Stay overnight

The awkward scene at the end of the corridor after the parent-teacher conference served as a relief for Fang Chi and Xing Jiayan's relationship. Silence became the norm, but it was a tacit understanding. Gone was the previous tension; it was as if they had a secret communication channel between them. Sometimes Xing Jiayan would "accidentally" brush his scratch paper, filled with problem-solving steps, under Fang Chi's elbow; sometimes, when the evening study bell rang, Fang Chi would be a beat slower in packing his bag, waiting for Xing Jiayan to walk together. The two walked one after the other in the empty school building corridor, their footsteps echoing each other, surprisingly harmonious.

Fang Chi was still the same quiet and shy person he always was, but the flustered feeling he had when he saw Xing Jiayan was gradually replaced by an awkward yet cautious acceptance. Like frozen hands in winter, slowly approaching a heater, wanting to enjoy the warmth but also afraid of getting burned.

This ambiguous atmosphere didn't last long. Xing Jiayan's mother, who was also Fang Chi's mother's best friend from college, Aunt Shuyuan, suddenly called and warmly invited them: "Xiaoyun, and Xiao Chi, come over for dinner this weekend! It's been so many years since we last met, we have to get together!" The voice on the other end of the phone was as warm as a freshly steamed bun, making it impossible to refuse.

Fang Chi stood to the side, watching his mother smile and agree, his heart skipping a beat. Going to Xing Jiayan's house? Having dinner with their whole family? This feeling was more unsettling than solving a physics problem beyond the curriculum.

The next day, Mom acted swiftly, taking Fang Chi with her and carrying fruit and health supplements straight to the Xing family's house.

Xing Jiayan opened the door. He was wearing a loose T-shirt, his hair was a little messy, much more casual than at school. Seeing the mother and son, he raised the corners of his mouth and gave a lukewarm smile: "Auntie, Fang Chi is here."

His gaze lingered on Fang Chi's face for a second, a hint of schadenfreude in his eyes, as if to say, "Now you can't escape, can you?"

Fang Chi pursed his lips, lowered his head to change his shoes, and pretended not to see.

The Xing family's house was quite large and elegantly decorated. As soon as the two mothers met, they chatted about everything from embarrassing moments in college to everyday family matters, laughing heartily. Fang Chi was seated on the sofa next to Xing Jiayan, feeling extremely uncomfortable, like a vase placed on a table, only able to listen to the elders' "nostalgia trip" without being able to join in the conversation at all.

Xing Jiayan was quite adept at handling things, frequently refilling the tea for the two mothers and exchanging a few words, appearing sensible yet not clingy. However, when no one was paying attention, he would gently nudge Fang Chi's calf with his knee, earning Fang Chi a warning look that said, "Try touching me again," and a deeper smile in his own eyes.

The atmosphere at dinner was wonderful. Mrs. Xing, a superb cook, kept piling food onto Fang Chi's plate: "Little Chi, eat more! Look at your little body, you'd be blown away by a gust of wind! Come often, Auntie will cook you delicious food!"

Fang Chi, her ears red, whispered her thanks.

Fang's mother also tried to smooth things over: "It's fate that the two children are in the same class. Jiayan is steady and ambitious, and he's probably helped Xiaochi a lot, hasn't he?"

Xing Jiayan put down her chopsticks and smiled innocently: "Auntie, you're too kind. Fang Chi helped me a lot, especially with the physics competition."

Fang Chi kicked him hard under the table.

After dinner, everyone moved to the living room to drink tea and chat, as it grew darker. Seeing that it was getting late, Fang's mother got up to leave, but Xing's mother suddenly grabbed her hand, looked at the night outside the window, then at the two boys standing side-by-side, and suggested with a smile, "Xiaoyun, it's so dark, you'll have to make a fuss going back. Why don't you let Xiaochi stay here tonight? Jiayan's bed is big enough, the two kids can squeeze in without any problem, and they can go to school together tomorrow."

The living room fell silent the moment those words were spoken.

Fang Chi felt his blood rush to his head, and his whole body stiffened. Stay here? Sleep in the same bed with Xing Jiayan? He looked sharply at his mother, his eyes filled with a cry for help.

But Mom only paused for a moment, then smiled and patted Xing's mother's hand: "That's a good idea! It saves us from running back and forth. Xiao Chi, stay here tonight, and go to school with Jia Yan tomorrow." She turned to look at Fang Chi, her tone as casual as if she were saying, "We'll have noodles tonight," and added, "Listen to Aunt Shuyuan and Jia Yan, okay?"

Fang Chi: "..."

He felt like he'd been "sold out" by both mothers. He subconsciously glanced at Xing Jiayan, who was slowly taking a sip of tea. When he met Xing Jiayan's shocked and bewildered gaze, Xing Jiayan raised an eyebrow, his eyes clearly saying, "See? I told you you couldn't escape."

"It's settled then!" Mrs. Xing made the final decision, then smiled and said a few more heartfelt words to Mrs. Fang before personally seeing her to the door.

The front door slammed shut, leaving only Xing Jiayan's parents, Xing Jiayan, and the completely petrified Fang Chi in the living room.

Mr. Xing was a man of few words but kind. He smiled and said, "Xiao Chi, don't be shy. Make yourself at home. Jia Yan, take Xiao Chi to your room and let me know if you need anything."

"Come on, let me show you around." Xing Jiayan put down his teacup, walked to Fang Chi's side, and spoke in a clear but not loud voice.

Fang Chi followed him upstairs almost simultaneously.

Pushing open the bedroom door, the room was quite tidy. The desk was piled with books and test papers, and there were several star charts on the wall, which were different versions of the same series as the one in Fang Chi's own room.

"sit."

Xing Jiayan closed the door behind him, pointed to the spacious double bed, and said with a hint of teasing, "Or, would you like to take a shower first?"

Fang Chi stood at the doorway, staring at the bed, feeling his face burning hot enough to fry an egg. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

"I...I'm a restless sleeper."

Xing Jiayan took a few steps closer, almost touching him, looked down at his bright red ears, and asked in a low, slightly breathy voice, "How naughty are you? Will you steal the blanket? Or will you... roll into my arms?"

"Xing Jiayan!" Fang Chi suddenly stepped back, her back slamming against the cold door panel with a "thud," glaring at him with a mixture of shame and anger.

Xing Jiayan chuckled softly at his flustered appearance, then stopped teasing him. She turned around, took a clean set of pajamas and a new towel and toothbrush from the closet, and shoved them into his arms: "Go take a shower first, there's hot water on the left." She paused, then added, "Don't worry, I... won't do anything to you for now."

The word "temporarily" made Fang Chi's heart skip several beats. Clutching his pajamas, which smelled fresh from laundry detergent, he practically fled into the bathroom.

The warm water flowed down, but it couldn't wash away the unease in his heart. The thought of sleeping in the same bed with Xing Jiayan made him extremely uncomfortable, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

After dawdling through his shower, Fang Chi emerged wearing slightly oversized pajamas, his hair still dripping wet. Xing Jiayan was already leaning against the headboard, reading a chemistry journal.

Hearing the noise, Xing Jiayan looked up, his gaze lingering on Fang Chi's slightly flushed cheeks and wet hair for a few seconds before his eyes darkened. He put down the magazine, stood up, took the dry towel hanging around Fang Chi's neck, and gently dried his hair with just the right amount of force, though not exactly gentle.

"If you go to sleep with your hair wet, you're sure to have a headache tomorrow."

The voice came from above, carrying an undeniable familiarity and intimacy. Fang Chi stiffened as he was manipulated. The towel blocked part of his vision, but he could still feel Xing Jiayan was very close, close enough to smell the faint scent of shower gel on him, and occasionally feel a slight tingling sensation when his fingertips touched his scalp.

This feeling is quite strange; I can't say I dislike it, and I even... crave it a little.

After drying Fang Chi's hair until it was half dry, Xing Jiayan put down the towel, looked at Fang Chi's dazed eyes filled with moisture, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly: "Go to sleep."

He first turned and lay down under the covers, leaving Fang Chi a large empty space, then turned off his bedside lamp. The room suddenly became dark, with only a faint light coming in from the distant streetlights outside the window.

Fang Chi stood there for a few seconds before finally moving to the edge of the bed. He carefully lifted a corner of the blanket, stiffly lay down, and pressed his entire body against the edge of the bed, with a wide enough "river and Han border" separating him from Xing Jiayan.

A very soft sigh came from the side. Immediately afterwards, a hand crossed the "boundary" and accurately grabbed his wrist.

Fang Chi's body stiffened, and he tried to break free, but his grip tightened even more.

"Don't fall." Xing Jiayan's voice rang out in the darkness, deep and clear. "I promise, tonight we'll just sleep."

His palms were warm and dry, his grip steady, possessing a reassuring magic. Fang Chi's tense body slowly relaxed in that warmth and the promise. He stopped struggling, and even... almost imperceptibly, shifted a little towards the center of the bed.

Just a little bit.

In the darkness, he seemed to hear Xing Jiayan chuckle very softly.

Neither of them spoke after that, and the only sounds in the room were their steady breathing and the occasional sound of cars coming from outside the window.

Fang Chi closed her eyes, but could clearly smell Xing Jiayan's clean, refreshing scent on the pillow and in the blanket, mixed with the scent of her own shower gel. It was unfamiliar, yet strangely comforting.

He had assumed that he would stay awake until dawn in this tense yet ambiguous atmosphere. But perhaps because he had been too tense during the day, or perhaps because the presence of the person next to him was too reassuring, his consciousness began to blur before long, and he sank into a warm yet dark dream.

Before he fell completely asleep, he seemed to feel the hand that had been holding his wrist gently stroking his skin with its fingertips.

It was like a silent agreement.

On the other side of the agreement, Xing Jiayan opened his eyes in the darkness, listening to the increasingly even and long breathing of the person beside him, feeling the delicate warmth and faint pulse from his wrist, and slowly a gentle and satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

He gently turned to the side and, in the hazy night, quietly watched Fang Chi's peaceful sleeping face for a very long time.

Then, he closed his eyes.

The night was calmer than expected, yet also more heart-pounding than anticipated.