Chapter 42: “Aren’t We Dating?”

Ji Huaizhi reached out to scroll through the amusement park attractions on Ning Shuang’s phone. He said seriously, “Actually, I’ve never been to an amusement park.”

The youtiao in Ning Shuang’s mouth nearly fell onto the table. He looked at Ji Huaizhi, a bit incredulous. “For real? Isn’t your hometown C City? That’s a big city.”

Ji Huaizhi met his gaze. “It is, but my family was pretty strict with me.”

“Then didn’t you have any friends?” This seemed to be the first time Ning Shuang had heard Ji Huaizhi talk about his past, and he was genuinely intrigued.

Ji Huaizhi lowered his lashes and spoke calmly. “I had one, but later his parents and mine both forbade him from playing with me.”

“Why?” Ning Shuang asked excitedly.

Ji Huaizhi replied, “Because I did something wrong.”

Done something wrong? Ning Shuang paused, but he decided not to press further. This was probably Ji Huaizhi’s secret.

“What about now? Have you completely lost touch with your friend?”

Ji Huaizhi looked up and gave Ning Shuang a faint smile. Then he picked up some food with his chopsticks and placed it in Ning Shuang’s bowl. “Let’s eat. We need to head to the amusement park soon.”

His way of changing the subject was abrupt, but Ning Shuang knew when to stop. He was good at reading the room and could tell Ji Huaizhi didn’t want to talk about it, so he shut his mouth.

“By the way, when I came back earlier, I saw that white bird flying out of our living room. Did you see it?”

Ji Huaizhi’s chopsticks paused for a moment before he shook his head. “No.”

Ning Shuang pursed his lips. “I wonder which neighbor owns it. It’s not even scared of people.”

Ji Huaizhi hummed in acknowledgment. Then, out of nowhere, he called Ning Shuang’s name. “Ning Shuang.”

“Yeah?”

“Would you mind if I joined you on your morning runs from now on?”

Ning Shuang blinked. “Huh? You want to come too?”

“Yeah, I think I need the exercise.” Ji Huaizhi nodded. In truth, it was because he knew Ning Shuang had run into his friend at the park.

For some reason, Ning Shuang recalled the other night. Ji Huaizhi’s stamina had actually been pretty decent.

He thought to himself.

“Is that okay?” Ji Huaizhi pressed gently.

Ning Shuang nodded quickly. “Sure, of course!”

Ji Huaizhi smiled warmly and said, “Thanks.”

After breakfast, the two headed out together.

They didn’t return until sunset.

The orange-gold light of the evening sun draped over them as they stepped off the bus and strolled slowly toward home.

A breeze picked up, and Ning Shuang sneezed.

Ji Huaizhi glanced at him. “Are you catching a cold?”

“No, it’s just the evening chill from the wind. Good thing we’re almost home.” Ning Shuang tilted his head and smiled at Ji Huaizhi.

No sooner had he spoken than Ji Huaizhi took his hand. “Then let’s hurry home.”

“Okay, let’s get home quick.” Ning Shuang gripped Ji Huaizhi’s hand in return.

The sunset stretched their shadows long.

Night soon fell.

As expected, they ended up sleeping together again that night.

Ji Huaizhi was nestled in Ning Shuang’s arms. He was actually a bit taller than Ning Shuang, but he liked positioning himself as the smaller one, always making Ning Shuang feel like he was the fragile one in need of protection.

Ning Shuang twirled a lock of his long hair, curious. “Earlier, you said you grew your hair out because someone thought it looked good. Was that your friend?”

Ji Huaizhi, eyes closed and head resting on Ning Shuang’s chest, murmured softly, “Yeah.”

Ning Shuang pressed, “You’re all grown up now. Your parents probably can’t control you anymore. Why not go find your friend?”

Ji Huaizhi replied, “No need.” He’d already seen him.

“Okay, sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up something that upsets you.” Ning Shuang stroked his head and apologized sincerely.

Ji Huaizhi finally opened his eyes and lifted his head. He looked at Ning Shuang and asked tentatively, “Can we kiss?”

Ning Shuang’s face flushed hot. “K-K-Kiss?”

So Ji Huaizhi propped himself up and leaned in close. Ning Shuang closed his eyes. He could feel Ji Huaizhi right there, the other’s warm breath brushing his face. He was ready for the kiss, but it didn’t come right away.

Puzzled, Ning Shuang opened his eyes—and in that instant, Ji Huaizhi swooped in and kissed him.

He watched in stunned clarity as Ji Huaizhi’s face filled his vision.

Warm, moist lips brushed against his upper and lower ones. Ning Shuang parted his lips, and Ji Huaizhi slipped his tongue inside, coaxing Ning Shuang’s own into a thick, wet tangle. All the air in Ning Shuang’s mouth was stolen away.

At first, Ji Huaizhi had been as clueless about kissing as he was. How had just a few tries turned him into the one taking charge?

Ning Shuang couldn’t figure it out. Pinned beneath him, he tried pushing at Ji Huaizhi’s shoulders to catch a breath. Seizing the moment, he gasped, “That’s enough, Ji Huaizhi, that’s enough.”

Ji Huaizhi had been about to dive back in, but those words stopped him. His lips hovered just millimeters from Ning Shuang’s.

“Okay.” His voice was husky as he agreed and obediently pulled away.

Worried he’d upset him, Ning Shuang quickly explained, “You kiss too intensely. I don’t know how to keep up yet… I’ll get better with practice.”

Ji Huaizhi hummed and burrowed back into Ning Shuang’s embrace. “Okay. Practice tomorrow.”

Ning Shuang let out a relieved breath and ruffled the soft head in his arms. “Time to sleep. Good night.”

“Good night.” Ji Huaizhi hugged Ning Shuang’s waist tighter and buried his face in his chest.

Ning Shuang sighed quietly to himself. For some reason, it felt like a mom holding her son—all that was missing was pulling open his pajama top for a little nursing.

Come to think of it, Ji Huaizhi had nibbled that night too.

Ning Shuang’s face heated up again.

No, no.

Not the time to think about that. His mind flooded with guilt, and he quickly distracted himself with other thoughts.

Gradually, sleepiness overtook him.

He rubbed his chin lightly against the top of Ji Huaizhi’s head a few times and drifted off, content.

The person in his arms shifted slightly, found a comfortable spot, and fell asleep too.

~~~

The rest of the holiday passed with the two of them going out on more dates.

On the final day, Ning Shuang took Ji Huaizhi to the Badminton Club and personally taught him how to play.

He discovered that Ji Huaizhi was clueless about a lot of things, but his learning ability was remarkable. At first, he couldn’t even hold the racket right, but soon he was rallying back and forth with Ning Shuang for several exchanges.

After the game, Ning Shuang slung an arm around his shoulders and praised him earnestly. “I get it now. You might not know much, but damn, your learning skills are top-notch. Are you some kind of genius, Ji Huaizhi?”

Feeling the warmth from Ning Shuang, Ji Huaizhi shyly lifted the corners of his mouth. “Not really. You’re just a great teacher.”

“No need to be modest!” Ning Shuang led him to a bench on the side and sat down. He grabbed a bottle of water, twisted off the cap, and handed it over. “I’m gonna fill out a form. Wait here for me.”

“Okay.” Ji Huaizhi took the bottle with both hands and looked up at Ning Shuang, his eyes bright. He was clearly in a great mood.

That was because, when Ning Shuang had introduced him to the club members, he’d said they were dating.

And afterward, Ning Shuang had stuck by his side the whole time.

Ji Huaizhi watched Ning Shuang’s retreating back amid the crowd. Suddenly, his gaze locked onto the guy who’d given Ning Shuang the shuttlecock the other day.

That annoying person. Ji Huaizhi’s expression visibly darkened.

Ning Shuang took the form from the club president and started filling it out when an arm draped over his shoulder from behind. “Ning Shuang, when did you get here? If you were coming to play badminton, you should’ve told me ahead of time.”

Xu Heyang’s voice rang in his ear. Ning Shuang stumbled slightly and brushed off the arm, playfully punching him. “I’ve been here for an hour!”

“Whoa, here to play? Did you use the shuttlecock I gave you? How is it? Good, right?” Xu Heyang pressed.

Ning Shuang still didn’t get it. That morning, no matter what, Ji Huaizhi had refused to use the one Xu Heyang gave him, insisting he preferred Ning Shuang’s old one. Ning Shuang always went along with whatever Ji Huaizhi wanted, so of course they’d used that.

“Nah, my old one’s not worn out yet. I’ll save yours for later—it’s too fancy. Honestly, I haven’t even dared to take it out.”

Xu Heyang chuckled. “I get it. Every time I buy new ones, they sit at home forever before I use them. Relatable!”

Ning Shuang smiled back, relieved he’d dodged that.

Then Xu Heyang threw his arm around Ning Shuang’s shoulders again, steering him toward the court. “C’mon, let’s play a couple games.”

Ning Shuang halted. “Can’t. I brought someone with me—wouldn’t be cool to leave him hanging.”

“Who’d you bring? A newbie?” Xu Heyang asked, especially curious.

Before Ning Shuang could explain, a club member standing behind him spoke up. “Heyang, you didn’t know? Ning Shuang’s got a boyfriend now. That newbie he brought today is his boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend? Where? Where is he?” Xu Heyang’s eyes lit up the moment he heard this, his curiosity piqued by Ji Huaizhi’s supposed boyfriend.

Ning Shuang felt helpless. He patted Xu Heyang on the shoulder and pointed toward Ji Huaizhi. “Over there—the one with the long hair.”

Xu Heyang squinted, scrutinizing the figure several times over. Then he let out a series of tsks. “Who would’ve thought? Isn’t that the guy from the freshman class in the Business School?”

It seemed Ji Huaizhi’s reputation as a freshman was no small thing among the first-years—even Xu Heyang knew who he was.

“Yeah,” Ning Shuang confirmed.

Xu Heyang flashed him a thumbs-up. “Impressive skills.”

“Alright, alright. I’m heading back to him. Have Lao Yu play with you today.”

“Go on, then.”

Ning Shuang jogged back to Ji Huaizhi’s side and plopped down, stretching out his legs in leisurely comfort. “So, what do you think? It’s actually pretty fun, right?”

“Mm.” Ji Huaizhi nodded in agreement as he pulled a pack of handkerchiefs from his pocket. Gently, he wiped the beads of sweat from Ning Shuang’s forehead.

Ning Shuang’s face flushed bright red in an instant.

His previously relaxed posture stiffened into something prim and proper, but he still obediently tilted his face up, letting Ji Huaizhi clean away the sweat.

“Thanks!” Ning Shuang said.

Ji Huaizhi glanced at him and murmured softly, “You don’t have to keep saying thanks. Aren’t we dating?”

“Ah, sorry. It’s just a habit.” Ning Shuang apologized at once.

Ji Huaizhi’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And I don’t want to hear you say sorry, either.”

Ning Shuang blinked. “Okay. I’ll listen to you from now on.”

Only then did Ji Huaizhi seem to brighten a little. Casually, as if the thought had just occurred to him, he asked, “That guy you were talking to earlier—he seems pretty close to you.”

“You mean Xu Heyang? He’s the one who gave me the shuttlecocks. We get along okay.” Ning Shuang didn’t pick up on the faint edge of displeasure in Ji Huaizhi’s tone at all. He just figured that since Ji Huaizhi had asked, he ought to answer properly.