In the evening, Luo Xiaoman bundled Su Yu in a large down jacket, making him look plump.
Still not reassured, she took out a thick scarf to wrap around her son.
Su Yu, practically immobile from being wrapped in three layers inside and three layers outside, stopped Luo Xiaoman’s eager hands with a mix of tears and laughter.
Luo Xiaoman watched her son get into the car with worried eyes.
Su Yu waved, then slowly rolled up the car window, sealing off the cold air outside.
Su Yu’s body was still a bit weak; just standing outside for a short while had made him feel terribly cold.
Rubbing his hands vigorously, Su Yu gently exhaled a breath, the white mist dissipating.
Though it was cold, he would see his “shit shoveler” soon, which made him a little happy.
Upon reaching the apartment complex, out of respect for Luo Xiaoman’s instructions, the driver dared not let Su Yu go up alone and shamelessly followed him upstairs.
Su Yu’s face was full of helplessness, but he also knew his mother’s power, so he tacitly allowed the driver to follow like a tail.
The front door of his home was tightly shut, and no light seeped through the cracks.
Su Yu exhaled, mentally cheering himself on.
Although it sounded a bit unbelievable, Qin Shou should be able to… accept it, right?
Su Yu struggled internally for a few seconds, then stomped his foot.
Never mind, just go in first. Maybe he’s not even home.
Opening the door, Su Yu glanced at the driver behind him, a little unwilling for others to enter.
After a moment’s thought, he said to the driver, “I’m here. You can go down now. Everything will be fine. Call me if anything happens. Goodbye.”
He then decisively closed the main door.
Outside, it was already dark.
The lights weren’t on inside, and it was pitch black.
Su Yu fumbled for the light switch.
The living room was still in the familiar maidenly pastoral style, just a bit messy, otherwise exactly as he had left it.
He picked up a fallen throw pillow and dusted it off.
Su Yu frowned, which was rare for him.
The curtains on the balcony swayed slightly, and a faint smell of alcohol drifted from the bedroom with the wind.
Su Yu lifted his foot and walked towards the bedroom.
The bedroom was also pitch black.
Finding the switch on the wall, Su Yu turned on the light, and the dark room immediately became bright.
The person hidden in the darkness was also revealed.
In the middle of winter, Qin Shou was leaning crookedly against the foot of the bed, wearing only a thin shirt, clutching an empty liquor bottle.
Su Yu took the bottle away and glanced at it.
—Erguotou (a strong Chinese liquor).
Su Yu sneered.
Why didn’t that bastard drink himself to death?
He forcefully patted the man’s face, his tone very agitated, “Qin Shou? Qin Shou! Wake up!”
Qin Shou squinted, groggily looking up.
The bright light was harsh, and he shook his head uncomfortably, tentatively reaching out to grab the constantly swaying object in front of him.
When the drunkard on the ground reached out, Su Yu didn’t dodge.
Feeling the soft touch in his hand, Qin Shou tilted his head in confusion, then leaned into it.
Soft, fluffy, filled with a familiar body temperature. It was A-Zai.
Qin Shou was like a large dog, holding Su Yu tightly in his arms, burying his head in Su Yu’s neck, sniffing constantly.
His dry lips occasionally brushed against Su Yu’s bare neck, greedily inhaling the familiar scent.
“Bo…”
The man’s voice was hoarse, as if abraded by coarse paper, calling out again and again, “A-Zai, A-Zai.”
His tone carried the joy of reunion after loss, and a hint of almost imperceptible grievance.
Su Yu, who was trying to break free from the man’s embrace, froze for a moment, then chuckled. A faint blush appeared on his pale face.
He patted the man’s head and gently responded, “I’m here.”
Qin Shou was comforted by his touch, or perhaps groggily realized A-Zai was back.
He held Su Yu with unusual docility, only continuously muttering “A-Zai” softly.
Su Yu was held by the man, his entire body twisted into a strange posture.
After a while, he couldn’t hold on anymore, so he simply pushed the person on him and sat down against the foot of the bed.
The air conditioner had just been turned on in the room, so it wasn’t cold.
Su Yu held the large animal in his arms, patiently and gently stroking the man’s head, tirelessly responding to the man’s drunken babbling.
After a long while, the man finally calmed down.
Su Yu let out a long breath.
But unexpectedly, the shoulders of the person in his arms suddenly began to tremble.
He forcefully turned Qin Shou’s head.
Traces of tears streaked the man’s face.
His rugged features crumpled into a childish, wronged expression.
Su Yu was both amused and heartbroken.
For a moment, he didn’t know what expression to make.
He could only quickly stroke his hair, soothing him with a soft voice.
Who knew it would get worse? Instead of calming down, Qin Shou cried even harder when comforted.
He turned his head and buried it in Su Yu’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Like Er Gouzi in kindergarten whose favorite toy was snatched!
So tired.
Still have to keep coaxing him.
Qin Shou indulged in a good, loud cry for a while.
Perhaps he finally released his wildly fluctuating emotions and finally calmed down a little.
Su Yu lovingly stroked his owner’s head, his gaze full of weariness.
“I thought you were dead.”
His head still buried in Su Yu’s arms, Qin Shou was still sobbing.
“You died, and I was left all alone.”
Su Yu’s heart suddenly ached.
He gently patted Qin Shou’s back, helping him calm his breathing.
“I’m back, aren’t I?”
“Hmm,” Qin Shou mumbled in response, “Mom’s gone, and you were gone too. I’m sad.”
A hand gently stroked his back, and the man cozied into Su Yu’s embrace, continuing to voice his grievances, “When you weren’t here, I didn’t want to do anything. I felt really bad inside.”
As he spoke, he pressed Su Yu’s hand against his own chest.
Following Qin Shou’s lead, Su Yu touched his chest.
He gently pecked the back of the man’s head, “You don’t feel bad now.”
“Hmm.”
A short while later, the man uncertainly asked, “Not leaving?”
“No, not leaving.”
I’ll always be with you.
The two embraced and fell asleep like that.
Qin Shou held Su Yu tightly, not letting go for a moment.
***
The next morning, Qin Shou woke up with a headache and aching eyes.
He habitually rubbed his neck, then suddenly stiffened as he realized what was going on.
He pushed the person on him away and sternly demanded, “Who are you?!”
Unfortunately, his eyes were swollen like fish bubbles, and his voice was terribly hoarse from crying all night.
He looked, well, completely lacking in imposing presence.
He even looked a bit silly.
Su Yu, who had been pushed awake, “Pfft.”
“What are you laughing at?”
He still cared more about who this person was, so he pressed on, “Who are you? Why are you in my house?”
Su Yu, “Pfft~”
Sorry, big brother, I really can’t hold it in, hahahaha.
The hungover Qin Shou felt his head ache even more.
With a dark face, he waited for Su Yu to finish laughing, then stubbornly continued to ask, “Who exactly are you?”
Su Yu mischievously stared at Qin Shou’s swollen eyes, “Don’t you remember me? You hugged me and cried all night last night.”
Qin Shou frowned, utterly heartless and discarding him after use, “Nonsense.”
“If you don’t believe me, go look in the mirror.”
Su Yu made a teasing expression and gestured towards the bathroom.
Qin Shou, who went to look in the mirror despite not believing it.
***
He returned and sat down in front of Su Yu.
Qin Shou was still a bit dizzy, questioning him with a lack of confidence.
“What do you want?”
Su Yu blinked, his voice full of enchantment, “I want you.”
Looking at Qin Shou’s speechless expression, Su Yu had teased enough.
He dropped the playful look and seriously knelt before Qin Shou, his dark eyes looking straight into the man’s.
“Actually, I’m A-Zai.”
“I’m back.”
Qin Shou’s eyes widened, his pupils slightly contracting due to extreme surprise.
Su Yu cupped the man’s face, leaned in, and gently kissed his forehead.
Then he deliberately brushed against his ear, whispering in a voice only they could hear, “Daddy, don’t you recognize Cubby?”
Qin Shou swallowed with difficulty, staring blankly at Su Yu, his eyes unblinking.
Su Yu was immediately a bit baffled.
What kind of reaction is this?
He reached out and patted the man’s cheek, “Did I scare you silly?”
Surely not?
He was about to pat again when he was unexpectedly pulled into the man’s arms and held tightly.
Qin Shou’s straight nose brushed against Su Yu’s ear and neck.
Qin Shou trembled slightly.
It’s Cubby.
This feeling can’t be wrong.
He couldn’t help but hug the person in his arms tighter.
Qin Shou felt a pang in his nose, so he sniffled hard.
Again?
Fortunately, the sober Qin Shou still had his pride and managed not to cry.
Su Yu, who was being hugged without being let go, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
However, the man’s voice was still muffled and nasal as he asked, “What exactly happened?”
Su Yu rested his chin on his owner’s broad shoulder and rubbed it, squinting as he started recounting what had happened to him from the beginning.
Qin Shou, whose worldview had just been rebuilt, listened in a daze.
However, since he had always hoped Cubby was a little fairy, he calmly accepted the story’s premise now that he really had become one.
He even felt a little secretly pleased.
It could probably be considered… a wish come true?
Taking a deep breath, Qin Shou tightened his arms, “That’s wonderful.”
You’re back, that’s truly wonderful.