The new-model Suppressor Neck Collar, exclusively customized for Xie Qi based on Wen Jiang’s design ideas, was successfully completed and delivered to his hands the day before he returned to school.
Before Xie Qi officially put it on, Wen Jiang picked up the Neck Collar and examined it curiously. As both a novice with Ability Suppressors and their chief designer, Wen Jiang had chosen the collar form after layers of consideration—like compatibility and convenience—and he hadn’t forgotten Xie Qi’s issue with Supernatural Ability instability.
Now, the relief task that had been shelved due to the accident could be put back on the agenda. The Neck Collar solved the Suppressor fitting problem, matched the instructional video content, and Xie Qi seemed to have a real fondness for this sort of thing. By definition, this was… couple’s fun gear. Killing three birds with one stone.
On a side note, Wen Jiang had also diverged into some associative thinking based on the common definition of behaviors, reflecting on their past dynamic of “friends who did a lot of borderline stuff.” Suddenly, he realized something and said breezily, “Weren’t we basically ‘friends with benefits’ before this?”
Such a shocking statement coming from Wen Jiang—the perfect kid from someone else’s family—delivered a massive blow to Xie Qi’s psyche. How could you call it that? We didn’t even do the most crucial step! Xie Qi took a deep breath, staring at the utterly nonchalant Wen Jiang and feeling choked up. Finally, he gritted his teeth to defend his past self: “……At least call it ‘regular fuck buddies.'”
That was the bottom line. It couldn’t go any lower.
Once they decided to go with a “neck accessory,” Xie Qi rubbed his neck and made a call. Soon, someone presented Wen Jiang with a design sheet covering models, colors, materials, accessories, custom options, and more. Wen Jiang could check off whatever he liked.
Wen Jiang selected several unfamiliar options. For instance, the Neck Collar’s material: from the look of it, it was made of some high-end black leather with excellent elasticity. Wen Jiang hooked one end and stretched it into an oval, then let go—”snap!”—and it bounced right back.
Xie Qi watched Wen Jiang’s long, pale fingers rubbing the inside of the Neck Collar, imagining it against his own neck, and felt a stir of restlessness.
Take the accessories, for example.
Delivered with the Neck Collar were a detachable D-ring and a matching length of rope. The servant handed them over with eyes straight ahead, unflinching like Mount Tai crumbling before them. Once out the door, they frantically messaged each other, urgently revising their guesses about “Young Master’s dynamic with his boyfriend (formal term TBD).”
Xie Qi acted totally unfazed. It was destined to be worn constantly anyway—what was there to be coy about? Updating others’ impressions was fine too. If the household thought he’d use his darkroom toys on Wen Jiang for stress relief, it always felt a bit off.
Wen Jiang pressed the golden D-ring to the center of the Neck Collar, where it magnetically snapped into place. Fused seamlessly, it was now officially a Collar ready for a leash. Wen Jiang tested the ring’s hold, hooking his index finger through and tugging; it shifted from hanging down to level with the ground, giving a faint metallic clink. Xie Qi felt that restlessness stir again.
The detachable accessories greatly boosted the Suppressor’s versatility for different occasions—out in public as a simple neck accessory, or behind closed doors for instructional video study. Wen Jiang sat on the sofa, fiddling and exploring. He looked up to find Xie Qi staring intently at him, then knowingly dangled the Neck Collar. “Come here.”
Xie Qi paused, kept his usual indifferent expression, but crossed the room in two or three strides and bent down in front of Wen Jiang. Wen Jiang’s hand circled behind his neck, cool fingertips fumbling briefly to secure the Suppressor. Once fastened, he adjusted the edges, then slid to the front.
Xie Qi’s Adam’s apple bobbed, the skin at his neck growing hotter. As Wen Jiang’s hand released, Xie Qi instinctively started to straighten up—only to feel a downward tug. Wen Jiang’s fingers hooked the D-ring, pulling Xie Qi’s head back into place. Xie Qi’s breath hitched, his nose nearly catching a faint frosty-snow scent.
The magnetic hold was damn strong. With the field test over, Wen Jiang cheerfully let go the next second.
Xie Qi: ……
His status had changed, after all. Before standing, Xie Qi boldly turned his head and planted a kiss on Wen Jiang’s cheek.
Logically, if we kept going now, he probably wouldn’t dodge, right? But right after going official… wouldn’t that make me seem too horny?
Xie Qi glanced around for reference. He hadn’t asked Qian Lang and had no plans to—hookup culture was normalized in their circle, same day dating to bed wasn’t rare, but outsiders often pegged that type as “total scumbags.”
Xie Qi touched his neck, keeping a straight face while his mind raced. Heaven knows, I’m not the type whose first thought after dating is ‘finally, time to get them in bed.’ This is just withdrawal from our fake-dating days. Even knowing their real relationship was just starting, he couldn’t shake the lingering ‘I’ve held back so long, it’s about time, right?’
And we’ve already done plenty, haven’t we? No backsliding. Xie Qi mulled it over. Straight-up pinning Wen Jiang felt too abrupt, but he was just one push away from the right moment.
Meanwhile, Wen Jiang diligently studied the pure shoujo manga list across from him: Doki Doki! 10 Things to Do with XX-kun After Dating.
The next item: Personally make a love lunch for your partner.
Neither Wen Jiang nor Xie Qi were cooking pros. Xie Qi went without saying—the young master’s palate was refined, but his kitchen skills were zero. Wen Jiang was a “biased specialist”; he rarely cooked proper meals but had solid baking experience, excelling at all sorts of little breads.
Xie Qi didn’t mind trying for his boyfriend. He glanced at Wen Jiang and read the eager spark behind that cool face, so he pivoted: “You want to do it?”
Wen Jiang was honest: “I only know how to make bread.” He’d recently learned one he was excited about. If possible, he wanted to show off.
“Bread’s fine.” Xie Qi pulled out Combat System field training logic, bullshitting with a straight face: “Portable, one loaf’s a full meal easy.”
With the Suppressor on, Xie Qi could go out normally. He swiped his schedule, pausing at tomorrow’s noon Supernatural Ability duel class, then chuckled lightly and said deadpan: “If you make it, perfect—I’ll eat it tomorrow at lunch.”
Wen Jiang eyed him, spotting the smug satisfaction all over his face.
Most times, the A-Rank Arena training room was like an outdoor picnic spot for Combat System S-Grades, Super A-Grades, and other privileged students.
They weren’t total anarchists, though. These young masters and ladies acted like truants disrupting class, but usually within allowed bounds. Back when Wen Jiang used the training room for observation homework, he’d finish his assignments first, confirm everyone else was slacking, then chill with cards while watching others sweat under the simulated sunlight.
After Wen Jiang stopped going, Xie Qi’s interest tanked too—skipping whenever possible. But tomorrow was mandatory attendance: first hour training, then lunch break. Students rarely bothered going far, hitting nearby restaurants or eating in the training room.
S-Grade privilege let outsiders like Lin Xun tag along. His schedule had gaps perfectly avoiding Qingchi Combat System classes, so he’d sneak over to hang, eat, and leave—earning face-time as Wen Jiang’s poker buddy number three.
All in all, Xie Qi’s first official day back at Qingchi was prime for their little circle to converge at the same-floor restaurant for lunch. The black Neck Collar was visible from afar as Xie Qi spotted Wen Tianlu, Lin Xun, and Jiang Hehu. He slid naturally into the seat beside them and pulled out his bento box.
Today, only Xie Qi had the guts. Others might say hi in the past, but today’s vibe was off—Jiang Hehu’s face was iced over, visibly pissed; you might catch strays. The other two seemed fine but simmered with unspoken irritation. Earlier in training, Wen Tianlu had rarely joined in, unleashing unrestrained S-Grade pressure that made two weaker guys puke on the spot.
Xie Qi was chill. As he sat, the air hitched subtly. Bluntly, he’d paraded his new Suppressor all day; anyone not blind could see it. If it were just Ability flare-up fallout, one of them might’ve snarked first about the “dog chain.” But no one breathed a word.
Jiang Hehu spotted the Collar and tsked, stabbing his fork into a tomato. Wen Tianlu and Lin Xun stayed mum. Wen Tianlu’s prickly, icy gaze locked on the Collar before finally shifting; Lin Xun glanced once and looked away, lips twitching like he might crack a joke to lighten things—until Xie Qi pulled out the bento. His smirk flattened, and he shut up.
Sometimes not being total idiots sucked—no one even asked. Xie Qi opened his rectangular bento. A sweet bread aroma wafted out, revealing an adorable brown bunny head, complete with a thoughtful carrot hair clip on the ears.
One bunny head wouldn’t fill the box. Xie Qi’s gaze dropped to the buff body below: bulging pecs, massive biceps, eight-pack abs in neat rows, powerful thighs.
Wen Jiang’s latest creation: Chocolate-Filled Muscular Bunny Bread*.
Look at that—so soft and cute, yet powerfully sculpted. Clearly the work of someone clever and handy.
Unexpected, yet totally fitting. Utterly adorable. Xie Qi picked it up, calmly pondering his first bite, then tore off the head.
Jiang Hehu, across from him, caught the full view in peripheral and frowned instinctively. “What the fu—”
He swallowed the “ck” mid-word, face visibly darkening.
“Oh, my boyfriend made it.” Xie Qi seized the chance, answering instantly. He elegantly tore off a bunny ear, dipped it in the chocolate sauce pooling at his neck, and added: “He designed the Suppressor too.”
Who asked you? Who the hell asked?? Anyone?
“Eat your food.” Xie Qi took a bite, extending his right hand to remind the trio—like a perfectly at ease host urging guests to dig in. “These dishes are decent, right? And that’s Falling Plum Pavilion’s new item—try it.”
“Not for me today,” Xie Qi added. “I’ve got bread. You guys don’t.”
