Waiting in his brand-new car for hours was not what Shao Xinyuan had envisioned.

The plan had been simple: a shared drive home. Now, the car was empty, the passenger seat a cold reminder of Wenzhi’s absence.

He was alone.

"Why is he so difficult?" he muttered, gripping the steering wheel before letting his head fall back in frustration.

A quiet rap on the glass drew his attention. Wenzhi stood there, soaked to the bone by the downpour. He looked less like a person and more like a soggy, irritated cat that had been dunked in a bath against its will.

Xinyuan couldn’t help the twitch of his lips. He rolled the window down.

"Aren’t you coming in?" he asked casually. "I don’t mind if you’re wet."

Wenzhi didn’t wait. His hand darted through the open window, fisting Xinyuan’s collar and hauling him close.

Their breath mingled in the narrow space.

Wenzhi’s grey eyes were dark, clouded with pure annoyance.

"Where is my bike?" he demanded, shaking him frantically.

Xinyuan let himself be moved, unresisting.

"I had it sent home," he said simply. "So we could go together."

Wenzhi reached up, pulled his glasses off his face and snapped them clean in half.

The sound was sharp.

He tossed the broken frame back into the car and walked away.

"Wait..!" The engine roared to life.

Xinyuan pulled out, slowing the car to match Wenzhi’s pace as he walked through the heavy rain, each step sharp with annoyance.

"You’re going to catch a cold, Freckles!" he called.

No response.

"Wenzhi?"

Nothing. Just footsteps against wet pavement and the gentle hum of the car.

Xinyuan pressed his lips together. "...Is this about the restraint?"

That did it.

Wenzhi came to a dead halt. He spun back, his eyes flashing with anger.

"Get lost!"

Xinyuan nodded, as if confirming something. "So it is about the restraint."

Wenzhi’s eyes narrowed, a warning flashing in the grey depths. He turned to leave, but Xinyuan wasn’t finished.

He leaned halfway out the window, his voice trailing after Wenzhi’s retreating back. "I will break it.. if you get in."

Wenzhi didn’t stop.

"I went shopping," Xinyuan added, watching him closely. "Got clothes for you and me."

Wenzhi didn’t spare him a glance.

Xinyuan deflated, leaning back into the car, his grip tightening around the steering wheel.

Suddenly, an explosion of shadow detonated from him. It moved with unnatural speed, a massive tentacle of shadow striking out to snare Wenzhi’s waist. He was hauled off the pavement, his feet dangling as the darkness tightened its grip.

Xinyuan leaned out of the window again. "Let’s go home, Wenzhi,"

Wenzhi froze as he was pulled into the air. The momentary panic in his eyes died out fast, leaving behind a cold, flat stare that screamed he was done with these theatrics.

"You really can’t take a hint, can you?"

"I just want to get us home," Xinyuan replied, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. "You’re the one being difficult."

Wenzhi didn’t struggle or thrash. He just looked at him. "Let me go."

"No. Ride with me."

Wenzhi let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "Let go of me, or I’ll smash your car, Xinyuan."

The mist lowered him back onto his feet with surprising care before slipping back into Xinyuan’s body.

Then the car door opened.

Xinyuan stepped out, closed it behind him and walked straight toward Wenzhi, who was completely and deliciously drenched.

Wenzhi’s hair clung to his face, his shirt plastered against his frame, his expression pulled tight with annoyance.

Xinyuan dropped to his knees. Right there. On the wet pavement.

Wenzhi was caught off guard.

"Please," Xinyuan said, looking up at him. "Get in the car. Let’s go home. You’ll get sick. Please."

Wenzhi stared down at him. "No."

Xinyuan’s shoulders dropped. "...Please?"

"No." Wenzhi turned.

However, Xinyuan was already moving, lunging up to grab Wenzhi’s arm and forcing him to face him.

"Fine," he said quickly. "I won’t annoy you again. I won’t invade your space. I.."

"You’re willing to do everything," Wenzhi cut in coldly, "except the one thing I actually want."

Xinyuan’s expression tightened. "...I can’t."

A sharp sneeze suddenly broke the tension. Wenzhi blinked as his eyes welled up, the irritation in his gaze momentarily replaced by startled confusion.

"...What the hell..."

That was it.

Xinyuan grabbed him again, this time with no restraint or softness.

Wenzhi struggled, but it didn’t matter. He was already being shoved into the car.

Xinyuan was in the driver’s seat the next second, engine roaring to life, tires cutting through water as he pulled out fast and clean onto the road.

Wenzhi didn’t say a word the entire ride back.

The moment they arrived at the duplex, he got out and went straight to his room without a glance back.

Xinyuan watched him go.

The bags he’d bought floated behind him, suspended in the air as he made his way upstairs into his own room.

He stripped and stepped into the shower, letting the steady streams of hot water soak into his skin.

He dragged his fingers through his damp hair, tilting his head as he stood there longer than necessary.

The quiet was gone again.

The noise had returned, pressing against the edges of his mind.

But... not unbearable thanks to Wenzhi.

Xinyuan exhaled slowly. He could live with this.

When he stepped out, a towel hung loosely around his waist.

He moved through the room calmly, organizing the things he had bought earlier.

Clothes. Essentials. Small, unnecessary additions.

"Oh..." His hand paused briefly on the matching bear shirts he had gotten for him and Wenzhi, a faint smile touching his lips before fading just as quickly.

"Why did I get this? It’s not like there’s anything between us. This is strictly business for him.. or a trap..?"

He folded them neatly and set them aside before pulling on a pair of low-hanging sweatpants.

When he stepped out, his gaze lingered on Wenzhi’s door for a long moment.

His ears picked up no movement from inside.

Xinyuan frowned and turned away. He moved through the house instead.

Down the stairs, past the indoor gym... The pool area stretched below, enclosed in glass, the rain tapping softly against the walls while the outside blurred into grey.

It was... peaceful.

He walked without purpose for a while, letting the restless energy settle until a familiar scent caught his attention.

He followed it to the kitchen, finding Wenzhi busy at the counter. Xinyuan remained silent, simply pulling out a chair and settling in to watch.

He wondered what Wenzhi would put in the dish this time.