Ah Fei stood in front of the door with a pounding chest. He clutched his bag tightly. Releasing all the pressure on the bag. Take a death breath and knocking the door with his sweating hand.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in."
The answer from inside added to the pounding in his chest. Ah Fei took a deep breath and slowly released it. The door knob was slowly turned.
Zhang Yiran's shirtless body greeted Ah Fei's gaze. Ah Fei swallowed his saliva. Seeing the muscles on Zhang Yiran's body that were soaked in sweat after a workout made him stunned. Feelings of admiration and jealousy mixed in his heart. Having a perfect body like Zhang Yiran was his dream.
Feeling himself being watched made Zhang Yiran realize that he was shirtless. However, he didn't panic. Casually, he took a towel, wiped his sweat before placing it on his shoulders. There was not the slightest feeling of wanting to cover his entire body. His mischievous smile provoked Ah Fei's reaction.
"What's wrong?"
He asked.
"Oh...Err..this."
Ah Fei was at a loss for words. He keeps his face down. For some reason, his tongue always got numb in front of Zhang Yiran. Not to mention in moments like that. Seeing Zhang Yiran's body made him forget himself for a moment.
Ah Fei gulped before handing Zhang Yiran the results of his math quiz.
Zhang Yiran reached for the test paper. Fifty percent. There is an improvement. Zhang Yiran smiled.
"Congratulations. You've worked hard."
He said while stroking Ah Fei's hair.
"But..."
Ah Fei muttered. Zhang Yiran looked at Ah Fei who kept his head down and made him fail to read the look on his junior's face.
Zhang Yiran leaned down and stared at Ah Fei's face. Ah Fei gasped and took a few steps back. Zhang Yiran stood up straight again.
"But what?"
Zhang Yiran asked.
"But...still...low. I didn't try hard enough. Sorry, I let you down."
Ah Fei replied. Zhang Yiran smiled. Ah Fei's reaction at that moment felt so cute. It made him start to feel greedy. He wanted to see that reaction again and again.
"It's okay. You can definitely get more later."
Zhang Yiran persuaded. Ah Fei was silent. Ah Fei's silence made Zhang Yiran feel guilty. He wasn't good at persuading. His little brother, Lulu was a cheerful person and easy to persuade. However, Ah Fei's reaction was just silence. It make him feel uneasy.
"Hmmm... How about this... let's celebrate your success in reaching fifty for the first time."
Ah Fei raised his face. His lips began to pout.
Boom!
There was an explosion of fireworks in Zhang Yiran's garden that had been dark and quiet for so long.
"You're mocking me!"
He said while pushing Zhang Yiran away.
"Hahaha...no. I don't mocking you. Prftt..."
Zhang Yiran said trying to hold back his laughter. Seeing Ah Fei's face really made him forget all the problems he was facing.
"I'm proud of your achievements. You've done your best."
Zhang Yiran said softly. Ah Fei's hair was gently stroked. Ah Fei was silent. He had never felt such warmth. Just watching how his brother was treated like that. His heart was full of jealousy. But he realized that between him and his brother was like heaven and earth.
Seeing Ah Fei's face suddenly become gloomy made Zhang Yiran worry. Was his joke went too much?
"Err... sorry. I joked too much."
Zhang Yiran said completely felt guilty. Ah Fei shook. He liked Zhang Yiran joking with him. He was glad Zhang Yiran was paying attention to him. And he hoped that Zhang Yiran would continue to do so.
"Where is my gift?"
Ah Fei asked as he raised his hand to Zhang Yiran. Zhang Yiran's mouth gaped at Ah Fei's casual behavior before he slowly chuckled.
"What do you want?"
Zhang Yiran asked.
"Hmmm....I'll save it until I could think what I want later. You don't ever try to forget about it."
Ah Fei said.
"Okay. I promise."
Zhang Yiran promised.
***
Zhang Yiran looked at Ah Fei who was already sound asleep next to him.
"Why did you get on my bed? Your bed is over there."
Zhang Yiran said as soon as Ah Fei got on the bed with his pillow.
Ah Fei pretended not to hear. He placed the pillow next to Zhang Yiran and lay there without feeling guilty. It really was like his own bed.
"Still scared?"
Zhang Yiran asked softly. Ah Fei was quiet. He was used to sleeping next to Zhang Yiran. And without Zhang Yiran, hid sleep felt disturbed. As if someone was watching him with their murders gaze.
Zhang Yiran looked at Ah Fei who was pretanding to be sleeping next to him. He started to get angry when all his questions were left hanging.
"Okay. I'll move to your bed."
Zhang Yiran said, eliciting a reaction. Ah Fei looked a little startled. Zhang Yiran smiled. Tried to get up from the bed.
Ah Fei bit the end of the blanket. "What am I going to do...?" He was too embarrassed to stop Zhang Yiran from leaving, but he could no longer sleep without Zhang Yiran by his side. Now he was in dilemma. His pride of his needs? Which one is more important?
"Don't go."
Ah Fei muttered. In the end he chose his needs. He swallowed his pride for a boy name Zhang Yiran.
Zhang Yiran looked at Ah Fei. His ears and neck were already red from embarrassment. Zhang Yiran smiled.
"Why?"
Zhang Yiran asked. Still not satisfied. He wanted to see more than Ah Fei's red ears and neck.
"Don't ask."
Ah Fei replied. Zhang Yiran smiled. He lay back down.
"Okay."
He replied. Turning around and hugging Ah Fei's thin body. Ah Fei was a little surprised. But he didn't refuse. Just stiff as a log.
"You're too thin."
Zhang Yiran said.
"Sorry. I've let you down."
Ah Fei replied.
"Prfttt..."
Zhang Yiran chuckled when he heard Ah Fei's answer. Who would have thought that the boy who had been quiet and timid by his side had a sarcastic mouth. This made him want to know more about the other side of Ah Fei.
"Being skinny is also good. Doesn't take up much space."
Zhang Yiran said.
"Thank you. I appreciate your compliment."
Ah Fei replied. Zhang Yiran smiled. Serving Ah Fei's demanding made him forget about his sadness and disappointment.
Zhang Yiran took a deep breath. "Smells good." Zhang Yiran pressed his nose against Ah Fei's hair. Feeling calm.
Ah Fei smiled. The nights that had been filled with loneliness were now starting to feel warm. He had never felt like he was been watching since he was with Zhang Yiran.
"Dear God. I hope that everything will go well and I won't lose this warmth."
As he smiled, Ah Fei hugged Zhang Yiran's hand who hugged him tightly.