事情發生在2160年、黑教堂事件的前一年,某個無所事事的下午。204Please respect copyright.PENANACnHzE0AVC5
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「欸?這麼突然?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAM3jPxm3dw9
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仙境大樓,2F醫護室,派翠克接到母親打來的電話,表情很錯愕。204Please respect copyright.PENANAwVHxsJGoDg
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「這……我問問,明天跟妳說。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAAh4P20YV7F
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派翠克結束通話。尼可拉斯轉著辦公椅,轉到派翠克面前問:「怎麼了?」204Please respect copyright.PENANApXZ3n9VAqa
204Please respect copyright.PENANAWq6MGLxHuH
「呃,」有點難啟齒,派翠克拐彎抹角地問:「你喜歡拍照嗎?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAOzl6gahpNv
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「拍照?」尼可拉斯微愣,「小時候不喜歡,現在還好。問這做什麼?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAcv5p3FI2dr
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「嗯……」204Please respect copyright.PENANAKe5QmaNwE0
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思來想去,派翠克想不到更好的問法,直接告訴尼可拉斯:「我媽問,你願不願意當我們家的模特兒。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAbHy5t6IQVx
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「哈???」204Please respect copyright.PENANAMGYmUXFOkX
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尼可拉斯滿頭問號。派翠克解釋:「她說這一期的時裝很適合你。事實上,我爸就是以你為靈感,設計出這一系列的。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAzi2aOP5EpK
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雷蒙一家說大不大,說小不小。跟謝氏、薩拉凱爾教、Platinum相比,影響力確實不高,但其橫跨的產業非常多,包含時尚界、演藝圈、大眾媒體、物流業,是和民眾最貼近的十大家族。派翠克的父親是設計師,母親是娛樂公司的總製作人,叔叔伯伯姑姑阿姨舅舅哥哥姊姊弟弟妹妹不用說,都是一方巨擘。204Please respect copyright.PENANANXCQYnafEB
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第一代水果塔「公爵夫人」薇奧拉.雷蒙,留給後代的宗旨只有二字:和平。雷蒙一家不只內部團結,對外也不和反高派交惡,是評價很好的家族,堪稱二十二世紀的白鴿。204Please respect copyright.PENANAXq0dS9LU6V
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派翠克加入神與畜、和尼可拉斯交往,在雷蒙一家早就不是秘密。尼可拉斯每個月都會和派翠克的父母吃飯,已經是「準女婿」了。204Please respect copyright.PENANAcXfSpmf9SS
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「你爸的設計……」204Please respect copyright.PENANAK7CvcyWCUv
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腦中閃過色鉛筆插在頭上的畫面,尼可拉斯有點害怕,小心翼翼問:「是『正常』的衣服嗎?」204Please respect copyright.PENANACM8nEw558J
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「你『不正常』的定義是什麼?」派翠克真心發問。204Please respect copyright.PENANA28la2ps9E7
204Please respect copyright.PENANAO3fGxE0CYk
「滾筒衛生紙纏身上、童軍繩綁頭髮,之類的。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAIdpPaZfgmF
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「哪有不正常,那叫時尚!時尚!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAJ30bSKMKfa
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派翠克一臉篤定。尼可拉斯不跟他爭,派翠克某部分的審美觀已經壞死,爭也沒用。204Please respect copyright.PENANAnGnKqLYFXs
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「百貨公司會看到的那種。」派翠克解釋:「『正常』的衣服和鞋子,香水、飾品、手錶一類,可能也要你幫忙,你OK嗎?」204Please respect copyright.PENANARvHuH5vLCe
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「OK啊。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAb3esMsPzeD
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雖然不愛社交,但岳父岳母人很好,尼可拉斯沒有理由拒絕,爽快答應。204Please respect copyright.PENANAObiMzvY9fx
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「不過,這樣拋頭露面好嗎?我好歹是個懷特。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAZoe66wW0yM
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「我問問宇維少爺,以防萬一。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAf2jGBaDHNR
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──前因後果大致如此。幾個月後,以尼可拉斯為主的系列公諸於世。派翠克的父母很有眼光,尼可拉斯獨特的氣質搭配無死角的五官,狂野、高冷、頹廢、豪放……活生生的衣架子,什麼風格都能駕馭,當季銷售額因此暴增三倍。尼可拉斯模特兒的收入,相當於李博洋十年的薪水,在仙境大樓走路都有風,囂張極了。204Please respect copyright.PENANAGWmSyPNWfx
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「派翠克,你為什麼不找我!本大爺也很帥啊!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAYDna0RMd58
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每天滑手機都看到尼可拉斯,李晴煬一肚子火,在三樓大客廳抗議。204Please respect copyright.PENANA6m2hchAYAD
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「不是我,爸媽指定的。」派翠克不跟他吵,直接甩鍋。204Please respect copyright.PENANA5hL1Fjv637
204Please respect copyright.PENANAZw1kzTadO6
「那是我岳父岳母,嘸你係咧靠!」難得沒在醫護室,披著醫師袍的尼可拉斯走過來,看到李晴煬就想嘴兩句。204Please respect copyright.PENANAm9MGk4MQP3
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「晴煬,別想了,你是『李門小少爺』,不能隨便露臉,宇維少爺不會答應。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAoXM5og2qpF
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葛蕾絲端了一盤蛋糕來。看到兒子的照片,葛蕾絲超級得意,炫耀地說:「幸好遺傳到我的優良基因,不是你那邋遢老爸……唉唷,我兒子怎麼這麼好看!我真是太會生了,呵呵呵!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAu8S6MWTyod
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不知為何,被媽媽稱讚就是特別彆扭。尼可拉斯默默喝咖啡,覺得很尷尬,不想回應。204Please respect copyright.PENANAzWuVwxXA25
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「派翠克,本大爺一直有個疑問。」204Please respect copyright.PENANArdkTNd4I5w
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吃著蛋糕,李晴煬突然一臉認真,正經發問:「你的體液都有毒,可以自由控制嗎?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAUsxPHGeEhn
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「當然可以……你幹嘛問這個?」204Please respect copyright.PENANARADC7WwJUp
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「沒什麼,單純好奇。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAgwGeCok6nl
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李晴煬這人,如果突然認真,一定在想不正經的東西──尼可拉斯太了解他,拍桌怒吼:204Please respect copyright.PENANAeb6jMKyYTc
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「廢話!不然我要怎麼幫他(嗶──)!!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAO6Ku5sqnBP
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尼可拉斯聲音超大,整個三樓聽得一清二楚。李晴煬一副「原來如此啊!」的表情,恍然大悟地說:「也是,否則尼可早就死在床上了!」204Please respect copyright.PENANA4jV4V2Jgbo
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「你們能不能別聊這個,我不想聽……」204Please respect copyright.PENANAmrRvQhBi6Z
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窗邊的座位,謝綠和江云格也在客廳。出生於保守的謝氏,謝綠加入神與畜,什麼都能適應,就是無法適應黃色話題。204Please respect copyright.PENANAveM0DfXC7Y
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「敢砍哥哥的手,卻不敢看A片,妳也真的很奇怪!」尼可拉斯調侃謝綠:「學學江云格,他多淡定!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAYEkikogkCx
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江云格真的很淡定,咬著小魚乾歪頭,「交配行為和繁衍後代,不是很自然的事嗎?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAfLzVyaKYEj
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「以動物來說確實……唔,格格你不懂啦……」204Please respect copyright.PENANA78Pv8lHsUL
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謝綠摀著耳朵、趴在桌上。看她這麼痛苦,尼可拉斯故意繼續話題,和李晴煬從上面的嘴聊到下面的頭,聽得謝綠哀號,兩顆抱枕直接砸過去。204Please respect copyright.PENANABvd5ZOyUPA
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仙境大樓人一多,就會像這樣吵吵鬧鬧。神與畜有條規定叫「感情和睦,禁止吵架」,很顯然,根本沒人遵守。204Please respect copyright.PENANAGKtANKUGpo
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「媳婦啊,能陪我去買東西嗎?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAsyCTdzgqun
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只有葛蕾絲會這樣叫他。派翠克點頭,問葛蕾絲:「買什麼?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAbtK9W26uVp
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「天氣變冷,哥哥說檸檬需要一條圍巾。」葛蕾絲微笑,「十分鐘後一樓集合,待會見!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAquroUbat6i
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和葛蕾絲出門不是第一次,派翠克也習慣和「婆婆」相處,但圍巾這類針織品,什麼都會的葛蕾絲習慣自己做,這次竟然要用買的,派翠克覺得奇怪。204Please respect copyright.PENANAFzvwGQrF37
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「親愛的,你還好嗎?」204Please respect copyright.PENANA0s4YrAIN99
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為了不引人注目,派翠克出門都會戴黑色口罩。兩人走在大街上,派翠克眨了眨眼,「我?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAVDv9VqaTPK
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「尼可出名,這麼多人看到他帥氣的一面,是不是後悔答應父母了?」204Please respect copyright.PENANALSuw0ZhkBG
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「……!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAEuQ81aodi4
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心情被說中,派翠克一陣尷尬。尼可拉斯沒發現,派翠克以為自己藏得很好,卻瞞不過活了一百多年的長輩,葛蕾絲和里奧的觀察力真驚人。204Please respect copyright.PENANAzZVr5lhml8
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「我……」204Please respect copyright.PENANAAIaL2RIDCS
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否認沒有意義。派翠克認輸,嘆了口氣。204Please respect copyright.PENANAjP2039qdp2
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「確實,一開始很替他開心,但看到網上的留言,有種……什麼被搶走的感覺,我說不上來。」派翠克說。204Please respect copyright.PENANAZbf3sXDDQ6
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「我懂,另一伴長得好看,又是知名人物,多少有這種感覺。」葛蕾絲回憶:「我哥以前也這樣。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAAV55mqo4vd
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「里奧大哥?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAlIlEaprSzl
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派翠克很震驚。葛蕾絲點頭,「大嫂很漂亮,又是黑教堂的副諮理,在薩拉凱爾教的人氣很高,算是名人。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAc3OXDz32eX
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派翠克沒見過賴雪檸,葛蕾絲簡單形容:「你想像長大版的檸檬,個性開朗、說話溫柔,有時很調皮,偶爾會惡作劇,大嫂就是這麼可愛。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAkc0vJQZ3FC
204Please respect copyright.PENANAWESzO8q9E1
派翠克看過雪檸的照片。在神與畜,每個人提起賴雪檸,都會露出懷念的表情,包括李博洋、李晴煬,還有看誰都不順眼的赫密士。204Please respect copyright.PENANAH3RQ3L5l3d
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如果雪檸還在,神與畜的氣氛會是什麼樣,派翠克很難想像;至少尼可拉斯不用背負罪惡感,檸檬的人生也會不一樣。204Please respect copyright.PENANARcnMXcI9mw
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「後來,經過宇維少爺開導,我哥釋懷了。大嫂其實很懶惰,也有任性的一面,這些只有我哥看過。『因為是你,她才願意展露缺點』,宇維少爺這麼跟他說。」204Please respect copyright.PENANACc1RdP4nx4
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他們走到附近的公園,葛蕾絲突然停下腳步,轉身面對派翠克。204Please respect copyright.PENANAChsUnuIzqj
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「你們倆也是!尼可的缺點很多,但有些缺點,他只願意讓你知道。」葛蕾絲偷笑,「那孩子很黏人,對吧?」204Please respect copyright.PENANA8iVmypTzWk
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派翠克知道葛蕾絲的意思,無法否認。204Please respect copyright.PENANADh9RYn3Ly5
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「都怪我死得太早,尼可的成長過程很孤單。那孩子表面強勢,其實很需要陪伴。」葛蕾絲很欣慰,「再怎麼說,他年紀都比你小,是個年下男友。有你照顧他,我很放心喔!」204Please respect copyright.PENANA6e8dz6LS1m
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「……。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAQBEvoOJkmY
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什麼都會的葛蕾絲,果然也擅長安慰人。派翠克莫名想哭,能被葛蕾絲稱讚、認可,他真的真的很開心。204Please respect copyright.PENANAPNJH4q3q4z
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「啊咧?這是要哭了嗎?」葛蕾絲打趣地問。204Please respect copyright.PENANAM6I00CZcO5
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「被男朋友的媽媽這樣說,誰不會哭……」204Please respect copyright.PENANAxz2s80L4l1
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跟尼可拉斯相反;派翠克表面柔弱,內在剛強。他用袖子抹掉眼淚,迅速重整心情,看著葛蕾絲。204Please respect copyright.PENANA6egw68MSbW
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「圍巾還要買嗎?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAGVZFs6xTqV
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買東西是藉口,葛蕾絲特地把派翠克約出門,是為了跟他說這些。204Please respect copyright.PENANAvlugyWBxPG
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「圍巾不用,但我想幫云格買條厚棉被,他是隻怕冷的貓。」葛蕾絲燦爛一笑,「最近任務少,趁這時候多多逛街,我們走吧!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAKFf9hg1yvb
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說完,葛蕾絲牽著派翠克,開心走去商店街。不只里奧,葛蕾絲買東西也能報公帳;至於派翠克怎麼發現、事後怎麼幫葛蕾絲隱瞞(尤其是李博洋),那都是後話了。204Please respect copyright.PENANAD1Wul4Qgll
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同樣2160年、某個無所事事的下午。里奧和檸檬去博物館,看《大秦帝國》展覽和兵馬俑;MIO、李博洋、李晴煬,三人被葛蕾絲綁架,強迫參加淨灘活動曬太陽;謝綠和江云格當志工,協助流浪貓咪找到家;赫密士一如往常搞失蹤,沒人知道他去哪;只有派翠克和尼可拉斯在仙境大樓,非常難得的一天。204Please respect copyright.PENANAza7pKMTOWI
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「呼……」204Please respect copyright.PENANArEUGEHHdRa
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不用待在醫務室,又不用帶小孩,尼可拉斯躺在床上睡午覺,派翠克戴眼鏡打電動。好不容易打完BOSS,派翠克按暫停,決定休息一下──打遊戲很耗心神,何況他在玩《黑○靈魂》。204Please respect copyright.PENANA0JsHRMkB4f
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看著手機,派翠克才剛坐到床上,尼可拉斯就捲著棉被、整個人縮了過來,緊緊挨著派翠克。204Please respect copyright.PENANA7IgVgfelIH
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「……?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAmYb4UUD6Fp
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尼可拉斯還在睡。派翠克做實驗:他故意從床上起來、繞一圈,改坐到床的另一邊。尼可拉斯起初沒反應,五秒後,他好像感應到什麼,又捲著棉被、翻身,整個人朝派翠克縮過來,緊緊挨著。204Please respect copyright.PENANAJt6fPA4AF7
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「這是……下意識反應嗎?」204Please respect copyright.PENANADCgGmnj6Cj
204Please respect copyright.PENANAkTaCDY1SAP
派翠克覺得很神奇。尼可拉斯向來晚睡,派翠克自己單獨醒著,這是很少見的情況。他想起前陣子和葛蕾絲的對話──尼可拉斯很黏人,千真萬確。204Please respect copyright.PENANAgEYQfzR9KM
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「嗯……」204Please respect copyright.PENANA2g32DcVZNp
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尼可拉斯呻吟。本來就挨著派翠克的他,突然伸手抱住對方,頭靠到派翠克腿上,繼續睡。204Please respect copyright.PENANAl50XFuNOQP
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「尼可。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAS1iACKwxwz
204Please respect copyright.PENANAsydEoMEj61
派翠克搖他的肩,「我遊戲還沒打完,放開我。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAJxOCbjJrAL
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「不要……」204Please respect copyright.PENANA1sRGLsPgdH
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好像夢話,又好像不是。尼可拉斯沒醒,手卻越抱越緊。204Please respect copyright.PENANAPgYhxXSmiH
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「不要……走……」204Please respect copyright.PENANAMZUewrKvDS
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「陪我……」204Please respect copyright.PENANAGS9moAkGjq
204Please respect copyright.PENANA81D1IoiSUD
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斷斷續續說完五個字,尼可拉斯又睡死了。派翠克拿他沒轍,伸手摸尼可拉斯的側臉,再摸摸他銀白色的頭髮,好像在安撫小孩。204Please respect copyright.PENANASTbGJBJ8bO
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「……。」204Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ylv3FcGX6
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強勢、高傲、囂張、脾氣差,尼可拉斯就是這樣。大家以為派翠克是弱勢,事實相反,他才是被依賴的那一方。尼可拉斯就算睡著,也會無意識黏著派翠克,叫他不要離開自己。204Please respect copyright.PENANAlic8W1grl9
204Please respect copyright.PENANAc3IMwCaopS
反正動不了,派翠克拿起手機,偷拍睡著的尼可拉斯。他瀏覽相簿,都是尼可拉斯的照片,睡覺、吃飯、被咖啡燙到,還有從床上滾下去、撞到床頭櫃的蠢樣,這些都是派翠克的,其它地方看不到,比時尚照片更珍貴。204Please respect copyright.PENANAzOUH38eB0M
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「好好睡吧,尼可。」204Please respect copyright.PENANA75Vekahr8T
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他們相遇前,尼可拉斯經歷很多,那些時光只有他一人,現在不一樣。204Please respect copyright.PENANAC26RxX3Lxt
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兩雙拖鞋、兩個枕頭、兩支牙刷、兩條毛巾。除了神與畜的戒指,他們還有一副對戒,戴在兩人的手上。204Please respect copyright.PENANAJjfdSlfiw3
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「你現在有我。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAM0t8QaGAqA
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派翠克俯身,親了親尼可拉斯的臉頰,輕聲說道:204Please respect copyright.PENANASTYZrEB91b
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「──我陪你。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAL5mNqXUGBH