The reason for He Cheng Ming’s tired appearance was his prolonged insomnia. But there was no way he would disclose the story behind his insomnia to Ji Liao.
It was an intense and painful secret.
He pursed his lips, unwilling to loosen his mouth again, and held a cold attitude towards the matter.
“Are you angry?” Ji Liao questioned softly after sensing an obvious change in the other boy’s mood.
He Cheng Ming didn’t say anything. When the bus arrived, he took the lead, striding onto the bus with Ji Liao following like a young married woman. In the last row, there were two empty seats and He Cheng Ming let Ji Liao sit first before seating himself on the outside.
The bus moved and the two of them remained silent; one with an indifferent expression while the other was biting his lip at a loss.
It was obvious that he was angry, Ji Liao thought to himself, then silently complained, but he had said that he would never get angry at me! Ah, it had only been a few days! As expected, all men are unfaithful!
As he complained, though, he realised that he had included himself. He couldn’t help but find that funny and stuck out his tongue.
He Cheng Ming keenly caught that action. In a flash, the cold expression on his face softened as if it had been brushed away by the spring breeze. Actually, he had not been angry at Ji Liao but at himself &#k2014; angry at his own incompetence that caused him to be rejected again and again.
“Not angry anymore?” Ji Liao only dared to speak after seeing his expression lightened. He felt that He Cheng Ming’s character was slightly strange — his anger left as quickly as it came.
“Next time, don’t say anything like that.” Don’t reject me again.
He Cheng Ming turned his head to look at Ji Liao tenderly. Suddenly, he lifted his hand and reached over to touch Ji Liao’s head.
Ji Liao shrunk away but didn’t avoid it entirely. He said resentfully, “I’m not a dog…”
He wasn’t sure how this sentence amused He Cheng Ming as he saw him chuckle, then said cheerfully, “You’re cuter than a dog.”
Ji Liao: “…” Was there such a comparison?
He glared at the person beside him, originally wanting to express some unhappiness. But on seeing the boy’s gentle but weary expression, his heart ached. Besides, He Cheng Ming didn’t like to hear him say such things…
Not knowing where he got the courage from, Ji Liao reached out and pressed the head of the person 9cm taller than him onto his shoulder.
“Lean on me and take a nap .” He straightened and said stiffly.
He Cheng Ming had to tilt his head almost ninety degrees and the position was uncomfortable, but the close contact with Ji Liao made him feel very good. He stared blankly for a while, and a word spilt from his burning throat, “Okay.”
He closed his eyes and seemed to have fallen asleep.
Ji Liao lowered his head to look, and when he saw He Cheng Ming sleeping soundly, he felt his heart surge slightly. But after he recovered his senses, it was too late for regrets! What was he doing?! What business was it of his if He Cheng Ming was tired?!
Ji Liao must have been bewitched by He Cheng Ming, otherwise, how could he possibly have done something like this?
In any case, he would die before admitting he felt heartache for the other boy.
But feeling that it was already a foregone conclusion, he stopped worrying. Then he thought inexplicably, wasn’t He Cheng Ming uncomfortable leaning against him since he was so short? So, he straightened his body and propped himself slightly higher.
He Cheng Ming had really slept until Ji Liao’s movements woke him up. He cracked open his eyes and turned his head, brushing his lips against Ji Liao’s neck and nearing his ear, he mumbled, “You woke me up.”
His voice was low and hoarse with a hint of sulkiness.
The entirety of Ji Liao’s neck was red! At that moment, he wanted to jump up and push away that boy’s head, then berate him loudly, What are you doing?! But the other boy didn’t seem to notice that he had kissed him, and as if nothing had happened, he fell asleep again on his shoulder…
As soon as Ji Liao smothered his distress, he secretly recorded this debt in his heart.