When the clock struck eight, Ouyang awoke. His internal clock was usually precise, but the indulgence of the previous night had made him sleep half an hour later than usual—something that had never happened before. He turned to his right. The disheveled white sheets were wrapped around the alluring figure of a man, exposing the small of his back. He was sleeping on his stomach, his head turned to the side, lips slightly parted, his gentle breaths rising and falling in a peaceful, tranquil rhythm. Ouyang had never realized that a man, stripped of all worldly pretense, could appear so pure and beautiful.

Ouyang Jinghui had never experienced waking up in the morning and, at first sight, seeing the vivid sleeping face of a handsome man. Sharing the same pillow and blanket, the memories of their night together—intimate, passionate, and lingering—were still fresh in his mind. He was certain he hadn't been drunk, but he was equally intoxicated by the experience.

His mind felt dazed. In his memory, he had never experienced such wild lovemaking; all his self-restraint seemed to have vanished. He hadn't even thought to use protection! Memories from the past flooded his mind.

Their story had started in an unusual way. During an encounter at Menghai's home, both had been surprised to see each other—the other man turned out to be the same person who had taken his spot in the bath that day! The scene in the bathhouse, the slightly aggressive look in the other's eyes, had left a deep impression on Ouyang, though at the time, they both pretended not to recognize each other, keeping their mutual understanding unspoken.

Afterward, Ouyang immediately began to investigate this man. After reviewing his studio's past successful projects and his outstanding professional resume, Ouyang's opinion quickly changed to admiration. The initial displeasure of seeing a stranger at his confidant's dinner table melted away, replaced by growing interest. Ouyang Jinghui had always valued talent. From that moment, Jiang Yi officially became someone he wanted to recruit.

When he learned that Ivan Studio, Jiang Yi's company, had been shortlisted by the engineering department as a candidate for the interior design of the Yunxi Phase One Villas, Ouyang and the senior management spent several days in discussions and research. They compared the blueprints and model home results of several shortlisted design firms with the head of Longtai Real Estate. In terms of style and practicality, Ivan Studio was the clear winner.

Ouyang was particularly fond of the blueprints personally drawn by Jiang Yi—clean, sharp, and rich in content, clearly the work of a creative and efficient expert. While quietly admiring them, he quickly made the decision to formally invite Ivan Studio to take on the new project. Coincidentally, Jiang Yi showed up at Longtai the day before the official invitation was to be sent.

Impressed by Ivan Studio's keen industry sense and the almost telepathic connection they seemed to share, as well as their odd first encounter, Ouyang didn't bother with pretenses and shook hands with Jiang Yi without hesitation to finalize the contract.

Ouyang wasn't sure if Jiang Yi would truly get along with him, but he was certain Jiang Yi would add tremendous value to the project and create immeasurable brand wealth. He decisively offered up his own residence so that Ivan Studio could be closer to the construction site during the early phase of the project, allowing Jiang Yi to spot and resolve issues in real time. Jiang Yi accepted without hesitation, which made Ouyang feel very comfortable—at the very least, both were consummate professionals.

Back at Xiao Zhu Courtyard, Ouyang once saw Jiang Yi napping lightly on the sofa, looking unexpectedly innocent. Unable to help himself, Ouyang covered him with a blanket. Jiang Yi immediately woke up. Ouyang had rarely seen such beautiful eyes—dark, enchanting, and so direct, with not a hint of concealment about his intentions.

Later, through frequent interactions and collaboration, Ouyang gradually sensed that Jiang Yi's reputation and temperament complemented each other. Jiang Yi possessed the poise and intellect of a young prodigy, with a clear mind and keen analytical skills. He was always evidence-based, and even when their opinions clashed during project presentations, both would quickly arrive at the most reasonable conclusions. Supporting or challenging each other was never awkward; Jiang Yi's professionalism was beyond reproach.

Ouyang didn't know when he started paying extra attention to this man. Maybe it happened unconsciously. Sometimes, after seeing him in a meeting during the day, Ouyang would think about Jiang Yi's unique style and charm while driving home. On days without social engagements, he found himself looking forward to those few minutes of exchanging ideas with Jiang Yi at home.

Before this, Ouyang had always looked down on young men who were all looks and no substance. In his view, a pretty exterior hiding a rotten core was the worst. Jiang Yi changed his mind at just the right time—he even overturned some of Ouyang's fixed ideas about engineering.

But those dark eyes saw through things too easily, to the point that it frustrated Ouyang. Jiang Yi clearly saw through Ouyang's little schemes. After playing the role of a guest a few times, Jiang Yi's expression began to soften, sometimes showing a hint of reproach, but he always tolerated it, stubbornly so. Whenever Ouyang saw Jiang Yi laughing and chatting with others, only for a sharp glint to flash in his eyes, he found Jiang Yi all the more intriguing—truly fascinating.

Ouyang gradually began to enjoy spending time with this man—sharing wine and conversation, exchanging knowing glances, nodding in greeting as they passed on the stairs at Xiao Zhu Courtyard, having quirky conversations in the living room. Sometimes they sat very close, sometimes far apart. For the first time, Ouyang didn't find someone else's presence bothersome. He realized he could, in fact, live under the same roof with another person, navigating and coordinating together. This new dynamic felt both refreshing and a little daunting.

Even though he sensed he already understood more than half of Jiang Yi, both were careful to maintain their own space, not letting the other cross boundaries easily. Ouyang felt he and Jiang Yi were similar, yet headed in completely different directions. He had feelings for Jiang Yi that went beyond those for an ordinary partner—hard to define, but not insubstantial.

He couldn't help but notice that Jiang Yi sometimes looked at him with a hint of something different—recklessness, anxiety, persistence, even a bit of boldness. Though Jiang Yi often looked away, it was always there. This gave Ouyang a subtle sense of pride, as if Jiang Yi valued and admired him more than he did Jiang Yi. For a man, that was a satisfying victory.

Just as Ouyang began to sense that something was about to happen, it did.

That night became an unforgettable, passionate memory—impossible to erase, as if he'd been tightly bound by invisible threads. When he learned the truth about Jiang Yi, Ouyang was stunned. He had imagined many possibilities for their relationship, but never that they would end up in bed together. Afterwards, he was conflicted—had he inadvertently given too many signals? Had he been too focused on Jiang Yi?

When that beautiful body approached him, even leaning down to kiss him, Ouyang was surprised to find he didn't feel the anticipated discomfort. He hadn't known two men could share such intimacy. Afterward, he felt a bit embarrassed by his momentary loss of control and indulgence, but seeing Jiang Yi remain even more composed than himself, he quickly regained his usual poise.

Ouyang always thought that, after such an incident, Jiang Yi had more reason to be flustered than he did. But Jiang Yi wasn't—he apologized casually, met Ouyang's gaze without guilt, and maintained his dignity and position. It was almost as if he was warning Ouyang that playing the "victim" would be unbecoming.

Jiang Yi acted like a mischievous child who, after picking something off the shelf, simply put it back, erasing what had happened between them. Their relationship reset to the starting line—or even further back.

Ouyang didn't understand why he wasn't bothered by Jiang Yi's actions. Jiang Yi stayed away from Xiao Zhu Courtyard for two days, then returned, looking tired but clear-headed, presenting a new proposal at the meeting with perfect composure, occasionally avoiding Ouyang's gaze—a clear attempt to keep his distance. This left Ouyang with a strange feeling—the only word for it was "concern." He was actually worried about Jiang Yi!

He immediately decided to clear the air, not wanting Jiang Yi to think he was a petty man. Moreover, Ouyang found himself wanting to know more about Jiang Yi's current situation. In the car, he asked a few questions for the first time, only to make things more awkward, which left him frustrated.

After hearing a man's confession on the radio, and thinking of the person beside him, Ouyang realized he really didn't want Jiang Yi to have the same kind of encounter with anyone else as he'd had with him. Maybe it was because Jiang Yi felt so pure and genuine, with his pride and charisma. Ouyang didn't want to equate him with ordinary men. If even Ouyang could accept someone like Jiang Yi, why would anyone else refuse? He didn't want Jiang Yi to get into trouble because of his private life—absolutely not. If this was jealousy, Ouyang admitted it. That evening, Jiang Yi came to his door on his own initiative, explaining that he had thought things through and that Ouyang needn't be troubled by what had happened between them. Ouyang wasn't sure whether to feel grateful or frustrated, but he knew he was at a loss when it came to this man

He didn't want to draw a line between Jiang Yi and others, but the difference was undeniable—their conversations were always full of hidden meanings.

That painting, "Waiting," was left by Ouyang for Jiang Yi. He knew Jiang Yi was interested in it but, out of pride, would never ask for it directly. So, Ouyang put it up for auction. If Jiang Yi didn't truly want it, Ouyang planned to buy it back himself and had already asked a company manager to bid on his behalf.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Yi was incredibly persistent. The manager kept raising his hand until he was sweating and finally signaled Ouyang for help. Ouyang nodded to let him give up the bidding. Then he smiled, turning his gaze to the victorious Jiang Yi. Every time he met Jiang Yi's eyes, there was endless enjoyment—a mutual recognition and support between worthy rivals.

But when Ouyang learned that Jiang Yi had listed Xiao Zhu Courtyard as the delivery address for the painting, that strange feeling returned. When he went back and saw Jiang Yi sleeping face-down at the table, his pure and tired face, and his body stretching in perfect muscular lines, Ouyang couldn't help but walk over and gently squeeze his neck and shoulders, wanting to ease his fatigue and vulnerability. But Jiang Yi's soft moan suddenly stirred something deep inside Ouyang. He leaned down to whisper in his ear, and Jiang Yi, trembling slightly, managed to regain composure and stand up before Ouyang could do anything more. For the first time, Ouyang felt flustered and out of control, suddenly realizing he was stepping into dangerous territory.

Gradually, Ouyang began to match Jiang Yi's pace. The two of them started to avoid each other for a while, refusing any private interaction outside of work.

Later, Ouyang realized he had fallen into a strange cycle—he cared more and more about Jiang Yi's reactions. Even knowing Jiang Yi didn't really want to see him, Ouyang would intentionally return to Xiao Zhu Courtyard frequently. If, after exchanging work opinions in the living room, he saw Jiang Yi turn away without any hesitation or politeness, Ouyang would go upstairs and sulk for a while. Jiang Yi was a good roommate—so good, in fact, that he was completely indifferent, never disturbing the person next door.

Ouyang had never been ignored like this before. It was also the first time he sincerely wanted to get close to someone, only to be gently pushed away. Jiang Yi's extreme indifference made Ouyang uncomfortable; every time he saw Jiang Yi frown, it felt like a silent order to leave. Jiang Yi was proud, and Ouyang even more so. He wouldn't let himself stoop to seeking attention, and decided to keep a safe distance, which was a relief for both of them.