The sun hung high in the sky, and cicadas chirped outside the window. Uncle Liu, wearing a sun hat, held a long bamboo pole and was busy catching cicadas.
Jiang Wu was curled up lazily in the hanging chair by the window. His typically moist, bright eyes were hidden beneath thin lids, and his soft red lips were slightly parted. If one looked closely, the tip of his rosy tongue could be glimpsed. He was dressed in his usual small white shirt and shorts. Curled up in the chair, the pose revealed a large expanse of milky-white skin. He looked soft, white, and fluffy, much like a soft cloud drifting in the sky.
This was the scene Shen Yifeng saw upon arriving home. For the past two days, Jiang Wu’s job of delivering meals had been paused while Shen Yifeng was away on a business trip.
Shen Yifeng softened his footsteps and walked over to Jiang Wu, looking down at him as he slept soundly. With those eyes covered by lashes, no one could tell what he was thinking. He watched for a long time, then raised his right index finger and lightly poked Jiang Wu’s chubby cheek, which had been squeezed into a soft shape by his side-sleeping position.
The moment his fingertip made contact, Shen Yifeng’s pupils dilated slightly. So soft. It was even softer than he had imagined. His finger could not resist poking again.
Uncle Liu, who had turned around to find a new spot to catch cicadas, happened to witness his boss’s behavior, which was as childish as a five-year-old. His movements paused, then his heart soared with delight. He quickly took out his phone, snapped a photo of the scene, and sent it to the old master with a note stating the young couple’s relationship was developing steadily.
He looked at them with satisfaction and walked away quietly. Catching those annoying cicadas could wait, but disturbing the young couple as they nurtured their bond was absolutely forbidden.
Shen Yifeng’s second poke was not as well-controlled, and it jolted Jiang Wu awake. Seeing Jiang Wu’s eyelids flutter and prepare to open, Shen Yifeng stiffened, quickly retracted his finger, and turned to leave. Unfortunately, he was not fast enough; Jiang Wu had already opened his eyes and spotted him.
Jiang Wu blinked, dazed for a moment. Before he could speak, he heard Shen Yifeng ask:
“Why are you sleeping here?”
Although Shen Yifeng felt a guilty shiver at being caught in the act, his years of keeping a poker face allowed him to hide it perfectly.
Jiang Wu, just waking up, looked at him with misty, confused eyes, as if trying to decipher the meaning of his words. Shen Yifeng watched this dazed expression, and his heart felt itchy; he was filled with an urge to pull the person in front of him into his arms and knead him.
He tried his best to control his inexplicable emotions and said in a flat tone, “You will catch a cold sleeping here.”
Jiang Wu was fully awake now. Hearing Shen Yifeng’s concern warmed his heart, and he gave him a sweet smile. “The temperature is very high today. I will not get sick.”
Perhaps because he had just woken up, his voice was soft and sticky, and since he intentionally softened his tone, it sounded to Shen Yifeng like he was acting spoiled. He pressed his lips together. He disagreed with Jiang Wu’s assertion that he would not get sick. He believed others would not, but Jiang Wu, he felt that:
“You are different.”
Jiang Wu was confused. What did he mean by different? He asked, “Why am I different?”
This time, Shen Yifeng did not answer. He just glanced at him and walked away. A person more delicate than the Princess and the Pea was, naturally, different from everyone else.
Jiang Wu stared blankly at Shen Yifeng’s retreating back, his eyes still filled with bewilderment. He did not yet realize that after the previous incident, he had become the Princess and the Pea in Shen Yifeng’s mind.
A rumble from his stomach brought him back to reality. He checked the clock on the wall; it was already 4:00 PM. Dinner would be soon. He slowly emerged from the hanging chair and wandered into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and cut half a watermelon to tide himself over. Just as he was about to eat, he thought of Shen Yifeng. Should he bring him some?
Though he hesitated, his body had already carried the watermelon toward the study. He knocked, waited, but there was no sound. He pushed the door open to peek; the study was empty, so he must be in his bedroom.
He changed directions and walked to the door of Shen Yifeng’s bedroom, knocking. After waiting a few seconds with no response, he knocked again. Just as he was about to turn away, the door opened.
Shen Yifeng stood there in loungewear, his hair damp, clearly having just showered. It was the first time Jiang Wu had seen Shen Yifeng in something other than a suit, and he could not help but take a few extra looks. The navy blue silk loungewear softened the usual sharpness of Shen Yifeng’s features, making him look less serious.
“Shen Yifeng, do you want to eat some watermelon together?” Jiang Wu asked. “On a scorching summer day, iced watermelon is pure bliss.” He even managed to rhyme a little.
The young man’s eyes were bright, and he held a plate of vibrant red watermelon, his love for the fruit plain on his face. Seeing how eager the boy was to share, the refusal died in Shen Yifeng’s throat. “Hmm.”
Jiang Wu was someone who loved to share. Seeing Shen Yifeng agree, his mouth curved into a smile, revealing small dimples as he said cheerfully, “Is there anything you need to do? We could watch a movie and eat watermelon together.”
“Nothing in particular,” Shen Yifeng replied concisely. Hearing the boy’s happy tone, a flicker of a smile appeared in his eyes.
“Do you want to go to the media room, or my room?” Shen Yifeng asked. His bedroom had a large flat-screen TV he used to watch the news before bed.
Jiang Wu did not want to go to the media room because he did not want to walk anymore; he just wanted to sit down immediately and eat a large, cold piece of watermelon. He answered immediately, “Your room!”
Jiang Wu’s thoughts were almost always written on his face. Shen Yifeng could see his impatience at a glance, so he stepped aside to let Jiang Wu into his room. Jiang Wu glanced around; the layout was similar to his own, and the room was strictly decorated in gray, white, and black.
Shen Yifeng brought him to the sofa and turned on the TV. “What do you want to watch?”
Jiang Wu sat down and took a bite of the long-awaited watermelon. The cold, sweet juice burst in his mouth, and he squinted his eyes in pure happiness. He was so focused on the watermelon that he did not hear Shen Yifeng.
Shen Yifeng turned to see Jiang Wu eating with such satisfaction, his cheeks puffed out and his eyes half-closed. Cute. The word popped into Shen Yifeng’s head. He felt that no animal could describe Jiang Wu’s cuteness, and that the word cute was tailor-made for him.
The watermelon juice left a glistening layer on Jiang Wu’s lips, making them look vibrant and plump, like watermelon-flavored jelly, enticing. Noticing Shen Yifeng’s gaze, Jiang Wu felt a bit embarrassed for having started eating first. He picked up a piece with a fork, held it toward Shen Yifeng’s mouth, and said a bit guiltily, “I just tasted this, it is very sweet and delicious.”
Shen Yifeng’s dark eyes were unreadable, but he opened his mouth and ate the watermelon.
“Is it sweet?” Jiang Wu’s big eyes watched him intently.
“Yes, it is delicious.” Shen Yifeng swallowed and nodded in agreement.
Jiang Wu was delighted by the approval and gave a sweet smile, looking incredibly proud, as if to say: See? I did not lie to you. Seeing this proud little expression, that urge to pull him into his arms surfaced again. Shen Yifeng had to look away and repeat his question, “What movie do you want to watch?”
Jiang Wu scanned the movies lined up on the screen. He paused, then asked, “What do you want to watch?”
Shen Yifeng handed him the remote. “Anything is fine.”
Jiang Wu flipped through the options until a shoddy-looking horror movie caught his eye. The cover featured the red title Someone Under the Bed. He became intrigued. Many people had a love-hate relationship with horror movies, wanting to see them but being too afraid to watch. Jiang Wu was no different.
He hovered on the title and glanced at Shen Yifeng. “Shall we watch this one?”
Perhaps because of his family upbringing, Jiang Wu’s voice softened and rose at the end whenever he sought someone’s opinion, making it sound like he was acting spoiled. Listening to that voice, Shen Yifeng was momentarily distracted. Is Jiang Wu made of cotton candy? Why is he so soft and sweet everywhere?
To no one’s surprise, Shen Yifeng agreed to the request.