VFGRC Chapter 72

Ever since last week when Yu Bai’s attitude towards him inexplicably turned cold, Ji Rongyu discovered that Yu Bai seemed a bit resistant to his contact.

Among everyone, Ji Rongyu only initiates closeness with Yu Bai.

Clearly, Ji Rongyu was supposed to be someone with a cleanliness obsession, someone who didn’t like too much contact with strangers.

Perhaps it was because there was always a faint, pleasant lemon fragrance on Yu Bai, or perhaps it was because Yu Bai didn’t exercise often, so his flesh felt soft when touched, with a particularly pleasant texture.

Therefore, Ji Rongyu especially enjoyed engaging in such physical contact as hugging and embracing with Yu Bai.

Ji Rongyu didn’t think there was anything inappropriate about this kind of contact, because, on the streets and alleys, there were plenty of men and women with physical contact.

Ji Rongyu liked to occasionally touch Yu Bai, and Yu Bai never refused before, so Ji Rongyu believed that Yu Bai shouldn’t dislike his touch.

However, recently, every time Ji Rongyu’s hand was about to touch Yu Bai, Yu Bai would avoid his palm.

Once or twice, Ji Rongyu thought Yu Bai was avoiding his contact due to coincidence.

But it had been a whole week, and almost every time, Yu Bai evaded his touch. Even if Ji Rongyu was foolish, he could sense that something was wrong.

In the past, he could go to Yu Bai’s home at any time, he could frequently touch or hug Yu Bai, and every time he messaged Yu Bai, Yu Bai would reply patiently, almost immediately.

But now, if he wanted to see Yu Bai, he needed to report to Yu Bai in advance.

He would message Yu Bai, but Yu Bai often wouldn’t reply.

What Ji Rongyu found even more unbearable was that Yu Bai actually affectionately touched someone else’s shoulder in front of him!

Yes, that “someone else” referred to Yun He.

Ji Rongyu remembered that Yun He was the young chef Yu Bai had newly hired, specifically to assist Yu Bai.

Yu Bai and Yun He had only been interacting for less than a month; how could Yun He possibly surpass his position in Yu Bai’s heart!

So, when Ji Rongyu saw Yu Bai’s hand on Yun He’s shoulder, he was about to turn green with envy!

These past few days, Yu Bai hadn’t initiated any contact with him, but instead, he initiated contact with Yun He’s shoulder!

The day after Ji Rongyu visited Yu Bai’s home last week, he couldn’t wait and brought the newly bought building blocks to Yu Bai’s house again—bribing Yu Bai’s little minion to gather information about what Yu Bai had been up to these days.

However, Xing Xing told him that Yu Bai had been busy running the shop these days and there was nothing strange or suspicious about anyone around him.

Moreover, Ji Rongyu had confirmed multiple times that Yun He and Yu Bai had a simple employee-boss relationship. Of course, because Yun He was skilled in cooking and smart in his work, Yu Bai had a slightly better impression of him among all the employees, but it didn’t cross any boundaries.

Ji Rongyu could only reluctantly attribute Yu Bai’s sudden coldness towards him to their busy work schedules and infrequent communication, which had somewhat faded their friendship.

So… why was it that Yu Bai treated Yun He, a mere “ordinary” employee, more intimately than he treated Ji Rongyu himself?!

Next, all the way until “Galaxy Snack Shop” closed its doors.

Ji Rongyu didn’t make a fuss, his slender phoenix eyes were fixed on Yu Bai and Yun He.

To put it in Chen Jing’s words, it was a gaze akin to that of a resentful woman in a deep chamber.

The perceptive Chen Jing, after exchanging a few brief words and greetings with Yu Bai, couldn’t wait and hugged his laptop bag tightly before rushing out of the shop.

When else would be a better time to leave? He couldn’t possibly stay here and be the boss’s punching bag.

Today, Xing Xing was napping alone in the lounge. After waking up, he spent some time watching early education videos.

When Xing Xing saw the time in the lower left corner of his tablet, indicating the usual closing time of the shop, he got dressed, put on his shoes, tidied up the messy bed, and then walked out of the lounge.

Ji Rongyu used to visit Yu Bai’s home quite frequently, so Xing Xing was not surprised to see him.

“Daddy!”

As Xing Xing called out to Yu Bai with his soft, childlike voice, he reached out his short, chubby arms to hug Yu Bai.

Yu Bai hardly hesitated and immediately picked Xing Xing up.

“Daddy, today I learned so many things on the tablet!”

Yu Bai: “Tell me about it?”

“I learned a lot of words, like tall, short, fat, thin! Even though they look complicated, I remember them all! I also learned many English words, um…”

With his round, bright eyes, Xing Xing looked around and pointed to a transparent glass jar containing peach blossom wine lees.

“The English word for flower is ‘flower’! Many flowers are called ‘flowers’! Daddy, am I really smart?”

Proudly lifting his little head, Xing Xing resembled an adorable kitten, waiting for Yu Bai’s praise.

With such a cute and adorable child in his arms, who wouldn’t be moved?

Yu Bai pressed his lips against Xing Xing’s soft and tender face, kissing him firmly.

“My Xing Xing is the smartest little kid in the world!”

Yu Bai’s kiss was a bit forceful, causing Xing Xing’s chubby cheeks to quiver and turn red quickly.

However, the teachers in the early education videos said that red marks like the ones he had, caused by parents giving their little one’s affectionate kisses, were stamps of love!

Xing Xing’s chubby little hand gently tapped the “stamp of love” that Yu Bai had left on his face. His two round eyes were almost reduced to mere slits from his laughter.

So happy! He wanted to stamp one on Daddy’s face too!

With this thought, Xing Xing hugged Yu Bai and planted a big kiss on his face.

Although Xing Xing kissed Yu Bai with all his might, his strength was limited, and even if he tried hard, his soft little mouth could hardly leave any mark on Yu Bai’s cheek.

Looking at Yu Bai’s untouched cheeks, Xing Xing pouted slightly, feeling a bit displeased.

So annoyed! Daddy’s face didn’t have his “stamp of love”!

Being kissed by his little child, Yu Bai felt happy and content. The sweetness was written all over his eyebrows.

However, Ji Rongyu by the side was not in a particularly good mood.

He watched as Yu Bai’s relationships with Yun He, the little minion, and other familiar or unfamiliar people grew closer. Meanwhile, the relationship between him and Yu Bai seemed to be stuck in place, and there were even signs of regression…

Ji Rongyu didn’t know why.

He urgently wanted to find the reason.

“Yu Bai, are you available tonight?”

As Yu Bai finished his work, Ji Rongyu went straight to the point.

Yu Bai: “What’s up?”

Ji Rongyu: “I want to come over to your place for dinner, is that okay?”

—

Although Golden Retrievers were large, they had a gentle nature and could sometimes be a bit lively, making them particularly endearing.

In Yu Bai’s eyes, Ji Rongyu’s personality was like that of a big Golden Retriever—sometimes affectionate and clingy, sometimes lively and cute.

However, if a Golden Retriever that was desperately craving its owner’s attention didn’t get the petting it longed for, even the gentlest of dogs could become temperamental.

After Yu Bai and the others left the shop, Ji Rongyu began to behave somewhat strangely.

He wouldn’t approach Yu Bai on his own; instead, he constantly followed behind him.

The two of them maintained a certain distance, neither too far nor too close.

Whenever Yu Bai turned to look at Ji Rongyu, Ji Rongyu would lower his head, silently gazing at the ground as if he hadn’t noticed Yu Bai’s gaze upon him.

The three of them returned home together, and while Xing Xing went to the bathroom to wash his hands, Yu Bai asked Ji Rongyu.

“Are you… not feeling well?”

Since last week, when Yu Bai began showing clear signs of distancing himself, Ji Rongyu’s mood hadn’t been the same.

“No,” Ji Rongyu looked up, a faint smile appearing, “I’m going to wash my hands.”

Just as Xing Xing walked out of the bathroom, Ji Rongyu quickly slipped into the bathroom.

“Daddy, what are we having for dinner tonight?”

Xing Xing’s voice sounded.

As Yu Bai withdrew his gaze from Ji Rongyu, a worried expression briefly crossed his face.

He smiled at Xing Xing and said, “Let me think… There are three of us today, so let’s make a bit more…”

In mid-March, the weather in City J was unpredictable.

Last week, it was still cold enough in City J to require a down jacket, but this week the temperature had turned warm, and a thin spring coat was enough.

Yu Bai originally thought that the weather in City J would only get warmer this week, but he forgot that City J, located in the southern region, tends to be rainy in March.

Just after the three of them finished dinner, a drizzle of spring rain began falling outside the window.

Late into the night.

Yu Bai: “It’s raining. Didn’t you bring an umbrella?”

Xing Xing was getting ready in the bathroom, while Ji Rongyu stood by the living room window, and Yu Bai stood behind him.

The night was hazy with light rain, as if the world had been veiled in a thin gauze.

Ji Rongyu: “Mmm.”

Yu Bai: “Then let me get you one. I happen to have a lot of umbrellas at home.”

After a moment, Yu Bai handed an umbrella to Ji Rongyu.

With his eyes lowered, Ji Rongyu stared fixedly at the umbrella, not taking it.

“The last time it rained,” Ji Rongyu spoke softly, “you didn’t give me an umbrella.”

On that rainy day, Yu Bai had let Ji Rongyu stay overnight at his home.

Ji Rongyu looked at Yu Bai, asking, “Are you going to give me an umbrella today?”

Yu Bai tightly gripped the umbrella in his hand, his gaze fixed on it, not lifting his head to look at Ji Rongyu.

Ji Rongyu asked, “Today, can it be different from the last time it rained?”

Yu Bai replied, “Last time, you didn’t have the keys.”

A faint sigh brushed past Yu Bai’s ear.

Ji Rongyu lifted his hand, grasping the umbrella that Yu Bai held.

However, the foldable umbrella in Yu Bai’s hand was a bit small, and when Ji Rongyu reached for it, his large hand inadvertently held onto Yu Bai’s hand.

A hint of familiar warmth quietly spread through Yu Bai’s skin, slowly climbing up.

Yu Bai’s body tensed for a moment.

In that instant, Ji Rongyu skillfully encircled Yu Bai with his arms.

He had performed this motion many times before.

Yu Bai finally moved.

“I know, you’re going to push me away again.”

Ji Rongyu’s voice held a touch of grievance.

Yu Bai halted his hands that were against Ji Rongyu’s chest.

“Do you really dislike me that much?” Ji Rongyu said, his voice tinged with a hint of hurt. “Yu Bai, have I done something wrong?”

“You haven’t done anything wrong. I don’t dislike you either.”

“Then why are you pushing me away?”

“I feel… we should maintain some distance.”

“But…” Ji Rongyu, like a bear, tightened his hold around Yu Bai. “Aren’t we best friends? Why should we keep our distance?”

“Because…”

Yu Bai paused.

“You’re always like this, stopping your words halfway.”

Ji Rongyu’s hand rested on Yu Bai’s shoulder, while his other hand gently lifted Yu Bai’s chin.

Their eyes met.

In Ji Rongyu’s slender and elongated gaze, emotions were brewing with intense fervor.

Yu Bai instinctively turned his head, avoiding Ji Rongyu’s gaze.

“Daddy! I’ve washed my face and brushed my teeth, and I’ve changed into my pajamas!”

Sanjiaoko wasn’t too far from Yu Bai and Xing Xing’s home, close by adult standards, but the short legs of a child like Xing Xing couldn’t cover such a distance.

Therefore, every time they returned home, Yu Bai would hold Xing Xing’s little hand and let him walk the first half of the way on his own, and then carry him for the second half.

Today, Xing Xing walked a slightly longer path. It wasn’t yet Xing Xing’s usual bedtime, but he was already feeling drowsy.

Seeing the sleepiness in Xing Xing’s round eyes, Yu Bai immediately lifted him up and said, “Alright, alright, let’s go to bed now.”

Yu Bai carried Xing Xing to the bedroom to sleep. When he came out after settling Xing Xing, he noticed that Ji Rongyu was still sitting on the living room couch, not having left.

Yu Bai asked, “Aren’t you going back home? It’s getting late.”

“Uh, it is indeed getting late,” Ji Rongyu’s hands were folded on the backrest of the couch, his chin resting on his arms as he looked at Yu Bai.

“I think I didn’t have enough dinner,” Ji Rongyu said, “You wouldn’t let your guest go hungry, right?”

Yu Bai squinted, “So?”

Ji Rongyu blinked, “Can I have a late-night snack at your place and spend the night?”

Before Yu Bai could speak, Ji Rongyu continued, “The weather got cooler in the evening, and I didn’t bring a jacket. Plus, I didn’t eat enough… if I catch a cold like this, wouldn’t you say I’m prone to getting sick?”

“Are you trying to threaten me?”

“I certainly am not trying to threaten you.” Ji Rongyu grabbed Yu Bai’s wrist with both hands, spreading Yu Bai’s palm and pressing it against his cheek. “It’s just… can you bear to watch me fall sick?”

Ji Rongyu’s face was slender with distinct angles, but when his face made contact, it felt as soft and warm as Xing Xing’s.

Yu Bai, after all, wasn’t a heartless person.

And besides, Ji Rongyu had said so much, Yu Bai couldn’t really refuse.

Yu Bai tossed the set of pajamas he had prepared for Ji Rongyu onto him.

“Hurry up and change.” Yu Bai said, “I’ll go make you a late-night snack.”

Ji Rongyu asked, “Can I eat anything for the late-night snack?”

Yu Bai’s almond-shaped eyes narrowed into crescents, and he playfully flicked an imaginary blade toward Ji Rongyu.

Ji Rongyu blinked, “Leftover food will do for me.”

“Weren’t you and Xing Xing fighting over dinner leftovers? There’s probably none left.” Yu Bai said, “I’ll whip up something quickly, you can make do with it. But no leftovers, got it?”

“Got it, got it,” Ji Rongyu’s smile was exceptionally bright, “I’ll eat whatever you make for me.”

“Would you eat even if I fed you poison?”

“I’ll eat, I’ll eat! But… would you really feed me poison?”

“You’re quite the smooth talker.”

Yu Bai walked into the kitchen and started preparing the late-night snack.

He really didn’t know how Ji Rongyu’s stomach worked. Every time Ji Rongyu came to his house, he ate twice as much as Yu Bai.

Today, just like usual, Ji Rongyu fought for food with Xing Xing. The three of them polished off the dinner that Yu Bai had prepared for four people.

But now, Ji Rongyu was saying he was hungry again.

Could it be that Ji Rongyu had four stomachs like a cow?

Yu Bai shook his head.

At night, it wasn’t advisable to eat snacks that would fill you up too easily.

Yu Bai prepared some Taiwanese-style sausages, egg tarts, and a few nuts as a late-night snack for Ji Rongyu.

Ji Rongyu said, “You should eat some too.”

Yu Bai replied, “My appetite isn’t as big as yours.”

Ji Rongyu pointed to the plate of nuts, “You can have some nuts? We can eat and chat at the same time.”

Yu Bai hadn’t even sat down yet when Ji Rongyu continued.

“Yu Bai.”

“What’s up?”

“I’m craving the wine at your place.”

Yu Bai: “…”

“During the last New Year, you only gave me a small sip of the wine you brewed. I couldn’t really tell what kind of taste the wine had, I just thought it was delicious. But before I could enjoy it fully, we had finished the whole bottle of wine…”

Yu Bai: “You’re so annoying.”

Ji Rongyu: “I also find myself quite annoying. So, tell me where your wine is. I’ll go get it.”

“At this hour, are you sure you want to drink?” Yu Bai frowned.

Ji Rongyu: “Actually, I’m having trouble sleeping. I just took a shower at your place, and I feel more awake now… Wine helps with sleep. Drinking it will make me drowsy, and I can go to bed earlier…”

“The wine is stored under the cabinet in my house. Take one jar, it’s enough for the two of us. We can’t finish two jars.”

When Yu Bai had free time, he also brewed quite a bit of wine during the process of making fermented rice. However, he didn’t often drink alcohol in his daily life, and he didn’t have many friends to drink with.

Rather than letting the wine go to waste at home, he might as well share a small jar with Ji Rongyu.

Ji Rongyu brought over a small jar of wine and immediately filled the small wine cups in front of himself and Yu Bai.

Ji Rongyu emptied his cup in one gulp: “This wine… has a plum flavor. It’s crisp, and the sweetness of the plum lingers. It’s really delicious.”

Yu Bai picked up the wine cup and took a sip.

“Who drinks alcohol sip by sip like you? There wasn’t much to begin with, why didn’t you finish it all?”

“Drinking alcohol too quickly can make you drunk,” Yu Bai said, “Why are you suddenly interested in drinking with me today?”

Ji Rongyu smiled, “If you finish this cup of wine, I’ll tell you.”

Just a cup of wine.

Yu Bai, who didn’t frequently drink or brew strong alcohol, currently only knew how to brew low-alcohol content wine.

Because he had tried to brew high-alcohol content wine in his previous life and this life and had mostly failed.

Yu Bai finished his cup of plum wine, “Go ahead.”

Ji Rongyu: “Because… people speak the truth when they’re drunk.”

Perhaps after drinking, the tension in one’s mind might relax with the influence of alcohol.

Yu Bai laughed, “You think this wine is a truth serum?”

“I don’t know if it’s a truth serum, but…” Ji Rongyu said, “I think that after you’ve had some wine, you might be a bit more honest with me.”

“Honest? When have I been dishonest with you?” Yu Bai took another sip of wine.

“You’ve been dishonest with me everywhere,” Ji Rongyu said, “You still haven’t told me why you’ve been keeping your distance from me.”

Yu Bai: “…”

Yu Bai remained silent, sipping his wine.

The plum wine had a sweet and fruity entrance, with the fruit flavor surpassing the taste of alcohol. Unconsciously, he finished another cup of wine.

Ji Rongyu refilled Yu Bai’s cup.

“See, you’re not answering,” Ji Rongyu said, “Is this something difficult to talk about?”

Two cups of wine warmed Yu Bai’s stomach, and the relaxation brought on by the alcohol made it easy for one’s inner thoughts to pour out.

Yu Bai said, “Last week, you were on a business trip?”

Ji Rongyu: “Yes, what about it?”

Yu Bai: “But last Saturday when you called me, I heard…”

Ji Rongyu squinted his eyes, “What did you hear?”

A strong sixth sense told him that what Yu Bai heard last Saturday might be the reason for the distance between them.

Yu Bai took another sip of wine, “I heard a woman’s voice on the other end of your phone… She called you ‘Rongyu’.”

A woman? What woman?

Last Saturday, Ji Rongyu was in the capital city, tricked by his mother into going to a hotel for a blind date.

Did a woman call him by his name when he was on the phone with Yu Bai?

A week had passed, and many details of what happened then were becoming hazy for Ji Rongyu.

Perhaps it was because there were too many people in the hotel, and Yu Bai misunderstood?

Ji Rongyu joked with a smile, “So you’re jealous?”

Yu Bai glared at Ji Rongyu.

In that instant, Yu Bai’s ink-black eyes, filled with a watery and tipsy allure, seemed to hold countless emotions.

The living room was dimly lit, casting a seductive golden hue upon Yu Bai’s porcelain-like skin.

Because of the wine, a faint blush returned to Yu Bai’s cheeks.

“I’m not jealous. You mentioned during the New Year that your family would introduce potential partners to you. So, I thought she might be your girlfriend, and you should put more effort into her…”

Yu Bai tugged at the thin pajamas he was wearing and twisted open the top two buttons of the pajamas.

Underneath the pale blue sleepwear, the contours of Yu Bai’s shoulders and collarbone were tantalizingly visible.

Yu Bai’s rosy lips glistened with a radiant sheen as they parted and closed, “It’s a bit warm…”

At this moment, Yu Bai resembled a beautiful tipsy doll, radiating a lethal allure from head to toe.

The heat made Yu Bai’s tongue and throat feel dry. He poured himself a glass of plum wine and drank it down in one go.

The wine eased the dryness in his throat.

Now, he seemed much better.

However, Yu Bai hadn’t realized that his mind had become increasingly muddled.

“Yu Bai, I’ve never had a girlfriend before.”

Hearing Yu Bai lay bare his innermost thoughts, Ji Rongyu finally understood. Yu Bai had actually misunderstood that he had a girlfriend, and this misunderstanding had persisted for a whole week!

Because he had a girlfriend, Yu Bai wanted to keep his distance from him?

If he were to marry someone else in the future, wouldn’t Yu Bai have to act like a rabbit, diving into his rabbit hole to hide, making it impossible for Ji Rongyu to find him again?

Hearing Yu Bai’s response, Ji Rongyu felt both angry and helpless.

He was angry that Yu Bai didn’t understand him well enough, thinking he was the kind of person who would forget his friends once he had a wife.

But Ji Rongyu also felt helpless.

Because even if he was angry, what could he do to Yu Bai? Could he hang Yu Bai up and give him a beating? Clearly, that was impossible.

“You…,” Ji Rongyu extended a finger, as if he wanted to tap Yu Bai’s temple.

Ji Rongyu wished he could crack open Yu Bai’s skull and cram his genuine feelings and sincerity into Yu Bai’s mind, so that Yu Bai would never doubt his feelings for him again.

However, before Ji Rongyu’s fingertips could touch Yu Bai’s temple, Yu Bai’s head swayed slightly.

The alcohol content of this plum wine was higher than Yu Bai had anticipated.

Yu Bai didn’t often drink, so his tolerance wasn’t great.

Just two or three glasses of plum wine, and Yu Bai was already feeling quite tipsy.

His head felt dizzy and his body seemed to float. Yu Bai’s brain had completely lost control over his body.

Yu Bai’s body slowly tilted in Ji Rongyu’s direction.

Ji Rongyu’s fingertips stopped in mid-air.

“Be careful.”

Ji Rongyu hadn’t even had a chance to retract his fingertips when they brushed against Yu Bai’s lips.

Between Yu Bai’s lips, there was a blend of fruit and alcohol aromas.

With each breath, Ji Rongyu’s fingertips also took on a faint blush of intoxication.

Ji Rongyu’s breath caught, his gaze fixed on Yu Bai’s intoxicated expression, his narrow phoenix eyes widening involuntarily.

This was the first time he had seen Yu Bai drunk, in a state of vulnerability.

At this moment, Ji Rongyu’s heart was pounding harder than it had at any other time.

 

Author’s Note:

PS: In the next chapter, perhaps…

Don’t have too high expectations for me.