48

Ji Su sat up from the bed, raising a hand to straighten the collar that had been rumpled moments ago.

Gu Zhao extended a large hand with distinct knuckles, fastening the shirt buttons to the second from the top, then carefully smoothing the creases from the collar.

Once he was done, he lowered his head and pressed a kiss to the damp, reddened lips, then said: 'Go wash your face first.'

Ji Su was puzzled at first, but the moment he stood before the bathroom mirror, the truth dawned on him.

The face in the mirror had slightly disheveled bangs, flushed cheeks, and — most damning of all — a pair of lips reddened and swollen from being kissed; anyone with eyes could tell at a glance what had just happened.

Gu Zhao followed him into the bathroom, caught sight of that pretty little face in the mirror, and couldn't resist reaching out to hook his chin, tilting it toward himself.

'Gu Zhao!' Ji Su was both embarrassed and flustered, shoving at him hard with one hand. 'Look at my mouth — you've kissed it into this state. How am I supposed to go downstairs and face people?'

'It's fine — there are no outsiders.' Gu Zhao laughed low. 'Besides, with me here, who'd dare say anything?'

Ji Su: '……'

He splashed cold water on his face, and the two of them went downstairs together toward the front hall.

Before they had even drawn close, a lively buzz of voices drifted out from inside, threaded with a child's bright, giggling laughter.

Gu Zhao led Ji Su through the hall doors; the gathered crowd in the main hall fell quiet for a few seconds, then quickly resumed their clamor.

A tall, broad-shouldered man strode over, embraced Gu Zhao with a clap on the shoulder, and said: 'Not bad, Xiao Wu — a few months and you've filled out even more!'

'Eldest Brother.' Gu Zhao greeted him coolly, then introduced: 'Ji Su. My partner.'

Ji Su, standing quietly to one side, felt his pupils quake in an instant.

Wait — is that something one can just say outright?

'Oh, you're little Ji!' Gu Chen shifted his gaze to Ji Su's face and praised him with a smile: 'Old Master wasn't exaggerating at all this time — you really are good-looking!'

Ji Su came back to himself: 'Thank you, Eldest Brother.'

'Little Ji's already calling me Eldest Brother — then as an elder brother I ought to put on a proper show!' Gu Chen brightened at once, pulling a set of car keys straight from his pocket and pressing them into Ji Su's hand. 'This Porsche is the first time I've driven it today. If you don't mind, just take it when you leave — a meeting gift from your Eldest Brother!'

Ji Su was stunned for a beat, instinctively lifting his eyes to seek Gu Zhao's help.

Before Gu Zhao could speak, a woman's voice cut in: 'Eldest, can you put away your nouveau-riche act? You're frightening the poor thing.'

Ji Su followed the sound and saw a young woman who resembled Gu Zhao somewhat walking over — her makeup immaculate, her figure lovely, sensual yet elegant.

Gu Zhao introduced her briefly: 'Second Sister. Gu Nan.'

Ji Su obediently greeted her: 'Hello, Second Sister.'

Gu Nan seized his hand at once, warmly pressing it as she said: 'Su Su, you're far too pretty — paired with Xiao Wu's dead-fish face, it's really done you a disservice!'

'Thank you for the compliment, Second Sister.' Ji Su smiled, unconsciously rushing to defend his boyfriend — 'But—'

'But you can leave the second half unsaid.' Gu Zhao, faintly disdainful, lifted Gu Nan's hand away. 'Talk, then — but keep your hands to yourself.'

'Pfft, miser.' Gu Nan flicked her manicured fingers through her hair, then slid a crystal-clear Bracelet off her wrist. 'Su Su, Second Sister didn't know you were coming, so I haven't prepared anything good. Take this Bracelet first, won't you?'

'Haha!' Gu Chen laughed loudly, mocking: 'You were just calling me nouveau-riche — look at yourself!'

'Enough, put those away.' Gu Zhao took Ji Su's hand, rescuing him: 'If you've got money with nowhere to spend it, just transfer it to my bank card later.'

Ji Su secretly exhaled in relief and shot him a glance of gratitude.

Gu Zhao glanced sideways: 'Let me take you to meet the others.'

Everyone present today was a younger member of the Gu Family — all young people, and without much formality, they soon fell into easy company.

By the end of the evening, Ji Su had largely sorted out the Gu Family's relationships.

Old Master Gu had two sons and one daughter beneath him; Gu Zhao's mother was the youngest of those three, which made Gu Zhao the youngest of his generation as well.

Eldest Brother of the Gu Family, Gu Chen, was married and had a clever, bright daughter with his beautiful, refined wife; Second Sister Gu Nan was a lifelong bachelorette, endlessly absorbed in her career; Third Sister Gu Xueyao was Gu Chen's full sister, having only recently graduated from university and joined the family company; Fourth Brother Gu ZeRui shared the same mother as Second Sister, was only a few months older than Gu Zhao, and was still an undergraduate.

At Gu Zhao's having taken a shortcut past them all — bringing home a partner first — the family was both startled and alarmed; but once they met Ji Su in person, each of them was more than satisfied, and gender became the least important consideration of all.

Dinner was extraordinarily lively; Old Master Gu sat at the head of the table, beaming as he watched the young people laugh and talk, the wrinkles on his face seeming to deepen even further with his pleasure.

Having lost his daughter in middle age and his wife in old age, the once-commanding old man had long since softened into kindness.

After dinner, Gu Chen suggested a few rounds of mahjong to settle their stomachs.

Gu Xueyao had no interest in mahjong at all, and went off to one side with her little niece.

Gu Chen's wife sat in the chair beside him, and Ji Su sat quietly at Gu Zhao's side, watching the game.

After one round, Gu Zhao asked in a low voice: 'Want to try a hand?'

Ji Su replied softly: 'I've never played mahjong before.'

Though he'd watched a few rounds and roughly understood the rules, actually sitting down to play was another matter entirely.

'It's fine.' Gu Zhao seemed to read his hesitation; he rose and leaned close to his ear. 'Winnings are yours, losses are mine.'

'Come on, Su Su!' Gu Nan chimed in. 'Old Five's got plenty of money in his pocket — don't spare him.'

Gu Chen laughed: 'Don't feel pressured, little Ji — we play for small money, purely for fun.'

Ji Su could refuse no longer, took his seat at the table, and continued drawing tiles.

Whether it was beginner's luck or something else, within a short while he had muddled his way into a winning hand.

'Not bad at all.' Gu Zhao, sitting beside him, gave his earlobe a pinch as a reward.

But after a few rounds, Ji Su had figured it out — the elder brothers and sisters were deliberately feeding him tiles.

Their meeting gifts hadn't gone through earlier, so this was just another way of slipping him money.

When he finally rose from the table, Ji Su had effortlessly come away with a five-figure sum.

He pulled Gu Zhao aside and said softly: 'Gu Zhao, please help me return this money to Eldest Brother, Second Sister, and Fourth Brother later.'

'You won it fair and square — why return it?' Gu Zhao reached up and pinched the soft flesh of his cheek. 'Keep it safe, save up, and buy me a big house someday.'

Ji Su's ear-tips warmed faintly: 'Stop pinching me — everyone's watching.'

Not far off, Gu Xueyao quickly raised a hand to cover her eyes: 'I didn't see anything! Just pretend we're not here!'

Ji Su: '……'

'Keep it.' Gu Zhao released him. 'If you don't accept the meeting gifts, they'll think you have something against them.'

Ji Su stopped being coy and answered: 'Alright, then thank them for me.'

There would be time enough in the days ahead to return the kindness — no point making everyone unhappy over money.

The group chatted a while longer; apart from Gu Chen's family and Gu Xueyao, who already lived in the old house, everyone else departed.

Old Master Gu was too old to keep late hours and had long since retired for the night.

After seeing everyone off, Gu Zhao draped an arm around Ji Su's shoulder: 'Come on, let me take you out for a walk.'

By 'out,' Gu Zhao of course meant only out of the main hall — his home was, after all, an entire garden estate.

The mountain air was already several degrees cooler than below, and the garden was planted thick with flowers, herbs, and fruit trees; a soft breeze drifted through the night — quite delightful.

Gu Zhao held Ji Su's hand clasped in his; after they had walked a stretch, he asked: 'Did anything tonight make you uncomfortable?'

'No.' Ji Su replied. 'You were right — your family is easy to get along with.'

Not only that — because Gu Zhao had been watching his reactions all evening, the moment any hint of discomfort appeared, he had stepped in to shield him, never once letting him fall into an awkward situation.

'That's good.' Gu Zhao stopped walking, lifted his hand, and pressed a kiss to it. 'Ji Su — they will be your family too, in time.'

Ji Su's gaze flickered; he felt only a warm swelling in his chest, with a faint edge of ache.

A very strange feeling — but not one of aversion.

"Of course, if you don't like keeping up with them, we won't visit often in the future." Gu Zhao looked at him and made a promise. "You have me, and that's enough."

"No, I like them very much." Ji Su replied with curving brows and smiling eyes. "I like you, so of course I'll love all that comes with you."

The moonlight was gentle, and the tenderness in Gu Zhao's eyes was so full it was nearly spilling over.

"Mm. You like me." He repeated it as if to himself, lowered his gaze, and gently kissed the lips before him.

Just lips pressed intimately together — purely to feel each other's warmth and heartbeat.

The two shared a soft kiss, and Gu Zhao drew back a little of his own accord.

When boys kissed, it was usually fierce — such tender sweetness was rare. Ji Su was kissed into a slight daze, and unconsciously tilted his face forward to chase after him.

He didn't reach the kiss. He lifted his long lashes and suddenly crashed into a pair of smiling dark eyes — and blushed again.

Gu Zhao took his hand again. "Let's go back."

"Oh." Ji Su responded, obediently letting himself be led back.

*

After winding around several turns, they returned to Gu Zhao's bedroom.

Ji Su took his clothes and went to shower first; after he came out, Gu Zhao went into the bathroom in turn.

Ji Su sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed and opened his phone to check his WeChat messages.

His fingertip slid across the screen, and suddenly a video call request popped up.

Ji Su raised a hand to smooth his fringe and tapped to accept. "Hello, Mom."

"Gege!" A small face as exquisite as a porcelain doll leaned into the camera — blue eyes, a very pretty mixed-blood little girl.

"Anne, hello!" Ji Su raised a hand to wave at her. "You've gotten even prettier recently."

"Thank you, gege!" His sister's big eyes curved into crescents as she asked happily, "Gege, when are you coming to see me?"

Ji Su paused slightly, pondering how to answer, when the camera on the other end wobbled.

A few seconds later, Su Yuelan's face appeared on the screen, and she apologized right away: "I'm sorry, Susu — your sister was sick a few days ago, and Mom was so busy she accidentally forgot your birthday."

"It's okay, Mom." Ji Su smiled faintly. "Is my sister better now?"

"All better! I got better ages ago!" His sister's crisp, childish voice came from the side. "Happy birthday, gege!"

Su Yuelan continued: "Happy birthday, Susu. Mom transferred some money to your account — buy whatever gift you want."

"Mom, you don't need to transfer money to me anymore." Ji Su replied softly. "I have enough to spend, and I can earn money on my own now — you and Uncle work hard for it too."

"Alas, this child — so well-behaved and sensible since childhood..." Su Yuelan sighed, her words carrying a hidden meaning. "But what should be fought for still needs to be fought for, you know, Susu?"

Ji Su pressed his lips together and did not take up the thread.

He knew what his mother was referring to — she meant for him not to hand over the family company and house to Ji Chen.

But sometimes it wasn't that he didn't want to fight for them — some things simply couldn't be won no matter how hard one fought, and it was better to let go gracefully on his own terms.

Seeing him silent, Su Yuelan changed the subject and began asking about his studies and life again.

But mother and son were separated by an ocean, rarely seeing each other; the topics they could discuss were few, and before long they fell into an awkward silence.

Just as Ji Su was about to suggest hanging up, the bathroom door creaked open.

Gu Zhao walked out in a robe, his hair half-wet, half-dry, his gaze sweeping over him casually. "Who are you on video with?"

Su Yuelan asked from the other end of the screen: "Susu, who's that talking?"

"Ah..." Ji Su's mind raced. "Roommate — yeah, it's my roommate talking."

Su Yuelan asked again: "Is that that Xiao Qiao?"

Ji Su braced himself and kept fabricating: "No, it's another roommate."

Gu Zhao narrowed his dark eyes slightly and strode toward him on his long legs.

Ji Su shook his head almost imperceptibly and said to the screen: "Mom, it's getting late here — I'm going to rest."

"All right, get some rest." Su Yuelan, suspecting nothing, added one more reminder: "Take care of yourself."

After hanging up the video, Ji Su tried to change the subject: "You finished showering pretty fast today."

Gu Zhao didn't fall for it, dropping onto the bed on one knee. "Roommate?"

Ji Su, feeling guilty, forced out an explanation: "We live under the same roof — aren't we roommates?"

"Oh?" Gu Zhao raised a hand and gripped his chin. "Can a roommate do this kind of thing to you?"

The words had barely fallen when a searing pair of lips descended.

Ji Su gave a soft hum and obediently closed his eyes.

But this kiss was entirely different from the one in the courtyard — like a fine, airtight net enveloping his whole being, drawing tighter and tighter...

Ji Su couldn't breathe, and instinctively began to struggle.

Gu Zhao withdrew from the wet, hot mouth, his tongue licking lazily at the tender flesh at the corner of his lips. "Can a roommate kiss you?"

Ji Su shook his head with difficulty between gasps.

Gu Zhao commanded hoarsely: "Speak."

Ji Su managed between breaths: "N-no..."

Gu Zhao slid one hand downward. "Then who am I?"

"Mmph—" Ji Su gasped in shock. "Boyfriend..."

"Oh." Gu Zhao smiled, his gaze fierce as if he could devour him. "Then a boyfriend can do anything to you, right?"

Ji Su instinctively nodded, then shook his head.

But Gu Zhao only saw the answer he wanted to see, pressed closer with satisfaction, and praised: "Good baby."

The endearment was too intimate; Ji Su felt the shame deepen — and the next second, he was kissed hard again.

He lay back on the bed, the back of his head nestled against the soft sheets, his elegant swan-neck lifted high, the line of his throat taut as a cello string; a flush spread from the roots of his ears downward across his whole body.

Gu Zhao kissed him for a good while, then his large hand gripped the slender, supple waist and turned him over.

Ji Su's face was pressed into the sheets, nearly unable to breathe, and he called out in a soft voice: "Gu Zhao..."

"Mm, I'm here." Gu Zhao adjusted him onto his side, then lay down behind him, pressing close.

Ji Su trembled all over from the heat, instinctively wanting to crawl forward.

The large hand at his waist tightened, pinning him firmly in place.

"No..." Ji Su was so frightened his voice trembled at the end. "Really no, Gu Zhao..."

He hadn't even opened the dozens of gigabytes of material he'd downloaded — in this situation, he absolutely couldn't take it, could he...

"It's okay." Gu Zhao wrapped one hand around his slender, straight yet slightly fleshy thigh and bit his ear, saying two words.

Ji Su's mind was like a paste — he didn't understand at all: "Use my leg for what..."

Gu Zhao laughed deeply against his ear, his thin lips parting to utter a few more words.

The roots of Ji Su's ears went suddenly numb; a stimulating current crackled along his meridians and exploded, leaving him utterly limp in the embrace behind him.

"Didn't you say you'd take good care of me in the future?" Gu Zhao's fingertip lifted lightly, a wicked smile on his face. "Then let me see right now — how will you take care of me?"