Chapter 27

After heading back from here, there were still about ten days of military training left.

The weather had started to cool down. This day marked the final session of military training. They finished the morning drills, and in the afternoon, they held the closing ceremony on the sports field.

Ning Shuang stood at the end of the line, carefully observing the students in his class.

Although the weather had turned cooler in the latter half of the training, the sunlight hadn’t weakened one bit. Many people’s skin had tanned a shade darker. His gaze swept from the front row to the back, then paused on Ji Huaizhi.

Ning Shuang just couldn’t understand it. They were all training under the same blazing sun, so why didn’t Ji Huaizhi tan at all? His skin was still as fair as if he’d applied foundation.

Ning Shuang thought for a moment. And he didn’t recall seeing Ji Huaizhi use any sunscreen or moisturizer, did he?

Was there really such a thing as a natural no-tan constitution?

As if sensing someone staring at him intently, Ji Huaizhi turned his head and followed the gaze back, meeting Ning Shuang’s envious eyes.

Ning Shuang coughed dryly and waved his hand, signaling him not to turn around and to pay attention to the leaders’ speeches.

Ji Huaizhi obediently turned his head back.

Up on the podium, the leaders were reading from several sheets of speeches one after another. Ning Shuang knew that two of those speeches were ones he’d prepared himself.

His phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated twice. Ning Shuang pulled it out and saw messages from Lu Yuyang.

【Lu Yuyang: No classes this afternoon. Wanna go out tonight?】

【Lu Yuyang: It’s National Day break anyway. We could pull an all-nighter, no problem, right?】

【Lu Yuyang: I just got a new sports car. Wanna go for a spin?】

If this had been before, Ning Shuang would have definitely agreed. But things were different now. He had to spend National Day with Ji Huaizhi. Over the seven-day holiday, he figured they should at least spend five days together, right?

He hadn’t asked Ji Huaizhi about his plans for the holiday yet, though.

After a moment’s thought, Ning Shuang replied: 【Hold on, let me check.】

Lu Yuyang responded immediately: 【Check what? Not that guy living at your place, is it?】

【Ning Shuang: Yeah. I wanna spend National Day with him.】

【Lu Yuyang: You haven’t won him over yet?】

The two were close, but Lu Yuyang rarely pried into Ning Shuang’s personal life—just as Ning Shuang didn’t meddle in Lu Yuyang’s habit of changing partners every month.

【Ning Shuang: I haven’t even started chasing him! He’s been in military training this whole month. When would we have time to hang out?】

【Lu Yuyang: Didn’t realize you were even worse off than I thought.】

【Ning Shuang: ……】

【Lu Yuyang: You two are living together, and you’re telling me you haven’t made a move?】

【Lu Yuyang: I’m so disappointed in you.】

【Ning Shuang: Oh-_-】

【Lu Yuyang: Fine, let big bro share some wisdom.】

Ning Shuang was thrilled and quickly typed: 【For real? Thanks, Young Master Lu!】

【Lu Yuyang: Looks like it’ll rain a few days during National Day. Pick a morning to ask him out. When the rain hits, head to the Grand Pearl Hotel to take shelter—it’s my family’s place. I’ll smooth things over so they say there’s only one room left. Think about it: pouring rain and howling winds outside, cozy and warm inside. How could nothing happen?】

Ning Shuang read those lines, his expression growing darker with each one. Forget it—he shouldn’t have expected any useful advice from this notorious playboy.

【Ning Shuang: Nah, I’m not that desperate [wiping sweat.jpg]】

【Lu Yuyang: This is about cooking the rice before it’s fully cooked, you know? Worried about your skills? I’ve got plenty of tutorial videos. Study up, and it’ll go off without a hitch.】

【Ning Shuang: It’s not about whether it works or not. It’s straight-up immoral, okay? He’s so pure and delicate. Wouldn’t that just be me taking advantage of him?】

Lu Yuyang racked his brain, recalling their first meeting that night. “Pure and delicate”… Was that really describing him?

【Lu Yuyang: Hey, are you seeing him through some rose-tinted glasses or what?】

【Ning Shuang: Anyway, I’ll figure it out myself. You go have your fun.】

He firmly rejected Lu Yuyang’s suggestion, but Lu Yuyang didn’t get mad and replied: 【Alright, but if you need anything, hit me up. I’ve got plenty of ways to help.】

It was clear Lu Yuyang was genuinely anxious for him.

Just as the chat ended, the leaders on the podium wrapped up their speeches. With that, military training was officially over, and everyone welcomed a seven-day National Day holiday.

Ning Shuang stood in for the counselor and posted in the class group, going over holiday precautions one by one. He required boarding students to submit leave forms.

With the holiday approaching, the Student Union had a ton of things to handle. Ning Shuang couldn’t go home with Ji Huaizhi, so he told him to head back first.

He’d thought he’d be able to head home after finishing work and had even texted Ji Huaizhi that he’d be back for dinner tonight.

But after wrapping up, Shen Qinghui announced in the group that he was treating everyone to a group dinner.

Normally, Ning Shuang could have skipped it, but this gathering included the new freshmen who’d just joined the Student Union. As vice minister of the Discipline Department, he had no choice but to stay.

Feeling bad about breaking his word, Ning Shuang typed out a long explanation to Ji Huaizhi.

A long time later, Ji Huaizhi replied with a single “Okay.”

Ning Shuang kept typing: 【Anything you want? I can pick it up for you.】

【Ji Huaizhi: No.】

The typist’s face darkened like the storm clouds outside.

The gathering dragged on until ten-thirty at night. By the time Ning Shuang got home, it was eleven. Rain had started falling outside. From stepping out of the taxi to reaching the front door, he’d gotten somewhat soaked—his shoulders and hair were damp.

Ning Shuang’s curly hair clung messily to his face.

He took off his jacket and carefully opened the door to step inside.

After changing into slippers, Ning Shuang emerged to find the TV in front of the living room sofa still glowing, playing a cartoon. Ji Huaizhi was leaning in the corner of the sofa, one hand resting on Ning Dundun’s head beside him, staring intently at the screen.

Ning Shuang was a bit surprised. Ji Huaizhi staying up to watch TV was one thing, but a cartoon?

He grabbed a towel from the coat rack and draped it over his head, rubbing his hair as he walked over to the sofa.

Only then did he realize Ji Huaizhi had actually fallen asleep. The towel that had been on his lap had slipped to the floor, and his sleepwear was rumpled. Ning Dundun noticed Ning Shuang approaching and instinctively propped up its front legs, but Ning Shuang pressed a finger to his lips, signaling it to stay quiet.

So Ning Dundun obediently lay back down on the sofa.

The dim light and shadows from the TV fell across Ji Huaizhi’s face. His long hair had come loose, draping over his chest. Outside, rain pattered steadily. Ning Shuang sat on the edge of the sofa, quietly watching him. Perhaps because he was asleep now, with his eyes closed, the cold detachment in them was hidden. The play of light softened his features unexpectedly.

Ning Shuang watched, entranced.

How could someone be so perfectly his type from head to toe? So handsome, with such a great personality.

That was Ning Shuang’s heartfelt sigh.

His gaze drifted downward, noticing the rumpled collar of Ji Huaizhi’s sleepwear. From his neck down, he could just make out the elegant line of his collarbone.

Ning Shuang quickly averted his eyes, adopting an “eyes off limits” expression.

He bent down to pick up the cotton blanket from the floor, intending to wake Ji Huaizhi and send him back to his room. But before his hand could touch him, his wrist was suddenly seized by a familiar, cool hand.

Ji Huaizhi lifted his eyelids, his serene and profound eyes turning toward the person before him.

Ning Shuang instinctively froze, holding his breath.

Meeting Ji Huaizhi’s clear gaze, Ning Shuang hurriedly explained, “I saw you were asleep and wanted to wake you up to go back to your room…”

He tugged at his wrist, and Ji Huaizhi released him. “Sorry.”

Ning Shuang flexed his wrist and smiled. “No worries. How’d you end up falling asleep here?”

“I was waiting for you.” Ji Huaizhi neatly folded the cotton blanket Ning Shuang had picked up from the floor, his tone exceptionally calm.

Those three simple words hit Ning Shuang’s heart like heavy hammer blows—each one leaving him speechless.

“Uh, you should’ve gone to bed earlier. Why wait up for me?” Ning Shuang finally managed to steady his voice.

Ji Huaizhi had casually dropped that line, dooming this straight guy to a lifetime of agony.

“Ning Dundun missed you,” Ji Huaizhi said expressionlessly. “So I stayed downstairs to wait with it.”

Ning Shuang was utterly speechless: …

Whoa, waiting with Ning Dundun? Did that mean his face was worth that much?

He nodded, deciding not to dwell on it, and asked, “Did you eat dinner?”

Ji Huaizhi: “Mm.”

Ning Shuang glanced at his watch, then leaned back against the sofa. Staring up at the chandelier on the living room ceiling, he suddenly asked, “Wanna have some late-night snacks?”

“You ordering takeout?” Ji Huaizhi looked puzzled.

Ning Shuang sat up straight, kicked off his slippers, and tucked his legs under him on the sofa. He held up a finger and waggled it. “Nah, no takeout. I’ll make some.”

“The ingredients for that pudding cheesecake we bought a couple days ago haven’t all been used up yet, right?”

Ji Huaizhi thought for a moment. “There’s still some left.”

Ning Shuang swung his legs off the sofa, slipping his feet into his slippers as he headed to the kitchen. He took the apron hanging on the wall and tied it around his waist. “Then I’ll make us some late-night snacks. You rest for a bit—I’ll call you when they’re ready.”

Ji Huaizhi stood as well and followed him into the kitchen. “I’m not too tired. Is there anything I can help with?”

“Doesn’t seem like much…” Ning Shuang glanced at the kitchen counter. “Then how about you help whip the egg whites into cream?”

“Okay.” Ji Huaizhi lowered his eyelashes and took the bowl that Ning Shuang handed him.

Outside the window, a light drizzle pattered down. Driven by the wind, it spattered against the transparent glass, leaving trails of water that blurred the view of the world beyond.

Ning Shuang sliced the fruit, then suddenly remembered something. He turned to the man beside him. “Do you have any plans for National Day?”

“Are you heading back home? Or going somewhere to travel?” Ning Shuang added.

Ji Huaizhi shook his head. “No plans. I’ll be staying home during National Day.”

“That’s perfect! Me too!” The excitement and delight on Ning Shuang’s face were impossible to conceal. Ji Huaizhi could instantly see right through whatever he was thinking.

Ning Shuang cleared his throat awkwardly and made a suggestion. “Then how about we go out together during National Day? You just got to Huai’an City and don’t know what’s fun around here yet. I’ve been here a year and already stepped on every possible landmine.”

“Where to tomorrow?” By asking this, Ji Huaizhi had accepted Ning Shuang’s invitation.

Ning Shuang was so thrilled he could barely steady the hand cutting the fruit. He quickly ran through the best spots in Huai’an City in his mind. But with the rain just letting up today and an overcast sky forecast for tomorrow, those places probably wouldn’t make for the best outing.

After a moment’s thought, he said, “We don’t have any potted plants at home, do we? How about we hit the flower market first thing tomorrow and pick up a few? We can figure out the rest later?”