When Ah Ling woke up, it was already two in the afternoon. When he opened his eyes and saw the blanket draped over him, he was still a bit dazed. Was he not just playing games? How did he fall asleep? He had not expected the rice wine fermented by Auntie Zhang to have such a powerful aftereffect.
“Awake?”
Ah Ling froze for a moment and snapped his head around. He saw Huo Junnian sitting behind him and asked with surprise, “Were you not at work?”
Huo Junnian raised an eyebrow. “Can I not come home from work?”
“Alright, that makes sense.”
“Your alcohol tolerance is that low?” Huo Junnian looked at the freshly awoken Ah Ling and said with a light chuckle, “Auntie Zhang told me you got drunk after only two bowls of rice wine.”
“Of course not!” Ah Ling retorted instinctively. “My tolerance is actually quite good.” However, his voice grew smaller as the realization hit him. Falling asleep after two bowls of homemade rice wine was not exactly a convincing argument. He gave a light click of his tongue and frowned. “Fine, next time we are both free, we will drink together and see.”
Ah Ling began to pull back the blanket, intending to find his phone. He remembered holding it before he drifted off.
“Are you looking for this?” Huo Junnian handed the phone over. He explained, “When I came back, I saw you asleep clutching your phone with the game still running, so I turned it off for you.”
Ah Ling reached out to take it and offered a word of thanks.
“You are welcome.” Huo Junnian’s expression remained unchanged, his attitude still warm. “Ah Ling, are you hungry? I had Auntie Zhang save some lunch for you.”
Ah Ling was not hungry at all; having just woken up, he was full of energy. “I am not hungry at all.” He turned around and knelt on the sofa, propping his chin up with one hand as he watched Huo Junnian working at the computer. “Are you working?”
Huo Junnian looked up from the screen, meeting Ah Ling’s curious eyes. “In a way, yes, and in a way, no.”
Ah Ling did not understand. “It is either yes or no; what you said means nothing.”
Huo Junnian explained, “I am looking at some materials. To me, this does not really count as work; it is just to pass the time.”
“Tsk,” Ah Ling said dismissively. “Do you not have any other way to pass the time?” He vaulted over the back of the sofa, stepped up to Huo Junnian, and pushed the laptop screen down. “You finally gave yourself half a day off only to work overtime at home? You might as well have stayed at the office.”
Huo Junnian looked at the youth standing before him, his smile somewhat helpless. “Then what do you want to play?”
Ah Ling shrugged. “Anything. Anything is better than staying home staring at a computer.” Suddenly, a thought struck him. His eyes flickered, and he cleared his throat. “Do you want to play ball?”
“Play ball?” Huo Junnian pondered for a moment.
“If you do not like outdoor sports, we can play video games at home,” Ah Ling added quickly. “Anyway, no working at home.”
Huo Junnian burst out laughing. “Alright, let us go out. But I haven’t played ball in a long time; my skills might be a bit rusty.”
“It does not matter. We will just play casually to practice.”
Huo Junnian raised an eyebrow. “From the way you talk, your skills must be quite good?”
Ah Ling was about to lift his brows proudly, but he restrained himself in the next second. He cleared his throat and said, “They are just average. You will probably play better than me; you will have to go easy on me.”
“Go change your clothes first. I will wait for you downstairs.”
Since coming to the Bai residence, in order to maintain his “good boy” persona, the clothes his father bought him were all very campus style. The clothes and shoes were all white. He did not need to change.
He had invited Huo Junnian to play ball with his own hidden agenda. One of the dating strategies he had researched included developing common interests and appropriate physical contact to create an ambiguous atmosphere and let the feelings heat up. Ah Ling thought basketball was perfect; there would be plenty of physical contact, and their relationship would grow stronger as they played.
Huo Junnian put his computer away. “Alright, wait here a moment. I will be right back after I change.”
Soon, Huo Junnian returned in loose-fitting athletic wear. “Let us go.”
They did not want to go too far, so they found a court nearby. Ah Ling felt the ball to warm up. He tilted his chin toward the man and asked, “Should we play one on one or just practice first?”
Huo Junnian had not played in a long time. His last memory of playing was back in school. He rubbed his wrists and looked at the enthusiastic youth, refusing to be outdone. “Either is fine.”
“Then let us play a match to see where we stand.”
They traded offense and defense, alternating roles and keeping track of the score. Ah Ling had been trapped at home for days, and the constant revision had made him feel restless. As soon as he touched the ball, he felt a surge of adrenaline.
Huo Junnian could tell from Ah Ling’s posture that he was prepared, and he wanted to see the youth’s skill level. Ah Ling’s mouth curled into a slight smile as he accelerated his dribble. He started on the offensive, used a fake, spun around quickly, and shot the ball. The entire movement was smooth and fluid. Before Huo Junnian could even react, Ah Ling had scored a three pointer.
“Not bad, Ah Ling. You are quite skilled. You were too modest earlier.”
Hearing this praise, Ah Ling suppressed the urge to grin but could not help but puff out his chest. His eyes shone as he beckoned Huo Junnian. “Uncle, that was a fluke. I am not that good. Let us go again.” The dating guide said to show weakness appropriately, so he did not want to boast too much about how good he was.
Huo Junnian realized Ah Ling’s strength was not to be underestimated, and he began to play more seriously. Due to years of exercise, Huo Junnian’s physical condition was excellent. Once he focused on defense, Ah Ling did not find it easy to score. Ah Ling had originally planned to give up a few points to go easy on the man, but he had not expected his uncle to be so capable. Although he scored quickly at first, Huo Junnian soon caught up.
Ah Ling was naturally competitive. Once the score was tied, his sense of crisis was triggered. He forgot all about going easy on Huo Junnian so the man would not lose too badly. At this moment, the only thing on his mind was that today, I am going to dominate him!
Ah Ling’s eyes locked onto the man, his gaze instantly becoming sharp. He grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and wiped the sweat from his forehead in a natural, casual motion. The firm muscles of his abdomen were revealed for a brief moment, drawing gasps from the onlookers.
As it turned out, their high level of play and good looks had quickly attracted a crowd. Many girls were gathered outside the court. Huo Junnian looked at the youth. The boy’s skin was very pale, and his lips, slightly parted as he breathed, were a vibrant red. His sweat-drenched black hair was tucked behind his ears, fully revealing his exquisite features. The falling sweat glistened under the sunlight.
Even more striking than the sunlight was the competitive light in the youth’s eyes, full of wildness and a desire for victory. Such a Jiang Ling was enough to stun anyone present. Even Huo Junnian was no exception. However, appreciation aside, he could not afford to lose the game. As an uncle, how could he lose to a junior? It would be embarrassing.
The two of them, the older and the younger, continued their unresolved battle on the court. The score remained neck and neck, with one trailing by a few points only to quickly catch up. Two hours later, both were exhausted, but neither suggested stopping; they both planned to play one last round.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out on the other court. “Let us break up! Go play ball with whoever you want!”
Ah Ling noticed as well and turned to look. It was a couple having an argument. The girl was wearing a pink jersey with exquisite makeup and beautiful nails, clearly dressed up for today’s date. “Have I scored a single point against you? Is this what you meant by taking me to play ball?” The girl cried until her makeup was ruined. “You were just amusing yourself at my expense. How many times have you won? I never want to play with you again!”
Seeing his girlfriend crying, the boy panicked and immediately dropped the basketball to chase after her. At that moment, Ah Ling suddenly remembered the purpose of today’s game. It was not actually to win.
After shooting a basket, Huo Junnian returned and asked the dazed youth, “What is wrong?”
“Oh, nothing.” Ah Ling snapped out of it. Thinking of his own heartless dunks and his intent to dominate the man earlier, he felt a surge of regret.
Huo Junnian asked, “Do you want to continue?”
Ah Ling nodded half heartedly. “Let us continue.”
They played for a while longer. Huo Junnian, breathing slightly hard, watched himself score easily and looked at the youth beside him with a frown of surprise. Ah Ling felt guilty under the man’s gaze and quickly averted his eyes. “Uncle, how about we stop here for today? I am a bit thirsty.”
Huo Junnian asked, “Are you not still two points behind?”
Ah Ling looked down at his toes. “Anyway, winning or losing does not matter. You are leading by two points today, so you win. We will continue next time.”
Huo Junnian raised an eyebrow at this. He used his fingertips to lift the youth’s chin, forcing him to meet his shifting dark eyes. “Why are you being so sensible today?”
“What do you mean ‘why am I being so sensible today’?” Ah Ling brushed the man’s hand away and turned his head. “I have always been sensible, alright?”
However, when Jiang Ling turned his head and Huo Junnian saw the black fingerprint on Ah Ling’s chin, he burst out laughing. Seeing the man laughing so happily, Ah Ling asked in confusion, “What is wrong? What happened that is so funny?”
Huo Junnian suppressed his laughter. He wanted to help wipe it off but then thought of something and said, “Wait here a moment.” He went and bought two bottles of water, washed his hands, and handed a bottle to Ah Ling.
Ah Ling had just taken a sip when he felt a sudden coolness on his chin. Catching a glimpse of the man approaching, he panicked and backed away.
“Do not move.”
Ah Ling’s chin was firmly held. Feeling the coolness on his skin and seeing the man getting closer, his breath hitched. “What is wrong?”
Huo Junnian held the youth’s chin while gently wiping it with a wet tissue. “There is something dirty. Right here; it is not easy to wipe off.”
Ah Ling’s heart began to race, especially when he noticed Huo Junnian’s gaze on his face. The man looked at him with downcast eyes and a serious expression. They were so close that if he looked up, he could see the man’s long eyelashes. The man’s scent was very clean even after such vigorous exercise. This posture looked as if he were seeking a kiss.
Ah Ling swallowed imperceptibly and blinked uncontrollably. Whenever Huo Junnian got close to him, he would start to feel uncontrollably nervous. He wanted to finish this quickly. “Are you done yet?”
Huo Junnian clearly noticed the youth’s nervousness and deliberately delayed for a few seconds. He saw the youth frowning, and though his exquisite face showed a hint of impatience, he stood obediently in place, waiting for the command. At this moment, he looked exactly like a well-behaved kitten. It was quite cute.
Having appreciated the sight enough, Huo Junnian said, “Alright, finished.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw Ah Ling breathe a cautious sigh of relief. He could not help but laugh. “Were you that nervous?”
Ah Ling quickly took a step back. He raised the bottle of water and gulped several mouthfuls, covering up by saying, “I am thirsty! Let us go back.”
Huo Junnian checked the time; it was already seven in the evening. It was summer, so it stayed light out late, and the sky was still quite bright. Having played ball, they had burned a lot of energy and decided to eat before heading home.
After eating and returning home, the sky had finally darkened. Both were drenched in sweat. The first thing to do upon returning home was to take a shower.
Ah Ling entered the bathroom and, thinking of his performance today, could not help but bang his head against the cold wall. He meant to show weakness and get closer; why could I not control my competitiveness! It is okay, it is okay, he comforted himself.
In the midst of his regret, he must have hit a button, because cold water suddenly poured from the showerhead, making him shiver. Ah Ling snapped back to reality and glanced at the showerhead above him, then his gaze unintentionally swept over his wet upper body in the mirror. The soaked white T-shirt clung tightly to his body like a layer of gauze, making the muscles of his waist and abdomen vaguely visible. Broad shoulders and a narrow waist; not bad.
Ah Ling stood there rubbing his chin, staring at the mirror for a few seconds. Soon, he snapped his fingers, and a meaningful smile curled on his lips.
Huo Junnian was currently showering upstairs. Halfway through, he suddenly heard a knock on the door. “Who is it?” He quickly rinsed off the soap, wrapped a towel around his waist, and opened the door.
When Huo Junnian saw the soaking wet youth before him, he was stunned. “Ah Ling, what are you.”
Standing at the doorway, Ah Ling saw the door open to reveal the man standing before him with only a towel covering his lower body and his upper body bare. His heart skipped a beat. It was the first time he had seen the man without clothes. Though the muscles were not pumped, the smooth lines and curves were powerful and impressive. Having just stepped out of the shower, the man was enveloped in steam and a strong masculine scent. Ah Ling did not dare look into the man’s eyes; he could only look at his chin. He watched as crystal droplets of water fell from the man’s jaw, dripping onto the floor and onto his own heart.
Ah Ling steadied his nerves. He had not expected to be half-seduced himself before he even made his move. He took a deep breath, looked up into Huo Junnian’s eyes, and explained naturally, “Uncle, the showerhead in my room is broken. I thought I would come up and borrow your bathroom.” He looked around once and then back at Huo Junnian’s face. “Um, are you finished now?”
Although Huo Junnian was slightly surprised by Ah Ling’s sudden arrival, he said nothing. He stepped aside to let him in. “I am finished. If you want to use it, go ahead.”
Ah Ling’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “Thank you, Uncle.”
Seeing the youth’s playful look, Huo Junnian reached out and patted his head, saying with a laugh, “Speak properly. Go in and wash up quickly; do not catch a cold.”
Ah Ling nodded distractedly and rushed into the bathroom. The bathroom was steamy, with the mist from the man’s shower still lingering. He was feeling excited. The room was filled with a rich scent of cedar, very fresh and clean.
About halfway through his shower, a wet hand pushed the bathroom door open slightly. Soon, a head peeked out. Ah Ling did not see the man anywhere. Just as he was wondering, a voice suddenly rang out from the room.
“What is it?” Huo Junnian had changed into pajamas. Seeing the youth peeking out from the bathroom, he asked with a laugh, “Is there something you need help with?”
Ah Ling nodded somewhat shyly. “I think I forgot to bring my underwear and pajamas.”
Looking at the shy Ah Ling, Huo Junnian understood instantly. “Wait a moment; I will get them for you.”
“Wait, wait a second.”
Huo Junnian was stopped as he was about to leave. He turned back. “What is it?”
“Nothing.”
Ah Ling watched Huo Junnian walk away. He returned to the shower and waited nervously. A few moments later, there was a knock on the bathroom door. But there was no response from inside. Huo Junnian knocked a few more times and called out, “Ah Ling?”
Still no response. Huo Junnian frowned slightly, and just then, he heard a cry from inside. He pushed the bathroom door open without a second thought and saw the youth falling backward. He rushed forward to help. “Watch out!”
Before Ah Ling could fall, he was firmly caught from behind. He reacted quickly, grabbing the man’s arm and pretending to use the leverage to pull the man toward him. Both of them instantly slid into the bathtub together.
Huo Junnian was pulled into the bathtub, and having just finished his shower, he was instantly soaked again. Ah Ling’s foot accidentally hit the bathtub, making him wince in pain. When he regained his senses, his vision blurred for a moment and landed on the man’s open collar. His cheek was pressed against the firm, tight chest, and the rhythmic sound of a heartbeat reached his ear. Ah Ling’s face instantly became burning hot, and his body shivered.
Huo Junnian felt the person in his arms tremble and asked hurriedly, “Ah Ling, what is wrong?”
Ah Ling took a deep breath and said, “I, I am fine.”
Two grown men of similar height squeezed into the bathtub was clearly a tight fit, with arms and legs intertwined. At this moment, Ah Ling was practically unclothed, kneeling on top of the man, his breath hitched with tension. He had heard that in his circle, people were judged by their looks and physique. So he had suddenly thought of this move. He believed he looked decent; while his physique might not be the best, he had what he should have. If Huo Junnian really liked men, he did not believe the man would not be a little moved. He wanted to make the man feel that he was no longer that child from before. Nothing is more direct than physical contact.
Ah Ling knelt in the bathtub, one hand on the edge and the other on the man’s chest. He slowly lifted his upper body, looming over the man. He said softly, “It is just, I might have twisted my foot just now.” There was an imperceptible tremor in his voice. As he moved closer, he watched the man’s expression carefully. He really wanted to know if he was attractive to Huo Junnian. This was very important to him.
Huo Junnian was stunned for a moment but soon regained his composure. Hearing the tremor in the youth’s voice, he frowned. The mist in the bathroom seemed to cover everything in a blurry shadow. He looked up into Ah Ling’s dark eyes hidden in the mist and asked with concern, “Where is the injury? Does it hurt?”
To prevent further injury, Huo Junnian placed his hands on the youth’s waist and pressed him into his embrace, saying gently, “Do not put weight on the injured foot; just lean on me. I will carry you out in a moment.”
Ah Ling’s gaze flickered, and he felt a sudden sense of despair. He saw that in Huo Junnian’s face, there was only concern and nothing else. The more righteous and serious Huo Junnian’s expression was, the more base his own intentions seemed. Ah Ling suddenly felt disheartened. Am I really not attractive at all?
Huo Junnian took off his robe and tied it around the youth’s waist. When Ah Ling snapped out of it, he was being picked up by the man. He instantly lost his balance. Realizing what Huo Junnian was about to do, he began to struggle. “No, no need. Put me down; I can walk by myself!”
Huo Junnian frowned. To prevent Ah Ling from falling, he silently held him tighter. In the next second, he threatened, “If you do not want to be spanked, you had better stay still!”
Ah Ling’s body stiffened at those words. He had not forgotten the shame of being smacked by Huo Junnian before. He turned bright red and said dryly, “You would not dare!”
Huo Junnian gave a light laugh. “You want to see if I dare?” As he spoke, he gave the youth’s backside a light tap.
Ah Ling froze instantly and stopped moving. After being teased, he instinctively hugged the man’s neck tighter and buried his face in the man’s shoulder, his ears burning red. Huo Junnian had originally meant it as a joke, but he had not expected Ah Ling to bury his face in his neck. The long eyelashes brushed against his skin, and the boy’s hot breath fanned against his neck. The area felt wet and warm; a very subtle feeling. He wanted to get the person to the bed as quickly as possible.
He took large strides and reached the bedside in a few steps. Just as he was about to put the boy down, he heard a muffled groan from his neck, and his neck was held firmly. “If you are so capable, just keep holding me. Do not put me down.”
Ah Ling felt that since he was already being held, he might as well stay that way. He looked up and said provocatively, “Uncle has plenty of strength anyway; holding me for a bit longer should not be a problem.”
Huo Junnian narrowed his eyes. Meeting the youth’s provocative gaze, he simply bent over and tossed the boy onto the bed, then flipped him over and gave his backside a firm smack.
“When you were a kid, it was no problem to hold you as long as you wanted. Now, do you not see how much you weigh?”
Ah Ling was dazed from being tossed onto the bed. Only when his backside was smacked did he react. He was about to climb up when he heard the man say, breathing slightly hard, “Carrying you here just now cost me a lot of energy. You heartless brat, it is lucky your uncle is still young. In a few more years, I probably won’t be able to carry you.”
Ah Ling instantly felt regret. Was I too much just now? Seeing Huo Junnian turning to leave, he panicked. Ignoring his painful foot, he jumped off the bed and pulled the man into a hug.
“Do not leave.”
The moment he was hugged, Huo Junnian stopped. He frowned, hearing the rapid breathing of the youth behind him. After a few seconds of silence, a soft voice came from behind. “I was wrong just now.”
Soon, his shoulder felt heavy. Ah Ling rested his head on the man’s shoulder and whispered, “Uncle is not old at all; you are still very young. Do not say things like that in the future.” He could not bear to hear such things. He had wished countless times that he had been born earlier. Then their age difference wouldn’t be so large, and he could even pursue the man openly.
The moment he heard Ah Ling apologize, Huo Junnian’s heart softened. Hearing the last sentence, it softened completely. He had originally been joking with Ah Ling, but he had not expected Ah Ling’s reaction to be so strong. The boy’s breath fanned against his face again, still hot. This time, he smelled a damp, cold scent, like the rainy season in the south.
Huo Junnian turned around, looked into those quiet but stubborn eyes, and placed his hand on the youth’s burning cheek, gently caressing it. Ah Ling had not expected Huo Junnian to touch his face. When the cool palm touched him, he instinctively leaned into it and nudged it gently, his trembling eyelashes showing a hint of unease.
Watching the youth’s movements, Huo Junnian sighed inwardly. He was still just a child, after all. He looked down at Ah Ling’s bare feet on the floor and frowned. “Does your foot not hurt?”
“No!” Ah Ling said almost instinctively.
“Nonsense!” Huo Junnian’s brow was furrowed. “Do not move anymore. A sprain is one thing, but if it is a fracture, it will be trouble if you want to win against me next time.”
Ah Ling froze in place and whispered defensively, “My bones are not that fragile; it should just be a sprain; it won’t be a fracture.”
Huo Junnian said nothing but pinched the back of the youth’s neck. Seeing the boy shrink his neck back, he said, “If we could judge just by feeling, there would be no need for doctors or hospitals in this world.”
Ah Ling was silenced. In the next second, his backside was lightly patted, and a force came to his waist. At the same time, the man’s voice reached his ear. “Do not be nervous. Relax. I will carry you back.”
Ah Ling’s stiff body relaxed upon hearing this, and he wrapped his arms tightly around the man’s neck. He looked at Huo Junnian’s face. “Maybe I should lose some weight.”
Huo Junnian did not know what to say to that. After placing him on the bed, he raised an eyebrow. “Wanting to lose weight? Do you want me to carry you every day?”
Ah Ling turned visibly red and said hurriedly, “Of course not!”
“If not, then why lose weight?” After saying this, Huo Junnian curled his finger and gave Ah Ling’s forehead a light flick. “I know how much you eat, and I know how much you weigh. If I find out tomorrow that you ate less and lost weight, see how I deal with you then.”
With those few words from Huo Junnian, the gloom in Ah Ling’s heart vanished. He clutched his forehead and said somewhat defiantly, “Huo Junnian, do not go too far. Even my dad does not control me this much. Why should you?”
Huo Junnian gave a light snort and raised an eyebrow. “Because your father personally entrusted your discipline to me.” He soon softened his voice, pinched the youth’s face, and said gently, “So, you must put on some weight here.”