Two hours later, Song Zhixing left, sobbing with tears and snot streaming down his face.
Bang. The door closed.
Silence settled over the Lounge again.
Xie Yanci stood by the door, looking across at Xu Shi, who was still hiding behind the curtains, unsure what to say.
He had never intended for Xu Shi to hear those things.
He had made the decision, so he ought to bear all its consequences. He did not think this had anything to do with Xu Shi.
"Song Zhixing's gone," Xie Yanci said slowly.
"Oh..."
Xu Shi pulled the curtains aside, looking a little distracted, and accidentally tripped over the little stool by his feet.
"Hiss-"
He was on the thin side, and as he fell straight down, his knees hit the floor without anything cushioning the impact.
[That hurts.]
Xu Shi's mind was blank. Still digesting what Xie Yanci and Song Zhixing had said, he could not tell whether the physical pain or the ache in his heart was worse.
He even forgot to get up off the floor.
*[...]*
By the time he came to his senses, Xie Yanci had already carried him onto the sofa.
"Does it hurt here?" Half-kneeling in front of him, Xie Yanci gently rubbed his knee with his warm, large hand.
When he looked up, his dark eyes were full of heartache.
"A little," Xu Shi answered dazedly.
It was his first time seeing Xie Yanci kneeling before him, his movements, tone, and gaze all especially reverent.
He stared in a slight daze, unconsciously reaching out to stroke the Alpha's soft, fluffy hair.
"Xie Yanci," Xu Shi called softly.
"Hmm?" Xie Yanci looked up.
It was his first time looking up at his wife from below.
Meeting those worried eyes, he suddenly realized that the distance between