When the college entrance exam results were released, Bo Xinghang was still at work. He felt his phone vibrating but paid no attention, skillfully making a cup of milk tea.
Without looking up, he wiped the counter and asked, “WeChat or Alipay?”
The response came from a girl, her voice small. She answered, “Alipay,” and then hesitantly asked, “Can I add you on WeChat?”
Only then did Bo Xinghang look up. But first, he answered the phone that had been vibrating non-stop, casually replying, “I don’t have WeChat.”
“…”
The girl’s prepared words got stuck in her throat.
Who doesn’t have WeChat nowadays? She knew this was a rejection, so she didn’t push further, taking her milk tea and leaving after scanning the QR code.
On the other end of the line, Xu Yi had originally called to ask about his exam score, but hearing this from his Hang-ge, he clicked his tongue. “Wow, you’re quite popular.”
This calm response made it clear he was a seasoned veteran, well-practiced from countless encounters.
Xu Yi couldn’t help but be curious. “Hang-ge, does your partner know you’re out here flirting? How does he let you out of the house?”
Bo Xinghang: “Damn, when have I ever flirted?”
“Sure.” Xu Yi admired him. “You can come up with such a weak excuse and still say it out loud.”
“If it works, that’s all that matters.”
And it did work.
The girl didn’t know what else to say after that.
Bo Xinghang noticed some customers entering—two girls who had been there a few times before, so their faces were familiar. One of them held up two fingers. “Two peach cocoa drinks.”
Bo Xinghang nodded. “One moment.”
Then he said to Xu Yi on the phone, “If you’ve got something to say, say it quickly. Don’t interrupt my work.”
“Don’t interrupt your flirting, you mean,” Xu Yi quipped, but then quickly added, fueled by survival instinct, “Hang-ge! The exam results are out!”
Bo Xinghang paused mid-action, but only for a second before returning to his usual demeanor, raising an eyebrow. “That fast?”
He had been working so many part-time jobs recently that he’d lost track of time and hadn’t realized the exam results were already out.
He really didn’t have the mindset of a recent graduate. He’d spent only one day on college applications before diving back into work. Doctor Ji had wanted to keep an eye on things, but since Bo Xinghang graduated, his workdays had been getting longer, with him coming home later and later.
There were many nights when Doctor Ji came home at midnight, only to find that Bo Xinghang had already left for work early in the morning.
Their schedules rarely lined up.
After finishing the two peach cocoa drinks, Bo Xinghang felt a twinge of longing.
It had been days since he’d kissed Doctor Ji. As for anything more intimate, he didn’t dare dwell on it. He’d been rejected before, and his thin skin couldn’t take another hit.
Thinking about this, Bo Xinghang stared at his phone, suddenly wanting to call Doctor Ji. His hand moved to his contacts list but then stopped.
Forget it.
He didn’t want to risk disturbing Doctor Ji at work.
Switching screens, he calmly checked his exam results.
His expression didn’t change, and he wasn’t nervous at all. He knew his own abilities and had applied to a local university that suited him perfectly.
Leaning against the counter, he entered his admission ticket number, his mind filled with the sound of Doctor Ji’s voice from that day.
Doctor Ji had asked him if he had a particular major in mind, and without thinking, he’d responded with two words: law school.
He wanted to become a lawyer.
Ji Wenzhen hadn’t asked why, but even if he had, Bo Xinghang wouldn’t have known how to answer. To protect world peace? To maintain social order? Or maybe something naive like, “I want to see bad people punished for their crimes.”
All those reasons sounded too childish and unrealistic. But one night, while reviewing for exams, the idea suddenly came to him: to become a lawyer. If he had said that in front of others, it probably would have shocked them. After all, his demeanor was far from that of a polished lawyer; no one would believe him.
But Doctor Ji didn’t laugh. Instead, he patted Bo Xinghang on the head and said, “If you’ve decided, then go for it.”
Go for it.
Yes. Don’t worry about what others think, and don’t worry about whether it’s suitable.
If you’ve decided, then go for it.
His scores were exceptionally high, even surpassing expectations. Unsurprisingly, his first-choice university promptly sent an acceptance letter. The package was quite luxurious; upon opening it, he first saw the school’s large emblem surrounded by various small gifts, with a deep red letter in the center.
When he unfolded it, Bo Xinghang felt his heart race like never before.
Student Bo Xinghang, you have been admitted to R City University. Please present this letter upon registration.
He stared at the few short sentences, suddenly unsure of how he felt.
It wasn’t until Ji Wenzhen, after catching up on sleep, came out and sat beside him, gently running his hand through Bo Xinghang’s long hair, that he softly asked, “Happy?”
“No,” Bo Xinghang thought for a moment and then shook his head. “I can’t describe it.”
He had never dared to dream of being accepted to this school. From his first year of high school until now, he never thought he had a chance, and yet here he was…
It was like being pulled out of a dark garbage dump and suddenly being bathed in unprecedented light.
Ji Wenzhen squeezed his hand tightly, smiling deeply. “Xiao Xing, you did great.”
Xiao Xing, you did great.
Awesome. I’m fucking awesome!
Suddenly, Bo Xinghang tightened his grip on Doctor Ji’s hand and bit down hard on his collarbone.
Ji Wenzhen: “Hiss… Baby, are you a dog?”
Besides calling him Xiao Xing, Doctor Ji had started using all sorts of odd nicknames for him in private. Bo Xinghang didn’t even have time to blush before blurting out, “Ge! Let’s go to the supermarket!”
“What for?” Ji Wenzhen instinctively touched his stomach. “Hungry?”
Bo Xinghang hesitated for a long moment and then finally admitted, “Yeah, hungry.”
When they got back with their purchases, Ji Wenzhen finally understood what kind of “hunger” Bo Xinghang had been talking about.
Holding the square box in his hand, Ji Wenzhen’s voice was a bit hoarse. “You want to do this now?”
Bo Xinghang hadn’t yet recovered from the stares they’d received while buying the items, and seeing the box in Ji Wenzhen’s hand now made him want to crawl into a hole.
What the hell was he thinking?!
Two grown men, holding hands, buying condoms—and not just one box!
Crazy. Bo Xinghang buried his face in his arms and muttered, “Don’t talk to me for a bit.”
He needed a moment to compose himself.
After about five minutes, Bo Xinghang finally looked up, his face no longer burning, though the corners of his eyes were still tinged with red. The sight made Ji Wenzhen’s breath catch, but he remained silent, waiting for the young man’s decision.
If Bo Xinghang said “no” now, he wouldn’t touch him, no matter how much it drove him mad.
Fortunately, Bo Xinghang licked his lips and quietly said, “Let’s do it.”
Ji Wenzhen’s restraint snapped.
Bo Xinghang had agreed, but he hadn’t expected Doctor Ji to be so intense in bed.
The living room, the bedside, even the bathroom—clothes were strewn everywhere, tangled together so much that it was impossible to tell whose were whose.
It was already pitch black outside. Even though Bo Xinghang was exhausted and barely coherent, he knew it wasn’t too late. He squinted at the man kissing his abdomen and thought to himself that it was just fucking exhilarating.
From a little after 3 PM until it was dark outside, he knew Doctor Ji was impressive, but he didn’t realize just how damn impressive.
Fuck.
Bo Xinghang slapped him on the head.
But he had no strength left, so the slap felt more like a caress. Ji Wenzhen leaned in to kiss him again, wiping away some moisture. “What’s wrong?”
“You fucking…” Bo Xinghang tried to curse, but his voice was too hoarse to sound threatening. He shifted slightly and decided to give in.
“Bath.”
He took a deep breath. “Carry me.”
As it turned out, a satisfied man was very accommodating. From carrying him out of bed to cleaning him up, Ji Wenzhen took care of everything. Bo Xinghang was so comfortable being pampered that he drifted off to sleep.
When he woke up the next day, it was already noon. Doctor Ji had left for work, but when Bo Xinghang slowly made his way to the kitchen, he found that Doctor Ji had left food for him.
Perhaps as compensation for the intensity of the previous night, the meal was particularly lavish, filled with many of his favorite dishes.
Bo Xinghang sent Ji Wenzhen a message saying he was awake, along with a photo.
The photo showed his collarbone, the rest of his body covered by his shirt, but the visible skin was marked with countless red hickeys, scattered haphazardly across his pale skin, making it look like he’d been thoroughly bullied.
The caption read: Look at what you did.
It must have been lunchtime, as Ji Wenzhen replied quickly: Heat up the food before you eat. Don’t eat it cold.
And right after: Looks good.
???
Looks good???
Bo Xinghang stared at the screen in disbelief, unable to accept that such shameless words had come from the cold and stoic Doctor Ji.
But he had no idea that this would open a new door. Ever since that moment, Doctor Ji had never been the same.
Bo Xinghang used to work two jobs, but after this newfound discovery, he cut down to one. Still, he found himself constantly under the scrutiny of curious onlookers, which was unbearable.
Once, when Xu Yi came to visit him, he couldn’t help but shout before leaving, “Hang-ge! Could you at least cover up the marks on your neck?!”
“How the hell am I supposed to cover them?!” Bo Xinghang protested. It was the height of summer, so wearing high-collared shirts was out of the question. “I’ve already used concealer!”
For someone who had never worn makeup before, using it to cover up such shameful marks was a first, and it didn’t even work.
“Shit.” Xu Yi was genuinely shocked this time. After making sure no one was around, he leaned in closer to take a look. Sure enough, there was concealer.
Xu Yi was silent for a long moment before giving him a thumbs-up. “Damn, that’s brutal.”
Bo Xinghang closed his eyes, not wanting to reply.
Brutal was right.
As long as Doctor Ji had time off, the marks on Bo Xinghang’s body never had a chance to fade.
Damn it, he cursed in his mind.
Beast.
