From Bros to Lovers - Chapter 16

Recently, Duan Chen has been appearing around me more frequently.

Xia Jialiang leaned in and asked, “Is he chasing you?”

I hesitated for a moment, shook my head, then nodded.

I don’t know how to define my current relationship with Duan Chen.

It feels like we’ve returned to how we used to interact, but Duan Chen often puts effort into small details, making me sense something different.

For instance, the two-person movie meal combo we used to get has now been replaced with a couple’s combo. There’s only one cup of soda, but it comes with two flamboyant straws.

No matter how busy he is, I always see Duan Chen’s car parked at the company entrance when I get off work. In the freezing cold, he leans against the car, striking a pose, seemingly unbothered by the chill.

On the way home one day, I unexpectedly found a tiny kitten meowing in the bushes.

I tucked it into my pocket and brought it home, but just as I was about to get out of the car, Duan Chen stopped me. He said he had more experience taking care of pets and offered to look after it until I was ready with the necessary supplies.

A few days later, he refused to give it back.

Duan Chen grinned mischievously at me. “They say having a child can tie the mother down. If you miss it, just come to my place.”

I kicked him, but he didn’t dodge. His gaze softened as he looked at me and repeated in a low voice, “If you miss it, come find me, okay?”

I mumbled a vague response.

Since then, I’ve had to visit Duan Chen’s place every week to see the kitten.

If I was busy or didn’t want to see Duan Chen’s face and skipped a week, he would shamelessly bring the kitten to my house, claiming it missed me.

Duan Chen doesn’t get along well with the kitten, and even less so with Xia Jialiang.

When I asked him why, he always kept his mouth shut.

Until one time, while we were shopping at the mall, he suddenly stopped and stared in a particular direction.

Following his gaze, I saw a claw machine.

It was pink and adorable, not something I thought Duan Chen would like, but he couldn’t seem to move away. He even dragged me over and insisted I win him a prize.

I teased him, “Since when did you become so childish? If you want it, win it yourself.”

Duan Chen lowered his head and stayed silent for a while before finally speaking. “You won one for Xia Jialiang but not for me.”

I froze for a moment, taking a while to realize what he was referring to.

During the time when Duan Chen and I had completely cut ties, Xia Jialiang often dragged me out for walks.

He said I shouldn’t stay cooped up alone; it could lead to depression.

It must’ve been during one of those times that I casually won him a stuffed toy.

I grabbed Duan Chen’s chin and tilted it up, checking to see if he was crying. When I saw he wasn’t, I relaxed. “Were you stalking me?”

Duan Chen stayed silent for a long moment again before saying, “I just wanted to be closer to you, to see you more.”

During that time, Xia Jialiang, feeling guilty and responsible as a friend, took special care of me, practically sticking to me like glue.

His attentiveness and concern probably looked very different through Duan Chen’s eyes.

I turned my gaze away. “What do you want? I’ll win it for you.”

Duan Chen pointed at the glass with his finger. “That one.”

The toy he pointed at was a pale yellow pear.

“Li Yucheng, I want that one,” Duan Chen emphasized again.

When the pear dropped into the prize slot, Duan Chen bent down to pick it up, but I snatched it first.

“Duan Chen, friendship is always more solid than love. If you take this step, there’s no going back. Have you thought it through?”

Duan Chen chuckled softly. “If the price of solidity is watching you be with someone else, I’d rather take the risk.”

I tossed the pear-shaped toy to him. “Then hold onto it. This is the only one; there won’t be another.”

Just as I walked a few steps away, I heard hurried footsteps behind me. Duan Chen ran up to me and grabbed my hand. “I think the kitten misses you. How about we go back now?”

“…Duan Chen, you’re not even pretending anymore?”

“And your place is a bit small. It can’t fit both of us. You could move into mine.”

“Who said anything about living together? Can you have some shame?”

…

[The End]