Water splashed onto the tiled floor as Lin Shiyu rinsed off the soap, turned off the tap, and took a towel from the rack.

The towel was new, as were the toothbrush, cup, and the slippers at the entrance—items Zhong Qi had thrown into the shopping cart at the supermarket, along with snacks and ice cream in Lin Shiyu’s favorite flavors. They had carried two large bags back home.

Lin Shiyu felt Zhong Qi had done it on purpose, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly why. He dried himself off, changed into clean clothes, and stepped out.

The clothes were Zhong Qi’s—a large white T-shirt that covered Lin Shiyu’s elbows and thighs, even though it was quite loose on Zhong Qi as well.

According to Zhong Qi, since Lin Shiyu couldn’t wear his pants, this was the largest shirt he could offer as sleepwear.

Lin Shiyu believed him earnestly.

He blow-dried his hair, tidied up the bathroom, wiped the water clean, and walked to the bedroom door in his slippers. The door was wide open, and Zhong Qi’s voice could be heard from the balcony as he talked on the phone.

“Why do you keep bothering me if you and my dad are divorcing?”

“It’s none of my business if he wants to find me a stepmother–

“Doesn’t matter.

“Didn’t you teach me to be indifferent?”

Zhong Qi leaned against the balcony wall, his silhouette tall and straight against the night sky. He hung up the phone and turned to see Lin Shiyu standing at the door.

Lin Shiyu, still holding his collar to wipe his neck, instinctively let go, standing awkwardly by the door.

Zhong Qi’s gaze traveled from Lin Shiyu’s face downward, then quietly returned.

“Come here.” He extended an arm, gesturing for Lin Shiyu to come to him.

Lin Shiyu hesitated, then shuffled his feet, slowly moving to Zhong Qi’s side, where he was pulled into an embrace.

Zhong Qi held him close with one arm, inhaling the fresh scent of Lin Shiyu’s shampoo, his fingers tightening.

Lin Shiyu gradually relaxed, his hand tentatively resting on Zhong Qi’s waistband. “Are you okay?”

“Why?”

“With your parents acting like this, are you really not upset?”

Zhong Qi chuckled lightly. “I’m fine now.”

He lifted Lin Shiyu’s face and kissed him.

The summer night was serene, the balcony bathed in gentle starlight. The curtains, washed by the housekeeper were still drying on the living room balcony, leaving only a light, translucent veil swaying softly in the breeze.

The kiss grew more passionate. Zhong Qi turned and pressed Lin Shiyu against the wall, kissing him insistently. Lin Shiyu stood on tiptoe, back against the wall, his head tilted back, soon losing his breath.

Like sparks igniting a dry forest, a blazing fire spread rapidly, consuming all rationality in their private space. Zhong Qi’s hot hand lifted Lin Shiyu’s shirt, pressing firmly on his slim waist, causing him to shudder. Lin Shiyu, alarmed, pressed against Zhong Qi’s shoulders. Zhong Qi released his lips, instead biting at his throat.

Lin Shiyu gasped, then his waist was gripped tightly. Zhong Qi’s voice was hoarse. “Wearing this…”

“What… ugh!”

Zhong Qi’s hand moved to his thigh, fingers exploring boldly. Lin Shiyu’s mind rang with alarms, like a cat about to be attacked in a vital spot. He tried to escape, but Zhong Qi pulled him back, holding him against the windowsill, breathing heavily. “Why are you running?”

“Your hand,” Lin Shiyu’s teeth chattered, “don’t touch…”

“Why not?” Zhong Qi, now fully predatory, had shed his usual lazy demeanor, biting down on his prey. “Don’t you like it?”

“I… I don’t know.” Lin Shiyu’s voice trembled. He had never been this scared, yet had never trusted anyone so much. He was terrified of Zhong Qi invading his entire territory but couldn’t help leaning closer, hugging his shoulders.

Zhong Qi soothed Lin Shiyu’s tense back, kissing his ear and neck, whispering, “Don’t hide. I’ll teach you.”

Lin Shiyu murmured and hugged Zhong Qi’s neck tightly. The loose hem of his shirt rolled up in layers and was pressed against the windowsill, revealing the smooth white lines of his back and his slender, straight legs. Zhong Qi positioned himself between his legs, lowering his head to swallow Lin Shiyu’s rapid breaths.

With a confused moan from Lin Shiyu, Zhong Qi finally let go of him and said hoarsely, “Doesn’t it feel good?”

Lin Shiyu’s legs were almost stiff, his spine seemed to collapse as if electrified, and the blush at the corners of his eyes made his clear, watery eyes look incredibly beautiful.

Zhong Qi kissed his moist eye corners, took out a tube of ointment from his pants pocket, and opened it, letting the cap fall to the ground. Lin Shiyu, dazed, saw what Zhong Qi was holding. “What is that?”

Zhong Qi squeezed a large amount of the ointment into his hand and replied, “Something to make you feel better.”

He wrapped his arm around Lin Shiyu’s waist, turning him to face away. Lin Shiyu propped his hands on the windowsill, with only a thin sheer curtain between him and the window, clearly seeing the empty sidewalk below, the quiet streetlights, and the parked cars and bicycles.

Before he had time to panic about the clear view, he suddenly clutched the windowsill, his eyes widening. “—Hmm!”

He struggled, grabbing Zhong Qi’s arm around his waist, his fingers sinking deeply into the skin. “What are you… ugh!”

“Relax,” Zhong Qi said, pulling Lin Shiyu into his arms, his breathing just as heavy. Lin Shiyu was in so much pain that he could hardly stand, the unfamiliar cold and wet sensation forcefully invading, pulling out, repeatedly pushing him to the edge of pain where he couldn’t breathe, then yanking him back.

Zhong Qi pressed Lin Shiyu against the window, his grip strong enough to leave green marks on his thin shoulder blades. He had a handful of lubricant, almost forcibly inserting a second finger, gritting his teeth to suppress his desire. “Relax, don’t clench so tightly.”

His fingers worked forcefully in the too-tight passage, sparking intense sensations in Lin Shiyu’s body, causing him to clutch the curtain and intermittently call Zhong Qi’s name amidst the overwhelming fullness, sounding both like a plea and a helpless request for comfort.

Then his fingers withdrew, and a hotter, harder object pressed against his thigh.

Zhong Qi’s arm crossed over Lin Shiyu’s chest, his burning chest against Lin Shiyu’s sweat-drenched back, his deep, husky voice soothing in his ear as he steadily pushed deeper into Lin Shiyu’s body. Lin Shiyu’s vision almost went black, his whole body trembling violently. If Zhong Qi hadn’t been holding him, he would have collapsed to the floor.

“Zhong… Zhong Qi…” Lin Shiyu’s fingers clutching the curtain turned white, his voice weak and soft. “Don’t…”

However, Zhong Qi, aroused by Lin Shiyu’s small voice, was burning even hotter. He tightened his grip on Lin Shiyu’s sweaty shoulder, resisting the urge to thrust fully, instead slowly moving in the tight passage. Listening to Lin Shiyu’s pained whimpers in his ear, he kissed his fragile neck, and murmured, “It will feel good soon, relax.”

The friction gradually produced a dense, wet sound. With each thrust, the sounds of their bodies colliding and their short, uneven breaths echoed. Zhong Qi gripped Lin Shiyu’s waist, thrusting deeper, the curtain rustling loudly as Lin Shiyu pulled on it. The splitting pain mingled with the heated, sticky liquid gradually brought an indescribable, hidden pleasure. Zhong Qi’s strength was immense, each thrust from behind numbed Lin Shiyu from the waist down.

Zhong Qi, holding Lin Shiyu, now limp, turned him to face him on the windowsill, spreading his legs and entering again.

Lin Shiyu tilted his head back, unable to make a sound. Then Zhong Qi lifted his legs, forcing the lubricant to spread, the hardness inside him moving incessantly. Lin Shiyu, like a white bird caught in a storm, was trapped between the window and Zhong Qi, uttering broken sounds.

The glass window vibrated with their increasingly intense movements and heavy breathing. Lin Shiyu’s thin white back pressed against the window through the translucent curtain, visible to anyone who happened to look up at the balcony.

With several powerful thrusts that almost pushed Lin Shiyu off the windowsill, Zhong Qi held him tightly, biting his neck, his arm muscles straining. After a long time, he slowly relaxed his grip, leaving a red mark on Lin Shiyu’s back.

He wiped the sweat off Lin Shiyu’s forehead. “Tired?”

Tears had formed in Lin Shiyu’s eyes, his lips half-open and red, gasping. After a while, he managed to weakly respond. “Mm.”

Zhong Qi picked him up from the balcony, laid him on the bed, and pulled the quilt over both of them.

Propped on one hand beside Lin Shiyu’s ear, he gently kissed him, like a beast who had just sated its desire, affectionately licking his defenseless prey. Lin Shiyu, wet and soft, lay in the bedding, gradually recovering from his daze, reaching out his tongue to try to respond to Zhong Qi’s kiss.

The tented quilt was quiet for a moment before the sound of skin rubbing and wetness began again. Zhong Qi pulled Lin Shiyu’s ankle, blocking the entrance with his body as he pushed back in. He watched Lin Shiyu’s beautiful, pale face contort with pain under the relentless intrusion, as if he couldn’t endure another second.

He was like a delicate, fragile doll, layer by layer peeled away by him.

He belonged to him.

The night grew darker, and all the lights in the surrounding buildings went out. The intense shaking of the bed and the desperate whimpers finally ceased after one last frenzied climax. Lin Shiyu was so exhausted that he nearly lost consciousness. Zhong Qi carried him to the bathroom and washed him again, then returned to the bedroom, wrapping the clean, warm Lin Shiyu in a blanket.

The T-shirt had been removed halfway through their passion but hadn’t gotten dirty. Zhong Qi put the shirt back on Lin Shiyu. Lin Shiyu soon fell into a deep sleep, nestled obediently in his arms. Compared to his previous wary, wolf-like demeanor, this moment made him seem truly stripped of his false bravado, like a soft, defenseless rabbit. His eyes were moist and upturned when closed, with long lashes like feathers, a straight nose, small red lips, and a tenderness that seemed to invite a kiss.

Zhong Qi tightened his arms, holding Lin Shiyu firmly.

Lin Shiyu woke up around noon the next day, roused by the smell of food.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he felt something was wrong. His entire body felt as if his bones had been dismantled and reassembled, each part aching and sore. With great difficulty, he shivered and propped himself up from the bed, enduring the intense discomfort in his lower back. He saw a paper bowl filled with a rich variety of dishes and white porridge on the bedside table, still steaming hot.

So hungry, Lin Shiyu weakly thought, I’m starving to death.

After a while, the door opened, and Zhong Qi, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, came in looking refreshed. Seeing that Lin Shiyu was finally awake, he walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and reached for the bowl and chopsticks on the table. “You’re awake? It’s time to eat.”

Lin Shiyu stared at him blankly. After a few seconds, all his senses and memories came rushing back.

“You…” Lin Shiyu began, his voice hoarse and nearly breathless. “…you!”

Zhong Qi nodded. “You’re thirsty, right?”

He took a bottle of mineral water from the table, opened it, and brought it to Lin Shiyu’s mouth. “Drink slowly.”

Lin Shiyu angrily drank half the bottle, then pushed it aside. “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Zhong Qi handed him a bowl of porridge and scooped up a spoonful. “Eat first. I heard your stomach growling just now.”

Lin Shiyu wanted to punch his calm face, but he was indeed starving, and the fragrant rice porridge and the aroma of the side dishes right in front of him left him with no room to resist. His body acted faster than his mind, opening his mouth to swallow.

Then, following Zhong Qi’s hand, he focused on eating until he finished the meal.

Zhong Qi placed the empty bowl aside and used a napkin to wipe Lin Shiyu’s mouth. “Are you full?”

Lin Shiyu licked his lips, muttering, “Mm,” before freezing in realization.

“You’re too much!” Lin Shiyu, now fed and watered, finally had the energy to get angry. “How could you… do that?”

Zhong Qi restrained a smile, looking serious. “Do what?”

Lin Shiyu blushed, his fingers nervously clutching the blanket. “I stayed to keep you company, not to do that kind of thing with you.”

Zhong Qi stared into his lowered eyes, pulling him into his arms and whispering, “Isn’t doing that also keeping me company?”

Lin Shiyu stammered, “I told you it hurt, and you still–”

“Hurt?” Zhong Qi repeated, pausing as if recalling something, then said, “It hurt, but you were moaning so lewdly.”

Half an hour later.

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry. I was wrong.” Zhong Qi patted the bulging blanket. “Can you come out now?”

If Gao Jie and the others heard Zhong Qi apologize in such a coaxing tone, they would probably be shocked to death. However, the person under the blanket was clearly not appeased, and even let out an angry: “Get lost!”

Zhong Qi, not wanting to leave, lay on the bed and hugged the lump under the blanket.

Lin Shiyu struggled for a while but eventually poked his head out for air. Zhong Qi took advantage of the moment to slip under the blanket, hugging Lin Shiyu’s slender body. His hand felt a bit of broken skin on Lin Shiyu’s protruding shoulder blade, likely from the harsh friction against the curtain last night. Zhong Qi pulled back the blanket, and in the light, he saw Lin Shiyu’s pale neck and collarbone covered in bruises and bite marks, the skin showing countless broken capillaries in a circle of red.

Zhong Qi looked for a moment, then sat up, propping Lin Shiyu’s back with the blanket. “I’m going downstairs to buy something.”

Lin Shiyu replied irritably, “Don’t come back.”

Zhong Qi went to the nearby pharmacy to buy ointment, cotton swabs, and bandages. When he returned, he found Lin Shiyu sitting in the middle of the bed, his collar loose, the blanket bunched around his legs. When Lin Shiyu saw Zhong Qi return, he relaxed his grip on the blanket and mumbled, “Took you long enough.”

Zhong Qi sat beside him, placing the bag of medicine next to him, and reached to remove Lin Shiyu’s shirt. Lin Shiyu, nervous at his touch, awkwardly let him take it off.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Why did you have… those tools?”

Zhong Qi suppressed a laugh, trying to look serious. “I bought them in advance.”

Large character flashed in Lin Shiyu’s mind: Conspiracy.

“You planned this… mm!”

Zhong Qi turned and pinned him to the bed, biting him before pulling back with a wicked smile, “Yes, I planned it. So what?”

Lin Shiyu’s lips were bitten red, and he was panting slightly, lying in the blanket with his clear, watery eyes wide open. Zhong Qi leaned down and pressed on him, kissing him again. The bed creaked. Lin Shiyu kicked off the blanket, and Zhong Qi grabbed his ankle. Soon, the struggling subsided, leaving only the intimate sounds of skin brushing and soft kissing in the spacious, sunlit room.

 

Edited by: Jaisland

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