Chapter 64: Be a good boy and sleep

“Is it done? Hyung… can I come out now?”

Rian’s muffled voice drifted out from beneath the bed, laced with a small grumble. After everything he had done, the long day was finally catching up to him. Whenever it got close to Rian’s bedtime, he always became like this—tired, grumpy, and a little short-tempered. His attitude would show itself in small complaints and impatient sighs.

But in Cheon Areum’s eyes, it never looked intimidating. If anything, it reminded him of a puppy that had been running around all day and was now circling restlessly, trying to drag its owner along to bed with it. The image made it hard for him to take Rian’s grumbling seriously at all.

“You can come out now.”

Cheon Areum said with a faint smile, reaching down to grab Rian’s small hand so he could pull him out from under the bed. But just as his fingers closed around Rian’s hand, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around his ribcage from behind. Cheon Areum blinked. Yoon Seoyul… suddenly wanted to hug him? The unexpected embrace distracted him just long enough that he forgot to pull.

Rian simply crawled out by himself, wriggling free from beneath the bed and pushing himself up onto his feet. As soon as he stood up, he shot Yoon Seoyul a sharp, unimpressed glare. To say he wasn’t impressed would have been an understatement.

“…”

Cheon Areum turned his head slightly to glance at Yoon Seoyul behind him. But all he could see was a head of black hair. Yoon Seoyul had buried his face in the nape of his neck, his breath warm against his skin as he held him from behind without saying a word. Before Cheon Areum could even question it—

Rian suddenly reached over and pulled Yoon Seoyul away. Surprisingly, it was done with little effort. Yoon Seoyul allowed himself to be removed from Cheon Areum without resistance, his face completely expressionless as Rian displaced him. Then, without hesitation, Rian took his spot. He wrapped his arms around Cheon Areum’s neck and hugged him tightly instead. Cheon Areum instinctively placed his hands over the small arms around his neck, blinking in confusion as he looked from one to the other.

“What?”

His gaze shifted between them.

“What’s happening?”

Neither of them answered him. For a moment, the room remained strangely quiet. Then Yoon Seoyul simply stood up. Without a word, he walked out of the room. He left the door open behind him. The action was so unlike him that even Rian was surprised.

“Hyung… did I upset him?”

Rian asked quietly, his arms still loosely around Cheon Areum’s neck.

“No, he wouldn’t be upset over something like this.”

His gaze lingered on the doorway Yoon Seoyul had just walked through.

“Did something happen while I was asleep?”

Rian thought for a moment before answering.

“He’s been acting a little weird these past few days…”

Cheon Areum looked back at him.

“How?”

“He talks less during breakfast, and even after I came home today, he seemed distracted. He didn’t say much. He only talks when I ask him something.”

Hearing Rian’s words, Cheon Areum glanced toward the doorway. His expression carried a mix of curiosity and concern.

“I should go after him, right?”

“Hm…”

Rian released his hold on him, and Cheon Areum pushed himself up from the floor. He walked toward the door to follow Yoon Seoyul. But the moment he crossed the threshold, his wrist was suddenly snatched from the side. The unexpected force made his eyes lose focus for a brief second as he was pulled forward. Before he could react, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around him. Yoon Seoyul stood just outside the bedroom door, pulling Cheon Areum straight into his embrace.

“…?”

Rian followed them out of the room as well. The moment he saw what was happening, he immediately pointed an accusing finger at Yoon Seoyul.

“That’s unfair! You always do this to me!”

“How is it unfair?”

Yoon Seoyul, still holding Cheon Areum with his arms wrapped around him and his back pressed lightly against the wall, looked at Rian without the slightest hint of guilt and asked the question shamelessly. Rian, already tired from the long day, puffed his cheeks in frustration.

He huffed once.

Then again.

Clearly deciding it wasn’t worth arguing any further, he turned around and stomped off toward his bedroom to get ready for bed instead. Knowing Yoon Seoyul had only been playing around, Cheon Areum followed after Rian. When he stepped into the boy’s room, he nearly stumbled immediately.

The entire place was filled with things Rian refused to throw away—books, toys, drawings, random little objects he had collected over time. They covered the shelves, the desk, and even parts of the floor, leaving only narrow paths to walk through. Cheon Areum carefully navigated the clutter, stepping over scattered items until he finally reached the bed.

After making sure Rian had changed and settled down properly, he pulled the blanket over him and tucked him in. Rian, already half-asleep, mumbled something incoherent before curling up comfortably among the mountain of belongings that surrounded him.

Once he was certain the boy was asleep, Cheon Areum quietly left the room. Later, after getting ready for bed himself, he returned to the bedroom where Yoon Seoyul was waiting. The two of them lay down together. But neither of them closed their eyes. The bedside lamp still cast a soft glow across the room, illuminating the quiet space as they both stared silently into the dim light.

“Why are you not sleeping?”

Cheon Areum finally asked after a long stretch of silence.

“Why aren’t you?”

“I’m going to after you.”

“I’m going to do the same.”

Yoon Seoyul replied just as casually.

Cheon Areum lay on his side of the bed watching him. He had turned onto his side as well, his wings drawn close behind him, half-hidden beneath the blanket like a quiet shield. For a few seconds, neither of them moved. Then the sheets rustled softly. Cheon Areum shifted closer across the mattress until the space between them disappeared. Raising himself slightly on one arm, he leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to Yoon Seoyul’s cheek. Then another to his lips.

Yoon Seoyul reacted instantly.

His hand came up to grip the back of Cheon Areum’s head, fingers sliding into his hair as he tilted his face slightly to further deepen the kiss, involving their tongues. The moment lingered, slow and warm—the kind of closeness that came from long habit rather than urgency. After a long and passionate kiss, Cheon Areum slowly pulled back, trying to play it cool as he spoke out.

“Be a good boy and go to sleep now.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep