Kiss Me, Kill Me, Forget Me

It was almost 6 a.m. when Jiang Qi made another stop at a small town. Throughout the ride, they had taken several stops—whether it was to refill gas, buy something to drink, or use the washroom—but Shen Yi hadn't said a word the whole time, as if he trusted wherever Jiang Qi was taking him without question.

They both got off the bike, and Jiang Qi beckoned Shen Yi to follow him, so he did, staying close behind as they walked into a small convenience store. Inside, Jiang Qi picked up some groceries, a few snacks, and a couple of drinks, moving quickly as though he already knew what he needed. He paid in cash, and after that, they left the store and continued their journey, with Shen Yi quietly holding onto the bag of items they had bought.

It didn't take long before they arrived at a quiet area surrounded by trees, and in front of them stood a cottage hidden between tall pine trunks and early morning mist. Jiang Qi parked the bike and got off, his eyes fixed on the house in a way that made it seem more important than it looked. A small smile formed on his lips, and he spoke as if talking to an old friend.

"Long time no see," he said.

Shen Yi looked at the house for a moment, then turned to Jiang Qi.

"Do you come here often?" he asked.

Jiang Qi glanced at him as if trying to find something on his face, but when he didn't see it, his gaze lowered and his voice turned softer.

"Yeah," he said.

He walked toward the front door while Shen Yi followed silently, sensing the shift in his mood. Shen Yi guessed maybe the house reminded Jiang Qi of something from the past, and he decided not to ask anything more.

Jiang Qi bent down near the entrance, lifted a flower pot, and retrieved a key hidden beneath it. He unlocked the wooden door, stepped inside, and Shen Yi followed him quietly.

The cottage wasn't too large, but it wasn't too small either—it had just enough space for one or two people. On the left side of the room stood a small fireplace with a few neatly stacked logs beside it. Near the window sat a wooden table with two chairs pushed underneath. The kitchen was simple, with open shelves holding some clean dishes and a kettle resting on the stove. A two-seater couch faced the fireplace, and a folded blanket was thrown over its back. A narrow hallway led to a small bedroom and a bathroom tucked quietly at the back.

Shen Yi took slow steps inside as he looked around, taking in the space like he was studying it. There was a strange calm in the air, and before he realized it, a quiet feeling of home began creeping into him.

Jiang Qi walked over to the kitchen area, placed the bag of items on the counter, and started arranging them without saying much. Shen Yi kept moving through the room, letting his eyes pause on every small detail, from the shape of the couch cushions to the dustless shelves.

When Jiang Qi was done, he walked and leaned against the wall near the kitchen entrance, watching Shen Yi for a moment before speaking.

"What do you think of it?" he asked.

Shen Yi turned around to face him and replied, "It's good."

Jiang Qi smiled faintly but didn't say anything more. He just continued to look at Shen Yi in a way that made the silence feel heavier.

Shen Yi glanced away, avoiding the intensity of his gaze.

To ease the awkwardness, he asked, "Does this place belong to you?"

Jiang Qi paused, then shook his head lightly and said, "Not really. Someone left it for me."

"Who?" Shen Yi asked without thinking much.

Jiang Qi stared at him, longer this time, and then pushed himself off the wall. He walked toward Shen Yi, stopping only when they were near the hallway, and looked at him more seriously.

"Do you really not remember?" Jiang Qi asked, his voice low but steady.

Shen Yi frowned a little, confused by the question.

Then Jiang Qi's voice dropped slightly as he stepped closer and said, "You were the one who left this cottage to me… Little Black."

***

Back in the city, Xu Bo and Yao Zhen were wreaking havoc when they realized their boss had disappeared overnight. This was not good, even though they already knew nothing bad had happened to him. It wasn't the first time Jiang Qi had done this, but every time he did, Old Master Jiang would have them seriously punished. So, they had to find him as soon as possible.

"Why does he always do this to us?" Yao Zhen complained, sitting on the floor outside the door of the room Jiang Qi had been in.

Xu Bo glanced at him, annoyed. "Just get your butt up and let's go look for him before Old Master finds out."

Yao Zhen sighed, and when he still didn't get up, Xu Bo pulled him up, dragging him away.

"I should have guessed it when he asked to clear his schedule for two days. We are so fucked up, bro." Yao Zhen could not stop whining.