Heat

Chapter 7

"Brother, brother..." Xano opened his eyes with a start, and Han was tightly hugging him, muttering in his sleep. His world was very small right now. When he woke up, it was Han, and even in his dreams, he had no other choice. The temperature was a bit low on this rainy night. Xano had a high fever, and Han unconsciously held him even tighter, their bodies wrapped around each other.

As the night went on, they both sweated profusely, and it seemed that this made Xano's fever subside. They had been sleeping together for a while now, but Xano still wasn't quite used to it. Han's arm was stretched across his chest, half of his waist was against Xano's belly, and his legs were soft and unconsciously pressed against his hips. Just as Xano's fever had gone down, it seemed to flare up again inside him.

Fortunately, sweating had left him exhausted, and his poor little brother had no strength left even for any mischief. Xano exerted some effort to pull Han off him and covered him with a towel, then he fell back into a deep slumber. He slept heavily, and Xano was awakened by a tingling sensation. Annoyed, he lifted his hand to scratch his arm, and he heard Han giggling nearby. "What are you doing?"

He opened one eye when he was almost awake and saw Han squatting by the bedside, smiling at him with narrowed eyes. He was smiling for no apparent reason. Xano quickly looked at his arm, and Han immediately stood up and ran away before he could see it clearly. With his vision still blurred from just waking up, Xano closed and opened his eyes again, and he found one of Han's masterpieces about four or five centimeters long on his elbow.

He initially thought of getting angry but upon closer inspection, he burst into laughter. It was unmistakably a little figure, seemingly drawn based on Xano's doodles, with one eye larger than the other, and even the head outline wasn't very round, but it was much better than the previous matchstick-like drawings.

At least it vaguely resembled a person. "Come here," he waved to Han, who was standing at a distance, "Come here quickly, I won't scold you." Han took a few steps forward and then stopped. "Hurry up," Xano tsked, "I won't scold you, I promise." His tone was light, and he had a smile on his face, which finally made Han believe him. He took slow steps and walked over, and just as he reached the bedside, Xano grabbed his wrist and pulled him down onto the bed. Xano held his neck with one hand and clenched his teeth as he said, "What are you doing? Ah, what are you doing while I'm asleep!" Han's intelligence fluctuated, but he could tell that Xano wasn't really angry this time.

He laughed while hiding in his arms, his big eyes forming crescents, his cheeks blushing, and his fingers trying to pry open his small arm. Xano, however, didn't let him go and held onto him, pressing his forehead to make him look at him with a fierce expression.

"It won't wash off. What should we do?" "Really?" Han suddenly stopped laughing and asked seriously, "It won't wash off for real?" "Ah," Xano said, "What should we do?" Han bit his lip, his serious expression was quite amusing, and after thinking for a while, he said softly, "Then let's keep it." Xano finally broke his act, let go of him with a smile, and lightly patted his head, "It's so ugly. Keeping it is embarrassing." "It's not ugly," Han leaned on his arm, stretched out a finger to touch it with satisfaction, and then looked up at him, "It's very nice."

Both of them were covered in sweat, and Xano felt much lighter after this encounter. It seemed like his fever had subsided. He glanced at the time and realized that it was already past his work hours.

He quickly took a sick leave and then got up to cook for Han. Yesterday, both of them were too tired to eat dinner, and there was still half a roll of instant noodles at home, just enough for the two of them.

Xano heated some water, and when he saw Han smiling mischievously without taking his request seriously, he deliberately put on a serious face and asked him to stand by the wall. "What are you doing?" Han playfully leaned against him, looking like the soft noodles in the water. "Stand still!"

Xano tore off a piece of beef jerky and pushed it against the wall, telling him seriously, "Don't think you can get away with what happened yesterday. I haven't settled the score with you yet." Han blinked innocently. "I'm asking you, did I ever say you can't go out? It was raining yesterday, and you became quite daring, didn't you?"

"Not..." Han whispered, "You didn't bring an umbrella, so I'll get you one."

Xano hesitated for a moment and asked, "Where's the umbrella?"

Han also hesitated, looking puzzled, apparently not expecting that giving an umbrella would require having one.

Xano couldn't bring himself to scold Han and told him not to go out by himself next time. Han looked pitiful when he admitted his mistake, but then he quickly perked up, seemingly not taking the advice to heart.

When Xano got sick, his taste changed, and the noodles he made were a bit salty. Han didn't complain but kept asking for water. Seeing this, Xano couldn't stand it and changed his clothes, asking Han what he wanted to eat.

"Anything good?" Han's eyes lit up. "Fried rice!"

Xano chuckled and lightly flicked his forehead. "Look at your taste."

Xano went out to buy fried rice for almost two hours, and when he came back, Han had already finished the noodles and complained, "You're so slow..."

Xano felt sorry and quickly placed the fried rice on the table and handed Han a spoon. Han was actually full, but he couldn't resist the temptation of the fried rice, so he ate happily. Afterward, his stomach was so full that he lay on the bed, rubbing his eyes.

"You're sleepy again?" Xano went over to look at him. "Are you a pig?"

"I'm not..." Han replied slowly, "but you are."

"I'm not full and sleepy," Xano said, grabbing Han's hand and pulling him up. "Can't sleep, I'll take you to work."

"What?" Han suddenly sat up. "To work?"

"Yeah, still not sleeping?" Xano asked.

"Not sleeping!" Han answered happily. "I'm going to work with my brother!"

Xano was really worried. It was still raining, and he was afraid that he would come back from work to find Han missing. Han was acting foolishly in a way that seemed like he wouldn't listen or take care of himself. He couldn't afford to skip work, so he had to bring Han with him.

Han had spent some time at the auto shop, and the co-workers got to know him. They gathered around him, trying to tease him. Xano didn't like the way they looked at Han, treating him like an amusing pet.

He took Han to the customer lounge and let him draw while he went to work. Han couldn't sit still, and once he held a pen, he transformed into a different person. Every time Xano had a break and went to see him, he would find Han diligently drawing at the table. While working, he would sometimes look at his own forearm, as if he could see the ugly doodles through his thick work clothes.

The day passed relatively peacefully. The rain had stopped after a night and a day of downpour. There were still puddles on the road. Han was wearing rain boots and happily splashing around in the water, inviting Xano to join him. Xano called him "silly," but Han insisted that he was the one being silly.

"Am I silly?" Xano asked. "Aren't we both a little silly but not starving to death?"

Han thought for a moment and realized that it made sense. He clung to Xano's arm, trying to please him, and said sweetly, "Brother is not silly."

In the evening, while getting ready for bed, Han noticed the artwork on Xano's arm and tried to wipe it off with water. However, Xano dodged his attempt and pushed his hand away. Han stopped talking, ran back to the room, and put on a hat. Xano didn't understand what he was thinking, but he could sense his excitement.

After turning off the lights, Han still covered his eyes with a towel and quietly enjoyed himself. He rubbed his head against Xano's arm for a while and then suddenly popped out with shining eyes.

"Time for bed," Xano scolded him.

"I know," Han replied as he lay down. After a while, he asked softly, "Can't it really be washed off?"

Xano raised his arm and pointed to the doodles. "Who did this great artwork?"

Han giggled and proudly announced, "I did!"

It was as if he had accomplished something significant.

The next day, the rain had stopped, and Han wanted to go to work with Xano again. Without hesitation, Xano gave in to his pleas, and Han started to act cute, sitting on a chair and hugging Xano's waist. He pressed his face against Xano's abdominal muscles and looked up at him with a pleading expression.

Xano couldn't resist and moved some of Han's long hair aside. He asked, "Why are you so clingy? Hmm?"

Han didn't reply and blinked at Xano. Then he rubbed his cheek against Xano's abdominal muscles like a hungry kitten seeking affection. Xano was starting to feel the heat from Han's affection and had to pull him up to take him out.

After the rain, the morning air was filled with the fresh scent of grass. The breakfast stall, which had been closed for two days, had returned to the roadside. Local residents, still in their pajamas, lazily came to have breakfast. They exchanged greetings about the arrival of the rainy season.

The lively atmosphere excited Han even more than yesterday. Even though he had already eaten at home, he still kept asking Xano about the dishes and whether they were good. Xano understood what he wanted this time and asked him what he wanted to eat.

Han was never too demanding, and without Xano saying anything, he obediently chose only soy milk. The soy milk came in a bag, and Xano held it for him, raising it to his lips for him to sip. Han took a big gulp, and his cheeks swelled up, leaving him unable to speak. He used his hand to push Xano's hand.

Xano didn't understand why he stopped drinking and asked, "You don't want this?"

Han had to drink it in three portions, and after he finally finished, he explained, "It's good, Brother, try it!"

Xano smiled and pretended to take a sip. Seeing that it was challenging not to spill the remaining portion, he gave it to Han to hold for himself.

They hadn't been living there for long, and they didn't go out very often, so spending a few minutes at the breakfast stall drew the attention of the neighbors. The stall owner tried to strike up a conversation and, looking at Xano and Han, pointed at Han's face, asking, "Is this your little brother?"

Xano, in a good mood today, answered, "Yes."

"Oh..." the stall owner dragged out the word, "He's really good-looking."

Xano didn't comment but just smiled and took Han away.

It took a bit longer than usual to get to work with Han. Fortunately, Xano had anticipated this, so he left earlier than usual, avoiding being late. As they entered, they crossed paths with Chen Jie, who had arrived earlier than Xano.

Chen Jie hadn't been seen for a long time, and today, not only did she come, but she came surprisingly early. She looked at Xano and then looked at Han, who was holding Xano's hand, and forced a fake smile, saying, "Today, little Han is here too."

When Han used to live in the dorm, he had seen the landlady and would lower his eyes when she spoke to him, avoiding eye contact.

"Mmm," Xano responded with a good mood today.

"Oh..." the boss drew out the word, "He's really good-looking."

Xano smiled without confirming or denying, and he left with Han.

By the time they had walked for a while, Han had finished drinking the soy milk. Following Xano's guidance, he tossed the empty bag into the trash can and proudly reported, "I threw it in!"

"Good," Xano said calmly. "Well done."

Han acted like a rewarded little animal and put even more effort into showing off. When he saw some discarded paper on the road, he was eager to pick it up.

"Come here!" Xano immediately stopped him and said, "Can you be more obedient?"

Han stopped his playful antics and walked obediently beside Xano. After a while, when he noticed that Xano wasn't speaking, he tried to please him and reached for Xano's hand, as if he was afraid Xano would lose him.

Xano grabbed his slender fingers in his hand. Han's fingertips were slightly cooler than Xano's, making the grip comfortable. Xano's heart fluttered, and he held onto the tip of Han's index finger. His thumb gently caressed it, and Han felt it, so he held Xano's hand and started playing a game, as if they were engaged in some sort of hand game.

Bringing Han to work took an extra ten minutes longer than usual. Thankfully, Xano had anticipated this and left earlier than usual, avoiding being late. As they entered the workplace, they happened to run into Chen Jie, who had arrived earlier than Xano.

Chen Jie had been out of sight for a long time, and today, not only did she return, but she arrived surprisingly early. She looked at Xano and then at Han, who was holding Xano's hand. She forced a fake smile and said, "Today, little Han is here too."

Back when Han used to live in the dormitory, he had seen the landlady. When she talked to him, he would lower his eyes and try to avoid eye contact, as if he was hiding behind Xano.

Xano replied, "He got scared when it rained a few days ago, and he wasn't feeling too well. I took care of him for two days. He'll be able to stay home by himself tomorrow."

Han didn't say anything behind Xano but just held his hand tightly.