Are we back together?

When Li Huaizhou flicked off his phone, the faint glow of the text message interface still lingered on his fingertips. The message, "We're running low on cat litter. I'll pick up two bags on the way," had been lingering in the chat box for three days, and he still hadn't dared to reply.

Ever since he'd drunkenly hugged Xie Mo and cried, "Don't leave me," he'd subconsciously started avoiding people. That morning, Xie Mo had said he'd send over fresh chicken breast, but he'd lied, saying the clerk had already purchased it. At noon, Xie Mo had asked if they wanted to go to the newly opened veterinary clinic together, but he'd excused himself by saying he needed to get Sweet Bean a prenatal checkup. Thinking of the curve in Xie Mo's eyes when he smiled, his chest felt like it had been gently scratched by a cat's paw, itching and aching.

"Brother Zhou, are you staring at your phone again?" Lin Shengxia walked over with a cup of freshly brewed oolong tea and placed it on the counter, a teasing look in her eyes. "It's been almost a week, and every day you're so distracted, either looking forward to someone coming or avoiding someone. How long are you going to be so awkward?"

Li Huaizhou picked up the teacup and took a sip. The cold liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't suppress the warmth on his cheeks. "Who's uncomfortable?" He turned his head away stubbornly, his eyes fixed on the Siamese cat Tiandou in the corner. Tiandou was lying in the cat bed covered with soft velvet, her belly bulging, her tail sweeping the ground intermittently, and it looked like she was about to give birth. "I was thinking that I should buy her some waterproof mats for the delivery room and some goat milk powder for kittens tomorrow."

Lin Shengxia raised an eyebrow, but didn't expose his excuse. She just smiled and said, "Okay, then when you go shopping tomorrow, remember to buy a jar of honey. The coffee you've been making these days is more bitter than my life. I don't even have the energy to hang myself after work."

Li Huaizhou didn't respond, but his fingertips unconsciously rubbed the rim of the cup. He knew he was hiding, and he also knew it was easy to hide - Xie Mo's company always seemed to be busy, and as long as he found an excuse, he could easily avoid meeting him. But the more this happened, the stronger the longing in his heart became. When he was watching the store, he always felt that the wind chimes at the door would suddenly ring; when he was adding food to the cat, he would subconsciously take an extra portion of cat food, thinking of Xie Mo's gentle look when he fed the puppet last time; even when he closed the store at night and went home, he couldn't help but look back, as if he would see that familiar figure in the next second, smiling and saying "Boss Zhou, I'm waiting for you to go together."

The next evening—

Li Huaizhou came out of the pet supply store carrying two large bags. The bags were filled with waterproof mats, goat milk powder, and the freeze-dried chicken that Tiandou loved to eat. They were so heavy that they made his wrists ache. It was already dark, and the street lights in the alley were shining with a warm yellow light, stretching his shadow very long. He quickened his pace to the cat cafe, still thinking about making the bed in Tiandou's delivery room thicker tomorrow. This little guy is usually more delicate than others, and now that he is pregnant with a baby, he must be well taken care of. Suddenly, he heard a heavy sound of footsteps behind him.

He subconsciously turned around and his heart suddenly sank.

In the shadows at the entrance of the alley stood a familiar yet unfamiliar figure. He wore a washed-out jacket, his hair was disheveled, his face was covered in wrinkles, but his eyes were like poisoned knives, staring intently at him. It was Wen Juzhi...

Li Huaizhou paused, his fingertips instantly freezing cold, and he nearly dropped the bag in his hand. Why was he here? Shouldn't he still be in prison? Logically, his sentence hadn't been completed yet, so how could he be released early? Countless questions flooded his mind, causing him to stiffen and subconsciously take a step back.

"Long time no see, Huaizhou." Wen Juzhi slowly walked out of the shadows, his voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing against each other, and a strange smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "I've been so bored in there these past few years. Every day I wonder if you're doing well." This alley was usually deserted, and there were no passers-by at this moment. Li Huaizhou forced himself to calm down, his eyes as cold as ice: "What do you want to do? Eight years isn't enough, do you want to stay in there for a few more years?"

"How many years?" Wen Juzhi suddenly laughed, his laughter sharp and piercing. "You ungrateful bastard, I raised you for five years, and this is how you repay me? If it weren't for me, you would have starved to death. Now you're living a good life and have completely forgotten me!"

As he spoke, he pulled out a fruit knife from his pocket. The blade gleamed coldly under the streetlight. Li Huaizhou's pupils suddenly contracted, and he subconsciously took a defensive posture, his heart pounding in his chest. "Wen Juzhi, don't mess around!"

"You're messing around?" Wen Juzhi approached, his eyes filled with madness. "Even if I go back in, I'll kill you, you ungrateful bastard!" As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly pulled a handful of white powder from his other pocket and flung it at Li Huaizhou's face. Li Huaizhou instinctively raised his arm to block it, his mind blank. He had no idea what the powder was, and subconsciously felt that he was doomed for the day. But the expected pain did not come. Instead, he felt a warm and firm embrace, tightly protecting him.

The familiar smell of laundry detergent mixed with a hint of mint instantly surrounded him. Li Huaizhou was stunned, slowly raised his head, and bumped into Xie Mo's anxious eyes. "Xie Mo? Why are you here?"

Before he had time to think about it, he heard a muffled groan. Xie Mo's arms tightened around him, and his body trembled slightly. Li Huaizhou panicked and looked down along Xie Mo's back. He saw a fruit knife deeply stuck in Xie Mo's lower back. Blood was slowly seeping out along the blade, staining his white shirt red. "Fuck!" Wen Juzhi was also stunned. He obviously didn't expect someone to suddenly appear. After he reacted, his eyes became even crazier. He simply pulled out the fruit knife and stabbed Xie Mo's lower back again.

"Xie Mo!" Li Huaizhuo's voice suddenly changed, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

Xie Mo released the hand that was holding Li Huaizhou, endured the severe pain, turned around, and punched Wen Juzhi in the chest. Wen Juzhi was beaten back a few steps, and before he could stand firmly, Xie Mo kicked him on the knee again. He fell to the ground with a "thump", and the fruit knife also fell to the ground. Li Huaizhou finally came to his senses from the shock, rushed forward and kicked Wen Juzhi's leg hard, his voice with tears in his eyes: "You've been in the police station and still don't behave! I'll call the police to arrest you!" As he spoke, he took out his mobile phone, his fingers shaking so much that he could hardly dial the number.

Wen Juzhi was lying on the ground, still screaming madly: "What a hero who saved his lover, Mr. Xie! Do you think Li Huaizhuo is a good guy? He is just an ungrateful wolf who was spoiled by me, so dirty! You like him? You are so fucking blind." Li Huaizhuo's movements paused, and the blood color on his face faded instantly. He subconsciously looked at Xie Mo, only to see that Xie Mo's face was terribly pale, and his lips had lost their color, but his eyes were still firm, staring at Wen Juzhi coldly. At that moment, Li Huaizhuo's heart was full of inferiority and embarrassment. The side of him that he least wanted Xie to see was torn open by Wen Juzhi in public.

"He's fine." Xie Mo's voice was weak, but it was filled with unquestionable firmness. "If you dare to say something I don't like to hear again, I don't mind making you speechless forever."

Li Huaizhou's heart trembled suddenly, and he looked up at Xie Mo. Xie Mo was also looking at him, with no disgust or aversion in his eyes, only worry and tenderness. He finally reacted and quickly dialed 120, his voice choked with sobs. The ambulance arrived soon. When the medical staff lifted Xie Mo onto the stretcher, he was still forcing a smile and said to Li Huaizhou: "Boss Zhou, don't worry, I'm lucky and I won't die." Li Huaizhou grabbed his hand, and his tears fell on the back of Xie Mo's hand, burning hot.

Wen Juzhi was taken away by the police who arrived shortly after. He continued to curse as he left, his voice growing increasingly distant until he finally disappeared at the end of the alley. Li Huaizhou sat in the ambulance, tightly holding Xie Mo's hand. Looking at his pale face, his heart ached like a knife. He finally understood that Xie Mo had been secretly protecting him the entire time. Otherwise, why would he appear at such a critical moment? Otherwise, why would he stand in front of him without hesitation?

"Why are you so stupid..." Li Huaizhou's voice was very soft, with a strong nasal tone. Xie Mo blinked and smiled weakly: "Because... I don't want you to get hurt."

For the next three days, Li Huaizhou stayed at the hospital almost constantly. He left the cat cafe to Lin Shengxia, and sat by Xie Mo's bedside every day, holding his hand and telling him about the cat cafe—how Tiandou was lazy again and refused to move; how Muou stole freeze-dried food from the cabinet and was punished by Lin Shengxia by not being allowed to eat cat food; how Yuanyuan had learned to open the door and almost ran away... He spoke softly, as if he was sharing his daily life with Xie Mo, but also as if he was cheering himself up, hoping that Xie Mo would wake up soon.

When the nurse came to change the dressing, she saw Li Huaizhou's red and swollen eyes and couldn't help but persuade him: "Sir, don't worry too much. The patient's condition is very stable and he will wake up soon. You also need to rest well, otherwise you will fall ill when the patient wakes up."

Li Huaizhou just shook his head and continued to hold Xie Mo's hand, saying softly: "Tiandou will give birth in a few days, can you wake up soon? I want to see the baby with you... I really miss you..." He buried his face in Xie Mo's palm, his shoulders trembling slightly, and tears welled up again. At this moment, he felt a slight itch in the palm of his hand, as if something was gently rubbing his cheek. Li Huaizhou raised his head suddenly, only to see Xie Mo tilting his head, looking at him with a smile, his eyes with a hint of fatigue, but still gentle.

"You finally woke up... bastard!" Li Huaizhou's voice choked instantly, and his tears fell even more fiercely. Xie Mo's voice was still a little hoarse, but with a hint of ridicule: "Boss Zhou, what you just said, is it a confession to me?"

Li Huaizhou's face instantly turned red, from his cheeks to his ears. He sniffed and whispered, "Let's...let's do it." "Then I agree." Xie Mo laughed, and the curve of his eyes was still beautiful. Li Huaizhou also laughed, and as he laughed, tears fell again. He remembered that Xie Mo was stabbed twice to protect him. This was the second time Xie Mo was injured because of him. Thinking of Wen Juzhi's words, he felt wronged and distressed, and couldn't help asking: "Are you an idiot... Why do you like me? I'm obviously not good at all..."

Xie Mo was stunned for a moment, then stretched out his hand that was not receiving the IV, gently patted Li Huaizhou's back, and said with a smile: "Guess?"

"No guess..." Li Huaizhou pretended to be angry and hit Xie Mo, but he was afraid of touching his wound, so he moved very gently. Xie Mo suddenly groaned, lowered his head and frowned, and said, "It hurts... It seems like I pulled the wound." Li Huaizhou's face changed instantly. He quickly moved over and carefully checked Xie Mo's wound, his voice full of worry: "How is it? Does it hurt a lot? I'll go find a doctor!"

"No need." Xie Mo held his hand, a sly smile flashed in his eyes, "If you chat with me for a while, I won't feel any pain."

Li Huaizhou finally realized he had been tricked. He was both angry and amused, but he still sat down obediently and continued to hold Xie Mo's hand. The two chatted idly, from the cats in the cat cafe to the past and future plans. The sunlight shone through the window, falling on the two of them, warm and comfortable.

After a while, Xie Mo suddenly spoke, his voice very soft but very serious: "Boss Zhou, are we back together?" Li Huaizhou's heart skipped a beat. He raised his head, looked into Xie Mo's gentle eyes, and said "hmm" softly. Then he leaned over, rested his head on Xie Mo's shoulder, and gently rubbed his arm. Xie Mo smiled, reached out, and gently rubbed Li Huaizhou's hair, his movements incredibly gentle. The ward was very quiet, with only the sound of their breathing and the occasional bird song outside the window. At that moment, Li Huaizhou felt that having Xie Mo by his side was enough.

A few days later, Xie Mo was finally able to be discharged from the hospital. Li Huaizhou took Xie Mo back to the cat cafe. As soon as he entered the door, the puppet walked over slowly, rubbed Xie Mo's trouser legs, and made a "purring" sound. The other kittens also gathered around and looked at Xie Mo curiously. "Look, they miss you very much." Li Huaizhou said with a smile. Xie Mo nodded, reached out and gently touched "Sweet Bean"'s head. The sunlight shone in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and fell on the two of them. Li Huaizhou looked at Xie Mo's gentle profile, and his heart was filled with warmth. He knew that from now on, he would no longer have to hide from Xie Mo, because they would always be together.