53 NINTH STAR

Xiao Zhan's eyes squinted. "My ass only recharged you by five percent? Wow, Wang Yibo. Wow."

Yibo shrugged. "If Zhan ge allowed me more leeway, maybe it'd be more than five percent." "As I recall, I didn't stop you, did I?"

Yibo snorted before he took a sip of tea. "I'm glad." "For being able to squeeze my ass?"

"For you being comfortable with me. I'm glad. Because I feel that way with you. I don't have to hide myself away, or pretend. I can just…be myself, without realizing."

Xiao Zhan was looking beyond Yibo, out at the city and night. It captured him, emotions and

words a war on his expression. What words did come out, were, "Go take a shower. Take whatever clothes you'd like from my bedroom. There are new packets of underwear in the bottom drawer." Xiao Zhan's fingers rested briefly on his styled hair, scratching into Yibo's scalp.

Yibo closed his eyes, until Xiao Zhan's touch faded.