Chapter 71

Chapter 71

The sound of firecrackers in the yard seemed to have died down.

Xu Yan was pressed down and kneaded into the blankets, his back against the chilly sheets, while his chest burned.

The marks on his body had already faded, but judging by Wen Sinian's actions, he seemed intent on adding new ones.

Soon, Xu Yan's eyes were brimming with tears, and he struggled, pushing at the head nuzzling his chest.

"Don't... don't do this..."

But his restless hands were caught and pinned to his sides, not allowing him to break free in the slightest.

Taking a mile after being given an inch—this was Wen Sinian's usual tactic.

The quiet room echoed with greedy, wet sounds.

Suddenly, the door of the small study was gently knocked from outside.

Zhuang Sheng: "Yan Yan? Are you in there?"

Xu Yan jolted out of his daze abruptly, trembling all over and nearly letting out a startled cry.

A hand swiftly shoved the hem of his shirt into his mouth. Wen Sinian lifted his gaze, irritation flashing in his eyes at being interrupted, but he lowered his head to press a tender kiss onto the flushed skin before leaning close to his ear.

"Be good, don't make a sound."

Then he pulled the blanket over Xu Yan.

Xu Yan kicked off his shoes and curled up under the covers, fumbling to fix his clothes before lying still, not daring to make a sound.

He barely heard the door open, unable to make out what Wen Sinian and Zhuang Sheng said to each other, but soon after, the study door was closed from the outside.

He waited a little longer before cautiously peeking out, only to find himself alone in the room. Once sure it was safe, he crawled out of the covers.

First, he returned the first-aid kit to its place, then walked into the yard and saw that Shen Nanli and Zhuang Sheng's families had already left. His grandmother was watching Wen Sinian pack up.

Just as he was about to go help, Wen Sinian quickly walked toward him: "Why did you come out?"

Xu Yan worried: "Your hand..."

"It's fine, I'm already done packing."

"How is that fine? You're not allowed to do these things for the next few days. Let the wound heal first."

Back when he had fractured his fingers from boxing, he had carried on as usual, but now, with just a minor scrape, he was being fussed over, lectured, and cared for.

Wen Sinian chuckled: "Alright."

His grandmother remarked, "I lectured him forever, but it wasn't as effective as a single word from you. I should've saved my breath. Off to bed."

Without another word to the young couple, she went inside.

It was almost one in the morning. Wen Sinian also said, "Then I should..."

Xu Yan murmured abruptly. Wen Sinian froze, looking at him: "What did you say just now?"

Flushing, Xu Yan turned and walked toward the house: "If you didn't hear it, forget it."

Wen Sinian caught up in two or three steps, wrapping his arms tightly around Xu Yan's waist from behind and pulling his pliant body flush against him.

A low chuckle vibrated in his chest: "You want me to stay, don't you?"

Xu Yan explained: "I just figured it's too late now, and driving out isn't safe. Besides, the motel owner’s probably home for the holidays—it might not even be open. And you'd have to come back first thing tomorrow morning anyway, so going back and forth is pointless..."

Wen Sinian asked gently, "Letting me stay over, does that mean you forgive me?"

Xu Yan turned around: "Do you want me to forgive you?"

Wen Sinian: "More than anything, baby."

Xu Yan eyed him for a beat before blinking and saying, "Fine, I forgive you. Grandma says no fighting on New Year’s Day, or you'll argue all year long."

Wen Sinian smiled. "Thought you said that’s kid stuff?"

Xu Yan reached up to touch his hair, grinning. "You’re just a big kid."

He added, "But if we're making up, I’ve got terms."

Wen Sinian asked, "What conditions?"

Xu Yan ticked off on his fingers: "First, of course, absolutely no more lying to me—ever."

"I won't."

"Second, no more snooping. You have to support what I want to do."

"Wholeheartedly."

"Third, from now on, you have to listen to me. No more pissing me off."

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

"Fourth," Xu Yan's voice grew quieter, "you can't do things to me like before... When I say stop, it means *stop*."

Wen Sinian gripped his hips: "Anything else?"

Xu Yan hooked his pinky: "Fifth, from now on, no getting hurt without my permission. You have to eat well, sleep well, and take care of yourself. Even though it's the last one, it's the most important..."

Wen Sinian stopped listening, only on his warm breath so close.

He murmured, "Okay."

Then he lowered his head and kissed him.

After turning off the living room lights, the house went dark.

Two tangled bodies stumbled into the small study. Xu Yan was slammed against the door, his legs parted and lifted, the kiss searing compared to before.

His breath was completely stolen, and his body was quickly turning to liquid.

They had just made up—was this man *ever* thinking of anything else?

But considering Wen Sinian's behavior lately, maybe he *had* earned a little reward.

Xu Yan’s mind fogged over until he was carried to the bed again. When his legs felt a chill, he realized things were escalating beyond just a "small reward."

Worried he might be cold, Wen Sinian pulled the blanket over them. Seizing the chance, Xu Yan rolled out from under him and quickly retreated to the far side of the bed, cocooning himself tightly in the blankets.

The scene was nearly identical to the first time.

Wen Sinian laughed softly and tugged him back. "Cold?"

Xu Yan’s pants were already discarded, his bare legs clinging to the sheets. He quickly said, "Why don’t you sleep in the other room tonight? That bed is big."

Wen Sinian wrapped him back in the blanket, resting him on his lap, then unbuttoned his collar and helped him out of his outerwear.

"That room’s for your senior."

Xu Yan: "I’ll just swap the sheets and duvet for you."

Wen Sinian moved to help him out of his undershirt. "Don’t bother. I'll sleep in yours."

"Arms up."

Xu Yan refused to cooperate—there was nothing underneath.

"No way, my bed’s tiny. We’d never fit. You’ll shove me right off."

"I’ll sleep on the outside."

Xu Yan still disagreed. If they actually shared a bed, peaceful sleep was out of the question.

Besides, his backside was barely healed—he couldn’t handle another round.

"Oh, I remember there’s a folding bed by the cabinet. Go look."

Wen Sinian held him without moving. Xu Yan urged, "Come on, aren’t you supposed to obey me?"

Wen Sinian finally pressed a kiss to his soft, white cheek, set him down on the bed, and went to retrieve the folding single bed.

It worked, but it was a tight squeeze for one—once you were in, you couldn’t even roll over.

Xu Yan had him fetch a new blanket and instructed, "If you’re cold, crank up the small heater. It’s really warm."

With that, he stretched out happily, claiming the whole bed, watching as Wen Sinian turned on the heater and placed it at the foot of his own bed.

Xu Yan asked softly, "You’re not cold?"

Wen Sinian patted his blanket. "Nope. Sleep."

Xu Yan closed his eyes, trying to drift off, but the leg and foot closest to the wall remained chilled, making him uncomfortable.

Soon, he was curling up again without realizing it.

Dozing, he jolted when a hand closed around his ankle, pulling his foot toward a warm, heated spot.

Soon, both his legs were enveloped in warmth—a familiar feel—solid but supple, strong and safe.

Wen Sinian knew he’d never warm up on his own. After stripping off his shirt and holding him, sure enough, Xu Yan nuzzled closer like a kitten chasing warmth.

Wen Sinian slid into bed and pulled him flush against his chest, letting his warmth sink into him until he melted.

The heat of being held so close soon woke Xu Yan, pushing weakly at what felt like a brick wall. Slowly opening his eyes, he met a pair of lowered ones.

Xu Yan froze. He’d clearly watched Wen Sinian lie down on the folding bed—how’d he get back under his covers?

And… shirtless…

Wen Sinian, taking in his dazed look, his throat bobbed before leaning down to capture his lips, nipping and tasting like he’d never get his fill.

Xu Yan tilted his head up, still groggy from sleep, only to end up even dizzier.

He’d lost track of their kisses tonight.

He didn’t even need to take half a step toward Wen Sinian—a mere crook of his finger, and Wen Sinian was spellbound.

Wen Sinian was considerate, pulling back just long enough for him to breathe before diving back in.

This repeated until Xu Yan’s tongue ached, and he covered his mouth, refusing any more contact.

Wen Sinian licked his lips slowly, like a starved beast denied its feast.

He hauled Xu Yan tighter against him, pulling him closer, and coaxed softly, "Alright, no more kissing."

Xu Yan still wouldn’t lower his hands, so Wen Sinian kissed the back of one instead.

"Can I kiss somewhere else?"

Xu Yan gazed up, eyes wide and dewy, not yet processing the implication.

A heartbeat later, Wen Sinian vanished beneath the sheets.

Xu Yan quickly understood, but he barely arched before a firm grip locked around his ankles—no escape.

……

Under the covers, the temperature spiked.

Some time later, Wen Sinian emerged again, lying on his back and pulling Xu Yan on top of him.

Xu Yan’s legs trembled uncontrollably, a broad hand smoothing down his back as he curled into a small, shivering bundle against Wen Sinian’s chest, his feet resting on his knees.

Tears and sweat streaked together.

Wen Sinian touched his own nose, his nose bridge slick and shining.

He dabbed a fingertip against it, then brought it to his lips for a taste.

Sweet. Addicting.

He lifted Xu Yan up, cradling his delicate face, kissing away his tears.

"Why are you still shaking, baby?"

Burying his face against Xu Yan’s neck, he lapped up the salty sheen on his skin, murmuring, "There, there. That good, huh?"

Xu Yan bit his lip, hiccuping weakly, eyes shut tight, unable to speak.

After worshipping him thoroughly, Wen Sinian now held him, gentling him until the shivers faded. Only then did he bundle him into the blankets before sliding from bed, still bare-chested.

He rinsed his mouth in the bathroom, then returned with a damp towel.

He moved like a shadow, careful not to wake his sleeping grandmother.

Back in the study, he found Xu Yan had curled back into a ball.

Wen Sinian brought the small heater closer, then peeled back the covers.

The dim yellow light cast a faint glow, revealing the figure curled up beneath, lying on his side. His soft cheeks were squished against the sheets, tender flesh puffing out slightly, eyes and nose tinged red, lips swollen and flushed, his entire body pale and glistening with a thin sheen of sweat.

His legs were folded together, even more slick with moisture.

Startled at being found in his safe nest, he shrank back uneasily, as if fearing another round of that rough treatment.

Wen Sinian clenched his jaw, holding back, and simply reached in with a warm towel to gently clean him up.

He spread the folded blanket beneath him before climbing into bed and pulling him into his arms, planting a soft kiss on top of his head.

"Goodnight, baby."

Xu Yan was completely worn out, eyelids heavy as he blinked a few times before drifting off, catching a glimpse of the hazy dawn light outside the window just before sleep claimed him.

*

Xu Yan slept straight through until noon.

When he woke, he found himself already dressed in clean pajamas, the top button done up all the way—a pretty obvious cover-up.

The sheets and covers had been replaced with fresh ones, and the folding bed was neatly tucked away by the cabinet.

He climbed out of bed, his body still a little sore.

Stepping outside, he saw the freshly washed sheets and covers already hung out to dry, flapping noticeably in the courtyard wind.

Spotting Wen Sinian returning from outside, carrying a few bags, he hurried over to confront him. "Did you wash my sheets?"

Wen Sinian handed him a just-bought piece of cake, ruffling his fluffy hair as he replied in a hushed tone, "They got all wet last night."

Xu Yan protested anxiously, "But you shouldn’t have washed them today! Everyone will see."

"It’s fine," Wen Sinian reassured him. "I’ll say it was me."

Grumbling, Xu Yan grabbed the cake and stormed back inside, muttering under his breath, "It *was* you anyway..."

A short while later, Shen Nanli and Shang Jia arrived, laden with bags, cheerfully greeting their grandmother for the New Year.

Noticing the sheets drying in the courtyard, they exclaimed in surprise, "Yan Yan, you’re so diligent! Washing clothes on the first day of the New Year?"

Just had to mention that.

Xu Yan mumbled, "...Yeah."

Then Zhuang Sheng came by to offer New Year’s greetings, equally puzzled. "Are those sheets hanging in the yard? Why wash them today?"

Xu Yan replied irritably, "Yeah, yeah."

Even their grandmother grew curious. "Sweetheart, did you really get up early to wash those?"

Without thinking, Xu Yan answered, "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Wen Sinian stood nearby, laughing—Xu Yan had never seen him so openly delighted before, his usual coldness thawing into warmth, his eyes crinkling at the corners, lips curved high in a smile.

Xu Yan stared for a moment before scowling.

This jerk!

He stomped over and, pretending it was an accident, gave Wen Sinian a hard kick to the shin—only to nearly trip himself, saved only by Wen Sinian steadying him.

"Don’t fall."

Xu Yan only grew angrier, his slippers smacking loudly against the floor as he turned on his heel, cake in hand, and marched back to the study.

Shang Jia and Wen Sinian had already agreed she wouldn’t be staying at Xu Yan’s place anymore, so she had hauled all her stuff to Shen Nanli’s place.

Wen Sinian cleared out that room and swapped with Xu Yan, taking the smaller study for himself while letting Xu Yan have the larger bed.

For the next two days, Xu Yan refused to let Wen Sinian even step into his room—yet every morning, he woke up curled in Wen Sinian’s arms, his whole body warm and cozy, his legs and feet no longer cold. So, silently, he allowed Wen Sinian’s nightly habit of sneaking into his bed.

With one condition: Wen Sinian was only allowed to kiss him above the neck—anything south of that was completely forbidden.

Fortunately, Wen Sinian adhered to this rule well—until the fourth day of the New Year.

Zhuang Sheng mentioned that he and his boyfriend were planning to take their families on a little getaway to nearby Yang Town and asked if Xu Yan wanted to join, suggesting it’d be a good chance for their grandmother to get some sun and fresh air. Xu Yan agreed, and when Shen Nanli and Shang Jia found out, they decided to come along as well.

Yang Town wasn’t far from Wu Town—just a two-hour drive.

With the holiday crowds everywhere, they booked a chain hotel close to the attractions at the last minute.

That afternoon, they visited a classical garden, where the wheelchair actually proved useful. Wen Sinian pushed their grandmother at a leisurely pace while Xu Yan babbled alongside them, reading aloud from the tour guide.

Granny didn't get out much, so everything fascinated her, and she remained energetic all the way into the evening.

Dinner was local Yang Town cuisine, and since they were out to enjoy themselves, everyone had a little to drink—a regional specialty, a sweet, fruity wine.

Xu Yan had some too—sweet and tangy, more fruity than boozy, delicious.

When splitting up the rooms, Shang Jia shared with their grandmother, reassuring Xu Yan repeatedly that she’d take good care of her before cheerfully escorting the old woman back to their room.

Xu Yan was originally supposed to share a double room with Shen Nanli, while Wen Sinian got the remaining queen-sized bed—but after a quick trip to the restroom, Xu Yan returned to find the occupants swapped.

Wen Sinian stood by the window, phone to his ear, so Xu Yan tiptoed to his own bed and sat down. He meant to message Shen Nanli, demanding to know why he’d betrayed him, but his head felt kinda fuzzy, so he lay back to rest for a moment.

He noticed an extra layer of sheets had been spread over the original bedding—soft, silky, and gentle on the skin.

And, it seemed, waterproof.

Just as Xu Yan was wondering about this, Wen Sinian finished his call and returned.

Seeing him still fully dressed but with flushed cheeks and slightly dazed eyes, he walked over and picked him up. "Let’s get you cleaned up first, then you can sleep."

Xu Yan immediately got suspicious. "Why are *you* here?"

Wen Sinian carried him toward the bathroom. "You drank. It’ll be easier to look after you if we share a room."

When Xu Yan felt him undressing him, he protested, "I don’t need taking care of. I only had a little—I’m not drunk. I can do it myself."

Wen Sinian let go, watching as he undid the buttons and shrugged off his outer clothes before taking them and tossing them onto the bed outside. Then he knelt, removing his shoes and socks for him.

Xu Yan’s hands paused at his waistband before remembering something. "But I didn’t bring a change of clothes."

Wen Sinian pointed to a paper bag on the table outside. "I brought some for you."

That made Xu Yan relax. "Okay. I’m gonna shower now. You can leave."

Wen Sinian eyed him, already noticing the slight slur in his voice that betrayed his tipsiness, and didn’t move.

Xu Yan just shoved him out of the bathroom, about to close the door when a big, strong hand pressed lightly against it from the outside.

Tilting his head, Xu Yan peered through the crack as Wen Sinian said, "Don’t lock the door."

Xu Yan's wide, innocent eyes glared at him, "No."

Wen Sinian applied a bit more pressure, widening the door gap, "You're a lightweight. If you get dizzy or have an accident inside, I need to be able to get to you immediately. Otherwise, should I come in and help you wash now?"

Xu Yan did feel slightly lightheaded, but he wasn’t drunk at all—he was completely sober.

He wasn't buying Wen Sinian's crap.

The moment the hand holding the door withdrew, Xu Yan immediately locked the bathroom door and began his shower.

The warm water wrapped around him, washing away the fatigue.

Standing under the showerhead, Xu Yan finished applying body wash. Just as he was about to rinse off the suds, he noticed two long antennae poking out from the white foam at his feet. Puzzled, he bent down for a closer look—only for the water to wash away the foam, revealing a fat, squirming bug with long feelers rapidly crawling toward his foot.

A chill shot through his entire body. Xu Yan let out a terrified scream—

"Ah—!"

His face turned ghostly pale, scared out of his wits. He scrambled barefoot to yank the door open.

Unfortunately, he had locked it himself. With trembling hands, he fumbled to unlock it, finally escaping what felt like hell.

A tall figure stood right outside. Without a second thought, Xu Yan flung himself at him, arms and legs clinging desperately.

His soapy body was soft and slippery, the cheap body wash scent oddly sweet and enticing on him—like a ripe peach trembling on its stem, tempting one to take a bite of its tender, dewy flesh.

But Xu Yan was too busy burying himself in that broad, safe embrace, shaking with fear. His slender legs wrapped tightly around the solid waist, as if rooted there, and he still felt it wasn’t enough, squirming to climb even higher.

Wen Sinian steadied him, his shirt already damp from Xu Yan’s wet skin. One large hand easily cupped him, soft flesh spilling between his fingers before being firmly gripped, while the other supported his back.

The heat and moisture radiating from Xu Yan, the seamless closeness, the utter dependence—

Wen Sinian’s temple throbbed. He took a deep breath, the heat rising in him, hard to control.

"What happened?"

Unaware of the huskiness in Wen Sinian’s voice, Xu Yan, still trembling from the scare, nuzzled his damp head against the man’s chin and whimpered, "There was a bug inside—a huge, huge one! So scary, so scary! It almost crawled onto my foot! I was so scared, I hate bugs so much, whimpering..."

Wen Sinian tightened his hold, lifting Xu Yan slightly, then carried him back into the bathroom. Amid the steam, he quickly took care of the bug, flushing it down the toilet.

"It's gone now. Nothing to be scared of."

Carrying Xu Yan back under the shower, Wen Sinian adjusted the warm water and whispered in his ear, "Let your husband wash you clean, okay, baby?"