PGV Chapter 5

Yan Qing specifically adjusted his day off to coincide with Ding Qi’s break. While they had plenty of time, Ding Qi had no idea where to take Yan Qing.

He had to remain on standby in the city; in case of any emergency, he needed to rush back to the prison. Travel was out of the question. As for other recreational activities, Yan Qing didn’t seem interested in anything.

In the end, Ding Qi hesitated before suggesting, “Want to come over to my place?”

Yan Qing looked at him, not answering immediately.

Ding Qi almost confessed that his intentions weren’t exactly pure when Yan Qing unexpectedly replied, “Sure.”

Ding Qi’s apartment was about a half-hour drive from Ai Jun Bao Pet Hospital. As they entered the residential complex, Yan Qing could already tell Ding Qi came from a well-off family.

Stepping inside his apartment, that impression deepened.

The space was tidy despite being a bachelor pad. Ding Qi either had a penchant for cleanliness or hired help. Either way, it was clear he valued quality living.

“Make yourself at home. Treat this place as yours.” Ding Qi walked over to a cabinet, pulling out a new porcelain cup in a refreshing light mint-blue color.

Then he took out another, in a delicate pinkish lotus hue.

Opening his double-door refrigerator, he turned to Yan Qing. “Tea, coffee, or something else?”

“I only drink plain cold water,” Yan Qing replied politely but firmly.

Ding Qi shut the fridge. “Then I’ll have plain water, too.”

Yan Qing watched as Ding Qi used the pink cup for himself. The image was oddly striking—an 1.8-meter-tall, well-built man with rugged, untamed features, cradling a pastel pink cup in his large hands.

“If you like this one, you can use it,” Ding Qi offered.

Yan Qing couldn’t help laughing. “No need. This is perfect.”

Setting the cup down, Ding Qi said, “My bed has a top-quality mattress—super comfortable. Want to give it a try?”

Yan Qing raised an eyebrow. “The trap is laid bare.”

“It’s seriously comfortable,” Ding Qi insisted, pulling Yan Qing to his feet and leading him to the bedroom.

He gently pushed Yan Qing onto the bed before climbing in beside him, grinning. From the nightstand, he grabbed a small remote and pressed a button. The wall opposite them lit up, revealing a square screen.

Yan Qing glanced up to see a projector mounted above the headboard, displaying an image with impressive clarity.

“Anything you want to watch?” Ding Qi casually scrolled through various program options.

Yan Qing turned to look at him, ignoring the question. “The bed is very comfortable.”

“Huh?” Ding Qi was puzzled, but before he could react, Yan Qing hooked his arm around Ding Qi’s neck, pulling him in for a kiss. The bold move was met with equal passion.

The remote was tossed aside as their bodies entwined, rolling against the soft fabric in a heated embrace.

When they woke, it was already 7 p.m. Neither of them felt like going out, so they ordered food instead, which arrived just in time for their usual dinner hour.

The closer people get, the more flaws surface. Ding Qi knew this well, but he hadn’t expected issues to arise so quickly.

Yan Qing began checking his phone more frequently during meals. Ding Qi started to wonder if Yan Qing’s inability to gain weight despite loving meat and carbs was due to his terrible habit of stopping mid-meal to reply to messages.

Putting down his chopsticks, Ding Qi asked, “Who are you texting that can’t wait until after we eat?”

“Want to see?” Yan Qing raised an eyebrow at him.

Ding Qi averted his gaze. “No.”

Yan Qing placed his phone directly in front of him. “If you don’t look now, don’t bring this up again later.”

Ding Qi silently cursed his own pettiness, acknowledging the low blow of snooping on a partner’s phone. But his eyes betrayed him, sneaking a glance.

What greeted him was a photo of feces—oddly colored and clearly abnormal—followed by text Yan Qing had just typed out.

In those few seconds, more messages from various contacts with pet-related nicknames kept popping up.

“You reply to this kind of stuff during meals?” Ding Qi asked incredulously.

“Yeah, it helps me eat,” Yan Qing said nonchalantly, taking back his phone to respond to a pet owner whose cat had just undergone surgery.

Ding Qi softened his tone. “I just want you to eat properly. We barely get time together, and when you’re right next to me, you’re glued to your phone.”

Yan Qing locked eyes with him and turned off his phone’s screen. “Alright, let’s eat.”

At least Yan Qing still cared enough to listen. Encouraged, Ding Qi changed the subject.

But after barely a few sentences and a few bites of food, Yan Qing’s phone vibrated six times.

This time, Yan Qing simply switched it to silent mode.

Ding Qi sighed, abandoning the table for the couch. Lighting a cigarette, he exhaled a plume of smoke. “Go ahead and reply. Your cats and dogs are waiting for you to save them. After all, I’m healthier and have a longer life expectancy than they do.”

Yan Qing calmly retorted, “When you were unreachable while locked up, did I say anything?”

Ding Qi’s eyes flickered, and he begrudgingly forced a mature response. “It’s all for work. I understand. Let’s just be considerate of each other.”

“Have you had enough to eat?” Yan Qing asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah.” Ding Qi thought, Even if I hadn’t, I’ve lost my appetite.

“Hold out your hands.”

Confused, Ding Qi opened his arms, glancing down at them. “Did I get something dirty on me?”

Yan Qing stood, walked over, and sat down on his lap, resuming his messaging from there.

“…” Ding Qi’s words caught in his throat. He instinctively wrapped his arms tightly around Yan Qing’s waist.

Resting his forehead against Yan Qing’s warm back, his face flushed where it couldn’t be seen.

He was completely done for—utterly captivated by this man.

How could someone be this adorable? It was maddeningly cute.

Unable to hold back, Ding Qi bit Yan Qing’s shoulder. Yan Qing flinched, nearly dropping his phone. “Stop it!”

Ding Qi nuzzled his back. “It’s happening again.”

“Control yourself.” Yan Qing tried to get up, but Ding Qi’s strong arms held him in place.

“Let’s just do it like this,” Ding Qi said, his voice husky.

Yan Qing struggled, but his position on Ding Qi’s lap made escape impossible. Ding Qi’s hand trailed down his arm, intertwining their fingers tightly.

In the end, Yan Qing’s phone met its inevitable fate, clattering to the floor.

Three days of shared rest passed in a whirlwind of indulgence. Yan Qing gained a deeper understanding of Ding Qi’s stamina, realizing he could barely keep up.

Thankfully, these occasions were limited to once a month—otherwise, it would be impossible to handle.

When Yan Qing’s next break came, Ding Qi invited him over again.

Yan Qing eyed him warily. Ding Qi feigned innocence. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“What kind of surprise?” Yan Qing remained on guard.

“You’ll see when you get there,” Ding Qi replied mysteriously.

At Ding Qi’s door, he pressed his thumb to the smart lock. A chime sounded, and the door clicked open.

Yan Qing froze in the doorway. Inside, a fully-grown Belgian Malinois stood on the rug, tilting its head curiously at the visitors.

Yan Qing glanced from the dog to Ding Qi. “Why is there a dog here? Don’t you work too much to care for a pet?”

Ding Qi grinned proudly. “It’s for you. I happened to come across a batch of retired police dogs and brought this one home.”

Yan Qing frowned. “That’s reckless. What if we break up? What happens to the dog then?”

Ding Qi blinked. “Why would we break up? Did I do something wrong?”

The question left Yan Qing momentarily speechless.

Arguing in the hallway wasn’t ideal, so Yan Qing dragged Ding Qi inside, closing the door. As they changed shoes, he stared at the dog with a headache brewing.

“I’m not saying we’ll break up now, but we need to think about the future. What’s your plan for the dog if that happens?” Yan Qing asked.

Ding Qi grew serious. “You’re dating me with a breakup in mind?”

“…”

Yan Qing sighed. “Are you some kind of hopeless romantic?”

Ding Qi countered, “Would you break up with me if I were?”

“I’d break up with someone I couldn’t communicate with,” Yan Qing replied bluntly.

Ding Qi hesitated. “I… hadn’t thought that far.”

He explained, “This dog’s been through three handlers. The first two couldn’t keep it due to career changes. The third struggled with its training—it’s stubborn and uncooperative, which is fatal for a working dog. The team decided it was too old and unfit to stay. So, I brought it home, thinking you’d like it.”

Yan Qing stroked the dog’s head, silently contemplating.

Finally, he sighed and said, “Retired police dogs like this usually have a waiting list a mile long from people eager to adopt them.”

Ding Qi’s attempt at sympathy failed. Grinning sheepishly, he said, “Dr. Yan, you’re too clever for your own good!”