After what felt like a century or so, but was probably only a few seconds, Ji XiaoYu heard a low, deep voice in his ear, âThatâs what I was going to tell you last night, do you understand now?â
After waiting for a moment, Cheng YuTang chuckled lowly, âYou wonât talk? Then Iâll take it as you saying yes.â
What did you say? Understand what? Saying yes to what? Ji XiaoYu looked up in a daze at the man who was so close at hand. His eyes quickly crossed. It was like all the gears in his head were rusty, unable to turn at all.
Cheng YuTang saw him like this and couldnât help but want to laugh. It seemed that anything said right now would be in vain, less persuasive than actual action.
He lifted a hand to hold the back of Ji XiaoYuâs head. He pulled the man into his arms and once again bowed his head down to cover the soft, slightly cool lips that countless times more delicious than he had imagined. He traced their shape lightly with his tongue for a moment and couldnât help but sigh from the bottom of his heart. Then the tip of his tongue pressed between the two rows of those little white teeth that were always dazzling. He strongly invaded the damp, sweet heat inside, catching the little tongue that was overwhelmed and trying to dodge. With a bit of bullying and pressure, he sucked at it vigorously.
Ji XiaoYu was so flustered, he couldnât keep from trembling. His legs were so soft that he could barely stand and an intermittent, soft whimper kept escaping his mouth without him realizing, like the cry of a small animal being bullied. If it werenât for Cheng YuTangâs other arm tight around his back, he probably would have slipped to the ground like a cooked noodle.
Cheng YuTang was extremely satisfied with the little thingâs reaction, so he couldnât help but hug the man tighter, wishing that he could just embed him into his own body.
The two bodies fit together tightly, as if they had been tightly stitched. Ji XiaoYu soon felt a hard thing against his stomach and his face suddenly went hot, so that he felt like even his hair was going to catch on fire.
Unexpectedly a certain someone nasty in front of him lifted his head, releasing his sore and sucked-numb lips a bit, and said with a low chuckle, âMister Ji XiaoYu, youâre as hard as stone.â
While speaking, he reached out with a naughty hand and pinched lightly between his legs.
Ji XiaoYu ââ¦â¦â
Cheng YuTang: â???â
Ah, this is different than that dream the other night! Ji XiaoYu cried out in a panic, âAh, ah, ah, ah, my egg!â
It wonât break from the pinch, right?!
His sanity, which had run away for a while, came back, and he just couldnât take this anymore. He shoved away the startled Cheng YuTang and pulled the little white egg out of his pants pocket.
Thankfully, the little white egg was still fine, smooth and round, as complete as ever.
If there had been a mere blemish on the little white egg, he wouldâve, he wouldâve fought like hell with this man!
Cheng YuTang: ââ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â
He realized that the expression on Cheng YuTangâs face was bad, even darker than the bottom of Old Liâs pot. Ji XiaoYu quickly explained, âCheng Zong, did you forget, this is the keepsake Xiao DengPao that my former partner gave me!â
The veins in Cheng YuTangâs forehead throbbed, his lips twisted, is this a joke? This guy really brings this thing everywhere, all the time!
What little light bulb? Clearly it has the power of a 10000 Watt super ridiculous, invincible, big light bulb!
What charm, what ambience, what desire? Because of this light bulb, those all became just a floating cloud in the distant sky.
As if aware that it was being stared at by two pairs of eyes, the little white egg flashed a little harder with a burst of power, giving off a more dazzling, brighter light than previously.
Ji XiaoYu was exuberant. If it werenât for Cheng YuTangâs presence, he would be spinning around and cheering with the little white egg.
Cheng YuTang was full of a monstrous amount of vinegar, but he was trying to suppress himself and have good manners. Suddenly, Qiao YaGe made a disgruntled complaint in the hallway outside.
âHow long will I have to wait, YuTang-gege? Iâm so hungry.â
Tsk, I almost forgot that this girl is still there. As a last resort, Cheng YuTang could only settle his stupid thoughts. He cleared his throat with a cough and said, âTwo minutes, weâll be right there.â
Ji XiaoYu quickly put the little white egg back in his pocket. Then he thought back to what had happened just now and he instantly covered his heated mouth, ashamed. This pheasant spirit was swept into a chaotic state, ah, ah, ah, ah, I kissed Cheng Zong!!!
Oh papa, who am I?! Where am I?! Iâm really gonna die!
By this time, Cheng YuTang had quickly changed into his winter clothes to go out. Then he took a black wool coat out of the closet. Seeing the little thing standing there with a face as red as a baboonâs bottom with his eyes glazed over, as if he had been struck by lightning, he had to fight not to laugh. Ay, my stupid little fool.
He put his wool coat on Ji XiaoYu, just like a parent dressing his child, and buttoned him up with his own hands. He took out a huge plaid scarf and wrapped it around his neck and covered his red, swollen lips, which he himself had just ravaged, so that only half his pale, reddened, handsome face and watery black eyes showed.
Ji XiaoYuâs hands and feet were still stiff, just like a puppet that Cheng YuTang was messing with.
Cheng YuTang finished dressing him and, seeing him trapped in his own long clothes, he kept to himself that he thought he was too cute. His heart overflowed with regret and he couldnât help but kiss him on the forehead again and then taking his hand, he said, âGood, we can go out now.â
Ji XiaoYuâs eyes were fixed straight ahead as he obediently was led out of the bedroom.
Qiao YaGe was still wandering around the hallway idly. When she saw the door open, she couldnât help but rejoice, âYuTang-gegeâ¦â¦â
The rest of her sentence was cut off as she noticed Cheng YuTang was holding Ji XiaoYuâs hand and wearing a tender, indulgent expression she had never seen before.
The little bodyguard who had been wearing a regular jacket just now was wearing a stylized coat and scarf, so that he looked like a completely different person.
The two people both had very good looks and excellent appearances. Stand together side by side, they looked very coordinated and eye-catching. But there were also many differences between them, so many it was dazzling.
Cheng YuTang said serenely, âSorry, XiaoYu and I had a bit of trouble just now, so we were delayed for a while.â
Qiao YaGeâs heart sank a little. She bit her lip and, with a faint hope it was just a fluke, asked a testing question, âYuTang-gege, you and heâ¦â¦ you two are good friends, good buddies, right?â
âIs it possible for good buddies to be like this?â Cheng YuTang smiled a little and lifted the hand that was clasped together with Ji XiaoYuâs and shook them gently. âAs youâre thinking inside, XiaoYu is my boyfriend, weâre a pair of lovers.
âI didnât tell you before because the situation was still unclear. But now I can 100% confirm it.â
Stunned, Qiao YaGeâs face went pale suddenly.
Cheng YuTang added, âLetâs go, time to go eat.â
Then he led the little bodyguard towards the stairs.
After freezing for a moment, Qiao YaGe walked heavily down the stairs after them.
When Cheng YuTang arrived in the garage, he first opened the passenger door, stuffing Ji XiaoYu in and fastening his seat belt. He got him settled before going around to the other side to sit in the driverâs seat. He said to Qiao YaGe, who was standing next to her own car, âYaGe, you follow behind, drive carefully.â
Qiao YaGe was still digesting the news she had just heard. Her heart was both shocked and confused, with a little grievance and unwillingness mixed in. Her eyes were a little red.
Why does YuTang-gege like his bodyguard? The boy is a man no matter how good he looks. Doesnât he care about what other people will think?
Her mother had always told her that there is no one around her Tang-gege and that no one would be more competent in the position of Mrs. Cheng as her. Although she didnât love her gege to the point of death and she regarded him more as a trustworthy, reliable brother, she had never thought that heâd fall in love and be with someone else.
No way, she couldnât continue to watch the two of them swaggering around in front of herself or she would lose her temper!
Qiao YaGe tried hard to keep anything unusual from showing on her face. She pulled down the brim of her hat and said nonchalantly, âYuTang-gege, excuse me, I just got a message from the group leader. This performanceâs score may have to be adjusted. I have to go back to the hotel for rehearsal right away, so I canât go eat with you two.â
âMmm, letâs wait until youâre free to get back together. But itâs best to call me in advance before coming next time, otherwise XiaoYu and I might be out and youâll show up to an empty house.â Cheng YuTang smiled and said, with a warm tone, âPay attention to safety on the road, call me if you have any difficulties or trouble in Ning City.â
âGot it.â Qiao YaGe whispered, her heart despondent. Her nose ached and tears almost spilled out.
â¦â¦
When the car reached the gate of the villa community, Ji XiaoYuâs brain, which had zoned out, finally came back online. He looked at the rapidly receding trees and houses through the window and then looked at the man wearing a small smile while holding the steering wheel. He asked in a daze, âCheng Zong, where are we going?â
âCall me YuTang.â The smile on Cheng YuTangâs face grew a little larger. âWeâre going to eat, arenât you hungry? Otherwise, what did I hear growling just now when I fastened your seatbelt?â
Ji XiaoYu suddenly blushed again. The name slipped and swirled around his mouth for a long time and he couldnât get it out. So he turned his head stubbornly and pretended not to have heard him.
With the extra coat and scarf on his body, he was very warm and soon his previously frozen body warmed up. Through the cover of the scarf, he couldnât help but take a deep breath quietly and his nose was filled with the scent of Cheng YuTang, as if he were still in his arms.
Now was the time when he had to face up to the fact that the one he had started to like was a human being, he liked the man next to him named Cheng YuTang.
This realization made the pheasant spirit, who was experiencing this kind of emotion for the first time in 20 years, feel a little terrified but also feel overwhelmed with joy and excitement. It was like a bird was singing in his heart, making it almost unbearable for him to not sing along.
The coat cuffs were a little longer than usual and Ji XiaoYu pulled his hand inside, rubbing his fingers nervously, while thinking back over what had just happened from start to finish.
The most obvious fact was that Cheng Zong had kissed him just now and they had kissed for so long that he almost couldnât keep himself from turning back into his original form. He had also told him that he likes men, not women. Based on his experience watching a bunch of dogblood idol dramas over the past few months, wasnât it possible to draw a conclusion that the man he liked was himself?
He couldnât help but laugh a little, heehee. Although he was so hungry his stomach was flat against his back, his heart was as sweet as honey.
After laughing to himself for a while, he thought of another question that couldnât be ignored.
What does Cheng YuTang like about me? How much do I like him? How long can this affection last?
If he finds out Iâm not a human being, but a pheasant spirit who laid an egg without knowing who with, will he still like me?
âWhat are you thinking in that little melon head?â Cheng YuTang had watched him in the rearview mirror giggling to himself for a while and then frowning, his expression changing over and over, like a paper carousel lantern, and he couldnât help but feel amused. He reached over and rubbed a hand in his messy hair. âIf thereâs anything you canât figure out, Iâll listen and as your boyfriend, Iâll help you figure it out, okay?â
Wh-what boyfriend? Whatâs with this shameful name?! Did something happen just now? I canât remember anything at all, nope!
Ji XiaoYu was tongue-tied and the top of his head started smoking again.
Ay, what word are you calling out so casually? Right now, his biggest concern was how to reveal his true identity to Cheng YuTang.
Anyway, he was sure it was going to freak him out! At that time, heâd not only not like Ji XiaoYu, but heâd hide from him as if he were a snake or scorpion.
Even if Cheng YuTang didnât hand him over to a facility as a live test subject, if he just looked at him with fear and disgust, Ji XiaoYu thought he wouldnât be able to bear it.
No, I canât say it, I can never say it. He had just realized the taste of mutual affection and he didnât want to lose it so quickly. So just let him selfishly take advantage of this secret for a while in order to experience it.
He would wait for the day when Cheng YuTangâs feelings faded and were no longer as strong as his own and by then the secret would be irrelevantâ¦â¦.
Cheng YuTang waited a while without receiving an answer and, since he couldnât help but get worried, he said, âWhatâs wrong, did you just freeze or are you not feeling well?â
Ji XiaoYu broke out of his daze and squeaked out, âI didnât. I-I was thinking about what Iâm going to eat.â
Cheng YuTang pushed down his worry and smiled, saying, âOkay, think it over, Iâll definitely feed you well.â
â
Footnotes:
1. Like a paper carousel lantern (è·ä¸ªèµ°é©¬ç¯ä¸æ ·), a lantern that rotates a carousel of paper horses through convection, an idiom for something constantly circulating
â
I realized Ning City Spring and Autumn should be Ning Cheng Spring and Autumn (county vs city), so itâll be that from now on