Xiang Xi paused in the middle of raising his cup to drink tea. Lowering his eyelids, he stared at the cup, and only after a while did he glance up at Cheng Boyan.

“What?” Cheng Boyan leaned back, one leg bent up, an arm resting on his knee as he looked at him.

“Drinking tea and somehow you still manage to get horny from it,” Xiang Xi drained the tea in his cup, set it down, and continued brewing. “How did you survive the last thirty years…”

“Let me explain the logic to you,” Cheng Boyan said, fiddling with the camera in his hand. “Actually, it wasn’t thirty years of holding back. More like ten or so.”

“…Oh.” Xiang Xi answered softly.

“Before you, holding back was normal. It didn’t even really count as holding back—taking care of it yourself was easy enough,” Cheng Boyan narrowed his eyes at him. “But now you’re with me. We’ve kissed, touched, jerked each other off… if I’m still holding back, then that isn’t normal anymore.”

Only after putting the lid back on the teapot did Xiang Xi glance at him.

“I’ve got this little boyfriend,” Cheng Boyan continued leisurely, “good-looking, with long straight legs, and every time I still have to go solve things myself in the bathroom…”

“How is it every time?” Xiang Xi glared at him. “Didn’t I help you the other day…”

“Oh right, yes, you helped me once,” Cheng Boyan curled his lips into a smile. “Once. Once. Sorry, I forgot because it happened so rarely.”

“Then what exactly do you want!” Xiang Xi had just picked up the kettle to boil water, but after hearing that, he slammed it back down.

“I don’t want to keep holding back anymore.” Cheng Boyan lowered his leg and leaned toward him, supporting himself on his knee while staring at him. “I want to do it. Tonighteven, if you agree, I’m doing it. And if you don’t agree…”

“What then?” Xiang Xi immediately asked.

“Then I’ll do it by force,” Cheng Boyan said. “Either way, tonight you’re doing it—whether you want to or not.”

Xiang Xi had no idea what expression he ought to make in this situation. Cheng Boyan—usually refined and elegant, occasionally childish, sometimes a hooligan, but overall still very gentlemanly—was now delivering something that sounded like an ultimatum, and Xiang Xi’s thoughts instantly became a complete mess.

“Go take a shower,” Cheng Boyan said, picking up a cup of tea. “Oh right, forgot to tell you—your tea tastes really good, and the way you brew tea is handsome too. If you went to any tea house and sat down there right now, you’d fit right in.”

Xiang Xi said nothing. He hadn’t paid attention at all to how Cheng Boyan was praising him; his mind was full of what was about to happen later.

“Go wash up,” Cheng Boyan stood up. “Don’t think dragging things out by refusing to shower is going to help you escape.”

“Huh?” Xiang Xi froze.

“If you don’t shower, I don’t really care,” Cheng Boyan looked at him. “I’m telling you very seriously—if you don’t wash up, then we’re going straight to the bedroom right now.”

Xiang Xi jumped to his feet, ran into the bedroom to grab clothes, and darted into the bathroom.

As water sprayed from the showerhead, Xiang Xi even turned to glance at the bathroom door, half-convinced Cheng Boyan might burst in and take him right there in the bathroom.

But that never happened. The bathroom door remained completely still. Xiang Xi thought about it and suddenly found himself kind of ridiculous. Wasn’t it just… sleeping together? After all this time, it was perfectly normal. Besides, it wasn’t like he had no thoughts about Cheng Boyan—he had plenty of thoughts.

Every time he heard Cheng Boyan’s sexy voice beside his ear and those suppressed breaths, he felt like he was already prepared, like taking things further would be fine.

So why was he still this nervous?

When he finished showering and stepped out, he saw the living room lights were already off. Light spilled from the bedroom through a door left slightly ajar. Like a thief, he tiptoed over and peeked through the crack.

Cheng Boyan was leaning back in the small sofa reading a book.

Xiang Xi was stunned. This guy had already said all those shamelessly rogue-like things, and now he could still calmly sit there reading!

He was even taking notes!

“You done washing?” Cheng Boyan suddenly looked up and called out.

“Ah.” Xiang Xi jumped in fright. After calming himself a little, he pushed the door open and entered. “Done.”

“I’m going to wash up,” Cheng Boyan closed the book, carefully putting in a bookmark first. After grabbing clothes, he also placed his phone by the bedside. “Watch a movie.”

“Oh.” Xiang Xi nodded. Watch a movie?

After Cheng Boyan entered the bathroom, Xiang Xi sat at the edge of the bed, casually picked up the phone, unlocked it, and leaned against the headboard.

There was a paused video on the screen. He tapped play, and before he could even lean back properly, the entwined figures on-screen made him jolt upright.

Before he could recover, sounds that made one’s face burn red were already pouring from the phone.

“Holy shit…” Xiang Xi stared blankly at the screen, phone in hand. The sudden overwhelming assault on both his vision and hearing left him completely at a loss.

Only after a long while did he slowly relax and lower the volume.

The exaggerated moans became quieter, but the visual stimulation remained intense…

The last time Xiang Xi had seen this kind of thing on a computer, he hadn’t watched carefully at all. Back then, aside from being startled, he hadn’t really felt much else.

But now his feelings had changed.

The faint sounds, skin rubbing together, bodies tangled together—everything made him think of Cheng Boyan: the firm taut muscles, the flat abdomen, and also…

When Cheng Boyan returned to the bedroom after showering, Xiang Xi was leaning against the headboard in a daze, the phone tossed aside.

“Finished watching?” he asked as he walked over and turned off the lamp.

Just as he was about to switch on the bedroom’s ceiling light, Xiang Xi said, “Don’t turn the light on, okay?”

“Why?” Cheng Boyan asked as he switched it on anyway.

“Hey,” Xiang Xi covered his eyes. “It’s just…”

“Embarrassed?” Cheng Boyan smiled. Climbing onto the bed, he swung a leg over Xiang Xi and bent down to kiss the tear mole beneath his eye. “The light’s not even that bright.”

“It’s still bright no matter what,” Xiang Xi muttered.

Without saying anything, Cheng Boyan got back off the bed and opened the wardrobe.

Xiang Xi lowered his arm slightly and saw Cheng Boyan rummage around inside before pulling out two ties. He froze. “What are you doing?”

“I want to look. But if you don’t want to…” Cheng Boyan walked over, pulled Xiang Xi’s arm away, and tied the tie over his eyes. Then he leaned close to his ear and whispered softly, “This way you can focus on feeling everything properly.”

The room was quiet already, but because of the darkness over his eyes, it felt even quieter. Xiang Xi could hear Cheng Boyan climbing onto the bed, hear the rustle of him taking off his clothes, even hear the faint sound of skin brushing as Cheng Boyan pushed up his shirt and placed a hand on his chest, slowly sliding downward.

Because he couldn’t see, every movement, every touch from Cheng Boyan brought an unpredictable thrill. Even Cheng Boyan’s breathing—sometimes close by his ear, sometimes farther away—would send sudden excitement coursing through him.

Cheng Boyan’s movements weren’t especially gentle. His caresses, all carried strength, and there was a slight roughness when he tugged off Xiang Xi’s clothes and pants.

When Cheng Boyan’s scorching palm brushed over his thigh, Xiang Xi instinctively drew his leg back slightly. Cheng Boyan caught his ankle and tugged, and immediately afterward Xiang Xi felt soft, wet lips land against his leg, slowly kissing downward along the inside all the way to his calf.

Xiang Xi’s breathing instantly became ragged. When Cheng Boyan’s hand traced back upward along his leg and returned beneath him, he let out a soft moan.

“Xiang Xi,” Cheng Boyan pressed down over him and bit lightly at his earlobe, his voice thick with barely restrained excitement and panting. “I love hearing those sounds you make…”

This was the first time Xiang Xi and Cheng Boyan had been pressed so tightly together with absolutely nothing between them, skin rubbing directly against skin…

He tilted his head slightly, his lips brushing Cheng Boyan’s cheek. Cheng Boyan immediately met him halfway, tongue slipping into his mouth and tangling slowly with his.

Cheng Boyan’s hands roamed over his waist, back, and legs in wandering caresses. Never before had Xiang Xi been driven this desperate by just a kiss.

But when Cheng Boyan’s hand slid downward and tried to part his legs, he still instinctively tensed and reached out to block him.

“Don’t move around,” Cheng Boyan murmured. Sliding one hand behind his back, he exerted force and flipped him over, pinning him face-down onto the bed.

Xiang Xi’s hands were twisted behind his back, and then the tie wound itself around his wrists.

“What are you doing?” Xiang Xi asked between breaths.

“Making sure you can’t resist later,” Cheng Boyan tied his hands securely and leaned close to his ear. “Remember what you said before? Not ‘bond,’ the word is ‘bondage.’ Like how you are right now.”

“Fuck…” Xiang Xi muttered under his breath.

Using his knee, Cheng Boyan spread his legs apart and pressed down against his waist, kissing him once on the back. “I warned you already—if you keep swearing, I’ll punish you.”

***

The heavy breathing rising and falling through the room still hadn’t calmed.

Every kiss from Cheng Boyan, every breath, every caress, every thrust still lingered inside Xiang Xi’s mind and body.

He felt dizzy, hazy, weak all over.

“Does it hurt?” Cheng Boyan asked softly, gently pushing Xiang Xi slightly onto his side as he untied the tie still binding his wrists behind his back, rubbing at his wrists afterward.

“Are you asking about my hands or…” Xiang Xi lay flat on the bed. “My ass.”

Cheng Boyan laughed. “Your ass. I didn’t tie your hands tightly—why would they hurt?”

“Right now I don’t… really feel anything.” Xiang Xi lifted a hand, wanting to pull the tie off his eyes.

As soon as Xiang Xi lifted his hand, Cheng Boyan pressed it down. Cheng Boyan pinched his chin. “Don’t move. Let me wipe your face.”

Xiang Xi froze for a second before realizing what he meant. Earlier he’d been so dazed he couldn’t think straight, but now that Cheng Boyan mentioned it, he suddenly remembered and gritted his teeth. “You f—ing came on my face?!”

Cheng Boyan didn’t answer. He wiped his face with a tissue, then untied the tie. “Don’t think I’ll let you off just because you’re cursing right now. Say one more swear word and next time I’m definitely finishing in your mouth.”

Xiang Xi stayed silent. The bedroom light was soft, but after having his eyes covered for so long, he still had to squint for a while before adjusting. Then he finally saw Cheng Boyan lying sideways beside him against the backlight.

Propping himself up on one arm, Cheng Boyan watched him. Tiny beads of sweat still clung to his temples and nose. Xiang Xi reached out and touched Cheng Boyan’s lips.

Cheng Boyan caught his hand and lightly bit his fingertip. “Want a shower? I can carry you over and wash you.”

“I… I’ll wash myself,” Xiang Xi turned slightly. “By myself.”

“All right.” Cheng Boyan wrapped an arm around him and rubbed his back. “Want something to eat?”

“Mixed noodles… forget it, milk and eggs are fine. Put in extra sugar.” Xiang Xi sat up, pulled on his pants messily, then glanced at Cheng Boyan again. “Actually… how about you carry me over on your back? I don’t feel like walking.”

“Okay.” Cheng Boyan pulled on his pants and sat on the edge of the bed.

Xiang Xi climbed onto his back, resting his chin on Cheng Boyan’s shoulder and closing his eyes. “Are you tired?”

“Not tired.” Cheng Boyan stood up with him on his back and walked out. “Why?”

“Walk around a couple laps,” Xiang Xi said. Being carried on Cheng Boyan’s back felt so comfortable he didn’t want to move anymore.

Without a word, Cheng Boyan carried him into the living room and slowly wandered around twice, then went into the study and strolled around there too. Xiang Xi hugged his neck with his eyes closed; the slight bouncing of each step felt oddly pleasant.

“Want to go outside for a walk?” Cheng Boyan headed toward the front door. “The little garden—”

“Are you insane?” Xiang Xi laughed. “I’m going to shower.”

Cheng Boyan carried him into the bathroom and set him down. As he turned to leave, he paused and added, “Tell me if anything feels uncomfortable.”

“…Okay,” Xiang Xi answered.

Xiang Xi had no idea how long he spent in the shower. First he sat on the toilet spacing out. Then he braced himself against the wall and stared blankly at the bathroom tiles. Then he stood under the water spacing out some more. Finally he spent another long while staring into space while holding a towel before he actually started drying off.

When he came out of the bathroom, Cheng Boyan had already changed all the sheets and blankets, and had even fallen asleep in the small armchair. Only then did Xiang Xi check the time—he’d showered for almost forty minutes…

“Go shower,” Xiang Xi said, nudging Cheng Boyan.

“You done?” Cheng Boyan opened his eyes and checked his phone. “I thought you were planning to spend the night in the bathroom.”

“No.” Xiang Xi flopped onto the bed.

“Does something hurt?” Cheng Boyan came over and rubbed his butt lightly.

“It’s okay, I guess.” Xiang Xi slapped his hand away. “Not that uncomfortable…”

“Then I’ll go shower.” Cheng Boyan pinched his cheek. “The mixed noodles are in the kitchen. They’ve probably gone soggy.”

Xiang Xi suddenly pushed himself upright and stared at him. “Mixed noodles?”

“Yeah. Didn’t you say you wanted some?” Cheng Boyan replied. “If I’d known you’d shower this long, I wouldn’t have run downstairs to buy them. Crawling there and back would’ve been just right.”

“But I said milk and eggs instead.” Xiang Xi didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh. He jumped off the bed and hugged him. “I only changed my mind because I didn’t want you going out to buy noodles.”

“Then don’t say it out loud,” Cheng Boyan said, ruffling his hair. “Once you said it, how could I not go? Besides, tonight’s different. Even if you’d said you wanted those birds across the street, I’d climb the anti-theft bars and catch them for you.”

Xiang Xi laughed. “What grudge do those birds have against you? You’re obsessed with them.”

“They’re obsessed with me. Always screaming over here whenever they get the chance.” Cheng Boyan headed toward the bathroom while talking. “‘Ahhh that handsome guy’s getting up, hurry and look—’”

Laughing, Xiang Xi went into the kitchen. The noodles sat on the counter in a bowl with a lid on it. There wasn’t even a take-out container in the trash—Cheng Boyan had probably brought the bowl itself downstairs to buy the noodles.

This guy was considerate down to the tiniest detail…

Xiang Xi picked up the bowl and mixed the noodles with his chopsticks. They’d clumped together a bit and gone dry, but the taste was still really good. He added a little water and wolfed them down standing right there in the kitchen.

Cheng Boyan showered much faster than he did. Just after Xiang Xi finished eating and washed the bowl, Cheng Boyan came out. “Could you still eat?”

“Yeah, and they were really good.” Xiang Xi nodded. “Seriously delicious.”

Cheng Boyan ruffled his hair. “Go to sleep.”

“Mhm.” Xiang Xi turned and walked out. Cheng Boyan stayed where he was, and after a second Xiang Xi realized why and turned back into the bathroom. “Brush my teeth, brush my teeth, brush my teeth, I know!”

He was really sleepy. While brushing his teeth, exhaustion suddenly crashed over him; maybe it was because he’d eaten. His eyelids were practically fighting each other.

When he returned to the bedroom, Cheng Boyan was already lying down. Xiang Xi climbed onto the bed, trying to crawl over him to get inside, but Cheng Boyan pulled him over and hugged him instead.

“Hey…” Xiang Xi ended up sprawled on top of him. Too lazy to move anymore, he just closed his eyes.

“Sleep,” Cheng Boyan whispered, switching off the light while patting his back over and over.

Xiang Xi didn’t even feel the process of falling asleep. Cheng Boyan had barely patted him twice before he lost consciousness.

When he woke the next morning, Cheng Boyan was already up. Xiang Xi rolled around in bed for a while before slowly climbing out.

His body felt sore all over. His legs hurt, his waist hurt a little, and… his butt too.

He frowned. Actually, even his chin hurt a bit. Yesterday his hands had been tied behind his back, and when he’d been kneeling on the bed he’d been supporting himself with his chin and forehead against the mattress…

“Fuck!”

The moment he remembered, heat suddenly rushed through his whole body.

“You’re up?” Cheng Boyan was busy in the kitchen. The freshly fried eggs were still steaming.

“Mhm.” Xiang Xi scratched his head. “Didn’t you say fried food’s unhealthy?”

“An occasional one to satisfy your cravings.” Cheng Boyan washed his hands and came over to hug him.

“Only one? Aren’t you having one too to satisfy your cravings?” Xiang Xi leaned against him and glanced at the plate.

“I already satisfied my cravings last night,” Cheng Boyan murmured. “And from now on I won’t have cravings anymore. If I want to eat, I’ll eat. Eat to my heart’s content.”

“How about I accompany you while you sing that?” Xiang Xi tilted his head back and glared at him.

“Sure.” Cheng Boyan cleared his throat dramatically. “‘If you wanna eat then ea—’”

“Oh my god, I’m going to wash my face!” Xiang Xi shoved him away and ran into the bathroom.

Probably because he zoned out again, he took forever. Cheng Boyan knocked on the door. “Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere? Don’t tough it out without telling me.”

“I’m not!” Xiang Xi shouted through a mouthful of toothpaste foam.

“Really not? Otherwise I’ll ask someone.”

“Ask wh— ask who?” Xiang Xi froze.

“Song Yi,” Cheng Boyan answered from outside.

“You’re unbelievable!” Xiang Xi yanked the door open with his toothbrush still hanging from his mouth. “What kind of thing are you asking Song Yi about? What would you even ask?”

“I’d ask whether it’s normal to feel uncomfortable afterward and what to do about it,” Cheng Boyan answered completely naturally.

“I’m not uncomfortable!” Xiang Xi glared at him, then sighed. “It’s just my butt feels kind of… weird. It should get better in a couple days, right? It’s not like it’ll stay like this forever.”

“Got it.” Cheng Boyan hooked a finger under his chin. “I’ll bring you some medicine after work.”

“What medicine?” Xiang Xi stared at him.

“No idea… haemorrhoid cream?” Cheng Boyan smiled and turned away. “Milk and bread are ready. Eat later.”

“Can I just… let my butt heal on its own?” Xiang Xi nearly swallowed his toothpaste foam. He rinsed his mouth and hurried after Cheng Boyan into the living room, grabbing him by the arm. “Can you stop interfering with my butt’s freedom?”

Cheng Boyan stared at him for several seconds, leaned against the wall, and laughed for a long time before sighing softly. “Hey, I’m just worried about you.”

“You don’t need to be, seriously.” Xiang Xi frowned. “Can you stop focusing all your attention on my butt?”

“All right.” Cheng Boyan nodded. “Then I won’t interfere with your… butt anymore. I’m leaving.”

Xiang Xi leaned in and brushed his lips lightly. “Okay.”

Smiling, Cheng Boyan opened the door and stepped outside, but then suddenly backed up again, wrapped an arm around him, and kissed him hard once more. “I kind of don’t want to go to work anymore.”

For some reason, hearing that made Xiang Xi suddenly not want him to leave either. He immediately hooked an arm around Cheng Boyan’s neck and almost wrapped his legs around him too. “Then take me to work with you.”

“Hm?” Cheng Boyan laughed. “How?”

“Well… are you on outpatient duty today?” Xiang Xi asked.

“Yes.” Cheng Boyan looked at him. “What, you want to sit outside the consultation room?”

“Yeah.” Xiang Xi nodded.

Cheng Boyan didn’t answer at first. A few seconds later he slapped Xiang Xi lightly on the back. “Hurry hurry hurry, go change clothes!”

“Huh?” Xiang Xi froze, then spun around and sprinted for the bedroom, yelling as he ran, “You mean it? I’m really going?”

“Of course! Hurry up or we’ll be late!” Cheng Boyan banged rapidly on the door. “Take breakfast with you and eat on the way!”

Xiang Xi quickly pulled on a T-shirt, stuffed bread and milk into his bag, and rushed back out. While changing shoes, he started laughing. Looking up, he saw Cheng Boyan laughing just as hard, and he burst out too. “We’re both insane!”

“Only occasionally insane, not all the time.” Cheng Boyan shut the door behind them and dragged him toward the elevator. While they waited for it to arrive, he suddenly leaned close to Xiang Xi’s ear.

“Xiang Xi.”

“Mm?” Xiang Xi turned his head.

“I love you.” Cheng Boyan whispered, then kissed the tip of his ear.

 

Translator : DarNan