The room was warm and had a thick carpet laid out, making it feel cozy and unlike a hotel suite. Alexander Gale looked around before walking over to the large floor-to-ceiling window and sitting down on the beanbag chair, dominantly occupying the comfortable spot. He squinted his eyes as he enjoyed the view of the villa, feeling refreshed and pleased.
Essen Reed brought over a cup of warm water to him. He smiled and accepted it, "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
After taking a sip, he noticed Essen Reed sitting on the carpet next to him, leaning against the sofa, and picking up the tablet from the small table, with no intention of further conversation.
After a few minutes of silence, Alexander Gale put down the cup and curiously asked, "Do you usually stay at home? Doesn't your brother let you go out to work?"
Essen Reed didn't look up, his stylus moving over the tablet, "I am working right now."
"Hm?" He got up and sat down on the carpet, took a glance at the tablet, and laughed, "Are you an artist?"
Essen Reed turned his head, "Illustrator."
The two were very close, and Alexander Gale could clearly see the fine fuzz on Essen Reed's face, once again directly perceiving how fair and beautiful Essen Reed was. It was a non-aggressive kind of beauty, like the cold moonlight hanging in the sky, pure, clean, and likely to inspire a desire for exclusive possession...
Feeling the slightly dangerous gaze from the man, Essen Reed uncomfortably turned away his gaze and continued to draw.
Alexander Gale's gaze lingered on his side face for a while before moving down to the tablet, his voice deep, "Can you draw a portrait for me?"
His stylus paused, "I'm not good at portraits."
"What are you good at?"
Essen Reed held up the tablet, "This kind."
On the screen was a view of the hot spring villa from above, but it was drawn like a scene from a comic, with bright colors that made it look inviting. There was also a chibi character sitting cross-legged, drawing on a tablet, and even that tablet had the same picture on it.
Alexander Gale's gaze lingered on the chibi character, "You're good at drawing comics?"
Essen Reed nodded, "Sort of."
"Can you give me this drawing?"
He immediately refused, "No."
"..." For the first time in 28 years, Alexander Gale was so decisively rejected, feeling a bit down, "Why not?"
"This is for my brother to hang on the website for promoting the villa, I can't give it to you."
"Alright." He tapped the tablet, "Then draw me one like this."
Essen Reed took back the tablet, looked him up and down several times, somewhat uncertain, "You want this kind of chibi picture?"
He leaned against the sofa, his lips slightly upturned, "Yeah, tomorrow is my birthday, consider it a birthday gift."
"..."
Alexander Gale caught the odd look in his eyes, realizing they were still strangers to some extent, asking for a birthday gift was somewhat shameless, and added, "I'm your brother's friend, you also lived in London as a child, maybe you even called me brother."
Essen Reed hung his head, "I did not."
Alexander Gale stared at his fluffy head, casually saying, "Weren't you 18 when you left London for the University of Paris to be with your brother? You were sensible by then, haven't you heard of me?"
He looked up, "How do you know?"
"I heard it from someone."
At that time, 22-year-old Benjamin Reed had just graduated from university and was sent by the Reed family from London to Paris to manage a struggling small company. A year later, his younger brother also gave up London University for the University of Paris, moving away from the Reed family together.
This had caused quite a stir in London, with the elite families discussing it during their leisure time, feeling sorry for the capable Benjamin Reed and pitying the premature and frail Essen Reed, while secretly despising their stepmother who appeared kind but was cruel at heart.
Alexander Gale had heard a bit of this gossip from Song Wang and others, but he was preparing to take over a project abroad at the time and had no interest in meddling in other people's family affairs...
Now seeing Essen Reed like this, following Benjamin Reed to Paris was indeed the right choice. He was well taken care of. If he had stayed in London, with his easy-to-bully appearance, who knows how miserable he would have been.
Essen Reed didn't continue the conversation and went back to drawing.
Alexander Gale occasionally glanced at his hair, subtly touching his fingers, restraining the urge inside him, and leaned in to ask, "Can you draw me?"
His voice was so close, as if his hot breath was sprayed on his ear, making Essen Reed turn his head slightly and whisper, "Okay."
He smiled pleasantly, "Thank you, Essen Reed."
Essen Reed's ears turned red, "You're welcome..."
Alexander Gale watched the pinkish ear tips, his eyes deepening with amusement.
The silence lasted for a long while.
Essen Reed focused on drawing, while Alexander Gale played with his phone, casually resting an arm on the sofa, as if embracing Essen Reed in his arms.
"It's done." Essen Reed exhaled lightly, turned his head, his eyes seemingly sparkling, and handed over the tablet, "How's this?"
Alexander Gale straightened up, looking at the tablet along with his hand, "Let me see."
His eyelashes trembled slightly, his breathing softened.
As if unaware of his restraint, Alexander Gale admired the drawing, his eyebrows lightly raised, "It's quite similar. You observed so carefully in just a short while?"
On the tablet, a chibi character was nestled on the beanbag chair, from the clothing and posture to the squinting expression, exactly like Alexander Gale who had just been sitting there.
Essen Reed looked up, meeting the deep black eyes close by, and moved his lips, "I..."
Alexander Gale moved back a bit and smiled, "You have a strong ability to capture scenes, and you draw really well."
He lowered his head and saved the drawing to the album.
"Let's add each other on Facebook." Alexander Gale handed over his phone, "Send me the drawing."
Essen Reed opened the Facebook app on the tablet, "Okay."
Alexander Gale scanned the QR code, sent a friend request, which was quickly accepted, and then received a picture. He enlarged it and looked for a while, satisfied, he earnestly said, "Thank you, this is the best birthday gift I've received."
Essen Reed's fingers paused for two seconds on the tablet, his voice soft, "Yeah."
Alexander Gale checked the time, it was almost noon, just as Song Wang messaged asking if he wanted to go down for lunch, he stood up, "It's time for lunch, want to come with?"
Essen Reed remained seated, "No, thanks."
"You're not having lunch?"
"Someone will bring it up."
Alexander Gale chuckled, teasing without malice, "Living like a princess confined to her quarters."
Essen Reed looked up, frowning at him.
He put on his black coat, reached out to ruffle the hair he had been wanting to touch, "So you do get angry."
The sudden touch made Essen Reed stiffen.
Alexander Gale quickly withdrew his hand, "I'm leaving."