Shen Yi pushed Jiang Qi back, his palm firm against the man's chest, but Jiang Qi didn't budge even a little as if he had no intention of moving.
"Get off," Shen Yi growled, his voice low and warning.
But Jiang Qi only stared at him with calm eyes and said, "I won't let you leave anymore."
Shen Yi paused and narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Jiang Qi let out a slow breath as if to calm himself down, and sat back down on the couch, his expression no longer cold but carrying something close to defeat.
"You came to my door," he said quietly, "so how can I just let you leave like that? I've been crazily looking for you since you left."
Shen Yi stood still, unsure whether he should be irritated or confused, because nothing this man said ever followed logic—at least not any logic Shen Yi understood.
Jiang Qi looked at him for a moment, then said, "Eat something first, then we'll talk later."
"I'm not—" Shen Yi started, but Jiang Qi glanced at him, and in that gaze was something serious, and strong yet oddly gentle, like he wasn't ordering but asking from somewhere deep inside.
Shen Yi looked away, refusing to meet that look again, and after a short silence, he sat down slowly and picked up the spoon, eating without a word.
He didn't rush through the food, nor did he push the plate aside like he wanted to, because somehow his body moved before his mind could stop it.
The room stayed quiet, filled only with the soft sounds of dishes and breathing, and when Shen Yi finally set his spoon down, his plate was completely empty.
When he looked up, Jiang Qi was watching him, a small smile curling on his lips, both satisfied and amused.
"I remember someone saying he wasn't hungry," Jiang Qi said, his tone teasing.
"Shut up," Shen Yi replied and looked away, his ears warming as embarrassment crept in.
He didn't even know when he had eaten that much, he rarely did. Most times he only grabbed whatever snack was closest or skipped food entirely, but tonight had been different.
For the first time in years, he'd had a full meal. And not just that, he'd eaten it with someone. Something warm began to rise inside him, like a feeling he had long forgotten.
Without meaning to, his lips curved upward slightly.
Jiang Qi noticed and he didn't waste his time. He leaned forward and tilted his head slightly, trying to see his face.
"Are you secretly smiling?" he asked.
Shen Yi snapped out of it and turned, his face back to its usual coldness.
"Who's smiling?" he said sharply.
Jiang Qi burst out laughing and leaned back on the couch, clearly enjoying the rare sight.
Shen Yi turned away again, hiding the faint twitch of his lips, but after a short moment, he faced Jiang Qi again, this time serious.
"Give me back my gun," he said.
Jiang Qi was still smiling, his eyes half-lidded.
"You still want to kill me?" he asked lightly.
"I have to leave," Shen Yi said plainly.
Jiang Qi rested his head back against the couch and looked at the ceiling for a while before saying, "If I let you leave now, I'm scared I'll never see you again."
Shen Yi's gaze shifted to him, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
Their eyes locked, holding a quiet conversation with no words. Shen Yi was the first to look away, feeling something stir inside him again, something he didn't like.
"What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice quieter now.
Jiang Qi didn't move. He kept his head leaned back, eyes open but distant, and didn't answer.
Shen Yi waited, but when the silence stayed long, he moved. His hand reached toward Jiang Qi's waist, and before the man could react, he grabbed the pistol from his side.
He looked down at the weapon for a second, the weight familiar in his hand, then slipped it into his waistband.
He had failed. And this time, it was willingly. It was miserable, pathetic even, and yet something in him accepted it.
Jiang Qi had said he had failed five times before—what harm was one more? He had been given three days to finish the job. Now, two days were left, and he already knew he wouldn't be able to go through with it. So, why not let hi.self lose for a while.
The warmth he'd felt tonight had crept in faster than expected, stronger than he had prepared for.
He clenched his teeth, and said in a low voice, "Two days."
Jiang Qi, still resting back, blinked slowly and asked, "What?"
"I can only stay for two days," Shen Yi replied, looking straight ahead.
Jiang Qi sat up suddenly, as if he'd been hit by a jolt of energy.
His eyes widened, and he turned to Shen Yi with a mix of surprise, happiness, and sadness all wrapped into one look.
"Why?" he asked, his voice more fragile now.
Shen Yi clenched his fist, unsure what to say. He felt exposed and ridiculous. He had never been this conflicted before in his life.
He stood up abruptly and said, "Then… I'll take my leave."
Jiang Qi's eyes widened even more. Before Shen Yi could take another step, he shot forward faster than Shen Yi expected and grabbed his forearm tightly.
"Stay," Jiang Qi said, the word firm and full of something desperate.
Shen Yi froze in place, and slowly looked down at Jiang Qi's hand holding him again, and the silence that followed was louder than any gunshot.