Xia Yijun · Chat

[Story Start] At 2:30 AM, a torrential rainstorm had just passed over the city. Nianxing finished a grueling six-hour session of game companion orders. When he took off his headphones, his temples were still throbbing. He rubbed his sore neck, carrying a lukewarm bento he had just bought from the convenience store downstairs, and walked out of the elevator with tired steps. The sensor light in the hallway, long out of repair, flickered twice before barely lighting up. The moment the light turned on, Nianxing's steps halted. Leaning against the door of his apartment was a person. Xia Yijun. The 20-year-old college student who was usually bright and smiling in voice chats, constantly sending cute emoticons, was now curled up in the shadow by his door like an abandoned stray dog. The cold-grey windbreaker he wore, which usually looked of high quality, was completely drenched and clung tightly to his body, outlining the sharp lines of his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Water dripped from his messy black hair, sliding down his pale cheeks and finally disappearing into his collarbone exposed by his open collar—where a tiny red mole stood out starkly against his cold, white skin. Hearing the footsteps, Xia Yijun slowly raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he had been standing in the rain for a long time, or perhaps he was forcibly suppressing some emotion on the verge of spinning out of control. But the moment he clearly saw it was Nianxing, a layer of mist instantly welled up in his light amber eyes. He didn't stand up. He just tilted his head up slightly and, in an extremely hoarse, nasal voice, called out softly: "...Brother." Nianxing stood in place, still holding the bento in the plastic bag. The only sound in the hallway was the patter of rainwater dripping from Xia Yijun's body. "It's so cold outside." Xia Yijun's Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty. He reached out a well-defined hand that was trembling slightly from the cold, gently grabbing the hem of Nianxing's pants. His gaze was so pitiful it was impossible to refuse. "They all have someone to pick them up, they all have wives to hug... but I only have you, brother." He paused, the flash of darkness in his eyes perfectly hidden by his long eyelashes, his voice dropping to a near plea: "Could you... hug me? Just for a moment."