We might have been in love all along

It was late, so Ning Shile went back to the Zheng Family home with Zheng Ye.

“Young master, you’re back.” The Butler opened the door with a smile, which broadened when he saw the figure behind Zheng Ye. “Shile’s here too?”

Ning Shile nodded and asked with a smile, “Am I intruding?”

“Of course not,” the Butler said. “Everyone’s happy to have you here.”

The Zheng Family’s housekeeper hurried out of the kitchen as soon as she heard Ning Shile had arrived.

“Lele’s here?” She adored this boy. He was sweet, well-behaved, and cute, and always knew just what to say. Seeing Ning Shile always put her in a good mood.

She treated Ning Shile like her own child, finding new ways to make him delicious food every time he visited the Zheng Family. “Didn’t you say last time that you liked mango pudding? I’ll make some for you now.”

“Wouldn’t that be too much trouble?” Ning Shile changed his shoes and looked up to meet her expectant gaze.

"Not at all. It'll be ready in no time, just a few minutes," she quickly replied.

Ning Shile nodded and stopped declining, his eyes curving into a smile. “Okay. Thank you.”

Just then, Zheng Mother came downstairs from the second floor.

She had already changed into her nightclothes. Her silk nightdress and robe gave her an elegant air. As she came down to greet Ning Shile, she glanced slightly behind her, looking rather smug. "See? I told you I had a feeling Lele would come today."

"Yes, yes," Zheng Father said, following behind her. He asked with a smile, "How come you've never had a feeling I was coming home?"

"No idea." Zheng Mother raised her brows at his words, swept him a disdainful glance, then sneered. "Maybe because Lele won't bring an illegitimate child home to me."

Zheng Father: “...”

He really should have kept his mouth shut.

The usually quiet Zheng Family home instantly came alive with Ning Shile’s arrival.

The housekeeper bustled around the kitchen making pudding, and the Butler went to prepare Ning Shile’s room. Zheng Father and Zheng Mother, who had been so bored they were about to go to bed, stayed up and sat in the living room watching television.

Zheng Ye, however, seemed detached from it all. He greeted Zheng Father and Zheng Mother, then went straight upstairs.

Zheng Mother gave her son a puzzled look.

What was wrong with him?

Why was he keeping to himself like this?

Zheng Mother pointed at Zheng Ye and looked at Ning Shile, raising her eyebrows in confusion as if to ask what was wrong with Zheng Ye.

Ning Shile spread his hands. No idea. He looked like he’d lost his soul the whole way back.

At that thought, Ning Shile pursed his lips.

Maybe Su Jinyu really did carry his soul off.

He's a walking bundle of cells, ninety percent of them hopelessly lovesick. Even Wang Baochuan would have to step aside and surrender her crown.

Hearing this, Zheng Mother's expression changed sharply, and her brows slowly knitted.

Su Jinyu? Zheng Ye met up with Su Jinyu?

After all this time trying to prevent it, they still met?

That night, Zheng Ye had a dream.

He dreamed he was in a bustling airport. He had just gotten off the plane when a familiar figure squeezed out of the crowd, shot toward him like an arrow, and hugged him tightly.

Ning Shile crashed solidly into his arms, nuzzling his face against Zheng Ye's chest like a cat.

The airport teemed with people, but once Zheng Ye held Ning Shile, all he felt was peace.

The scenery in the dream was blurred, casting everything in a hazy veil that drew him in.

He and Ning Shile curled up at home watching movies, browsed the mall, went skiing together, shared meals...

They were intimate, like lovers who had been deeply in love for years.

Just as Zheng Ye lost himself in that tender moment, the scene suddenly fractured. It was as though something had taken control of Zheng Ye's body, leaving him unable to move.

Then the entire scene seemed to freeze, as if someone had pressed pause.

A mechanical voice rang out. "The kindhearted persona and sweet romance route no longer suit popular tastes. The male lead needs to be replaced."

Before Zheng Ye could understand what that meant, Ning Shile was forcibly taken away.

The familiar figure grew more and more distant. He wanted to chase after him, but he could not move at all.

The helplessness and suffocation were overwhelming, like clawing hands reaching out of hell to swallow Zheng Ye.

No... no!

Don't leave. You can't leave!

Zheng Ye struggled desperately, but everything before his eyes began to darken...

Bound tightly by an invisible force, he could only watch as Ning Shile was taken away, while he was discarded like trash, left alone in the darkness...

No, don't hurt him!

Please...

"...!" Zheng Ye jolted awake. He drew a deep breath and sat upright in bed.

Day had long since broken. A bird on the windowsill startled and flew away, beating its wings. Zheng Ye's dark hair was damp with sweat at his forehead. He panted softly, slowly coming back to himself.

Outside, the golden sunlight was a little dazzling, streaming through the glass to cast bands of light across the floor.

"...Ning Shile." Zheng Ye threw off the covers, got up, and rushed out of the room.

Downstairs, Zheng Mother held a jar of bird's nest in one hand and her phone in the other as she walked toward Ning Shile with a smile. "Lele, look at this gossip...!"

A sudden flurry of hurried footsteps rang out. Before Zheng Mother could react, Zheng Ye swept straight past her toward Ning Shile.

Ning Shile was sitting on the sofa, his face twisted as he battled the lid of a bird's nest jar. He figured that if he still couldn't open it, he would use his teeth.

Suddenly, someone grabbed his arm and yanked him over.

Hey!

Hey, hey?! My bird's nest!!

Ning Shile's gaze followed the bird's nest through half a turn. Before he could react, Zheng Ye had wrapped him firmly in his arms.

Ning Shile was stunned for a moment.

Thump, thump, thump—

Zheng Ye's heart was racing, and his breathing was uneven. His arms kept tightening, holding Ning Shile with considerable force and pulling their bodies ever closer.

Beneath the man's tousled dark hair, his eyes were slightly red.

He lowered his head, buried his face in the crook of Ning Shile's neck, and closed his eyes.

His hot breath spilled against Ning Shile's neck, tickling a little...

"What... happened?" Ning Shile hesitated for a moment, then stopped struggling and asked softly.

Zheng Ye buried his head even lower. Only after a long while did he answer in a muffled voice, "I had a nightmare."

Ning Shile was a little surprised. What kind of nightmare could frighten Zheng Ye this badly?

"What did you dream about?" He kept his voice as soft as he could.

Zheng Ye thought for a while before answering, "...I can't remember."

He had clearly still remembered some of it just moments ago, but now his mind felt blank, as though it had suddenly been wiped clean.

But emotions didn't lie. Zheng Ye felt much better holding Ning Shile.

Ning Shile hesitated briefly before reaching out to hug Zheng Ye back. He patted him gently and soothed him. "It was only a dream."

Zheng Ye murmured a soft "Mm," but held him even tighter.

Zheng Mother, watching at close range: "..."

She took a deep breath, her gaze growing increasingly complicated as she looked at Zheng Ye.

How did I give birth to this little piece of work?

A nightmare, was it? You certainly know where to look for comfort after a nightmare, throwing yourself straight into Lele's arms.

What a manipulative little faker.

Unbelievable.

She averted her gaze, turned, and left.

I can't bear to watch.