Chi Zhan looked down and saw the jade pendant Qi Song had bought at the resort—now hanging around his own neck.
He froze.
“Isn’t this…? Why are you giving it to me?”
“I bought it for you. I just never found the right moment to give it.”
Back then, Chi Zhan had assumed Qi Song had bought it for a family member—or maybe for his “boyfriend.”
Wait.
A realization suddenly struck him.
Seven had known all along that he was CHI. And yet, he’d never said a word.
That must’ve been why Seven knew about his illness—Chi Zhan had never told him, only Song Guang.
No wonder Chu Xingxiao had assumed he was Qi Song’s boyfriend.
It wasn’t some wild misunderstanding. Qi Song had never hidden the fact that Song Guang was Seven. He’d left the clues right out in the open, laid everything bare, just waiting for Chi Zhan to piece it together on his own.
“……”
Just how dense could he be?
It was all so obvious—and yet he’d only just now realized it.
“I wanted you to figure it out yourself,” Qi Song said, sounding oddly innocent. “It wouldn’t have been any fun if I’d just told you.”
Chi Zhan suddenly remembered something even more interesting—
Did Qi Song know that Chu Xingxiao had a crush on his cousin’s “boyfriend”?
Of course, he didn’t say it out loud. But honestly, Qi Song and Chu Xingxiao really were cut from the same cloth. There was a streak of madness running in that family’s blood.
Qi Song’s madness was subtle, restrained. Chu Xingxiao’s was wild and unfiltered.
This jade had sat in wait for the right moment—one Qi Song had never managed to find.
He’d imagined giving it to Chi Zhan on the day they officially got together. But time waits for no one. Opportunities slip away all too easily.
Tonight, though… tonight was perfect.
Even if Chi Zhan hadn’t agreed to be with him, this night would still be unforgettable.
He’d never forget what happened tonight.
Qi Song had his own way of understanding jade.
Maybe he inherited the taste from his mother—he’d never liked gold or jewelry. Only jade felt worthy of Chi Zhan.
Clear, flawless, and vibrant with life.
Framed by the red string, it made Chi Zhan’s skin look even paler, softer, as if it might shatter at the lightest touch.
Qi Song had been searching for the perfect jade for years. He’d combed through countless shops, but none ever felt quite right—until he spotted this one in a little resort store.
He knew it instantly.
This was the one.
Chi Zhan glanced at his phone—and nearly jumped. It was almost 10 p.m.
When they’d left the hotpot restaurant, it had only been 8:30.
They’d seriously been outside making out for an hour and a half?!
His feelings were a tangled mess. At the time, it had felt both endless and fleeting. So this was what they meant by “time flows like water”—gone in a blink.
“It’s getting late. Don’t you have a match the day after tomorrow?”
Qi Song hummed in affirmation, unconcerned.
“I’ll take you home first.”
“No need,” Chi Zhan said, already feeling a little drowsy. “I live nearby.”
“…Want to see a video of Milk?” Qi Song offered slowly. “She learned a new trick.”
At the mention of Milk, Chi Zhan perked up immediately. He hadn’t spent much time with the cat, but she was just too cute.
“What trick?” he asked, instantly alert.
“She learned how to do a backflip.”
“…?”
Cats can do backflips now?
At first, he thought Qi Song was joking—until he saw the video. Then he was floored.
The cat really could backflip!
Was that some kind of default cat ability? It didn’t look easy at all…
“I have a friend—his cat can backflip too,” Chi Zhan said, eyes glued to the screen. The kitten was chasing a toy with endless enthusiasm, so cute it practically melted his heart. “They’re all amazing.”
Qi Song said casually, “What breed is it?”
“I think… a calico?” Chi Zhan replied, not entirely sure. “It’s Dr. Cen’s cat. She’s a little shy—right before bed, she suddenly did a trick for me, then ran off.”
Not only did he see the cat—he even stayed over at the guy’s place.
“Not bad. I’d like to… see for myself someday.”
He walked Chi Zhan downstairs. Chi Zhan waved him off.
“Go home and rest too.”
Chi Zhan turned and walked toward the stairwell entrance. When he looked back, Qi Song was still standing there.
He stood beneath the streetlamp, watching him.
Only when Chi Zhan was completely out of sight did Qi Song finally turn to leave.
The stairwell light had been faulty lately—flickering on and off. The one on Chi Zhan’s floor was completely out, so he used his phone flashlight as he made his way up. When he reached his door, something felt off.
There was a shadow near his doorway.
Startled, he instinctively shined his light toward it, half-convinced it was something suspicious.
“Gege, you’re back,” the figure said.
“Chu Xingxiao?” Chi Zhan recognized the voice and was stunned. “What are you doing here?”
Chu Xingxiao got up silently. It was impossible to tell how long he’d been waiting there, but he was exuding an intense gloom, like a mushroom growing in a dark corner.
Chi Zhan hadn’t been able to reach him all day.
“I tried calling you—why didn’t you pick up? Did something happen?”
“My phone died,” Chu Xingxiao replied in a quiet voice.
Chi Zhan studied him.
“Why didn’t you find a café or head back to the hotel? What were you doing here? How long have you been waiting?”
Chu Xingxiao looked frozen through. He was dressed too lightly, just a T-shirt and windbreaker—his usual attire. It would’ve been fine for a short time outside, but he had clearly been waiting here for ages. Even standing up seemed slow and stiff. When Chi Zhan touched his hand, it was ice-cold.
He’d catch a cold at this rate.
Chi Zhan hurried to unlock the door.
“Come inside. If next time…”
