Cheng Yue admitted it: he was deliberately making things difficult.
He owned up to playing dirty. Under normal circumstances, though, what he did was entirely within the rules. It was a little impersonal, but the company had no choice in the interests of safety.
No one could guarantee that a stranger wouldn't pose as a delivery rider to get into the residential complex and endanger public safety.
Putting the greater good first inevitably meant sacrificing some personal interests.
Take food delivery, for instance.
He could turn a blind eye during the day, but at night it was absolutely out of the question, especially this late.
Cheng Yue had happened to glance at the delivery slip just now, and the familiar address instantly jolted his drowsy brain awake.
Well, well. Finally, his chance had come!
Want something to eat? Go hungry!
Or trek all the way over to the gate and get it yourself!
Cheng Yue blew on the water in his cup, which wasn't even hot, and took a leisurely sip.
"He wants you to take the call."
At this ungodly hour, having the order canceled would mean losing a fare, so the delivery rider's tone wasn't particularly friendly.
As though he'd expected this all along, Cheng Yue took the phone and drawled a hello.
The other end went silent for two seconds.
"Cheng Yue."
The dutiful security guard said, "Please address me by my job title while I'm working."
Don't even think about bribing him. He was incorruptible!
"Cheng Yue."
Ji Huaijin's voice lacked its usual crisp, mellow clarity. Lowered and slightly nasal, it sounded almost frail.
"That's medicine I ordered. My stomach hurts."
Cheng Yue whipped his head around. So absorbed in avenging his earlier humiliation, he had completely failed to notice the unmistakable pharmacy packaging in the delivery rider's hand.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
But Ji Huaijin didn't put him on the spot. Instead, he said understandingly, "It's all right. I'll come to the gate to get it. I might just walk a little slowly."
Cheng Yue: "..."
Playing the coy innocent now, huh?
Unfortunately, he wasn't buying that act. "Fine. Come get it."
With that, he ruthlessly hung up and returned the phone to the rider. "Give it to me."
The residential complex was peaceful and still late at night, every little sound distinctly audible.
His high-top boots struck the concrete in a steady rhythm, their tapping filling his ears. Cheng Yue counted his steps in his head, something this pointless he normally only did when he was very irritated.
The building was pitch-black. Then, with a beep, the sound-activated lights abruptly came on. Cheng Yue stood straight in the elevator, his index finger absently picking at his palm.
With just one apartment per elevator landing, the entire floor was unusually quiet.
Only when he approached did Cheng Yue realize the door wasn't shut properly. His first thought was how careless this man was, leaving an opening for anyone with bad intentions.
Then another thought struck him. Shit. Had something really happened?
Every stray thought instantly vanished. Without even stopping to put on shoe covers, he pulled the door open and rushed inside.
"Ji Huaijin?"
Standing in the pitch-black living room, Cheng Yue called out tentatively.
By the light from the hallway, he edged carefully forward, trying to find the bedroom from memory.
But barely two steps in, a soft chuckle suddenly broke the silence, followed by the glow of a warm yellow wall lamp.
"Holy shit!"
Cheng Yue pressed his back against the wall, exclaiming loudly in fright as his gaze landed on the man concealed on the dark gray sofa.
Dressed in a black shirt and gray trousers, Ji Huaijin sat up on the sofa. If not for his naturally cool, pale complexion, he would have blended almost completely into the dim living room.
Cheng Yue couldn't hold back another curse. "Fuck! If you're still alive, why didn't you say something?"
He'd definitely done that on purpose. He'd wanted to scare him to get back at him.
Ji Huaijin appeared to be lounging against the back of the sofa, but his entire body was actually taut with tension. A fine sheen of cold sweat covered his forehead, yet his smile remained perfectly composed.
"Be good. Don't go saying things you're no good at doing."
Cheng Yue froze, then flew into a rage when he caught the innuendo. "Come on, then. Try me and see whether I'm any good!"
He wouldn't mind showing him what an invincible, powerhouse top looked like!
Ji Huaijin curled his lips, his back bending slightly. "As much as I'd love to accept, could we try another day?"
Apparently, he really was in pain. Ji Huaijin pressed a hand to his upper abdomen, trying to ease it.
"You're this sick and still have the energy to flirt? Clearly, it doesn't hurt enough!"
Cheng Yue kept grumbling mercilessly, but his hands quickly opened the packaging. He glanced at the instructions, popped out the capsules, and looked around, spotting a water dispenser nearby.
He mixed a cup of warm water and handed it over along with the medicine. "Here."
Whether intentionally or not, Ji Huaijin kept brushing and rubbing his fingers against Cheng Yue's palm, somehow unable to pick up those two tiny pills.
Those barely perceptible touches made Cheng Yue's palm itch so much he wanted to scratch it hard.
"Is it your stomach that hurts or your hand?"
A fragile smile appeared on Ji Huaijin's deathly pale face. "It hurts so much, I seem to have lost the strength in my hands."
Cheng Yue narrowed his eyes. "And?"
The bolder the farmer, the greater the harvest.
If you dared to dream it, you should be brave enough to do it.
Ji Huaijin lowered his eyes and leaned toward his hand. His hot breath brushed the already itching palm, his voice soft and lingering.
"Will you feed them to me?"
Whenever the stray cats in the complex saw him bringing food, they swarmed him, hopping around his feet with soft, drawn-out meows that sounded sweet and clingy.
For some inexplicable reason, Cheng Yue felt the tips of his ears grow warm.
The faint light fell across them, casting an intimate scene on the distant wall. The seated shadow seemed to be nestled in the standing man's arms.
Ji Huaijin looked up at him with his beautiful, alluring eyes. Perhaps because he'd held them open too long, his thick, long lashes trembled like a lovely black-and-gold butterfly.
"Cheng Yue, it hurts so much."
"Fine, fine, fine!"
Spring was giving way to summer, the central heating had been shut off, and the air conditioning wasn't on either. Yet Cheng Yue distinctly felt his cheeks burning, hot and flushed as though he had a fever.
He all but roughly shoved the medicine into Ji Huaijin's mouth. Before his fingers could start to feel warm, he grabbed the cup, thrust it at this demanding pest, and fled.
"I'm going to use the bathroom in the kitchen!"
The bitter capsule coating dissolved in his mouth. With his supposedly strengthless hand, Ji Huaijin lifted the cup steadily to his lips.
In the nearly two months since he'd moved in, Ji Huaijin had never used the stove. He didn't like wasting time on cooking. Usually, he ate at the cafeteria when he had time; when he didn't, a restaurant owned by the Lin Group delivered a private meal.
At half past one in the morning, the kitchen was brightly lit and filled with a delicious aroma.
After showering, Ji Huaijin changed into a beige lounge outfit. His wardrobe never contained clothes in such light colors, so he suspected the clothing store had mixed something up.
When he'd gone to change just now, Ji Huaijin had gazed at the conspicuous beige among the row of dark clothes. After a few seconds of consideration, he took it out.
The range hood was exceptionally quiet. Still dressed in his security uniform, Cheng Yue stood tall and graceful at the stove, chopsticks in hand, occasionally stirring the pot.
It was a simple bowl of fine wheat noodles with egg, with no elaborate presentation. The egg was scattered throughout the bowl, some floating in the broth and some tangled in the noodles.
For the first time, Ji Huaijin felt that light colors could be so captivating.
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