Shen Duoyi truly experienced Qi Shi'an’s level of craziness. He was both shocked and helpless, still finding it hard to believe even after work. But the colleagues outside were already happily packing up their things, ready to enjoy the three-day break.

“Duoyi, aren’t you leaving?”

“Almost done.” He responded quickly, finished up, and left with Team Leader Qi. While getting their cars, Team Leader Qi kept talking about recent project plans, complaining that there wasn’t enough time.

Shen Duoyi said, “I’ve also noticed you’ve been busy lately. Things are manageable on my end.”

“You have less life pressure. I’m about to start a family of three,” Team Leader Qi said, smiling through his tiredness. It took Shen Duoyi a moment to catch on, then he beamed. “Your wife’s pregnant? That’s so fast!”

They chatted all the way to the parking lot, said their goodbyes, and drove off. Shen Duoyi drove his black Volkswagen out of the parking lot and saw Qi Shi'an walking in from outside.

They passed each other—just a boss and his subordinate, as far as anyone else knew. As he drove away from Central Street, Shen Duoyi’s hands gripped the wheel, his mind wandering.

If, in the future, he and Qi Shi'an lived and ate together, going to work and leaving work side by side, would they get tired of each other? Probably. No one’s a saint; even the best relationships can feel stale.

It seemed he really needed to invest wisely—buy a few extra apartments so they could occasionally stay apart and keep things fresh.

Lost in his thoughts, he arrived home. The housekeeper had already prepared dinner. After eating, he accompanied Grandpa Shen on a walk by the lake. The heat was intense, and they were drenched in sweat after a while. After helping Grandpa Shen to bed, Shen Duoyi went to sleep early.

Meanwhile, Qi Shi'an was still shopping at the supermarket. His apartment kitchen was rarely used, and he barely had any cookware. Late at night, he filled a cart with household items, utensils, and groceries.

After getting home and unpacking everything, he checked the night market updates before going to bed.

Friday, which was supposed to be a workday, was now a holiday. Qi Shi'an’s body clock woke him early. After freshening up, he dove into the kitchen to make breakfast.

Just as he was opening a jar of jam, the doorbell rang. Shen Duoyi didn’t have the key for the lobby or elevator, so he must be downstairs. Qi Shi'an hurried to the intercom and softly answered, “Hello?”

“I’m here,” Shen Duoyi panted, probably from the heat. “Come down and get me.”

The faint sound of his breathing made the call oddly intimate. Qi Shi'an grabbed his keys and went downstairs. Two minutes later, he saw Shen Duoyi in the lobby, holding coffee.

They entered the elevator together, standing side by side in silence. Shen Duoyi felt awkward and broke the silence. “It’s so hot today. The sun is brutal.”

Qi Shi'an smiled at him through the elevator doors. “Don’t be so formal. Just relax like you’re visiting a friend in Qiuye Hutong.”

Shen Duoyi nodded and joked, “Your place isn’t a mess, is it?”

The door opened, and they entered the apartment together. Qi Shi'an handed him a pair of slippers and took down another set of keys. “These are for you. The keychain matches mine. My old one finally gets to retire.”

When there was no response, Qi Shi'an turned to see Shen Duoyi staring at the apartment in a daze. He walked up behind him and hugged him. “What’s wrong? Need to inspect the place?”

Shen Duoyi said, “It’s beautiful. I didn’t expect it to be so tidy.”

Qi Shi'an confessed, “It’s the housekeeper’s work, but I paid her well.”

“I know—you always want credit.” Shen Duoyi turned his head, their faces brushing. “Let me go. I bought coffee. Are you feeding me breakfast or not?”

“Of course! I almost forgot.” Qi Shi'an pulled him into the kitchen. “Try the jam we bought last time.”

They ate together. After finishing, Shen Duoyi went to the bathroom to wash his hands. He noticed two toothbrush holders and two toothbrushes on the sink. Looking up, he saw Qi Shi'an leaning against the doorframe in the mirror.

“Is this toothbrush for me?”

“Yeah. I prepared it last night.” Qi Shi'an walked in and handed him a towel. “Let me show you around.”

“The toothbrush and slippers are new. So are the towels, but they haven’t dried yet.”

They walked through a hallway lined with paintings. Qi Shi'an said, “Every day when I come home, walking down this hallway feels lonely. Today, walking with you feels like a wedding aisle.”

The sitting room had cushions on the sofa, and the coffee table was covered with magazines and books. “I love reading anything, but there’s no one to discuss it with. It’ll be different now that you’re here.”

The balcony next to the sitting room was hot, with dumbbells in the corner. “This balcony is for drying clothes and working out. It gets hot during the day.”

Finally, they reached the master bedroom. Shen Duoyi was gently nudged inside and took a detailed look around. Qi Shi'an wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “I changed the bedding. Not sure if you’ll like the color. I cleared out half the wardrobe for your clothes. I also downloaded a movie last night, but I fell asleep before it finished.”

Shen Duoyi turned to look at him. “I didn’t bring any clothes.”

“Then wear mine first.” Qi Shi'an smiled. “You can add more later. You should check on me often—don’t let me go wild.”

Shen Duoyi knew Qi Shi'an was playing cute and couldn’t resist touching his chin.

“Are you soothing a child or teasing a puppy?” Qi Shi'an held his hand naturally. “Come check out this balcony.”

The master bedroom’s balcony was spacious, with wooden floors covered by a thin rug, perfect for lounging. A semi-enclosed hanging egg chair dangled by the window. Shen Duoyi sat in it, feeling so comfortable he almost nodded off.

“Can it hold another person?” He patted the space beside him, inviting Qi Shi'an to join.

The chair swayed gently as they sat close together. The air conditioning kept things cool, while the sunlight added a bit of warmth. Shen Duoyi took out his phone. “Let me check today’s market info.”

Qi Shi'an snatched the phone away. “Forget the market. Look at me.”

Shen Duoyi turned to him. “Will your stock prices go up if I look?”

Qi Shi'an didn’t dare promise that. Instead, he leaned in, sniffed Shen Duoyi’s hair, and suddenly confessed, “I have a lot of investments—stocks alone take up half my day. I’ve also got foreign currency investments. If I lose everything one day, will you despise me?”

“Probably.” Shen Duoyi frowned, pretending to be dissatisfied. “I’d punish you by making you eat one less bowl of rice.”

The chair swayed wildly under their antics, making it feel precarious. Ever since Qi Shi'an discovered the sensitivity of Shen Duoyi’s waist, he had the upper hand. Whether tickling or teasing, he always won.

“I’m done playing! You’re ruthless!” Shen Duoyi jumped to the floor, looked around the balcony, and suddenly remembered something. “Where’s that hydrangea that always looks grumpy?”

Qi Shi'an got up too. “It’s in the dining room. Come on, let’s check on the ‘princess’.”

Shen Duoyi’s dining room was right next to the kitchen, with no clear boundary. Earlier, he had thought the kitchen’s dining counter was the dining area.

They walked down the hallway, and Qi Shi'an pushed open a white partition.

A small, bright room appeared. Sunlight made the light brown floor look even paler. In the center of a cream-colored, carved round table, a blue-violet hydrangea bloomed.

The vase was one Qi Shi'an had bought during a business trip to Sydney. No wonder he remembered to get a vase from across the ocean—the flower was beautiful. The petals were full, with hues that blended perfectly.

Qi Shi'an suddenly said, “Duoduo, someone’s here to see you.”

Shen Duoyi immediately turned toward the dining room door. “Who?”

Qi Shi'an smirked, touching a petal. “Not you. The flower’s name is Duoduo.”

“…You named the flower?” Shen Duoyi gave him a look. He felt one “Duoduo” was enough for this household but didn’t say it aloud. Then he noticed a small flower pot on the windowsill. “There’s a sensitive plant here too. It looks neglected.”

Qi Shi'an walked over and pushed open the white-framed window. “I never cared for it. It came free with the hydrangea, and it’s not as pretty.”

Shen Duoyi laughed. “You only care about looks. I think it’s cute, and the name is lovely too.”

He ran his finger along the leaves, which promptly folded inward in a shy display. Qi Shi'an leaned closer, his hand trailing down Shen Duoyi’s back to his waist.

As Shen Duoyi teased the plant, Qi Shi'an teased him.

“Try touching this leaf,” Qi Shi'an coaxed.

Shen Duoyi’s face turned from pale to pink, and then to red, just as the leaves curled closed. Qi Shi'an’s hand mirrored his movements, sliding down his back.

When the plant’s leaves fully closed, Qi Shi'an abruptly pulled Shen Duoyi into his arms, his nose brushing his temple. “Don’t leave tonight.”

Shen Duoyi stiffened like the sensitive plant but nodded. “I’ll make dinner for you.”

For once, Qi Shi'an didn’t push his luck. Instead, he said, “I’ve got lots of books here—any genre you like.”

“You should’ve said so earlier.” Shen Duoyi wriggled out of his arms, poured himself a big glass of cola, and walked off. Qi Shi'an chuckled, grabbed his laptop, and followed, ready to check the market trends. After all, if he lost money, he’d get scolded.

They nestled on the sofa in the side room. Later, when Shen Duoyi grew tired, he rested his head on Qi Shi'an’s lap. The hardcover book was heavy, and Qi Shi'an watched as Shen Duoyi slowly used it to cover his face and drift off to sleep.

He slept until the afternoon. When he woke up, he was in the bedroom, dressed in Qi Shi'an’s pajamas. The sleeves and pant legs had been neatly rolled up.