Home and Love
Something that really didn’t fit appeared in Zhou Shou’s apartment.
A plain Christmas tree, not tall, barely decorated with some scattered ornaments and light strings that were clearly hung in a rush. A few unopened boxes sat beneath it.
All of this was Zhou Shou’s fault.
I had already planned out how to decorate a grand, beautiful, and unique Christmas tree to welcome the holiday, but this “dog of a man” came home, pounced on me, and started kissing and biting all over, saying he wanted to “celebrate early.”
Tch.
Lust clouded his mind.
I forgot all about it for a moment too.
By the time I came back to my senses, it was already Christmas Day.
Zhou Shou put a paper bag filled with pastries on the dining table, took off his coat, and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows. He walked over to the Christmas tree and picked up a string of lights. “Wanna hang them together?”
I responded and walked over, picked up a star ornament, and clipped it onto his hair.
Standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the tree, we finally started decorating.
Zhou Shou was in charge of hanging the lights up high, while I just crossed my legs and sat on the floor, hanging the little baubles and trinkets at the bottom.
But before long, Zhou Shou stopped moving.
I nudged his calf with my elbow. “What, slacking off already?”
Who knew he’d mumble something weird with his lips barely moving. “I can’t reach.”
If even you can’t reach, how am I supposed to?
I stood up, dusted myself off, took the decoration from his hand, and went on tiptoe—but still couldn’t reach the top branches.
Then suddenly, warmth pressed against my back. Zhou Shou came up naturally from behind me, stretched out his arms, and easily lifted me up. The sudden lift made my heart jump, and my hand shook.
“It’s crooked,” Zhou Shou’s low, amused voice came from behind me.
“Where’s it crooked? It’s perfectly straight!” I protested.
I’d call black white if I had to.
“It’s meant to go that way.”
“Whatever you say.”
Still holding me, Zhou Shou carried me to the dining table and set me down. I cursed under my breath, “What are you doing? We’re not done yet!”
We were so close. Zhou Shou lowered his eyes, looking straight at my slightly parted lips, paying no mind to my scolding. He just stared quietly, patiently waiting for me to finish talking.
Gradually, my confidence faltered, and my cheeks burned hot.
I stopped talking.
Slowly tilting my head up, I closed my eyes and hooked my arms around his neck.
A silent invitation.
The next second, a warm kiss gently landed on my lips.
If I had to describe that moment, it was like when we’d been playing in the snow earlier—snowflakes melting in my palm. At first, it was happiness. Later, it became reluctant to let go.
I responded awkwardly, lips and tongue intertwining softly, exchanging warmth and breath.
The kiss lasted a long time, yet somehow felt like only an instant—something to be savored and remembered.
If only snow never melted.
Zhou Shou brushed the tip of my nose and asked, “Hungry? Want to eat something first?”
I nodded randomly. “Okay.”
Zhou Shou made a simple meal and then brought out the pastries from the paper bag.
I sneaked a few glances at him. His sharp features had somehow softened, his gaze focused on the food before him. As if sensing my stare, he looked up.
“What’s wrong?”
“Zhou Shou.” I put down my chopsticks and called his name softly.
“Mm?”
“I love you,” I said.
Zhou Shou froze. He looked straight into my eyes.
The next second, he walked over and pulled me into his arms so tightly I could barely breathe.
It was an embrace filled with the fear of losing something precious and finding it again.
“You’re so sly,” he murmured into my neck, voice muffled, “You said what I was planning to say tonight.”
Then he added, “Ji Chi, thank you—for making me feel that being alive is truly wonderful.”
I hugged his slightly trembling back in return, imitating how he used to do it, gently patting him on the back.
Outside, snow fell softly again, turning the night silver-white. Inside, it was no longer cold—the warmth we created filled every corner of the room.
On this snowy winter night, in the home we built together, only the sound of our hearts and breathing intertwined.
“Being loved by you feels so good,” Zhou Shou said.