Chapter 34 I can't stop loving you

His heart pounded wildly in his chest, his face grew hot, and his ears burned as Jing Zhengxuan sucked and kissed his earlobe. His tongue was like a nimble hand, skillfully teasing with a mix of light and deep touches.

A restless heat spread through his body, the tingling sensation traveling from his earlobe down his neck. Huaixu’s eyes grew hazy, his lashes dampening as his lids drooped, adding an irresistible allure to his expression—bewitching to the point of stealing souls.

His palm rested against Jing Zhengxuan’s firm chest, the heat radiating through his skin. The strong heartbeat under his hand matched his own in speed but surpassed it in intensity, pulsing against his palm like a relentless tide.

Jing Zhengxuan’s kisses trailed downward, landing on the side of Huaixu’s neck—soft pecks followed by gentle licks, as if savoring a rare delicacy.

When Huaixu didn’t answer, Jing Zhengxuan whispered again, “Can we?”

But he didn’t seem to be in a hurry for a reply, continuing to kiss Huaixu at his own pace.

His soft lips pressed lightly against Huaixu’s neck, as if determined to cover every inch of skin. The tingling sensation grew stronger.

Huaixu felt his body go weak, devoid of strength. He couldn’t even push against Jing Zhengxuan’s chest anymore—his hands simply rested on his back, fingers tracing the contours of his muscles.

His mind screamed no, but his mouth was sealed by Jing Zhengxuan’s kiss, their tongues entwining in a fierce dance—licking, sucking, the intensity almost frightening.

Huaixu felt his tongue swell from the relentless suction, numb and pliant, surrendering completely as Jing Zhengxuan delved deeper.

Their breaths grew heavier, mingling in the air, hot against Huaixu’s face, making the fine hairs on his skin stand on end with each trembling exhale.

His cheeks flushed a deep pink, like a ripe peach. Just as he was about to run out of breath, Jing Zhengxuan released him, gently stroking his back as he let him gasp for air.

“Huaixu… can we?”

The night had deepened. Lost in their kisses, they’d forgotten to close the curtains. Starlight and moonlight spilled into the room, casting a hazy, intimate glow over everything.

Huaixu panted, his body still tingling from Jing Zhengxuan’s touch. The pleasure surged straight to his head, threatening to overwhelm his last shreds of reason.

“No—”

The word yes was swallowed by another kiss—this one even more fervent, more desperate, more maddening.

Huaixu’s vision blurred, his lashes dampening further. He tried to push Jing Zhengxuan away, but his arms had no strength. He tried to speak, but his mouth was too busy being ravaged, leaving only muffled whimpers.

Jing Zhengxuan’s hands roamed lower, kneading soft flesh until it flushed red under his touch, as if set aflame—only making him thirstier.

He kissed hungrily, his tongue teasing with practiced precision, his eyes locked onto Huaixu’s dazed expression.

One hand gripped Huaixu’s hip, fingers sinking into pliant flesh.

Jing Zhengxuan kissed and nipped his way downward, finally kneeling between Huaixu’s legs, lavishing attention where Huaixu was most sensitive.

Pleasure shot through every nerve. Huaixu clutched the pillow, biting his lip to stifle his sounds—but moans still escaped, helpless against the waves of ecstasy crashing over him.

Finally, Jing Zhengxuan pulled back, licking his lips as he gazed at Huaixu with dark, satisfied eyes.

“Huaixu… how am I never full of you?”

Huaixu glared, covering his face with the pillow in embarrassment. “Are you some kind of pervert?! You’ll put your mouth anywhere?”

His voice, muffled by the pillow, only sounded even more seductive.

Jing Zhengxuan tugged the pillow away, cupping Huaixu’s face as he stared at him with raw devotion.

“I can’t get enough of you.”

---

A few days later, Huaixu received a message from Shu Jinwei:

[Shu Jinwei]: So you are dating Jing Zhengxuan. [Called it.]

Huaixu stared at his phone, confused—

[☀️]: You don’t even have his WeChat?

The reply came quickly—

[Shu Jinwei]: Saw it on Jiang Yuhan’s phone. Spill!

[Shu Jinwei]: [Come on]

Huaixu, not thinking much of it, glanced at the figure busy in the kitchen before typing—

[☀️]: Chat logs?

[Shu Jinwei]: Who reads their chat history?!

[Shu Jinwei]: You didn’t know?

[Shu Jinwei]: Jing Zhengxuan posted on Moments. Just now. Half the school knows. A certain group chat is losing it.

[Shu Jinwei]: And your profile pics? Super obvious couple ones now—JZX and HX. Way bolder than before. Not scared of your parents finding out?

[Shu Jinwei]: Or… do they already know?

[Shu Jinwei]: [Let me see]

Huaixu was speechless.

He rarely posted or checked Moments. Jing Zhengxuan had brought up going public before, but Huaixu had brushed it off as unnecessary.

Had he done it anyway?

Huaixu exited the chat and went straight to Jing Zhengxuan’s profile.

His cover was a video—Huaixu tapped play.

It was a clip from the school festival, when he’d played the guqin. The lighting was natural, no filters, yet it perfectly captured his elegance—like a noble scholar from an ancient painting.

The soft melody flowed from the video, graceful and soothing.

Huaixu bit his lip.

He only remembered Jing Zhengxuan taking photos that day. When had he recorded this?

But…

It was good. Better than the photos.

Who knew Jing Zhengxuan was a better videographer than photographer?

He scrolled down.

The latest post was text-only—

[Oops, accidental post. Pretend you didn’t see it. Don’t tell him.]

Huaixu could only see comments from mutual friends:

[Auntie Qing]: Then DELETE IT?!

[Uncle Heng]: [Smile]

[Zhang Yilang]: ?

[Wu Ke]: ?

[Chen Pan]: ?

Confused, Huaixu kept scrolling—only to realize why the previous post was flooded with question marks.

Two posts had gone up almost simultaneously, mere seconds apart.

The announcement post remained untouched—clearly not intended to be deleted.

The second-newest post had both text and photos—

[If you knew whose boyfriend I am, you’d envy my luck too.]

Nine pictures were arranged in a circle, with heart-shaped arrows pointing from all directions to the center image.

The center photo was of Huaixu—smiling, his dimples deepening, teeth white and even. Fireworks exploded behind him, yet they paled in comparison to his brilliance.

Huaixu’s lips curved unconsciously.

This was from New Year’s Eve at the ice park—a candid shot Jing Zhengxuan had refused to show him, claiming it was “bad.” Turns out, it was perfect.

But then his smile faded.

Why hide it then, only to flaunt it now?

Had Jing Zhengxuan been planning this all along?

Suppressing his curiosity, Huaixu checked the comments.

[Auntie Qing]: You’d better treat him right.

[Uncle Heng]: …

[Wu Ke]: Holy shit?! You two?! Congrats.

[Zhang Yilang]: Finally official? Been waiting. Congrats.

[Chen Pan]: Congrats! When’s the wedding?

The rest were well-wishes from former classmates—all variations of congratulations.

Huaixu’s lips twitched again. No one could stay indifferent to such genuine happiness for them.

Was this why Jing Zhengxuan had gone public?

He glanced toward the kitchen, where Jing Zhengxuan was busy cooking. As if sensing his gaze, Jing Zhengxuan looked up—their eyes met. Huaixu smiled shyly; Jing Zhengxuan’s grin was tender, full of unspoken promises.

“What are you looking at?” Jing Zhengxuan set a plate of homemade takoyaki in front of Huaixu.

Instead of answering, Huaixu smirked. “You’re the lucky one?”

Jing Zhengxuan paused, then speared a takoyaki ball and held it to Huaixu’s lips. “Don’t you think so?”

Since the holidays began, Huaixu had craved this snack—so Jing Zhengxuan had learned to make it.

Huaixu took a small bite. Despite fewer toppings than store-bought versions, the flavor was better.

Chewing slowly, he savored it, his eyes shining with delight. Then he picked up another piece and held it out to Jing Zhengxuan, smiling softly.

“I think… I’m the lucky one.”

He fed the takoyaki to Jing Zhengxuan.

His phone buzzed—the dorm group chat was exploding with messages. But Huaixu was too busy being pulled into a deep, lingering kiss to care.

---

That night, Jing Zhengxuan stared at his phone like a lovestruck fool.

On screen was Huaixu’s Moments—his cover photo a collage of their pictures, and a new post:

[He says he’s lucky. Funny… so am I.]

The attached photo showed Jing Zhengxuan carrying Huaixu on his back in the snow. His nose was red from the cold, but his smile was brighter than ever.

Huaixu, wrapped in a scarf with only his eyes visible, was clearly laughing, one arm tight around Jing Zhengxuan’s neck, the other stretching out to take the selfie.

Despite the snowy backdrop, the photo radiated warmth—as if pink hearts were floating around them.

The comments were flooded with congratulations—and those were just the mutual friends. There were surely more.

After a moment, Jing Zhengxuan put his phone away and returned to the bedroom, pouncing onto the bed and pulling Huaixu into his arms.

“Huaixu… you saw my post?”

Huaixu, nearly crushed, shoved him off enough to breathe.

He pinched Jing Zhengxuan’s ear, amused. “Hard to miss something that obvious.”

“I couldn’t help it,” Jing Zhengxuan buried his face in Huaixu’s neck, inhaling his peach scent greedily. “Your post must have so many comments.”

Huaixu, not catching the implication, ran his fingers through Jing Zhengxuan’s hair. “Yeah, a lot. Yours too, right?”

Jing Zhengxuan suddenly propped himself up, smirking. “Wanna play a game?”

Huaixu blinked. “What game?”

Jing Zhengxuan held up his phone. “We count each other’s comments. Whoever has fewer has to grant the other a wish.”

Huaixu frowned. What kind of game was this?

But his competitive streak won out. “Fine.”

He handed over his phone. “Password’s 180081.”

Jing Zhengxuan chuckled, pinching his nose. “Even your password is symmetrical. So obsessive.”

Huaixu swatted his hand away. “Yours?”

Jing Zhengxuan kissed his eyelid, then his nose, then his lips. “It’s been your birthday for years.”

Huaixu flushed. “How many years?”

Jing Zhengxuan grinned mysteriously. “Too long. I forgot.”

“Yeah, right.” Huaixu scoffed. Jing Zhengxuan never forgot anything.

“Fine, keep your secrets.” He turned to his phone, unlocking it to see his school festival photo set as Jing Zhengxuan’s wallpaper.

He waved the phone. “So you did think it was good?”

Jing Zhengxuan’s expression softened. “I was… scared you’d run.”

Huaixu looked away. He wasn’t wrong.

He started counting comments on Jing Zhengxuan’s post.

Jing Zhengxuan, meanwhile, skimmed distractedly—until one comment caught his eye. His lips curled in triumph before he resumed counting.

Under Huaixu’s post, Xie Kaiyan had commented: [Congrats.]

Jing Zhengxuan knew he was being petty—but he couldn’t help it. Just like he couldn’t stop kissing Huaixu, he couldn’t suppress his hostility toward anyone who eyed him.

In the end, Huaixu’s post did have more comments.

“I lost.” Jing Zhengxuan grinned like he’d won. “What’s your wish?”

Huaixu narrowed his eyes. “You’re happy about losing?”

Jing Zhengxuan kissed his dimple. “Losing to you is winning.”

Huaixu studied him. “You’re up to something.”

Jing Zhengxuan pulled him close, hands roaming as he scattered kisses along his collarbone. “Your wish. Name it.”

Huaixu, dizzy from the attention, could only murmur, “...Save it for later.”

Jing Zhengxuan nipped at his neck. “Deal.”

---

Time flew, and soon, it was New Year’s Eve.

The Jing family reunion was always a grand affair—packed with relatives, lively and loud. In contrast, Huaixu’s home was quiet—just him and his mother.

Huaai Mo had cut ties with her deeply misogynistic family years ago to escape their toxicity. Though the process had been painful, she never regretted it.

But this year, for the first time, she felt the loneliness of their small celebrations.

Perhaps sensing this, Xi Qing invited them to spend New Year’s Eve with the Jings.

“We’re practically family already,” she insisted. “The boys shouldn’t be apart for their first New Year as a couple.”

After some hesitation, Huaai Mo agreed.

---

The Jing ancestral home was a centuries-old estate—a sprawling complex of pavilions, gardens, and flowing streams, blending nature and tradition seamlessly.

Upon arrival, they were led to the main hall, where Old Master Jing waited.

The moment Huaixu greeted him warmly as “Grandpa,” the old man’s stern face softened.

“Does that boy treat you well?” he asked, patting Huaixu’s hand.

Huaixu glanced at Jing Zhengxuan, smiling. “Better than I deserve.”

Old Master Jing nodded, then shot Jing Zhengxuan a warning look before turning back to Huaixu.

“If he ever upsets you, tell me. I’ll handle him.”

Huaixu’s chest swelled. For the first time, he felt what it was like to have a grandfather’s protection.

---

Dinner was a lavish affair. The seating arrangement—carefully planned by Old Master Jing—placed Huaixu and his mother in positions of honor.

Course after course was served, each tailored to Huaixu’s tastes.

After the meal, the family gathered for the hongbao tradition.

Huaixu, initially reluctant, was pulled into line by Jing Zhengxuan.

“Grandpa prepared one for you. Don’t refuse his kindness.”

One by one, the younger generation received red envelopes from the elders.

Huaixu’s stack grew steadily—each envelope thin but containing foreign currency in large denominations.

Then came Old Master Jing’s.

Unlike the others, his was exceptionally thin—just a single slip of paper.

Huaixu unfolded it.

A check.

His eyes widened as he counted the zeros.

One… hundred… thousand?

No.

One million.

Panicked, he tried to return it, only to bump into Jing Zhengxuan outside his room.

“Grandpa already explained,” Jing Zhengxuan said, taking the envelope. “Come to my room. I’ll tell you everything.”

“Why not here?” Huaixu asked.

Jing Zhengxuan’s ears turned pink.

“Because… everything is inconvenient here.”

Huaixu: “?”

---

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