Ch24 - Cat

Edited by: Mel

Li Zhongchen was no different from a clingy worm. 

He followed Qiao Yi to Walmart, helped him carry half of the items bought, and eventually returned to the door of the house in the residential building.

“Thank you.” Qiao Yi did not take the keys out. It was evident of how he took the stance of sending a guest off. “You can go back now.”

Li Zhongchen, “…”

Qiao Yi spoke flatly. “Is there anything else?” 

“It’s late. I’m worried that there’ll be no buses back.”

“It’s only about eight pm.”

“You know what the rush hour is like in Shanghai. I don’t want to be squeezed into a meat patty.”

“Just take the car. It just so happens that I want to change a car.”

“…” Li Zhongchen was not willing to give up and tried to make up all sorts of reasons to fight for the opportunity to stay. “I didn’t bring the car keys. And besides, it’s been a long time since I drove that car. I’m worried that I’ve become unfamiliar with it. It’s too dangerous this late at night, aren’t you worried about me?”

Qiao Yi could not help but want to roll his eyes, both arms hung loosely by his sides. “Then what do you want? For me to send you back personally?”

That would not do.

Li Zhongchen thought to himself, my intention is to stay, and I never had any intention to leave. 

He just stood there shamelessly, talking to Qiao Yi in close proximity. “I’m hungry. Let’s go inside and make some tomato soup base hot pot? I just learned it, I guarantee that it has the same taste as the one from Hai Di Lao.”

Qiao Yi did not buy it. Letting him into the house meant that he would absolutely stick around and never leave. “Then make it for yourself, take your time to eat. I’ll pack my things and go somewhere else to vacate the space for you.”

Li Zhongchen started to get nervous as he listened.

He was breathing heavily and cornered Qiao Yi to the side of the door. It was inevitable that both their bodies would collide, forcing the distance between them to be reduced to a mere foot. 

Facing one another, both their breaths ghosted across the other’s face, one step away from a kiss.

It was just the two of them in the dimly lit hallway. At that moment, Li Zhongchen almost forgot to adjust his breathing. He felt a lump in his throat, his lips moving towards Qiao Yi’s ear——

“I wanted to ask, have you never once thought of me in the past year? Am I still the only one that remained in the same place, constantly thinking of you, waking up after having dreamt about you and still wanting to continue that dream?”

Qiao Yi turned his head as he tried to avoid him. 

But his heart beat wildly, the tips of his ears gradually reddening. They even felt numb and tingly, completely betraying his impatient expression.

“…Tell me. I want to hear it. Don’t let me talk all by myself, I’m pretty scared.” Li Zhongchen plucked up ample courage. He lowered his head and leaned his forehead on Qiao Yi’s right shoulder; his breathing was shaky. “I’ve prepared myself since a long time ago that you would return to America and never come back for the rest of your life. But now, you’re back. Tell me, what should I think?”

His tone was far too gentle. And within that gentleness held a complicated and inexplicable ache.

It was as though it would turn into a bout of monsoon rain in an instant, bringing with it a flood like stars in the Milky Way. The rain would pour, yet could never bear to drench the other no matter what. 

“…” Qiao Yi’s heart clenched, and his eyes began to flood with tears. He forced himself to close his eyes, voice quivering as he responded. “Go back. Neither of us would be able to discuss anything in this state.”

Li Zhongchen went against his words. “What is there to discuss? Are you talking about the contract or about our relationship? You’re being vague about it, I’m really not sure what you mean.”

“Li Zhongchen.” Qiao Yi took a step back, turning his face away slightly.

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

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He was no longer that small boy that wore a straw hat as he ran around with Qiao Yi to every nook and cranny of that coastal town, taking the most exquisite care of this beautiful boy that came from another country.

He was also no longer that teenager that was full of hopes and dreams. Having paid off his debts, he emerged from chrysalis into a butterfly that looked forward to the world that gradually unfolded before him.

Time had smoothed out his edges, and as the tears slid downwards, he looked no different from normal. As though he was fine. 

Li Zhongchen was almost twenty four.

Qiao Yi thought, he had only just turned fifteen that year when we first met.

“Don’t be like this, don’t cry.” Qiao Yi’s heart clenched, but he continued ruthlessly. “It’s all been said and done. Now, you…”

His words were left unspoken. 

Only because of the muted click coming from the door next to them. It was the sound of the door being unlocked —

Their neighbor popped his head out.

He did not seem surprised by their actions. On the contrary, his expression was surprised. “Li ge and Xiao Qiao?! Both of you actually came back! That’s great. For the next couple of days, could you help me take care of my daughter and —”

At the same time, that orange British Shorthair ran out of the house. Along with her followed a chubby Birman. 

“— and her new little brother?” The neighbor gave an embarrassed smile, but contrary to the look on his face, he daringly chased the two cats towards their door.

Qiao Yi, “…”

Li Zhongchen wiped the tears off his face. “Ge, you’re still living here. Didn’t you already move?”

The neighbor sighed loudly and explained. “I was constantly urged to get married when I was home. I couldn’t stand it anymore and had no choice but to come back to the city to work. Sister cat is also used to this home, so I contacted the landlord a few months ago and renewed the lease at a high price. I just received a notice and will have to fly out to Zhu Hai tonight at the last minute. I was worried that none of my friends would be able to take the siblings in.” 

The British Shorthair and Birman siblings tugged at Qiao Yi’s pant leg.

He could not help but lower his head to look at the two cats, his expression neither cold nor moved as though he was carefully examining them. It was then that he heard Li Zhongchen boast shamelessly, “don’t worry. We’ll take good care of them for the next few days.”

As Qiao Yi lifted his gaze towards Li Zhongchen with mixed feelings, the neighbor had already finalized the agreement. “I’m really thankful to you and Xiao Qiao. Ai, you both truly get along so well. What were you saying earlier that got your so moved to the point of tears? Also, did you two go on a honeymoon in the last few months? I almost thought that you had moved out too.”

Qiao Yi was not surprised at the very least to hear the neighbor say that. 

The neighbor was considered a casual player, and most likely did not know who the two of them were. In the past, he had believed the lie of “Xiao Qiao and I own an internet cafe in Shanghai” that Li Zhongchen told him. But what was even more amazing was that he was completely accepting of same-sex romance.

Qiao Yi had wanted to say something, but the cats began to tug at his pants even harder.

“We went to San Francisco in California,” Li Zhongchen said brazenly. “We went to visit Qiao Yi’s dads.”

The neighbor did not doubt it at all. Not only did he congratulate them for meeting the parents, he even asked about how the food was over there with interest. Qiao Yi completely gave up with his struggle. “…” 

About an hour later.

The orange british shorthair once again took over another person’s house, bringing along with her a drag of a brother as well as a temporary owner that had bragged about taking good care of them.

The living room suddenly became lively. Li Zhongchen squatted to feed the two cats their food, worried that the two kittens would go hungry.

Qiao Yi looked at them from above and signed. 

In fact, it was not that he disliked cats, but neither could he say that he liked them. Secretly, he even felt an amalgamation of complex emotions at work that took the form of something along the lines of “you and I are one of a kind, but why are you occupying my territory.”

Li Zhongchen poured out the cat food for the cats.

After that, they did as they pleased. He stood up and approached Qiao Yi. “Do you want to take a shower?”

The two of them had just finished dinner of three dishes and a soup. 

Surprisingly, everything was made by Li Zhongchen. They were even rather decent. Aside from the taste being a little too salty, everything else was fine.

“…” Qiao Yi looked at the image before his eyes. It was as though he had taken a time machine back in time and was in a bit of a trance. “En.”

Li Zhongchen was natural. “I don’t know if I can still fit into the clothes that I’ve left here. Either way, I’ll still have to wash them first.”

Qiao Yi did not say anything like allowing the other to wear his pajamas. 

He could only say exasperatedly, “rinse it in the washing machine then put it in the dryer. It should dry in about half an hour. I’ll go and clean up the other bedroom before I take a shower.”

Li Zhongchen did not dare ask for too much. “You take the master bedroom, I’ll clean it up myself.”

“Alright,” Qiao Yi did not quite dare to look at him, shifting his gaze away awkwardly. “I’ll video call the lawyer after my shower. If there is nothing else…”

Li Zhongchen took the hint and responded, “I won’t disturb you, you do what you need to.” 

“Alright.” Qiao Yi secretly sighed in relief.

Afterwards, Qiao Yi returned to the room and found himself a set of clean pajamas.

He felt like he was floating on the cloud as he heard Li Zhongchen murmuring to the cats. He could not comprehend what it was that he felt, and could not understand why he had caved in and agreed to Li Zhongchen staying the night.

He shook his head, trying to get himself to clear his mind, and entered the bathroom. 

Li Zhongchen was well-behaved the entire night.

Aside from playing with the cats, he was doing chores such as drying clothes and making the bed. He knew that Qiao Yi would be busy with the court case that night and did not bother him.

But with the two of them living under the same roof.

It was inevitable that he would know too much. As long as he slightly pricked his ears, he would hear what the other person was doing loud and clear. 

Qiao Yi had the habit of brushing his teeth before going to bed.

Perhaps it was because he had stayed up for quite some time that Sofia, the lawyer, had thought that he had been losing sleep over the lawsuit when Qiao Yi looked drowsy over the call.

Qiao Yi explained that his mind was in a calm state.

The two of them discussed some specific matters. Before they hung up, Sofia wished him good luck, and Qiao Yi smiled gratefully. 

If it was any other regular night.

He would still be able to play a few matches on Apex.

But when he thought about Li Zhongchen that was in the house and yet did not come over to provoke him, it left him with an indescribable sense of dejection.

After thinking over it, he simply brushed his teeth and went to bed. He would know about the results of the termination of his contract once he woke up. He would also need to think over the pros and cons of going to SVG, as well as what consequences it would bring. 

—Although he had more or less come to a decision.

The bed was unusually soft that night.

In a daze, he heard the soft cry of a cat from the living room. Li Zhongchen seemed to have said something, but it did not interrupt his rest. Instead, he was able to drift off into a deep sleep with that voice.

After that. 

He had the realization that he was dreaming.

The dream was familiar, and he was not the only one that was sleeping in the bed.

He lay on his side and could feel his waist being encircled by an arm. The person behind him had tight muscles, holding his thin body. He could clearly hear the faint sound of breathing.

Qiao Yi was too sleepy. 

But the realness of his dream made his thoughts churn.

Yet he could not keep his eyelids open, allowing everything to continue. The palm of the other’s hand reached under his cotton pajamas and caressed his back. The movement was very light, and it made him feel very comfortable.

“Qiao Yi.”

That voice. 

Qiao Yi woke up at once.

“…” Qiao Yi’s body stiffened and opened his eyes in the darkness, yet all he saw was pitch black, the light from the outside world faintly visible through the curtains.

It was Li Zhongchen’s voice. “I should not have kissed you that day. It was my fault.”

He was not done talking. 

The hand traveled down his spine, rubbing along the creases of his skin, emboldened by the fact that he could not feel any resistance from Qiao Yi.

Qiao Yi did not push him away, but he also dared not make a sound. Who could have expected that he completely lost control of his own breathing, almost gasping as he responded. “What do you want?”

Li Zhongchen was too caught up in his desires and lost his senses.

There was too much that he envisioned in his mind, and in the end, he did not dare to go overboard and only replied slowly. “I won’t do much, I just want to hug you.” 

Li Zhongchen’s hand did not continue any lower.

Qiao Yi allowed him to hold him for a long time until he finally felt Li Zhongchen’s breath even out, as though he was about to fall asleep.

The night wind blew across the room.

Qiao Yi actually coveted being able to be held and warmed by a body next to him. 

But after further thought, he still broke away from the other’s side.

Qiao Yi sat up, intentionally putting distance between himself and Li Zhongchen. Only he knew how wretched he felt at that moment. “It’s probably better if I sleep in the other room.”

Noa’s Note: Making up for the chapters I missed the last few weeks in the next few days, so keep your eyes peeled!