NASAY CH 23

Huo Xingzhou frowned and let out a displeased breath. After a while, he finally opened his eyes, which were slightly red. He looked down and said in a low voice,
“What are you doing?”

“Don’t sleep just yet,”
Luo Xing softened his tone to coax him.

“Just for a little while, okay? You can sleep when we get home. I can’t hold you up like this.”

“Just for a little while,”
Huo Xingzhou, still in a daze, seemed to have his heart melted by one of the words. He mumbled an agreement,
“You can’t hold me, so I’ll hold you.”

The arm originally resting on Luo Xing’s shoulder shifted downward to his waist, pulling him into a tight embrace, Huo Xingzhou’s chin resting on Luo Xing’s shoulder.

Luo Xing, trapped in his arms, had to stand on his tiptoes since he wasn’t as tall as Huo Xingzhou. His waist was held firmly, pressing him closely against Huo Xingzhou.

Turning his head to avoid Huo’s breath, Luo Xing’s ears turned red.

Huo Xingzhou, his body burning from the alcohol, had a heartbeat so strong that Luo Xing could feel it clearly through his chest, beating in sync with his own.

“Don’t… don’t hold me like this,”
Luo Xing stammered nervously, glancing around at the passersby at the inn’s entrance.

“There are so many people watching. This isn’t appropriate.”

“Hmm?”
Huo Xingzhou lazily responded, leaning even closer to his shoulder,
“What are we hugging for?”

Caught off guard, Luo Xing was kissed on the neck, making his whole body go soft. His hands trembled as he clung to Huo Xingzhou’s arm, his voice shaking,
“Huo… Xingzhou.”

Huo seemed to do it on purpose, squeezing Luo Xing’s waist and pressing him even tighter into his arms. His fingers dug into the sensitive spot on his lower back, twisting gently.

“Ah…”
Luo Xing’s vision blurred, his breathing quickened, and his teeth chattered uncontrollably.

Lowering his head, Huo Xingzhou tilted Luo Xing’s chin toward himself, their foreheads almost touching. His eyes, hazy from the alcohol, carried a deep, unreadable emotion.
His kiss was heavy and consuming.

“Huo Xing…”

“You’re so noisy,”
Huo murmured.

He raised his free hand to cover Luo Xing’s eyes and kissed him again.

Huo Xingzhou, drunk and acting out in front of the inn, kissed Luo Xing thoroughly. Even after they got into the car, he refused to let go of his hand, falling into a deep, peaceful sleep.

When they arrived, he still wouldn’t let go.

The driver chuckled and made a joke, leaving Luo Xing blushing and struggling to explain. He could only say,
“He’s my brother. He drank too much and is acting out.”

“Do you need help?”
the driver asked.

“No, it’s fine. I can manage on my own. Thank you, sir,”
Luo Xing replied.

Supporting Huo Xingzhou with one arm while searching for money to pay the driver with the other, Luo Xing took a deep breath and started helping him toward the front door.

It was difficult—Huo Xingzhou was tall and heavy, and Luo Xing had to use all his strength.

Huo Xingzhou still refused to let go, nuzzling his nose against Luo Xing’s neck, making him feel weak in the knees.

“Huo Xingzhou, stop messing around.”

“No.”

“…”
Luo Xing was helpless. He hadn’t expected Huo Xingzhou to be so unreasonable when drunk.

Though, come to think of it, he wasn’t exactly reasonable when sober either.

Huo’s breath, mixed with the smell of alcohol, brushed against the sensitive skin of Luo’s neck. Since he couldn’t hear clearly, his other senses seemed heightened, making him even more sensitive.

He had always found it hard to resist Huo Xingzhou’s touch, and now that they were so close, he felt even weaker, his hands and feet losing strength.

Feng Jia hadn’t lied.

Huo Xingzhou’s alcohol tolerance was practically non-existent. The fact that he lasted until eating the cake was already a stroke of luck.

Luo Xing looked at him, his face involuntarily flushing again. He touched his lips, which still felt warm. That was his first kiss.
It tasted like strawberries and alcohol.

And it had Huo Xingzhou’s flavor.

It was enough for him to treasure for a lifetime. Among all the things he had collected in the little box—Huo Xingzhou’s belongings—none were as precious as this kiss.

After humming a song for a while, Luo Xing got up from the floor, went to the bathroom to wet a towel, then came back to wipe his face and hands. He removed his shoes and covered him with a blanket.

After tidying everything up, he glanced at the time—it was already midnight.

He didn’t know where he could stay, and it wouldn’t be appropriate to climb into bed and sleep next to him.

So, he simply leaned on the edge of the bed, watching Huo Xingzhou’s sleeping face.

This time, he could finally look at him boldly while he slept—without worrying about being caught or suddenly getting busted.

The lips he had just kissed were thin and soft. When their lips touched, his mind went blank.

He couldn’t remember if it was cold or hot; all he could recall was the face and breath so close to him.

Every nerve in his body converged at one point, all shouting in unison that Huo Xingzhou had kissed him.

Even though it was just a game, Luo Xing still felt incredibly satisfied. No matter the circumstance, he treated it as a genuine kiss.

And the kiss afterward—though given under the influence of alcohol—he was willing to believe it was sincere too.

The large house was deathly quiet. There was no sound of breathing, yet his mind buzzed incessantly.

Huo Xingzhou was right there, sleeping in front of him.
Within arm’s reach.
So close he could almost touch him.

Luo Xing tilted his head, resisting the urge to reach out and trace his features with his fingers. He rested his chin on his hands, never imagining that one day he could watch him sleep this closely.

He swallowed and softly called, “Huo Xingzhou.”

The person on the bed breathed steadily, showing no reaction. Emboldened, Luo Xing climbed onto the bed and gently lowered his head, giving him a quick kiss on the eye before swiftly pulling back.

His heart pounded wildly, as if he had been caught doing something bad. Pressing a hand to his chest, he whispered,
“Huo Xingzhou, do you know how much I like you?”

He knelt on the bed, wanting to kiss every inch of his face—his eyes, his nose, his lips—engraving every feature into his memory.

“In the whole world, I only like you.”

Luo Xing secretly took out his phone, opened the camera, and leaned in to kiss his lips softly once more.

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as you liking me too.”

With trembling hands, he took several photos before managing to get a clear one. He saved it in a private album, protected with a complex password.

This was his secret.

In the middle of the night, Huo Xingzhou woke up, thirsty. He lifted the blanket to get up, but his hand was weighed down. When he looked down, he saw Luo Xing curled up beside his hand, fast asleep.

Moonlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating his side profile just enough to see the soft sweep of his long eyelashes, his rosy lips, and the slight movement of his nose as he breathed. His hands were tucked under his face, sleeping soundly and defenseless.

Half of his body was on the bed, his knees bent and resting on the edge of it. He had probably fallen asleep like that after taking care of him.

Huo Xingzhou chuckled softly, suddenly recalling the day Luo Xing transferred to their school—the way he had stood calmly and confidently in front of Zhang Xuan.

It was their final year of high school. Unlike other schools, No. 2 High had shorter breaks. Aside from occasionally grabbing a meal with Feng Jia and the others, he rarely went out.

This was the first time he had drunk since entering his senior year, and he had been easily persuaded into drinking too much.

Now his head hurt badly.

Huo Xingzhou took a deep breath, carefully got out of bed, and lifted Luo Xing, gently placing him on the bed.

Luo Xing instinctively snuggled into his arms. His lips moved slightly—whether it was sleep-talking or smacking his lips, it was unclear.

His delicate white hands tugged at Huo Xingzhou’s shirt, clutching the fabric like a little kitten, burrowing into his embrace.

Huo Xingzhou couldn’t help but chuckle at his unconscious actions.
“Hey, if you keep coming closer…”

The phone under the pillow vibrated. Huo Xingzhou picked it up and looked at the message.

—Have you gone home yet?

A chill ran down Huo Xingzhou’s spine. He sat up immediately and replied: I’m home! Mom, aren’t you on a business trip? You’re back?

Wu Suyan video-called him. Panicking, Huo Xingzhou quickly ended the call.
There was still someone sleeping beside him.

He tried to move his arm to push Luo Xing away so he could answer the call, but Luo Xing only snuggled closer, refusing to let go.

Wu Suyan sent a voice message:
“Why did you hang up on me?”

“I’m sleeping. It’s inconvenient.”

Wu Suyan sneered, “Oh? It wasn’t inconvenient when you beat someone up. Does your hand hurt?”

Huo Xingzhou was silent for a few seconds.
“He dared to tattle?”

“He didn’t tattle. His parents called Teacher Cheng, saying you gave him a concussion. He’s terrified of school now. I’ll be home tomorrow. You’re coming with me to the hospital to apologize.”

A concussion? He barely touched him!

Since he hadn’t closed the curtains, the morning sunlight filled the room, softly illuminating the dark bedding and the face of the person in his arms.

Luo Xing slept soundly, barely moving all night, curled up in his arms like a little kitten. Occasionally, he unconsciously licked his lips.

The sunlight gave him a golden halo. Amused, Huo Xingzhou hovered his hand to block the light from his face.

Perhaps feeling uncomfortable from the brightness, Luo Xing’s long eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.

He blinked in confusion for a few seconds, staring at the familiar scent and the chest so close to him. Realization hit him instantly, and he raised his head, bumping straight into Huo Xingzhou’s chin.

“Hiss—”
Huo Xingzhou winced, rubbing his chin.

“Ungrateful little thing. I held you all night, and the first thing you do after waking up is hit me. Trying to murder me?”

Luo Xing guiltily reached out, hesitating to touch him before pulling his hand back.
“I’m sorry.”

Huo Xingzhou pulled him closer by the back, then took Luo Xing’s hand and placed it on his chin, deliberately teasing him.

“Check if I’ve broken a bone.”

Panicking, Luo Xing pulled away from his arms and carefully touched his chin. It was slightly red from the bump earlier. He gently pressed on it and asked,
“Does it hurt?”

His eyes reddened with guilt, tears welling up in his doe-like eyes, about to fall any second.
Huo Xingzhou pressed his fingers together and flicked his forehead lightly.

“Call me ‘Ge’, and the pain will go away.”

“Ge?”
Luo Xing repeated in confusion.
The moment the word left his mouth, he saw the playful smile on Huo Xingzhou’s face. He immediately realized he had been tricked, his face flushing red as he pushed him lightly.

“You tricked me again!”

Huo Xingzhou pulled him into a hug, ruffling his hair with a laugh.
“What did I trick you about? Don’t wrong me like that.”

“You’re not even hurt!”

“What do you mean I’m not hurt? Look, it’s red!”
He took Luo Xing’s hand and placed it on his chin again.

“See for yourself.”

Luo Xing’s hand rested on his chin, feeling the heat beneath his palm. His fingers brushed against the firm line of Huo Xingzhou’s jaw.

Huo Xingzhou lowered his head slightly and kissed the center of Luo Xing’s palm.

“Mon frère…”

Huo Xingzhou’s entire body tensed. His fingers subconsciously tightened around Luo Xing’s wrist.

“What did you just call me?”

Luo Xing blinked, his face turning crimson as he tried to hide, but Huo Xingzhou pinned him down, preventing him from moving.

That one word—brother—had taken all the courage he had. Now he couldn’t bring himself to say anything more.

“I—I’m getting up now!”

“Say it again,”
Huo Xingzhou held Luo Xing’s wrist, feeling the trembling beneath his palm. The soft, warm sensation stirred something in his chest.

“Say it in Chinese.”
Huo Xingzhou gently rubbed his palm, coaxing him with a low, teasing tone.

“Just once. Be good.”

Luo Xing bit his lip, his cheeks flushed red. His eyes glistened with a thin layer of tears, looking so pitiful it made Huo Xingzhou want to bully him even more.

Thinking of last night when Liu Mengya deliberately made him drink, Huo Xingzhou chuckled, tapping Luo Xing’s lips.
“Still not calling me?”

Luo Xing shook his head vigorously.

“Alright, fine. Don’t say it.”
Huo Xingzhou was just about to get up when he suddenly remembered something.

“By the way, I was drunk last night. How did you get me back here? Wasn’t it heavy?”

Luo Xing instinctively nodded.

Huo Xingzhou’s heart softened. He reached out to hold Luo Xing’s waist, and before Luo Xing could react, he leaned over and pretended to lift his shirt.
“Let me check if you got hurt.”

Luo Xing’s waist was incredibly ticklish, especially when it was Huo Xingzhou touching him. Just a simple touch made him weak and flustered. He struggled nervously.
“No, I’m fine! Don’t mess with me!”

Huo Xingzhou trapped him beneath him. With two fingers pressed together, he moved closer.

Luo Xing instantly understood what he was about to do, covering his face tightly with both hands.

“Tired?”

Luo Xing peeked at him through a small gap between his fingers, confused.
“What?”

“Taking care of me last night—were you tired?”
Huo Xingzhou elaborated, pulling down his left hand and holding it in his palm, still hovering over him.

“Not really. You slept the whole time. I just wiped your hands and face,”
Luo Xing said softly, pressing his lips together. He didn’t mention that, while Huo Xingzhou was asleep, he had stolen a kiss. His face turned red at the memory.

“You not only touched my hands but my face too? Should I start charging you?”
Huo Xingzhou’s eyes sparkled with mischief. After a pause, he added,
“I was also your human pillow all night. That’s extra. How are you going to pay for it?”

Luo Xing grew even more embarrassed, avoiding his gaze as he whispered,
“Why didn’t you push me away?”

Huo Xingzhou raised a brow and chuckled.
“I wanted to. I was getting out of bed to drink water, but as soon as I put you on the bed, you clung to me like a little cat. You were so clingy I couldn’t even drink water without holding you. There are two broken glass cups in the kitchen because of that.”

Luo Xing lowered his head in embarrassment, too flustered to speak.
“Did I… sleep restlessly?”

“Not at all. You stayed still in my arms all night, but you were so clingy.”
Huo Xingzhou brushed Luo Xing’s eyelashes, making him blink rapidly. Lowering his voice, he leaned in close to Luo Xing’s ear.
“Good thing I was just getting water and could hold you with one arm. If I had to go to the bathroom, what would I have done?”

It was the first time Luo Xing had ever listened so closely to Huo Xingzhou’s voice—deep, just past the voice-changing stage, with a hint of amusement and a soft breathiness. It curled into his ear, sinking deep inside, leaving his legs weak.

“…Stop talking…”
Luo Xing’s eyes turned red from embarrassment. He bit down on his lower lip, leaving a small pale mark. His flushed cheeks made him look so helpless it was impossible to resist teasing him further.

Huo Xingzhou didn’t dare say any more, afraid that if he kept going, Luo Xing would actually start crying.
“Since you’re awake, get out of bed. It’s rare to have a break, don’t just lie around all day.”

He ruffled Luo Xing’s hair, got out of bed, and opened the wardrobe, pulling out two shirts. He put one on and tossed the other to Luo Xing.
“Here, wear mine. Yours looks a bit dirty. Take it off and wash it. You can put it back on once it’s dry.”

Luo Xing held the shirt in his hands, catching a faint scent of detergent mixed with the familiar smell of Huo Xingzhou.

“Wear… your clothes?”

Huo Xingzhou was halfway through changing, his well-defined waist exposed. He turned slightly at the question.
“What? Disgusted because I wore it? I can find you a new one if you are.”

Luo Xing shook his head quickly.
“No, I’m not!”

How could he be? He wanted to wear his clothes, even take it home and keep it hidden.

Standing by the open kitchen, Huo Xingzhou leaned against the wall, watching Luo Xing slowly come downstairs.

Luo Xing was wearing his shirt, looking drowsy and soft. The sight sent a sudden rush of heat to Huo Xingzhou’s mind. He thought: if only every day could start like this—waking up with Luo Xing in his arms, seeing him come downstairs wearing his shirt, making breakfast together.

At that moment, he felt like he could do anything, even sing Conquer in front of all of Jiang City without caring.

“Do you know how to cook?”
Huo Xingzhou originally planned to order takeout, but watching Luo Xing, he changed his mind.
What if Luo Xing cooked for him in an apron, still wearing his shirt?

“Yes.”
Luo Xing put on an apron and turned back.

“You drank last night. How about some noodles for breakfast?”

Huo Xingzhou nodded. Normally, he was picky and rarely ate noodles, but today, he found himself agreeing without hesitation.

Strange.

Luo Xing filled a pot with water. Once it was boiling, he estimated how much Huo Xingzhou would eat, added the noodles, and stirred them with chopsticks.

He cracked in two eggs, chopped some green vegetables, and added a tomato. Huo Xingzhou watched him, busy like a little bee, sunlight streaming through the window, illuminating his slender fingers—white and soft.

“Huo Xingzhou, do you eat scallions and cilantro?”
Luo Xing asked, tilting his head.

“Add whatever you like. I’m not picky.”

“Then peel a scallion for me. I’ll wash the cilantro and make you some sauce later,”
Luo Xing said, walking toward the sink.

Huo Xingzhou made a sound of agreement and grabbed a scallion. As soon as he started peeling it, he frowned hard.

What the hell was that smell? How could anyone like this stuff?

He painstakingly peeled the scallion, then rushed to the sink to wash his hands, scrubbing them at least ten times before sniffing them cautiously.

Finally.

Luo Xing chopped the scallion and ginger, cut the cilantro into short pieces, prepared two bowls, and mixed a bunch of condiments in each one. He stirred the mixture with chopsticks before adding the scallion, ginger, and cilantro, then poured some noodle broth over it.

Luo Xing brought the bowl close to Huo Xingzhou and smiled.
“Smell it. Does it smell good?”

Huo Xingzhou took a deep breath in his mind, then leaned forward.
“Yeah. Smells good.”

Luo Xing blinked, the sunlight behind him casting a soft glow around him. Huo Xingzhou coughed and turned his head away.
“When can we eat? I’m starving.”

“Just a little longer.”

Huo Xingzhou leaned against the sink, grabbed a slice of tomato, and popped it into his mouth, watching Luo Xing’s meticulous knife work.
Cooking suddenly seemed kind of fun.

He turned his head to look at Luo Xing and, for some reason, thought of an old saying: When you like someone, even an ordinary person becomes golden in your eyes.

What nonsense. Luo Xing didn’t need anyone’s affection to make him shine. It was enough if others didn’t take away his brilliance.

Huo Xingzhou knew his place well. His parents often called him a little rascal, but even so, they never withheld their love.
He had never been mistreated growing up, but Luo Xing… had he suffered somewhere? Did his parents know?

Huo Xingzhou lifted the pot lid to check the boiling noodles and casually asked, “When you transferred here, you came alone. Where were your parents?”

Luo Xing’s hand slipped, and the knife cut straight into his finger. He instinctively let go, the knife clattering to the ground.

Huo Xingzhou was startled. He tossed the pot lid aside, grabbed Luo Xing’s hand, and brought it to his mouth. His tongue pressed against the wound, instantly tasting the metallic tang of blood.

Luo Xing flinched at the sensation but didn’t pull away. His finger remained in Huo Xingzhou’s mouth, the warmth of his tongue stopping the bleeding.

Luo Xing clutched his right hand tightly, his face pale, but he held back and didn’t make a sound.

After a long while, once it seemed like the bleeding had stopped, Huo Xingzhou finally let go. He held Luo Xing’s hand and led him to the living room.

His face darkened as he told him to sit down and not move, while he rummaged through drawers to find the first-aid kit.

After searching for a while, he found a bottle of iodine, placed a trash can underneath, and unscrewed the cap while frowning at the wound. He asked softly,
“Does it hurt?”

Luo Xing took a deep breath.
“No… it’s nothing. Don’t worry.”

Looking at the hand that had just been bleeding profusely and at Luo Xing’s lips, which were pale from the pain, Huo Xingzhou scolded him with a stern expression.
“From now on, you’re not allowed to cook anymore! If you can’t do it, stop messing around.”

“I can cook,”
Luo Xing whispered, trying to defend himself.

“It was just an accident. It’s really not serious… it doesn’t hurt.”

Afraid Huo wouldn’t believe him, he quickly added,
“Really, it doesn’t hurt.”

“Bleeding that much, and you’re saying it doesn’t hurt?”
Huo Xingzhou laughed despite his concern, a mix of heartache and amusement.

“What is it? Do you think we can’t afford meat at my house, so you want to chop off your own fingers to feed me?”

Luo Xing couldn’t help but smile.

Huo Xingzhou knelt in front of him. From this angle, all Luo Xing could see were his long eyelashes. He didn’t know what Huo Xingzhou was saying, but he could feel the soft breeze on his fingertips.

Huo Xingzhou was blowing on his wound, comforting him like a child.

Luo Xing’s eyes turned red, and a wave of sourness almost brought him to tears. He had never been treated with such gentleness before.

When he was little, he would see other children fall and get comforted in their parents’ arms. He wondered if his mom would feel the same way if he got hurt.
So one day, he deliberately fell, scraping his knee and arm. When he went home with his injuries, his mother just coldly asked why he got hurt.

Luo Xing wasn’t good at lying, so he told the truth. Instead of getting comforted, he received a harsh beating and scolding. After that, he stayed in that small house, licking his wounds on his own.

Since then, he never tried to use his injuries to gain anyone’s attention again. He quietly protected himself, staying away from others while also keeping others at a distance.

Naturally, he never experienced the feeling of being cared for when he was hurt.

“It really doesn’t hurt,”
Luo Xing said, withdrawing his hand, not wanting to indulge in Huo Xingzhou’s kindness.

Someday they would part ways, and losing something you once had was far more painful than never having it at all.

Huo Xingzhou noticed Luo Xing’s expression suddenly turn cold. Thinking Luo Xing was upset about being made to cook, he chuckled.

“When I was a kid, my parents were always busy. I was mostly raised by our housekeeper. But the housekeeper back then was fooling around with someone and often didn’t come back.”

Luo Xing looked into his eyes, feeling a bit heartbroken.
“Then… what happened?”

“It’s no big deal,”
Huo Xingzhou said casually, tightening the iodine cap and tidying up the first-aid kit.

“Once, I was sick and probably a bit delirious from the fever. I was hungry, so I tried to cook for myself. The first time I did, I ended up cutting my hand. My mom happened to come home that day and got scared out of her mind when she saw all the blood.”

Luo Xing’s face paled at the thought.
“How could that housekeeper be so irresponsible!”

“It didn’t scare me too much,” Huo Xingzhou said.

“But my mom cried. Right then and there, she fired the housekeeper, picked me up, and took me to the hospital. It was snowing heavily that day, and the roads were blocked. When she got tired of carrying me, she put me on her back. We walked for two hours straight.”

“Your mom loves you a lot,”
Luo Xing murmured, lowering his gaze.

When he was a kid and had a fever, his mom never carried him to the hospital. She just gave him some medicine and told him to sweat it out, which only made it worse.
He hadn’t known back then that you shouldn’t cover up too much when you have a fever, but somehow, he made it through.

Huo Xingzhou nodded.
“Yeah. That was the first and only time I’ve ever seen my mom cry.”

Luo Xing stared at him blankly. Huo Xingzhou clapped his hands and showed him a shallow scar on his wrist.
“I got this when I tried to catch the knife that day.”

Luo Xing’s eyes reddened with distress.
“It must have hurt.”

Huo Xingzhou smiled.
“I barely remember it now.”

Luo Xing touched the scar, his fingers trembling slightly. The scar ran from his wrist to the back of his hand, long and striking. It must have hurt a lot.

Feeling that the timing was right, Huo Xingzhou casually shifted the topic.
“I noticed you have a scar on the back of your neck. How did you get that?”

Luo Xing’s fingers paused, almost cutting himself again. Huo Xingzhou quickly grabbed his hand, preventing the wound from reopening.

Luo Xing lowered his eyes and lied,
“I got it scratched when I was being mischievous as a kid.”

Huo Xingzhou couldn’t tell if he believed it or not. He looked at Luo Xing and smiled,
“Were you mischievous as a kid too?”

Luo Xing awkwardly pulled his hand back and placed it on his lap, avoiding his gaze.
“W-Who wasn’t mischievous as a kid?”

Huo Xingzhou pulled him up and led him back to the kitchen. He made Luo Xing stand to the side as a technical guide while he dumped the burnt noodles into the trash and started cooking a fresh batch.

“Did you ever pee in mud while playing?”

Luo Xing was taken aback.
“What?”

Huo Xingzhou laughed.
“I used to climb fences to reach mulberries on tree branches. My clothes would be covered in mulberry juice, and no amount of washing could remove it. I even broke countless windows while playing soccer. My mom was always running after me, apologizing to neighbors. Did you do things like that too?”

Luo Xing pressed his lips together. His silence made Huo Xingzhou realize something. When it came to being a troublemaker as a kid, no one could beat him.

Someone like Luo Xing, if he was mischievous for three seconds, that would already be an achievement.

Luo Xing bit his lip, unwilling to share his abnormal family situation with others, especially not with Huo Xingzhou.

It wasn’t that he hated Zhao Jiulan. To him, she was just his mother — she gave birth to him and raised him, that’s all.
He didn’t want to harbor resentment or blame her. Not for any grand reason, but simply because he didn’t want Huo Xingzhou to know.

Whether it was his last bit of pride or his fragile dignity, he wanted to keep it.

He hoped that in Huo Xingzhou’s future memories, he would remember him as someone good — not someone burdened with chaos and darkness.

That past, which belonged to Luo Xing alone, had no place in Huo Xingzhou’s life.

In the afternoon, Feng Jia, still hoarse from a hangover, called.

“You awake? Not letting me light candles for you anymore?”

Feng Jia had drunk too much and completely blacked out. When he heard about it, he got excited.
“Was I that badass last night? Did anyone take pictures? I’m gonna brag about this for the rest of my life!”

“Enough.”
Huo Xingzhou had no patience for his nonsense.
“Why are you calling?”

“Oh,”
Feng Jia replied,
“I asked my cousin about the thing you mentioned. His girlfriend…”

“Wait.”
Huo Xingzhou gently patted Luo Xing’s head.
“Play by yourself for a bit.”

Then he walked out onto the balcony, closed the door, and said,
“Go ahead.”

Feng Jia had no idea why he was being so secretive.
“My cousin’s girlfriend is in the same class as Luo Xing. She said he doesn’t have many friends at school. Aside from adding his front and back desk neighbors on WeChat, he’s quite solitary.”

Huo Xingzhou frowned.

Solitary?

“What else?”

Feng Jia thought for a moment, trying to recall his cousin’s words.
“Oh, right! Do you know what score he got to get into No. 4 High School? He was the top scorer in the entrance exam — 30 points higher than the class president!”

Thirty points higher than Ye Qiaoqiao?

Huo Xingzhou glanced at the quiet and obedient Luo Xing sitting on the sofa, lost in thought. He remembered how Luo Xing stayed up all night doing homework the first day he came. His frown deepened.

“Thirty points higher than Qiaoqiao? Are you sure your cousin got that right?”

Huo Xingzhou had always had good grades, so he knew what that score meant. Thirty points higher than Ye Qiaoqiao… that was almost freakishly good.

“No mistake. My cousin’s girlfriend said the same. Oh, and here’s something even scarier — from freshman to sophomore year, Luo Xing never did the listening comprehension part in exams. Even in the entrance exam, the listening section was blank. And yet, he still scored higher than the class president. If he had done the listening, it would have been close to a perfect score.”

Huo Xingzhou’s chest tightened as a bad thought started creeping into his mind, making him uneasy. Instinctively, he didn’t want to listen anymore.

Maybe it was just a second, or maybe it was a long time.

Feng Jia’s voice became distant, almost inaudible.
“If my guess is right, he might be deaf.”

Huo Xingzhou stood frozen on the balcony for a long time. Finally, he turned back, tapped on the glass, and caught Luo Xing’s attention. He mouthed the words silently: “Are you hungry?”

Luo Xing shook his head and stood up.
“I’m okay.”

Huo Xingzhou took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. His chest felt heavy, like a boulder was pressing down on it.

— You brat. Ignore me again, and I’ll swap places with you.

— Why do you always ignore me? Don’t want your ears anymore? Give them to me, then!

He always thought Luo Xing was ignoring him on purpose. But no, it wasn’t intentional. Luo Xing couldn’t hear him.

No wonder Luo Xing always stared at people’s lips when they spoke. It wasn’t out of politeness. He needed to do it to understand what they were saying.

For him, the world was silent.

That’s why he cherished every bit of kindness from others, remembering it carefully and trying to return it in his own way.

Huo Xingzhou’s brows knitted tighter. He didn’t know whether Luo Xing’s deafness was congenital or caused later. He suddenly thought of the scars on Luo Xing’s face, the woman from before, and Luo Xing’s attitude toward his parents.

Luo Xing was always so kind. When he was falsely accused of cheating, he didn’t blame Ding Chao.
Instead, he told him not to fight and even felt sorry for Ye Qiaoqiao.

At the same time, he always refused others’ goodwill. He looked soft, blushed easily, and always gave in. He seemed never to get angry, almost as if he didn’t have any emotions.

He was like a perfect robot.

“Is his hearing loss congenital or caused later?”
Huo Xingzhou asked hoarsely, struggling to speak.

Feng Jia paused.
“I’m not entirely sure. It’s just a rumor. Supposedly, he never had a father. His mom raised him alone and was extremely strict with him, forbidding him from doing anything other than studying. She even controlled how often he could eat and drink. His ear… seems to have been damaged by his mom.”

Damaged by his mom?!

“Damn, is his mom crazy?”
Huo Xingzhou gritted his teeth, his voice dropping as he chuckled coldly.

“She turned her son into a studying machine? Let me see her go deaf, how about that?”

Feng Jia fell silent for a moment before cautiously asking,
“Why are you so angry?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t let this spread,”
Huo Xingzhou exhaled deeply and lowered his voice, instructing,
“Not a single word.”

“I got it,”
Feng Jia replied.

Huo Xingzhou hung up the call and stood on the balcony, lost in thought for a while.

He finally understood why Luo Xing liked Blood in the Wind so much.

The shattered flesh, the rebirth from the ashes—perhaps in those tragic scenes, Luo Xing found a sense of peace. Such a small body had endured an unimaginable amount of pain.

When he first lost his hearing, he must have felt helpless and terrified.

The only person he could rely on in this world was the one who hurt him.

For a long time, Huo Xingzhou slowly unclenched his fists and dialed another number, speaking respectfully,
“Uncle Shang.”

Shang Qingming was busy and answered in a rush,
“What’s the matter? Be brief; I have a meeting soon.”

Huo Xingzhou turned his head to glance at Luo Xing, who was nervously watching him. He avoided his gaze and asked,
“If parents abuse their children, is that considered a crime?”

Shang Qingming chuckled despite his busy schedule.
“Did your dad finally lose patience with your bad temper and hit you?”

“No,”
Huo Xingzhou replied seriously.

“It’s about a classmate. He always has injuries on him, and I suspect it’s from abuse at home.”

Shang Qingming raised his eyebrows and stood at the door, letting others go ahead while he answered.
“If it’s parental abuse, even minor physical harm is illegal. Typically, the victim needs to report it, and evidence must be collected for mediation by the local community.”

“Mediation?”
Huo Xingzhou sneered coldly.

“If they’re beaten to death, will it finally be taken seriously?”

“Watch your tone,”
Shang Qingming said with a frown.

He knew Huo Xingzhou well—though the boy could be sarcastic, he rarely lost his temper like this.

“That’s how the law works. Even if I wanted to help, I can only explain the procedure. I have no direct authority.”
He paused, his tone softening.

“Encourage your friend to report it. Don’t endure it or stay silent.”

Huo Xingzhou thought of Luo Xing’s submissive yet guarded demeanor. There was no way he would report it.

“I don’t want to cause him more trauma. If it’s serious and there’s a witness, can you make sure the abuser is barred from seeing him again?”

“It’s possible,”
Shang Qingming replied,

“but removing someone from their family isn’t a light matter. You should talk to him carefully.”

“I know.”

“Just make sure you don’t act impulsively. You’re still just a kid. What responsibility can you take on?”

Shang Qingming added a few more words of advice before rushing back into his meeting.

Huo Xingzhou glanced at Luo Xing, his expression softening into a deep warmth.

“He doesn’t need anyone else in the future. I’ll take care of him… for a lifetime.”

Huo Xingzhou put away his phone, took a deep breath, and adjusted his mood and expression before walking back inside.

“What are you doing?”
he asked, noticing the bandage on Luo Xing’s finger.

“Why do you keep getting hurt since hanging out with me? You’re not doing any chores from now on.”

Luo Xing blushed and avoided his gaze.
“It’s not like I always get hurt. Don’t worry about it.”

Huo Xingzhou chuckled softly and sat beside him.
“Are you hungry?”

Luo Xing hadn’t eaten much since last night. He was starving but didn’t want to admit it, so he shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Knowing he was too shy to admit it, Huo Xingzhou pulled out his phone and leaned closer. He opened a food delivery app and handed it to Luo Xing.
“Pick something you want to eat.”

Luo Xing hesitated, then randomly selected a restaurant.

Huo Xingzhou raised an eyebrow with a smile.
“You’ve got good taste. The chef at this hotel trained abroad. Even their fried rice costs a few hundred bucks. It’s practically made with gold.”

“That’s way too expensive!”
Luo Xing was shocked.

“We should pick another one.”

Huo Xingzhou pressed his hand down gently and wrapped an arm around him. Guiding him to the checkout page, he said,
“No need to switch. If you want it, we’ll get it. A few hundred is nothing. Even if it’s ten thousand a plate, we’ll eat it.”

Luo Xing’s fingers tingled from the warmth of his touch. He pulled back, blushing.
“I’ll pay you back.”

Huo Xingzhou laughed and tapped his forehead.
“Consider it tutoring fees. Just teach me more questions later.”

“I’m not helping for money!”

“Then what do you want?”
Huo Xingzhou leaned in close to his ear, his breath warm.

“Tell me.”

“I… I don’t want anything…”
Luo Xing stammered, his heart racing. He wanted to say, I want you.

But he couldn’t.

He looked down at his fingers, realizing Huo Xingzhou had been loosely holding him the whole time. His face turned redder.
“Why are you hugging me again?”

Huo Xingzhou put his phone aside and loosened his arm.

Just as Luo Xing breathed a sigh of relief, Huo Xingzhou scooped him up and sat him on his lap. His arm wrapped around Luo Xing’s slim waist, pulling him close. His deep voice brushed against his ear.

“Luo-laoshi, this is called a hug.”