Lu Chen deliberately looked down at He Xiaoyuan in his arms—even knowing that drunk words and actions weren’t entirely sincere.
The boy’s eyes were closed, drunkenness evident. The kiss had come from alcohol, not entirely from intent.
Lu Chen smiled, slightly helpless, yet a surge of excitement pulsed through him from the sudden kiss.
He even considered drinking a bit more himself tonight—so that when He Xiaoyuan hugged and kissed him, he could act on impulse.
Or, if he were five or six years younger, he might feel the same without any alcohol at all.
Thinking too much, he chuckled quietly.
Being kissed had made him very happy. His smile stretched nearly to his temples.
He Xiaoyuan, drunk, was joyful and content in Lu Chen’s arms.
The young man, not fully asleep, felt a rush of excitement, thinking: It’s been less than a year since I got the offer to join Sipu—my life’s turned completely around. I’m so lucky, so happy.
Completely intoxicated He Xiaoyuan: Especially since I met Lu Ge.
Yes, Lu Ge.
Lu Chen.
He hugged Lu Chen tighter, a pure, instinctive, whole-hearted trust and dependence.
Lu Ge, Ge, Lu Chen…
He Xiaoyuan’s thoughts grew hazy, still murmuring inside:
I’m really happy.
I really like Lu Ge.
I like him so much.
Like.
Especially like.
Just like!
He pressed his cheek against Lu Chen, snuggling affectionately, acting like a spoiled little He He.
This rare soft, coquettish side made Lu Chen unable to resist. Not only did he let He Xiaoyuan cling and nuzzle him, he leaned down, kissing the boy’s soft hair twice.
He didn’t move to get up; they stayed lying together.
He Xiaoyuan rubbed against him; Lu Chen stroked his hair.
He Xiaoyuan hugged him tighter; Lu Chen hugged back.
Completely intimate.
Eventually, He Xiaoyuan truly fell asleep, breathing softly, unmoving. Lu Chen stayed still a while, then slowly freed his arm from under the boy, preparing to rise and settle him properly.
As he moved, He Xiaoyuan let out a dissatisfied “Mm,” tightening his arms around Lu Chen.
Lu Chen, usually decisive and action-oriented, indulged him, lying there a while longer.
Finally, seeing the boy fully asleep, Lu Chen tried again, but He Xiaoyuan clung tighter, refusing to let go.
Lu Chen smiled, eyes full of affection, gazing at him.
Fine, if he won’t move, he won’t either.
The heating was warm, so no worries—they’d just sleep like this.
Lu Chen stretched, pulling the blanket over He Xiaoyuan, then leaned back, closed his eyes, and slept.
At some unknown hour, He Xiaoyuan, half-asleep, felt warm and began tossing and turning under the covers.
Lu Chen woke, saw the boy missing from his arms under the still-on light, and quietly called, “Xiaoyuan.” He got up, removed his shoes, then his pants and shirt.
After getting him tucked safely under the blanket, Lu Chen switched off the main light, turned on the bedside lamp, leaned against the headboard, watching He Xiaoyuan’s serene face, and softly asked, “Want some water?”
He Xiaoyuan didn’t stir.
Seeing his face normal, Lu Chen left briefly and returned with two cups of water.
He Xiaoyuan held one cup of water, sipping the other as he walked to the bedside, setting the cups down.
Just as Lu Chen considered whether to take a shower, He Xiaoyuan on the bed shifted. He flipped a couple of times, then his hand stretched out from under the blanket, as if searching for something, muttering a low, dissatisfied sound.
Was he looking for him?
Lu Chen reached out.
Their hands met, and in his sleep, He Xiaoyuan grabbed Lu Chen’s hand, tugging him closer into the embrace.
Lu Chen relaxed, letting the boy’s strength guide him, bending his body to meet face to face. Up close, the soft fuzz on He Xiaoyuan’s sleeping face caught the backlit glow perfectly—serene, delicate, impossible to look away from.
Lu Chen smiled softly.
No need to worry about a shower now. He simply let the boy pull him in, one hand slipping to undo his waistband.
After removing his trousers and unbuttoning a few shirt buttons, he climbed under the blanket. Almost instinctively, He Xiaoyuan in his sleep nestled closer, draping his shoulder against Lu Chen’s, one bare leg slipping over his, arms entwined—they were back in the same tight embrace as before.
Unable to resist, Lu Chen leaned down and kissed the crown of He Xiaoyuan’s head.
…
By late morning, He Xiaoyuan woke up.
He had a slight headache, a natural consequence of the hangover. Slowly opening his eyes, memories of the night and early morning flashed back—so wild, too much fun, drinking beer like it was water. He laughed, rubbing his head.
Turning over, he realized someone was beside him.
Opening his eyes fully, he saw Lu Chen’s arm exposed from the blanket, shirt collar loosened.
“Ge?”
He lifted his head, confirming that it was indeed Lu Chen.
This time, unlike before, he didn’t immediately assume anything about sleeping together. He accepted waking up beside Lu Chen as completely normal, remembering that Lu Chen had carried him back to bed drunk. No memory gap.
He turned toward Lu Chen, perhaps still half-asleep, perhaps carrying over the emotions from last night, and leaned closer, draping an arm over him in a trusting hug, closing his eyes.
After a few seconds, he opened them again, lifted his head, and remembered something:
Yesterday, during the game, Lu Chen had mentioned having a crush and even love at first sight…
In the past?
Who had he liked?
That afternoon, He Xiaoyuan went to Xu Ruomeng’s place.
Xu Ruomeng was standing by the mirror, trying on the designer bag He Xiaoyuan had given her for New Year. He Xiaoyuan sat by the sofa, holding his phone, seemingly scrolling, but in reality still thinking about the question that had arisen when he woke up at noon:
Who had Lu Ge liked before?
Classmates? Colleagues?
Someone he met through work?
Someone he knew privately?
Someone he could have experienced love at first sight and a secret crush with? The person must have been exceptional…
“Xiaoyuan, do you think this bag goes well with this outfit?”
He refocused, turning to look at her. Xu Ruomeng, in front of the dressing mirror, had turned with the bag over her shoulder, and he scrutinized her carefully, then nodded: “Looks good.”
“Really?”
Xu Ruomeng smiled, continuing to admire her new bag in the mirror.
He Xiaoyuan’s gaze immediately drifted back to his earlier thought: the person must have been extraordinary. Love at first sight, indeed…
He Xiaoyuan’s expression was certain.
Xu Ruomeng, from her mirror perspective, noticed his look. While admiring her bag, she casually asked: “What are you thinking?”
He Xiaoyuan, returning to reality: “Nothing.”
Still looking in the mirror, Xu Ruomeng wasn’t convinced. “I can see it all.”
She asked again: “What are you thinking?”
He Xiaoyuan leaned on the sofa, pondering. “Xiaomeng, if someone is exceptionally outstanding, what kind of person would they have a secret crush on and even fall in love at first sight?”
Xu Ruomeng, still checking the bag from different angles in the mirror, didn’t hesitate: “You mean outstanding… a guy or a girl?”
He Xiaoyuan: “A guy.”
Xu Ruomeng, confidently: “Do you even need to ask? Obviously, the person’s face must be good-looking.”
He Xiaoyuan, who didn’t put much stock in looks, hesitated. “Not necessarily…”
Xu Ruomeng continued, still adjusting her reflection: “If they were like you or me? Love at first sight would be completely normal.”
He Xiaoyuan considered it and thought that made sense.
He picked up his phone, scrolled randomly, then set it down, continuing: “How long do secret crushes usually last?”
He had never had one and had no experience, so he asked.
Xu Ruomeng in front of the mirror: “Hard to say. Some people, six months, a year?” She wasn’t certain either.
“Some people, if long-lasting, maybe three to five years.”
He Xiaoyuan thought: I see.
Then he wondered: Is Lu Chen still secretly interested in that person now?
Xu Ruomeng casually said: “Why are you asking about this?”
She glanced at the sofa: “Do you have a crush?”
He Xiaoyuan: “No, not me. Just asking.”
He returned to his thoughts: in the past… Were the secret crush and love at first sight the same person?
???
Later, using Xu Ruomeng’s bathroom, he washed his hands at the sink. His gaze caught the mirror, and he looked at his reflection, thinking silently: Love at first sight means the person must be good-looking?
Could they be as good-looking as him?
“More handsome than me?”
Thinking about it, he ended up washing his hands far longer than usual, completely unaware of the time passing.
But when he came out of the bathroom and picked up his phone, He Xiaoyuan decided not to speculate—this was personal, and if Lu Chen didn’t want to answer, this would be the only time he asked.
He sent his curiosity over WeChat.
Not long after, Lu Chen replied: [Don’t be so curious.]
He Xiaoyuan: [Come on, tell me.]
After a moment’s thought, he added: [I’m not asking for names, just the general idea.]
Lu Chen: [So curious?]
He Xiaoyuan: [Yeah.]
Lu Chen: [If I tell you, will you believe me?]
He Xiaoyuan: [Of course.]
Lu Chen: [And if you don’t?]
He Xiaoyuan: [How could I not?]
This was turning into some kind of teasing back-and-forth.
Lu Chen: [It’s you.]