Fu Zheng: 【Wait no】
Fu Zheng: 【Are you checking my accounts?】
Damn, what was this?
Did roommates check each other’s finances? Tao Zhi being so nosy made Fu Zheng’s expression turn weird… and awkward.
But not displeased.
He bit his cigarette and pondered, actually feeling a bit smug, his lips curving up slightly.
Tao Zhi: 【No no, not what I meant.】
Tao Zhi: 【Just curious. If you don’t wanna say, it’s fine.】
Tao Zhi: 【Really, did I offend you? I just asked casually—don’t take it to heart.】
Fu Zheng: “…”
This time, five minutes passed before his next message.
Fu Zheng: 【Cut the crap. Accept the money.】
Tao Zhi: “?”
Fu Zheng’s temper was really bad.
But the words were kinda nice.
Tao Zhi thought for a moment.
Half a minute later, he accepted ten thousand.
Even knowing it was really Fu Zheng, two hundred thousand at once? He truly didn’t dare take it all.
Especially without doing anything to earn it—Tao Zhi felt terribly embarrassed.
He only tapped one transfer.
Fu Zheng saw he’d accepted and his mood improved a tad.
He picked up his glass from the table, swirling and sipping to kill time, deliberately waiting a few minutes before checking his phone.
Still just the one.
Fu Zheng: 【?】
Tao Zhi: 【Enough, enough.】
Tao Zhi had his own little scheme.
The amount was just too much—aside from the guilt of accepting it all, the bigger reason was he knew Fu Zheng well enough.
Fu Zheng wasn’t a traditional “good person.”
Tao Zhi feared if he took it all, come school start, Fu Zheng would package him up and ship him straight to Fu Si Heng’s bed.
Just to speed up the plan.
Something he could never agree to.
So he only took ten thousand.
Call it… a year-end bonus from Fu Zheng.
He couldn’t take more.
Tao Zhi thanked him: 【Thanks, Fu Zheng. You’re the best 0v0】
Tao Zhi: 【You’re the world’s best roommate.】
Fu Zheng: 【.】
That last polite line smoothed all of Fu Zheng’s ruffled feathers.
Fu Zheng: 【Whatever.】
Anyway, Tao Zhi accepting the money meant he knew he’d messed up.
Since he knew, Fu Zheng reluctantly forgave him.
He unilaterally declared the cold war over—and that was that.
His nearly week-long pent-up frustration finally started to ease.
Fu Zheng: 【Alright, that’s it. I’m still out.】
Tao Zhi: 【Okay.】
Fu Zheng: 【I’ll head back early.】
Tao Zhi: 【Huh?】
Tao Zhi didn’t get that last bit, staring blankly. Fu Zheng didn’t reply.
Fine, probably having too much fun and didn’t want to chat.
Tao Zhi closed the chat and went back to his documentary.
This time, he watched for fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes later, Fu Si Heng returned.
Upon returning, he saw the video off and first messaged Tao Zhi, asking if he’d fallen asleep.
This honest kid, of course, replied no.
So the video call came through again.
“…”
Looks like tonight wasn’t over yet.
Tao Zhi sat up again.
He carefully adjusted the phone camera, settling in before answering.
What filled the screen was still Fu Si Heng, not properly dressed, chest bare.
This time, since he was standing, his eight-pack abs appeared on screen too.
Uh.
Tao Zhi opened his mouth, stunned for a few seconds.
His reaction was better than before—desensitization therapy really had merit.
As he gazed at the mature male body, all sorts of messy thoughts filled his head.
A while later, once Fu Si Heng sat down, Tao Zhi averted his eyes.
“Um.” So awkward. Tao Zhi scratched his burning neck and grabbed a random topic: “Who was looking for you just now?”
“My mom,” Fu Si Heng answered. “She talked to me about Fu Zheng.”
He started from suspecting Fu Zheng of gambling, ending with: He won’t borrow from loan sharks, right? I need to have a serious talk with him soon. He’s barely home lately. Didn’t you say no one’s hanging with him now?
Fu Si Heng’s head throbbed, so he promised to handle it.
Only then did Xu Yujia leave.
“Hm? Fu Zheng?”
Tao Zhi, who had just chatted with Fu Zheng ten minutes ago, perked up, eager for more.
But Fu Si Heng didn’t continue.
Tao Zhi blinked.
He wanted to know but wasn’t sure if asking would offend Fu Si Heng—it was family business, and he just wanted the gossip…
As he hesitated, Fu Si Heng spoke: “Back to before.”
Fu Si Heng said flatly: “Show me your neck.”
Tao Zhi: “…”
One sentence killed Tao Zhi’s gossip itch.
What kind of fetish was this guy into?
What was so great about necks?
Tao Zhi’s expression stiffened, then he couldn’t help muttering softly.
Fu Si Heng heard it.
The older man’s lips twitched.
He wanted to see chest, and other places too—do something more extreme. But wouldn’t saying it scare the little rabbit away?
Like an old house on fire, his head was full of filthy thoughts starring an innocent, pure little guy.
“Then something else.” Fu Si Heng said: “Show me your legs.”
Tao Zhi: “?”
Huh?
Tao Zhi had been about to adjust the camera when Fu Si Heng’s words made him pause, glancing instinctively at his feet.
Fluffy pants, reaching his ankles.
No clue what was worth seeing.
If it were like his previous female outfit, skirt to mid-thigh, maybe he’d get it…
“I’m wearing pants,” Tao Zhi said tactfully.
Fu Si Heng hummed, tone upright and cool: “See if they’re cute.”
Tao Zhi: “…”
Still didn’t get it.
But Tao Zhi figured it wasn’t impossible to agree.
Probably because he’d just taken Fu Zheng’s money, he felt like doing something in return—his work enthusiasm was still high.
For things within his limits, Tao Zhi wasn’t stingy.
Plus, video call, not showing face but legs—he felt more at ease.
Tao Zhi agreed, flipping the camera to show his feet as he pulled them from under the blanket.
Fluffy, pink-and-white pajama pants, ending just above the ankles.
No socks; round, pinkish toes exposed to the camera, nails neatly trimmed, their arcs adorably cute, his instep fair with faint bluish veins.
Not really seductive.
Tao Zhi didn’t even bother posing, just occasionally—maybe from nerves—curling his toes then stretching them out.
Yet it still made Fu Si Heng’s breathing heavy.
Wanted to suck them, lick them, make Tao Zhi cry.
He definitely would cry.
Blushing all over from shame, biting his lip as he cried, begging him to stop.
And beyond that, Fu Si Heng’s mind wandered to even more perverse ideas.
Using those cute feet.
Fu Si Heng reached for the cigarette pack again.
“When are you coming back to S City?”
After a pause, Fu Si Heng spoke.
His voice was slightly hoarse, not obvious, but not hidden either.
If Tao Zhi were sharper, he’d notice.
Sadly.
Right now, Tao Zhi sat at the headboard, chin on his knees, bored plucking at the fluff: “Before school starts.”
“How about earlier?” Fu Si Heng asked.
“Hm?” Tao Zhi paused slightly: “How early?”
Fu Si Heng: “One week ahead.”
