SLWP Extra 3

It was a weekend, and Chen Xu was the only one at home. Since Ji Chunxiao graduated, he started working immediately and was busy all the time without any breaks. Chen Xu, still pursuing his master’s degree, had a relatively more leisurely schedule in comparison.

In the morning, he had breakfast with Ji Chunxiao and then went back to bed for an extra hour’s sleep.

However, his phone kept vibrating now and then by his ear, preventing him from sleeping deeply. When he checked, it was full of messages from Ji Chunxiao, with a few coming in every ten minutes or so:

[What’s my wife doing?]

[Just finished the morning meeting, it’s only been half an hour since we parted, and I miss you already.]

[Why aren’t you replying?]

[Are you sleeping?]

[Sad puppy.jpg]

[Are you awake now, wife?]

[It’s been an hour since you last talked to me.]

[Upset puppy.jpg]

…

Chen Xu scrolled through the messages, slightly helpless but still smiling, and took them seriously one by one.

[I just fell asleep, wasn’t ignoring you.]

Right after he sent the message, Ji Chunxiao called him via video. There wasn’t much to say, but Ji Chunxiao stubbornly insisted Chen Xu not hang up. Both were either working or studying, and occasionally looking up, they could see each other on the screen, reminiscent of when they were desk mates in high school.

Ji Chunxiao had been clingy lately, Chen Xu thought, a bit oddly.

It seemed that since the start of winter, Ji Chunxiao had become increasingly inseparable from him. If Chen Xu didn’t reply for over an hour, Ji Chunxiao would get anxious and upset, not daring to vent on his wife, but by evening, he would be extra forceful, as if trying to meld Chen Xu into his being.

The anxiety and insecurity seemed to transmit through their skin contact. Although Chen Xu didn’t understand why, he became more accommodating towards Ji Chunxiao, gently soothing him.

In the evening, Ji Chunxiao had a meeting and could only gloomily turn off the video, meanwhile updating his schedule: “Wife, I’ll be off work after the meeting, will be home soon.”

Chen Xu nodded in agreement, urging him to get to work, then donned an apron and started busying himself in the kitchen.

Ji Chunxiao had mentioned wanting to eat cupcakes a couple of days ago, and Chen Xu planned to bake them himself. Now that he had some free time, Ji Chunxiao would probably be delighted to see them when he got home.

Flour, milk, and butter were kneaded together and slowly expanded under the warm oven light, emitting a rich aroma.

While preparing the ingredients, Chen Xu noticed there wasn’t enough cocoa powder at home. After confirming there was no more in the drawers, he took off his apron, planning to buy some from the supermarket downstairs.

But once downstairs, he realized that the supermarket was closed.

No choice but to take his car keys, Chen Xu drove to another nearby supermarket. After picking up the cocoa powder and some fruits and snacks for the house, he lined up at the checkout. He habitually reached for his phone in his pocket only to realize that he had left it at home.

Luckily, he had the habit of carrying some cash.

After paying, carrying the shopping bags towards the parking lot, he was contemplating the designs for the cupcakes when suddenly someone called out his name.

“Chen Xu——!”

Looking towards the source, there was Ji Chunxiao, still panting.

“Aren’t you in a meeting? How…”

Before Chen Xu could finish, he was tightly hugged, causing the shopping bags to drop to the ground.

Ji Chunxiao hugged him really tight, so much that it was slightly painful for Chen Xu. He was about to ask Ji Chunxiao to ease up when he unexpectedly saw the red-rimmed eyes of the person in front of him.

“Why aren’t you answering my calls…?”

Ji Chunxiao buried his head into Chen Xu’s neck, his voice tinged with panic and the relief of having found him again, and yet it sounded so aggrieved.

Chen Xu felt both distressed and helpless, “I left my phone at home, forgot to bring it.”

“How can you be so clingy? It’s only been a short time, and it’s not like something could happen…”

While saying this, Ji Chunxiao didn’t respond but silently and stubbornly held him tighter.

Chen Xu’s gaze fell on the wide square outside the supermarket, adorned with Christmas symbols, and the giant Christmas tree with its star lights illuminating the area with a soft, warm glow.

Chen Xu suddenly realized that tomorrow was Christmas.

Having been reborn so long ago, he almost forgot, taking it as a bizarre dream.

The Christmas before his twenty-second birthday was the endpoint of his life in his last existence.

This was Ji Chunxiao’s most feared day, haunted by nightmares of fire engulfing everything on empty streets, replaying the loss of Chen Xu.

He had no choice but to hold Chen Xu even tighter, closer, wishing they could always be together to gain some peace of mind.

Chen Xu finally understood why Ji Chunxiao became more inseparable as Christmas approached.

Ji Chunxiao was scared.

“It’s okay, nothing happened, I just went to buy some things.”

His hand soothed Ji Chunxiao’s back gently and reassuringly.

Chen Xu looked up, caressed his face, and kissed him, “Let’s go inside, it’s too cold out here, shall we get in the car?”

Ji Chunxiao looked down at him and nodded, picking up the shopping bags from the ground, but his other hand still tightly held Chen Xu’s.

The car heater quickly warmed them up, and downstairs, Ji Chunxiao was still pouting, but after getting out, he still tightly held his wife’s hand.

Chen Xu felt his heart melt like the cheese in the oven, sticky and gooey, as he softly coaxed Ji Chunxiao.

“Are you mad?”

Little Ji wouldn’t be mad at his wife, he shook his head, “Not mad.”

Just worried too much.

Chen Xu chuckled, pulling him into the elevator. At the door to their home, he wrapped his arms around Ji Chunxiao’s neck, pulling him down a bit, and kissed his cool lips.

“Don’t be unhappy now, I baked cupcakes for you… hubby.”

He opened the door, and the room was already filled with the sweet scent of cakes, comforting and warm.

While finishing the cupcakes, Ji Chunxiao helped by his side, not straying away.

Even the cream was applied with Ji Chunxiao wrapping his arms around Chen Xu’s waist, their hands working together.

The first spoonful of cupcake Chen Xu fed to Ji Chunxiao was exchanged for a deep kiss.

Creamy aromas melted in their touching lips, Ji Chunxiao just wanted to be closer to his wife, to lessen the fear of Chen Xu being away.

In the end, they didn’t finish the cupcakes.

When they remembered them again, it was almost midnight.

Ji Chunxiao, bare-chested, came out of the bedroom, picked up the cake and a glass of water, placing them on the bedside table.

“Hungry, huh?” He kissed his wife, “Want a sip of water first?”

Chen Xu’s voice was a bit hoarse, and he nodded.

As they finished the cupcake bite by bite, it was past midnight, beyond the point when his life had ended before.

Ji Chunxiao held Chen Xu tightly in his arms, breathing a sigh of relief.

“This time, nothing happened.”

He looked into Chen Xu’s eyes, “From now on, we have a long, long future ahead, not just until we’re twenty-two.

Always be with me.”

“Of course, I’ll always be with you,” Chen Xu replied, forehead against Ji Chunxiao’s.

No more worries, no more accidents or losses, only a long and beautiful future ahead.

(Little Ji’s Diary: December 25 – Clinging to my wife is the nature of a qualified hubby! I will protect him, love him, and be with him, forever and ever.)