Chapter 21

Xu Er's mind began to analyze what "give me a kiss" meant, and what it meant coming from Song Ruichi. It seemed a bit strange, but at the same time, it didn't seem entirely out of the question.

Xu Er's bewildered gaze gradually cleared, while Song Ruichi sat there quietly, waiting for him. Not wanting to keep Song Ruichi waiting too long, he leaned over the edge of the sofa and pressed a kiss to Song Ruichi's cheek.

As soon as he finished, he sat back, pursed his lips, and smiled at Song Ruichi. Song Ruichi remained expressionless, so Xu Er quickly wiped the smile from his face. But just as the smile faded, Song Ruichi began to smile.

Xu Er started smiling again.

"What are you laughing at?" Song Ruichi asked.

Xu Er’s smile deepened, and he let out a little laugh: "I don't know."

Song Ruichi said, "You don't look like you've had too much to drink at all."

Xu Er asked, "What does it look like to have had too much?"

Song Ruichi replied, "Like you."

Xu Er thought for a moment: "I don't understand."

Song Ruichi: "You don't need to."

Xu Er: "Alright then."

Song Ruichi asked, "Will you remember what happened today tomorrow?"

Xu Er said, "I'll only know that tomorrow."

Song Ruichi nodded: "That makes sense."

Song Ruichi asked again: "Then do you remember what you just did?"

Xu Er glanced at Song Ruichi's face: "I kissed you."

The movie on the screen changed shots, moving from the sunset to daytime, and the light on Song Ruichi's face shifted instantly. Xu Er didn't think about anything; his mind was blank as he just stared at Song Ruichi. Song Ruichi was watching him, too.

I don't know how much time passed, but the light on Song Ruichi's face changed again, taking on the color of the sea. Xu Er felt that just staring at each other like this was a bit odd, so he turned his head away. But just as he moved, he felt his wrist being gripped.

The air was a little chilly, but Song Ruichi’s palm was warm, and that heat seeped directly into Xu Er’s skin.

"It feels like I’m the one who’s had too much to drink," Song Ruichi murmured.

Xu Er blinked. He wanted to ask why, but Song Ruichi pulled him over. Or perhaps, more accurately, he drew him in—or even more accurately, he embraced him.

Everything spun a little; he felt slightly dizzy. By the time Xu Er realized what was happening, he was already lying on the sofa. Song Ruichi hovered over him, half his face in the light and half in shadow, staring intently into Xu Er's eyes.

Xu Er’s temples throbbed, and the alcohol hit him; his face felt burning hot. His hand, still held by Song Ruichi, was pressed against the sofa beside his head.

"Xu Er."

Song Ruichi called his name.

Xu Er: "Hmm?"

Song Ruichi seemed to take a light breath, then he let go of Xu Er's hand. In the next second, he cupped Xu Er’s chin. Xu Er was forced to tilt his head back, and Song Ruichi’s thumb pressed firmly against his chin.

The light in the movie shifted again, as if it were night once more, and the light around them dimmed instantly. In the fading light, where they could still see each other, Song Ruichi lowered his head.

Xu Er’s temples throbbed even harder, and his head buzzed. He seemed to know what Song Ruichi was doing. He also knew that he had no intention of refusing.

Song Ruichi drew closer and closer. Just when their noses were about to touch, he turned his head away. Something warm and soft brushed against Xu Er's cheek, grazed his ear, and vanished. Song Ruichi buried his face in Xu Er’s shoulder, and because of his breathing, Xu Er’s shoulder quickly began to heat up.

Immediately after, he felt Song Ruichi release his chin and slowly slide his hand from his neck up into his hair. Xu Er’s hand remained by his head; he stared at the ceiling of Song Ruichi’s living room, thinking that the ceiling light was beautiful—it was sparkling.

"Xu Er."

Song Ruichi called him again.

Xu Er withdrew his gaze from the light: "Hmm?"

Song Ruichi said, "You're sweating."

Xu Er gave a light hum: "I'm a little hot."

Song Ruichi released Xu Er and sat up. At once, the surrounding cold air, as if it had been waiting, rushed toward Xu Er from all sides. The fine beads of sweat on his neck made him shiver. But soon, Xu Er stopped caring about the cold or the heat, because he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

*

When he woke up, Xu Er had a splitting headache. He had heard of something called a hangover, though he wasn't sure if that’s what this was; it was barely past midnight, and he had only had a little over a bottle of low-alcohol drink. It would be laughable to call it a hangover, so he decided to diagnose himself with a simple headache.

He was sleeping on the sofa in Song Ruichi’s living room. The curtains were left open, and a breeze blew in, carrying the night air. Xu Er was covered with a thin blanket. He didn't remember how he ended up on the sofa, but the owner of the house was sitting on the carpet, his head resting against the sofa.

Xu Er called out softly: "Song Ruichi?"

There was no movement; he must have fallen asleep. Xu Er braced himself against the back of the sofa and sat up gingerly. The late-night snack and the alcohol on the coffee table had been cleared away. There was a faint, pleasant scent in the air—perhaps Song Ruichi used aromatherapy.

Soso was asleep too. Everything around them was in tune with the night—quiet as the grave.

Xu Er sat there, observing, or perhaps just zoning out for a while, before he pushed off the blanket, careful not to disturb Song Ruichi, and put on his slippers.

Song Ruichi was curled up, one hand resting on his knee, the other supporting him against the sofa. It looked like a position that could collapse at any moment, yet he slept quite soundly. This guy had known to cover Xu Er with a blanket, yet he had nothing on himself.

Xu Er picked up the blanket and unfolded half of it to cover Song Ruichi. Then, he stood by the side.

The breeze blew in through the window again. Perhaps because he was no longer under the blanket, it felt much cooler than before, and the hair on Xu Er's arms stood on end. Still, he didn't move, just remained standing there.

It was hard to tell how much time passed before Song Ruichi stirred. Xu Er couldn't help but blink quickly.

"You're awake," Song Ruichi said. His voice was perfectly clear, and he threw off the blanket without any sign of grogginess.

Xu Er smiled: "Were you faking sleep?"

Song Ruichi placed the blanket on the sofa: "I wasn't."

Xu Er: "When did you wake up?"

Song Ruichi: "When you put on your slippers."

Xu Er said "Oh," then asked, "Then why didn't you make a sound?"

Song Ruichi: "I wanted to see what you were going to do."

Xu Er: "Watch a handsome guy sleep, what else?"

Song Ruichi had become immune to Xu Er calling him handsome from time to time; he acted as if he hadn't heard him at all: "If I hadn't moved, how long were you planning to stand there?"

Xu Er: "One step at a time, I suppose."

There was a clock on the living room wall. Song Ruichi glanced at it as he stood up and added, "Don't go back tonight."

Xu Er thought about it: "That works."

It seemed the power of a bottle or so of beer wasn't all that great. Xu Er’s headache had only been bad right when he woke up, and now, after being cooled by the breeze, he felt much clearer.

Song Ruichi let Xu Er use the master bedroom bathroom while he used the one outside. Xu Er showered quickly. When he came out wearing the loungewear Song Ruichi had given him, the bedroom was still empty. The clothes were passable, though the trousers were a bit long.

Just as Xu Er was folding the hem of his pants, Song Ruichi walked in. They used the same brand of body wash; logically, Xu Er shouldn't have been able to smell it, but as Song Ruichi entered the room, a wave of that familiar scent drifted in with him.

Xu Er switched legs to continue folding. It was too quiet, and for some reason, Xu Er felt inexplicably embarrassed.

"These pants are a bit long," Xu Er said, not looking at Song Ruichi, as if explaining to himself.

Song Ruichi just hummed in response.

It was already bedtime, and after his hot shower, Xu Er was exhausted. A thick sense of sleepiness hung between them. Once the pants were settled, Song Ruichi had already lain down by the edge of the bed and turned the lamp down low.

It felt as though they often slept together. Since Song Ruichi acted this way, Xu Er followed suit, naturally lying down on the other side of the bed. As soon as he pulled the blanket up, Song Ruichi turned off the dim lamp with a click.

"Can you fall asleep?" Song Ruichi asked in the sudden darkness.

Xu Er closed his eyes: "I think so."

Song Ruichi: "Call me if you can't."

Xu Er: "Mm."

Xu Er asked: "Call you for what?"

Song Ruichi said: "To knock you out."

Xu Er burst out laughing.

Song Ruichi added, "To keep you company if you can't sleep."

Xu Er gave a little chuckle in response. The air turned quiet once more. After a while, perhaps because his brain was a bit fuzzy, Xu Er suddenly blurted out:

"Goodnight, brother."

Silence. But in the darkness, Song Ruichi opened his eyes.

"Xu Er."

After a long moment, Song Ruichi spoke.

Xu Er: "Yeah?"

Song Ruichi: "Xu Xiao Er."

Xu Er: "What?"

Suddenly, there was a commotion on the bed. Song Ruichi had launched a surprise attack; he wrapped his arms around Xu Er’s waist, dragged him over, and began to tickle him.

Whatever sleepiness Xu Er had left was instantly tickled away to the ends of the earth. This guy, having heard that he was ticklish, was now going at it even harder.

"Ah... hey, hahaha, stop it!"

Xu Er kicked and swiped at him a few times before Song Ruichi finally let go. After that struggle, it was incredibly hot. Xu Er pushed off half the blanket, leaving his upper body exposed.

"What was that for?" Xu Er demanded, his voice very loud.

Song Ruichi let out a low laugh, and then Xu Er saw him lift his head again.

"Stop it, stop it, stop it!"

Xu Er