“Okay.” Tao Zhi pursed his lips in response, bid him farewell, and turned to enter the hotel.
Even in the elevator, his cheeks burned.
The day had finally ended.
Though he’d been kissed thoroughly and his knees bore messy red marks from kneading, it had ended safely.
No exposure, and their relationship was maintained.
Great.
After swiping his key card to open the door, Tao Zhi collapsed onto the bed, rubbing against the covers for a while. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, he bolted upright, slipped on the ill-fitting hotel slippers, and pattered to the window, yanking open the curtains.
From his room’s position, he had a clear view of the hotel entrance below.
Though he figured Fu Si Heng had left, some impulse made him check anyway.
At the window, he spotted Fu Si Heng leaning against the car door, smoking.
The man’s long fingers held the cigarette, the ember glowing at his fingertips as he casually flicked ash.
He hadn’t left.
Fu Si Heng smoked…
It was Tao Zhi’s first time seeing this.
No, wait.
It was winter—standing outside like that, he might catch a cold.
Tao Zhi hurriedly texted him: 【Aren’t you leaving yet?】
Upon receiving the message, the man downstairs paused.
He stubbed out the cigarette first.
Tao Zhi: 【Head back soon, it’s cold outside.】
Fu Si Heng looked up toward the building.
Tao Zhi saw the motion and instinctively smiled at him.
After smiling, he realized he was on the third floor—Fu Si Heng probably couldn’t see.
Tao Zhi awkwardly rubbed his nose, feeling a bit foolish.
A moment later, Fu Si Heng, unable to spot him, replied: 【Got it, go to sleep.】
Fu Si Heng: 【Rest well, I’m leaving.】
Tao Zhi: 【Mm-hmm ^v^!】
After Tao Zhi replied, Fu Si Heng really got in the car and drove off. Soon, the Maybach vanished into the snowy night.
Tao Zhi lingered at the window until the car was out of sight, even pressing his cheek to the glass.
Fu Si Heng was so obedient—he left immediately when told.
But…
…Why couldn’t he be obedient in other ways?
Tao Zhi touched his lips, which faintly ached.
–
The next day, Tao Zhi got up at eight in the morning.
It was his first time flying, so he wasn’t sure what to expect and left plenty of time. He followed the signs, asked staff, took his time, and finally boarded successfully.
His ticket, bought by Fu Si Heng, was first class—everything inside felt novel to him.
After sitting down, he sent Fu Si Heng a thank-you message. Fu Si Heng replied with a head-pat emoji.
One he’d saved from Tao Zhi.
Tao Zhi smiled, in high spirits.
The plane landed at the city airport at three in the afternoon. Tao Zhi took the subway to the high-speed rail station.
He waited, rode the bullet train, transferred to a taxi, and arrived home around seven-thirty at night.
As the taxi stopped at the doorstep while Tao Zhi grabbed his suitcase, his sister suddenly burst out.
Like a little calf, she barreled straight into his arms, shouting excitedly: “Bro! Bro, you’re back!”
“Dad! Mom! Brother’s home!”
The impact made a muffled thud against Tao Zhi’s chest. As he recovered, he saw his father come out too.
“Dad.” Tao Zhi greeted him.
“Ay, you’re back. Pretty early today.” The honest middle-aged man was visibly delighted to see Tao Zhi but didn’t know how to express it, coming off a bit awkward.
After staring at his son for a while, he noticed the driver and quickly paid the taxi fare. Tao Zhi tried to stop him but got dragged inside by his sister holding his arm.
Tao Zhi watched his father pay two hundred yuan.
No helping it—their home was so remote, with bad roads. Tao Zhi had tipped extra to get the driver to come in.
“Bro, you got here two hours early. I thought it’d be after nine. How’d you make it so fast?”
“Um… because it wasn’t a high-speed rail ticket.” Tao Zhi snapped back, glancing at his father behind him before whispering to his sister: “Boss brother got me a plane ticket, first class.”
“Wow~” His sister mimicked the whisper.
Their parents were the dutiful type of middle-aged folks, clueless about young people’s twists and turns. Things like earning money by doing dorm chores for roommates? They wouldn’t believe it.
For a while, Tao Zhi had sent extra money home, worrying his parents sick—they stayed up nights fearing he’d neglect health and studies for work, or worse, take crooked paths.
How else could he suddenly wire fifty thousand?
Tao Zhi explained patiently, but they remained suspicious, so he stopped.
Better to hide it lest they overthink.
“Little Zhi’s back?” Just inside, Tao Zhi saw his mom emerge from a room.
“Finally back.” Nearly half a year without seeing him—not even over National Day—Tao’s mother missed him dearly: “You’ve gotten thinner…”
She paused abruptly.
Looking at Tao Zhi’s plump cheeks, she opened her mouth: “A bit fatter.”
Ha, haha.
Tao Zhi felt a bit embarrassed hearing that.
“Yeah, the school food’s great.” He scratched his nose: “I’ve been eating well every day.”
In truth, Fu Zheng had restaurants deliver meals daily, and Tao Zhi often freeloaded, so gaining weight was inevitable.
