After waking up, Yuri blinked slowly, staring at the dark ceiling for a moment before getting up and heading to the bathroom.

He didn’t need to check the clock to know he’d only slept for a few hours and it was still early morning.

Emerging from the bathroom, he glanced at Ling Xinlu’s door. Then, out of habit, walked over and pressed his ear against it, listening. There was no sound. He seemed to be sleeping soundly. Which was to be expected; Ling Xinlu had been able to sleep well without medication for a while now.

Yuri quietly turned and walked away. Instead of returning to his room, he sat down on the living room sofa, feeling he wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep immediately. He picked up his half-finished glass of water from the table and took a sip. He must have been thirstier than he realized, as he drained nearly half of what remained.

Letting out a soft sigh, Yuri rubbed his aching temples.

He’d had a dream.

It wasn’t a nightmare. But it wasn’t a pleasant dream either. It was a dream that made him blush, a dream he couldn’t possibly tell anyone about.

Yuri looked down at his groin. His erection had subsided after using the bathroom, but just moments ago, it had been hard, a noticeable tent in his pajamas.

……Like a teenager.

Yuri clicked his tongue and lightly touched his groin with his fingertips. It was soft now, remaining still even under his touch.

He felt bewildered.

He wondered if this was what they called a “late bloomer” phase, as he’d been feeling more sensitive lately. He’d considered the possibility that he was stressed without realizing it, but after giving it some thought, he concluded he wasn’t any more anxious than usual.

It was just…… sometimes. Occasionally, the slightest touch would make his sensitive nerves stand on end like a snail’s antennae.

“Ah…… feels good.”

Just like now, the mere ghost of a voice in his ears was enough to make his hand unconsciously clench.

Especially his sense of touch. He had become hypersensitive to it.

Ling Xinlu had always been physically affectionate, often touching Yuri casually. It wasn’t anything excessive. Just a light pat on the back, an arm slung around his shoulder during conversation, a foot resting on Yuri’s thigh while reading—then returning to the book as if oblivious—, that sort of thing. He even felt strange acknowledging these ordinary and insignificant gestures.

Just one night…… though it had felt unnervingly long.

Yuri sighed. His throat felt dry again, so he got up and went to the kitchen. This time, he brought the entire water pitcher back, filling his glass to the brim.

Today was no different.

As usual, when night fell, Ling Xinlu complained that his eyes were tired and laid his head on Yuri’s lap. And Yuri, also as usual, began covering his eyes with a warm towel and massaging them.

The warmth of the towel. The faint steam rising. Ling Xinlu’s slow, even breaths.

Amidst all this, Yuri – who had been slightly tense, aware of his recent sensitivity – gradually relaxed his shoulders. His mind seemed to quiet down as well.

But the peace didn’t last long, as Ling Xinlu’s mumbled words made his shoulders tense up again.

“Ah, feels good.” – Ling Xinlu murmured, exhaling contentedly, then suddenly grasped Yuri’s hand, the one massaging his eyes. His fingers wrapped around Yuri’s, causing him to freeze mid-motion.

“I think it’s coming from here.”

Ling Xinlu muttered something cryptic, then pulled Yuri’s hand down and pressed his nose into his palm. He paused for a moment, then mumbled: “Yes, it’s definitely here.”

“There’s a scent…… very faint…… Not soap…… not body odor either…… What is it……?”

“I think I’ve smelled this somewhere before.” – Ling Xinlu whispered, rubbing his nose against Yuri’s hand.

The brush of his nose and lips, the warm breath against his skin, all of it tickled Yuri’s palm. He instinctively recoiled, a minuscule, almost imperceptible movement, but one that didn’t go unnoticed by Ling Xinlu.

It seemed he had opened his eyes beneath the towel. Still pressing his nose against Yuri’s slightly withdrawn hand, he suddenly smiled. A gentle, knowing smile. As if to let Yuri know he’d been caught.

“Well, this is……” – Ling Xinlu chuckled, looking slightly embarrassed, then reached up with his other hand and removed the towel from his eyes. His dark eyes gazed up at Yuri.

Ling Xinlu stared intently at Yuri, who stared back, unable to look away, feeling like he’d been caught red-handed doing something wrong, and chuckled softly. As if to say: ‘Really, what am I going to do with you?’

“I meant the scent, not in a bad way.”

“……Scent?”

“Yeah. A familiar scent like I’ve smelled it somewhere before…… but I can’t place it. It’s bothering me a little. Where was it……?”

Ling Xinlu pressed his nose closer to Yuri’s palm. And this time, Yuri heard a soft chuckle beneath his unconsciously twitching hand.

“Are you ticklish?”

Xinlu asked softly, feigning ignorance of the fact that Yuri wasn’t withdrawing his hand because he was ticklish. Each time he whispered, his lips brushed lightly against Yuri’s palm, making Yuri try to dismiss the ticklish sensation to focus on anything else.

Well, it couldn’t be helped, he looked like he was enjoying this.

Ling Xinlu reached out. And gently cupped Yuri’s cheek as if caressing it. He slowly stroked Yuri’s face, and Yuri continued to look down at him without blinking. Cheek, then neck. And then Xinlu smiled, as if bestowing some great favor.

This arrogant generosity was something Yuri had felt several times recently from him.

He would often sling an arm around Yuri’s shoulder, chattering away about everything under the sun, or casually rest his foot on Yuri’s thigh while reading, wiggling his toes. When Yuri silently endured this subtle contact, it wouldn’t be long before he’d notice, then offer a knowing smile as if to say: ‘I’m indulging you’, before gently caressing him even more intimately.

Each time, Yuri felt incredibly embarrassed. He didn’t know how to react.

But what was certain was that he didn’t find this arrogant generosity unpleasant. In fact, he found the touch rather…… pleasant.

‘Whatever’ – Yuri thought, taking a sip of water as if it were alcohol, and sighing.

He had no reason to reject the touches. They weren’t dating or anything, so there was no need for any coyness, and besides, Yuri wasn’t that type of person.

Adapting to circumstances – as long as those circumstances weren’t wrong or uncomfortable – was Yuri’s way of life.

“Even though I’m having embarrassing dreams now, this is fine.” – He nodded to himself.

Just then.

The bedroom door quietly opened.

Lost in thought, it took Yuri a few seconds to realize Ling Xinlu had emerged from his room and was standing silently, watching him.

“……Ah.”

Yuri let out a meaningless sound as he registered him. Ling Xinlu, who had been quietly standing there, furrowed his brow slightly and asked,

“Why are you out here and not asleep? It’s too early to go swimming…… Couldn’t you sleep?”

His sleepy voice, along with his still-half-closed eyes, indicated he was still drowsy. Even rubbing his eyes seemed unable to dispel the sleepiness.

“I’ll go to sleep soon. Go back in.”

Yuri quietly replied in a sleepy voice, looking at Ling Xinlu, the very person who had occupied his thoughts for so long. Even his furrowed brow, messy hair, and sleepy, blinking eyes looked endearing, making him feel at a loss with his own emotions.

Ling Xinlu continued to frown sleepily at Yuri.

“What’s wrong, you can’t sleep? Then come here. I’ll sleep with you.”

Despite his drowsiness, Ling Xinlu generously mumbled a few words, beckoning Yuri with a small wave of his hand before yawning and turning back to his room. And Yuri, already awake, now fully alert, remained seated, blinking in surprise.

“Uh……” – Yuri tilted his head in confusion. A moment later, a sleepy grumble drifted from the room: “What are you doing, why aren’t you coming in?” Only then did Yuri, blinking and muttering: “Uh…… uh……” follow him into the room.

Ling Xinlu’s bedroom, a space Yuri had been in countless times and was very familiar with, contained only a large bed, a nightstand, and a small lamp. Ling Xinlu hated clutter when he slept, so he kept everything clear, leaving only the bare minimum.

On the large bed, which took up most of the spacious and quiet room, Ling Xinlu lay face down, buried in the blankets.

As if already asleep, he kept his eyes closed and didn’t move. Only the rhythmic rise and fall of his back was the only movement.

Yuri watched him for a moment, about to quietly leave, when Ling Xinlu cracked open an eyelid, then closed it again, murmuring as if annoyed: “What are you doing, why aren’t you getting in bed? You barely slept already……”

Yuri hesitated for a few more seconds, and Xinlu’s eyelid lifted again. This time, a flicker of irritation showed in his sleepy eyes, causing Yuri to obediently crawl into bed.

Ling Xinlu was sprawled out in the middle of the bed, but thanks to its size, Yuri was able to lie on his side, maintaining some distance between them.

Yuri lay there stiffly, glancing at Ling Xinlu. Remembering that Xinlu had once said he hated being crowded and didn’t share his bed, Yuri assumed he was still fast asleep.

‘I’ll just lie down for a bit and sneak out before he wakes up’ – Yuri thought, staring at the ceiling.

Light from the living room spilled in through the slightly open door. Aside from that sliver of light, the room was shrouded in darkness. Beside him was the steady, peaceful rhythm of Ling Xinlu’s breathing.

In that atmosphere, Yuri gradually relaxed.

Although not sleepy, perhaps because his body was relaxed, he felt himself drifting.

Just then.

“Why are you awake? Are you uncomfortable?”

A mumbled voice, like sleep-talking, sounded softly beside him.

Yuri froze, then turned his head. The eyes were still closed, but Ling Xinlu then cracked open a sleepy eyelid, then closed it again.

Unsure if he was sleep-talking or just drowsy, perhaps awake but not fully conscious due to sleepiness, Yuri whispered softly, afraid to disturb him: “No. I just had a nightmare, so I woke up.” As if hearing a voice from within a dream, Ling Xinlu gave a small nod while keeping his eyes closed: “Mmm.”

“Don’t……”

The drowsy murmur, barely more than a sleep-slurred mumble, made Yuri’s mouth snap shut. His mind suddenly snapped alert.

The events of the previous night, though hazy in some details, had played out vividly in his dream, making those words impossible to utter aloud.

When Yuri remained silent, after a long pause, Ling Xinlu’s heavy eyelids fluttered open for a moment. “Hmm……” – He sighed, then shifted in his sleep, eyes still closed. He reached out, pulling Yuri closer. And placed a hand on Yuri’s waist.

The arm around his waist felt heavy. So heavy it made him hold his breath for a moment.

Still with his eyes closed, Ling Xinlu, as if embracing Yuri, mumbled in a drowsy, sleep-talking voice: “Nightmare……? Sleep……, ……won’t appear anymore……” His voice trailed off. Yuri looked at Ling Xinlu’s face, only inches away. Frozen in this position, his gaze was fixed on the face right before him.

All his senses seemed focused on the arm casually draped around his waist. The warmth of Xinlu’s body seemed to seep into him.

‘If only it were a dream about ghosts……,’ – Yuri thought, his eyes tracing the contours of Xinlu’s face.

Long eyelashes, a straight nose, full lips, everything was beautiful. Perhaps it was just his infatuation talking, but Yuri couldn’t take his eyes off him, just like when he was a child. A handsome face, delicate features, yet not feminized at all; it seemed his personality had somehow shaped his appearance.

“So what did you dream……”

Just then, the lips Yuri had been staring at so intently, as if their owner were fast asleep, moved. A short sentence slipped out.

Yuri thought he heard a murmur even softer than a whisper. Come to think of it, his hearing did seem sharper when he slept.

Ling Xinlu, still immersed in his dream, as if to comfort Yuri after his nightmare, slid his hand from Yuri’s waist down to his back, and began to gently pat it.

“Was it a good dream……? Is that why you can’t sleep?”

Ling Xinlu mumbled to the still-silent Yuri, then chuckled softly.

“Probably dreamt about your first love…….” – Xinlu murmured.

As if sinking deeper into sleep, the comforting hand on Yuri’s back gradually slowed, then stopped. Yuri held his breath, watching Ling Xinlu sleep soundly, his face relaxed.

A beautiful cat, with a fickle, selfish temperament, and occasional flashes of ill temper. (Perhaps more like a leopard disguised as a cat.)

He couldn’t be called a good person. It was hard to say he was gentle or straightforward. He showed kindness on a whim, and was just as readily cruel when he felt like it.

But sometimes, the tenderness he inadvertently showed was incredibly endearing. Like the warm hand on his back right now, or the unusual offer to share his bed.

So, Yuri let out a long, slow, and contented sigh. Although not sleepy, he thought that closing his eyes like this for a while would be pleasant.

But just then.

The warmth and drowsiness on Ling Xinlu’s sleeping face vanished abruptly. He opened his eyes, blinked once, and the sleepiness was gone in an instant.

“……?”

Yuri, who had been about to close his eyes, also startled awake at the sudden change.

Ling Xinlu’s eyes were wide open, as if cold water had been splashed on his face, and he stared at Yuri with an alertness completely different from his previous drowsiness, occasionally muttering a word.

“Really?”

Yuri didn’t understand the sudden question from Ling Xinlu, who was now looking at him with a cold, humorless expression. No, he understood the question, but not what he was asking about.

“Yes?”

Slightly bewildered, Yuri furrowed his brow and asked, “Yes?” Ling Xinlu looked down at him.

“Did you dream about that person?”

This time, Yuri didn’t immediately understand Ling Xinlu’s probing question. He didn’t know who “that person” suddenly referred to.

Yuri blinked, staring blankly at Ling Xinlu, then slowly retracing their conversation in his memory. And only a few seconds later did it dawn on him. The dream about his first love.

Seeing Yuri’s eyes on him instead of a verbal answer, Ling Xinlu seemed to read his response. The corner of his mouth twitched.

To Yuri, Ling Xinlu – sitting up in the middle of the night to ask if he’d dreamt about his first love – was akin to someone sleep-talking: ‘How many spoons of salt should I add?’, in the dead of night.

Watching Yuri blink in confusion, Ling Xinlu stared intently at him for a moment, then tilted his head, looking off into space. He then seemed to conclude that he had no reason to ask such a question, and flopped back down onto the bed, closing his eyes as if to go back to sleep.

Xinlu’s brows furrowed deeply. He squeezed his eyes shut as if trying to force himself to sleep, then, perhaps sensing Yuri’s gaze on him, opened them again.

“……What did you dream about?”

Faced with the seemingly casual questions: “Was it about when you first met? Or when you were dating? Or did they just appear in the dream?”, for a brief moment, Yuri instinctively averted his gaze. The question “what did you dream about?” brought back the image of the man before him in his dream, in a state of undress so embarrassing it made him blush.

Noticing Yuri’s embarrassed avoidance of eye contact, Ling Xinlu’s expression turned blank. A vein seemed to throb in his forehead.

“I guess it was something you can’t tell other people about, huh?”

Yuri didn’t answer, just stared at the dark ceiling. Ling Xinlu’s voice grew colder.

“And why haven’t you looked me in the eye this whole time?”

“Are you looking down on me?”

“……Because it reminds me of the dream.”

Finally, feeling he couldn’t remain silent any longer, Yuri sighed inwardly and answered honestly. Ling Xinlu frowned slightly.

“If you dreamt about a happy time with your first love, why would looking at my face remind you……”

Xinlu muttered suspiciously, then trailed off.

As if thinking something over, he fell silent for a moment, opening and closing his mouth several times before finally speaking hesitantly.

“Similar?”

Because unable to find any other way to describe it, Yuri gave an almost imperceptible nod.

A silence fell.

For a long while, neither of them spoke, nor moved.

Only the intense, scrutinizing gaze on him was palpable.

Then, abruptly, Ling Xinlu sat bolt upright.

He jumped out of bed, switched on the lamp, flung the door open, and stormed out. His footsteps grew louder as he headed towards the kitchen.