“Settle the score?” Ti Xiao played dumb even at death’s door. “What score? I don’t owe you any money.”
“You owe something else,” Xiao Yao rested his hand on the car window beside Ti Xiao. “Playing dumb for a whole week, what do you say?”
“Add… add up the times, Old Guo?” Ti Xiao swallowed nervously.
He actually wanted to say, “Add up the times, Hupi Jiu, Old Guo!”
Xiao Yao just smiled without replying, and Ti Xiao shivered.
Ever since Ti Xiao started this whole “add up the times” thing—once a day from the start—it had skyrocketed to fifteen times a week.
Xiao Yao was relentless, disciplining him twice every night Monday through Friday—one quick and one slow, extremely considerate. Saturday night, three times, with the last one guaranteed to make Ti Xiao cry out loud.
Like a math teacher meticulously calculating, a solid fifteen times a week.
“What, you want to make it twenty times?” Ti Xiao suddenly got some guts to back himself, basically because “thick skin breeds courage and confidence.”
“You sure you won’t have kidney issues?” Xiao Yao asked next.
Ti Xiao mentally gave himself a round of applause.
Xiao Yao chuckled softly, “Aren’t you the one who knows my kidneys best?”
Then he leaned his whole body toward Ti Xiao, breathing even closer, pinching his cheeks, and tracing down to his earlobe.
The parking spot was already remote, under a large tree. The shade made it even more suitable for… certain activities.
Ti Xiao really didn’t want to get all worked up here again. Last time, driving out to the city’s edge, his head kept banging inside the car—on the seat, the ceiling, or even Xiao Yao’s head.
Most importantly, it was broad daylight. The neighborhood had people coming and going, and if Xiao Yao’s dad happened to come downstairs, Ti Xiao would be completely embarrassed.
A white handprint appeared on the glass from the warmth of Xiao Yao’s palm as he tightened his arm slightly and leaned down.
Then he rested his head on Ti Xiao’s neck, taking a deep breath.
He nearly scared Ti Xiao out of his mind.
“Xiao Xiao,” Xiao Yao said, “Remember what we agreed on before?”
“I remember,” Ti Xiao replied instinctively, completely unsure what he was talking about. Then quickly corrected himself, “Sorry, I don’t really remember…”
The head buried in his neck rubbed him a few times. “We said before that if anything happened, I’d tell you right away. What about you? How come you didn’t tell me something this big?”
Ti Xiao immediately wilted, trying to find an excuse for himself. “Sheng, Grandpa said you already knew about this…”
“I only found out Friday,” Xiao Yao said. “I just found out Friday that my father would be coming too.”
Ti Xiao sniffled. “I just agreed for you without thinking, worried you’d be unhappy…”
“If you didn’t say anything, how would I know whether I’d be happy or not?” Xiao Yao opened his mouth and bit down on his neck.
Ti Xiao howled, pushing Xiao Yao’s head away, then noticed a neat circle of teeth marks left on his neck.
“Next time, you’ll know what to do, right?” Xiao Yao bit him again and looked pleased, twisting the keys to start the car.
“Got it!” Ti Xiao covered his neck with his hand, afraid of another attack.
The whole ride back was quiet. When they reached their own apartment complex, Xiao Yao suddenly said, “If you want to make it twenty times, it’s not impossible.”
It sounded like Ti Xiao was putting him in a tough spot.
Ti Xiao glared and punched him once, “You talk too much.”
Rain started again during the night, and the temperature had actually dropped compared to the last few days. Outside, rolling thunder constantly rumbled, occasionally followed by a flash of lightning cutting across the dark sky.
Little Hūlu was sound asleep, while Xiao Huhu buried his head in a pile of wood shavings, only his trembling little butt sticking out.
Ti Xiao, listening to the rain and thunder, burrowed deeper into Xiao Yao’s arms.
Xiao Yao was looking at his phone, its screen lighting up his face. He reached out one hand to pull Ti Xiao closer. “Scared?”
“No way. How could I be scared of this?” Ti Xiao rolled over and wrapped his arms around Xiao Yao. “I’m just a little cold.”
“But don’t you think that when it’s damp and raining outside, and warm under the covers inside, hugging the person you love is one of the most comfortable things ever?” Ti Xiao said, snuggling closer into the warmth.
“Yeah.” Xiao Yao lowered his head and kissed him. “Being with you makes everything comfortable.”
Then he pressed closer to Ti Xiao’s ear and whispered, “Doing it with you is the most comfortable.” He even gently blew a breath on him.
Ti Xiao was totally defeated by this guy—he could turn anything into a dirty joke. So, right then, under the covers, he gave him a swift kick.
Xiao Yao turned off his phone screen and lay back, wrapping his arms around Ti Xiao. “I’m being serious.”
“Why don’t you still play truth or dare?” Ti Xiao pouted, starting a casual chat with Xiao Yao. After a while, Xiao Yao’s phone on the bedside table vibrated twice.
It was a message from Xiao Zhou, saying he was about to board.
Watching Xiao Yao reply, Ti Xiao suddenly remembered something. “So, Uncle isn’t coming back to the country anymore?”
“Yeah.” Xiao Yao answered, fingers flying across the screen, trying to send the message before Xiao Zhou’s phone went off. “He has work abroad, and this year he took leave to come back.”
“Is it to pay respects at Auntie’s grave?” Ti Xiao asked carefully, afraid to touch a sore spot.
After getting Xiao Zhou’s message, Xiao Yao’s phone vibrated twice again. He looked closely, then put the phone down with a smile. “Yes. I originally said I’d drive them to the airport at night, but was refused.”
“I want to ask you something,” Ti Xiao suddenly sat up straight.
“Go ahead.”
Ti Xiao hesitated before speaking. “I used to think you didn’t have a good relationship with Uncle, and by extension, with Auntie either. But last time, it seemed… well, not quite how I imagined. And Naomi and Xiao Yu too.”
“I won’t even mention Naomi and Xiao Yu,” Xiao Yao said, placing his hand on Ti Xiao’s waist and pulling him closer. “Auntie has been taking care of me because when I first went to France, I got really sick from not adapting to the environment and weather. It affected my daily life and even delayed my studies. So Auntie was basically looking after me the whole time.”
“Sick?” Ti Xiao caught the word. “What kind of illness? Are you still feeling unwell now?”
“Don’t worry,” Xiao Yao reassured him, “I got better a few years ago.”
Ti Xiao anxiously sat up and lifted his shirt. “Internal injury or external? Was it serious? Why didn’t you ever tell me about it? Where exactly was it?”
Seeing Ti Xiao’s worried frown, Xiao Yao chuckled softly, teasing him without meaning to, “External injury—here.”
He pointed down below.
“Where?” Ti Xiao’s eyes followed his finger.
“Here,” Xiao Yao grabbed Ti Xiao’s hand and pressed it firmly on the spot he tortured him every day. “You’re the one who healed me.”
“Xiao Yao!” Ti Xiao finally realized he was being teased and retaliated with a bit more force. “I’m gonna bite you!”
Whether he actually bit him or not was unclear, but Ti Xiao definitely felt the consequences of twenty sessions a week for the next seven days.
Still, things seemed to end perfectly. Before Xiao Zhou left the country, they had an embrace without any conflict—probably the best proof of all.
It was late June, the school exams were over, papers had been graded and scores released, parent-teacher meetings held, and the long two-month summer vacation was about to begin.
But for now, the exams had only just finished.
Ti Xiao stood at the school gate again, wearing a fisherman’s hat and blending in with a crowd of parents picking up their kids to meet Xiao Yao.
“I was assigned to grade exams,” Xiao Yao reported right after coming out. “Grading is done in a closed environment, so I’ll have to stay out for a day. I won’t be home the night after tomorrow.”
“Can’t come home?” Ti Xiao sipped his lemon water, mumbling. “How do you grade exams and not get to go home? Is your school this weird? I still have some left.”
“It’s not like that,” Xiao Yao took the cup from Ti Xiao’s hand naturally. “Unlike previous exams, this year’s papers were issued by the city. Before the results are out, there’s confidentiality rules…”
“Then just go,” Ti Xiao pulled Xiao Yao along from the front. “But don’t go looking too much at the hamsters outside.”
The hamsters outside? Definitely not cuter than me.
On the day Xiao Yao left for grading, he got up early, cooked a big pot of porridge and several dishes, pulled Ti Xiao out of bed from the covers while he was still sleeping, and told him how to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner—no overeating ice cream, no blasting the air conditioning.
Ti Xiao mumbled an ‘okay’ and fell back asleep as the door shut.
With Xiao Yao gone, Ti Xiao slept until noon. He even had a dream about someone at home talking, all about owing money, accompanied by squeaks and meows.
He tried to open his sleepy eyes, scratched his belly, and called out for Xiao Yao.
No answer.
He paused, then remembered Xiao Yao was grading exams and wouldn’t be home tonight.
Alone at home, Ti Xiao was a bit more productive than usual.
He cleared things off the living room carpet, made space, then lay down surrounded by snacks and drinks, with a bowl of hot food ready. Turning on the TV, he slipped back into lazy mode.
The TV was loud, snacks scattered on the floor, and as the sky outside darkened, Ti Xiao felt like he had returned to his single life.
Only his mood was very different—back then, he had only one tabby cat, Xiao Hulu. Now he had a long-legged Siamese and also Xiao Huhu.
Wait, when did Xiao Huhu climb on top of Xiao Hulu’s head?
Seeing how timid Xiao Hulu looked, Ti Xiao happily took some photos before rescuing Xiao Huhu.
He sent the pictures to Xiao Yao, followed by several shots of his hot meals, showing he was eating well, even updated a post on social media.
But every message he sent felt like it was dropped into a bottomless sea—no reply at all. Even his calls to Xiao Yao went unanswered; sometimes the call connected but no one picked up.
This left Ti Xiao a bit puzzled. How could grading exams be like being locked in solitary confinement? And no contact with family allowed?
Maybe Xiao Yao was still busy grading, Ti Xiao told himself, and planned to try calling again after dinner.
Feeling lonely, empty, cold, and utterly alone that night, Ti Xiao started a livestream. After he finished, like a worried mother, he kept calling and texting Xiao Yao to check in. Still no response.
However, the post he had shared earlier in the day gained one like.
It was from Xiao Yao.
Xiao Yao had also liked Ti Nanyi’s post today and even left a comment.
He could like posts but not reply to messages, and didn’t call back when people commented.
Great. Just great. Really great.
Ti Xiao squinted his eyes, feeling a little annoyed—how could such a tiny hamster be so cold? Fine, if you ignore me, I’ll ignore you.
He flipped over on the bed in a huff, dreaming of beating up Xiao Yao.
The next day, Ti Xiao waited by the window for Xiao Yao’s return. When he saw the familiar car approaching, he quickly ducked his head, dashed to the bedroom, and flopped onto the bed, pretending to be asleep.
Though he was happy to see Xiao Yao back, Ti Xiao had decided to play the lead role—making Xiao Yao experience being ignored for a change.
“Xiao Xiao.” The familiar voice called out. “I’m home.”
The only response was the meowing of Xiao Hulu and the squeaks of Xiao Huhu.
Ti Xiao wanted to throw off the covers and run to hug him, but he kept reminding himself to hold back.
“Xiao Xiao?” Xiao Yao came into the bedroom and saw Ti Xiao pretending to sleep. He lowered his voice. “I brought you some food.”
Ti Xiao sniffed quietly and really caught a delicious scent, almost blurting out, “What did you buy?”
Nope, must resist.
It was already four in the afternoon. The air outside was stiflingly hot. The air conditioner had been running all day, so Xiao Yao felt a bit uncomfortable when he first entered.
“Xiao Xiao? Are you awake?” Xiao Yao moved closer and called again.
He saw Ti Xiao’s eyelashes flutter lightly.
Pretending to sleep.
The air conditioner sent a cool breeze, crisp and cold. Xiao Yao rubbed his arms, then leisurely walked out of the bedroom without trying to wake Ti Xiao again.
The bedroom door was tightly shut, but the window was wide open. The hot, heavy air rushed in, and the cool air inside quickly disappeared.
Ti Xiao, wrapped in a blanket, soon broke out into a sweat.
He sat up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and glared angrily at the bedroom door, eyes full of murderous intent.
That old bastard actually turned off my air conditioner!
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