The person who came in was disheveled, holding a bundle of crumpled clothes in their arms, with a coat just draped over their shoulders. Xiang Chun clutched her collar with her hand, looking as if she had been violated, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.
Ji Yuchen was momentarily stunned, standing at the door for a moment before entering the room. He saw someone sitting on the bed, Xu Chuang with his head lowered, wearing only a tank top… He usually wore long sleeves to sleep after winter set in, and the tank top was something he wore underneath, only taking it off when he showered.
Ji Yuchen suddenly seemed to understand what was going on, his mind piecing together a complete picture: Xu Chuang had ill intentions, made someone cry, and that’s why things looked like this now… A girl with tears like pear blossoms, a man full of regret and remorse, such a typical scene, making one feel disgusted.
Ji Yuchen felt as if he was nailed to the ground, unable to move. The doubts and suspicions that had quietly arisen in recent days burst forth like vines nourished by decay, determined to entangle and devour him.
He fled in panic just before he felt he couldn’t breathe, as if the wind outside the door could blow away some of the anger, disgust, and unbelievable shock, making him feel a little less miserable.
When Xu Chuang came to his senses, he only saw a thin figure running out, as fast as lightning. He got up to chase, watching from a distance as Jiu’er ran into the fields. After winter, the fields were bare, the ground frozen hard. Jiu’er ran along the field ridge, seemingly twisting his ankle accidentally, moving with a limp.
Xu Chuang called for him to stop, but the person in front didn’t turn back no matter what. He shouted, “Jiu’er! Wait for me!”
Hearing this, Ji Yuchen panicked even more. Before he could run far, his pace slowed, and he squatted on the ground, hugging his knees. His ankle hurt, and the pain seemed to shoot straight to his heart. He didn’t understand why the pain traveled this route; it wasn’t scientific at all.
Xu Chuang caught up and pulled him up. Ji Yuchen’s face was full of tears, his little face red from crying, but his eyes were fierce, glaring straight at him. Without waiting for an explanation, he cursed, “Aren’t you disgusting! Are you even human! How can you be so shameless!”
Xu Chuang was stunned by the shouting, worried that his face would crack from crying, and hurriedly wiped his tears. He didn’t know how to explain; it seemed the little guy misunderstood, but that wasn’t the situation at all.
He had returned from town to find no one at home, thinking Jiu’er must have gone to visit someone else, planning to ask Uncle Zhang next door. As soon as he stepped out, he ran into Xiang Chun, who said she had something to discuss and wanted to talk inside.
What happened next, Xu Chuang found it inconvenient to say. Being rejected after throwing oneself at someone wasn’t good for a girl. He didn’t know how to explain, so he could only hold Jiu’er’s hand, begging him not to be so agitated.
Ji Yuchen was trembling with anger, retreating continuously. His heel stepped on the edge of the field ridge, losing balance, and his already twisted ankle suffered a second injury. He was in so much pain he couldn’t speak, tears welling up from his eyes, the cold wind making it sting.
Xu Chuang tried to wipe his tears, but Ji Yuchen pushed him away, muttering, “You said you didn’t like Xiang Chun, but you were about to sleep with her, pretending to be so noble…”
Xu Chuang hurriedly explained, “It’s not what you think! We didn’t do anything!”
Ji Yuchen thought: A real man, why not admit what you’ve done? If you like her, just say you like her; if you hate her, just say you hate her. There’s no need to disgust people like this… It seems Xiang Chun is also a victim, but so am I. I was drugged too; I didn’t force you to do anything…
The more Ji Yuchen thought about it, the more wronged he felt. His thoughts somehow turned into a righteous question, asking why he did it.
Xu Chuang stammered, and Ji Yuchen couldn’t imagine someone he saw as upright and kind doing such a thing, but the facts were in front of him. Xiang Chun’s appearance when she left clearly showed she had been bullied, so how could it be explained?
The facts were accompanied by many speculations. Ji Yuchen thought the most likely possibility was that Xu Chuang couldn’t accept having a relationship with him, so he was eager to do something with a woman to save face, to prove he wasn’t gay. His uncontrollable thoughts spread, and he remembered Xu Chuang saying he wanted to save money. It all seemed to make sense: he was lying to him, lying that Xiang Chun was just a sister, lying that he had no such thoughts, all lies.
Ji Yuchen pushed the person away and walked back, his steps becoming sluggish without a clear destination. Xu Chuang grabbed his arm, pulling him back, wrapping his arms around his waist and lifting him off the ground.
The latter instinctively wrapped his legs around Xu Chuang’s waist, supported by his butt, slapping his shoulder in a flurry, “What are you doing! Put me down!”
Ji Yuchen used all his strength, slapping Xu Chuang’s eye, making the man frown. He held Jiu’er’s lower back, fixing him in his arms, letting him hit and curse until he was too tired to continue.
The evening wind carried sand from who knows where, like sharp blades, stinging their faces.
Ji Yuchen sniffed, pulling his hands into his sleeves. Xu Chuang asked with concern, “Do your hands hurt? Are you hurt anywhere?”
His brows furrowed, but his eyes looked sad.
Ji Yuchen bit his lip, refusing to look at him. Xu Chuang sighed, gently coaxing, “Will you listen to my explanation? Let’s go home first…”
He was afraid that staying outside too long would make him catch a cold. Ji Yuchen didn’t give him a chance to make up lies, insisting he explain right there.
Xu Chuang didn’t hide anything, speaking plainly, skipping the explanation and going straight to the conclusion: “How could I hate you? I don’t even have enough time to like you…”
These words were equivalent to a confession, catching Ji Yuchen off guard. He looked up, facing him directly.
His dark pupils flickered with emotional light. Ji Yuchen snorted softly, “I don’t believe you…”
He almost surrendered just now, without suspicion or doubt, not even needing Xu Chuang’s explanation. It was dangerous.
Xu Chuang asked him, “Did you just see Xiang Chun?”
Ji Yuchen didn’t respond, and Xu Chuang said, “If you misunderstood that there’s something between me and Xiang Chun, I swear, we didn’t do anything.”
He spoke firmly, his eyes straightforward and honest. Ji Yuchen pressed for details, “Then why did she come? Why did she leave like that? So… disheveled…”
He knew these words were unpleasant, thinking it was nothing, but saying it felt like burning his mouth.
Xu Chuang seemed to have a hard time explaining, softening his voice to negotiate, saying it was cold outside, and they should go home first, okay?
He had no way with Ji Yuchen, always agreeing to whatever he asked, giving him whatever he wanted, except for one thing: not allowing him to hurt himself.
The little guy made a soft hum, agreeing.
Xu Chuang carried him home, placing him on the kang. Ji Yuchen’s little face was red from the cold, and because he had cried, the tears on his face seemed to form a thin layer of ice, pulling at his skin with every movement.
Xu Chuang took a towel, soaked it in warm water, and wiped his face. Once he had calmed down a bit, he squatted by his legs to warm his hands.
Ji Yuchen didn’t refuse, but his words remained cold and hard, demanding a clear explanation.
Xu Chuang explained honestly, saying Xiang Chun came and said she wanted to be with him, to marry him, and then started taking off her clothes…
He didn’t continue, assuming Jiu’er would understand. But Ji Yuchen pretended not to understand, insisting on hearing it clearly.
With no one else around, Xu Chuang believed Jiu’er wouldn’t spread rumors, so he laid everything out, recounting every detail he remembered.
By the end, seeing no change in his expression, Xu Chuang grew anxious, “Jiu’er…” Xu Chuang held Ji Yuchen’s hand, nervous enough to use a bit too much force, “If you misunderstood that there’s something between us, I must make it clear to you. You’re the only one in my heart, and that kind of thing will only happen with you. Don’t overthink it…”
Ji Yuchen knowingly asked, “What thing?”
Xu Chuang’s cheeks reddened, his lips opening and closing, glancing at the pillow, “Just… that thing…”
For the first time in his life, he felt shy, finding the words burning his mouth, not knowing how to describe the joy of the bed, the pleasure of fish and water, only muttering a vow: “If you’re willing, I’ll treat you twice as well! If you’re not willing, I can disappear from your sight, become invisible, all up to you, okay?”
A nearly six-foot-three man squatted in front of him, holding Ji Yuchen’s knees, looking up at him. The sunset’s afterglow shone through the curtains onto Xu Chuang’s face, softening his sharp and rugged features with a gentle light, tender and sexy.
Ji Yuchen mumbled softly, “What do you mean…”
Xu Chuang mustered the courage to repeat, “Jiu’er, if you’re willing to be with me, I’ll hold you in my heart, work hard to earn money, buy you everything you want, and treat you well for the rest of my life. If you’re not willing…” Xu Chuang paused, “If you’re not willing, just pretend I never said this. In a few days, I’ll take you to town, see if there’s any news at the police station, and once we find your family, I’ll send you back, or if you want to live elsewhere, I’ll give you money…”
He spoke slowly, his tone sounding heavy. Ji Yuchen sniffed, scolding him, “Are you stupid?”
Xu Chuang looked up, stunned, as he was leaned down to kiss his lips. Xu Chuang’s lips were a bit dry but very warm. Ji Yuchen tasted a salty flavor, probably his own tears.
Crying again, how embarrassing.
[Author’s Note]
The next step after a successful confession is…