It was a rare weekend.
Jing Mian had been rushing to the club after classes every day these past few days, training for the provincial team competition, often returning home very late.
Since he arrived home late at night and the timing was irregular, Jing Mian was careful not to disturb Mr. Ren’s sleep. Every time he opened the door, he would do so gently, trying not to make any noise.
Even the act of lifting the blanket and slipping into bed was done with care.
However, just as he carefully lay down, he felt a slight movement from the person beside him.
Then, his wrist was grasped.
His heart skipped a beat.
Jing Mian felt a bit awkward: “Did I wake you?”
Ren Xingwan spoke, his voice carrying a lazy depth: “No, I wasn’t asleep.”
Jing Mian’s lips moved slightly, feeling the warmth from the grip on his wrist spreading up and down. He asked, “I just came back from outside… Is my body too cold?”
Mr. Ren paused for a moment before replying, “Yes.”
Jing Mian thought to himself that he had showered in the club’s locker room, but he still carried a chill from the journey back. No wonder Mr. Ren was bothered.
Jing Mian said softly, “Sorry, I’ll go take a shower.”
But just as he was about to get up, the grip on his wrist didn’t loosen.
Jing Mian’s brow furrowed slightly.
In the indistinct darkness, he heard Mr. Ren’s voice:
“Come a bit closer.”
Jing Mian was slightly stunned, his throat feeling dry, but he complied.
The pajamas were smooth, and so was the sheet beneath the hem, so moving closer to Mr. Ren wasn’t difficult.
But it was also a challenge.
Before he could fully execute the move, he suddenly felt the grip on his wrist loosen.
That hand instead wrapped around his waist from beneath.
Jing Mian held his breath slightly.
The next moment, he was lifted by the waist by Mr. Ren, not completely off the bed, and in an instant, Jing Mian hadn’t even reacted before he was lying on the other side of the bed.
Which was where Mr. Ren had been sleeping.
Jing Mian: “…”
Was the difference in their body sizes really that significant?
He had been moved so effortlessly, without even needing to get out of bed.
But strangely, within the space of the blanket and sheets, it felt like the residual warmth from the man’s body was slowly enveloping him, easing the chill that hadn’t left his hands, feet, and limbs.
Mixed with the faint, familiar scent lingering at his nose, Jing Mian gripped the edge of the blanket, squinted his eyes, and immediately felt a bit drowsy.
So, Mr. Ren just wanted him to warm up.
However, before Jing Mian could fall asleep, he unexpectedly heard the man’s voice from behind: “Will you be this late tomorrow?”
Jing Mian was momentarily startled, the drowsiness dissipating instantly. In the night, every sound seemed amplified. He replied, “Yes.”
“Because the provincial competition is in four days, I need to train these days.”
Ren Xingwan asked, “Where?”
“M City.”
Jing Mian paused, then added, “I’ll be gone for about three or four days.”
Ren Xingwan seemed to be digesting this information, falling silent in the darkness.
Jing Mian turned slightly, hesitated, and then said softly:
“I’ll call you.”
Mr. Ren: “Every day?”
Jing Mian nodded: “Every day.”
He thought for a moment and said, “Every night.”
Since the provincial competition was likely to have morning and afternoon matches, returning to the hotel at night would be the perfect time to call Mr. Ren.
But then he heard Ren Xingwan’s voice: “And in the morning.”
Jing Mian was slightly taken aback.
His lips pressed together slightly as he spoke in a low voice, “Then I’ll call both morning and night.”
Mr. Ren asked, “What time?”
He was asking for such specific details. Did it really need to be precise to the hour?
Jing Mian pondered for a moment, tentatively confirming, “Then… eight o’clock?”
Mr. Ren said, “That works.”
The late-night conversation seemed to end there.
Conversations with Mr. Ren were always like this—straight to the point, efficient, and devoid of unnecessary words.
Jing Mian maintained his posture, slightly turned toward Mr. Ren’s direction. He hesitated, attempting to subtly turn back to his original position.
However, just as he was halfway through the motion, he was caught off guard when Mr. Ren spoke again:
“How did you get back tonight?”
It was a somewhat unexpected question.
Jing Mian didn’t hesitate and answered truthfully, “I took a taxi.”
But this time, there was an unusually long silence.
Mr. Ren said:
“Why didn’t you let me pick you up?”
…
Jing Mian’s body stiffened.
He hadn’t expected Ren Xingwan to care about this. A sense of unease washed over him.
Subconsciously, he would rather hide the fact that he struggled to get a taxi late at night than reveal that he needed to trouble Mr. Ren for personal reasons.
After a few seconds of deliberation, in the slightly awkward atmosphere, Jing Mian forced himself to explain, “Because… that would be too much trouble for you.”
“…”
Alright.
Jing Mian could clearly feel that it wasn’t just awkward now—even the surrounding air seemed to have cooled by a degree.
After what felt like an eternity.
In the darkness, Jing Mian suddenly heard Mr. Ren speak:
“We are legally bound as partners.”
“Picking up your partner, no matter how late, is only natural.” Mr. Ren’s tone was as calm as ever, but it carried a seriousness that made Jing Mian perk up his ears. Mr. Ren asked, “Am I understanding this correctly?”
Jing Mian’s throat felt dry as he nodded, “Yes, that’s right.”
This was the second time Mr. Ren had wielded the weapon of law to assert his rights.
“Then can I pick you up tomorrow?”
Jing Mian swallowed and said, “Y-yes, you can.”