Fu Juncheng’s brain short-circuited for a split second.
Meeting Xu Yaozhou’s gaze, he instinctively replied, “How could that be?”
The moment Fu Juncheng finished speaking, he heard Xu Yaozhou chuckle, “Then I will take it that big brother agreed.”
Fu Juncheng: “???”
These words left Fu Juncheng somewhat bewildered, unable to collect his thoughts for a long time.
He truly couldn’t figure out how the conversation had ended up progressing like this in the end.
Still, Fu Juncheng could tell that Xu Yaozhou was quite happy.
He couldn’t bring himself to say anything that would ruin the mood, and after turning it over in his mind, he felt that at this hour, returning either to Wu Jin’s home or to the original body’s own home was hardly appropriate.
Both sides were ungrateful ingrates, and if any conflict were to break out, he would just end up having to go right back out the door.
However, in this freezing cold weather, wandering about exposed to the elements would inevitably feel too miserable.
Therefore, in the end, Fu Juncheng still couldn’t bring himself to turn down Xu Yaozhou’s kind offer.
At this hour, there was hardly anyone on the streets. Coupled with the remote location, there was no need to worry about being spotted by anyone. However, the night wind blew fiercely, and halfway there, rain started to pour, growing heavier and heavier without the slightest sign of stopping.
By the time they reached their destination, the two of them were already drenched to the bone like drowned rats.
Xu Yaozhou felt his way along the wall to turn on the light, and warm-toned illumination instantly flooded the entire room. He turned his head sideways, immediately casting his gaze toward Fu Juncheng.
Fu Juncheng’s hair was completely soaked, and he casually combed it backward with his hand, revealing a smooth and full forehead.
Even his eyelashes still had water droplets hanging from them.
Feeling Xu Yaozhou’s gaze, Fu Juncheng instinctively squinted against the rainwater before glancing over.
Xu Yaozhou’s gaze lingered between Fu Juncheng’s brows and eyes for an extra second, leaving Fu Juncheng somewhat puzzled as he asked in confusion, “What is it?”
Withdrawing his gaze, Xu Yaozhou gestured for Fu Juncheng to enter the door, “Nothing.”
Fu Juncheng lifted his foot to step inside, while Xu Yaozhou remained standing right behind him, gently pulling the door shut.
“Big brother should hurry up and change out of those clothes,” Xu Yaozhou said, “Be careful not to catch a cold.”
“It’s fine,” Fu Juncheng boasted, “My physique is top-notch.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than he failed to suppress a sudden sneeze.
Fu Juncheng: “!”
The slap in the face came way too fast.
It was downright awkward.
Fu Juncheng originally assumed Xu Yaozhou would definitely tease him about it.
To his surprise, seeing this, Xu Yaozhou actually withdrew his smile, furrowing his brow as he said earnestly, “You go take a shower first, and I will find some clothes for you.”
Xu Yaozhou’s attitude was genuinely too nice. Fu Juncheng froze for half a second, instantly feeling a bit reserved as he hesitated and opened his mouth, “But you…”
“Big brother, don’t worry about me. I’ll change my clothes first, too,” Xu Yaozhou said, “I’ll help you look for some as well. We are about the same build, so you can wear mine.”
Fu Juncheng had always been a sucker for gentle persuasion rather than harsh pressure.
Especially when it came to someone like Xu Yaozhou, a little angel of a white moonlight.
Lacking the heart to refuse, Fu Juncheng was practically pushed into the bathroom by Xu Yaozhou without offering any resistance.
As the showerhead was turned on, swirling mist instantly filled the entire space.
The more Fu Juncheng pondered over it, the more wrong it felt, yet he couldn’t quite figure out what exactly was wrong.
The bathroom door suddenly received a few light knocks with a gentle knock, knock, immediately followed by a clear and crisp voice: “Big brother, I placed the clothes on the shelf in the washroom.”
Fu Juncheng gave a hasty acknowledgment, then suddenly snapped to his senses.
Why on earth did he have the feeling of being taken care of by Xu Yaozhou?
As the pitiful Shou protagonist in the original novel, why was he acting more like a Shou than the actual Shou protagonist?
Was that even remotely reasonable?!
Although the original body was indeed a Shou.
He wasn’t the original body!
Shouldn’t he be the one standing tall and taking charge?
Even if someone needed taking care of, it should be him looking after the Shou protagonist!
Having finally pinpointed the source of his internal conflict, Fu Juncheng felt his entire being instantly grow firm and resolute.
Changing into the cotton pajamas brought by Xu Yaozhou, Fu Juncheng sauntered out of the door with an easy stride, immediately spotting Xu Yaozhou busy boiling ginger soup in the kitchen.
Hearing the movement, Xu Yaozhou glanced back, though his hands continued scooping the soup without missing a beat, “Big brother, wait just a moment. It’ll be ready right away.”
Fu Juncheng was moved for a moment.
What kind of kind and lovely little angel was this!
No wonder all those scumbag gongs fought tooth and nail over him!
If he were in their shoes, he would like him too!
Channeling the mindset of an old father looking at his son, Fu Juncheng found that the more he looked, the more he liked what he saw.
Taking the bowl of soup from Xu Yaozhou’s hands, Fu Juncheng stated in an unarguable tone, “Go take a shower right now. Once you’re done, we’ll drink together.”
Xu Yaozhou paused for a brief moment because of Fu Juncheng’s action, his pretty peach blossom eyes looking over as the lamplight filtered through his dense eyelashes into his pitch-black pupils.
Xu Yaozhou said earnestly, “But I only cooked a single portion for big brother.”
Fu Juncheng put on a playfully unreasonable air, “I just want to drink with you. Is that not allowed?”
This reply left Xu Yaozhou silent for a few seconds, his gaze lingering on Fu Juncheng for a long time.
The stray locks of hair on the person before him had not yet dried completely, hanging damply across his brows and making even his smiling eyes seem touched by a trace of moisture, appearing misty and giving his entire post-shower self a refreshing, clean fragrance.
Right as Fu Juncheng was starting to wonder if something looked weird about him, Xu Yaozhou finally nodded and smiled, “Alright then.”
Fu Juncheng instinctively straightened his hair.
His heart could be a mess.
His image could not be.
Xu Yaozhou said, “Then big brother, please wait for me.”
The next moment, the sound of trickling water drifted from the direction of the bathroom.
Fu Juncheng waited in the living room, finally having the leisure to observe the interior layout.
The large floor-to-ceiling glass windows offered an exceptional view, and through the gaps in the curtains, one could vaguely glimpse the bustling, brightly lit prosperity in the distance. Yet because the apartment was located in a remote district, the night remained quiet and deep, lending even the dark-toned, light-luxury interior design a sense of comforting simplicity and serenity.
Only, it lacked a bit of a lived-in atmosphere.
The furniture was all very new, and signs of daily life were minimal.
It probably wasn’t lived in frequently.
Fu Juncheng sat on the sofa waiting for a while before suddenly feeling a wave of drowsiness.
Staying at Wu Jin’s place all these days had kept his nerves pulled taut like a tight wire without a moment of relaxation, making this rare moment of ease all the more precious.
Especially since the sofa was extremely comfortable.
Fu Juncheng curled his entire body into the soft cushions, his eyelids fighting a losing battle as his head bobbed downward heavily several times.
He simply turned onto his side, selecting a comfortable posture to half-recline.
He would just sleep for a tiny little bit.
Fu Juncheng thought to himself that as soon as Xu Yaozhou came out, he would surely wake up.
His vigilance was usually quite good.
When Xu Yaozhou came out drying his hair with a towel, this was precisely the scene that met his eyes.
Fu Juncheng had somehow ended up lying flat on the sofa at some point, though his body was crooked, and his long legs seemed to have nowhere to put, leaving his feet resting on the floor. His slippers hung loosely, looking as though they might slip off at any second.
Tossing the towel casually onto the coffee table, Xu Yaozhou approached quietly, lowering his voice as he called out, “Big brother?”
Fu Juncheng must have fallen fast asleep, showing not the slightest sign of responding to him.
Xu Yaozhou’s gaze flickered slightly, sweeping past the patch of fair waist inadvertently exposed beneath the other’s loose pajamas, skimming over the equally bright white collarbone and neck, and finally landing once more on that exceptionally striking, completely defenceless sleeping face.
He had observed Fu Juncheng many times today.
Yet none of them were quite like this moment.
The person who was usually arrogant and unbridled actually looked this well-behaved when asleep.
Xu Yaozhou curved the corners of his lips with a faint, knowing smile. The habitual youthful innocence in his eyes faded away bit by bit, and his deep brows and eyes grew increasingly profound, though because of the lingering smile, they appeared even softer than usual.
He knelt on one knee on the floor, raising his hand to gently twine his fingertips around a lock of Fu Juncheng’s hair.
He had wanted to do this earlier.
Fu Juncheng’s hair always maintained a slight curl whenever it got wet, making it somewhat cute.
Perhaps realizing that his actions were truly far too childish, Xu Yaozhou let out a soft scoff and released his grip.
Then, beneath the quiet illumination of the lamps, the smile in his eyes abruptly dissipated.
Xu Yaozhou lowered his gaze, quietly watching Fu Juncheng.
Even the air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Everything around them seemed to lose its importance at that moment, gradually receding into the heavy veil of night.
The rain outside the window seemed to have suddenly stopped as well.
They were wearing identical pajamas.
They carried the identical scent.
The body wash carried the aroma of lemons.
Until a cell phone ringtone suddenly pierced the silence.
Xu Yaozhou’s brow twitched, instantly snapping back to reality.
It was Fu Juncheng’s phone.
The caller ID displayed Wu Jin’s name.
Xu Yaozhou’s lips pressed into a tight line as he watched Fu Juncheng get startled awake by the ringing tone, his slender fingertips resting against his cheek trembling slightly while his eyelids fluttered open.
Pulling his expression back into place, Xu Yaozhou pressed lightly onto Fu Juncheng’s shoulder and gave him a few gentle shakes, whispering softly, “Big brother?”
Fu Juncheng opened his sleepy eyes, taking a good while before a muffled, indistinct single syllable escaped his throat, “Hmm?”
“You have a call.”
Xu Yaozhou reminded him.
He watched as Fu Juncheng nodded reluctantly, a head of damp, disheveled black hair crowning him like an utterly exhausted little lion.
Xu Yaozhou couldn’t help but shallowly curve the corners of his lips.
He couldn’t help recalling the dream from last night once more.
That person stood in the midst of a blazing sea of fire, pledging with absolute certainty to protect him.
It was as grand and dramatic as a lavish idol drama.
Yet because that dream felt so excessively real, he didn’t find it ridiculous at all.
He even felt an involuntary impulse welling up inside him, an urge to tightly wrap his arms around the person before him.
Just like in that dream, holding him close and refusing to let go for even a second, as though wanting to carve him into his own flesh and blood, deep into his very marrow.
Simply absurd.