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Chapter 45 – Special
As the words settled between them, something bright flickered through He Yujing’s eyes.
He cupped Jiang Liusui’s face. His fingers unconsciously tightened, until he could no longer restrain himself and bit down on those soft, pink lips.
Jiang Liusui, still not fully sober, tried to turn away under the weight of it, even raising a hand to push him back. It was futile. He Yujing caught him with ease, holding him still.
He Yujing laughed softly as he kissed him, his breathing uneven. “So weak, Suisui.”
Jiang Liusui’s breath was ragged, his voice trapped in his throat. In the end, seemingly realizing the gap in strength was too great, he stopped resisting and let him continue.
After what felt like an eternity, He Yujing reluctantly pecked his lips once more, then tenderly kissed his flushed cheeks.
Jiang Liusui’s lips, originally a lovely shade of pink, now glowed with a vivid hue. He Yujing, suddenly playful, shamelessly asked, “Did you like me kissing you?”
Jiang Liusui shot him a sidelong glance and ignored him.
Having already gotten answers to his previous two questions, He Yujing knew he held a special place in his heart and was too elated to care about this one, thinking that even the way Jiang Liusui glanced at him was pleasing to look at.
“Do you want some water?”
Jiang Liusui gave a soft hum in response. He Yujing unscrewed the cap of the water bottle and, worried Jiang Liusui might not be able to hold it properly, lifted the bottle to his lips and held it there, carefully feeding him.
Jiang Liusui seemed used to it, sipping obediently, each swallow slow and unhurried.
Finding him utterly adorable, He Yujing pulled him into an embrace after he finished drinking.
When they reached Metropolitan Park, He Yujing stepped out first, walked around to open Jiang Liusui’s door, and guided him out—half supporting, half holding him by the wrist.
Lin Chong had initially intended to help, but seeing He Yujing’s determined manner, he silently stepped aside.
The combined aftereffects of red wine and champagne were stronger than expected, and having mixed his drinks, Jiang Liusui’s eyes grew hazy. In the elevator, he simply closed them—and collapsed straight into He Yujing’s arms.
Only then did He Yujing realize that Jiang Liusui hadn’t been exaggerating about his poor alcohol tolerance at all. Thinking that he absolutely couldn’t be allowed to drink when He Yujing wasn’t around in the future, He Yujing guided him—stumbling slightly—into the living room once the elevator doors opened.
Jiang Liusui drowsily opened his eyes and tried to walk straight in. He Yujing pulled him back, sat him down on a soft stool, and knelt to help him change his shoes.
As he slipped the slippers onto Jiang Liusui’s feet, He Yujing felt a sense of novelty and muttered to himself, “I’ve never taken care of anyone like this before. You’re the first.”
After speaking, He Yujing lifted his eyes to look at the little troublemaker[mfn]小祖宗 (xiǎo zǔ zōng) – lit. little ancestor; an affectionate, teasing term for someone pampered or hard to handle.[/mfn] he was “serving.”
Jiang Liusui’s eyes were closed, his breathing even—he had unknowingly fallen asleep.
The sight instantly softened He Yujing’s heart.
He bent down, slipped an arm beneath Jiang Liusui’s knees, and lifted him up in one smooth motion. Even being moved like this didn’t wake him. Whether it was the lingering alcohol, or the sense of safety in this moment, Jiang Liusui slept deeply, completely relaxed.
One slipper slipped off along the way. He Yujing didn’t bother picking it up, carrying him straight into the master bathroom instead. As the tub filled with water, he settled Jiang Liusui onto a chair, dabbed makeup remover onto his fingertips, and gently began to remove his makeup.
Jiang Liusui usually didn’t need heavy foundation, but tonight, to stand out on the red carpet, his makeup had been applied more heavily than usual.
Makeup remover blended with cosmetics, leaving his face a little messy. The sight made He Yujing smile despite himself. He reached out and lightly tapped his nose. “You look like a little calico cat.”
After removing the makeup, He Yujing stared at him for a while longer. His hands itched to touch Jiang Liusui’s face, then moved to brush against his long eyelashes. Lost in sleep, Jiang Liusui lay there like a doll, allowing himself to be handled.
When the bathtub was about half-full, He Yujing tossed in a bath bomb. After a moment’s hesitation, he slowly loosened the belt of Jiang Liusui’s coat and undid the buttons, one by one.
The smells of wine and perfume from the evening still clung to him, and he’d likely broken a sweat as well. He Yujing decided it would be best to help him wash up.
As he removed Jiang Liusui’s clothes piece by piece, he noticed a faint layer of champagne-colored highlighter dusted along his collarbone, making that patch of skin shimmer. He silently marveled at how meticulous Jiang Liusui’s makeup artist was—applying it to such a suggestive spot.
Once the makeup there was cleaned away, He Yujing lifted him again. Afraid of waking him, he moved with deliberate care, gently easing Jiang Liusui down into the warm bathwater.
When everything was done, He Yujing’s gaze involuntarily lingered on him, unable to look away.
To balance privacy and view, the bathroom was designed with one-way panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, from which the city’s neon lights below were fully visible. Bubbles floated in the round bathtub. Jiang Liusui lay inside it, his legs long and straight, his whole body snow-white, like a trapped little mermaid.
He had been lying flat but seemed to find it uncomfortable, slowly turning over in his sleep. The translucent water rippled with his movement.
Now lying on his side, his face was turned toward He Yujing.
Without makeup, Jiang Liusui lacked the overwhelming brilliance he carried when fully styled, yet he was no less beautiful—only younger-looking, softer. He appeared so clean and innocent, and yet his lips, kissed earlier, were faintly red and swollen,like a mark left on him.
Back in the car, Jiang Liusui had said that he was different from everyone else—only him. Upon hearing it, He Yujing felt as though he had been bewitched, wishing he could stick close to Jiang Liusui at all times.
He Yujing stood motionless beside the brimming bathtub.
He suddenly covered his face with one hand, the tips of his ears gradually heating up, feeling an unusual sense of embarrassment.
How could this be…
Just thinking about the way Jiang Liusui had looked when he spoke those words was enough to stir a reaction from him.
After a brief hesitation, He Yujing didn’t leave. He lowered the hand covering his face and took matters into his own hands.
His gaze remained fixed on the sleeping figure in the bathtub, his expression gradually darkening, yet his eyes glimmered faintly with excitement.
When Jiang Liusui woke up, it was already the next morning.
Someone had helped him change his clothes. He was wearing comfortable pajamas, and as if to accommodate his sleeping habits, a pillow had been tucked into his arms before the person left.
As his consciousness slowly returned, he finally remembered that he had gotten drunk the night before.
The only thing Jiang Liusui remembered was that, somewhere in the car, He Yujing had kissed him. Everything else was completely wiped from his memory.
He had never been good at remembering things after drinking. Even the fact that he would answer any question when drunk was something Shen Sijia had told him. There was a gathering in their sophomore year. After having too much to drink, Zhou Xun jokingly asked him to reveal his bank card password. To everyone’s surprise, Jiang Liusui actually grabbed Zhou Xun and tried to explain it clearly.
He didn’t feel any physical discomfort. It seemed He Yujing had only helped him change his clothes.
The thought made Jiang Liusui blink in mild surprise.
He was well aware of the obligations of a lover. He had been prepared since the first night, yet up until now, nothing had happened.
Sliding out of bed, he noticed that he was perfectly clean, without a trace of alcohol on him.
Taking him away from the banquet venue, helping him bathe… He Yujing was being way too good to him.
Lost in thought, Jiang Liusui got out of bed to wash up. The penthouse offered an expansive view, and the spacious bathroom was bright and airy. He didn’t bother closing the door. After brushing his teeth, he bent over to splash water on his face, just as he heard footsteps approaching.
He Yujing appeared at the doorway. “Awake?”
“Mm.” Jiang Liusui finished washing his face and looked at him. “Thank you for bringing me back.”’
He Yujing said nothing. “Last night… you don’t remember?”
“I can’t remember things after I get drunk,” Jiang Liusui replied. “I didn’t cause you any trouble, did I?”
After a pause, He Yujing gave a slow, gentle smile. “No.”
Before Jiang Liusui could feel relieved, He Yujing suddenly said, “At the banquet yesterday, you said you wanted to come find me. That’s not like you. First time at a big event… were you nervous?”
“No.” Jiang Liusui hesitated, then admitted, “I heard some rumors… that people thought our relationship wasn’t good. I just wanted to show I could be proactive.”
He Yujing’s eyes showed interest as he stepped forward “What did they say about our relationship?”
His presence was so intense that Jiang Liusui felt a subtle pressure creeping over him.
Thinking of all those ridiculous, over-the-top rumors, he hesitated. “Are you sure you want to hear it?”
He Yujing nodded. Jiang Liusui opened his mouth but couldn’t bring himself to repeat the nonsense about “abusing power for personal gain” in front of him, so he braced himself and simplified it: “Just… that you forced me, used your power to bully me.”
Afraid He Yujing might be upset, Jiang Liusui quickly added, “But it’s really not like that. They exaggerated everything to the extreme.”
He Yujing paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
The slight puff under his eyes curved into a perfect, charming arc, instantly easing the tension that had hung in the air. Seeing He Yujing laugh uncontrollably, Jiang Liusui knew he must have heard similar rumors.
Feeling somewhat awkward, Jiang Liusui said, “So you knew, huh.”
He Yujing chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, I’ve heard some.”
Since his debut, the stories and gossip about him could fill days and nights without end. He didn’t care at all how others viewed him. Surprisingly, Jiang Liusui was concerned about He Yuing’s image. Somehow … the idea of being so obsessed he’d resort to force… didn’t sound all that bad.
He didn’t care what people were saying about him. In fact, he wished everyone knew just how fixated he was on Jiang Liusui so no one would dare lay a finger on him.
Once he’d laughed his fill, He Yujing pulled Jiang Liusui out of the bathroom, picked up a card from the nightstand in the master bedroom, and placed it in Jiang Liusui’s hand.
“Pocket money for you.” He Yujing released his hand and affectionately pinched Jiang Liusui’s cheek. “I forgot to give it to you earlier. Why didn’t you ask me for it?”
Jiang Liusui stared blankly at the thin, black-themed card in his hand.
He always felt that He Yujing’s attitude today was slightly different from before, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had changed.
“This is my secondary card,” He Yujing clarified, “don’t worry—I won’t keep track of what you buy.”
Jiang Liusui was completely out of it, unconsciously following his lead. “Then… how much can I spend…?”
“Spend as much as you want.”
Jiang Liusui suddenly came back to his senses.
Was He Yujing really giving him pocket money?
And why so much at once? Shouldn’t there be some spending limit, like a specific monthly allowance? Wasn’t he afraid of losing money as the benefactor?
Seeing He Yujing staring at him, Jiang Liusui hesitated for a moment before tentatively wrapping his arms around He Yujing’s neck.
He Yujing took the opportunity to pull him into an embrace.
Sensing the joy radiating from He Yujing, Jiang Liusui curved his eyes into a smile and planted an active kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, you’re so good.”
Since his return from abroad, during the time they had spent together, Jiang Liusui had been dutifully playing the role of the “lover,” performing nearly perfectly in every aspect. Although He Yujing felt somewhat helpless, he was certain that he held a different place in Jiang Liusui’s heart which eased most of the restlessness he had felt all along. As for the rest… he would take it one step at a time.
Hearing Jiang Liusui’s soft, gentle voice, that intoxicating pull washed over He Yujing again. He wrapped his arms around Jiang Liusui’s waist and gave a playful pinch. Jiang Liusui shivered involuntarily, and in response, wrapped his arms around He Yujing even tighter.
“One more kiss,” He Yujing murmured, a scattering of laughter sparkling in his eyes. “Somewhere else this time.”
Jiang Liusui met his gaze for a moment and, without needing He Yujing to instruct him, pressed his lips to his.
After parting ways with Jiang Liusui, He Yujing headed to the company.
In the studio, he meticulously polished the nearly finished song, tweaking some of the lyrics. During a break, he unconsciously licked his lips as he recalled the memories of the lingering, passionate kisses and embraces from that morning
If they could be this intimate every day from now on…
It was almost too pleasant.
He stubbed out the cigarette beside him and unlocked his phone. Unable to resist the urge to show off, he found a photo he had taken at home before leaving that morning.
They were scheduled to film a variety show the next day, so Jiang Liusui stayed home all day. Before He Yujing left, Jiang Liusui had been curled up on the small sofa on the balcony, reading a script. Sunlight streamed through the glass wall, casting Jiang Liusui’s shadow onto the wall behind him. The scene looked so warm and picturesque that He Yujing instinctively snapped a photo of Jiang Liusui and his shadow.
Before posting it, he specifically blocked Jiang Liusui from seeing it. Even though it was just a photo with no caption, it caused a huge stir in his Moments.
Within a short time, hundreds of likes and comments poured in. He Yujing opened them to take a look.
【He Linshu: ???? Why??? Are you so narcissistic now that you’re having your assistant take a photo of your shadow???】
After sending the comment, He Linshu felt it was strange—He Yujing rarely posted on Moments, let alone something so full of a homey vibe—so she added:
【He Linshu: This isn’t you, right? You took the photo?】
Chi Lianxi was much more perceptive. As the only friend who knew the true relationship between He Yujing and Jiang Liusui, he instantly recognized the happiness radiating from him—so much so that He Yujing was practically crafting a romantic scene for himself.
【Chi Lianxi: (thumbs up) (thumbs up) (thumbs up) Jing’er dating someone really changes things! Now documenting daily life with your partner!】
Other friends, seeing Chi Lianxi’s comment, were even more shocked: 【Holy crap, Yujing’s dating?!】
Even their childhood friends flooded in with question marks: 【What do you mean, A’Jing? You don’t tell us when something’s happening?!】
Messages flooded in from everyone, all asking what was going on. Having achieved his goal of showing off, He Yujing was about to ignore everyone as usual when he noticed Chi Lianxi had also sent him a private message.
Chi Lianxi: You took that photo of little brother?
He Yujing, recalling how he had stirred up quite a buzz in his friend circle and feeling indebted for the favor, replied to Chi Lianxi alone.
E: Yes.
Unfortunately, Chi Lianxi’s mouth couldn’t produce anything decent: If I’m not wrong, you blocked him, right?
E: ?
Chi Lianxi: Don’t you play dumb with that question mark. Do you think I can’t see through you, bro?
Chi Lianxi: The kid thinks you two are lovers, and here you are, dating solo. You really are something else.
He Yujing replied with a “Get lost,” and let out a soft, amused snort.
What do you know? In his heart, I’m special.
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Author’s Note:
Jing’er took care of himself in the bathroom.
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