Qin Zhiyan looked at Tang Keyi's bewildered expression, reached out to cup the back of his head, and pulled him close by the waist.
Tang Keyi tried to push him away: "What are you doing? The gel on my back isn't dry yet!"
"It's fine, we'll reapply it later."
With that, Qin Zhiyan's lips pressed down on his.
At the dining table, Tang Keyi finished the carrot and pork rib soup in his bowl, leaving only a few pieces of carrot behind.
[Quick, cover them with meat so Qin Zhiyan doesn't notice and force me to eat them.]
Qin Zhiyan glanced at Tang Keyi's bowl and spotted the hint of red beneath the meat. "Tangtang, eat the carrots."
[How can he still see them? His eyes are too sharp.]
Tang Keyi evaded vaguely, "Mhm... I'll eat them later."
Qin Zhiyan insisted, "Eat them now."
Tang Keyi pouted and complained to Tang Kexing, "Big Brother, Qin Zhiyan is bullying me!"
"In this matter, I have to side with reason over family. Xiao Wu, you really shouldn't be picky."
Tang Keyi was shocked: "Big Brother, you never used to say that. You said if I didn’t want to eat something, I didn’t have to force myself."
Tang Kexing replied calmly, "Did I? That was before. Now, I’ve changed my mind."
The other three brothers also chimed in, urging Tang Keyi to eat the carrots.
Tang Keyi looked at his four brothers, now united with Qin Zhiyan, and felt a mix of emotions.
So love really does fade, huh?
——
That night, there was a knock on Tang Keyi's door.
"Tangtang, are you there?"
It was Qin Zhiyan's voice.
[I’m just not going to answer, nyaah nyaah.]
Qin Zhiyan sighed silently in resignation and feigned hurt. "Tangtang, I know you're in there. If you ignore me, I’ll be really sad."
Sure enough, Tang Keyi immediately softened.
[Actually, it’s not his fault. How can I be so petty with my wife? How can I leave my wife outside the door?]
[I’ll let him in after two more knocks.]
Qin Zhiyan, understanding perfectly, knocked twice more. Moments later, the door opened.
Tang Keyi had already prepared an excuse: "Did you wait long? I just came out of the bathroom."
"Not long at all."
Playing along, Qin Zhiyan slipped into the room and closed the door behind him.
"Tangtang, what’s wrong? You don’t seem very happy?"
"Nothing." Tang Keyi sat down on the bed.
Even without hearing Tang Keyi’s thoughts, Qin Zhiyan could guess the reason.
Standing in front of Tang Keyi, Qin Zhiyan stroked the side of his neck and asked softly, "Is it because of what happened at dinner?"
Tang Keyi lifted his chin and demanded sharply, "Did you secretly bribe my brothers? Why are they all on your side now? Before, they always doted on me the most at home."
Qin Zhiyan was also slightly puzzled by the sudden change in Tang Kexing and the others, but upon reflection, he realized what they must have misunderstood.
Still, it was harmless.
Since the misunderstanding worked in his favor, he saw no need to explain or dwell on it. After all, what happened in the bedroom was between the two of them. Others’ speculations didn’t matter.
"Why are you acting like a child? They still dote on you the most. They just want what’s best for you. Before, they indulged your picky eating, but now that I’m here to encourage you, of course they’d side with me." Qin Zhiyan coaxed patiently.
Tang Keyi knew he was in the wrong. "I... I know they love me. I was just upset for a moment."
Qin Zhiyan sat beside him and leaned closer. "Are you over it now?"
"I wasn’t even mad." Tang Keyi stubbornly refused to admit it.
Qin Zhiyan chuckled softly, studying the exposed skin outside Tang Keyi’s clothes. "Tangtang, after a few days here, you’ve gotten a bit darker."
"I applied sunscreen every time I went out." Tang Keyi stretched out his arm and examined it—it really was tanner.
"You didn’t apply it carefully enough. The tan isn’t even." Qin Zhiyan pointed to Tang Keyi’s fingers. "Each finger is a different shade."
"Really?" Tang Keyi spread out his fingers and scrutinized them. "I don’t see it."
"Tomorrow, I’ll help you apply sunscreen." Qin Zhiyan declared decisively.
——
The next day.
Tang Keyi turned his back to Qin Zhiyan and mumbled, "I can do the front myself. Just help me with my back."
[I seriously suspect Qin Zhiyan just wants to take advantage of me. I don’t know why I agreed to this last night—he totally sweet-talked me into it.]
Qin Zhiyan stepped closer. "But you don’t apply it carefully enough. You miss a lot of spots."
[But having someone else apply sunscreen is so embarrassing! I can handle my back, but face-to-face is just awkward.]
"I’ll be extra careful this time." Tang Keyi turned around and met Qin Zhiyan’s eyes, promising earnestly.
"Fine. I’ll do your back."
Qin Zhiyan watched as Tang Keyi applied sunscreen to his face, neck, chest, abdomen, and arms. Then he picked up the bottle, squeezed out some cream, and spread it evenly over Tang Keyi’s back.
When Qin Zhiyan’s hand wandered to Tang Keyi’s collarbone, Tang Keyi stopped him.
"I already did that part."
"Then do it again." Qin Zhiyan’s voice carried a hint of huskiness.
Tang Keyi: "..."
[So all my effort earlier was wasted?]
……
Tang Keyi stared at the man in front of him.
He was meticulously applying sunscreen to his legs, not even skipping the gaps between his toes.
Qin Zhiyan’s fingers brushed between Tang Keyi’s toes, sending a shiver through him.
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