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These words left Luo Jingshu at a loss. The expression of relief on his face froze, eventually transforming into a look of genuine confusion.
He couldn’t figure out what he had said wrong this time. Things had been fine just moments ago.
Xiao Cheng’s two sentences hung in the air. Seeing that Luo Jingshu only stared at him in silence, not refuting anything, Xiao Cheng felt even more irritated.
What? Could it really be what he had suspected?
Was Luo Jingshu actually mad at him?
Xiao Cheng didn’t know if he was more angry or disappointed. He shook his sleeve briskly, as if trying to fling off something dirty.
“If you don’t want to follow me, then leave.”
Wasn’t this the same person who had just been pestering him, insisting on coming along? Now that he was here, why the sudden change in attitude? It was baffling.
Seeing Luo Jingshu at that moment simply made Xiao Cheng annoyed. Worse, he was angry at himself too.
He knew what kind of person Luo Jingshu was. Why couldn’t he just learn his lesson?
He shouldn’t have shown him any kindness. The moment he did, Luo Jingshu immediately overstepped, acting all self-important.
If he’d known earlier, he would have refused outright and left him behind. A moment’s soft-heartedness was now turning into a bigger hassle.
Xiao Cheng refused to even look at Luo Jingshu as he reached out to push the door open. But before he could, his wrist was suddenly grabbed by Luo Jingshu.
Xiao Cheng’s breathing became erratic, and his face turned livid. “What are you doing? Let go!”
Without a word, Luo Jingshu tightened his grip and, with a firm, undeniable force, pulled Xiao Cheng forward, practically dragging him into a quieter hallway.
Xiao Cheng struggled to break free, pushing against Luo Jingshu’s hand. But after a few tries, he found the effort too undignified and simply let himself be led.
When they finally reached a quieter area, away from any outside noise, Luo Jingshu stopped.
Xiao Cheng immediately yanked his hand away with such force that Luo Jingshu’s hand hit the wall with a loud thud.
Xiao Cheng instinctively glanced down at Luo Jingshu’s hand. His lips pressed together tightly before he quickly averted his gaze.
The struggle had left a faint blush on Xiao Cheng’s face, and his breathing had quickened. His eyes shone unnaturally bright with anger.
Luo Jingshu lowered his arm, revealing a patch of red on the back of his hand. His fingers trembled slightly, unable to suppress the pain.
But Luo Jingshu quickly hid his hand behind his back, not letting Xiao Cheng notice the small reaction.
“Brother Cheng, are you angry with me?” he asked in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of appeasement.
Truthfully, Luo Jingshu still had no idea what he had done wrong. If it was about his earlier persistence, hadn’t Xiao Cheng already punished him for that?
Even when they entered the restaurant, Xiao Cheng’s attitude hadn’t shown any signs of displeasure.
The only possible issue Luo Jingshu could think of was the girl they had just encountered.
But after combing through his memory, he couldn’t recall anything significant between Xiao Cheng and that girl.
She was just an ordinary classmate. According to the information Luo Jingshu had gathered, their relationship had been completely normal. In school, they hadn’t even exchanged many words.
Their encounter in the hallway had involved only basic pleasantries. He hadn’t said a single word.
He couldn’t fathom what exactly had triggered Xiao Cheng’s anger.
But Luo Jingshu had always been the type to endure in front of Xiao Cheng. No matter the situation, his first response was never to question or get angry but to cautiously ask what he had done wrong.
Even if Xiao Cheng’s outburst had no real cause, Luo Jingshu would still lower his head and admit fault.
“How could I possibly be mad at you?” Xiao Cheng sneered, incredulous at the idea.
Was Luo Jingshu flipping the narrative now? Wasn’t he the one throwing a tantrum?
Xiao Cheng took a deep breath, his long lashes concealing eyes that were faintly red. But because the corridor lighting was dim and he stood with his back to the light, Luo Jingshu didn’t notice immediately.
“It’s my fault. Don’t be angry, Brother Cheng,” Luo Jingshu said softly, cautiously reaching out with his other hand to hook Xiao Cheng’s fingers. But Xiao Cheng jerked away instantly.
Luo Jingshu hesitated, curling his fingers slightly. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, feeling a raw, scratching pain in his throat.
“If Brother Cheng is still upset, you can hit me a few more times, okay?”
Seeing Luo Jingshu’s submissive, conciliatory demeanor, Xiao Cheng found it impossible to stay mad. He couldn’t help tugging at his collar, feeling unbearably hot.
Normally, Xiao Cheng wasn’t an especially impulsive person. But for some reason, around Luo Jingshu, his emotions always ran high.
Like now.
Undoing his collar brought some relief, the oppressive heat easing somewhat. Xiao Cheng felt as though steam was rising off his body.
But to be fair, it worked.
As his body temperature lowered, so did his temper.
When he replayed the recent events in his mind, Xiao Cheng felt a sudden sense of unreality.
Was that unreasonable, irate person really him?
The anger had come out of nowhere, intense and overwhelming, consuming all his rationality in an instant. Xiao Cheng couldn’t even pinpoint why he’d gotten so worked up.
With his mood finally stabilized, Xiao Cheng found himself able to reflect calmly on what had just happened.
Though, perhaps the main reason for his cooling anger was Luo Jingshu’s total lack of resistance, his quiet acceptance of all Xiao Cheng’s fury. This made Xiao Cheng feel slightly embarrassed.
He truly was someone who succumbed to gentleness but resisted aggression.
If Luo Jingshu had dared to argue back, Xiao Cheng would have outdone him in the quarrel. But as soon as the other party softened his tone and apologized, Xiao Cheng found it impossible to stay angry.
After calming down, Xiao Cheng realized that his earlier behavior might have been somewhat unreasonable.
After all, all his thoughts were merely speculation—he had unilaterally convicted Luo Jingshu.
“Why would I hit you? I’m not some violent maniac.”
After saying this, Xiao Cheng couldn’t help but lower his gaze, looking at Luo Jingshu’s hand.
He had shaken him off too forcefully earlier—was it possible that Luo Jingshu had hurt himself in the process?
“You…”
Xiao Cheng was still conflicted. While he couldn’t bring himself to express concern directly, not asking made him feel guilty.
Luo Jingshu seemed to know what he wanted to say and interrupted him, changing the subject entirely.
“Brother Cheng, are you no longer angry?” He leaned in slightly, his demeanor shifting subtly—from a meek little rabbit to a venomous snake baring its fangs.
Instinctively, Xiao Cheng took two steps back until his back was pressed against the wall. Luo Jingshu stood in front of him, lowering his head to look at him in silence.
This posture felt… strange.
Xiao Cheng couldn’t shake the feeling that he resembled a female lead in one of those clichéd romance dramas.
He refused to admit that Luo Jingshu’s gaze had intimidated him. His expression betrayed a touch of unease as he murmured a quiet rebuttal. “I wasn’t angry to begin with.”
Luo Jingshu silently exhaled in relief. At the very least, Xiao Cheng was now willing to talk without hostility.
“Alright, Brother Cheng’s not angry.” Luo Jingshu patiently coaxed him, his voice low and soothing. “Then can I ask what happened earlier to upset you?”
If you’re going to punish me, at least give me a reason, right?
How could Xiao Cheng admit that his outburst had stemmed from Luo Jingshu’s earlier coldness and silence? Saying that would only expose how much he cared about Luo Jingshu’s attitude toward him.
Xiao Cheng had never thought of himself as someone who couldn’t speak his mind. He had always been direct with Luo Jingshu, even when he had pursued him—unapologetically confessing his feelings.
But now, with the words stuck in his throat, Xiao Cheng didn’t know how to articulate them.
No matter how he explained it, it would be embarrassing.
Luo Jingshu seemed to see through his discomfort. He tentatively extended his hand again, brushing his fingers lightly against Xiao Cheng’s hand.
Xiao Cheng’s arm trembled slightly, his fingers curling instinctively. It seemed like he wanted to pull away, but his body froze instead, allowing Luo Jingshu to slowly intertwine their fingers.
Luo Jingshu’s larger hand enveloped Xiao Cheng’s, his long fingers easily enclosing Xiao Cheng’s hand in his palm.
Xiao Cheng let him forcefully wedge his way in. His fingers twitched a few times before gradually relaxing, giving in as Luo Jingshu held his hand firmly, leaving no room for escape.
Luo Jingshu exhaled softly, leaning even closer until their foreheads were almost touching.
Xiao Cheng turned his head to the side, avoiding Luo Jingshu’s proximity, and scolded him in a low voice, “Stay away from me.”
But his tone lacked conviction, sounding more like helpless pleading—tinged with a slight tremor, as if he were whining.
“I can’t,” Luo Jingshu replied firmly. He pinned Xiao Cheng between himself and the wall, locking his eyes on Xiao Cheng’s face, his tone both coaxing and insistent. “Brother Cheng, can’t you just tell me why you were angry earlier?”
Xiao Cheng didn’t respond, sticking out his tongue to moisten his lips, which had become dry.
It was just a nervous habit of his, but in Luo Jingshu’s eyes, it was like a spark that ignited a blazing fire, burning away every last shred of his reason.
Luo Jingshu swallowed hard, the sound so audible that even Xiao Cheng heard it clearly.
He glanced at Luo Jingshu, intending to gauge his reaction, but the searing intensity in the younger man’s gaze left his mind momentarily blank.
Luo Jingshu’s eyes were predatory, raking over Xiao Cheng’s features—lingering on his eyebrows, his eyes, the curve of his lips—as if he were sizing up his prey.
The heat in his stare was almost palpable, setting Xiao Cheng’s cheeks ablaze, a rosy tint creeping to the corners of his eyes.
Luo Jingshu’s gaze felt like it carried a tangible heat, leaving Xiao Cheng flustered and trapped.
It was as though Luo Jingshu was contemplating where to take his first bite.
By logic, the two of them had already been far more intimate before, but Xiao Cheng’s reaction now was far too shy.
But the past and the present couldn’t be compared.
Back then, Luo Jingshu had been pure and innocent. Even if he managed to grab hold of Xiao Cheng’s vulnerabilities, Xiao Cheng never felt like he was losing control—instead, it felt as if he were holding Luo Jingshu in the palm of his hand.
Now, however, Xiao Cheng felt like a fish in a barrel or meat on a chopping board, entirely at Luo Jingshu’s mercy.
If there were a term to describe it, it would be the difference between being the gong or the shou.
Luo Jingshu exuded a dangerous aura that set Xiao Cheng on edge, every cell in his body screaming at him to flee. Yet his body froze, allowing Luo Jingshu to reach out toward him.
Luo Jingshu’s hand settled on the back of Xiao Cheng’s neck, his thumb stroking the sensitive skin there. The light touch made Xiao Cheng instinctively shrink his shoulders.
“Stop…”
Stop doing these strange things.
Before Xiao Cheng could finish, Luo Jingshu tightened his grip, his fingers firmly encircling Xiao Cheng’s neck as he asked slowly, “Still not going to tell me?”
Xiao Cheng regretted not running when Luo Jingshu had first leaned in. Now, he was held captive, unable to escape the younger man’s grasp.
“What exactly do you want me to say?” Xiao Cheng muttered as he shifted slightly, stealthily trying to kick Luo Jingshu.
Before he could lift his leg, Luo Jingshu noticed his intention.
The younger man forcefully wedged his own leg between Xiao Cheng’s, completely pinning Xiao Cheng in place. His voice carried a hint of unsteady breath as he demanded, “Answer me first.”
Xiao Cheng had a faint sense of inevitability. Deep down, he’d always known that Luo Jingshu had been letting him win.
If Luo Jingshu hadn’t deliberately held back, Xiao Cheng would’ve had no way of overpowering him.
Like now, he didn’t even have the chance to struggle.
Of course, he wasn’t about to admit that he wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea of being pinned down.
Maybe it was because he knew that no matter how forceful Luo Jingshu became, he wouldn’t actually hurt him. Xiao Cheng quickly gave in.
“Isn’t it because you just want to know why I was mad earlier?”
“Yes.” Luo Jingshu’s gaze drifted again to Xiao Cheng’s lips, his eyes intense with barely concealed desire. It seemed like he might kiss him any second.
Xiao Cheng lowered his eyelashes. “It’s because you…”
“Hm?”
Luo Jingshu arched an eyebrow slightly, prompting him, “Because I what?”
Xiao Cheng’s final words were too soft, and even though Luo Jingshu was so close, he couldn’t catch them.
“Because you were mad at me first.”
Luo Jingshu was genuinely stunned by the accusation. When had he ever dared to get mad at Xiao Cheng?
Even when Xiao Cheng had inexplicably scolded him earlier, he hadn’t dared to retaliate, let alone get angry.
Luo Jingshu was so wronged he laughed, gripping the back of Xiao Cheng’s neck tighter. His voice turned chillingly sharp, laced with mockery.
“Who gave you that idea?”
Xiao Cheng frowned in discomfort, the watery glimmer in his eyes growing more apparent. The flush on his cheeks spread to his reddened eye corners, an unconscious trace of vulnerability and allure.
“Don’t squeeze me like that.”
Luo Jingshu didn’t relent, his gaze steady and penetrating.
“It’s because you…” Xiao Cheng sighed, struggling to form his words as his voice trembled slightly. “You weren’t talking to me earlier. You didn’t even smile.”
“How could I not think you were mad at me?”
Luo Jingshu closed his eyes briefly, his tone dropping into a gravelly rasp. “And why would I be mad at you?”
Did Xiao Cheng think he was the kind of person who’d throw a fit for no reason?
Or worse, did he see him as someone impulsive and short-tempered?
Xiao Cheng gritted his teeth, feeling an urge to bite this insolent pup on the chin and leave a mark that would last for days.
But he quickly reconsidered—knowing Luo Jingshu’s shamelessness, he’d probably flaunt it to everyone, proudly declaring: Xiao Cheng bit me.
In the end, it would just embarrass Xiao Cheng even more.
“How would I know why you were mad? Maybe you were jealous,” Xiao Cheng retorted sharply.
Luo Jingshu froze for a second, caught off guard. He had been jealous earlier when he saw Xiao Cheng chatting with that girl, wanting nothing more than to pull him away.
But he’d restrained himself, hadn’t he?
“That’s all?” Luo Jingshu admitted candidly, “I wasn’t jealous, and I wasn’t mad at you.”
“Then why didn’t you talk to me or smile earlier?” Xiao Cheng shot back immediately.
Before, Luo Jingshu had stuck to him like glue. Even when Xiao Cheng ignored him, he could chatter on endlessly. But after saying goodbye to that girl, he’d fallen silent, which absolutely seemed like he was upset.
Luo Jingshu felt he couldn’t be more wrongly accused.
“Because I was thinking about something.”
“Thinking about what?” Xiao Cheng was skeptical, convinced it was just an excuse.
“I was trying to figure out what your relationship with that girl was. Was she an old lover of yours?” Luo Jingshu confessed directly.
His gaze softened, filled with grievance. “I finally figured it out, but then you just started yelling at me.”
Realizing he’d caused such a misunderstanding, Xiao Cheng felt mortified. He wanted nothing more than to disappear on the spot.
Not knowing how to ease his own embarrassment, he pretended to scold Luo Jingshu, “You always let your imagination run wild.”
“She’s a girl,” Xiao Cheng added as an afterthought.
Luo Jingshu blinked, puzzled by the remark.
Xiao Cheng’s expression grew more awkward. “If I were to have an old lover, it would be a guy.”
Luo Jingshu let out a soft, derisive chuckle, his tone turning cold and firm.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Old lover, new lover, first loves, white moonlights…”
“They all have to be me.”
Xiao Cheng shifted his legs slightly. When his thigh brushed against Luo Jingshu’s, he could feel the tension in the younger man’s muscles.
The atmosphere suddenly grew delicate.
Xiao Cheng licked his lips again unconsciously and softly suggested, “Why don’t you let go first?”
Now that everything was cleared up, there was no need to maintain this awkward posture.
Xiao Cheng didn’t even need to check the time to know he was already late.
“They’re waiting for me…”
Before he could finish speaking, Luo Jingshu tightened the grip on the back of his neck. The boy’s breathing grew more erratic and heated, resonating in Xiao Cheng’s ears.
“Forget about them!”
Luo Jingshu was on the verge of losing control, driven mad by Xiao Cheng’s every move.
Did this man even realize how dangerous it was to lick his lips in front of an energetic, pent-up young man?
It might have been fine with anyone else, but Xiao Cheng was the person Luo Jingshu liked—the one he’d fantasized about and dreamed of countless times.
Every single gesture Xiao Cheng made carried a special meaning in Luo Jingshu’s eyes.
A simple smile was enough to make him want to kiss him senseless, let alone now, when they were so close, and Xiao Cheng kept wetting his lips again and again.
Grabbing Xiao Cheng’s hands firmly, Luo Jingshu’s voice burned with heat. “Are you doing this on purpose?”
Xiao Cheng frowned, struggling to speak clearly. “I’m not…”
Luo Jingshu’s eyes turned red. “Brother Cheng, my hand still hurts.”
Xiao Cheng snapped back to reality, recalling the loud thud from earlier when Luo Jingshu’s hand slammed against the wall. Just hearing that sound had made him wince.
“How about I take you to the hospital?”
A memory surfaced in Xiao Cheng’s mind: Luo Jingshu seemed to be particularly sensitive to pain. Although he’d never admitted it, Xiao Cheng had noticed it before.
When Luo Jingshu got hurt, his pale and uncomfortable demeanor wasn’t an act.
That hit earlier must have hurt badly, yet Luo Jingshu hadn’t shown any sign of it in front of him. Now he was still using his injured hand to grip Xiao Cheng’s neck, forcing him to look up.
Realizing this, Xiao Cheng didn’t even dare rest his head against the wall anymore, afraid of accidentally causing Luo Jingshu further harm.
“No hospital,” Luo Jingshu said, his gaze fixed intently on Xiao Cheng’s lips. “How about compensating me in another way?”
Perhaps he was too excited, as even this simple sentence was accompanied by heavy, urgent breathing that he couldn’t suppress.
“What do you want?” Xiao Cheng knew exactly what he meant but still asked in a low voice.
“Would you give me whatever I ask for?” Luo Jingshu’s eyes were bright with anticipation, an unmistakable excitement within them.
“Say it.”
Xiao Cheng, now regaining some control, felt more relaxed. He even had the mood to tease Luo Jingshu a little.
“Maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll agree.”
Luo Jingshu leaned closer, his lips brushing against Xiao Cheng’s ear as he whispered something.
Xiao Cheng’s face flushed red. The hand Luo Jingshu held onto clenched tightly, then relaxed, his fingertips trembling with a faint pink hue.
“You…”
Shameless dog!
He dared to think of something like that?
Luo Jingshu pulled back slightly, studying Xiao Cheng’s reaction. “What do you think, Brother Cheng?”
“Not a chance.” Xiao Cheng avoided his gaze. “Can’t you be a little more decent?”
Luo Jingshu looked genuinely aggrieved. “You’re the one who told me to say it.”
“I take it back.” Xiao Cheng shoved at him, his chest heaving.
“Let go! I don’t want to compensate you anymore.”
Xiao Cheng’s strength was laughable to Luo Jingshu, more akin to a kitten swatting at him.
Luo Jingshu easily pinned him down and chuckled. “That won’t do, Brother Cheng. You can’t bully me like this.”
Who was bullying whom?
Just as Xiao Cheng was about to hurl a string of insults at him, his lips were captured.
His eyes widened in shock.
Luo Jingshu’s body enveloped Xiao Cheng entirely, and from behind, Xiao Cheng’s face was completely obscured. Only the sticky sound of their lips meeting filled the air, humid and lingering.
Luo Jingshu wore a long black coat that highlighted his tall, lean figure.
At his lower back, a hand suddenly appeared, fingers tinged red as they clutched at his coat. The grip was so tight it made the knuckles turn white, the veins on the back of the hand visible.
The contrast of pale skin against black fabric was stark, evoking vivid imaginings.
After what felt like an eternity, that tense hand finally released its hold.
Luo Jingshu wiped a trace of wetness from the corner of Xiao Cheng’s lips with his thumb, his voice hoarse. “Are you okay?”
Xiao Cheng’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and his attempt at glaring had lost much of its intensity.
“You’ve gone too far.”
“Mm, it’s my fault.” Luo Jingshu cupped his flushed face, then moved to rub his wrist. “I got a little carried away just now.”
The truth was, they hadn’t kissed many times before. This was their first intimate moment since breaking up, and Luo Jingshu had been so excited his heart felt like it might burst. It was like tasting something forbidden for the first time.
Xiao Cheng’s lips were unnaturally red, a small wound at the corner of his mouth stinging with every movement.
Even talking hurt.
AHHHH THE KABEDON MOMENT 😭😭😭 XIAO CHENG’S ANGER AND BROODING OVER LUO JINGSHU IGNORING HIM AHHH
the way im lowkey impatient to see them just get together but patience is a virtue 😤
the way i wanna find the mlt for this rn 😭😭 thank you for the update!
i kinda like seeing xiao cheng also get jealous and act erratic when it comes to luo jingshu!