Lu Xiangyang had made up his mind—he was going to make it happen.
Even though Shen Kuangye didn't agree, he kept nagging, asking three times a day, until he eventually boiled it down to four words: "Brother, New Year."
He wouldn't even let Shen Kuangye hold him at night, curling up in the corner of the bed under his little blanket, speaking in a world-weary tone: "I need to get used to the loneliness of not being held during New Year."
"…"
"It's fine, brother, it's not cold in the blanket at all."
"...."
Shen Kuangye was utterly helpless.
It wasn't that he didn't want to go—he did—but given his current identity, it would have been an intrusion on Lu Ning's family. No one wants a stranger who needs care to be around during the New Year.
He reached out and scooped him up. Lu Xiangyang, thinking he had finally given in, immediately turned to him, eyes sparkling, asking, "So… you've agreed?"
Shen Kuangye looked at him and continued negotiating: "I'll stay at the club. If you miss me, I can come see you, alright?"
After all, the club was only an hour from home by car.
Lu Xiangyang's face fell, and he decisively said, "No."
He rolled his eyes, his tone softening: "Brother, what are you worried about? Tell me."
At this, Shen Kuangye turned off the lights to avoid the question. "Let's sleep."
After the lights were out, he no longer heard Lu Xiangyang's voice and assumed he had finally given up.
The next day, when they went to visit Xu Wen as usual, Lu Ning was sitting on the sofa. Seeing him, she waved: "Xiao Ye, come over here."
Shen Kuangye instinctively glanced at Lu Xiangyang, who nudged him forward, signaling him to sit next to her.
Shen Kuangye sat down.
Lu Ning placed her hand over his, warm and reassuring.
Shen Kuangye's eyelashes twitched; he couldn't pull away.
"Yangyang told me everything," Lu Ning said softly. "Do you want to come spend New Year at auntie's place? It's a bit simple; you might not be used to it."
Shen Kuangye quickly replied, "Not at all." He pursed his lips. "I still won't come to bother you."
"Bother? Not at all! More people make it lively, don't they?"
Lu Ning smiled. "Alright then, we'll celebrate New Year together. A few days before, pack your things and come stay at auntie's."
Having said so, Shen Kuangye could hardly refuse and just nodded: "Thank you, then."
What Lu Xiangyang had been nagging about for days was resolved in just a few words by Lu Ning.
Lu Xiangyang thought to himself that he was right—Shen Kuangye had only been worried about troubling Lu Ning. But it was obvious to everyone that Lu Ning was genuinely happy to have an extra person for New Year and had been cleaning the house for days in preparation.
On the day of departure, Lu Xiangyang and Shen Kuangye divided the work: he organized the clothes while Shen Kuangye cleaned the room.
Lu Xiangyang noticed something he had overlooked for a long time—Shen Kuangye's clothes were almost all black, white, or gray, completely different from his own style.
He stole a glance at Shen Kuangye sweeping.
Shen Kuangye's features were striking, his black turtleneck making his face look particularly pale and handsome. His expression was focused as he worked, but the sunlight spilling over his hair added a layer of warmth, making him seem less distant.
Such simple clothes yet somehow Shen Kuangye looked incredibly cool.
As Shen Kuangye pondered what gift to bring, he felt a gaze hotter than the sunlight fall on him.
He couldn't resist looking, and Lu Xiangyang, completely absorbed in admiring him, hadn't noticed. Only when Shen Kuangye put down the broom and leaned closer did Lu Xiangyang snap out of it.
Shen Kuangye raised an eyebrow. "What are you looking at?"
Lu Xiangyang's brain froze. "The sunlight today is really handsome."
Realizing what he had said, Lu Xiangyang: "..."
Near the door, Lu Xiangyang's face was still flushed.
Lu Ning had been waiting at the door; when Shen Kuangye knocked, she ran over and opened it.
For some reason, Shen Kuangye suddenly felt nervous. "Hello, auntie."
"Come inside, don't stand out there."
Lu Ning smiled and noticed the items in Shen Kuangye's hands. "Xiao Ye, you don't need to bring gifts next time, don't be so formal."
Shen Kuangye smiled faintly. "Alright."
Lu Ning led them to the sofa. After chatting for a while, she said to Shen Kuangye, "Come, Xiao Ye, let me show you the room I specially prepared for you."
In the suburbs of City A, rent was cheap. Lu Ning's three-bedroom apartment had one room available for Shen Kuangye. She didn't know why, but she felt unusually close to him and even asked Lu Xiangyang about his preferred style when decorating.
The last time she had prepared a room so thoughtfully was when Lu Xiangyang had finished his college entrance exams and was going home to stay for a while.
Lu Xiangyang was surprised: "Separate rooms?"
He had thought Lu Ning was asking to redecorate his room.
Previously, the room had been full of clutter, and Lu Ning, being nostalgic, hadn't wanted to throw things away. But this time, she had cleared everything out, planted some small flowers and greenery per Lu Xiangyang's suggestions, giving it a simple aesthetic.
"Of course. How could I let Xiao Ye sleep with you?" Lu Ning said matter-of-factly. "You'd kick the blanket everywhere."
Lu Xiangyang muttered softly: "I wouldn't…"
He had slept with Shen Kuangye for months, how could that have happened?
Shen Kuangye lowered his head, hiding a smile.
"Alright, you two get settled. I'll go check on Xiao Wen at the hospital."
Once Lu Ning left, Lu Xiangyang complained: "Why do we have to sleep separately?"
After sleeping with Shen Kuangye for over half a year, he couldn't stand being apart for a month.
Shen Kuangye quietly opened his suitcase and laid out his daily essentials.
Seeing him remain calm, Lu Xiangyang flopped onto the bed, tilting his head at him: "Brother, there's no AC in this room. It'll be cold at night."
Shen Kuangye, understanding his intent, hung his clothes while deliberately saying, "It's fine, I'm not cold."
Lu Xiangyang: "..."
He persisted: "I think you might not fall asleep easily alone at night."
Shen Kuangye replied, "If you calm your mind, sleep will come quickly."
Lu Xiangyang: "."
Shen Kuangye couldn't help but chuckle, and only then did Lu Xiangyang realize he had been teasing him.
He flushed, grabbed the pillow, and buried his face in it, murmuring, "You only know how to tease me."
Shen Kuangye sat beside him, softly coaxing: "Don't make yourself upset."
Lu Xiangyang didn't move, and a low, choked sound came from him.
Shen Kuangye's expression stiffened; thinking he had gone too far, he reached to remove the pillow. Suddenly, Lu Xiangyang sprang up, straddling him with a mischievous smile: "Scared you, didn't I?"
He was holding a grudge. "You teased me first, brother."
Lu Xiangyang's hands pressed against Shen Kuangye's face. Eyes shining, he asked, "So… really, we can't sleep together tonight?"
Shen Kuangye, who had been silent until now, finally spoke hoarsely: "Get down first."
Lu Xiangyang froze, realizing how he was sitting on Shen Kuangye.
His face burned as he tried to get up, but his legs gave out, and he fell heavily back onto Shen Kuangye.
"I-I didn't mean to."
Finally freeing himself, he completely forgot his original purpose and ran to his room, pretending he had never been there.
Shen Kuangye calmed himself after a long while, preventing any further absurdity.
Since Lu Ning would be home late, they decided to go buy groceries first.
Neither had much experience shopping, so they picked the freshest-looking vegetables they could find.
Worried about running into acquaintances, Lu Xiangyang only held onto Shen Kuangye's gray scarf, not daring to hold hands.
During idle moments, he even secretly took a picture of their shadows and posted it on his new Weibo account with the caption: "Grocery shopping with brother!"
Lu Xiangyang's small account was usually just for lurking on CP fan pages, so he felt free to post.
When Lu Ning came back, she was surprised by the groceries on the table. Seeing the eager eyes of the two boys on the sofa, she praised: "Perfect, these are exactly what I need."
Shen Kuangye stood: "I'll help you."
Lu Xiangyang also stood: "Mom, I'll help too."
The three of them gathered in the small kitchen. Lu Xiangyang rolled up his sleeves and carefully washed the vegetables at the sink. Shen Kuangye, unfamiliar with cooking, tried cutting vegetables, but the potato strips and lotus root pieces were too large, making him frown.
Lu Ning smiled encouragingly: "Not bad, not bad, that's a good cut."
Hearing that, Shen Kuangye focused even more, cutting with greater care.
Lu Xiangyang saw Shen Kuangye act so childlike for the first time, his eyes full of amusement.
When Lu Ning cooked the dishes, Shen Kuangye quietly stood by, occasionally helping.
Lu Xiangyang wiped the table and arranged drinks, keeping an eye on the kitchen scene.
Shen Kuangye, usually cold and distant around others, was unusually obedient in front of Lu Ning, doing whatever she asked.
Once all the dishes were on the table, Lu Ning called them to sit.
She smiled: "Auntie isn't much of a cook, just eat simply. Here."
She placed a piece of potato braised with chicken in Shen Kuangye's bowl.
He took a bite, and the familiar taste spread through his mouth. He had lost count of the years since he'd last eaten Lu Ning's cooking, thinking he might never taste it again in this life.
Shen Kuangye lowered his head, stray hairs hiding his slightly red eyes, and said hoarsely: "It's very good."
That night, Shen Kuangye silently ate three bowls.
Lu Ning felt a pang of sympathy.
In her heart, an eighteen-year-old should be lively and cheerful like Lu Xiangyang, but Shen Kuangye always carried an air of maturity beyond his years, overly proper and careful, rarely smiling, and always seemingly burdened.
She sighed inwardly, wondering what such a good child had gone through.
That evening, Lu Ning returned late. By the time dinner was done, it was almost nine o'clock.
Her schedule was always regular: ten o'clock to bed, six o'clock up.
Shen Kuangye stayed in his room reading, glancing at the time—ten o'clock.
No sounds outside.
He lowered his eyes, skimmed a few pages, glanced again: ten-ten.
Still no movement.
He pursed his lips, forcing himself to read a little longer; by ten-thirty, still nothing.
Shen Kuangye could no longer sit still.
Just as he put down his book, he heard faint footsteps outside.
The door, slightly ajar, was opened and gently closed by Lu Xiangyang.
Once the door shut, Lu Xiangyang fully relaxed, threw himself on the bed, and tucked into the blanket, murmuring: "Finally, a bit warmer."
Shen Kuangye was puzzled and instinctively held Lu Xiangyang's icy hand. "Isn't your room heated?"
Why were his hands still so cold?
Lu Xiangyang tried to gain sympathy: "I'm naturally cold, even with the heater on I feel chilly."
Shen Kuangye thought seriously for a moment, agreeing with that explanation. Then he came up with an idea: "Then I'll make you go running in the morning."
He had heard that exercise can warm the body and improve health.
Lu Xiangyang, a lifelong homebody with zero athletic ability and a love for sleeping in: "..."
Wooden.
He was about to lay his head down when he felt something soft poke him.
Looking up, it was the doll he had given Shen Kuangye.
The doll still smelled nice.
Lu Xiangyang instantly realized, but pretended to be clueless: "Brother, why did you put this doll by the bed?"
Shen Kuangye's eyes drifted elsewhere. "Just put it there."
"Really?" Lu Xiangyang said. "Isn't it because you can't sleep alone and need the doll to keep you company?"
Shen Kuangye stubbornly: "No."
"Then I'll go back to sleep." Lu Xiangyang got up as if he really meant it.
Shen Kuangye's hand was faster than his brain, grabbing Lu Xiangyang's wrist, ears red: "…I can't sleep."
"Stay with me, baby."