Chapter 6

Li Sipei looked at him. “You’re drunk.”

“Mm…” Mi Zhao made a muffled sound, raised his hand to push his bangs back, and wiped his face, as if regaining his thoughts. “I was a little bored, so I drank a bit.”

Li Sipei’s gaze swept across the cans scattered on the ground. “A bit?”

“Hehe.” Mi Zhao hadn’t lowered his hand and made a small distance between his thumb and index finger, emphasizing with his tone. “A billion bits.”

Li Sipei: “…”

A streetlamp stood beside the bench, casting yellowish light on Mi Zhao. The shadows on his face shifted, and even though Mi Zhao was good-looking, at this moment, he looked somewhat silly with that smile.

But those round eyes were dark and bright.

Just like grapes, Li Sipei thought.

When Mi Zhao finished laughing, he asked, “How long have you been waiting here?”

“Two hours? Or three?” Mi Zhao tilted his head in thought, but it seemed like his brain was filled with paste, and he couldn’t figure out the time. After thinking for a long while with no result, he waved his hand at Li Sipei. “Don’t feel burdened, I wasn’t waiting specifically for you. I just wanted to come out for a breeze.”

“Are you done?”

Mi Zhao continued to grin for a while, then nodded vigorously.

“Time to go back.” Li Sipei said. “I’ll contact the staff at the villa to send you back. You don’t need to worry about anything. Someone will clean up here.”

Mi Zhao turned his body, resting his head on his hand as he looked at Li Sipei.

He wasn’t sure if he was drunk or not, but from this angle, he realized that Li Sipei looked a little like that bastard Li Yan.

However, Li Sipei looked more refined. Even in the hot August, he was wearing a neat white shirt with the top button against his throat, looking both aloof and abstinent.

This reminded Mi Zhao of a few things about Li Yan.

Li Yan rarely wore shirts, but every time he did, he would unbutton the top two buttons. Mi Zhao used to think that Li Yan wasn’t used to the closeness of a shirt, but later realized that the guy just wanted to attract attention.

Suddenly, he wanted Li Yan to see Li Sipei.

So Li Yan could open his damn eyes and realize that real handsome men didn’t need all those flashy tricks!

Mi Zhao felt drunk, but he didn’t feel drunk. His vision wasn’t blurry, his speech was still clear, and he could list all the annoying traits of Li Yan in his mind. Yet somehow, he still couldn’t pull his hand back from reaching toward Li Sipei.

Li Sipei had already taken out his phone and was about to call someone when his wrist was suddenly grabbed. He froze for a moment before shifting his gaze toward Mi Zhao.

But Li Sipei didn’t struggle. He asked in a calm voice, “What’s wrong?”

“You don’t seem curious about me at all.” Mi Zhao used the force from holding onto Li Sipei’s wrist to sit a little closer. He knew his smell wasn’t pleasant, but he had no intention of pulling away from Li Sipei. Instead, he moved even closer.

Li Sipei stiffened his body but didn’t move.

Mi Zhao carefully observed his expression, speaking nonstop, “Since we met, it’s always been me asking, you answering. Even tonight, you haven’t asked me a single thing about what happened.”

Li Sipei paused for a moment, perhaps feeling Mi Zhao’s gaze too focused or the distance between them too close. He clearly noticed his breath tightening for a moment before averting his gaze toward the lake.

“If you want to say something, you’ll say it, no need for me to ask.” After a pause, he added, “You’re talking nonsense.”

Mi Zhao shook his head. “No, I know exactly what I’m saying.”

But considering they were still by the lake, Mi Zhao had to swallow the words that were about to come out of his mouth. He stood up and threw all the cans of beer on the ground and the bench into the trash can.

He reached out and grabbed the handle of Li Sipei’s wheelchair. “You don’t need to call anyone. I can walk. I’ll take you back.”

The woman, Ruan Xin, who had been waiting on the small road, silently left. Mi Zhao’s steps were steady as he pushed Li Sipei back to the villa.

The lights inside the villa were still on, but the people had already left.

The team taking care of Li Sipei usually consisted of 5 to 7 people, each with their own duties and always on call, staying in the two villas behind. Both villas had paths leading to the villa where Li Sipei lived.

Of course, Mi Zhao didn’t know this.

After entering the courtyard, he noticed the aunt he had met before was missing. He looked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows a few more times, and the bright yellow light spilled out. “Is the aunt waiting for you inside?”

Li Sipei knew which aunt Mi Zhao was referring to. “She’ll come tomorrow.”

“Do you have anyone else in your house?”

“No.” Li Sipei thought for a moment and didn’t offer further explanation.

Mi Zhao didn’t think much of it. He pushed Li Sipei to the door.

The lock on the door was a password lock, and only Li Sipei knew the code.

The last time Mi Zhao dropped Li Sipei off, he left right away, and logically, he should have done the same tonight. But in fact, he didn’t.

He approached the lock, bent down to examine the password lock that looked exactly like the one on his own villa, then casually turned to ask Li Sipei, “What’s the code?”

His tone was completely natural.

Anyone who didn’t know might think he was a resident of this villa.

But no one knew that, at this moment, Mi Zhao’s heart was pounding. He almost used all his strength to make himself look less tense.

He stared at Li Sipei.

Li Sipei was also looking at him. Half of his face was covered in shadows, and his emotions were hidden in those unreadable black eyes.

Mi Zhao still sensitively sensed something. He clenched his teeth, his face burning with heat, feeling for the first time that someone’s gaze could burn his skin like fire.

After a long pause, Li Sipei spoke first. “1212.”

Mi Zhao relaxed and smiled. “Is that your birthday?”

“My check-in date.” After a pause, Li Sipei added, “It’s also my birthday.”

Mi Zhao bent down and entered the code.

The door opened with a “ding” sound.

As they walked into the villa, Mi Zhao noticed that the decor here was different from his place. It seemed that changes had been made to accommodate Li Sipei’s mobility issues.

The only thing that was the same was the floor-to-ceiling windows that took up an entire wall.

It seemed that although the tall man had abandoned Li Sipei, he had once treated him well, at least he had cared before.

The central air conditioning in the villa was set to a lower temperature, sweeping away the heat Mi Zhao had brought in from outside. However, the effects of the alcohol were not alleviated in the slightest.

On the way back, he had thought about many things.

The accommodation and meals at Rizhao weren’t cheap. It started at five figures per day. Mi Zhao didn’t know whether the tall man had left money or how much he had left for Li Sipei, but one thing was clear—if Li Sipei kept eating away at his savings, it wouldn’t be long before he ran out of money.

What was Li Sipei’s plan?

He wasn’t sure, and he hadn’t asked.

But now it seemed necessary to ask.

Mi Zhao drew the curtains of the floor-to-ceiling windows and returned to Li Sipei. After circling around, he finally got to the point. “What’s your plan for the future? Are you going to stay here or leave?”

Li Sipei poured a glass of water for him and motioned for him to sit on the sofa.

The sofa was a few inches lower than the wheelchair, so Mi Zhao had to raise his head slightly to meet Li Sipei’s eyes.

It was from this angle that he suddenly realized that Li Sipei was dressed quite formally today, with a white shirt and dark gray trousers. The shirt was tucked neatly into the pants, looking immaculate from head to toe.

Was he… meeting someone?

While Mi Zhao was in a daze, Li Sipei answered. “I’ve been living here for a long time. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll move out next month.”

“Where are you moving to?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” Li Sipei answered whatever came to mind. “Most likely back to City A.”

Mi Zhao slowly started to realize something and asked uncertainly, “Did you go to City A today?”

“Mm.” Li Sipei didn’t elaborate. “I went to meet someone.”

Mi Zhao nodded, as if he understood.

No wonder he was dressed so formally today. No wonder he came out so late.

Turns out, he went to meet the next sponsor.

But it seemed that the result wasn’t ideal, or else Li Sipei would have stayed in City A.

Mi Zhao suddenly felt dry in his mouth. He picked up the glass and drank the water in one go, then placed the cup back on the coffee table. Under the influence of alcohol and some inexplicable emotions, he stared directly at Li Sipei and said seriously, “I have something to say.”

“You can say it.”

“You—” The first word squeezed out, and the following words came naturally, “Have you considered me?”

“…”

Li Sipei fell silent, seemingly not expecting Mi Zhao to be so direct. A rare look of surprise flashed across his usually cold face.

Mi Zhao, seeing that Li Sipei didn’t immediately reject him, couldn’t help but move closer.

Unexpectedly, Li Sipei was startled by his movement and quickly leaned back, until his back was pressed against the wheelchair’s backrest, with nowhere else to retreat.

Under the bright light, Mi Zhao saw a flush appear on Li Sipei’s cheeks.

Mi Zhao found it strange, but he held back from saying anything, fearing it might upset him.

“I’m just asking, if you don’t want to, I won’t force you.” For the first time in his life, Mi Zhao made such a request to a man, and he was incredibly nervous. He pinched his fingers, the sound of his joints cracking as he carefully opened his mouth. “In other words—”

He looked into Li Sipei’s eyes, asking earnestly, “Would you be willing to change your way of life?”

“……”

“Of course, you can refuse…”

Before he could finish his sentence, another voice interrupted, “What way?”

In an instant, Mi Zhao’s breath became heavier. He sat still on the couch for almost half a minute, then suddenly stood up, reaching out to grab the armrest of Li Sipei’s wheelchair.

The distance between the two of them narrowed.

As he was about to press his lips against Li Sipei’s, Mi Zhao intentionally paused. When he received no response, he stopped hesitating and directly pressed his lips onto Li Sipei’s.

Li Sipei’s body stiffened, and the warmth of Mi Zhao’s breath hit his face.

Mi Zhao’s hand on the wheelchair armrest trembled violently.

For a second, his heart seemed to want to leap out of his chest.

His breathing grew heavier.

At first, it was only a tentative touch, but his courage gradually grew.

The alcohol clouded his brain, making it hard to think, yet every inch of his body burned. Some decisions, once made, couldn’t be undone, and he no longer wanted to care.

Kneeling with his legs apart on either side of Li Sipei’s wheelchair, his hands circled Li Sipei’s neck, and perhaps because of the heat in his heart, Mi Zhao lowered his head seriously and pressed his forehead to Li Sipei’s.

He heard his own voice trembling, “I’ll treat you well from now on.”