After letting go on his own, Shu Ci, trying to make his lie more convincing, perfunctorily bit Lu Xianyan’s neck.
“Okay…”
Lu Xianyan didn’t look satisfied. “You bit very lightly.”
Shu Ci pretended not to hear and tried to climb off him, but Lu Xianyan’s arm tightened around his waist, refusing to let go.
“I’m really fine now…”
He reminded him guiltily.
The next second, Lu Xianyan spoke.
“Xiao Ci… are you still feeling sad?”
What…?
Shu Ci froze and looked up, meeting the man’s gaze.
In those dark eyes, he could clearly see his own reflection.
“The fact that you came to me on your own makes me really happy.”
Shu Ci rubbed his nose and nuzzled his cheek against him. Realizing his lie had been seen through, he felt embarrassed and muttered softly, “Idiot.”
They hugged silently for a long time.
Long enough that Shu Ci felt warm all over, his lower abdomen tingling faintly. He shifted his waist uncomfortably.
“Xiao Ci.”
Shu Ci looked at him with watery eyes, slightly dazed.
“It’s reacting here.”
“Let me help you feel better, okay?”
Lu Xianyan was truly good at coaxing—and clinging.
Shu Ci’s fingers were held and rubbed over and over.
His head felt dizzy. He thought that if he kept not responding, it would seem overly reserved… and somehow, in a muddled haze, things continued.
…
At some point, he was carried onto the bed.
His soft skin couldn’t stand the brushing of damp hair; even a slight touch left it faintly red.
“Th-that’s enough…”
Hearing the faint sound of swallowing, Shu Ci flushed with embarrassment. When it seemed Lu Xianyan had no intention of stopping, he instinctively arched his waist and tried to crawl away across the bed.
As if he could escape.
Lu Xianyan caught his slender ankle, not flipping him over.
Shu Ci’s thin back faced him, clothes disheveled. The exposed skin was tinted a light red. He lay against the sheets, clearly lacking strength, yet still struggling weakly to retreat, his whole body trembling.
The scent in the air was warm and sweet.
Lu Xianyan’s large hand pressed against Shu Ci’s waist, holding him firmly.
Later that evening, after showering, Shu Ci stood nearby absentmindedly watching as Lu Xianyan did the laundry.
Chai used to laugh and call him a little supervisor when he did that.
After Lu Xianyan moved in, Shu Ci often followed him around the same way.
Fresh from the shower, Shu Ci’s face was pink. Wrapped in a thick fleece pajama top, he felt slightly stuffy, breathing in small, short puffs.
Lu Xianyan finished washing the clothes and carried them to the balcony, all the while keeping an eye on whether Shu Ci was trailing behind like a clingy kitten.
Unfortunately, once they reached the living room, Shu Ci didn’t follow.
He sat on the couch with his phone, typing and deleting, clearly replying to someone. He looked far too focused.
Lu Xianyan couldn’t stand Shu Ci’s attention being on anyone but him.
Yet he had no proper status or right to question it. He could only suppress the fierce jealousy surging inside him, pressing his nose lightly against Shu Ci’s shirt in an attempt to calm the overwhelming possessiveness flooding his body.
In the dim light, his eyes turned darker—like a wolf that had waited too long, now having tasted sweetness once and craving more.
He forced himself back to his usual indifferent expression. Seeing that Shu Ci hadn’t even looked up after he entered the living room, his gaze dimmed.
He tried to draw attention instead.
“Zhou Mingran and I have a practice match Monday night. Will you come watch?”
Curled into the corner of the sofa, Shu Ci looked small. Hearing him, he finally put down his phone and looked over.
“Maybe I can’t make it.”
His little face looked troubled.
Lu Xianyan’s breathing stilled.
Why couldn’t he come? Had he been disliked? Had he not done well enough lately? Was there another unseen competitor outside?
Questions attacked from every direction. Lowering his eyes, Lu Xianyan asked, “Are you going out with someone?”
Seeing his crestfallen expression, Shu Ci immediately brightened.
“Guess.”
Lu Xianyan stared at him.
Shu Ci’s lips curved upward. He coughed lightly. “Fine, I’ll tell you.”
“I should be going to my boyfriend’s practice match.”
The moment he finished speaking, a shadow lunged toward him—
His wrist was seized. Lu Xianyan was half-kneeling before him.
“Your meaning is…” The man’s voice was unsteady, pupils constricted, even his breathing chaotic.
Shu Ci didn’t answer. He leaned closer, breath soft, and gently kissed the corner of his lips.
After kissing him, he felt shy himself but forced a calm tone.
“Yep.”
Shu Ci had never seen Lu Xianyan’s emotions so openly displayed. He held Shu Ci’s hand tightly, remaining half-kneeling for who knew how long.
Worried his legs would go numb, Shu Ci softly reminded him.
Lu Xianyan rubbed his face against Shu Ci’s palm and pecked his fingertip. “It feels like a dream.”
Shu Ci extended his finger. “Then bite me.”
Lu Xianyan didn’t bite. He just kissed it again.
The night they decided to be together, they didn’t go anywhere. It was as ordinary as any other evening.
They sat on the couch watching a movie as usual—except this time, Lu Xianyan kept holding his hand, their fingers tightly interlocked.
So tight Shu Ci could barely reply to messages.
Yet his WeChat notifications kept coming.
Using his left hand, Shu Ci unlocked his phone. Zhou Mingran had sent him a screenshot.
It was a post from Lu Xianyan’s Moments.
【He gave it to me.】