Chapter 28 Ah Xu, I like you

<Not proof read>

Huai Xu and Shu Jinwei had a meal together, and then he flew straight to Winter City, thousands of kilometers away.

Alone.

Shu Jinwei offered to accompany him, but Huai Xu refused.

It was the holidays, and he had already inconvenienced his friend by asking them to pick him up from afar. If he delayed Shu Jinwei's family reunion any further, he would feel even worse.

Before leaving, Huai Xu deliberately left his phone behind, afraid that Jing Zhengxuan might track him down through GPS.

But given the Jing family's influence, it was only a matter of time before they found him. Still, without GPS, it would at least buy him some time.

As soon as he landed in Winter City, Huai Xu was captivated by the vast white world before him. Everywhere he looked was covered in thick snow, as if he had stepped into a fairy tale.

He tightened his coat, excitedly scooped up a handful of snow, and tossed it into the air. The snowflakes fluttered down, pure and pristine, like a beautiful painting.

But before he could enjoy the snowy scenery for long, the cold seeped into his pores.

He had known Winter City would be chilly and had layered up in advance, but even that couldn’t withstand the sub-zero temperatures. He shivered uncontrollably.

Huai Xu hopped a few times, trying to warm himself up, then quickly hailed a taxi to the hotel.

The snow was beautiful, but it was just too cold. He’d much rather stay cozy in the hotel with a cup of hot tea, admiring the scenery through the window.

Strangely, though, when he had visited Winter City with Jing Zhengxuan before, he hadn’t felt cold at all. Instead, they had enthusiastically built snowmen outside.

Thinking back to those times, Huai Xu first smiled, then his expression darkened.

He wasn’t sure if those days could continue.

With a sigh, he shook his head.

At the hotel, he took out the new phone he had bought on the way.

By now, Jing Zhengxuan must have realized he was gone. If his guess was right, Jing Zhengxuan would even help cover for him in front of his mother.

Huai Xu glanced at the date on his phone—December 31st. Normally, at this time, he would be preparing for New Year’s Eve with Jing Zhengxuan.

They had once promised to welcome every new year together. He never thought he’d be the one to break that promise.

Huai Xu sighed. It wasn’t his fault, though. If anyone was to blame, it was… that kiss.

Why did Jing Zhengxuan have to kiss him—and on the lips, no less? If it had been anywhere else, he might have even helped Jing Zhengxuan come up with an excuse. But how could he explain a kiss on the mouth? And one that lasted several seconds at that?

Even kids worry about getting pregnant from a kiss, let alone one that lingered for so long!

That was his first kiss!

Just gone, just like that…

Huai Xu suddenly realized how patient he was. His first kiss had been stolen, and he hadn’t even considered beating Jing Zhengxuan up for it!

Not only had he not thought about hitting him, he had even considered staying friends?!

Fine. Huai Xu sat on the chaise lounge by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing gloomily at the snow outside.

Maybe Jing Zhengxuan really had saved his life in a past one.

If that was the case, he ought to be grateful. Since he definitely wouldn’t repay him with his body, the least he could do was be gentle.

Annoying.

So annoying.

Huai Xu rubbed his head fretfully before finally making up his mind and dialing the number he knew by heart.

"Uncle Zhang, you found him so quickly?"

The voice on the other end was both surprised and anxious, with a slight tremor if you listened closely.

Sure enough, Jing Zhengxuan had already started searching for him.

Huai Xu frowned, a pang of guilt rising in his chest. He sighed in relief—at least he had made this call. Otherwise, who knew how upset Jing Zhengxuan would be?

He stood up, pacing by the window with the phone in hand. His eyes were fixed outside, but his focus was elsewhere, as if Jing Zhengxuan’s anxious, dejected face had materialized before him—pitiful, with tears welling in his eyes.

Huai Xu shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to soften. He needed to clarify things between them. If they continued this ambiguous relationship, what would happen in the future?

So he stated his purpose: "A-Xuan, it’s me. Don’t worry, and stop searching. I just need some time alone to figure things out. Once I do, I’ll come back."

Only breathing could be heard on the other end, but the disappointment was palpable. Jing Zhengxuan’s pitiful face seemed to be reflected right on the glass.

Huai Xu pursed his lips and added, "I’m not abandoning you. Really."

It was precisely because he wanted to remain friends that he had to come alone to this icy world for some peace.

"Okay," Jing Zhengxuan’s voice came through the phone, followed by a long sigh. "Then you…"

Jing Zhengxuan seemed to sniffle, and Huai Xu’s heart ached. If his sudden departure could upset his childhood friend this much, then…

How could he possibly say anything to reject him?

With a heart full of tangled emotions, Huai Xu listened as Jing Zhengxuan gave him careful instructions: "Be careful on your own. Remember to eat on time—your stomach isn’t great. Don’t hesitate to make special requests at restaurants, or you’ll get stomachaches. And don’t talk to strangers easily, whether they’re guys or girls. You have to protect yourself…"

Huai Xu agreed to everything, not finding Jing Zhengxuan nagging at all. On the contrary, the more meticulous his friend’s reminders were, the guiltier he felt.

By the end, he stood still by the window. Jing Zhengxuan’s face on the glass seemed to grow clearer, as if he might burst through at any moment to hug him.

Huai Xu was startled by his own imagination. He turned away, no longer looking at the glass.

"Then… I’ll hang up," he said.

"Wait!" Jing Zhengxuan’s voice rushed to stop him. "Wait…"

Huai Xu stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.

"A-Xu… why did you… suddenly leave like this?" Jing Zhengxuan’s voice was cautious, thick with emotion, as if he were on the verge of tears—completely unlike his usual self.

Since when had his childhood friend ever spoken like this?!

Huai Xu’s heart twisted again.

But this really wasn’t his fault! The one to blame was Jing Zhengxuan himself!

If not for that kiss, why would he have gone to such lengths to fly all the way to Winter City?

Huai Xu paced the room again, lips parting and closing as his thoughts warred within him.

Should he tell the truth? How awkward would that be?

Make up an excuse? He was terrible at lying.

After much deliberation, he returned to the window. The snowy world below seemed to have a purifying effect, instantly clearing his mind.

With a soft sigh, he hinted, "Actually… last night… I wasn’t asleep…"

He left it at that. The rest was up to Jing Zhengxuan.

If Jing Zhengxuan pretended nothing had happened, Huai Xu would play along.

If Jing Zhengxuan explained himself, Huai Xu could take the chance to voice his thoughts and avoid future awkwardness.

As the one whose first kiss had been stolen, Huai Xu truly believed he was being excessively lenient.

The other end of the line remained silent for a long time. Huai Xu decisively ended the call. "I’m hanging up. Don’t call again."

After hanging up, he crossed his arms and stared out the window at the slowly rotating Ferris wheel in the distance—which, of course, reminded him of Jing Zhengxuan.

Ugh!

Why did everything make him think of Jing Zhengxuan?!

Was it because of that kiss?!

It was just a first kiss. Gone was gone. Did he really have to associate everything with Jing Zhengxuan now?!

Frustrated, Huai Xu closed his eyes and flopped onto the bed…

---

At around six in the evening, Jing Zhengxuan used the room key provided by the front desk to open the door to Huai Xu’s room.

Normally, hotels wouldn’t hand out room keys to just anyone—especially not high-end establishments like this one, which prided themselves on strict security.

But in this world, some people existed above the rules. Jing Zhengxuan was one of them.

He gently pushed the door open. The room was dimly lit, with only a nightlight on, but outside the window, the city was already aglow.

He placed the flowers he had brought in the living room and walked further inside.

Jing Zhengxuan guessed Huai Xu would be asleep at this hour.

He knew Huai Xu well—knew he must have barely slept the night before and gotten up early that morning. A nap was inevitable.

He had already let Huai Xu travel thousands of kilometers alone. He didn’t want to add to his grumpiness by waking him.

In the bedroom, he found the person he was looking for, sprawled on the bed, fast asleep.

Jing Zhengxuan exhaled in relief. At least he had found him safe and sound.

He took off his coat, hesitated for a long moment by the bed, then finally lay down on top of the covers and pulled Huai Xu into his arms.

On the way here, he had thought things through. Since Huai Xu already knew, there was no point hiding anymore. He might as well lay all his cards on the table. Whether Huai Xu accepted him or not, he wouldn’t let him leave.

Looking down at the person in his arms, Jing Zhengxuan smiled softly—then the smile turned bitter. If he could, he wouldn’t have wanted it to come to this. He had tried so hard to restrain himself. But desire was like a ravenous beast. Once he kissed Huai Xu’s forehead, he wanted to kiss his cheeks. Once he kissed his cheeks, he couldn’t forget those soft lips.

He had really tried his best to hold back.

Jing Zhengxuan closed his eyes, greedily inhaling Huai Xu’s peach-scented warmth. Through the blanket, he could feel the slender body in his arms, but it wasn’t enough.

He wanted more. He had always wanted more—to make Huai Xu completely his, to mark him as his own.

Desire flickered in his cold brown eyes as he tightened his embrace.

He lowered his head, tracing every inch of Huai Xu’s face with his gaze—his forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, lips…

His earlobes, neck, Adam’s apple, collarbones…

He wanted all of Huai Xu.

But he couldn’t risk Huai Xu running away again.

It was too dangerous—for both of them.

If Huai Xu hadn’t called, he didn’t know what he might have done in his despair.

Jing Zhengxuan pressed his forehead against Huai Xu’s and whispered, "If you run again, I’ll lock you up."

---

Huai Xu had a dream.

In the dream, he was pretending to sleep, and Jing Zhengxuan had sneaked in to kiss him again—this time, even longer.

Huai Xu was shocked. How could Jing Zhengxuan keep doing this?!

But at the same time, the kiss felt so good it made his heart race, stirring a strange longing in him.

A craving for sweetness.

In the dream, Huai Xu parted his lips, wrapped his arms around Jing Zhengxuan’s shoulders, and greedily drank in the refreshing, sweet taste of his mouth.

Their bodies pressed tightly together. Jing Zhengxuan’s strong arms held him with astonishing strength, as if trying to meld him into his very bones.

Somehow, their clothes had disappeared, leaving them skin to skin, feeling each other’s warmth.

Their breathing grew ragged, heat spreading between them.

Jing Zhengxuan’s tongue slipped into Huai Xu’s mouth, dominating and relentless, sucking on his tongue until his whole body went weak. His tongue ached, and he let out a soft, pitiful whimper.

But the sound only seemed to drive Jing Zhengxuan wilder. His kisses grew fiercer, his hands roaming Huai Xu’s back before sliding lower…

Huai Xu felt incredible, arching into the touch. As if in a familiar dream, he bit Jing Zhengxuan’s shoulder, leaving ten bright red scratches down his back.

Lost in the passion, their bodies glistened with sweat. Huai Xu licked a droplet—it tasted like white tea.

Jing Zhengxuan, meanwhile, covered Huai Xu’s neck and collarbones with faint pink marks, standing out starkly against his pale skin, pure yet sinful.

He kept sucking on Huai Xu’s lips and tongue as if they were the sweetest nectar.

Huai Xu melted under his kisses and touches until—

A sudden wetness jolted him awake.

And then he realized—he was currently kissing Jing Zhengxuan.

With tongue!

Even worse, Jing Zhengxuan had helped him with… that!

And worst of all—everything had happened exactly as in his dream!

Which meant…?!

He shoved Jing Zhengxuan away and bolted upright, his face burning even in the dim light.

Huai Xu coughed awkwardly, avoiding Jing Zhengxuan’s gaze. "You… why are you here?"

Jing Zhengxuan leaned in, smiling as he kissed Huai Xu’s cheek, then licked his fingers with obvious satisfaction. "I’ll go wash up."

Huai Xu tried to dodge the kiss but failed. Seeing Jing Zhengxuan lick his fingers again, he buried himself under the covers in embarrassment, hastily wiping himself clean with a tissue.

When Jing Zhengxuan returned from the bathroom, he found Huai Xu still hiding under the blankets.

Laughing, he pulled the covers back and cupped Huai Xu’s chin, planting another kiss on his swollen lips.

Huai Xu’s lips were naturally beautiful—the kind that looked irresistibly kissable. Now, red and slightly puffy, they were even more tempting. Just looking at them made Jing Zhengxuan’s mouth go dry. He licked his own lips.

Huai Xu couldn’t dodge the kiss in time. Before he could react, Jing Zhengxuan had already pecked him, leaving him both flustered and annoyed. Should he be mad about being kissed again, or embarrassed about what had just happened?

He swatted Jing Zhengxuan’s hand away and scooted further back. "Wh-what’s going on?"

Jing Zhengxuan climbed onto the bed, his long legs caging Huai Xu in. A smug smile played on his lips. "A-Xu, call me ‘A-Xuan’ like you did in the dream. It sounded so good."

Huai Xu’s face burned, his ears turning red. He shot Jing Zhengxuan a glare. "Stop talking nonsense! I didn’t!"

Jing Zhengxuan’s heated gaze traveled from Huai Xu’s eyes to his earlobes. He reached out, gently pinching one, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

Huai Xu, mortified, slapped his hand away. "Stop touching me!"

Jing Zhengxuan’s hand hovered mid-air, his fingers subtly rubbing together as if savoring the lingering warmth.

The gesture only flustered Huai Xu further. He tried to sit up. "Act normal!"

Jing Zhengxuan immediately grabbed his wrists and pulled him back down, trapping him again with his legs. His eyes gleamed with amusement. "A-Xu, I’m sorry for kissing you without permission."

Huai Xu’s expression softened slightly, his chin lifting in triumph.

Before he could speak, Jing Zhengxuan rubbed his palms and added, "I should’ve waited for you to kiss me in your dream."

Huai Xu: "…"

His chin instantly dropped to his chest, his ears turning crimson.

"I… I didn’t," he muttered weakly, clinging to denial. Maybe dreams worked in reverse?

Jing Zhengxuan tilted his chin up, his gaze searing. Just the intensity of his stare made Huai Xu feel as if he were being caressed by a scorching hand, one that could ignite his desire at any moment.

He shook his head but couldn’t break free from Jing Zhengxuan’s grip.

Pushing against him was futile—Jing Zhengxuan’s arms were immovable.

Defeated, Huai Xu lowered his lashes, avoiding Jing Zhengxuan’s eyes.

They held a beast, one that seemed ready to devour him whole.

But to Jing Zhengxuan, his shy avoidance only made him more enticing.

Jing Zhengxuan clenched his jaw, struggling to rein in his impulses.

He couldn’t scare Huai Xu away again.

Reluctantly, he released Huai Xu’s chin and instead took his slender hands in his own.

"A-Xu," he said, locking eyes with him, "if I told you I like you, would you give me a chance?"

Huai Xu’s lashes fluttered. He met Jing Zhengxuan’s gaze for a split second before looking away, leaving only a flushed ear and a blushing neck in view.

"I… I like women," Huai Xu said.

Jing Zhengxuan immediately cupped his face, forcing him to meet his eyes. "No heterosexual man watches adult videos without reacting—unless there’s something wrong with him."

Huai Xu averted his gaze again, stubbornly insisting, "I… don’t like men."

Jing Zhengxuan let go of his face but wrapped both arms around his waist, pulling him closer. "But you like me."

Huai Xu frowned, annoyance overtaking his embarrassment. He pushed against Jing Zhengxuan’s chest. "Nonsense!"

Jing Zhengxuan leaned in, his breath hot against Huai Xu’s ear. "You kissed me in your dream."

Huai Xu: "…"

If only it had just been a kiss.

Thankfully, Jing Zhengxuan only knew about the kiss.

Though inwardly guilty, Huai Xu maintained his defiant expression.

They had grown up eating the same food—how was Jing Zhengxuan’s body so much stronger? He couldn’t even push him away! His usual fragility had clearly been an act!

"I didn’t!" Huai Xu retorted stubbornly.

Jing Zhengxuan moved even closer, one arm around Huai Xu’s neck, his breath tickling his ear. His other hand slid lower, teasing. "If you didn’t like me, why would you react like this to me?"

Huai Xu: "…?!"

Outside, fireworks suddenly lit up the sky, bursting into brilliant colors like falling stars.

Under their glow, Huai Xu’s face turned every shade of red imaginable. He wished he could vanish into the ground, but Jing Zhengxuan gave him no escape.

"A-Xu, since you dreamt of me, give me a chance," Jing Zhengxuan coaxed, one hand massaging Huai Xu’s neck, the other holding his hand.

Huai Xu’s mind was a battlefield.

It was true that adult videos did nothing for him, and there was nothing wrong with him physically.

But did that mean he liked men—or Jing Zhengxuan?

Then again, any healthy man could get aroused under the right circumstances.

Wait.

That line of thinking contradicted the previous one.

Huai Xu: "…"

He had trapped himself in a paradox.

Before he could untangle his thoughts, Jing Zhengxuan lifted his hand and kissed the back of it. "I’ll take your silence as a yes. Whether you agree or not, I’m going to chase you."

Huai Xu’s face burned even hotter. He rubbed the kissed spot indignantly. "Since when are you so unreasonable?"

Jing Zhengxuan pinched his cheek lightly, then kissed his forehead. "Since when have I ever been reasonable?"

Huai Xu ducked his head, flustered.

His childhood friend had changed.

When had it started?

---

That night, Jing Zhengxuan had dinner delivered to the room.

After the meal, he made Huai Xu a bowl of ginger soup. "Winter City is cold. This’ll help."

Once Huai Xu finished the soup, Jing Zhengxuan pulled out a set of thick clothes. "You definitely didn’t pack enough. Change into these. We’re going out to celebrate New Year’s."

Huai Xu stared at the clothes in Jing Zhengxuan’s hands. Outside, fireworks lit up the night sky like daylight. His heart seemed to ignite along with them. In the distance, the Ferris wheel glowed like a carriage ascending into the heavens.

It was nice. They could still welcome the new year together.

He changed, then headed to the Snow and Ice Festival with Jing Zhengxuan, where ice sculptures, lanterns, and winter activities awaited.

As they stepped out of the car, Jing Zhengxuan reached for Huai Xu’s hand, intending to tuck it into his pocket. Huai Xu yanked it away.

"No touching. You’re still on probation," Huai Xu said, shooting Jing Zhengxuan a look that was equal parts shy and defiant.

"It’s cold out here," Jing Zhengxuan insisted, grabbing Huai Xu’s hand and stuffing it into his pocket. With his other hand, he adjusted Huai Xu’s fur-lined hat. "Since when was there a probation period?"

Huai Xu looked away. "I just decided."

"How long?"

"Three months."

"Too long."

"Then how long do you want?"

"One day."

"Dream on!" Huai Xu huffed, stomping his foot.

---

After celebrating New Year’s in Winter City, they returned to Yuancheng the next morning for a family New Year’s gathering.

At the dinner table, Huai Mo noticed Huai Xu’s outfit. "Why the sudden high-collar clothes?"

She remembered her son rarely wore high-necked clothing, opting for a scarf at most in winter.

Huai Xu’s face flushed. He shot Jing Zhengxuan a discreet glare. He had said no, but Jing Zhengxuan had kept kissing his neck.

Now he was being questioned!

Knowing Huai Xu couldn’t lie, Jing Zhengxuan smoothly interjected, "A-Xu’s trying a new style."

Xi Qing glanced at him, shooting Jing Zhengxuan a sharp look.

Meanwhile, Huai Mo observed the interaction between the two boys, sensing something was off…

---

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