In the early hours of the morning, the dim streetlights softened as they filtered through the leaves. Their gentle glow illuminated Doctor Ji and Bo Xinghang, casting a stage for the two of them in the darkness.
On this stage stood a tall man with arched eyebrows and a smile playing at the corners of his lips, holding a gift box. Beside him, a young man looked up in surprise.
“Guess what this is?”
Doctor Ji had already opened the gift box to reveal a pair of earrings gleaming in the light.
Though the earrings were simple in design, the decoration at the front held a special meaning: a delicate five-pointed star. On closer inspection, one could see an inscription on the star.
Bo Xinghang: “!”
He leaned in to take a closer look and discovered the letter “J” engraved on it.
J for Ji.
Bo Xinghang’s heart nearly leaped out of his chest. He dared not think too deeply and looked up at Doctor Ji.
Ji Wenzhen looked at the expectant and nervous young man before him. Unable to resist, he reached out and lightly pinched Bo Xinghang’s ear.
The teasing gesture made Bo Xinghang’s face grow warm. He couldn’t help but urge, “Doctor Ji!”
“Mm, I’m here.”
Doctor Ji’s cool voice stopped the questions on Bo Xinghang’s lips. Although the night was bitterly cold, Bo Xinghang felt a restless heat spreading through him.
“I-I know you’re here.”
His Doctor Ji hadn’t been scared away by him. Bo Xinghang had spent the entire day in anxiety, smoking one cigarette after another and downing beers. Despite his usual calm in the face of real trouble, the thought of Doctor Ji being away for just one day had secretly left him red-eyed.
How pathetic. When had society ever seen Hang-ge in such a mess? If others found out, who knew how much they’d laugh?
The embarrassment softened his usual demeanor. Despite his smoking and drinking, he lacked the presence of a school bully.
Right now, he was just the soft Xiao Xing.
Ji Wenzhen didn’t tease him any further. He took the custom-made earrings from the box and placed them in Bo Xinghang’s hand, a smile on his face. “Do you know why there’s a ‘J’ carved on it?”
The young man pressed his lips together, not daring to answer. He could vaguely guess the meaning but didn’t want to voice it.
“This letter is the initial of my name, Ji. I carved it myself on the star.” Doctor Ji removed the earring from Bo Xinghang’s ear and carefully replaced it with the silver stud.
As Doctor Ji leaned over Bo Xinghang, speaking softly, his warm breath made the boy’s ear turn bright red.
Bo Xinghang felt unbearably hot, yet Doctor Ji continued, “This silver stud signifies—”
“Xiao Xing is Doctor Ji’s, and Doctor Ji is Xiao Xing’s.”
The letter carved on the star symbolized the budding feelings of an eighteen-year-old and the heartfelt intentions of a twenty-six-year-old man. Despite their eight-year age difference and same-gender pairing, they stood fearlessly together under the dim light, sealing their bond.
–
The next morning, Bo Xinghang woke up dazed, unsure if he was still dreaming or if he was in reality. He sat up and realized he was back in his own dilapidated home.
The floor was littered with cigarette butts and a crumpled cigarette pack.
At first, he thought it might have all been a dream. Longing for Doctor Ji had led him to dream about his visit, fueled by the pressure of unrequited love.
He touched his earring, feeling the slightly rough surface of the star, and the line between dream and reality blurred. Relieved, he decided to get up and wash.
Although still groggy, he noticed something unusual. As he stood up, his entire body froze.
He dared not move.
“…Oh, crap.”
Bo Xinghang, feeling bewildered, tugged at his pants and stared at the awkward reaction in the awkward spot.
The awkwardness was truly damn awkward.
On the first morning of his adulthood, he had a wet dream…
And the awkwardness didn’t end there. Trying to maintain his composure, he wrapped a towel around his waist and was about to rush into the toilet and kill his offspring when he heard his grandmother call from behind, “Grandson!”
That shout nearly scared Bo Xinghang out of his wits.
He turned around stiffly and immediately saw Doctor Ji standing behind his grandmother.
Doctor Ji was tall and strikingly handsome, his presence impossible to overlook even from behind her. He smiled at Bo Xinghang, his gaze briefly flickering downward.
Then his expression grew even more meaningful.
Bo Xinghang: “…”
Could anyone be more embarrassed than he was?
The answer was no.
“Haha, what a coincidence, Doctor Ji. You’re here too?”
Bo Xinghang moved slightly. Though Doctor Ji had already noticed, he had to cling to whatever dignity he had left.
Doctor Ji responded calmly, nodding slightly. “Mm, Grandma asked me to stay.”
“…”
This made Bo Xinghang want to find a hole to crawl into.
Last night, his mind was a tangled mess, filled with thoughts of how wonderful Doctor Ji was. Impulsively, he had wanted to kiss him.
Ji Wenzhen understood and cooperatively lowered his eyes, indulging in Bo Xinghang’s next move.
Bo Xinghang eagerly leaned in, but just then, a loud “Grandson!” echoed from upstairs, startling him half to death.
Fortunately, the building was old, and most of the families with better conditions had already moved out, leaving few residents. Otherwise, Grandma Bo’s shout would have provoked curses from several households.
Grandma Bo, with poor eyesight and a bit of night blindness, could only see blurry figures from a distance. Hearing Bo Xinghang leave, she had called out tentatively.
Not replying would only make her worry.
Despite his reluctance, Bo Xinghang had no choice. He frowned, quickly pecked Doctor Ji on the lips, then turned away as if nothing had happened, urging, “Hurry, follow me upstairs, or Grandma will get worried.”
Watching the boy’s ears turn red, Doctor Ji suppressed a laugh, lightly brushed his fingers over his lips, and followed, “Okay.”
–
When Bo Xinghang finally emerged from the bathroom, his grandmother was busy showcasing her culinary skills, while Doctor Ji sat upright and proper at the dining table.
“Grandma! That’s enough, we can’t eat all this!”
The table was overflowing with dishes, looking more festive than New Year’s. It seemed as though they were hosting a large gathering.
“Oh, just eat! You’re too thin!” Grandma Bo’s voice carried from the kitchen. “Come in and help me bring out the food!”
Bo Xinghang sighed. “Coming.”
Once all the dishes were on the table, Grandma Bo realized something was missing. After a moment, she remembered it was fish.
“Oh, what an old fool I am!” Grandma Bo quickly removed her apron and started putting on her shoes, muttering, “I need to get the fish. We can’t have a table full of food without fish!”
Fish symbolized abundance and prosperity.
Watching her, Bo Xinghang couldn’t help but laugh. She really was treating it like a holiday.
While Grandma Bo was putting on her shoes at the entrance, Ji Wenzhen stood up and offered politely, “Grandma, shall I accompany you?”
“Oh no, don’t trouble yourself! My body feels especially good right now, and the doctor said I need more exercise. Let me walk alone; it’s not far.”
Grandma Bo could be very stubborn. Knowing this well, Bo Xinghang waved cheerfully. “Grandma, be quick. Doctor Ji and I will be waiting at home!”
“You kid, always sweet-talking.”
Grandma Bo pretended to scold him but left happily to buy groceries.
Once she was gone, only Bo Xinghang and Ji Wenzhen remained in the house.
As soon as the door closed, Bo Xinghang slid over from his side of the table, his eyes shining as he looked at Doctor Ji, making his intentions clear.
“Look up.”
Ji Wenzhen understood and gently pinched his chin, forcing him to lift his head.
Their relationship had only been confirmed the previous day, and they had to be discreet. Doctor Ji wanted to be close to the boy but had to hold back in front of the elder.
Now that Grandma Bo had left, they couldn’t contain themselves and moved closer.
Ji Wenzhen lowered his eyes and looked at him, half-closed, raising an eyebrow. “So you kissed me and ran off last night?”
Bo Xinghang replied confidently, “I call that collecting rent.”
“Oh, and now, what is it?”
“…Meal fee!”
“Alright.” Ji Wenzhen knew he couldn’t win with the boy, so he simply leaned in, breathing softly, and planted a kiss on the boy’s lips.
Bo Xinghang enjoyed the kiss. He reached up to play with Doctor Ji’s tousled hair, feeling satisfied. “Not bad. I’ll reward you… mm…”
Doctor Ji had barely pulled away before leaning in again, cutting off Bo Xinghang’s words. He pried open his lips, and his tongue slid inside. Bo Xinghang was so startled that he just stood there, mouth agape.
This gave “Gentleman” Ji the advantage.
“Doctor Ji… damn, can you…”
“… What’s the matter?”
Doctor Ji pulled back slightly. Their faces were so close that his breath fell on Bo Xinghang’s.
Seeing Doctor Ji move slightly away, Bo Xinghang immediately got up and distanced himself by eighteen thousand meters, gritting his teeth as he finished his sentence. “Can you just…?”
Ji Wenzhen raised an eyebrow. “Hm?”
“Can you, can you… not bite me?”
Crap.
He said it.
How fucking embarrassing.
Bo Xinghang, single for eighteen years, had never talked about such things. He felt so mortified that he wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
Doctor Ji, who had been single for twenty-six years, wasn’t one to back down either. Upon hearing the young man’s words, he fell into silence.
It was their first time being this intimate, so it was natural to be inexperienced. At least it proved they hadn’t done this sort of thing with anyone else before.
Bo Xinghang propped his arms on the table, suddenly feeling that it wasn’t such a big deal. You could always improve with practice, and besides… he had to admit he enjoyed being kissed by Doctor Ji.
Comfort was what mattered.
A little regret stirred within him. He realized his actions might have hurt Doctor Ji, so he scooted closer to offer some consolation.
But as soon as he moved near, Doctor Ji stretched out his arm, pulling Bo Xinghang toward him. The boy lost his balance and ended up in Doctor Ji’s lap.
Doctor Ji caught him steadily, letting Bo Xinghang naturally straddle his lap.
Doctor Ji circled one arm around him and pinched his chin with the other. Their eyes met as Bo Xinghang looked down.
“W-what are you doing?”
Doctor Ji arched his brows, his dark eyes fixed on Bo Xinghang with an air of restraint. Yet, the corners of his mouth hinted at a smile.
“Sorry about that. I’m not very skilled at this since it’s my first time. I’ll get better with a few more attempts.”
Author’s note:
Big~~pieces of candy
