20 Coercion

Chapter 20

The breath of another person brushed against his ear. Xuan Congnan stiffly hid his hands under the blanket and slightly turned his head to let Gu Shi pull him into an embrace.

With the reasoning of “Gu Jian petted my hair, so I want to too,” when Gu Shi asked if he could hold him, Xuan Congnan was bewildered, a trace of inexplicable panic in his eyes. “Why?”

Gu Shi’s expression remained calm as he said, “Gu Jian hugged me, so I want to hug you too.”

Compared to Gu Jian, Xuan Congnan’s relationship with Gu Shi was naturally closer, rendering him speechless.

“Is it... okay now?” Xuan Congnan’s voice sounded unlike himself.

Gu Shi replied, “Not yet.”

He placed both arms on either side of Xuan Congnan, pressing down gently with just a little weight, his nose brushing against Xuan’s hair. They used the same shampoo and shower gel, yet Xuan Congnan smelled so fragrant.

So pale... his neck was like a swan’s.

“You really are very healthy,” Xuan Congnan said without moving.

“Hm?” Gu Shi didn’t understand.

Still tilting his head, Xuan Congnan said, “Your heartbeat, pressed against me, is beating so wildly.”

That trembling seemed as if it could awaken someone from a deep sleep.

Though Xuan Congnan hadn’t yet fallen asleep.

Gu Shi got up, no longer pressed against Xuan Congnan, and lay down in his own spot.

After a while, he smiled softly. “Yes, I’m especially healthy.”

The other person’s warmth vanished, and Xuan Congnan let out a light breath of relief, tucking his chin into the blanket.

That night, Gu Jian from next door didn’t come over to disturb them again. Xuan Congnan waited attentively for half an hour; hearing no urgent knocking, he decided to try to sleep.

Little did he know, Gu Jian had quieted down only because he’d been bribed two thousand yuan by Gu Shi, plus a stern warning not to come over.

“Haha,” Gu Jian lay on the bed writing his mock exam papers, chatting endlessly on the phone with Meng Xiaozhu, swinging his legs back and forth. “Made another two thousand bucks!”

Meng Xiaozhu praised him, “Haha, impressive, impressive.”

Having stayed up late, Xuan Congnan thought he’d fall asleep quickly, but he had overestimated himself.

With another person beside him, whose presence was so strong, every time he drifted between sleep and wakefulness, the mere thought of Gu Shi beside him jolted him fully awake.

Gu Shi didn’t know if he was asleep, his breathing long and steady.

A simple hug between roommates in a shared apartment—there was nothing wrong with that. Why think so much? Xuan Congnan gathered the hair that had slipped onto Gu Shi’s side back to his own, not crowding his space.

Gu Shi slept quietly, lying flat on his back with his hands on his lower abdomen, just like Xuan Congnan. Xuan suspected he’d keep that rigid sleeping posture all night.

Once Gu Jian left tomorrow, he must make Gu Shi sleep in his own room.

It was too inconvenient for two people to share one room.

With this firm thought, Xuan Congnan didn’t really fall asleep until three in the morning.

After three hours, he woke at six, only to find Gu Shi had already been up for some time. Xuan Congnan touched the blanket beside him—it was cold, proving Gu Shi had been up for a while.

Lack of sleep meant no exercise; no matter how clear or excited his mind was, it wouldn’t work. Xuan Congnan got up to wash but skipped the morning run.

Stepping out of the bedroom, he saw Gu Jian sitting on the living room sofa, eyes half-closed, yawning repeatedly, clutching a pillow as if he were on the verge of collapse, tears streaming from exhaustion.

Xuan Congnan asked curiously, “Why get up if you’re still not awake?”

Seeing him like a savior, Gu Jian jumped up and lunged, “Brother! Help me! You have to stand up for me!”

Xuan Congnan instinctively backed away.

He caught sight of Gu Shi cooking breakfast in the kitchen and suddenly remembered last night’s hug. To Gu Jian he said, “No hugs.”

“Gu Jian.”

Two voices almost spoke simultaneously. For some reason, one of them worked—Gu Jian abruptly stopped running, crying pitifully as he collapsed back onto the sofa, pretending to sob, “Wuwuwu, my life is so hard. Only one day left of vacation, and I can’t even get a good sleep…”

“Sit up,” Gu Shi ordered without turning his head.

Gu Jian sat up with a grimace, just like when Xuan Congnan had first stepped out. Though tired and yawning, he didn’t return to bed nor laze on the sofa.

“Were you threatened?” Xuan Congnan asked sincerely.

“Yes, brother,” Gu Jian rested his chin on the pillow, which sank deeply, “Sister-in-law said I disturbed your rest all yesterday and told me not to sleep today. Brother, you know, she woke me up before 4:30 a.m. to stay here and watch her mop, wipe tables, and do laundry. Now she’s making me watch her cook. I’m so sleepy, wuwuwu…”

Xuan Congnan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Meeting Gu Jian’s tearful gaze, Xuan Congnan felt impolite and lowered his eyes, covering his mouth with one hand and touching his nose tip silently.

Gu Jian pleaded, “Brother, please let me go back to sleep. Sister-in-law listens to you.”

It was just a marriage of convenience—what words could be taken seriously?

Xuan Congnan said, “No.”

Gu Jian: “?”

Xuan Congnan: “Because you disturbed my sleep.”

Gu Jian: “??”

Gu Shi didn’t turn back in the kitchen, but a faint chuckle drifted from the living room.

Gu Jian: “???”

He shouted, “Sister-in-law, what are you laughing at?!”

Gu Shi turned to look at Xuan Congnan and answered Gu Jian, “I’m happy.”

In that moment of eye contact, Xuan Congnan blinked lightly and quickly looked away.

Monday was the day to officially start classes for his art students. Xuan Congnan planned to spend the next two days in the home studio. But after breakfast, Gu Jian got annoyed and said he was going home to sleep, leaving only Xuan Congnan and Gu Shi at home.

No matter where Xuan Congnan stayed, subconsciously knowing Gu Shi was nearby filled his mind with thoughts of last night’s embrace, impossible to shake.

The best strategy was to flee. Hastily, he told Gu Shi, “I have some things to do at school,” then slung his bag over his shoulder and ran off.

—

Xuan Congnan wandered without purpose, unsure why last night’s hug affected him so much. The more he suppressed the thought, the more his mind rebelled.

He’d never dealt with such feelings while with Shen Qian. He’d always been calm and undisturbed. Today, however, was truly strange.

He disliked these strange emotions.

Walking two laps around the lake, greeting the elderly neighbors with brief hellos, Xuan Congnan circled the lake once more.

“Seems like Xiaoxuan’s been happier since moving,” an elderly lady who often walked there with her husband remarked, watching him from a distance.

“A young man with a child, often harassed at the old place. Now he lives somewhere safer—anyone would be happier.”

The lady gossiped, “I heard Xiaoxuan’s got someone living with him—his boyfriend.”

“Young people dating is normal.”

“Yes, normal, but I’m curious who could be worthy of Xiaoxuan,” she said kindly. “Such a good kid.”

“Mind your own business…”

Koi fish surfaced, basking in the morning sun, plump and swimming in groups. Xuan Congnan stood behind the railing, watching their tails flick, regretting he had no fish food.

He found the koi beautiful and cute, fond of them, and took a photo on his phone, wanting to paint them on canvas.

Since Gu Shi bought him a new phone, Xuan Congnan’s photo album had grown exponentially, mostly skies of various kinds.

Having said he was going to school, after several laps, as the temperature rose, he couldn’t stay outdoors any longer and headed straight to school.

He painted the koi all day. Skipping lunch at home, he informed Gu Shi in advance to prevent him from skipping meals and worrying.

By evening, the koi painting was complete. The campus was nearly empty, street lamps glowing; it was almost eight o’clock. He closed the studio window and left the painting by the window to dry overnight, planning to sell it in the shop tomorrow.

—

Just as he left the school gate, Gu Shi’s call came through.

Xuan Congnan answered without waiting for questions, “I’m heading back.”

“Mm,” Gu Shi said, “I made dinner and bought a small cake. Waiting for you.”

“Okay,” Xuan Congnan replied.

Except for delivery people who had to register in detail, residents entered the community via facial recognition; outsiders were barred. Gu Shi’s identity was special, so removing his mask and using face recognition carried some risk. The community was thoughtful—residents unwilling to use face recognition could enter with palm scans.

Shen Qian wasn’t a resident and couldn’t enter via face or palm scans. He waited outside.

The cigarette was almost burned out, but he hadn’t taken a puff, his eyes fixed on one direction.

Among the myriad lights lining the street, Shen Qian spotted a young man with long hair tied back.

Over two months had passed, yet he still hadn’t identified Xuan Congnan’s roommate—something unexpected. If the other party had no power or influence, it wouldn’t be so difficult.

He feared Xuan Congnan was being deceived.

Xuan Congnan appeared cold and indifferent but was actually very innocent.

He wouldn’t even kiss.

“Nan Nan.”

Xuan Congnan paused, then recalled Shen Qian had said during their last meeting that he knew where he lived.

Why did he keep disrupting his life? Xuan Congnan frowned, eyes casting a slight reproach as he looked away from Shen Qian, as if they were strangers who had met only once.

“Your roommate is trouble,” Shen Qian pressed on.

Xuan Congnan retorted, “On what grounds do you speak ill of others?”

“This isn’t slander,” Shen Qian said seriously. “Nan Nan, I won’t harm you. The fact I can’t find his identity or status is itself abnormal.”

Blocking Xuan Congnan’s path, he said firmly, “Has he said anything to you recently? Made promises? Those are empty lies. Don’t be fooled.”

Not empty lies—the money in the bank account didn’t lie. Besides, Gu Shi had been with him at the police station; the police never indicated any issues.

“I’m an adult. Shen Qian, in daily life, I’m more cautious than you,” Xuan Congnan said.

“I…”

He was right. Xuan Congnan had always been watchful. No one could enter his hard-to-breach heart without his consent.

Shen Qian was momentarily speechless.

“But thanks for the warning,” Xuan Congnan said, “though I don’t need your…”

“Buzz—”

Xuan Congnan looked down at his phone: “Scavenger” was calling with a voice message.

He answered.

“Look up at me,” Gu Shi said on the phone.

Xuan Congnan instinctively lifted his head toward his home.

Behind the balcony curtain, a corner was pulled aside. Gu Shi, in casual homewear, like an ordinary husband waiting for his beloved to return, quietly watched the community entrance.

Though far away on the sixth floor, Shen Qian couldn’t see Gu Shi.

When Shen Qian lingered looking that way, Xuan Congnan grew concerned and whispered, “Go back to the living room, don’t stand there.”

Gu Shi didn’t move, even opened the window slightly, as if insisting.

“Congnan,” his voice deep and solemn, “come home. Quickly.”