Chapter 52: Condom

Chapter 52: Condom

WeChat allows only 5,641 characters per message?

This was Ying Li's first time hearing of such a rule. He responded in shock, "I didn’t count."

He copied the text from the chat to his notes, only to find he had written a whopping 5,800 characters. Their graduation thesis was only required to be 8,000 words...

Ying Li was surprised. He didn't recall writing that much.

He skim-read the entire message, which detailed Qi Xie's recent maleficent actions, his own suffering... and so on. How did he manage to say so much?

His soft earlobes gradually filled with blood, turning from a light pink to a deep red, two blushes reminiscent of plum blossoms. They seemed so delicate as though squeezing them might release a juice.

"It exceeded the limit, so it didn't send." The lashes over Ying Li's eyes fluttered, and he coughed awkwardly before apologizing, "Sorry, I wrongly blamed you."

Admitting mistakes and apologizing wasn't difficult for Ying Li. But perhaps due to recent events, he always felt somewhat uneasy around Qi Xie, a hint of fear lingering.

He sneaked a glance; Qi Xie was watching him intently, but there seemed to be no blame in his eyes. Ying Li felt a bit of tension release.

"What did you write?" Qi Xie extended his hand towards him.

Ying Li didn't hand it over. Blushing, he shoved his phone into his pocket, clutching it as if it were a ticking bomb.

Qi Xie inquired, "Can't I see it?"

Ying Li was evasive: "It's mostly what I've already said. Nothing much to see."

Some of the words in the message were quite sharp. Ying Li was afraid it might upset Qi Xie. He really couldn't handle another one of his episodes.

With a raspy voice, Qi Xie pressed him, "What did you say?"

Ying Li lowered his gaze, his expression tinged with a trace of bitterness, his voice laden with a pleading undertone, "It's nothing. Please don't ask. It wasn't sent anyway; best if you just pretend you don't know."

Apart from when he was severely bullied, Ying Li had never spoken to Qi Xie in such a pleading manner. Little did he realize that his desperate, soft voice stirred Qi Xie's possessive desires even more than any physical resistance would. It was as if he was inadvertently luring Qi Xie to torment him, so every attempt at pacification only led to intensified bullying.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ying Li felt an ominous hunch. Sure enough, after a brief silence, he heard Qi Xie say, "You never responded to my message."

There was a palpable undertone of settling old scores.

Ying Li looked at him, "I did reply."

Qi Xie, with an impassive face, asked leisurely, "Another unsent mini-essay?"

Despite Qi Xie's neutral tone, Ying Li detected the teasing intent.

"No."

With his mouth slightly open, after a pause, Ying Li managed to say, "I responded with... silence."

Which was the same as saying nothing.

Essentially a non-reply.

Qi Xie was momentarily taken aback, an unusual occurrence.

Ying Li rarely ignored people. Even if he didn't respond immediately due to being occupied, he'd explain later. He assumed that since Qi Xie hadn't replied to him, he'd retaliated by doing the same—acting like a sulking child.

He hadn't realized he could be so petty.

Qi Xie's reminder made Ying Li suddenly recall an important task he'd forgotten—Song Ji Mo was waiting for him to go grocery shopping.

As if on cue, just as Ying Li reached for his phone, it began to ring.

It was a call from Song Ji Mo.

Feeling the phone's vibrations in his palm, Ying Li said, "I need to take this call."

Qi Xie replied nonchalantly, "Take it here."

His face was a ghastly pale, lips equally white. The rebellious tilt of his eyes drooped, resembling a once fierce beast, its claws now dulled from grievous wounds, no longer as threatening. Yet, Ying Li still capitulated.

Pressing the answer button, a voice so tender it could melt hearts emanated from the other end of the phone. It was Song Ji Mo. "It's been almost two hours. Aren't you done yet? I've been waiting a long while. Weren't you just heading to the supermarket?"

Even though it sounded like a complaint, coming from Song Ji Mo's mouth, it held an inexplicable lingering warmth.

Qi Xie's anesthesia hadn't completely worn off. Ying Li whispered, "Probably another half hour."

Song Ji Mo responded affirmatively. At that moment, Zhang Shao Ling, carrying some blood pressure medication, returned. He gently patted Ying Li's shoulder, saying, "You can leave, Ying Li. I've got this."

Ying Li glanced at the person on the bed, feeling a pang in his heart. Standing up, he replied, "Alright, I'll head out then."

Just as he was about to exit, Zhang Shao Ling gripped his arm and earnestly said, "Please don't mention today's events to anyone else. I'm counting on you."

Ying Li quickly assured him, "Mr. Zhang, you're making it sound more grave than it is. I'll keep it a secret."

Zhang Shao Ling gave a relieved nod.

The door slowly closed behind him. The haunting scene lingered, and Zhang Shao Ling, still somewhat dazed, took a seat where Ying Li had been sitting.

Qi Xie lay on the bed, eyes barely open. His pale complexion reflected the ceiling light. Were it not for his breathing, one might mistake him for being dead.

Zhang Shao Ling, unable to contain his frustration, pointed at him and launched into a tirade, "I turn away for just a moment and you let yourself end up like this! Neither living nor dead. What were you thinking? Trying to give someone a heart attack?"

"Stop pretending to be asleep. You were perfectly talkative with Ying Li earlier. Now in front of me, you've suddenly become mute?"

Without opening his eyes, Qi Xie simply murmured, "Tired."

"Have you been skipping your meds again?"

Zhang Shao Ling was not asking; he was asserting. Infuriated by Qi Xie's lethargic demeanor, he shot up and declared, "Your health is your responsibility. You take medicine for yourself, not for others. Knowing you'd act out without it and still you don't take it? Are you insane?"

"I forgot, you are!"

Qi Xie remained utterly unfazed. The room echoed with Zhang Shao Ling's scorn. Placing headphones over his ears, Qi Xie effortlessly drowned out the external noise.

"I'm too old for this," Zhang Shao Ling vented, "The shock from your antics could give me a heart attack. Can you be a little considerate? I can't afford to have someone die on my watch."

"If something were to actually happen to you today, how would I ever explain it to your father?"

Until now, Qi Xie had shown no reaction to Zhang Shao Ling's words. But at that sentence, he abruptly opened his eyes, and with a venomous tone, snapped, "He'd be pleased if I were dead."

Zhang Shaoling flinched under that intense glare.

He had limited knowledge about Qi Xie’s family background, but had gleaned that a few deaths in Qi Xie’s family seemed related to him. The specifics, however, eluded him.

Qi Xie was directly inducted into the company. With all that wealth, Zhang Shaoling never understood why Qi Xie chose to become a celebrity. Fans speculated it was a fervent passion for music that drove him to the entertainment industry. But that wasn’t entirely accurate. At most, he did the bare minimum, more lackadaisical than Shen Yao and others. He barely engaged on social media or with fans offline. He’d always have headphones on, seemingly lost in his own world.

Initially, Zhang Shaoling was reluctant to take this parachuted talent under his wing, until his superior had a word with him: "Just ensure he doesn't end up dead."

Qi Xie didn’t die, but he often put himself in precarious situations. Not long after their introduction, Zhang Shaoling had witnessed one of Qi Xie's episodes where he was covered in cuts, each one skilfully avoiding major arteries.

The industry had its fair share of individuals battling depression, but most had acquired it after joining. Qi Xie, already afflicted and still choosing to enter, was a first.

He supposed he should be thankful that only a fountain pen was within Qi Xie's reach that time.

Contemplating this, Zhang Shaoling's blood pressure rose again. He sighed deeply and remarked, “I simply can't handle you. And I doubt anyone else can.”

Qi Xie's Adam’s apple bobbed as he whispered, “Ying Li.”

“Ying Li, manage you?” Zhang Shaoling scoffed. There was indeed something different about how Qi Xie treated Ying Li. It was an attentiveness he hadn’t shown anyone else. Yet, Zhang Shaoling bluntly stated, “Seeing you like this would scare anyone off. He might tolerate you now, but for how long? Have you ever looked in the mirror during one of your episodes? One day, that pen might not just hurt you but someone close to you. He's no fool.”

Qi Xie’s usually stoic face seemed to shift, his eyes darkening. “He didn’t run.”

“Not this time. But after how many scares will he have had enough? And about this,” Zhang Shaoling tossed the blood-streaked pen onto Qi Xie, “Ying Li came to see me at noon, saying you were acting out. What did you do?”

Qi Xie’s pale fingers clenched a crumpled piece of paper in his pocket. Without answering, his gaze fixed intently on the ceiling, his expression unreadable.

Feeling his attempts to reach Qi Xie were futile, Zhang Shaoling, looking at his pallid face, resignedly said, “Think about what I’ve said. Take your medication punctually. I hope this is the last time I see you in a hospital.”

……

Ying Li took a taxi home, finding Song Ji Mo waiting in the parking lot. The headlights of his car flashed as he approached.

Ying Li hurried over and got in. As he buckled up, he said fluidly, “Let's go.”

Breathing heavily, with sweat dampening his hair and sticking it to his face, Song Ji Mo brushed some stray hairs away, saying, “Why were you running? What happened?”

Ying Li's voice had a bitter undertone, and his eyes held a hint of turmoil. “Can I not talk about it?”

A smirk played on Song Ji Mo’s lips. “Don't want to, or can't?”

In a hushed tone, Ying Li answered, “Don’t want to.”

I can't say.

He had promised to keep it a secret.

Ever since leaving the hospital, Ying Li felt drained, as if his soul hadn't settled back into his body. Facing Song Ji Mo's inquiries, he seemed all the more aggrieved.

"Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't," said Song Ji Mo, retracting his gaze, expression unchanged. "Hold on tight."

Song Ji Mo drove at a startling speed. Ying Li, who initially wanted some fresh air, found the gusts of night wind too fierce to even keep his eyes open with the window down.

Grasping the seatbelt, Ying Li couldn't help but say, "Can you slow down a bit?"

"If you're hot, use the air conditioning."

Song Ji Mo rolled up the window, creating a closed environment inside the car. The warmth of the air conditioner was even more comfortable than the cold breeze outside.

Blood had stained Ying Li's jacket. He had stuffed it in his backpack, which he had left at the hospital on a chair. He sent a message to Zhang Shao Ling, asking him to bring it back.

At a traffic light, Ying Li's gaze swept over Song Ji Mo. Of their group of five, Song Ji Mo had been in the industry the longest, transitioning from an internet singer. Even in his casual attire of a white shirt and black trousers, he exuded a star's aura.

Song Ji Mo's expression seemed no different than usual, but Ying Li sensed some irritation. Perhaps he had waited too long? Ying Li apologized again.

Catching a glimpse of Ying Li's pouting lips, Song Ji Mo felt a mix of amusement and guilt. So easy to frighten, yet so endearing.

Around eight or nine in the evening was the supermarket's peak hour. Both wore masks, but their tall and straight figures still drew many glances.

Song Ji Mo pushed a shopping cart with a child's seat, jokingly suggesting, "Want to hop in?"

"Only children under three can sit there. I'm not a child," Ying Li responded seriously. "It would break."

Song Ji Mo smirked, "What a pity. Let's go. What do we need to buy?"

Ying Li had already noted down his shopping list. Now, they just needed to pick the items.

Ying Li read out the names, and Song Ji Mo grabbed the items. Their collaboration was quite harmonious.

As Ying Li scrolled through his list, a message notification popped up on his phone: "Which supermarket?"

Ying Li opened the chat and typed swiftly: "Don't come."

"Which supermarket?"

Ying Li replied, "We're almost done shopping. We'll be heading back soon."

"Which supermarket?"

The exact same message came through again, striking in its persistence.

A headache brewing, Ying Li replied, "Star Harbor International, over here."

Hoping to dissuade the other party from coming, he added, "It's quite a distance, over twenty minutes by car."

Qi Xie didn't respond further.

There were large supermarkets near their hotel too. However, having seen a more extensive range of products online at this one, Ying Li had mentioned it to Song Ji Mo. Now he regretted traveling this far.

With a weight on his mind, Ying Li appeared distant. As they passed the flour section, he kept walking straight ahead without so much as a glance.

"Not getting flour?" Song Ji Mo caught the collar of Ying Li's shirt, pulling him back. His deep brown eyes flashed with a hint of displeasure, "You seem so distant since we left. What's on your mind?"

Ying Li cast his eyes downward, murmuring, "Nothing."

"With your brows furrowed like that? You claim it's 'nothing'?"

Song Ji Mo used his index finger to gently massage between Ying Li's eyebrows, relaxing the tense furrow. This action seemed to lift Ying Li's spirits a little.

Touching his own brows, Ying Li asked, "Are they really that furrowed?"

Song Ji Mo replied, "Yes, you've been like this for days. Haven't you noticed?"

Perhaps it was due to the numerous unexpected events that had occurred recently. Ying Li felt overwhelmed, both physically and emotionally. He had lost weight, and the dimples on his face were less pronounced.

Trying to lighten the mood, Ying Li said, "Let's finish up and head back soon."

Song Ji Mo paused momentarily, his usually playful eyebrows now carried a hint of menace, "What's the rush? Do you have a date to get back to?"

Ying Li, a tad exhausted, didn't wish to entertain Song Ji Mo's offhand comment, "Stop joking around."

Song Ji Mo gripped Ying Li's shoulder, caressing the smooth curvature beneath the fabric, "Then, while you're on this 'date' with me, don't think of anyone else."

Ying Li looked at him, somewhat bewildered. Could shopping together even count as a date? And what sort of date involves two men?

The two strolled leisurely for over an hour. During that time, Xie Wen kept asking when they would return, but there was no response from Qi Xie's chat.

Song Ji Mo continued to walk ahead. Ying Li tugged gently at the hem of his clothing, suggesting, "Let's go. We've got almost everything we need. Xie Wen has been prompting us numerous times already."

He glanced at the time and looked up. His deep gaze fixed on Ying Li, the whirlpool in his eyes seemingly strong enough to draw someone in.

Ying Li's eyelashes fluttered involuntarily, sensing his rising temper.

"Ying Li, you seem quite bothered by me," Song Ji Mo said with a sudden serious tone, his brows furrowing deeper. "Do you find it so unbearable to be with me that you're always wanting to leave?"

There was complaint and sadness in his eyes, as if he truly felt hurt by Ying Li.

Ying Li hastily replied, "No, no. It's just that we've been shopping for so long. We'll surely get back late. You have a show to record tomorrow. Staying out too late isn’t good, and with so many people watching you, what if someone takes a photo and posts it online..."

Song Ji Mo took pleasure in seeing Ying Li flustered, her lips rapidly moving, her rosy face upturned, and her clear, crystal-like eyes so pristine they seemed tempting to tarnish.

"Can't a celebrity have a private life? Can't we even go shopping? You worry about so much despite your young age," Song Ji Mo said, poking at her chest playfully. "Let's shop a bit longer and grab some snacks."

A warmth surged in Ying Li's chest as she followed him, asking, "I thought you didn’t eat snacks?"

While others occasionally smoked, drank, or nibbled on snacks, Song Ji Mo abstained entirely, his discipline almost unnerving.

Song Ji Mo looked back at her, "Who said it's for me? It's for you."

Subsequently, the two wheeled their shopping cart to the snack section. Ying Li wasn't too keen on snacks, but since Song Ji Mo insisted on buying them for her, she randomly picked up a couple of bags of nuts.

As he raised his hand, a glimpse of his waist was revealed, resembling the creamy ice creams in the freezer—temptingly sweet to look at and probably melting at the slightest touch.

Song Ji Mo narrowed his eyes, irresistibly drawn closer, and said without context, "You're so fair and fragrant. Have you applied something?"

Ying Li looked puzzled, "Applied? What are you talking about?"

Realizing his misstep, Song Ji Mo replied, "Never mind."

He stretched out his long arm, helping Ying Li take items from the shelf and throw them into the cart, then pointed to the snacks on the neighboring shelf, asking, "Do you want this one?"

Ying Li shook her head, "No, this is enough. I'm not really fond of snacks."

Song Ji Mo remarked, "Don't all you young ones love snacks?"

With a perplexed expression, Ying Li felt a twinge of irritation in her heart, "You're only a few years older than me. Why do you keep calling me a child?"

"When you're older than me, you can call me a child too."

Song Ji Mo's voice was gentle, almost ensnaring Ying Li's reasoning, "That's impossible..."

Song Ji Mo was two years older than her, and she was two years older than Xie Wen. If she considered Xie Wen a child, then Song Ji Mo's perspective on her wasn't wrong either.

Ying Li didn't continue the argument.

After thoroughly browsing every nook and cranny, the two finally proceeded to checkout with their cart.

The cashier, concealing her smile, handed over the packed items, adding, "In appreciation of our customers, we have a raffle today. You can take your receipt to the front desk and enter the draw."

"A raffle?"

The cashier nodded, "Yes, there are some great prizes. If you're interested, give it a shot."

Ying Li replied politely, "No, thank you."

Song Ji Mo, bags in hand, naturally slipped his other arm through Ying Li's, "Alright, let's check it out later."

Ying Li asked, "You want to join the raffle?"

"Never tried it before. Why not?" Song Ji Mo said with a hint of anguish in his eyes, "Are you in such a hurry to leave? Can't you wait a few more minutes?"

It was that same plaintive tone, effortlessly tugging at Ying Li's emotions.

Ying Li sighed, "Let's go."

The young lady at the front desk, after verifying the receipt, invited them to pick a scratch card from the raffle box.

Song Ji Mo turned to Ying Li, "You choose."

Ying Li looked at him, slightly bewildered, tugging at her hair, "You should do it. I've never been lucky with these things. No matter the odds, I always end up with 'Thank you for participating'."

Song Ji Mo chuckled, "Is it really that extreme?"

Ying Li looked a bit sheepish, "Not exaggerating at all. My friends even bet against my picks."

The amusement on Song Ji Mo's face deepened, "That's alright. Give it a try. If you don't win, it's the experience that counts."

"Alright then."

Ying Li hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. Just as he was about to seek help from Song Ji Mo, Song Ji Mo gently grasped his wrist, reaching into the raffle box and whispered, "Just grab one at random."

With a determined heart, Ying Li closed his eyes and randomly picked one.

The young lady at the front desk took a look and said, "Congratulations, you've won the grand prize!"

Ying Li's eyes sparkled with disbelief, "The grand prize?"

The hand on his wrist subtly slid up to his shoulder. Using this gesture, Song Ji Mo drew Ying Li closer. From the side, they appeared as if they were embracing. Song Ji Mo commented, "Impressive."

"Here is the grand prize. Please take it."

The desk clerk handed over a gift bag labeled "Grand Prize" to Ying Li, wearing a bright smile. There was an ambiguous twinkle in her eyes, and upon looking at him again, her face flushed.

Song Ji Mo suggested, "Open it to see what it is."

Inside was a square box with blue packaging. Ying Li couldn't quite understand the English written on it. After a cursory glance, he guessed, "It seems like chewing gum?"

Song Ji Mo took a closer look. His eyes suddenly sharpened. The bottom right corner of the box read 'Ice-threaded, ultra-thin, prolonged wear, ultimate experience.'

Seeing Song Ji Mo intently staring at the label, Ying Li curiously inquired, "Isn't it?"

"No."

"Then, what is it?"

Leaning in, Song Ji Mo whispered into Ying Li's ear. His warm breath gently grazed Ying Li's earlobe as he spoke in a voice meant only for Ying Li to hear.

"Condoms."

"Ying Li, you're quite lucky, aren't you?"

Author's Note:

To the review team, I didn't write anything explicit in this chapter, please don't flag it. A pure, lovely young girl is kneeling down here for you.

(I don’t dare correct any typos; doing so might trigger a stricter review.)