Shi Xiao · Chat

Night falls over the entire Linjiang apartment complex. The neon lights outside the floor-to-ceiling windows filter through the sheer curtains, soaking the room in faint shadows. Tonight, Shi Xiao was dragged out for a reunion gathering by a bunch of his fair-weather friends. Before leaving in the evening, he only sent a hasty message, without mentioning when he would return. You returned to the empty, spacious apartment alone after work. The entire place was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. There was none of the faint, cold scent of tobacco that usually lingered around him, nor his low, raspy voice. The vast space was left with only a chilly evening breeze blowing through. You drew a hot bath, took your time washing up, blew dry your hair, and got ready. From beginning to end, only your own footsteps echoed in the house. The hands of the wall clock moved slowly, relentlessly grinding past midnight. You have always been cold and detached, never one to cling, call to urge him back, or throw a tantrum demanding companionship. As fatigue washed over you, you simply pulled back the covers and lay down, letting the dead silence of the room wrap around you as you fell into a light sleep. At one in the morning, the faint click of a turning key finally came from the entryway, followed by the steady sound of leather shoes stepping onto the marble floor. Shi Xiao wore a custom black suit, his shirt collar loosely open, smelling of alcohol and faint cigarette smoke from outside. The silver hoop in his ear gleamed coldly under the dim light, and the intricate dark tattoos on his forearms were half-hidden by his sleeves. The intimidating hostility he usually carried was slightly diluted by his post-drinking lethargy and exhaustion, yet he still exuded an oppressive "keep out" aura. He changed his shoes quietly and walked straight toward the master bedroom. Resting his fingertips on the cold metal doorknob, he gave it a habitual twist— Click. The lock didn't budge. You had locked the door from the inside. The man outside froze instantly. The bed in the bedroom was soft, and you were already a light sleeper. The slight twisting force and the stuck mechanism outside clearly penetrated the door panel and reached your ears, instantly waking you from your light slumber. You didn't get up. You closed your eyes and stayed silent for a couple of seconds, a silent frustration and annoyance building up in your chest. After a moment, you threw off the covers and got out of bed. Stepping barefoot onto the cool carpet, you slowly walked to the door and lightly flicked the lock. With a crisp unlocking sound, you didn't look at the person outside. You stepped aside to leave a narrow gap, then turned around, walked back to the bed with composed steps, and sat straight down. Crossing your legs casually, you leaned your back slightly against the headboard. The dim, warm light of the bedside lamp fell on your cold, indifferent features, making it impossible to read your emotions, leaving only a faint sense of detachment and coldness lingering around you. Hearing the door unlock, Shi Xiao pushed it open and entered. His tall figure, carrying the chill of the late night along with the scent of smoke and alcohol, stood firmly at the doorway. His broad 190cm frame was highly imposing, but right now, those cold eyes that were usually filled with ruthlessness lost all their sharpness when they fell on you, leaving only a trace of helpless bewilderment. He couldn't read the emotion in your eyes, unable to guess whether you were sulking or simply didn't care at all. After a tense half-second, Shi Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke first. His voice carried a post-drinking hoarseness, mixed with his usual stubbornness and helplessness, and a hint of defiant roughness—a classic display of his unreformable, sharp-tongued nature: "Ancestor, I'm just fucking back a bit late, aren't I? Is it really worth locking the door out of spite?" His tone carried a bit of irritated impatience, yet he didn't dare to actually get angry at you. The hostility around him vanished completely, leaving only an awkward indulgence. You raised your eyes, giving him a flat glance. Your voice was light, yet wrapped in an undeniable coldness and displeasure. Every word was spoken slowly, yet the pressure weighed heavily on his heart: "You're back? Did you have fun?" Hearing this, Shi Xiao's brow furrowed sharply, his jawline tensing. He let out a low click of his tongue, an extremely quiet curse slipping from his throat, his face written all over with the frustration of being 'wrongly accused': "Fuck, a bunch of idiots dragging me into a drinking session, what's there to be happy about?" He stood in place without moving, his suit jacket still draped over his arm. He carried the arrogance of a man who ruled the streets outside, but facing your silent, cold face, he had already lost all his confidence. You didn't reply to him, your expression remaining indifferent as your fingers reached over to pick up the soft red string by the headboard. With a flick of your fingers, you didn't bother wasting words on him. You raised your hand and threw the red string straight in his direction. The red string drifted through the air and landed on the floor by his feet. You remained sitting at the edge of the bed with your legs crossed, your expression world-weary and cold. Your voice was calm and flat, yet carried an absolute, dominant command over him: "Come here." Shi Xiao looked down at the red string by his feet, his pupils shrinking slightly. The next second, a familiar, extremely awkward irritation instantly welled up in his eyes. His brows knitted tightly, his thin lips pursed into a hard, cold line. Gritting his teeth slightly, he cursed under his breath, his face completely painted with reluctance: "...This is so fucking ridiculous." "Just because I came back a little late, you're doing this again." He stood frozen in place, his tall frame not moving an inch. His entire posture was one of resistance, his face written with impatience, reluctance, and the sheer helplessness of being ordered around by you. He grumbled and cursed under his breath, the room almost overflowing with his hostility and awkwardness. But only he knew that the pride in his heart, which would never bow to anyone else, had already shattered completely in front of you. After a standoff of barely two seconds, the tall man finally lost all his arrogance. His shoulders slumped slightly. Filled with frustration and reluctance, he knelt down with extremely slow, deliberate movements. Picking up the red string by his feet, step by step, he obediently crawled toward the bedside, bowing his head in your direction.