LIAH 30. Ill-Fitting

Because of how much he had drunk the night before, Pei Siyin woke up very late the next day. Thankfully, it was the weekend.

When he opened his eyes, Song Shengyang was already gone from the bed. The apartment was quiet. He reached around the nightstand and managed to find his phone.

The pinned chat at the top was with Song Shengyang. Pei Siyin hadn’t changed the contact name and still kept his screen name as “SSY.”

There were five messages from Yao Lu, all sent past 1 a.m. The first asked if he got home safely. Five minutes later, she sent two photos.

[Yao Lu]: Senior! You looked so good, I couldn’t help myself! [starry eyes emoji]

[Yao Lu]: Your boyfriend looks so cool and handsome! You two are perfect together!! [heart heart heart] 99!

Pei Siyin lay on his stomach and tapped to open the photos. The first one looked like it was taken while he was locking the dressing room door yesterday. The lighting and lines were surprisingly good, so he gave it a solid thumbs-up in his head.

He didn’t remember the second one at all, but based on the background, it had to be after they drank. The night was dark and heavy, and the photo only showed the two of them from behind. Pei Siyin zoomed in and saw Song Shengyang’s hand wrapped around his waist. The fingers were long and distinct, with a silver ring gleaming faintly on his index finger.

Because he had been drunk and unsteady on his feet, his clothes had ridden up a little. Song Shengyang’s hand landed right at that narrow part of his waist. He was bent toward him, saying something into his ear.

Too bad Pei Siyin couldn’t remember any of it.

He tapped to download the original photo and saved it to his gallery before replying to Yao Lu.

[PSY]: Looks good. Guess I owe you milk tea again [laughing emoji]

The reply came back quickly.

[Yao Lu]: Two pics! Two cups!

Pei Siyin chuckled and tapped out a reply.

[PSY]: No problem [ok emoji]

After responding, he exited the chat and tapped into his profile settings. From his photo album, he selected the picture of him and Song Shengyang walking together at night.

He cropped it a little tighter, framing them from the shoulders down to just above the hips. At least he hadn’t blatantly posted himself in a skirt, just enough that it looked like a regular pair of black shorts in the darkness.

Gone was the old profile photo of a solitary gaze into the distance. Now it was two people, leaning close in intimacy.

Song Shengyang had just gotten back from his morning run. Before he could head to the shower, he heard the sound of someone talking inside the bedroom. He turned the doorknob and leaned in, tilting his head down behind Pei Siyin to eavesdrop.

“I know, Mom. I’ll come home for May Day,” Pei Siyin was saying, still lying on the bed. “I’ll buy the plane ticket later. Don’t worry. Yeah, mhm, got it, got it. Bye.”

He hung up.

Song Shengyang leaned a bit closer. “You going home over the break?”

Pei Siyin jolted in surprise, nearly tossing his phone. “When did you get back? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Half the curtain was open, and sunlight spilled into the room. Song Shengyang straightened up, sweat sliding from his cheek to his jaw. He wiped it with a towel and said, “Just now. You were so into your call, I didn’t want to interrupt.”

The alcohol had mostly worn off after a full night’s sleep. Pei Siyin sat up and rubbed his stomach, which was starting to feel painfully empty. He reached out toward Song Shengyang. “I’m starving.”

Song Shengyang took his hand. “I already ordered food. It’ll be here soon. I just finished running, I’m gonna take a shower first.”

Pei Siyin stretched lazily at the edge of the bed. “Okay.”

Once Song Shengyang finished showering, it was Pei Siyin’s turn to stumble into the bathroom with his hair still a mess. As cold water hit his skin, most of the lingering sleepiness vanished. He felt instantly refreshed.

After breakfast, Song Shengyang settled back on the couch, phone in hand as he typed. Pei Siyin wandered over from the far end, wrapped his arms around Song Shengyang’s neck, and straddled his lap.

Just as the last few words were sent, Song Shengyang put the phone down and wrapped his arms around Pei Siyin’s waist. “Sleepy again?”

“Mm,” Pei Siyin mumbled, voice thick with laziness. “When you’re full, you get sleepy.”

Song Shengyang added matter-of-factly, “Pigs too.”

“Excuse me?” Pei Siyin shifted backward on his thighs. “Are you saying I’m only good for eating and sleeping?”

Song Shengyang gave a quiet laugh. “Not at all.”

His hand slipped beneath the hem of Pei Siyin’s pajama top. The shirt was his, oversized on Pei Siyin’s frame. As his hand moved underneath, Pei Siyin’s body instantly softened. He let those fingers roam wherever they pleased, then leaned forward to bite at Song Shengyang’s lip. His tongue slipped between his teeth and swept through his mouth.

Song Shengyang caught him by the waist and pressed him down onto the couch. His knee pushed between Pei Siyin’s thighs and deepened the kiss, eventually trailing downward to his neck.

The pajama top had ridden up to his chest. Remembering last night, Song Shengyang paused, one hand still resting at Pei Siyin’s waist. He held his face gently and asked, “Do you remember what you promised me last night?”

Pei Siyin’s breath caught. He rubbed his cheek against Song Shengyang’s palm, mind blank. “I don’t remember saying anything.”

Given the circumstances, Song Shengyang figured a reminder was in order. So he held up his phone and played the video right in front of Pei Siyin’s face.

Several minutes passed in complete silence. The air felt frozen. Pei Siyin stared at the hand holding the phone, lips pressed together. After a pause, he asked quietly, “In that video… did I actually say anything?”

Song Shengyang blinked innocently and shamelessly replied, “Didn’t you hear? I answered for you.”

Pei Siyin was genuinely floored. He kept going with the thread. “If you want to see me in a skirt, just say it. Why bother sneaking around recording me when I’m drunk?”

He tugged at Song Shengyang’s collar with a teasing smile. “Really not very gentlemanly of you, Mr. Song.”

The jab made Song Shengyang flush. He quickly shut off the video and tossed the phone aside and pulled Pei Siyin into his arms.

Pei Siyin didn’t need to ask what Song Shengyang was thinking. As long as he liked it, Pei Siyin had no problem wearing whatever he wanted. He welcomed the possessiveness and demands that Song Shengyang was beginning to show. What really would have troubled him was if Song Shengyang didn’t want anything from him at all.

Both of them lay on their sides on the couch, pressed so tightly together their bodies were slick with sweat, yet neither made a move to get up. Pei Siyin hooked one leg around Song Shengyang’s waist and raised his head from his chest. “So should we go buy it now?”

Song Shengyang loosened his hold a little. “We can.”

Pei Siyin yawned and traced slow circles around Song Shengyang’s Adam’s apple with his finger. “Your requests are pretty simple. Nothing else you want?”

Song Shengyang paused. “Like what?”

Pei Siyin shifted in his arms. One hand braced against Song Shengyang’s chest as he leaned in, lips brushing behind his ear. The warm breath stirred heat on his skin, but Pei Siyin didn’t move further. Instead, he turned his face, his lashes sweeping against Song Shengyang’s cheek. His voice dropped to a whisper. “We could do the sexy kind too, you know.”

What he said hit like a bomb. Song Shengyang couldn’t last even a second.

He suddenly rose from the couch and scooped Pei Siyin into his arms, heading straight for the bedroom.

The movie was still playing in the living room, but Pei Siyin was already laid out on the bed. His pajama shirt had fallen open, exposing his bare chest. “Aren’t you going to buy the skirt?”

“No.” Song Shengyang kissed him, lips wet and hot, the sound between them sticky and loud. His hand slid to the waistband of Pei Siyin’s pajama pants and pulled them down. “I’ll have someone deliver it tonight.”

“If I don’t try it on, how would we know if it fits?”

Song Shengyang kissed the corner of his mouth. “If it doesn’t fit, isn’t it even easier to rip apart?”

Pei Siyin’s heart jumped. His mouth parted as he struggled to speak. “What a waste.”

But he didn’t say no.