Come Stay at My Place?

Gu Ze was already thinking of blacklisting the man from the industry, but he didn't know what Ye Qing wanted to do. Anything he could manage, Ye Qing could manage too.

"What are you going to do?"

"A law-abiding person like me is going to the police, of course." Seeing Gu Ze's stunned expression, Ye Qing asked in confusion, "What? Is that not okay?"

Gu Ze laughed. "No, it's fine."

He had just realized that when something like this happened, everyone seemed to default to handling it within the industry. They blacklisted whoever needed blacklisting, as though they had forgotten they could call the police.

He had been in the industry so long that even his thinking had narrowed.

As a good kid who didn't want to cause the police any extra trouble, Ye Qing decided to bring the man straight to the station.

So, for the first time, the officers on duty that night saw a victim bring his assailant directly to the station. The assailant's face was too battered to make out.

It might have been the fastest case the station had ever resolved. Ye Qing had plenty of evidence, including an audio recording.

That was right. Ye Qing had been recording from the moment he went in.

Though the matter was settled quickly, the police still gave Ye Qing a scolding. They kept telling him how unsafe it had been and that next time, he needed to come to them right away.

Gu Ze got a lecture too, since the officer thought he was Ye Qing's older brother.

Ye Qing had entered the police station in high spirits. By the time he came out, he looked thoroughly deflated.

"Sorry, Brother Gu. I got you scolded too."

Gu Ze didn't respond to that. "All right. Since it's over, I'll take you home."

Ye Qing went rigid.

I don't want to go back. I snuck out today. How am I supposed to explain it to my family if I go home now?

Maybe I'll just find a hotel.

"No need, Brother Gu. I'll find a hotel somewhere."

"Not going home?" Gu Ze knew why, but he asked anyway.

"No. They should be asleep by now."

Gu Ze checked the time. It was 8:30 p.m. "Your parents go to bed that early?"

"Yeah," Ye Qing said without a hint of guilt.

"Then do you want to stay at my place tonight? It's my own place, and I'm the only one there."

Ye Qing looked up and stared straight at Gu Ze, making him a little self-conscious.

I—I—I have to go! It's a movie star's home, after all.

Outwardly, though, he looked hesitant. "Wouldn't that be imposing?"

Gu Ze held back a laugh. "It's fine. There's no one else there, and I'd worry about leaving you on your own."

Ye Qing made a token show of reluctance. "Then I'll take you up on it."

Ye Qing had arrived with high hopes, so he felt a little disappointed when he saw the place.

I thought a movie star's home would be different. It's not, really. If anything, it feels a little empty.

Apart from the necessities, there was hardly anything in the house. It looked rather bare for someone living alone.

"Well? Is my place any different from anyone else's?"

Uh... how do I answer that?

I'm a guest in his home. Should I flatter him a little?

"I think it's very different."

"Oh? How?" Gu Ze was suddenly interested. He wanted to hear what Ye Qing would come up with.

Wait, wasn't I just being polite? I actually have to praise it?

Ye Qing quickly scanned the room.

"Just look how clean, tidy, and spotless it is. It's just like you, Brother Gu—so noble, untouched by the dust of the world."

Wow. I'm kind of impressed with myself. That was some fine flattery.

And I worked in a compliment about him without missing a beat.

Gu Ze was silent for a moment before asking, "So if my house were messy, would that mean I wasn't a good person?"

Ye Qing froze. How did he get that from what I said?

Gu Ze found Ye Qing's blank expression amusing. "Relax. I'm teasing you."

"Come in."

Ye Qing was annoyed, but he didn't dare say anything.

Poor little Ye, having to put up with this.

Walking ahead of him, Gu Ze couldn't help marveling at just how many thoughts Ye Qing had.

Ye Qing had had a long day. He sheepishly asked if he could take a shower, and after Gu Ze found him some clothes, he waited in the living room. He also reminded Ye Qing to keep his wound dry.

When Ye Qing entered the bathroom, he saw all the bottles and jars neatly arranged by type and couldn't help wondering whether Gu Ze was a neat freak.

He never sorted things like that himself. As long as they didn't look too messy, it was good enough for him.

After his shower, though, Ye Qing ran into a problem: Gu Ze seemed to have forgotten to bring him a pair of pants.

Luckily, he had taken his phone into the bathroom. Before long, someone knocked on the door.

Ye Qing opened it a crack, and Gu Ze's voice came from outside. "They're new. I've never worn them."

The shirt fit well enough, but the pants were a little long. Ye Qing had to roll up the cuffs.

These are the movie star's clothes. I wonder if they smell like him.

Maybe I'll sneak a sniff. No one will know.

Gu Ze: I heard that! Right then, he wished he hadn't.

Ye Qing gently sniffed the collar. It didn't smell like Gu Ze, so the shirt probably hadn't been worn.

Well, of course. Who would give someone else clothes they'd already worn?

A faint blush spread across Gu Ze's face as he sat in the living room. He really hadn't worn the clothes, but somehow this felt strange.

By the time Ye Qing came downstairs, Gu Ze was still blushing. "Is it too hot?"

Ye Qing looked at him questioningly.

Gu Ze cleared his throat. "A little."

"Should I turn on the air conditioner?"

"It's fine. Come here so I can put some medicine on your face."

Ye Qing sat down beside Gu Ze. Looking at the injury on his face, Gu Ze frowned.

"I'm afraid it won't go away anytime soon."

"It's fine. I'm a man. What's a little damage to my looks?"

"I'll put the medicine on for you." With the injury on his face, Ye Qing would have a hard time doing it himself.

As soon as he heard Gu Ze offer, Ye Qing leaned his face toward him.

With Ye Qing's face so close, Gu Ze picked up the medicine from the table and slowly dabbed it onto the injury with a cotton swab.

The medicine stung, and Ye Qing couldn't help hissing.

Gu Ze stopped. "Does it hurt too much? I'll be gentler."

Ye Qing grimaced. "Better to get it over with. I'm fine."

Despite what Ye Qing said, Gu Ze lightened his touch.

Ye Qing was undeniably good-looking. The injury did nothing to change that; if anything, it made him look more vulnerable.

Gu Ze studied his face. Ye Qing's skin was fair and smooth, without a pore in sight even this close. As Gu Ze applied the medicine, Ye Qing's round eyes were wide, their gaze clear and guileless. When he looked at Gu Ze, it felt as though Gu Ze was his whole world.

Gu Ze's gaze drifted down, from Ye Qing's shapely nose to his lips. They were perfectly proportioned, neither too thick nor too thin. Only up close did Gu Ze notice the subtle curve at the center of his upper lip; it was so faint he would have missed it otherwise.

Perhaps because Ye Qing had just come out of the shower, his lips were a little darker than usual. Together with that barely noticeable curve, they looked so...