Chapter 68
Warm lamplight elongated the shadows. Ning Zhixia returned, carrying a large bag of snacks, his own bag bulging with merchandise, sipping his milk tea contentedly.
Qu Banqing must have gone to his room, the living room quiet except for the kittens playing with their toy balls.
The flickering light from the screen fell on Audrow’s face, his chin resting on his hand, his focused expression captivating.
Hearing the noise, his calm eyes followed Ning Zhixia’s approaching figure.
“Xiao Ao, you’re still watching TV?” Ning Zhixia, oblivious to the gaze on the back of his neck, tossed his bag aside, sat down with the snacks, and said, “Try the cake and lotus root starch soup I bought, it’s delicious!”
The snacks took up most of the table, and Audrow frowned, his voice puzzled and slightly displeased, “Your blind date didn’t feed you enough?”
“Blind date?” Ning Zhixia paused, opening the snack bags, and mumbled, “What are you talking about, I went to buy comics with Lu Yaoguang.”
“Oh…”
Audrow pursed his lips, his expression strange, and after a moment of silence, took the paper bowl Ning Zhixia offered.
Steam rose as he stirred it with a plastic spoon. His mind clearly wasn’t on the dessert as he asked casually, “What’s this made of?”
“This.”
Ning Zhixia showed him a photo of a copper kettle with a tap, used for dispensing hot water. You simply added hot water to the lotus root starch, stirred, and added toppings, a warm and sweet treat perfect for winter.
“I love this, it’s a good thing Lu Yaoguang was with me, I wouldn’t have found it without her, she knows the old streets so well, and next time, she said she’ll take me to…”
Ning Zhixia chattered excitedly, not noticing Audrow’s narrowing eyes.
Audrow tossed the spoon back into the bowl and suddenly said, “Dragon saliva mixed with Nezha powder.”
Ning Zhixia paused: “Huh?”
Audrow’s face was expressionless: “So I’m not eating it.”
Ning Zhixia: “Huh???”
Seeing him put the bowl down, the hardworking snack transporter was indignant and pushed it back towards him.
“No!” Ning Zhixia said sternly, “You already bought it, and you took a bite, now you have to finish it!”
Audrow obediently finished the dessert, even though he rarely ate warm food.
Ning Zhixia’s expression softened, and he was about to leave when his wrist was grabbed and he was pulled into a tight embrace.
Even though the sofa was wide, Ning Zhixia was squeezed into a corner, held tightly like a large doll.
A cool sensation brushed against his cheek as Audrow nuzzled him, his light-colored eyes narrowed slightly, close enough to see the fine hairs on Ning Zhixia’s face and the flickering emotions in his eyes.
“You’re unhappy.” Audrow whispered in his ear.
Ning Zhixia felt that the merman was dangerous tonight, his aura filled with a heart-fluttering intimacy, and he mumbled, trying to break free.
Audrow, of course, wouldn’t let him go, and asked, “Why?”
Ning Zhixia refused to admit it, “Am I? No, I’m not, I’m well-fed and entertained, what’s there to be…”
“Lying.”
Audrow tilted Ning Zhixia’s chin up and said thoughtfully, “You smell bitter today.”
“You’re the bitter one, I used vanilla-scented body wash, it’s sweet and fragrant!”
Ning Zhixia pushed him away, annoyed at being called bitter, then sat back down and mumbled sullenly, “Fine, I am unhappy, because someone made me angry!”
Audrow’s eyes darkened, his voice low: “Who?”
Still asking who, what a stupid fish!
Ning Zhixia turned his head and said angrily, “You.”
Audrow paused, blinking in confusion.
“That day on Shadow Isle, you were clearly the one who initiated it…” Ning Zhixia pursed his lips, then slapped his palm, and looked at Audrow pointedly, “But then nothing happened!”
If this was just how mermen treated their friends, Ning Zhixia decided to keep his distance from Audrow, to avoid any misunderstandings.
He didn’t realize that the source of his frustration was the sweet love blossoming in his heart.
“Ah…” Hearing the young man’s accusation, Audrow blinked again, “I thought humans preferred a gradual approach.”
“What?” Ning Zhixia was dumbfounded.
Audrow hugged him tighter, a smile spreading across his face, “Although I don’t want to admit it, a merman’s courtship method of ‘take it or leave it’ is rather crude.”
Ning Zhixia was speechless at his bluntness.
“Those dramas are my most readily available learning materials, acquaintance, flirting, pursuit, confession, love…” Audrow explained his planned progress. “But I’ve been busy lately, I haven’t finished learning yet.”
Ning Zhixia, almost swooning from the gentle smile in his eyes, asked foolishly, “Finished learning… what?”
Audrow didn’t reply, only smiled, then pulled him closer.
Ning Zhixia was placed on his lap, a large hand with the jade ring cupping the back of his head, blocking his escape.
“Learning…”
Ning Zhixia’s eyes flickered, feeling Audrow’s face approaching, his cool breath brushing against his trembling eyelashes.
“…how to ask you to be my lover.”
A soft voice whispered in his ear, and Audrow, caressing his warm cheek, chuckled and kissed him deeply.
His lips were covered and gently nipped, the teasing touch awakening a budding desire.
Ning Zhixia moaned softly, his back relaxing, his lips parting slightly, but Audrow, gentlemanly, stopped kissing and simply stared at the young man’s love-struck eyes, shimmering with unshed tears.
They maintained a close but appropriate distance as Audrow slowly wiped away the lip gloss-like sheen from Ning Zhixia’s lips, waiting for an answer.
“Actually…”
Ning Zhixia’s heart pounded, his long-held anxieties dissipating, and he chuckled, pretending to concede, “We don’t have to follow the drama’s script.”
As soon as he finished speaking, his fidgeting waist was held firmly, and Audrow’s eyes, deep as a cold pool, turned into vertical slits, his gaze fixed on the shy young man.
Ning Zhixia probably didn’t realize how adorable he looked in this flustered state.
“Ah, this is even better.”
Audrow chuckled softly, propped his feet up on the coffee table, and with a gasp, Ning Zhixia slid closer, pressed against his firm chest.
Audrow’s hand pressed the back of his head down, their lips and tongues tangling in a hungry, desperate kiss, like a traveler in the desert finally finding water.
“Mmm!”
His breath stolen, Ning Zhixia, like a melting gummy bear, his arms around Audrow’s neck, weakly pushed him away, but his wrist was caught.
“What? No kissing allowed?”
Audrow’s light-colored eyes were fixed on him, and if it weren’t for the glistening moisture on his lips, one wouldn’t have guessed what he was doing. Before Ning Zhixia could reply, he kissed him again.
The kiss deepened, their breaths mingling, his usually indifferent eyes now filled with desire, pushing Ning Zhixia back until they rolled off the sofa and onto the carpet.
Ning Zhixia’s smooth, white chest pressed against the carpet, and the slightly rough texture made him shiver, wanting to curl up into a ball.
He heard Audrow’s breathing deepen.
“What are you doing?!” Ning Zhixia pushed himself up, his fingers clutching his pants, a bad premonition rising in his heart.
“The next step.”
A brush dipped in vibrant red, moved across the delicate xuan paper, the strokes light and heavy, creating clusters of cherry blossoms.
Audrow, his gaze fixed on the painting, his ears gradually turning red, his breath warm against Ning Zhixia’s skin, reminded him softly, “You said it was okay.”
“Not this okay!” Ning Zhixia cried, wanting to hold onto his last shred of dignity.
“Why?”
“I just agreed… you’re moving too fast!”
“You watch dramas at double speed too.” Audrow refused mercilessly. “Another excuse.”
Ning Zhixia’s eyelashes trembled, his lips pressed together silently.
Audrow’s hand wrapped around his waist, and the young man, his face burning, let out a few muffled yelps, afraid of waking the people upstairs.
Although it wasn’t the rainy spring season, the small mushrooms peeking out from the soil were covered in dew, caught by the hunter’s gaze.
Dew slid down his fingertip, and he spread his fingers, bringing them to Ning Zhixia’s face, his other hand tilting his chin up. “See, you want it too.”
Ning Zhixia was mortified, never having imagined the usually cold and aloof merman could be so… forward.
He whimpered, “No means no, because, because the kittens are watching!”
Several warm, fluffy creatures in the living room were tilting their heads, staring intently at their almost entangled owners.
Wonderful, a double feature without the kittens having to perform!
Audrow looked at them for a few seconds, then stood up: “Fine.”
Ning Zhixia breathed a sigh of relief, praising Xiao Ao’s “adaptability,” quickly pulled up his pants, and stood up, only to be scooped up by Audrow and carried to the storage room.
The large bed, usually just for show, finally served its purpose tonight. Audrow’s gentle smile made Ning Zhixia’s hair stand on end, and he muttered in disbelief, “How did Xiao Ao become like this?”
“Don’t be afraid.” Audrow kissed him.
Ning Zhixia’s skin was fair, a healthy, porcelain white under the moonlight, beautiful and captivating. Audrow liked it, but he liked it even more when it was flushed red.
But any more teasing would mortify the young man, so he turned him over and knelt over him, removing his clothes.
Ning Zhixia’s face burned at the sight of his smooth, toned muscles, and he turned his head away as Audrow pressed down on him.
“Look at me, Ning Zhixia, keep looking at me.” Audrow’s grip tightened, and Ning Zhixia shivered, a wetness spreading in Audrow’s large, warm hand.
Audrow licked it clean, took Ning Zhixia’s hand, and indicated that the modern young man should reciprocate.
An artist’s hands were indeed dexterous, even handling a curved blade with ease. The heat made the water-dwelling creature’s brow furrow, and he let out a low, husky moan.
Mermen truly were the Lord God’s favorites, their voices captivating.
…
First in the bed, then, unable to resist, another round in the bathroom. He carried the limp young man out, the night view from the window beautiful. Ning Zhixia, surprised by his own enthusiasm, cried and whimpered by the window, and perhaps because he sounded so pitiful, he was given a small reprieve.
“If it’s too tight, we can switch.”
Audrow caressed his swollen lips, then gently kissed them.
Ning Zhixia, terrified of Xiao Ao tonight, obediently complied.
The fog on the window cleared, then reappeared, dangerous waves rocking a small boat, and Ning Zhixia, looking down at the large, red snake head, thought miserably, What a beast…
His unguarded thoughts were heard, and the person behind him paused, his lips pressing against the back of his neck. Ning Zhixia flinched and bumped against Audrow’s hand on the window.
“Don’t cry.” Audrow turned his face, kissed him, and as he pulled away, whispered, “Only beasts can last this long.”
Ning Zhixia: “Wuwuwu!”
The kittens scratched at the door, and after a while, it opened, and the shirtless man flicked their heads, sending them scampering away with disgruntled meows.
Audrow closed the door and looked at the bed.
The young man, either asleep or passed out from pleasure, was wrapped in the blanket, unable to even whimper.
Audrow didn’t need to sleep. When he was alone, he would usually float around in the water, bored, but he rarely did that now.
He lifted the blanket and lay down beside Ning Zhixia, then turned and embraced him.
A human’s heartbeat was the best lullaby. Audrow kissed his flushed cheek and, holding his lover close, closed his eyes…
Qu Banqing woke up the next day and didn’t see Ning Zhixia all day, until he saw Audrow holding the balm the fox cubs had delivered, and he froze, as if struck by lightning.
“Peleg, what’s wrong?”
Gliti and Lino came to visit and found him sitting cross-legged on the sofa, watching TV, his entire being radiating an aura of “I’ve advised against this a hundred times, but I still have to be the best man at their wedding.”
“Nothing, just my little piglet being dragged underwater.” He muttered, dazed, then asked, “Are you here for manicures?”
Gliti didn’t understand, so she only answered the second part: “No, no… we’re here to discuss a collaboration!”
Qu Banqing was puzzled: “Collaboration?”
“We’re wondering if you’re interested in opening a branch on Shadow Isle?” Gliti explained their purpose, then, finding the house unusually quiet, looked around and asked, “By the way, where’s Mr. Ning?”
“Don’t ask.”
Qu Banqing returned to his listless state and said grumpily, “He’s being… ravaged.”
