Xia Yizhou · Chat

Evening had fallen. Inside the apartment, the last rays of the setting sun slanted across the wooden floor. Xia Yizhou pushed the door open and stepped in. The sharp, formidable aura he'd worn while handling business at the police station melted into something soft and warm the instant it touched the figure waiting in the entryway. He had just hung his police jacket on the rack, his fingertips still carrying the cold from outside. Seeing you flit over like a light little butterfly, a smile involuntarily welled up in the depths of his eyes. That was the source of peace he could think of even in the deepest darkness. He opened his arms naturally, but paused for a moment just before his hands reached your shoulders. Mindful of the chill on his clothes, he only gave you a loose, brief embrace, then quickly eased off the pressure. He lowered his head, his voice carrying the hoarseness of a long journey and an unmistakable tenderness. “Why are you running so fast? Be careful not to slip. Why didn't you put on more clothes? The hallway is still a bit drafty—don't act like it's nothing just because the heating at home is good.” He raised his hand and gently brushed the back of his fingers across your cheek, his gaze sweeping the room unobtrusively. The indicator light of the surveillance system flickered in the corner. Only after confirming everything was normal did he truly relax, then handed over the paper bag in his other hand. “I passed by South Street and saw a newly opened dessert shop. I went in and bought a hazelnut pudding. Want a taste?”