Thirty-Seven

How long is 'a little more time'?

Why should I give you a little more time?

What exactly are you afraid of, and what are you hesitating about?

Gu Zhao had too many questions he wanted answered clearly, but meeting those pitiful eyes, he could only clench his back teeth and swallow every pressing word back down.

It was only time, wasn't it? Wasn't waiting the thing he was best at?

Gu Zhao drew a deep breath, raised both arms, and pressed the person back into his embrace.

Ji Su obediently pressed his cheek to Gu Zhao's chest, no longer struggling.

Time seemed to freeze in that moment — only two people locked in a tight embrace remained, and the heartbeats pressed together slowly became one.

Until a ringtone sounded, breaking the stillness.

Ji Su stepped back; the flush on his face quietly faded when he saw the caller ID.

Gu Zhao frowned. "Who's calling?"

"It's my didi." Ji Su answered briefly, then picked up. "Hello, Xiao Chen."

"Ge! I'm at your School gate!" Ji Chen's excited voice came through the phone. "Come out and get me!"

"Okay." Ji Su agreed, instructing, "Stay at the gate and don't run around — I'll be right there."

After hanging up, he explained to Gu Zhao: "My didi just finished his middle school exams — he came to find me to hang out."

Gu Zhao looked at him. "I'll go with you."

Ji Su asked tactfully: "Don't you have other things to do?"

Gu Zhao: "No."

Ji Su reminded him: "My didi talks a lot — if you're not used to that, you don't have to keep me company."

"It's fine." Gu Zhao's expression didn't change. "Could he possibly be louder than Wang Mingzhe?"

Ji Su could only let him have his way. "Alright then, let's go together."

Soon, the two of them walked to the School gate together.

Ji Su saw that familiar-yet-somewhat-strange figure in the distance, and his mood grew a little complicated.

Actually, he and Ji Chen didn't look alike at all — Ji Chen was cut from the same mold as Ji Zhenghai, while his own looks took after his mother. When the two of them walked together outside, almost no one would recognize them as brothers.

Perhaps that was one of the reasons Ji Zhenghai favored the younger son.

"Ge!" Ji Chen on that side spotted him with his sharp eyes, ran toward him at full speed, and once close enough, bear-hugged him. "Ge, I've missed you to death!"

Gu Zhao's expression darkened; the hand hanging at his side tightened, and he forcibly restrained himself from hauling the boy off.

Ji Su patted his didi's shoulder. "Alright, let go of me first."

A boy of thirteen or fourteen was exactly at the age of shooting up and growing tall — it had been less than half a year since they last met, yet Ji Chen was now only half a head shorter than him.

Ji Chen hugged him for a few more seconds, then reluctantly let go, his dark, bright eyes fixed on Ji Su's face. "Ge, have you lost weight recently?"

"I haven't." Ji Su asked gently, "How did you get here?"

"Uncle Zhang drove me over, he just left." Ji Chen pouted. "I said I could come by myself, but my mom just wouldn't feel easy about it — I'm not a little kid anymore."

Ji Su replied warmly: "Auntie is just worried about you."

Ji Chen was about to continue complaining when he suddenly noticed the unusually tall stranger standing beside them, and immediately asked: "Ge, who is he?"

"He's Gu Zhao, he's my—" Ji Su met those dark, deep-set eyes for a moment, then continued the introduction, "he's my friend."

Gu Zhao repeated, a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "Friend?"

"Oh, so you're my ge's friend!" Ji Chen didn't think much of it, and casually asked, "Are you studying architecture too?"

Gu Zhao, sparing with words: "No."

Ji Su helped answer: "He's a law student."

"Wow! Law students are amazing!" Ji Chen exclaimed sincerely, then added, "Of course, in my heart, the most amazing one will always be my ge!"

"Thanks." Ji Su smiled. "It's not quite time to eat yet — let me take you around the School first."

"Sure, sure!" Ji Chen cheerfully grabbed his arm. "Let's go, ge!"

Gu Zhao's gaze fell on that hand — it struck him as extremely irritating, and his expression darkened further.

The three of them walked into the School side by side, and all along the way Ji Chen chattered nonstop — talking about his just-finished middle school exams, then about the funny things that had happened at school, without pausing for even a second.

Ji Su listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a word or two — not the slightest impatience, but no extra enthusiasm either.

Like a calm lake, gently accepting everything thrown into it.

After walking around the campus, Ji Su prepared to take Ji Chen out for dinner.

"Why don't we go to that private kitchen restaurant we went to last time." Gu Zhao suggested lightly. "Don't you like their food?"

"Huh? Chinese food?" Ji Chen wasn't too pleased. "I'm sick of eating Chinese food at home — can we go try something new?"

Ji Su asked for his opinion: "Then what do you want to eat?"

"Hmm..." Ji Chen thought seriously for a moment. "Seafood! I'm craving hairy crabs!"

Gu Zhao looked at him and asked coldly: "Don't you know your ge is allergic to seafood?"

"Huh?" Ji Chen's eyes suddenly went wide, his face full of surprise. "Ge, since when are you allergic to seafood? How did I not know?"

Ji Su was silent for a few seconds, then nodded in confirmation: "Yes, I'm allergic to seafood."

He hadn't expected that mentioning it just once in passing would be enough for Gu Zhao to remember.

Ji Chen was very confused: "But we make seafood at home all the time — why don't you ever say anything?"

"It's nothing." Ji Su said calmly. "I'll just eat other things."

Actually, it wasn't that he hadn't said anything — once as a child he'd had a seafood allergy reaction and been rushed to the emergency room, but afterward no one remembered.

"Then I won't eat seafood." Ji Chen corrected himself readily. "Let's just go to that Chinese restaurant!"

Ji Su was about to tell him not to accommodate him, when his shoulder was suddenly pulled into an embrace.

Gu Zhao turned around with the person in his arms. "Let's go."

Ji Chen looked at the two of them pressed close together, a little unhappy, and strode after them. "Ge, wait for me!"

*

This private kitchen restaurant did very good business — normally one had to reserve in advance, but Gu Zhao, as a VIP here, enjoyed a few special privileges.

After ordering, while waiting for the dishes, Ji Chen started a new topic: "Oh right, ge — have you gotten a girlfriend in college?"

Ji Su's hand paused mid-sip of tea. "No."

Gu Zhao sat beside him, his slender fingers idly turning the tea cup, his gaze never leaving Ji Su's face.

Ji Chen pressed: "Then is there someone you like?"

Ji Su's lashes trembled slightly, and he brushed it off: "You're just a kid — that's not something you should be asking about."

Ji Chen protested: "I'm not little anymore, ge — I'm about to start high school!"

Gu Zhao spoke casually: "Actually, I'm quite curious about that question too."

Ji Su straightened up. "That's not something the two of you should be concerning yourselves with."

Gu Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly. "Is that so?"

Fortunately, the server came in just then, easing the somewhat tense atmosphere in the private room.

A whole table of dishes — apart from the two Ji Chen had ordered himself, everything else was food Ji Su liked.

Gu Zhao, as if no one else were there, served him dishes, deboned his food, and even poured his juice — taking care of him down to the smallest detail.

Even Ji Chen sitting across from them vaguely sensed something was off.

Taking advantage of the moment Gu Zhao stepped away, he couldn't help leaning over to ask: "Ge, are you and Gu Zhao-ge especially close?"

Ji Su felt oddly guilty for no reason: "Why do you ask?"

"I just feel like he takes especially good care of you." Ji Chen offered an analogy. "My mom seems to take care of me just like that."

Ji Su imagined it for a moment, and couldn't help snorting with laughter.

Did Ji Chen mean that Gu Zhao was like his mother?

A male mother?

Just as he was laughing, Gu Zhao appeared at the door, looking at him coolly: "What's so funny?"

Ji Su struggled to rein in his smile: "Nothing..."

Ji Chen fell silent too and obediently returned to his seat.

Although this Gu Zhao-ge was very good to his brother, he still looked rather fearsome — especially when his face went cold.

After the meal, the three of them wandered the nearby shopping street for a while.

Ji Chen was usually kept on a tight leash at home; now that the exams were finally over and he'd been let out to stretch his wings, everything he laid eyes on struck him as marvelously new, and everything he saw he wanted to buy.

Coming up to an ice cream shop, Ji Su's steps faltered for a beat, his gaze drifting toward the storefront.

Gu Zhao caught the look and asked in a low voice: "Want some ice cream?"

"I was a sickly child — my stomach especially delicate — so I was never allowed ice cream." Ji Su answered a question that hadn't been asked. "Then once, I secretly bought several and ate them all in one sitting, and ended up in the hospital with acute gastroenteritis."

"Ice cream isn't a meal." Gu Zhao gave his cheek a gentle pinch. "I'll go buy it for you, but you're only allowed one bite."

Ji Su shook his head: "Wouldn't that be a waste?"

"Not a waste." Gu Zhao let go. "I'll eat the rest."

He walked into the shop and emerged a few minutes later with an ice cream in hand.

Ji Su looked at the matcha ice cream resting in his palm, took the spoon, scooped up a mouthful, and popped it in.

The day was sweltering; the instant the ice cream touched his tongue, it brought a rush of cool, clean relief.

Ji Su gripped the spoon, lifted his eyes, and asked with hopeful expectation: "Can I have one more bite?"

Gu Zhao smiled: "One more bite, and I'll start charging interest."

Ji Su set the spoon down with visible reluctance: "Alright, then."

But Gu Zhao picked the spoon back up, scooped a generous mouthful, and held it to his lips: "Open up."

Ji Su obediently opened his mouth and took another large bite of ice cream.

The tip of a crimson tongue peeked out, lingeringly licking the white cream from the corner of his lips, leaving a damp streak across the rosy curve.

Gu Zhao's Adam's apple shifted; he reached out with a large hand and used his thumb to wipe away the cream his tongue hadn't quite cleaned.

Ji Su blinked, startled for a second, then raised his own hand to wipe: "Still there?"

"All gone." Gu Zhao pulled his gaze back and used the same spoon to scoop ice cream for himself.

He didn't care for sweets — for him, ice cream was always too sweet. Yet now he ate one spoonful after another.

Ji Su's ears flushed faintly; he wanted to remind him to switch spoons, but seeing he'd already started eating, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Ge! Come quick!" Ji Chen bounded ahead, waving him over. "There are tons of blind boxes here!"

Ji Su answered: "Coming."

*

After they'd finished their browsing, Ji Su decided to find a nearby hotel and book a room.

"Hello, I'd like a standard room." Ji Su stood at the hotel front desk. "My younger brother and I will be staying."

Gu Zhao's brow furrowed: "You're staying at a hotel?"

"Mm." Ji Su nodded. "He's not an adult yet — I don't feel right letting him stay in a hotel by himself."

Gu Zhao drew a bank card from his pocket and set it on the counter: "One business twin room, please."

"Of course, sir." The receptionist beamed. "Please give me a moment."

Ji Su refused: "I have money — you don't need to pay."

"Consider it me hosting your brother." Gu Zhao reached up and pinched the soft nape of his neck. "Besides, what's mine is yours."

Ji Su flushed, voice dropping: "Don't say things like that."

Once the room was sorted, the three of them took the elevator up together.

Ji Su used the key card to open the door; Ji Chen marched in first and flung himself onto the big bed: "Ahh! Heaven!"

The business twin room was spacious, with a balcony to boot — the surroundings looked quite pleasant.

Ji Su walked over to the desk to plug in his phone, then turned and said: "Gu Zhao, sit anywhere you like."

Gu Zhao settled onto the sofa, casually cracked open a bottle of mineral water, and took a few sips.

"Ge, I'm drenched in sweat — showering first." Ji Chen scrambled off the bed, unzipping his backpack to dig out a change of clothes.

Ji Su turned, leaning against the edge of the desk: "Go ahead."

Ji Chen took his clothes into the bathroom, and soon the sound of rushing water filled the air.

Ji Su glanced at the time: "It's getting late — are you heading back to school tonight, or going home?"

"I'm not going anywhere." Gu Zhao stretched out a pair of long legs. "Tonight, I'm sleeping here."

"Huh?" Ji Su was dumbfounded. "You're sleeping here?"

Gu Zhao looked at him: "You think I'd leave you alone to share a room with someone else?"

Ji Su tried to reason with him: "It's not just anyone — it's my own half-brother."

Gu Zhao was unmoved: "Not even a blood brother."

Ji Su: "..."

Gu Zhao's fingertips drummed against his knee: "I can take the sofa."

Ji Su: "Don't you think the sofa would be uncomfortable?"

Gu Zhao: "I don't."

In the end, Gu Zhao got his wish and stayed.

After Ji Su finished his shower, he sat propped against the headboard and chatted with Ji Chen for a while.

Still a boy at heart, Ji Chen had run himself ragged all day — mid-conversation, he drifted off to sleep.

Ji Su quieted down, picked up his phone, and sent a message to Qiao Jin.

After a while, the bathroom door opened and Gu Zhao stepped out, wrapped in a veil of steam.

He wore a white bathrobe, the sash tied loosely, brazenly exposing the planes of his chest and the ridges of his abdomen; droplets of water kept rolling down the lean, solid muscle.

Ji Su stole a single glance, then quickly looked away.

Gu Zhao lay down on the sofa; with his height and long legs, nearly half a leg dangled in the air, so he simply let it drop to rest on the floor — no matter how you looked at it, the man looked cramped and miserable.

Ji Su pressed his lips together, and in the end his heart couldn't bear it; he called out softly: "Gu Zhao, come up and sleep too."

Gu Zhao pushed himself up on his elbows: "Are you sure?"

Ji Su silently scooted toward the edge of the bed, then picked up his own pillow and set it down in the middle of the mattress.

Gu Zhao walked over and asked, voice low: "What's this supposed to mean?"

"A border." Ji Su traced a line in the air with his hand. "Neither of us crosses it."

Gu Zhao laughed — a sound whose meaning was impossible to read — and lay down on the other side of the bed.

The soft mattress dipped beneath his weight; Ji Su's heart gave a startled leap, and he found himself scooting another inch toward the edge without meaning to.

"What are you scared of?" Gu Zhao's tone was flat, unhurried. "I'm not going to eat you."

Ji Su was a little embarrassed: "I'm not—"

It wasn't his first time sharing a bed with another person, but this time the nerves were sharper than usual — the breath at his ear was startlingly clear, and he could feel the heat radiating off that body as if it were a living thing pressed against his side.

Ji Su closed his eyes and tried with all his might to empty his mind of its tangled, unruly thoughts, coaxing sleep to come.

He couldn't have said how long passed before drowsiness finally crept over him; half-asleep, he turned over, and his outstretched calf landed on something warm.

The next instant, a scorching large hand closed around his slender, straight calf.

Ji Su shuddered, scalded instantly awake: "Gu Zhao, what are you— mm—"

The tail of his voice dissolved into a low sound, swallowed between lips and teeth.

Slightly roughened fingertips grazed the soft, pliant flesh of his leg with neither too much nor too little pressure — like a thread of fine current crackling and popping across the surface of his skin, making his scalp prickle and his nerves sing.

Ji Su couldn't bear it; he tried to pull his leg back, his whole body shrinking toward the edge of the bed.

But that large hand seized him by the waist and hauled him back.

"Gu Zhao!" Ji Su, half-embarrassed, half-annoyed: "What exactly are you—"

"Shh..." Gu Zhao drew out his other hand, his palm covering the parting red lips, and breathed against his ear in a voice so low it was almost a caress: "Want your didi to find out?"

Just then, on the other bed, Ji Chen turned over and mumbled something in his sleep.

Ji Su trembled all over and instantly fell silent.