Chapter 32

Chen Gu froze.

He lowered his eyes to meet Jiang Mian’s gaze, and under the clear stare of those eyes, he ultimately opened his arms and pulled Jiang Mian into his embrace.

Jiang Mian was sitting in a wheeled computer chair, so Chen Gu easily shifted him closer with little effort.

Just like that, Jiang Mian was completely confined in Chen Gu’s arms, filling the curve of his embrace with his body.

Even though he was the one who proposed it, the moment he was pressed into Chen Gu’s chest, Jiang Mian’s heartbeat inevitably skipped a beat.

That half-second pause was followed by an overwhelmingly chaotic and racing pulse.

The scent on Chen Gu… smelled very good.

This time was different from the last time’s panic. Jiang Mian had some mental preparation after all, and with one experience done, the second time came easier.

He had originally wanted to try hugging Chen Gu back, gently patting his back, and asking if that made him feel a little better. But now he couldn’t try that.

Because his arms were held within Chen Gu’s embrace, and Chen Gu’s muscles were certainly not just for show.

Pressing against Chen Gu’s chest, Jiang Mian thought.

A bit hard.

He remembered hearing the senior sisters talk about liking that kind of powerful, boyish charm. Did Chen Gu count?

After all, sometimes he felt Chen Gu was quite childish.

Jiang Mian’s thoughts scattered wildly, jumping from one thing to another, but in doing so, he managed to calm his own overly noticeable heartbeat.

He finally managed to speak, though his voice was muffled by Chen Gu: “Are you feeling better?”

Asking Chen Gu if he wanted a hug wasn’t about what Jiang Mian wanted; it was because he had sensed it.

He had sensed that this time was different from the last. This time, Chen Gu was probably genuinely having a relapse of his condition. That was why he proactively offered.

He hoped Chen Gu wouldn’t have to feel so terrible.

With the two of them pressed together, they could feel the resonance in each other’s chests as they spoke.

The slight vibrations carried an indescribable numbing sensation, like a small electric current piercing straight to the depths of one’s soul.

“Yeah.”

Chen Gu couldn’t help but tighten his arms, pressing Jiang Mian even closer to him, so much so that it gave the illusion that, if possible, he would completely tuck Jiang Mian into his own body: “A little better.”

Jiang Mian’s originally somewhat shallow voice blurred even more from being squeezed: “That’s good.”

He felt Chen Gu was hugging him far too tightly. If he used a bit more force, his bones might actually break.

So Jiang Mian wanted Chen Gu to loosen his grip slightly, but before he could speak, he felt Chen Gu nuzzle the side of his head against his hair.

Jiang Mian’s body, which had just barely managed to relax, stiffened abruptly. He also forgot what he was going to say.

He froze there. At first, he suspected Chen Gu just accidentally brushed against him. But before he could make excuses for Chen Gu for even two seconds, Chen Gu nuzzled the side of his head again with the tip of his chin, just barely grazing the tip of his ear. This time, Jiang Mian’s breath stopped completely.

He widened his eyes in disbelief: “You…”

Before Jiang Mian could finish his sentence, he was nuzzled again.

He fell completely silent, his whole mind going blank.

Jiang Mian felt less like he was being held by a person and more like he was being encircled by some kind of giant dog.

As a result, his heart, already struggling to calm down, became even more chaotic and noisy. It was like someone had poured all sorts of mixed paints in and was constantly stirring them with a stick.

Chen Gu wrapped around him, nuzzling him again and again as if unable to control himself.

Yet from the initial testing to later simply burying his face in the crook of Jiang Mian’s neck, the tip of his nose pressing against his blood vessels through the thin layer of skin, his eyes remained completely clear.

It was just that dark, thick gloom churned at the bottom of his eyes. He knew very well what he was doing.

Watching Jiang Mian stiffen and clam up, feeling his heartbeat… Chen Gu lightly grazed his own molars.

He was thinking, if he were a bit more intrusive and bit Jiang Mian right here, what would Jiang Mian’s reaction be?

Would he be scared?

He thought with extreme malice. Being scared off would actually be fine too.

If Jiang Mian tried to run, he would have an excuse to convince himself to catch him and tie him to his side.

That way, he could see Jiang Mian all the time, hold him all the time, and do even more things he couldn’t do right now.

After all, he was never a good person, and he only ever considered himself.

Jiang Mian keenly sensed a sudden danger emanating from Chen Gu.

In truth, from the very first nuzzle, Jiang Mian had sensed something, but now it was different from just moments ago.

If asked to specify how, he couldn’t say.

But at the very least, right now every cell in his body felt like it had encountered some stimulus, all weapons drawn, instinct screaming at him to push Chen Gu away and run immediately.

…What was Chen Gu thinking?

Jiang Mian didn’t understand.

He only managed to speak with difficulty: “Chen, Chen Gu.”

Chen Gu paused, then responded softly with a hoarse voice.

Prompted by him, Jiang Mian’s voice became even quieter: “You’re using too much force…”

He analyzed seriously: “If you use a bit more force, my ribs might break.”

Chen Gu was speechless.

Those sudden, dark impulses receded like a tide. He let out a low chuckle, loosening his grip slightly: “Sorry.”

Chen Gu’s apology held no sincerity; instead, because he lowered his voice, it sounded somewhat pitiful and aggrieved: “I’ve never hugged anyone before, so I can’t control my strength well.”

Before Jiang Mian could say ‘It’s fine’, he added, looking pitifully wronged: “I’ll practice more with you in the future. If you feel uncomfortable, just tell me.”

Jiang Mian: “?”

This was the first time he’d heard that hugging required practice…

Jiang Mian finally couldn’t hold back. For once, he vented an emotion he rarely even noticed himself. Under Chen Gu’s repeated pushing of boundaries, he no longer stayed silent but erupted: “Are you better now?”

He raised his hand to grab Chen Gu’s arm in return, intending to pull him away: “If you’re fine, let go.”

However, the moment Jiang Mian used the slightest bit of force, Chen Gu yanked him back into that overly forceful embrace.

Clearly, the one without initiative or the strength to resist was Jiang Mian, yet the one acting pitifully wronged was Chen Gu.

Chen Gu wrapped around him, just like a child clinging to a beloved item and refusing to let go, even using a tone of utter grievance to act spoiled: “Jiang Mian, I feel terrible.”

Being squeezed tightly, Jiang Mian: “…”

He felt a moment of numbness but still lowered his hand. He didn’t say anything, just letting Chen Gu hold him.

Jiang Mian wanted to let the topic end there, to just properly “treat the condition”.

Yet Chen Gu insisted on hearing some kind of promise from his lips.

He asked: “Can I?”

Both were smart people. No further reminder was needed. Jiang Mian understood what Chen Gu was asking.

He remained silent for a moment, then ultimately gave a self-abandoning “Mm”.

Chen Gu’s lips curved up. In an excellent mood, he tightened his arms again.

Jiang Mian let out a soft hiss: “Chen Gu.”

Chen Gu obediently loosened his hold a little, but his tone sounded utterly lighthearted no matter how one heard it: “I’m very happy, Jiang Mian.”

He smiled: “Doesn’t this mean I’m a little bit special to you?”

Actually, that “Mm” from Jiang Mian was enough to answer that question, not to mention all the previous signs.

But in the game of love, even the smartest person cannot write down a correct answer on the test paper without the test-setter’s definitive confirmation.

Yet Jiang Mian, this test-setter, feared being laid bare the most.

He couldn’t help wanting to retreat, to shrink back into his shell.

Jiang Mian didn’t know what he was afraid of, but he was afraid nonetheless.

Afraid that Chen Gu was just running on passion right now, finding him an interesting, unique oddity. Afraid they would end up like Jiang Liaoyi and Xiang Wei. Afraid there would be a day they said goodbye.

Many people’s impression of Jiang Mian was that he was cold and indifferent, as if he couldn’t take things to heart or let people in, suspecting he had no heart at all.

But that wasn’t true.

It was just that Jiang Mian’s world was very small. If someone was willing to be friends with him, giving him one part, he would return two parts.

But he feared separation, and he also feared eventually becoming strangers. So he didn’t dare invest too much emotion or go too deep.

He liked the feeling of going from strangers to acquaintances but hated the process of going from acquaintances to strangers.

But…

Jiang Liaoyi told him to be braver, to be more impulsive.

“Mm.”

After a long silence, Jiang Mian responded once more.

This prompted Chen Gu to uncontrollably tighten his arms again.

Jiang Mian’s breath caught. He had no recourse but to weakly call out again: “Chen Gu.”

Chen Gu chuckled lowly, loosening a fraction: “Jiang Mian, thank you.”

Thank you for trying so hard to take a step forward.

Chen Gu didn’t explain what he was thanking him for, but he called his name again: “Jiang Mian.”

Jiang Mian responded with a soft sound, hearing Chen Gu murmur as if in a trance: “I really like it when you call my name.”

It gave him a sense of groundedness, a feeling that he indeed existed in this world, and that Jiang Mian was truly right by his side, obediently staying in his arms.

Jiang Mian didn’t speak.

Because… he liked it too.

He also liked it when Chen Gu called his name.

He couldn’t describe the feeling, it was just…

In the end, it was Chen Gu who released Jiang Mian first.

Because Jiang Mian was too well-behaved. He was afraid that if he held on any longer, something else might happen.

And it was getting late. Jiang Mian needed to go home.

But before he left, Jiang Mian stood at the entrance, leaning against the door in an extremely familiar posture, looking up at Chen Gu.

Chen Gu lowered his gaze to meet his, his heart itching unbearably again. Did Jiang Mian even know how incredibly inviting he was like this?

“What’s wrong?”

Jiang Mian hesitated: “I have a question.”

Chen Gu gestured for him to speak.

Yet Jiang Mian was still struggling over whether to ask or not.

Chen Gu wasn’t in a hurry: “Think it over first. I’ll grab something.”

Jiang Mian tilted his head in confusion, watching as Chen Gu opened his suitcase directly.

Chen Gu took out a wrapped gift box and handed it to Jiang Mian: “A souvenir.”

Jiang Mian paused: “Didn’t I say I didn’t want anything?”

Chen Gu nodded, looking as if it were only natural: “Didn’t I say then I’d just pick whatever?”

Completely unexpecting this, Jiang Mian: “?”

It could work like that??

Jiang Mian ultimately accepted the box. He’d just send a return gift later.

Mainly, refusing was quite pointless. Since Chen Gu had specifically bought it for him, knowing his personality, he’d probably just throw it away if Jiang Mian didn’t want it.

After all… this person didn’t actually have a good temper.

He was just pretending to have a good temper in front of him.

Jiang Mian saw through everything.jpg;

Chen Gu: “So? Have you figured out what you want to ask?”

Jiang Mian held the gift box tighter in his arms.

Actually, he had thought of the question long ago; he was just debating whether or not to ask it.

“Mm.”

Jiang Mian looked down and slowly began: “It’s just… I want to ask…”

He hesitated, his gaze avoiding Chen Gu’s, and said softly: “Why do you like me?”

Truly not expecting Jiang Mian to ask this, Chen Gu raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

And seeing Jiang Mian’s downcast expression, he sighed inwardly.

Chen Gu felt a bit helpless: “Jiang Mian.”

He called his name, saying: “You’re better than you imagine.”

Jiang Mian froze for a second.

He lifted his eyes to look at Chen Gu, as if grasping onto something, and asked subconsciously: “How good?”

Chen Gu’s lips curved. He reached out to ruffle his hair, conveniently taking advantage of the moment while the person was tangled in his emotions to lightly pinch Jiang Mian’s cheek.

The man’s slightly deep, low voice held a smile, like a clear breeze meant to enter Jiang Mian’s heart.

“At least in my book, the best in the whole world.”

Jiang Mian pressed his lips together, but the corner of his mouth had already lifted a tiny bit: “Why ‘at least in your book’?”

Chen Gu sighed softly and pinched his cheek again: “Jiang Mian, I can’t possibly speak up for my love rivals, can I?”