“This…” Xiao Fen hesitated.
Just as he hesitated, a black sports car slowly pulled up to the clinic entrance.
It was Lu Jin.
“Ou Yu, I heard you were here. It’s so late—let me take you back. Things haven’t been safe around here lately.” He had specifically asked the program crew staff privately about his whereabouts.
Ou Yu was not very willing but couldn’t refuse given Lu Jin’s status. He felt a bit troubled.
“That’s perfect. Inspector Fang has an umbrella here. I’ll head back to Sister-in-law Jinlan’s house with him and move in tonight.” He had only brought a few changes of clothes—not much to pack. “You can have the room at Sister-in-law Jinlan’s house. Now we won’t have to squeeze in together.”
Ou Yu opened his mouth to speak, but Lu Jin had already gotten out of the car. He held an umbrella as he walked up to him.
His expensive handmade leather shoes were thoroughly soaked by the rain, and the pristine cuffs of his suit pants were drenched by the downpour, a few blades of grass clinging to them. He looked at Ou Yu and flashed a fawning smile.
Ou Yu glanced at Xiao Fen, who had already ducked under Fang Si Ting’s umbrella. He was puzzling over how two grown men could huddle under one umbrella without getting wet.
“Get closer.” Xiao Fen yanked him right up against his own body, their arms pressed together. “You’re too far away—now I have no umbrella left. I just got over being sick. Can’t you show a little consideration?”
The way he said it sounded an awful lot like coquetry.
“I’ll hold it over you.” Fang Si Ting shifted uncomfortably, like he wanted to pull away.
“If you move the whole umbrella over my head, you’ll get soaked.” Xiao Fen slipped his hand through Fang Si Ting’s arm, linking them together. He pulled him even tighter, refusing to let go. With a low chuckle and a curse, he said, “Dumb kitty cat.”
Fang Si Ting touched his nose, switched the umbrella to his other hand, freed his arm, slid it downward, and gently wrapped it around the slender waist.
Xiao Fen’s waist muscles twitched sharply. The sudden warmth of that palm against him made his skin itch and his heart race.
His lower back—and his entire back—went rigid.
Their bodies had pressed against each other’s arms earlier with no issue, but now that he was being held like this, it felt… off.
A little hot.
Xiao Fen twisted his waist side to side uncomfortably. The arm pressed against him clamped down tighter, fingers digging into the flesh of his waist.
“Don’t move. Let’s go.”
With that, he stepped down from the clinic steps.
Xiao Fen hurried to keep up. His legs nearly tangled beneath him, but he steadied after two steps. His hand clutched awkwardly at Fang Si Ting’s suit jacket.
“Ou Yu bro, we’re heading out first.”
“Okay.” Ou Yu finally turned to Lu Jin, who had been waiting off to the side. He realized Lu Jin’s gaze had been fixed on the two of them the whole time, lingering without pulling away.
Xiao Fen called out his greeting, took a few steps, then glanced back. Ou Yu had already climbed into Lu Jin’s sports car.
The old town’s drainage system was poor. Water had pooled ankle-deep on the bluestone pavement. Their four feet left four ripples in the violent rain, which the pounding downpour immediately scattered.
“Look at them—picked up in a luxury car,” Xiao Fen said with a teasing shake of his head. “And look at us, just our two legs. When’s our Inspector Fang gonna buy a sports car? Let this poor soul taste what it’s like to sit in one and listen to the rain on the roof?”
“Fine. I’ll buy one later.”
“Paint the body hot pink. Hello Kitty on the doors. Rhinestones around the headlights and handles. Purple leather interior. Pink and purple—pfft hahaha…”
“Your taste?”
“What’s wrong with my taste? It’s custom-made to make you look years younger. Trust me, it’ll be perfect.”
“Then you drive it from now on.” He couldn’t lose that kind of face.
“If you dare buy it, why wouldn’t I dare drive it?” Xiao Fen burst out laughing. “Don’t worry—I’ll let you ride in the trunk.”
“That’s body-dumping.”
Xiao Fen cracked up at that. “Forget it, forget it. Walking’s better anyway. Sports cars are too flashy. In a place like this, you can barely drive them on the main town roads. We’re way more convenient—we can go anywhere and get some exercise to boot.”
“Fine. If you don’t want it, I won’t buy it. Made a few million today. No idea how to spend it.”
Fang Si Ting said it like he’d scored the deal of a lifetime. He looked over at Xiao Fen, who happened to look up at the same moment.
The instant their eyes met, they both smiled in perfect, wordless understanding.
It was the first time Xiao Fen had seen Fang Si Ting smile so openly—the corners of his eyes even crinkled.
Steady. Reserved. Gentle. Tolerant.
The streetlamp stretched their huddled shadows long across the ground. Ripples shattered them, blending them completely.
Like clusters of warm yellow starfire, huddling and flickering. Raindrops struck the puddles, bursting into tiny sparks that rebounded like sticky syrup before merging back together.
Under the umbrella, Fang Si Ting’s smile rippled softly. Light and shadow played across his chiseled features. Beneath his prominent brow bone, his dark pupils caught glints of fragmented light.
An unnamed restlessness simmered, held down by the heavy rain.
But the fluttering in his heart only grew fiercer—brewing and tangling in his eyes, hazy yet ready to burst forth.
Xiao Fen dropped his gaze, fleeing the look. Two seconds later, he glanced up again. Fang Si Ting was still watching him.
Hadn’t looked away once.
So calm. So gentle. No aggression at all. He said nothing, but those eyes conveyed everything.
“Your shoulder’s wet.” Xiao Fen rose on tiptoe, leaning in close to brush off the droplets. He fussed just to have something to do.
“Not my fault I’m built sturdy.”
Xiao Fen laughed. “A bit of rain and you get a sense of accomplishment? All that bulk is just for show. Next fight, who wins is anyone’s guess.”
“Win against me first, then talk.”
“Don’t lose and welch on it.”
“I’m afraid if I beat you again, you’ll cry from getting picked on—always pulling dirty tricks.”
“When have you ever seen me cry? That’s slander. No way—I’m fighting you right now. I’ll show you real strength.”
“We’ve got that boxing room we modded on the dorm’s first floor. We can head there.”
“You’re dead tonight!”
“If you lose, clean the toilet in my dorm for the rest of the days.”
“And if I win?”
“I’ve already let you blow off steam. What more do you want?”
Xiao Fen shot him a glance. His jet-black lashes fluttered, his eyes narrowing slyly as he grinned.
“Scheming something crooked again, you ghost-dazzled fool?”
“…”
Does this guy even know how to talk?!
Xiao Fen got annoyed and instinctively stepped back half a pace—perfect for lifting a leg to kick. He completely forgot about the pouring rain outside.
A firm pull came from his waist, yanking him right back.
“Careful.”
Xiao Fen collided with his chest. While he was still dazed, the hand on his waist let go.
He looked up from the embrace to find Fang Si Ting’s gaze darting away like a startled bird.
Earlier, he’d held on to that waist without budging an inch, eyes glued in place. Now, after pulling him straight into his arms… He couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief.
This guy really was a total gentleman—stiff and proper, even with another man.
No—he probably just wasn’t into guys.
“The dorm’s right up ahead.” Fang Si Ting pointed down the road.
“Mm.”
He’d been there before.
“Let’s go.”
Xiao Fen pulled away from his chest and fell into step beside him again.
They hadn’t gone two steps when he reached out his index finger and tentatively laid it in Fang Si Ting’s palm.
Fang Si Ting’s hand responded at once, closing around that finger.
The finger wriggled playfully in his palm, trying to make him let go.
Fang Si Ting loosened his grip—but only for a moment before seizing Xiao Fen’s entire hand and drawing him closer.
“Mr. Black Cat.”
“Hm?”
Xiao Fen suddenly had a question he wanted to ask.
But he thought better of it.
By the time they reached the dorm building below, they were soaked through like drowned rats.
Fang Si Ting went without saying—even his eyelashes bore tiny splashes of water. Most of his body had been drenched. Xiao Fen fared a little better, but the rain was so fierce that the flying drops had soaked his arms and pants, leaving them clammy against his skin.
The dorm was clearly a fresh renovation sponsored by the program crew—practically brand new. Fang Si Ting’s room was on the second floor, to the right of the stairs. Upstairs housed the rest of the action team, mostly four- or six-person rooms. Theirs had just two beds—a bit more spacious.
“Go shower quick.”
“It’s fine. You’re the one soaked through. You go first.”
“I can use the bathroom in the next room. Hurry up—don’t catch a cold again.”
“Alright,” Xiao Fen said awkwardly. “Can I borrow some clothes?”
He had planned to grab his stuff from Sister-in-law Jinlan’s house, but the rain was too heavy. He called Ou Yu to set his things aside for now—he’d pack them tomorrow.
For tonight, it looked like Mr. Black Cat’s black shirt.
Oh. And maybe underwear.
Xiao Fen’s gaze drifted.
Friends borrowed clothes all the time, right?
Then he watched as Fang Si Ting pulled a brand-new set of pajamas from the dorm closet.
“Where’d this come from?” Xiao Fen took them, puzzled.
The blankets and bedding on the bed looked new too—untouched.
【He just extended the invite—I thought it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. How’d he have clothes ready for Brother Fen already?】
【Hehehe, check out our go-getter Fang Yama’s speed. No way he’d let Brother Fen bunk with someone else. I spotted him buying them when I dropped by the live stream chat.】
【Fang Yama’s got some schemes.】
【Wasn’t he busy with the case? When’d he find time?】
【Fooled by that upright face of his.】
【Brother Fen’s in trouble.】
【Brother Fen, it’s not that we didn’t wanna warn you—blame this damn program crew for keeping the live stream chat from you hahaha.】
Fang Si Ting headed into the bathroom and called Qin Wensu to borrow a dryer. He picked up Xiao Fen’s casually kicked-off shoes and socks one by one.
As he passed the bathroom, his steps halted.
The door stood ajar, not fully closed.
Through the gap, in the swirling steam, a snow-white, slender figure faintly appeared. His skin gleamed delicate as fine, fragile porcelain. He stood straight, hands scrubbing at his damp hair.
His spine ran straight down his back, faint shadows pooling in the subtle dips. Shoulder blades peeked subtly at either side. The stretched posture elongated his waist and back, emphasizing their graceful slimness.
Xiao Fen had been showering for a few minutes when he suddenly heard the bathroom door lock click shut.
He whipped his head around warily, half-expecting Fang Si Ting to barge in. But no—given the man’s character, he was basically Liu Xiahui incarnate, unflappable. Whether he liked men or women was still up for debate.
Xiao Fen wouldn’t even suspect him of pouncing, let alone sneaking a peek during a shower.
Then it hit him—he’d forgotten to close the door again.
On missions, doors vanished automatically after opening, leaving no time to shut them. It had become habit.
And in a peaceful world like this, why bother?
It wasn’t on purpose…
He took a hot shower, worked up a sweat, and finally felt his body temperature rise. He unfolded the pajamas… Snowy white dotted with big black patches, a cute cow head printed on the left chest.
“Kid clothes?” he called out loudly. “Did you buy the wrong size?”
He couldn’t picture Fang Si Ting having a cute streak like that in private.
“Aren’t you a kid?” Fang Si Ting’s perfectly reasonable comeback floated through the bathroom door.
“…” When folks were calling laozi “bro,” you were still off playing in the mud.
Whatever. Straight-guy aesthetics. No big deal.
Only after putting them on did he realize they were his exact size.
The underwear fit perfectly too.
