Cheng Yue hadn’t drunk much, mostly because the alcohol he had was mixed up. He had thought about using alcohol to bolster his courage, but tonight was an exception.
He was thinking about going home tomorrow when he fell asleep and had a dream where Ji Xu didn’t want him anymore. The dream felt incredibly real, and he cried sincerely.
He woke up from the dream, feeling upset, but then quickly relieved. However, he continued to think about going back tomorrow and seeing Ji Xu…
Cheng Yue had never been so afraid of seeing Ji Xu.
He wanted to see Ji Xu, but was also terrified of it.
Cheng Yue felt like he was going crazy.
Unable to sleep in the middle of the night, his mind was still muddled from crying…
Then what happened was the previous scene: he got drunk and mustered up the courage to call Ji Xu. He said and asked everything he needed to.
After Ji Xu listened to him, he didn’t speak, which Cheng Yue didn’t understand. But what he knew was, he had asked, and Ji Xu hadn’t said anything else.
It was over for him.
Cheng Yue wrapped himself in a blanket, feeling dry-eyed and hoarse. He had never felt this exhausted before, as if he was being pulled down, his mind buzzing.
He wanted to drink some water.
As soon as Cheng Yue had this thought, he stumbled out of bed. He lost his balance and fell, but since the room had a thick carpet, his legs didn’t hurt, though he bumped his head on the nightstand. Since he was already dizzy, the bump made him hurt so badly he just lay there on the floor, unmoving.
He decided to just stay there; it was quite comfortable.
When Ji Xu rushed downstairs and started the car, he realized he hadn’t asked where Cheng Yue was.
Panicking, Ji Xu frantically called Cheng Yue again, but the phone was still off.
Ji Xu, with red eyes and a frustrated punch to the steering wheel, felt the pain in his hand bring him back to his senses. He called Cheng Yue’s master to confirm the address and room number, then drove to the specific hotel.
Fortunately, Cheng Yue was only in the next city.
Even so, Ji Xu spent over two hours driving there in the middle of the night.
When he knocked on the door, Cheng Yue was already completely disoriented and had fallen asleep on the floor. If it hadn’t been for the increasingly loud knocking, Cheng Yue might have stayed there like a turtle all night.
Even though Cheng Yue woke up, his limbs were too weak to move, so he couldn’t get up.
After knocking twice more, Ji Xu, worried about Cheng Yue’s condition and not caring about waking others, shouted, “Cheng Yue! Cheng Yue!”
At first, Cheng Yue didn’t clearly hear what was being shouted outside, only vaguely recognizing the voice as familiar.
But as the shouting grew louder, Cheng Yue’s eyes snapped open, and he scrambled to his feet from the floor.
That voice… it was Ji Xu’s.
Cheng Yue stood there, unable to believe it, pinched his arm to make sure he was awake, then slowly walked towards the door.
Standing by the door, Cheng Yue could now clearly hear Ji Xu’s voice.
Ji Xu was calling his name.
Cheng Yue gritted his teeth, hesitated for a long time, and then slowly opened the door.
Both of them were stunned when they saw each other, and neither spoke.
Ji Xu’s shirt collar was messy, his tie undone, sleeves rolled up, his eyes red and face looking somewhat frightening.
Cheng Yue reeked of alcohol, wearing only a loose T-shirt, his hair a mess, and his eyes swollen.
Both looked disheveled.
“You…” Ji Xu started, panting slightly, and was about to say something, but then saw the obvious cut on Cheng Yue’s forehead bleeding, and immediately became anxious. “What happened to your head?”
Cheng Yue, struggling to stand, leaned against the doorframe and stared at Ji Xu without speaking.
“Does it hurt?” Ji Xu carefully reached out but was avoided by Cheng Yue turning his head.
“It doesn’t hurt.” Cheng Yue, with red-rimmed eyes, blocked the door and didn’t move.
Ji Xu looked at him with eyes full of regret and pain. “I’m sorry…”
“I don’t want to hear that.” Cheng Yue, feeling a bit dejected, lowered his head. “Go back…”
Before Cheng Yue could finish his sentence, Ji Xu suddenly pulled him into an embrace.
Before Cheng Yue could react, Ji Xu bent down and pressed his lips against Cheng Yue’s.
Cheng Yue was so shocked he didn’t dare move.
After a while, Ji Xu realized something was off with Cheng Yue and reluctantly released him, patting his face. “Breathe.”
Cheng Yue stared into Ji Xu’s eyes and, after a while, started to breathe heavily, still somewhat in disbelief.
“This is my answer.” Ji Xu looked at him seriously. “Do you accept it?”
Cheng Yue, stunned, then overwhelmed with joy, pulled Ji Xu down and bit him.
Ji Xu quickly took control, holding Cheng Yue tightly.
Both lost control a bit. Cheng Yue’s lips were hurting from being bitten, but he wasn’t willing to pull away.
As Ji Xu pressed Cheng Yue onto the bed, he supported the back of Cheng Yue’s head with his hand.
When Cheng Yue was finally pushed onto the bed, he couldn’t hold back his tears, clinging to Ji Xu’s neck and crying loudly.
Ji Xu’s eyes also grew warm. He held Cheng Yue tightly, stroking his back while softly apologizing and comforting him.
“Why didn’t you speak earlier…” Cheng Yue sobbed as he held onto Ji Xu. “Why didn’t you say you liked me… I already told you…”
“I’m sorry.” Ji Xu’s voice was hoarse. Hearing Cheng Yue’s heart-wrenching cries made him feel bad, and he wished he could lock Cheng Yue inside him.
“I love you.”
Cheng Yue, in Ji Xu’s arms, suddenly stopped crying and froze.
“What’s wrong?” Ji Xu patted his back.
“Don’t move.” Cheng Yue, a bit embarrassed, said, not letting Ji Xu pull away.
“What’s wrong?” Ji Xu was still concerned about the wound on his head. “Does your head still hurt?”
“It doesn’t hurt…” Cheng Yue’s voice was soft. “I… I’m aroused.”
Ji Xu: “…”
The two of them stayed in that position for a while. Ji Xu was worried about the wound on Cheng Yue’s head.
“Let’s take care of your head first.” Ji Xu pinched Cheng Yue’s bottom. “Behave, and I’ll hold you later.”
“Okay.” Cheng Yue awkwardly let Ji Xu help him to the edge of the bed.
After the head wound was treated, Cheng Yue was startled as the alcohol’s effects came rushing back.
“Are you tired?” Ji Xu saw Cheng Yue nodding off.
“…What time is it?” Cheng Yue asked, hugging Ji Xu’s waist, his voice a bit nasal.
Ji Xu glanced at his watch. “Almost five… Let’s go to sleep.”
“Hold me.” Cheng Yue mumbled sleepily.
“I’ll hold you.” Ji Xu nodded seriously.
Then, they embraced and fell asleep, all their accumulated fatigue melting away.
Cheng Yue slept heavily. When he woke up early the next morning and checked his phone, he saw it was already past 10.
As he propped himself up, his head still ached a bit.
When he heard footsteps from the bathroom, Cheng Yue didn’t react at first. But when he saw Ji Xu walking towards him, his eyes widened.
Ji Xu came over, bent down, and kissed Cheng Yue’s lips with a smile. “Good morning.”
Cheng Yue, staring at Ji Xu’s face still damp from the shower, recalled the events from the previous night. His face turned bright red, and he pulled the covers over himself, wrapping up completely.
Ji Xu: “…”
After a lot of effort, Ji Xu managed to coax Cheng Yue out of the covers. However, Cheng Yue still wouldn’t look at Ji Xu directly even after washing up.
“Look at me,” Ji Xu said with a bit of helplessness as he leaned closer.
“I don’t want to…” Cheng Yue turned his head away.
Ji Xu let out a wry laugh and also turned away.
The two of them, in their childish way, kept spinning around, and they actually seemed to enjoy it.
Eventually, they ended up embracing each other as if they had magnets in their bodies.
“It’s getting late. We should say goodbye to your master,” Ji Xu said, glancing at the time and suggesting.
Cheng Yue nodded and called Qi Kang.
After the call, Cheng Yue and Ji Xu went to a tea house not far from the hotel, following the address provided by Qi Kang.
“Professor Qi,” Ji Xu greeted with a smile and shook hands with Qi Kang, then apologized, “Sorry for disturbing you in the middle of the night yesterday. It was a sudden situation; please forgive us.”
“No problem. I’m a light sleeper anyway, so I was probably already awake,” Qi Kang waved off the concern and then asked Cheng Yue, “How are you? Are you alright?”
“Nothing’s wrong…” Cheng Yue shook his head repeatedly.
“Don’t make us worry next time,” Qi Kang said, looking at both of them. Considering Cheng Yue’s condition these past few days and the call he received from Ji Xu last night, he didn’t guess the exact details but had a pretty good idea.
It was rare for Cheng Yue to be so serious, but he was particularly aloof.
Qi Kang sighed, and after chatting with the two for a while, Ji Xu and Cheng Yue finally got up to leave.
After leaving the tea house, Ji Xu took Cheng Yue to a nearby breakfast place.
“What do you want to eat?” Ji Xu asked.
Cheng Yue glanced at the menu and then ordered seven or eight items.
“Are you hungry?” Ji Xu asked as he settled them at a table.
“Yeah,” Cheng Yue nodded.
“Does your head still hurt?” Ji Xu asked.
“I don’t feel anything now,” Cheng Yue replied.
“Wait here,” Ji Xu said, letting Cheng Yue sit down and heading outside.
As Cheng Yue was about to get up and follow, he remembered Ji Xu telling him to stay put, so he sat back down.
When Ji Xu returned with a cup of something unknown and breakfast had almost arrived, he handed the cup to Cheng Yue and said, “Drink this first before you eat.”
“What is this?” Cheng Yue took a sip, detecting a faint sweetness of honey. “Is it honey water?”
“Drink more of it. If your head still hurts later, tell me,” Ji Xu instructed.
As Cheng Yue started eating, he kept glancing over at Ji Xu.
“What’s up?” Ji Xu asked, noticing his behavior.
“Are we…” Cheng Yue swallowed the bun in his mouth, his ears turning red. “Are we not calling each other uncle and nephew anymore?”
“What is it?” Ji Xu raised an eyebrow, knowing what Cheng Yue was getting at but wanting to hear him say it.
“It’s just that…” Cheng Yue rubbed his nose and whispered, “Are we not calling each other uncle anymore?”
Ji Xu: “…”
Ji Xu squinted and suddenly looked down at him, pinching his red ears. “Then what should you call me?”
Cheng Yue: “!”
Cheng Yue’s face turned bright red in an instant. He clenched the spoon in his hand into a fist, his gaze wavering. “Just… call you whatever…”
“You can’t just call me anything,” Ji Xu said softly, smiling as he pinched Cheng Yue’s face. “Sweetheart, you’d better think it over before you call me.”
The term “sweetheart” whispered in his ear made Cheng Yue’s lower abdomen tighten, and his face turned even redder.
“Have you thought it through?” Ji Xu, seeing Cheng Yue’s reaction, immediately pressed on.
Cheng Yue’s throat tightened, and he couldn’t utter a word.
“It’s okay what you call me now,” Ji Xu said with a smile, rubbing Cheng Yue’s head, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. But then he narrowed his eyes and leaned closer to Cheng Yue’s ear. “I’ll decide what you should call me in the future.”
Cheng Yue: “!”
Cheng Yue’s ears turned red again.
After breakfast, they drove home. Just as they were approaching home, Tang Jing called, so Ji Xu had to drive to the office first.
When they got upstairs, Tang Jing greeted them.
“Oh, you’ve made up?” Tang Jing looked at them with a smiling eye and then whispered to Cheng Yue, “It’s not that I’m keeping you from having some alone time. This matter really could only be handled by Ji Xu.”
“Don’t tell me…” Cheng Yue, seeing Tang Jing’s expression, immediately realized Tang Jing knew about his relationship with Ji Xu.
He had thought only Duan Changsheng knew about it. Seeing Tang Jing also knew made him uncomfortable.
After Ji Xu took the documents Tang Jing brought over, he took Cheng Yue into his office.
Cheng Yue originally sat on the sofa waiting for Ji Xu to finish working, but soon got bored and moved to sit next to Ji Xu’s desk, then leaned against Ji Xu.
Seeing Cheng Yue nudging around and leaning against him, Ji Xu couldn’t help but find it amusing. His heart softened by Cheng Yue’s small actions, he pulled Cheng Yue onto his lap.
At first, Cheng Yue felt a bit awkward sitting on Ji Xu’s lap and kept shifting.
“Stop fidgeting,” Ji Xu frowned, holding Cheng Yue’s waist to keep him still.
Cheng Yue smiled, enjoying being close to Ji Xu. He liked being where Ji Xu was, and the position was quite comfortable. Cheng Yue moved forward, resting his head on Ji Xu’s shoulder.
Ji Xu, seeing Cheng Yue’s continuous movements, decided to take it further. He lifted Cheng Yue and pressed him onto the desk.
“Wait, wait, wait…” Cheng Yue pushed against Ji Xu’s shoulder, “I don’t want to be hugged!”
“Do you want to be hugged or not?” Ji Xu lowered his head and bit Cheng Yue’s exposed collarbone.
“Ow…” Cheng Yue shuddered from the pain and quickly admitted, “I’m sorry, you work, I absolutely won’t disturb you.”
“It’s too late, but…” Ji Xu lightly bit his shoulder, “Have you decided what to call me? If I’m satisfied with what you call me, I’ll let you go.”
Cheng Yue gripped Ji Xu’s arm tightly, his throat making some indistinct sounds before he quickly stifled them.
“Say it quickly,” Ji Xu’s hand slowly slipped under Cheng Yue’s T-shirt.
Feeling Ji Xu’s cool hand on his waist made Cheng Yue’s mind short-circuit. His voice trembled, “…Uncle.”
When Ji Xu heard Cheng Yue call him that, he was momentarily stunned, then his eyes seemed to ignite with desire.
“Little rascal,” Ji Xu growled in a husky voice.
Cheng Yue, for some unknown reason, felt a shiver run down his back, and reflexively crawled towards the edge of the desk.
Before he could even get halfway out, Ji Xu grabbed his ankle and dragged him back.
Cheng Yue, scared, immediately regretted it.
Author’s Note:
Ji Xu: Next time, call me Daddy.
Sweetheart, look at the word count! There’s a reason for the delay!
A huge thank you to all my supportive readers!
