Qi Shang waved him off. “All right, all right, you’re impossibly naggy. I’m leaving now. And hey—thanks for this time. I’ll transfer ten million to your card.”
“You say that so bluntly—do you think I helped you for the money?” Xia Lin shot back.
Qi laughed. “Fine, fine. To keep it symbolic, I’ll give you one million instead.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Xia Lin said. “I’m joking—I want the full ten million, not a penny less. Don’t make me get serious with you.”
Qi Shang hadn’t lingered in the city. He booked the earliest flight and was back home the next morning. Xia Lin wasn’t there when he arrived, and a prickly unease settled over him. He called—no answer. Anxiety started to climb until a message came through: In the middle of exams, can’t pick up now. Will be back at noon. Don’t worry.
Qi exhaled. Right—Xia Lin had mentioned an important exam. He sank onto the couch to watch some television and wait.
At eleven, Xia Lin returned. The moment he saw Qi Shang he dropped all restraint and launched himself into Qi’s arms.
“You looked like you had a good trip. Mind if I take that as proof?” Qi teased.
Qi was in an uncommonly good mood; whatever residue of last night’s nightmare had been wiped away by the sight of Xia Lin. He kissed Xia Lin’s soft lips, and for a heartbeat the afternoon felt like it might ignite—then Xia Lin pushed him away.
“Stop, stop!” he said, breathless. “It’s daytime. If you’re planning something, hold off until tonight. Now—tell me exactly what you did while you were gone.” He sounded stern, but the act of pretending not to know was deliberate; Xia Lin already had an idea of the truth but wanted Qi to say it.
Qi settled back, deciding to lay it all out. He had changed—gone through something that made him stronger. “My experiment worked,” he said. “I got stronger. My word-power… it’s nearly godlike now. Xiao Lin, I can protect you. I can really protect you.”
Xia Lin nodded, then praised him with a little smile before faking irritation. “So you went and did something dangerous. Do you have any idea how awful I felt? From now on, don’t hide things from me. I may be weaker, but I’m an ability user too.”
Qi patted the sofa and gestured for him to straddle his thigh, soothing. “I’ve never thought of you as weak. I just… as your boyfriend, I want to look after you.”
Xia Lin, who hadn’t been truly angry to begin with, found his defenses melting under Qi’s unsentimental tenderness. He toyed with the edge of Qi’s shirt. “Maybe I should try that experiment,” he suggested casually. “Who knows—maybe I could get really strong too.”
Qi’s expression hardened instantly. “No. You’re not allowed to go.”
Even though he’d grown less prickly in general—less the kind of person who kept distance for show—Qi still couldn’t help the tone that came out whenever he thought Xia Lin might be at risk. Then, noticing how sharp he’d sounded, he softened. “It’s dangerous. I can’t let you take that kind of risk.”
Xia Lin hopped off his lap. “Relax. I’m not nearly as reckless as you. I was just talking. I wouldn’t stubbornly insist on it. Anyway, you must be starving. I’ll cook—anything you want, as long as I can make it. Consider it my reward to you.”
Qi smiled, the kind of soft, fond smile that made his whole face glow. “Anything’s fine. I’ll help in the kitchen.”
They moved together, a little ordinary choreography of domesticity—hands finding bowls, the light through the window catching their laughter. Outside, the day went on indifferent to experiments and powers, while in the small warm kitchen, they kept each other safe simply by being there.