"I don't wanna go back to that house." Xie Yang said, his voice muffled.
The absence of 'yet' made it to Zhou Kai that this wasn't a momentary impulse of his beloved. Adding on, the use of "that house" to refer to the place where he lived instead of home made it abundantly clear that he really didn't wanna go back there ever again.
Zhou Kai looked down at his sweetheart, a darkness flashing in his abyss like eyes as if a stone thrown into a still lake causing ripples throughout the surface.
Xie Yang didn't notice his husband's change but he felt Zhou Kai's hands shift from rubbing his back to patting his head.
"Would you like to stay the night with me then? Or if you aren't comfortable with that, I can get you a hotel room for however long you like." Zhou Kai suggested, his voice sounding like a lullaby.
Xie Yang opened his eyes in the darkness but didn't reply to his husband immediately. He was afraid, he might just impulsively agree.
His husband knew him too well, putting such enticing offers in front of him while knowing he won't be able refuse.
Still Xie Yang managed to resist the temptation, "No, Kai."
Zhou Kai was surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Why, Pres? You clearly don't want to go back there, then why not just stay out?"
Xie Yang let out a helpless laugh. He didn't know whether it was at his husband's naivety or his spoiling nature.
His husband had always told him to do what he wanted, always fulfilling his every wish, keeping every promise, so much so, that he can no longer tolerate being stifled because he had become used to someone always having his back, always being cherished and always being loved.
He had gotten used to a love with no strings attached, where he didn't need to prove whether he was worthy of it, where he didn't need to fear failure, where he wasn't afraid to voice his needs because the other party made it clear that he was deserving of love even with all his flaws.
Xie Yang's voice softened as he answered, "I have to go back Kai. I can't leave right now."
Xie Yang didn't say more but Zhou Kai understood that timing's off right now but that won't be the case in the future. He really wanted to know just what his beloved's family did to make him hate them.
It wasn't obvious but probably because he had known and liked him for so long, he could tell that his sweetheart really didn't like them. His feelings for them seems to be a bit complicated but one thing that's clear is that he does not want to associate with them.
Zhou Kai didn't mind waiting until Xie Yang was ready to tell him his reasons. After all when it comes to his beloved, he's especially patient though just from his sweetheart's current demeanour, it doesn't seem like he'll have to wait long.
"Alright then, Pres could you promise me something?" Zhou Kai asked seizing the opportunity.
"Hmmm? Depends on what you're asking." Xie Yang replied cheekily.
"Promise me that when you decide to leave, you'll call me to help you. I promise to come whenever you call." Zhou Kai returned, sneakily farming for brownie points.
Hearing Zhou Kai's words tickled Xie Yang into another bout of laughter. This was his husband alright. Even when young, he's still the same person he fell in love with. Zhou Kai had said those exact words to him before.
It was after their marriage when Xie Yang had run into some trouble and called his husband as a last resort. He would have been thankful if his husband agreed to send over an assistant to help out but he never expected that he would compress his schedule and come over himself.
Not only did he solve the trouble but even helped him get more contracts. Just his presence would have helped him immensely let alone, when he personally helped him secure some favourable contracts.
Xie Yang fully expected Zhou Kai to scold him for being incompetent and maybe tell him not to bother him in the future but his husband simply hugged him tightly and gently asked why he had endured the injustice and not called him first.
Xie Yang had stayed silent but that silence seemed to tell Kai everything. Zhou Kai had solemnly told him that as his husband, he took priority over anything else. It doesn't matter how he busy he was, he'd deal with it all if he can and drop it all if can't but he'll absolutely come to support him whenever he needed or wanted it.
He sincerely promised to come whenever he called just like now. Xie Yang trusted his husband because in their nearly 20 years of married life, Zhou Kai had never once broken this promise or any promise actually.
He never promised something he couldn't deliver and always delivered what he promised.
"Sure, Kai. I promise to call you when I decide to leave." Xie Yang said in a light tone clearly very happy.
Zhou Kai heard his beloved's tone and couldn't stop his lips from curling up.
His sweetheart looked the best when happy. Even though, he couldn't see it right now he could feel that his sweetheart's mood had been lifted. He hoped his beloved can always stay happy.
Zhou Kai's eyes narrowed. He'll deal with all the things that make him unhappy then his beloved will always stay happy.
The car finally stopped in front of Xie Yang's house. No matter how reluctant he was, Xie Yang had to leave his husband's embrace. The feeling of reluctance of mutual as Zhou Kai didn't want to let go his sweetheart as well, even more so knowing that his beloved is going somewhere he is uncomfortable made him more reluctant.
Xie Yang got out of the car with Zhou Kai who insisted on following him to the door. Inside, the normal hustle and bustle of an ordinary can be heard.
Sounds of people talking, food being cooked, the T.V.'s noisy broadcast etc. seemed to create a harmonious picture yet the people outside wanted nothing to do with it.
Xie Yang walked to the door and looked back to see Kai looking at him, waiting for him to go inside. Despite already having said bye to him several times, Xie Yang still raised his hand to wave one last time, a gesture which Kai reciprocated after which Xie Yang went in.
Zhou Kai didn't take his eyes off the door until it shut tight, after which he turned to look at one of the second floor windows which was still dark.
Probably stalled by something, the owner of the room managed to get to the ten minutes later, lighting it up.
The owner of the room looked out the window to see a figure staring at him. Unafraid, the owner smiled and waved. Who else could it be, if not Xie Yang?
Zhou Kai smiled as he returned the wave and finally got into the car and drove away.