"Okay. Tell me right away if anything comes up. Don't try to tough it out. You've seen my situation now—I can help in plenty of ways."
Ge Ranzhou lightly punched him. "Don't worry. I'd be polite with anyone but you."
Lu Ao smiled.
After they finished talking, Ge Ranzhou shuffled back to his own room in slippers, lest Song Zhou come back later and give him another shock.
Lu Ao was still lying outside, waiting for Song Zhou to finish washing the dishes.
By the time Song Zhou came out, Lu Ao was nearly asleep.
Song Zhou bent down and gently touched his cheek with still-damp fingers. "Are you really that sleepy?"
Lu Ao grabbed his hand, rubbed his face against it, and mumbled, "Just knowing you're here makes me feel especially safe. Once I relaxed, the sleepiness hit."
Before dating Lu Ao, Song Zhou had never imagined he would turn out to be the sweet-talking type. His hand paused, and he crouched beside him with a smile. "Talking so nicely—do you want me to carry you back to the room?"
Lu Ao thought it over carefully with his not-quite-awake brain. "A piggyback ride works too. Ranzhou's still here, so that would be better."
Song Zhou clicked his tongue, but still turned around.
Lu Ao didn't stand on ceremony. He climbed straight onto his back, placing all his weight on him, his head resting on Song Zhou's shoulder as he mumbled, "All right."
Lu Ao was terribly sleepy, his voice soft and drowsy, the warmth of his breath brushing Song Zhou's neck. Song Zhou's arm muscles involuntarily tightened.
Song Zhou carried him back to the room.
Lu Ao had originally planned to shower before coming back to sleep, but the instant he touched the bed, he seemed to black out