Mei Yuchen, who had clearly gained back the weight he lost, no longer felt pain when he rested his chin on Bai Sijun’s shoulder. The dark circles under his eyes had also disappeared. He was gradually returning to the way he looked three years ago. The atmosphere around him was completely different from when Bai Sijun first arrived. Not only did he lose the morning grumpiness, but he also resumed regular workouts.
On one hand, Bai Sijun felt a sense of accomplishment for taking good care of this big cat. On the other hand, he thought about how this cat was originally a stray, and what if he couldn’t control it.
At four o’clock in the afternoon, Mei Yuchen left for his workout as scheduled. Bai Sijun handed him a prepared protein shake and hesitated as he spoke, “Um, I heard that there are many people in the gym, um…”
Mei Yuchen tilted his head and looked at him, “Um?”
“It’s just…” Bai Sijun awkwardly looked elsewhere, “there are many gay people, so, you know, just focus on exercising, don’t look around too much.”
Mei Yuchen burst into laughter, “You won’t come even if I invite you to go together.”
Bai Sijun had reasons not to go. First, he thought his body was well-proportioned, not needing weight loss or muscle-building, so going to the gym would be a waste. Second, with his current savings, he didn’t have the luxury of spending on frivolities for the sake of a relationship.
Mei Yuchen had a habit of exercising from an early age, and with a good foundation, his muscles became more pronounced within a week of resuming workouts. Bai Sijun felt conflicted because when one sees their partner becoming more outstanding, it’s easy to feel insecure.
Bai Sijun thought that he just happened to appear in Mei Yuchen’s life when he was at his lowest point, which was why Mei Yuchen clung to him like a life-saving straw and hopelessly fell for him. If Mei Yuchen returned to his lively and spirited self from before, he might not have given Bai Sijun a second glance…
The more Bai Sijun thought about it, the more uncertain he became. Suddenly, he felt it might be worth the “waste” for the sake of being in a relationship. He casually asked Mei Yuchen, “Can I start going with you from today?”
Mei Yuchen didn’t reply immediately. He looked at him with a smile that seemed to hold deeper meaning.
Realizing Mei Yuchen had seen through all his thoughts with his frightening insight, Bai Sijun awkwardly cleared his throat and admitted, “I have to keep an eye on you, so you won’t run off with someone else.”
Mei Yuchen laughed directly at this. He embraced him, biting his ear and saying, “You’re my only muse. Where could I run?”
Blushing, Bai Sijun didn’t respond. Even if Mei Yuchen said so, he would still keep an eye on him.
Outside the villa area, there was a high-end fitness club. Just by looking at the exterior decorations, one could tell that its target customers were wealthy residents in the villa area.
Bai Sijun mentally prepared himself for a substantial expense. However, when the membership consultant guided him through the gym equipment, Mei Yuchen had already arranged for a five-year membership card on his behalf.
Bai Sijun stood there holding the card, asking Mei Yuchen, “How much is this?”
Mei Yuchen casually replied, “Not expensive.”
Bai Sijun thought he wasn’t a fool. Feeling a bit anxious, he asked, “Why did you get a five-year one? Can we still refund it now?”
“Why refund?” Mei Yuchen furrowed his brows, “Do you plan to break up with me within five years?”
Bai Sijun was taken aback, “Uh, no.”
“That’s good,” Mei Yuchen smirked, “The longest membership here is five years. If they had a lifetime membership, I would have gotten it for you.”
Mei Yuchen was always like this, casually saying sweet words without realizing the impact they had. Each word seemed to explode in Bai Sijun’s heart like a nuclear bomb, making his heart completely captivated.
“I should at least contribute some money myself,” Bai Sijun said, feeling a bit helpless.
“Bai, if you get in shape, isn’t it beneficial for me?” Mei Yuchen said seriously.
Bai Sijun thought Mei Yuchen was talking nonsense, but then he thought it made some sense. Since Mei Yuchen’s abdominal muscles became more pronounced, in recent “size comparisons,” he couldn’t resist touching Mei Yuchen’s abs. Feeling those chocolate-like blocks, he found himself inexplicably excited.
If he also developed those muscle lines, wouldn’t Mei Yuchen experience even better moments during “activities”?
Thinking about this, he suddenly forgot about the money issue and just wanted to quickly get in shape as well as Mei Yuchen.
Before coming to the gym, Bai Sijun had always thought there would be many flamboyant guys wearing tight tank tops and shorts, making loud noises with every movement. However, upon entering, he found that everyone was quite normal. Even when people gathered to chat, their discussions were related to fitness, without any signs of flirtation.
Bai Sijun reflected on his biased preconceptions for a moment.
After warming up on the treadmill, he casually asked Mei Yuchen, “Didn’t you use to work out here before? Why does it seem like no one knows you?”
“They know me,” Mei Yuchen ran, responding with steady breath, “but they know I usually don’t interact with people.”
He almost forgot that Mei Yuchen always maintained a cool and distant demeanor in front of others. Only in front of him was he both clingy and seductive, like a big cat. How could such a big cat run off with someone else? It was all his baseless imagination. It seemed that people’s minds really became abnormal after they started dating.
After the warm-up, Mei Yuchen took him to the strength training area, and it was only at this point that Bai Sijun truly felt the difference in their strength. Mei Yuchen could effortlessly push 50kg during bench presses, while Bai Sijun found it challenging to lift a 25kg dumbbell.
Now he understood why Mei Yuchen could immobilize him whenever he pressed down on him. It turned out Mei Yuchen had been working out for so long, and he was no match for him.
It was Bai Sijun’s first time using the equipment, and Mei Yuchen didn’t push him too hard. After similar workouts, they moved to the empty studio for stretching.
While exercising, Mei Yuchen tied his shoulder-length hair behind his head, revealing his slender neck. Sweat beads were now seeping down his neck, emitting a faint mature man’s hormone scent. Bai Sijun couldn’t help but be unable to look away, feeling a bit thirsty as he watched.
At this moment, Mei Yuchen was massaging Bai Sijun’s thighs. He lowered his gaze, focusing on his hands’ movements. Although his hands were unusually well-behaved, Bai Sijun felt a warmth in his lower abdomen.
“Mei.” Bai Sijun, unable to bear it, pressed down Mei Yuchen’s hand, “Maybe you should stop.”
He had a premonition that things might go wrong if it continued.
“What’s wrong?” Mei Yuchen lifted his head, his clear and transparent eyes making Bai Sijun unsure if he was being serious or playfully teasing him.
He hesitated before saying, “It’s about enough.”
Mei Yuchen slowly approached him, asking in a low voice, “Really enough?”
The clear eyes from a moment ago instantly took on a mischievous color, and Bai Sijun immediately understood that he was deliberately teasing him.
Nervously, he said, “we are in public; don’t mess around.”
Mei Yuchen smiled, like a little devil, whispered in Bai Sijun’s ear, “The locker room has showers. Wanna go?”
Bai Sijun felt he had changed, really changed. He used to be a career-driven, content individual, but since being with Mei Yuchen, work had taken a back seat. He found himself increasingly accustomed to thinking with his lower half.
Mei Yuchen claimed it was a man’s nature, and he was just helping him unleash his nature. Bai Sijun couldn’t find words to refute, and under Mei Yuchen’s guidance, he became increasingly boundary-less.
If this were before, even if he were alone, he would never address certain needs in public. Yet now, he found himself showering together with Mei Yuchen in the gym’s cramped shower stall.
Fortunately, the gym’s shower curtain was long enough, reaching straight to the floor, so outsiders couldn’t see that there were actually four legs in the stall. Otherwise, it would be hard to justify using such a large shower room if they didn’t squeeze together.
“Shower is just a shower, don’t get handsy,” Bai Sijun frowned.
“I wouldn’t,” Mei Yuchen blinked innocently.
At this moment, the shower room suddenly echoed with footsteps. Bai Sijun and Mei Yuchen were in the innermost position. Before long, the neighboring stall began to sound with the water from the shower and the unfamiliar man singing. The man’s singing was off-key. If heard at home, it might be a mood spoiler, but in the current situation, it only added another layer of tension with someone else present.
Bai Sijun dared not make a sound, behaving like a thief. Although the two occasionally made some noise, fortunately, the man next door’s loud singing drowned out any sounds they made, and they were not discovered in the end.
…
People don’t usually take long showers at the gym. The man next door also quickly finished and left. In the spacious bathroom, only the sound of water from their shower stall remained. Bai Sijun hung weakly on Mei Yuchen, letting Mei Yuchen rinse off the shower foam on his body.
“Bai.” Even though no one was outside, Mei Yuchen still lowered his voice, “I’ve been holding back for a long time. When will we do it?”
Of course, Bai Sijun knew what Mei Yuchen meant by “do it.” He had been avoiding this final step, partly because he was afraid of pain, and partly because there was still a psychological barrier he couldn’t overcome.
This barrier was not something he could overcome just by closing his eyes and mustering up the courage, unlike the first time they ‘helped’ each other. It was a real obstacle, impossible to ignore. He weakly asked, “Is there no room for negotiation?”
The hand on his waist suddenly exerted force, causing Bai Sijun to frown in pain, “Mei?”
Mei Yuchen, biting Bai Sijun’s shoulder, said, “No backing out.”
Bai Sijun smiled wryly, “Alright.”
Mei Yuchen did finish writing his book quickly. In just a few days, he had already outlined the structure and written the opening. However, until he finished, there should still be some time. Bai Sijun thought that during this time, he could learn more and try to change Mei Yuchen’s mind.
What if Mei Yuchen changed his mind one day? He couldn’t give up hope.
After coming out of the shower, the two changed in the locker room. There were people moving around in the locker room, so their intimate actions toned down a bit.
While putting on his clothes, Bai Sijun took another look at Mei Yuchen’s physique, unable to hide his admiration, “Your body is so good; you don’t even need to work out.”
If he continued working out, Bai Sijun feared he wouldn’t be able to catch up.
Mei Yuchen chuckled, leaned in close to him, and said in a low voice, “Do you think I only work out for a good physique?”
Bai Sijun, puzzled, replied, “Then why else?”
“You’re younger than me.” Mei Yuchen paused, “I’m afraid if I don’t exercise, I won’t be able to keep up with you as I get older.”
It was over. Bai Sijun knew Mei Yuchen wouldn’t change his mind.
Because this big cat seemed to have made sleeping with him his lifelong goal.
