Chapter 34: Welcome Back, Li You Part 1

Li You seemed to have melted into a puddle of water. In the blurry haze of his vision, there was a halo of white light at the center, and hovering above him was a familiar figure.

In his daze, Li You heard a voice calling him, right by his ear, very close.

He closed his eyes and then opened them again. His body trembled uncontrollably and spasmed lightly. Even though his gaze was scattered and the voice chaotic to the point of being almost unrecognizable, he still responded to the call as best he could.

“Youyou.” Li Ye buried his head in Li You’s neck, nestling close. He lightly nipped at Li You’s Adam’s apple and kissed the red mole on his neck. Then he scooped up Li You, who had gone completely limp, and held him in his arms. A pair of reddened eyes stared straight at the boy whose cheeks were flushed and whose gaze was dazed. He lowered his head, nose tip to nose tip, murmuring over and over: “Youyou, Youyou…”

Li You’s mind crashed, his thoughts short-circuiting. He could hear the calls, but reacting was difficult. He only managed a drawn-out “mm” from his throat, dull and delayed.

His Adam’s apple bobbed gently. His vacant gaze struggled to focus on Li Ye’s face. He lifted his aching, limp hands to cup it, closed his eyes, and instinctively kissed Li Ye’s forehead.

Li Ye’s breath hitched. He tightened his hold around Li You’s waist and buried his head in his shoulder, teeth grazing his collarbone and leaving marks.

Tightly embraced, Li You lost consciousness again amid the jolts.

Countless brief moments of clarity, followed by countless prolonged bouts of confusion. He didn’t know how much time had passed when he vaguely heard Li Ye calling him again.

“Youyou.”

“Drink some water.”

Li You, sprawled on Li Ye, stirred a little. He turned his head and struggled to open his eyes. Sipping from the cup Li Ye held to his lips, even that was slow going.

He was completely draped over Li Ye. More than ten years ago, when they were only three years apart in age, Li You had already seemed small next to him. Now it was even more so—like a delicate, beautiful doll that Li Ye could steady with one arm.

Li You’s hair was very long, falling past his shoulder blades and draping over shoulders that were pale with a hint of pink. The curls at the crown were slightly mussed. Fine sweat beaded on his forehead and face, sticking strands of hair that made the flush on his cheeks look even purer and more translucent, carrying a faint air of desire. His eyes, misty with moisture, brimmed with bewilderment—his mind still unclear. His lashes drooped, and the depths of his eyes were like lakes or seas, drawing one in to reflect their own image.

Li Ye had fair skin to begin with, but embracing Li You, whose skin was even fairer, made the difference in their complexions starkly obvious.

Li Ye’s lips pressed into a tight line as he watched Li You’s lips hold the glass cup, the soft pearl of his lip moving slowly as he drank. Only one thought filled his mind: those lips were so soft.

He noticed the marks he had left on the corner of Li You’s lips. Countless images flashed through his brain. He slowly turned his head away, averting his gaze, but the other sensations grew only clearer.

Li You hung on him, legs wrapped around his waist and abdomen—soft skin, scorching body heat, the contact vivid and intense.

Li Ye closed his eyes briefly, forcing himself to stay calm.

In the previous days, he had been out of it many times, but not constantly so.

Li You, however, was truly lost in chaos every single moment.

So Li Ye had taken advantage of his vulnerability. He was a cunning thief, and on this day of reclaiming their embrace, he stole all of Li You.

After finishing the water, Li You still kept his head down, staring at the cup. His lips stayed slightly parted even after leaving the rim. Only after a long while did he lift his head, only to flop right back onto Li Ye’s shoulder. He buried his nose there and breathed softly, his eyes heavy-lidded, fluttering open and shut.

In a dazed state, he shifted. His hands climbed onto Li Ye’s shoulders, loosely circling his neck. The only part with any strength left—his legs—clamped a bit tighter, like a kitten desperate for security and cuddling.

But to Li Ye, that bit of strength from Li You still felt utterly soft. Li Ye supported the boy’s body with both hands and carried him back to the room. Passing the cat tree, he glanced at it and thought to himself.

Li You really was a little cat, in the truest sense.

Back on the bed, Li Ye sat cross-legged, motionless. He adjusted the position so Li You faced him, wrapped him snugly in a blanket, held him close, and did nothing more.

After a long time, the one buried in his shoulder began to whimper. He nibbled at Li Ye’s shoulder, bit his Adam’s apple—restless, urgent, with a quiver of grievance.

Li Ye closed his eyes and called softly: “Youyou.”

Li You didn’t respond, mumbling from his mouth, repeatedly calling “Gege” in a low voice.

Li You was going mad with heat again. He was frantic, and when he couldn’t get what he wanted, he nibbled and bit fiercely, adding plenty of marks to Li Ye’s body. He even pounded and kicked, though without much force—yet each one tormented Li Ye endlessly.

Li Ye seized Li You’s wrists. Nose to nose, he said lowly: “If we keep going, you’ll get sick.”

It had already been inappropriate to do so without preparation. Li Ye had been exceedingly careful, unwilling to hurt Li You or let him fall ill. Each time, he was as gentle as possible, strictly controlling the frequency and duration.

Li You couldn’t understand, acting purely on instinct and desire. He bit down on Li Ye’s Adam’s apple and sucked hard. With his hands restrained, he lashed out with his legs.

Li Ye drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, and pulled him in tight with both arms, enveloping him completely as they toppled onto the bed.

He lay flat beneath, gently patting the boy in his arms. Li Ye had never been good at soothing anyone, but he patted rhythmically—from initial stiffness to now, smooth and practiced. These things, he had only ever done for Li You, and learned for him.

Li You sprawled on Li Ye’s chest. At his limit, cat ears even popped out in urgency. Ears drooping, gaze hazy, voice hoarse: “Gege, I feel unwell.”

Li Ye’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

Li You pushed himself up, sitting astride Li Ye’s waist and abdomen, slowly shifting backward.

Li You had a very long, long dream.

He dreamed of the time he first learned to ride horses. Young Li You had been confident at first, but overconfidence led to a close encounter with the ground, scraping both knees.

Others from his horse-riding lessons were there too—his other brothers and sisters, and Li Ye among them.

Holding back tears, Li You looked up with a forced smile. He didn’t feel embarrassed, just grinned foolishly: “Looks like me and my horse aren’t in sync yet.”

No one responded; everyone was busy with their own practice. Only Li Ye dismounted and carried him back.

The private doctor treated his wounds. After the doctor left, Li Ye wiped the grime from Li You’s dirty face bit by bit with a towel. Then he crouched down, avoiding the bandaged spots, and cleaned the dust from around his knees and calves.

Li You sat in the chair, looking down at his brother, gaze falling on his fingers. Suddenly, he spotted a mole on the side of Li Ye’s left ring finger.

His eyes lit up: “Bro, you’ve got a mole on the side of your left ring finger.”

Li Ye paused in his wiping, glanced at his own finger, then looked away to the faint red mole on Li You’s knee, gently tapping it twice with his finger: “Don’t you have one too?”

“I know.” Li You swung his legs, wincing in pain, then grinned and grabbed Li Ye’s hand. “I just think, now we’ve got something in common. Makes us even closer.”

Li Ye paused, lifting his eyes to the boy beaming like a little sun. His gaze shifted slightly: “Mm.”

Their relationship had always been good.

Between him and Li You, they had always been close.

…

Li You pulled Li Ye’s hands to his own feverish, sweaty face, rubbing gently against them like a small animal nuzzling affectionately. Amid the chaotic jolts, his breathing grew ragged. At the peak, he held Li Ye’s hand and lightly kissed the ring finger.

Li Ye’s brows knitted tight. A sheen of fine sweat covered his face. His eyes, full of desire, stared straight up at Li You, who sincerely kissed his finger. His other hand pinched the flesh of Li You’s thigh, fingertips sinking in, slowly rubbing down to the knee and pressing that eye-catching mole on the fair skin. Veins bulged on the back of his hand.

They grew even closer—only each other, forever.

…

When he woke, the surroundings were dim, but the light from afar was just right for seeing clearly. He blinked slowly, pushed himself up, and stared blankly at the warm glow by the door.

His brain tried to boot up—and failed. Li You pulled the covers over himself and sank back into the warm nest. As he rolled over, a sharp pain from his buttocks made his eyes snap open.

He stared blankly for a good while, then sat up again. Only now did he truly feel how much softer the bed was beneath him—probably layered with several extra blankets.

He hadn’t noticed when sitting up earlier, but now, shifting his hips sent waves of wrongness.

It burned, and there was an indescribable strangeness.

Li You grew even more bewildered. He gripped the covers and flipped them open. In the faint light, he saw a pair of fair legs in the bedding, covered in unsightly marks.

Li You’s mind froze. He looked up, blinking hazily.

Hadn’t he… been a cat?

Li You looked down again, uncertain.

Still human legs—bare and smooth, no pants. He wore only a loose white shirt, buttoned just three times, with messy marks visible on his belly too—like pinches or bites.

In a short time, Li You plunged into layers of confusion.

He double-checked that this was the lab room, pinched his arm repeatedly until his eyes watered.

It was real.

He had turned back into a human.

Li You clenched then spread his hands, twisting to inspect his body. Ignoring the indescribable marks everywhere, it was indeed his former body—exactly the same.

But those marks were impossible to ignore.

Li You’s expression stiffened. He tried to recall, but his memories were hazy; thinking too hard made his head ache. His whole body was sore, like after a fight. Worse, his buttocks hurt! Like he’d been…