Chapter 125 Promise and Reward

Chapter 125: Promises and Rewards

Before Chonghe resumed work after the New Year, the group went skiing. The amusement park in the other city they had visited before had expanded, offering a lot more skiing options. The heavy snowfall the day before made the roads rough and bumpy.

In the passenger seat, Shen Ci kept his eyes closed, his brow furrowing from time to time.

After meeting up, everyone went to change into ski suits. The ski resort offered single-person fitting rooms for maximum privacy.

Shen Shiyan had just taken off his jacket when Shen Ci pressed him against the locker and kissed him, tilting his head up.

Shen Shiyan had had a vague sense that something was off with Shen Ci for a while now. When they weren't busy, they'd spend almost every day together... but before the New Year, when they went shopping for new clothes at Jinting, Shen Ci had been distracted. After less than twenty minutes of browsing, he'd dragged Shen Shiyan back to the car, kissing and unbuttoning his clothes.

"What's been going on lately?" After five or six minutes, Shen Shiyan's breathing grew uneven. He held him and patted his back to soothe him.

Shen Ci's legs went weak and he went limp against Shen Shiyan.

"I don't know either." Shen Ci buried his face in Shen Shiyan's clothes, his voice muffled. "I keep wanting it, I can't help it. I wanted it even in the car..."

Shen Shiyan stroked his hair gently and said in a warm voice, "Would you be shy about seeing a doctor?"

Shen Ci looked up at him, then leaned in, wrapping his arms around his neck and nuzzling cheek to cheek.

"Is it a disease?" Shen Ci touched his ear. "I just want to be close to you."

Shen Shiyan tightened his arms, lifted Shen Ci, and set him on the changing room's bench, then crouched down to take off his shoes.

"It's not a disease." He slowly untied the laces. "If you keep being unable to shift your focus away, it's an addiction."

"Addiction... that's fine, right?" Shen Ci called him "Brother" slowly. "I'm still living normally, doing cosplay and streaming. It might just be more frequent, or whenever I'm with you..."

"No." Shen Shiyan interrupted him.

"I have to look out for your physical and mental health." Shen Shiyan looked at Shen Ci's slightly hurt expression. "It's not that I'm unwilling. Over time, your threshold will get higher and higher. To that point, it will feel really awful."

"But I'm already uncomfortable. Let's go back to the hotel, Brother." Shen Ci propped his foot on Shen Shiyan's shoulder.

"Change your clothes first." Shen Shiyan grasped his ankle. "I'll be with you tonight. During the day, go skiing with me, okay?"

Shen Ci always knew how Shen Shiyan treated him. His refusal was just out of concern, so he wasn't too disappointed or angry, just nodded a little reluctantly.

"Can we kiss a little more?" He tugged Shen Shiyan's hand toward his waist.

"Such a good boy." Shen Shiyan stood up with a gentle smile, kissed his forehead, then pecked his lips. "Everyone's waiting outside."

As soon as they came out in their ski suits, Song Qiuchi, who had been waiting at the door, grabbed Shen Ci's sleeve.

"You took forever." She greeted Shen Shiyan. "I still remember when you were a kid, you lost to me in skiing and were sore about it, and you never came again. Today we've got to settle the score."

Shen Ci felt a bit better.

"If I lose, I'll treat you to a meal." He followed Song Qiuchi.

"Sure."

Shen Shiyan maintained a faint smile. Before they entered the slope, he gave a slight nod toward Shen Ci, who was looking back, his eyes reassuring.

Even after they got together, Shen Shiyan still secretly filmed Shen Ci. His gaze following Shen Ci had become a habit ingrained in his bones, something he couldn't change.

Maybe it wasn't just Shen Ci who was addicted.

That private album now had over a thousand photos. Shen Shiyan saved the new video he'd taken of Shen Ci skiing.

Once Shen Ci skied far away and Shen Shiyan couldn't see him anymore, he scrolled to the top of the album in his boredom and pulled up the video of eleven-year-old Shen Ci racing Song Qiuchi.

Twelve years had passed, and the once crystal-clear video was now a bit blurry.

The pixelated image added a soft veil to Shen Shiyan's memories.

"When did you grow up?" he murmured unconsciously, his fingertips gently touching the tiny figure on the screen.

Shen Ci's restlessness slowly melted into the wind and snow. The skis raced, lifting his heart little by little.

The competition ended in a tie. Shen Ci said nothing and walked toward Shen Shiyan, who was looking at his phone.

"What's this?" He leaned in to look at the screen. The album at the top was named "Baby."

"You as a kid—I'll show you tonight." Shen Shiyan didn't hide or dodge. After explaining, he turned off the screen and put the phone in his pocket. "Did you win?"

Shen Ci took his hand and led him onto the slope.

"It's a tie."

Shen Shiyan squeezed back. "So who's treating for dinner?"

Shen Ci slowed his steps and scratched Shen Shiyan's palm through his glove. "You pay."

"Alright." Shen Shiyan smiled.

Except for Chen Bufan, who was busy with his girlfriend, everyone in their circle was paired up except Song Qiuchi. But no one broke off into couples, not wanting to leave her on her own.

The skiing was thoroughly enjoyable. Shen Ci even filmed a simple vlog in the snow and posted it on his social media.

They had dinner until eleven o'clock. Shen Ci generously paid the bill, using Shen Shiyan's card.

On the way back, the streets were nearly empty. Shen Ci, who had been getting restless since after nine, pulled Shen Shiyan's head down and kissed him several times on the way.

Shen Shiyan silently held his hand, occasionally closing his eyes to kiss him back.

Shen Ci clutched the room card and practically flew to open the door, get inside, and lock it.

Shen Shiyan was pressed against the hallway cabinet and kissed, without even time to change his shoes.

Until Shen Ci was out of breath, he finally pulled away.

When he looked up, Shen Ci froze and stepped back. Shen Shiyan's eyes held little desire—they were clear and calm.

Shen Ci grew anxious, mixed with a hint of grievance and humiliation. He turned his head away and asked, "Why don't you want to..."

After a few seconds of stillness, Shen Shiyan let out a soft sigh.

"How could I not want to?" He touched Shen Ci's flushed face. "I keep getting distracted. I can't help feeling sorry for you."

"What..."

Shen Shiyan cupped his face and pecked his lips. "I haven't taken good care of you. I should have noticed it earlier, and been more careful before."

Shen Ci's nose stung.

"I used to secretly search for it on my own," Shen Ci admitted, his eyes lowered. "But the comments on similar posts all said the boyfriend would definitely be happy, that there was nothing wrong with it..."

Shen Shiyan bent down, lightly resting his chin on Shen Ci's shoulder, his hand slowly gathering his long hair from behind.

"I'm starting to get jealous of search engines," Shen Shiyan chuckled softly. "Why not come and ask me when you have a question?"

"Why are you focused on that?" Shen Ci gave him a light punch on the back.

"Just trying to cheer you up." Shen Shiyan tightened his arms a little. "Don't feel like it's weird. I'm no better than you—I've just gotten used to holding back over the years."

Only a dim hallway light was on in the room. The atmosphere carried a strange loneliness, like waking up from an afternoon nap at dusk, making Shen Ci cling to Shen Shiyan even more.

"Actually... when you weren't home during my senior year of high school, I often took your clothes... Some got dirty, so I hand-washed and dried them, and secretly hung them back up... And during the four years we were apart, even though I held myself back from contacting you, I couldn't stop missing you..."

He spoke haltingly and slowly.

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have come back just to sleep with you..."

Shen Shiyan took a moment to process.

"It's good that you can say it." Shen Shiyan straightened up and kissed him on the lips. "We'll take things slow. I'll help you gradually adjust your mindset, get used to a normal rhythm."

"Mm..." Shen Ci's eyes were a little wet, but he quickly turned his face away slightly. "So... does that mean we can't today?"

Shen Shiyan pinched the tip of his ear, leaning in close, his breath brushing the curve of Shen Ci's ear.

"We will today. I promised you this morning."

He gently sucked on it.

"This is also a reward for telling the truth, baby."