53

The bathroom was thick with mist, moisture saturating every molecule in the air.

Ji Su's shower ran long—he washed himself thoroughly, inside and out, before Gu Zhao carried him back to bed.

The moment his head touched the pillow, his eyes fell shut; he was too drowsy to speak a single word.

Gu Zhao lowered his gaze and watched the person beneath him without blinking.

Skin pale and fine as new snow, flushed in patches of soft pink; long curling lashes clumped wet into little clusters, like butterfly wings battered by a violent storm; lips swollen and red as ripe berries, ready to spill sweet juice at the slightest press.

After a long moment, Gu Zhao picked up the air-conditioner remote, lowered the temperature a touch, and lay down on the bed himself.

He reached to gather Ji Su into his arms; the moment his hand met that slender waist, a reflexive shiver ran through him.

Like a mechanical doll played past its limits—too fragile to be touched.

Gu Zhao let out a low laugh, waited patiently until Ji Su had drifted into sleep, then gathered him close and slept with him.

*

On the morning of the third day, Ji Su woke up and resolved that tonight he would barricade the door with a table.

If things kept on like this, he might die at Gu Zhao's hands…

Ji Su lay face-down on the bed for a while to recover, then rose and dressed in a shirt and trousers, carefully concealing every green and purple mark.

Walking out of the bedroom, he found Gu Zhao sitting on the sofa with a laptop on his lap, typing away.

A pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat on his high-bridged nose, giving him a refined, almost ascetic air.

Though once those clothes came off, the man had nothing whatsoever to do with the word 'ascetic'…

Gu Zhao felt his gaze and looked up: 'Did you sleep well?'

'Mm, slept well,' Ji Su answered.

Gu Zhao set the laptop aside: 'Come here.'

Ji Su shuffled over slowly: 'Are you busy?'

'Nothing much.' Gu Zhao took his hand and drew him down to sit on his lap.

Ji Su drew a soft breath: 'Sssh…'

Gu Zhao bent to kiss him: 'Still sore?'

Ji Su blinked his lashes: 'It's alright.'

Though he'd been thoroughly worn out, Gu Zhao's aftercare was impeccable—apart from some muscle soreness, he hadn't truly been hurt.

Gu Zhao rubbed his waist with a warm palm, laughter threading through his voice: 'After a few more rounds of training, you'll get used to it.'

Ji Su trembled in his arms and politely declined: 'I don't think that's necessary…'

Gu Zhao's tone was firm: 'Very necessary.'

Ji Su pursed his lips and changed the subject: 'I'm hungry.'

'Breakfast is ready. Let's eat.' Gu Zhao rose as he spoke, lifting Ji Su with him and heading for the dining table.

After breakfast, the two busied themselves with their own things for a while.

Near lunchtime, Ji Su received a phone call.

He was in the middle of drafting; without checking the caller ID, he pressed answer: 'Hello?'

'I heard from Xiao Chen that you've been on break for a while now?' Ji Zhenghai's voice came through the phone. 'Why haven't you come home if you're on break?'

Ji Su paused his work: 'Dad, I took a part-time job this summer, so I stayed at School.'

'What kind of part-time job would you go looking for? How much could you possibly earn?' Ji Zhenghai said, dissatisfied. 'Are you short on money?'

'I'm not short on money, Dad.' Ji Su frowned slightly and explained with patience: 'A part-time job is a chance to train myself, and it lays the groundwork for future work.'

'What training? Are you really planning to go build houses on construction sites in the future?' Ji Zhenghai continued lecturing. 'Since you're on break, at least come back for a few days. Otherwise people will think I, Ji Zhenghai, only have one son.'

Ji Su's fingers tightened around the phone, the knuckles whitening with pressure.

In the end, he agreed: 'Alright, Dad. I'll come home for dinner tonight.'

Ji Zhenghai was satisfied: 'Now that's more like it.'

After hanging up, Ji Su sat at his desk in a daze for a while, then rose and went outside.

Gu Zhao was preparing lunch, unhurried and methodical in his movements.

Ji Su walked over without a sound and wrapped his arms around Gu Zhao's waist from behind.

Gu Zhao turned his face: 'Hungry?'

'No.' Ji Su shook his head. 'Thank you for your hard work, Gu Zhao-gege.'

Gu Zhao laughed softly: 'Not afraid of me anymore?'

'I'm not afraid of you.' Ji Su's ears grew warm as he answered softly, 'It's just… just that maybe we could ease up a little. Slow and steady, right…?'

Gu Zhao looked at him for a few seconds, then turned and wrapped an arm around him, leaning in to kiss him.

Ji Su obediently tilted his face up to meet the burning lips.

When the wet kiss ended, Gu Zhao pressed his forehead against Ji Su's and praised him in a slightly hoarse voice: 'Such a good baby.'

Over lunch, Ji Su spoke up: 'Gu Zhao, I need to go home after we eat.'

Gu Zhao's hand paused; he lifted his eyelids: 'I'm not going to touch you tonight.'

'It's not that…' Ji Su pressed his lips together. 'My dad called. He wants me to come home for a visit.'

Gu Zhao stared at him intently, as if weighing the truth of his words.

'Really.' Ji Su raised one hand beside his ear. 'I swear I'm not lying.'

Gu Zhao asked again: 'When will you be back?'

Ji Su replied: 'Probably one or two nights.'

'Alright.' Gu Zhao lowered his gaze. 'After we eat, I'll drive you.'

'My home is pretty far—two or three hours by car. If you drove back after, it would already be dark, and I wouldn't feel easy about it.' Ji Su refused. 'Taking a taxi is much more convenient.'

Gu Zhao didn't insist: 'Understood.'

After lunch, Ji Su packed a few things.

Gu Zhao stood watching him: 'Don't bring the laptop. You'll be back tomorrow anyway.'

Ji Su thought for a moment: 'I'll bring it. There's nothing else to do back home.'

Gu Zhao's gaze slid from his face down to his slender neck.

Ji Su realized belatedly and raised a hand to cover his neck: 'Are there marks?'

'Not obvious.' Gu Zhao walked over and fastened one more button at the top of the white shirt. 'If your family asks, just say it was a mosquito bite.'

The kiss marks on Ji Su's neck were indeed faint; the worst of them gathered on his back and legs—kissed, bitten, pinched until they were a sight too pitiful to look at.

Fortunately, those areas could all be hidden beneath clothing, unlikely to be noticed by anyone.

Ji Su quipped: 'Is there a mosquito that big?'

'Why not?' Gu Zhao bent down and bit the soft flesh of his cheek. 'Aren't I one?'

Ji Su: '…'

Once everything was packed, Gu Zhao took the bag: 'I'll walk you down.'

The two stepped into the elevator one after the other; he pressed the first floor, and the doors slid shut.

The moment Ji Su turned around, hands gripped his waist and lifted him up—and the next second, his lips were sealed shut.

Gu Zhao kissed him fiercely; in barely ten seconds, Ji Su was nearly out of breath.

With a soft ding, the elevator doors slid slowly open.

Gu Zhao released him and turned to walk out as if nothing had happened.

Ji Su followed behind him, wiping the wetness from his lips with the back of his hand, the tips of his ears flushed red.

Gu Zhao hailed a taxi at the curb, noted the license plate, and pulled open the rear door.

Ji Su climbed in: 'I'm off, then.'

'Mm.' Gu Zhao reached out and pinched his cheek. 'Come back soon.'

Ji Su answered: 'Okay.'

The driver pressed the accelerator, and the taxi pulled onto the main road.

Ji Su glanced at the rearview mirror by chance and saw Gu Zhao still standing in place, watching him leave.

Only when that tall figure had shrunk to a small black dot did he look away.

He knew Gu Zhao couldn't bear to part with him—and in truth, neither could he…

*

A little past five in the afternoon, the taxi stopped at the gate of the Villa complex.

Ji Su got out and walked inside.

A car was parked at the house entrance; he pushed open the outer gate, went in, and rang the doorbell.

The housekeeper opened the door quickly: 'You've returned.'

Ji Su gave a slight nod by way of greeting and walked in.

Qin Auntie sat in the living room watching television; Ji Chen was sprawled on the sofa beside her, peeling an orange.

"Qin Auntie." Ji Su called out. "Xiao Chen, I'm back."

"Ge!" Ji Chen's eyes lit up at once; he bounced off the sofa and threw himself at Ji Su with enthusiasm. "You're finally back!"

Ji Su steadied himself. "A few days apart, and you seem to have grown taller again?"

"Really?" Ji Chen released him, then pressed the peeled orange into his hand. "Ge, have an orange—it's so, so sweet!"

Qin Auntie laughed. "No wonder you kept peeling oranges—so they were for your brother all along."

"Thanks, Xiao Chen." Ji Su smiled too. "Qin Auntie, I'll go upstairs and tidy up first."

"Alright, go on." Qin Auntie stood. "Your father will be back soon."

Ji Su turned toward the stairs; Ji Chen trotted after him, asking, "Ge, how many days are you staying this time?"

"Can't stay long." Ji Su brushed it off. "There's still things at School."

"Ah…" Ji Chen was a little disappointed, dragging out the tail of the syllable. "Ge, you barely ever come home—can't you stay a few more days?"

Ji Su didn't want to say more. "I brought you a gift. Want to see it?"

"A gift too?" Ji Chen brightened at once. "What is it?"

Ji Su pushed open the door. "I'll give it to you in a bit."

The moment he stepped inside, a smell of dust rushed to meet him.

"Cough, cough…" Ji Chen coughed twice. "Why is there so much dust?"

Ji Su walked to the window, drew back the curtains, opened the window, and let the fresh air circulate through.

He'd been away so long that no one had cleaned his room; even the bedsheets had gathered a layer of dust.

Ji Chen frowned, pinching his nose. "Ge, let's step out first and let Zhang Ma come in to clean."

"It's fine." Ji Su set down his backpack. "You go out first; I'll just change the sheets."

"Alright then." Ji Chen moved toward the door, then turned back. "Ge, remember to give me my gift!"

After Ji Su had tidied the room, it was exactly time for dinner.

He went down the stairs and saw Ji Zhenghai seated at the head of the table, Qin Auntie and Ji Chen on either side—a family of three chatting and laughing, warm and whole.

Ji Su had seen this scene many times; he stood at the foot of the stairs watching for a long moment before he set his feet in motion again.

Qin Auntie was the first to notice him. "Su Su, you're down—come sit."

The smile vanished from Ji Zhenghai's face. "When did you get back?"

"Dad." Ji Su walked over and took the seat across from him. "Just back not long ago."

"Your Qin Auntie and your brother think of you all day long, but you don't think of home at all." Ji Zhenghai said with a stiff face. "Coming back once, and we still have to invite you three times over."

Ji Su said nothing, listening in silence.

"Su Su, don't listen to your father's nonsense—he's the one who mentions you most." Qin Auntie, sensing the atmosphere had soured, gently tried to smooth things over. "Right, Su Su even brought Xiao Chen a gift when he came home."

"Yeah, Dad." Ji Chen piped up. "Ge bought me my favorite figurine—who says my ge doesn't think of me?"

Ji Zhenghai's expression softened a fraction. "Fine, eat first."

The table was laden with dishes, lavish beyond measure, and yet for a moment Ji Su couldn't quite bring himself to lift his chopsticks.

On the table sat seafood he couldn't eat, celery he didn't like—and not a single dish made to suit his taste.

After all these years, he ought to have grown used to it by now; but living these past weeks at Gu Zhao's Residence, every dish set before him had always been something he liked.

So tonight's dinner became something he could hardly bear.

Ji Su lowered his lashes and picked up a bite of the vegetable nearest to him.

"Oh no!" Ji Chen, who had been peeling crayfish, suddenly stopped and looked at Ji Su. "I forgot to tell you—my ge is allergic to seafood!"

"Allergic to seafood?" Ji Zhenghai looked startled. "Since when?"

Ji Su replied lightly. "Always have been."

The table fell silent. Qin Auntie said, a little awkwardly, "Next time Su Su comes home, I'll tell Zhang Ma not to make seafood."

"He's allergic to seafood, and you all can't eat it either?" Ji Zhenghai disagreed. "There's a whole table of food—can't you just eat something other than the seafood?"

This time Ji Su didn't answer; he simply served himself a piece of braised spare ribs.

Ji Zhenghai's face darkened, and Qin Auntie, seizing the moment, steered the conversation elsewhere. "Right, Old Ji, last time you mentioned…"

Though he had no appetite, Ji Su stayed at the table until Ji Zhenghai finally set down his chopsticks, then rose. "Dad, Qin Auntie, I'm finished—I'll head upstairs."

"Tired from the ride home today?" Qin Auntie asked with concern. "Go back to your room and rest a while."

Ji Zhenghai seemed about to say something, then thought better of it; he only waved his hand. "Go."

Ji Su returned to his room, sat at the desk, and sent Gu Zhao a message.

The other side seemed to have been waiting for his message—it came back almost instantly.

Gu Zhao: [Is it convenient to take a call?]

Ji Su didn't reply; he simply dialed Gu Zhao's number.

After two beeps, the call connected, and a low, magnetic voice reached his ear. "Have you eaten dinner?"

Ji Su lay draped across the desk. "I ate."

"Really ate?" Gu Zhao caught something off in his voice. "Did something happen?"

Ji Su felt, for no clear reason, a little wronged. "Really ate. Just didn't eat enough."

Gu Zhao asked, "Dinner not to your taste?"

"Yeah." Ji Su replied softly. "Not as good as what you make."

"Of course." Gu Zhao paused briefly. "Send me the address—I'll order you some takeout. I'll make you something good when you come home tomorrow."

"It's already so late; I don't really want to eat." Ji Su straightened up. "Besides, I've still got snacks in my bag."

"Then have some snacks to tide you over." Gu Zhao said in a low voice. "You won't be able to sleep on an empty stomach."

"I know." Ji Su laughed. "Don't worry—I'm a grown-up. I won't let myself go hungry."

Gu Zhao replied, low. "You're not under my eyes. I can't rest easy."

Ji Su's heart went warm, then soft. "What did you eat tonight?"

"Just picked at this and that." Gu Zhao played the martyr on purpose. "You're not here—I can't taste anything."

Ji Su grew a little displeased. "That's not okay. You have to eat properly even when I'm not there."

They chatted a while longer, and then Gu Zhao suddenly made a request. "Open video. I want to see you."

"Can we open it in a bit?" Ji Su negotiated. "I want to shower first."

Gu Zhao was silent for a few seconds, then replied, unhurried. "You shower your shower—it doesn't affect opening video."

"Huh?" Ji Su was a little bewildered. "You want to watch me shower?"

Gu Zhao laughed low. "I've already washed you with my own hands—why can't I look?"

Ji Su's cheeks went hot. "I don't want to."

Although they had showered together, it had always been when he wasn't fully conscious.

Besides, opening a video for someone to watch him shower was genuinely strange…

"Then let's open video and shower together." Gu Zhao coaxed, low. "I'll show you too—I won't let you be at a loss."

Ji Su: "…"

Why did it sound kind of reasonable?

Gu Zhao called. "Baby?"

Ji Su replied, soft. "But I'm shy…"

"Alright." Gu Zhao didn't press further. "Then you go shower first—we'll open video after."

Ji Su hung up, pulled out his clothes, and went to the bathroom to shower.

Because he was thinking about the video, he showered faster than usual; once done, he hastily pulled on his pajamas and came out, not even bothering to dry his hair.

Ji Su sat cross-legged on the bed, opened WeChat, and dialed the video call.

A few seconds later, the video connected, and a handsome face appeared on the phone screen.

Gu Zhao had also just finished showering; his damp fringe hung between his brows, carrying a wet, sensual quality.

Ji Su's mood lifted at once; his brows curved as he greeted, "Good evening."

"Good evening." Gu Zhao answered. The camera wobbled twice, then pressed against his solid, full chest—large water droplets rolling in the grooves of his abs.

Ji Su's eyes widened slightly. "Why aren't you wearing clothes?"

Gu Zhao laughed. "How do you know I'm not wearing clothes?"

As he spoke, the camera continued downward.

Ji Su instinctively raised a hand to cover his eyes. "How can you be like this!"

Muffled laughter came through the phone; feeling he'd been tricked, he couldn't help parting his fingers and peeking through the gaps.

Gu Zhao was wearing pants—gray sweatpants hanging loose at his hips, seemingly pulled down a touch on purpose, revealing not only a beautiful mermaid line but even the raised veins and a hint of…

The flush on Ji Su's face spread in an instant down to his neck.