Neither of them expected Bai Yiheng to show up at this exact moment. His timing left them both slightly stunned.
Even Bai Yiheng himself looked surprised. His steps halted mid-motion, one hand still resting on the doorknob. “Did I come at a bad time?”
Xiao Cheng wanted to explain the scene before them but had no idea where to start. He didn’t even understand why Luo Jingshu would suddenly act like this.
“Mr. Bai.”
Before Xiao Cheng could finish his sentence, Bai Yiheng chuckled softly, stepped back, and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.
At the same time, his voice echoed in their ears, “I’ll leave you two to talk.”
Xiao Cheng’s ears grew warm as if they’d been caught in some compromising situation. He pursed his lips, forcing himself to suppress his impatience, and looked at Luo Jingshu.
“What are you trying to do?”
Luo Jingshu didn’t seem fazed at all by being caught in his disheveled state. On the contrary, when Bai Yiheng appeared at the door, there was even a trace of irritation and disdain in his gaze, as though Bai Yiheng was an unwelcome interruption.
“Brother Cheng, in the past, I repeatedly hurt you, whether intentionally or not. That was my fault for being such a scumbag. No matter how many apologies I give, I know they can never undo the harm I caused you.”
Xiao Cheng couldn’t help but grip the warm water bag pressed to his body. He had heard these apologies too many times. Even if Luo Jingshu meant them sincerely, what good would they do now?
He had no idea what else Luo Jingshu wanted to say. If it was the same repeated apologies, they were simply wasting each other’s time.
Luo Jingshu took a deep breath. “If you’re angry at me, just take it out on me, okay?”
Xiao Cheng gave him a sidelong glance. “You want me to beat you up again?”
He wasn’t in the mood for a fight right now. Besides, Xiao Cheng wasn’t someone who solved problems with violence. What did Luo Jingshu take him for?
Luo Jingshu licked his lips, his gaze sincere. “If hitting me will help, then go ahead.”
Xiao Cheng had no interest but still listened as the other continued. “What I mean is, you can do to me what I did to you. Whatever I’ve done, do it back to me.”
Xiao Cheng saw his IV was about to finish, and his impatience was mounting. His tolerance was running thin. “Stop beating around the bush. Just say what you mean.”
He was willing to give Luo Jingshu a few more minutes to talk, at least before he left.
Luo Jingshu tilted his head to look at him. Their roles seemed entirely reversed now. He said, “I was awful in the past. I never treated you like my boyfriend and always thought love was something to toy with.”
He paused, continuing under Xiao Cheng’s indifferent gaze. “Now, it’s your turn to treat me that way. Let me be your caged canary. Will you?”
Xiao Cheng: ???
“Are you out of your mind?”
He genuinely doubted Luo Jingshu’s mental state.
But after yelling this out, Xiao Cheng suddenly realized something. His tone turned incredulous and biting. “Wait, you thought of me as your caged canary?!”
So to Luo Jingshu, he wasn’t even considered a person?
Luo Jingshu really was a piece of work!
Luo Jingshu didn’t deny it. His expression dimmed slightly, but his eyes grew brighter, his tone more determined. “Brother Cheng, this time, you’ll have me in the palm of your hand. You can do whatever you want with me. I’ll do anything you ask.”
It sounded appealing, provided Xiao Cheng had that kind of hobby.
He held back for as long as he could, but in the end, he couldn’t resist. He reached out from under the blanket and smacked Luo Jingshu hard on the head.
“You’ve lost your mind.”
Who in their right mind would willingly degrade themselves to be someone else’s caged canary? That’s practically treating yourself as subhuman.
A once fierce and untamed wolf pup now voluntarily reduces itself to a house pet, collar and all, handing the leash over to its master. Unfortunately for Luo Jingshu, the young man wasn’t moved by his proposal in the slightest.
Luo Jingshu caught Xiao Cheng’s hand in midair and pressed it gently against the blanket.
Xiao Cheng thought he was upset about the smack earlier. “This hand is still on an IV. Be careful, or it might start bleeding. If you really want me to hit you, use the other hand.”
Before Xiao Cheng could respond, Luo Jingshu added pitifully, “If you feel that’s inconvenient, then I’ll switch positions.”
Before Xiao Cheng could refuse, Luo Jingshu abruptly stood up, walked around to the other side of the bed, and knelt down again at Xiao Cheng’s side.
Xiao Cheng: …
He truly didn’t know what to say.
He was at a complete loss for words.
“You don’t need to do this. We’ve already broken up.”
In the past, hearing these words would always elicit some sort of unwillingness or disappointment from Luo Jingshu. But this time, his expression remained unusually calm. He even nodded in agreement.
“You’re right, Brother Cheng.”
Xiao Cheng felt as though he’d hit a brick wall. The situation slipping out of his control made him increasingly agitated. He shifted in bed and frowned at Luo Jingshu.
“So what exactly are you trying to do?”
“Someone who’s made mistakes has no right to ask for your forgiveness, let alone ask to be your boyfriend again.”
Luo Jingshu’s peach-blossom eyes reddened, and there was a trace of gloom in them as he said, “I’m not hoping to be your boyfriend again. I just want to be your dog.”
Cough, cough! Xiao Cheng choked violently, coughing so hard it felt like his lungs might tear apart. His face flushed red instantly, and the hand receiving the IV involuntarily clenched the bedsheet beneath it, causing blood to backflow into the infusion tube.
Startled, Luo Jingshu quickly pressed down on Xiao Cheng’s hand and patted his back to help ease his discomfort.
Xiao Cheng forcefully pushed his hand away. Caught off guard, Luo Jingshu’s hand slammed against the metal stand beside him, making a loud thud. It was clear the impact wasn’t light.
Yet his expression didn’t change in the slightest. In the next second, he continued patting Xiao Cheng’s back gently. “It’s okay, Brother Cheng. Just take a moment to catch your breath.”
Xiao Cheng coughed until tears streamed from his eyes. His face turned a deep red, and even the tip of his nose and eyebrows seemed to flush. The corners of his eyes glistened faintly with unshed tears.
The culprit stood there with an innocent expression, as if he hadn’t said anything outrageous just moments ago.
Xiao Cheng tried hard to suppress the itchiness in his throat. After what felt like an eternity, he finally stopped coughing.
“Have you lost your mind, Luo Jingshu?!”
Was he even speaking human language anymore?
What did he mean by wanting to be his…
That word—Xiao Cheng couldn’t even bring himself to say it.
Heaven please help him. He was an honest, simple man who had never encountered such absurd scenarios before.
Luo Jingshu didn’t seem to think anything was wrong with what he’d just said. In his past life, he’d seen plenty of this. Some wealthy people had strange preferences, and there were even dedicated clubs for such things. The people who walked out of those places were sometimes treated decently as “companions”—and sometimes lived worse than dogs.
While Luo Jingshu himself didn’t have such preferences, he didn’t know how else to describe that kind of relationship, so he chose what he thought was the most fitting term.
Xiao Cheng’s gaze grew increasingly wary. As far as he knew, although Luo Jingshu hadn’t had the best life in the past, it wasn’t bad enough for him to develop such peculiar tendencies, right?
In the past, Xiao Cheng had only thought Luo Jingshu was a scumbag who wasn’t serious about relationships. Now he realized that Luo Jingshu wasn’t just unserious—he had no concept of a healthy relationship whatsoever.
“In your mind, is it impossible for a relationship to simply be between two people?” Xiao Cheng finally couldn’t hold back and snapped through gritted teeth.
First, it was a canary. Now, it was a dog. Was it really so hard for him to just be human?
Luo Jingshu silently stared at him, making Xiao Cheng feel uneasy under his gaze, before finally whispering, “Do I even count as a person in your eyes?”
Good point.
That question instantly left Xiao Cheng speechless.
He had always thought Luo Jingshu’s actions were inhuman, the kind of things no normal person would ever do. So he had never considered him a person at all, had he?
Xiao Cheng felt like his worldview had just been shattered. He didn’t even know how to respond.
Luo Jingshu’s image in his mind shifted again—from a heartless scumbag to a naïve brat, and now to a depraved pervert with bizarre kinks.
Unable to stop himself, Xiao Cheng grabbed Luo Jingshu’s cheek and pinched it hard, without holding back. Luo Jingshu’s pale skin turned red instantly after Xiao Cheng let go.
“Are you really the same person as Nian Nian?”
Did the boy he once liked even exist?
Could a person change this much? Or had he simply never seen Luo Jingshu clearly, and the Nian Nian of the past was just a façade all along?
“Brother Cheng, if you liked the me from before, I can keep acting like that.”
Nian Nian wasn’t entirely a façade. That was still part of Luo Jingshu’s personality. But that harmless and pure side was only a small fraction of his true self.
“No need.” Xiao Cheng glanced toward the door, wondering if Bai Yiheng was still outside. “I don’t want to think about this anymore. Just stay away from me.”
It wasn’t just Luo Jingshu’s persistence that scared him; it was also his twisted personality.
“I don’t want to stay far from you.” Luo Jingshu shifted from kneeling to squatting, his upturned eyes looking increasingly pitiful. “Dogs can’t stray too far from their owners.”
What the hell.
Xiao Cheng, utterly exasperated, snapped, “I haven’t even agreed to let you be my dog! At most, you’re a stray. Why are you clinging to me?”
Luo Jingshu blinked. “If I behave better, would you adopt me?”
Xiao Cheng’s stomach, which had finally calmed down, seemed to start aching again. Or maybe it was just his imagination—an uncomfortable churn instead of actual pain.
“Can’t you act normal for once?”
He rubbed his stomach. “Now get out of my sight.”
Luo Jingshu noticed the movement and his expression darkened, filled with regret and pain.
“I’m sorry, Brother Cheng. It’s my fault for not taking better care of you. I didn’t know eating crayfish would upset your stomach.”
He hadn’t cared enough about Xiao Cheng in the past. Even now, he still doesn’t know his likes and dislikes. If he’d been more attentive, tonight’s incident wouldn’t have happened.
Frustrated and remorseful, Luo Jingshu began pleading for forgiveness again. “It’s my mistake. Punish me.”
Xiao Cheng was utterly defeated by his nonsense. He finally realized something—between Luo Jingshu’s persistence and his madness, he feared the latter far more. Hearing those crazy words was far worse than any argument.
“If you don’t leave now, I’ll really hit you,” Xiao Cheng warned, his patience wearing thin. Seeing that the IV drip was almost done, he pressed the button by the bed to call the nurse to remove the needle.
“You know I hate eating scallions. Even the smell makes me nauseous,” Luo Jingshu suggested earnestly. “Why don’t you punish me by making me eat scallions?”
Xiao Cheng threw off the blanket and sat on the edge of the bed. Luo Jingshu squatted by his feet, looking up at him with a face completely devoid of deceit.
He genuinely seemed ready to go through with it.
Xiao Cheng’s head began to ache. “If you have masochistic tendencies, go find someone with the same kink. Stop bothering me.”
“Brother Cheng…” Luo Jingshu began, but Xiao Cheng cut him off, calling toward the door, “Mr. Bai!”
He wasn’t entirely sure if Bai Yiheng was still outside, but knowing his personality, he probably hadn’t gone far.
Sure enough, within seconds, the tall figure appeared in the doorway.
“Xiao Cheng.” Bai Yiheng addressed him while casting a glance at Luo Jingshu, his gaze no longer curious but more assessing. “Ready to leave?”
He didn’t pry into what was happening between Xiao Cheng and Luo Jingshu.
“Once the nurse comes to remove the needle, I’ll be good to go,” Xiao Cheng replied, rubbing his throbbing temples. He wanted to say something more but held back, knowing Bai Yiheng was present.
He especially dreaded if Luo Jingshu saying something outrageous in front of Bai Yiheng. Luo Jingshu might not care about embarrassing himself, but Xiao Cheng certainly didn’t want Bai Yiheng to overthink things.
Xiao Cheng still had his pride.
Fortunately, Luo Jingshu didn’t say anything. He simply noticed that Xiao Cheng was about to lean over to put on his shoes and quickly grabbed Xiao Cheng’s ankle. “Let me do it.”
Xiao Cheng ground his teeth. His hand still had the IV needle in, making bending over inconvenient. He couldn’t exactly ask Bai Yiheng for help, and after thinking it over, Luo Jingshu strangely became the best option.
His slender ankle was held gently in Luo Jingshu’s hand, and the other man carefully slipped a shoe onto his foot with tender precision.
Bai Yiheng stood silently nearby, watching. The room fell quiet, and none of the three spoke.
Xiao Cheng began to feel uncomfortable again. If it were just him and Luo Jingshu, it wouldn’t matter. He could treat Luo Jingshu however he pleased without a second thought. But with Bai Yiheng standing there, something felt off.
Not only did Luo Jingshu put on his shoes, but he also adjusted Xiao Cheng’s pant leg and socks. When Xiao Cheng glanced down, he noticed Luo Jingshu’s hands had picked up some dust from the soles of his shoes.
Instinctively, Xiao Cheng pulled his foot back. “Don’t touch me.”
Luo Jingshu looked up at him, his lips pressed into a thin line, and his eyes faintly reflected a hint of hurt.
Xiao Cheng hadn’t meant anything beyond practical concerns. He just felt Luo Jingshu’s hands were dirty, and if he touched his pants, it wouldn’t be hygienic.
Even if the dirt came from Xiao Cheng’s own shoes.
Xiao Cheng made no effort to hide his distaste.
Luo Jingshu couldn’t help but recall how this same person once willingly knelt in front of him, wiping dirt off his legs. Comparing that memory to Xiao Cheng’s current rejection and disdain felt like a blade stabbing into his heart, leaving it raw and bleeding.
“Brother Cheng,” he called softly, his tone low and tinged with an almost imperceptible plea.
Xiao Cheng didn’t respond. He pressed his foot against the floor and didn’t spare Luo Jingshu a glance.
The nurse came in to remove the needle and handed Xiao Cheng a cotton swab to press against the puncture site.
“Let’s go,” Xiao Cheng said as he stood up.
Bai Yiheng picked up the jacket draped on the edge of the bed and handed it to him. “Put your coat on,” he said.
Xiao Cheng hadn’t felt cold while lying under the blanket, but the moment he stood up, the chilly air in the room made him shiver.
His hands were tied, one holding the cotton swab firmly against the injection site, leaving him unable to grab anything. He could only look longingly at Bai Yiheng—or more precisely, at the jacket in his hands.
Bai Yiheng couldn’t help but chuckle, finding Xiao Cheng’s current demeanor irresistibly endearing. Like a harmless little kitten, seemingly pitiful yet making others want to tease him.
“You can throw the cotton swab away,” Bai Yiheng said.
“Are you sure it won’t bleed?”
Xiao Cheng had always been in good health, rarely even needing injections, let alone IV drips. The unfamiliar situation made him inexplicably anxious, afraid that as soon as he let go, he’d see blood seeping out.
“It won’t,” Bai Yiheng reassured him, shaking the jacket slightly as he spoke, his tone softer than before. “Toss the swab and put the jacket on.”
Deciding to trust Bai Yiheng, Xiao Cheng removed the swab. Only then did he realize that the injection site had long stopped bleeding, leaving just a faint trace of blood on the cotton—a negligible amount.
“Ahem.”
He felt an inexplicable flush rise to his cheeks, suddenly aware of how childish he must have seemed. “Actually, I already knew it wouldn’t bleed.”
Bai Yiheng’s eyes still carried a hint of amusement. “Sure you did.”
Xiao Cheng reached out to take the jacket, but Bai Yiheng didn’t let go. Instead, he simply said, “Put it on.”
At some point, Luo Jingshu had stood up, his gaze dark and heavy as he watched the two of them. He looked as though he wished he could take Bai Yiheng’s place.
Xiao Cheng rubbed the tip of his nose, feeling the warmth in his hands dissipating again. At that moment, he stopped caring about who was holding the jacket. Without further hesitation, he slipped his arms into the sleeves.
The hot water bottle Luo Jingshu had bought was still sitting on the bed. Xiao Cheng glanced back at it briefly—not because it was from Luo Jingshu, but simply because it was useful and still warm.
Forget it, it’s not like I can’t afford one. I’ll just buy another when I get home.
Thinking this, Xiao Cheng adjusted his clothes and said, “Mr. Bai, let’s go.”
Late at night, having made Bai Yiheng wait so long, Xiao Cheng felt a pang of guilt.
Bai Yiheng glanced at Luo Jingshu, who looked like an abandoned puppy. The corners of his lips quirked up ever so slightly before he replied to Xiao Cheng, “Alright.”
Luo Jingshu wanted to grab Xiao Cheng’s wrist but hesitated, afraid of being shaken off again. Lowering his voice, he called out, “Brother Cheng.”
Xiao Cheng didn’t even turn back. “Whatever you said today, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”
Luo Jingshu should give up already.
Did he really think Xiao Cheng was that kind of person?
Luo Jingshu bit down on the soft flesh of his cheek, the pain sharpening his thoughts. “I meant every word, Brother Cheng. Please consider it.”
“There’s nothing to consider,” Xiao Cheng replied, his voice dropping slightly, tinged with anger. “I don’t have that kind of kink.”
With that, he turned to Bai Yiheng and said, “Mr. Bai, let’s go.”
The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder, leaving only their backs for Luo Jingshu to see.
Luo Jingshu watched the taller and shorter figures disappear, his teeth grinding together so hard it felt like he might shatter them. His jaw tightened until the faint taste of blood seeped into his mouth. Only then did he exhale deeply.
He wasn’t going to give up.
Even if it meant clinging on shamelessly, lowering himself into the dust, he had to win Xiao Cheng back.
He had only ever loved one person, loved him so much that he couldn’t lose him. He wouldn’t let Xiao Cheng go.
–
Bai Yiheng had driven himself, and as he opened the passenger door, Xiao Cheng didn’t hesitate to climb in.
“Are you still feeling unwell?” Bai Yiheng asked.
Xiao Cheng shook his head. After the unpleasant events at the hospital, his demeanor was lackluster, and his voice carried little energy. “Not really.”
As Bai Yiheng started the car, the faint scent of soap lingered on him, signaling that he’d likely showered after returning home. He was dressed casually, wearing a coat over a black shirt instead of his daytime suit.
His hands were large, with well-defined joints and veins running faintly along the backs. Resting on the steering wheel, his wrist peeked out, adorned with a watch.
Xiao Cheng squinted, glancing at the time displayed on it.
It was half past eleven at night.
“Mr. Bai,” Xiao Cheng shifted in his seat, finding a comfortable position, “aren’t you curious about what happened today?”
After all, he’d run into his ex, and when Bai Yiheng arrived, their posture had been… peculiar.
Bai Yiheng’s face was obscured in the shadows, making it hard for Xiao Cheng to discern his expression. Unable to resist, he leaned in closer.
At a red light, Bai Yiheng turned his head slightly to glance at him. “Is it something I should be concerned about?”
If Xiao Cheng didn’t want to share, prying would only irritate him.
If Xiao Cheng wanted to share, he would do so without prompting.
Xiao Cheng licked his dry lips. “I just went to thank him.”
As for why, Bai Yiheng likely already knew.
With a soft smile, he replied gently, “You’re an adult. You can spend your time however you wish; you don’t need to report to me.”
After a pause, he added, “And you don’t need to worry about me tattling to your dad.”
Xiao Cheng’s little worry was laid bare, making him feel a bit embarrassed. He rubbed his face. “Uh…”
Bai Yiheng’s expression remained calm. “It’s no big deal. Being in a relationship is perfectly normal.”
“I’m not dating him,” Xiao Cheng retorted instinctively. “I’m not getting back together with him.”
As for Luo Jingshu’s ridiculous suggestion of becoming his “dog,”—yeah, it’s not happening.
Bai Yiheng’s gaze deepened, his eyes enigmatic in the dark.
“You don’t like him anymore?”
The question was asked casually, like idle chatter between friends.
Xiao Cheng gave a small hum of agreement before grumbling, “He’s got issues.”
He wouldn’t say such things if he had even a bit of normalcy.
It seemed something unusual had indeed occurred at the hospital tonight.
Bai Yiheng appeared thoughtful. “Did he upset you?”
Xiao Cheng wasn’t sure whether to share, but since Bai Yiheng had asked, he decided to answer. “His attitude toward relationships is… problematic. He—”
Xiao Cheng hesitated before stating his opinion. “He doesn’t see relationships as equal. He…”
Luo Jingshu used to treat him like a pastime, a caged bird to amuse himself with. Now he wanted to reverse roles and become Xiao Cheng’s pet. That wasn’t a healthy relationship.
Bai Yiheng nodded slightly. “Have you made that clear to him?”
“That’s the hardest part,” Xiao Cheng admitted. “I’ve told him countless times, but he doesn’t listen.”
At first, he didn’t believe it. Later, he believed it but refused to let go.
Xiao Cheng’s initial frustration had now turned into numbness. He didn’t know how to change Luo Jingshu’s mindset.
Since he couldn’t change Luo Jingshu, he could only change himself.
Xiao Cheng could only do one thing: reject him.
Bai Yiheng was silent for a moment, longer than before. Just as Xiao Cheng thought the topic was over, he suddenly spoke softly. “Have you considered how to change the situation?”
“I’ve already rejected him many times.”
Xiao Cheng had no experience in this kind of thing. For some reason, he suddenly felt that Bai Yiheng might have a solution. Turning to him with wide eyes, he asked, “Mr. Bai, do you have any ideas?”
Bai Yiheng glanced at him, his handsome, mature face carrying a faint smile. “Have you thought about finding another boyfriend?”
Xiao Cheng blinked. “Huh?”
Bai Yiheng said, “Maybe it’s because you’re single that he thinks he still has a chance.”
Xiao Cheng blinked again. “But I don’t like anyone.”
Where would he find a boyfriend?
Bai Yiheng hummed lightly. “Feelings can be cultivated. You could find someone you don’t dislike.”
“Try dating them,” he suggested.
Xiao Cheng frowned. “Isn’t that…”
Isn’t that what scumbags do?
If he didn’t like someone, why date them?
Bai Yiheng said, “Not all couples start with love. Many begin with mutual goodwill and develop feelings over time.”
“How will you know if you won’t like someone unless you try?”
Xiao Cheng seemed a little persuaded. “But I don’t think anyone around me is a suitable candidate.”
Bai Yiheng’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Cheng suddenly said, “Mr. Bai, do you think it’d work if I paid someone to pretend to be my boyfriend and fool Luo Jingshu? What are the chances of success?”
Bai Yiheng turned to look at him in silence.
The young man’s eyes sparkled with hope as he gazed at him expectantly.
Inwardly, Bai Yiheng took a deep breath. “Xiao Cheng.”
He said, “Have you considered someone close to you?”
For a moment, Xiao Cheng thought of Xie Zhao, his senior. He frowned. “That wouldn’t be right. Knowing he likes me and using him to trick Luo Jingshu—that’s too scummy.”
Bai Yiheng: …
“Who are you talking about?”
His tone was inexplicably cold. Xiao Cheng blinked at his profile, mumbling, “A senior of mine.”
Bai Yiheng nodded. “Yes, that would be wrong.”
Xiao Cheng sighed in relief. “Right? You think so too…”
He didn’t finish his sentence before Bai Yiheng cut him off.
The man looked at him seriously and said, “Then consider someone else.”
“How about me?”
TN: imo Luo Jingshu has the same vibes with Luo Binghe lol (especially when begging to be hit and wants to be their lover’s dog)
