Ning Shuang was taken aback. “Don’t want to?”
“Yes.” Ji Huaizhi nodded. He squatted by Ning Shuang’s feet and looked up at him as he spoke.
“You’re really something.” It wasn’t so easy to correct Ji Huaizhi’s thinking right away. Ning Shuang patted his head, took his hand, and pulled him up from the ground. “Come on, let’s go eat.”
“Okay!” Ji Huaizhi glanced down at the hand Ning Shuang was holding his with, and his smile deepened unconsciously.
After washing up, Ning Shuang started on breakfast. Ji Huaizhi picked up his bowl, scooped a spoonful of the now-cooled porridge, and brought it to Ning Shuang’s lips. Ning Shuang looked at him and took the spoon instead, feeding it into Ji Huaizhi’s mouth. “Eat your own. You don’t need to feed me.”
If Ji Huaizhi kept taking care of every little thing like this, Ning Shuang really would turn into a complete slacker. Ever since he’d started living with Ji Huaizhi, Ning Shuang hadn’t gone for his morning runs for several days straight. At night, Ji Huaizhi even followed him into the bathroom, insisting on helping him wash up, get dressed, put on his shoes, brush his teeth, eat…
Ji Huaizhi seemed intent on handling everything for him.
Ning Shuang, who was used to being independent, certainly wasn’t accustomed to such meticulous care.
“Senior,” Ji Huaizhi called out to him.
Ning Shuang cut him off. “Stop right there. You can’t call me Senior either.”
Ji Huaizhi’s lips moved, but seeing that Ning Shuang was firm on the matter, he didn’t push it.
“After we finish eating, let’s take Ning Dundun for a walk. Then we can head to the supermarket and buy some groceries,” Ning Shuang said between bites.
Ji Huaizhi nodded. “Sure, whatever you say.”
Ning Shuang added, “By the way, don’t you guys have midterms coming up?”
“Yeah.”
“Then tomorrow, I’ll go with you to the library to study.”
“Okay.”
Halfway through the meal, Ning Shuang’s phone rang—Lu Yuyang calling. He picked it up and saw the name. It had to be about that website. He didn’t want Ji Huaizhi to know about it, so Ning Shuang set down his chopsticks and stepped outside to take the call.
Ji Huaizhi lowered his eyelids, quietly picking at his food. But his expression grew darker by the second.
Ning Shuang answered.
Lu Yuyang’s voice came blasting through the speaker. “Ning Shuang, did you see the WeChat message I sent you?”
Ning Shuang leaned against the doorframe. “I’m having breakfast. What’s up?”
He opened their chat and found a screenshot of a refund.
“Around five in the morning, I got a refund for that damn website’s package,” Lu Yuyang said. “I had someone look into it, and the site’s been shut down.”
“Probably around three or four a.m. A contact at the police station told me they’d caught the guy behind it. The school put out an announcement this morning too—said it was some kind of online scam.”
“I forwarded it all to you. Check it out yourself later.”
Ning Shuang stared down at the messages from Lu Yuyang and fell silent for a moment before saying, “Did someone from the clan come over?”
“Whether it’s your clan or not, get over here now and get this damn Love Gu out of me.” Lu Yuyang was talking about the paired Love Gu he’d been hit with later on. He had no idea when it had been planted on him, while Ning Shuang—the one who’d planned the whole thing—had come out unscathed.
“I’ll come after I finish eating.”
Now that the issue was resolved, there was no reason to leave the gu in Lu Yuyang’s body any longer.
“Fine. I’m at home. Want me to send the driver to pick you up?”
“No need. I’ll just take a cab.” Ning Shuang mainly didn’t want Ji Huaizhi getting the wrong idea.
“OK, hanging up then.” Lu Yuyang ended the call.
Ning Shuang stared at his darkened phone screen for a bit, his mood suddenly souring for reasons he couldn’t quite pinpoint.
He pocketed the phone and returned to the dining room. Ji Huaizhi had already finished eating. When he saw Ning Shuang coming back, he stood and pulled out Ning Shuang’s chair a little, making it easier for him to sit.
“Whose call was that?” Ji Huaizhi asked.
Ning Shuang answered honestly. “Lu Yuyang’s. He needs me for something, so I’ll head over to his place after we eat. I’ll be back this afternoon, though. We can hit the supermarket and walk the dog then.”
Ji Huaizhi looked up at him. After a long moment, his eyelids drooped wearily, and he let out a very unhappy “mm.”
Ning Shuang felt a pang of guilt. He’d promised Ji Huaizhi first, but Lu Yuyang’s situation needed handling first, all things considered.
He had no choice but to let Ji Huaizhi feel a little put out.
But seeing Ji Huaizhi so downcast made Ning Shuang panic. He leaned in helplessly and peppered him with kisses, coaxing and cuddling until Ji Huaizhi’s expression finally softened a bit.
Once breakfast was done, Ning Shuang prepared to call a cab to Lu Yuyang’s.
Better to get there quick and get back quick.
As he descended the steps, he glanced back and saw Ji Huaizhi and Ning Dundun standing at the door, watching him with big, hopeful eyes.
Honestly, Ning Shuang found it utterly adorable at first glance.
He couldn’t resist going back to hug Ji Huaizhi and plant a kiss on him. “I’ll be back before you know it, love. Be good while I’m gone.”
Ji Huaizhi’s lips curved into a smile. He raised his hand and waved. “Be safe.”
Only then did Ning Shuang leave through the gate and flag down a taxi on the roadside.
Ji Huaizhi walked down the steps, taking a few more paces forward until the car vanished completely from sight. Then he slowly turned away, his expression forlorn as he headed back inside.
~~~
The cab soon arrived at the villa.
The butler was already waiting at the entrance. When Ning Shuang got out, he personally escorted him inside.
Ning Shuang headed upstairs to Lu Yuyang’s room with practiced ease. Lu Yuyang was in the middle of a gaming session. Spotting Ning Shuang, he tossed a controller his way. “Play a couple rounds with me first.”
Ning Shuang sat beside him. “Weren’t you in a hurry for me to remove the gu?”
“You said it yourself—it’s just me who’s got it, and it doesn’t affect anything.” Lu Yuyang seemed pretty chill about it.
With a helpless shrug, Ning Shuang played two matches with him. Then he pulled a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, went to the coffee table, poured a glass of water, and slowly added the liquid from the bottle. “Here, drink this.”
He slid the glass over.
Lu Yuyang took it and peered inside, grimacing instinctively. “Looks disgusting.”
“You drank something like this last time too.”
“That’s why it looks even more disgusting now.” Frowning, Lu Yuyang downed the contents in one go. The taste scrunched up his face like he’d bitten into a lemon.
Ning Shuang couldn’t hold back a laugh at his contorted expression.
Lu Yuyang shot him a glare. “If I’d known it’d end up like this, I never would’ve agreed to your plan.”
“I didn’t expect the clan to send someone either, but at least it’s sorted now. No more trouble like this in the future.” Ning Shuang flopped back onto the sofa.
Lu Yuyang rinsed his mouth with a few swigs of soda and eyed him. “You’re in a bad mood?”
“How’d you tell?” Ning Shuang lifted his head curiously.
Lu Yuyang snorted. “I know you too well. Spill—what’s eating you?”
Ning Shuang lay on the sofa, staring up at the crystal chandelier overhead. He let out a long sigh. “It’s about me and Ji Huaizhi.”
“You two seemed fine. What’s the problem?” Lu Yuyang asked, intrigued.
Ning Shuang swung one leg idly. He couldn’t tell Lu Yuyang about the Love Gu—he planned to take that secret to the grave. Besides, that wasn’t what was bothering him right now. It was how he and Ji Huaizhi were getting along.
“He’s just… a bit too clingy.”
“Ah, yeah, clinginess can get annoying,” Lu Yuyang agreed with a nod.
Ning Shuang rushed to clarify. “No, it’s not that I’m annoyed with him! What’s wrong with being clingy?”
“Then what? Here to brag about your relationship?” Lu Yuyang gave him a sidelong glance.
Ning Shuang shook his head. “You know, I never realized his family was so strict. His parents are really tough on him. He told me he’s never had friends growing up—any he did make got torn away by his folks. So he doesn’t know how to act with friends… or with a lover.”
“That’s one thing. But he babies me way too much. Helping me dress, brush my teeth, put on shoes, wash my face… he wants to do everything for me, like I’m some little kid who can’t do a thing.” Ning Shuang didn’t sound irritated—just increasingly wistful, increasingly heartbroken as he spoke.
Lu Yuyang listened with keen interest and pieced it together. “So you’re asking if there’s a way to change his views on relationships?”
Ning Shuang nodded eagerly. “Exactly.”
“If he’s not lying, then it means you’re his first love,” Lu Yuyang said. “He’s never been in a relationship before, so he’s poured everything he thinks he can give—everything he’s capable of—onto you. There’s no need to correct that, because that’s his idea of romance. And you have your own idea of romance too. If the two of you clash, you just need to work through it. Once you do, you’ll fit together better and better.”
Ning Shuang blinked and turned to Lu Yuyang. “Did you drink the Gu-Dissolving Medicine I just prepared for you?”
“I did. Tasted like hell. What about it?” Lu Yuyang was thrown off by Ning Shuang’s question.
Ning Shuang let out an “uh-huh” and suddenly grinned. “I figured that didn’t sound like your usual advice.”
Once he caught on, Lu Yuyang strode over, pinned Ning Shuang down, and gave him a good thrashing. “Bro’s over here giving you serious advice, and you’re mocking me? You really think all those relationships of mine were a waste?”
Ning Shuang laughed and begged for mercy. “My bad, my bad—ow!”
Lu Yuyang heard the pained yelp and immediately let go. “What’s wrong?”
“Something on your hand jabbed my neck.” Ning Shuang pulled his hand away from his neck.
Lu Yuyang leaned in for a closer look. There was a red mark about the size of a fingernail. He glanced at his sleeve and realized what happened. “Must’ve been the button on my sleeve. Hurt much? I’ll have someone bring up the medical kit.”
“Nah, forget it. It’s no big deal.” Ning Shuang waved him off.
Because of this little mishap, their earlier conversation naturally veered off course.
Ning Shuang stayed for lunch courtesy of Lu Yuyang before heading home.
The driver personally escorted him right to the door. Ning Shuang waved goodbye to the driver before turning to open the courtyard gate and approaching the front door.
He had just raised his hand to knock when the door swung open from inside.
This time, the sudden motion didn’t startle Ning Shuang. He smiled and stepped forward, taking the initiative to hug Ji Huaizhi. “Did you wait long, dear?”
Ji Huaizhi dipped his head and nuzzled into the crook of Ning Shuang’s neck. “I missed you so much.”
“Alright, alright, I was only gone a short while!” Ning Shuang released him. Ji Huaizhi smoothly took his outer coat and hung it on the coat rack, then set his slippers neatly by his feet. Once Ning Shuang had slipped them on, Ji Huaizhi put the discarded shoes away in the cabinet.
The entire routine flowed seamlessly.
Ning Shuang didn’t even have a chance to stop him before Ji Huaizhi finished up and took his hand, leading him toward the living room.
“I made a yogurt fruit tart. Want some?” Ji Huaizhi gazed at Ning Shuang with hopeful eyes.
But Ning Shuang had eaten his fill at lunch and had no appetite right now, so he shook his head. “I’m not hungry at the moment. I’ll have some after taking Ning Dundun for a walk later.”
“Okay.” Ji Huaizhi smiled in agreement. Then his gaze suddenly locked onto the side of Ning Shuang’s neck.
Peeking out from beneath the collar was a fresh red mark.
It wasn’t one he had left.
They hadn’t been intimate in days.
His breathing grew abruptly heavier. Unable to hold back, he reached out with his thumb and rubbed at the red spot. Ning Shuang flinched at the unexpected touch, shrinking his neck away from Ji Huaizhi’s hand. “It itches.”
Ji Huaizhi’s eyes darkened, his voice as cool as a winter mountain spring. “Who left that mark on your neck?”
