The ache had lingered deep into the night, refusing to fade. Instead, it only grew sharper, more piercing.
Su Pu tossed and turned in bed, but now it wasn’t nightmares that haunted him—his mind was entirely consumed by Li Jichuan.
So Li Jichuan had once held those bright, unrealistic hopes for the world, too.
So his coming-of-age had been this cruel, heartbreaking.
Su Pu rose and checked the time: past midnight.
Li Jichuan should be asleep by now…
Not daring to disturb him, Su Pu opened their chat history, scrolling through their past conversations.
At first, when he had just moved into Li Jichuan’s apartment, their exchanges had been minimal. But gradually, those small interactions grew into habits.
Every time Su Pu finished his shift, he’d send Li Jichuan a coffee emoji with a question mark.
Li Jichuan would reply with a sleepy emoji, and Su Pu knew to bring up two cups of coffee.
Sometimes, Li Jichuan would playfully send a trumpet emoji—Su Pu would laugh and intentionally make the simplest Americano as a “punishment.”
Sometimes, Li Jichuan would send a string of flames, signaling a bad mood. In that case, besides coffee, Su Pu would pick out a piece of cake.
Li Jichuan would complain that it wasn’t healthy—but he always ate it all.
Scrolling through, Su Pu smiled, instinctively brushing the avatar on the screen—Li Jichuan’s official ID photo.
Suddenly, the avatar moved—
【You “patted” your husband】
Su Pu: !!!
His phone buzzed immediately—a video call from 【Husband】.
The little mute hadn’t expected Li Jichuan to still be awake at this hour, shrinking back toward his bed, staring dumbfounded at the phone.
The call ended after a while, leaving the screen dark.
Su Pu exhaled, then sank into a small disappointment…
He hadn’t refused the call; he’d just been startled.
It was as if the person on the other side had heard his thoughts.
Moments later, his phone lit up again—another video call from 【Husband】.
Su Pu swallowed hard and answered.
“Still awake?”
Li Jichuan’s handsome face appeared on the screen, making Su Pu shiver.
How could someone look so good even on a random video call? Life was unfair.
Coincidentally, Li Jichuan thought the same—how could anyone look this alluring in the middle of the night?
The neckline of his pajamas dipped slightly, revealing pale skin. His neck long, his proportions perfect—like a little swan.
Li Jichuan’s lips curved in a slow smile.
Su Pu couldn’t speak, so he minimized the screen and typed carefully.
He focused the camera on his own crimson lips; Li Jichuan blinked slowly, sensing the heat emanating from him.
Su Pu: 【Why are you still awake? Can’t sleep?】
Li Jichuan glanced at the message and smiled: “You’re awake too, aren’t you?”
“What’s wrong? Insomnia? Or did a nightmare wake you up?”
Su Pu pressed his lips into a smile: 【Insomnia.】
“Why insomnia?”
Looking at Li Jichuan on the screen, recalling his once-happy childhood, his chest ached again.
Su Pu: 【Drank a cold pour-over tonight.】
Li Jichuan’s expression brightened. “The coffee beans in Yunnan are excellent; freshly ground, really fragrant.”
Su Pu: 【Yes, we also have some Yunnan beans at the café—fresh and light in flavor.】
“Don’t drink coffee so late,” Li Jichuan said, coughing twice, voice slightly hoarse. “Your sleep quality is already poor…”
Su Pu frowned: 【Do you have a cold?】
“No,” Li Jichuan shook his head. “Maybe just a little chilled. Lying down, my body feels hot and cold in turns.”
【Sounds like the start of a fever. Have you taken medicine?】
“Don’t worry, really fine. Just been too busy to rest properly.”
Looking closer, Li Jichuan’s lips were pale.
“I’ll take a sleep aid soon and get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow will be fine.”
Su Pu still worried: 【Do you have a lot of work left?】
Since Li Jichuan left, Su Pu had developed the habit of checking social media and news for updates on the Li Group and Li Jichuan.
But the PR team seemed highly effective; by the night he arrived, there wasn’t a single follow-up report on the strike incident.
Su Pu’s concern felt like a kite without a string, aimless and untethered.
He had no idea of Li Jichuan’s true situation.
Whenever he asked, Li Jichuan merely said: “Everything’s fine.”
But Su Pu could tell—Li Jichuan was tired, weak, and stretched thin. He wasn’t okay… not at all.
“Oy, don’t worry about me; your little face is getting all scrunched up,” Li Jichuan joked, coughing twice.
“If you’re so worried about me, come see me!”
Go see Li Jichuan? Su Pu froze. By what right?
He couldn’t do anything for him—Li Jichuan was already in Yunnan, enjoying excellent coffee. There seemed no reason for him to go.
Seeing Su Pu’s hesitation, Li Jichuan couldn’t help laughing softly.
“Stop teasing. You stay in Yun City, work well, wait for me to come home!”
Su Pu nodded: 【Remember to take your medicine.】
Li Jichuan smiled: “Okay~”
…
After hanging up, Su Pu finally couldn’t sleep, tossing until dawn.
He didn’t draw the curtains. The sunrise bathed Yun City in brilliant orange light, spilling across his eyes and illuminating his entire body.
Li Jichuan… he still worried.
Thinking of him, his heart ached.
In the corner of the room sat the flower sword Li Jichuan had gifted him.
He recalled that night, Li Jichuan had captured him in the light, holding his wrist firmly.
“Su Pu, sometimes moving forward is also a way of protecting yourself.”
Yes. Moving forward could protect oneself; there was no need to always run.
With that thought, Su Pu swung his legs over the bed, quickly gathered his ID and a few clothes, and rushed into the bathroom, getting ready as fast as possible.
Others in the apartment were still slowly waking.
Uncle Wang yawned, opening the door, only to see the little mute rushing about, carrying a small suitcase and pointing at his phone.
He smiled and waved at him.
Understanding immediately, Uncle Wang checked the message on the phone:
【I’m going to Yunnan to see my husband!】
Uncle Wang laughed: “Then I wish my little monkey lots of fun!”
…
Two hours later, Su Pu boarded the first flight to Yunnan.
It was his first time on a plane, and his excitement was palpable.
The push of takeoff pressed his heart toward thousands of miles away—to Li Jichuan’s side.
Flying across thousands of miles, he was finally coming to him.