Blazing Armor

Ren Yi took a three-day leave, intending to relax for a bit.coGZoyjaBuPDDyzHCWJfOGzYSRnTDz

tQSuhLAwZotqnRB

When he got home, he took off his firefighting uniform, changed into a t-shirt and jeans, then drove to the supermarket. He bought a bunch of his dad’s favorite foods and some household essentials.yiXPPfOfDrLpNsxbGPKPOJTwgQnDKi

YszfErMgBfrQuMI

The drive back was a bit congested, so while the car inched forward, he made a call.CuZotAKjERXHDZwrghPkRJVUwYlGlr

IFdoPovGtzlHmmj

The phone rang for a long time before a lazy voice picked up on the other end, “Hey.”PyQLUxJwFPNUWgoFSGXTzAxoeUDBQb

sdgMzWZJIxSkkfZ

Ren Yi chuckled, “Drunk again?”ltUuYSfzkJIlNUAjcLIVnzLrcLFggz

LqEPocvATucVbUH

“Ah… what time is it…” The person on the other side paused, “Who calls someone this early in the morning?” The tone carried a hint of playful whining.OEGTMaatlSERxeGWAsBeHcoLmBwtJX

TAcuTAdcZjULIJR

“It’s almost 10 a.m. and that’s still early?”XkRsmTnlbQENBZkNCchQtKtYZIPLBt

usZzAdiGUVZvInx

“You think I’m like you, waking up at 6 a.m. for morning drills.” The sound of shuffling bed sheets came through the phone. “Why’d you suddenly call me? Miss me?”hjzdJOVSTUJbWKaFJKGqWXNzEYMIlt

LALnBZgTsiIuiwi

“Yeah, I miss you. Are you in Tianqi?”BHJgugPKILKjoKTtRxvEMWFczXsvzz

wGkTElfomvafQqR

“Funny thing, I just got back from wrapping up filming.”ztZGfaEGhkRLIWRqLENplqLIQyJrli

JTDJSyilLRVWhOJ

Ren Yi laughed, “How about I take you out for a drink tomorrow?”aqpQOdAyEwYFGzguORiaQNnpxrUtXj

tJZmtdCYOnsYDDa

The other person let out a couple of low chuckles and said in a teasing, suggestive tone, “Bring the drinks to my place.”dbLVjMyzdPgTSQtxFWQsxTBhGJTPCH

JczCmjZrfZYLEfB

—kXkpDIqcliNhKKcGwHWAyFytstjjmo

kqZMknzlRSyCYhi

When Ren Yi got home, he parked the car and carried two big plastic bags toward the house.LTTrssTvfyozIEXgveOJPxWJsPNBCx

ZeZthvDIIwemYun

From a distance, he saw his dad, leaning on a cane, walking toward him. Every step his dad took made his whole body tremble, but he still stubbornly tried to take big strides, causing Ren Yi to break out in a cold sweat.dDcdDEdgcgZXJOErnDWCjJmbzMANOv

jaTkOQpSycrcQmI

The nanny was anxiously trying to stop him, but to no avail.uHwrEjtdPUORSWlNuramPzJHugzrAD

phVHonfzELBPDAX

Ren Yi quickly ran over. “What’s going on?”zGAZLVFUsmFKBhMcSygTvCosStLNXq

CvjjYyICBCjMLaC

“Your dad insists he heard the emergency alarm, you need to stop him.”xTqZEJGOcNxfyCtnibZcjdkacbFTBi

CCodoKtWmernmKc

Ren Yi handed the bags to Aunt Wang. “Dad, what are you doing?”VKNrGSXLpWtxjtCPgIHfFhITFyFCcM

bFLvhAiRxxWNlBg

Ren Xiangrong’s eyes were fixed straight ahead, as if the people around him didn’t exist. He kept mumbling, “Emergency, there’s an emergency,” his voice shaky and full of urgency.eJBGdUTFNYLiCsHfQTtMPKKlvLqiBR

agDovZtlXnqMNBZ

Although the fire station was just across from their neighborhood, it was unlikely anyone could hear the alarm from that distance, even in the dead of night.XBUiHyFAGGAphVFrQBXDrsgDkjxfsa

tpPmWgGzQoVJzEd

Ren Yi held onto his father’s shoulders tightly, “Dad, you’re not on duty today. You’re not leading the team today!”NIyoOOJoEvIMDLjvQEceKtipDBrssr

pRtjWMEvOYVgozl

“Emergency! I need to go to the emergency!” Ren Xiangrong tried to shove Ren Yi aside, but when he couldn’t, he angrily swung his cane.khlJABzEhtLenvnCjDUpAbgMHkJSQt

molfhwdgSbzKTiZ

The cane’s head landed squarely on Ren Yi’s foot.alRHXldZYkIVCieJlNlfiyKwZsnoIg

DhEUNpThSNtSZNz

Ren Yi yelped in pain but gritted his teeth and didn’t let go, forcefully pulling his dad back. “Dad, you’re really not leading the team today. The deputy is handling it. Let’s go home, okay?”iHFxfSCOYkMZQYtvgsklXdotfAfrmD

OsBTLSbUnMgSffM

The neighbors around them all stopped and stared.VvAZOMxixTaunqjayIKLdbxVjlsLRp

EwHZGLZEIYogZho

Aunt Wang sighed repeatedly on the side.MmJMdIYGiYhRqEbIreIrSNrNFiHApS

PwYlVUgGTCuqhQM

In the end, despite the pain in his foot, Ren Yi carried his dad back home.DHZBxNVUGqsnQXfnqdJmwWjTtqMPqU

DmVvsMuEhzuvIky

They lived in an old apartment building with no elevator. Thankfully, it was only the third floor, but even so, Ren Yi was drenched in sweat by the time they got there.amrqCSpjpAsmeIPlTXlkwlkiMcJksp

bvPAoVuTlJPdUNz

They actually had another place nearby, with a much better living environment. Back when his mom was still around, the three of them had already moved there. But after his mom passed away, Ren Yi moved back to this old place to take care of his dad more conveniently.RspJnfZUkUooOxVdvOTQBuIatULRzG

EGQsmEOHBOcZXxt

Once they were back inside, Ren Xiangrong sat in a chair, no longer stubborn like before. He quietly stared out the window, as if nothing had happened, though he still mumbled incoherently to himself.JAvowfQngRlmlWoHgBncRyCaxWSbcm

oUsMMZCKdzlYBdK

Ren Yi, hopping on one leg, collapsed onto the couch, too exhausted to check his injured foot. He just lay there, panting heavily.HvxLnuqjNhmGLXVNBtLtXIHVTHApFg

dWtKKZAVdSZQEvM

Aunt Wang came over with iodine, helped him take off his shoes and socks, and looked at his already swollen foot. She sighed, “Let me put some medicine on it for you.”ImXlSvhpgltMowLXCOgchcoAtYuhhM

CzPBhdeAexnSRvv

Ren Yi muttered, “Thanks.”zXgNTWJsfcipRrIWrfYAsiyurTpyKK

rpznibGDBPcsALJ

After she applied the medicine, Aunt Wang hesitated for a moment before saying, with some difficulty, “Captain Ren, your dad’s condition… it’s getting worse. He used to have more clear moments, but now… they’re becoming fewer and fewer.”NwcPEfGjOjIcMaeklVIVvfbdVLjiUT

DtzQyBVTslLxlrd

Ren Yi nodded. “I know.”xCHLJZDVWEUyVguRtgyOtietDHinXe

VBtxwExqKEIltEc

His dad had once been a decorated firefighter, forced to retire due to injury. He had a good pension and medical insurance, so hospital bills weren’t a concern. But some illnesses… money just can’t fix them.SlXsEQZBsBbFyeWVuUWHnliLkHjdZQ

XCcSlZNrevojkWp

“Last night… Xiao Wen was helping him bathe, and he pushed her down.”FALpdrffqUJHRgJtBpoavHZFYKujFj

refLsvDsbKfFHfz

Ren Yi froze for a moment. “Is Xiao Wen okay? Auntie, I’m so sorry, my dad…”cvxqctMvtbSdOppBHFyoyhWZTXDkSG

gHOFAuHSAjJADDG

Aunt Wang patted his knee reassuringly. “No harm done.”ucaihMKXJGNEzpNIglVYSzqQmwWnFP

lyoiBrkbOWhfyAW

Xiao Wen was Aunt Wang’s son. The mother and son took turns, day and night, taking care of his father.qaHFRaPOWPQhvJdvZIioCcUwWStfZS

khWHBhoATgopstN

Ren Yi ran his hand through his hair, feeling suffocated. He couldn’t help but glance at Ren Xiangrong—the hunched figure, the gray hair, the hands resting on his knees still trembling slightly. He once saw this man as a towering figure, but now all that remained was endless sorrow and disappointment.rrODaNKsJAvGcmkGuwerhHkxFftfPb

XQHleUUQJJUgmML

“Captain Ren, you’re so busy with work, and you hardly get any time off. It’s just you at home. Have you ever considered… sending him to a nursing home? They have professional caregivers and doctors.”jNMrolrRouqnhWHbxuDBsUZnpVaXGQ

csevoTtKiYhlXXq

Ren Yi shook his head firmly. “I’m not sending my dad to a nursing home. He wouldn’t want to go either.”DOxXWULxqgOGKVhrFuiKiRBWIusgUZ

fmUemwefjQwBiOF

Aunt Wang hesitated. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while but couldn’t find the right moment. My husband is about to retire, and after that, we plan to move back to our hometown. We’ve worked hard our whole lives, but we can’t afford to buy a place here.”DMKUsgiXWNYsQADtHiDONTBIFYhIhp

vaRrdjiOXQqTdTd

Ren Yi was silent. After changing so many caregivers, Aunt Wang and her son were the most reliable ones so far. Even though their salary was nearly ten thousand yuan a month, he was willing to pay more, as long as his father was well taken care of.SmVSultrsUiuoWAXHEFRBkPVXmmdQB

FqxrvzKezdHQmwE

Aunt Wang added, “I’m really sorry, Captain Ren. You’ve been so kind to us, and we really care about your dad, but we don’t have a choice. There are still a few months left, so please take your time and find someone else.”xvDOMlcEQdGYelviFYPqWROoiwgjwn

shSmYxYEpnkORjw

Ren Yi reluctantly nodded, “Alright, thank you.”lNEdpIhbEGklATWGFKMtBadieEpBOG

yxkrKIFLJGxauGX

At noon, Ren Yi personally cooked a few dishes his dad liked, but his father refused to eat even a bite. In the afternoon, though, he suddenly said he was hungry. Ren Yi reheated the food and sat down to eat with him again.JePKQlPPyfujTZYALbKsYFYuBawfBN

VrFuebjAZjUvEKp

He often reminded himself not to feel sad, but instead to be grateful that sometimes, he still had a semblance of a normal father.mewGcFfgGNyZWTbgNQzjkYpNOhOTQF

mLNbapDWlxCYNLQ

—tkuwKLrircyOhFaOBPwiQsgHQAtkPd

HiriSnwWZbqwtUc

The next day, Ren Xiangrong woke up in a clear state of mind. He even used his cane to water the plants, humming a little tune as he did.falNACSzXjGtmrVBVJodbWUXpAPIuI

bsMhnWJyqVvkLTm

Ren Yi felt much more at ease and suggested, “Dad, since I’m on vacation, how about Aunt Wang and I do a big clean-up later? You can be the supervisor. You point, we clean.”CryUdGwvazNcUfdAYLmlEmjqwFZolm

oOwrwEwHyDoKUAv

Ren Xiangrong snorted, “You want me to supervise this? That’s beneath me. You two figure it out yourselves. Just be careful with my trophies and medals.”BotHGDmgELLOxgxsZvoysWWZPuaelN

SiDdIGrGHtKfmpj

“Don’t worry, no one dares to mess with your treasures.”DTZwTduWRSxwAUIRYpCsbMPTyhirNP

JiOUetPlJjgzyNU

When Aunt Wang arrived, the two of them started cleaning.rIjbeXoTbdgdYKFVvZaUUlkqOESwvx

TFeHCSOfjZDQfhL

Ren Yi’s foot was still swollen but not too bad, so he hobbled around, sweeping the floor, wiping the windows, and tossing out old items.fnHwXVoCmgkeTfaNSzIiOiEegSTGuf

yutbraIZcVXNDxx

By noon, the house was noticeably cleaner. In the end, Ren Yi grabbed a brand-new, white rag, wrung it out, and headed over to clean his father’s “wall of honor.”woeieLjfsRuPKREErKACyFkPxfgBqo

atDTnInQwgZDuGT

The wall of honor was displayed on the TV cabinet, filled with certificates, trophies, medals, and banners—each representing a chapter of Ren Xiangrong’s thirty-year career as a firefighter. Behind every award was likely a heart-stopping story.GOIBYpCgaeHlNVRayprNRKkEBXzagM

blgQENHBYWfHNrF

As Ren Yi wiped, he reminisced with his father. “This one is from when you earned third-class merit, during the Two Conferences security detail, right?”ZeSsIpsbzMNmLSmTtkxIQfNbOwfLWb

TSXxujszoOYTkLy

“Yeah, collective third-class merit,” Ren Xiangrong said, walking over with his cane.VonbYMIdhXMHnHdUcfeOlGypfeaLXc

TbGZYlbykJcNMGY

“And this banner was from the family of those twins you saved.”EyrPSfmSfljWczdnfSSyPMleuRxDEP

rhcVookBhCPxClJ

“Yeah, I’ve got a whole box full of banners. These ones I’ve displayed are the most meaningful.”CGPCjbwRIDIqugFiIrJGHLLrUZJLXU

opGEYSPLgqSLDwb

Ren Yi smiled, “I know. I could probably recite the story behind every single one of these.” As he touched each symbol of honor, his heart was filled with admiration for his father, just like when he was a child.rxdYQZbNlbQuxbPObGnYnkXQPLlBJg

FXsSYrkuLAqkulh

Since he was little, Ren Yi had looked up to his father, the hero firefighter. Despite his mother’s objections, he had followed in his father’s footsteps without hesitation. No matter how hard, exhausting, or dangerous the job was, he had never regretted his decision.OzzgReioDrOVTilLvCuMIhIXanmWcm

IxOKKglyzQTMivl

“And this one is your second-class merit,” Ren Yi picked up the medal. “From the chemical plant explosion.”cZxRGjgXIRntlmjbTZExZEmNyBBzkC

XwVYoeeZqfeIQtD

Ren Xiangrong nodded. “Eighteen years. That was the closest I’ve ever been to death. It was a massive accident that shook the whole country back then.”BXgJrrOxYNhZnkHyDRdultYvQrHyGw

zvylILmqzsWfzfD

Ren Yi vividly remembered the story—how Ren Xiangrong, buried under a landslide, survived for eight days with a comrade and two workers beneath the rubble. He was only eleven or twelve at the time, staying by his mother’s side at the scene during those eight agonizing days. It truly showed him what “every day feels like a year” meant.WgdJDgJdrODBhGOPBopLGBSsejsMkO

jKrDqIRMosVmSUI

“Over a hundred people died.” Ren Xiangrong’s expression dimmed slightly, no doubt recalling the comrades he had lost in the disaster.qFmZopSMvvqmsKddlVcnKPTlwBCfHy

mFvJtOZeXVJfCSp

Ren Yi carefully wiped a medal clean. “You escaped death by a hair’s breadth. You’re bound for good fortune now.”QjEiUtODLCgAletOshDBgMtEHtJpCt

FynicMFeDIwclTv

Ren Xiangrong gave a mocking smile. “If I had any luck, I wouldn’t have ended up like this.”wwdYOjJphYvSeDQcKOMEiYynAuGZiI

pJneNlRTshKcHlL

Ren Yi spoke seriously. “Don’t say that, Old Ren. The fact that you’ve lived to retire safely is already a blessing.”pZLznjAOtOAhvrUakzERKKcfTZEKqm

YzacnZDLVmNGazk

Ren Xiangrong sighed. “Sometimes I try to think that way too. I’ve snatched so many lives back from the hands of the Lord of the Underworld, it’s only fair that he’d punish me a little. Just don’t know when he’s coming to collect me.”SsazmFGOSbXwCEPbVlCwwtnBXIWldB

sszVPEarFKUqYac

Ren Yi chuckled. “Quit flattering yourself. The guy’s too busy to bother with you every day.” He placed the cleaned medal back in its case. “By the way, I seem to recall something—wasn’t it a few months after that, the CEO of the chemical plant’s group had some trouble too?”fuPJRXsrYFeltyFvveASRyVziUDoiT

XDqNvbvFCJHmSvA

“Yeah, and I was the one who responded to that call too. Back then…”jLSKEHJmWtTLsfizeNAkmDpQXDrBbH

VODFfkYfTytuCXP

“Captain Ren!” Auntie Wang’s voice called from inside. “Could you help me move the cabinet?”GiNViBYQVlhYzWAEZOqJzFWBqnALRN

TDTwjsQREDbnKpV

“On my way.”FNKYVNdddpPNTGYqlBcctSFAsCsvhE

dUhZVfgNFDYVwYm

—-zECNqbrHdnDXLxAyofdRJlmNNPanhT

oAJONLJIdCYRBiK

After finishing the thorough cleaning, Ren Yi took a refreshing shower, styled his hair in front of the mirror, changed into fresh clothes, grabbed two bottles of red wine from home, and left before the evening rush.dEDeMKHancRpMLdSVohZHdimMIvBsa

ZQydoBtPZdpKTBA

He drove to an apartment complex near the World Trade Center, expertly entered the code for the unit, and took the elevator to the top floor.EpbSEZOFxgBoAdpZPThreHBtIjiTCI

HjdkIkRKEFLOvTd

Stepping out of the elevator, he knocked on a door. A fair-skinned, handsome young man leaned against the doorframe, smiling brightly at him. “Did you bring the wine? No wine, no entry.”QcWtVEkBNptUEEmXbLKPPAsPvwonsq

jWBTzaWAVISRyXN

Ren Yi lifted the bag in his hand, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I brought the wine, and I brought myself too.”hZLIUvUnSMKFkGBmoJxyIuELJvETaM

iAQklQEppcVfELY

They exchanged smiles, and the next moment, Ren Yi was pulled into the apartment.jNBUQnhbIEyStJWHOpsuUezdVnJBup

YwoRULmFWjstNio

—-yiQYYwgRzAqAZJbtPXVFDsVGYdFWDq

QANTduPFjFlpUUo

When Ren Yi woke up, dawn was just breaking.MwdUeAqiQyjzbrTXeMocdrEGTHsSpp

btmDNVDOvWnFEJx

Despite last night’s wild antics, his internal clock never failed him, waking him around 6 a.m. sharp, the same time they used to wake up for morning runs when he was still with the squad.lApQQgpQIvwIqQSNImpGkizlQtgDAQ

gziTHrTCbKIUlmO

He wanted to sleep a bit longer, but couldn’t fall back asleep no matter what, so he got up, freshened up, and went to the kitchen to make breakfast.SaryqBXyLLdbfzDSRQLgcTcZdIVdMT

aCTPmNjTnJhNClR

By the time he brought the food out, someone had already seated himself at the dining table, waiting expectantly.OSsKkYCLwBzcrVQTScUThALdMWJOqP

MBlcVyXUZzxuTEs

“You’re like a bloodhound—up as soon as you smell food.”tGLHHfyUbZcTKTfxuWywqewBISfXoF

YEuiwsEQLAymDDZ

Qi Xiao yawned widely. “I woke up because you were making so much noise, alright?”WVRNBEqjlEdaLLrbzsGCmLSOeVZXRa

aiGUhexvhRXQhMT

“Oh, my bad then. I made breakfast as compensation.”bJAjeWKumBwPWPJsmYOcSaQFHAEIHS

dXlRPsBQkPnwEMc

Qi Xiao scooped a spoonful of purple sweet potato porridge into his mouth, blowing on it as he nodded. “You’re forgiven.”orlIRMxuKwSdMGKOClvRHCINdNhzDz

SKLKAiBFzKqhFKE

Ren Yi sat down as well, eating as he asked, “Just got back from Hengdian? How long is your break?”ymOcMLlJviUooBtFFcRQFEaLodhbpL

eIIOwaxAanxDkMy

Qi Xiao was a small-time actor. They’d met years ago at a bar, before he’d even started his career, and had stayed in touch all these years.zBpSTBSTDGQpufDAGLFunQgNzmVzrC

URcFVglXwxUwOKe

Ren Xiangrong nodded. “Eighteen years. That was the closest I’ve ever been to death. It was a massive accident that shook the whole country back then.”swinmqLSejeLdqoaDVwTCCmaMQXLEO

SkLcHPjRshuiEcV

Ren Yi vividly remembered the story—how Ren Xiangrong, buried under a landslide, survived for eight days with a comrade and two workers beneath the rubble. He was only eleven or twelve at the time, staying by his mother’s side at the scene during those eight agonizing days. It truly showed him what “every day feels like a year” meant.PsOTDtFEIPpwCoGsTbLmHonzbkTzYt

XKNcUnfiIKYVkPC

“Over a hundred people died.” Ren Xiangrong’s expression dimmed slightly, no doubt recalling the comrades he had lost in the disaster.VWKJkOCZjfVYixlCkbjdMtEiFPYowC

bCaaiElJItJeIlV

Ren Yi carefully wiped a medal clean. “You escaped death by a hair’s breadth. You’re bound for good fortune now.”OsQJlKHwVvVDrBspQdgalZWZVqUEGU

vlkZGnoELpjoEmR

Ren Xiangrong gave a mocking smile. “If I had any luck, I wouldn’t have ended up like this.”BglaGcAOBSibqwKRCxtaayxxlRdgyb

mkTjYMfreTyNOwS

Ren Yi spoke seriously. “Don’t say that, Old Ren. The fact that you’ve lived to retire safely is already a blessing.”xaJHoZiXXzwzXgQMpEPfKkATnCXzav

HPPNkFDeSeJBAOw

Ren Xiangrong sighed. “Sometimes I try to think that way too. I’ve snatched so many lives back from the hands of the Lord of the Underworld, it’s only fair that he’d punish me a little. Just don’t know when he’s coming to collect me.”xVywFCLxzccIxZyDjIqfUyyIIcCgkj

KnEPuzSHFIrvPLd

Ren Yi chuckled. “Quit flattering yourself. The guy’s too busy to bother with you every day.” He placed the cleaned medal back in its case. “By the way, I seem to recall something—wasn’t it a few months after that, the CEO of the chemical plant’s group had some trouble too?”SLxxlTbxhEvQsMLPhHgQMxWpHDwoqO

CSYDyCeFCDAQvyR

“Yeah, and I was the one who responded to that call too. Back then…”qaZFWAtcMipzsVPvUpJfEdRykDtryu

JolzoqpznEHEfCQ

“Captain Ren!” Auntie Wang’s voice called from inside. “Could you help me move the cabinet?”SlWaXgqmOwJLElaKFHdDNNPNOufPgs

VEuaKFkfvPlnQoy

“On my way.”RMwgMtiKtABCtPFFDJrzuCIEZloPtJ

ouIPCxlFoVUDZow

—-rKTKItsoygqXcaSjnAtjdqXmOEylfA

InyKfAVrwrlKVyr

After finishing the thorough cleaning, Ren Yi took a refreshing shower, styled his hair in front of the mirror, changed into fresh clothes, grabbed two bottles of red wine from home, and left before the evening rush.cmwNJUtBByTlVKgXiMEoESkcjBJRwS

jvekWrcIaWPeapQ

He drove to an apartment complex near the World Trade Center, expertly entered the code for the unit, and took the elevator to the top floor.XdBbNYvTPwzKKEWGwgxnMMTdnzzJzg

PwpVZIdyGbHfiNq

Stepping out of the elevator, he knocked on a door. A fair-skinned, handsome young man leaned against the doorframe, smiling brightly at him. “Did you bring the wine? No wine, no entry.”PCYJlFDsbMxelHoHGvAWdmGfDSgMge

OLahRzKKYhrpXQv

Ren Yi lifted the bag in his hand, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I brought the wine, and I brought myself too.”mQzWpxqiXuaNBfPAeYfnfXrVSgjoLY

FQZknvzZbrNfycb

They exchanged smiles, and the next moment, Ren Yi was pulled into the apartment.XEWnDebyJUmTHevGZqfeNRznjpbhVp

AUboDCeeTBVQzJi

—-WGcXmdiWjhTuhRyXHcgxBSLpVFDKhY

MxaDJoVqsbaTkHA

When Ren Yi woke up, dawn was just breaking.DUhkyrJebAdglgLpDRJQaTDKHMicnS

hcUfomKmEyMnrSo

Despite last night’s wild antics, his internal clock never failed him, waking him around 6 a.m. sharp, the same time they used to wake up for morning runs when he was still with the squad.gbQTbAyjyWOWeYAFNwwiYDnPSZGhgl

OfVOMAtnqgrmPyp

He wanted to sleep a bit longer, but couldn’t fall back asleep no matter what, so he got up, freshened up, and went to the kitchen to make breakfast.WwjsARmnPmQKrUCTSoXyghUQZgspnB

VtkvepogcpiuYxn

By the time he brought the food out, someone had already seated himself at the dining table, waiting expectantly.FdbeaKEdFjdKIetsXuMTovflKgCLEs

ONIahxlaxMIcXPI

“You’re like a bloodhound—up as soon as you smell food.”wnMJOmNzhKhphYmfKDxdXbuSvCSiKd

xJAvsonlFnHKNWu

Qi Xiao yawned widely. “I woke up because you were making so much noise, alright?”LLsERLwwKvbsbGTuDowJqFhqmxYMaM

UVxtiFhFGSIYLyT

“Oh, my bad then. I made breakfast as compensation.”DTHfwMUCbinkridaNiYqTuiZLCCcGC

efXJgXoLMzHEjQa

Qi Xiao scooped a spoonful of purple sweet potato porridge into his mouth, blowing on it as he nodded. “You’re forgiven.”fmyMJTfTYLwyxgwNUQsntnczIZyeeq

LhlglgTPLVatNdF

Ren Yi sat down as well, eating as he asked, “Just got back from Hengdian? How long is your break?”wZbOLAGMIdvEefkEcvndHOPchhKLQH

mzToFBfhJfFPZnS

Qi Xiao was a small-time actor. They’d met years ago at a bar, before he’d even started his career, and had stayed in touch all these years.bPHQggailmxDUVlXYIywxhAdNIgdjj

OAPqXaAkqPCqVvK