At midnight, the bedroom was still lit. Lu Qi leaned against the headboard, playing a game, while Hui Hui lay lazily on his lap, eyes half-closed.
Lu Qi occasionally ruffled its head roughly, his careless movements causing Hui Hui to protest with a few dissatisfied meows, only to be met with even more vigorous petting.
“Qi-ge, come get the blue buff,” Shi Zaiqing’s excited voice came through the phone. “Damn, I almost died. The enemy has higher economy than me, I can’t fight them.”
Lu Qi smoothly took the blue buff and said without hesitation, “If you’re bad, just practice more. No need for all that nonsense.”
Another young male voice came through the microphone. Zhou Chiye chimed in, “Exactly, exactly. With a 0-9 score, Shi Zaiqing, you’re practically a bot. If it weren’t for Qi-ge, this match would be unplayable.”
The next second, Shi Zaiqing’s exasperated voice followed, “That was an accident, an off day, not my usual level! The enemy team kept targeting me from the start, it’s so annoying!”
Listening to the two of them bicker back and forth, Lu Qi paid no attention, long accustomed to their daily squabbles.
Lu Qi pursed his lips, looking down at the game screen as he controlled his character. Just as it was a critical moment, a notification popped up at the top of his phone.
He glanced at it casually, intending to swipe it away and ignore it, but then he saw the familiar profile picture.
Didn’t he go to sleep? Why would he send a message?
Ji Qingyan: 【I can’t sleep.】
Lu Qi frowned. 【Insomnia again?】
【Yeah.】
After tossing and turning in bed for over an hour, Ji Qingyan felt no drowsiness at all. The more he tried to fall asleep, the more awake he became. Almost without thinking, he picked up his phone and sent a message to Lu Qi.
In the few seconds after sending the message, Ji Qingyan realized the other person might already be asleep. He wanted to recall it, but unexpectedly, Lu Qi replied.
【Open the door.】
【?】
【I’m at your door. Open it.】
Ji Qingyan froze for a few seconds. It was too sudden; he didn’t have time to wonder why Lu Qi was outside his door.
He threw off the covers and got out of bed, straightening his slightly disheveled clothes. He walked to the door and opened it a crack.
A tall man stood outside, dressed in loose black sleepwear. Backlit by the hallway light, his thin lips were pressed together, and his expression was unreadable. Only his deep eyes, piercing through the light, were fixed intently on Ji Qingyan.
“Why are you here?” Ji Qingyan asked in surprise.
Lu Qi took a step forward, pushing the door open as he walked in. He stood beside Ji Qingyan, his gaze falling on him once more, noticing the slightly weary look on his face.
Thinking back to how this person had just told him he couldn’t sleep, Lu Qi’s first instinct had been to go find him rather than ignore it. He sighed, resigning himself as he said, “I’m here to put you to sleep.”
Lu Qi closed the door behind him.
“Huh?”
Before Ji Qingyan could react, a weight settled on his shoulder. Lu Qi wrapped an arm around him and walked further inside. “Which room is yours?”
Lu Qi had entered just like that, as casually as if he were in his own home.
Ji Qingyan found himself pulled into Lu Qi’s embrace, Lu Qi’s hand resting on his shoulder. Through the thin fabric of his clothes, he could feel the warmth of Lu Qi’s palm.
Ji Qingyan shifted uncomfortably, but Lu Qi tightened his grip, pulling him even closer to his chest.
Ji Qingyan pointed toward the bedroom. “The room on the left.”
Lu Qi led him into the room, and as the weight on his shoulder lifted, Ji Qingyan sat on the edge of the bed. Looking up at the man standing before him, he asked with a smile, “How are you going to coax me?”
“Come in.” Lu Qi bent down to lift the blanket, gesturing with his eyes at the same time.
Anyone who didn’t know better might think he was the master of this bedroom. Ji Qingyan said nothing, lying down the next moment. He wanted to see what Lu Qi was up to.
The spot beside him sank slightly, and Ji Qingyan felt a warmth against his arm. He hadn’t expected Lu Qi to lie down next to him.
“Lie on your side to sleep,” the man’s deep voice murmured in his ear.
Seeing no response, Lu Qi reached out and gently patted his shoulder, softening his tone. “Ji Qingyan.”
“Hmm.” Ji Qingyan responded, turning onto his side on the bed.
Lu Qi propped his head up with one hand while the other reached toward Ji Qingyan’s back, his large palm gently stroking it.
“When I couldn’t sleep as a child, my mother would always rub my back. I don’t know if this will work for you.”
The motion was clumsy and awkward, clearly something he was doing for the first time.
Ji Qingyan lay facing Lu Qi. The gaze from above felt too intense, so he lowered his eyes to Lu Qi’s chest. However, Lu Qi’s pajama buttons were fastened all the way to the top, covering everything.
He looked up at Lu Qi. “Are you treating me like a child?”
Ji Qingyan’s eyes were beautiful, and his face was strikingly handsome, like a piece of jade meticulously carved without a single flaw.
The large hand stroking his back slowly moved upward, kneading the nape of his neck with just the right pressure. Lu Qi leaned closer, his gaze fixed on Ji Qingyan’s eyes.
“I just want you to fall asleep. Nothing more.”
“Gently…”
Ji Qingyan lightly tapped the hand gripping the back of his neck. Lu Qi instinctively softened his touch, soothingly brushing his thumb against the side of Ji Qingyan’s neck, making him shiver and shrink back.
“Did I hurt you?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Lu Qi realized how ambiguous they sounded. He averted his gaze uncomfortably and cleared his throat.
The rustling of the blanket followed, and Lu Qi suddenly felt a pair of hands slip under his clothes. Fingertips lightly traced his abs, skimming upward like a dragonfly touching water, until a palm pressed against his firm, powerful chest.
He lifted his gaze to Lu Qi, finding him staring intently. Ji Qingyan smiled provocatively, though in Lu Qi’s eyes, it was a blatant invitation.
Lu Qi’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his grip on the back of Ji Qingyan’s neck tightened.
“Relax a little.”
Lu Qi looked at Ji Qingyan with a pained expression—not only was he being touched, but he was also being criticized.
Lowering the arm propping up his head, Lu Qi shifted closer to Ji Qingyan, exhaled, and tried to relax his body.
Ji Qingyan didn’t push him away but instead continued exploring his chest with interest. The muscles were firm yet smooth, not overly exaggerated.
Lu Qi slipped his hand under the blanket, stopping the wandering hand on his chest, and said helplessly, “It’s late. Time to sleep. We have work tomorrow.”
“Hmm.” Ji Qingyan withdrew his hand, but the next moment, Lu Qi lifted the hem of his pajamas and placed Ji Qingyan’s hand on his waist.
“Close your eyes and sleep!”
Lu Qi pulled the blanket over both of them, his large hand gently stroking Ji Qingyan’s back up and down.
Ji Qingyan’s nose pressed against Lu Qi’s chest, and he could smell the scent of the other’s body wash. His body temperature was high, the warmth radiating through the fabric of his clothes, making Ji Qingyan feel his own face grow somewhat warm.
Lu Qi mischievously pressed his hand against the back of Ji Qingyan’s head, pushing his face into his embrace until Ji Qingyan’s lips were pressed against his chest.
“Hey.”
Ji Qingyan pushed him away in dissatisfaction, his voice muffled.
Lu Qi ruffled his hair, a hint of laughter in his voice. “Be good, close your eyes.”
This was clearly the tone used to coax a child. Ji Qingyan kicked him under the blanket and turned over, facing away from him.
“Are you angry?” Lu Qi looked at the dark back of his head, feeling somewhat at a loss.
He shook Ji Qingyan’s shoulder, leaned in close, and instinctively coaxed, “Well, I was wrong. Don’t be angry.”
Ji Qingyan, with his back turned, secretly curled the corners of his lips. He wasn’t angry; he just hadn’t expected Lu Qi to come and comfort him.
Ji Qingyan turned back over, and Lu Qi, seeing no signs of anger, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
He turned off the light and continued to gently stroke Ji Qingyan’s back, his technique noticeably more practiced than before.
Ji Qingyan rested his forehead against Lu Qi’s chest, his hand resting on his firm waist. The gentle motion on his back made him unconsciously relax his body.
After some time, Ji Qingyan’s breathing gradually steadied. In the darkness, Lu Qi reached out and wrapped his arm around his shoulder, pulling him into his embrace. He lowered his head and kissed his forehead.
The man’s voice was hoarse and low. “Wife, goodnight.”
Tonight, the night was no longer a lonely, sleepless one spent alone.