“…”
“Yes, yes I do…” Tao Zhi begged for mercy.
“What yes? There isn’t.” Fu Zheng ignored him. Tugging turned into rubbing his cheek with his fingertips.
The motion felt familiar. Tao Zhi blanked for a second, suddenly recalling how Fu Si Heng had rubbed his face while sucking on his lips yesterday—the exact same way.
The memory made Tao Zhi shudder inexplicably, his mouth going numb again… He tried to dodge, but Fu Zheng wouldn’t let him.
Fingers pinched his cheek while his palm cradled his chin, forcing him to look up, clearly not letting him off as he kept a deliberately blank face: “Then tell me what progress you’ve made.”
Fu Zheng emphasized: “You spent a whole day with Fu Si Heng—what progress? Say it so I can hear.”
Tao Zhi: “…”
How was he supposed to say that?
His “progress” was nearly dying from kisses yesterday, a split lip with no ointment to apply.
So pitiful.
And he’d even actively catered to Fu Si Heng to protect their shared secret with Fu Zheng.
Otherwise, if discovered, they’d both get beaten bloody.
He couldn’t escape, and neither could Fu Zheng.
He’d sacrificed a lot.
But he couldn’t voice these things, unsure how to broach it. Just recalling made his heart race and toes curl.
How had one straight guy been kissed by another straight guy…
Tao Zhi was pretty dumb too.
He could think of seductive moves like stroking arms or sitting on laps but never followed through to what came next.
He’d sat, then what?
Seduced, then what next?
Pressed by Fu Zheng to go step by step, thinking only of scamming money from his pocket without planning ahead.
Tao Zhi drooped his head dejectedly.
Fu Zheng lifted it right back up.
“What are you doing?” Tao Zhi reached to pry at Fu Zheng’s hand, wanting him to let go.
Fu Zheng didn’t. He stared at him expressionlessly.
Tao Zhi went obedient in a second: “But I really have been seriously trying…”
“Enough, no progress is no progress—why lie?” Actually, Fu Zheng had talked himself down last night, but he couldn’t control his mouth. Seeing Tao Zhi made his emotions flare; he had to jab him a couple times.
After jabbing, seeing his pitiful look made his chest tighten.
Fine, no point holding it against him.
He was just young, playful, had never traveled before. First time skiing and hot springs—he’d gone wild, not come home on time. No big deal; no need to keep harping.
Though it irked him a bit.
Fu Zheng felt that even if Tao Zhi wanted to play, he should have come to him.
But considering it was a first offense, he forgave him for now.
Besides, this semester he’d worked diligently for him. A vacation was fine—office workers got annual leave.
Just treat it as a year-end trip.
No pressure, take him to play, give him sixty thousand.
Wasn’t he good enough to Tao Zhi?
Fu Zheng thought it through, his tone softening considerably. He cleared his throat and started over: “Tomorrow and the day after, no need to go to Fu Si Heng. I’ll take you skiing.”
“Teach you advanced alpine skiing. Beginner slopes are no fun.”
“Huh?”
Tao Zhi looked up, tilting his head back.
“Really?” He’d only caught the first half.
“Mm.” Fu Zheng added the rest.
“Rest well today.”
Get psyched for tomorrow with him.
“Great, great!” Tao Zhi’s mood brightened. No longer wilted, his eyes sparkled as he nodded repeatedly.
“Mm.” Fu Zheng responded coolly.
After, he planned to let Tao Zhi rest, reluctantly withdrawing his fingers from his face.
Tao Zhi smiled at him, his cheek dimple sinking in, about to close the door—
“What’s wrong with your mouth?” Fu Zheng, with his eagle eyes, finally noticed something off with Tao Zhi’s lips just before leaving.
Right in the center, that small patch was darker than the surrounding skin. He’d been focused on pinching cheeks earlier and missed it. Now spotting it, he leaned closer and saw the broken skin: “You—”
How did you bite your own lip like that?
“N-No-Nothing!” Tao Zhi slapped a hand over his mouth in a second.
He really didn’t want to bring it up again. The usually mild-mannered guy didn’t know where his courage came from—he pried Fu Zheng’s hand away to stop him touching, then shoved him out the door: “Anyway, I need to rest now! Talk about whatever after I’m rested!”
Bam—Tao Zhi slammed the door.
Zero regard for Fu Zheng’s dignity.
Fu Zheng: “?”
Things had escalated.
He’d really spoiled Tao Zhi rotten, not even knowing who’s boss anymore, daring to slam the door straight in his face. Fu Zheng ground his teeth at the door, but recalling Tao Zhi’s wilted state earlier, he gave up pursuing it.
Fine—who let him be such a kindhearted boss and roommate.
Spare the dumb peach for now.
Settle the score later.
…
Tao Zhi’s heart raced as he stood frozen in place for a good while. Seeing no sign of Fu Zheng kicking the door, he finally relaxed and collapsed onto the bed like his strings were cut.
Finally.
After fending off Fu Zheng, Tao Zhi buried himself in the covers again.
This time, only three minutes passed before knocking sounded at the door again.
Knock knock knock—three times.
“?” Tao Zhi crawled out from the covers.
What now.
Hadn’t he said to let him rest? Why keep knocking.
Tao Zhi was a bit annoyed but didn’t dare snap at his boss, so he grudgingly got up to open the door.
Fearing another round of questions about his mouth, he only cracked it the tiniest slit this time, peeking out one eye from behind—
Fu Si Heng stood outside.
One hand in his pocket, his other arm raised, fingers bent in a knocking pose.
After the door cracked open, his motion hung frozen in midair.
Unmoving.
Their gazes locked abruptly.
Tao Zhi’s mouth fell open. In an instant, he slammed the door shut.
So fast Fu Si Heng didn’t even react.
Ahhhhhhh, why him!
Did I forget the wig!
Tao Zhi frantically patted his head in panic, scared until his heart nearly burst.
