Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Why was he angry?

Hui River truly couldn't understand.

Could it really be because Time Marsh Clear had sat on his bed for a moment?

But Hao Path didn't seem like such a petty person.

There was no reply.

The room was so quiet that only the sound of the air conditioner remained.

The descending cool air lingered over the floor. Hui River's feet felt cold, yet he didn't dare move casually.

Hao Path stared at him.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally spoke.

“There's nowhere for me to sleep in your house, and it's not like I don't have money.”

He was serious?!

Hui River was shocked, but he still tried his best to persuade him.

“Hao Path, calm down. If you leave, my parents will definitely think we had a fight. And it's already so late. You're unfamiliar with this place, and finding a hotel would be troublesome.”

Hui River continued trying to stop him.

“Besides, if you stay somewhere else, how are we supposed to work on the design?”

Unfortunately, Hao Path ignored him completely.

He picked up the luggage by the wall and started walking toward the door.

Hui River's eyes widened.

Hao Path was obviously planning to squeeze past him and leave.

No.

Absolutely not.

“Don't go.”

Throwing away all concern for dignity, he wrapped his arms around the man and held on tightly, refusing to let go no matter what.

“Calm down. Whatever the problem is, we can talk about it properly.”

Clack.

The heavy suitcase dropped onto the floor.

Hao Path struggled twice. Seeing that the other man refused to release him, he stopped moving.

He felt inexplicably miserable.

His originally calm heart became restless once more.

He couldn't figure out what he wanted, yet his heart wavered again.

Neither of them spoke.

They remained silent for a long time.

Hui River clung tightly to Hao Path, not daring to let go.

Nervously raising his head, he tested the waters.

“Hao Path, let's turn on the computer and discuss the design drawings.”

Hao Path said nothing.

But Hui River could feel his muscles relax.

The expression on his face softened slightly as well.

“You've been riding in the bus all day. You're tired too. How about... I go run some hot water so you can take a bath?”

Hui River asked cautiously.

However, Hao Path gently pushed him away.

Still not enough?

What was he supposed to do then?

Hui River lowered his head and stared at the other's feet.

Just when he thought Hao Path was about to leave, the man finally spoke.

“Okay.”

“Y-You...”

Hui River looked up in surprise.

Only after seeing Hao Path take off his backpack did he realize this was real.

“Wait here. I'll go run the water right now.”

He turned and ran out of the room, afraid that if he stayed even one second longer, the other man would change his mind.

A few minutes later—

Click.

The bathroom door locked.

Hao Path removed his shirt, revealing firm, well-defined abdominal muscles.

His athletic body gleamed with an alluring luster.

White mist rose throughout the bathroom.

Water vapor wrapped around the handsome man.

Lowering his eyes to the endlessly flowing water, he slowly clenched his fists.

Hui River...

Hao Path closed his eyes.

Droplets rolled down his hair, fell across his forehead, slid past the corners of his eyes, and trickled down from his chin.

The heat of the water brought color to his cheeks.

Slowly opening his eyes, the cold gaze that carried no warmth was nevertheless breathtakingly beautiful.

His eyes were the soul of his entire face.

No one could ignore the power of those eyes.

Because they were simply too captivating.

Beautiful things could not be confined by gender.

Hao Path was handsome, and he was charming.

Otherwise, so many girls would not admire him.

Although he was better than most people around him, he was still an ordinary person.

A mortal.

One among the countless masses.

And thus burdened with endless flaws.

Short-tempered.

Saying one thing while meaning another.

And narcissistic...

He was so proud that calling him arrogant would not be an exaggeration.

That was why he believed Hui River was secretly in love with him.

But why...

Why did something feel wrong?

Could it be that he had fallen for the other man?

Hao Path's eyes widened instantly.

A moment later, he covered his eyes and laughed.

“How is that possible?”

His voice was so quiet that it seemed meant only for himself.

..........

......

After finishing his bath, Hao Path remembered that he hadn't brought pajamas.

He could only borrow clothes from Hui River.

Standing outside the bathroom, Hui River handed clothes to him.

“Didn't you bring pajamas? You were so picky about that back in the dorm.”

“No. I forgot them in the end.”

Hao Path lied.

“You don't have to lend me any if you want to watch me walk out naked.”

“I haven't even said anything yet.”

Hui River was helpless with him.

He returned to the room and found a set of clothes.

“Once you're dressed, hurry out. I'm still waiting to take a bath.”

“Okay.”

Hao Path looked at the white T-shirt in his hands.

A stupid-looking dog was printed on it.

He frowned slightly and hesitated for half a second before putting it on.

The clothes were a little small on him.

Fortunately, they weren't too tight.

However, they were filled with Hui River's scent.

Light and subtle.

Not unpleasant.

Yet it gave him the illusion of being embraced by Hui River.

Just like earlier.

Hao Path lowered his eyes.

After changing into the pants, he opened the door and walked out.

Carrying the lingering moisture from the bath, he entered Hui River's bedroom.

By the time Hui River finished bathing, it was already close to ten o'clock.

The lights in the living room had been turned off.

Everything looked pitch black.

Hui River was timid and afraid of the dark.

He hurried back to the bedroom at a near run, causing Hao Path to glance at him several times.

Hui River shut the door and dragged over a computer chair to sit down.

The two stared at each other.

In the end, neither knew who spoke first.

“Turn on the computer. Let's look at the design.”

“Okay.”

With perfect understanding, they pulled up the data and resumed their analysis.

Hao Path seemed to be very fond of Britain.

His previous design project had been for a river in London.

Whether it was the structural framework or the finer details, everything leaned toward British bridge design styles.

Hui River couldn't say the design was bad.

Something about it just felt strange.

Now they were still trying to create something better than the first draft.

But Hao Path had clearly fallen into another bottleneck.

Hui River's abilities in this area were obviously inferior to Cui Prosperous Literature's.

As a result, Hao Path had to invest even more effort and energy.

Time slowly passed.

Hui River yawned.

Only then did he notice the clock in the lower-right corner of the screen.

00:49:32.

It was getting late.

He rubbed his eyes.

His eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Even the hand holding the mouse became less responsive.

Hao Path noticed.

“Let's stop here today. We'll finish the remaining drawings tomorrow.”

“Mmm, okay.”

Hui River yawned again.

He stood up, stretched lazily, and threw himself onto the bed without even shutting down the computer.

“Hey, your computer.”

The moment Hao Path turned his head and saw Hui River collapsed on the bed, he froze slightly.

“So annoying.”

Like a caterpillar, Hui River wriggled twice.

“You turn it off for me. I want to sleep.”

Hao Path sighed.

Yet the corners of his mouth couldn't help lifting slightly.

A trace of warmth flowed into his heart.

Closing the laptop and switching off the lights, Hao Path lifted the air-conditioning blanket and stared at Hui River on the bed.

“Weren't you going to sleep on the sofa?”

“About that...”

Hui River wriggled underneath the blanket, covering his mouth and nose with it.

In a muffled voice, he said:

“Let's just sleep together.”

Standing beside the bed, Hao Path silently stared at him.

His expression was extremely focused, as though he were admiring a work of art.

The dark night.

The quiet room.

Moonlight spilled across the oak floor, illuminating a small patch of space.

The hum of the air conditioner filled the room.

Looking into those beautiful eyes, Hui River felt as if he could see his own reflection within them.

So beautiful.

Hui River praised silently in his heart.

Hao Path's eyes possessed the brilliance of the night sky and the cool depth of a bottomless pool.

How could someone have such beautiful eyes?

Seeing that the other man remained silent for a long time, Hui River asked nervously,

“Is that not okay?”

“Why?”

“Huh?”

Hui River thought for a long time but still couldn't figure out what he was asking.

“Hao Path, just treat what I said before as a joke. Hurry up and come sleep.”

He rolled over and patted the bed, signaling Hao Path.

Smack.

Hao Path moved.

But Hui River's butt instantly felt a sharp sting of pain.

“You!”

Hui River stared at him in shock and quickly covered his backside as he sat up.

“Why did you slap my butt?”

“A joke?”

Hao Path raised one knee and climbed onto the bed with a single leg.

The mattress sank under his weight.

Leaning forward toward Hui River, he ignored the way the other man shrank backward in fright and swiftly pressed a hand onto Hui River's shoulder.