The harsh winter was raging, and the cold wind swept through the streets like a knife.
Li Yuheng, trembling, found the abandoned parcel locker in Shubai's house and squeezed in without saying a word.
"Get out!" Shu Bai was startled by the cold air he brought in and immediately used her paws to stop his dog head from pushing in.
"Oh dear, it's freezing outside!" Li Yuheng, taking advantage of his size, squeezed himself inside, causing the metal cabinet to creak under the weight.
He went inside and immediately turned around, pulling Shu Bai into his arms, resting his chin on the cat's head, and sighing contentedly, "Aww... it's still warmer here."
The cramped space was instantly filled, and Shu Bai was almost pressed against the cold metal sheet. Every breath was filled with the snowy dog smell emanating from Li Yuheng.
Although it didn't smell bad, he was still annoyed.
This has absolutely nothing to do with his liking for Li Yuheng!
Liking someone is being moved, it's indulging them.
But not as a heater and squeezed flat!
"Get out! It's so crowded!" Shu Bai kicked his belly with its hind paws in a fit of rage, its tail slapping against Li Yuheng's cheek. "Don't you have your own nest?!"
Li Yuheng has thick skin; even when kicked or slapped, he only whimpers, but he tightens his limbs, holding the cat firmly in his arms.
"My bed is drafty... Your place is so nice, it shelters me from the wind and rain and keeps the temperature constant... Don't move, let me warm up, my dear cat~"
"Who cares about your temperature! You're choking me! Let go!"
"Don't loosen it, it will get cold if you do."
"Then go find another place to live!"
"No, I like you right here."
A tug-of-war with a huge disparity in strength is unfolding inside the small parcel locker.
Shu Bai brandished his claws and scratched, while Li Yuheng grimaced and endured it.
Shu Bai nudged him with his head, and Li Yuheng took the opportunity to rub against his neck.
Shu Bai cursed and swore, but Li Yuheng ignored him, muttering nonsense like "So cold, so cold" and "Lend me some warmth."
After struggling for a long time, Shu Bai was exhausted, and Li Yuheng had also taken a lot of beatings, but they just wouldn't give up.
Ultimately, exhausted and feeling warmer in Yuheng's arms than lying alone, Shu Bai, panting heavily, gave up resisting and resignedly allowed this silly dog to use him as a giant hand warmer.
The cabinet finally fell silent, with only two intermittent breaths remaining.
Li Yuheng was content, holding the warm, fluffy cat-shaped heater in his arms, and soon fell asleep.
However, Shu Bai, who was tightly held by him, was wide awake.
My body was confined, but my mind was unusually clear.
He closed his eyes, feeling the steady heartbeat and warm body temperature behind him, his mind a jumble of emotions.
Counting the days, there is less than a month left before he finishes his four-year training and returns to the demon race.
Although Li Yuheng has never mentioned it, he has clearly been much more well-behaved lately.
No longer running wildly into the distance like before, and without using any magic anymore, I'm afraid... it'll be time to go home soon.
After all, he had said that he had run away from home.
Separation was almost inevitable.
But Shu Bai wasn't particularly saddened, because he knew this wasn't a final farewell.
The world is vast, but if you want to see each other, there's always a way to meet again.
It's good that he went back; he can use this time to think carefully about... how to hook someone.
He's lived so many years and never lost a fight, but when it comes to relationships, especially when faced with Li Yuheng, this "good brother" archway made of steel and concrete, he's utterly helpless.
The thought of this made Shu Bai feel agitated.
That stupid dog, usually so clever, is inexplicably slow-witted in this kind of thing.
Those overstepping boundaries of intimacy, those taken-for-granted protections, those clumsy expressions of admiration…
Is it really just "brotherly affection"?
His jumbled thoughts reached their peak, and in the stillness of the snowy night and the even breathing behind him, a long-suppressed whisper escaped uncontrollably from his throat:
"Li Yuheng...do you like me or not..."
The moment those words fell, as if in response, Li Yuheng, who was sleeping behind him, suddenly stirred.
He rubbed his cool, wet nose against the back of his pale neck, letting out a few muffled whimpers.
"Mmm...I...like..."
"I love it so much..."
"...So comfortable...Go to sleep now..."
His voice was muffled, purely a murmur of immersion in warmth and comfort.
It's less of a confession and more like evaluating a particularly nice pillow or cushion.
However, to Shu Bai's ears, it sounded like a thunderclap.
like?
He said...he likes it?
Although his tone was languid and indistinct, completely unlike his usual sober state, those two words were so clear that they could not be mistaken.
The immense shock left Shu Bai's mind blank; all the irritability, calculations, and helplessness were swept away by those two unexpected words.
He froze in Li Yuheng's arms, not daring to move, even forgetting where to put his paws, only feeling a buzzing in his ears.
The culprit, Li Yuheng, was completely unaware of this. After finding a more comfortable position, he smacked his lips, and his snoring became even and long again as he slept soundly.
Silence returned to the cramped delivery locker, broken only by the silent falling snow and the intertwined breaths of two people.
One was smooth and effortless, the other was completely thrown into disarray.
…
The next morning, Li Yuheng groggily opened his eyes and found himself still in the same position as the night before, his limbs tightly wrapped around the black and white heater in his arms.
Shu Bai seemed to be sleeping even more soundly than him, the whole cat curled up on his chest, its head buried in the crook of his neck, breathing evenly and long, with the soft purring sound unique to felines.
Li Yuheng moved his stiff claws, and as soon as he moved, Shu Bai in his arms raised his head alertly.
Their eyes met.
Li Yuheng instinctively wanted to force a sly smile and say, "Good morning, silly cat. Did you sleep well last night?"
However, the look in Shu Bai's eyes made him swallow his words.
That look in his eyes... was very complicated.
It's no longer the usual disdain, coldness, or ferocity after being provoked.
Rather, it is a kind of...
Li Yuheng couldn't quite describe it; it was a mixture of inquiry, awkward gentleness, and even a hint of evasion.
Countless thoughts flashed through Shu Bai's mind in a jumbled mess.
Is this considered a confession?
If we're talking about them, then what are they now?
A good brother would obviously not say such a thing.
Is it the kind of relationship described in human folk tales?
Couple?
Just thinking about that word made Shu Bai's hands go numb.
If so, what should we do now?
We should greet each other like those lovey-dovey humans, asking, "Did you sleep well, darling?"
……vomit.
Kill him.
Should we act... a little more intimate?
But how exactly do I do it?
Should I nuzzle back to him? Should I let him lick my fur?
Everything feels incredibly strange.
Haha, why not just kill him?
Would it be better to be like Li Yuheng? More gentle?
Shu Bai imagined herself speaking softly to Li Yuheng, and was immediately shocked.
Perhaps we should just kill him.
Li Yuheng would probably think he's gone mad.
Or... should we leave it as it is?
But if things remain the same, what's the difference between this and when we were "good brothers" before?
Tsk.
Why is this kind of thing even harder to handle than fighting?
Finally, Shu Bai hurriedly broke free from Li Yuheng's embrace, turned his back to him, and began to "slowly" lick the slightly messy hair on his chest.
He remained silent throughout the entire process.
Li Yuheng was a little confused.
What's wrong with this cat?
Is your morning grumpiness getting worse?
Is it because he squeezed me too hard last night and I'm still angry?
He tentatively scratched at the tip of the sparse white tail with his paw.
Normally, Shu Bai would have scratched him back with one claw, along with a "get lost" or "you're asking for it."
But today, Shu Bai's tail only twitched sensitively before quickly retracting, still without turning its head. However, its licking motion paused, and its ears turned towards Li Yuheng, as if waiting for something.
Li Yuheng was even more puzzled.
He leaned closer, his dog nose pressed against Shu Bai's ear: "Hey, silly cat, are you alright? Are you frozen stiff? Or did I crush you?"
His tone carried pure doubt and a hint of irritating concern.
Shu Bai's body stiffened slightly, and he finally stopped licking his fur. He turned his head, his eyes swirling with emotions, which eventually settled into a feigned calm.
"It's nothing." Shu Bai's voice sounded a little dry. "You should go."
Li Yuheng: "???"
"Go? Where to? It's still snowing outside!" Li Yuheng shivered dramatically. "I just got warm here, and you're already kicking me out? How heartless! We slept in each other's arms last night, keeping each other warm!"
Shu Bai's mind was in turmoil, but she forced a cold expression: "Who slept in your arms? You forced your way in. Besides, it's dawn, I need to go out and find food."
As he spoke, he was about to push open the door of the express delivery locker.
Seeing this, Li Yuheng immediately resorted to his shameless tactics, lunging forward and trapping Shu Bai once again, rubbing his head against Shu Bai's back.
"No, no, no! I'll go with you to find food!"
He rubbed against her without any psychological burden, only feeling that although Shu Bai was a bit strange today, she didn't seem to resist his approach as much.
Even when he rubbed against her, her body only tensed slightly, but she didn't push him away immediately.
This feels...good!
Li Yuheng felt a surge of pride again, thinking that his shamelessness had improved once more.
Shu Bai felt the warmth and rubbing against his back, his body stiff as a stone.
Is this silly dog... being affectionate?
Is it because I confessed last night that I'm even more unrestrained today?
He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the turmoil and confusion in his heart, and used his paw to push Li Yuheng's head away, trying to keep his tone calm: "...Whatever you want."
After saying that, he was the first to crawl out of the express delivery locker.
Li Yuheng immediately followed him out happily.
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