Zhuang Yan met Xie Ning’s serious gaze and was silent.
But Xie Ning, with rounded eyes, didn’t seem to notice anything strange.
Zhuang Yan thought with indignation, Retribution. This is retribution.
He’d teased and flirted with Xie Ning so many times, but he was no match for the natural flirting that was presented to him now.
Zhuang Yan’s vision landed on Xie Ning’s body.
His figure was basically exposed under the outfit he was wearing. His neck is as elegant, white, and thin as a swan’s, his collarbone, peeking out from under the collar of his shirt, had a slight curve to it, his thin, slender wrists were faintly discernible under his sleeve cuffs, and his waist, outlined by his suit, looked as if one hand could just wrap around and pull him over...
Just looking at him started a fire in Zhuang Yan’s heart.
Thinking of the word “shower”, the expression in his eyes became deeper, and his heart stopped for a moment before it started beating forcefully.
His Adam’s apple rolled over twice, and he tried to confirm again. “You want to shower here?”
Xie Ning nodded. “Mmn.”
Zhuang Yan took a couple of deep breaths, thinking, You brought this upon yourself.
Then turned his head and scolded himself ferociously.
Be a human; he’s still drunk.
Fuck!
Zhuang Yan’s heart became restless.
He didn’t dare to help Xie Ning shower.
The Xie Ning now, who let him take and give whatever he wanted, would have been eaten up long ago if Zhuang Yan was a little more animalistic.
But no matter how strong his self-control is, or how much he wants to be a human, how could he hold on if he sees the person he likes taking off their clothes in front of him?
Zhuang Yan felt like this was a test for his male dignity.
Xie Ning was still drunk, so it would actually be uncomfortable for him if he were to sleep without showering. He was still looking at himself with uncertainty…
Zhuang Yan’s head hurt for a bit, and struggled to say, “Showering by yourself...can you do that?”
Luckily, the ten year old NingNing had unlocked the skill of taking a shower by himself.
He nodded: “I can.”
Zhuang Yan let out a sigh quietly, although there was a flash of disappointment somewhere deep in his heart.
He brought Xie Ning to the bedroom and went to the bathroom himself first.
The bathroom was large. Other than the showerhead, there was also a bathtub that could fit several adults in it.
Zhuang Yan was afraid that Xie Ning would somehow choke on water in the shower, so he walked over to the bathtub to fill it with water.
When the water temperature was about right, he brought a towel and shower gel over, placing it onto the chair next to the bathtub, and found the pajamas and change of clothes that Lan Zhai provided for guests in the closet in the bedroom.
LanZhai’s hospitality is very considerate, so all the clothes were brand new.
After doing all this, Zhuang Yan was still worried. He brought Xie Ning into the bathroom and tried to teach him how to use most of the bathroom supplies, one by one.
Xie Ning nodded. “I know how to use them.”
The bathroom door could only be locked from the inside. Zhuang Yan gave it some thought, and said, “If you need help with anything, just call for me. I’ll be right outside; I won’t go far.”
Xie Ning slowly confirmed that he understood. “Okay.”
Zhuang Yan looked at him for a while, silent, and curled the corner of his lips into a smile, leaving the bathroom.
He didn’t know if he should consider it fortunate or regretful. In Lan Zhai’s suite, the bathroom is a completely closed off little room, unlike normal places, where there is only a frosted glass door separating it from the rest of the room.
Zhuang Yan couldn’t see the beautiful scenery inside, and the fire in his heart grew smaller.
But the bathroom wasn’t soundproof. He could still hear the sound of water from the bedroom, and not being able to see anything only let his imagination run wild.
The fire that had just gotten smaller, became bigger again.
Zhuang Yan walked to the window and opened it, letting himself feel the cold wind.
He couldn’t resist and took out a cigarette. While he was pondering whether or not to smoke, Xie Ning’s voice came from the bathroom.
“Zhuang-Zhuang…” Xie Ning struggled to call his name, and only remembered after a while. “Zhuang Yan!”
Zhuang Yan paused.
Didn’t he just go in?
He put the cigarette away and knocked on the bathroom door three times. He took a deep breath and opened the door to go in.
Thankfully, Xie Ning wasn’t naked in front of him.
Xie Ning had only taken off his suit jacket. His shirt was a little messy, and his sleeve cuffs were wet as if he were playing with the water just now.
His pants were still on properly.
Zhuang Yan asked, “What’s the matter?”
Xie Ning’s voice carried a bit of grievance with it. “Pants...I can’t take them off.”
Zhuang Yan lowered his head, and at a glance, could see that there was a buckle on his belt that seemed troublesome to untie.
He was silent for three full seconds before reaching a hand out towards Xie Ning’s waist and slowly feeling his way around the belt.
Xie Ning shrank his body a little.
Zhuang Yan’s hands paused and immediately untied the buckle with his fingers. With a blank expression on his face, he pushed the suit’s pants down.
He didn’t dare to look down at Xie Ning’s bare legs, so his gaze landed on Xie Ning’s lips and stayed there for a while. He asked hoarsely, “Is there anything else you need?”
Xie Ning shook his head. “Thank you.”
Zhuang Yan didn’t say anything. After exiting the bathroom, he couldn’t resist and scolded: Damn!
Accompanied by the sound of water coming from the bathroom, Zhuang Yan stood in front of the window and smoked cigarette after cigarette.
His hand felt around in his pocket and found an empty cigarette box.
The cigarette in his hand that was almost finished burning trembled a little, and the ashes landed on the windowsill. Zhuang Yan frowned.
He’d finished smoking a little bit less than half of the cigarette box already.
So much time has passed. How come Xie Ning still didn’t come out?
Does it take so long to take a bath? The water was probably already cold.
The bathroom was quiet. He thought about it carefully, and it seemed like there’d been no movement in there for a while now.
Zhuang Yan extinguished the cigarette on the window sill and his heart became anxious.
What if something happened?
He walked to the bathroom door, hesitated for a long time, and pricked his ears up to listen.
Zhuang Yan paced around the room, decided that he was still worried, and knocked a couple times on the bathroom door.
There was no response.
Zhuang Yan called, “Xie Ning?”
“Xie Ning?”
“NingNing?”
“...”
He didn’t faint in there, did he? Or did he fall asleep?
Zhuang Yan suddenly remembered a piece of news he’d heard before. Someone had been taking a bath, sank into the water, and drowned.
And by now, the water must be cold. If he stays in the bath for any longer, he’ll definitely catch a cold…
Zhuang Yan became more anxious as he thought about it, his eyebrows locked in a frown, hesitated for a moment, and finally opened the bathroom door.
The thick steam of the bath rushed towards him. Xie Ning was sitting blankly in the bathtub with his hands perched on either side of the bathtub, his eyes devoid of expression and seemingly filled with water vapor.
Zhuang Yan, seeing him safe and sound, let out a sigh of relief.
Then stopped breathing.
His gaze involuntarily landed on Xie Ning’s naked shoulders. His skin was dazzlingly white, and as he looked down from his shoulders, his ribs were slightly visible, delicate and beautiful, drawing him to want to touch it.
Further down...was covered by the water in the bath.
The sight in front of him was enough to make Zhuang Yan’s heart tremble, his mind turn white, and his thoughts stop.
The fire in his heart expanded to become a prairie fire instead, burning and heating up his whole body.
Zhuang Yan’s hand clenched into a fist. He turned his head, not letting himself look at Xie Ning directly, and softly called, “NingNing?”
His voice was hoarse and dull, brimming with lust.
Xie Ning still didn’t answer him.
Zhuang Yan slowly got closer and his breathing got quicker with each step.
He first reached out his hand to test the temperature of the water, and as expected, it was already cold.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice gravelly.
Xie Ning took a long while to give him a reaction. He raised his head, and said pitifully, “Hurts.”
Zhuang Yan paused. “Where does it hurt?”
Xie Ning raised his hand and pressed his head.
Zhuang Yan asked softly, “Your head hurts?”
Xie Ning looked at him tearfully. “When I tried to lay down, I hit it.”
Zhuang Yan squatted in front of the bathtub and felt the back of his head. “Is it here?”
Then his body suddenly stiffened--
Xie Ning reached his hand out and hugged his neck, as if he wanted to sink into his embrace for comfort.
In a moment, all of the blood in Zhuang Yan’s body rushed to his head. Every thought in his mind was burned clean on the way.
Luckily, the bathtub was in the way, so Xie Ning couldn’t come out easily and could only hug his neck.
Even so, Zhuang Yan felt like he was so hot he was going to explode.
Xie Ning sounded like he was crying. “It hurts a lot.”
Zhuang Yan became panicked when he heard this. He held back the enchanting thoughts in his head to move Xie Ning’s hair aside and look at the back of his head, but he didn’t see any blood.
It seems like he just hit it. There wasn’t even a bump.
Zhuang Yan used some more of his exhausted self-control and rubbed the back of Xie Ning’s head.
“Does it still hurt?”
Xie Ning still said, “Hurts.”
If he wasn’t drunk, Zhuang Yan would have thought he was trying to seduce him.
Zhuang Yan patiently asked, “Did you hit somewhere else as well?”
Xie Ning only said, “Hurts.”
Zhuang Yan felt like there was something strange about his behavior.
Was it that, after being quiet for so long, he’d finally become a roaring drunk after getting into the bath?
Zhuang Yan’s head started to hurt a little too. Not only did his head hurt, but down there too.
Xie Ning’s behavior right now seemed like he was acting like a spoiled child. Zhuang Yan’s chest rose wildly twice and he suspected he was going to go crazy.
Why was he torturing himself so much!
He stared at Xie Ning fiercely and thought, If you keep acting cute like this, I really can’t stop myself anymore.
Xie Ning’s senses were keen, and under Zhuang Yan’s gaze, his shoulders shook once. He instinctively backed up, and sat back down in the bathtub.
The bathtub splashed slightly with his movement.
Zhuang Yan chuckled. “Are you scared now?”
Xie Ning’s body shook unconsciously.
The corner of Zhuang Yan’s lips lifted up a little, and his tone was dangerous. “Why do you...like to provoke me so much?”
He took the towel next to him, and wanted to help dry Xie Ning off.
Xie Ning flinched.
Zhuang Yan sighed. “Be a little more obedient.” Or else he wasn’t sure what he’d do.
Xie Ning said softly, “I-I’ll be good.”
Sure enough, he sat without moving, and allowed Zhuang Yan to wrap the towel around him and carry him out of the bathtub.
Zhuang Yan felt like if he had even a tiny bit less self-control, Xie Ning would have already been completely eaten by him by now.
But he’s not such a person.
No matter how much he wanted to do something to Xie Ning, it should be when Xie Ning had a clear mind, and when the two of them were mutually in a happy situation. He wouldn’t take advantage of Xie Ning’s drunk and confused state.
So, right now, he could only curse in his heart and resist the fire in his heart to wipe the water off Xie Ning.
His skin under the towel was pale and delicate, and was even smoother than the most expensive silk. Zhuang Yan’s heart rippled, and in a moment of weakness, his touch became a little heavier.
Xie Ning’s eyes were watery, as if he was about to cry. “Don’t hit me.”
Zhuang Yan was startled, and immediately gritted his teeth, replying, “I don’t have a tendency for domestic violence. I won’t hit you.”
Also, is he a fool?! Doesn’t he know that the more he cries at a time like this, the more it’ll trigger a man’s violent nature?! {T/N: not that Zhuang Yan wants to hit him more or anything; he’s frustrated that Xie Ning might put himself in danger in the future because of something like this}
With Zhuang Yan’s help, Xie Ning put on his pajamas and once again looked obedient and well-behaved.
Zhuang Yan lowered his eyes, and asked, with a tone of unvented desire, “Does your head still hurt?”
Xie Ning was in a daze for a long while, then slowly replied, “I hurt.”
Zhuang Yan helplessly reached his hands out and hugged him. “What about now?”
Xie Ning felt relieved by his wide chest.
He buried his head in Zhuang Yan’s embrace, and said muffedly, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
...You just wanted me to hug you, didn’t you?
Zhuang Yan was silent for a long time. His arms, around Xie Ning’s waist, hugged him a little tighter, and as if he wanted to eat him, said fiercely, “I really want to do you like this.”
Xie Ning didn’t understand what he meant. “?”
Zhuang Yan carried him to the bed and used the blanket to snugly wrap him.
Xie Ning looked at him, confused.
Zhuang Yan coaxed him in a deep voice. “Be good, close your eyes, and sleep.”
Xie Ning was probably tired from fussing around, and obediently closed his eyes.
Zhuang Yan silently stared at him for a while, and the desire and hopelessness that filled him intertwined. In the end, it only turned into a sigh.
When Xie Ning was asleep, Zhuang Yan walked quietly into the bathroom and took a cold shower.
His head that was on the verge of exploding earlier, calmed down with the cold water.
Zhuang Yan frowned slightly.
When he was helping Xie Ning get dressed just now, he saw a glimpse of something drawn on his wrist.
Like...a tattoo?
At that time, he was in turmoil, so he didn’t take a closer look. Thinking back on it now, he couldn’t help but feel bothered.
It seemed like a lot of people liked to leave a mark of the person they like on their body.
And what Qi Rui said before.
Zhuang Yan thought, blankly, Xie Ning didn’t engrave Xu Qing’s name on his wrist, did he?
He couldn’t help but grind his teeth--that would be too heartbreaking.
When he came out of the bathroom, Zhuang Yan softly climbed onto the bed and lowered his head to give Xie Ning’s cheek a kiss.
Then he quietly took Xie Ning’s hand, peeled back his sleeve, and took a look at the tattoo.
--It was a bird with its wings open, ready to fly.
-------------------------------------------
Author’s Note: I feel sorry for ZhuangZhuang...the feelings in his heart in this chapter don’t need to be written, since we can all guess.
ZhuangZhuang: Feels like I’m not only a human heater, but also a painkiller.
Zhuang Yan met Xie Ning’s serious gaze and was silent.
But Xie Ning, with rounded eyes, didn’t seem to notice anything strange.
Zhuang Yan thought with indignation, Retribution. This is retribution.
He’d teased and flirted with Xie Ning so many times, but he was no match for the natural flirting that was presented to him now.
Zhuang Yan’s vision landed on Xie Ning’s body.
His figure was basically exposed under the outfit he was wearing. His neck is as elegant, white, and thin as a swan’s, his collarbone, peeking out from under the collar of his shirt, had a slight curve to it, his thin, slender wrists were faintly discernible under his sleeve cuffs, and his waist, outlined by his suit, looked as if one hand could just wrap around and pull him over...
Just looking at him started a fire in Zhuang Yan’s heart.
Thinking of the word “shower”, the expression in his eyes became deeper, and his heart stopped for a moment before it started beating forcefully.
His Adam’s apple rolled over twice, and he tried to confirm again. “You want to shower here?”
Xie Ning nodded. “Mmn.”
Zhuang Yan took a couple of deep breaths, thinking, You brought this upon yourself.
Then turned his head and scolded himself ferociously.
Be a human; he’s still drunk.
Fuck!
Zhuang Yan’s heart became restless.
He didn’t dare to help Xie Ning shower.
The Xie Ning now, who let him take and give whatever he wanted, would have been eaten up long ago if Zhuang Yan was a little more animalistic.
But no matter how strong his self-control is, or how much he wants to be a human, how could he hold on if he sees the person he likes taking off their clothes in front of him?
Zhuang Yan felt like this was a test for his male dignity.
Xie Ning was still drunk, so it would actually be uncomfortable for him if he were to sleep without showering. He was still looking at himself with uncertainty…
Zhuang Yan’s head hurt for a bit, and struggled to say, “Showering by yourself...can you do that?”
Luckily, the ten year old NingNing had unlocked the skill of taking a shower by himself.
He nodded: “I can.”
Zhuang Yan let out a sigh quietly, although there was a flash of disappointment somewhere deep in his heart.
He brought Xie Ning to the bedroom and went to the bathroom himself first.
The bathroom was large. Other than the showerhead, there was also a bathtub that could fit several adults in it.
Zhuang Yan was afraid that Xie Ning would somehow choke on water in the shower, so he walked over to the bathtub to fill it with water.
When the water temperature was about right, he brought a towel and shower gel over, placing it onto the chair next to the bathtub, and found the pajamas and change of clothes that Lan Zhai provided for guests in the closet in the bedroom.
LanZhai’s hospitality is very considerate, so all the clothes were brand new.
After doing all this, Zhuang Yan was still worried. He brought Xie Ning into the bathroom and tried to teach him how to use most of the bathroom supplies, one by one.
Xie Ning nodded. “I know how to use them.”
The bathroom door could only be locked from the inside. Zhuang Yan gave it some thought, and said, “If you need help with anything, just call for me. I’ll be right outside; I won’t go far.”
Xie Ning slowly confirmed that he understood. “Okay.”
Zhuang Yan looked at him for a while, silent, and curled the corner of his lips into a smile, leaving the bathroom.
He didn’t know if he should consider it fortunate or regretful. In Lan Zhai’s suite, the bathroom is a completely closed off little room, unlike normal places, where there is only a frosted glass door separating it from the rest of the room.
Zhuang Yan couldn’t see the beautiful scenery inside, and the fire in his heart grew smaller.
But the bathroom wasn’t soundproof. He could still hear the sound of water from the bedroom, and not being able to see anything only let his imagination run wild.
The fire that had just gotten smaller, became bigger again.
Zhuang Yan walked to the window and opened it, letting himself feel the cold wind.
He couldn’t resist and took out a cigarette. While he was pondering whether or not to smoke, Xie Ning’s voice came from the bathroom.
“Zhuang-Zhuang…” Xie Ning struggled to call his name, and only remembered after a while. “Zhuang Yan!”
Zhuang Yan paused.
Didn’t he just go in?
He put the cigarette away and knocked on the bathroom door three times. He took a deep breath and opened the door to go in.
Thankfully, Xie Ning wasn’t naked in front of him.
Xie Ning had only taken off his suit jacket. His shirt was a little messy, and his sleeve cuffs were wet as if he were playing with the water just now.
His pants were still on properly.
Zhuang Yan asked, “What’s the matter?”
Xie Ning’s voice carried a bit of grievance with it. “Pants...I can’t take them off.”
Zhuang Yan lowered his head, and at a glance, could see that there was a buckle on his belt that seemed troublesome to untie.
He was silent for three full seconds before reaching a hand out towards Xie Ning’s waist and slowly feeling his way around the belt.
Xie Ning shrank his body a little.
Zhuang Yan’s hands paused and immediately untied the buckle with his fingers. With a blank expression on his face, he pushed the suit’s pants down.
He didn’t dare to look down at Xie Ning’s bare legs, so his gaze landed on Xie Ning’s lips and stayed there for a while. He asked hoarsely, “Is there anything else you need?”
Xie Ning shook his head. “Thank you.”
Zhuang Yan didn’t say anything. After exiting the bathroom, he couldn’t resist and scolded: Damn!
Accompanied by the sound of water coming from the bathroom, Zhuang Yan stood in front of the window and smoked cigarette after cigarette.
His hand felt around in his pocket and found an empty cigarette box.
The cigarette in his hand that was almost finished burning trembled a little, and the ashes landed on the windowsill. Zhuang Yan frowned.
He’d finished smoking a little bit less than half of the cigarette box already.
So much time has passed. How come Xie Ning still didn’t come out?
Does it take so long to take a bath? The water was probably already cold.
The bathroom was quiet. He thought about it carefully, and it seemed like there’d been no movement in there for a while now.
Zhuang Yan extinguished the cigarette on the window sill and his heart became anxious.
What if something happened?
He walked to the bathroom door, hesitated for a long time, and pricked his ears up to listen.
Zhuang Yan paced around the room, decided that he was still worried, and knocked a couple times on the bathroom door.
There was no response.
Zhuang Yan called, “Xie Ning?”
“Xie Ning?”
“NingNing?”
“...”
He didn’t faint in there, did he? Or did he fall asleep?
Zhuang Yan suddenly remembered a piece of news he’d heard before. Someone had been taking a bath, sank into the water, and drowned.
And by now, the water must be cold. If he stays in the bath for any longer, he’ll definitely catch a cold…
Zhuang Yan became more anxious as he thought about it, his eyebrows locked in a frown, hesitated for a moment, and finally opened the bathroom door.
The thick steam of the bath rushed towards him. Xie Ning was sitting blankly in the bathtub with his hands perched on either side of the bathtub, his eyes devoid of expression and seemingly filled with water vapor.
Zhuang Yan, seeing him safe and sound, let out a sigh of relief.
Then stopped breathing.
His gaze involuntarily landed on Xie Ning’s naked shoulders. His skin was dazzlingly white, and as he looked down from his shoulders, his ribs were slightly visible, delicate and beautiful, drawing him to want to touch it.
Further down...was covered by the water in the bath.
The sight in front of him was enough to make Zhuang Yan’s heart tremble, his mind turn white, and his thoughts stop.
The fire in his heart expanded to become a prairie fire instead, burning and heating up his whole body.
Zhuang Yan’s hand clenched into a fist. He turned his head, not letting himself look at Xie Ning directly, and softly called, “NingNing?”
His voice was hoarse and dull, brimming with lust.
Xie Ning still didn’t answer him.
Zhuang Yan slowly got closer and his breathing got quicker with each step.
He first reached out his hand to test the temperature of the water, and as expected, it was already cold.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice gravelly.
Xie Ning took a long while to give him a reaction. He raised his head, and said pitifully, “Hurts.”
Zhuang Yan paused. “Where does it hurt?”
Xie Ning raised his hand and pressed his head.
Zhuang Yan asked softly, “Your head hurts?”
Xie Ning looked at him tearfully. “When I tried to lay down, I hit it.”
Zhuang Yan squatted in front of the bathtub and felt the back of his head. “Is it here?”
Then his body suddenly stiffened--
Xie Ning reached his hand out and hugged his neck, as if he wanted to sink into his embrace for comfort.
In a moment, all of the blood in Zhuang Yan’s body rushed to his head. Every thought in his mind was burned clean on the way.
Luckily, the bathtub was in the way, so Xie Ning couldn’t come out easily and could only hug his neck.
Even so, Zhuang Yan felt like he was so hot he was going to explode.
Xie Ning sounded like he was crying. “It hurts a lot.”
Zhuang Yan became panicked when he heard this. He held back the enchanting thoughts in his head to move Xie Ning’s hair aside and look at the back of his head, but he didn’t see any blood.
It seems like he just hit it. There wasn’t even a bump.
Zhuang Yan used some more of his exhausted self-control and rubbed the back of Xie Ning’s head.
“Does it still hurt?”
Xie Ning still said, “Hurts.”
If he wasn’t drunk, Zhuang Yan would have thought he was trying to seduce him.
Zhuang Yan patiently asked, “Did you hit somewhere else as well?”
Xie Ning only said, “Hurts.”
Zhuang Yan felt like there was something strange about his behavior.
Was it that, after being quiet for so long, he’d finally become a roaring drunk after getting into the bath?
Zhuang Yan’s head started to hurt a little too. Not only did his head hurt, but down there too.
Xie Ning’s behavior right now seemed like he was acting like a spoiled child. Zhuang Yan’s chest rose wildly twice and he suspected he was going to go crazy.
Why was he torturing himself so much!
He stared at Xie Ning fiercely and thought, If you keep acting cute like this, I really can’t stop myself anymore.
Xie Ning’s senses were keen, and under Zhuang Yan’s gaze, his shoulders shook once. He instinctively backed up, and sat back down in the bathtub.
The bathtub splashed slightly with his movement.
Zhuang Yan chuckled. “Are you scared now?”
Xie Ning’s body shook unconsciously.
The corner of Zhuang Yan’s lips lifted up a little, and his tone was dangerous. “Why do you...like to provoke me so much?”
He took the towel next to him, and wanted to help dry Xie Ning off.
Xie Ning flinched.
Zhuang Yan sighed. “Be a little more obedient.” Or else he wasn’t sure what he’d do.
Xie Ning said softly, “I-I’ll be good.”
Sure enough, he sat without moving, and allowed Zhuang Yan to wrap the towel around him and carry him out of the bathtub.
Zhuang Yan felt like if he had even a tiny bit less self-control, Xie Ning would have already been completely eaten by him by now.
But he’s not such a person.
No matter how much he wanted to do something to Xie Ning, it should be when Xie Ning had a clear mind, and when the two of them were mutually in a happy situation. He wouldn’t take advantage of Xie Ning’s drunk and confused state.
So, right now, he could only curse in his heart and resist the fire in his heart to wipe the water off Xie Ning.
His skin under the towel was pale and delicate, and was even smoother than the most expensive silk. Zhuang Yan’s heart rippled, and in a moment of weakness, his touch became a little heavier.
Xie Ning’s eyes were watery, as if he was about to cry. “Don’t hit me.”
Zhuang Yan was startled, and immediately gritted his teeth, replying, “I don’t have a tendency for domestic violence. I won’t hit you.”
Also, is he a fool?! Doesn’t he know that the more he cries at a time like this, the more it’ll trigger a man’s violent nature?! {T/N: not that Zhuang Yan wants to hit him more or anything; he’s frustrated that Xie Ning might put himself in danger in the future because of something like this}
With Zhuang Yan’s help, Xie Ning put on his pajamas and once again looked obedient and well-behaved.
Zhuang Yan lowered his eyes, and asked, with a tone of unvented desire, “Does your head still hurt?”
Xie Ning was in a daze for a long while, then slowly replied, “I hurt.”
Zhuang Yan helplessly reached his hands out and hugged him. “What about now?”
Xie Ning felt relieved by his wide chest.
He buried his head in Zhuang Yan’s embrace, and said muffedly, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
...You just wanted me to hug you, didn’t you?
Zhuang Yan was silent for a long time. His arms, around Xie Ning’s waist, hugged him a little tighter, and as if he wanted to eat him, said fiercely, “I really want to do you like this.”
Xie Ning didn’t understand what he meant. “?”
Zhuang Yan carried him to the bed and used the blanket to snugly wrap him.
Xie Ning looked at him, confused.
Zhuang Yan coaxed him in a deep voice. “Be good, close your eyes, and sleep.”
Xie Ning was probably tired from fussing around, and obediently closed his eyes.
Zhuang Yan silently stared at him for a while, and the desire and hopelessness that filled him intertwined. In the end, it only turned into a sigh.
When Xie Ning was asleep, Zhuang Yan walked quietly into the bathroom and took a cold shower.
His head that was on the verge of exploding earlier, calmed down with the cold water.
Zhuang Yan frowned slightly.
When he was helping Xie Ning get dressed just now, he saw a glimpse of something drawn on his wrist.
Like...a tattoo?
At that time, he was in turmoil, so he didn’t take a closer look. Thinking back on it now, he couldn’t help but feel bothered.
It seemed like a lot of people liked to leave a mark of the person they like on their body.
And what Qi Rui said before.
Zhuang Yan thought, blankly, Xie Ning didn’t engrave Xu Qing’s name on his wrist, did he?
He couldn’t help but grind his teeth--that would be too heartbreaking.
When he came out of the bathroom, Zhuang Yan softly climbed onto the bed and lowered his head to give Xie Ning’s cheek a kiss.
Then he quietly took Xie Ning’s hand, peeled back his sleeve, and took a look at the tattoo.
--It was a bird with its wings open, ready to fly.
-------------------------------------------
Author’s Note: I feel sorry for ZhuangZhuang...the feelings in his heart in this chapter don’t need to be written, since we can all guess.
ZhuangZhuang: Feels like I’m not only a human heater, but also a painkiller.
