[11/21, 15:45, Yi Shi’s Residence in Nanyi City]
Yi Shi’s rented studio apartment was just two streets away from the Nanyi City Bureau, barely a five-minute walk in the morning. Years ago, Sheng Yu’an, that hot-headed kid, forced Yi Shi to move out with just one love letter. He had no time to carefully select a place, so he hurriedly found a ready-to-move-in apartment. Six years passed, and he hadn’t moved once.
The landlord was a kind old man who would occasionally bring some fruits, vegetables, rice, meat, and cooking oil, along with a gentle rent increase. Yi Shi, used to a stable living environment, was too lazy to find a new place and move just to save two hundred bucks. The hassle wasn’t worth it, so every time the rent went up, he agreed quite readily. Plus, with the advantage of his job, he became the landlord’s ideal tenant.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Yi Shi saw the old man standing at the door, holding a bag of frozen dumplings. His wife had made them at home, and they were bringing some over for him to try.
After changing his shoes, Lin Heyu smiled and said, “Not bad—it’s rare to find a landlord who brings you stuff.”
“…” Yi Shi glanced at the dumplings. “The rent’s about to go up again.”
No wonder the landlord had texted him about a rent increase. Yi Shi had been wondering why there was no warning this time. Turns out, these dumplings were the advance notice.
Yi Shi counted the dumplings and put them in the fridge, planning to have them for dinner. It wasn’t even four in the afternoon yet, but the sky outside had darkened to the point where they needed to turn on the lights inside. Lin Heyu looked around the small apartment, which could be taken in with one glance. Aside from the necessary furniture, appliances, and daily essentials, the only things resembling clutter were the books on the shelf. The entire place was excessively neat, clean, and minimal, putting it ahead of 90% of single men across the country.
There was only one chair, placed in front of the desk, which made it clear that Yi Shi hadn’t intended to invite anyone over. Out of politeness, Lin Heyu pulled the chair back and asked, “Can I sit here?”
Yi Shi replied, “If you want to sit, sit.”
Then Lin Heyu pulled him over and pushed him down. Yi Shi curled up in his arms, hugging his waist. A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, thunder roared, and torrential rain pounded against the glass. The raindrops flowed together, forming streams, as small waterfalls began to cascade down the windows.
The mattress beneath them was hard as a board, no different from lying on wood. But Lin Heyu’s heart was as soft as cotton. His fingers gently combed through the soft black hair resting on his chest. Despite the storm raging outside, when he closed his eyes, it felt as though everything was so quiet that he could only hear their heartbeats.
“As long as you held me when I was a child, I could sleep very well. After you disappeared, I couldn’t sleep through the night for a long time. Time eventually smoothed over the memories, and though I forgot you, I never had a good night’s sleep again.” Yi Shi, eyes closed, lay sideways against Lin Heyu’s chest, his arm loosely draped over his waist, and his right leg bent, resting on his thigh in a relaxed posture.
“How much do you remember from when you were kids?”
“I remember everything. From when I first became aware of things—how we wandered, how we deceived people, how we survived—I remember it all very clearly.” Yi Shi lifted his head, resting his chin on Lin Heyu’s chest, and blinked. “Let me tell you a secret. Gardenia and I never stayed in an orphanage. Other than the beggar grandpa who took care of us, everyone we met treated us poorly. That’s why I never believed in ‘if you need help, go to the police.’ Not until I met you.”
Lin Heyu smiled wryly, “Why didn’t you say anything back then?”
“I was too insecure,” Yi Shi instinctively avoided his gaze. “I felt like that part of my past was too disgraceful and was afraid you’d look down on me. I wanted to live with you, wanted to do well in front of you, so I was scared to let my dark side show.”
Lin Heyu stroked his hair, feeling a sharp ache in his chest. Yi Shi’s unfortunate childhood was like a small wound, and his presence was like a bandage that temporarily soothed it. But his later disappearance was like a knife reopening the barely healed wound, turning it into a bloody gash.
He knew well that Yi Shi’s emotional coldness was largely his fault. The trauma had lasted for twenty years, and if given a choice, he would have loved to stay and watch Yi Shi grow up, at least preventing him from becoming so emotionally distant.
“I never cared what you were like before. I only wanted you to have a better future. At that time—no, I should say now—it wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but I genuinely wasn’t in a position to adopt you.” Lin Heyu’s fingers trailed from Yi Shi’s black hair to his cheek, gently pinching it. “If it were during my student days, when I wasn’t swamped with work, maybe adding another pair of chopsticks at the table wouldn’t have been a big deal.”
“You mean… growing up together?” Yi Shi held his hand. “That would’ve been even better. Growing up together would’ve made it easier for us to be together.”
Another flash of lightning illuminated the sky, and the rain poured even harder. Lin Heyu glanced out the window. The operation to catch Zhao Chenghu was about to begin, and soon enough, Zhao Chenghu would be caught and taken to the detention center. Tomorrow, in the normal timeline, Yi Shi would go to Haijing and meet the Lin Heyu of the normal timeline.
Time ticked by. Lin Heyu touched Yi Shi’s cheek, but there was no response. He looked down and saw that Yi Shi had fallen asleep, his breathing steady and peaceful, his body completely relaxed. It had been a long time since Lin had seen him sleep so soundly.
Lin Heyu kissed his forehead. “Sleep well. With me holding you, you shouldn’t have any more nightmares.”
———
Yi Shi opened his eyes. The small apartment was quiet, the rain had stopped, and all he could hear was the steady heartbeat beneath his ear, resting against a warm, solid chest.
He glanced at their current position: a 1.5-meter bed, the two of them squeezed together, with Yi Shi treating Lin Heyu like an oversized pillow. He was hugging his waist, his right leg draped over Lin’s body. Fortunately, Lin Heyu didn’t mind, continuing to hold him and providing a free, warm embrace.
Yi Shi quietly looked up. Lin Heyu’s eyes were closed, and Yi Shi carefully moved the hand resting on his shoulder aside, slowly sitting up. That hand reached up and gently rubbed the back of his head. “Awake?”
Yi Shi nodded, his ears tinged with red, the left side of his cheek still imprinted from the fabric of Lin Heyu’s clothes. Lin Heyu’s fingers brushed over the red mark, and for a brief moment, Yi Shi’s face overlapped with Xiao Shitou’s, even the shy and uneasy expression uncannily similar.
In the most recent meetings, he could clearly sense that Yi Shi’s personality had undergone subtle changes. How Yi Shi acted around others was unknown, but at least in front of him, he could tangibly feel that Yi Shi had transformed from a small stone into a large one.
“Sorry, I didn’t expect to fall asleep,” Yi Shi reached out to stroke Lin Heyu’s arm, his tone filled with guilt. “I’ve been lying on it for hours, is it numb?”
“It’s fine. Why are you apologizing?” Lin Heyu pulled him back into his arms. “If you like, I can hold you like this forever.”
Yi Shi buried his face in the crook of Lin Heyu’s neck, nuzzling twice. His exposed ear turned red with blood. Indeed, he preferred this version of Lin Heyu with intact memories. This kind of straightforward and natural tenderness was something he found impossible to resist.
For the first time, the meticulous and disciplined Yi Shi wanted to lie around idly with someone, doing nothing until the end of time.
The dumplings made by the elderly man were pretty good—thin-skinned, generously stuffed, and well-prepared. As far as Yi Shi was concerned, they were worth the upcoming rent increase. The dining table was by the bedside, a simple foldable wooden board that hung on the wall when not in use. When needed, it could be lowered down, serving as a bedside table, writing desk, dining table, and more—a true multi-functional piece.
Lin Heyu sat on the bed, while Yi Shi sat on a chair. He really liked the design and said while eating dumplings, “In the future, I want to install one of these in my own home—space-saving and practical.”
“You already have a table at home,” Lin Heyu replied.
Yi Shi didn’t immediately realize which “home” he meant. Lin Heyu leaned his forehead on his hand. “Do you not plan to live with me in the future?”
Yi Shi choked a little, his cheeks flushing red. How could he casually determine the future in this current situation?
The leisure time he and Lin Heyu managed to carve out was just stolen moments, hurriedly cherished. They could never outrun the relentless flow of time chasing them.
Lin Heyu knew what he was thinking and said softly, “Although it’s tricky, there’s always a way to solve it. We’re law-abiding citizens serving the people—if fate keeps tossing us around, it wouldn’t be fair.”
Yi Shi nodded along. “Mm… It will get resolved.”
“Once it’s resolved, and if we’re still in the same world, could I invite you to live with me?” Lin Heyu’s fingers crawled across the small table, touching Yi Shi’s fingers. “Since you like this little table, we can install one.”
Yi Shi rubbed the tip of his nose. “My life is quite dull. I don’t have many friends. Other than work, I just stay home and read.”
“Same here. I don’t like going out much either.” Lin Heyu hooked his pinky finger.
“I don’t know how to cook; I can only assist. I can’t fix appliances, and I’m not great at housework… it’s just so-so, not that good.”
“You don’t need to do anything. I can handle it,” Lin Heyu said, holding half of his hand.
Yi Shi noticed their clasped hands and grew increasingly nervous. “I’m being transferred to Haijing. Haijing might not even want me.”
“I’ll be there.”
As Lin Heyu kneaded his palm more affectionately, Yi Shi grew more anxious, his thoughts in chaos. “What if Zhizhi? What if Zhizhi doesn’t agree?”
“Her two older brothers are together; why wouldn’t she agree?” Lin Heyu’s slender fingers interlocked with his.
“I—”
Before Yi Shi could finish, Lin Heyu suddenly pulled him forcefully, causing Yi Shi to lose balance and lean forward. Lin Heyu cupped his face and captured his breath. Maybe Lin Heyu had wanted to kiss him for a long time—he had accumulated many emotions and desires, all poured into the intertwining of their lips and tongues. One of Yi Shi’s hands was tightly held while he tried to adjust his posture so his neck wouldn’t strain too much. His other hand, in the midst of his confusion, still managed to hold onto the bowl, worried it might break.
His heart felt like it was about to burst. Yi Shi gasped for air, and Lin Heyu finally let him go, pressing their foreheads together, staring into his eyes without blinking. “Do you still need to ask?”
Yi Shi’s eyelashes fluttered. He did have more questions he wanted to be honest about with Lin Heyu, but at that moment, his mind was completely blank. He stammered, “You—are you really sure?”
“Yes.”
“Then… let’s live together.”
Lin Heyu smiled, finally letting go of his hand. He cleaned up the dishes and took them to the small kitchen. He rolled up his sleeves, washed the pot used for cooking dumplings, and tidied up the randomly placed items in the kitchen. Just like he had promised earlier, Yi Shi didn’t need to lift a finger.
Yi Shi lay half-slumped on the desk, replaying their conversation word by word. Even though nothing was set in stone, he was already starting to dream.
Were they discussing marriage? Yes, they were. Inviting him to live together, accepting all his flaws, solving all his problems—there was no way he could pretend they were just friends.
Indeed, he still liked this version of Lin Heyu the most.
