The fresh scent of jasmine quietly spread through the room, seeping into every corner of the air with serene stillness.
The evening breeze stirred the curtains, yet could not dispel the heat steadily rising inside the room.
Yu Zhi looked at him, gently pressing a kiss, every movement suffused with tenderness. When Yin Xu closed his eyes, he simply held him with his hands, as if that alone could ease his heart. Yu Zhi leaned close and whispered few words into the young man’s ear.
Yin Xu opened his eyes, only to find Yu Zhi had turned over. In the rush, all he could grab was the pillow in front of him.
Feeling the strange sensations of his body and Yu Zhi’s slow, soothing movements, Yin Xu bit lightly into the pillow. His half-lidded eyes glimmered, the slightest flush of dazzling red tinting his gaze.
Thinking of the few words Yu Zhi had just said, “Don’t be afraid”, Yin Xu couldn’t help but smile to himself.
Afraid? How could he be afraid? All he felt was the long-awaited eagerness and the peaceful satisfaction of having his wish fulfilled.
The man he had sought his whole life… was finally his.
With that thought, Yin Xu was completely cooperative. Even if the experience wasn’t quite like what he had seen online, it felt right because it was with this man. And now he truly saw the way Yu Zhi moved in these moments.
Like a skilled predator, patient and gentle at first, observing his prey. Once the guard drops, he strikes decisively, savoring what he desires.
Even without prior experience, Yu Zhi didn’t find this difficult. As he had said before, doing something joyful with the one you love was instinctual for humans, a natural extension of their animal side.
He knew there was some lingering unease in Yin Xu, a leftover from prior refusals.
Time and closeness would gradually erase these doubts, but why waste precious moments on such trivial matters?
Only true union could quickly and completely dissolve Yin Xu’s insecurities. They were meant for this.
Yu Zhi held him, stroking Yin Xu’s sweat-damp hair. He kissed the full forehead that rose beneath his fingers.
“Good boy. Don’t sleep yet. Go take a bath,” he said.
Yin Xu didn’t want to move; his back ached, his legs were sore. All he wanted was to sleep.
Seeing him immobile, Yu Zhi sighed and carried him into the bathroom.
Once immersed in the hot bathwater, Yin Xu opened his eyes, fully awake.
“Sir… why aren’t you coming in?”
Yu Zhi obediently stepped into the bath with him. Yin Xu, feeling clingy, didn’t wait for Yu Zhi to approach. He scooted closer, fatigue easing. Holding the man’s waist, his eyes still glimmering with that bright red sheen, he glanced up at him from time to time.
Yu Zhi understood what he meant, but said nothing.
Seeing him remain unmoved, Yin Xu felt a twinge of dissatisfaction. He hesitated, then bit his lip and said, “Sir… I still want to…”
He was wrong. He shouldn’t have thought it was uncomfortable. In fact, from the latter half of their first time, he had nearly lost all sense of himself, moving only with instinct and sensation.
In a daze, Yin Xu felt as if he had seen and said so much. Though it had been unconscious murmurs and low whispers, it had been intensely thrilling, body and soul intertwined.
Even now, he could not forget the feeling.
And he… he liked it. He didn’t just like the sensation itself; he liked doing it with Yu Zhi.
Had he… given Sir the same pleasure? Did Yu Zhi savor it as much as he did?
Twice was clearly not enough.
Once you’ve tasted it, the craving only grows deeper.
Yu Zhi calmly restrained his restless hands and said in a steady voice, “No. You don’t want it.”
Not to mention the fact that even for opposite-sex couples, too much of it isn’t good. Overindulgence never is.
Moreover, Yin Xu had just experienced this for the first time. His body could only take so much; Yu Zhi couldn’t let him go wild.
Yin Xu froze. He hadn’t expected to be refused.
Other couples seemed to want as much as possible, yet this man, with a calm, composed expression, could tell him no so effortlessly.
Did he not want it? Did he not enjoy it? Or… had he performed so poorly that Yu Zhi lost interest?
The first two were acceptable, but the last… what if it were true? How could he practice with someone like this?
Yin Xu turned his eyes, trying hard to think of a strategy.
Yu Zhi saw immediately what he was thinking and said with a touch of exasperation, “Normally, once every two or three days is enough. Too often is hard on the body, and I don’t want you ending up in the hospital over this.”
Yin Xu: “…”
After a long silence, he finally let out a deep sigh.
He had to accept it. Being with this older man meant accepting everything about him and he would.
Yu Zhi didn’t think his behavior was wrong, but seeing Yin Xu’s resigned expression, he added thoughtfully, “Xiao Xu, health is important. I hope that in the future, we’ll have many more moments together.”
Yin Xu’s heart tightened. The restless, wandering thoughts he had just now vanished instantly, and even his body felt cold for a moment. He clutched Yu Zhi’s waist tightly and gave a solemn, “Mm.”
He would.
The next morning, when Yin Xu woke, he saw Yu Zhi already washed and dressed, quietly sitting at the bedside reading a book.
The heavy curtains were pulled open, leaving only a layer of white gauze. The fringe swayed lightly, and the sunlight danced across the room.
The sunlight poured in, warm but not hot, bright but not harsh, quietly falling on the floor, the bed, and on them.
“Awake?” Yu Zhi put the book aside, placing it on the nightstand. “Hungry? What would you like to eat?”
Yin Xu blinked, coming back to reality, and tried to sit up. But the next moment, his expression stiffened as a strange, indescribable ache spread through his body.
He paused, then feigned nonchalance, lying back down. “I want to sleep a little longer. You go ahead and do it.”
What was happening? It hadn’t been like this last night!
Yu Zhi cast him a glance, smiling faintly, and got up to fetch the porridge he’d prepared earlier. He brought it over on the small bedside table and placed it in front of Yin Xu.
“Eat.”
Yin Xu was completely dumbfounded. He looked at the porridge, then at Yu Zhi’s serious face, and only then realized. His eyes went wide. “You…you did this on purpose!”
Yu Zhi looked at him, puzzled. “On purpose… what?”
Yin Xu gritted his teeth, picked up the bowl, and began eating. The way he ate, if you didn’t know better, might make someone think he was devouring a person.
“Slow down, it might be hot.”
Yin Xu ignored him, yet unconsciously slowed his pace.
He spent the entire morning in bed, with Yu Zhi keeping him company.
“Should I move into your room, or will you move over?” Yu Zhi brought up the topic proactively.
Yin Xu’s eyes lit up. “I want to go to your room.”
Yu Zhi smiled and agreed. “Alright.”
In the afternoon, Yin Xu could no longer endure lying in bed all day. Despite the lingering discomfort, he got up while Yu Zhi held a video conference in the study.
The moment he stepped into the living room, he froze.
“You… didn’t go to school?” He glanced at the two kids playing games in the living room, his expression awkward for a moment, clearly remembering how they had seen him and Yu Zhi last night.
Xiao Pang looked at him sympathetically. Clearly, Yin Xu had slept so long with Yu Zhi that he’d turned into a little dazed zombie. He sighed. “Brother Xu, it’s the weekend today.”
“Brother Xu,” his deskmate also stood obediently and greeted him.
Yin Xu had completely forgotten. “Well, have fun then.”
With the two kids around, he felt too embarrassed to stay in the living room and simply ran to Yu Zhi’s study.
Yu Zhi glanced up at him. His sentence had faltered for a moment, but he continued speaking.
Yin Xu didn’t make a sound to interrupt. He found a book on the shelf and sat down on the sofa to read.
After Yu Zhi finished his meeting, he came over. “Hungry?”
Yin Xu chuckled. “Mr. Yu, in your eyes, am I really that kind of person who eats a lot and needs to be fed constantly?”
Yu Zhi smiled. “Isn’t that so? Who said last night that they still wanted more?”
Yin Xu: “…”
He hadn’t drunk anything last night, let alone gotten drunk. Of course he remembered what had happened. Looking at this man who could always dig up his past, Yin Xu suddenly felt utterly powerless.
He felt that in this lifetime, he could never win against this man.
But… why even fight?
Yin Xu got up, leaned in, wrapped his arms around Yu Zhi’s neck, and pressed a lingering kiss to him. When he finally pulled back, he said, “Mr. Yu… could you go easy on me?”
What could Yu Zhi say? Of course, he smiled and accepted this bribe.
At the door, two heads quietly peeked out. Xiao Pang rubbed his stomach and suddenly felt even hungrier than before, the emptiness now somehow amplified.
“I’m hungry.”
His deskmate stayed silent; he wasn’t hungry, having already been fed plenty of dog food.
Dinner was still prepared by Yu Zhi. But unlike usual, which tended to favor heavier flavors, today’s dishes were lighter and more refreshing.
At the table, Xiao Pang turned to Yin Xu. “Brother Xu, this time you’re going to be my little dad, right?”
Yin Xu lowered his eyes, pretending to stay calm. “What do you mean?”
Xiao Pang said, “Our school is having a parent-teacher meeting. You should go for me.”
“Parent-teacher meeting again?” Yin Xu muttered instinctively. He hadn’t forgotten the fiasco Xiao Pang caused a few years ago.
Xiao Pang made a sour face. “I don’t want to either, but the school isn’t run by me. Just help me out, please.”
“And what about your dad? Why must it be me?”
Xiao Pang’s eyes darted around as he tried to think of the most convincing answer.
His deskmate, eager to help, jumped in. “Because Brother Xu, you look young. He wants to show you off.”
Yin Xu: “…”
Yu Zhi sneered. “I think you just have too much money.” He hadn’t minded the boy being a little dim, but now the boy was acting all high-and-mighty toward him.
Faced with financial pressure, Xiao Pang shut up immediately.
In the end, it was still Yin Xu who attended the parent-teacher meeting, because Yu Zhi was busy.
Yin Xu knew Yu Zhi had intentionally created this opportunity for him to get closer to Xiao Pang.
This man never said much, yet he arranged everything meticulously.
So Xiao Pang successfully showed off at school that he had a young dad, even though this achievement had really been earned by his other dad.
⟦ Yu Group Jewelry Competition, Preliminary-Round Exhibit is now open. You are welcome to visit. The finals will take place in three days. Everyone is encouraged to vote…⟧
Yin Xu paused as he read the message. He suddenly remembered this event. Although he hadn’t participated himself, some of his friends and a few junior students had.
“Sir, where is this being held?” Yin Xu asked, showing Yu Zhi the message.
Yu Zhi glanced over. “It should be at Mingrui Garden. Do you know anyone there?”
Yin Xu nodded.
Yu Zhi took his hand. “Want to go see them?”
Yin Xu was caught off guard, crashing into Yu Zhi’s clear yet accepting gaze. His heart skipped a beat.
At that moment, he felt like he had become Xiao Pang.
Only Xiao Pang wanted to show off his dad.
And he… wanted to show off his boyfriend.
“Are you willing, sir?”
Yu Zhi asked, somewhat surprised. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Yin Xu looked at him and smiled. “I thought you wouldn’t want to see them. After all, in your heart, they’re probably like the child I used to be, right?”
Indeed, there is always a gap between adults and children that cannot easily be crossed.
Yu Zhi led him to the balcony. He sat in the rocking chair, and Yin Xu sat on his lap. Together, they bathed in the sunlight. Yu Zhi finally spoke slowly, “You’re not wrong. In terms of status, position, and age, the gap between me and them is huge. But now… there’s you.”
“Sir, you don’t need to bend over backward for their sake. Our relationship is just between the two of us. You don’t actually need to have any contact with them,” Yin Xu said, holding Yu Zhi’s hand and wrapping it around his own waist.
“I know. But while we live in the same home, we also live in the same circle, or in two, or even multiple circles. I can choose not to care what people in your circle think of us, but I cannot avoid appearing as a family member to your family. This isn’t about bending or accommodating, it’s about courtesy, and about respecting you.”
Yu Zhi reached out and picked a red tulip from the railing. In the sunlight, it seemed to glow with a golden-red radiance.
Shining brilliantly, dazzling to the eye, just like his sincere heart.
Yin Xu took it.
The red tulip’s meaning: joy, passionate love.
Though different from the quiet, deep love he shared with the man, he seemed to feel a shared essence.
“Thank you, sir…”
Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for fulfilling me.
Yet I grow greedier, wanting not just this life but eternity.
I really am a bad child.
The preliminary round of the Yu Group Jewelry Competition was held online. After selecting fifty participants for the finals, the competition moved from online to offline.
At first, some at school had invited Yin Xu to join, but he not only declined, he also graduated early, shocking many.
When everyone thought they might only see Yin Xu at major events or important competitions in the future, they unexpectedly ran into him at the Yu Group Jewelry Competition finals.
As always, he was calm and relaxed, wearing a serene, composed smile, as if nothing could disturb his heart.
“Yin Xu?”
“Senior?”
“How are you here?” They all gathered around, faces bright with unhidden surprise.
But after saying that, they fell silent, realizing they must be losing their minds, of course he was here for the competition!
The woman who first encouraged him to join smiled: “I thought you wouldn’t come, senior. Didn’t expect you actually did. Fate must be on our side! Let’s eat together afterward!”
“Good grief, you didn’t even tell us and applied for early graduation. Who knows how long you were secretly preparing, hiding it from us? No excuses this time, you’re buying the meal!”
This was one of Yin Xu’s roommates from university. Listening, Yin Xu smiled and nodded. “Okay, today it’s on me. Let’s all eat together.”
“Though,” he added, “I’m not here to compete.”
They all froze. “???”
Not competing… then why are you here?
“My home is in S City; I never told you before,” Yin Xu said as he sent them the reserved restaurant location. “I came back because of some family matters, and I’ll probably stay here for a while. You can come find me whenever you’re free.”
The last sentence was nothing more than polite words. In truth, whenever he had the chance, Yin Xu would have preferred to stay with Yu Zhi constantly, never letting anyone else take up their time together.
The others mumbled their acknowledgments. None of them had expected Yin Xu to actually be from S City; even his roommates scratched their heads, clearly unaware.
It wasn’t until Yin Xu left and they entered the competition venue that one roommate suddenly realized: “Wait, hold on. Yin Xu didn’t come for the competition but specifically to see us. So… how did he even know where we’d be?”
After thinking it through, it made sense: perhaps Yin Xu knew they would be competing and went straight to this location to find them.
That explanation seemed reasonable.
By the time they finished the competition, it was already quite late. If the roommate hadn’t remembered, they might have just gone somewhere to eat out of hunger.
Following Yin Xu’s directions, they arrived at the restaurant, and froze at the door.
It was an antique-style restaurant. The décor alone suggested high prices, and this was S City, a renowned cultural and culinary hub. It was obvious this place wasn’t cheap.
Hesitant, they stepped inside and were immediately greeted warmly by the staff, who led them to the private room Yu Zhi had reserved.
When they opened the door, they were first taken aback by the sumptuous spread on the table. Then they looked up to see Yin Xu smiling as he introduced another gracefully poised man in the room.
“This is my boyfriend.”
One of the roommates stumbled and fell to the floor.
He couldn’t help but recall all of Yin Xu’s past rumors, and the many times Yin Xu had mentioned having someone he liked.
Damn… no wonder he never said who, it wasn’t a girlfriend. It was a boyfriend.
There was no showing off, no need to one-up anyone; it’s just an ordinary meal, only slightly expensive.
Although the roommates were still dumbfounded while eating, Yin Xu was genuinely happy. He kept glancing at Yu Zhi; the way they casually shared dishes across the table was so practiced, and the subtle exchange of affection in their expressions was so obvious. Anyone seeing them would know they were a couple.
That evening, back home, Yin Xu couldn’t help but ask: “Sir, is there anything you want?”
“You want to give me something?” Yu Zhi asked with a smile.
Yin Xu nodded honestly. He knew he couldn’t outsmart this man with tricks, so he decided to answer straightforwardly.
Yu Zhi really didn’t want anything.
After a moment’s thought, he said, “Whatever you want to give me, that’s what I want.”
Yin Xu’s heart skipped a beat. He nearly blurted out, I want to give you everything, including myself.
Not as a gift, but as a return to where his heart felt safe.
It was like those past years, not that Yu Zhi waited for him to come back, but that he finally reached Yu Zhi.
The starry sky stretched endlessly, countless stars glittering, but the one star that carried his attachment wanted only to stay by the person it longed for, willing to cross galaxies and billions of light-years to be there.
He closed his eyes, nestling his head against Yu Zhi’s chest, listening to that easy, pleasant heartbeat, as if it weren’t Yu Zhi’s heart at all, but his own.
The delicate scent of jasmine lingered at his nose, soothing and refreshing, filling the night with a sense of infinite comfort.
As night deepened, Yu Zhi patted his back. “It’s late. Time to sleep.”
But Yin Xu opened his eyes to look at him. “I don’t want to sleep yet.”
Then he tilted his head and kissed Yu Zhi’s lips…
………………
In the middle of the night, Yin Xu quietly got up and, propping himself up despite exhaustion, turned on his computer.
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