LMMY chapter 102

It had been a long time since Li Xuan had slept so soundly. The quiet room was filled with only the faint hum of the humidifier. He lay there for nearly a full minute after waking, unsure if he was still dreaming. His last memory was still at the office—arguing with Li Mingge, finishing up his code, and then heading out to pick up Sheng Min…

Thinking of Sheng Min cleared his mind a little. Moving on autopilot, he got out of bed and stepped out of the bedroom. The light from the living room was a bit too bright, making his eyes momentarily blur. He raised a hand to shield them. “Sheng Min?”

“I’m in the kitchen.” A muffled voice answered him from behind the door.

The clock on the wall pointed to two. At first, he thought it was still afternoon, but when he looked outside and saw the night sky, he realized it was already late into the evening.

Pressing his temples, Li Xuan opened the kitchen door. Sheng Min stood by the stove, wearing a soft white cotton loungewear set. He looked cozy and warm. Hearing Li Xuan enter, he didn’t even turn around. “You’re awake?”

“Yeah.” As his memory returned, Li Xuan walked over and hugged Sheng Min from behind, wrapping his arms around his waist and resting his chin on his shoulder. He playfully asked, “Weren’t you going to stay and watch me sleep?”

Sheng Min indulgently turned his head and kissed his cheek, his gaze gentle. “I came to turn off the stove, and you woke up. Do you want to go back to sleep? If you do, I’ll join you.”

“No, I’ve slept too much. It’s giving me a headache.” The white steam from the pot hissed through the lid, condensing into tiny water droplets on the glass. “What are you cooking?”

Sheng Min lifted the lid to show him. “Scallop congee. I’ll add some chopped greens later. Since you’re not going back to bed, I’ll make a couple of side dishes, and we can eat. The groceries are in the fridge. Anything you want, or should I serve you some congee first? Are you hungry?”

“Not really. Just woke up, so I don’t feel much.”

The aroma of rice mixed with the freshness of seafood was already tempting his appetite, but Li Xuan wanted to eat with Sheng Min, so he firmly shook his head. He turned to open the fridge, which was packed with fresh fruits and vegetables. On the top shelf, the leaves of the Chinese celery were still glistening with water droplets. Li Xuan pulled out a handful. “How about stir-fried Chinese celery?”

“Alright.” Sheng Min thought for a moment. “With ham? There’s some pre-portioned in the freezer. Pick a piece and defrost it in the microwave.”

He tossed the chopped greens into the clay pot to cook and then walked over to Li Xuan, crouching down beside him. “It’s been so long since I last cooked. I got overwhelmed just scrolling through the grocery app. I’m not choosing again.”

“I won’t make you choose.” Li Xuan peeled open a piece of liquor-filled chocolate and fed it to him. Then, grabbing a piece of silken tofu, he asked, “How about century egg tofu? I only know how to make two dishes—the other one is scrambled eggs with tomatoes.”

By the time he finished mixing the chopped century eggs with the tofu, Sheng Min had already defrosted and sliced the ham, tossing it into the pan. The two of them worked quickly; by the time Li Xuan set the congee on the table, Sheng Min had just finished plating the dishes. Checking the clock, they realized it had only taken them about thirty minutes.

It had been over ten hours since their last meal. After drinking half a bowl of congee, the warmth in his stomach made Li Xuan realize he was even hungrier than before. He picked a lean slice of ham and placed it into Sheng Min’s bowl, just as Sheng Min handed him a piece of stir-fried Chinese celery with his chopsticks. They both smiled.

“How long are you staying home this time?” Li Xuan asked casually, biting into the fresh, sweet celery.

“The production team wants to release this film during the winter break, so I need to finish my dubbing work this month. I haven’t found a suitable script for my next project yet, so I’m not sure exactly how long I’ll stay. But I should be in N City for at least a month or two.”

“Oh.” Li Xuan tried to suppress the smile tugging at his lips. “Take your time choosing a script. No rush.”

“Of course you’re not in a rush.” Sheng Min chuckled.

“That’s right.” Li Xuan replied matter-of-factly. “What’s the point of dating if we don’t get to see each other? Wanting to see you is never my fault.”

“So it’s my fault?”

Li Xuan nodded solemnly. “Obviously. But I forgive you.”

Sheng Min ignored him, focusing on his congee instead. He picked up some tofu and took a bite. Watching him chew, his cheeks puffed out like a small animal, Li Xuan couldn’t help but laugh. Setting down his bowl, he moved around the table to sit beside Sheng Min, gently brushing his fingers over his cheek. “Alright, I guess I can’t blame you entirely. I should blame my own lack of self-control too.”

Sheng Min glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, and Li Xuan continued, “Taking a break is good. It gives me a chance to spend time with you. Every time you go off to a shoot for a month, you come back looking worse.”

“You always say that. It’s not true.” Sheng Min caught his hand, sighed lightly, and added, “But I do want to spend more time with you too. You’ve lost weight.”

Li Cuan had indeed dropped a few pounds—burning the midnight oil day after day would do that to anyone. But he didn’t want to dwell on the topic, so he changed the subject. “How are you planning to spend time with me? Maybe you should fire Yang Xu and hire me as your assistant. I’ll drive you to work, pick you up, and hand you water when you’re thirsty.”

Sheng Min didn’t laugh. Instead, he rubbed Li Xuan’s fingers, his tone serious. After a moment, he asked, “Do you want to move in with me?”

Li Xuan was caught off guard. Sheng Min, seeing his reaction, explained earnestly, “I know you have a lot on your plate, and I can’t interfere. But you’re my boyfriend. You promised me forever. And with such an irregular schedule, I should at least be able to take care of you.”

He couldn’t tell Li Xuan that just a moment ago, when he watched him sleep so deeply and soundlessly, he had felt an irrational fear. Sitting by the bed, he had stared at Li Xuan’s sharp jawline and slightly furrowed brow, even reaching out like a fool to check his breathing and heartbeat.

He knew Li Xuan was fine—just exhausted. But love makes people irrational.

“I won’t get in your way. I just want to see you eat and sleep properly. You have no self-discipline when no one’s watching. When I asked you to send me pictures of your meals, you kept recycling the same one with different angles, thinking I wouldn’t notice.”

Caught red-handed, Li Xuan could only laugh. Sheng Min pinched his cheek. “Don’t laugh. I’m serious.”

Li Xuan caught his hand and pressed a kiss to his pulse. He did want to live with Sheng Min. But he was too busy, and the next few months would be even worse. He didn’t want Sheng Min to worry about him any more than he already did.

Sheng Min spoke softly. “I can drive you to and from work. It’s only half an hour from here to the software tech park. If you think it’s inconvenient, we can find a place closer. I won’t interfere with your work. But you can’t keep neglecting your health.”

Li Xuan was about to say something, but before he could, Sheng Min suddenly leaned in and hugged him. Over his shoulder, Li Xuan saw the dishes on the table, still faintly steaming. In the warm glow of the light, the soft, rising mist painted the most ordinary yet comforting picture of home.

And in his ear, Sheng Min whispered, “You’re the most important person to me.”

Li Xuan’s throat moved, his eyelashes trembled. Sheng Min’s embrace was warm, yet so cautious, holding within it all his love and all his fear. Li Xuan wanted to come up with something playful to ease the moment, but nothing came to mind. After a long silence, he finally said, “Okay.”

“Really?” Sheng Min lifted his face.

“Yeah.” Li Xuan bit his lip lightly. “I’m the one getting the better deal here—why do you have to convince me?”

“Because I want you to get the best deal possible.” Sheng Min smiled, then asked, “Is anyone at your office right now?”

At three in the morning, the only person who would still be working had already been dragged home. Li Xuan shook his head. “No.”

“Then hurry up and eat.” Sheng Min handed him his chopsticks. “After that, we’re moving you in.”

“Right now?”

“Right now.” Sheng Min nodded.