APR 54

Zhong Su looked into Chen Huan’s overly focused eyes, not doubting for a second that if he nodded and said “okay,” Chen Huan would truly take the knife and place it in his hand the next moment, guiding his hand to stab himself.

It was too obvious. Whether it was Chen Huan’s behavior or the stubbornness in his words, it was clear that he had no intention of hiding his feelings for him any longer.

Zhong Su’s heart tightened, unable to bear this awkward feeling. He averted his gaze and stiffly changed the subject: “Cut it out. Even though I really wanted to punch you back then, I’m not holding a grudge to that extent.”

“Alright, now that we’ve cleared the air, you can let go of me.”

Zhong Su pressed against Chen Huan’s chest, trying to push him away, his tone deliberately light: “After all, so much time has passed, things are different now. There’s no need for us to stick as close as we used to.”

“I have to go film later, so I won’t stay long. When you’re free someday, we can meet up for a meal and catch up. I’d also like to know how you’ve been these past few years—”

Before he could finish, Chen Huan’s hand had somehow slipped under his clothes, his fingers hooking onto the belt as if to pull down his pants.

“Chen Huan, what are you touching?!” Zhong Su’s voice cracked, his face turning pale as he tightly gripped Chen Huan’s hand.

“Hmm, I’m touching you,” Chen Huan said matter-of-factly, swiftly pulling off Zhong Su’s belt and tossing it to the floor. “I need to confirm where the problem lies.”

“Your walking posture is different from before, which made me uncertain whether this person was really you.”

Clack— The belt hit the floor, the sound echoing like a blow to Zhong Su’s heart.

“No, wait, Chen Huan!”

“It’ll be quick, Su Er.”

Zhong Su’s protest was cut off, stuck in his throat as he was suddenly pressed down onto the bar counter. His pants were pulled down to his knees, his thighs fully exposed to Chen Huan’s gaze.

Lewd.

A delicate metal ring, like an inlaid border, encircled the rosy tip, trembling with the pulsing veins. No matter how one looked at it, it appeared obscene and provocative.

Zhong Su burned with shame, his face flushed. He looked displeased: “…I didn’t do this. The original owner of this body got himself pierced. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get it removed at the hospital.”

Chen Huan remained silent, staring at the metal ring. Suddenly, he curled his finger and flicked it, teasing with amusement: “Heh, this little thing is quite unique.”

Zhong Su froze completely, his mind blank.

This madman… Did he just flick that with his index finger?

He stared in disbelief at Chen Huan, who was laughing unabashedly, his mouth opening and closing as he swallowed the curses that rose to his lips. Stiffly, he said word by word: “Chen Huan, you should just stretch your face over and let me slap you. I promise I won’t hit too hard.”

“Hmm? Sure, which side of my face do you want to hit?”

“Get lost.”

Taking advantage of the distraction, Zhong Su pushed Chen Huan away, bent down to pick up his pants, and put them on. He said seriously: “Don’t pull stunts like this again—you and I, we were brothers before. Even if we’ve both changed, that won’t change.”

Afraid that Chen Huan might pretend not to understand, he deliberately emphasized the word “brothers.”

This wasn’t like the days on Qiyan Island anymore, and he was no longer the Zhong Su who was oblivious to his feelings. Those excessive behaviors from before should come to an end.

Zhong Su took half a step back, avoiding Chen Huan’s hand still suspended in mid-air, as if pulling this inappropriate distance back into a safe range.

Chen Huan watched Zhong Su evade his touch, the smile fading from his face, but he offered no rebuttal.

Zhong Su pretended to casually glance around the living room and said, “It’s too late to go back to the rental now. I’ll borrow your sofa for a quick nap, catch up on some sleep, and then head back to the film set.”

He didn’t actually want to stay at Chen Huan’s place, but if he insisted on leaving under these circumstances, it would undoubtedly provoke Chen Huan. He could only skirt around the issue, using “catching up on sleep” as an excuse to avoid Chen Huan.

As long as Chen Huan didn’t pierce that thin layer of pretense and allowed them to keep up appearances, they could still remain friends.

“Friends?” Chen Huan seemed to see through Zhong Su’s thoughts. He rubbed his fingers together, shadows obscuring the emotions in his eyes, and let out an ambiguous laugh. “Alright, good friends.”

“You’ve finally returned to my side. Since this is what you want, how could I bear to deny you?”

As if forcing down something unbearably sharp, letting the sting cut all the way into his chest, Chen Huan’s heart, which had been beating erratically since finding Zhong Su again, gradually sank back into a lifeless calm.

“Su Er, don’t sleep on the sofa. It’s uncomfortable. You can sleep in my room.” Chen Huan took Zhong Su’s hand and led him upstairs.

Chen Huan’s tall, straight figure blocked the light. From Zhong Su’s angle, he could only see the sharp line of Chen Huan’s jaw, unable to make out his exact expression.

But even without seeing it, he knew Chen Huan’s mood couldn’t be good.

Zhong Su’s heart felt just as heavy. He hadn’t intended to speak so bluntly, but there were certain boundaries he simply couldn’t cross.

Chen Huan pushed open the door to the master bedroom, which remained exactly as Zhong Su had seen it when helping him upstairs earlier. A large black bed, the covers slightly disheveled and pulled back at one corner, with an ashtray and several documents showing clear signs of having been read on the bedside table.

“Go ahead, Su Er. If the pillow isn’t comfortable, let me know. There are spares at home for you to switch.” Chen Huan leaned against the doorframe, blocking the entrance and cutting off any chance for Zhong Su to change his mind and leave.

Zhong Su felt Chen Huan’s gaze resting intently on him. Under the pressure, he sat down on the edge of the bed, unbuttoned his shirt, and said as casually as possible, “Then I’ll sleep for an hour. Remember to wake me at four, and close the door on your way out.”

He kicked off his shoes, lay down on the bed, pulled the covers over himself, and assumed a completely unguarded posture.

After a while, Zhong Su heard the door close and Chen Huan’s footsteps fade away.

Zhong Su’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and the tension in his shoulders finally eased.

He let out a long, quiet sigh and murmured softly, “Thankfully… he gave up. Otherwise, it would’ve been difficult.”

This was a good sign. It meant that someone as proud as Chen Huan, even if he liked someone deeply, wouldn’t cling too stubbornly after being clearly rejected.

As long as he kept his distance and allowed Chen Huan time to cool down and realize that this so-called affection was nothing more than a passing fancy, then even if they could never return to their former carefree closeness, they could at least maintain a surface-level peace.

Zhong Su had originally planned to force himself to stay awake, but having barely slept the night before and remaining tense throughout the journey back because of Chen Huan, he now lay on the soft bed, unable to resist the overwhelming drowsiness.

In a dazed state, Zhong Su heard the sound of the door opening. Then, the other side of the mattress sank slightly as a warm body, carrying the bitter scent of tobacco and a faint trace of alcohol, pressed close from behind. A sturdy arm naturally wrapped around his waist.

This didn’t feel right.

Zhong Su snapped awake almost instantly, instinctively trying to pry the hand off his waist. “Chen Huan, what are you doing?”

“I’m tired too, Su Er.” Chen Huan nuzzled the back of Zhong Su’s ear with the tip of his nose, his voice hoarse. “There’s only this one bed at home. You wouldn’t want me going back to the company in this state, would you?”

“No. But you don’t have to hold me while sleeping. Isn’t there still space on your side?” Zhong Su tried to pull the man off him but couldn’t.

He was exhausted and drowsy, his fingers lacking strength as he futilely pried at Chen Huan’s hand. “You’re too warm. It’s uncomfortable having you pressed against me like this.”

Chen Huan paid no mind to this. He knew his body temperature was high and would make Zhong Su uncomfortable, but he still insisted on holding him while sleeping, whispering soothingly, “Shh… Su Er, stop fussing. Close your eyes and fall asleep, and you won’t feel the heat anymore. It’s almost four o’clock. There isn’t much time left to rest.”

Unable to push him away, Zhong Su could only close his eyes again while mentally consoling himself: It’s just an hour. Once I wake up, we’ll naturally separate.

Unlike that night spent in the hotel, the heat from Chen Huan’s body transferred over without any barrier, the close skin-to-skin contact continuously enveloping Zhong Su in warmth.

Perhaps because this warmth had a dizzying, mind-numbing effect, Zhong Su fell into a deep, heavy sleep.

When the brilliant sunlight pierced his eyelids, Zhong Su uncomfortably opened his eyes, staring blankly at the unfamiliar room, the clear blue sky, and white clouds outside the window.

Where is this place…

His gaze fell on the black bedsheet, and Zhong Su slowly remembered: Right, this is Chen Huan’s room. I’m taking a nap at his place.

As soon as this thought surfaced, other urgent questions immediately followed:

What time is it now? Has the filming site started work? Has Xiao Lao Dao called to hurry me along?

“Oh no.” Without caring whether he’d wake Chen Huan, Zhong Su pushed his arm aside and hurriedly got out of bed to look for his phone.

The sudden emptiness in his arms made Chen Huan open his eyes almost immediately. He saw Zhong Su half-kneeling by the bed, one hand propped on the edge while the other reached for the jacket that had fallen to the floor. His back arched into a graceful curve, his fair skin nearly translucent under the light, as if he might vanish into the morning glow at any moment.

Without hesitation, Chen Huan reached out and grabbed him. “Su Er, it’s still early. There’s time to sleep a little longer.”

“Time for what? It’s already the next day. Why didn’t you wake me up?” Zhong Su didn’t even turn his head as he pressed the button to light up his phone. Seeing the date displayed on the screen, he was so shocked he nearly crushed the device.

His phone.

He had actually slept from afternoon all the way until the next morning. That sharp-tongued, sarcastic guy Jiang Xun was probably stomping around and cursing at the filming site.

Zhong Su scrolled through his contacts to find Xiao Lao Dao’s number, just about to call and ask about the situation, when a hand reached over and took his phone.

“?” Zhong Su looked up at Chen Huan in confusion.

“I already requested leave for you with the production crew yesterday,” Chen Huan said, hanging up the call that was about to go through. His expression was indifferent, his tone casual. “You don’t need to explain or justify anything to anyone.”

He tucked the phone back into Zhong Su's chest pocket, his thumb inadvertently brushing against the side of his face, pressing and stroking the faint red mark left by the pillow as if soothing a misbehaving cat. "Go wash up now, then come downstairs for breakfast. After breakfast, I'll drive you to the filming site."

The cold, hard phone case pressed against his chest, and Zhong Su instinctively pressed his hand over the square bulge, his fingers curling slightly.

Once inside the bathroom with the door locked, Zhong Su turned on the phone again and found that the unread red notifications that should have flooded his inbox had all disappeared.

There was no doubt, Chen Huan had gone through all the messages in this phone yesterday.

"I still need to make things clearer with Chen Huan," Zhong Su pursed his lips, looking at his own familiar yet unfamiliar, somewhat pale face in the mirror, and muttered to himself, "If I hold back too much, things will only get more awkward later."

He took a deep breath, turned on the faucet, and splashed his face with cold water, regaining his composure.