Today was one of the rare moments when Lei came back home to Lili and finally slept with her in the same bed. He wasn't coming back from the hospital that often, and when he did, it was just to take some clothes or papers that he needed in the company.
When Lili finally talked him into sleeping, she was the one that took care of Chao and Yitian in the hospital, so they usually missed each other.
But now, Lei was soundly sleeping on the bed for more than ten hours and Lili kept working on her laptop, finishing the book translation, whose deadline was coming near every day.
Soon Lili heard a slight shifting on the bed, suggesting that Lei was waking up soon. Normally, he slept like a dead person, not shifting at all. It was so scary.
"Good morning, my treasure…" she heard his drowsy raspy voice and immediately put the laptop on the side and walked towards him.
She leaned to Lei, who was sitting on the bed, still covered with blankets, and kissed him to wake him up.
When Lili did it, when their lips met, the suppressed passion was hard to tame once again. So, she rather just hugged him, and pressed her cheeks to his chest, just to hear his rapid heartbeat.
"Why is Chao so worried about sleeping? I know he has nightmares, but to be scared to this extent?" Lili asked the question that was going through her head over and over again.
"It's complicated. He had had those nightmares since he was eight. He had PTSD from when our mother died," he said and squeezed her in the hug closer to him. Lili winced.
"He was there?" she continued. She knew it must have hurt Lei, so she wasn't asking further before, but now. When the situation occurred, she thought it was the right time to ask.
"Yes, she picked him up from football practice. Chao... he was asked by some guys to go with them, but he followed the rules and called our mother. Luckily she was already close to the pitch, so she came and saved Chao." Lili could hear his heartbeat being faster than before when he took a deep breath and calmed himself down a bit.
"They followed them and caused my mother to crash into a wall. Chao got safely out of the car, thanks to Jiaer, but our mother couldn't escape. She was trapped there when the car… blew up," Lili gasped when she heard it. No wonder Lei wouldn't talk about it. It was so gruesome.
"And he?" Lili feared the most, but in the end, she asked.
"Yes, he was conscious and saw everything. Because of the onlookers, we know he talked to her before Jiaer picked him up and ran away," Lei continued. He pushed Lili away just to bury his head in her chest now. Now it was her time to pat his back and calm him down. Once in a while, she could feel a warm tear falling on her chest.
"I always felt so bad for him that he had to go through it. I tried to help him as much as I could, but he wasn't saying much to me. But then he started drinking. I could try everything to stop him, but he was drinking so much, just to sleep without nightmares at one moment…" Lei stopped for a while and Lili patiently waited for him to continue.
"I was thrilled when he stopped drinking after meeting Yitian. It was as if they were destined to save each other. Truth was that I thought they were just really good friends. Looks like I was mistaken," he said, his voice quieting as he thought about it. Lili felt bad for Chao and Lei. And she really hoped she wasn't wrong about Lei when she thought he wouldn't mind.
"What do you think about it? Do you have a problem with them being together?" she asked, cautiously. Lei got up from the hug and looked at her. Then he looked away, as if thinking about something.
"Do you have a problem with it?" he asked, turning back to face Lili. Lili frowned. This wasn't about her.
"It doesn't matter what I think about it. What matters is your opinion. You are his brother. The only family he has. I want to know what you think about it? What do you want to do?" She smiled, awaiting his answer, but as if Lei didn't want to talk about it at all.
He was so passive. But that wasn't good, and Lili knew it. She poked him in his ribs. Lei jumped a bit and rubbed his side. Then he signed and defeated, he spoke up again.
"I can't just ignore it, right?" he asked, and Lili shook her head. Now, when Chao didn't know that Lei knew about them, it was okay to ignore it. But in the future, when they decide to come out, it would be bad for all of them.
"I will talk to him when it's time. But if he is sure, then I have nothing against it. I just fear the reaction of others. Will they be as free-minded as I am?" Lei shared his honest worries. Lili had to smile at his honest fear for Chao and couldn't resist ruffling Lei's hair.
"The world is changing. It's not the same as before. It's not like they can't see it around them. Not being heterosexual is accepted by the public. Sometimes even sought for. You should see some couples I watch on YouTube. They are so cute," she chuckled at Lei's expression. He looked totally startled. But then he woke up and shook his head.
"So, can I take it as you don't mind my brother being gay…?" he asked carefully and Lili laughed out loud. That was so weird to think she would be against it.
"Honey, to be honest, I knew it already. Even before you told me today. Ever since I was home last time, after my nan's death. Yitian told me," Lili chuckled and Lei tickled the side of the torso.
"And you didn't tell me?" he was smiling and laughing again, glad that his fiancée was so kind and free-minded.
"So, should we call this topic solved?" Lili asked and nodded. They heard a sudden scream from downstairs and they both sighed. There was a calm break… it passed again so quickly.