CH 76

Pei You: “…”

They had already defined their relationship, hugged when they should, and kissed when they should, so living together shouldn’t be a big deal. However, Pei You hadn’t had the chance to think about this yet, and Zhou Qingbo brought it up all of a sudden, catching him off guard.

He subconsciously glanced at Zhou Qingbo, his grip on the steering wheel tightening nervously.

“Now…?” Pei You hesitated a bit.

It wasn’t that Pei You was opposed to living together, but Zhou Qingbo had brought it up so suddenly that he hadn’t had a chance to prepare.

Zhou Qingbo sensed his discomfort and couldn’t help but chuckle. He reached over and pinched Pei You’s wrist.

“Just kidding,” he said.

Zhou Qingbo might be playful, but deep down, he still had a touch of the traditional male chauvinism ingrained from his family background.

The matter of coming out still loomed ahead of them. Zhou Qingbo hadn’t brought it up, but he had it in mind. The flight information had been shared on his social media earlier in the afternoon, so by now, his family would have seen it. Whether it was tonight or tomorrow, Zhou Cangshan would certainly pressure him to come home for a “trial.” While Zhou Qingbo didn’t want to be separated from Pei You, he also didn’t want Pei You to face this awkward situation with him.

“Let’s forget about it for today,” Zhou Qingbao said, half serious and half jokingly. “But you better be prepared. Maybe one day, I’ll have to come to you with my luggage and ask for a place to stay.”

Pei You let out a relieved sigh. The tension in his heart relaxed, but amidst that relaxation, a subtle sense of awkwardness rose within him. He couldn’t quite determine if he was feeling regret or disappointment.

However, Zhou Qingbo seemed to sense something. He reclined the seat back, reached toward the middle, and clung to Pei You’s hand, interlocking their fingers.

“Will you take me in when that time comes?” Zhou Qingbo asked with enthusiasm. “And then you’ll head out to work every day while I stay at home doing chores, cooking, washing clothes, and preparing your bathwater. Oh, and I’ll wait for you to come back.”

Pei You: “…”

Pei You thought, “Your clothes are folded like impressionist artwork, and now you want to cook, do laundry, and clean the house? Just as long as you don’t blow up the house, that would be good enough.”

However, despite his silent sarcasm, Pei You couldn’t help but follow Zhou Qingbo’s words and envision their future “cohabitation.” He had never been in a relationship, but he had daydreamed a lot about being with someone. His understanding of romance was simple and plain, to the extent that in these “romantic” daydreams, a significant portion was focused on “building a family, facing life together.”

Three meals a day, everyday meals, the table set with utensils for two, two pillows on the bed—one high and one low. Like most men in this world, Pei You had also hoped to see a nightlight at the porch when he returned home every night, and freshly prepared dinner on the table.

Though Zhou Qingbo was miles away from being “homely,” Pei You couldn’t help but feel some inexplicable expectations stirred by him. He couldn’t help but begin to fantasize about a world with just the two of them.

“… You don’t have to do any chores,” Pei You couldn’t help but smile and said, “Just be yourself.”

“That won’t do,” Zhou Qingbo wiggled his leg and said with an air of seriousness, “If I’m not well-behaved, and you get tired of me, what should I do?”

“I won’t,” Pei You said, “You don’t have to change yourself in any way.”

Although Zhou Qingbo’s “fantasy” sounded wonderful, compared to “cooking, laundry, and preparing his bath,” Pei You felt that staying true to oneself was better.

He should be free-spirited, Pei You thought. Whether he’s wild or impulsive, it didn’t matter if he would come home one day and find Zhou Qingbo had set up a bar-style disco ball in the living room, he actually thought that would also be quite fun.

Pei You laughed at his exaggerated imagination, chuckling, and added, “I like you no matter what.”

Whether it’s the “Zhou” from the bar, the “Zhou” from Qingshan, or the “Zhou” from the rescue team, for Pei You, they were essentially the same. After all, he liked Zhou Qingbo as a person, not some predetermined label.

Zhou Qingbo had originally intended to tease him a little by bringing up this topic, but unexpectedly, Pei You turned the tables on him with a straightforward answer. Suddenly, Zhou Qingbo’s “teasing bar” was emptied, leaving him with no fighting strength.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, he subconsciously looked out the window, but while he did, he tightened his grip on the hand he held, unconsciously stroking the back of Pei You’s hand.

In the light, the clean window reflected Zhou Qingbo’s slightly blurry profile. He pursed his lips, seemingly trying to control his expression, but the slight curve that couldn’t be suppressed at the corner of his mouth betrayed him, revealing his thoughts.

At first, Pei You was a little uneasy about Zhou Qingbo’s sudden silence, but then he glanced at him at a traffic light and saw his expression in the window’s reflection.

Pei You was open and direct, and he didn’t think much of what he said at first, until he saw Zhou Qingbo’s expression. Only then did he belatedly realize a faint blush creeping up his ears.

The interplay of light and shadows outside the window passed by. The ambiguous and unspoken intimacy silently fermented within the small confines of the car. Pei You took a glance at their intertwined hands, and the sense of regret and reluctance within him started to become more evident.

Maybe he should have just agreed directly earlier, Pei You suddenly thought.

Because he was finding it harder to separate from Zhou Qingbo.

However, emotions were one thing, and rationality was another. In the end, Pei You followed the navigation and drove into Star River Bay, parking downstairs

“We’re here,” Pei You said.

Zhou Qingbo hummed in acknowledgment, withdrew his hand, and unfastened his seatbelt.

Pei You’s gaze followed his movements, and he saw Zhou Qingbo unlock the car door. For some reason, he hesitated and then pulled the door closed with force. Zhou Qingbo turned to look at Pei You.

“What’s wrong?” Pei You was momentarily puzzled.

He saw Zhou Qingbo move his injured leg to brace against Pei You’s car seat, arch his body, and cradle Pei You’s face.

“Give me a kiss,” Zhou Qingbo murmured indistinctly. His voice dropped as he lowered his head and kissed Pei You. Along with the ending of his words, their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss.

In the cramped space of the car, Zhou Qingbo’s body bent like a bow. His tongue gently traced over Pei You’s lips before parting them, entering the gap between their teeth without hesitation.

The kiss was gentle yet passionate. Pei You let out a soft breath, and before he could adjust his breathing, Zhou Qingbo’s hand slid down his face, gently cupping it.

Instinctively, Pei You lifted his head to meet the kiss. Zhou Qingbo slowed down the pace considerately, using his tongue to engage in a delicate dance for a moment.

As the kiss continued, Pei You gradually relaxed. His eyelashes lowered, casting a shadow on his cheeks, creating an irresistible sense of tenderness. Zhou Qingbo couldn’t help but be moved. He used his palm to hold Pei You’s face, extending the duration of the kiss for a little while longer.

The narrow and intimate space of the car couldn’t contain this atmosphere. The temperature around them silently began to rise.

Pei You’s eyelashes trembled. Subconsciously, he wanted to lift his eyes to look at Zhou Qingbo. He realized Zhou Qingbo wasn’t closing his eyes while kissing but was gazing gently at him.

There was a faint glimmer in Zhou Qingbo’s eyes, a subtle reflection that made his expression appear tender and captivating.

After what felt like an eternity, Zhou Qingbo reluctantly broke away a little.

As their lips parted, Zhou Qingbo seemed to hesitate to end the kiss and leaned in again, brushing his lips against the corner of Pei You’s mouth.

“Be prepared,” Zhou Qingbai smiled and said, “I might come to your place with my suitcase at any time.”

“Alright.” The kiss had softened Pei You completely. He used his fingertip to brush against Zhou Qingbo’s forehead and said softly, “What kind of home do you want?”

“Any kind will do, as long as it shelters us from the wind and rain,” Zhou Qingbo said with a smile, “I’m easy to take care of.”