Cheng Cheng was sniffling and sobbing. He followed Yan Yan with his backpack slung over his shoulder. Initially, he felt embarrassed when people looked at him, but soon he glared back at anyone who stared, making passersby keep their distance.
Yan Yan, who accompanied but didn’t comfort Cheng Cheng, became the target of public scrutiny. The gazes of the onlookers were filled with reproach and doubt. Yan Yan wished he could walk faster, but every time he increased his pace, Cheng Cheng would cry out from behind, “Brother Yan, wait for me!”
Perfect, he was now stamped with the label “heartless and unfeeling man” by the public.
Yan Yan felt numb, feeling that tonight’s retribution might have only just begun.
Soon, he would face Zhuang Yiyun’s questions. Should he say he found a lost cutie on the road and decided to take him in? But was he really that kind-hearted?
Or should he say that his distant cousin had come to visit but had nowhere to stay. But how would he explain why his now distant cousin was crying his heart out?
Regardless, he wouldn’t mention that it was the little Orange who confessed to him and got rejected. Otherwise, the man would undoubtedly assume that he rejected Orange because of him.
He absolutely wouldn’t give him the opportunity to be more arrogant!
What was worse was that he couldn’t let Zhuang Yiyun and Orange meet at this moment. What would Orange think?! He belatedly realized that if Orange found out that he was traveling with another man and sharing a room, especially at this time, Orange would either be die of shame or want to beat him up.
Damn it. Would it work if he said he and Zhuang Yiyun only touched each other’s waists and butts, but didn’t kiss or have sex?
The little devil in Yan Yan’s heart said: It won’t work. Who would believe that?
Thinking about this, he didn’t care about the judgmental stares anymore. He propelled himself forward, legs pumping vigorously.
“The later it gets, the darker it becomes. Let’s walk faster,” he said.
Cheng Cheng looked at him, puzzled. Weren’t there streetlights? How could it get darker later?
Yan Yan: “Of course, it won’t get darker later. But we need to get back before my roommate does, little brother.”
They hurried back, and found Zhuang Yiyun hadn’t returned yet when they reached the wooden cabin. Yan Yan promptly ushered Cheng Cheng inside the bedroom. “You sleep in here. Stop crying, get a good night’s sleep, and tomorrow you’ll meet your new big brother.”
Cheng Cheng: “…” Thank you for your blessing!
“If you keep crying, you’ll get swollen eyes. Swollen eyes when meeting your big brother will also scare him away.”
Cheng Cheng: “…” Who do I even like? I got rejected just now, and now I’m being asked to move on. Shouldn’t there be a grace period even for secret crushes? I feel like crying again, wooo.
When Zhuang Yiyun returned, Yan Yan was sitting in the living room, wrapped in a thin blanket, nestled in a circular chair and scrolling through his phone.
Their wooden cabin had one bedroom, one living room, and a terrace. The terrace offered a view of the sea, and during high tide, the seawater was just a few meters away. The furniture in the wooden cabin had a rustic style. Originally, there was no sofa in the living room, only a few circular chairs. However, now there was an additional sofa. Yan Yan had moved the rattan sofa from the terrace inside.
Although he had moved it in, Yan Yan didn’t lie down on the sofa. Instead, he spread a thin blanket over it. It seemed like… it was prepared for him?
Zhuang Yiyun frowned slightly. What kind of treatment was this? He wasn’t conceited enough to believe that Yan Yan had eagerly prepared a sofa, waiting for him to return and have some sort of special welcome back.
When things deviate from the norm, there must be something unusual. His gaze fell upon the closed bedroom door.
“The lock is broken and won’t open. We’ll sleep here tonight,” Yan Yan said softly.
“Let the front desk fix it.”
“Why are you speaking so loudly?! You’re scaring the neighbors!”
Zhuang Yiyun: “…”
He was speaking at a normal volume, and the neighbor’s cabin was seven or eight meters away. Plus, the natural soundproofing of the occasional rushing and slowing down of the waves was in effect.
“The front desk said it’s too late to fix it. Anyway, we’re sleeping here.”
Zhuang Yiyun put down his equipment bag, maintaining a slight distance as he scrutinized Yan Yan. With the way Yan Yan was behaving, no one would believe the nonsense about a broken lock.
Yan Yan knew he was telling a ghost story, but what else could he do? He couldn’t tell the truth, and he definitely couldn’t let the two of them meet.
“I’ve given you the sofa, you can manage with that, right?” Yan Yan saw Zhuang Yiyun’s silence and asked, “Or should I get another blanket for you?”
Zhuang Yiyun’s gaze passed over him and landed on the small bar counter behind, where two glasses were placed side by side. The glasses had fresh milk stains on the sides and a shallow layer of milk at the bottom. His face instantly darkened.
Yan Yan followed his gaze and turned around. Bang! The string that was already tight suddenly broke. To ensure Orange had a good night’s sleep, he had heated a glass of milk, absentmindedly drank one himself, and then…
For the past few days, Zhuang Yiyun had been the one preparing his milk. Due to habit and haste, he had completely forgotten about washing the glasses.
His mind raced. How could he cover up this glaring mistake???
Zhuang Yiyun’s expression had turned gloomy and he looked towards the bedroom! Damn it, it seemed impossible to explain this to both parties now.
What would Zhuang Yiyun think? He sent him a message on WeChat to distract him, then brought a handsome young man back… What if he thought Orange’s tears were due to something they had done…
Hiss! His imaginative skills were off the charts. Inside Yan Yan’s head, there was a mental explosion.
Looking at Zhuang Yiyun, he felt as if a storm was brewing in his eyes. He couldn’t help but wonder, what if Zhuang Yiyun lost his temper? This was a man who dared to do wingsuit flying. Would he carry him outside and toss him into the sea? Killing someone was against the law, and he was a Ph.D., surely he knew that, right?
Zhuang Yiyun took a step forward, heading straight for the bedroom door. Seeing this, Yan Yan leaped up from the circular chair, instinctively rushing to the bedroom door and blocking it with his entire body.
“Move aside.”
“I told you, the lock is broken,” Yan Yan blurted out, regretting it immediately. At such a crucial moment, couldn’t he come up with a better excuse?
“Who’s inside?”
“No one, really.”
Zhuang Yiyun remained silent, just staring at him. Under the scrutiny of his close-range inquisition-like gaze, Yan Yan felt immense pressure.
Under this pressure, Yan Yan’s heart thumped wildly, and he blurted out nervously, “I found a lost child on the street. He had nowhere to go and was shy.”
He gulped nervously, his Adam’s apple bobbing. After the incident of Orange chasing him for answers, he had learned his lesson. He wouldn’t make assumptions anymore. He was very sure that the other party involved, the “lost child”, would not cooperate in this lie.
Zhuang Yiyun lifted his right hand and placed it on Yan Yan’s neck, his slender fingers resting on the back of his neck, forcing him to lift his head to look at the person in front of him.
“You’re usually quite clever, but today you’re telling such a clumsy lie.” Zhuang Yiyun’s eyes were sharp, and he lowered his head as if he were about to kiss him.
“Have I indulged you too much that you dared to lead someone onto my bed. Do you believe…”
As Zhuang Yiyun spoke, he pressed forward, pushing him against the door with a dull thud.
Yan Yan was completely overpowered by his aura, and his heart was in his throat.
“If you say one more false word, I’ll fuck you right here. Let the person inside listen carefully.”
Yan Yan’s one hand was caught, and his neck was controlled. He was left with one hand pushing Zhuang Yiyun, but he was like a tower, immovable.
“Let go… what the fuck… I paid half the room fee, it’s not just your bed!” His voice lost control, and he didn’t care whether Orange inside would hear. He just wanted to escape from Zhuang Yiyun’s grip. Was he some kind of strongman? His hand hurt so much.
“You lead someone onto our bed, is this a youth hostel?” Zhuang Yiyun sneered. “Who is it? You tell me not to come back, what are you two doing? Who’s on top, and who’s at the bottom?”
Zhuang Yiyun leaned closer, sniffing his neck, as if trying to detect if there was another person’s scent on him. Yan Yan’s body trembled from the heat of his breath, his legs even went weak.
“Even if I sleep with anyone, what does it have to do with you?” Yan Yan was tough-mouthed, fierce in appearance and unwilling to admit defeat
“What does it have to do with me?” Zhuang Yiyun didn’t lift his head, but his tone alone was chilling. Yan Yan instinctively shrank back, still not having time to process everything. Zhuang Yiyun bit down on his collarbone.
It wasn’t a kiss; he was really biting him, as if venting his anger. Yan Yan felt the pain and tried to move away, but the door was behind him.
“Are you a dog?…”
At this moment, sharp teeth were replaced as Zhuang Yiyun licked the bite mark he had left, like canines licking each other’s wounds.
A scorching kiss landed on his neck, moving upward to capture his lips. Yan Yan’s entire body was covered in goosebumps. Although he was fierce with his words, he had never been this intimate with anyone before and his breathing soon became chaotic.
He clenched his teeth subconsciously. Zhuang Yiyun’s lips were scorching hot and full of anger. Unable to make progress, he pressed his lips against him, half coaxing and half commanding, “Open your mouth.”
Yan Yan’s mind was a mess. He was caught off guard by Zhuang Yiyun, and the lips and teeth of the two clashed together. He soon tasted the metallic taste of blood.
“Mmm…”
His tongue went numb, his heart and lungs were pounding, his blood boiling over. Zhuang Yiyun’s hands exerted force, almost tearing his clothes.
Yan Yan was starting to get scared. Had Zhuang Yiyun gone mad? He felt like he might really carry out his words. He still had to live. What if Little Orange heard this noise? He would be done for!
Just when he was about to surrender and tell the truth, the door behind him was suddenly pulled open without any warning. The support on his back disappeared instantly, causing Yan Yan to fall backward. But Zhuang Yiyun swiftly pulled him back and tucked him into his arms, holding him tightly as if wanting to embed him into his chest.
“Didn’t you say to sleep in the bedroom and not disturb me? If you’re going to argue, go outside!” Orange stared at the entwined pair with teary walnut eyes. His mouth quivered and tears were streaming down. He was really a crying mess.
First, he scolded Zhang Yuan, “I just got rejected after confessing, and you’re hugging and kissing Brother Yan in front of me, making obscene remarks and questioning who’s on top and who’s on bottom? Are you showing off in front of me?”
Then, he scolded Yan Yan, “If there was someone else, why didn’t you speak up early! You should give me back my plane ticket money—!”
Finally, he concluded, “I’m so angry! You people are so bad! Waaah, go away, don’t disturb me, I want to cry all night!”
Yan Yan and Zhang Yuan looked at each other, the intense confrontation from earlier deflated like a punctured balloon. Although Zhang Yuan hadn’t fully grasped the situation, it didn’t stop him from being defeated alongside Yan Yan by the 18-year-old crying bag. He didn’t expect the person inside to be a soft crybaby. He was now helpless.
Both of them were scolded away by Orange and they went to the terrace. They stood at the railing, looking at the South Sea under the moonlight.
Yan Yan wiped the blood and saliva mixture off his lips with the back of his hand, his heart still pounding.
Zhang Yuan took out a cigarette case and, for the rare occasion, lit a cigarette with his back to the wind. He recognized the boy- he was the anchor Orange, just 18 years old. He was crying like a dog after being rejected, and he, the “experienced adult,” had gone too far in front of the kid.
Seeing this, Yan Yan took one from him and borrowed the lighter, but after several attempts, he couldn’t light it. He didn’t care anymore and directly brought it close to Zhang Yuan’s lips for a light.
It should have been romantic, but the two “experienced adults” looked a bit embarrassed when their eyes met.
“You smoke too?” Yan Yan asked mockingly, a kind of powerless sarcasm in his tone.
“Occasionally.”
There was no need to say more. Men understand; during times of stress, frustration, or even when you’re feeling good.
“Me too, not addicted.”
The two of them quietly smoked a cigarette. Yan Yan couldn’t help but burst out, “Damn it, I’ve built a reputation my whole life… Zhang Yiyun, don’t drag me into your madness, you owe me! How will the kid see me in the future after getting scared by you, the wimp?”
“…” facing his crazy expression, Zhang Yuan chose to stay silent.
Forget it, cut him some slack. After all, he had rejected the little anchor obediently. Thinking of this, Zhang Yuan subtly curled his lips upward.
“You’ve rejected him, why bother seeing him again?” Zhang Yuan implication was- how important is he to you?
“I want to see him! Damn it!” Yan Yan kicked the railing in frustration. He touched his collarbone that was still hurting.
“Are you a dog? Huh?”
“It was shallow…”
Zhang Yiyun’s voice was low. Yan Yan thought he might have misheard and asked, “What?”
“I said it’ll be better tomorrow, it was too shallow. It’s better to leave a mark on you, something that can never be erased.”
Under the moonlight, Zhang Yiyun’s black eyes shone brightly, his gaze sliding over Yan Yan’s face like a fierce beast.
“What are you daydreaming about…”
After finishing a cigarette, they both went back inside. Under the light, Zhang Yiyun’s lip wound still oozed blood. Turns out, Yan Yan had bitten his lip.
Yan Yan ignored him and occupied the long chair first. He won’t let him get away with causing trouble. If you refuse to drink the toast, you drink the penalty!
With his back to him, Yan Yan lay down on the wicker chair, and Zhang Yiyun sat in the circle chair, each with a blanket. After sitting for a while, Zhang Yuan got up again to turn off the light. The sound of the sea waves outside should have covered their subtle breathing, but both felt each other’s breathing very intensely.
Annoyed and confused, Yan Yan’s mind was filled with the kiss. He didn’t dare move and didn’t make a sound. He pretended to sleep, letting Zhang Yuan know that if he couldn’t sleep, he would lose. He had lost face today and didn’t know how to face Orange tomorrow. He couldn’t let Zhang Yuan feel smug at the same time.
His arm was numb from sleeping on it and when he woke up the next day, he saw a swollen-eyed Orange sitting next to him, glaring at him as soon as he opened his eyes. Unfortunately, his eyes were so swollen that even glaring was reduced to a slit.
Yan Yan was afraid that the hostile gaze would escalate into physical attacks, so he tried hard not to laugh.
“Ahem, Orange, good morning.”
At this moment, Zhang Yuan pushed the door open and placed a bag of breakfast on the table. He took things out one by one, like a kind-hearted person coming to feed them. Except this kind-hearted person had a lip wound from when he bit him.
“I accept my defeat to him,” Orange muttered, sounding unwilling and resentful.
His love rival was so handsome that anyone would lose to him. If he were Brother Yan, he would have already run away with someone. But why didn’t he speak up earlier? Wouldn’t it have been better to crush his hopes earlier? They had traveled together and even shared a bed during this time.
Feeling the resentment in his gaze, Yan Yan felt like he had a label on his forehead that read “Scumbag.”
Feeling frustrated, he sat up with the blanket, and explained with a brave face, “We’re not dating. He was just angry yesterday… sigh, I’m sorry.”
Orange looked at the teeth marks on Yan Yan’s exposed collarbone and thought of how he was locked in his arms yesterday. Despite that, he didn’t scold the person and he claimed they weren’t dating?
Humph, he wouldn’t help enlighten him! He wanted revenge! Let Brother Yan figure it out himself! Orange thought angrily.
“Feeling the resentment in his gaze, Yan Yan felt like he had a label on his forehead that read “Scumbag.”
Muahahahahaha vindication!
Such a cute 🍊.. Yan should have told him clearly.. He acted just like a douchebag..
Hahahahahaha, poor Orange.. He’s so cute.