Late at night, only a few cars dotted the streets.
Calm and composed, Ji Huaijin pushed the car to its top speed.
Cheng Yue leaned back in the passenger seat, staring unfocused at the scenery flashing past the window.
He looked calm, but his fists clenched tighter and tighter, the veins bulging on the backs of his hands betraying his unease.
At a red light lasting a full minute and a half, Cheng Yue stared fixedly at the countdown, desperate for time to move faster.
Ji Huaijin reached over and took his fist in his hand. He said nothing, simply offering his warmth in silence.
Five seconds.
Four seconds.
...One second.
The car had barely stopped before Cheng Yue pushed the door open and hurried toward his old apartment.
The walk that usually took several minutes was over in what felt like the blink of an eye.
It was early autumn, and the weather was growing colder.
The empty corridor was utterly silent.
Cheng Yue paused for only a moment before reaching back and wrenching open the stairwell door.
The cold air trapped inside surged toward the exit, leaving his eyes suddenly dry and stinging.
When his gaze settled on the figure curled up on the stairs, Cheng Yue's pupils contracted. Along with his disbelief came a faint sense of certainty.
Fang Lele grinned, his dark skin making his teeth look even whiter. "Bro!"
Perhaps it was their long separation, or perhaps it was the late hour, but Cheng Yue heard a hint of hurt in his voice.
Time ticked slowly by. He stared at Fang Lele in silence, his Adam's apple bobbing again and again, yet no words came out.
The corners of Fang Lele's mouth slowly fell.
A second before the sound-activated light went out, a glimmer of