Chapter 6 Sharing a Bed

Zhang Qiling gripped his hand tightly, so tightly that Hei Xiazi felt his wrist bones were about to groan in protest. But he didn't break free; instead, he subconsciously rubbed his thumb against that cold skin.

This subtle movement made Zhang Qiling tremble, and he gripped his hand even tighter, as if afraid that he would evaporate in the next second.

The room was eerily quiet, with only the intertwined, slightly heavy breathing of the two people. The air felt like solidified glue, thick and unsettling, yet also carrying an indescribable heat.

Black Bear couldn't take it anymore. The atmosphere was just too damn eerie. He'd lived his whole life, survived gunfire and played with demons and monsters, but he'd never experienced anything like this. Being stared at and held so tightly by a grown man, a man who was usually so quiet and reserved—what was going on?

He cleared his throat, trying to dispel the unease, his voice still a little hoarse from the excitement: "Um... Dumb guy, let go first, you're about to break my wrist."

Zhang Qiling seemed not to hear him, his gaze still fixed on his face, the emotions surging in his eyes not only not subsided, but became even deeper and more intense.

Helpless, Hei Xiazi pointed towards the kitchen with his other free hand: "The water... the water's been boiling for ages."

Zhang Qiling seemed to be startled awake, turning around abruptly to see the kettle on the stove hissing and spewing white steam. He released Hei Xiazi's wrist with such speed that it almost created a gust of wind, and turned to turn off the fire.

The cold touch and immense force vanished instantly as the grip on his wrist loosened, leaving Black Bear feeling a sudden emptiness. He looked down at his wrist, where several clear, reddish finger marks were clearly visible.

That silent guy... he's really got guts.

Zhang Qiling turned off the stove, picked up the kettle, and silently refilled the cup of goji berry water that Hei Xiazi had only taken a sip of. The steam rose, blurring part of his expression.

"Thanks." Black Bear took the cup, using the act of drinking water to conceal his awkwardness. The water was at the perfect temperature, with a faint sweetness from goji berries, warming him all the way to his stomach, and even soothing the inexplicable restlessness in his heart.

He stole a glance at Zhang Qiling. The other man stood right in front of him, head slightly lowered, wisps of hair obscuring his eyes, making it impossible to see his expression. But the tense, almost shattering feeling emanating from him seemed to have eased somewhat.

It seems... after confirming something, this guy isn't so scary anymore.

"Hey," Hei Xiazi nudged Zhang Qiling's shoe, trying to recapture their usual banter, "Don't stand there, it's too crowded. I'm hungry, you're keeping watch over me, aren't you going to feed me?"

Zhang Qiling raised his head and glanced at him. His eyes were incredibly complex, containing lingering pain, the cautious joy of regaining what he had lost, and a hint of... bewilderment at the abrupt "ordering" request.

The expression on Zhang Qiling's face was... quite novel. Hei Xiazi's unease suddenly dissipated, and he even had a mischievous urge to tease him.

"What are you looking at?" He raised an eyebrow. "Can't cook? Chief Zhang is an all-rounder, how could he be stumped by a meal? Or... should I go make some instant noodles?"

"Wait." Zhang Qiling finally uttered two words, then turned and plunged back into the kitchen.

Hei Xiazi watched Zhang Qiling's back as he began rummaging through the kitchen cabinets, listening to the slightly clumsy but unusually earnest movements, and couldn't help but smile. Damn it, what's going on? Rebirth? Died once? It sounded like a fairy tale, but looking at Zhang Qiling cooking for him (though it was more likely a disaster), he felt... it wasn't entirely unacceptable.

At least, this silent guy is alive and well now. It's all for him.

He carried the glass of goji berry water and strolled leisurely to the kitchen doorway, leaning against the doorframe to watch Zhang Qiling busy at work. The refrigerator wasn't stocked much; Zhang Qiling took out a few eggs, a bunch of wilted greens, and a small piece of frozen meat. His movements as he handled the ingredients weren't exactly expert, but he was extremely focused. In the dim kitchen light, his profile was hard and cold, yet strangely revealing a hint of…gentleness?

Hei Xiazi was startled by the word that popped into his head and quickly took a sip of water to calm himself down.

Dinner ended up being two bowls of noodles that barely passed muster in appearance, topped with a poached egg, a few stalks of greens, and a few slices of meat cut to varying thicknesses. The taste... well, it was too salty. But Black Bear didn't utter a sound, burying his head in his food and slurping loudly.

Zhang Qiling sat opposite him, eating very slowly, his gaze frequently falling on him, as if to confirm whether he was really eating and whether he was still sitting properly in front of him.

The meal was eaten in silence and with an eerie atmosphere. After finishing, Hei Xiazi got up to clear the dishes, but Zhang Qiling stopped him.

"I'll do it."

"Alright, alright, you do it." Black Bear was happy to have some free time, so he slumped back onto the sofa, lit a cigarette, and watched Zhang Qiling's back as he washed dishes at the kitchen sink. The sound of running water, mixed with the slight clinking of dishes, surprisingly created a sense of... warmth and homeliness in this small, cluttered room.

He had never imagined that one day he would be living this kind of "life" with Zhang Qiling. It felt so unreal.

Night deepened. When it was time to sleep, another problem arose.

There's only one bedroom and one bed in this room. When Zhang Qiling used to come occasionally, he'd sleep on the floor or just make do on the sofa. But now…

After taking a shower, Hei Xiazi dried his hair and looked at Zhang Qiling, who was already standing at the bedroom door and clearly had no intention of going to the sofa or the floor. He felt a chill run down his spine.

“That…mute,” he pointed to the sofa in the living room, “you…the usual?”

Zhang Qiling looked at him without saying a word, but his eyes clearly conveyed one meaning: No.

Black Bear: "...Then sleep on the floor?"

Zhang Qiling's gaze deepened.

Black Bear understood. This was the beginning of a situation where they were going to share a bed.

He swallowed hard, the restlessness he had just suppressed resurfacing. Share a bed? With Zhang Qiling, with whom he had just broken the ice, and whose atmosphere remained strangely tense?

Seeing his hesitation, Zhang Qiling's eyes darkened. He lowered his gaze and said in a low voice, "I'll guard the door." His tone carried a barely perceptible... grievance? As if Hei Xiazi's refusal to let him into bed meant he didn't trust him and wanted to drive him away.

The string of "perseverance" in Hei Xiazi's heart snapped with a "snap." Damn it, fine, let's sleep! We're all grown men, who's afraid of who!

He stiffened his neck, went into the bedroom first, threw back the covers and lay down, trying to squeeze in as far as possible to leave most of the space outside. The movement was so big that he almost fell off the bed.

Zhang Qiling silently went to wash up and then came in. He didn't turn on the main light, but relied on the faint light coming in from the window to walk to the other side of the bed, lift the covers, and lie down.

The mattress sank under the weight of the extra person. There was a fist's distance between them, but their body temperature and breath were undeniably present.

Hei Xiazi lay stiffly, his breathing even shallower. He could smell the faint scent of Zhang Qiling's shower gel, the same one he used, and a lingering, crisp chill. This feeling was too strange. It was even more nerve-wracking than going into a tomb.

He peeked through a crack in his eye and glanced to the side. Zhang Qiling was lying flat on his back, his hands folded in front of him, a standard sleeping posture. His eyes were closed, but his eyelashes were trembling slightly, clearly indicating that he wasn't asleep either.

Time ticked by, and the night grew ever darker. Just when Hei Xiazi thought the stalemate would continue until dawn, he felt Zhang Qiling beside him move very slowly and cautiously toward him, just a tiny bit.

Then, a cold hand, with a tentative undertone, gently covered his hand placed at his side.

Black Bear's body stiffened, and he almost reflexively shook off the hand. But the hand merely covered him, without applying any force, and the fingertips even trembled slightly.

He heard Zhang Qiling say something very softly, almost in a daze:

"It's true..."

His voice carried a sense of relief and exhaustion, as well as a vulnerability born from the loss and subsequent recovery, a lingering uncertainty.

That one sentence was like a needle, precisely piercing through all the awkwardness and tension in Hei Xiazi's heart. He suddenly stopped struggling.

He reached out and grasped that cold hand. Palms met, and warmth gradually transferred between them.

"Mmm," he murmured through his nose with his eyes closed, a sound that was both comforting and a promise, "Really. Sleep."

The breathing of the person beside him seemed to gradually become steady and long. That hand slowly returned his grip, its strength gentle yet firm.

In the darkness, Hei Xiazi listened to the even breathing around him and felt the real warmth from his palms. His restless heart seemed to have finally found an anchor point to dock.

Screw the Bronze Gate, screw the Nine Gates' schemes.

At least for this moment, this person is warm. They are tangible.

He tightened his fingers and closed his eyes.