“Maybe one day he’ll also want to build a castle, for himself and the ones he loves. I want to give him this place, let him express himself freely, maybe it’s also personal for me. When I was young, I really wanted a place of my own, especially an island in the middle of the sea, away from the land, away from them, with the vast sea in between… I’ve arranged everything; when he comes of age, this island will be his. But you, actually, I know, what you really want is a small house, simple and warm, within your control.” He sat on the windowsill, patted the spot next to him, and I sat down, asking how he knew. He smiled and started listing, “You like collecting, like white houses by the sea, like paint-stained palette knives, you lack security, have OCD, are lazy, don’t like changes, can’t handle hot things, eat ice the fastest, like to be in a hurry…” I tilted my head, leaned on his shoulder, listening gently, tears rolling down to dampen my hairline, as he continued in a soft voice, detailing every little thing… until he laid me down, took off his coat to cover me, and led Er Yu outside to play. He thought I had fallen asleep again. I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling, murmuring to myself, Ke Xuan, how can we manage to leave no trace? I want to hide them deep, lock them tight, never to be opened or seen by daylight, along with the tears, I won’t let them fall for you anymore. Today is the last time; I’ll wipe them on your coat, give them back to you.
After a long journey back home, it was already late at night, and Er Yu was exhausted, still mumbling in his sleep when I carried him out of the car. Lin Mama took Er Yu from my stiff arms to settle him down, whispering, “You’re back, don’t say you’re leaving again, the young master was so anxious, always coming back before dinner, bringing work home, barely speaking for days. I’ve been in this house for so long, I’ve never seen him like this. He treats you so well, how could you bear to leave?” “I didn’t say I was leaving, just had some things to do.” “It’s good you’re not leaving, good, oh, how I get in the way, the young master is still upstairs in the study, go up quickly.” “Got it.” Hearing Lin Mama’s words, it was impossible not to be moved; in fact, I was deeply touched. I couldn’t wait to run upstairs, forgetting to turn on the hallway lights, navigating in the dark, feeling the walls to climb step by step. Suddenly, the lights came on, blinding me momentarily, and when I adjusted, I saw it was Qi Yufeng who had turned them on. He was leaning against the wall at the top of the stairs, arms crossed, watching me, a hint of a gentle smile on his lips. I rushed up, jumped into his arms, and he caught me, holding me tightly. I tilted my head up, kissed him with a “XIU”, then quickly buried my face in his neck, inhaling his familiar scent. “How come you’ve lost weight in just a few days? What did that guy feed you!” “Hehe, haven’t you heard the saying, ‘My waistband keeps getting wider, but for you, I’m willing to waste away’?” “No, I haven’t heard that, no wonder you seem to have gained weight these days.” I playfully bit him, and he grunted in pain. I swung my legs happily, “Oh, the pig is fattening up, time to slaughter~!”
Exhausted, I wanted to sleep after a bath, but Qi Yufeng was still reading documents, propped against the bed. I lay next to him, lazily watching his focused profile, murmuring, “I’m back.” He chuckled, “I know.” “Qi Yufeng.” “Hmm?” “I missed you, really, every day…” I looked at him earnestly, wanting him to know it was true. He didn’t look at me, still focused on his documents, but his lips curved into a smile. I thought, this man indeed knows how to play with hearts. These days, I hadn’t called him once, wanting him to know I would return, and he seemed to read my mind, not asking where I’d been or when I’d come back, just quietly waiting at home, no matter how busy he was. This trust alone was enough to bind me to him tightly. The lights went out, and he habitually tucked me into his embrace before covering us with the blanket. I shifted to find the most comfortable spot, sighing, “Finding a good bed is really not easy.”
————————————-End of Text———————————–
