Underwear!
Jiang Zao’s face flared red instantly, the heat rising so fast he could almost hear the sizzle under his skin. He could feel every inch of his body heating up, burning from the neck down.
At this very moment, he honestly had no idea which crisis to deal with first, should he cover the exposed skin at the base of his thigh, or should he slap a hand over Zhou Yuchi’s mouth before the man said something even more outrageous? The problem was, he only had two hands.
Fuming, Jiang Zao leaned closer to Zhou Yuchi and hissed in a whisper, “Pervert! Where the hell are you looking?”
Zhou Yuchi blinked innocently. “It was an accident.”
“Then why did you have to say it out loud?” Jiang Zao’s voice trembled with suppressed anger.
His tone was soft, carrying that distinct southern lilt, gentle and delicate even when he was furious.
Trying to keep his voice down only made him sound more like an angry kitten, the kind that scratches with its tiny claws while still mewling.
“Relax,” Zhou Yuchi said, lowering his voice to match Jiang Zao’s.
He leaned in, his lips almost brushing against the shell of Jiang Zao’s ear, and added with a lazy drawl, “You didn’t flash anyone. I covered you the whole time. I’m the only one who saw.”
Jiang Zao was speechless.
What kind of twisted comfort was that supposed to be?
He bit his lip hard, head dropping as he darted his gaze left and right.
Good grief. The fabric of these pants was criminally smooth.
When he bent his legs, the upper part clung tightly to his thighs, while the rest fell freely with the pull of gravity, creating a scandalous glimpse of springtime scenery.
Well, it was from Honey Bunny’s “special” collection, after all.
Not the time to be admiring his own company’s design!
“Want me to help you cover it?” Zhou Yuchi asked, his voice far too calm for the situation.
He leaned down, his large hand sliding beneath the slack fabric, gently pushing it back up and pressing it into place.
Excuse me, what exactly was the difference between that and groping?
What kind of degenerate behavior was this?
“No…” Jiang Zao quickly scooted backward, his voice caught between outrage and panic.
He wanted to curse him out properly, but before he could, the PE teacher shouted from across the field, “Break time’s over! Back to it! This field’s booked for another class soon.”
Zhou Yuchi straightened, his posture perfect, expression unreadable. He tilted his head slightly and said in a calm, even tone, “If you don’t want me looking again, you’d better work harder.”
Jiang Zao almost choked on air.
With his hands holding Jiang Zao’s legs down, Zhou Yuchi watched the boy lie back onto the mat, his palms braced behind his head as he prepared for the next set.
The angle from where Zhou Yuchi stood was almost too good. The clean line of Jiang Zao’s jaw led down to smooth, pale skin. His shirt fell over his chest and stomach, and the thin fabric outlined the subtle dip of his navel, tracing the lean curve of his waist.
Zhou Yuchi’s gaze darkened, though his voice stayed maddeningly calm as he began counting.
“Forty eight.”
“Forty nine.”
“Fifty.”
The moment he heard that final number, Jiang Zao collapsed back onto the mat, eyes closed, chest heaving.
“Keep going, time’s not up yet!” the teacher called out. “You’ve got five more seconds!”
“I can’t… not even one more…” Jiang Zao mumbled, throwing an arm over his eyes as he panted heavily.
He swore Zhou Yuchi always had this insane ability to drag the absolute limit out of him every single time. The man was like a relentless machine, a maddeningly handsome drill sergeant in gym clothes.
“Good job, Zao Zao.” Zhou Yuchi grabbed him by the hand and easily pulled him up, his voice casual, the praise rolling off his tongue like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Jiang Zao didn’t even bother looking at him. He steadied his breathing, face cold as he snapped, “Get lost.”
Zhou Yuchi acted like he didn’t hear. “When you run a thousand meters, keep your breathing even. Stay in rhythm, you’ll pass easily.”
He glanced at the boy’s thin frame and added, “After you finish everything, wait for me for a bit.”
Jiang Zao narrowed his eyes. “What for?”
Zhou Yuchi had already finished all his tests. He picked up a nearby bag, turned back, and without warning, reached out to smooth the mess Jiang Zao’s hair had become during the sit-ups.
His fingers lingered just long enough to make Jiang Zao freeze.
“Let’s go home together,” he said.
Jiang Zao stared at him, completely thrown off.
There were plenty of people nearby. After all, who wouldn’t watch two attractive guys interacting this closely?
The moment Zhou Yuchi’s hand moved, even if his voice was low enough for only the two of them to hear, Jiang Zao could already feel the collective shift in the air.
People were definitely shipping them.
Don’t. Please don’t.
Straight men were a menace.
Zhou Yuchi, acting perfectly calm, simply said “See you later” before walking off with his bag.
“What the hell…” Jiang Zao muttered under his breath, completely at a loss. What was Zhou Yuchi even up to now?
Just then, a voice came quietly from behind him. “He’s going to the international academic symposium hosted by F University right now.”
Jiang Zao jumped, whipping his head around to see Bai Yunfan leaning close, whispering near his ear.
“Last month, Zhou Yuchi’s research team went to the UK and won an award,” Bai explained. “F University’s holding a science exchange this week, and they invited him to give a presentation.”
He held out his phone. On the screen was the university’s official post, a few photos and videos from a lecture hall in London.
In the photos, Zhou Yuchi stood on stage in a deep-colored double-breasted suit, tied neatly in place. His features were sharp and striking, his expression calm and detached.
The topic was a project in neurobiology, research into emotional cognition and neural transmission models applied to artificial intelligence.
Jiang Zao tapped open the video. Zhou Yuchi’s voice came through the speakers, smooth, deep, and steady. His English was flawless, his delivery clear and confident.
On screen, he was composed and focused, the perfect professional, precise yet charismatic, his voice carrying a subtle warmth that drew people in.
It was such a contrast from the teasing, infuriating man from earlier, and yet somehow… it wasn’t. He was still Zhou Yuchi, just with the volume turned down, his sharp edges replaced by quiet brilliance.
His knowledge was solid, his explanations engaging, and his timing impeccable. Even Jiang Zao had to admit, professionally, he was flawless.
So that business trip he mentioned before… It really was to the UK.
“But hey, Zao,” Bai Yunfan said, straightening up with a mischievous look. “What exactly is going on between you and Zhou Yuchi?”
He had never met Zhou Yuchi in person before today. Everything he knew was from campus gossip, or Jiang Zao’s complaints. He used to think the two of them were archenemies, always at each other’s throats.
But after seeing them together just now… he wasn’t so sure.
It felt more like one of those relationships where they bicker nonstop but somehow can’t stay apart for long. Especially Zhou Yuchi, he didn’t seem to dislike Jiang Zao at all.
“Nothing,” Jiang Zao said immediately. “If anything, he’s just insane.”
“…Right,” Bai Yunfan said slowly. “Got it.”
Yeah, Jiang Zao definitely sounded done with him.
Bai raised a brow and said, “You must really hate him then. Because if he acted like that with me, I’d probably give in on the spot.”
Jiang Zao’s expression went blank.
Excuse me? Was this something you just said in public?
Bai continued dreamily, “God, that face of his is unfair. Doesn’t he just scream dominant? Like the kind of man who could cook, command, and ruin lives all at once? And those muscles, those shoulders, damn, I’d kill to see his abs. Zao, do you have pictures? Or maybe you can ask him to send you one? Please? I swear, that face is lethal. When will it be my turn to kiss someone like that?”
Jiang Zao rubbed his wrist and rolled his ankle, his voice calm and dry. “You wanna hear about his dark history? No need to pay me, I’ll tell you for free.”
“I’ve got a photo of Zhou the Dog getting caught skipping class, holding a sign that says, ‘If I skip again, may I go bald,’ right at the school gate. Want to see?”
Bai Yunfan blinked. “What?”
Before Jiang Zao could continue, he heard someone behind them mutter, “Man, that guy doing forty pull-ups was just showing off.”
Excuse me? That was his line to say.
Sure, Jiang Zao thought Zhou Yuchi could be obnoxious sometimes, but before he could agree, the guys kept talking.
“He’s just trying to impress girls. Bet he’ll have a dozen people adding him after this. Pathetic.”
Jiang Zao’s jaw tightened.
He didn’t usually interfere with other people’s nonsense, guys competing out of insecurity was none of his business.
But then one of them said, “I bet he’s dating a bunch of people at once. No way someone like that’s clean. His private life’s probably a mess.”
“Didn’t he win some academic award though?”
“Please. He just got lucky with a rich project group and a famous advisor. You think someone at his level could achieve that on his own?”
Their voices dripped with jealousy. Even Bai Yunfan frowned, muttering, “Ugh, can’t they just let people succeed without choking on sour grapes?”
Before he could say more, he realized Jiang Zao had already turned around.
The two guys froze mid-sentence when they saw him looking right at them.
Jiang Zao’s brows drew together, his small face sharp with irritation as his gaze swept them up and down.
“Are you two in a direct PhD program?” he asked coolly.
The guys blinked. “No…”
Jiang Zao raised a brow. “Then what, you two are first in your department and year? Can you each crank out forty pull-ups in one go?”
The two boys froze. “No…”
Jiang Zao’s suspicion only deepened. “Don’t tell me you actually think you’re better than that show-off king?”
Both of them went silent, faces stiff.
Jiang Zao’s tone sounded almost kind, but his words landed like knives. “Don’t go around running your mouths like that. You’re giving off such a strong sour smell it’s like you soaked your feet in vinegar before running. Be careful you don’t soften your ankles and twist them.”
The two boys stood there speechless.
Jiang Zao didn’t give them a chance to reply. He didn’t even look back as he grabbed Bai Yunfan by the arm and ran off in the other direction.
They didn’t stop until they were far enough away, both panting for breath.
“Damn, Zao! That was incredible!” Bai Yunfan exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration. “I didn’t know you had it in you to be that bold!”
Jiang Zao normally wasn’t that daring. Maybe it was because of the recent pressure from work, handling one too many ridiculous clients, that made him want to explode at anyone who annoyed him. “I just can’t stand people who talk too much nonsense.”
“Ooh,” Bai Yunfan waggled his eyebrows teasingly.
Then, curiosity got the better of him. “By the way, Zao, I’ve been meaning to ask, why do you keep saying Zhou Yuchi’s straight? Did he actually date a lot of girls before or something?”
Jiang Zao didn’t answer right away.
In his memory, the boy from back then still had that untamed edge of youth. He was wearing the same school uniform as everyone else, his attitude proud and careless, like the whole world barely deserved his attention.
Sunlight shimmered faintly before his eyes as the memory flickered.
“I don’t know,” Jiang Zao finally said. “But back in high school, a guy confessed to him and got rejected. Afterward, that guy told everyone Zhou Yuchi was straight as a board. And apparently, Zhou Yuchi had a girl he liked.”
Bai Yunfan’s eyes widened. “What the hell. Who?”
“I don’t know either,” Jiang Zao said, shaking his head. “I asked him about it once, but he wouldn’t say. But I did see a jar full of paper stars he folded for someone.”
“What? A jar of lucky stars? That’s so pure! Isn’t that the kind of thing you finish folding just before confessing your feelings?”
“Yeah,” Jiang Zao said. “That’s the one. I don’t even know if he ever confessed. Maybe he got rejected. Wouldn’t surprise me.”
“Wow, even someone that good-looking got stuck in an unrequited love phase? There’s no justice in this world,” Bai Yunfan sighed. Then he added with a grin, “Honestly, maybe you should tell him to stop being so moral and just switch sides already.”
Jiang Zao shot him a look. “You’re really full of great suggestions, huh.”
“Psychology majors, psychology majors! Gather up! Time for the one-thousand-meter run!”
The inevitable moment arrived.
Jiang Zao let out a long sigh. His whole body protested as he dragged himself toward the track.
He didn’t go home with Zhou Yuchi afterward.
After finishing the one-thousand-meter run, he was completely wrecked. His breath came in shallow gasps, his legs trembling, his stomach queasy enough that he almost threw up. It took him a long while before he could even stand up straight again.
Once both he and Bai Yunfan had recovered enough to walk, they decided to skip the cafeteria and find a restaurant nearby to refuel.
Zhou Yuchi texted him asking where he was. Jiang Zao typed back: Don’t worry about me. Go home first.
As evening fell, the sky dimmed into a deep indigo, the streets glowing under rows of streetlights. Cars passed one after another on the wide asphalt road, their headlights stretching into long streaks of light.
“I’m home, Yunfan” Jiang Zao said in a voice message as he stepped into the elevator.
Bai Yunfan’s reply came quickly. [Oh, same here. I’m totally done for. My body’s already starting to ache. I’m calling it, this pain’s gonna last a week.]
Jiang Zao unlocked the door and stepped into the apartment, only to see Zhou Yuchi sitting casually on the sofa.
He quickly switched from voice to text.
ZaoZaoSleepEarly: [Same here]
ZaoZaoSleepEarly: [Talk later]
Maybe it was guilt from not going home together earlier, but Jiang Zao was surprisingly polite when he spoke. Seeing Zhou Yuchi sticking something on his arm, he asked, “Did you get hurt?”
Zhou Yuchi glanced up at him briefly. “No.”
“Then you’re loosening your muscles?” Jiang Zao asked, pointing to the massage gun on the table. “Can I borrow that for a bit? My legs are killing me too.”
Zhou Yuchi pressed the last patch of medicine onto his arm and set the remaining ones down.
His gaze drifted, sweeping briefly over Jiang Zao’s lower half.
Gone were the silky sports shorts from earlier, he had changed into light blue jeans that hugged his long legs, neat and straight.
When Zhou Yuchi didn’t answer, Jiang Zao frowned slightly, wondering why his mood seemed off again.
Fine, whatever. If he didn’t want to lend it, then so be it.
Jiang Zao turned around, about to leave without another word,
But before he could take two steps, the ground disappeared beneath his feet.
He let out a startled sound as a pair of strong hands caught him under the arms and lifted him effortlessly off the ground.
“Hey”
In the next instant, Zhou Yuchi turned, carrying him easily before setting him down on the sofa.
Jiang Zao was still catching up, eyes wide, when Zhou Yuchi suddenly went down on one knee in front of him.
“What, what are you doing?” Jiang Zao stammered.
The faint scent of medicated plasters filled the air between them. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it covered the familiar trace of cologne he usually wore, the soft musk of amber and the faint sweetness of gardenia that came from the essential oil diffuser nearby.
“That thing won’t help,” Zhou Yuchi said calmly, his voice low and steady.
His dark eyes lowered, lashes casting a faint shadow across his cheekbones. His tone was even, but the look in his eyes was focused, unblinking.
Then one large hand slid to Jiang Zao’s waist, steady and deliberate. His other hand moved up, his fingers brushing lightly against the button of Jiang Zao’s jeans. With one simple motion, he flicked it open.
Zhou Yuchi’s voice came slowly and unhurried.
“Come here,” he said. “I’ll help you relax properly.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
No propaganda here. Only coffee.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · The BossChapter 2 · Childhood FriendChapter 3 · Settlement of AccountChapter 4 · Button UnderwearChapter 5 · Open The DoorChapter 6 · (O△O)!Chapter 7 · Woe to himChapter 8 · Break The JarChapter 9 · Keep your promiseChapter 10 · MovieChapter 11 · Try on clothesChapter 12 · Hide! Hide! HIDE!Chapter 13 · ShameChapter 14 · ProtocolChapter 15 · TraceChapter 16 · What are you nervous about?Chapter 17 · Physical TestChapter 18 · Protect One’s OwnChapter 19 · MassageChapter 20 · BiteChapter 21 · Bring him homeChapter 22 · True LoveChapter 23 · After drinkingChapter 24 · MarketChapter 25 · Temporary TattooChapter 26 · Shooting GameChapter 27 · Escape GameChapter 28 · Terrifying dreamChapter 29 · ExhibitionChapter 30 · Pocky GameChapter 31 · TeasingChapter 32 · Pure scoundrelChapter 33 · Straight menChapter 34 · Gay BarChapter 35 · Lip lickingChapter 36 · Doesn’t seem like a good personChapter 37 · AddictionChapter 38 · Reporting videoChapter 39 · Rough LanguageChapter 40 · Wow!Chapter 41 · Hot spring resort～～Chapter 42 · It looks good!Chapter 43 · Hot SpringChapter 44 · HonestyChapter 45 · VinegarChapter 46 · I’ll keep you companyChapter 47 · Rocking ChairChapter 48 · VileChapter 49 · Losing ComposureChapter 50 · A Guide to Identifying Gay MenChapter 51 · Going HomeChapter 52 · KissChapter 53 · PeckChapter 54 · Pearl Wedding AttireChapter 55 · For No ReasonChapter 56 · Stop CalculatingChapter 57 · HandcuffsChapter 58 · Too FarChapter 59 · The MuzzleChapter 60 · Taking It FurtherChapter 61 · Does kissing feel good?Chapter 62 · HmmChapter 63 · GuidanceChapter 64 · VideoChapter 65 · No ProblemChapter 66 · Come DownChapter 67 · Is That All?Chapter 68 · HmphChapter 69 · Applying MedicineChapter 70 · ToysChapter 71 · BathroomChapter 72 · PlacementChapter 73 · WaitingChapter 74 · LoveChapter 75 · StarsChapter 76 · RoommateChapter 77 · BoyfriendChapter 78 · MouthChapter 79 · MidsummerChapter 80 · Aeroplane ChessChapter 81 · Ice CubesChapter 82 · All Night LongChapter 83 · SleepChapter 84 · The Alt AccountChapter 85 · End of the Main StoryChapter 86 · Extra 1Chapter 87 · Extra 2Chapter 88 · Extra 3Chapter 89 · Extra 4Chapter 90 · Extra 5Chapter 91 · Extra 6Chapter 92 · Extra 7Chapter 93 · Extra 8Chapter 94 · Extra 9Chapter 95 · Extra 10Chapter 96 · Extra 11