Although this guess was baseless, Lu Yan's first reaction was still: 'Is he crying?'

Xiao Heng's eyes were very red. When he looked at him, there was confusion in his eyes, but more so, there was wariness.

Like a dangerous animal licking its wounds alone after being injured, still tensing every nerve in its body amidst the peril. Compared to a vulnerability he refused to show, the chaotic, violent, and sharp feeling about him was clearly much stronger than any fragility.

Like the bitingly cold rain that was currently falling relentlessly.

Lu Yan's umbrella could barely cover two people. He spoke again, "Are you sitting here admiring the rain?"

Xiao Heng didn't speak.

"Say something."

...

"Has the rain made you stupid?"

...

"Does it feel good getting soaked in this rain?"

Hearing this, Xiao Heng finally reacted. He closed his eyes, and the rainwater slid directly down his cheeks, trailing past his Adam's apple.

The young master opened his eyes again, his voice hoarse. "You're so annoying."

Lu Yan: "..."

'This rotten temper.'

'Why did I even come down?'

'Let the rain drench him to death.'

Just as Lu Yan was hesitating about whether to turn and go upstairs, the hothead looked at him for a moment and suddenly stood up.

Lu Yan didn't know what he wanted to do, so he stood still.

Xiao Heng took two steps toward him. He was completely soaked, as if he had just been fished out of the water, the shirt on his body clinging to his skin.

The man's waist was lean. The buttons on his shirt hadn't been properly fastened in the first place, and now that it was soaked, it was no different from being shirtless. Although it was clearly inappropriate for other thoughts to surface in this situation, the way the hothead looked right now—was truly indecent.

Lu Yan couldn't continue his train of thought because after Xiao Heng approached him, he bent down slightly and rested his head on his shoulder.

Xiao Heng was covered in rainwater.

But Lu Yan's first reaction wasn't the damp cold, but heat.

The spot on his left shoulder where he was leaning felt slightly hot.

Only then did Lu Yan realize that even the man's breath was scorching hot. "...Hey?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"Answer me."

"Are you in the underworld?"

Xiao Heng could no longer hear these words clearly.

Two hours ago, he had thrown away everything on him that he could throw.

The last words Xiao Qishan had said seemed to still be ringing in his ears, impossible to dissipate: "You walk out this door—and you'll have nothing to do with the Xiao Family ever again. I don't have a useless son like you. Do you think you're so damn cool right now? If you have the guts, then get out. Let's see what the hell you amount to after you walk out. Without me, your old man, you're nothing!"

He walked aimlessly along the road.

He didn't know where to go, and he didn't want to go anywhere.

Then Xiao Heng heard someone call his name. In a daze, the rain seemed to have stopped. He looked up—an umbrella was shielding him from above.

Lu Yan finally asked, "Why aren't you staying at home? What are you doing here?"

A long time passed.

Just when Lu Yan thought he wouldn't answer, Xiao Heng said, "...Home? I don't have a home."

He said this very softly, less like an answer and more like he was talking to himself.

The journey had been too long, and he had been caught in a downpour. His voice was so hoarse it was almost unrecognizable; Lu Yan almost couldn't make out what he was saying.

In the end, Lu Yan could only bring the person into the building first.

The rain was too heavy. Holding an umbrella was useless. By the time they both successfully entered the building, Lu Yan was also mostly soaked.

Brother Wei and Zhang Xiaohui had kept the window open the whole time, watching from upstairs. Their two heads sticking out of the window were very conspicuous. Due to the distance and being blocked by the umbrella, Brother Wei couldn't see the person clearly. He shouted from upstairs, "Yanyan, what did you pick up and bring back?"

Lu Yan said, "I picked up a dog!"

Brother Wei: "..."

Xiao Heng: "..."

Brother Wei: "So, should I bring your clothes up to you later, or what?"

Lu Yan: "No need, I'll come down to get them later—"

Lu Yan led the person upstairs.

From the previous incident with Kang Ru, he could vaguely tell that his family background wasn't simple. Seeing him run out like this now, Lu Yan guessed, "Did you fight with your family?"

Xiao Heng didn't deny it.

It wasn't convenient for Lu Yan to ask too much, but he was a bit curious. "What are you doing here?"

'What was he doing here?'

Xiao Heng couldn't find a reason either.

He finally said, "601, across from you."

"—That apartment is now my only asset."

A rental unit in such a dilapidated building was his only asset. This wasn't just a fight; it was basically equivalent to a complete break. As they spoke, they had already reached the sixth floor.

Lu Yan asked again, "Do you have the key to 601? Did Kang Ru give it to you?"

Xiao Heng: "No."

"..."

Lu Yan: "Then where are you going to stay?"

Xiao Heng glanced at him.

Lu Yan pretty much understood what was going on. "I think that between neighbors, we should indeed help each other."

"I won't charge you much. Two hundred a night, non-negotiable. You can pay me back when you have money."

Xiao Heng didn't expect his tone to change so quickly. "This room of yours, two hundred?"

"Aren't you at a dead end?" Lu Yan said. "Don't you understand price gouging?"

If Lu Yan weren't in music and went into business instead, he would definitely be a profiteer.

Having settled the price, Lu Yan opened the door. "You want to take a shower? Do you have any clothes?"

That was a stupid question he asked.

He regretted it as soon as he asked.

Lu Yan scratched his hair. "Then... wear mine?"

Xiao Heng had no objection.