Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Shang Zenian said he would change the terms but didn't specify what they were until a few days later during a break between classes, when he sent a photo.

In the photo were a bunch of strange items—a fluffy fox ear headband, a realistic bushy fox tail, a tiny dress that looked very revealing, stockings with lace cuffs... and some things Jiang Cheng couldn't even figure out the purpose of, but they were all definitely erotic.

Jiang Cheng only glanced at it once before quickly covering the screen, afraid a classmate might see and think he had some weird fetish.

A moment later, his phone vibrated again.

Shang Zenian: On my birthday, I want to see you wear this.

Evil Big Orange: ...

Evil Big Orange: It's too revealing... Can I wear one of those skirts you bought for Chen Yin?

Compared to this, those ultra-short skirts from before seemed pretty modest.

Shang Zenian: Give yourself to me, or wear this outfit. Pick one.

Evil Big Orange: QAQ

Evil Big Orange: Isn't there an option C?

Shang Zenian: Yes.

Jiang Cheng's eyes lit up.

Shang Zenian: Wear this outfit and then give yourself to me.

Jiang Cheng: ...

That bastard is always bullying him!

After some hesitation, Jiang Cheng reluctantly chose to wear the outfit.

It would definitely be embarrassing, but it was still better than sleeping with him.

"Orange, want some chips?" As Jiang Cheng was chatting with Shang Zenian, his roommate Lin Mo handed him a box of chips.

Jiang Cheng, feeling guilty, quickly turned off the screen. He glanced at Lin Mo's expression, made sure he hadn't seen anything, then took two chips and said, "Thanks."

"Have you recovered from your cold?" Lin Mo asked.

"Yeah, mostly better."

"Good. You haven't been back to the dorm for a few days. Have you been staying at Senior Shang's place?"

"Yeah..." Jiang Cheng felt a bit uncomfortable and protested a little too much, "He has central heating at home, so it's more comfortable to stay there."

Lin Mo laughed. He leaned in and whispered, "You and Senior Shang are together, right? He's that 'boss' you mentioned, right?"

Jiang Cheng hadn't expected him to be so perceptive and was momentarily speechless.

"So, you've finally accepted it?" Lin Mo asked curiously.

If he remembered right, just a few days ago Jiang Cheng'd said his 'boss' had gone back to being straight.

He wondered what tricks Shang Zenian had used to trick innocent Xiao Chengzi.

"I guess so," Jiang Cheng said, his voice uncertain.

Logically, he knew this wasn't right—they might not end up together. Just getting past Shang Zenian's parents would be nearly impossible.

After all, he was a liar—he lied to Shang Zenian about his feelings, and he had lied to his mother, Aunt Fang.

Aunt Fang had been so kind to him back then. If she found out he was a fake, a guy, and had made Shang Zenian suffer from heartbreak and even changed his sexuality... she would be so disappointed and angry.

He couldn't face Aunt Fang at all.

But after the Chen Yin incident, even someone as slow on the uptake as Jiang Cheng could feel the turmoil and unease in his heart.

He realized he actually cared deeply. He was terrified that another 'female version of himself' would appear, make Shang Zenian fall in love with her at first sight, then transfer his affections and leave him.

There were countless couples in the world who couldn't end up together. Since they had feelings now, why worry about the outcome?

Maybe once Shang Zenian had him, the novelty wore off, and he'd slowly feel it was nothing special. His obsession would fade, and he'd go back to being straight.

"I'm gonna date him," Jiang Cheng said, his voice suddenly more resolute, looking at Lin Mo. "If you can't accept it, I can apply to change dorms."

"Don't be dramatic," Lin Mo said with a laugh, lowering his voice. "You're so good-looking. Even if you're gay or have a crush on me, I wouldn't mind. Relax, I'm not saying that. I'm just telling you that from now on, you don't gotta rack your brain for excuses when you're out all night. I understand."

Lin Mo winked at him knowingly.

Jiang Cheng, who had never been teased about his love life before, immediately blushed and whispered, "Thanks."

Just then, a voice asked, "What are you two whispering about?"

They looked up. The speaker was Qin Huiru, their class activities coordinator. Lin Mo grinned and said, "We were just saying how great your new haircut looks, Qin the beauty."

Jiang Cheng was surprised. Hadn't Qin Huiru always looked like that? How could Lin Mo tell she'd cut her hair? To him, it looked exactly the same.

"Really?" Qin Huiru ran a hand through her hair. "I was worried it might make me look old."

"No, it looks great," Lin Mo praised, then asked, "What're you here for?"

"Oh right, I'm organizing a trip to Phoenix Spring Mountain in the neighboring city on the 6th of next month to soak in hot springs and watch the sunset. You two in?"

"I'm down. What about you, Orange?" Lin Mo turned to Jiang Cheng.

Before Jiang Cheng could answer, Qin Huiru cut in, "Come on! We'll leave on Friday and come back on Sunday. It won't take up your time."

Jiang Cheng wasn't interested in class activities—they cost time and money. He shook his head and said, "Sorry, you guys go ahead. I have to work."

"Don't be like that," Qin Huiru whined. "In September, I organized a trip to Maple Mountain to see the autumn leaves, and you didn't come. Last time we went to the amusement park, you skipped that too. Give me a break, Big Orange, as your activities coordinator. You're making things hard for me."

Jiang Cheng knew this activities coordinator was really into organizing, always organizing events. Since attendance wasn't mandatory, Jiang Cheng had never gone to any.

Now that she was putting it that way, he felt skipping would make him look unsociable, like he never joined class activities.

And if he just went this time, he could skip the next ones.

With that in mind, Jiang Cheng nodded and said, "Alright, I'm in."

Qin Huiru's face lit up. "Then it's settled! I've got you both on the list."

After she left, Lin Mo shook his head and said, "She's got so much energy. She organizes an event every month."

Jiang Cheng totally agreed.

In high school, I thought the class Activities Coordinator was just a figurehead, but now this Activities Coordinator has more presence than the class monitor.

Soon it was November. Although Shang Zenian had asked for the fox costume he had worn earlier, Jiang Cheng thought it would be bad not to give a gift, so he found some free time and went out to buy him a present.

On Shang Zenian's birthday, Lu Xiyuan and a few others close to Shang Zenian rented out a private room at their usual club to celebrate his birthday.

Jiang Cheng was also invited. Except for the last time he went to the bar to pick up Shang Zenian, this was his first time in such a glitzy, extravagant place, with drinking, karaoke, and dancing all available. On stage, there were sexy beauties and muscular men dancing provocatively. When Jiang Cheng and the others entered, they saw several hunks dressed in practically nothing dancing and generously allowing female customers to feel their muscles.

In Jiang Cheng's stereotype from movies and TV, such places mostly catered to male needs with various vulgar performances, but he was surprised to realize he was wrong—this place also catered to women.

He was a bit surprised and couldn't help but look over a few more times. A large hand reached over and covered his eyes.

Shang Zenian's cold voice sounded in his ear: "Mine look better than theirs."

Jiang Cheng reached out to pry his hand away: "I was just looking out of curiosity."

He wasn't naturally gay, so how could he be interested in these muscle hunks?

Shang Zenian narrowed his eyes: "Are you saying I'm not fresh anymore?"

Jiang Cheng: "..."

How had he never noticed before that Shang Zenian was such an incredibly jealous person?

He was a bit speechless: "Stop being so deliberately difficult, Shang Zenian."

Shang Zenian chuckled lightly, kept his hand firmly over Jiang Cheng's eyes, and wrapped his arm around him and steered him away from the public area outside into the private room.

Lu Xiyuan and the others had already arrived. There weren't many people, and it was clear that they were all close friends of Shang Zenian.

Since Jiang Cheng and Shang Zenian's relationship was not public—mainly because Jiang Cheng didn't want it to be—Shang Zenian's friends mostly thought Jiang Cheng was just a freshman friend he was close with.

Seeing them enter, they immediately wanted to drag them over for three penalty cups.

"I can't drink," Jiang Cheng said, knowing his alcohol limit and quickly refusing.

"Then have a soft drink or juice," Lu Xiyuan said, knowing they definitely had other plans for the night and not wanting to risk getting Jiang Cheng drunk. "What would you like?"

Jiang Cheng said, "Juice will be fine, thanks, Brother Lu."

Lu Xiyuan went to order him a glass of juice and personally brought it over, handing it to Jiang Cheng who was sitting obediently, and said, "Want to sing? I'll pick a song for you."

"No thanks, I'm not a good singer."

Lu Xiyuan glanced at Shang Zenian, who was surrounded by a few classmates and couldn't get away for the moment, and lowered his voice: "Since I've got the chance today, I need to apologize to you."

Jiang Cheng took a sip of juice and blinked at that: "What's wrong, Brother Lu?"

"About last time, when Brother Shang went back, it wasn't because of Chen Yin. I made wrong assumptions and connected the dots incorrectly, which made you misunderstand too. I'm sorry."

Earlier, he thought Shang Zenian returned to South City because of Chen Yin. At the time, because he felt especially sorry for the uninformed Jiang Cheng, he told him about it.

Later, he found out it was all a misunderstanding. He meant well but caused trouble. He figured those days were tough for Jiang Cheng, and later heard that Jiang Cheng got sick and took a few days off. He felt very sorry for Jiang Cheng, so now that he saw him, he wanted to apologize in person.

"It's okay," Jiang Cheng said with a smile. If it weren't for this incident, he wouldn't have understood his own heart.

The two only chatted for a bit before the protective Shang Zenian came over. He gave Lu Xiyuan a look that made him leave and then sat down beside Jiang Cheng.

"Are you feeling bored?" he asked.

"Not really. The food here is pretty good."

There were also various foods prepared, with a rich variety. Besides some appetizers for drinks, there were also hearty dishes like charcoal-grilled coral trout, flame-grilled black pepper wagyu cubes, and baked lobster with cheese.

Just now, while Shang Zenian was pulled away to drink, Jiang Cheng was happily eating.

"Mm, we'll sit a little longer, then go back."

"..." Jiang Cheng thought about what going back implied, and he wasn't so eager to return.

He looked around the private room, glanced at a few guys having fun nearby, and pointed at them: "Are they playing dice?"

"Yeah," Shang Zenian glanced casually. "You want to play too?"

"I don't know how to play."

"It's okay, I'll teach you. Let's go."

Jiang Cheng was led by the hand towards those guys. His little plan was working, and he was secretly happy. If he kept pretending not to learn, maybe he could stay here all night.

Seeing Shang Zenian and Jiang Cheng come over wanting to join, those guys immediately made room and handed each of them a set of dice.

"One set is enough," Shang Zenian pushed the other set back and opened the remaining one to show Jiang Cheng the dice inside. "It's simple. There are five of us playing, each with five dice, so twenty-five total. After the game starts..."

Shang Zenian carefully explained the rules to Jiang Cheng. At first, Jiang Cheng was a bit confused, but after watching them play two rounds, he understood the rules.

He thought it was about the skill of shaking dice, but it turned out to be all about bluffing and deceiving each other—completely a psychological game.

And it was obvious that Shang Zenian was an expert at this. In any case, watching him play two rounds, he didn't drink a single sip.

How could that be!

"Have you learned?" Shang Zenian asked him. "Want to give it a try?"

Jiang Cheng looked eager to try, but then deflated like a balloon: "But I can't drink."

"It's okay, if you lose, I'll drink for you."

Jiang Cheng's eyes lit up: "Then I won't hold back!"

How could Shang Zenian not see through his little scheme? He smiled and said, "Go ahead."

Shang Zenian's friends, when playing dice, were always beaten by him and had no idea how much they'd been tricked into drinking. Today, seeing him dare to drink for a rookie, they were determined to take revenge. They were all full of fighting spirit, and the others who were eating or singing also gathered around to watch the fun.

Jiang Cheng was just an honest kid; how could he outplay these people?

He had originally planned to pretend a bit to make Shang Zenian drink more, hoping he might get drunk and he could escape for the night.

As it turned out, he didn't even need to pretend; he lost miserably. And these people played for high stakes; sometimes a loss meant drinking three or five cups. In less than half an hour, Shang Zenian had already drunk an unknown amount.

Another round ended, and Jiang Cheng was ruthlessly outwitted by Lu Xiyuan. The others at the table all targeted him, causing Jiang Cheng to lose badly again.

"Hahaha, this is great! Pour the drinks, pour the drinks," Lu Xiyuan rarely got the chance to make Shang Zenian drink so much; he laughed arrogantly. "Five cups, no cheating!"

Jiang Cheng had lost count of how many cups Shang Zenian had drunk. Seeing him about to drink so much, he feared something might happen, so he quickly said, "Let me help drink two cups, and then I'm done playing."

Lu Xiyuan clicked his tongue: "Oh my, Xiao Chengzi is feeling sorry for Brother Shang, huh?"

The others, seeing their intimate behavior, more or less guessed the relationship between the two. Another classmate said with a grin, "Don't worry, little junior. Shang dog has a great alcohol tolerance. A little beer can't get him drunk at all."

Another guy chimed in, "You guys just don't get it, do you? It's not the wine that gets you drunk—it's your own feelings—Brother Shang is reveling in it right now."

Jiang Cheng, embarrassed by their teasing, didn't want to argue. He grabbed a glass of beer and took a drink. But since he rarely drank, he couldn't chug it all at once. By the time he finished his glass, Shang Zenian had already downed four without batting an eye.

Everyone clapped and cheered, eager to keep playing.

Shang Zenian set down his glass. "No more. We're heading back."

One of the guys immediately said, "Come on, Brother Shang, it's still early—"

Before he could finish, Lu Xiyuan tugged at him. "Read the room. Don't interrupt their fun."

The guy glanced suggestively at Shang Zenian and then at Jiang Cheng, understanding instantly. "Alright, alright. Brother Shang, you two go ahead. We'll keep playing for a bit longer."

The others exchanged knowing smiles.

Jiang Cheng's face flushed so red he wished he could find a crack in the floor to crawl into.

Shang Zenian pointed at the culprit, Lu Xiyuan, shooting him a look that said 'you're in for it.' Then he took Jiang Cheng's hand and said, "Let's go."

Jiang Cheng felt that leaving now would be too obvious—like protesting too much—but staying would mean more teasing. While he hesitated, Shang Zenian had already pulled him out.

There was a designated driver stand right outside the club. Shang Zenian called one over and had the driver pull his car around. Once inside, Jiang Cheng glanced at Shang Zenian, whose eyes were half-closed. "Are you drunk?"

Shang Zenian answered with a question. "What do you think?"

He didn't look drunk at all. Jiang Cheng was disappointed—so beer really couldn't get him drunk. He regretted not taking the chance earlier when he spotted some hard liquor to pour Shang a couple of glasses.

Shang Zenian caught his expression and raised an eyebrow. "What, were you thinking about getting me drunk so we'd skip tonight?"

"..." Caught with his little scheme, Jiang Cheng looked anywhere but at him: the sky, the ground.

Shang Zenian grabbed his hand and began to play with his fingers, squeezing them one by one, chuckling. "Why didn't you think about getting yourself drunk? That would've been an easier way to get through the night."

Jiang Cheng thought to himself, I'm not stupid. Getting myself drunk would just leave me at your mercy.

Ever since the latter part of his time pretending to be Chen Yin, the way this man looked at him had become blatant and filled with unbridled desire. Jiang Cheng didn't dare gamble on his moral bottom line.

After all, men are animals that think with their dicks. What if Shang Zenian decided to act first and think later?

The driver drove them all the way to the underground parking garage of Shang Zenian's home. Once inside, Shang Zenian pointed to the room prepared for Chen Yin and said, "Everything's in there. Go get ready. I'll take a shower."

"..." This scene felt oddly familiar.

Jiang Cheng tried to divert his attention. "I bought you a present. Don't you want to see it first?"

Shang Zenian wasn't buying it. "Then after you put on the outfit, bring your present and give it to me together. That way, I imagine my happiness will double when I receive it."

QAQ But he wasn't happy at all.

Seeing no way out, Jiang Cheng had no choice but to walk into Chen Yin's room. Sure enough, on the bed lay all sorts of items to wear. To help him figure them out, each came with instructions.

He spent a long time mentally preparing himself before slowly taking off his own clothes.

The dress was a halter-neck, baring shoulders, back, and legs, trimmed with fluffy edges. Once on, it made him look like a little fox.

The fox tail was strapped to his waist, followed by fox ears, a collar, stockings, fox paw gloves... after putting it all on, combined with Jiang Cheng's perpetually innocent expression, he really looked like a half-transformed little fox.

Except... the dress was far too revealing. Under the puffy skirt, even his ass was barely visible—absolutely lewd.

Biting back his embarrassment, Jiang Cheng pressed down on the skirt and came out of the room.

Shang Zenian had already finished showering and was idly flipping through TV channels in the living room. That light beer couldn't really get him drunk; he just felt a bit dizzy and restless inside, dying to rush into the room and see how Jiang Cheng looked.

Finally, he heard the door click open. He immediately looked over.

The moment that burning gaze locked onto him, Jiang Cheng almost fled back inside like last time, but he held back this time. He didn't dare meet Shang Zenian's eyes, staring instead at his own toes.

"I... I'm all dressed."

Shang Zenian's face showed no expression, but his gaze was deep and dark. He turned off the TV he'd been fiddling with, walked over, and his towering six-foot-three-plus frame loomed over Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng instinctively took a step back but was immediately caught in an embrace.

Then he felt his body lift, and Jiang Cheng was carried over and set on the back of the sofa.

Shang Zenian's sofa was leather, wide and thick, with a spacious back that could easily support someone sitting on it. But Jiang Cheng felt unsafe, as if the sofa might tip over.

His whole body tensed, and just as he was about to ask if they could move somewhere else, Shang Zenian leaned in, one arm around his waist, the other stroking his stockings-clad thigh. The heat seeped through the thin fabric, making Jiang Cheng shiver.

Before, Shang Zenian's hand would stop once it reached the hem of the skirt. But this time, he clearly had no intention of stopping; his hand crept further beneath the hem, only for Jiang Cheng to grab it with his furry paw.

Shang Zenian tried to free himself, failed, and let out a light laugh. With his other hand, he reached down to the waist, found the fox tail, and somehow hit some switch. The tail began to wag all on its own.

Feeling the movement behind him, Jiang Cheng turned to look and was amazed to see that the fluffy tail could move on its own—lively and adorable, almost like a real one.

"It moves!" Jiang Cheng exclaimed in wonder.

"Hold still," Shang Zenian said softly, then let him go and pulled out his phone.

Jiang Cheng immediately covered his face. "No! Don't take pictures!"

"Don't worry, I'll keep them just for me. Come on, lift your face."

"..." Jiang Cheng didn't want to cooperate, but the birthday boy called the shots. After posing for two photos, Shang Zenian carried him back to the bedroom and coaxed him into several shameless poses, taking more photos and even a video, which he showed to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng glanced at it—there he was, on all fours, kneeling submissively on the soft bed, with his fluffy fox tail arched high, wagging energetically.

He looked like a little fox seducing a human, every move seductive and shameless.

During the shoot, Shang Zenian had him squint at the camera, pressed a finger under his chin, and tilted his face up slightly, forcing him to look into the lens and say, "Happy birthday, big bro."

Jiang Cheng's naturally upturned eye corners, now half-closed, glistened with a misty sheen. He was mortified and annoyed inside, his whole body tense. But on camera, he looked completely different.

Looking at the result, it was as if he was deliberately flirting with the person behind the camera—every glance dripped with unapologetic charm, and his voice came out all whiny and spoiled. It was hard to watch.

Jiang Cheng's face turned beet red. He couldn't look at it any longer and scrambled off the bed on all fours. "I—I—I've given you my birthday gift. I'm gonna go change back now."

He moved surprisingly fast, reaching the edge of the bed in no time. Shang Zenian reached out to grab him but caught the hem of the skirt. The dress, which was essentially just a piece of lingerie, wasn't sturdy at all. With a "riiiip," a big piece tore off, exposing a patch of skin.

Jiang Cheng froze. Was this a dress or was it paper?

He was like a scared rabbit, frantically covering the exposed spot. But the sight of him in Shang Zenian's eyes was...

Jiang Cheng sensed danger. Without a second thought, he jumped off the bed and ran.

But how could he match a jock from sports school? By the time he reached the door, Shang Zenian had already leisurely blocked his way.

A fierce fire burned in Shang Zenian's eyes, and he toyed with the torn scrap of fabric in his hand, with a smirk. "Where are you going?"

Jiang Cheng looked at the barely restrained predator in front of him, ready to pounce at any moment, and was petrified.

He said, his eyes red, "You said you'd give me time to adjust and wouldn't sleep with me for now. I've gone and dressed up like this—you can't break your promise, or you'll lose all credibility with me from now on."

Shang Zenian let out a soft "tsk." Losing credibility with his partner was indeed not good—he might enjoy one night of pleasure, but that would be the only night he'd get.

But he still didn't want to let him go.

He looked down, taking in Jiang Cheng's beautiful legs, then nodded. "Fine. I won't force you into bed."

But there are plenty of other ways, aren't there?