They say the sun is most generous between noon and four in the afternoon.
During these hours, plants are busy with photosynthesis and rainwater is busy evaporating; it is when all things are at their most vivid. But once this window passes, that vitality fades along with the setting sun. The most active things on the horizon become the streams of cars and crowds of people rushing home from work.
By the time Zhou Shu woke up, evening was approaching. All things were tired.
So was he.
"Finally awake?" Zhu Lili sat on the living room carpet, her fingers flying across her keyboard. She had sensed the movement on the other end of the room.
Zhou Shu’s eyes were still bleary with sleep. He sat up from the sofa with an air of profound exhaustion, uttering a single, long-drawn-out word: "Tired..."
Zhu Lili couldn't help but snort. "That’s from the crying." *And, of course, probably from sleeping too much.*
"..."
Zhou Shu’s throat felt dry. He didn't have the energy to snap back. Suddenly remembering something, he let his gaze sweep around the house in an extremely unnatural manner.
Catching the movement out of the corner of her eye, Zhu Lili exposed him ruthlessly. "Stop looking. He’s gone."
Zhou Shu’s movements paused for only a second before returning to normal. He leaned forward, reaching for the half-filled glass of water on the coffee table.
"Don't—" Zhu Lili lunged forward to stop him, her other hand patting her heart in a soothing gesture. Thank goodness she caught him, or there would have been another incident. "Don't drink that. There’s a sedative effervescent tablet in it."
"?" The expression on Zhou Shu’s face visibly stiffened before finally showing a spark of life. "Zhu Lili, you motherf—"
"Me, what? Instead of thanking me, you’re going to insult my mother?" Zhu Lili cut him off, theatrically dabbing at the corner of her eye. "Duo Duo, look at him. As soon as you’re gone, he starts bullying me like this."
Zhou Shu didn't want to keep bickering with her. He let out a cold huff. "Stop being such a drama queen. You’re acting like he can hear you."
"He can't hear me, but you can." Zhu Lili suppressed a smile, throwing a meaningful look at Zhou Shu. "So, Brother Shu, was 'Gege’s' embrace warm?"
The air was suddenly filled with the scent of awkward waves—like a wave that accidentally knocks down the trunks of someone swimming.
Even the waves themselves would feel embarrassed.
"What time is it?" The awkward wave finally found its voice.
"A bit past five. There’s still time." Zhu Lili handed her phone to Zhou Shu. "We fly to Yuncheng tomorrow morning and head back to the capital the day after. Then you have three consecutive days of announcements. Get ready." She locked the screen and arched an eyebrow at him. "Whatever you need to say or do, hurry up and do it today. Don't go crying and hugging me in the middle of the night calling for 'Gege' because of a headache again."
Zhou Shu felt a blockage in his chest from the verbal jab. Finally, he tossed a throw pillow toward the carpet. "You talk too much."
"Discarded after use. Truly heartless." Zhu Lili swatted the pillow down and pulled it into her arms. "Go get cleaned up. Do you want me to go back with you for dinner later?"
Zhou Shu sighed, gave a low grunt of affirmation, and moved sluggishly into the bathroom.
He turned on the shower, and a heavy rain began to fall within the stall.
The skin Jin Yan had held the night before still seemed to retain his body heat. Standing in the fine, warm spray, Zhou Shu’s very breath felt hot.
He had never seen such a gentle Jin Yan.
When they were kids, Jin Yan had been a little shadow he couldn't shake off, incredibly clingy.
Since childhood, Jin Yan’s eyes had been exceptionally bright, his skin fair and translucent. He had been slow to grow tall, making him look more like a porcelain doll.
Because of this, Zhou Shu had always harbored a fixed assumption: he was convinced Jin Yan would differentiate into an Omega. When that happened, he could rightfully hide this doll-like younger brother away at home.
Who could have known that everything would change after the boy differentiated? He suddenly shot up in height, his features grew sharper and colder, and his temperament was no longer soft.
Even his gender was different from what Zhou Shu had imagined.
His younger brother had differentiated into an Alpha, not an Omega. How could that be...?
Zhou Shu had never felt so helpless. In an instant, all his childhood memories and naive promises came rushing back with the damp scent of the rain, seeping into his pores and urging him to wake up.
He had spent a long time digesting and organizing that chaos. By the time he wanted to do something about it, he found that his brother was already drifting further and further away.
Jin Yan stopped clamoring for him to return to Haicheng. He stopped sharing daily updates about how many stray cats or dogs he had fed. Even his messages took hours to receive a reply.
The two of them gradually fell silent, finding less and less to talk about.
During the winter break of that year, Zhou Shu returned to Haicheng. After dinner one evening, Jin Yan came to his room. It was a rare moment of togetherness they hadn't shared in a long time.
Jin Yan helped Zhou Shu pack his luggage just like he used to, casually asking a few questions about his university life. Finally, as he was about to leave, he suddenly stopped at the door and turned to look at Zhou Shu.
He asked, "Ge, can you accept an AA relationship?"
Zhou Shu still remembered Jin Yan’s eyes at that moment—damp, as if swollen with sorrow and helplessness.
Hearing those words, Zhou Shu’s heart had ached as if squeezed by a hand.
He thought that the reason for his brother’s recent distance was because he had fallen in love; he had fallen for an Alpha.
Yet, inappropriately, a flurry of erotic images flashed through Zhou Shu’s mind—scenes that had frequently appeared in his dreams ever since Jin Yan’s differentiation.
And the other protagonist of those dreams was standing right in front of him.
In that instant, Zhou Shu became incredibly defensive and awkward.
Amidst the shame and panic, a massive surge of bitterness welled up from the depths of his heart.
But he couldn't show it. He could only force himself to frown and say, "Impossible."
The door closed. The wind rose.
That day, a heavy snow fell over Haicheng, the flakes drifting down like shredded cotton, trying to preserve all the tenderness of winter.
Zhou Shu lay in bed all night without sleeping, thinking about what Jin Yan had said, his heart still gripped by that stubborn awkwardness.
He had intended to say something to him once the snow stopped, but when he woke the next day, he never saw Jin Yan again.
Jin Yan’s parents were equally baffled by their son’s decision, but since he was an adult, they had no reason to obstruct him.
Zhou Shu made countless phone calls, all of which eventually sank into the void along with his heart.
Later, he became increasingly silent and indifferent, until he was the only one left by his side.
Neither set of parents learned anything from either side. At first, they thought the two boys had just had a spat, then they assumed they had a falling out. But the only response they ever got was "We're fine," until they finally let the matter drop.
During those five years, only when Zhou Duo woke up could he express the longing buried deep within Zhou Shu.
Zhou Duo was far more honest than he was.
Yesterday, Zhou Duo had finally seen his "Gege." He had been able to act spoiled in his arms, and Jin Yan had even fed him porridge and wiped away his tears.
Perhaps the water temperature was set too high; Zhou Shu’s eyes were steamed red by the vapor, and his breathing was slightly unsteady.
The water was too hot. Why was it so irritating?
Zhou Shu finished his shower in a fit of pique. When he came out after getting ready, his face was written over with displeasure.
It was so obvious that Zhu Lili noticed it out of the corner of her eye, but she chose to say nothing.
As twilight merged with the night, Zhu Lili drove Zhou Shu back home.
When they arrived, Jin Yan’s family was already there. Zhou Shu’s parents had hired someone to prepare a private banquet at home, and it looked quite grand.
"Quite the production," Zhou Shu muttered as he changed his shoes at the door.
"Well, look who the guest is," Zhu Lili whispered into his ear. "The future son-in-law..."
Zhou Shu immediately shot her a glare, but Zhu Lili only gave a charming smile and carried the gifts into the kitchen.
Jin Yan saw all of this. Although he knew they weren't in that kind of relationship, he still felt uncomfortable—very uncomfortable.
The next second, his eyes met Zhou Shu’s, but the latter was the first to look away.
An unnatural flicker passed through Zhou Shu’s expression before he went to greet Jin Yan’s parents.
After several rounds of pleasantries, everyone finally took their seats, and the long dinner began.
Zhu Lili sat next to Zhou Shu’s mother, constantly helping her with food and tea. Jin Yan’s mother watched with envy.
"Sigh, I wonder when our Yan-yan will bring home an Omega like Julia."
As soon as those words were spoken, everyone except Jin Yan’s father froze for a few seconds.
Zhou Shu’s mother gave an awkward laugh. Just as she was about to speak, Zhou Shu opened his mouth. "Auntie Fang, Uncle Jin, I’m sorry for keeping it from you before. Actually, Julia isn't my girlfriend. We didn't clear up the rumors externally just to avoid unnecessary trouble. Our relationship is strictly boss and assistant."
Zhu Lili smiled and responded graciously, "And friends." After she finished, she covered her mouth and mouthed two words to Zhou Shu: *“Sisters.”*
Zhou Shu silently rolled his eyes and placed his sea cucumber congee next to Zhu Lili, signaling her to shut up.
Meanwhile, within those few short seconds, Jin Yan’s mood went through a rollercoaster of emotions.
He was happy that Zhou Shu proactively declared he had no relationship with Zhu Lili, but he felt a pang of jealousy when Zhou Shu gave his porridge to her.
That was likely what it felt like to love someone—one's heart was forever strapped to a high-speed coaster.
"Ah... I see..." Jin Yan’s mother was clearly surprised, but she transitioned naturally. "Still, to find such an excellent assistant is a great blessing."
Zhou Shu’s mother sighed, her eyes growing slightly moist. Zhu Lili refilled her tea, and she took a sip before speaking slowly. "Yes, knowing Julia is our blessing. It’s just a pity..."
"Mom," Zhou Shu called out softly, his tone softening considerably. "Don't think about other things while we're eating. After dinner, let Julia accompany you and Auntie Fang to the hot springs."
No one asked anything else. The two fathers began discussing business matters.
Jin Yan didn't say much at the table that night, offering only simple answers to questions. During the meal, his gaze rarely lingered on Zhou Shu’s face; no one knew that he was using every ounce of his self-restraint.
When the dinner ended, Zhu Lili accompanied the two mothers to the hot springs. Jin Yan followed Zhou Shu out. The two of them stood at the entrance of Zhou Shu’s house for a long time. Neither spoke first, and neither left, like a silent game of chess.
"Ge." Finally, Jin Yan conceded. He leaned slightly to the side; a heavy rain was approaching the ocean.
"What?" Zhou Shu turned his face slightly, trying his best to sound cold and natural.
"Want to go to the beach?" *Just like when we were kids.*
The air went still for a second. They heard the sound of waves crashing against the windbreak forest, the leaves rustling.
"Let’s go." Someone else had also conceded in this game of waves.
The villa district where they lived was very close to the sea. Crossing a windbreak forest, it was less than a ten-minute walk. Their parents always said that as they got older, they shouldn't live by the sea because the dampness made their knees ache, yet they couldn't bear to leave the place.
Later, Zhou Shu had bought several dehumidifiers and heating appliances for both families. The parents all said he was thoughtful and filial, but only he knew that he had a selfish motive.
He was afraid that if one family couldn't hold out and moved away, then this path and those memories might truly cease to exist, vanishing entirely.
They walked along the gravel path of the villa district to the entrance of the coastal windbreak forest. After just a few steps, they saw several stray cats.
Stray cats are usually wary of people, but Jin Yan had always been an exception in their eyes.
Jin Yan squatted down, and the little cats crowded around, proactively rubbing against his arms.
Jin Yan smiled and stroked their necks, "servicing" them one by one. Eventually, they actually rolled onto their backs and began to purr.
"You seem to be even more popular with animals now." Watching this scene, Zhou Shu’s expression softened significantly.
Since childhood, Jin Yan had a special affinity for animals. Cats and dogs would flock to him, and even at the zoo, little monkeys would climb down from the trees to cling to his neck.
But this time, Zhou Shu vaguely sensed a subtle difference. To his eyes, it looked as if Jin Yan was actually communicating with them.
Jin Yan didn't answer the question. He patted the cats' heads a few times, told them he would bring food tomorrow, then stood up and looked at Zhou Shu. "Let’s go, Ge."
Zhou Shu watched the cats walk away with a few meows and nodded. The two of them walked deeper into the woods.
"Ge, are you cold?" Jin Yan asked as they were about to exit the forest.
"I'm fine." Just as Zhou Shu finished speaking, an ill-timed cold wind slipped under his short sleeves, making him shiver.
Jin Yan took off his jacket, but this time he didn't just drape it over Zhou Shu’s shoulders.
He gently took the other man’s wrist, and as they both stood still, Jin Yan carefully put the jacket on Zhou Shu himself.
Zhou Shu wanted to refuse, but his body simply wouldn't obey. He wondered if something was wrong with his physical response system.
By the time he snapped back to reality, the clothes were fitted snugly on him, and something seemed to have been added to his wrist.
Zhou Shu looked down, wanting to see clearly, but in the next second, his wrist was lightly tugged. A gentle voice followed.
"Ge, I was wrong." Jin Yan’s eyes flickered, as if a star had suddenly landed in them. The star was a leaping meteor, dancing and captivating.
"You..." Zhou Shu swallowed against his dry throat. For the first time, the Movie King found that emotional management was actually quite difficult. He paused, his voice deepening. "What were you wrong about?"
The breath Jin Yan had been holding finally eased. He moved half a step closer, letting out a light laugh of relief. "I was wrong about everything."
Zhou Shu turned his head away, not daring to look into his eyes again. Remembering something, he looked down and lifted his wrist.
"This is..."
"It was my fault for taking it away back then. Now I’ve put it back on you. Can you stop being angry?" As Jin Yan spoke, he lightly lifted his hand and hooked his pinky finger through the chain on Zhou Shu’s wrist. "Forgive me."
Zhou Shu’s breath hitched for an instant before he hurriedly pulled his hand back.
He looked at the object on his wrist and said awkwardly, "This little thing... as if I actually care about it." Having said that, he turned and continued toward the beach.
His heart in his throat, Jin Yan hurried to catch up, terrified that the other man would take it off in the next second.
Maintaining a distance of half a body length, he could see from the side that Zhou Shu was using his fingertips to gently stroke the pendant hanging from the chain.
Jin Yan took this small gesture entirely into his gaze and tucked it into his heart.
He suppressed the urge to hide the man away, stepped forward, and once again hooked his pinky through that chain. Together, they walked toward the sea.
***
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