Pei Qingjian was a little surprised to see Lan Xingchen. “Why did you come out? Didn’t I tell you to wait inside?”
Lan Xingchen snorted. Could he not come out?
If he didn’t, his “wife” would be gone!
Yes—wife, Lan Xingchen silently repeated in his heart.
“I’ll pick you up,” he said softly. “Are you done talking?”
“Mm,” Pei Qingjian nodded.
He looked at Xiao Jin again. “I’ll head back now.”
“Okay,” Xiao Jin said with a smile. “Don’t forget the play the day after tomorrow. I’ll pick you up then.”
“Don’t worry,” Pei Qingjian’s eyes curved into a smile. “I won’t forget.”
Lan Xingchen: ??? Play? What play?
Wait… they even had plans to watch a play together?
Was this… a date?
He had never gone on a date with Pei Qingjian before!
Lan Xingchen instantly became alert. “What play? I want to see it too! Can I come?”
Pei Qingjian: ???
He looked at Lan Xingchen, puzzled.
Lan Xingchen’s expression was serious, as if he were a true theater enthusiast.
“Sure.” Xiao Jin, thinking he genuinely wanted to see the play, enthusiastically shouted for his senior, “It’s a play by my senior. It happens to be performing nearby the day after tomorrow. I have a few tickets—if you’re interested, you can come too.”
Lan Xingchen nodded. “Of course I’m interested.”
“See you then,” Xiao Jin smiled.
Afterward, he reminded Pei Qingjian of a few things and drove off.
Pei Qingjian, watching Xiao Jin leave, turned to Lan Xingchen, puzzled. “Since when did you get interested in plays?”
“When did you get interested in plays?” Lan Xingchen countered.
Pei Qingjian turned and headed toward his home.
“Xiao Jin said his senior is amazing, with excellent acting skills. He only does plays because he doesn’t want to be a star, so I want to go watch and learn from him.”
Lan Xingchen nodded. “Then I’ll go with you.”
Pei Qingjian chuckled. “I’m not a child who needs someone to accompany me. Besides, isn’t Xiao Jin already there?”
It was precisely because Xiao Jin was there that Lan Xingchen felt even more compelled to go!
Otherwise, if Xiao Jin’s feelings shifted and he tried to move from friend to boyfriend…
Lan Xingchen was lost in thought when Pei Qingjian turned to him. “By the way, why did you come all of a sudden? Is there something you need?”
Lan Xingchen froze, feeling a little embarrassed.
How should he even say it? Just blurt out: I like you. I want you to be my boyfriend?
Or: Our contract has ended. Can I pursue you now?
Or: Do you want to develop something beyond friendship with me?
He pondered over it the entire way up in the elevator without coming up with an answer.
“Why aren’t you at home?” He hadn’t figured out what to say, so he just asked, “You just moved out and already went out with Xiao Jin—you two are really close.”
Pei Qingjian sensed the teasing tone in his voice and couldn’t help laughing and shaking his head.
“Why are you always picking on Xiao Jin?” He held out the talisman he had gotten for Lan Xingchen. “Here, this is for you.”
Lan Xingchen looked at the talisman in his palm, puzzled. “For me?”
“Yes.” Pei Qingjian took his hand and placed the talisman there. “Xiao Jin said this temple’s talisman is very effective, so I went with him today.”
Lan Xingchen’s heart raced at this unexpected gesture.
“You should keep it for yourself.”
“I don’t need it,” Pei Qingjian smiled at him. “I’m a celebrity; I’m followed everywhere, so I’m usually safe. But you—I’ve been dreaming about you getting hurt these past few days and felt uneasy. That’s why I remembered Xiao Jin mentioning this temple and went with him.”
“You… went there for me?” Lan Xingchen asked.
Pei Qingjian nodded softly. “So you have to keep it safe. Don’t lose it.”
Lan Xingchen quickly nodded, holding the talisman, his eyes betraying a smile he couldn’t hide.
“Next time, we’ll go together, and I’ll get one for you too.”
Pei Qingjian thought about it and agreed with a small nod.
The elevator doors opened, and Pei Qingjian stepped out, following him closely and clutching the talisman.
He couldn’t believe that on the very first day after moving out, Pei Qingjian had gone to get a talisman for him.
While he had been worried about Pei Qingjian’s safety, Pei Qingjian had been worrying about him too.
This mutual concern made Lan Xingchen’s heart soar with joy.
He must like him too, he thought. Otherwise, why would he care so much?
Just because he dreamt of Lan Xingchen being hurt, he went to get the talisman—how could this not be a sign of affection?
Lan Xingchen laughed to himself at the thought.
When Pei Qingjian looked back, he caught the smile on Lan Xingchen’s face. “What are you smiling at?”
“Nothing,” Lan Xingchen quickly hid his smile.
“So, why did you really come here?” Pei Qingjian asked.
Lan Xingchen’s heart raced again.
He stared at Pei Qingjian, his pulse quickening.
Pei Qingjian met his gaze, and for a moment, even he felt an unfamiliar flutter in his chest.
He quickly averted his eyes, thinking: what’s going on? Why is he looking at me like that?
Lan Xingchen stole a glance at him out of the corner of his eye and realized Pei Qingjian was still staring.
His face flushed crimson.
“You… maybe you should eat first,” Pei Qingjian murmured.
Lan Xingchen looked at him. “Are you eating?”
“I already ate,” Pei Qingjian replied softly.
“Oh.” Lan Xingchen nodded. “Then there’s no rush.”
No rush for what? Pei Qingjian wondered.
He felt the atmosphere growing awkward and turned toward the bedroom, with Lan Xingchen trailing behind.
Lan Xingchen looked back, and Lan Xingchen froze instantly.
“Why are you following me?” Pei Qingjian asked.
Lan Xingchen frowned. “Can’t I?”
Pei Qingjian… had no response.
They walked into the bedroom, one after the other.
Pei Qingjian hadn’t finished unpacking some things and was taking items out of his suitcase to put in the wardrobe.
Lan Xingchen’s heart pounded even faster at the sight.
“Maybe… just leave them for now,” he said softly.
Pei Qingjian looked up, confused.
Lan Xingchen’s ears gradually flushed crimson, slowly deepening like the morning sky in summer.
Pei Qingjian: !!!
No, why are you blushing? Say something!
Lan Xingchen stared at him, then finally feigned calm. “I want to change our relationship.”
He said, “I don’t want to be friends anymore.”
Pei Qingjian: ???
Does not being friends make you blush like this?
“What do you want to be then?”
Lan Xingchen’s face was faintly red as he stepped closer, his eyes shining like winter stars. His voice was small, almost hesitant.
“Our contract has ended, right?” Lan Xingchen asked.
Pei Qingjian nodded. “Mm.”
“So the rules in the contract no longer apply, right?”
Pei Qingjian continued nodding. “Mm.”
“Then if I like you now, it wouldn’t be breaking any rules, right?”
Pei Qingjian: !!!
Pei Qingjian froze, staring at him with wide eyes full of surprise.
Lan Xingchen felt a wave of panic, worried Pei Qingjian might misunderstand. “The contract’s over! That definitely doesn’t count as breaking it!”
He hurried to clarify, “Besides, haven’t we gotten along really well before?”
“Of course.” He quickly patched himself up, “I’m not saying that just because I like you, you have to like me back. I just want to pursue you.”
Lan Xingchen looked at him uncertainly. “I… can pursue you, right?”
Pei Qingjian: …
Pei Qingjian was momentarily stunned by the sheer weight of his declaration.
Lan Xingchen thought he had scared him, but soon realized: no one says friends can’t use each other’s birthdays as a password, and no one says friends can’t get talismans for each other.
Maybe Pei Qingjian really only saw him as a friend, a good friend.
Still, now that Lan Xingchen suddenly revealed that his “good friend” had other intentions, it was understandable for Pei Qingjian to be taken aback.
Especially considering they had agreed before not to fall for each other.
“I know this might be a lot to process at first,” Lan Xingchen said earnestly. “But I think you can take some time to think, observe—like a trial period, just like signing a contract. Don’t rush to reject me. Give me a chance, and give yourself a chance. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find that I’m more suitable as your boyfriend than just a friend.”
Pei Qingjian laughed immediately. “And if I’m not suitable?”
Lan Xingchen: ???
Not suitable? How could that be?
He was definitely suitable!
Lan Xingchen carefully answered, “Then you can extend the trial period as needed.”
Pei Qingjian nodded. “Until the day I feel you’re right for me?”
Lan Xingchen: …
He nodded boldly.
Pei Qingjian’s smile instantly grew brighter.
Lan Xingchen felt a little bashful under that radiant smile, yet he couldn’t be embarrassed into silence. He pressed on, “I promise, if there’s anything you don’t like, I’ll change it. Really.”
Pei Qingjian tilted his head teasingly. “Really? Then I’ll have to think about it carefully.”
“No problem. Take your time,” Lan Xingchen replied without hesitation.
“It’s just…” He glanced at Pei Qingjian’s suitcase. “Could you… move back in? I haven’t slept well without you.”
“I just moved out yesterday,” Pei Qingjian reminded him.
Lan Xingchen quickly countered, “Exactly! That’s why I didn’t sleep well yesterday!”
He continued, “Tossing and turning all night, thinking about it… couldn’t sleep a wink.”
Pei Qingjian looked surprised. He had no idea it was that bad. Why hadn’t he said anything sooner?
He pretended to think. “I’ll consider it.”
Lan Xingchen nodded. “Then until you decide, I’ll stay at your place.”
Pei Qingjian: ???
Lan Xingchen smiled slightly, his expression serious. “It’ll make it convenient for your observation.”
Pei Qingjian: …
He couldn’t help laughing again.
Although he didn’t understand how Lan Xingchen jumped from friendship to declaring he wanted to be his boyfriend, he was glad he’d reached that realization.
“Fine then,” Pei Qingjian said, pretending to reluctantly agree.
Lan Xingchen thought he was unbearably cute—gentle and adorable, truly deserving of being his long-reserved “wife.”
He quickly moved the suitcase aside. “Don’t bother unpacking these for now. Maybe in a couple of days we’ll need to put them back anyway.”
Pei Qingjian: …
He smiled, saying nothing.
Lan Xingchen quietly took his hand.
His movements were gentle, lightly stroking Pei Qingjian’s fingers.
Pei Qingjian instantly felt shy from this intimate gesture.
“What are you doing?” he whispered.
Lan Xingchen’s action had no hidden meaning—he was just happy, simply wanting to be close, to be affectionate.
He looked at Pei Qingjian without speaking, his eyes full of tender emotion.
Pei Qingjian grew even more bashful under that gaze.
“You haven’t eaten yet. Go eat,” he stammered.
Lan Xingchen nodded. “What should I eat?”
“Do you even need to ask me? Can’t you decide yourself?!”
“Anything’s fine,” Pei Qingjian replied.
“What do you want to eat?”
“I already ate,” Pei Qingjian said softly.
“Then maybe eat a little more,” Lan Xingchen suggested.
Seeing the warmth in his eyes, Pei Qingjian felt as if honey had spilled into his heart, melting it entirely.
“Honey toast,” he said.
“Then we’ll have grilled meat,” Lan Xingchen continued, still keeping his eyes on him.
“Oh,” Pei Qingjian didn’t object. But he couldn’t help noticing Lan Xingchen still holding his hands… Didn’t he need to order food? Why wasn’t he letting go?!