NASAY CH 36

The January weather was bone-chilling.

Huo Xingzhou stood by the roadside with one hand in his pocket, holding his phone close to his mouth with the other. A faint, cold light illuminated his lips.

In front of the old residential building, a large broad-leaved tree shook in the wind, dropping its last few leaves that rustled down onto his head.

Luo Xing’s mind was still filled with the gentle singing from earlier. Each word’s soft and lingering tone brushed against his heart. Even though he knew he shouldn’t have come out, he couldn’t help it.

Huo Xingzhou brushed off the leaves on his head and turned around, noticing Luo Xing a few meters away. He smiled,

 “Hey, little bunny is here.”

Luo Xing moved his lips, his feelings of surprise and nervousness mingling together. His breath quickened, and he stood frozen, watching Huo Xingzhou approach step by step, feeling more and more flustered.

“Why… why are you here?”

Huo Xingzhou lowered his gaze, noticing how thinly dressed Luo Xing was. He quickly took off his scarf and wrapped it around Luo Xing’s neck, pulling him into his arms to warm him up. 

“Why did you run out dressed like this? Are you cold?”

Luo Xing, not even paying attention to the cold, shook his head quickly. 

“Not cold.”

“Little bunny,” 

Huo Xingzhou looked down, gently tapping his nose and asking in a low voice, 

“The door is unlocked. Will you let me in?”

Luo Xing looked into his dark eyes and listened to his barely audible voice. Feeling the familiar scent on him, he hesitated and shook his head.

Zhao Jiulan hadn’t come back tonight, but she never informed him when she’d return. If she came back and found Huo Xingzhou here, it would be troublesome.

Before he could refuse, Huo Xingzhou suddenly sneezed. Luo Xing touched his cold, reddened ear with concern.

 “You came out so late… did you want to tell me something?”

Huo Xingzhou took his hand and rubbed it in his palm with a smile.

 “Nothing important. I just missed you.”

Luo Xing froze, blinking in surprise.

“What’s wrong? So happy you’ve gone silly?” 

Huo Xingzhou chuckled, rubbing his head. 

“I just came to see you, hear you talk a bit, and then I’ll leave.”

Luo Xing felt a lump in his throat, countless emotions wrapping tightly around his heart, making it hard to figure out what his words truly meant.

“What did you eat tonight?” 

Huo Xingzhou asked.

Luo Xing shook his head. Zhao Jiulan hadn’t come back, and the main house was locked, so he couldn’t cook. He had no appetite to go out and buy food either. His mind had been consumed by thoughts of Huo Xingzhou.

Huo Xingzhou looked at him knowingly and picked up a small cake box from the ground beside him. 

“See? I knew you wouldn’t eat properly. You only care about studying and nothing else.”

He adjusted Luo Xing’s scarf and said, “Alright, go back now. I’m leaving too.”

He rubbed his hands, stuffed them back into his pockets, and turned to leave.

Luo Xing stared at the cake in his hands, feeling warmth spread through his chest. He stood there, watching Huo Xingzhou’s figure grow smaller in the cold night, his shadow stretching longer under the streetlights.

Suddenly, something cold touched his face.

He looked up. Tiny snowflakes were falling.

“Huo Xingzhou!” Luo Xing suppressed the sob in his voice and called out softly.

Huo Xingzhou stopped in his tracks and turned slightly. 

“Hmm?”

Luo Xing held the cake tightly and ran up to him, taking a deep breath to steady himself and keep his voice calm. 

“Don’t go.”

Huo Xingzhou suppressed a smile, thinking to himself, I don’t believe this “pity act” won’t work. He coughed lightly and said,

 “It’s fine. I’ll be home in a bit. It’s not far.”

His home was in the mid-level villa district, and even by car, it would take an hour to get there. Now it was late at night, snowing, and hailing a cab was nearly impossible.

Walking home? He wouldn’t make it by morning. And in this weather, he’d freeze to death before he got close.

Just the thought of Huo Xingzhou walking alone through the snowy night, soaking wet and freezing, made Luo Xing’s heart ache. He couldn’t bear it anymore and instinctively grabbed his sleeve to stop him.

Afraid that Huo Xingzhou might insist on leaving, Luo Xing tried to come up with an excuse. 

“The cake… I can’t finish it by myself.”

“But what about your mom? Doesn’t she… not really like you bringing friends home?”

 Huo Xingzhou thought for a moment, carefully softening his tone to avoid saying anything that might hurt him.

Luo Xing lowered his head and whispered, 

“My mom isn’t home tonight.”

Huo Xingzhou froze, suppressing the joy welling up inside him. He raised his hand, wanting to pull Luo Xing into a tight hug. But just as he reached out, Luo Xing slipped away.

“Cake,”

 Luo Xing said, redirecting the conversation.

Huo Xingzhou followed his gaze toward the cake and was about to respond when an older voice called out, 

“Who’s there?”

Seeing the lights turn on, Luo Xing quickly pushed Huo Xingzhou behind a tree and called out, 

“Grandma, it’s me.”

“Oh, Little Darling, it’s snowing. Hurry and go back inside; it’s too cold out here.” With that, she returned to her room.

Once the lights were off again, Luo Xing breathed a sigh of relief. Grabbing Huo Xingzhou’s hand, he whispered, 

“Let’s go, quickly.”

Luo Xing opened the door, ushered Huo Xingzhou inside, and then followed him in. He picked up his phone from the floor and placed it on the bed before sneezing lightly.

Huo Xingzhou looked around the room, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

“You live here?”

The cramped, narrow room was filled with books everywhere. There was barely enough space for a small bed, which was so short that it couldn’t fully stretch out. The flickering lightbulb hung precariously, occasionally emitting a crackling sound.

Even though the city had central heating, this tiny room was as cold as an ice cellar. The thin blanket on the bed could barely be considered sufficient.

How can anyone live like this?

Huo Xingzhou felt a surge of frustration and anger. His heart twisted painfully. Is Zhao Jiulan out of her mind? Luo Xing is her son. Even if you were raising a pet, you’d develop feelings after so many years, right?

And she treats him like this?!

Luo Xing, unaware of the sudden burst of anger in Huo Xingzhou, nervously tugged at the string around the cake box and shyly hunched his shoulders.

 “The living conditions aren’t great. If you want… you can wait until the snow stops and see if you can get a cab—”

Before he could finish, Huo Xingzhou stepped forward, took the cake from him, and gently grabbed his hand as Luo Xing instinctively pulled away, embarrassed.

 “Sorry…”

“Isn’t it cold sleeping here?”

 Huo Xingzhou softened his voice.

Luo Xing raised his head, staring at him blankly for a few seconds, seemingly not understanding what he had just asked. 

“What?”

Huo Xingzhou took his hand and, with a pained expression, led him to sit on the edge of the bed. The bed creaked loudly under their weight, sending another wave of anger through him. He could barely contain himself.

In a low, restrained voice, Huo Xingzhou asked again, 

“Isn’t it cold living here?”

“I-it’s okay,” 

Luo Xing hesitated for a few seconds, then added,

 “It’s not that cold.”

Huo Xingzhou laughed coldly to himself. Not that cold? This place is no better than an icebox. How could it not be cold?

This kid… how much hardship has he endured?!

He had always been soft-hearted when it came to Luo Xing. The sight of his tears was enough to make him compromise and let him come back here.

But if he had known things were like this, there was no way he would’ve agreed—no matter how much Luo Xing cried.

If you want to cry, cry in my arms all you want. But coming back here to suffer?

Never again.

Luo Xing noticed Huo Xingzhou’s tightly furrowed brows and the suppressed anger radiating from him. Feeling anxious, he quietly asked, 

“Is it… uncomfortable for you? It’s actually not dirty. I cleaned everything… very well.”

“Little Darling.”

 Huo Xingzhou raised his hand and gently touched Luo Xing’s eyelid, causing his eyelashes to tremble and his words to stop abruptly. Luo Xing looked at him, wide-eyed, frozen in place.

He… he… what did he just call me?!

Luo Xing noticed the anger in Huo Xingzhou’s eyes gradually dissipating, replaced by a soft, tender gaze that left him flustered.

Then, Huo Xingzhou pulled him into his arms. His slightly cool chin brushed against Luo Xing’s neck, making his shoulder twitch as he whispered, “Cold.”

“Little Darling.” 

Huo Xingzhou chuckled softly. 

“So obedient.”

This time, Luo Xing understood the situation, his face flushing as he stammered,

 “W-what did you call me… You…”

Afraid Luo Xing might feel uncomfortable and concerned that he hadn’t eaten, Huo Xingzhou didn’t hold him for long. He quickly let go, opened the cake box, and handed him a spoon. “Eat.”

On the soft cream sat a single bright red strawberry. Luo Xing stared at it, suddenly reminded of Feng Jia’s birthday when Huo Xingzhou had demonstrated how to eat it. His face turned even redder.

Seeing his flushed face, Huo Xingzhou smiled and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Luo Xing unconsciously swallowed and shook his head. He pressed the fork into the tip of the strawberry, pushing it into the cream before lifting it and bringing it to Huo Xingzhou’s lips. 

“The strawberry is for you.”

It was the only strawberry on the cake. Huo Xingzhou froze for a moment, lowering his eyes to look at Luo Xing’s slightly red face and clear, watery eyes. He smiled and asked, 

“Really? You’re giving it to me?”

Luo Xing nodded and pushed the strawberry closer. The most precious thing should be given to Huo Xingzhou.

“Let’s split it.”

 Huo Xingzhou opened his mouth and took a bite from the side, avoiding the sweetest tip. Then he pushed the remaining half back to Luo Xing.

 “The rest is for you.”

Luo Xing watched as juice seeped from the soft flesh of the bitten strawberry. It reminded him of that day—Huo Xingzhou had bitten half and left the rest for him.

He opened his mouth and ate the remaining half. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he exclaimed, “So cold.”

Huo Xingzhou chuckled, holding the bottom of the cake box as he watched Luo Xing take small, delicate bites with his spoon. He felt incredibly satisfied.

Luo Xing always ate with such grace, careful not to make a mess. Occasionally, some cream would get on the corner of his mouth, but before Huo Xingzhou could help wipe it away, Luo Xing’s tongue flicked out to lick it clean.

!!

Huo Xingzhou swallowed, his throat itching. He stared at Luo Xing’s bright red tongue as it gently licked the white cream from the corner of his lips. The contrast of the soft pink tongue and pale cream against his delicate face made him look irresistibly vulnerable.

Unable to hold back, Huo Xingzhou called out, 

“Luo Xing.”

“Hmm?” 

Luo Xing looked up and saw the dark, intense glint in Huo Xingzhou’s eyes. He paused for a moment before asking, 

“Do you want some?”

Huo Xingzhou noticed the little specks of cream on Luo Xing’s lips and nodded.

“I do.”

Luo Xing lowered his head to scoop some cream with the spoon, but when he looked up again, Huo Xingzhou had already leaned down toward him. Luo Xing froze in place, eyes wide in shock.

His fingers loosened, and the fork fell into the cake, sinking into the cream. The small room fell into complete silence, not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

Luo Xing’s fingertips tingled, and his mind instantly went blank. He stood there, stunned and dazed.

He is… 

what… what’s happening?