“I heard Qiao Hailou’s injuries are almost healed. So you probably won’t have to keep running over there all the time, right?”
After saying this, Li Chen quietly observed Shen Yuan’s reaction. Shen Yuan’s body stiffened slightly before he replied, “Hmm… Uncle Qiao has started trying to walk again, but he’s not fully recovered yet. I figure I’ll wait until he can move around freely. I can’t just go up to him and say, ‘Uncle Qiao, you probably don’t need someone to take care of you anymore, right?’ Maybe I’ll wait a bit longer.”
Li Chen nodded. “Just decide for yourself.”
Over the past few months, Li Chen had often felt like something was missing, but he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was—something that made him uneasy. Last weekend, when Li Lin suddenly complained, “Brother, you said you had things to do again and didn’t come back,” Li Chen realized what it was: Shen Yuan. He had been gone.
Shen Yuan had never been a loud or boisterous child. He was quiet in just the right way, like a gentle little dog—clingy, sweet, and thoughtful. Only when Shen Yuan wasn’t around did Li Chen realize how much he’d enjoyed Shen Yuan being attached to him. It wasn’t just weekends; whenever he had free time, he’d run over to the Li household, often shyly showing off his latest designs: “Uncle, what do you think of this drawing I did?”
He wouldn’t outright ask for praise, but his wide, bright eyes seemed to silently say, “Can you compliment me?”
Li Chen had always found it amusing and adorable. Shen Yuan, thinking he had to act serious so no one would underestimate him, thought of himself as a responsible adult, but to Li Chen, those were just small antics—he was still very much a child, no more mature than Li Lin.
Li Chen had never thought much of it, assuming it was normal. But over the past few months, Shen Yuan had stopped coming around so much, and Li Chen… felt a little lonely.
Recently, he’d noticed Shen Yuan seemed a bit distant. But considering the circumstances—Qiao Hailou had broken his leg trying to save him—Shen Yuan, being sentimental, felt guilty and understandably focused on Qiao Hailou. Li Chen couldn’t fault him for that. Now, with Qiao Hailou’s recovery almost complete, he figured Shen Yuan no longer needed to be there as his personal caregiver every day.
That meant Shen Yuan could still come to the Li household on weekends, when all the kids were home—it would be lively again.
If his uncle hadn’t brought it up, Shen Yuan might have forgotten how accustomed he’d become to staying at Qiao Hailou’s place.
At first, they’d tried to keep up appearances. Qiao Hailou had set up a guest room for him, but Shen Yuan rarely slept there, preferring the big, expensive, comfortable bed in Qiao Hailou’s room.
Now, reminded of it, Shen Yuan finally realized: he wasn’t living with Qiao Hailou for fun—he was there to take care of him during his illness. It still made sense for now, but as Qiao Hailou regained the ability to walk on his own, Shen Yuan no longer had a valid reason to stay.
No family, no close relatives—just a friend’s kid—it wouldn’t make sense to keep staying at Qiao Hailou’s.
When Shen Yuan returned home, he complained to Qiao Hailou with a pout: “My uncle said your injuries are almost healed, so I shouldn’t keep coming over and bothering you.”
Qiao Hailou pinched his cheek. “Then if you can’t come openly, sneak over quietly.”
Shen Yuan thought about it. That seemed like the only option. Then he tilted his head and asked, “Why do I have to come to your house? Why can’t you come to mine?”
“Not this debate again,” Qiao Hailou sighed. “Fine. I’ll transfer this house to your name. Then I can come over to your place—how’s that?”
Shen Yuan almost couldn’t breathe. “!!!”
Shen Yuan: “No way!”
Qiao Hailou: “You know your place is crowded and busy. With your uncle and brother around, it’s safer for you to be here.”
Shen Yuan knew he was being unreasonable, but he couldn’t help wanting to argue just to see Qiao Hailou get exasperated and helpless.
That Wednesday would be Qiao Hailou’s 38th birthday.
When he had been hospitalized, Shen Yuan had seen his ID and memorized the date quietly. The day before his birthday, he grinned: “Uncle Qiao, tomorrow’s your 38th birthday. Happy older-by-one-year day.”
Qiao Hailou, who hated being told he was getting older, choked a little, then laughed: “Words aren’t enough. Aren’t you going to give me a gift?”
Shen Yuan, defending himself: “I’m broke. You’re so rich, Uncle Qiao, don’t mind me. Anything I give you is cheap in comparison—you won’t care anyway.”
Qiao Hailou, teasing: “How could I not care? As long as it’s from you, I care.”
Shen Yuan blushed, awkwardly presenting a small square box tied with silk ribbon. “…I made this myself. It’s ordinary, nothing valuable.”
Qiao Hailou opened it. Inside was a brooch with a moon motif. Clearly handmade, not perfect, but with a certain texture and beauty.
He played with it a moment, then pinned it to his collar.
Shen Yuan: “…Your clothes are so expensive, and you put on something so cheap. Doesn’t it clash?”
Qiao Hailou, genuinely happy, looked at him with blazing eyes, warm and embracing like the sun sinking into the sea: “I think this is more precious than all my jewelry. It’s your heart in it.”
Shen Yuan was caught off guard, his heart racing. Despite being mortified, he couldn’t look away. He even thought Qiao Hailou was… handsome.
After a moment, he lowered his head and pulled out two movie tickets. “I… I also bought tickets for ‘XX.’ The midnight premiere tomorrow—it’s the first public showing. Want to go?”
Qiao Hailou wasn’t a movie buff.
He had never been to a midnight showing before. The theater was packed, full of fans wanting to see the movie as soon as possible.
Shen Yuan explained: “It’s the second in the series, but you should be able to follow even if you haven’t seen the first one.”
Qiao Hailou asked: “You really like it?”
Shen Yuan: “It’s okay. My little brother recommended it.”
Shen Yuan blushed slightly, embarrassed to look at Qiao Hailou. He wasn’t really interested in the movie—he just wanted to do something together on Qiao Hailou’s birthday.
Shen Yuan cheerfully added: “After the premiere, I can spoil a bit for Li Lin so he gets jealous.”
Qiao Hailou shook his head, smiling. “You’re so naughty.”
Li Lin had been feeling irritated lately. His brother kept running off to that annoying Qiao Hailou’s house, never at home. Normally, he stayed at school during the week, only home on weekends—but now he couldn’t even see him then.
Since starting senior year, schoolwork had been intense. He had little time for gaming, occasionally livestreaming himself doing homework in the dorm. When he got stuck, he’d ask viewers for help, then log off. Yet somehow, his popularity kept growing. Were these fans all masochists?
Sometimes he sang while working. Tips poured in, and his little savings grew steadily.
He was especially annoyed because his favorite movie, “XX,” premiered today—on a school day—and he was stuck at school!
Feeling stressed enough to worry about his mental health, he asked the teacher for leave to stay home tonight. Normally well-behaved, the teacher noted his mood lately and didn’t press him. Teachers knew that students who bottle things up often hit breaking points in senior year, so they approved it, telling him he could skip morning self-study and just arrive before the first class.
Li Lin didn’t go home either—he planned to stay in a hotel near the theater, having booked two central seats in row five for the midnight premiere.
He still brought homework, livestreaming until 11:40 PM, then packed up and headed to the theater. Halfway there, he realized he forgot his fan T-shirt and went back to change. No rush. He bought a bucket of popcorn and a soda, then leisurely queued for 3D glasses. By the time he entered, the lights were dim.
Finding his seat, he mindlessly munched popcorn. The movie’s pacing was slow—less exciting than the previous one.
Then he overheard the man in front whispering, explaining the plot to his companion. The man got frustrated, scolding in a coarse, sharp whisper: “You idiot, are you asleep?! It’s your birthday and I kindly brought you to the movie—don’t you dare sleep! If you do, don’t think you’ll sleep tonight!”
His companion, also a guy, laughed: “What, you don’t want me to sleep? Even if I straddle you? Isn’t that better?”
Wait… were these two guys flirting?
Li Lin was appalled—and then realized… the scolding voice sounded like his brother, Shen Yuan!
No. Impossible. His brother couldn’t be so crude, so vulgar, so obscene!