“Snap out of it.”
Doctor Ji gently flicked Bo Xinghang’s forehead, trying to pull the boy, who was lost in memories, back to reality.
Bo Xinghang’s thoughts were interrupted, and he was startled by the voice. He turned his head and saw Doctor Ji’s concerned face.
Thump.
The pounding in his chest became more pronounced.
This strangeness, which had persisted all day, seemed uncontrollable at the moment, swaying and thumping in rhythm with the sounds of the night market.
Maybe it was the sight of an old acquaintance he hadn’t seen in a long time, the resurfacing of those past memories, the melancholy that inexplicably accompanies the night, or perhaps something else entirely…
His mind was a tangled mess, and he couldn’t figure out what he was feeling.
He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and, to the astonishment of those around him, hugged Doctor Ji.
Doctor Ji’s embrace was unlike his usual demeanor. Though his face was cold, his chest was warm, gentle, and comforting.
The lock that had been slightly loosened was now completely open. He realized what the strange feeling in his heart meant.
It seemed that—
No, it wasn’t just “seemed.”
He truly liked Doctor Ji.
There was no hiding this panic.
Such a strange, ridiculous thought.
The old him would probably laugh at the current him. Back then, he hated his sexual orientation, yet now he could openly admit in his heart that he liked men.
He was surprised.
Bo Xinghang’s arms were wrapped around Doctor Ji’s neck. The seemingly casual movement was actually extremely tight.
He didn’t dare move, fearing that Doctor Ji would reject him—reject not just his actions but also his feelings.
Ji Wenzhen’s expression remained unchanged. As the boy embraced him, he instinctively raised his arm. When he touched the boy, he momentarily clenched his hand into a fist before relaxing it again.
“It’s okay.”
“Disgusting!”
Two voices spoke simultaneously: the former was a gentle, soothing comfort, while the latter was filled with malice and bitterness.
Zhang Jian watched the two embrace, trembling with rage, his face flushed from the neck up. He said furiously, “You used to say that to me! Now I’m throwing it back at you.”
His face turned red with anger, and given his 1.9-meter stature, he looked quite intimidating.
The waiter, who had witnessed the entire scene, saw the awkward tension between the three and tactfully approached.
“Come inside! I’ve got a table ready for you.”
In front of others, Bo Xinghang didn’t have a reason to continue hugging. He reluctantly let go of Doctor Ji and sighed with regret.
His gaze went past Zhang Jian as he nodded to the waiter. “Thank you.”
“Doctor Ji, let’s go?”
Neither of them mentioned the inexplicable embrace. Ji Wenzhen silently recalled the warmth in his arms but kept his expression unchanged and replied, “Sure.”
Doctor Ji followed the boy into the barbecue restaurant, then turned around slowly to look at Zhang Jian, who was still standing there.
“Student.”
His calm voice held an intimidating quality as he approached Zhang Jian with an elegant stride.
Although Ji Wenzhen was shorter than Zhang Jian, his aura was overwhelming. Those jet-black eyes fixed on Zhang Jian, causing him to feel a tightening in his throat.
He dared not move.
Suddenly, Zhang Jian regretted the words he had just spoken.
But once words are spoken, they’re like water spilled from a cup; they can’t be taken back easily.
Zhang Jian forced himself to respond, “What do you want?”
His tone was arrogant, but the quiver in his voice betrayed his unease. He cursed internally, bewildered by how this grown man could seem so frightening… After all, he had only spoken the truth.
Back then, his confession had been extinguished by a single word, erasing all his courage.
What kind of reason was that?
Bo Xinghang had rejected his confession, and now he was with another man. The word “disgusting” was something Zhang Jian felt deserved to be thrown back at him.
Recalling the past gave Zhang Jian some confidence. “If you want to help Bo Xinghang, there’s no need. I—”
“No.” Ji Wenzhen interrupted him, coldly explaining, “You’ve misunderstood. I don’t know what happened between you two, nor do I have the right to ask. I just want to say that no matter what happens, you shouldn’t bring up topics the other party doesn’t want to discuss in public.”
“…It’s respect for him and yourself.”
Ji Wenzhen was referring to Zhang Jian mentioning Bo Xinghang’s father in public.
He had overheard some rumors at school about the boy’s family but hadn’t completely believed them. Still, from his behavior, he sensed that… perhaps his family wasn’t good.
It might even be as bad as the rumors suggested… downright terrible.
Ji Wenzhen frowned, the mere thought making his heart feel as if it were being crushed by a large truck, rolling back and forth.
The pain was suffocating.
The young man before him, who still retained some childishness, was more mature than he had expected.
Such a young man silently endured everything alone, studying and working at a bar.
The more he learned, the more his heart ached.
–
“Doctor Ji… what did you two talk about just now?”
Bo Xinghang had finished drinking three whole bottles of beer and ordered two more. He held one bottle in his hand and used the other to open it with a bottle opener, gently applying force until the cap popped off with a “pop.”
The beer here wasn’t very strong; it was child’s play compared to the drinks at the bar. But he had been feeling off all day, with his head spinning, and his tolerance for alcohol had dropped accordingly.
Now, he was feeling completely tipsy. Holding the beer, he rested his chin on the bottle’s rim and stared intently at Doctor Ji.
His gaze was raw and unmasked.
Ji Wenzhen glanced at the empty bottles on the table and sighed helplessly. He didn’t answer the boy’s casual question but instead gently advised, “You’re drunk. Put the beer down.”
“Bullshit.” Bo Xinghang seemed determined to prove something, grabbing the bottle and drinking half of it in loud gulps.
Then he shook his head as if to show off, “I’m not drunk.”
Ji Wenzhen: “…”
Bo Xinghang glared at him, “Do you think I’m lying to you?”
“No.”
The truth was… he found Bo Xinghang cute.
But Bo Xinghang didn’t believe him. Out of spite, he downed the rest of the bottle, slammed it on the table, and stood up.
Then… he attempted a straight-line walk.
Doctor Ji couldn’t help but laugh.
Was this beer spiked with something cute? Because after drinking it, Bo Xinghang was acting so adorably.
Bo Xinghang was displeased by the laughter. After walking two steps, he turned his head and pointed at Doctor Ji. “What are you laughing at? Look at me!”
He had just drunk four bottles, and now the alcohol was kicking in. His voice wasn’t loud but was slurred, making it sound almost like he was acting cute.
He said, “Look at me,” in a way that seemed like he was trying to be endearing.
…Who could resist that?
If Doctor Ji hadn’t seen the boy getting drunk right in front of him, he might have suspected this was an act to seduce him.
Ji Wenzhen subtly adjusted his position, using his trench coat to cover his lap.
After abstaining for so many years, this was the first time he had wanted to give in to temptation, yet he could only stare at the feast in front of him without moving, merely covering it up.
Sigh.
Ji Wenzhen sighed and accepted his fate.
“All right, you’re not drunk.”
“Of course!” Having been acknowledged, Bo Xinghang no longer felt like walking and, feeling exhausted, returned to his seat. He continued to stare at Doctor Ji without any pretense.
When people got drunk, they often unconsciously spaced out or revealed things they had been suppressing while sober.
The result of these two things happening simultaneously was—Bo Xinghang staring at Doctor Ji.
Doctor Ji couldn’t get used to the food at the night market. Out of curiosity, he took a bite, but a strange taste filled his mouth. He put the barbecue down in disdain and didn’t touch it again.
The barbecue wasn’t appetizing, and he didn’t want to drink alcohol either. Most of the time, Ji Wenzhen was either using his phone or watching the boy.
He had just finished replying to a message from the hospital and looked up, only to be startled by Bo Xinghang’s intense gaze.
“What’s wrong?”
“Doctor Ji…”
Here we go again.
The boy unconsciously dragged out his words, his pleasant voice and almost cute tone making Ji Wenzhen’s heart flutter.
Crazy.
If he continued listening, he might really go crazy.
“… Don’t call me like that.”
Bo Xinghang blinked, not asking why. The last time he got drunk in front of Doctor Ji, he hadn’t acted this way. But now, not only was he drunk, but he also seemed to have lost some of his IQ.
He had drunk nearly half a bottle, resting his chin on the bottle’s rim. Tilting his face slightly, the bottle’s edge pressed against his cheek, creating a small indentation.
Bo Xinghang smiled sweetly, his eyes never leaving Doctor Ji. “Oh, okay~”
“…”
Doctor Ji’s hand trembled, nearly dropping his phone.
Ji Wenzhen raised his eyes, closely observing the boy’s flushed cheeks, and murmured uncertainly, “Really drunk?”
If he was at all sober, he wouldn’t speak in this tone.
The two-person table in the barbecue shop was very small. Ji Wenzhen reached across and pinched the boy’s chin.
The intoxicated, doe-eyed look of the boy swayed before him. Ji Wenzhen was convinced that Bo Xinghang was genuinely drunk. He couldn’t help but smile, “I truly admire you.”
Bo Xinghang blinked, not understanding, but that didn’t stop him from being smitten. He continued, “Doctor Ji, you… really are so handsome.”
So handsome, you must be mine, right?
He smiled even more sweetly.
Not expecting him to say that, Ji Wenzhen couldn’t control the strength of his grip on the boy’s chin and squeezed harder.
Bo Xinghang winced in pain, pulling back a little. He pouted, his eyes welling up with tears. “You pinched me.”
Ji Wenzhen quickly withdrew his hand and tried to explain, “I—”
“You have to make it up to me.”
“Huh?”
He really couldn’t understand the thought process of a drunk person, especially the mind of a kid, which was even more peculiar. Ji Wenzhen patiently coaxed him, “Okay, how do you want me to make it up to you?”
Bo Xinghang’s eyes lit up, and he quickly replied, “Kiss me.”
Ji Wenzhen: “…?”
Afraid that Doctor Ji wouldn’t understand, Bo Xinghang propped himself up with one hand and wobbled over to sit next to him.
Doctor Ji’s face suddenly became several times larger.
Bo Xinghang enjoyed the closeness and, still not fully satisfied, nuzzled closer to Doctor Ji. He smiled, his cheeks flushed, though it was hard to tell if it was from the alcohol or the warmth.
He repeated, “Kiss me.”
Bo Xinghang touched his lips with his fingertip and blinked, “Here, kiss here.”
