Ning Shuang only felt like he had a massive headache right now.
Ji Huaizhi didn’t understand a thing and truly believed that Ning Shuang liked him. In reality, it was all because of the Love Gu.
Ning Shuang felt as if he’d deceived an innocent college student into bed with him.
No, that wouldn’t do.
He clutched his chest, his conscience aching fiercely.
Seeing the conflicted, pained, remorseful expression on Ning Shuang’s face, the delight in Ji Huaizhi’s eyes gradually faded, replaced by sadness and distress. He ventured cautiously, “I’m sorry. Do you have other thoughts? Maybe you don’t actually want to take responsibility?”
“It’s fine. We’re both adults, and we’re both guys… You were the one who came out on the short end last night, Senior. If you don’t want to take responsibility for me, that’s okay too.” His words were magnanimous, but his tone was aggrieved, his eyelids drooping and strands of hair falling loose to add a touch of melancholy to his demeanor.
Ning Shuang’s heart nearly shattered at those words. How could he possibly say that last night had been an accident or a misunderstanding?
He quickly scooted over to Ji Huaizhi’s side, straightened up, and pulled him into a hug, letting Ji Huaizhi’s head rest against his chest. “I’m sorry. I bear responsibility too for what happened last night. I will take responsibility. I wasn’t trying to shirk it at all. Just like you said, let’s date.”
As he said those words, Ning Shuang realized he had doubled down on his mistake and made an even bigger one.
Ji Huaizhi tilted his head, half his face pressed to Ning Shuang’s chest, listening to the strong, steady beat of his heart. Beneath the fringe of hair covering his forehead was an expression of utter satisfaction and contentment.
How cute, Ning Shuang.
“Urgh—” Ning Shuang clutched his waist and rested his forehead on Ji Huaizhi’s shoulder. “My waist…”
Ji Huaizhi quickly pulled away from his embrace and helped him settle onto the bed. With gentle concern, he said, “I’ll get you some medicine. Want to have some porridge for breakfast first?”
Ning Shuang struggled to sit up, enduring the pain in his waist and rear, and said stubbornly, “It’s no big deal. I’m in great shape. A couple steps downstairs and I’ll be fine.”
He insisted on getting out of bed mainly because the person who seemed more fragile than him was now glowing with health and energy the morning after sex, while he himself looked like he’d had his soul sucked out by some seductive fox spirit—utterly drained.
Though Ji Huaizhi was indeed strikingly handsome.
Deep down, Ning Shuang couldn’t accept that gap, so he gritted his teeth and forced himself to get up.
Fortunately, Ji Huaizhi had bathed him before bed last night and changed him into clean pajamas. Aside from some soreness in a few spots, Ning Shuang felt pretty good overall.
Ji Huaizhi reached out to support him, but Ning Shuang waved him off and did the preparatory stretches for radio calisthenics right there on the spot. “I’m fine! Never better!”
A hint of helplessness crept into Ji Huaizhi’s eyes as he watched Ning Shuang.
Ning Shuang shuffled his way downstairs.
Ji Huaizhi brought over some ointment to rub on him, but Ning Shuang refused point-blank, insisting he wasn’t that delicate.
Unable to persuade him, Ji Huaizhi heated up a glass of milk for him instead and headed back to the kitchen to make breakfast.
The moment Ji Huaizhi left, Ning Shuang melted into a puddle, sprawling bonelessly across the sofa.
He pulled out his phone and messaged Lu Yuyang. He didn’t mention accidentally dosing Ji Huaizhi with the Love Gu, only that he’d had some drinks, confessed to the guy in a drunken haze, and then they’d tumbled into bed in a blur.
Now they were officially together.
【Lu Yuyang: Didn’t expect you’d end up using my plan after all—deciding to seal the deal by going all the way.】
【Ning Shuang: It was totally an accident!!】
【Lu Yuyang: However it happened, you’re together now, right? Just take good care of him.】
Ning Shuang rubbed his sore waist and typed: 【Last night, I wasn’t on top.】
【Lu Yuyang: First time and you’re already a total bottom? Damn, that’s bold.】
【Ning Shuang: ……】
【Lu Yuyang: Wait.】
【Lu Yuyang: You got topped?】
【Lu Yuyang: No way, really?】
【Lu Yuyang: Bro, say something!】
【Ning Shuang: Yeah, I got topped. Can you drop it? I’m a mess right now. My waist hurts, my legs hurt, my ass hurts, and thinking about last night makes it worse.】
【Lu Yuyang: You really let me down.】
【Ning Shuang: ……】
【Lu Yuyang: Alright, I feel for you. Rest up these next couple days. Getting topped isn’t the end of the world—at least you’re together now.】
【Ning Shuang: Piss off.】
Ning Shuang shut off his phone and flopped face-down on the sofa. Ning Dundun could tell he was in rough shape and, unusually, didn’t make a fuss. Instead, it obediently crouched by his hand. Ning Shuang glanced at it and reached out to pet its head.
“Dundun… I’m done for…” Ning Shuang mumbled into the pillow, his words carrying a faint folksy twang.
At breakfast, Ji Huaizhi took the initiative to sit beside him and tended to him attentively.
It made Ning Shuang terribly uncomfortable, but he worried that refusing might hurt Ji Huaizhi’s feelings, so he endured it and finished his meal.
After breakfast, Ji Huaizhi cleared the dishes and washed them without being asked.
By the time he emerged from the kitchen, Ning Shuang was sprawled on the sofa, on the verge of falling asleep.
Ji Huaizhi picked up a nearby blanket and carefully draped it over Ning Shuang.
In his half-daze, Ning Shuang cracked an eye open and mumbled, “You finished the dishes…?”
“Mm. Go to sleep. I’ll rub your waist for you.” Ji Huaizhi slipped his hand under the blanket, lifted the hem of Ning Shuang’s pajama top, and gently massaged his waist with his broad palm.
Ning Shuang’s brows and eyes relaxed in bliss as he murmured sleepily, “Your hands aren’t cold today.”
Ji Huaizhi’s voice was exceedingly tender. “Because I’ve been staying home with you the whole time.”
Ning Shuang let out a chuckle and drifted off to sleep just like that.
When he woke, the rain had started falling outside again. He had no idea when he’d rolled onto his back on the sofa, his head pillowed on Ji Huaizhi’s thigh as they both slept.
Ning Shuang lifted his eyelids, and his gaze landed on Ji Huaizhi’s face. Ji Huaizhi had one hand cradling his head while the other clasped his hand, and he too had dozed off against the sofa.
It was a truly perfect face—one that looked good even from this awkward angle.
Ning Shuang felt the hand gripping his own.
Broad, warm, strong.
Only now, it seemed, did Ning Shuang recover from the guilt and shock of the previous night. In this moment, he truly realized that he and Ji Huaizhi were together for real.
Even if that affection wasn’t entirely pure, Ning Shuang cherished it deeply.
He knew he’d made a mistake, but the deed was done. All he could do now was lean into it.
What to do…
It would be okay, right? After all, Ji Huaizhi didn’t have anyone he liked. Ning Shuang liked him so much; it was fine if Ji Huaizhi liked him back…
That was the only way Ning Shuang could console himself. He had no other options.
He shook his head to clear away the jumble of thoughts. Whatever— it had happened, so that was that.
He gripped the other’s hand in return, rolled over, buried his face in Ji Huaizhi’s abdomen, and breathed in the faint, subtle fragrance wafting from him.
Just then, Ji Huaizhi slowly opened his eyes. He looked down at Ning Shuang and whispered, “Ning Shuang, you’re awake?”
“Hm?” Ning Shuang turned to look at him. “Did I wake you?”
Ji Huaizhi shook his head with a smile. “No.”
He tugged the blanket higher over Ning Shuang, covering his waist and stomach, then asked warmly, “Hungry? I’ll make lunch.”
“Not hungry. I just ate breakfast.” Ning Shuang wrapped his arms around Ji Huaizhi’s waist, pressed his face into the other’s soft abdomen for a deep breath, then let go and pushed himself up from the sofa.
“Too bad it’s raining outside. Otherwise, we could go out and have some fun.” Ning Shuang glanced at the window with regret.
Ji Huaizhi corrected him gently, “It’s a date.”
Ning Shuang: “!”
“Yes, yes, a date, a date.” Ning Shuang’s cheeks flushed bright red.
Ji Huaizhi leaned in a little closer to him and looked into his eyes. “So, a date tomorrow?”
“Let’s go out tomorrow if it doesn’t rain.” Ning Shuang scooted back slightly. Ji Huaizhi seemed even more affectionate than usual today. Was this the Love Gu’s effect?
Ji Huaizhi’s gaze drifted down to Ning Shuang’s hand braced on the sofa, then he took the initiative to clasp it and leaned into Ning Shuang’s embrace. “Ning Shuang, thank you.”
Ning Shuang’s arm hairs stood on end. So this was what Ji Huaizhi was like in a relationship—super clingy?!
“Uh… um? Thank me for what?”
Ji Huaizhi tilted his head up to meet his eyes. “Thank you for liking me.”
Ning Shuang squeezed his eyes shut. Then I should thank the Love Gu.
He opened them and met Ji Huaizhi’s deep, tender gaze. Then, Ji Huaizhi braced himself on the sofa, lifted his hips slightly, and drew closer to Ning Shuang’s lips.
Ning Shuang instinctively leaned back, but in that instant, he thought of the consequences of dodging, so he closed his eyes and let Ji Huaizhi kiss him.
Ning Shuang told himself to forget that Ji Huaizhi had been gu’d. These actions were just because they were dating now. It was fine.
When those warm lips pressed against his, Ning Shuang’s heart jolted sharply. His lower lip was gently sucked and teased. Ji Huaizhi kissed him with exquisite care, as if savoring some priceless treasure, not daring to apply too much pressure.
After a moment, Ji Huaizhi pulled away from his lips.
Ning Shuang slowly opened his eyes and met a pair of tender ones. Ji Huaizhi pulled him into another embrace. “I like it.”
“Like what? Kissing?” Ning Shuang asked.
Ji Huaizhi shook his head against the side of his neck. “I like you.”
Ning Shuang’s heart melted completely under Ji Huaizhi’s clingy demeanor. With a sigh, he decided to stop overthinking it and admitted frankly, “I like you too.”
“I’ll always like you,” Ning Shuang added, unable to resist making the promise.
Ji Huaizhi lifted his gaze, a dark glint flashing in his eyes beneath his bangs. “Good.”
~~~
The rain tapered off only as evening fell.
After bidding goodnight,
Ning Shuang lay on the bed, scrolling through his phone. He checked the weather forecast—tomorrow promised clear skies. After some thought, he searched for nearby spots perfect for couples.
He browsed for a while and concluded that the amusement park was still the best option.
It was Ning Shuang’s first relationship, so he didn’t know much more than anyone else. Ji Huaizhi seemed like a blank slate too, which made Lu Yuyang’s talk of “keeping fish” utterly ridiculous.
As if.
Ning Shuang pocketed his phone and let out a long sigh.
The next instant, a knock sounded at the door.
Ning Shuang rolled out of bed and went to open it.
There stood Ji Huaizhi in his pajamas, his hair unbound and cascading over his shoulders—the hair tie discarded.
Ning Shuang blinked in surprise. “What’s wrong?”
Ji Huaizhi pursed his lips, then spoke as if summoning all his courage. “Ning Shuang, can we sleep together?”
Ning Shuang blinked again, wondering if he’d misheard. “What?”
Ji Huaizhi’s eyes instantly dimmed with disappointment. He turned to head back to his room, murmuring, “Oh, nothing. I didn’t say anything.”
Ning Shuang grabbed his hand in a hurry. “Sleep! Sleep! We’ll sleep together from now on!”
“Good,” Ji Huaizhi replied, turning back around. Ning Shuang’s eyebrow twitched—he had the distinct feeling that Ji Huaizhi had been waiting for exactly those words.
