He couldn’t remember when he’d developed the habit. Maybe the day he saw the breakup letter and wanted to chase to A City, drag Zhu Ran home, and lock him up. Or when he caught his parents’ killer but felt no joy. Or when he saw Zhu Ran smile at others and wanted to strip him bare and spank him raw.
He’d thought patience would bring Zhu Ran back. But now, he couldn’t wait anymore. He realized his tolerance might push Zhu Ran to someone else.
He wouldn’t allow that ending.
“Bzzz—”
Zhu Ran’s phone vibrated.
Huo Boyan lifted his eyelids, possessiveness nearly spilling over.
Zhu Ran’s neck prickled. For some reason, he flipped open his phone and asked Huo Boyan’s permission. “It’s my mom.”
Not a date.
Huo Boyan’s expression eased. “Answer it. On speaker.”
Zhu Ran hesitated, then turned on speaker. He thought it was some trivial matter; Huo Boyan hearing wouldn’t hurt.
“Zhu Ran, why’s your leftover rice from last night still there? Fridge is full—should I toss it?”
As expected. Zhu Ran nodded and said okay.
Rustling plastic bags sounded, then Wang Ruyun’s puzzled voice. “Why’d you stick a note—’Don’t throw, eat tonight’—it’s all messy, and you still want it?”
Zhu Ran: “…”
He finally realized—it was the food Huo Boyan bought yesterday! He hadn’t thrown it out!
Zhu Ran quickly turned off speaker, but it was too late.
Huo Boyan: “You even keep the leftovers I bought?”
“I’m saving food!” Zhu Ran turned the tables. “You don’t work overtime— even if you do, you’ve got a housekeeper cooking. You don’t get how happy it is to come home from overtime to leftovers!”
Huo Boyan suddenly laughed. He didn’t look fierce anymore; his handsome features glowed red in the sunset, exuding dazzling charm.
“What hard life is our little pig living?” Huo Boyan pinched Zhu Ran’s soft cheek, coaxing softly. “Move in with me. I’ll cook for you every day.”
“As if.” Zhu Ran flushed and pushed his hand away, then picked up the phone to talk to his mom.
“Are you coming home for dinner?” Wang Ruyun asked. “Takeout’s unhealthy. I saved some for you.”
Wang Ruyun’s cooking was truly questionable. Zhu Ran hadn’t liked eating as a kid and still preferred takeout over home food. He quickly told her not to save any.
He even thought if his mom’s cooking were better, he might’ve grown past 1.8 meters, shooting up a few more centimeters.
Wang Ruyun: “Why not eat at home? Outside food’s unhealthy…”
“Mrs. Wang, it’s Huo Boyan,” Huo Boyan suddenly took the phone. “Long time no see. How have you been? I’m treating Zhu Ran to dinner tonight—he won’t be back.”
“Oh, oh, oh.” She paused, a bit dazed. “Then be safe and get home early.”
“Got it.” Zhu Ran snatched the phone and hung up, glaring at Huo Boyan. The guy was scheming all the way to his mom!
Huo Boyan hugged the fierce Zhu Ran, his voice gentle. “Zhu Ran, how are you so cute? You couldn’t even throw out the leftovers I bought.”
Don’t think he couldn’t tell good from bad. Zhu Ran said coldly, “Huo Boyan, you mocking me?”
“No,” Huo Boyan said. “I’m just thinking how cute you are—what would I do without you?”
Zhu Ran froze, his defenses softening. He murmured, “Huo Boyan, don’t… We’re really already bro—”
“Food first.” Huo Boyan pressed a finger to Zhu Ran’s lips, stopping him.
Zhu Ran closed his eyes, feeling that familiar sense of surrender again.
Useless. After all this time, he still couldn’t refuse Huo Boyan.
He took a deep breath and looked up. “Just dinner. Eat out.”
“I wouldn’t dare take you home,” Huo Boyan said. “With my current self-control, it’s hard to say if it’d be dinner or you I end up eating… mmph.”
Zhu Ran hurriedly covered the blabbering mouth. “Huo Boyan, what are you saying?! Aren’t you embarrassed?!”
Embarrassed? Huo Boyan narrowed his eyes, hot breath spraying Zhu Ran’s palm. He suddenly bit the soft center.
A slight sting hit Zhu Ran’s palm—not painful, but embarrassing.
Huo Boyan’s teeth tugged the thin flesh, nose and lips buried in the palm. The slow motion had a gentlemanly eroticism.
Zhu Ran’s face burned red, palm shaking, stammering incoherently.
“Huo Boyan, you…”
How could someone be such a pervert?!
Huo Boyan pulled him into the car and kissed him again.
Zhu Ran suspected he owed Huo Boyan from a past life—why else was he always bullied so thoroughly?
He finally broke free, lips swollen. Zhu Ran didn’t dare touch anymore, just glared accusingly, thinking he looked pitiful.
Huo Boyan glanced at him. “Zhu Ran, keep staring and this won’t end well.”
Zhu Ran’s gaze shifted downward, and his eyes widened in shock at Huo Boyan’s exaggerated bulge. He quickly averted his sight, not daring to speak, look at anyone, or even breathe too loudly.
Huo Boyan just sat there, driving straight into the city like that.
By the time they reached the restaurant entrance, Huo Boyan had reverted to his polite, gentlemanly demeanor, without a hint of anything amiss. Zhu Ran unbuckled his seatbelt with his head down, utterly dumbfounded— the swell under his T-shirt still hadn’t gone down.
Huo Boyan got out of the car and, seeing Zhu Ran hadn’t moved, circled around to the passenger side to open the door for him, shielding his head with one hand.
“Huo Boyan, wait a minute,” Zhu Ran said, covering his chest with one hand, his expression mortified. “I can’t go in like this.”
Huo Boyan: “What’s wrong?”
Zhu Ran hesitated for a few seconds before letting go in humiliated fury.
The dark gray T-shirt was wrinkled from being pressed down, the thin cotton softly clinging to Zhu Ran’s body and outlining two unnatural swells at his chest.
Even through the fabric, Huo Boyan could imagine how bad it was underneath. Judging by the shape, it wasn’t just a little swollen— the whole area around had puffed up, transforming from delicate little buds into plump, milky wax apples.
Huo Boyan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He straightened up, turning his back to Zhu Ran. “Stay in the car for now. I’ll figure something out.”
With that, Huo Boyan strode across the street toward the mall.
Zhu Ran clutched his chest, mentally cursing Huo Boyan to hell and back.
After what felt like an eternity— a good ten minutes or so— Huo Boyan jogged back with a shopping bag in hand. “Put this on.”
Inside was a white windbreaker jacket, urban outdoor style, the same brand as his backpack.
But why buy clothes? And this brand wasn’t cheap either. Zhu Ran wondered, “You could’ve just bought some bandages.”
Huo Boyan said, “It won’t cover them.”
Won’t cover them? Zhu Ran didn’t catch on at first.
Huo Boyan added, “They’re too swollen. Bandages won’t cover it.”
“…………”
Zhu Ran flushed with embarrassed anger. “Huo Boyan, just shut up already.”
Huo Boyan obediently closed his mouth and watched Zhu Ran put on the jacket.
Even the friction of the fabric made Zhu Ran wince in pain.
Suddenly, Huo Boyan felt a pang of guilt. He’d bitten too hard, he thought. He couldn’t do that kind of thing outside next time.
