When he woke up again, he was still lying on Shao Cheng’s large bed. Compared to the previous times, he really couldn’t get out of bed this time. Even sitting up was difficult, and his throat was completely hoarse.
Shao Cheng’s actions had shown him what true “lesson” meant.
“Awake?” Shao Cheng walked in from outside, looking refreshed and energetic, in stark contrast to Bai Yang.
He placed a glass of water on the bedside table and gently helped Bai Yang sit up, holding him in his arms tenderly. It was gentle, as if the “culprit” from the previous night in bed wasn’t him.
“Have some water.” Shao Cheng handed him the glass of water.
With the moisture in his throat, the dryness instantly eased, and Bai Yang sipped the water in small sips while nervously stealing glances at Shao Cheng’s expression. Last night’s Shao Cheng had been incredibly fierce, and he couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated.
Seemingly reading his thoughts, Shao Cheng leaned close and whispered in his ear, “Did you feel uncomfortable last night?”
Blushing, Bai Yang shook his head. Even though he had been pounded so shamefully last night, he couldn’t deny that it had been pleasurable… Besides, Shao Cheng hadn’t really hurt him, and he had taken care of him afterward.
Shao Cheng chuckled softly, “So, you really enjoyed it?”
Bai Yang’s cheeks turned even redder, and he bit his lip without speaking.
“How am I supposed to stay calm with you looking like this?” Shao Cheng stared at Bai Yang’s lips, his deep and lazy voice sent shivers down Bai Yang’s spine.
Bai Yang mumbled softly, “You’ve always been calm…”
Shao Cheng snorted, “If I were calm, I would have resisted the temptation to take you to bed when I thought you were intentionally getting close to me for money. If I were calm, I wouldn’t have softened when you cried on your birthday, even if you were lying to me or had someone else in your heart. As long as you were willing to still pursue me and still liked me.”
He took his hand in his and gently kissed each finger. “If I were calm, I wouldn’t have been so moved.”
The tips of his kissed fingers were slightly warm, and Bai Yang stared at him, his heart pounding faster and almost painfully.
“You said you don’t know what’s likable about yourself. That’s something I should be saying. You’re strong, open-minded, and pure. The real question is, why should someone as cold and selfish as me be liked by you?”
Bai Yang’s heart trembled as he listened, hurriedly saying, “No, you’re very gentle.”
“So, you like my gentleness? If someone gentler comes along, would you leave me for them?”
“No way!” he said without hesitation, “I like you. It doesn’t matter if you’re perfect or not, whether you’re gentle or not, I just like you.”
Shao Cheng’s lips curled into a smile. “Me too. No matter how you are, no matter how others are, I only like you.”
Tears welled up in Bai Yang’s eyes. His already swollen eye sockets turned even redder. He turned around and buried his head in Shao Cheng’s chest.
With him, what was there to be afraid of or worried about anymore?
On the weekend, as promised, Shao Cheng brought Bai Yang home to meet his parents.
Even when the car stopped at the door, Bai Yang still found it hard to believe. Although homosexuality had been legal for more than a decade, many older generations’ views remained deeply rooted. Moreover, a family like Shao Cheng’s, with a strong background and needing an heir, should require careful consideration.
For this reason, Shao Cheng had explained on the way there, “My grandfather had two sons. My father wasn’t interested in inheriting the pharmaceutical factory. He wanted to be a doctor, so he worked his way up from a grassroots doctor to become a hospital director. He didn’t follow the usual path himself, so he wouldn’t force me to do so either. My grandfather’s company is now inherited by my uncle, and he also has children. Even if I wanted to, I might not have the chance to inherit it.”
“Why don’t you become a doctor then?” Bai Yang curiously asked. Coming from a medical family like this and having such a strong background, Shao Cheng would undoubtedly have a smooth path if he chose this profession.
“There are many ways to heal and treat people,” Shao Cheng said calmly. “When I was young, I often got sick. Although medication could help me recover physically, it was very uncomfortable. At that time, I started reading detective novels and got engrossed in them, forgetting about the physical pain. Our family already has so many medical experts; they don’t need any more. If my work in writing can also help patients and everyone needing an escape temporarily forget their physical pain, then that’s also a way to carry on the family legacy.”
Bai Yang felt that the Shao Cheng who spoke these words was like a saint, radiating a blinding and enchanting light.
As they walked through the garden corridor and reached the entrance of Shao’s house, Bai Yang adjusted his collar nervously before knocking on the door. He asked hesitantly, “Do I look okay?”
“Have you never looked in the mirror?” Shao Cheng glanced at him, then said, “You look so good and attractive. “
It wasn’t until Shao Cheng’s parents came to open the door that the heat on Bai Yang’s face started to dissipate.
“Hello, is it hot outside? Your face is so red. Come in and have a seat,” Shao Cheng’s mother warmly greeted him.
“Hello, Auntie. This is a small gift for you.” Bai Yang entered and respectfully handed over the carefully selected gift. Then, he took out the gift for Shao Cheng’s father and sincerely said, “Dr. Shao, as Shao Cheng mentioned, thank you for caring about my sister.”
Shao’s parents happily accepted the gifts and told him not to be polite. The four of them sat on the sofa and chatted, asking many questions, all of which Bai Yang answered patiently and respectfully.
Shao Cheng impatiently said, “Mom, Dad, haven’t I already told you? Why keep asking all that? Let’s eat.”
Shao’s mother scolded, “You, this child. What’s wrong with asking a few questions? Can’t we be curious?”
Bai Yang’s face started to flush again.
Shao’s mother immediately prepared lunch. Usually, the house had servants to cook, but that day she personally cooked several of her specialty dishes. This demonstrated the level of importance she placed on her son’s first guest at home.
Bai Yang was touched, and with Shao Cheng’s parents’ warm hospitality, he ended up eating three bowls of food, so much that he couldn’t even walk afterward. After eating and driving back home, Shao Cheng teased him, “You look pregnant right now.. You finished almost four bowls of food.”
Bai Yang blushed, “I’ll exercise later.”
“What kind of exercise, bedroom exercise?” Shao Cheng unusually made a lewd joke, “You should eat more down there; maybe you’ll actually get pregnant.”
Bai Yang was momentarily stunned before he realized what he meant. His face turned beet red in an instant.
Shao Cheng raised his hand and ruffled his hair, a slight smirk playing on his lips. He said, “You did well today. So i have a reward for you.”
Bai Yang hurriedly said, “You don’t need to. You’ve done so much for me already.”
However, Shao Cheng pointed to the drawer on the desk and said, “Open it and see.”
He had no choice but to pull open the drawer and found a rectangular box inside. Opening it, he was immediately taken aback.
Inside was actually his previous phone, the one that had been shattered by Song Chi’s stomping.
The screen that had shattered into countless glass shards had been replaced with a new, bright screen. The broken phone case on the back had also been replaced with an identical one. If it weren’t for a few familiar abrasions on the edges of the phone, he would have almost believed that it was a new phone.
“I had a friend take it for repairs. Some parts were damaged from being stomped on. It took a bit of time. I couldn’t find the phone case you had anywhere; it’s probably not available anymore. So, I had a new one custom-made, it should be close. Take a look.”
Bai Yang’s nose tingled, and he suppressed the choking sensation rising in his throat, saying, “Thank you. You really didn’t have to go through so much trouble…”
“Aah this is nothing. Tell me what you want. As I said, you can be a bit more confident and willful…”
Shao Cheng’s words were cut off as the person who had suddenly thrown himself into his arms bumped him a few steps back. Though Bai Yang was slightly shorter, he wasn’t lacking in strength. He held onto Shao Cheng tightly, rendering him momentarily immobile.
With his head buried in Shao Cheng’s shoulder, Bai Yang calmed his emotions for a while. He raised his head to look at Shao Cheng, his dark eyes reddening faintly. “Even if you send me away, I won’t leave you…”
Shao Cheng was taken aback, then he immediately gave a satisfied and charming smile, softening his usually stern expression.
“You should have thought that way a long time ago.”
