Chapter 55 The Wallpaper Incident

Chapter 55: The Wallpaper Storm

Thanks to the powerful deterrent of that willful and capricious fiancé, Chi Luoxi spent his entire freshman year in a state of near-total isolation.

Those shy or passionate declarations on campus all steered clear of him.

His classmates basically said you could only look but not touch, as if there were an invisible sign around him that read, "Caution: Possessive Partner."

Chi Luoxi thought He Angxiao was being ridiculously paranoid. He was just a white radish, not some rare, human-shaped ginseng root. Why would people be fighting over him?

Even when he moved into his sophomore year and a fresh batch of spirited new students arrived, the upperclassmen would go out of their way to warn them: "Don't even think about making a move on Chi Luoxi, no matter how much he looks like a painting. His fiancé at home is extremely willful and possessive."

He Angxiao even commissioned a custom-made, understated platinum ring and talked Chi Luoxi into wearing it on his pinky finger.

These external disturbances were just small hiccups in Chi Luoxi's college life. What truly bothered him was the College English Test (CET-4 and CET-6).

He'd taken the test once in his first year, and his dismal score had shattered his confidence.

Chi Luoxi had originally thought that entering university meant he could finally say goodbye to the nightmare of basic English. To improve his English, he started watching foreign movies.

Before that, the only foreign film he'd ever seen was one he watched with He Angxiao specifically to study their technique—confined to the bedroom or bathroom, with repetitive action and dialogue limited to gasps and fragmented words.

Once, after imitating a scene from a movie, Chi Luoxi blurted out a line that a 'top' might say. He Angxiao immediately covered his mouth: "...Baby, don't talk dirty."

After that incident, their viewing library was replaced with domestic TV series.

Watching those overseas blockbusters full of individual heroism, with superheroes soaring through the sky and saving the world, Chi Luoxi felt a surge of excitement. It almost rivaled the unshakable place *Calabash Brothers* held in his heart.

But in the end, he was just a little spirit rooted in Chinese soil. His deep-seated roots made him ultimately prefer those seven united, demon-defeating, colorful gourd boys. That nostalgic feeling was something Iron Man and Captain America could never compete with.

Still, Chi Luoxi's English remained a bit weak.

He Angxiao had long been dying to see Chi Luoxi's phone wallpaper, his eyes hungry for it.

But given his past record, he didn't dare do anything rash. He wouldn't even touch Chi Luoxi's phone.

Until one day He Angxiao caught sight of Chi Luoxi fiddling with his phone, seemingly changing the wallpaper.

His heart leaped. He thought this silly radish had finally wised up, left behind his unsophisticated taste, and realized he should put up a photo of his real husband to show off to the world.

Of course someone would ask who the person in the picture was, and Chi Luoxi would blush, shyly and proudly declare, "This is my husband."

Just imagining that scene made He Angxiao feel thrilled.

But when he looked again, Chi Luoxi had indeed changed the wallpaper—to a photo of Ququ and Tiger squeezed into the same cat bed. Ququ rested his head on Tiger's back, while Tiger's expression said, "Fine, I'll put up with you."

The two of them, who usually snarled at each other over dried meat or plush toys, wreaking havoc at home, actually looked harmonious in the photo. Ququ's eyes sparkled with a goofy glint, and Tiger appeared particularly dignified and poised, like a loving pair of siblings.

The household pets' daily squabbles included Ququ stealing Tiger's cat food, being chased all over the house; Tiger dragging Ququ's chewed-to-shreds rubber bone to the balcony and tossing it out the window.

Every time they fought fiercely, He Angxiao would act as the judge and punish both sides equally.

Chi Luoxi, caught in the middle, would soothe one and then the other, finding it utterly exhausting.

He Angxiao thought that in Chi Luoxi's eyes, everything ranked higher than him, the man of the house. Even his wallpaper had to feature the pets, while he, the real husband, was left out in the cold.

So He Angxiao stormed out in a fit of righteous indignation.

Meanwhile, Chi Luoxi, oblivious that changing a wallpaper had triggered a domestic earthquake, went about his day as usual. After studying all day to memorize those dry, boring words and formulas that felt like chewing wax, he came home and instinctively fed the pets first.

Ququ wagged his tail and bounded up, while Tiger sauntered over to the food bowl with aristocratic grace, eating elegantly.

Chi Luoxi watered the plants and sat down on the sofa, suddenly feeling something off.

The house was too quiet today.

Usually by this hour, He Angxiao would already be home, pressing him onto the sofa, kissing him while complaining about some unreasonable business partner or troublesome client he'd encountered, making sharp criticisms.

Now, He Angxiao enjoyed family bliss, a lover he adored, and plenty of sleep. He no longer seemed ready to clench his jaw and wage war against the whole world all the time. But deep down, he was still that sarcastic boy.

To outsiders, he was the composed, polished President He; but at home, well, that was a different story.

Chi Luoxi had long grown accustomed to this two-faced act.

So whenever He Angxiao complained, Chi Luoxi would soothe him: "...Honey, you've worked hard to earn money. I'll try to save more from now on and not waste your money."

He Angxiao: "Baby, don't save. That's what gives me the motivation to earn money. If I don't, who am I earning it for? You need to consume my wealth to give my work meaning."

When they were clingy, they were truly clingy.

Their intimate arrangements followed an unspoken understanding, mainly concentrated on weekends.

On weekdays, He Angxiao had work, and Chi Luoxi had studies, so they kept things calm, with only brief moments of tenderness at night.

But on weekends—especially Friday night and Saturday—things often got more intense.

In this regard, both were candid, willing to try and improve for each other's happiness.

A few days ago, they received a package from Chi Luoxi's hometown. This year's rain had been good, so the ginseng grew especially robust. Chun Sheng had specifically sent it to them to nourish their bodies.

Chi Luoxi picked up his phone and sent He Angxiao a message: "Honey, are you very busy today? Why haven't you been messaging me much? Come back soon; the housekeeper has made you ginseng soup."

He sent it and waited. No reply.

He Angxiao had been away from home for four hours, and it was only now that Chi Luoxi sluggishly realized his husband wasn't home.

Given He Angxiao's personality, if he were truly swamped with work, he would usually send Chi Luoxi a message, not stay so eerily quiet, as if sulking.

Over on He Angxiao's end, seeing Chi Luoxi's message, he was furious.

He felt that Chi Luoxi didn't really care about him at all. He'd been gone for four hours before Chi Luoxi even noticed. In his heart, there was only the dog, the cat, the flowers—no room for him.

He Angxiao: "I'm not eating. You don't care about me at all."

Receiving this message, Chi Luoxi realized He Angxiao must be quite idle right now. Only when he felt unbalanced, empty, and bored would he have the leisure to explore such deep issues.

Chi Luoxi: "How could that be, honey? Of course I care about you. Tomorrow's the weekend, you know. [shy emoji]"

The word "weekend" between them carried a certain ambiguous, romantic charge.

He Angxiao deliberately didn't take the bait: "So what if it's the weekend?"

Chi Luoxi occasionally browsed family education books, which said family conflicts should be resolved as soon as possible, avoiding silent treatment. He pursed his lips, thinking the book was right.

Chi Luoxi: "Honey, what's wrong? If you're not feeling well, come home first."

But He Angxiao seemed determined to be contrary today.

He Angxiao: "Go home? I'm unwanted anyway. I'll just wander outside."

Is he really running away from home?

He Angxiao was being far too childish.

This kind of bittersweet drama, rooted in family issues and a sense of inner loneliness, He Angxiao had obviously mastered to perfection.

In the past, Chi Luoxi used to be very fond of He Angxiao. Whenever he brought up something like this, Chi Luoxi would move closer, gently cup He Angxiao's face, and coax him softly, "Don't say that, honey. I want you."

What kind of tantrum was this today?

Chi Luoxi tried saying a few more nice things.

He Angxiao was still putting on that homeless, unreachable act, brushing off kind words and ignoring all reason.

Chi Luoxi was almost baffled by him. Then he had a sudden thought—luckily, his husband was really horny.

When reasoning and emotional appeals failed, the only option left was to tempt him with something enticing.

Chi Luoxi headed toward the bathroom.

Chi Luoxi took a shower, deliberately not drying off. He simply grabbed a loose white bathrobe and draped it lazily over himself.

The robe's sash was tied only as a formality, leaving his chest wide open, revealing the elegant line of his collarbones. The waist tie was loose, and as he moved, the hem slipped open, exposing a large section of his firm, supple waist and a curve that was both partially hidden by the soft fabric and yet even more alluring and full.

He stood in front of the mirror, slightly fogged from the steam, and turned sideways to find an angle that best showcased his physical advantages.

This was truly embarrassing.

In the photo, Chi Luoxi's lips were a vivid red, making his skin look even fairer. His freshly bathed skin had a healthy pink glow, and his wet black hair clung to his temples and the side of his neck, adding a touch of laziness.

The bathrobe hung loosely, the lines of his shoulders and neck graceful and smooth, his waist narrow and slender. As he turned, the breathtaking curve of his waist and hips was perfectly outlined. At the slit of the robe's hem, there was even a faint glimpse of a black silicone object, not fully covered, contrasting sharply against his pale skin, creating a highly impactful and suggestive scene.

When He Angxiao received it, a mosquito happened to buzz by. He ducked behind some greenery and slapped himself awake.

No one knew better than He Angxiao what this state from Chi Luoxi meant.

It was how he looked when his body was completely relaxed, unusually soft and pliant.

Damn!

This photo was like a nuclear weapon aimed precisely at destroying all of He Angxiao's self-control.

Chi Luoxi attached this carefully prepared photo and walked over to the window, keeping an eye on the activity in the courtyard below.

He Angxiao sat up with a jolt. Chi Luoxi really knew how to be the death of him!

Because he was too familiar with that body—that wet, languid look with a hint of a hook in the eyes, only appearing when Chi Luoxi was completely willing to give himself over.

Especially that thing, faintly visible where it shouldn't be. He Angxiao felt a surge of hot blood rushing straight to his head.

Immediately after, another message from Chi Luoxi popped up, with a playful flying kiss emoji: "Honey, if you don't come back, I'll just have to let those toys you bought keep me company this weekend. [flying kiss]"

The words were light, but the threat was real.

Before a minute passed, a voice message came through: "...Honey... are... are you coming back? I... I'm alone... so uncomfortable..."

He Angxiao could imagine Chi Luoxi lying on the soft big bed, burying his face in the pillow, and saying that shaky, tearful, damp voice message, each word a hook coated in honey, softly and stickily burrowing into his heart.

"Fuck..." He Angxiao cursed under his breath, unable to sit still any longer.

How could Chi Luoxi be so good at seducing him? And to blatantly violate his orders!

Chi Luoxi, lying on the second-floor windowsill, soon saw He Angxiao storming into the courtyard.

From the time he sent the photo to the moment He Angxiao appeared in the yard... it was only ten minutes.

That meant He Angxiao hadn't gone far at all.

His so-called wandering distance might not even have left the community's main gate. He had just been circling outside the house?

That was too close a distance for a runaway.

Chi Luoxi felt that the price he had to pay today was a bit high.

He Angxiao had repeatedly warned him before, absolutely forbidding him from using those toys on his own when he wasn't around.

Seeing He Angxiao rushing into the house, Chi Luoxi quickly hid.

He Angxiao strode quickly up the stairs, pushed open the bedroom door, and immediately scanned the big bed with fiery eyes.

The blanket on the bed was bulging into a lumpy shape, trembling slightly.

He Angxiao swallowed, his lower abdomen tightening. He closed the door behind him, tossed his coat on the floor, and took a few long strides to the bedside. Then he yanked up a corner of the blanket.

But the Chi Luoxi he had imagined—disheveled, eyes full of pleading water, waiting for him to rescue—was not there.

Beneath the blanket lay a huge, grinning carrot plush toy—Chi Luoxi's favorite. And next to the plush toy was an electronic alarm clock that was still vibrating slightly.

A setup?

Before He Angxiao could react, the bedroom door opened.

Chi Luoxi stood by the door, holding a dark brown leather belt in his hand.

Under He Angxiao's stunned gaze, Chi Luoxi quickly and efficiently bound He Angxiao's hands together.

His movements were skillful, like it wasn't the first time.

He Angxiao: "..."

He ended up in an extremely humiliating position, propped against his own big bed. His wrists were tied, making him look completely disheveled and at someone's mercy.

Chi Luoxi clapped his hands. He walked over to the bed and sat sideways, the mattress sinking slightly under his weight. Because of his sitting position, He Angxiao had to tilt his head slightly, his line of sight exactly landing on where Chi Luoxi's legs weren't pressed together. Following the shadows inward, half-hidden, it seemed there was nothing underneath, just a delicate sheen of skin at the inner thigh.

He Angxiao felt a rush of heat straight to his head, his nose inexplicably hot, even burning. He forced himself to look away, trying to maintain the last shred of dignity.

Chi Luoxi propped his chin on his hand, leaning in closer, and looked at He Angxiao's awkward expression. He asked softly, "Honey, what's wrong with you? Still pulling that runaway-from-home act?"

He Angxiao was choked by the question. With a hurt and melancholic tone, he said, "...You don't care about me at all."

Chi Luoxi said, "How could I not care about you?"

He Angxiao: "I was missing for so long, and you only messaged me now."

Chi Luoxi had actually been planning to interrogate him today, but hearing He Angxiao say that, he reflected. Well, he really had been too busy lately, caught up with exams, and that might have made He Angxiao feel neglected. A family member feeling cold-shouldered was indeed his responsibility.

He moved closer, pressing He Angxiao's head onto his own shoulder, and kissed his forehead. "Honey, I've been too busy. And how could I not love you? To make up for neglecting you recently, I'll try my best to satisfy any request you have."

He Angxiao was numbed by the warm breath brushing against his ear, the lines of his profile tensing. He was silent for a few seconds, as if engaged in a fierce internal struggle. "...Really?"

Chi Luoxi: "Really? When have I ever lied to you?"

He Angxiao glanced at him: "...Then change your phone wallpaper to a photo of me."

Chi Luoxi changed it without hesitation. He didn't think it was a big enough deal for He Angxiao to run away from home over. After he changed it, He Angxiao was thrilled.

He Angxiao returned to normal: "Baby, you're so good to me. I know having both of us on the wallpaper would be too flashy, but just me is okay, right?"

Chi Luoxi was about to untie the leather belt from his hands, but He Angxiao eagerly said: "No need, just like this. Baby, come sit on me, okay?"

Chi Luoxi: "............"

Not long after, Chi Luoxi's new wallpaper was discovered by his roommate. It was a devastatingly handsome photo of He Angxiao, taken during a magazine interview, exuding an elite, high-intelligence aura.

"Xiao Chi, why did you set a photo of your brother as your wallpaper?"

Chi Luoxi, afraid his roommate would think he had an unhealthy obsession with his brother, made up an excuse on the spot: "...Because my brother is really good at studying. The CET-4 and CET-6 exams are coming up soon. I set it as my wallpaper so I can look at it every day. If I truly believe, maybe it'll work and I'll pass English."

He said it with a serious face, and surprisingly, Chi Luoxi barely passed that CET-4/6 exam.

This explanation might be dubious to others, but to college students, it was pure gold.

Later, as exam week approached and everyone grew anxious, Chi Luoxi's dorm room was still available for afternoon naps. His three roommates recalled his pious "if you believe, it'll come true" look from before, then looked at their own messy review progress, and had a flash of inspiration.

One day, Chi Luoxi saw that his roommates had printed photos of famous people and set them up. They had reverently cleared a small sacred space on their cramped, cluttered dorm desk.

Gauss, Taylor, Euler, and other luminaries, with a few pens placed beside them.

Zhou He, looking serious, faced the great figures solemnly.

Chi Luoxi asked what they were doing.

Zhou He, fiddling with the setup, said to Chi Luoxi: "Time is tight and the task is heavy. Even superstition counts as studying. By the way, besides English, what else is your brother good at?"

Chi Luoxi: "...He's good at everything, I guess."

Zhou He then placed Chi Luoxi's phone on the makeshift altar as well: "Whatever, we're desperate enough to try anything. Let's put your brother up there too and worship together. Maybe if we cover both bases, with the great gods' blessings, we'll all barely scrape by!"

With that, the group faced the crude altar, pressed their palms together, and bowed three times devoutly, muttering: "Great God Gauss, Grandpa Taylor, Patriarch Euler, and Chi Luoxi's brother... Descend upon us, bless us, pass every exam, remove every bad grade..."

Chi Luoxi: "............"

As it turned out, no one in Chi Luoxi's dorm failed this time. This "recipe" was spread by his roommates, and the ritual was repeated every finals season.

Every time Chi Luoxi saw them bowing to He Angxiao's photo, his expression was mixed, as if he was about to say something but held back.

By the time Chi Luoxi graduated, He Angxiao came to take graduation photos with him. Chi Luoxi's classmates, upon seeing He Angxiao, instinctively bowed with palms together, whispering in surprise, "He's still alive?"

He Angxiao asked, puzzled: "...How do they all seem to know me?"

Chi Luoxi stammered, unsure how to explain.

He Angxiao grinned proudly: "Baby, you haven't been bragging about me, have you? I know I'm amazing. By the way, how do you introduce me to others?"

Chi Luoxi, scrambling to find words, said: "...I tell everyone you're brave and wise, outstanding, indomitable, witty, clever, learned, and unmatched..."

Author's note: He Angxiao was overjoyed—he didn't realize he held such a high place in his beloved's heart. After that, President He actually donated a sum of money to Little Radish's school, making a name for himself.

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Every time Little Radish saw his classmates bowing to his brother, he wanted to say something but kept his mouth shut.