Chapter 33: A Glimmering, Bean-Sized Tear

The scene shifted, and he found himself back in that Ancestral Hall.

The same scene, the same people. He looked up and met a pair of sinister eyes. The possessive desire in those eyes was like an icy venomous snake, coiling once more around Ning Shuang’s neck.

Can’t… breathe…

“Tweet-tweet.” The chirping of a bird shattered the silence of the dream, yanking him back to reality.

Ning Shuang’s eyes snapped open.

“Hah…” He stared at the ceiling, where the chandelier’s multiple images gradually overlapped into a single clear light.

What a weird dream…

The sky wasn’t fully light yet; the room was dimly illuminated. He glanced at the time on his wristband—it was only four o’clock. Still early.

So Ning Shuang rolled over, closed his eyes, and planned to sleep a bit more. But the next second, he abruptly opened them again.

Why was Ji Huaizhi in his bed?!

After his brain short-circuited for a few seconds, Ning Shuang remembered.

Oh, right—they’d slept together last night…

Such a beautiful face.

Ning Shuang’s gaze softened. Ji Huaizhi was sleeping peacefully, his breathing steady. His long hair fanned out across the pillow like ink spreading in water. Because he was asleep, his features lacked their usual aloofness and instead carried a hint of gentleness.

His eyebrows were nice too. How were his eyelashes that long?

He’d just woken from a nightmare, and a thin layer of sweat clung to Ning Shuang’s body, sticky and uncomfortable. Combined with seeing Ji Huaizhi’s handsome face first thing in the morning, he had no desire to sleep anymore.

He quietly pinched a strand of Ji Huaizhi’s long hair from beside him, brought it close to his nose, and sniffed. Sure enough, it was fragrant—like some kind of fruitwood, fresh and clean.

Carefully, he let the hair fall back, then lifted the covers and slipped quietly out of the room.

As the sound of the door closing echoed, the person sleeping soundly on the bed suddenly opened his eyes. He stared at the pillow where Ning Shuang had slept, then silently shifted closer to it.

Last night, he’d already sensed it—Ning Shuang’s bed was filled with Ning Shuang’s scent. It was warm, intoxicating.

A few minutes later, Ning Shuang returned from the bathroom.

He lifted a corner of the blanket and tiptoed back into bed.

Hm? Was it his imagination? Why did the sleeping space feel narrower?

But the warmth of the bed soon lulled him into another wave of drowsiness. Before long, Ning Shuang closed his eyes and drifted off again.

This time, he didn’t dream.

When he opened his eyes, it was already nine-thirty in the morning. Ji Huaizhi had been up for a while—the spot where he’d slept was already cold.

Ning Shuang lay there for a moment with his eyes closed. Then he sat up, quickly changed clothes, and hurried downstairs.

Ji Huaizhi had just finished making breakfast. Seeing Ning Shuang with his messy hair and sleepy eyes, he greeted him warmly. “Good morning.”

“Morning, Ji Huaizhi.” Ning Shuang scratched his head and eyed the breakfast on the table. “How’d you sleep last night? I didn’t crowd you, did I?”

“No, I slept very well,” Ji Huaizhi replied.

Ning Shuang nodded. “Good.”

He glanced outside. It was still overcast. There was no way he could dry Ji Huaizhi’s mattress today—they’d have to sleep together again tonight.

“Ning Shuang, go wash up. Breakfast is ready.”

“Got it, coming right now.” Ning Shuang ducked into the first-floor bathroom.

Moments later, the two sat down to eat together.

Ning Shuang popped a steamed dumpling into his mouth and mumbled around it, “When’d you get up?”

“Eight-thirty,” Ji Huaizhi said.

Ning Shuang sighed. “So early… I actually woke up once at four, but then I crashed right back out.”

The corners of Ji Huaizhi’s lips curved up slightly. He placed a peeled boiled egg into Ning Shuang’s empty bowl. Ning Shuang quickly thanked him. “Thanks, thanks. I could’ve done it myself.”

“I wore gloves. It was easier,” Ji Huaizhi explained.

“Fair enough. Thanks.” Ning Shuang discreetly pressed a hand to his pounding heart.

Ji Huaizhi asked, “What time are we watching the movie today?”

Ning Shuang checked his phone. “Three-thirty. We’ll leave at three, finish around five-thirty, then grab dinner at the mall.”

“Sounds good.” Ji Huaizhi nodded.

Ning Shuang casually scrolled through the weather forecast and muttered, “Tomorrow looks bad too—rain in the afternoon. We’ll be stuck at home.”

He thought for a moment. “Wanna play video games with me?”

Ji Huaizhi swallowed a sip of milk, a bit of white milk foam clinging to his lips. “Sure.”

Ning Shuang covered his eyes with one hand, pulled a tissue from the box, and handed it over. “Wipe first.”

“Thanks.” Ji Huaizhi took it, his slender fingertips brushing Ning Shuang’s. Ning Shuang’s hand trembled slightly.

It was like testing Ning Dundun with a can of meat or tempting a kitten with treats…

“Oh, right!” Ning Shuang suddenly remembered. “Tonight on our way back, let’s buy stuff to make a cake.”

“You’re making a cake?” Ji Huaizhi asked.

Ning Shuang nodded vigorously. “Yeah! Don’t tell me you forgot—tomorrow’s your birthday!”

“Hm?”

“You really don’t remember? I saw it on your enrollment form. October fourth, right?” Ning Shuang, worried he’d misremembered, started scrolling through his phone.

Before he found the enrollment form, Ji Huaizhi answered from across the table. “It’s my birthday.”

“It’s just been so long—so long since I’ve celebrated one that I forgot.” Ji Huaizhi’s eyes darkened, a hazy mist veiling them. He lowered his lashes, his tone flat, almost forlorn.

“So long that… you’ve never celebrated?” Ning Shuang probed gently.

Ji Huaizhi shook his head, his long hair swaying. “Once, a few years ago.”

“No worries. If you’re okay with it, I’ll celebrate with you every year from now on.” Seeing Ji Huaizhi looking down, Ning Shuang spoke up loudly to draw his attention.

“Alright, thank you.” Ji Huaizhi’s lips curved into a smile, a faint gleam flickering in his eyes.

Ning Shuang shook his head. “No need to thank me. We’re already great friends, right?”

“Right.”

“Perfect. After lunch, we’ll hit a bakery supply store and grab cake ingredients.”

“Good.”

…

The afternoon was still gloomy, but at least there was no cold wind or sign of rain.

They arrived at the theater early, just past three.

After exchanging their tickets, Ning Shuang leaned on the counter and peered through the glass at the popcorn. “Want some popcorn?”

Ji Huaizhi shrugged. “Whatever.”

So Ning Shuang had the staff fill a bucket.

“What about cola?” Ning Shuang asked. “Two-hour movie—we might get thirsty.”

“Let’s get some.” Ji Huaizhi nodded.

Ning Shuang handed him the popcorn and told him to wait on the lobby sofa. In a low voice, he added, “The iced drinks here are too pricey. I’ll grab fruit teas from the fourth-floor food court. What do you want?”

“I’ll come with you.” Ji Huaizhi started to stand.

Ning Shuang pressed a hand to his thigh. “Just wait here! Why make you go with me?”

He was pursuing Ji Huaizhi, after all. Of course he wanted to show off in front of him.

Ji Huaizhi’s gaze lingered on the hand on his leg for a moment before he nodded. “Alright, I’ll wait here.”

“What to drink?” Ning Shuang straightened up, not thinking his action had been at all improper.

Ji Huaizhi replied, “Anything—same as you.”

“Got it! Be right back!” Ning Shuang jogged a couple steps, then turned back with a wave-bye gesture.

The fifth floor was clothing; fourth was food. Ning Shuang took the elevator down and beelined for his favorite bubble tea shop. Luckily, it wasn’t busy. He bought two room-temperature fruit teas and had them in under two minutes.

He headed back upstairs to the theater in no more than five minutes total.

Approaching the spot where Ji Huaizhi sat, he saw him perched primly on the sofa, holding the popcorn bucket. He wasn’t on his phone or looking around—just sitting there quietly and properly.

He looked just like a good kid waiting for his parents to pick him up from school.

Ning Shuang couldn’t hold back a chuckle. Hearing it, Ji Huaizhi turned immediately. “You’re back?”

“Yep, sorry to keep you. Let’s head to the auditorium before we miss the opening previews.” Ning Shuang held the teas in one hand and grabbed Ji Huaizhi’s wrist with the other, leading him toward the entrance.

They entered at just the right time, found their seats, and sat down as the movie started.

Ning Shuang handed Ji Huaizhi a fruit tea and cradled the popcorn in his left arm. “Grab some if you want.”

“Got it.” Ji Huaizhi whispered back, his voice low.

The movie began, the screen’s glow casting flickering light across the theater.

Ji Huaizhi turned his head to gaze at Ning Shuang. His face sharpened into focus under the film’s illumination, then softened into shadow, over and over.

Ning Shuang had a high nose bridge and surprisingly bright eyes—strikingly pretty, brimming with vitality.

The moment Ning Shuang had stepped away earlier, someone had approached Ji Huaizhi, asking for his contact information.

Annoying.

Truly annoying.

Why did everyone like Ning Shuang so much? Why did they all have to compete with him for Ning Shuang’s attention? Whether they knew him or not, they were all rivals.

Forget it. Ji Huaizhi resumed tracing the contours of Ning Shuang’s profile with his eyes. If he had sketching tools right now, he could reproduce every detail perfectly, even with his eyes closed.

Those eyelashes were thick and long, with a hint of natural curl.

In the next instant, a glistening teardrop the size of a bean rolled from Ning Shuang’s eye. Ji Huaizhi’s gaze sharpened as he watched it trace a path down his cheek to his chin before plummeting.

Without thinking, he reached out and caught the falling tear in his palm.

“Um… um?” Ning Shuang sniffled, turning to him with a puzzled expression.

Ji Huaizhi withdrew his hand and rubbed the droplet between his fingertips before speaking calmly. “You’re crying.”

“Ah… it’s just so touching, isn’t it?” Ning Shuang took the handkerchief Ji Huaizhi offered and scrubbed at his face haphazardly.

Ji Huaizhi had barely glanced at the screen, so he had no idea what part of the story had moved Ning Shuang to such sorrow.

“A little,” he replied on reflex to Ning Shuang’s question.

Ning Shuang handed the handkerchief back and muttered, “I still think the male lead is too selfish. He’s just trying to hold onto the female lead in his own way, but she’s been suffering the whole time… Though… I kinda feel like she likes him too.”

Fresh tears welled up in his eyes.

Ji Huaizhi frowned at him and extended the handkerchief again. Ning Shuang dabbed at his eyes, then leaned in closer. “Hey, don’t you think it’s kinda weird for two grown guys to be watching a romance flick?”

Ji Huaizhi glanced around. Several same-sex and opposite-sex couples were locked in kisses right there in their seats.

He turned back. “Why?”