IROAWTMTFL Chapter 51

Zhuang Yiyun certainly wanted to give Yan Yan the other earring. He had planned to give it to him yesterday, but something came up unexpectedly, and he couldn’t find the right moment. Yan Yan has seven ear piercings; this one was only one. He planned to give him three more pairs this year to fill them all. If gifts were planned according to an annual report, Yan Yan might be exasperated by the final combination of his seven earrings considering his(Zhuang Yiyun’s) aesthetics when designing the live broadcast room.

Once certain opportunities are missed, they might not be easily recovered within just a day or two. Zhuang Yiyun not only ended his vacation early but also entered a period of intense overtime work. A work group from the National Medical Center arrived, and experts from both sides were constantly discussing and negotiating. All six teams in their research department entered the 007 working mode.

The two of them hadn’t met face-to-face in the past ten days. Zhuang Yiyun had been working late in the office for several consecutive days. He missed Yan Yan so much. Whenever he returned home, his husband was already asleep, and by the time he woke up, he had already returned to the research center.

On Saturday, he lay down and pulled the sleeping Yan Yan into his arms, intending to kiss his ear and fall asleep. But perhaps due to his overly active mind, sleep eluded him. Unconsciously, his kisses strayed to Yan Yan’s lips.

He contemplated waking him up… and his thoughts took an evil turn.

Initially, it was just a peck on the lips. He stared at Yan Yan’s face under the moonlight, and soon, his fingers joined in. His index finger traced Yan Yan’s lips, slipping inside his slightly parted mouth and teasing the wet, soft tongue.

Yan Yan, who was lost in dreams, mistook his finger for a lollipop and responded in his sleep by licking the finger. Zhuang Yiyun’s lower abdomen tensed and he withdrew his finger, replacing it with his lips.

Yan Yan woke up almost instantly. Zhuang Yiyun’s kisses grew unrestrained, his whole body pressing down. Realizing what was happening, Yan Yan’s mind buzzed. He continued feigning sleep but although his eyes were still closed, his trembling eyelashes gave him away.

Zhuang Yiyun stopped and whispered, “Are you pretending to sleep?”

No response came, but Yan Yan’s eyelashes trembled again. There was a storm in Yan Yan’s mind. He was desperately urging himself not to open his eyes and continue pretending to be asleep. Otherwise, it would be over if they did it tonight.

Realizing that Yan Yan was determined to feign sleep, Zhuang Yiyun’s heart sank. He belatedly grasped what had been amiss these past days. Yan Yan wasn’t someone who followed a strict early-to-bed, early-to-rise routine, but when he returned home, Yan Yan was already asleep, even if he came home early— Yan Yan was deliberately avoiding him.

There were dark clouds gathering in Zhuang Yiyun’s eyes. He stared at Yan Yan in silence for a long time. Just when Yan Yan thought he had successfully deceived Zhuang Yiyun and that he would finally go to sleep, Zhuang Yiyun lifted his finger that was glistening with moisture, and methodically wiped it across Yan Yan’s face.

“Goodnight, baby.”

He pulled Yan Yan back into his arms and lay down. The imposing presence of something hard nestled between Yan Yan’s legs, it remained quiet, but it’s presence couldn’t be ignored. Zhuang Yiyun’s teasing had Yan Yan’s heart pounding like a drum, and he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to maintain his “politeness” for too long without being noticed.

Eventually, he didn’t know when he fell asleep. The next day, he woke up alone at home, feeling the cool dampness beneath him. He sighed and reluctantly got up to wash his underwear.

“Damn it, what evil karma have I created for myself?”

As he washed his underwear, his mind drifted back to the dream from last night. In the dream, Zhuang Yiyun had serviced him with his hand and then spread whatever was on his fingers over his face.

Taking a deep breath, he stopped his thoughts. It wouldn’t be good to dwell on this any further! This man was poisonous. He looked so cold and serious on the outside, yet he did those things while he was asleep. But what should he do if he finds it so exhilarating?

Yan Yan exhaled, scrubbing his underwear as if sharpening a knife.

That day, everyone in Team 6 sensed Zhuang Yiyun’s change. He had exuded tolerance a few days ago, but today, even his lips were set in a stern line. Most notably, he had always been capable of handling the experts from the National Pharmaceutical Center alone, but today, he left it to his team members to communicate, sitting silently, casting an oppressive atmosphere.

Moreover, he no longer returned home. He worked until three or four in the morning, slept in the office for about four hours, and then continued working. This made the entire team even more tense. Yan Yan wondered why he was displeased.

In the end, when Zhuang Yiyun wrapped up his busy schedule, saw off the experts from the National Pharmaceutical Center and returned home, he found that Yan Yan had moved back to the dormitory due to the start of the new semester. He sent had sent messages to Yan Yan yesterday but Yan Yan never said anything about it.

He was indeed avoiding him. Standing at the doorway of the empty guest bedroom, Zhuang Yiyun’s gaze sharpened.

After a while, he took out his phone and made a call.

“Dean Lin, is your previous invitation still valid?”

Zhuang Yiyun had previously declined an invitation from the Dean of the School of Pharmacy at the Beijing Institute of Technology after giving a lecture there, but the Dean had persistently pursued him, hoping to invite him as a visiting professor.

Zhuang Yiyun hadn’t agreed before because, given his busy work schedule, taking on this additional responsibility would only increase his burden. However, he had changed his mind now. If Yan Yan wanted to hide from him by returning to school, he would make sure Yan Yan had nowhere to hide.

Dean Lin hadn’t expected Zhuang Yiyun, who had previously declined, to suddenly change his mind. He was ecstatic and immediately replied, “Certainly, Dr. Zhuang’s willingness to come and teach is an honor for our students!”

His words were not mere politeness. The pharmaceutical major at Beijing Institute of Technology didn’t rank high in the country. Just presenting the institutions where Zhuang Yiyun had completed his undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees was more than enough to show that he wasn’t an easily accessible figure. Where would there be any reason for him not to honor the invitation? They couldn’t be happier about his decision to come. He didn’t know what had caused him to change his mind, but it was definitely great news.

Back in the dormitory, Yan Yan was enthusiastically catching up with his roommates, whom he hadn’t seen in a month. The four of them relaxed and decided to go out for dinner together. Yan Yan wanted to take his time and not have to face the onslaught of Zhuang Yiyun’s hormone anytime soon. He wanted to calm down and think things through clearly for the future.

Little did he know that someone was about to chase him down at school.

He’d lived with his roommates for four years. Although he was a local, so he often went home, they had spent enough time together. Besides their different sexual orientations, Yan Yan got along well with his roommates. It was the beginning of the last semester of their senior year. Thinking that the next summer break would be their last university vacation, the atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

He Xing, the dormitory leader and backbone of their group, sensed the change and raised his glass, “We haven’t graduated yet, this isn’t a graduation dinner. What are we doing?”

The tallest among them, Li Mingsheng, who usually stood at the door when Jiang Li rushed into their dormitory, chimed in, “Exactly, besides, both He Xing and Yan Yan will stay in Xing City, right? We can always meet up again in the future.”

The steam rose from the hotpot, and Yan Yan picked up a piece of pork belly, saying, “Yes, He Xing is staying for his postgraduate studies, and I probably will too. Are you both leaving?”

Li Mingsheng nodded, “I’ve signed with a hotel in Beijing and plan to drift in the north.”

Yan Yan was surprised. Li Mingsheng had secured a job, and it was related to their tourism management major. He hadn’t paid much attention to his classmates’ job placements, assuming most of them were reluctant to work in their specific field. He did not expect that Li Mingsheng was in the minority.

Their major was indeed awkward. Their university was prestigious, but the tourism management program seemed like an afterthought. Half of the students, including him, ended up there because they couldn’t get into more competitive majors. The lack of passion in their studies translated to a lack of advantage in the job market. With their 985 university status, there was little demand for talents like them in the tourism and hotel industry. The high-end hotel management positions were out of reach, and the basic positions felt like a waste of their qualifications. Consequently, most of his classmates were reluctant to work in their field.

Li Mingsheng continued to smile, but there was a hint of self-mockery in his tone. “Well, I have to work. I don’t have any advantages in finding a job outside my major. At least in hotels, I get free food and accommodation. Yan Yan, you’re amazing, you starting your livestreaming early. Now you have fans, you don’t have to worry.”

“I never intended to do livestreaming full-time, I was just doing it for fun.”

“Doing it for fun is even better than those who take it seriously as their full-time job. What more do you want? Don’t act all fancy,” Li Mingsheng teased.

After finishing the piece of pork belly, Yan Yan paused his chopsticks. He was suddenly faced with questions he had never seriously considered before. He instinctively changed the topic and turned to his roommate Hu Cong, who hadn’t said much.

“What about you, Hu Cong? Have you made any decisions?”

“I have. I plan to return to my hometown and prepare for the civil service exam. I’ve been studying for it during winter break. A few days ago, the provincial civil service exam notice was released in my hometown. The local tourism bureau is recruiting for the first time in several years, which coincides with our graduation year. I’m determined to pass,” Hu Cong’s smile was warm but unusual ambition and confidence shone through.

While everyone was enjoying their meal that day, Yan Yan felt a strange sense of unease deep within. As more classmates returned to campus, this feeling grew stronger.

Their university, though considered a lower-tier 985 institution, was relatively prestigious compared to other universities nationwide. By the last semester of their senior year, almost all of their classmates had secured their post-graduation paths. Some had been accepted into graduate programs, others had signed contracts through fall recruitment, and some were even heading abroad for further studies. Others were preparing for civil service exams or public institution recruitment. In contrast, he felt like an outlier.

His academic performance had always been average, but he was good-looking, had a good social circle, and his voice was particularly outstanding. Many classmates thought he could easily find a job or even become a singer in the entertainment industry. However, he had always been uncertain about his future.

It’s not like he didn’t attend job fairs during the fall recruitment period, he just didn’t find any companies or positions he was interested in. He didn’t participate in the graduate school entrance exam last year and had no intention of becoming a full-time livestreamer. It seemed that over winter break, all his classmates had figured out their paths. Some had even taken leave from school to start their jobs, while he remained adrift.

Yan Yan felt a bit depressed, especially when his graduation thesis was rejected. The department head called him in and pointed out eighteen issues with his paper, concluding with a stern remark, “You haven’t decided on your career path, and your thesis is poorly written. What are you thinking? Do you expect miracles? Go back and think it through!”

After being scolded by the department head, he walked back to his dormitory, contemplating his situation. Although he hadn’t taken graduation seriously before, he didn’t want to rely on his parents. Unbeknownst to him, the pressure of graduation was already looming.

He started live streaming out of frustration. In reality, he was just another senior student about to graduate with an uncertain future. Being scolded by a teacher also brought a sense of shame typical of an adult. Unlike office workers who were accustomed to harsh words from their bosses or an unparalleled spirited youth, he was teetering on a delicate threshold and had acquired a subtle mentality.

He went to the library with his thesis in hand. He couldn’t afford to be looked down upon by the department head, making it through four years of university only to graduate without a degree.

Yan Yan didn’t pay attention to the road and walked slowly, absentmindedly flipping through his thesis. Suddenly, he noticed a pair of leather shoes in front of him. He instinctively moved aside, but the owner of the shoes followed his direction. Yan Yan stepped back, and the person persisted. Frowning, he lifted his head. He didn’t think it was a coincidence; it seemed more like someone was deliberately provoking him.

Unexpectedly, he saw Zhuang Yiyun’s face when he raised his head. He was a little stunned, not expecting to see him in school.

Zhuang Yiyun assessed him from head to toe, as if checking if he was missing anything or was injured. Yan Yan was choked by his own thoughts. He was perfectly fine at school, why would he be injured?

Indeed, Zhuang Yiyun was assessing him, wondering why after not seeiy him for over a week, his Yan Yan had turned into a dispirited puppy.

They met on the tree-lined path leading to the library, a route normally deserted. Zhuang Yiyun had noticed Yan Yan earlier. He thought that Yan Yan would be happy to be back at school, little did he know that once out of sight, Yan Yan’s mood had deteriorated.

“Who bullied my little puppy?”

Yan Yan’s thoughts that were originally focused on his thesis and graduation, were abruptly disrupted by Zhuang Yiyun’s words, and his mind buzzed with lightning and thunder.

“What nonsense? What’s yours?” Yan Yan retorted in annoyance.

Zhuang Yiyun had long been aware of his obsession with Yan Yan. He loved Yan Yan’s vibrant and lively demeanor, and even getting scolded could excite him. Hearing Yan Yan’s counter-question, he felt an itch in his hands, he felt the urge to embrace him.

So, he leaned closer to Yan Yan’s ear, lightly encircling his waist and whispered, “Puppy, I’m sad…I’m a sad dog.”

“Fuck! Zhuang Yiyun, just because we’re at school doesn’t mean I won’t hit you!” Yan Yan shoved him on the shoulder and took a step back, using fierce words to mask the nerves Zhuang Yiyun had stirred up.

Damn it, was Zhuang Yiyun deliberately provoking him? His words almost made him crumple his thesis. He was a proud Ph.D. holder, walking under the bright sun on the university campus. How could he say such things!?

‘Damn, that got to me. My breathing is all messed up.’

Zhuang Yiyun nodded at his words and calmly replied, “Go ahead, hit me if it makes you happy.”

Yan Yan’s fist struck his chest, but Zhuang Yiyun caught his hand and pulled him into a tight embrace. His posture was incredibly dominant, and his grip on Yan Yan’s waist was like a vice.

Though it was a forced hug, at the moment Zhuang Yiyun enveloped him completely, Yan Yan felt warmth. The familiar scent of his clothes lingered around his nose, and his ears were filled with the familiar voice. The surroundings were quiet, and the warm spring breeze brushed past them. The low mood found an outlet, leaving Yan Yan frozen in this embrace, suddenly having the urge to confide in him.

“My graduation thesis got rejected, and I don’t know what to do after graduating. I feel like I’ve failed,” Yan Yan suddenly said.

It was the first time they discussed life, and the sudden opening up left Zhuang Yiyun stunned on the spot. It turned out to be because of this. He felt a surge of joy; he finally had a way to fulfill the conditions in their agreement. In this moment, he felt incredibly fortunate. He was older than Yan Yan and had faced the challenges of society earlier.

He didn’t casually dismiss Yan Yan’s words, although he didn’t consider this a failure at all. Instead, he hugged Yan Yan a bit tighter and asked, “Do you want to talk about it in detail with gege?”

His voice was gentle, his demeanor accommodating, and apart from the self-reference of “gege,” everything else hit Yan Yan’s heart. Unable to contain his urge to confide, Yan Yan had to accept his self-reference. Anyway, he had called him “gege” countless times before.

He smiled and regained his spirit. He pushed Zhuang Yiyun slightly, lifting his head from his embrace and looked at him with a hint of tears in his eyes.

“Yeah. Gege, take me out to eat. I’m hungry.”

Zhuang Yiyun almost kissed him directly; just a moment ago he seemed listless, and now he was teasing him like this? Want to go eat? Zhuang Yiyun wanted him to use that mouth for something else.