Ji Huaizhi hadn’t even had a chance to speak before Ning Shuang stuffed his hand under his own T-shirt. Ji Huaizhi’s cold hand pressed right against Ning Shuang’s abdomen without any warning.
“Ning Shuang!” Ji Huaizhi was startled by the sudden move and instinctively tried to pull his hand back, but Ning Shuang refused to let go.
He gripped Ji Huaizhi’s hand tightly and said righteously, “Don’t move. Your hand is so cold—what if you catch a cold?”
The man reeked of alcohol, but his words came out clear and forceful, with no sign that he was drunk at all. Ji Huaizhi really wasn’t sure anymore if Ning Shuang was actually intoxicated.
“I’m not cold.”
“You are!”
“I’m not cold.”
“You are!”
“…” Ji Huaizhi was speechless.
The back of his hand was pressed firmly against Ning Shuang’s scorching abdomen, letting him feel the rise and fall of Ning Shuang’s breathing. Before long, it wasn’t just that hand warming up—Ji Huaizhi even felt heat spreading through his entire body.
“Ji Huaizhi.” Ning Shuang let go of one hand and reached up to touch Ji Huaizhi’s slightly flushed earlobe. In a soft voice, he asked, “You have your ears pierced—why don’t you wear earrings?”
Ji Huaizhi paused for a moment before countering, “Do you want me to wear them?”
Ning Shuang tilted his head, frowning as he thought it over, then asked, “Won’t the piercings heal up?”
Ji Huaizhi: “No.”
Ning Shuang: “Why not?”
Ji Huaizhi: “Because they’ve fully healed.”
Ning Shuang: “So if they’ve healed, they won’t close up?”
Ji Huaizhi: …
Forget it—what was the point of explaining to this drunkard?
Ning Shuang chuckled a few times. “You’d look great with earrings. You already look so good.”
“Mm.” Ji Huaizhi acknowledged him with a hum.
Once he felt the hand on his abdomen had warmed up, Ning Shuang finally let go. Ji Huaizhi breathed a sigh of relief and pulled his hand back, only for Ning Shuang to grab his other hand and stuff it under his shirt.
Ji Huaizhi felt like Ning Shuang was driving him to the brink of losing his sanity.
“Ning Shuang,” he called out.
Ning Shuang hummed in response and leaned in close, staring into Ji Huaizhi’s eyes. Then he asked, “Do you have someone you like?”
Ji Huaizhi’s throat bobbed as his gaze drifted downward, landing on Ning Shuang’s lips.
Ning Shuang pressed on. “Do you like guys?”
His eyes were full of eager anticipation, hoping Ji Huaizhi would give him an answer. But Ji Huaizhi was thinking he needed to shut that mouth to stop him from spouting more of these teasing, nonsensical words.
He leaned in closer to Ning Shuang, his lips hovering just an inch from Ning Shuang’s face.
But Ning Shuang pulled out the now-warm hand and said, “There, it’s nice and toasty.”
Ji Huaizhi let out a soft sigh, withdrew his hand, got up to close the window in Ning Shuang’s room, and drew the curtains tightly shut.
When he turned back, he saw that Ning Shuang had somehow already taken off his shirt and was now hunched over, trying to undo his pants. Ji Huaizhi blinked in a daze, then hurried over and grabbed Ning Shuang’s hands mid-motion.
“Ning Shuang, I’m still here,” he said.
Ning Shuang yanked his hands free and went back to tugging at his pants zipper. “I know, but we’re both guys, right? I’m exhausted. I want to sleep, and these clothes stink.”
“…” Ji Huaizhi turned to leave.
But the voice behind him mumbled, “Where… where are my pants…”
Ji Huaizhi stopped in his tracks and turned around. Ning Shuang was holding his pajama pants in his right hand, yet he was circling around the edge of the bed as if searching for them.
His pants were still on, but his upper body was completely bare.
Ning Shuang wasn’t skinny, but he didn’t carry much fat either—his muscles were lean and solid without being overly bulky. The places that should have some padding did, just enough. His elegant spine protruded slightly, flowing smoothly into a graceful waistline. His abs were defined, and just above his navel sat a small black mole. The V-line of his hips tapered downward, disappearing into his pants.
Ji Huaizhi walked back, steadied Ning Shuang, swiftly helped him out of his pants, took the pajamas from his hand, and assisted him into them.
“Thanks, Ji Huaizhi!” Once dressed, Ning Shuang flopped back onto the bed, burrowing under the covers until only his head poked out.
He looked utterly adorable.
Ji Huaizhi gazed at him, his expression softening considerably. His eyes gradually warmed with gentleness. Only after a long moment did he finally leave Ning Shuang’s room.
~~~
The next morning, Ning Shuang was jolted awake by birdsong outside the window.
He slowly opened his eyes and took a deep breath. The air carried the faint aroma of frying food.
Staring up at the ceiling and the chandelier overhead, Ning Shuang felt his head throbbing like it might explode. A chaotic flood of memories surged into his mind.
Half a minute later.
In the kitchen, Ji Huaizhi heard a bloodcurdling scream from upstairs, like a pig being slaughtered. Then the stairs thundered under frantic footsteps.
Seconds later, a gust of wind hit him from behind.
Ji Huaizhi set down the ladle he was using to stir the porridge and turned around, meeting Ning Shuang’s tense, guilt-ridden eyes.
“Ji Huaizhi!” Ning Shuang called his name firmly.
Ji Huaizhi narrowed his eyes. “Mm?”
“Last night… last night.” Ning Shuang tried to read Ji Huaizhi’s opinion of his antics from his eyes, but Ji Huaizhi’s face was calm and distant. Ning Shuang couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“Mm, last night?” Ji Huaizhi echoed.
Ning Shuang’s face was full of guilt. “Last night was an accident. I had some drinks… and that’s how it happened.”
He couldn’t even remember exactly what drunken nonsense he’d spouted, but from what fragments he recalled, none of it had been good.
“Mm.” Ji Huaizhi turned back to the porridge.
Ning Shuang hurried to his side and whispered, “Everything I said last night was fake.”
“Oh, fake,” Ji Huaizhi replied flatly.
Ning Shuang: “Um, did I say anything bad?”
Ji Huaizhi: “You said I look good.”
Ning Shuang slapped his thigh. “That one’s true.”
Ji Huaizhi: “You said you wanted to kiss me.”
Ning Shuang’s eyes went wide. “What?! I said that?”
Ji Huaizhi nodded slightly, and his expression didn’t look like he was lying. Ning Shuang panicked. “That one’s fake.”
Ji Huaizhi shot him a reproachful look before turning back to focus on the porridge, refusing to speak further.
Ning Shuang figured his drunken outburst had pissed him off. Hanging his head, he mumbled softly, “I’m actually a lightweight. I only had a little last night, but I never expected it’d hit me like that.”
“Are you mad?” Ning Shuang ventured.
Ji Huaizhi: “No.”
As Ning Shuang opened his mouth to say more, his gaze landed on Ji Huaizhi’s earlobe. The spot that was usually bare now sported a pair of silver stud earrings, gleaming under the kitchen lights.
“Hey? You’re wearing earrings?” Ning Shuang asked curiously.
Ji Huaizhi pressed his lips together and touched his earlobe. “They don’t look good?”
Ji Huaizhi usually tied his long hair back loosely with a band, letting it drape casually over one shoulder. He always had that cool, aloof air, but the earrings added a hint of rebellious edge.
Ning Shuang quickly said, “They look great. I was actually picturing how you’d look with them before.”
“And I kept wondering if piercings heal up if you don’t wear earrings for too long,” Ning Shuang added with a chuckle.
“They don’t heal,” Ji Huaizhi said, brushing a stray lock of hair behind his ear. “Go wash up. Breakfast is almost ready.”
Ning Shuang’s gaze lingered on his face for a moment before he replied, “Sure, sure. I’ll go brush my teeth now.”
The drunken incident was brushed aside just like that. After washing up, Ning Shuang came downstairs to find breakfast already laid out on the table.
He plopped down at the table, shoveled a few bites into his mouth, and finally felt steadier. Then he said, “I just saw Ning Dundun, and it hit me—I need to give it a bath after breakfast. Then we can head to the supermarket this afternoon?”
“Sure. Need help with the bath?” For Ji Huaizhi, as long as Ning Shuang stayed in his sight and no one else was around, everything was perfect.
Ning Shuang waved him off. “No need to trouble yourself. Ning Dundun is pretty well-behaved.”
Ji Huaizhi gave a soft “Mm” and said no more.
After breakfast, Ning Shuang washed the dishes. When he came out, both Ji Huaizhi and Ning Dundun were gone. Hearing running water from the upstairs bathroom, he dashed up, pushed open the door, and found Ji Huaizhi crouched down, washing Ning Dundun.
His long hair was casually pinned up with a pen, sleeves rolled to his elbows, stray strands dampened by water droplets dripping from the tips.
“Why are you washing it? I was going to do it after the dishes,” Ning Shuang said. He hung his jacket on the back of the door, rolled up his sleeves, and crouched down beside Ji Huaizhi.
Ji Huaizhi: “I had nothing else to do, and it hasn’t been making a fuss. Not bad.”
Even so, Ji Huaizhi’s casual clothes were soaked in several spots, water trickling from his temple down to his jaw before dripping off.
“Thanks,” Ning Shuang said earnestly as he rubbed Ning Dundun’s fur.
“No need,” Ji Huaizhi replied.
Ning Shuang tilted his head and looked at him, sincerity shining in his eyes. “Ji Huaizhi, you’re such a good person.”
“Mm.” Ji Huaizhi’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, but he said nothing more.
Washing and blow-drying Ning Dundun—a large dog—had drained every last bit of Ning Shuang’s energy. He collapsed onto the sofa, watching as Ji Huaizhi, still full of vigor, poured water and scooped out some dog food for it. Ning Shuang sighed. “Have I been slacking on exercise lately or something?”
“How come I feel like my strength can’t even keep up with yours?” In Ning Shuang’s mind, his own power had always far exceeded Ji Huaizhi’s.
Ji Huaizhi didn’t argue the point. “You did all the actual washing. I just handled the rinsing, so of course I’ve still got energy left.”
That explanation put Ning Shuang’s mind at ease.
He crossed his arms behind his head, one leg dangling off the sofa as he swung it lazily back and forth, utterly relaxed.
A moment later, he sensed Ji Huaizhi settling onto the sofa beside him. Ning Shuang sat up and crossed his legs, turning to him. “After lunch, how about we head to the supermarket?”
“Sure.”
“I haven’t even figured out what to buy yet. It’ll be like going camping—we’ll have to bring all our own food. Let’s grab ingredients to make sandwiches when we get back?”
“Sure.”
“We should also pick up stuff for hand-grab flatbreads, plus some boxes for pastries. We can prep everything after dinner tonight?”
“Sure.”
Ning Shuang: …
He eyed Ji Huaizhi for a moment, confirming that the man had heard every word. It was just that his responses were always so curt. “Don’t be so aloof. You’re replying with just one word every time, and we’re already pretty close… as roommates, right?”
“I just think whatever you suggest is fine.” Ji Huaizhi figured Ning Shuang’s ideas were all workable, and he was simply making a point to respond each time.
Ning Shuang folded his arms. “Then you suggest something.”
“Me?” Ji Huaizhi looked puzzled.
“Yeah.” Ning Shuang nodded seriously.
Ji Huaizhi thought for a second. “Buy some fruit, then.”
Ning Shuang nodded. “Sounds good. What kind do you like?”
“Anything’s fine.”
“Alright, I’m gonna go take a shower. Then we can make lunch together.” Ning Shuang figured they’d settled it. He hadn’t showered before bed last night, and with nothing else pressing, now was as good a time as any.
“Okay… go ahead.” Ji Huaizhi’s voice hitched for a split second.
Ning Shuang couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
After lunch, they headed to the supermarket and picked up essentials for the camping trip, along with ingredients for bentos.
That evening, Ji Huaizhi took charge of dinner while Ning Shuang prepped the bentos they’d need for the next day. The kitchen light cast a warm, yellowish glow over their heads. Ning Dundun sat at Ning Shuang’s feet, occasionally rewarded with a tossed scrap of vegetable or meat.
From a distance, the scene looked extraordinarily cozy.
