu Liu said. “Tell Uncle so they don’t worry.”

Lin Zhi shot him a glance. “Easy for you to say, standing up with no worries.”

At first, Lin Zhi had been resolute about leaving, but despite Lu Liu saying “It’s fine, go back,” his face wore a “Please stay and keep me company” expression. On top of that, the things Lu Liu had said earlier in the afternoon made Lin Zhi feel so sorry for him. He couldn’t bring himself to turn down such a small request from Lu Liu.

“Well, there’s no helping it,” Lu Liu said with a mischievous shrug. “You’re sitting in my chair, so I guess I’ll have to stand.”

“Oh, really?” Lin Zhi stood up as if to leave. “Then I’ll give it back to you. I’m going home.”

“No!” Lu Liu grabbed him by the waist, pulling him back, sat in the chair himself, and made Lin Zhi sit on his lap. “Isn’t this better?”

“Stop fooling around,” Lin Zhi struggled in his arms. “What if your parents come in and see us?”

“They won’t come in without knocking on my door,” Lu Liu said, cutting off all excuses. He urged, “Hurry up and call Uncle.”

Lin Zhi hesitated for a while but finally dialed Yao Wenjing’s number.

“Hello, Xiao Zhi.”

“Xiao Jing,” Lin Zhi hesitated, “Can you tell my dad that I won’t be coming home tonight?”

“Not coming home?” Yao Wenjing exclaimed. “Where are you going?”

“Uh,” Lin Zhi said, feeling embarrassed, “I’m at Lu Liu’s house.”

“So, you’re staying at Lu Liu’s house tonight too?”

Before Lin Zhi could respond, a loud “Hmph!” came from the other end of the line. It was Lin Qingye’s voice, deliberately huffing to make sure Lin Zhi heard.

Earlier in the afternoon, he’d been affectionate and cuddly without feeling shy, but now, just hearing a “Hmph,” Lin Zhi’s ears turned red. He hurriedly mumbled a few words and hung up the phone.

Lu Liu overheard the entire conversation and grinned like a mischievous wolf: “Not only are you staying at my house, you’re also sleeping on the same bed as me.”

Lin Zhi glared at him. “Shut up.”

That night, Lu Liu prepared sleepwear for Lin Zhi, pretended to arrange the pillow Feng Shuyun had brought, and as soon as Feng Shuyun left, he quickly tossed the pillow aside and placed his own pillow in the center of the bed. That was the only one he needed for tonight.

Lin Zhi lingered on the chair, and Lu Liu didn’t rush him. He waited until Feng Shuyun and Lu Xueyi had turned off the lights in the living room and returned to their bedroom before stepping forward and gently pinching the back of Lin Zhi’s neck. “Go take a shower and get ready for bed.”

“Wait until I finish this game…” Lin Zhi shrank his neck.

“What’s so fun about this single-player game?” Lu Liu said shamelessly. “Hurry up and take a shower, then I’ll let you play something more fun.”

“Go away,” Lin Zhi said. “Do you look down on single-player games?”

“Then tell me, is the game more fun, or am I more fun?”

Lin Zhi pretended to seriously think about it. He recalled the times when he played with Lu Liu and his face gradually reddened. Feeling shy, he quickly grabbed his sleepwear and ran into the bathroom to take a shower.