*Bang!*
Jiang Zao’s ears burned red as he slammed the door shut, pure physical isolation. He stood there for a moment, forcing himself to breathe, trying to look like a perfectly calm, ordinary person.
Bai Yunfan had been knocking outside for quite a while and was just about to call him when the door suddenly opened.
Jiang Zao’s hair was a fluffy mess, his pale face tinged with the faintest blush. When he saw Bai Yunfan, he brightened instantly and greeted him with a sweet smile, “You’re here so early, YunFan.”
“So early, huh?” Bai Yunfan studied Jiang Zao’s flushed cheeks, “Did you stay up watching shows again last night?”
Jiang Zao stiffened. “No… no, I didn’t.”
“Your complexion looks great though,” Bai Yunfan said as he stepped forward, pushing a heavy bag into Jiang Zao’s arms, “Here, take these for me. I brought a bunch of new comics, they weigh a ton.”
Forced to take the bag, Jiang Zao could only watch helplessly as Bai Yunfan bent to change his shoes. His gaze flicked nervously toward the bedroom.
Thankfully, Zhou Yuchi was silent.
“Wow, your place is huge!” Bai Yunfan said, glancing around as he walked in.
He wandered into the kitchen and spotted a coffee cup sitting on the table. Turning back to Jiang Zao, he teased, “When did you start drinking Americanos? I thought you hated anything bitter.”
“Huh? Oh… uh, that.” Jiang Zao scrambled for an excuse as he saw the cup Zhou Yuchi had left there. “I was just… sleepy this morning. I needed something strong to wake me up. Hahaha.”
“Well, would you look at that,” Bai Yunfan said with mock seriousness, “You’re growing up. The same Jiang Zao who once said only pretentious types like Zhou Yuchi would drink this stuff.”
Jiang Zao: “…”
For heaven’s sake, could he say that a little quieter? The “pretentious type” in question was still inside this house.
“Come on, come on, let me show you what I brought!” Bai Yunfan said eagerly. He pulled out a comic and started to introduce it. “This one just came back from Korea, brand-m new print! I haven’t even unsealed it yet. The Top in this one… wow, he’s so naughty… ”
“Ahhh! YunFan!” Jiang Zao nearly jumped out of his skin, slapping the book shut in panic, “Mind your words!”
“What are you embarrassed about? You’re acting weird,” Bai Yunfan said, half laughing.
Jiang Zao forced himself to breathe, face red as a cherry. After a long moment, he muttered, “It’s just… My place is a little messy today. I feel embarrassed. Why don’t we go out instead?”
“Messy?” Bai Yunfan looked around, puzzled.
Jiang Zao blinked, then finally really looked. The living room was spotless. Everything was neatly arranged, the coat he’d left on the sofa had been folded away, the floor gleamed as if freshly mopped, even the takeout trash he’d been too lazy to throw out was gone.
Oh my god. Had the cleaning fairy come by?
Speechless, Jiang Zao didn’t need to guess that it’s Zhou Yuchi’s handiwork, obviously.
Could that man have picked a worse time to get productive?
Fine. If he loved cleaning so much, he could handle all the chores from now on!
“Besides,” Bai Yunfan said, flipping through another comic, “it’s not like we can read this kind of thing in public. These are kinda private, you know?”
Jiang Zao’s eyes darted toward the bedroom again, “Right, right! So, how about this, let’s grab something to eat first? I’m starving. We’ll come back and read later.”
Bai Yunfan shrugged. “Sure. There’s a new fried chicken place I’ve been dying to try.”
“Perfect,” Jiang Zao said at once.
“I’ll just go change,” he added quickly. “Wait here, okay? I’ll put these in my room.”
Without waiting for an answer, he bolted to the bedroom, dumped the comics inside, and shut the door tight.
Next door, Zhou Yuchi’s phone buzzed several times in a row.
[ZaoZao: (Crying Cat Sticker)]
[ZaoZao: (Crying Cat Sticker)]
[ZaoZao: (Crying Cat Sticker)]
[ZaoZao: (Crying Cat Sticker)]
[ZaoZao: (Crying Cat Sticker)]
Zhou Yuchi took off his glasses, picked up his phone.
[Zhou Yuchi: Speak.]
[ZaoZao: Can we talk this out, please?]
[ZaoZao: (Peeking Kitten Sticker)]
[ZaoZao: Would you maybe… go out for a bit later? Please? (Crying Cat Sticker)]
A new message popped up.
[Mad Dog (▽皿▽#): You’ve been racking up quite a few debts with me lately.]
[ZaoZaoSleeps: Oh, come on, don’t say that. Let’s just say I owe you big this time, okay? I’ll pay it back double later!]
[Mad Dog (▽皿▽#): …]
Panic rising, Jiang Zao started typing compliments at random.
[ZaoZaoSleeps: You’re the best, Zhou Yuchi! I’ve never met anyone so understanding and considerate.]
[ZaoZaoSleeps: Look, it’s such a nice sunny day, go out, get some fresh air, soak in some sunlight! The more you bask, the more handsome you’ll be. You’ll be the most gorgeous man under the sky!]
[ZaoZaoSleeps: Please, I’m taking my friend out soon. Could you leave after we go? I’ll text you when it’s safe to come back, okay?]
[Mad Dog (▽皿▽#): Didn’t you say this was my house?]
[ZaoZaoSleeps: It is, it is!]
[Mad Dog (▽皿▽#): Then why do I need your permission to come home?]
[Mad Dog (▽皿▽#): What are you, my wife?]
Jiang Zao stared at the screen, speechless.
[ZaoZaoSleeps: I admit defeat, big bro.]
[ZaoZaoSleeps: Name your price. Anything you want, I’ll agree to it.]
Zhou Yuchi took a screenshot of the messages, the incriminating part especially, just in case the brat tried to deny it later. After saving the “evidence,” he replied:
[Mad Dog (▽皿▽#): Fine.]
Jiang Zao exhaled in relief, though it felt like he’d just sold his soul. Someday, someday, he swore he’d make Zhou Yuchi pay for this humiliation.
He changed clothes and came out of the room, “Yufan, let’s go.”
“Alright, I’ll order a ride,” Bai Yunfan said.
Before leaving, Jiang Zao couldn’t resist glancing toward Zhou Yuchi’s room. No movement. Good.
Once the door shut behind them, he immediately texted again:
[ZaoZaoSleeps: Remember, we’re gone now. Move fast. Wait for my message before you come back.]
The fried chicken smelled divine.
For a while, the aroma and the golden crunch distracted Jiang Zao from all his troubles.
They took plenty of pictures together, the place was trendy, full of people by noon, but luckily they’d arrived early enough to avoid the queue.
Early autumn had just begun to show its colors; the weather was perfect. The breeze was cool, leaves scattered underfoot, sunlight spilling through the branches in molten gold. When he looked up, the sky was a clean, endless blue.
When Jiang Zao finally returned home and opened the door, he made sure Bai Yunfan was busy changing shoes before rushing inside to check every corner.
Living room—empty.
Kitchen—empty.
Bedroom—empty.
He even opened Zhou Yuchi’s door. No one.
Perfect. Zhou Yuchi really had gone out.
At least he had a conscience.
“What are you looking at, Zao?” Bai Yunfan asked, puzzled. “You’re acting weird today.”
With Zhou Yuchi gone, Jiang Zao finally relaxed, collapsing onto the sofa. “Nothing, nothing. Come on, YunFan, let’s read.”
Bai Yunfan joined him. “Right, about yesterday, you said something complicated happened. What was that?”
Jiang Zao set the comics on the coffee table. Complicated was one way to put it. How was he supposed to explain this? That he was currently living with Zhou Yuchi?
If Bai Yunfan heard that, his imagination would run wild, and by tomorrow there’d be no saving Jiang Zao’s reputation.
“Yesterday, there was this huge cockroach at home,” Jiang Zao said solemnly, “Scared me half to death.”
“That’s your big complicated issue?”
“Getting rid of the body was… complicated,” Jiang Zao replied.
Bai Yunfan: “…”
He didn’t mean to lie but somehow, deep down, he knew this living together thing just couldn’t be made public. Sure, roommates were normal these days, but something about Zhou Yuchi made him instinctively nervous.
“Anyway,” Bai Yunfan said, picking through the pile, “Take your pick. I brought all the popular ones.”
He handed over a comic. It was a campus romance, senior and junior, college setting. Typical Korean flair: over the top emotions, billion-dollar CEOs, dramatic heartbreaks. But this one was lighter, almost refreshing.
Jiang Zao picked up another. Two men in shirts and lanyards entwined on the cover, clearly an office romance.
After working in an office himself, he found those kinds of stories a little too far fetched. Who actually dated their boss? Even as a company owner, he still thought it ridiculous.
But the artwork was beautiful, soft light, expressive eyes, clean lines. The atmosphere sizzled faintly, like warmth seeping through paper.
He tucked it aside for later. Even if the plot was nonsense, the visuals alone were worth it, “YunFan, show me all the school-life ones, will you? I need some inspiration. Maybe I can find ideas for next season’s theme collection.”
School uniforms were a nightmare to design. Everything on the market looked the same, white shirts, plaid skirts, ties and bows. He wanted something fresh.
The oversized red ribbons he’d tried earlier didn’t quite fit the tone. DK and JK styles were overdone. Aesthetically pleasing, sure, but uninspired.
His eyes drifted over the panels, mind working fast, “You know, athletic uniforms might work,” he mused.
“They’re simple, clean, refreshing. You can tweak the cut a little, add small openings, subtle contrasts. Keep it modest but… teasing. That kind of restrained appeal always works best.”
He got lost in thought, flipping pages, until Bai Yunfan tugged his sleeve.
“Hey, check out this one, seriously, it’s so good. The emotion, the art, everything.”
“I love this body type dynamic,” Jiang Zao admitted, “It just hits right.”
“God, this top is so clingy,” Bai Yunfan laughed.
“Let me see.”
And so they went on, page after page, laughing, teasing, sharing.
By the time Zhou Yuchi stepped out of the lab, night had already fallen. The last streaks of sunset had been swallowed by the dark; the sky was thick with shadow, the air tinged with smoke and faint city light.
The campus was quiet at this hour. Zhou Yuchi and Qian Shiyan finished cleaning up and headed downstairs together.
“Didn’t you say you were taking a break?” Qian Shiyan asked. “Why’d you show up today?”
Zhou Yuchi loosened his collar, sleeves rolled neatly to the elbow, revealing a clean stretch of wrist. “Keeping my word,” he said lazily. “Waiting for a signal.”
“A signal?”
“Didn’t get one,” Zhou Yuchi replied, his voice low and perpetually tired, “Figured I might as well come see how badly you’re all messing up the experiment.”
Qian Shiyan sighed. “…”
They passed by the smoking area. Qian offered him a cigarette. “Want one?”
Zhou Yuchi took it, lit it smoothly. The bitter scent of smoke drifted through the cool air.
He leaned against the railing, smoke curling between his fingers, gaze lowered. His bangs cast shadows over narrow, dark eyes.
The phone in his hand was silent.
No messages.
The little thing had forgotten about him again.
Qian exhaled a long plume of smoke. “Hey, Old Zhou, let’s grab a drink after this?”
“No.”
Zhou Yuchi pocketed his phone, half his face hidden in shadow, “I’m driving home.”
Qian chuckled, “So you really moved in with Jiang Zao, huh? Bold move. Aren’t you afraid he’ll kick you out?”
Zhou Yuchi said nothing.
“I told you not to mess with him,” Qian went on. “He’s such a sweet kid. Ever wonder why he’s the only one who’s not nice to you?”
“He’s polite to everyone else,” Zhou Yuchi said quietly, “I’m special.”
Qian shook his head with a laugh, “You’re insane, you know that?”
Maybe he was.
Under the dim light, Zhou Yuchi’s black hair fell over his forehead, lashes deep like ink. His profile was half hidden, the strong line of his throat catching the glow of the cigarette tip.
A flicker of red burned in the dark.
“You’ve never seen him just after he wakes up,” Zhou Yuchi murmured, smoke trailing from his lips, voice dropping to something almost tender, “He’s so damn adorable it drives me crazy and…..”
The smoke drifted higher, faint, curling like a secret he’d never say out loud.
He smiled, slow and dangerous.
“….. I Wanna fuck him”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
And thus, the humble translator awaits their coffee-shaped reward. ✧
☕ 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