Sean opened the door, finding the the house was cleaned up and the baby cats were huddling together and sleeping with light snores. Gene must have asked someone to take care of them.

Sean sighed softly as there were many things developing beyond control.

The next few days were quite peaceful, and Sean's life was so quite that it almost seemed to stop. He had wanted to invite Gene to dinner sometime but Gene never answered his phone. William did not call him either, but sometimes at night he would send him a few sweet short messages.

It had been four or five days since Sean went out again. It was time to buy some food even if he had no appetite at all.

It was windy and snowing.

Sean tied the scarf tightly, bought some commodities and then planned to go home. When he came to an alley, he stumbled and fell as he didn't see the piece of frozen water on the ground, broking his knee.

Pain was inevitable, but people couldn't indulge in self-pity when no one cherished them. He bit his lip silently, got up and picked up the scattered things, wending home with slightly bended back.

He had been accustomed to loneliness when he was alone. It was not so intolerable, but he just became more and more taciturn after enduring it for a long time. Sean was not a cold man by nature. He became such a person just because he had been experiencing hurt and separation time after time.

The four baby cats grew up very fast, quite naughty. They loved to stick to Sean with their small claws hooking him and tried to snuggle up to the hollow of his neck. Sean felt warm and itchy at such times, and at the same time he always had to take care of the fish soup made for them.

Sean did not expect that William came back at eleven o 'clock at night. Sean was a light sleeper, and he woke up when the door opened.

William took off the Italian leather shoes, and threw the thick woolen coat on the sofa. He would never tie a scarf if Sean didn't ask him to wear it.

"Back?"

William raised his eyebrow: "How do you still up?"

Sean came forward to hold William's hand gently. Quite cold. "I woke up just now. Why didn't tell me you’ll be back. You don't want me to pick you up?"

William moved forward to kiss him: "The flight is too late. I'm afraid to disturb you, and it's too cold in the winter night in Beijing."

Sean just grunted assent and tore himself from William's hand. "There's still some fish soup in the kitchen. I'll heat up it. Eat some to warm up."

William's cold brows and eyes went much gentler: "I'll take a shower first."

It took little time. Sean was scooping the hot soup into the white porcelain bowl when William got out .

"It's so bland." Holding the bowl, William sipped, with a rare air of youth.

Sean said: "The cats can't bear greasy food, and I can't eat salty food."

William drank the soup with a bad grace, beckoning Sean over and stretching out to hold him in his arms and press him on the sofa: "Do you miss me? You play with the cats everyday when I'm not at home, right?"

Sean just shook his head with a gentle expression, but his indifference was too obvious to ignore.

William intended to kiss his lips, while he turned his head lightly. Then a light kiss fell on his cheek.

"I'm tired." Sean patted William's nose tip lightly with his fingertip, avoiding his complex eyes: "You must be tired too. Go to bed early."

"I miss you so much." William frowned and leaned close to Sean's ears. "I want to hug you." It was William's sunday punch. Sean's ears were sensitive, and William's deep voice was quite euphonious. It was his usual means of courtship.

But this time Sean just frowned. He felt so sick, but he did not want the atmosphere to be awkward. He thought for a while, and then cuddled William:" All right. Go to sleep."