Chapter 42
“Tsk! So you didn’t go to the airport, you went straight back to the café?”
Song-shadow, nestled in Xie Zhang’s pocket, watched as he parked and entered the familiar guesthouse.
Xie Zhang hummed in agreement.
“What if I hadn’t gone back?” Song Jingmo asked curiously.
Xie Zhang opened the guesthouse door, the wind chimes tinkling.
The receptionist smiled, greeting them cheerfully.
Song-shadow hid deeper in Xie Zhang’s pocket, poking him with a tendril.
Xie Zhang stiffened slightly but calmly presented his ID: “Is the ocean view suite still available?”
Thirty-year-old Mr. Xie was much more composed than the shy twenty-three-year-old Mr. Song.
The receptionist paused.
The ocean view suite, with its beautiful view but less-than-ideal price, was usually empty, booked only as a last resort during peak season.
It was rare for a solo traveler to request it.
He processed the check-in, then, as Xie Zhang turned to walk upstairs, his familiar figure triggered a memory.
Wasn’t this the… clumsy… guy from a few years ago?!
Song Jingmo continued to poke Xie Zhang, trying to decipher his thoughts.
Xie Zhang, shielding his pocket, entered the room, placing his suitcase in the bedroom where he’d only used the bathroom before.
The room was empty. A shadow tendril shot out from behind him, pushing him onto the soft bed, pinning him down.
Trapped beneath the wriggling tendrils, Xie Zhang’s hair became disheveled, his face flushed.
The chibi shadow clung to his Adam’s apple, nuzzling the red mole.
“Tell me, tell me, tell me! What if I hadn’t gone back?”
Xie Zhang sighed: “If you hadn’t come, we would have met eventually.”
Song Jingmo had already guessed this, but he’d wanted to hear Xie Zhang say it.
The chibi shadow giggled, giving Xie Zhang’s Adam’s apple one last, lingering kiss.
Then he admired the faint red mark he’d left.
Xie Zhang, completely compliant with the shadow’s affectionate assault, sat up, carefully adjusting his position so as not to dislodge the chibi shadow clinging to his neck, his body still entangled in shadow tendrils.
Song Jingmo, catching a glimpse of this in the reflection of the TV screen, whistled appreciatively.
Wow!
This was even better than tentacle hentai!
Mainly because none of the anime characters could compare to Xie Zhang’s unique blend of innocence and sensuality, restraint and abandon.
Slurp.
Xie Zhang: “…”
He hesitated, then said: “Momo?”
Song Jingmo, still clinging to the neckline of Xie Zhang’s vest, pulling it down suggestively, turned to the darkened screen, admiring his handiwork, and replied absently: “Hm?”
Xie Zhang coughed: “…I can hear you.”
Song Jingmo didn’t understand at first, then, seeing the amusement in Xie Zhang’s eyes and the slight curve of his lips, he froze.
Aaaaaaaaaah!
What do you mean you can hear me?!
Although the shadow figure had no discernible expression, Xie Zhang seemed to know exactly what he was thinking, replying: “I can hear… slurp.”
Xie Zhang, usually so reserved and controlled, had perfectly captured the essence of Song Jingmo’s… sound effects.
Song Jingmo’s entire shadow went numb.
He let go, the chibi shadow falling onto Xie Zhang’s lap, then sliding onto the bed, melting into Xie Zhang’s shadow.
Motionless, silent.
The shadow tendrils also vanished.
Xie Zhang chuckled softly.
He wanted to kiss Song Jingmo.
But knowing his lover’s personality, he knew he wouldn’t be able to touch him for at least half an hour.
Song Jingmo, hiding in Xie Zhang’s shadow, hugged himself, his hands rubbing his face furiously.
His overreaction wasn’t just because of Xie Zhang’s “slurp.”
He’d suddenly realized that Xie Zhang’s “occasional hearing” probably included more than just his humming and talking, but also his other… less dignified… noises.
Like when he’d been… admiring Xie Zhang in the shower… or rubbing his abs with a towel… or tracing his muscles with a shadow tendril… or giving him… private lessons…
Aaaaaah!
Song Jingmo, you idiot!
You brought this upon yourself!!!
He buried his face in his knees, his embarrassment intensifying.
He’d been so uninhibited because he’d thought he was dead, gone forever.
Being shameless in front of Xie Zhang wasn’t a big deal.
But he wasn’t dead!
He couldn’t imagine facing Xie Zhang in person after all this.
What expression could he possibly make?
The more he thought about it, the deeper he burrowed into the shadow.
There was no way he could face him.
Oh, and he’d also given Xie Zhang… sex ed lessons.
He let out a hollow laugh.
As he wallowed in his misery, he heard Xie Zhang gasp softly.
He perked up, waiting, then, hearing nothing more, he cautiously peeked out.
Xie Zhang was standing by the balcony, looking at the view, the surprise on his face slowly melting into a gentle understanding.
Song Jingmo instantly understood. He clung to the railing, remembering seven years ago.
The guesthouse’s location wasn’t ideal. The ocean view from the balcony was limited, but it offered a clear view of the guesthouse’s flower-filled courtyard and the road outside.
Xie Zhang, remembering those two weeks, how Song Jingmo had greeted him at the door every morning, his attire seemingly casual but always different, mused: “You… saw me coming every morning?”
He’d been oblivious back then, emotionally clueless.
But now, looking back, he realized Song Jingmo’s clothes, his actions, his expressions, had been different each day…
Song Jingmo, hearing this, banged on the railing with a shadow tendril: “Don’t even remind me! I was so frustrated with you!”
He’d been jet-lagged, setting an alarm and painstakingly styling himself every morning before Xie Zhang arrived.
He’d been half-asleep, trying to appear effortlessly stylish, and with his limited wardrobe, he’d practically worn out the guesthouse’s hairdryer!
And for what?
For the breakfast Xie Zhang brought?
And then, after handing him breakfast, Xie Zhang would disappear into the bathroom!
It had been torture!
Song Jingmo’s shadow tendril bristled, forming two chibi shadows, one shaking the other violently.
Xie Zhang: “…”
The clueless Xie Zhang tried to defend himself, gently smoothing the shadow representing Song Jingmo, his voice soft:
“You looked… good.”
Song Jingmo: “?”
Huh?
He turned to Xie Zhang, still holding the other shadow figure.
Xie Zhang’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously, and he looked away.
“You looked… good.”
He repeated himself.
“You always look good, so I had to… compose myself.”
Song Jingmo blinked.
A few minutes later.
The chibi shadow representing Song Jingmo leaped onto the shadow representing Xie Zhang, showering him with kisses.
![Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life]](https://i1.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/farmm.jpeg?resize=151,215 "Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life]")
