Chapter 94

A light breeze brushed past.

Leaves whispered, petals quivered.

Hearing Yan Tingshen’s words, Qin You’s gaze lingered on his face before turning back to meet those intense, solemn phoenix eyes.

The owner of those eyes rarely spoke so candidly.

Maybe coming to Qingning Road tonight put him in a different mood, prompting him to spill his guts.

Meeting Qin You's gaze, Yan Tingshen pursed his lips and looked away.

Only after the words had left his mouth did he finally realize what he had just said.

"Besides," Yan Tingshen continued offhandedly, "You might be right about fate."

Qin You asked, "What sense?"

Yan Tingshen led him by the hand to the porch, opened a nearby keypad-locked box, and revealed the key inside.

Qin You arched a brow.

Only after unlocking the door and stepping inside did Yan Tingshen look back at Qin You.

Qin You blinked, then burst out laughing. "Wait—this is your place?"

Exactly.

The protagonist and the target were neighbors—just like the files said.

Yet after two visits, he had completely forgotten that detail.

Yan Tingshen looked away and, offhandedly, asked while entering, "The last time you came here, did you see this plum tree first, or did you go to the Pei residence first?"

Qin You turned to look at him, already understanding, and countered with a smile, "Wanna guess?"

Yan Tingshen paused, glanced at him, then continued forward. "Whatever, don't tell me then."

Qin You chuckled. "Didn't say I wouldn't."

Yan Tingshen turned on the lights.

The place was dated but not dirty or messy—professionals had kept it clean. However, the furniture was all covered, making the owner, who had entered under the cover of night, look like he didn’t belong.

Without looking at Qin You again, he said, "You thought I was Pei Sheng back then. It was only natural you’d go to the Pei residence. There’s no need to hide it from me."

Qin You drifted after him aimlessly as he paced the living room. When Yan Tingshen finished speaking, Qin You stopped by the window.

Plum branches reached toward the window, more striking than any other sight in the courtyard.

Yan Tingshen lifted his hand to the glass, thinking of what Qin You had said.

His fingers hit the chill of the glass, and he froze, then pulled back.

Qin You grabbed his hand and pushed it flat against the window.

The warmth of body heat warded off the chill. Yan Tingshen gazed at the smudged fingerprints left on the glass, about to turn his face when a radiant warmth pressed close behind him.

Qin You wrapped an arm around Yan Tingshen’s waist, stepping forward with him to stand together, admiring the flowers, the night, and the freshly renovated Qingning Road.

Yan Tingshen instinctively clenched his hand, then caught sight of Qin You’s face so close beside him. His back relaxed, leaning into Qin You’s embrace.

Qin You murmured with a chuckle near his ear, pulling him closer as he answered the question directly: “If it's fate, of course I saw the plum blossoms first.”

Yan Tingshen saw Qin You’s smiling reflection in the glass and asked before he could stop himself, “You’re not lying to me?”

Hearing this almost childlike question, Qin You’s low laughter was caught in the fabric of his collar, coming out hushed.

Yan Tingshen frowned slightly. “What are you laughing at?”

When Qin You lifted his gaze again, his expression was serious. “I swear, every word I said is true.”

Yet Yan Tingshen could still hear the amusement in his voice. Recalling their earlier conversation, he went quiet briefly.

Qin You looked at him intently and said with a smile, “Tell me—when have I ever lied to you about this? And what reason would I have to lie?”

After a pause, Yan Tingshen finally replied, “I’m not doubting you.”

“Mm.”

Qin You nodded. “I know.”

He knew Yan Tingshen wasn’t doubting him—just still hung up on it.

He hadn’t expected that, even after the misunderstanding about “Pei Sheng” had long been cleared up, Yan Tingshen hadn’t completely moved past it.

Yan Tingshen lowered his eyes. “Sorry, it’s my fault.”

Dwelling repeatedly on the same issue wasn’t his intention, yet he’d done it anyway.

Qin You gave a quiet laugh. “Why apologize?”

“I also know you were grateful to the four-year-old Pei Sheng.”

Yan Tingshen looked at him. “I just…”

Hearing no continuation, Qin You smiled. “No matter the reason, you shouldn’t have to hide anything in front of me.”

Yan Tingshen paused.

Qin You raised a brow. “If you still have to hide things from me, then our feelings must be too fragile.”

Yan Tingshen held his gaze steadily before turning back to the window. “Alright.”

Qin You didn’t want him dwelling and also looked outside. “Back then, when I gave you those plum blossoms, it turns out I was just passing along someone else’s gift.”

Yan Tingshen didn’t respond.

Qin You asked, “You knew at the time?”

Yan Tingshen replied, “There isn’t a second plum tree on Qingning Road.”

Qin You was looking at the flowers when these words made his expression shift slightly.

He turned to Yan Tingshen and asked another question, “So, you never really liked plum blossoms since childhood—you just liked the ones I gave you?”

Yan Tingshen turned aside. "Hmm."

Qin You caught his gaze in the reflection of the glass window, hiding a smirk as he feigned thought. "But I remember, when I gave you those plum blossoms, we had only just met, hadn’t we?"

The man in his arms stiffened slightly.

Qin You leaned close to his ear and asked softly, "Am I wrong?"

"...Hmm."

The mumbled reply barely ended when Yan Tingshen pulled away from Qin You’s hold, his tone seemingly indifferent. "Let me show you around."

Qin You clasped his hand, grinning. "Trying to escape?"

Yan Tingshen changed the subject. "The layout here is similar to the Pei family’s. You went there as a kid—surely you remember."

Qin You pulled him back, smiling as he met his eyes. "Don’t change the subject."

Those laughing, peach-blossom eyes looked even deeper, more tender in the light—and even harder to resist.

Yan Tingshen met his stare, lips thinning slightly. Then he gripped Qin You’s wrist, his eyes trailing down—over his speaking lips, over the dip of his Adam’s apple as he talked—before finally settling back on those eyes.

Qin You leaned in closer, his smile deepening. "Don’t tell me… you’ve liked me since way back—"

Before he could finish, Yan Tingshen suddenly raised a hand to the side of his neck, stepped forward, and shut him up with a kiss.

Taken by surprise, Qin You staggered back a step under the force of the kiss, his back hitting the glass window.

As the kiss broke, Yan Tingshen looked at Qin You—saw branches heavy with plum blossoms pressing against the window behind him, framing his figure—

He stared at the view a beat too long, then abruptly reached up and removed Qin You’s glasses.

Qin You shut his eyes with a sigh, letting him.

Everything around him went softly out of focus without his glasses—only the figure before him remained painfully sharp.

Leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window, he wrapped an arm around Yan Tingshen’s waist.

Seconds stretched.

As cool fingers slid under his thick coat, trailing along his waist, he cocked an eyebrow at him.

Yan Tingshen met his gaze.

The metallic click of a belt buckle echoed in the absolute silence, sharp enough to send a jolt through him.

Before long, Qin You’s breathing grew heavier. He loosened his tie, his voice roughening unconsciously. "Cut it out—not here."

Yan Tingshen answered with action, dropping kisses down his neck, his jaw, before capturing his lips again.

Qin You yanked him flush against him.

Amid the kisses, the soft clink of the belt buckle resumed.

Qin You lifted a knee between Yan Tingshen’s legs, about to move—but after a glance at him, he paused, eyes half-lidded, then shoved him up against the window instead.

Yan Tingshen raised a hand, bracing against the glass.

Qin You's hand covered his.

Their scorching palms overlapped, leaving fleeting misty fingerprints on the cold glass in an instant.

A fiery kiss brushed against his neck, and Yan Tingshen's breath grew ragged.

Their mingled breaths intertwined, as the glass fogged up.

The air seemed to grow warmer.

The chill dissipated, leaving only an intensifying heat.

Qin You's hand slid further up, supporting Yan Tingshen's forehead pressed against the glass.

Yan Tingshen gripped his wrist, looking through the gaps between their fingers at the view outside.

Through the fog—

Plum blossoms seemed within reach—

Suddenly.

His lips thinned and he closed his eyes.

"......"

—

Two hours later.

Tongsheng Hotel, lounge.

Qi Yan glanced at his watch for the sixth time.

Pei Sheng took a sip of coffee. "Stop looking."

Qi Yan lowered his hand, unable to hold back. "What's going on with Tingshen? Earlier, he was nearly unreachable by phone—I was worried something happened."

Pei Sheng glanced at him.

"...Don't give me that look," Qi Yan muttered awkwardly. "I know he might be with Qin You, but this came up suddenly. What was I supposed to do?"

Hearing this, Pei Sheng frowned too.

Qi Yan added, "And it's been hours—he's still not here. He's never this late. Is he at Qin You's place?"

Pei Sheng set down his coffee cup. "Is that your business?"

"..." Qi Yan muttered again before checking the time once more.

Just then, Pei Sheng caught sight of two figures approaching from a distance and stood up from the table.

Qi Yan also took a few steps forward to greet them. "You're finally here!"

As they drew closer, he glanced at his watch again. "Wait, it's still early—are you turning in already?"

They had gone skiing together that afternoon, and he remembered Yan Tingshen and Qin You weren’t wearing these clothes earlier.