He didn’t know if it was his illusion, but he saw Shen Boyan’s expression break for a moment, his eyes flicker, and his gaze move to Xia Shu’an’s neck.
“It’s your first day here, and you’re tired, so take a rest tonight.”
Hearing his answer, Xia Shu’an didn’t know if he should be relieved. He licked his lips and said, “Alright, then I’ll take a shower first.”
“Um.”
Shen Boyan did not go upstairs with him but watched him leave.
Xia Shu’an prefers silk pajamas when sleeping, especially in summer. It’s very cool and comfortable. However, his preferences were completely shattered shortly after meeting Shen Boyan.
He didn’t know how Shen Boyan grew up with such a crooked brain. He obviously □□ himself, but he always blamed him for the reason. Xia Shu’an’s forehead burst out with blue veins when he thought of his obscene words. He hesitated in front of the wardrobe for a moment, but still chose pure cotton pajamas.
The warm water slowly washed over the young man’s body, taking away the smell of alcohol and the tiredness of the day. After about ten minutes, Xia Shu’an came out of the bathroom and let out a “huh”.
Shen Boyan is not in the room, and there is nothing of his in the room, as if he has not walked in yet. Xia Shu’an was puzzled. When he walked out of the bedroom and passed by the study, he had a faint doubt, so he turned the doorknob and pushed it in.
The white light that was more dazzling than the soothing light in the corridor suddenly rushed into his eyes. Xia Shu’an blocked it with his hands, and looked at the person in the room: “Why didn’t you go back to the bedroom?”
Shen Boyan had already prepared the reason, but the moment he saw the young man, his words got stuck in his throat.
Xia Shu’an should have just come out of the bathroom. He was wearing well-fitting pajamas, and the part of his snow-white neck exposed to the air was still emitting moisture.
The young man’s gaze was calmly cast on him, relaxed and at ease, as if he were not living in this house for the first day but had been together for many days and nights.
At the same time as this thought came to mind, Shen Boyan felt as if his heart had been hit hard.
Behind the desk, the man was silent for two seconds before he said calmly, “There are still some works that have not been finished; you should go to bed first.”
So hardworking?
Xia Shu’an didn’t doubt him and nodded. “Then you should go to bed early and don’t stay up late.”
Shen Boyan nodded. Xia Shu’an closed the door, and the sound of footsteps gradually faded away.
After Xia Shu’an left, a restless emotion continued to tug on Shen Boyan’s chest, making him unable to calm down. He took a deep breath, reorganized his guilty conscience, and was about to start working again, when he heard the sound of the door opening and closing, followed by the slight vibration of the stairs.
What’s happening?
Shen Boyan opened the door and walked towards the stairs. The light in the living room downstairs was turned on. A figure was busy in the kitchen. The young man was wearing a coat, and his soft black hair was draped obediently behind his head. The light above scattered on him, casting a faint shadow on the ground.
“What are you doing?”
A male voice came out of nowhere, and Xia Shu’an quickly turned around after being shocked, still holding a pan in his hand.
There was a bit of shock and confusion on his face. “I’m heating milk.”
Then he showed an innocent expression again: “Would you like a glass? It will help you sleep.”
Shen Boyan frowned and said, “No need.”
“All right.”
Xia Shu’an has been in poor health since he was a child, and he doesn’t sleep very well. Later, the doctor suggested that he drink a cup of hot milk before going to bed. After so many years, this has developed into a habit. If he doesn’t drink it, he feels that something is missing.
He turned on the fire a little strangely and poured the milk into the pot. Perhaps because his actions were too reckless, a few drops of milk splashed out, and the milky white liquid that approached the bottom of the pot first made a scorching sound. Xia Shu’an was unaware of it and still stirred the milk in the pot with chopsticks, each swirl full of power, fully displaying the grace and strength of an adult man.
The milk snapped and splashed upward.
Shen Boyan’s eyebrows jumped, and he grabbed the chopsticks from Xia Shuan’s hand.
“I’ll do it.”
Xia Shu’an was pushed aside by him, and he took two steps back before standing firm. He was happy to have someone take care of him.
Shen Boyan’s figure was tall and robust. Standing in front of the countertop, he almost blocked out the overhead lights. He took off his coat after returning home, and the blue and white dress shirt showed his lean and vigorous arm muscles. Because he held the pot and exerted a little force, the blue blood vessels extended down the back of his hand, and the blood flowed slowly, just like the pulsating thread of lights at this moment.
Xia Shu’an leaned on the island in the middle of the kitchen, staring blankly at the man with a serious face. Suddenly, a face flashed through his mind. It was the face of the man who was in agony before he passed away in a car accident. Was he really sad at that time?
Did he calm down after he left, or was he still so sad?
Those thoughts that he didn’t dare to think about and didn’t want to think about after being reborn finally broke through the shackles of their master and rushed into Xia Shu’an’s brain at night when the two protagonists were present.
Why is he so sad?
Does he really like me?
If he really likes me, why did he treat me like that?
Would he feel sorry for not treating me well while I was still alive? Did he feel regret for not having the chance to repent?
All the doubts gathered together, like bubbles floating up and down continuously, and finally, with a pop, all those irrelevant thoughts disappeared, leaving only one question that he cared about the most: Does he really like me?
“Shen Boyan—”
Shen Boyan turned to look at the young man and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xia Shu’an bit his lip and looked at him with a soft gaze. “I’m thinking about a problem.”
Shen Boyan: “What?”
Xia Shu’an enunciated each word clearly:
“I was thinking, the atmosphere is so good now, why don’t you kiss me?”
“…”
A deep light flashed from the bottom of the man’s eyes. Xia Shu’an was caught off guard; his feet stumbled slightly and were pressed heavily on the door of the cabinet by the man.
Shen Boyan’s strength was exactly the same as in his previous life—so strong that Xia Shu’an couldn’t resist. In the blink of an eye, Xia Shu’an only had time to shout out a sentence: “Wait, turn off the fire—”
…
Forgetting who took the initiative first, the two stumbled upstairs. Shen Boyan finally remembered to take safety precautions. He pulled open the drawer, took the nearest box, and tore it open.
Xia Shu’a’s eyes wandered, looking at the plastic bags scattered on the bed. Suddenly, his eyes became fixed, and he exclaimed:
“Wait, this is too small!”
Shen Boyan’s movements stopped suddenly.
“…”
After the two stared at each other for a while, Shen Boyan calmly pushed Xia Shu’an away and said, “Assistant Qi should have bought the wrong one.”
Xia Shu’an: “…Then what do we do?”
“…” Shen Boyan got out of bed.
“For your body’s sake, let’s do it after we buy the condom.”
“……All right.”
The next morning, Xia Shu’an dimly opened his eyes in the white morning light. The ceiling was so familiar, and his brain, which had not recovered its functions, turned slowly. Xia Shu’an yawned and walked to the bathroom.
A man came out from inside. He was already dressed and organized. His shirt was slightly more laid back than usual, his hair was loosely let down, and the ease between his brows made him look less irritable.
Xia Shuan’s memory still lingers from a random day in his previous life. When he saw Shen Boyan, he instinctively frowned and wanted to tell him to get lost so as not to delay his work. However, the moment he opened his mouth, he suddenly felt something was wrong—Why is this Shen Boyan so young, and why does he look even dumber than himself?
In the next second, his memory came back to life, and everything from last night flooded into his brain. Xia Shu’an had a complicated expression, was a bit embarrassed, and was also a bit unspeakably melancholy.
“Good morning.”
“……Good morning.”
Inside are all his commonly used toiletry brands. If they weren’t all new, Xia Shu’an would wonder if he was still in “five years later”.
He simply changed his clothes and went downstairs. Shen Boyan had already sat upright at the dining table, and he went to his usual seat and sat down.
He picked up his chopsticks and then asked, “Are you going to the company today?”
Shen Boyan was cutting sausages with a knife.
“Yes. Nothing important.”
“Oh.” Xia Shu’an took a sip of milk and licked the milk stains around his mouth.
“So are you going to buy a set?”
Shen Boyan’s movements stopped suddenly.
Xia Shu’an said in a natural tone, “You may want to use the XXL size. It’s generally difficult to buy in stores. You can buy it online, but online shopping will not arrive today… Do you want to use it today?”
This question hit the soul directly. Shen Boyan felt that his brain was as chaotic as a knotted thread. Before he opened his mouth, Xia Shu’an said:
“If you want to use it today, you can only go out and buy it.”
Shen Boyan: “…” He swallowed the words and then spoke again.
“I’m not busy today; let’s go out together.”