—

Ji Su's feet were exquisite and lovely — the skin across the white instep so thin that the blue tracery of veins showed through clearly; the toes rounded and small, the nail beds tinted a pale pink, pretty as cherry blossom petals.

Gu Zhao gripped the slender ankle and guided the sole to rest against his own chest.

Ji Su flinched as though struck and tried to pull his foot back, but the iron-pincers grip held him fast, pressing the sole downward along the firm, full ridges of his abdominal muscles.

The heat made Ji Su's toes curl; a shameful flush of pink crept across the instep.

The tender, new-grown sole gradually took on the same heat, growing hot and soft.

The bedroom's air conditioning had not yet been switched on; the temperature kept climbing, and a sheen of sweat broke out over both of them.

Ji Su could not break free. He gave up and closed his eyes; beads of sweat seeped from his brow and rolled down, dampening the long, thick lashes, which trembled pitifully.

Gu Zhao's breathing grew heavier, the heat in his palm climbing higher and higher.

After a span he could not measure — long enough that the sole of Ji Su's foot had gone numb — he could only beg in a trembling voice: 'Gu Zhao…'

Gu Zhao caught a breath, leaned in and pressed down, sealing the parting red lips completely shut.

Ji Su was like a fish dragged from water, flopping uselessly; kissed until his brain starved for air, he did not notice at all that his hands had been pinned…

When he came back to himself, his palms were sticky and damp with sweat.

Gu Zhao released him and rose to pull a few tissues from the box.

Ji Su stared blankly at his own hands, then suddenly leapt down from the bed.

The sole touched the floor, and the places that had been rubbed raw flared up in a fierce, burning ache.

Gu Zhao strode around to the other side of the bed, gathered him up in his arms, and carried him into the Main Bedroom's bathroom.

He set Ji Su on the washstand to sit; his large hand closed around the ankle and lifted one long, white leg.

Ji Su had developed a psychological shadow of his movements; with a sudden effort of his leg, he kicked out against Gu Zhao's chest.

Gu Zhao took the opportunity to hold that foot still and laughed, his voice gone hoarse: 'I'm not going to do anything more — I'm just looking at your foot.'

Ji Su's face reddened as he muttered under his breath: 'You really are — you really…'

'Really what?' Gu Zhao stepped back and took his foot in hand to examine it properly.

The white sole was flushed red all over; fortunately, the skin had not broken.

Ji Su tried to draw his leg back, and this time met no resistance.

He slid down from the washstand and turned on the faucet, letting the running water sluice over his palms.

While he was washing, Gu Zhao came up behind him and held him again.

The difference in their sizes meant that the man behind him, arms spread wide, could almost encircle him entirely.

Gu Zhao squeezed out some hand soap, let it slip between his fingers, and washed his hands for him with careful attention.

After several passes, both hands had grown so slick they were nearly impossible to grip; the soap had worked up a rich white lather.

Ji Su's face went a deeper shade of red: 'That's enough — I'm done washing.'

Gu Zhao replied evenly: 'It got dirty. It needs a proper wash.'

Ji Su: '…'

So who exactly had made it dirty in the first place?

Ji Su drove him out, then showered alone in the bathroom, rinsing away the sticky sheen of hot sweat.

After his shower, he started toward the Secondary Bedroom; Gu Zhao followed him in again.

Ji Su turned to reason with him: 'Your bed is bigger than mine. It'd be more comfortable to sleep on.'

'I know.' Gu Zhao gave a soft laugh. 'Go to sleep. I'll be gone in a moment.'

Ji Su lay down, half-believing; his two moist eyes stayed fixed on the figure at the bedside.

Gu Zhao adjusted the air conditioning to a temperature suited for sleep, then bent down and pressed a kiss to his brow: 'Good night.'

The kiss on the forehead was unexpectedly chaste; Ji Su blinked, then answered softly: 'Good night.'

*

The next morning, Ji Su slept until he woke of his own accord.

After washing up, he stepped out of the bathroom; Gu Zhao had already made breakfast and was carrying dishes to the table.

Ji Su walked over: 'Let me help.'

Gu Zhao handed him the plate in his hands and, bending down, pressed a kiss to his cheek: 'Good morning.'

Ji Su curved his lips: 'Good morning.'

He seemed to have grown used to Gu Zhao's kisses, which could descend at any moment; perhaps before long he would be able to adapt to…

Over breakfast, Gu Zhao asked without preamble: 'Have you thought it over?'

'Huh?' Ji Su looked up, somewhat at a loss. 'Thought about what?'

'Coming back to my hometown with me.' Gu Zhao reminded him at an unhurried pace. 'Yesterday I told you to think it over for a night.'

Ji Su caught on and replied without hesitation: 'When did I have any time to think about it last night?'

Gu Zhao lifted his coffee and took a sip: 'So — what's your answer?'

Ji Su hesitated for a moment, then asked: 'Does your family know you like boys?'

'They don't.' Gu Zhao set the coffee cup down. 'Before you, I never liked anyone.'

Ji Su pressed his lips together: 'Then will they accept me?'

'I know what you're worrying about, but you don't need to.' Gu Zhao looked into his eyes. 'The only elder in my family is Old Master Gu. He's open-minded, and he won't interfere in my affairs.'

Ji Su's eyes widened slightly: 'Then your parents…'

'They're both gone.' Gu Zhao's tone was even. 'I was raised by Old Master Gu.'

Ji Su felt a sharp tug at his heart; an emotion called heartache swept over him like a tide, and for a moment he could not think of any words of comfort to offer.

He had always thought of himself as a child who was not loved — yet Gu Zhao had lost the very possibility of being loved far earlier.

He could not say which of them was the more to be pitied.

'Don't look at me with those eyes.' Gu Zhao laughed. 'You'll make me want to kiss you to death.'

Ji Su rose, walked to his side, and bent to wrap his arms around Gu Zhao's shoulders.

Gu Zhao's expression faltered; the fingers around his coffee cup tightened.

Ji Su's voice was soft, but his tone was unusually firm: 'It's all right. From now on, I'll take good care of you.'

Gu Zhao slowly pressed his face to the warm chest and heard the slightly quickened heartbeat within.

After a long moment, he asked in a low voice: 'So — will you come back with me this afternoon?'

Ji Su could no longer harden his heart to refuse him. 'All right — I'll go back with you.'

After lunch, Gu Zhao drove, taking Ji Su with him back to the old mansion.

Roughly two hours later, the car turned onto the winding mountain road.

It was summer; the trees along the mountainside were lush and verdant, carrying a coolness one could never find amid steel and concrete.

Ji Su watched the scenery sliding past the window and asked, offhand: 'Did you always live here as a child?'

Though the surroundings were lovely, for a child who loved to play and make noise, the place was perhaps too secluded.

'No.' Gu Zhao rested one hand on the steering wheel. 'Before I was seven, I lived somewhere else.'

'Oh.' Ji Su answered, and did not press further.

Before seven, he must have lived with his parents — but those happy memories had been far too brief.

The car kept moving forward; after one bend, the view opened up all at once.

Soon, a grand, classical Chinese-style courtyard Villa came into view.

The entire half of the mountain held only this one courtyard Villa — a paradise apart from the city.

Though he already had some sense of Gu Zhao's family background, at this moment Ji Su was still awed by the sheer enormity of the structure before him.

The carved outer gate swung slowly open; Gu Zhao drove on a stretch further before bringing the car to a stop.

Ji Su was the first to open the door and step out, popped the trunk, and lifted out the gifts he had bought at short notice.

Though the situation had been urgent, as a junior visiting for the first time, the proper courtesies still needed to be seen to thoroughly.

Gu Zhao took the things from his hands with easy naturalness, leaving him only a light gift box. 'Let's go.'

Ji Su walked along, taking in the layout of the courtyard — winding paths leading into quiet seclusion, little bridges over running water — Chinese landscape elements deployed with just the right touch.

He could not help asking, curious: 'Did Old Master Gu come from Jiangnan originally?'

'No — my maternal grandmother was from Jiangnan.' Gu Zhao's steps slowed a fraction. 'She married far from home and was always homesick, so my maternal grandfather built this Chinese courtyard for her — a one-to-one replica, brought over piece by piece.'

'Wow…' Ji Su could not help sighing. 'Your maternal grandfather really knew how to lavish his heart on her. Your maternal grandmother must have been so moved.'

'Every man and woman of the Gu Family is a hopeless romantic.' Gu Zhao's smile was half-mocking, half-tender. 'The heart I've lavished on you will only be more, never less.'

Ji Su's ear-tips warmed; he bumped him with his shoulder. 'We're at your maternal grandfather's house — rein it in.'

'Oh?' Gu Zhao glanced sideways at him. 'Already calling him maternal grandfather, are we?'

Ji Su realized belatedly; his ear-tips flushed redder still. 'It just slipped out.'

'Not bad.' Gu Zhao laughed, low. 'Saves you the trouble of changing the address later.'

Ji Su: '…'

The two of them passed through corridor after corridor and at last arrived before the main hall.

A middle-aged man hurried forward to meet them. 'Young Master, you've returned!'

'Uncle Li.' Gu Zhao nodded in greeting. 'Is maternal grandfather at home?'

'He is — Old Master Gu is waiting for you in the front hall.' Uncle Li reached out to take the parcels. 'I'll carry these — you two go on in.'

Ji Su stood before the door and drew a deep breath.

'No need to be nervous.' Gu Zhao took his hand and squeezed it, as if to comfort. 'The old man is a fan of good looks — he'll like you.'

Ji Su: '…'

What kind of moment was this to be cracking jokes?

But being interrupted like this, Ji Su did relax quite a bit.

Gu Zhao took a long stride and walked into the front hall. 'Maternal grandfather — I'm back.'

Ji Su followed behind him, looked up, and saw an elderly man with silver hair — bright-eyed and vigorous, leaning on a cane but with his back still ramrod straight.

'You're back.' Old Master Gu walked toward them, his gaze settling on Ji Su's face. 'And who is this young friend?'

Gu Zhao spoke: 'Ji Su.'

Ji Su's brain short-circuited; the words tumbled out: 'Hello, maternal grandfather — my name is Ji Su.'

'Good.' Old Master Gu did not mind the address; he nodded, approving. 'Not bad at all. I've heard Xiao Wu speak of you — you really are quite striking.'

Ji Su and Gu Zhao exchanged a glance; in those black eyes he caught a glimmer of mischief.

Old Master Gu spoke again: 'Xiao Wu, take Xiao Ji to the guest room to rest first. Come down for dinner later.'

'All right, maternal grandfather.' Gu Zhao answered, leading Ji Su toward the back.

They passed through another long corridor, climbed to the second floor, and at last reached the bedroom wing.

Ji Su asked, voice low: 'Gu Zhao — why does maternal grandfather call you Xiao Wu?'

'Because I have four older cousins above me.' Gu Zhao pushed open the door. 'You'll meet them later.'

Ji Su looked into the bedroom. 'This is your room?'

'Mm.' Gu Zhao pushed him inside. 'Are you really planning to sleep in the guest room?'

Ji Su turned his head back. 'Can't I?'

'You can — but there's no need.' Gu Zhao lowered his head and kissed him. 'Your boyfriend doesn't want to sleep alone tonight.'

Ji Su leaned back, dodging the scalding kiss. 'The door isn't even closed yet…'

Gu Zhao lifted one long leg and kicked backward; the door slammed shut with a bang.

Kiss after kiss, and Ji Su was pressed down onto the bed, feeling a warm, sun-washed presence all around him.

Though Gu Zhao did not often come home, the household must regularly change his sheets and air the quilts out in the sun.

'Mm…' A low sound escaped Ji Su; his lower lip was bitten — neither lightly nor heavily.

'What are you thinking about?' Gu Zhao brushed the tip of his nose against Ji Su's, his voice hoarse beyond recognition. 'Kissing me, and still room in your head to wander?'

Ji Su tried to explain, but before the words could leave his mouth, he was thoroughly blocked again.

Gu Zhao's kiss deepened further, the tip of his tongue nearly licking into his throat; the large hand gripping the slender waist slid restlessly downward, coming to rest on his thigh.

Ji Su was kissed dizzy; his hands lay soft on the broad, flat shoulders — he could no longer tell whether he was pushing away or yielding.

Just then, a light knock came at the door. 'Young Master — dinner is ready.'

Gu Zhao released the sealed lips and drew back a fraction, answering hoarsely: 'Understood.'

Ji Su finally got fresh air, breathing in small, quick gasps; his gaze had gone hazy from the kissing.

Gu Zhao flicked out his tongue and licked away the moisture at the corner of his lips that had not been swallowed in time. 'Let's eat first.'