Chapter 45: “I Want a Kiss.”

Perhaps because he had spent too much time fooling around with Ji Huaizhi the night before, Ning Shuang found himself dozing off. Up front, the president was going over precautions to take before and after the holiday break.

Sitting beside him, Zhao Wei Liang nudged his arm. “Ning Shuang.”

Ning Shuang lifted his head and looked at him. “Yeah?”

Zhao Wei Liang eyed Ning Shuang’s listless state and teased, “Whoa there. You look totally wiped out. Don’t tell me some sexy succubus drained you dry last night?”

Ning Shuang flopped his head onto the desk.

He couldn’t help thinking that there really was a pretty “succubus” at home—and she had worn him out for two or three hours straight last night.

“You aren’t coming down with a cold, are you?” Zhao Wei Liang asked, seeing how truly out of it Ning Shuang seemed.

Ning Shuang shook his head. “Nah, just didn’t sleep well.”

“Then crash in my dorm at lunch. I’m not heading back there to sleep today.”

“Sure.” Ning Shuang had his hands full anyway, and napping at school would give him a good half hour more shut-eye than going home.

He fought off his drowsiness, pulled out his phone to check the time, then tapped into the school forum. Right there on the home page was a push notification.

It was an ad.

【Matchmaking Website】

What the heck?

【Still agonizing over that crush who won’t give you the time of day? Still single in college and striking out left and right? Don’t worry—’Matchmaking Website’ has you covered. Click to enter the site, top up your account, and get consulting services…】

Ning Shuang’s mouth twitched.

What kind of nonsense was this?

“Whoa… Matchmaking Website, huh.” Seeing Ning Shuang staring blankly at his phone, Zhao Wei Liang leaned over for a peek. Turns out he was looking at that thing that had been blowing up lately.

Ning Shuang frowned. “You know about it?”

Zhao Wei Liang nodded. “It’s super popular.”

“Anyone actually fall for this?” It screamed scam. Ning Shuang tapped in and saw you had to shell out 4,888 upfront just to see the packages or chat with customer service—and the packages themselves cost extra cash.

A site that might as well have “TOTAL SCAM” written all over it from top to bottom… and it was popular?

“Better safe than sorry,” Zhao Wei Liang said. “Someone’s always willing to throw money at it—what if it works? And get this: I saw way more couples on my way to school this morning.” Of course, it might just have been his imagination.

Ning Shuang swiped the post away. “Not buying it.”

“It’s weird, right? Looks fake as hell, but this month’s got over ten deals closed. Word on the street is the cheapest package starts at 18,000.” Zhao Wei Liang dropped his voice to a whisper in Ning Shuang’s ear.

Ning Shuang perked right up. He stared wide-eyed. “How much?!”

Zhao Wei Liang quickly pressed a finger to his lips. “Shh, shh, shh—”

“Ahem. Ning Shuang, do you have anything to add?” Up on the podium, Shen Qinghui adjusted his glasses and asked.

Ning Shuang shook his head frantically. “No, sorry—just an accident. Please go on.”

Shen Qinghui cleared his throat, pulled out his phone, and fired off a text before resuming the meeting.

A message popped up on Ning Shuang’s screen: 【Student Council President – Shen Qinghui: If you’re gonna whisper, at least keep it down^^】

Ning Shuang shot back: 【Got it, got it】

Once things quieted down, he leaned toward Zhao Wei Liang and hissed, “You serious?”

“Why would I joke? It’s legit.”

Ning Shuang shook his head. “If they’ve got that much cash to burn, they should just hand it over to me.”

Zhao Wei Liang shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe the site’s got some real pull.”

Ning Shuang snorted. “Might as well believe I’m Qin Shihuang.”

Zhao Wei Liang grinned. “Your Majesty.”

Ning Shuang: “…”

And that was the end of that.

After the meeting, Ning Shuang headed back to class. Once the bell rang, he went straight to the office to sort files…

He was so swamped that day he barely texted Ji Huaizhi at all. He couldn’t walk him home that evening either. By the time Ning Shuang finished checking dorms and got back, it was nearly ten.

At the front door, he fished his keys from his pocket but hadn’t even slid them into the lock when the door flew open.

A cool embrace enveloped him.

“I didn’t even make a sound—how’d you know I was back?” Ning Shuang planted a kiss on Ji Huaizhi’s cheek, letting him pull him inside.

Ji Huaizhi took his shoulder bag and hung it on the rack, then helped him out of his jacket while murmuring, “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Ning Shuang chuckled. “All evening, huh?”

“Mm-hm.”

Jacket off, Ning Shuang kicked off his shoes and slipped into slippers.

Ji Huaizhi crouched to stow the shoes in the cabinet, then told him to head to the living room first. Ning Shuang glanced that way and saw Ning Dundun chowing down, so he nodded. “Okay, I’ll go check on Ning Dundun.”

He headed into the living room.

Ji Huaizhi hung up the jacket, then cradled it close, burying his face in it for a deep breath. All Ning Shuang’s scent.

Satisfied at last, he let go and turned to the kitchen to pour a glass of warm water.

In the living room, Ning Shuang was playing with Ning Dundun. Ji Huaizhi sat beside him and coaxed, “Drink some warm water.”

He held the glass to Ning Shuang’s lips. With his hands full, Ning Shuang just sipped from the rim as Ji Huaizhi fed him the whole thing. Clear droplets spilled from the corner of his mouth, trickling down his neck and into his collar.

Ji Huaizhi dabbed them away with a handkerchief.

Ning Shuang turned and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, love.”

Ji Huaizhi’s excitement flared. He set the glass down and leaned in for two more kisses.

“Enough now.” Ning Shuang’s tongue was going numb from the sucking, so he pulled away.

Ning Dundun watched them innocently from nearby, panting with its long tongue lolling out.

Ji Huaizhi wrapped an arm around his waist and nuzzled into his neck, murmuring low, “You ignored my messages all day.”

Ning Shuang blinked and turned to him. “Did I? I replied to every one!”

“You always replied so late.” Ji Huaizhi nestled shamelessly closer in his embrace.

Ning Shuang stroked the head against his chest. “I was really busy today.”

Ji Huaizhi closed his eyes, feeling the steady thump of Ning Shuang’s heartbeat. “I get it.”

“Did you eat dinner properly?” Ning Shuang asked.

The head in his arms nodded.

“You’ve got early class tomorrow. Time for bed?”

“Okay.” Ji Huaizhi could tell how exhausted Ning Shuang was, so he slipped free, took his hand, and led him upstairs to the bathroom.

Ning Shuang was baffled, but Ji Huaizhi held his left hand while squeezing toothpaste onto a brush with his right and bringing it to Ning Shuang’s lips. Ning Shuang stared, then grabbed his wrist. “Ji Huaizhi, I’ve got two hands!”

Ji Huaizhi’s brows furrowed slightly as he gazed at Ning Shuang’s face, utterly serious. “I want to brush your teeth.”

“I’m not used to that… Love, can I do it myself?” Ning Shuang had insisted on feeding himself with a spoon as a toddler; now that he was grown, how could he get comfy with someone waiting on him hand and foot?

He took the brush from Ji Huaizhi’s hand.

Ji Huaizhi didn’t get mad. Instead, he hugged Ning Shuang from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder and silently watching his reflection in the mirror.

As Ning Shuang brushed, he puzzled over why Ji Huaizhi was being so clingy lately.

Remembering what he’d seen on his phone earlier, he wondered: Did Ji Huaizhi really lack a sense of security?

But why?

Was it a lingering effect from the Love Gu?

“Senior, the foam’s about to drip on your shirt.” Ji Huaizhi suddenly reached out and caught the toothpaste froth spilling from Ning Shuang’s mouth.

Ning Shuang snapped back to reality. Seeing the foam in Ji Huaizhi’s palm, he yanked him to the sink and rinsed it off, mumbling around the brush, “Why’d you catch it with your hand? That’s gross!”

Ji Huaizhi lowered his lashes, watching intently. “It’s not gross.”

Ning Shuang spit, rinsed in a few quick swishes, then grabbed a towel to dry Ji Huaizhi’s hand. “Go wait outside. I’m gonna shower now.”

“I’ll just watch. Promise I won’t touch anything.” Ji Huaizhi clung like he couldn’t bear to be apart for a second, planting a hand on the doorknob and refusing to budge.

Ning Shuang had to coax him out with kisses and a solemn vow to be done in twenty minutes before Ji Huaizhi finally relented.

As he soaked in the tub, Ning Shuang mulled it over. He was genuinely worried about Ji Huaizhi now. Back before the Love Gu, he’d never been like this—so needy. It had to be a side effect.

Ning Shuang just couldn’t buy that this was how Ji Huaizhi acted in a relationship.

It was like he’d turned into a different person entirely.

Surely he hadn’t been faking it all along?

Ning Shuang timed his shower perfectly. After changing into pajamas, he stepped out of the bathroom and immediately spotted Ji Huaizhi leaning against the wall, waiting for him. Startled for a moment, Ning Shuang patted his chest and asked with concern, “Why didn’t you wait for me in the room?”

“I wanted you to see me the instant you finished your shower,” Ji Huaizhi replied, immediately pressing close.

His long hair gently brushed against Ning Shuang’s neck.

Ning Shuang smiled and led him back to the room.

Once they were in bed, Ji Huaizhi snuggled into his arms again, resting his head obediently against Ning Shuang’s chest. The warm, moist breath against his skin made Ning Shuang’s chest tingle. Stroking Ji Huaizhi’s hair, he asked, “Darling, are you feeling insecure?”

Ji Huaizhi froze for a second, then looked up at him. “No.”

Ning Shuang leaned down, cupped Ji Huaizhi’s face, and planted a soft kiss on his lips. “I won’t ever leave you. I’ll always love you.”

Ji Huaizhi lowered his lashes and murmured a soft “Mm.”

“Is this your first relationship?”

Ji Huaizhi nodded.

No wonder. Ning Shuang figured it was because this was his first time in love—Ji Huaizhi was bound to feel insecure and needy, always wanting to stick close to his partner.

Though Ning Shuang was also experiencing his first romance, he seemed more inclined to give his lover some personal space, which might have fueled Ji Huaizhi’s anxieties.

“I’m new to this too,” Ning Shuang said earnestly. “I don’t understand a lot of things. If I ever do something that upsets you, just tell me. I’ll apologize and make it right.”

Ji Huaizhi buried his face back against Ning Shuang’s chest. He wrapped his arms tightly around Ning Shuang’s waist and whispered, “Can you love me just a little bit more?”

“I already love you so much,” Ning Shuang said with an amused chuckle.

But Ji Huaizhi shook his head. “Not enough.”

“Darling, look at me.” Ning Shuang gently lifted Ji Huaizhi’s head again, locking eyes with him. “You’re my favorite person in the whole world.”

“No, correction—I love you the most,” Ning Shuang added.

Ji Huaizhi gazed into Ning Shuang’s resolute eyes, and his own began to brighten with unmistakable desire. Ning Shuang caught the shift immediately and dove under the covers. Ji Huaizhi grabbed the edge of the blanket and yanked, his breathing heavy with lust. “Senior… I want a kiss.”