Sleep with me tonight?

Cheng Yu bounced him twice in his arms. "I was wondering on the way here-how are you so light? Didn't you eat a lot tonight?"

Lin Xingye had absolutely no idea how he had ended up going along with him.

Carrying him like a koala, Cheng Yu walked into the bathroom and sat him on the sink counter, asking softly, "Can you still wash yourself?"

Watching him tug at his clothes, Lin Xingye reached out and squished his face, his voice unconsciously turning coy. "Pervert~ What are you doing~"

Ignoring the hands wreaking havoc everywhere, Cheng Yu leaned down and nuzzled his cheek. "Were you planning not to shower? You little grubby kitten."

He thought about it, then turned his head to sniff himself. He reeked of alcohol. He really did stink. "Then, then I'll wash myself."

Cheng Yu pointed meaningfully toward the spot where he had just fallen.

Lin Xingye fell silent for two seconds, then obediently raised both hands.

It should be fine if it was Cheng Yu, right? After all, Cheng Yu only thought of him as a good buddy.

He must be doing this to apologize for snapping at him earlier.

Cheng Yu rubbed his soft head. "What a good boy you are, Star."

This was his first time having someone help him undress. Wait, was it his first time?

He couldn't remember.

For some reason, drunk Lin Xingye was like a little chatterbox, his mouth never stopping. One moment he asked where Momo had gone, and the next he asked about Xu Chen.

As Cheng Yu helped him undress, he answered patiently, "Lin Xingmo was a little drunk. Xu Chen was worried about leaving him alone, so he took him home."

Neither of these siblings could hold their liquor.

Although what Xu Chen had actually said was:

"I'll take Momo home first, then come back for Xingye."

Cheng Yu: playing dumb.

Lin Xingye looked down at his thigh, curiously poking at the scar that had yet to heal.

It was hideous and ugly.

Disliking the sight, he covered it with his hand, grievance written all over his flushed face. "Ugly."

Cheng Yu had been looking at his snow-white skin, feeling rather embarrassed, the tips of his ears burning red.

Seeing that little gesture of self-disgust sent ripples through his heart. "Star, you're not ugly. Nothing about you is ugly."

The bath was already drawn. He picked him up and lowered him into the bathtub.

Before he had even settled him properly, the person in his arms scooped up some water in both hands and poured it straight down his collar.

Cheng Yu: ...

Delighted by his successful prank, Lin Xingye rocked back and forth with laughter.

Cheng Yu indulgently pinched his smiling cheek, grabbed the hem of his shirt, and pulled it straight off.

Lin Xingye stared blankly at the expanse of full pectoral muscles before him, then reached out with a lecherous look and gave them a squeeze.

Nice pecs.

A shiver ran through Cheng Yu wherever he touched him. His skin flushed faintly, the spot burning hot.

Seemingly remembering something, Lin Xingye asked, "Where's Bo Xi?"

His pecs are nice too.

Cheng Yu caught both his hands and pressed them to his chest. "Mine are obviously better!"

Lin Xingye: ?

Then don't mind if I do.

Lin Xingye kept kneading his pecs like a child playing with a toy. Cheng Yu let him, rubbing shower gel over him as he said, "William can really drink. He dragged Bo Xi into a drinking contest."

He entertained himself for quite a while. Once he tired of it and the alcohol caught up with him, he felt unbearably sleepy. Closing his eyes, he rested against Cheng Yu's chest. "Where's everyone else~"

Cheng Yu focused on holding his arm and washing it. "Qi Sijing has to keep the guests company, of course. An Shi got called away by his sister."

Qi Sijing had originally asked Qi Sinian to help entertain the guests, only to learn later that she seemed to have had a falling-out with Cheng Yu. In a bad mood, she had gone straight back to her room and still hadn't come out.

Seeing her like that, Qi Sijing hadn't dared ask.

When Cheng Yu heard him go quiet, he thought he had fallen fast asleep. Even his washing movements grew gentler, afraid of waking him.

Before long, a sudden wet, soft sensation against his chest sent goose bumps racing over his entire body.

Was that... a tongue?

He seemed to be dreaming of something delicious, licking contentedly over and over. He even smacked his lips twice. "Doesn't taste good."

It would have been strange if it did.

Cheng Yu's face grew even redder. Cupping his cheeks, he said, "Don't tease me."

Completely oblivious, he was still dreaming of some unknown treat. He opened his mouth toward Cheng Yu, looking as though he was asking for a kiss.

Could anyone resist that?

No.

If he kept holding back, he wouldn't be a man anymore.

He kissed him with some urgency, their lips and tongues tangling together as the heat around them rose rapidly. Only when he heard an uncomfortable whimper from the person in his arms did he come to his senses.

He was still in the bathtub. The water would get cold soon. He couldn't let him catch a cold.

He hurriedly finished washing the drunk in his arms, bundled him in a bath towel, and carried him back to bed.

By the time Lin Xingye blearily came around, he was already in a bathrobe, lying on his stomach on the bed.

Water pattered in the bathroom.

He remembered Cheng Yu carrying him back, and then, then...

His head hurt so much. He couldn't remember anything.

The bathroom door opened with a clunk.

Cheng Yu emerged wreathed in steam, droplets running down the contours of his chest as he dried his hair. "Why are you awake?"

Lin Xingye stared dazedly at his chest.

He reached out and kneaded Lin Xingye's cheeks with practiced ease, leaning close to coax him. "Star, will you sleep with me tonight?"

He didn't answer, still staring blankly at him.

Slurp.

Let me touch them, let me touch them.

Cheng Yu broke into a broad smile. He wasn't awake at all-he was still busy swooning.

He bent down and kissed his cheek, his voice low and seductive. "Baby, sleep with me?"

Lin Xingye nodded dazedly and wrapped his arms around his waist, pressing his face to his abs with a sigh. "Ah, so cool~"

Cheng Yu coaxed him into lying back down, quickly blow-dried his hair, tucked him in, and lay beside him, leaving only a warm little night-light on.

Even with him in his arms, it still felt deeply unreal.

Although he was taking advantage a little, sometimes he had to be shameless if he wanted to win over his future husband.

Cheng Yu kissed his forehead and held him tighter. "I hope you don't kick me out of bed when you wake up."

It was already late, but the second-floor deck remained brightly lit, like a carnival that never slept.

Staying up late was second nature to young people. Everyone was still full of energy, laughter and cheerful voices rising one after another.

Even now, people were still eating late-night snacks in the restaurant.

Amid the clamor outside, a corner of the restaurant felt especially quiet, even somewhat oppressive.

An Ning sat there, the dessert in front of her untouched for so long that the ice cream in it had melted.

Her fingers tapped unconsciously against the table with a crisp sound. Her expression was indifferent, but it couldn't hide her inner agitation.

An Shi sat across from her without a word.

"An Shi, you've been getting pretty close to those people lately."

He didn't respond.

An Ning knew he had never liked discussing these things, but what choice did he have? He wasn't the one calling the shots in the An Family.

"No matter what, you're a son of the An Family. You have to contribute to the company."

"Since you're on good terms with them, rather than merely acquainted like you claimed before, go negotiate a partnership for the family."

He simply sat there quietly, his gaze drifting outside. This seat had been chosen with particular care: it faced Bo Xi and William drinking at the bar. "Leave me out of it."

"I'm not getting involved in that."

An Ning's anger ignited instantly. She jabbed viciously at the dessert in front of her, destroying it, and looked at him with a bright smile. "An Shi, you really are as infuriating as ever."

"What do you even like? You don't care about the company being handed to you. You insist on choosing for yourself. Ever since we were children, everything I've had was something you disliked and didn't want!"

An Shi looked at her coldly, as though the person across from him wasn't his older sister but a stranger. "What does that have to do with me?"

"I'm not the one who treated you that way. I've never bullied you, either."

At that, he gave a cold laugh. "You, on the other hand-haven't you bullied me to vent your anger?"

She pushed away the mangled dessert and stood, glaring at him with a rather chilling smile. "You know what I hate most? No matter what happens, you always wear that same dead expression!"

"What kind of little brother are you? You've been this cold since you were a child. What, does someone have to spend a fortune to get a smile out of you?"

He sighed, looking at her as though she were beyond saving.

Provoked by his gaze, An Ning's voice grew harsher. "An Shi, what is that supposed to mean? Your surname is An, so you have to work for the company. How is that asking too much?"

He didn't respond, getting up to leave.

Seeing him prepare to ignore her as always, An Ning lost control of her emotions in her anger. She strode forward, grabbed his arm, and slapped him across the face with her other hand.

After hitting him, she froze too.

Not out of guilt, but because she remembered there were still quite a few people in the restaurant. If word got out, it would reflect badly on the An Family.

Fortunately, this corner really was sparsely occupied, and no one had noticed them.

An Shi stepped back expressionlessly, as though the slap had had no effect on him at all. "Are you done? If you are, I'm leaving."

He finished speaking with a cold expression, then turned and left the restaurant without the slightest hesitation.

"An Shi!"