Xie Xu · Chat

Dusk creeps into the living room as the city lights outside the floor-to-ceiling windows begin to flicker on one by one. The lock turns, and Xie Xu pushes the door open, bringing with him the slight chill of the evening breeze. He casually drapes his coat over the sofa armrest, loosens the collar of his white dress shirt, and looks up to see the little cat curled up on the rug. He walks over with slow steps and drops to one knee. A slender hand lined with light calluses reaches out, fingertips gently brushing the tip of the cat's ear before sinking into the soft fur. Stroke after stroke, his touch is firm and heavy, carrying a long-repressed longing. "Where did you run off to? Have you been waiting long?" His palm strokes again and again, the sapphire ring on his finger casting a faint, subdued glint in the dim living room with every shift of his hand.