Chapter 14

The next moment, a hand slipped beneath the hem of the T-shirt, which had been lifted and then fallen back down.

The palm was large, fitting snugly against his soft, tender abdomen. Its warmth transferred without restraint, like a flame that would ignite Xin Chun from the outside in.

Then, the hand began to move.

Xin Chun's fingertips, resting on Owen's abs, began to tremble. They shrank back as if in shyness, only to be held down, not allowed even the slightest escape.

"Uncomfortable..."

"Let me help you, all right?" Owen said in a low, husky voice.

In the early morning, sunlight streamed in through the window.

Xin Chun woke with his head resting on Owen's arm. Firm muscles lay before him, one spot marked with obvious teeth marks.

Xin Chun blinked, without the slightest guilt.

He lowered his head to look at himself. Like Owen, he was unclothed, though they both wore thin underwear. His, however, clearly did not fit; the size obviously belonged to Owen.

He had fallen asleep comfortably last night. It seemed that relaxing appropriately sometimes did help with sleep.

Xin Chun tugged at the blanket and sat up. Feeling the movement, Owen woke as well.

"Do you have pajamas, Owen?" Xin Chun asked shyly.

Owen looked at Xin Chun's flushed face for two seconds, then directly threw back the blanket, sat up from the bed, got down, and walked barefoot across the carpet to the wardrobe. "I do, but mine might be a little big."

Xin Chun said that was fine.

He took the pajamas Owen handed him and changed into them. They were indeed too large, so he could only roll up the trouser legs and sleeves. The collar hung open from his collarbones.

Xin Chun got out of bed as well. "I'm going to wash up."

He turned his head and looked around. There was a bathroom in the room. After confirming the direction, Xin Chun passed Owen and went inside. The sound of running water followed as he relieved himself first, then washed his hands and face.

At that moment, footsteps sounded behind him. Owen entered as well and lifted the toilet seat.

Listening to the sound, Xin Chun's ears reddened. After the flush began and ended, he cleared his throat and said, "Owen, thank you for letting me stay over last night. I must have caused you trouble, right? Did I throw up? You even helped me change clothes."

"I... I black out when I drink. Although I don't remember what happened last night, I..."

Before he could finish, Owen pressed a hand to Xin Chun's shoulder and turned him around.

There were two faucets at the sink. Owen had been washing his hands while listening to Xin Chun speak.

But his movements grew slower and slower. His brows furrowed slightly. With droplets of water still clinging to his hands, he made Xin Chun face him and asked, "You forgot what happened last night?"

Xin Chun said, "Y-Yes, I don't remember it very clearly. Did I do something besides throwing up all over myself?"

Water droplets soaked the fabric at his shoulder.

Owen's dark green eyes were deep and shadowed as he leaned closer, until their noses touched and their breaths mingled. His voice carried the low, hoarse quality unique to the morning. "You really don't remember?"

Water continued to run behind them.

A few droplets had splashed onto Xin Chun's Adam's apple just now. He licked his lips, his gaze uncontrollably falling into Owen's eyes, as though he were about to drown in a dark green pool.

He spoke softly. "I don't remember. What happened?"

"I'll help you remember."

After those nearly inaudible words, Owen slowly lowered his head and kissed Xin Chun's Adam's apple. The droplet vanished in the scorching heat, and what had happened last night began again.

Chapter 14

After relieving himself upon waking and taking another shower, Xin Chun's entire body had gone soft. His skin was dewy and translucent, his joints tinged pink, his eyes damp, and his lips exceptionally red.

This recollection differed somewhat from last night, but was largely the same.

After doing it twice in a row, Xin Chun's wrists were sore. He now sat curled up on the sofa, while Owen had driven to his home to get clothes for him.

Before leaving, Owen had carried the still weak-legged Xin Chun to the sofa. Bracing one hand beside his ear, he bent down and said, "Do you remember this time? Last night, we were both happy, weren't we?"

His other hand stroked Xin Chun's cheek, the pad of his thumb pressing against his lips and making their color even more vivid.

Xin Chun's eyelashes trembled. He pulled back slightly and said in a low voice, "I... this isn't right. We shouldn't be like this..."

Owen's eyes darkened. He leaned closer and gently kissed Xin Chun's forehead. "There's nothing wrong with it. You like it, Xin Chun. I can tell you don't dislike it."

"Don't run away, okay? Give me a chance."

"A chance?" Xin Chun looked up in confusion.

Owen looked seriously at the person beneath him, enveloped in his shadow. "I like you. Give me a chance to pursue you, Xin Chun."

While Xin Chun was still stunned, Owen took his hand and placed another kiss on the back of it.

"I'll await your answer."

Then Owen left.

After Owen was gone, Xin Chun licked his lips, an impossible-to-ignore smile spreading across his mouth. Humming a song in a good mood, he went inside to shower first, then returned to sit on the sofa and check the messages on his phone.

When he heard sounds outside the door, Xin Chun perked up alertly, put down his phone, and sat properly with his knees hugged to his chest.

Not long after, Owen opened the door and came in.

He carried a bag of clothes and breakfast he had bought.

The morning had already been delayed, so there was clearly no time to cook.

Owen walked over to Xin Chun and set the bag of clothes beside him.

"Thank you," Xin Chun said softly.

"You don't need to be so polite with me," Owen said. "Change first. I'll get breakfast ready."

After changing clothes and finishing breakfast, Xin Chun offered to wash the dishes. Owen silently waited at the kitchen door. When the last bowl had been washed and Xin Chun turned off the water, a dry towel was handed over the next moment.

Owen directly wrapped the towel around Xin Chun's hands and dried them.

"So, what's your answer, Xin Chun?"

Xin Chun raised his head and looked straight into Owen's eyes. He pressed his lips together. "Give me a little more time to think, Owen. I still don't fully understand you."

"Your family, everything about you—I know none of it. And it's the same for you. Do you really know everything about me?"