SOD | Chapter 83

When Reese’s fingers gently threaded through Nie Chuan’s hair, slowly playing with it, Nie Chuan suddenly realized that Reese texting someone else didn’t seem like such a big deal. Maybe he had overreacted.

The last regular season game before Christmas was over. Coach Gordon specifically swapped out the main players, leaving Carlo or Black Mountain on the court, giving the other players enough time for practice.

After the game, Reese returned to the dorm to pack his bags. He was a very organized person, and as Nie Chuan looked at his neatly packed suitcase, he couldn’t help but admire him. For Nie Chuan, just getting everything he needed into the suitcase was an accomplishment.

“Should I return your coat?” Nie Chuan tugged at the collar, though deep down, he didn’t want to give it back to Reese at all.

Thinking about it, since he and Reese had gotten together, they hadn’t been apart for such a long time.

“No need, you can keep it. Who else’s coat would you want to wear?” Reese looked up and asked Nie Chuan.

Nie Chuan chuckled. He didn’t tell Reese that when he wore the coat and smelled the scent that belonged to Reese, it made him feel so happy all day long.

“Ah, it’s snowing,” Reese turned his face toward the window.

“Yeah!” Nie Chuan put his hands in his pockets and moved to the windowsill. Just as he poked his head out to look, a snowflake from the floor above fell right onto him, and before he could react, his neck was covered in snow. “Oh my God!”

He quickly pulled his head back.

Reese’s hand reached around Nie Chuan’s neck and gently brushed the snow off. His fingers were warm, and the snow slid right off. Nie Chuan hurriedly took off the coat, and Reese grabbed a napkin from the bedside and slipped it inside Nie Chuan’s collar.

“What time is your flight?” Nie Chuan asked.

“It’s in three hours. I’ll leave in half an hour.”

“I’ll go see you off!”

“No need. If you come, you’ll definitely end up at the wrong subway station on the way back.”

“Hey! I’m not that dumb!”

“Alright, I’m just worried I’ll kiss you at the airport and keep kissing you until I miss my flight.”

Reese’s voice was soft, and it didn’t sound like he was joking at all.

“I’ll grudgingly accept that reason.”

Just as the snow in his collar was finally cleared, Nie Chuan was yanked onto Reese’s lap.

Reese tilted his head back. “Just kiss me for half an hour.”

“Kiss for half an hour? I’ll pass out!”

“Is that so? Then let’s see if you’ll pass out.”

Reese raised his hand and pulled Nie Chuan’s head down for a kiss. This wasn’t rushed; Reese was very patient, slowly exploring Nie Chuan’s mouth, nibbling his tongue and lips. Within a minute, Nie Chuan felt it—he wanted to pull away but was pulled back by Reese’s arm.

“Can’t you just behave a little sometimes?” Reese asked.

“I… my…,” Nie Chuan’s face turned red.

Reese’s nose touched Nie Chuan’s chin as he looked down at it, then smiled. “This is why you’re so cute.”

The word “cute” had always been a sensitive spot for Nie Chuan. He pushed Reese away, but Reese kissed his chin, sucking with such intensity, it felt like a wild beast gripping its prey, and Nie Chuan had no choice but to lean back into Reese.

“I’ll help you with it,” Reese grinned, lowering his head.

“Hey! Didn’t you say you had to leave in half an hour? I… I can go to the bathroom by myself…”

Although Nie Chuan said it with confidence, his ears were already turning red.

Reese smiled casually, stood up, and pressed Nie Chuan back onto the bed before half-kneeling. “Don’t worry. Based on my experience, you won’t even need half an hour to finish.”

“Hey—stop looking down on me!”

“Remember how I make you feel. No one else can give you that.”

That feeling of everything around you crumbling and falling apart but not caring—it was something Nie Chuan would never forget.

When it was time to leave, Reese stood at the door with his suitcase. “If you won’t come to New York with me for Christmas, then don’t suddenly come looking for me.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t!” Nie Chuan replied firmly.

Reese was always so full of himself; Nie Chuan wasn’t going to let him win!

Reese waved and turned to leave.

The room suddenly felt empty. Sitting on the two beds that had been pushed together, Nie Chuan suddenly felt a bit lonely.

“Why did they have to push the beds together? They know I like to sleep by the bed! Now I have to climb over it just to go to the bathroom!” Nie Chuan grumbled.

Nie Chuan, who had originally planned to go home the next day, decided to pack his bag and head home early.

As he dragged his suitcase to the station, he heard a whistle, and two girls in a car pulled up next to him.

“Hey! Aren’t you Alan from the basketball team? Do you want a ride?”

Nie Chuan looked at the backseat, which was already filled with luggage, and figured they were just joking with him. “Even if I wanted a ride, there’s no space left!”

“For a handsome guy, we have special seats,” the girl in the passenger seat winked at him.

“Special seats?”

She patted her lap and laughed. “Right here.”

It dawned on Nie Chuan that he had just been flirted with, though he figured it wasn’t meant maliciously.

“Sorry, but that seat won’t fit my legs,” Nie Chuan said with a polite smile, then continued pulling his suitcase forward.

The girl who had been joking blushed and whispered to her friend, “I think I like him, what should I do? And his legs are really long, he looks so sexy in that coat.”

“Really want to take off all his clothes, huh?”

They chatted while slowly driving, and although it was playful, Nie Chuan’s face was burning red. He quickened his pace and reached the station. After getting on the bus, the two girls showed expressions of regret.

“Ah… I really shouldn’t have brought so much stuff back home, or else I could’ve invited him into the car!”

“It’s fine. There will be more games after school starts, we can go watch his game!”

“Yeah, we’ll get a clear view of his legs then!”

This made Nie Chuan think of Reese’s warning. Thankfully, Reese didn’t know about this; otherwise, he would be even more certain that Nie Chuan should be in New York with him.

Christmas didn’t feel special to Nie Chuan, other than the mall sales, Christmas trees everywhere with decorations, and the constant sound of “Jingle Bells” on the streets.

But when he saw couples walking hand in hand or hugging, Nie Chuan couldn’t help but think of Reese’s warmth.

He suddenly regretted not agreeing to go with him to New York. In that place, without any schoolmates around, they could freely hold hands and walk the streets together.

At that moment, Nie Chuan’s mom called out, “Xiao Chuan! A classmate is here to see you!”

“A classmate? Who?”

“I don’t know, a handsome boy with blue eyes!”

Could it be that Reese came back?

Although he knew it was impossible, Nie Chuan rushed to the living room. There, he saw a boy wearing a short coat and a wool hat.

When the boy turned around, Nie Chuan froze. “Larvin? How did you end up here?”

“You’re surprised because I’m in this city, or because I actually found your house?”

“Both…”

“I’m in this city because my family lives here. I found you because I called your coach.”

“You called Coach Gordon?” Nie Chuan’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, at first I tried calling Reese, but that guy just coldly said, ‘If you search the whole city, you’ll find him.’ Given his lack of cooperation, I had to ask Coach Gordon.”

“You… what do you need me for?” Nie Chuan asked.

“What do I need you for? Christmas is so boring—no games, no regular practice. Do you want to gain weight over two weeks? You’re the only one I know in this city who could keep up with me,” Larvin said with a face that seemed to say, ‘I reluctantly picked you.’

Playing basketball with Larvin might help Nie Chuan temporarily forget about Reese!

“Alright! Let’s go!”

Nie Chuan grabbed a scarf and followed Larvin out.

Even though Larvin didn’t attend college in this city, he was a local expert and had managed to find an indoor basketball court, so they didn’t have to shovel snow or worry about slipping.

Larvin was all in, playing basketball with Nie Chuan for nearly three hours. Larvin’s explosiveness and speed put pressure on Nie Chuan, but also gave him a sense of thrill. Reese’s playing style was sharp and tense, while Larvin’s was more carefree and wild, with much less predictability.

At first, there were a lot of people in the gym, but eventually, everyone was drawn to the match between Nie Chuan and Larvin.

When they were finally exhausted, they began packing up.

Nie Chuan checked his phone and saw three missed calls, all from Reese.

Larvin leaned over to take a look. “Oh my God, he called you during Christmas break?”

“Uh… he probably left something in the dorm…” Nie Chuan quickly returned the call.

“I was playing basketball with Larvin and didn’t hear the phone,” Nie Chuan explained.

“You were playing basketball with Larvin?” Reese’s voice sounded a bit lower.

“Uh… is that not okay?” Nie Chuan glanced at Larvin, who was packing up.

“Of course it’s fine.”

“Yeah, it’s a rare opportunity to practice with someone at your level! We were just discussing Sethston’s playing style. Looks like Larvin really doesn’t like Sethston and has been studying him for a while!”

“Mm.”

Reese’s soft response was accompanied by classical music in the background.

“Are you at a party?” Nie Chuan asked.

“Yeah. A boring one. If you were here, I wouldn’t be this bored.”

Nie Chuan laughed, and they chatted a little more before hanging up.

Larvin, with his arms crossed, chuckled at Nie Chuan. “I never thought Reese Redington would talk on the phone for more than thirty seconds with anyone.”

“Ha… we’re roommates!” Nie Chuan scratched the back of his head.

“He’s probably busy attending some high-society party in New York,” Larvin said with a grin.

“You know?”

“How could I not? Reese’s dad is a famous lawyer and knows all sorts of politicians and businesspeople. Despite Reese’s cold attitude, he’s got a pretty face, and many girls like him. Add in that elite vibe… you get the idea…”

Nie Chuan shook his head. “I don’t get it…”

“Fine…” Larvin shrugged, “For Reese’s dad, James, Reese is just a part of his social network. Having such an excellent son makes it easier to connect with wealthy families and their daughters. Plus, there are plenty of James’ clients who like Reese.”

Larvin wasn’t impressed by this “selling son” method.

Nie Chuan, however, felt uncomfortable.

Although he knew Reese would never accept his father’s arrangements, Nie Chuan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was lodged in his chest—he felt really uneasy.

The first week of Christmas passed, and Nie Chuan hung out with Zhou Bin and Mao Xian.

The three of them gathered around a hotpot, and for the first time, Zhou Bin gave Nie Chuan a small box.

“Surprise~”

Nie Chuan skeptically opened the box and found something that looked like hand cream. Frowning, he examined it for a moment before realizing the picture on it was a bit embarrassing. Seeing the English label, Nie Chuan nearly buried his face in the hotpot.

“Why… why did you give me this?”

Mao Xian reached out to grab it, but Zhou Bin swatted his hand away.

“This is so you won’t suffer too much! It’s gender-neutral, by the way.”

“I… I don’t need it! If it’s gender-neutral, you can use it yourself!” Nie Chuan pushed the item back to Zhou Bin.

“It looks like hand cream!” Mao Xian tried to grab it again, but Zhou Bin stopped him.

Zhou Bin looked at Nie Chuan’s expression, slightly surprised but held back from asking, “You should keep it. Otherwise, your hands will crack.”

“What? Where will it crack?” Mao Xian asked.

“With this cold weather, if you don’t use hand cream, your hands will crack!” Zhou Bin shot Mao Xian a look.