Friday, a day with slight ripples.
Wen Jiang had unexpectedly finalized his last practical assignment with Wen Ruoyue, earning a bottle of women’s perfume in return. He decided to give it to his mom later.
Next, he placated the familiar, dejected Xie Family members outside the door. He met their odd mutterings like “It’s like our second parents’ kindness…” and “The young master will have to split with the elders now…” with silence. He ignored Jiang Hehu, who had shown up for no apparent reason—only to be unreasonably stopped by the visibly fuming guy. It took an extra ten seconds and a simple “Thanks for your concern” to shake him off.
After that, Wen Jiang got into the Xie Family’s car and went along the route to pick up Xie Qi, who had finished his checkup at the Health Center—a facility with long-term ties to the Secret Tower. Upon arrival, Wen Jiang tried their quick physical exam service at the enthusiastic staff’s recommendation, just to help test the equipment.
He received his perfectly healthy checkup report. After coordinating handover details with the butler and staff, he went to meet Xie Qi—and only then noticed his phone had been bombarded with texts from Xie Qi.
17:30
Xie Qi: I want to go home
Xie Qi: I don’t want to stay here anymore
Xie Qi: I miss you so much
17:45
Xie Qi: Are you busy?
17:47
Xie Qi: You’re busy
Xie Qi: I want to see you
18:05
Wen Jiang: Pat pat
Xie Qi: Want you even more now
Wen Jiang: “……”
What the hell happened?
Given Xie Qi’s usual demeanor, such straightforward texts were inconceivable—no one would dare prank using his account, though. Wen Jiang had a clear sense of his boyfriend’s image in others’ eyes.
There was only one truth: the texts stopped after that, which was unnatural, yet unmistakably from him. The most likely explanation was…
“We’re here.”
The guiding staff member stopped. Standing at the entrance to the circular arena, he pointed through the railing at some Supernatural Ability protective gear on a nearby table, a bit awkwardly: “Just in case, you can wait a bit before picking him up, or use the gear here.”
Fifty meters away, in the shadows formed after dark, Xie Qi stood with his back to everyone, his silhouette radiating obvious irritability as he stared off into nothing.
Since the guy hadn’t recovered yet, this was the only way to handle it. The staff continued, “No need to worry, he’s very—”
“—Bang!”
A muffled thud echoed from across the arena. Shards scattered across the ground. With no one provoking him, Xie Qi scratched the back of his neck a couple times—somehow hitting a sore spot. During the staff’s pause, he suddenly lashed out irritably, kicking the opposite wall and leaving a clear dent.
The staff insisted on finishing: “—safe.”
Wen Jiang and the butler: “……”
He was fine before the checkup, but now this after your tests?
“All our checks follow strict, legal procedures with full data logs,” the staff hurriedly explained. “This happened because…”
Detective Wen Jiang spoke up, insisting on voicing his deduction: “Side effects from the potion?”
“Right.” The staff nodded. “Of course, it’s fully legal and logged—with dosage and name. No harm to the body.”
He pondered his wording: “Just that for two hours after use, emotions surface more easily. It’s similar to short-acting Truth Serum.”
“As you can see, he’s very hard to approach right now.”
Sensing the situation turning tricky, the staff adjusted his glasses and added: “Of course, Mr. Xie’s emotional fluctuations are heightened, but he hasn’t committed any actual personal harm. His minor Supernatural Ability leakage is within limits, mental screening passed smoothly—no strong antisocial impulses from the side effects. By Combat System standards, he’s qualified. It’s just if he could recover quickly… Hey, wait! That’s dangerous!”
Wen Jiang ignored the protective gear and walked into the arena alone. The staff tried to stop him but was held back by the butler.
Wen Jiang stopped in the center, not approaching further. He felt multiple gazes on him; the arena cameras were surely recording Xie Qi’s every move in sync. Approaching geared up might not draw flak, but it wouldn’t prove “Xie Qi is safe” either.
Besides, there was no need for gear. Wen Jiang glanced at the Suppressor readings on his wrist and called out: “Xie Qi.”
His volume was as if Xie Qi stood right in front of him. After one or two seconds of silence, the still-agitated Xie Qi turned, walked obediently over, and stopped before Wen Jiang.
The observers noted the reaction. Wen Jiang extended his hand to Xie Qi—palm up, to prevent the likely still-foggy guy from nuzzling it publicly like a pet.
“……” Xie Qi glanced at the hand, then Wen Jiang, getting the hint. Looking a bit down, he placed his hand atop Wen Jiang’s and interlaced their fingers. This was the first thing he said to Wen Jiang in person that day: “Aren’t you going to pat me?”
Staff: ?!
Wen Jiang and butler: ……
Wen Jiang calmly replied: “Later.”
“Oh.” Xie Qi responded unwillingly. He stared fixedly at Wen Jiang for two seconds, then blurted: “I love you.”
Staff: ?!?
Wen Jiang: ……
The butler coughed, politely turning aside: “No need to log that, right?”
Xie Qi under the potion’s side effects was a terrifying, clingy opponent.
His mind wasn’t clear, but he wasn’t “dumber”—he acted childish, yet couldn’t be fooled like a kid.
On one hand, his craving for physical contact was blatantly obvious. At the Health Center, he’d endured listlessly under orders of “hand-holding only, no talking.” On the car ride home, he bottomed out and rebounded, hugging Wen Jiang nonstop. Once home, he clung refusing to let go, tossing respect and restraint aside. Wen Jiang finally called home, got cheerful approval, and stayed over at the Secret Base.
On the other hand, Xie Qi’s hands and mouth never stopped. Every ten minutes on average, he’d tell Wen Jiang “I love you.” The repetitive short confessions built tolerance, so he’d switch up phrasing for varied attacks.
For example, ten minutes into the car ride, hugging Wen Jiang around the waist while getting head pats, Xie Qi mumbled: “You smell so good.”
Did he? The perfume from Wen Ruoyue was in his distant backpack. Even if it’d lingered from the office, it was gone by now. Wen Jiang rationally pointed out: “Probably the laundry detergent.”
“Not that.” Xie Qi denied, burying his head deeper, as if trying to immerse in something uniquely “Wen Jiang’s scent”: “I like it.”
Wen Jiang, who smelled nice: …….
Five minutes later, Xie Qi lifted his head without shifting his body. Wen Jiang had been on his phone but looked down to meet his gaze. Xie Qi stared intently, then suddenly said: “You’re so pretty.”
Wen Jiang tossed out a self-compliment bait: “I think so too.”
“Mm.” Xie Qi fully agreed: “You’re the prettiest in the world.”
World’s prettiest Wen Jiang: ……
Five more minutes, and Xie Qi climbed off Wen Jiang’s lap. Maybe from burying too long, his face was flushed. Wen Jiang met his gaze again—no real change in those eyes.
Xie Qi stared a bit, then out of nowhere: “Too much Wen.”
Am I some addictive substance? Wen Jiang stayed unflappable, testing: “Mm.”
Xie Qi added: “Want to do it.”
Wen Jiang: ?
Shocked but understanding, Wen Jiang reeled—this guy turns ‘hugging’ into cosmic heights without even trying.
Xie Qi rummaged on himself, pulled out his phone, tapped expertly, and showed the screen: Xie Qi’s latest Health Center checkup report, stamped official.
“Should be fine now.” Xie Qi leaned in, arm around Wen Jiang, eyes burning, tone certain: “You got checked too.”
His brain spins fast in these moments.
The butler had kindly activated full privacy shielding upfront upon boarding, making the back seat a undisturbed haven. Still, Wen Jiang refused by common sense: “Not here.”
“……Oh.” Xie Qi deflated agreeably, then drawled: “But my parents—”
Wen Jiang swiftly clapped a hand over Xie Qi’s mouth: “No need to say it.”
Xie Qi glanced down, kissed Wen Jiang’s palm, pinched his cheek, re-hugged him softly: “I love you.”
Wen Jiang, being nuzzled: ……
Now back at their shared Secret Base, Wen Jiang was being held in his own room, feeling like a tree gripped by a tree sloth.
Xie Qi kept chattering, face buried in Wen Jiang’s shoulder hollow, head unlifted: “You’re too cute.”
Wen Jiang: ……
To mimic lines from Summer Carbonated Apple Romance, he’d coyly ask in shy, disbelieving, expectant tones: “Where am I cute…?”
Wen Jiang contemplated the actorly path seriously but stayed silent. Xie Qi kept mumbling: “You get cuter every second than the last.”
Wen Jiang: ……
From car to home, Wen Jiang’s silences grew, words fewer. Xie Qi had learned self-Q&A, rattling examples unprompted: “Like your personality, face, scent, bones…”
“?”. Wen Jiang blinked. Bones?
“Voice, ears…” Xie Qi continued naturally, then sighed: “Marry me.”
Wen Jiang: ……
Prolonged quiet could unsettle. Xie Qi nuzzled twice, adding routine: “I love you.”
“……Xie Qi.” Wen Jiang suddenly spoke: “Do you know why you heard me call you back there?”
Xie Qi: ……
Xie Qi: ?
What?
Wen Jiang explained seriously: “At the Health Center, I didn’t speak loudly. Given the distance, you theoretically couldn’t hear.”
“You had normal-range Supernatural Ability leakage, but weren’t actively listening—otherwise, with Storm, you’d have heard us at the arena edge. But you didn’t react.”
“So you couldn’t hear then.”
Uninterrupted, Wen Jiang continued: “You heard later because I used my ability too—triggering Ability Resonance* between Drama Stage and Storm. It rode the air currents to your ears, words meant for ‘performance.'”
Per textbook knowledge, Wen Jiang defined: “That’s called Ability Resonance.”
“……Oh.” Xie Qi dryly praised: “Impressive.”
Why this now?
But so cute anyway. Xie Qi thought, kissing Wen Jiang’s side-neck, murmuring: “Like you.”
He indulged his instincts, head light and floaty—for mental health, he forcibly avoided overthinking.
Anyway, half the day was blissfully steeped in his boyfriend’s warmth. One flaw: midway, he hadn’t looked at Wen Jiang’s face once.
And now Wen Jiang had fallen silent again. Unable to hear the other’s voice or see his face, Xie Qi’s heart itched unbearably. Human greed knows no bounds; basking in the warmth of the other’s breath, he finally lifted his head once more and murmured, “What’s wrong…”
Xie Qi’s words came to an abrupt halt. His heart thudded with a massive boom, the shock leaving him dizzy and seeing stars. He could only stare dazedly at Wen Jiang’s slightly reddened ears and profile.
That flush of red remained faint, like a flower bud nestled on fresh snow—but a touch deeper than what he’d glimpsed before.
Xie Qi parted his lips, momentarily forgetting what he’d meant to say. The words on the tip of his tongue twisted into something else: “I want to kiss…”
“Xie Qi.” Wen Jiang cut him off, eyes fixed ahead, his tone flat as he laid out the plain truth: “Your side effects wore off ages ago, didn’t they?”
They should’ve ended back in the car.
Xie Qi: ……
The arm wrapped around Wen Jiang suddenly burned scorching hot.
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