Unlike earlier tentative kisses, this one revealed both Luo Xiao’s inexperienced technique and Wen Ran’s inexperience in intimacy. Their lips collided awkwardly, noses bumped, lips unsure how to meet.
Even though Wen Ran had boldly offered and positioned himself, now his neck and ears flushed crimson. Luo Xiao also struggled: how exactly does one kiss? He simply held Wen Ran close.
Breaking apart, they laughed at their shared clumsiness.
Wen Ran’s arms circled Luo Xiao’s neck, ears bright red: “You’ve really never kissed anyone before?”
“You talk like that?” Luo Xiao countered.
“First time for everything,” Wen Ran said, stepping on tiptoe to nuzzle his lips, boldly: “If you give me a few more chances, you’ll get it too.”
Luo Xiao smiled, rubbing Wen Ran’s reddened ear: “Little cat pretending to be a sly fox.”
“I’ll just pretend.”
Wen Ran hummed.
At that moment, his stomach let out a loud growl.
Luo Xiao laughed. “You didn’t eat after waking up?”
“Nope.”
Wen Ran was indeed hungry.
“Go take a shower,” Luo Xiao said, loosening his arm around Wen Ran’s waist and gently patting his side. “Change into some clean clothes, and I’ll head downstairs to the kitchen, see what I can make.”
“Don’t bother, let’s just order delivery.”
Wen Ran released his grip around Luo Xiao’s neck.
As they prepared to leave, Luo Xiao glanced at the painting on the easel. “Are you going to sell this to a gallery?”
“Nope,” Wen Ran replied, looking at it. “Let it dry here first. Later I’ll move it upstairs, into my room.”
“To keep me company while I sleep?”
Luo Xiao smiled as he stepped out. “I thought you’d say to give it to me.”
“Not yet,” Wen Ran said, following him. “Maybe when I paint a nude, that one I can give you.”
Luo Xiao chuckled, glancing around the messy studio—canvases, easels, scattered paint and palettes. He guessed this was Wen Ran’s usual workspace.
“Don’t forget your phone,” he reminded as they left and closed the door.
“Oh, right.” Wen Ran headed upstairs to shower.
Luo Xiao went downstairs to prepare something to eat. Soon, Wen Ran returned, showered and in clean pajamas, just as Luo Xiao served a bowl of tomato egg noodles at the table.
“Here, eat.” Luo Xiao handed over chopsticks. “It’s simple—if it’s not enough, I’ll make more.”
Wen Ran sniffed appreciatively and took the chopsticks. “Smells amazing. Thanks!”
Luo Xiao pulled up a chair and sat, watching him eat.
As they ate, Wen Ran chatted: “What did you send me earlier? I couldn’t find my phone upstairs—maybe it was downstairs or I threw it in the car.”
“Nothing much,” Luo Xiao said casually. “Just checking if you were coming to the shop, if you were awake.”
“I’m usually like this when I paint, hard to reach. Mom, friends—they’re used to it. They know when I don’t reply, I’m busy painting. If she’s worried, she comes to check.”
“I should have told you yesterday before I painted.”
“No need,” Luo Xiao said, watching him. “Do things your way, don’t change for me.”
Wen Ran raised an eyebrow and looked at him: “That’s rare. My mom always scolds me for not notifying her. I also dislike reporting in.”
Luo Xiao noticed a damp strand of hair sticking up and smiled. “Sometimes I leave without telling anyone, and my mom still scolds me. Normal—if someone cares, they worry.”
They laughed, talking about scoldings:
“My mom says I’ll rot before my time, and when I’m on my phone, she says I’m like a scoundrel tossing it aside for painting.”
Luo Xiao chuckled and shared about his own mother: “She often says I’m heartless, neglectful. When she scolds me, she drags my dad and brother in too. She says none of the men in our family are reliable. The only two mistakes in her life: marrying my dad and having me and my brother.”
Wen Ran laughed heartily.
The meal passed with casual chatter and laughter. Afterward, Wen Ran washed up and retrieved his phone, then settled on the living room rug, patting the spot beside him: “Want to watch a movie together?”
“Disaster or horror?”
“Too late—don’t leave. After the movie, you can use the guest room. I’ve slept already, very alert.”
Luo Xiao teased: “You mean I get to stay over?”
“Yes.”
Wen Ran nudged him like a roly-poly toy. “If you stay, I stay too.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Luo Xiao pulled his phone out.
“You gonna eat me?”
“Ah~!” Wen Ran bared his teeth, pretending to be fierce.
Luo Xiao laughed. To him, Wen Ran’s “ferocity” was more like a soft, annoyed bunny kicking its legs.
“What are you watching?” Wen Ran asked, scrolling through the TV.
Luo Xiao: “Why not a romance?”
“Afraid you’d fall for me if you did,” Wen Ran replied casually, grinning at himself.
“Then this one.” Wen Ran chose a nature documentary instead of a movie, and they watched together. He narrated: “It’s about a leopard named Anna. She didn’t hunt herself, depended on her mom until three. Later, her mom left, so she… relied on her mate. Then she had children, and… took care of them the same way.”
“You sound a little envious?” Luo Xiao teased.
“Of course! Who wouldn’t be?”
They talked while watching, phones set aside. By the time Luo Xiao checked his phone, it was nearly 1 a.m.
Wen Ran finished the documentary and started a disaster movie, sitting with his knees hugged. Luo Xiao’s phone buzzed—Luo Feng:
[We all finished eating and came back. You’re not here yet.]
[Tsk tsk]
Luo Xiao replied with a single dot and then messaged another contact labeled “Big Bro”:
[Bro, help me arrange a place to stay in City C, not too far from downtown.]
[Also a car, nothing too flashy.]
Sent, he set the phone aside to watch the movie. Soon, a reply came:
[City C? Weren’t you just going for a friend’s wedding?]
[OK]
[How long do you plan to stay?]
Luo Xiao replied: [Not short.]
[Still awake, so busy?]
Big Bro: [Jv女士’s matchmaking guy held me up all day.]
Luo Xiao chuckled: [Thumbs up.jpg]
Big Bro: [Why will you stay long in City C? Something going on?]
Originally he hadn’t intended to tell family so soon, but with Wen Ran, Luo Xiao was serious. He replied truthfully:
[Met an interesting guy.]
[Want to get to know him.]
Big Bro: [?]
[You’re gay?]
Luo Xiao was typing when another message popped up: [Jv女士 knows? She’ll be thrilled.]
[What kind of guy?]
He deleted some words and replied: [Very handsome.]
[Very lively.]
The other side immediately called via voice. The ringtone echoed through the living room.
Wen Ran glanced over; Luo Xiao signaled: “Just a sec, I’ll take it.”
“Mm.” Wen Ran turned back to the movie.
Luo Xiao walked barefoot into the hallway, answering the call. “Bro.”
A mature, low voice on the other end: “City C, what wind blew your sense into gear? Thought you only cared about hiking and climbing. How handsome and lively, got your heart racing? How long have you known him?”
Luo Xiao said little, letting Luo Feng tease: “Met last week.”
True to his style, Luo Feng offered: “I’ll give you a hundred million to get him. And if you do, Jv女士’s happy and the matchmaking stops, I’ll give you another five hundred million.”
“….” Luo Xiao laughed. “Using my feelings as your shield?”
Dream on.
He glanced back at Wen Ran watching the movie, replying: “We’re just getting to know each other…”
[OK, all arranged]
[Be proactive, take the initiative—treat, buy gifts, do what needs to be done]
[Try to get him in hand as soon as possible]
Luo Xiao didn’t check the messages immediately. He was bending down, planting a kiss on Wen Ran’s cheek. “Sleepy?”
“Mm.”
They watched another movie, but halfway through, Wen Ran’s yawns became frequent.
“Brother, I don’t want to watch anymore,” he murmured softly. “Can you carry me upstairs?”
Luo Xiao scooped him up effortlessly and headed for the stairs.
Wen Ran was obedient, wrapping his arms around Luo Xiao’s neck, nuzzling his face against his shoulder, whispering, “Thank you, brother~ You’re so good~”
A few minutes later, Luo Feng sent a follow-up:
[Do you know how to take the lead?]
[Don’t be shy]
[Can’t you Google some tips?]