Chapter 66 – Living Together

Yan Ankuo was stunned for two seconds before hesitantly asking, “Your place?”

Bian Ji’s mood instantly shifted, his voice lowering slightly. “Yeah, my place.”

Yan Ankuo fell silent, waiting for a long moment before saying, “I won’t go there. It’s too dangerous, and it wouldn’t be good for you either.”

“Bian Ji!” This time, Bian Ji was unusually firm, raising his tone decisively. “Do you have a better option? Anywhere else you can go?”

Bian Ji’s current apartment was company-owned, so it had strict restrictions on personnel movement, requiring facial recognition and dynamic password authentication. The backend system was directly linked to an alarm system, making it impossible for unauthorized people to enter. This level of security measure was indeed the best choice for both of them.

Yan Ankuo continued to look for reasons to refuse, but Bian Ji hammered down the decision. “I’m on my way to BFC. Either I pick you up, or we meet at the intersection.”

“Don’t,” Yan Ankuo said helplessly. “It’s crowded here; it’s not safe.”

Bian Ji responded with an “Oh”: “I don’t care. Choose a street corner to get in the car, I’ll just be parked on the side of the road.”

Bian Ji hadn’t expected that after knowing Yan Ankuo for only a short year, he would experience both an aerial disaster and legal turmoil, more dramatic than anything in films or television shows.

Under Bian Ji’s insistence, Yan Ankuo finally chose to get into the car at the back door of a hot pot restaurant, wearing a mask and a hat, which he didn’t take off even after getting into the car. From the barely visible eyes, Bian Ji could tell that this man probably hadn’t slept properly for a long time.

“What happened?” Bian Ji asked.

Yan Ankuo turned around to make sure no suspicious vehicles were following them before letting out a relieved breath. “Surveillance has been handed over to the police; they’re still investigating.”

“What about those who targeted you?” Bian Ji drove quickly due to his anxiety. “And those spreading information, those attacking you personally, shouldn’t they all be sued?”

“I’ve kept the evidence, but I need to sue the platform first, demanding them to provide personal identity information, before I can sue individuals.” Yan Ankuo took off his hat as they approached the neighborhood. “It’s a long process of collecting evidence, let’s take it slowly.”

Bian Ji brought him to the neighborhood, first finding the security office, then going through a complicated reporting process before allowing Yan Ankuo to pass through the gate.

Almost everyone in the neighborhood was an employee of X Airlines, and they encountered many colleagues and acquaintances along the way. Bian Ji greeted many people with a smile, reminding Yan Ankuo that he could take off his mask once they got into the elevator of the apartment building. Yan Ankuo shook his head, saying he’d wait until they were inside.

So Bian Ji led him to the door, shielding the display screen with his hand as he entered the password, opened the door, and turned to Yan Ankuo. “Come in.”

There were no extra slippers by the door, so Bian Ji let Yan Ankuo wear his own, while he found a pair of winter cotton slippers to cope for the night.

This was the first time Yan Ankuo had come to Bian Ji’s home, and it was also the first time this home welcomed a guest.

The apartment was only about forty square meters, with a combined living room and bedroom, and a small open kitchen. Since Bian Ji wasn’t often at home, he had converted the stove and utensils into hydroponic plants. Apart from a few clothes thrown haphazardly on the sofa, the house was relatively tidy.

Bian Ji hastily balled up the clothes and threw them into the washing machine, apologizing embarrassedly. “It’s too sudden. Usually, no one comes, so it’s a bit messy.”

“It’s not messy, it’s warm and cozy.” Yan Ankuo noticed that he had said “no one comes in,” linking it to Bian Ji’s previous behavior. He asked, “Would you feel uncomfortable with me staying here?”

Bian Ji didn’t understand his meaning. “What?”

“I thought you couldn’t accept cohabitation.” Yan Ankuo looked at him as he said this.

“Oh, I just don’t really…” Bian Ji had wanted to say “like living with others,” but he felt Yan Ankuo couldn’t be considered “others,” so he didn’t continue.

Yan Ankuo stood in place, seemingly eager to hear what he would say next.

Bian Ji lifted his hand, pointing to the sofa. “Sit down.”

Yan Ankuo, rarely awkward, sat on a tiny portion of the sofa, his back straight.

Bian Ji turned around to ask, “Are you going to the police station frequently these days? And regarding Lawyer Wen, do you need his help? You must have meetings regularly, do you need internet access?”

Yan Ankuo almost thought he was still in the law firm, smiling bitterly as he emphasized, “Bian Ji, I’m on vacation.”

“I know, but even when you’re on vacation, don’t you have work?” Bian Ji wore an expression that suggested this was nothing unusual. “We can clear the dining table, you can use it as your desk.”

“…” Yan Ankuo narrowed his eyes. “No need.”

Bian Ji was skeptical. “Tell me if you need anything.”

Yan Ankuo said “no need” with his mouth, but his hands couldn’t help opening his email, telling Huang Xiaoxiao and Wen Hongyu to notify him immediately if there was any progress.

Bian Ji opened the refrigerator, asking, “What do you want to eat for lunch?”

Yan Ankuo glanced at the countertop, overrun with hydroponic plants, making it barely recognizable as a kitchen. “Can you even cook here?”

“Not…really. I’m only home for a few days each week, ordering takeout is faster.” Bian Ji explained, then opened the food delivery app for Yan Ankuo to choose. “But it might be a bit troublesome. Outside vehicles can’t enter, so you have to go to the gate to pick it up, or ask the security guard to deliver it upstairs.”

Yan Ankuo stared at Bian Ji for a long time, laughing helplessly. “You’re always like this?”

Bian Ji nodded. “Yeah.”

He was often flying, and by the time he returned, it was usually already midnight. Learning culinary skills wasn’t very practical.

Yan Ankuo didn’t say much. “How about I buy some ingredients and cook for you tomorrow? You haven’t tasted my cooking yet.”

Bian Ji thought for a moment. “I think I have?”

“That was breakfast.” Chef Yan wasn’t actually particularly skilled at cooking, but he had a sense of pride that was neither too high nor too low. “It’s different.”

Bian Ji surveyed the kitchen, troubled. “Cooking might be a bit difficult. Those green plants are blocking the stove. If you want to cook, we’d have to move them all away. Or… forget it?”

Yan Ankuo had the awareness of a guest. “Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

So Bian Ji ordered nearby takeout, sitting on the sofa with Yan Ankuo, turning on the TV to play the eight o’clock drama series as background noise.

Despite coming together out of desperation, there was a rare tranquility and relaxation in this moment.

Yan Ankuo chatted casually. “Last time you said you wanted to change houses?”

“Yes.”

“Have you talked to the landlord?”

“No, the landlord thinks the price isn’t right now, so they changed their mind. Just as I had other things to deal with, so I didn’t continue looking for new places.”

Yan Ankuo’s hand holding the water cup suddenly paused. “Very busy recently?”

Bian Ji evaded the question. “Just… the usual work.”

Although X Airlines’ cabin crew duties were heavy, regardless, they had to follow the standard regulations regarding flight hours. The company wouldn’t arrange flights illegally, so Yan Ankuo could only think of one situation. “Are you changing routes?”

Previously, Bian Ji had mentioned to him that the company planned to adjust routes in the future, so they had been collecting crew demands recently to facilitate subsequent scheduling.

Bian Ji shook his head. “No, no, no. The route planning is just a plan, it’s estimated that it won’t be put on the agenda until next year.”

Yan Ankuo hummed in acknowledgment, changing the topic. “You still want to buy a house?”

“Yeah.” Bian Ji tried to give reasonable reasons. “I can’t keep living in the company’s apartment, I have a lot of stuff, there’s no space for it at your place either.”

“But I really don’t think now is a good time, Baoshan isn’t the most suitable area either.” Yan Ankuo sighed. “Can you hold off on looking for now? Let me ask my friends in finance, see how to allocate assets to ensure maximum returns.”

Bian Ji pursed his lips, saying, “Not in a hurry. The market is changing too much now, I was originally observing.”

Unlike a few days ago, both of them had experienced too many ups and downs, causing a huge shift in their mentality and thoughts. They wouldn’t end up unhappy over such matters anymore.

This moment was warm, but Yan Ankuo didn’t seem comfortable, as if he was deliberately suppressing his unhappiness due to the unpleasant precedent of his birthday.

Bian Ji proactively rubbed his face against Yan Ankuo’s fingers, like a friendly little animal. “Are you upset?”

Yan Ankuo thought for a moment, not telling the truth. “No.”

“Liar.” Bian Ji, having worked in service for years, wasn’t bad at reading people’s emotions.

Seeing he couldn’t avoid it, Yan Ankuo changed his answer. “I’m afraid if I say it, you’ll think I’m being petty.”

“How could that be?” Bian Ji sat on Yan Ankuo’s lap, wrapping his arms around his neck. “You’re the best.”

Yan Ankuo raised his head to kiss his eyes, after much mental preparation, he told the truth. “I was wondering why you’re so resistant to living together.”

Bian Ji immediately shook his head, wanting to say that he wasn’t resistant to living together with him.

Yan Ankuo extended his index finger to press against his lips, shushing him. “Don’t rush to deny it. I know it sounds harsh, but you know yourself, it’s the truth.”

Bian Ji opened his mouth, struggling and guiltily realizing that Yan Ankuo’s words were correct.

Yan Ankuo looked at him with an inexplicably sad expression, even his tone tinged with unease. “Is it because you can’t accept others intruding on your private space?” Bian Ji remained silent.

Yan Ankuo then changed his approach. “Now, I’m sitting on your sofa, dirtying your carpet, would you feel offended?”

As if a surge of energy had suddenly injected into his muddled brain, Bian Ji suddenly realized – whether due to urgency or for other reasons – that he didn’t have the imagined resistance.

“No,” he struggled to understand his inner thoughts, finally holding Yan Ankuo firmly and without hesitation. “If it’s you, no.”