***
Chapter 41 – Sharing a Bed
A flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Liusui’s eyes. He hadn’t expected He Yujing’s displeasure to be about that.
But the master bedroom was He Yujing’s room. Even if there were times when he should be there, wouldn’t staying in it long-term feel inappropriate?
Puzzled, Jiang Liusui couldn’t hold back and asked, “Are you sure?”
The moment the question left his mouth, the back of his neck was pinched again. He Yujing’s expression remained calm, a faint smile playing on his thin lips.
“Oh.” Jiang Liusui immediately corrected himself. “I understand.”
“Before, things were too rushed, and there were some matters I didn’t have time to explain clearly to you.” He Yujing slowed his speech. “From now on, no matter what happens—good or bad—you tell me first.”
Jiang Liusui nodded.
They were both public figures. If anything went wrong, it was only right that He Yujing be the first to know.
“Don’t lie to me.” His hand slid from the side of Jiang Liusui’s neck and came to rest against his lips, pale pink beneath his thumb. He brushed over them lightly. “If I find out, I’ll be very angry and punish you.”
“……”
“Speak.” He Yujing urged.
“Okay.” Jiang Liusui replied softly.
As his lips parted and closed, they inevitably brushed against He Yujing’s fingertip. Jiang Liusui’s gaze drifted for a moment, feeling his lips grow warm.
What exactly did he mean by “punishment”? He had signed with Shengyun and He Yujing was a shareholderr—did that mean being sidelined, denied work? Or something else entirely…
For reasons he couldn’t name, he didn’t dare let his thoughts continue down that path.
“If anything makes you uncomfortable during our time together, you must tell me,” He Yujing said softly. “We can talk it through—but in the end, I make the call.”
As though he realized his words had sounded too overbearing—and worried Jiang Liusui might take them the wrong way—He Yujing pulled his hand back from Jiang Liusui’s lips and added, “Don’t worry. I won’t bully you for no reason. Under normal circumstances, I’ll also be reasonable.”
When it came to emotion, he couldn’t guarantee he’d be free of selfish motives. But outside of that—within ordinary work and daily life—he wouldn’t use their relationship as leverage over Jiang Liusui.
As long as Jiang Liusui stayed by his side, anything he wanted to do, he would agree to.
Jiang Liusui gave a soft reply.
From what Jiang Liusui knew of other kept-lover arrangements, these terms were already unusually generous. And judging by his understanding of He Yujing, he trusted that He Yujing wouldn’t toy with him for no reason.
When He Yujing seemed to have nothing more to add for the time being, Jiang Liusui spoke up on his own. “There’s something I want to ask.”
He paused briefly before tentatively saying, “Can I go out freely?”
He Yujing’s expression shifted slightly, surprised that Jiang Liusui was being so conscientious and had already considered things to this extent.
He had intended to say yes, but at the last moment, he changed his mind, deliberately teasing him.
“So—you’re already living under my roof, and you still want to come and go as you please?”
Jiang Liusui hesitated for a moment before struggling to argue, “What about when I’m working…”
“Work is fine. Other times, it depends on my mood,” He Yujing said casually.
Jiang Liusui reluctantly replied, “Okay…”
He Yujing gave him a slight smile. “You’re not happy about it?”
Jiang Liusui returned the smile. “Not at all.”
Yet He Yujing unhurriedly exposed him. “You’re not allowed to lie.”
Jiang Liusui: “……”
I’m done for.
He Yujing knew when to stop. “All right, I was just teasing you earlier. If you want to go out, then go out. But you can’t disappear without a trace. You have to keep me informed of your schedule.”
“The rest… let’s talk after I shower,” he added, letting go of the hand he had been holding around Jiang Liusui and lightly patting his waist. “Go wait for me in my room.”
Jiang Liusui instinctively responded with an “Mm.” It wasn’t until he had taken a few steps away that the meaning fully sank in.
He couldn’t help but turn back and saw He Yujing heading to the bathroom, his mind spinning a thousand thoughts.
What did He Yujing mean by that?
Could it be… that he wants to do it? He just got back—does he want it already??
Jiang Liusui drew a deep breath, keeping his expression perfectly calm. He turned down the long hallway and pushed open the door to the master bedroom.
It was his first time stepping into He Yujing’s personal space. The master bedroom was more than twice as large as the guest room. Even though the house had a dedicated walk-in closet, the bedroom itself featured a corridor-like dressing area, designed for the owner’s daily convenience. Beyond this corridor displaying jewelry and clothing was a bathroom as large as the one in the guest room.
The room was dominated by a cold, deep gray, but the decorations—coat racks, paintings, a small stool—popped with bright colors. To his right, a bookshelf held rows of neatly arranged books. A separate shelf displayed albums in small clusters—some were He Yujing’s own, while others were by domestic and international artists. There were even vinyl records and a record player.
Jiang Liusui sat at the foot of the bed, his bare feet sinking into the soft white carpet.
He had never been interested in romance, and had always kept such matters at arm’s length. Many people had wanted to sleep with him, but this was the first time he had stayed in someone else’s room, waiting for the room’s owner to emerge from the shower.
It’s fine, it’s okay!
Jiang Liusui mentally cheered himself on.
He had already agreed to be the other’s lover—so this step was bound to happen sooner or later.
But…
Jiang Liusui’s eyes flickered uncertainly.
He Yujing probably didn’t have any unusual preferences, right? He had heard rumors before—about other artists whose wealthy benefactors had odd tastes. Some had been hurt, some even left with lasting damage.
Jiang Liusui shook his head, silently telling himself to stop overthinking. He Yujing was clearly not that kind of person. Yet the anticipation—the thrill of what was about to happen—set his nerves on edge and he couldn’t help but let his thoughts run wild.
When He Yujing came in, he saw Jiang Liusui staring blankly at the carpet.
His bare feet rested on the carpet, the arches and bones exquisitely shaped, and a section of his snow-white calf peeked out from the loose pajama pants.
Hearing the movement, Jiang Liusui finally turned his head.
He Yujing was wearing a bathrobe, his body still carrying the scent of moisture and shower gel. His light brown eyes gazed at Jiang Liusui through damp strands of hair. “Help me dry my hair?”
Jiang Liusui nodded and, after grabbing the hair dryer, moved to stand beside him.
He Yujing lounged on the sofa, lazily observing him, his gaze following every small motion. He reminded Jiang Liusui of a lion basking in the sun—utterly relaxed, radiating quiet, contented pleasure.
Jiang Liusui had intended to stand in front of He Yujing, but a warm palm pressed against the small of his back. “Sit down,” He Yujing murmured.
Without much thought, Jiang Liusui moved toward the empty space beside him—but He Yujing chuckled softly. “I didn’t mean for you to sit next to me.”
Jiang Liusui froze for a moment before understanding his meaning.
He wanted him… to sit on his lap?
He Yujing didn’t rush him either, watching him with interest. Jiang Liusui’s toes curled for a moment, but in the end, he silently kicked off his slippers and slipped into He Yujing’s embrace.
TThe hand that had been resting on his waist gave a gentle, almost rewarding pat. Jiang Liusui knelt upright on He Yujing’s thighs, his ears burning hot, not daring to move. His eyes dropped, not daring to look at He Yujing.
As if to prevent him from losing balance and falling, the large hand holding him tightened slightly, slowly stroking his back. Jiang Liusui’s fingers trembled on the hair dryer. The wild thoughts he had just suppressed surged up once again.
He Yujing felt the comfortable warmth from the hair dryer. As if afraid of making him uncomfortable anywhere, Jiang Liusui’s slender fingers slowly ran through his hair.
The person in his arms was lighter than he expected. Although quite tall, curled up he felt like nothing more than a small bundle.
Unconsciously, He Yujing pinched his waist.
“You’re so thin.” Recalling how Jiang Liusui usually looked like a slender figure, He Yujing remarked, “Eat more.”
Jiang Liusui’s mind was already a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts. The sudden pinch sent a sharp jolt through him, leaving him flustered and wide-eyed.
His voice came out soft and timid. “Okay… I’ll try to eat more.”
He Yujing raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised at just how strongly Jiang Liusui had reacted.
So sensitive, huh?
Throughout the hair-drying process, He Yujing kept touching him. At first, Jiang Liusui felt a bit flustered, but as it continued, a dull numbness crept over him. He told himself he was ready—mentally braced for what was coming next.
It wasn’t until they got into bed, one after the other. He Yujing’s bathrobe was tied casually, the neckline wide open. When Jiang Liusui saw the well-defined muscle lines as he bent over, and then looked at his own slender wrist, he couldn’t help but silently shrink back toward the edge of the bed.
At that moment, a phone screen flickered with a new notification. He Yujing didn’t even notice Jiang Liusui’s subtle movement as he picked up the phone to check it.
Chi Lianxi: Did you help out with the kid’s situation?
Jiang Liusui’s matter had caused quite a stir. Even on set, people were gossiping about Zhu Renliang being arrested.Chi Lianxi only needed a moment to put two and two together—he knew exactly who had stepped in.
Chi Lianxi: If you could do this much, does that mean the two of you are more than just acquaintances now?
Chi Lianxi: Go for it, bro. No more drinking alone like before—seize the chance.
He Yujing felt that Chi Lianxi occasionally said something agreeable and replied with an “Mm.”
Chi Lianxi: Congrats, then. Now it’s official.
E: Mm.
Chi Lianxi: ?
Seeing He Yujing’s evasive response and lack of boasting, Chi Lianxi sensed something was off.
Given He Yujing’s personality, if he were really in a relationship with Jiang Liusui, he’d probably broadcast it to the world.
Chi Lianxi: Something’s off. You’re acting strange. What exactly is your relationship with the kid now? Explain clearly.
Chi Lianxi’s messages came one after another, with the clear implication that if He Yujing didn’t clarify today, he’d keep pestering him in person. Seeing no way to evade the question, He Yujing replied expressionlessly.
E: I helped him on one condition.
E: The condition was… he’d be my lover.
Chi Lianxi stayed silent for a long while. He Yujing guessed he was letting it sink in. Just as he was about to set the phone aside, a thirty-second-long voice message popped up from Chi Lianxi.
Jiang Liusui was right beside him, worried that Chi Lianxi would say something earth-shattering. He Yujing tapped to convert the voice to text. Unexpectedly, the transcription revealed a neat row of “hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.”
He Yujing: “…Are you insane?”
Chi Lianxi burst out laughing: Wait—what did you just say?? Is this some kind of real-life contract romance? You’re capable of this now? What’s next—tricking him into going to the marriage registry?
He Yujing had no intention of engaging, but Chi Lianxi’s messages kept flooding in: How long are you two going to keep this up? What if the kid never likes you back?
Already on edge, He Yujing’s patience finally snapped.
E: Then we’ll just keep it this way.
The obsession buried in that calm reply made Chi Lianxi instinctively worry for Jiang Liusui.
Chi Lianxi’s blunt assessment followed immediately: What a beast.
Chi Lianxi seemed eager to elaborate on the topic, but He Yujing had no interest in listening to his nonsense and directly turned off his phone. Only then did he notice Jiang Liusui had shrunk to the edge of the bed, putting a noticeable distance between them.
“I’m turning off the light,” he said. “Come closer.”
Jiang Liusui froze and blurted out, “We’re sleeping already?”
A second later, Jiang Liusui realized what he had just said. He Yujing paused while reaching for the light switch, his brows lifting slightly as a flicker of amusement flashed in his eyes.
No wonder.
He had vaguely sensed Jiang Liusui acting strangely all evening, as if something had been weighing on his mind. He’d assumed it was just discomfort with their newfound closeness, never imagining Jiang Liusui had been thinking about this.
He’d had his own share of improper thoughts—whenever they touched, his mind drifted to rougher, more wicked scenarios. Claiming he didn’t want Jiang Liusui at all would’ve been nothing but a self-righteous lie.
Given their current relationship, anything he wanted to do to Jiang Liusui would be reasonable, and Jiang Liusui had been very cooperative today, showing no signs of resistance.
But that final step…
That, he didn’t want to force. He would wait—for Jiang Liusui to come to him willingly.
Suppressing a laugh, He Yujing adopted a teasing tone: “What else did you want to do?”
His gaze swept suggestively over the person beside him. Then, without warning, he flipped the accusation around. “Are you in a hurry?”
“No! I—I’m not!” Jiang Liusui was completely at a loss for words. especially since he had indeed been overthinking it all night, making him seem overly eager.
In the end, Jiang Liusui resignedly muttered, “I’m actually not in that much of a hurry.”
“So this is what you’ve been thinking about.” He Yujing showed no intention of letting him off, leaning closer to press further, “How far did your thoughts go?”
Looking at the handsome face so close at hand, Jiang Liusui’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
“Tell me,” He Yujing coaxed, his eyes heavy with suggestion. His voice, already captivating, dipped into something dangerously alluring. “What were you thinking about… what kind of fun?”
Jiang Liusui’s defenses collapsed completely. He fell backward onto the bed, yanked the blanket over himself, and surrendered. “Let’s just sleep. No more talking.”
He didn’t want to keep embarrassing himself in front of He Yujing. He curled under the blankets, repeatedly mumbling, “Sleep, sleep! It’s so late already. Don’t you have work tomorrow? Staying up late is bad for your skin.”
“Come out. Don’t suffocate yourself.” He Yujing’s voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority.
“……” It was indeed getting stuffy under the covers. Jiang Liusui peeked out and met his gaze.
Thankfully, He Yujing said nothing more. He simply reached up and switched off the light.
Jiang Liusui breathed a sigh of relief, habitually pulling a pillow into his arms as he turned on his side to sleep.
He Yujing’s bed was spacious. Jiang Liusui had initially curled up far away, and even after moving closer as instructed, a gap remained between them. Lying on his side, his posture looked reserved, almost deliberately distant.
Suddenly, his body sank slightly as a long, firm arm wrapped around his waist.
“Lose the pillow,” He Yujing murmured. “It’s uncomfortable against my hand.”
Jiang Liusui grumbled silently to himself—the pillow was clearly soft. In what universe did that count as uncomfortable?
He Yujing was using him as a body pillow, couldn’t he at least hug a real one? Everyone hugging one pillow each—wouldn’t that work?
“I can’t sleep without holding something,” he said, then added, “I was like this back when I was on that variety show too. You remember, don’t you?”
He Yujing didn’t respond, only slowly pulled him into his embrace. With his back turned, Jiang Liusui couldn’t see He Yujing’s expression, but the ease with which He Yujing pulled him in with one hand sent a shiver through him. Goosebumps prickled up his skin, and he promptly let go of the pillow.
After that brief interruption, neither of them spoke. The large bedroom settled into a deep, quiet darkness.
The empty feeling in his arms was especially hard to get used to. Jiang Liusui tried closing his eyes, testing it out—but before long, he opened them again, unable to relax.
After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out and carefully wrapped his arms around He Yujing’s arm.
Feeling Jiang Liusui’s small movement, in the darkness, the corner of He Yujing’s lips lifted slightly.
He tightened his hold just slightly, drawing Jiang Liusui closer into his embrace.
With He Yujing’s silent permission, Jiang Liusui shifted until he found the most comfortable position and gradually closed his eyes.
As far as he could remember, he had never slept in the same bed as anyone—certainly not while held this close. He thought it would take a considerable time to fall asleep, but before long, overwhelming drowsiness washed over him, and he sank into a deep sleep.
Somewhere deep in his subconscious, he seemed to know: beside He Yujing, he was safe.
The steady, barely audible sound of breathing from the person in his arms told He Yujing that Jiang Liusui was already fast asleep. But He Yujing remained awake.
As his eyes gradually adjusted to the room’s darkness, He Yujing’s gaze settled on Jiang Liusui’s pale, smooth nape. He could feel the gentle rise and fall of that slim body with every breath. THolding another person in the dark felt indescribably intimate—so convincing it felt as though they were genuinely inseparable.
He leaned gently against Jiang Liusui and gradually closed his eyes as well.
Whether it was the habit formed from days of relentless schedules, or the surreal feeling of finally falling asleep with Jiang Liusui in his arms, He Yujing’s sleep was shallow.
Half-asleep, he seemed to notice that the person in his arms was dreaming—his calf wriggled and kicked him.
Awakened by this unceremonious kick—and having not slept long to begin with—He Yujing was momentarily speechless.
He closed his eyes, a mischievous, teasing urge creeping in, and murmured toward Jiang Liusui’s back:
“You really know how to stir up trouble.”
At that moment, Jiang Liusui shifted and turned over.
Thinking he had woken him, He Yujing fell silent.
Jiang Liusui’s eyes remained closed, his heavy eyelashes like dark crow feathers. Just as He Yujing relaxed, certain he was still dreaming—
Jiang Liusui, out of habit, reached over and then extended both arms, wrapping closely around He Yujing as if hugging a large body pillow, intimately entwining himself with him.
— — — —
