Chapter 112

Chapter 112

Ji Mian took a while to psych himself up, and the knocking at the door grew softer as he remained quiet.

His legs shaky, he got out of bed and approached the door. "Who’s there?"

Luo Ye outside the door: "..."

Who else would it be?

"Brother," he said softly.

He’d gone back to change his dirty clothes, finished washing up, and figured his brother would be done by now, but the door was still locked.

Ji Mian cracked the door open, and Luo Ye saw half a head poking out cautiously. He tried his best to control himself from pushing the door open, to avoid looking too eager.

"Just you?" Ji Mian asked, seeing only Luo Ye standing outside. He was puzzled.

Luo Ye looked a bit confused. He didn’t know who else should be there.

When he didn’t see the police, Ji Mian felt relieved, but then his heart sank.

Did Luo Ye not call the cops?

Did he suddenly feel soft-hearted because of their brotherly bond? But that didn’t make sense. Luo Ye wasn’t one to hesitate. If he’d felt soft-hearted, he wouldn’t have tried to seduce him.

No time to wonder why Luo Ye hadn’t called the cops.

What about the task?

The system was offline and couldn’t see what was happening.

Ji Mian had to wait for it to come back to figure out a plan.

"I’m kinda tired. Xiao Ye, you should get some rest too," he said, then he slammed the door shut and locked it.

"..."

As the door closed, Luo Ye’s expression shifted.

He’d never lost his cool before. What did his brother say? Sleepy?!

Luo Ye couldn’t believe it and knocked on the door again. "Brother!"

Inside the door, Ji Mian inexplicably sensed a hint of annoyance in the voice.

"System?" he called out in his mind, but there was no response.

The person outside continued to call him.

Luo Ye pressed his forehead against the door, softening his tone. "Brother..."

Ji Mian felt unsettled by this call, and his heart rate suddenly quickened.

Could it be that Luo Ye actually liked him? Perhaps those seductive actions he had taken weren’t meant to send him to jail?

Ji Mian’s palm rested on the door panel, and he parted his lips, but no sound came out.

Outside, there was already silence.

His heart began to race again.

After hesitating for four or five minutes, Ji Mian carefully turned the handle.

As soon as he cracked it open, a hand shot through the gap, stopping him from closing it.

"Ono?"

Luo Ye stepped all the way in, closed and locked the door.

He turned and fixed his gaze on Ji Mian, "Bro, you tired?"

"..." Luo Ye's stare was intense. Ji Mian wasn't scared, just uneasy.

"Or do you regret it? That's why you want to avoid me."

Ji Mian was stunned, "Regret? I..."

Luo Ye stepped forward and wordlessly pulled him close.

He was the one who'd been pushing him over the line; he was the one who should bear the consequences.

He leaned down to kiss Ji Mian's hair, then his ear, and finally his lips.

His kiss was light, barely a touch before he pulled back. It felt more like comfort than a kiss.

Luo Ye's hand slid down Ji Mian's back, "Brother, I'm here."

Don't worry, I've got you. Just focus on me, nothing else matters.

He'd grow fast, strong enough to make him feel safe.

Though they were on different wavelengths, Ji Mian found some comfort in Luo Ye's words.

As he kissed him, Luo Ye's hand roamed to Ji Mian's waist. Ji Mian had already reacted earlier when he was downstairs, but he had been holding back. Now, he was squirming.

Luo Ye nuzzled the spot under Ji Mian's ear, "Bro, let me help you."

"Then..." Ji Mian's breathing was unsteady, and he finally reminded him, "Then things will be different..."

What nature? Luo Ye was confused.

Ji Mian, touched by him, leaned on Luo Ye's shoulder, panting.

He kept his head down, so Luo Ye couldn't see the expression on Ji Mian's face. But he really wanted to see it.

"Brother, I want to see you."

It was just a request made without much hope, but a few seconds later, Ji Mian actually raised his face, enduring the shame.

Luo Ye's throat moved suddenly, and the fire in his heart instantly burned wildly and arrogantly.

Brother, you're too easy to bully...

He lowered his head and kissed Ji Mian forcefully, but the latter's neck was also soft. As soon as Luo Ye kissed him, Ji Mian's head unconsciously tilted back.

Luo Ye couldn't exert much force, so he simply pressed the person against the wall. Ji Mian could only be blocked by the wall if he tried to lean back further.

Ji Mian couldn't help but make a sound, his lips slightly parting.

Luo Ye caught a glimpse of the tip of Ji Mian's tongue, like a faint crimson bead, glistening like a half-drop of water.

His Adam's apple bobbed heavily twice, and his fingertips reached Ji Mian's lips, unconsciously wanting to tease with his fingers.

Before he could insert them, he remembered how much this person valued cleanliness.

He’s so particular about cleanliness—how could fingers be allowed inside?

The harder he tried to suppress the thought, the more his mind fixated on that crimson tip. "Brother..."

Luo Ye was stumped.

He remembered scenes from movies and shows where people kissed with their tongues, not their fingers.

Worried about his alcohol breath, he’d freshened up after leaving the living room. Now, there shouldn’t be any trace of alcohol.

But would Ji Mian find it gross?

He leaned down, hovering close to Ji Mian’s lips, torn between kissing him or not. Finally, Ji Mian murmured, "Ono..."

Luo Ye parted his lips and kissed him, cautiously testing the waters.

When his tongue met the softness inside and Ji Mian didn’t pull away, he lost all restraint. His hands kept moving.

Ten minutes later, just as Ji Mian had settled, Luo Ye began rubbing his waist again.

Ji Mian was completely spent.

This could go on forever.

Luo Ye realized this too, knowing Ji Mian’s arms were too tired to help.

Ji Mian’s thighs were soft, and Luo Ye was thoughtful: "You don’t have to move, brother. I’ll handle it."

Without any protection, Luo Ye didn’t dare go further.

Plus, his knowledge was limited, and he was scared of embarrassing himself in front of Ji Mian.

*

He’d have to look up more info later to be ready.

By the time they went to bed, it was already midnight.

It felt like they hadn’t done much, yet somehow it was already midnight.

Worried he’d lose control, Luo Ye finally went back to his room, lying awake in bed.

Ji Mian wasn’t much older, but Luo Ye wished the age gap were smaller, so their lives could align better.

Now, he was in high school while Ji Mian was studying abroad, only coming back once a year for a month.

After graduation, Ji Mian was swamped with work, and one day off a week was a luxury.

Ji Mian was asleep next door, but Luo Ye was already dreading their separation, tossing and turning, feeling like time was slipping away.

After lying in bed for two hours, he got up and left the room.

Originally, he wanted to sneak a peek at Ji Mian's studio, but he paused as he passed by the next room.

Without much hope, he gently pressed the door handle, and surprisingly, it opened.

He gazed at the dark, narrow gap and slipped in stealthily, shutting the door quietly.

The figure on the bed was already asleep, and Ji Mian’s steady, calm breathing filled the quiet room. He was lying on his side, legs slightly curled, in a position that seemed to crave comfort, as if longing for someone to embrace him.

Luo Ye sat down silently by the bed.

The soft glow of moonlight seeped through the window, and Luo Ye could see Ji Mian's soft facial contours, his heart melting.

His lips moved, mouthing the word "brother" silently.

Luo Ye lay down beside Ji Mian, lying on his side as well.

He longed to hold the person beside him but feared waking him.

Luo Ye carefully extended his arm, gently encircling Ji Mian's waist.

The person he held suddenly moved, instinctively nestling into his arms.

Luo Ye was momentarily startled but soon realized Ji Mian was still asleep.

Ji Mian's head fidgeted against Luo Ye's shoulder, as if seeking something.

Luo Ye paused, taken aback, then swiftly slid his other arm beneath Ji Mian's neck.

Ji Mian then rested his head on Luo Ye's arm, calming down and lying still.

Luo Ye felt as if he had been submerged in sweetness, overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events.

He hugged the person in his arms tightly, embracing Ji Mian with deep affection, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.

But when he tried to hold onto that fleeting familiarity, it slipped away.

...

When Ji Mian woke up early in the morning, he saw the familiar collarbone and neck, and the word "brother" almost escaped his lips.

"...Ono?"

He called out once, and the arms around him instantly loosened, clearly not asleep.

Ji Mian groggily rubbed his eyes, sat up, and asked, "Why did you come over in the middle of the night?"

His tone held no blame, so Luo Ye took advantage and leaned in, hugging him from behind and kissing Ji Mian's neck.

Ji Mian let him hold him, regaining his energy.

"!! Damn..."

The system, just unblocked in the early morning, choked back its curse and retreated again.

Ji Mian: "..."

Really sorry.

Fortunately, both of them were fully dressed.

The system took a moment to recover and came out again, almost in a tone of anguish, "Before I came out this morning, I was ready to cry with you behind bars."

Ji Mian: "...Sorry."

The system said, "Explain."

Ji Mian explained everything that happened last night, leaving out some specifics.

Finally, he speculated, "I guess Ono probably likes me."

The system said bluntly, "This guy’s no good, move on. He’ll only ruin your career."

Ji Mian: "..."

He thought the system would scold him, but instead, it criticized his brother. Ji Mian felt a strange sense of relief.

He turned to see Luo Ye with his chin resting on his neck and smiled.

Luo Ye was completely mesmerized by the smile on his face, "...Brother?"

Ji Mian lightly bumped his forehead against Luo Ye's. "Don’t worry about it."