Bo Xinghang didn’t respond. Doctor Ji leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against Bo Xinghang’s ear as he repeated, “Xiao Xing, can I kiss you?”
A shiver ran through Bo Xinghang.
Even though he knew Doctor Ji was just teasing and wouldn’t actually follow through, a part of him secretly wished… maybe, just maybe, it could happen.
The thrill of this secret, like a forbidden romance, filled him with a strange excitement, making him wonder what might come next.
Bo Xinghang glanced over at Xu Yi, who remained completely oblivious to their quiet conversation. His head was buried in his work, occasionally frowning before his expression relaxed again.
Bo Xinghang whispered back, “I’ll come to your room.”
Ji Wenzhen’s heart skipped a beat, though he pretended not to understand. “Why?”
“…”
“Hmm?”
Bo Xinghang pressed his lips together, double-checking that Xu Yi was still focused on his work. Then, standing up, he quickly tossed out a single sentence before turning to leave.
The words lingered in the air, stirring emotions as they floated away.
“To sneak around.”
Doctor Ji’s dark eyes deepened. Even though Bo Xinghang had already turned his back and was out of earshot, he softly responded, “As you wish.”
Bo Xinghang waited in the room, listening for the familiar sound of approaching footsteps. When Doctor Ji finally entered, Bo Xinghang hurriedly closed and locked the door behind him.
Seeing his cautious behavior, Ji Wenzhen couldn’t resist teasing him. “Am I really so scandalous that you need to hide me away?”
Bo Xinghang locked the door, turning to play along with Doctor Ji’s teasing. “I’m just a lowly person. If the world knew, it would tarnish your reputation.”
After speaking, his long lashes fluttered, making him appear extremely pitiful.
Doctor Ji chuckled, pulling him into his arms. “It’s my fault for not giving you a proper status.”
Bo Xinghang’s eyelashes trembled slightly. The cool, seductive tone in Doctor Ji’s voice made his heart race.
“Then let me make it up to you, alright?” Ji Wenzhen lifted his chin, placing a gentle kiss on his fair skin.
Bo Xinghang, eager for the attention, obediently complied.
But when their lips met, a mischievous thought crossed Bo Xinghang’s mind. He bit down, right on Doctor Ji’s lower lip, leaving a matching mark to the one near the corner of his mouth.
Pulling back slightly, Bo Xinghang looked smug as he explained, “Now they’re a pair, a matching set.”
Doctor Ji felt a slight sting on his lip, where it was likely broken. Amused, he wasn’t sure if Bo Xinghang was trying to hide their relationship or flaunt it. Matching marks in such a visible spot was practically a challenge—like he wanted the world to know.
Doctor Ji flicked Bo Xinghang’s nose and said somewhat helplessly, “Bo Xiao Xing.”
Another nickname.
Bo Xinghang responded with a soft “Hmm,” tilting his head up as Doctor Ji leaned in for a more passionate kiss. He closed his eyes in contentment, letting his mind wander.
Recently, Doctor Ji had taken to giving him new nicknames.
Hang-ge, Xiao Xing, Bo Xiao Xing—and sometimes even Xiao Xing baby. Each one reflected how Doctor Ji’s feelings toward him had shifted over time.
Bo Xinghang wrapped his arms around Doctor Ji’s neck. Whenever the kisses became too intense, he would let out a small sound, and Doctor Ji would ease up, continuing with patient care.
Since they had snuck away while someone else was around, they kept their time together brief. Soon, Doctor Ji returned to the living room first, while Bo Xinghang lingered, lying back on the bed for a moment to collect himself before joining.
As they reached the living room, Xu Yi asked, “Where did you two go? I looked up to ask a question, and both of you were gone. You scared me for a second.”
“We had something to take care of.” Bo Xinghang sat beside Xu Yi, glancing at the nearly empty pile of papers. He felt a pang of sympathy for him. “Which problem are you stuck on?”
Xu Yi grimaced. “Hang-ge, you should be asking which problems I can actually solve.”
“…”
Bo Xinghang now felt both sympathy and pity.
He took the papers from Xu Yi and quickly reviewed his work. The basics were manageable, though his accuracy was average. However, as the questions got more advanced at the middle and end, Xu Yi struggled more, with a noticeably lower accuracy rate.
Still, it was clear Xu Yi was putting in serious effort.
Xu Yi hadn’t noticed their whispered conversation earlier, nor that they had been gone for so long, which showed just how focused he was.
Bo Xinghang thought about how little time was left until the college entrance exam—less than two months. While a complete turnaround might not be possible, improving by eighty to a hundred points seemed achievable with focused work.
With that in mind, Bo Xinghang began explaining key concepts, just as Doctor Ji had once done for him. He even marked a few questions for Xu Yi to work on at home.
Later, the rain stopped, leaving trails of water streaming down the glass, creating transparent streaks. Cars outside splashed through puddles, sending water spraying high into the air.
Inside, the lights were still off, but the soft glow of the moonlight and streetlights outside filled the living room, creating an atmosphere that Bo Xinghang found just right.
As promised, Doctor Ji prepared fish for dinner. When he brought it to the table, the oil still sizzled. The fish was fried to a golden brown on both sides, drizzled with a savory sauce, and garnished with coriander.
The entire house was filled with the rich aroma of the dish.
Though Doctor Ji claimed he made the fish to “nourish Xiao Xing’s brain,” it was Xu Yi who ended up eating the most.
By the end of the meal, Xu Yi leaned back in his chair, waving a hand. “I can’t eat anymore, I’m stuffed.”
Seeing Xu Yi’s lack of self-control, Bo Xinghang quipped, “Were you starving before this?”
“No way!” Xu Yi gave Doctor Ji a thumbs-up, showering him with praise. “If I were starving, I wouldn’t even be able to speak right now. I had no idea Doctor Ji could cook so well!”
Hearing this, Bo Xinghang moved closer to Doctor Ji, his eyes crinkling with a sweet smile as he whispered, “Thank you for the hard work, Doctor Ji.”
“It’s no trouble,” Doctor Ji replied calmly, squeezing Bo Xinghang’s hand under the table. “It’s to nourish your brain.”
Coming from Doctor Ji, the comment sounded oddly humorous, and Bo Xinghang had to stifle a laugh.
By evening, the rain had cleared. Xu Yi, full and satisfied, managed to work through a few more math problems to clear his head. Seeing that it was getting late, he decided it was time to leave.
As he was about to go, he looked reluctant, almost tearful, and promised he would visit again soon.
Bo Xinghang tossed him an umbrella, dashing his hopes with no courtesy. “Not possible. Doctor Ji doesn’t welcome you.”
Even though the rain had stopped, Xu Yi accepted the umbrella and stuffed it into his backpack. “How do you know Doctor Ji doesn’t welcome me?”
Doctor Ji wasn’t big on food, so having someone around to finish off the leftovers was a win-win situation for him.
“How wouldn’t I know? You…” Bo Xinghang paused, as if something had just occurred to him, then corrected himself. “If you stay any longer, your mom will probably be calling to drag you home.”
“Oh crap, I almost forgot!” Xu Yi quickly zipped up his backpack and hurried out. “I’ve got to go. Bye, Hang-ge, bye Doctor Ji!”
Just as he was leaving, Xu Yi stopped mid-step and turned back to ask, “Hang-ge, aren’t you coming with me? It’s pretty late already.”
“…I’ve got extra lessons tonight.”
“Really?” Xu Yi thought about it for a moment, then offered a sincere comment. “Doctor Ji is really good to you.”
After working all day, Doctor Ji still took the time to cook dinner and tutor him at night. Xu Yi couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.
Hearing this, Bo Xinghang felt a stir in his heart and suddenly wanted to spend more time with Doctor Ji. Seeing that Xu Yi was about to say something else, Bo Xinghang simply waved him off and decisively closed the door.
Once Xu Yi, with his endless chatter, was gone, the house returned to its usual quiet state.
Bo Xinghang let out a small sigh of relief. After spending so much time with Doctor Ji, he found it harder to handle fast-paced, dense conversations.
That evening, Bo Xinghang and Doctor Ji sat on the sofa watching TV, though neither was really paying attention. Doctor Ji was focused on reading medical literature, while Bo Xinghang, instead of watching the screen, traced the lines of Doctor Ji’s face with his eyes—studying his eyes, nose, and mouth.
With the television serving as background noise, Bo Xinghang felt comfortably drowsy.
“Doctor Ji.”
His voice was quiet, almost blending in with the sound of the TV, but Doctor Ji heard him instantly. He looked up at the yawning boy and smiled. “Xiao Xing, are you sleepy?”
It was still early, and on a typical school day, they would have just finished classes at this time. But Bo Xinghang was genuinely tired and obediently nodded. “A little, but I still have a few worksheets to finish tonight.”
Doctor Ji set aside the papers he was reading and gestured for him to come closer. “Come here.”
“Hmm?” Bo Xinghang didn’t quite understand and stayed where he was.
Doctor Ji smiled with a hint of exasperation and got up to move closer to him.
He gently cupped Bo Xinghang’s chin with one hand, tilting it upward, and leaned in for a kiss. Since his intention was to wake him up, the kiss was firm, and when he pulled away, a soft sound lingered as their lips parted.
Ji Wenzhen let go and asked, “Still sleepy?”
“…No, not anymore.” Bo Xinghang’s ears turned a little red, and he rubbed them as he admitted, “I could stay up until three in the morning now.”
“Impressive.” Doctor Ji chuckled at his response and tapped him lightly on the forehead.
When it was time to start on his worksheets, Bo Xinghang got up to wash up first. As he headed back to his room, he stopped halfway, sensing someone behind him. He turned around, a smile in his eyes, and asked, “Doctor Ji, why are you following me?”
Doctor Ji leaned against the doorframe, dressed in a light blue loungewear set that Bo Xinghang had chosen for him. The soft fabric draped naturally over his shoulders and arms, making him look both gentle and inviting.
It was just a simple set of pajamas, but on Doctor Ji, it looked like high-end fashion. Bo Xinghang found it hard to look away.
Ji Wenzhen tilted his chin slightly, gesturing toward the desk behind Bo Xinghang, making his intentions clear without words.
Following his gaze, Bo Xinghang chuckled but with a hint of concern in his expression. “You don’t need to keep me company. You’ve already had a long day.”
What he had told Xu Yi earlier had just been an excuse. Doctor Ji was clearly exhausted, and Bo Xinghang couldn’t bear to let him stay up just to watch him work on his worksheets.
Moreover, he added, “I’ve got the basics down. If I run into any issues, the teachers at school are really attentive now.”
His reasons were solid, but Doctor Ji simply ruffled his hair and explained, “I’m going on a business trip next week.”
It was already Friday, and Bo Xinghang hadn’t expected it to be so soon. He stared at Doctor Ji in surprise. “…When did you find out?”
Ji Wenzhen patiently explained, “I was informed this afternoon. The hospital notified me that I’ll be on a two-week business trip. I wanted to tell you when I got home, but I never found the right moment.”
With a guest visiting that afternoon, it had been inconvenient to discuss personal matters. By the time they were watching TV, Ji Wenzhen didn’t want to spoil their rare moment of relaxation by bringing up the trip.
He had planned to tell him the next day, but seeing his Xiao Xing trying so hard to find reasons to convince him, he decided to tell him then.
Ji Wenzhen realized he was feeling reluctant. He didn’t want to leave Xiao Xing alone at home during his business trip, especially during this crucial final stage before the college entrance exams. This kind of sentiment was unusual for him, even surprising.
His life had always been calm and uneventful, making it hard to find anything that truly piqued his interest. It wasn’t that he lacked emotions; he simply hadn’t encountered people or events that could evoke them.
That changed when he met his Xiao Xing.
From their first encounter at the bar to the misunderstandings at school, to learning about the boy’s family situation, and everything that followed… Each event had stirred emotions within him that he thought had long faded.
If his emotional life had been a flat plain before, it had turned into towering mountains after the age of twenty-six.
Bo Xinghang agreed to let Doctor Ji stay with him for the last few nights before the exam. After this, their next meeting would likely be around the time of the college entrance exams.
Ji Wenzhen watched Xiao Xing work on his assignments, observing the boy’s long eyelashes as he concentrated. Despite the focus, Bo Xinghang wasn’t sitting still, fidgeting now and then, which caused Doctor Ji to start over three times before giving up.
When Bo Xinghang finished the last big question and set down his pen, Ji Wenzhen casually called out to him, “Xiao Xing.”
“What is it?” Bo Xinghang stretched his stiff body, raising his arms over his head as he turned to look at him.
Ji Wenzhen hesitated for a moment, keeping his eyes on the boy and trying to catch any subtle change in his expression. For once, his voice carried a rare hint of uncertainty as he asked, “After your college entrance exams… would you like to meet my parents?”
“…”
Bo Xinghang, in the middle of stretching, froze with his arms still raised in the air. The sight was somewhat comical, but he wasn’t focused on that. His mind was spinning, replaying Doctor Ji’s words over and over.
Perhaps it was due to the mental exhaustion from the worksheets, but he was speechless, staring at Doctor Ji in disbelief.
Seeing his reaction, a flicker of regret crossed Doctor Ji’s eyes. He took Bo Xinghang’s raised hand and gently patted it. “I was too hasty. This might be too soon for you. We can wait until later—”
“It’s not too soon!” Bo Xinghang quickly grabbed Doctor Ji’s hand, shaking his head vigorously like a rattle. “I just wasn’t expecting it… It’s such a surprise.”
Although Bo Xinghang was gripping his hand tightly, Doctor Ji didn’t pull away. Instead, he used the opportunity to massage the boy’s aching fingers, speaking softly, “Not too soon?”
“Not at all!” Bo Xinghang’s eyes shone brightly, his tone firm. “I want to meet them.”
