The two stumbled back to their room, locked in a heated kiss.
Ji Huaizhi was pressed down onto the bed by Ning Shuang, who kissed him deeply. Ning Shuang pushed up his shirt, leaving a warm, wet kiss on his chest before lightly nipping at the skin. A mark immediately bloomed on that pale expanse, and Ji Huaizhi let out a soft hum.
Straddling Ji Huaizhi’s legs, Ning Shuang looked down at his face, flushed with desire. He touched the bite mark with his fingers. “You’re so delicate. I didn’t even bite that hard.”
Desire practically overflowed from Ji Huaizhi’s eyes. At Ning Shuang’s words, he pressed his lips together and gazed up at him pitifully. “Sorry.”
“Alright, no more biting, you little delicate thing.” Ning Shuang could say anything when he was in a flirtatious mood. The two tangled together once more.
Their clothes slowly came off. Ji Huaizhi reached over to the bedside table and pulled out the new bottle of lubricant and condoms they’d bought.
They’d picked them up on the way back from the amusement park that day—Ning Shuang had insisted on being prepared, never imagining they’d use them so soon.
When the cool liquid was poured on, Ning Shuang shivered from the chill and instinctively hugged Ji Huaizhi’s neck tighter. “It’s so cold.”
Ji Huaizhi bent down and pressed a kiss to the mole on Ning Shuang’s lower abdomen, mimicking his words. “Little delicate thing.”
Ning Shuang laughed in exasperation. He ran his fingers through Ji Huaizhi’s hair, interlacing them with the long strands, and forcibly lifted his head from his waist. Their eyes met as Ning Shuang said, “Why are you so petty?”
“Am I a petty ghost now?” Ji Huaizhi chuckled. He was so handsome that his lips, reddened from their prolonged kissing, curved into a smile that left Ning Shuang utterly disarmed.
There was nothing to be done—Ning Shuang was completely weak to that face.
“Yeah, way too petty. My lover is a petty… ghost—” Ning Shuang lifted his hips.
Ning Shuang glanced down and then despairingly covered his eyes with his arm. Breathing heavily, he said, “I think… I still need to… confiscate your phone. Where the hell did you learn this?”
Ji Huaizhi smiled and leaned in to pull Ning Shuang’s arm away for another kiss. Ning Shuang dodged the wet kiss, his face full of rejection. “No kissing. Don’t kiss.”
Ji Huaizhi laughed. “Why reject your own?”
“You’re the only one who doesn’t mind…” Ning Shuang muttered under his breath.
Ji Huaizhi nuzzled his neck affectionately and pleaded softly, “Darling, kiss me.”
Ning Shuang refused. “No.”
Ji Huaizhi licked his Adam’s apple. “Senior… I want a kiss…”
Ning Shuang’s firm resistance deflated instantly. He spread his arms in surrender. “Fine, kiss kiss kiss.”
And so the long-haired young man got his wish, claiming his lover’s lips.
The kiss was fierce.
Ji Huaizhi’s lips trailed downward from there.
…
The weather had been pleasant these past couple of days, so the night sky was clear with both moon and stars.
Even the breeze outside the window felt gentler than usual.
Inside the room, it was a storm of passion.
Afterward, Ning Shuang lay on the bed panting. When he shifted his waist, Ji Huaizhi nestled into his arms, massaging his lower back while kissing his throat.
Sensing Ji Huaizhi wanted to go again, Ning Shuang quickly stopped him. “No more. Classes resume tomorrow, and the Student Union has a ton of work. I’ve got a lot to handle too.”
Ji Huaizhi pouted unhappily. He buried his face in Ning Shuang’s neck and nipped at him a few times in petty revenge. Ning Shuang let him, stroking his head with a chuckle. “Who knew you were such a puppy before?”
“Senior…” Ji Huaizhi called to him.
Ning Shuang nearly melted at the seductive tone again. He pinched Ji Huaizhi’s cheek. “No.”
“Mm, alright.” Ji Huaizhi’s voice grew even more muffled. “I don’t want it that much. It doesn’t ache too badly.”
“…” Ning Shuang sighed helplessly. “Fine, last time. No more after that. I’m exhausted.”
“Okay.” See? The moment Ning Shuang agreed, the eyes of the man in his arms lit up.
A fresh round of exploration began…
…
After this time, the two showered together in the bathroom. By the time they emerged, it was nearly two in the morning.
Ning Shuang’s short hair dried quickly. Once his was done, he helped blow-dry Ji Huaizhi’s.
Ji Huaizhi took excellent care of his hair—it slipped smoothly through Ning Shuang’s fingers without a single split end. Ning Shuang leaned down to sniff a strand lingering in his palm; it carried the same scent as his own shampoo.
“Like it?” Ji Huaizhi caught the little gesture in the mirror and asked warmly.
Ning Shuang turned his head. Ji Huaizhi immediately understood and tilted his head to offer his lips. After a few soft kisses, Ning Shuang said, “I love it. I love anything connected to you.”
Ji Huaizhi turned back to look at him. Ning Shuang smiled helplessly and leaned down for another light kiss on his lips. “Alright, no more fidgeting. Hair’s dry—time for bed. I’m beat.”
“Okay.” Ji Huaizhi sat up straight obediently.
Once the hair was dry, Ning Shuang climbed into bed first. Ji Huaizhi fed him some water, and only then did he seem satisfied, slipping back under the covers and into Ning Shuang’s embrace.
Ning Shuang held him, patting his back lightly. A thought occurred to him—something he’d read online: lovers who liked sleeping this way often lacked a sense of security.
“Darling, tomorrow around noon, I’ll be tied up with club stuff and won’t come home for a nap. Can you head back on your own?” Ning Shuang asked.
“Mm, sure,” Ji Huaizhi replied. “Can we go home together in the evening, then?”
“Evening… not sure. Like I said, with classes restarting, the Student Union will be swamped. I might have to stay late checking dorms before heading back.”
“Alright.” Ji Huaizhi hugged Ning Shuang’s waist tighter, his face buried in the crook of his neck as he murmured softly, “Good night.”
“Good night.” Ning Shuang patted Ji Huaizhi’s back a few more times. The intense exercise before bed had drained him, and he was asleep in moments.
Feeling the steady breathing from above, Ji Huaizhi opened his eyes and studied Ning Shuang’s face. Content, he tightened his hold on his waist and nuzzled his neck like a puppy.
Ning Shuang mumbled sleepily, “Darling, too tight…”
Ji Huaizhi paused. Ning Shuang wasn’t calling him Dundun anymore? A deeper smile curved his lips.
~~~
Exhausted from two rounds the night before, Ning Shuang had planned a morning run, but by the time his alarm blared, it was already past seven-ten. He sat up in bed, rubbing his waist, and noted the empty space beside him. Ji Huaizhi must be downstairs in the kitchen making breakfast.
He hurriedly changed clothes. By the time he’d finished washing up and come out, breakfast was already on the dining table.
As he descended the stairs, Ning Shuang called out, “Morning, Huaizhi.”
Ji Huaizhi met him at the staircase and pulled him into a hug, their lips meeting in a soft, shallow kiss.
“How’s your body feeling?” Ji Huaizhi asked with concern.
Ning Shuang rubbed his waist. “Not bad. Your lessons have been effective.”
He grinned at Ji Huaizhi, who flushed at the teasing words.
“Alright, no more joking. What’s for breakfast?” Ning Shuang headed to the table.
Ji Huaizhi pulled out a chair for him, complete with cushion. “Pumpkin porridge, steamed sweet potatoes, and tomato egg drop soup.”
“So lavish?”
“Not really. You were worn out last night, and it’s just breakfast we’ll share today. Eat plenty.” Ji Huaizhi sat beside him and ladled out a bowl of porridge.
“Got it, I’ll eat up.” Ning Shuang reached for the spoon, but Ji Huaizhi had already scooped some and brought it to his lips.
Ning Shuang blinked. “My hands are fine, you know.”
As he reached to take the spoon, Ji Huaizhi turned his wrist and fed the porridge into his own mouth instead. He bowed his head and started eating. “Fine, Senior can feed himself.”
“Huaizhi, Ji Huaizhi, darling?” Ji Huaizhi got sulky like this, and Ning Shuang knew it well. He walked his fingers across the table toward Ji Huaizhi’s hand resting at the edge. “How about one bite, then?”
“Just one?” Ji Huaizhi didn’t look up.
Ning Shuang hesitated. “Uh… two?”
Ji Huaizhi lifted his head with a resentful look, and Ning Shuang got the message instantly: two bites weren’t enough—it had to be the whole bowl.
Ning Shuang had never been pampered like this growing up. He’d imagined doting on a future partner this way, but plans changed. He’d ended up the one on the receiving end—and now, here he was, being waited on.
“Fine, this whole bowl. I’ve got to head to school after, but you can feed me more next time, okay?” Ning Shuang caved. What could he do? He loved Ji Huaizhi.
The gloom on Ji Huaizhi’s face visibly lifted. He took the spoon from his own bowl, scooped some porridge from Ning Shuang’s, and held it to his lips. “Senior.”
Though Ning Shuang felt a bit awkward at first, with Ji Huaizhi’s face right there, the embarrassment faded. Before long, he was even cooperating fully.
After breakfast, it was already half past seven. Ji Huaizhi didn’t have a first-period class that morning, so he planned to head to school a bit later than Ning Shuang. While Ning Shuang changed his shoes at the door, Ji Huaizhi stood off to the side, holding Ning Shuang’s messenger bag and jacket as he waited patiently.
Once Ning Shuang had his shoes on, Ji Huaizhi helped him into his jacket and slung the bag over his shoulder.
Ning Shuang hadn’t even fully caught up to what was happening before he found himself all bundled up and ready to go.
“My darling is just so domestic,” Ning Shuang teased. Before stepping out the door, he turned back and planted a kiss on Ji Huaizhi’s cheek, his voice deliberately low and playful. Then he bolted away, leaving Ji Huaizhi standing there with a helpless gaze fixed on his retreating figure.
Ning Shuang ran all the way to the bus stop, arriving just in time to catch the next bus.
He claimed a seat by the window, cracked it open, and let the breeze wash over his face in hopes of banishing the lingering blush there as quickly as possible.
Was this what dating was like? Was this what Ji Huaizhi was like in love? All those little moods, so clingy and affectionate, just like a puppy.
Truth be told, this side of Ji Huaizhi probably wasn’t meant for him at all. It was all because of the Love Gu.
Did that mean he should let the Love Gu chain Ji Huaizhi to his side forever? Force him to love someone he never would have otherwise, for the rest of his life?
The flush on Ning Shuang’s face slowly ebbed away, melancholy overtaking the joyful glow of new romance.
It was only after gaining something that the fear of losing it truly set in.
He clutched his phone, staring at the screen with a heavy gloom.
Bzzz.
The phone vibrated twice in his hand, and a message popped up.
【Huaizhi: I slipped some milk into your bag. Drink it during break.】
Ning Shuang’s eyelashes fluttered.
Whatever. He’d already made his bed; might as well lie in it.
