Chapter 33

“You ask who I am?”

Jing Chi sighed inwardly. Sure enough, whatever he didn’t want was precisely what would come knocking.

The young man nodded, gazing at him with wide-eyed curiosity. His clear eyes held an innocent purity, untouched by the world’s cynicism.

Jing Chi reached out and ruffled Yu Xingzhou’s hair, replying with utmost seriousness, “I’m your boyfriend.”

The certainty in his tone made the young man blink in surprise. Then, with evident puzzlement, he asked, “What’s a boyfriend?”

Jing Chi felt a pang of reluctance but maintained his earnest expression as he answered, “A boyfriend is someone who can kiss you, hug you, and sleep beside you.”

Yu Xingzhou nodded, seeming to grasp the concept dimly, before pressing further. “Then how do you prove you’re my boyfriend?”

Jing Chi couldn’t help but chuckle. It seemed the amnesia hadn’t dulled his wits.

Yet he played along deliberately. “Just kiss me, and you’ll know.”

As he spoke, Jing Chi took hold of the young man’s hand. The warmth from his skin finally gave him a tangible sense that Yu Xingzhou had reverted to his adult self in body, if not in mind.

He guided the young man’s fingers to his own lips, his voice a soft enticement. “Go ahead and try. You’ll see.”

Yu Xingzhou glanced at Jing Chi. Under that encouraging gaze, he sat up and leaned in slightly, his lips brushing lightly against the other’s.

In that instant, a thrilling palpitation surged through his heart, accompanied by a familiar scent that flushed his face crimson. He pulled back hastily.

But Jing Chi cupped the back of his head and deepened the kiss.

He nibbled gently at the young man’s lips, infusing the moment with tenderness and lingering affection.

Only when the one in his arms pushed against him did he relent. Yu Xingzhou’s eyes shimmered with tension as he stammered, “I-I-I believe you now.”

He might not be dim-witted, but he clearly wasn’t sharp enough to realize when he was being taken advantage of.

Jing Chi let out a soft laugh and released him. In a perfectly natural tone, he said, “Time to get up. You must be hungry.”

The young man kept his head lowered, his ears burning red as he mumbled, “Got it.”

Once the sound of the door closing faded, Yu Xingzhou lifted his gaze to the spot where Jing Chi had vanished. With a strange expression, he murmured to himself, “Boyfriend?”

The word felt utterly foreign, yet somehow not impossible to accept.

.

Jing Chi sat at the dining table, where a prepared meal awaited. It was dinnertime now.

He propped his head on one hand, waiting for Yu Xingzhou to emerge.

The young man shuffled out hesitantly, tugging self-consciously at his clothes. Everything about this world felt alien to him.

He took a seat at the table and stared at Jing Chi with wide eyes.

Jing Chi chuckled and teased, “What, does looking at me fill you up? Am I that mouthwatering?”

“N-No, that’s not it.” Yu Xingzhou shook his head vigorously and snatched up his chopsticks, digging into the food before him.

Yet for some reason, this unfamiliar boyfriend exerted a powerful pull on him. His gaze kept drifting back despite his efforts.

Those words the man had spoken were far too embarrassing, though.

Yu Xingzhou shook his head again and took a bite. His eyes lit up instantly.

It felt as though he hadn’t eaten in ages.

Seeing the young man’s head practically buried in his bowl, Jing Chi promptly poured him a glass of water. “Slow down. Don’t choke.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Yu Xingzhou erupted into a fit of violent coughing.

Jing Chi laughed helplessly and patted his back.

Yu Xingzhou gulped down some water to ease the coughing. His eyes, now glistening from the ordeal, shot an accusing look at Jing Chi.

Jing Chi arched a brow, his lips curving into a smirk as he took the blame. “My fault—my big mouth jinxed it and made our Xingxing choke.”

The intimate nickname turned the young man’s ear tips red once more. He ducked his head and resumed eating, this time at a more measured pace.

After dinner, Jing Chi led him outside.

The young man took in the world as if seeing it for the first time, brimming with endless wonder at every sight.

Before they left, Jing Chi had confirmed it: Yu Xingzhou’s memories stopped at age sixteen. Gone were their shared moments together, as well as those dark years.

Jing Chi felt a twinge of regret, yet also relief.

Still, he couldn’t shake a sliver of guilt for tricking someone with the mind of a sixteen-year-old into kissing him. It was only a sliver, though—after all, Yu Xingzhou’s body belonged to a twenty-year-old.

“Jing Chi, can we go check that out?”

They were in the arcade now.

The young man’s eyes sparkled with fascination at the claw machine nearby—a novelty from his era.

Jing Chi nodded. He exchanged some cash for game tokens first, then led the way to the machine.

“How do you play this?”

Yu Xingzhou asked a little sheepishly. He was afraid Jing Chi would call him dumb.

Jing Chi said nothing. He slipped a coin into the slot first, then took hold of the boy’s hand.

“Watch. It starts like this. Then you grip the joystick with your other hand.”

As he spoke, Jing Chi guided the boy’s hand to control the direction. “Now we line up a target—say, this one. Before its countdown finishes, we hit this button.”

He didn’t realize he had wrapped the boy entirely in his embrace.

Yu Xingzhou blinked. At first, his eyes stayed fixed on the claw machine, but with every movement from Jing Chi, his gaze drifted to the person holding him.

“What a shame. We missed it,” Jing Chi said. He dipped his head and caught the boy stealing a glance at him.

Blinking, he teased, “Like what you see?”

Yu Xingzhou jerked his head away and huffed, “Not at all.”

In truth, he was stunning—the most beautiful person Yu Xingzhou had ever laid eyes on.

But he knew if he admitted it, this guy would only tease him more.

Yu Xingzhou fed in another coin and took over the controls.

Jing Chi hovered beside him, stirring trouble. “Not that one. Go for that.”

Sure enough, Yu Xingzhou failed.

Undeterred, he kept at it.

Jing Chi crossed his arms over his chest and let out a light sigh. “That one’s no good either.”

Another failure soon followed.

After a few more misses, Yu Xingzhou shot Jing Chi an angry glare. “I’m done.”

He turned to leave, but Jing Chi yanked him back. “Call me Brother, and I’ll get one for you.”

In that instant, a fleeting image flashed through Yu Xingzhou’s mind.

That person had smiled the same way, coaxing him to call him Brother.

Without thinking, Yu Xingzhou murmured, “Brother?”

The sensation—familiar yet alien—left them both momentarily stunned.

Jing Chi recovered first. He pinched the boy’s cheek and grinned. “Watch your Brother snag one for you.”

With expert precision, Jing Chi maneuvered the claw toward a plush toy. The next moment, it dropped neatly into the chute.

“Success!” Yu Xingzhou couldn’t contain his excitement. He snatched up the prize at once.

It was a little deer plushie, and Yu Xingzhou adored it. He clutched it tightly, his eyes sparkling with pure delight.

“Want to try the next game?” Jing Chi suggested.

The boy nodded eagerly.

Jing Chi never imagined he’d run into someone he’d rather avoid.

Nor did Nan Musheng expect to spot Jing Chi and Yu Xingzhou at the arcade.

The sight of Yu Xingzhou’s radiant smile and Jing Chi’s indulgent one made him clench his fists.

Over the past month, Nan Musheng had finally returned to school, but the nightmares haunted him without respite. He had grown ever more withdrawn and brooding.

This time, a classmate he got along with had dragged him out to clear his head.

And here they were, running into the pair by sheer bad luck.

Nan Musheng tugged at his companion’s sleeve, his voice tense. “How many people are over there?” He pointed toward Jing Chi and Yu Xingzhou.

His friend glanced over, puzzled by the question. “Just two. What’s wrong?”

“Impossible. He’s dead. He can’t just show up here, out in the open like this.”

“Musheng, what are you talking about?”

His companion frowned at the bizarre words. Ever since Nan Musheng had come back a few days ago, everyone had sensed something was off. They’d chalked it up to trauma and dragged him out to help him unwind.

Nan Musheng kept muttering that it was impossible. Then he shook off his friend’s hand and bolted toward Jing Chi and Yu Xingzhou.

In a blur, he seized Yu Xingzhou’s wrist—too fast for anyone to react.

Jing Chi’s brows furrowed the moment he saw him. He flung the intruder away, then cradled the boy’s wrist gently. “Does it hurt?”

Yu Xingzhou shook his head and stared at Nan Musheng in bewilderment. He whispered to Jing Chi, “Who is he?”

“Someone I don’t know.”

Jing Chi couldn’t believe his luck. Clearly, he hadn’t checked the almanac before heading out today.

Nan Musheng’s companion rushed over and helped him to his feet. He apologized to Jing Chi. “Sorry about that. My friend’s been a little out of sorts lately.”

“Musheng, what the hell are you doing?” he asked, hoping to snap him out of it.

But Nan Musheng fixed Yu Xingzhou with a wild stare and bellowed, “You’re not human! You’re dead! Dead!”

His frenzied outburst terrified Yu Xingzhou, who ducked behind Jing Chi without a second thought.

Jing Chi frowned and stepped in front of the young man, his voice cold with sarcasm.

“Your classmate might not just be out of it—he could have a real mental illness. Someone like that needs to go to the hospital, and fast.”

“Sorry, sorry,” his companion said, looking embarrassed as he hurriedly dragged Nan Musheng away.

Once they were gone, peace finally returned to their surroundings.

But the cheerful mood from moments ago had vanished.

Yu Xingzhou glanced at Jing Chi’s slightly darkened expression and quickly kissed his cheek. Coaxing him shyly by the ear, he murmured, “Don’t be upset, okay?”

Jing Chi drew in a slow breath, pushing down his earlier discomfort. He ruffled the young man’s hair and mustered a smile.

“Mm, alright. After all, Xingxing kissed me first.”

For his part, Yu Xingzhou stared after Nan Musheng’s retreating figure. Something about the man felt oddly familiar, stirring a faint undercurrent of anger deep in his chest.

He shook his head, brushing aside the jumbled thoughts.

Their walk had helped them digest dinner nicely, so the two headed straight home.

That evening, after Yu Xingzhou finished his shower, he stood there in his pajamas, hesitating as he asked Jing Chi, “Where am I supposed to sleep?”

Jing Chi patted the spot beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Right here next to your boyfriend, of course.”

Yu Xingzhou wavered for a moment before shuffling over. In an instant, Jing Chi pulled him into his arms.

His body went rigid, hands hovering awkwardly as he had no idea where to put them.

Jing Chi’s scent filled his senses.

Jing Chi blew a soft puff of air against the young man’s ear, holding back a laugh as he whispered, “Time to sleep.”

Yu Xingzhou nodded eagerly, though inwardly he agonized over how to extricate himself from the embrace. But as he fretted, lulled by that familiar scent, he drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

Listening to the young man’s steady breathing by his ear, Jing Chi let out a quiet chuckle.

His thoughts turned to Nan Musheng from earlier that evening. How could he have missed the thick resentment radiating from the man?

If it had been anyone else, Jing Chi would have been glad to lend a hand in sorting it out.

But that one? He deserved to fend for himself.

If this weren’t a society ruled by law—if not for the constraints of his mission—that man might not have lived to see another day.

All things considered, madness might be the kindest fate for him. At least he’d still be alive.

~~~

The next morning, Jing Chi opened his eyes to find the young man staring at him with an odd look.

The scene felt strangely familiar.

Jing Chi’s heart clenched. “Did you lose your memory again?”

The young man shook his head.

Jing Chi exhaled in relief. “Then give me a kiss.”

Before he could make a move, Yu Xingzhou shoved him down and straddled his waist.

Jing Chi drew in a sharp breath, his gaze darkening.

Oblivious to Jing Chi’s shift, the young man looked down at him with disdain. “You might’ve fooled yesterday’s me, but not today’s.”

With that fierce, intimidating glare, Jing Chi felt an inexplicable twinge of recognition.

Little Evil Spirit?

Jing Chi almost laughed in disbelief. A different personality every day?

His voice came out husky with a note of warning. “Get off first.”

The young man wasn’t having it. He snorted. “Explain yourself, then I’ll get off.”

“You sure about that?”

A glint of danger flickered in Jing Chi’s eyes.

The young man felt a prickle of unease but held his ground stubbornly. “I’m sure. Spill the truth.”

Jing Chi’s lips curved into a smile. On his handsome face, it took on an alluring edge.

The sight left Yu Xingzhou momentarily dazed—until Jing Chi’s hand gripped his waist and pressed him down.

The young man’s face exploded with color. That familiar yet unfamiliar sensation beneath him—what else could it be?

He leaped off Jing Chi in a flash, muttering under his breath, “Pervert. Rogue.”

Propping himself up, Jing Chi sat with a teasing glint in his eyes. “I told you to get off. You didn’t listen.”

The young man glared at him, rendered speechless by the comeback. With a final huff, cheeks burning, he bolted into the bathroom.