Something's wrong.

Something's not right.

Something is very wrong.

Zhou Lexing watched Gu Jiansheng diligently kneading the dough and felt that something was off about Gu Jiansheng since last night, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

Gu Jiansheng noticed Zhou Lexing's gaze, looked up at him, and gave him a bright smile: "Isn't this wrong?"

Zhou Lexing wiped the flour off Gu Jiansheng's face, but accidentally smeared more flour onto the other's face: "...That's right, knead it for a little longer and then we can wait for it to rise."

This morning, as soon as Zhou Lexing opened his eyes, he felt a tightness in his chest. Looking down, he saw that Gu Jiansheng had somehow placed his head on his chest, wrapped his arms around his waist, and had half of his body pressed against him.

That's quite novel.

In the past, Gu Jiansheng and he always slept in a very upright position, just like before they fell asleep. It was rare to see him be so clingy.

Perhaps it was because he had opened a door that had been closed for a long time that Zhou Lexing's mindset had changed drastically. Gu Jiansheng, whom he had always found cute, now seemed even more tempting to be tormented and nibbled in his eyes.

Why.

Is he some kind of pervert?

Looking at Gu Jiansheng's sleeping face, Zhou Lexing resisted the urge to reach out and poke him.

His cabinet door is now open, but he's still not sure which way Gu Jiansheng's cabinet door faces.

The driving force of the plot was like dust drifting around in Zhou Lexing's mind, suddenly accumulating on the table without warning.

As the main manipulator of the plot, it's hard to say whether Gu Jiansheng and He Huaizhi will have new entanglements in the future, but before that, this is undoubtedly the best time for him to act.

"You can't call me 'brother' anymore."

Zhou Lexing couldn't resist and carefully poked Gu Jiansheng's fair face.

He used to always refer to himself as Gu Jiansheng's brother, but if Gu Jiansheng now truly considers him his brother, he'll be left speechless and unable to express his bitterness.

Gu Jiansheng's eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes. He stared blankly at the sunlight seeping through the corner of the curtains for a while before finally looking up at Zhou Lexing. He didn't seem to mind the intimate posture between the two and greeted him with a natural "Good morning," his voice still a little hoarse.

"What time is it now?"

Zhou Lexing reached out and touched the watch on the bedside table. He glanced at it and said, "7 o'clock. It's still early. Do you want to sleep a little longer?"

Gu Jiansheng obediently lay down again, his hard-earned cheek fat squeezing out into an adorable curve.

Zhou Lexing's eyes flickered, and he reached out to smooth Gu Jiansheng's messy hair.

Gu Jiansheng was like a lazy cat, not resisting his owner's caresses.

As this quiet, warm, and ambiguous time slipped through their fingers, Gu Jiansheng suddenly spoke up: "There are still so many things we haven't done together."

Zhou Lexing was puzzled: "Huh?"

Gu Jiansheng's voice remained very soft, as if he were still immersed in a dream: "There are still many things I want to do with you."

Zhou Lexing: "What do you want to do?"

Gu Jiansheng fell silent again, as if he had returned to his dreamland.

Zhou Lexing was puzzled, feeling that Gu Jiansheng's words lacked the joy or lightness of anticipating the future, and instead sounded overly heavy due to his tone.

But after these past few days, Zhou Lexing was somewhat certain that Gu Jiansheng had a certain amount of influence in the Gu family. At least Gu Jiansheng was not struggling as described in the book. Apart from the Gu family, Zhou Lexing couldn't think of any other factors that could make Gu Jiansheng feel detached about the future.

Could it be He Huaizhi?

No, that's not right.

Jian Sheng has made it clear that he will not turn back.

Could it be him?

Is Jian Sheng worried that she won't be able to be with him in the future?

The more Zhou Lexing thought about it, the more sense it made.

He has a very impulsive personality; once he has an idea, he'll do it.

If Gu Jiansheng's closet door is facing him, then if he doesn't go in now, when will he?

Zhou Lexing waited patiently, filled with surprise and anticipation, for Gu Jiansheng in his arms to wake up from his nap.

Gu Jiansheng frowned slightly as he listened to Zhou Lexing's increasingly rapid heartbeat.

Is this the proper reaction when someone is worried and at a loss?

He felt that things weren't going quite as he had expected.

He buried his face in Zhou Lexing's neck, avoiding that burning gaze, thought for a moment, and decided on his next words and actions before pretending to wake up from a dream and getting up to wash.

Zhou Lexing followed closely behind, her eyes seemingly even brighter after washing up. As she changed clothes with Gu Jiansheng, she opened her mouth as if to say something, but then Gu Jiansheng suddenly said:

“I haven’t cooked for you yet. How about we eat at home today?” Gu Jiansheng said, looking down at Zhou Lexing. “There might not be another chance.”

Gu Jiansheng spoke very softly at the end.

If the two of them hadn't been in the same space and there hadn't been any other noises, Zhou Lexing probably wouldn't have heard him say that.

What do you mean by "there will be no more chances in the future"?

Zhou Lexing frowned, only belatedly realizing the resolute tone in those words. His confession, which was about to come out, was interrupted, leaving him somewhat at a loss. He could only offer words of comfort first.

“How could there not be a chance? You’re an adult now, and your dad can’t keep you from making friends. Even if he wants to interfere, I have ways to make it impossible for him to. As long as you want, I can be with you. Transportation is convenient now, and I can take you around to see different places. Don’t be afraid, I’m here for you.”

He had experienced firsthand the tediousness and pain of searching for people, and if he were determined to hide it, he was confident that no one else would be able to find their whereabouts.

Zhou Lexing's words were gentle yet firm, filled with genuine tolerance and care.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jiansheng momentarily forgot what he was supposed to say next. His expression was complicated as he looked at Zhou Lexing's seemingly oblivious profile before finally regaining his composure.

"Can you teach me how to make steamed buns?"

Although Gu Jiansheng can now eat whatever he wants, he still remembers the steamed buns and roasted meat he ate with Zhou Lexing when they went up the mountain together. Along with the hot weather, Zhou Lexing's smile at that time, the green shade in sight, and the leaping and churning campfire, all of these have become his cherished dreams.

Zhou Lexing naturally responded to everything.

"Would you like it?" Gu Jiansheng looked at the white steamed buns in the steam, blinked, and asked in a tone that was still detached and uncertain, which Zhou Lexing found particularly intriguing.

Zhou Lexing looked at the little kitten in front of him and hesitated before saying, "Of course I'll like what you made."

Gu Jiansheng smiled slightly: "That's good."

Zhou Lexing: "..."

Something's not right.

Something is very wrong.

He seemed to vaguely sense a tragic, melodramatic undertone, but Gu Jiansheng seemed perfectly normal yesterday. When did the change begin?

It couldn't be that Gu Jiansheng had some melodramatic dream, dreaming about him abandoning Jiansheng or something similar, and then brought the emotions from the dream into reality, right?

This is absurd.

Zhou Lexing abandoned this line of thought and tried to recall Gu Jiansheng's every move yesterday. Now, thinking about it carefully, it seemed that something was already off when Jiansheng was eating dinner.

"If we hadn't met, what would you be doing now?" Gu Jiansheng was biting the end of his chopsticks, his light-colored eyes fixed on him. What was his answer again?

"Uh, eating?" It's mealtime now, so whether they meet or not, they should all be eating.

Jian Sheng seemed to fall silent at that moment.

Zhou Lexing took this as an agreement and asked with interest, "Why did you suddenly think of asking this?"

Gu Jiansheng: "I just wanted to know what you would do if I wasn't by your side."

Zhou Lexing laughed at the time: "People can't escape eating, drinking, and defecating while they're alive. If you weren't here, I guess the only difference between being alive and being dead would be..."

grass.

He seems to have messed something up.

Zhou Lexing stared at the few steamed buns that had been scalded to death by boiling water on the edge of the table. His expression was cold and his mind was unsettled. In the end, all his thoughts turned into a sigh.

Gu Jiansheng: "..."

It seems that using food as an excuse will only divert Zhou Lexing's attention.

Time was limited, so he couldn't be too subtle, otherwise Zhou Lexing might not be able to figure out his intentions even after he took action.

Then, Zhou Lexing witnessed another strange action from Gu Jiansheng.

"What are you busy with?"

Zhou Lexing leaned against the door frame and looked at Gu Jiansheng in the study, asking a question.

Today, Gu Jiansheng was as elusive as a rabbit, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Although Zhou Lexing didn't know what riddle Gu Jiansheng was playing, he still managed to figure out a thing or two.

Gu Jiansheng quickly pressed something under his book, his light-colored eyes fixed on Zhou Lexing, and said earnestly with a hint of trying to hide something, "It's nothing."

Zhou Lexing looked at this troublemaker with a half-smile, but didn't expose him. Instead, he beckoned someone to come to his side: "Come out with me for a bit?"

Gu Jiansheng looked up at him, his light eyes flashing with a light that seemed to be both probing and expectant: "What are you going out for?"

Zhou Lexing: "Zhou Bo and the others are coming over."

The light in Gu Jiansheng's eyes went out: "...What are they doing here?"

Zhou Lexing: "The factory isn't far from here."

Gu Jiansheng wanted to refuse, but couldn't find a suitable reason to do so.

As Gu Jiansheng, who is either timid or gentle in Zhou Lexing's eyes, he doesn't have much room to maneuver.

He believed that Zhou Lexing liked him, but he didn't know how deep that liking was, or whether it could shake Zhou Lexing's social situation. He also knew that the character Zhou Lexing liked was the harmless image he had presented to others. If he were to confront him directly, he was afraid that this precious affection would be like a precariously built cardboard tower, easily blown away by the wind.

We still need to proceed step by step...

Gu Jiansheng let Zhou Lexing put his coat on him, but there was no smile on his face.

Zhou Lexing couldn't resist poking his cheek: "So unwilling?" He really wanted to take a bite.

Gu Jiansheng touched his cheek, feeling the distance between them getting closer and closer. The sense of security in his heart made him more certain of this path: "No, I'm willing."

It's alright, Zhou Lexing will understand soon.

A brief separation only makes the feelings between the two people impossible to ignore.

They will stay together forever.