The car’s interior lights flickered, casting a dim glow. Cen Chen sat in the passenger seat, reflexively fastening his seatbelt while his gaze followed the elusive Ye Qiu, slowly releasing his grip.
As Ye Qiu prepared to start the car, he noticed Cen Chen’s unfastened seatbelt and leaned close, fastening it for him. The warmth of his breath brushed against Cen Chen’s neck, sending a tingling sensation through him.
The proximity was almost absurd, leading Cen Chen to entertain the illusion that Ye Qiu might kiss him, yet…
Nothing happened.
“Remember to fasten your seatbelt next time,” Ye Qiu reminded, straightening up with an implied warning.
Cen Chen looked at him and obediently nodded like a good child, “Okay.”
Suppressing his inner disappointment, he silently gazed out the window, not saying another word.
Watching Cen Chen’s obedient demeanor made Ye Qiu momentarily consider laying everything bare, but ultimately, he pursed his lips and remained silent.
Cen Chen toyed with the carefully prepared gift in his hands and, for some unknown reason, took the initiative to ask, “Aren’t you curious to see what’s inside?”
Realizing that the clever Ye Qiu must have guessed his underlying meaning, he felt a pang of regret; perhaps he missed his chance.
Ye Qiu didn’t expect Cen Chen to bring this up at such a moment. Just as he was about to explain, a phone call interrupted him.
“Hello? Are you asleep? Ye Zi, are you nearby? Can you come pick me up?”
“Just drop me off near the apartment,” came the response.
It was Zhao Yuan; his timing was impeccable.
Ye Qiu pondered that there seemed to be no chance for Cen Chen, the shy one, to confess his feelings. This call would only add fuel to the fire.
Ye Zi? He had never called him such an intimate name before. Cen Chen felt a mix of jealousy and curiosity.
Ye Qiu parked the car aside and completed the call. “Do you mind if I pick someone up?”
Cen Chen, thinking his little gesture might have been noticed, glanced at him, then realized and nodded instinctively, “Uh… I don’t mind.”
Ye Qiu checked the location Zhao Yuan sent and turned the car in that direction.
In the passenger seat, Cen Chen took the liberty of observing Ye Qiu driving.
It’s said that men look most handsome when they’re serious about driving, and Cen Chen quietly nodded in agreement, noticing the tension in Ye Qiu’s hands on the steering wheel.
“Is he your friend?” Cen Chen inquired.
Ye Qiu looked at him incredulously, “A colleague.”
There was no way colleagues would address each other so intimately, and it was rare for one to request a pickup and drop-off. For all he knew, someone else might have sat in the passenger seat before him.
Watching Ye Qiu drive while witnessing Cen Chen’s anxious expression, the earlier frustration from an unexplained breakup faded.
Before long, the car came to a stop at their destination.
When Zhao Yuan approached, Cen Chen glanced over.
“Ye Zi, is this your friend?” Zhao Yuan looked at Cen Chen with a somewhat ambiguous expression before climbing into the car.
“Mm,” Ye Qiu responded.
Cen Chen observed Zhao Yuan stepping in—he had a small face, large eyes, fair skin, and a soft voice that indicated he was among the most popular types. He even had a small curly hairstyle!
If Zhao Yuan heard Cen Chen think this, he would likely be fuming inside: “What do you mean small curly hair? This is natural curls, okay! I don’t want to wake up every day with bedhead!”
“Ugh, had I known there was a friend in your car, I wouldn’t have asked you to pick me up. I can return by myself; I’ll treat you to a late-night snack later!” Zhao Yuan said.
A late-night snack at this hour? They lived close? Cen Chen’s internal alarm went off. “Do you guys live close?”
Ye Qiu pretended to drive seriously, silently giving Zhao Yuan a thumbs up for being a great wingman.
Zhao Yuan looked at Cen Chen, who exuded a refined aura in the passenger seat, stuttering, “Yeah, Ye Zi lives next to me.”
Zhao Yuan adjusted his clothes in the backseat, “Hello, I’m Zhao Yuan, your neighbor living next to Ye Qiu.”
“Hello,” Cen Chen replied with a dangerous glint in his eyes as he turned to Ye Qiu, “Your neighbor?”
“Mm.”
He confirmed it!
Cen Chen furrowed his brows slightly, unable to contain the chaotic feelings swirling in his mind.
The rest of the journey was silent.
Although the two didn’t speak, the harmonious atmosphere made it impossible for a third person to insert themselves.
Sitting alone in the backseat, Zhao Yuan felt like a lightbulb—shining brightly.
Noticing the cautious glances directed at him and Ye Qiu’s casual maintenance of the situation, Zhao Yuan rushed to find an excuse to leave once the car stopped. He shed a few tears for his short-lived crush, realizing, as he always had, that only the handsome could team up with other handsome individuals; little fish didn’t deserve to swim in such deep waters.
“Should we go up for a bit?” Ye Qiu asked politely.
Cen Chen climbed the metaphorical ladder, feeling nervous as he entered. However, once inside, he became absorbed in the exploration of the room of the person he admired, and all his earlier anxieties vanished into thin air.
The place was quite cozy; though not large, it was clean and orderly. His unexpected arrival revealed none of the usual messes—no piles of laundry scattered about. It was clear Ye Qiu was a disciplined person, aside from a few tools that seemed familiar in the corner that he couldn’t quite place, so he dismissed them from his mind.
“Zhao Yuan is your neighbor; why did you say he was a colleague?” Cen Chen, after wandering about, still couldn’t shake off the question weighing on his mind.
Shouldn’t there be a hidden motive behind that?
Ye Qiu pretended not to understand, “We have some overlapping areas in our work…”
Both of them were game streamers, with unusual hours. Saying they had a few overlapping areas wasn’t too far-fetched.
Wasn’t that strikingly similar to his situation? Cen Chen’s heart began racing.
Not only had Ye Qiu known Zhao Yuan longer, but they also worked together and lived next door. In comparison, he felt utterly surplus; he had to find a way to confirm their relationship.
Taking the plunge, Cen Chen noticed the sofa in the living room. His eyes lit up, and with a yawn, he hesitated, “I’m feeling very tired. It’s so late; how about I just sleep here…” After saying that, he rubbed his eyes to make it more convincing.
“The hotel is right downstairs; how could I let you sleep on the sofa?” Ye Qiu hesitated, “Or you can take the bed, and I’ll take the sofa.”