Realizing that he was holding Yan Yibing’s hand, Han Mo was a bit flustered.
But he had no regrets at all.
The wrist of a professional player is very flexible, and there’s a small hollow on the front side of the protruding wrist bone. Han Mo’s little finger happened to fit into this hollow, pressing tightly against Yan Yibing’s wrist bone.
That small patch of skin was soft, more delicate, and fair than other places, carrying the coolness of evaporating water.
Han Mo felt that even his palm had been dampened.
The only thing breaking the silence was the continuously beeping sports wristband, seemingly reminding him that his heartbeat was out of control, and the sound became more and more impatient.
Yan Yibing curiously lowered his gaze, momentarily forgetting the significance of Han Mo holding his wrist.
He asked, “What’s making that sound?”
Han Mo’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, and his jaw tensed. He gave a short and stiff answer, “Sports wristband.”
Yan Yibing pulled his wrist back a bit, held tightly by Han Mo, enveloped by the warmth of the hand, feeling a bit strange.
Perhaps it was because they had severed ties with each other, and this kind of buddy-like behavior wasn’t suitable.
Han Mo realized this and reluctantly, slowly released his grip. The moment he let go, Yan Yibing tucked his hand into the towel.
“Why is the sports wristband beeping?”
Yan Yibing knew that this product was mainly for monitoring health, but judging by Han Mo’s strength, he didn’t seem to have any health issues.
Han Mo paused and said indifferently, “Alarm, reminding me that it’s time for training.”
Yan Yibing raised an eyebrow thoughtfully and said, “Prince has already won the championship and is still working so hard. It seems like we, Zero, have been too lax.”
He had planned to go back, eat a bag of potato chips, and watch a movie, especially since the coach had given them time off.
But suddenly hearing that Han Mo was still studying, the years of being a top student stimulated him with a bit of anxiety. He decided to go back and review the game again.
He couldn’t let Song Tang and the others relax too much. Maybe in two days, each of them should write a self-reflection report.
It was still a bit chilly outside. The moisture on his body evaporated, and when the wind blew through the woods, little goosebumps appeared.
Yan Yibing tightened his towel, the white towel swaying on his thighs, seemingly hidden.
He was about to leave when Han Mo suddenly spoke, “The light bulb in my house is broken.”
Yan Yibing stopped and frowned.
The light bulb was broken. Was he supposed to sympathize?
“I am so sorry to hear that?”
Han Mo: “… I don’t have a ladder, so I can’t change it. Do you have one at your house?”
“Oh…” Yan Yibing tilted his head and thought for a moment. Indeed, he did. The tools at his house were stored in the basement, usually managed by his father, and he didn’t know how to use them. “Yes, come with me to get it.”
“Mm.” After waiting for a few more seconds, Han Mo said, “Thank you.”
Yan Yibing’s back stiffened slightly, not saying anything. He was used to Han Mo hating him and wasn’t accustomed to Han Mo being this polite to him.
Han Mo still remembered how to get to Yan Yibing’s house, even though he had only been there twice.
Following the small gravel path with numerous turns, they finally arrived near the fountain at the center of the neighborhood.
Yan Yibing walked to his doorstep, stopping in his tracks. “Wait here. I’ll get it for you.”
He didn’t want Han Mo to enter his home, nor did he want his parents to see him.
If his mom saw, she might conduct an on-the-spot reconciliation meeting like an elementary school teacher.
That would be too awkward, and Han Mo would probably feel embarrassed too.
Han Mo’s eyes dimmed slightly but didn’t argue. He stood quietly in place, his straight figure casting a long shadow under the streetlight.
Yan Yibing entered his house. Not long after, the light in his bedroom turned on.
Han Mo tilted his head slightly, silently gazing at the brightness through the turquoise curtain.
In the dark night, that small light spread out, enveloping someone very important.
The faint fragrance of oat milk still seemed to linger around Yan Yibing. That scene just now would be enough for him to reminisce for a long time.
Soon, the garage door opened, and Yan Yibing walked out, dragging a ladder.
It was one of those foldable portable ladders, but it was not light. Yan Yibing carried one end and let the other drag on the ground, sharing some of its weight.
He had changed into a different set of clothes.
It was an extremely oversized white T-shirt, so oversized that the neckline of the T-shirt could only hang on one side of his shoulder. His collarbone and neck were shamelessly exposed, without any sense of danger.
He wore shorts underneath, the edges of the shorts were very loose, flapping against his knees, accentuating his well-proportioned and slender calves.
Yan Yibing raised his chin slightly, offering it to Han Mo.
He hadn’t taken a shower yet, so he just randomly put on a disliked piece of clothing and handed the ladder to Han Mo before going back to freshen up.
The smell of disinfectant from the swimming pool now clung to his skin, making him uncomfortable.
Han Mo: “Help me hold the ladder; I can’t manage it alone.”
Yan Yibing sighed softly.
Han Mo had a point, but he might not be able to shower for a while.
Han Mo took the heavy ladder and didn’t let it touch the ground this time.
He carried the ladder while leading the way.
On the way home, he ordered a delivery service to bring a light bulb and KFC’s ice cream float coffee Coffee.1ice cream float coffee: 雪顶咖啡(Xuě dǐng kāfēi) a more direct translation would be snow top coffee; it’s actually KFC’s float coffee
At this hour, the delivery fee was not cheap. Han Mo wasn’t a lavish person, and he would typically prefer to do it himself. But today, saving money is not important.
Yan Yibing’s house was in the center of the villa area, overlooking the fountain scenery outside the window. It was also the most expensive building in the neighborhood.
Han Mo’s house was at the back. It wasn’t that expensive before, but ever since a subway station was built not far from the neighborhood’s back gate, the prices naturally increased.
So, the house he bought wasn’t really a good deal.
They walked along a small path. This path was even more secluded, with almost no one walking on it, considering there weren’t many people going from the front to the back.
The fragrance of grass and trees on this path was even more intense. Yan Yibing took a deep whiff of the pleasant scent, and surprisingly, it lightened his mood a bit.
He hadn’t planned to lend a hand to carry half of the ladder for Han Mo, and Han Mo hadn’t asked for his help either.
Arriving at Han Mo’s house, Yan Yibing only felt the darkness around.
Under the streetlight, the front yard was visible. It hadn’t been maintained, lacking both plants and rocking chairs for sipping coffee. His mom would probably say it lacked any sense of style.
Han Mo scanned his fingerprint at the door, which then opened into complete darkness.
Because the windows were always open for ventilation, there was a cool breeze inside.
Yan Yibing followed him in, realizing that the streetlight shining through the window cast a faint light on the floor, and it was evident that there was no carpet on the floor.
“Where do I change shoes?”
Yan Yibing’s eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. He felt around, supporting himself against the wall, which was hard and smooth, devoid of any wallpaper.
“No need to change shoes; there’s no carpet. Come in,” Han Mo said, not bothering to change his shoes, and walked in himself.
Yan Yibing shrugged. Seeing that the host didn’t mind, he didn’t fuss about it either.
“Where’s your light bulb?” Yan Yibing asked.
Han Mo lowered his head, turned on the flashlight on his phone, and illuminated the floor. “Wait, I ordered delivery; it’ll be here soon.”
Yan Yibing: “…You didn’t have a light bulb. Why didn’t you say so earlier?” If he had known, he would have finished showering by now, and he wouldn’t have had to endure the smell of disinfectant.
“It’ll be here soon. Have a seat first.”
The flashlight scanned the hall, and Yan Yibing quickly got an idea of Han Mo’s home décor.
It was simple. No structure, no style, nothing.
In the living room, there was no elegant piano, no heavy and solid bar counter, not even a television. The walls were bare, and there was only a standing air conditioner in the corner.
The sofa was simple and low-key, enough for sitting, but it lacked any character. It was like a temporary placeholder in a rental property, ready to be replaced at any time.
The place didn’t feel like home at all. Because of the large villa area and the open windows, the house felt cold and empty, not warm at all.
But… Han Mo indeed had no other relatives.
He had the money to buy a villa but didn’t know who to share it with.
Han Mo placed his phone on the coffee table, using it as a candle.
He sat on one side of the sofa, leaving a lot of space for Yan Yibing.
“Sorry, there isn’t much in the fridge.”
Yan Yibing sat down, not very gracefully crossing his legs, and said softly, “Hmm, I figured.”
Han Mo: “Are you cold? I’ll close the window.”
Yan Yibing waved his hand, but soon he realized that Han Mo might not see well in the dark, so he spoke up, “No need, I’m not that delicate.”
The atmosphere was quite awkward.
In the darkness, only the light of the mobile phone illuminated the room.
They sat on the sofa, motionless, not knowing what to talk about.
For Yan Yibing, who loved to talk, it was quite painful.
“You might as well sleep at the base tonight, and tomorrow, when the property office opens, let them come and change it,” Yan Yibing suggested somewhat irritatedly.
In the night, Han Mo gently bit his lip, “The base is on vacation, no one is there, it’s boring.”
“Oh,” Yan Yibing thought, Isn’t your home even more desolate and boring?
Fortunately, the delivery arrived quickly. The delivery person had a hard time finding his house, clearly having never been to this neighborhood before.
It was quite troublesome to get in. Han Mo had to tell him the building number, the owner’s name, a random verification code, and even had to send a message to the owner’s group to report.
The delivery guy handed the things to Han Mo, wiped the sweat from his face, and said, “That’ll be forty-two in total. KFC has a buy-one-get-one-free offer for drinks, so there are two.”
Han Mo nodded, gave him fifty, and then carried the things back into the house.
Actually, the ice cream float coffee didn’t have a very strong fragrance, so Yan Yibing didn’t notice it at first.
He urged, “Hurry up; I need to go back and shower. Where do I change the light bulb?”
Han Mo put the drinks down, took out the light bulb, casually threw away the packaging, and said, “In the living room.”
He dragged the ladder over, handed the light bulb to Yan Yibing, and then crouched down himself to start installing the ladder.
Yan Yibing wanted to help but found himself clueless on how to.
He simply didn’t know how because he was never allowed to lend a hand at home.
However, Han Mo was very proficient. In no time, he unfolded the ladder and set it up.
Turning around, he went to take the light bulb from Yan Yibing’s hand.
In the darkness, visibility was poor, and as he handed over the light bulb, their hands almost intertwined.
Yan Yibing’s fingers were tender, a clear sign he hadn’t done any heavy work.
Han Mo’s palm was slightly drier and rougher.
In that moment of touch, Yan Yibing subconsciously pulled his hand back.
Han Mo’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
“Hold the ladder for me,” he said, proceeding to climb up the ladder.
His speed was not slow, and his movements were agile. He quickly reached the height where he could reach the light bulb and stopped.
The ladder slightly shook and made some noise.
Yan Yibing didn’t quite understand and became a bit flustered, fearing Han Mo might fall. So, he decided to just hold onto his legs.
Yan Yibing gripped the ladder tightly, his chest pressed against Han Mo’s calves. Due to nervousness, he exerted quite a bit of force, holding tightly.
Han Mo’s hand trembled, and the light bulb almost slipped from his grasp.
He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, his fingers gripping the smooth surface of the light bulb, his palm sweaty.
Yan Yibing was dressed lightly, the T-shirt soft and cool. Upon contact, Han Mo could almost feel the warmth of his chest.
Han Mo’s calves stiffened, not daring to move at all, afraid that any slight movement might hurt Yan Yibing or that his shoes might soil Yan Yibing’s clothes.
Han Mo said hoarsely, “No need… to be so tight.”
Yan Yibing heard him, and his arms relaxed a little. “Like this?”
Han Mo finally had some breathing room and hurriedly replied, “Mm.”
He looked up, reaching out with one hand to unscrew the old light bulb. The screwing sound echoed in the living room, drowning out his erratic breathing.
After steadying his mind, he quickly screwed in the new light bulb. Confirming everything was fine, Han Mo reminded Yan Yibing, “It’s done.”
Yan Yibing let go of him, and Han Mo slowly descended from the ladder.
The uncontrolled ladder shook quite a bit. With one hand still holding the light bulb, Han Mo couldn’t fully grab the handrail.
When he reached the last step, the ladder creaked and slipped a bit. Han Mo, sensing something was wrong, quickly jumped down, but his unstable posture caused him to stagger a bit.
He landed right into Yan Yibing’s arms.
To avoid hitting Yan Yibing’s nose, Han Mo instinctively grabbed his waist.
The oversized T-shirt felt like a lump of cotton in his palm.
But Yan Yibing’s waist wasn’t soft; he could faintly sense the muscular lines.
This was the closest Han Mo had ever been to Yan Yibing.
He had a milky fragrance, the astringency of disinfectant, and the fresh scent of laundry detergent on him.
In the hazy sight, Yan Yibing’s almond-shaped eyes trembled, his eyelids were thin, the tips of his eyelashes curled up, and his pupils were pitch-black, it was unclear what he was gazing at.
His damp hair, which had just started to dry, now hung slightly on his nose, earlobes, and neck, giving him an air of innocence.
Han Mo was losing his mind.
He had to summon all his willpower to resist kissing Yan Yibing.
He didn’t know if he’d ever get such a good chance again, to hold Yan Yibing’s waist, to keep him close.
In the dark living room, he realized that his possessiveness toward Yan Yibing had become even stronger.
His gentle and lazy captain, his cold and ruthless master, just one glance, and he wanted to dominate this divine figure forever.
Yan Yibing was slightly shorter than Han Mo, so being held like this, he felt a bit strange in his heart.
This posture was like that of a boyfriend and girlfriend.
But he knew Han Mo had just lost balance.
Yan Yibing used his fingers to push against Han Mo’s chest and asked, “Are you okay?”
He didn’t use much force, but the ribs on his chest were not pain-resistant, so he could clearly feel it.
However, Han Mo didn’t avoid it, and his hand didn’t leave Yan Yibing’s waist.
After a few seconds of silence, Han Mo asked hoarsely, “Want some drinks? ice cream float coffee, sweet, your favorite.”
Yan Yibing raised an eyebrow, his eyes lighting up. “ice cream float coffee? Sure.”
He always liked to drink sweet drinks, and that had never changed.
Other restaurants didn’t make sweet drinks like KFC.
There was a hint of an imperceptible smile in Han Mo’s eyes, and even his tone softened.
The tenderness never seen by others became apparent on this night.
Han Mo said, “There are two cups, both for you.”
Author’s Message:
Han Mo: Don’t drink coffee, drink me instead.
Thank you for reading! 
Hope you enjoy the rest of your day 🍀
If you like reading my translations, do consider supporting me with ko-fi🌼
