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Join the ServerClothes lay in disarray across the floor.
Against the black silk sheets, a pale body was stretched out, the mattress rippling beneath him like water, the creases spreading outward from where he lay.
The stark contrast of black and white was breathtaking, making his warm, soft body look like a flawless piece of fine jade, smooth and luminous.
He Ting kept his eyes closed shyly, his palms damp with sweat.
The mattress dipped beside him.
Someone leaned over him. A warm, dry hand brushed back his hair, fingertips gently tracing the line of his brows.
Hot lips pressed softly against his eyelids, making him shiver.
Gu Qiuhang’s low, husky laughter sounded by his ear.
“Are you scared?”
He Ting shook his head with his eyes still closed.
“I’m not.”
Gu Qiuhang’s kisses slowly traveled downward until they settled on his lips. He gently sucked at them.
They shared a long, lingering kiss, one that left He Ting breathless and dizzy.
“Gu Qiuhang…”
****
He Ting was exhausted. He felt completely drained.
Gu Qiuhang kissed his sweat-damp hairline tenderly, his flushed cheeks, and the lips that occasionally let out tiny hiccupping sobs.
“Does it feel that good?” he asked with a quiet laugh.
A thin layer of moisture shimmered in He Ting’s eyes, hazy and dreamlike. He buried his face in Gu Qiuhang’s chest and complained softly,
“Gu Qiuhang, you bullied me again.”
Gu Qiuhang’s chest vibrated with laughter.
Embarrassed yet hopeful, He Ting asked in a tiny voice,
“What about you? Did it feel good?”
His voice was so soft it was almost a whisper. Looking at his trembling lashes, Gu Qiuhang couldn’t bear to tease him any further.
His heart had melted into something warm and sweet.
As he stroked the smooth curve of his back, he praised him without restraint.
“It felt wonderful. You were amazing.”
His love words were clumsy, but sincere, spoken only to make him happy.
He Ting knew he was exaggerating, but he still curled up tighter, wishing he could disappear into a little ball.
“So delicious,” Gu Qiuhang laughed softly, looking at him with complete satisfaction. “I want more.”
Before He Ting could curl up completely, Gu Qiuhang gathered him into his arms and carried him into the bathroom.
****
He didn’t know when it ended.
While Gu Qiuhang was helping him bathe, he fell asleep against his chest.
When he woke, he was still curled up in Gu Qiuhang’s arms, one leg draped around his waist.
His gaze traced Gu Qiuhang’s thick, elegant brows, his high nose bridge, his thin, rosy lips, and the clean line of his jaw.
He smiled sweetly to himself.
Gu Qiuhang’s lashes fluttered. His voice was rough with sleep as he chuckled softly.
“Have you looked enough?”
Blushing, He Ting shifted shyly, trying to turn away, but the soreness in his body made him suck in a sharp breath.
Gu Qiuhang stopped him and checked on him carefully.
He frowned slightly.
“You’re swollen.”
He got up, fetched some ointment, and applied it with great care and gentleness.
When he finished, he kissed him twice on the curve of his hip with exaggerated affection.
He Ting buried his face in the pillow.
Gu Qiuhang pulled him back into his arms and looked at him with unusual seriousness.
“Next time, we have to be more careful.”
Four years passed in the blink of an eye.
It was spring again.
He Ting had grown into his features. The soft roundness that had once lingered in his face had given way to clean, graceful lines.
His entire demeanor was gentle, quiet, and serene.
He would graduate from university that summer.
He had decided not to pursue further studies. He wanted to leave more time for the things he truly loved.
When Gu Qiuhang came home, He Ting was sitting cross-legged on the sofa with Little Black curled in his lap, slowly chewing on a piece of dried sweet potato.
A comedy variety show was playing on the television, but he wasn’t really watching it.
The dried sweet potatoes were homemade.
Because He Ting loved them so much, Gu Qiuhang had bought a large batch of sweet potatoes that winter. Aunt Zhou boiled them, sliced them, covered them with mesh to keep insects away, and dried them on the terrace.
Gu Qiuhang took off his coat, loosened his tie, walked over, kissed him, and asked,
“What’s on your mind?”
He Ting looked up.
“Gu Qiuhang, I saw Su Bei today.”
Ignoring Little Black’s indignant meows, Gu Qiuhang lifted the cat off He Ting’s lap, pulled He Ting into his arms, and switched off the television.
“Oh? What happened with him this time?”
After a moment of silence, He Ting said,
“He dealt with the man who hurt Zhang Xiaojing.”
Su Bei had changed a great deal over the past few years.
He had become sharp and capable, and even the lines of his face had grown harder.
He had been drinking that day and insisted on calling He Ting over.
When He Ting arrived, Zhang Xiaojing wasn’t there.
Su Bei had sobered up considerably, though his eyes were still a little red.
The first thing he said was,
“I took care of him.”
As He Ting sat down beside him, trying to figure out who he meant, Su Bei answered before he could ask.
“The bastard who hurt Zhang Xiaojing.”
Then, with a hint of pride, he asked,
“Do you know how I dealt with him?”
He Ting shook his head.
Su Bei said,
“I started setting traps around him three years ago. He was cautious, but it didn’t matter. Everyone has weaknesses. Everyone gets greedy.”
He laughed mockingly.
“Tang Tang, do you know? There aren’t many truly terrifying things in this world, but the most terrifying one is being watched relentlessly by your enemy.”
He Ting thought about it and nodded seriously.
“That’s true. It’s not the thief you fear, it’s the thief who keeps thinking about you.”
Su Bei snorted with laughter and ruffled his soft hair into a mess.
“What are you talking about? Who’s the thief?”
He Ting laughed too.
He reached out and patted Su Bei on the shoulder.
“So… do you feel better now?”
Su Bei nodded.
“A lot better. That bastard will spend the rest of his life crawling in the mud. I’m happy. That’s the only way he deserves to live.”
Gu Qiuhang undid the top two buttons of his shirt and looked at him.
“Are you happy for him?”
He Ting nodded.
“I am.”
Then he frowned slightly.
“But I also feel a little sad. I can’t really explain it. These past few years have been hard on him.”
He looked up.
“Gu Qiuhang, don’t live with hatred. Promise me you’ll live well.”
Gu Qiuhang pressed him down onto the sofa, gently biting at his collarbone as he undid the buttons of his shirt.
“Mm,” he murmured. “I’ll listen to you.”
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