Of course Lu Xianyan wasn’t going to leave.
He would keep watching this silly little rabbit who was still secretly in love with someone else.
Shu Ci failed to wake up the next morning.
The night before, he had confidently promised Lu Xianyan he’d get up before he left for school. In the end, he didn’t even set an alarm.
When Lu Xianyan knocked on his door, Shu Ci, still half-asleep, thought he was dreaming. Not only did he refuse to get out of bed, he wrapped himself tighter in the blanket.
When no one came to open the door, Lu Xianyan simply walked in himself—and leaned his face close to Shu Ci’s lips.
Shu Ci did have a bit of morning temper.
Not much.
Just the kind where he drooped his face and ignored everyone.
He didn’t open his mouth to bite. He only sat up, eyes still closed.
Lu Xianyan’s gaze slid away from Shu Ci’s thick lashes. He crouched down and personally slipped the slippers onto Shu Ci’s feet.
After that, he followed closely behind him, attentively squeezing toothpaste, handing over the toothbrush, passing the towel… just short of helping him step by step.
Only after Shu Ci confirmed he was properly washed did he poke the person beside him. “Okay.”
The next second, he was lifted up.
Still groggy, Shu Ci was soft all over. His hands pressed against Lu Xianyan’s shoulders, leaning close just as they had agreed.
Teeth grinding lightly, applying a bit of pressure, Shu Ci’s breathing grew quicker.
Whether this kind of biting was useful for desensitization therapy, he wasn’t sure—but it easily triggered his symptoms.
After that, he stopped caring about anything else. If biting didn’t feel satisfying, he nuzzled around like a small animal searching for food, sniffing along Lu Xianyan’s neck and giving small experimental bites.
In the end, he chose a spot even more satisfying than a wrist—
Lu Xianyan’s neck.
That was beyond Lu Xianyan’s expectations.
His breathing stalled slightly. He leaned back, intending to put some distance between them.
But every inch he retreated, Shu Ci followed by the same amount—like a clingy kitten, soft hair brushing against the taut skin over his veins.
A wolf in wait having its territory invaded—
That was dangerous.
Lu Xianyan steadied his breathing and stopped dodging.
…
When Shu Ci finally let go, he looked satisfied.
But once he came fully back to his senses, he froze.
Staring at the bite mark on Lu Xianyan’s neck, he asked, “Did I… bite your neck?”
Lu Xianyan’s hold on him was tighter than the night before. “Is it better than here?”
“…Yeah.” Shu Ci felt embarrassed. The bite mark looked… not exactly innocent. After a moment, he asked, “Why didn’t you push me away?”
“You looked like you were enjoying it.”
Shu Ci went completely blank.
He didn’t even realize his cheeks were flushed. His brows were damp, eyes hazy with the lingering mist of satisfaction. His lips were reddened from friction, faint marks still visible.
At a glance, it almost looked like he was the one who’d been taken advantage of.
And he… did seem to be pressed against something.
Not again.
Shu Ci’s face burned as he clumsily scrambled down from Lu Xianyan’s lap. His limbs were flustered, his whole body overheated, unaware of brushing against something as he moved.
If he had looked up at that moment, he might have been frightened by the possessiveness in Lu Xianyan’s eyes.
Only when his feet touched the floor did Shu Ci feel a sense of safety. He didn’t dare look at him, apologizing awkwardly instead.
Lu Xianyan was magnanimous. Even though he’d clearly reacted to being bitten, his face remained composed. “It’s fine. Should you bite here from now on?”
“Huh?”
Later—
Zhou Mingran thought he’d misheard. “What?”
Walking together like couples do?
Before he could say anything else, Lu Xianyan spoke first, his tone faintly tinged with something almost teasing.
“I think I forgot to tell you—”
“I’m living with him now.”
“You mean you were just letting him stay temporarily, and it turned into a whole month?”
If it was temporary, just say temporary. Why phrase it like you’re living together?
The childhood friend’s tone didn’t sound very pleased.
Shu Ci had just woken up not long ago; two stubborn tufts of hair still stuck up. He listened to the questioning with a slow, blank expression.
Once he processed it, guilt crept in. So when answering, he subtly left out part of the truth.
“My place is closer to school. And it’s hard to find housing at this time.”
“A month should’ve been enough to find something, right?”
Zhou Mingran didn’t even know what he was upset about. It just felt like his spot as best friend was being taken, and he didn’t like it. “How come you’ve never treated me this well? Last time I stayed at your place until ten, you made me take a cab home.”
Shu Ci definitely didn’t want to listen to teeth-grinding all night.
He didn’t understand why Zhou Mingran was suddenly comparing. As he often said himself—they were all childhood friends. If anyone ran into trouble, he would help.
So Shu Ci turned it around. “Why are you being so fierce?”
Zhou Mingran’s voice immediately softened. “Anyway, if I had to sleep on the streets, you wouldn’t care.”
Shu Ci was confused, but hearing the hint of dejection in his tone, he reassured him first. “You’re the one I care about most.”
That simple sentence instantly cheered Zhou Mingran up.
Still wanting more, he asked on purpose, “How do you care about me?”
“Among all my high school friends, you’re the only one I keep in touch with. If I have any problems, you’re the first person I think of.” After saying that, Shu Ci felt it sounded incomplete and added, “If I have anything good, I think of you first too.”
“Anyway, you’re my best friend.”
The words best friend made Zhou Mingran grin, no longer bothered about anything.
That night at dinner, Shu Ci kept piling food into his bowl and even promised to watch his basketball game that weekend.
“If I go, you’ll definitely win,” Shu Ci said.
It seemed like a rule—whenever he went to watch their games before, they always won. If he didn’t go, they lost.
Shu Ci felt like he carried a lucky buff. After saying that, he added another piece of food to Zhou Mingran’s bowl. “Eat more. You’re still growing.”
Zhou Mingran grabbed his head and rubbed it roughly. “How old do you think I am? Still growing?”
Shu Ci’s cheeks were rubbed red. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Lu Xianyan’s lips pressed into a straight line, as if he wasn’t very happy.
Strange.
When he used to eat with Lu Xianyan, the other man would just quietly mind his own business.
Not like tonight—glancing at him, then at the food he placed into Zhou Mingran’s bowl.
They were all friends. Of course Shu Ci couldn’t neglect either of them.
By the end of the night, he was practically exhausted managing both sides.
The restaurant was near Shu Ci’s apartment. After Zhou Mingran left, Shu Ci and Lu Xianyan walked back together.
The path was quiet. Moonlight draped a soft veil over the shadows of the trees on both sides.
Shu Ci had known Lu Xianyan for many years, but they rarely walked side by side like this.
More often, Zhou Mingran was the one beside him—energetic, casually slinging an arm around his shoulder while chatting nonstop, blocking most of his view.
To the point that Shu Ci often forgot there was someone walking behind him.