Ji Ran was more eager than ever to earn money.
But he didn't forget to dry Zhao Pingchuan's hair first.
Even though Zhao Pingchuan politely declined, he ultimately couldn't resist Ji Ran, who pressed him down onto the sofa and dried his hair.
Ji Ran was meticulous. As his fingers brushed through Zhao Pingchuan's hair, Zhao Pingchuan's hands tightened at his sides without him realizing it.
The gesture was too intimate.
But Ji Ran's movements were so natural. He had adapted to his new role in no time and was being a good little brother.
He seemed to enjoy taking care of Zhao Pingchuan.
What a strange person, Zhao Pingchuan thought.
Once everything was in order, Ji Ran said to Zhao Pingchuan, "Ge, I need to work now. Would you like to read? I have quite a few books here."
Zhao Pingchuan shook his head.
Ji Ran asked, "Then do you want to play on your phone?"
That reminded him that he had never seen Zhao Pingchuan take out a phone.
"Where's your phone?" Ji Ran asked, puzzled.
"I lost it," Zhao Pingchuan said indifferently.
There was no need to stay in touch with any of the people on his phone anymore.
Ji Ran tactfully dropped the subject.
He took out his own phone and put it in the man's hand. "Then use mine for now. Do whatever you like on it. If you want to buy anything, just tell me and I'll enter the password."
He held nothing back from Zhao Pingchuan.
Once Zhao Pingchuan was settled, he got down to work.
Zhao Pingchuan didn't read or touch Ji Ran's phone. He studied Ji Ran as he focused on writing code, his thoughts unknown.
Ji Ran finished up a few jobs he had taken on earlier and sent out a few more resumes. Only then did he rub his aching neck and check the time. It was already eleven thirty.
He stood up and saw Zhao Pingchuan sitting there quietly, as if he had entered a trance.
If no one spoke to him, he could remain motionless like that, living in the world inside his own mind.
Ji Ran didn't like it.
He stretched extravagantly. "It's time for lunch."
Zhao Pingchuan's eyes moved, and he looked over.
Good, he still reacted a little.
Ji Ran breathed a sigh of relief. He had been afraid that all his efforts that morning would come to nothing.
He walked over to the fridge and muttered to himself, "I need to buy groceries tomorrow."
Then he took out several bags of vegetables and turned back to Zhao Pingchuan with a smile. "Ge, do you eat spicy food? How about some stir-fried pork for lunch?"
Zhao Pingchuan remained silent.
No objection meant yes. Ji Ran didn't mind being ignored and started washing and chopping the vegetables.
The living room and kitchen were connected, and there wasn't much space, so the aroma of cooking soon filled the entire room.
At that moment, it really felt like home.
Zhao Pingchuan was usually busy with work, and after his younger sister started college, they saw less of each other. But on the occasional weekend, Zhao Pingchuan would still cook for her himself.
Xiaoran wasn't spoiled in the least, despite being a young lady from a wealthy family. Even though Zhao Pingchuan gave her a generous allowance, she never spent it recklessly and saved it all in her bank account. "Ge, you work hard for your money. I don't spend much on food and housing at school, so you don't need to send me so much."
Zhao Pingchuan would say, "Then buy yourself some more pretty clothes and makeup. Don't young girls all like buying those things?"
Xiaoran would giggle and say, "I do buy them. I've only got one face. How much can I use?"
Sitting face-to-face at the dining table and eating quietly with his sister was the time Zhao Pingchuan enjoyed most.
But those happy times would never return.
The rice cooker's cheerful chime interrupted his thoughts. Ji Ran glanced at it and said, "Ge, I'll stir-fry some vegetables, and then we can eat."
He dished up the stir-fried pork and started on the vegetables.
Soon, the food was on the table, and the two sat down facing each other.
Ji Ran added, "Ge, I'm actually a pretty good cook. I'll make you a few special dishes to try another day."
He really was a good cook. Zhao Pingchuan looked at the stir-fried pork: the green peppers were enticingly charred, and the slices of meat were evenly cut. Simple home cooking showed a person's skill best.
Ji Ran took care of all the housework himself. While working, he never forgot to check on Zhao Pingchuan and ask after his needs, keeping himself busy like a little spinning top.
Even though Zhao Pingchuan rarely responded.
Ji Ran told him about everything: how many jobs he had taken, how many resumes he had sent out, and the interesting old man he had met while shopping for groceries that day. He told Zhao Pingchuan all about it in vivid detail.
He wanted to bring Zhao Pingchuan back to the world of the living.
Zhao Pingchuan never responded to these topics, but he listened silently.
Ji Ran went for interviews at several more companies. Zhao Pingchuan knew he was sure to pass, since he had once received an offer from Pingchuan Technology.
Sure enough, one day, Ji Ran received a phone call. After listening for a few moments, his eyes lit up. He replied politely and hung up, then leaped three feet into the air. Grabbing Zhao Pingchuan's hand, he said excitedly, "Ge, I found a job!"
Zhao Pingchuan said, "Congratulations."
Ji Ran hadn't expected him to say that, and he grew even more excited than before. "Thanks, Ge. You're my lucky star. With you here, everything I do goes smoothly."
No, Zhao Pingchuan thought. It's because you're already outstanding.
He had congratulated Ji Ran because his own company's bankruptcy had cost Ji Ran his job. Now that this regret had been put to rest, he felt relieved from the bottom of his heart.
Ji Ran was in high spirits. "Ge, you know Yusheng Technology, right? That was their HR calling me. I can start working there as soon as I graduate. My salary will be much higher than it is now, and we can have a better life!"
Of course Zhao Pingchuan knew Yusheng Technology. He worked in the same field, after all. Although it wasn't as large as Pingchuan Technology had been, it was still a good company.
The first thing Ji Ran had thought of after finding a job was improving their lives. Zhao Pingchuan couldn't help being moved.
They had lived together for nearly a month. Not only had Ji Ran shown no sign of disliking him, but he had also grown increasingly affectionate toward him. Zhao Pingchuan, too, seemed to be gradually getting used to this life.
He resisted going outside, but Ji Ran didn't think that would do. He coaxed and pestered him into going downstairs for a walk. "We'll just walk around downstairs. We won't leave the residential complex, okay?"
The two walked side by side for a few laps downstairs. The streetlights stretched their shadows long, intertwining them intimately.
At first, Zhao Pingchuan refused to communicate. He was used to hiding all his emotions deep inside. Ji Ran's enthusiasm was like a beam of light that shone into his gloomy world without warning, leaving him at a loss.
He had tried deliberately putting on a cold face and ignoring Ji Ran, even making things difficult for him on purpose, hoping to make him back off. But Ji Ran had never complained or given up.
No matter how coldly Zhao Pingchuan treated him, Ji Ran remained as gentle as ever, like a little sun, persistently warming this wounded man.
Even a block of ice would have melted.
After Ji Ran started interning at the new company, Zhao Pingchuan was left alone at home. But Ji Ran would make breakfast before leaving and prepare food for Zhao Pingchuan to put in the fridge.
Ji Ran went to all this trouble every day, and Zhao Pingchuan finally couldn't stand watching it anymore. "You don't need to do this. I can cook for myself."
Ji Ran thought it over. It wasn't good to keep eating food from the fridge, so he hesitantly agreed. After watching for a few days and seeing that Zhao Pingchuan really was eating properly, he finally felt reassured.
Because overtime was common at tech companies, Ji Ran bought Zhao Pingchuan a phone and got him a new SIM card so they could keep in touch more easily.
This time, Zhao Pingchuan didn't refuse.
Once, Ji Ran worked overtime until late at night. When he came home, he found Zhao Pingchuan sitting on the sofa waiting for him, with a bowl of steaming noodles on the table.
Ji Ran froze, his eyes growing hot and his voice catching. "Ge, why are you still awake? And you made noodles?"
Zhao Pingchuan avoided his gaze. His tone was as cold as ever, but it carried a hint of almost imperceptible tenderness. "You hadn't come home, and I was afraid you'd be hungry."
With that, he got up to return to his room, but Ji Ran caught hold of him.
Ji Ran looked at him, his eyes shining. "Ge, I'm so happy."
Zhao Pingchuan looked at his well-behaved smile. When he smiled, his two little pointed canine teeth made him look even more playful. Zhao Pingchuan suddenly felt an itch in his hand, wanting to touch Ji Ran's hair, which looked so soft.