Ah! ah! What was he doing!
And why on earth was he trying to take off his pants!
Zhou Yuchi unfastened the button at the waistband of Jiang Zao’s trousers. His fingers, the joints sharp and defined, pressed lightly against the metal of the zipper, poised to pull it down,
The air seemed to freeze in that instant, thick with tension. Jiang Zao’s breath caught in his throat, his mind going utterly blank. He didn’t even have time to stop him; everything was happening too fast, too close.
Zhou Yuchi’s movements were calm and deliberate, almost frighteningly composed, as though he had already made up his mind about what he was going to do.
Jiang Zao could feel his heartbeat pounding in his ears, every nerve stretched tight. The soft scrape of the zipper teeth made his pulse jump, the sound absurdly loud in the stillness between them.
“Wait, Zhou Yuchi!” he finally managed to stammer, his voice trembling, not sure if it was from fear, shock or something else entirely.
But Zhou Yuchi didn’t answer right away. His hand stayed where it was, his gaze steady and unreadable. The atmosphere between them was dense, charged with something unspoken that neither dared to name.
Jiang Zao’s thoughts scattered like sand, caught between confusion and the strange heat that had begun to spread beneath his skin. He couldn’t tell if Zhou Yuchi meant to hurt him, help him or simply prove a point but whatever it was, the moment had already gone too far to be easily undone.
Jiang Zao’s foot shot out before he even had time to think.
With the faintest pink still clinging to his sole, his bare foot landed squarely on Zhou Yuchi’s face. The impact was solid and unexpected.
Zhou Yuchi winced, clutching his chin with one hand, eyes squeezing shut in pain. For a few seconds, he didn’t move. Then, when he opened them again, something in his expression had shifted completely.
His gaze burned, dark and intense, as he caught hold of the restless ankle that had just struck him. His voice was calm, low, almost too even. “Were you trying to murder me?”
The guilt hit Jiang Zao instantly. Seeing that he had actually hurt him, he hurried to bend down, his voice tripping over itself. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Are you okay? You shouldn’t have been trying to take off my pants in the first place!”
Zhou Yuchi rubbed at his jaw with a lazy motion, then lifted his eyes to look at him again, his tone mild and utterly unbothered. “I needed to take off your jeans to massage you. Didn’t you say you wanted to relax?”
Jiang Zao stared at him, completely flustered. “Then you could have said something first! Why start pulling without warning!”
“Oh.” Zhou Yuchi didn’t even look fazed. He simply said, as if agreeing, “Then take them off yourself.”
Jiang Zao was speechless.
Was this what straight male logic looked like?
Thinking back, his old dorm mates had been the same, completely unselfconscious, wandering around half-naked without a care in the world. Maybe in their eyes, stripping down on the spot wasn’t a big deal at all.
No. No, that couldn’t be right. This was definitely not right.
“Move. I’m going back to my room.” Jiang Zao pushed him lightly on the shoulder.
Zhou Yuchi took a step aside, silently watching as Jiang Zao strode away, his expression unreadable.
A few minutes later, Jiang Zao reappeared.
He had changed into a pair of his own loose sports shorts. His knees were pale with a faint rosy hue, his legs long and straight, carrying the soft fullness of someone who ate well and had just a hint of extra flesh around the thighs, enough to make them look strong and healthy.
Still, Jiang Zao looked awkward, his voice small. “…I suddenly don’t feel like relaxing anymore.”
Zhou Yuchi’s eyes had never left him from the moment he walked out. His expression was calm, almost gentle, though the subtle amusement lurking there was impossible to miss. “That’s fine. But when your body aches all over tomorrow, don’t come complaining to me.”
Jiang Zao hesitated, second-guessing himself. Maybe he really was overthinking this. Between two men, one gay, one straight, there was nothing to fuss over, right? It was supposed to be open, casual and simple.
Besides, wasn’t this the perfect chance to make that dog Zhou do something useful for once? Getting a full massage for free was a rare gift. Those spa places cost a fortune and here he had a willing pair of hands, practically volunteering.
He might as well make the most of it, make Zhou Yuchi work a few hundred hours if possible.
“Oh…” Jiang Zao finally nodded, half convinced, half resigned. “If my body’s going to hurt tomorrow and I still have to go to work, that’s going to be miserable. So… where should I sit?”
Zhou Yuchi stood nearby, calm as ever and pointed toward the sofa. “Lie down here.”
Jiang Zao settled himself onto the sofa, shifting slightly before turning his body so that his head rested on the pillow Zhou Yuchi had placed there earlier. The cushion was soft beneath him, molding to his weight as he stretched out comfortably on his stomach.
Zhou Yuchi’s gaze lingered on the crown of Jiang Zao’s head, where the strands of hair looked soft and slightly messy, faintly shining under the light.
The young man’s figure was slender and delicate, his skin appearing almost translucent in contrast with the deep gray tone of the sofa. The pallor of his complexion carried a fragile quality, the sort of pale glow that belonged to someone who rarely went outdoors.
His waist was narrow and smooth, drawing in slightly before curving out again into a shape that was unexpectedly well defined.
He really was too pale, the kind of fair skin that came from long days away from the sun and a distinct lack of exercise.
It made him seem like a piece of art carefully kept behind glass, protected from dust and time, unmarked and soft to the eye. Yet, despite that tenderness, his figure carried a quiet, natural allure.
It was the sort of beauty that did not ask for attention but caught it all the same, subtle and yet difficult to look away from.
Zhou Yuchi remained silent for a while. Then, without saying a word, he reached for the small bottle of essential oil resting beside them. The faint sound of glass against wood and the light clink of the bottle cap echoed in the air.
Jiang Zao, hugging the pillow beneath him, could not see what Zhou Yuchi was doing. He only heard the soft noises of movement behind him, the slight rustle of objects being placed down and picked up again. After a few moments, he began to wonder what was taking so long.
Just as he was about to turn his head to glance back, a sudden cool sensation touched the side of his calf.
The feeling was unexpected, cool, smooth and slightly sticky. It was followed by a gentle but firm pressure, as though a warm palm had enclosed his leg completely.
Zhou Yuchi’s hand easily fit around his calf, leaving just a little space and then his thumbs began to move slowly down from the bend of the knee, pressing and kneading in careful circles.
Jiang Zao’s entire body tensed at once.
He wasn’t used to being touched like this. Physical contact always made him overly aware and his sensitivity to it made him almost twitchy.
The sudden pressure against his skin sent a small jolt through him, his fingers tightening their grip around the pillow until the fabric crumpled slightly under his hands.
“Does it hurt?”
The voice came from behind him, clear and steady. Zhou Yuchi sounded calm and serious, as though he were simply asking about the intensity of the massage, though his hands didn’t stop moving.
“No…” Jiang Zao mumbled after a pause, shifting a little under the touch. His tone was low and muffled, carrying a faint trace of embarrassment. “Zhou Yuchi, it’s just… a little itchy.”
His voice trembled slightly, the sound fragile and soft, almost uncertain, as if he were trying not to react too much.
Zhou Yuchi gave a quiet hum of acknowledgement. His gaze flickered downward, taking in the outline of Jiang Zao’s back, the faint upward curve near his waist.
The fabric of his shirt draped loosely, covering most of his skin and the hem of his pants had rolled up a little higher from his earlier movement.
“Relax.” His tone was calm, his eyes lowered as his movements grew slower and more deliberate. “I’ve applied the oil, so it won’t hurt your skin. Just breathe and let your muscles loosen up.”
Jiang Zao tried to follow his instruction but the ticklish sensation made it hard to stay still. His body remained slightly tense, the muscles in his legs tightening every time the other man’s fingers pressed a bit too close to a sensitive spot.
Yet as the massage continued, the discomfort began to fade, replaced by a spreading warmth that was oddly soothing.
The essential oil that Zhou Yuchi used wasn’t thin or watery, it had a rich, almost silky texture. It spread easily beneath his hands, coating the skin with a faint sheen.
As his fingers moved and pressed, the friction generated a gradual heat that built up with each motion, the warmth sinking slowly into the muscle beneath.
The longer he worked, the more the air filled with a faint, delicate fragrance of gardenia, soft and calming.
Jiang Zao let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing little by little. His thoughts drifted, the gentle rhythm of the massage blurring the edges of his awareness until only the steady rise and fall of his own breathing remained.
The room grew quiet except for that faint sound of movement, the subtle whisper of fingers gliding across skin.
The oil’s heat seemed to deepen, spreading under the surface until it almost felt warmer than his skin itself. And though he tried to resist the sensation, a faint, reluctant sigh escaped him, a soft exhale that spoke of reluctant comfort.
He didn’t want to admit it but Zhou Yuchi’s technique was surprisingly skilled. His pressure wasn’t too heavy, his movements steady and methodical, every motion measured just right. There was no harshness in his touch, no awkwardness or hesitation. It was steady, practiced and unexpectedly careful.
As the warmth continued to seep in, the tension that had built up in Jiang Zao’s body slowly began to unwind. His eyes drifted closed, exhaustion from the day settling heavily in his limbs.
After the physical tests earlier, he had been aching all over. Now, under the steady rhythm of the massage, his body was finally beginning to relax and his mind followed.
The scent of the essential oil lingered in the air, light but pervasive, carrying a faint sweetness that wrapped around them like a quiet lull.
Zhou Yuchi lifted his gaze for a moment and noticed that Jiang Zao’s breathing had evened out. The young man, who had been so tense and alert only moments ago, had drifted off into sleep, his face resting softly against the pillow.
A faint look of disbelief flickered across Zhou Yuchi’s expression. He found it slightly absurd that Jiang Zao had actually fallen asleep in the middle of all this.
Yet there was something strangely peaceful about it, the sight of that small, quiet figure resting amid the dim light and the lingering scent of gardenia.
Zhou Yuchi exhaled softly, his movements slowing until they stilled and for a long moment, he simply watched the rise and fall of Jiang Zao’s back as he slept, the faint warmth of the oil still glimmering against his skin like a thin layer of light.
He saw a man straddling him, lifting his shirt and inserting his hand inside.
Jiang Zao: !!!
The cold air from outside seeped into his lower abdomen, creating a stark contrast with the man’s hot breath.
A tingling sensation ran down his waist; warm hands, after a massage, pressed against his ribs, gently pressing his knuckles and lifting his waist slightly.
Jiang Zao was terrified by the action and immediately cried out, “Where are you touching, you madman?!” Zhou Yuchi remained calm, his tone gentle yet stern: “Just helping you relax your abs. Didn’t you do a hundred sit-ups?”
He placed his fingers on either side of Jiang Zao’s navel: “Otherwise, you won’t be able to sit up tomorrow.”
Jiang Zao’s ears turned red. From this position, he could see Zhou Yuchi’s indifferent, slightly bruised face.
The area his fingers were pressing was incredibly itchy. He instinctively bent over; he had definitely crossed his gay boundaries.
“I don’t want to touch it here!” Jiang Zao twisted his waist, trying to break free but the movement was rather awkward, almost like a coy invitation. Zhou Yuchi stared at the small face, etched with displeasure and resistance, its gleam defiant, cheeks and hands flushed with anger.
To be honest, Zhou Yuchi preferred Jiang Zao’s current appearance to submission.
The resistance and struggle were even more exciting and intriguing.
It was sharp and prickly but not aggressive; peeling back the skin revealed softness and even a sharp bite wouldn’t hurt, it was quite cute.
Jiang Zao was really annoyed.
Was he crazy?! He was resting and he had to wake him up!
Didn’t he know he shouldn’t do that to a gay man?!
Luckily, Zhou Yuchi released him, otherwise those hands would have pushed his clothes up to his armpits.
Jiang Zao, propping himself up on his arms, tried to get off the sofa: “You really are something, you were massaging me perfectly fine, how could you suddenly…!” His feet weren’t even touching the ground when he felt himself being lifted up, practically flipped over.
Jiang Zao: ?!
He was still in the same leg-massaging position as before, except his chest was off the ground, his hands and backs were pressed against his back and the light was still facing forward.
Zhou Yuchi’s large hands were still on Jiang Zao’s waist, his tone completely calm: “Then let’s change to stretching.”
“Ah!” Jiang Zao shuddered at the touch, letting out a soft cry, like a cat being pinched by the scruff of its neck.
Zhou Yuchi’s hands were almost touching Jiang Zao’s body as he moved upwards, checking his abdominal stretch, his touch leading to his face.
The heat in his lower back intensified, making him feel increasingly thirsty; his skin was red from being massaged by his fingers.
“Your muscles are flexible, so you shouldn’t feel pain, only pleasure.”
Zhou Yuchi’s veiny hands lifted Jiang Zao’s chin, bringing them together in eye contact.
He added, rather meticulously, “It’s the pleasure of the stretch.”
“…” Jiang Zao tilted his head back, his eyes fixed on Zhou Yuchi’s face, so close to his. The man leaned forward, his back straight, looking down at him from above. His slight chin tucked in allowed Jiang Zao to see the clear outline of Zhou Yuchi’s body.
He wore a slightly unpleasant smile, a haughty and nonchalant air.
He had the scent of dry, soft fabric.
A strand of hair hanging from the top of Zhou Yuchi’s head moved slightly. His features were exquisite, the kind of exquisite, brimming with masculine hormones.
Jiang Zao almost lost himself in his intense black eyes.
It was indeed a standard stretching exercise. Jiang Zao had been dragged to the gym by Bai Yunfan and the instructor there had used this exercise to stretch his abdomen.
But for a moment, he couldn’t tell if it was the pulling sensation in his abdominal muscles that made him uncomfortable or if Zhou Yuchi’s sudden surprise had caught him completely off guard.
Jiang Zao felt his heart stagnate for a moment, his breathing slightly labored.
The humidifier was on in the autumn room, carrying a slight dampness.
Air circulated in a small space and the scent of gardenia essential oil mixed with his breath began to fade.
But Zhou Yuchi’s inherently bad nature didn’t diminish; on the contrary, it seemed to manifest itself.
He raised an eyebrow, hooked his knuckles around Jiang Zao’s chin and lazily said, “Comfortable?”
Jiang Zao: “……………………” Comfortable my ass!
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
(￣ω￣;) the translator is staring at the coffee button
☕ 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