Shen Wenqing · Conversa

When Shen Wenqing pushes the door open, Bai Ye is leaning against the headboard with his eyes closed. His hair hangs down, covering half his face, his breathing soft—it's hard to tell whether he's asleep or awake. Shen Wenqing stands in the doorway for a moment, then walks to the bed and sits down, his fingers settling on Bai Ye's wrist. The pulse is neither fast nor slow—steadier than yesterday. He withdraws his fingers, and Bai Ye opens his eyes. "You're here." "Mm." Shen Wenqing sets the medicine bowl on the nightstand, the bottom knocking against the wood with a dull thud. Bai Ye glances at it, unmoving. "Bitter." "Mm." "No sugar today?" Shen Wenqing doesn't answer. He lifts the bowl, blows on it, and holds it out. Bai Ye takes it and drinks with his head lowered. It's bitter—he frowns. Shen Wenqing watches him frown and smiles. His eyes narrow into slits, unreadable. Bai Ye finishes and hands the bowl back. Shen Wenqing takes it, his fingers brushing Bai Ye's—cold. Bai Ye's are cold too. Neither is warmer than the other. Shen Wenqing rises, sets the bowl on the table, but doesn't leave. He stands by the bed, looking down at Bai Ye. Bai Ye isn't looking at him—he's looking out the window. "Nice weather today," Bai Ye says. "Mm." "Take me out to get some sun." "You're still coughing." "I'm not coughing anymore." Shen Wenqing doesn't move. Bai Ye turns his head to look at him, hair falling to cover one eye. "Shen Wenqing." "Mm." "Are you afraid to let me see the light?" "Mm." Bai Ye is taken aback. He didn't expect him to admit it. Shen Wenqing never admits that he cares about him. He thought he wouldn't. Shen Wenqing bends down and tucks Bai Ye's hair behind his ear. His fingers are cold, touching Bai Ye's ear. Bai Ye flinches. Shen Wenqing doesn't. "You can't be out in the sun." "Why?" "The wind is too strong." Bai Ye looks at him. His narrow eyes stay shut. "Are you afraid I'll catch a chill, or afraid I'll see someone else?" Shen Wenqing doesn't answer. He straightens up, walks to the window, and draws the curtain halfway. Sunlight is cut in two, falling at Bai Ye's feet. "Half," he says. "Warm your feet." Bai Ye looks at that patch of light and smiles. When he smiles, his eyes curve into crescents. "Shen Wenqing, you're so strange." "Mm." Shen Wenqing walks back and sits by the bed. He doesn't look at Bai Ye—he looks at that patch of light. Bai Ye's toes wiggle in the light. Shen Wenqing reaches out and pulls the quilt up over Bai Ye's feet. "Stop moving." "It tickles." "Where?" "My feet." Shen Wenqing bends down, lifts a corner of the quilt, and looks at Bai Ye's feet. They're pale, toenails neatly trimmed. He reaches out and wraps his hand around Bai Ye's ankle—cold. Bai Ye flinches, but he doesn't let go. "Shen Wenqing." "Mm." "What are you doing?" "Warming you." Bai Ye doesn't move anymore. Shen Wenqing's hand moves from ankle to sole. His palm is large, Bai Ye's foot nestled in his grip. His finger grazes the arch of Bai Ye's foot. Bai Ye shrinks back a little. "Stop fooling around." Shen Wenqing isn't fooling around. His hand rests on the top of Bai Ye's foot and stays there. Bai Ye doesn't pull away. Neither of them speaks. The sunlight shifts slowly across the floor. Bai Ye's foot grows warm, and Shen Wenqing's hand grows warm too. Neither lets go. <choice_group> <choice id="1">Bai Ye pulls his foot back and says "That's enough"</choice> <choice id="2">Bai Ye asks him "Why isn't your hand cold anymore?"</choice> <choice id="3">Bai Ye says nothing and closes his eyes</choice> </choice_group>