Chapter 13: The Good Morning Kiss
The next morning.
“Do you want me to help?”
“My spiritual body can handle it.”
“Well then, have a safe trip.”
“Thanks.”
“…”
The conversation took place by the door on the first floor. Zhu Hui stood by the shoe cabinet while Xu Xunyue prepared to leave.
As he was giving his shadows instructions to get his clothes and change his shoes, he caught a glimpse of the Sentinel’s slightly dejected expression out of the corner of his eye.
Xu Xunyue found it amusing and couldn’t help but recall the taste of breakfast from a few dozen minutes ago.
Although it wasn’t as delicious as his own cooking, it was one in a million among Sentinels.
Xu Xunyue actually had a private chef, but the chef didn’t live at the manor. When he was living alone, he would just whip something up himself if he wanted something simple, or if he was feeling lazy, he would arrange for the chef to come over in advance.
He hadn’t woken up late today, but when he went downstairs, he found that Zhu Hui had already made breakfast. The experience was nothing short of novel.
Xu Xunyue’s first reaction was to check the kitchen walls, stove, and utensils for any damage, and the trash can for any “post-war relics.”
Surprisingly, everything was fine.
It was only after he checked the surveillance footage—yes, not only was there a camera at the entrance of the house, but Xu Xunyue had also installed many inside, and only the person with primary access, which was himself, could view them—that he discovered Zhu Hui had woken up two hours early to make this breakfast.
That was too long.
He could understand that Zhu Hui wanted to do something now that he had just moved in, and he wouldn’t go so far as to stop him from doing anything, but…
They had only just started to get to know each other. There was no need to go to such lengths.
More than breakfast, he would rather the other man take care of himself and get enough sleep.
So, under the Sentinel’s eager gaze, Xu Xunyue first praised the taste of the breakfast, and then, just as Zhu Hui’s eyes lit up, he said that he didn’t have to do this in the future.
Zhu Hui was clearly a little disappointed and asked if it wasn’t good enough. He said no, but you need sleep.
He also heard Zhu Hui mutter under his breath that he got even less sleep in the army, and then he obediently nodded and said he understood, that he wouldn’t take so long once he got the hang of it.
A good attitude, but he had completely missed the point.
And then there was now.
Packing, changing shoes to go out, bringing a coat and other miscellaneous items… these were all small things that Xu Xunyue usually did himself. While maintaining his disabled persona, it was also fine to leave them to his spiritual body.
There was no reason to make Zhu Hui do it just because he was here, right?
But when he didn’t let him help, he got upset.
Zhu Hui wouldn’t say he was upset, nor would he express this displeasure to Xu Xunyue, but Xu Xunyue could tell that he was sulking by himself.
It was a little baffling, and also strangely cute.
“Alright, come here.” Xu Xunyue extended a hand toward Zhu Hui.
The palm of his ivory-gloved hand was facing up, his fingers slightly together, tracing the exceptionally fine shape of his hand.
The young Sentinel, who had been sulking, finally came to his senses and took a step closer to the wheelchair’s armrest.
He seemed to want to bend down to meet Xu Xunyue’s hand, but he stopped as soon as he started the movement, and instead squatted down, looking up at the Guide in the wheelchair.
Xu Xunyue had only extended his hand toward him, and his hand wasn’t held very high. By squatting down and looking up like this, his cheek could almost brush against the palm of Xu Xunyue’s hand.
…
Xu Xunyue casually ruffled his cheek and found that there wasn’t much soft flesh, a flicker of regret flashing through his mind.
Perhaps it was because ruffling the snow wolf’s head had been too comfortable. The thought flashed by, and Xu Xunyue thought that Zhu Hui could probably eat a little more.
He could have the private chef come over more often.
“You don’t actually have to take special care of me,” he said. “Just treat me like an ordinary Guide. How you are with Guides at the White Tower, how you interact with Guides in the army… just follow the normal pattern. You don’t need to have the mindset of taking care of a disabled person.”
Besides, Xu Xunyue was just pretending.
Ever since three years ago, when the off-site mission ended and he began to feign serious injury, there had been a few scattered friends and subordinates who were still alive and cared about him, keeping in touch. But they were completely different from the intimate relationship of a partner.
Living under the same roof was indeed too close, and what’s more, Zhu Hui had this eagerness to help him with everything, which was truly exasperating.
However, upon hearing his words, Zhu Hui immediately stated:
“I don’t mean to look down on you. I just want to. If you don’t like it, then I won’t do it.”
Xu Xunyue: “…”
Why did he feel like he and Zhu Hui were not talking about the same thing?
Did he have an image of being self-reliant, strong, and with a sensitive, high self-esteem in Zhu Hui’s mind?
He was silent for a moment, looking at Zhu Hui, and found that his silence was making the young Sentinel a little nervous.
Fine.
Self-reliant and strong it was. He also thought he was quite strong.
Xu Xunyue sighed softly, pulled Zhu Hui up a little, then tilted his chin up to its highest point and bent down slightly to kiss his lips.
A Sentinel’s recovery ability had always been very strong, not to mention a top-tier high-level Sentinel like Zhu Hui. After one night, the lips that had been a little swollen last night had long since returned to their normal state. To some extent, this made it easier for him to accept this overly forceful kiss.
With his cheeks held, his lips couldn’t close, and it was even difficult to move them at all. Every part was swept over, from the tip of his tongue to the root, making it go numb.
As they kissed, Zhu Hui felt his vision blur, probably due to physiological tears. He changed his posture, his legs going soft as he half-knelt on the thick carpet, which allowed him to maintain his center of gravity and continue to look up.
Brother’s lung capacity is so good…
Zhu Hui thought dizzily. Last night, Xu Xunyue had told him they would kiss every day. He had almost thought Xu Xunyue had forgotten just now.
But he couldn’t be completely sure, since the man hadn’t left yet.
Now it seemed that his brother still remembered.
…
A dozen minutes later.
Xu Xunyue looked down, stroking the hair of the person panting on his lap, and glanced at the time displayed on his terminal.
Within a controllable range.
He wouldn’t be late for his appointment.
He waited patiently for a while. When Zhu Hui’s breathing had more or less calmed down, he said slowly, “That was a good morning kiss… You can wander around anywhere here except for my room. You can use anything. You can familiarize yourself with the place.”
Zhu Hui said okay.
“Also,” Xu Xunyue added, “you don’t need to clean. My spiritual body is quite good at that. It polishes things until they shine.”
Zhu Hui glanced at the gleaming walls, furniture, and tiles in the house and nodded.
“There’s nothing else. You can arrange your own time.”
“Mm, I will.”
Zhu Hui got up from the carpet but remained half-squatting by the side of the wheelchair, looking up at him, as if to see him off.
This gesture gave Xu Xunyue the feeling that their conversation wasn’t over yet. So he thought for a moment and said:
“I’m leaving.”
Zhu Hui was stunned for a moment.
“Okay,” he smiled and said, “Be safe on the road.”
