【In the chat window】

[ZZ]: cx, where have you been these past few days? I was about to call the police.

[CX]: Had some stuff to deal with.

[ZZ]: Log into the game, we're just missing you.

[CX]: I don’t have time to play right now...

[ZZ]: Work that busy?

[CX]: Yeah, fell behind on a lot of work. Also moved, still haven’t unpacked everything.

[ZZ]: Moved?! Where are you now?

[CX]: At a relative's place. Gotta go, we'll play next time.

After setting up his desktop computer, Chris tested its functions; everything worked fine. Ethan's large study had enough space for another desk. Ethan mentioned he had a studio and was rarely home, so Chris could use it as he liked. Indeed, Ethan had been absent since their return to New York four days ago, only giving Chris a brief explanation before disappearing. The use of home appliances was taught by the household assistant.

Chris had pitifully few belongings, so after settling them, he purchased a new computer and a desk and chair, all arranged by the helpful household assistant.

The enormity of the house made Chris feel uneasy. He even regretted not using a laptop for the sake of convenience in case he wanted to leave, but his work...

He was a Digital Nomad, involved in game development, necessitating a large-screen desktop computer with high performance. Without the right equipment, his work would suffer.

Due to his father's funeral, he had already delayed his work for many days. The game team wouldn't wait for him, and if he didn't catch up quickly, he might be replaced.

After working non-stop for two days, he finally finished modifying the original sketches. When he snapped back to reality, he momentarily thought he was in his own home, only realizing where he was after looking around the study.

"Isn’t Ethan coming back?" Chris had a habit of informing family members wherever he went and never stayed out late or overnight.

So every day, he texted Ethan, asking if he would return. The answer was always negative.

"He's always away; I feel embarrassed staying here... If he doesn’t come back soon, then I'll leave," Chris thought to himself, convincing himself to stay a bit longer.

One night, while fetching water from the kitchen fridge, he saw light under Ethan's door.

Had he returned? When? Puzzled, Chris hesitated in the darkness.

"Ethan~ah~don’t do that..."

A man with dark red hair was pinned under Ethan, both of them naked.

The sound of their bodies colliding filled the room.

The red-haired man was indulging in pleasure, and when Ethan glanced at the doorway, he saw a shadow flash by.

Smirking, he intensified his actions, making the man beneath him cry out louder.

Chris, panicked, ran back to his room, his heart racing uncontrollably.

Was this a nightmare? He pinched his face hard, wincing in pain.

Does Ethan like men? He thought, feeling like he was going crazy.

After returning to his room, Chris struggled to fall asleep for a long time, wrapping himself in the blanket, his mind filled with various speculations about Ethan. He sifted through all his memories of Ethan, trying to find clues to understand what kind of person Ethan really was. Besides the impression of unfriendliness, Chris realized he didn't really know him.

Damn it! If he had known about Ethan's lover, he wouldn't have intruded on his privacy.

"Why didn't he tell me in advance?" Chris repeatedly questioned in his mind, but he knew he wouldn't get any answers.

To distract himself, he turned on some music on his phone, played a few mobile games, and finally found a variety show. He fell asleep to the noisy background of the show.

After an indeterminate amount of time, sunlight streaming through the huge windows fell on him, but the warmth couldn’t wake him from his sleep-deprived state.

"Chris... Chris..."

Chris stretched and whimpered like a puppy.

"If you don't get up now, it'll be time for lunch."

Chris opened his eyes to see Ethan standing by his bed, wearing light loungewear, almost blinding in the sunlight.

Chris sat up, searching the floor with his feet for his fluffy slippers. Suddenly, the memory of last night’s scene flashed through his mind, making his heart drop and his body stiffen.

"Last night..."

Oh no! How could Ethan dare to bring up last night?! Chris felt his face burning up.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

Chris let out a sigh of relief; Ethan was referring to that.

"Yeah."

Chris followed Ethan to the dining room, where two breakfasts were laid out, consisting of scrambled eggs, potato-stuffed bread, grilled sausages, and coffee.

Where was that red-haired man from last night? Chris looked around but didn’t see any trace of him.

Ethan seemed puzzled, as if asking, "What are you looking for?"

Chris quickly sat down, wondering if last night was just a dream.

“Did you make breakfast? When did you get back?” Chris couldn’t wait to ask before even starting to eat.

“Last night. I've wrapped up my recent work, so I can take a break.” Ethan paused, then continued, “I heard you haven't been eating properly?”

“I’ve been eating fine. Who told you that?” Chris suspected it was the household assistant reporting to Ethan, betraying the trust he had placed in them.

“You look thinner than a few days ago. Weren’t you the one who insisted you could take care of yourself?”

“It's all because you disrupted my life,” Chris said, though he inwardly blamed himself for possibly disrupting Ethan's life.

“Are you going to continue working day and night?” Ethan inquired.

“No, it won’t be that busy from now on. I think I’ll go out...” Despite his reluctance, he didn't want to stay at Ethan's house.

“Where do you plan to go?”

“To a language school.” Chris was embarrassed about his poor English. Without mastering the language, he felt helpless.

“You don’t have to force yourself.”

“I’m not.”

After a brief silence, Ethan changed the subject. “Why didn’t you use my card?”

“I'm not comfortable using other people’s things.”

“I doubt you have enough savings to pay for tuition.”

Chris had no reply. Though he had income, he had no savings. “I’m done eating,” he said, picking up his plate to leave.

“Chris, I heard you don’t know how to use the range hood and dishwasher. I’ve always lived alone, so I’m not sure how to take care of you.”

“You don’t need to take care of me.”

“I feel like you’ve always been hostile towards me, since we first met.”

“Don’t you feel the same towards me?”

Ethan looked surprised. “You think I’m hostile towards you?”

“If you didn’t want me living here, you should have told me from the start.” Chris said heatedly as he washed the dishes.

“No. I never thought that.”

“Then you should have at least told me before bringing your lover home, instead of treating me like air.” Chris blurted out what had been bothering him but instantly regretted mentioning Ethan's private life. His face flushed, and he turned the faucet on high to cover his fluster.

Ethan chuckled, approached Chris, and turned off the tap. "Sorry about last night, I disturbed you."

"No, it's... not your fault..." Chris's face and ears burned with heat as Ethan's pleasant scent enveloped him, making him incredibly nervous. "I was the one intruding."

"I didn't get a chance to explain these things to you, and yesterday's incident was unexpected. Does it make you hate me?"

"Yes."

Ethan slightly tilted his head, smiling. "You're honest. Do you hate relationships between men?"

"No." Chris was indifferent to anyone's relationships.

"It seems you really hate me. Since childhood."

"That's why first impressions are important," Chris muttered quietly towards the sink.

"How about we try to get to know each other again?" Ethan turned Chris towards him.

His hands were warm, contrasting with Chris's cold arms. Overwhelmed by the heat, Chris abruptly withdrew his arm, looking away.

"I won’t forgive you for destroying my toy when we were kids."

Ethan ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back and smiling. "You hold grudges, Chris."

Chris quickly washed and put away the dishes, then fled to his bedroom.

Ethan, amused by Chris's panic, remembered that out of all childhood incidents, only that toy stood out in Chris's memory. Although disliked, Ethan wasn’t saddened; his Chris had always been the same.

He remembered the dependent Chris who clung to him like a puppy upon arriving in New York, and his peaceful slumber in the sunlight, all of which made Ethan want to protect him. 

Watching Chris change clothes and hastily leave the house was hard to reconcile with the fact that he was only a year younger than himself. Chris seemed like a rebellious high schooler, both physically and emotionally.

He hadn't experienced love, having been well protected, or rather, caged by his father.

Ethan recalled his own father keeping several beautiful birds. Once, when he freed one, it quickly died. He thought, this time, he shouldn’t repeat the same mistake.