Chapter 84
The next afternoon, the two of them dragged their suitcases, put on masks and hats, and boarded the train.
The wind was biting, and deep winter had already arrived. Their outfits looked perfectly normal for the season, though a few people still glanced their way, drawn by their presence.
Taking advantage of how tightly he was bundled up, Lin Huaixi curled his lips and let out a few huffy little snorts through his nose.
Qi Wang sensed his mood and knew he could not keep playing dumb, so he leaned closer and coaxed him in a gentle voice.
“Does it still sting badly? I already put medicine on it this morning. I promise, it’ll definitely be better by tomorrow.”
Lin Huaixi mercilessly stepped on Qi Wang’s foot. “Tomorrow is too late. We’re going back to Grandma’s house today. What if Grandma and Grandpa notice?”
All puffed up with indignation, Lin Huaixi nearly lost control of his volume. “I already pushed you away yesterday and told you to stop kissing me, but you still came closer. And I didn’t bite you this time, okay? You did that to yourself, so don’t frame me!”
The people waiting for the train were all hurrying about, heads down as they looked at their phones to pass the time. Lin Huaixi was not loud, but the moment the sensitive word kiss was heard, the young woman in front of them, who had been scrolling on her phone, froze and whipped her head around.
Their faces were covered up tightly, but with her experience, she judged at a glance: with those builds, with that aura, they were definitely two handsome guys.
The slightly shorter one was wrapped in a thick knitted scarf, and the hood of his coat was trimmed with a soft ring of fur. His eyes were clear and clean, now tinged with anger, as if veiled with a layer of moisture.
The other young man was dressed all in black, with broad shoulders and long legs, his aura cool and aloof, the lines of his features sharp and severe. And yet his gaze was gentle as he bent close to the other boy’s ear and murmured to him, his attitude flawless—like a proud beast willingly lowering its head, putting away its fangs and claws, racking its brains only to coax you back into a good mood.
The young woman in front stole a few more glances, then very restrainedly looked away.
Loved it. Loved looking. A feast for the eyes.
Lin Huaixi did not notice the little episode at all. His temper was usually good, but Qi Wang had gone too far this time, and it had made him lose his temper.
Qi Wang secretly hooked Lin Huaixi’s little finger with his own and gave it a coquettish little swing. “This time was my fault. I promise I won’t do that again next time.”
Lin Huaixi shot up a brow. “There’s still going to be a next time?!”
Qi Wang paused, his gaze falling through the mask to Lin Huaixi’s slightly swollen lips. “So there can’t ever be another time?”
Lin Huaixi: “…”
He understood the implication behind Qi Wang’s words, and he also caught the ambiguity in them.
Honestly speaking, he was infatuated with Qi Wang’s scent and warmth. He loved sticking to him too, so much that he wished they could spend every spare moment glued together. If he was never allowed to kiss him again after this, it would practically kill him.
He might as well just shave his head on the spot, renounce the world, and become a monk in a temple.
Lin Huaixi was the first to panic. “That’s not what I meant. I meant you need to know when to stop—especially when there’s something important the next day.”
“And what if there isn’t anything important the next day?” Qi Wang immediately seized on the key point.
Lin Huaixi wanted to refuse righteously, but somehow he could not get the words out. His expression turned subtle.
That tiny pause was enough for Qi Wang to catch his real thoughts at once, and the curve of his lips grew wider and wider. “Okay, I understand.”
Lin Huaixi’s ears slowly turned red. He glared at him fiercely and warned, “What do you understand?”
Qi Wang complied at once. “I don’t understand anything.”
Only then did Lin Huaixi feel somewhat appeased and slowly look away.
After they got on the train, the seatbacks in front of them were high enough that almost no one could see them. After putting away the luggage, Qi Wang reached a hand toward him.
Before Lin Huaixi could react, he only felt the tip of his ear hooked lightly, and then his mask was taken off.
Qi Wang’s handsome face was suddenly very close, his gaze full of concern. Tilting Lin Huaixi’s chin with one hand, he inspected him carefully from every angle. Only then did he let out a small breath. “The ointment works well. The swelling’s gone down already. It’s just still a little red.”
Lin Huaixi nodded. Thinking of the cut at the corner of Qi Wang’s mouth, he frowned and wanted to check on him too, but Qi Wang tilted his head and dodged his hand.
“I’m fine. I barely feel it anymore. The wound just won’t heal instantly.”
Last night, Lin Huaixi had had no experience. Afraid of hurting Qi Wang, he had already tried very hard to hold back his teeth, but Qi Wang’s movements had been too intense, and the small wound had been tugged wider and wider. By the time Lin Huaixi tasted rust, he had realized something was wrong—but it had already been too late.
Lin Huaixi instructed him, “Don’t eat anything too spicy. Rinse with light salt water after every meal. Put medicine on it three times a day.”
Qi Wang soothed him by patting the back of his hand. “It’s just a small cut. Don’t worry.”
Though it was not exactly his fault, he had also failed to restrain himself, so he counted as an accomplice. Lin Huaixi did not know how to express what he was feeling, and suddenly blurted out, “I dirtied your shoes just now. I’ll wash them for you later.”
Qi Wang’s eyes curved with a smile, sunlight seeming to gather in them even in the cold winter.
He knew this was Lin Huaixi’s special way of showing concern, and the soft affection in his heart nearly overflowed. “Those are the shoes you gave me. It’s fine even if they get dirty.”
That was what he said, but Qi Wang was a clean freak, and Lin Huaixi worried he might feel uncomfortable anyway. “Really, it’s okay?”
“It’s okay.”
Lin Huaixi had also noticed that Qi Wang’s cleanliness issues had been getting lighter and lighter. Yesterday they had both ended up drenched in sweat and even rolled down under the sofa, and Qi Wang had not furrowed his brow even once—never mind what had happened with their lips and teeth.
…
The details from last night surfaced in his mind, and Lin Huaixi suddenly felt hot. He fanned himself with one hand beside his face and did not dare think any further.
They jolted along the road for four or five hours. Only after the last trace of light vanished from the sky and darkness settled over everything did they finally reach the road entrance and spot, from afar, that warm yellow lamp they had been longing for day and night.
The exhaustion of the journey vanished completely. Lin Huaixi could not wait even a moment longer and dragged his suitcase forward at a run.
The little courtyard drew closer and closer, and Lin Huaixi felt as if he could already picture Grandma and Grandpa standing at the door waiting for them.
He had just taken one more step when a loving voice sounded from behind him. “Xixi.”
Lin Huaixi froze and turned around blankly, only to see Grandpa standing in the dark by the wall, looking at him with a face full of joy.
Though Grandpa had spoken to Lin Huaixi on the phone, he had still been worried and had come out specifically to wait for him. That was why they had nearly passed each other by.
They had not seen each other for so long. Grandpa looked older than he had in Lin Huaixi’s memory, his back more stooped too. Lin Huaixi could clearly see the traces time had left on them.
The emotions surging in his heart burst out all at once. Throwing down his suitcase, Lin Huaixi rushed forward and hugged Grandpa. “I’m back, Grandpa. I missed you so much.”
Lin Huaixi was already a full head taller than Grandpa, but Grandpa still treated him like a child, patting him happily on the shoulder. “It’s enough that you’re back. Grandpa will make you delicious food every day.”
Qi Wang walked over too and greeted Grandpa with a smile.
“Alright, don’t stand out here any longer. Go and see your grandma. She’s been talking about you for a whole week already. Her eyesight isn’t good, but she still spent an entire afternoon at the new snack shop down the next street buying you all kinds of treats. The cabinet nearly couldn’t hold them.”
As soon as Grandpa finished speaking, they pushed open the door and saw Grandma still wearing her apron.
Grandma froze, then hurried toward Lin Huaixi and the others, tears seeming to glimmer in her eyes.
Lin Huaixi seemed to turn back into the little child who had once toddled along on unsteady feet and spoken in a milky little voice. Holding Grandpa’s arm with one hand, he leaned his head against Grandma’s shoulder and chattered excitedly about everything that had happened recently.
The atmosphere was warm and harmonious. Grandpa and Grandma were in good spirits, so happy that they kept talking and talking with Lin Huaixi. Even after dinner they did not go out for their usual walk, determined to spend every possible second with their grandson.
But elderly people had limited energy. After nine o’clock, Lin Huaixi could already tell that Grandma and Grandpa were getting tired, so he urged them to return to their room.
Only then did Grandma remember what she had meant to say earlier. “We helped clean your room, and the one next door has been tidied up too. If there’s anything you don’t like, we can adjust it tomorrow. Qi Wang, you should rest early too.”
Qi Wang looked surprised. As the owner of that room, he knew better than anyone how much work it would take to clean. The two elders had probably spent an entire week bustling around for it.
“That was far too hard on you.” Worry filled his gaze. “Grandpa, Grandma, can your bodies really handle that?”
Grandpa waved a hand. “It’s fine. Once you get old, you can’t sit still anyway. We know our limits. We didn’t tire ourselves out.”
Grandma smiled and patted Lin Huaixi’s hand. “Xixi, the bed in your room is too small, so we got you a new one. But the company had some issue today and couldn’t deliver it on time, so tonight you’ll have to squeeze in with Qi Wang.”
Lin Huaixi’s expression stalled. Almost instinctively, he looked toward Qi Wang, only to find Qi Wang looking back at him too.
Tonight… he was going to sleep in the same bed as Qi Wang?
