—”Yang Yang, I think we need to sleep in separate rooms!”

He felt that sleeping separately was something that needed to be put on the agenda.

Otherwise, if this continued, he didn’t know when Si Xuanyang might just take him apart, piece by piece.

In the past, Si Xuanyang had been mindful of his health, exercising some restraint. But as his health gradually improved, it was as if some kind of seal had been lifted, and lately, Yu Sen could barely keep up.

“What separate rooms? What are you talking about? What is ‘separate rooms’? I don’t understand.” Si Xuanyang’s calm voice suddenly sounded overhead.

Yu Sen quickly moved his arm away, and the figure standing before him blocked the blinding sunlight. Si Xuanyang was holding a cup of warm water, looking down at him quietly.

“Stop pretending. My throat and head still hurt…” Yu Sen propped himself up a little against the headboard, reaching for the water.

“That’s because you drank too much. I didn’t expect you to be such a lightweight—you were out after just two cups.”

Si Xuanyang brushed aside his hand, sitting on the edge of the bed, pulling Yu Sen into his arms, and gently feeding him water from the cup.

“I… mmm…”

Yu Sen wanted to protest, but with the water at his lips, he couldn’t resist the urge to drink.

Leaning against Si Xuanyang, he finished the entire cup. Having skipped a meal the day before, his body was utterly exhausted, and even drinking water left him out of breath. He rolled his eyes and glared at Si Xuanyang, “You big, sly wolf!”

If it weren’t for him sending over the alcohol, none of this would have happened!

He refused to believe there wasn’t some intent behind it!

“What are you calling me? Just a moment ago, you were calling me ‘husband.'” Si Xuanyang set the cup down, effortlessly flipping Yu Sen onto his back and pinning him down.

“!!! Husband, husband, husband—! No more! Please! I can’t take it anymore!”

Yu Sen’s head spun, his voice trembling as he clutched the edge of Si Xuanyang’s robe. His porcelain-white neck was covered in scattered kiss marks, his lips still bruised from the night before, and his loose cream-colored pajamas were rumpled. The hem around his waist was bunched up, revealing his slim, pale waist, with faint red handprints visible.

A picture of delicate beauty after being ravished.

And Si Xuanyang was utterly captivated by the sight.

“I’m going to die… you’ll kill me,” Yu Sen groaned, on the verge of tears, begging for mercy. “Husband, I was wrong. If you keep going, what if I can’t get hard in the future?”

Si Xuanyang chuckled, “How is that possible? Last night you were hard so many times.”

“That was because you were teasing me! Who does that? I kept saying I couldn’t take it anymore, but you kept going…” Yu Sen stared with moist eyes at the person right in front of him, unable to finish his sentence.

But Si Xuanyang clearly wanted him to recall it with words. “Kept going how?”

Yu Sen shot him a sharp look. “You kept using your mouth and sucking hard!”

In that situation, what normal man wouldn’t get hard?

But while his physical state allowed it, his stamina certainly didn’t!

Especially after two consecutive nights of intense activity, he was on the verge of collapse and just wanted to lie down for a couple of days and recover.

Seeing him turn his head away weakly, Si Xuanyang smiled, gently pecking the corner of his lips. “I know you’re tired. We won’t do anything these next two days. I was just teasing you. Why are you so scared?”

“You know why!” Yu Sen grumbled. “Someone needs to do some self-reflection.”

“Yes, it’s my fault.” The ‘someone’ quickly responded, lifting him up and placing him on the bed.

“You must be starving by now, right? Let’s go grab brunch.”

Feeling reassured by the promise of a few days’ break, Yu Sen relaxed. He sat on the bed, looking up at him, while his foot, dangling off the edge of the bed, teasingly rubbed against Si Xuanyang’s leg. His ankle lightly grazed the side of that straight leg.

But his face remained innocent and clueless as he flashed a sweet smile and said softly, “I can’t walk. You’ll have to carry me.”

Si Xuanyang stood still, staring at him with dark eyes for several seconds before grinding his teeth. “Baby, if I ever end up killing you in bed, it’ll be because you brought it upon yourself!”

God knows how much willpower it took for him not to tear this person’s clothes off and devour him!

Even he was impressed with his own restraint!

“Really?” Yu Sen continued to play with fire, fluttering his starry eyes at him. “Next time, okay? Next time, hubby, I’ll let you do whatever you want.”

“…Damn it!”

Si Xuanyang looked away, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he cursed under his breath, then quickly turned around, squatting down. “Shut up! Stop talking! Just get on already!”

“Thanks, hubby!” Yu Sen cheered as he hopped onto his back, wrapping his arms around his neck and resting his face against Si Xuanyang’s neck. He deliberately whispered sweetly into his ear, “I’m all set, hubby. Let’s go~”

He laughed silently to himself—didn’t you want me to call you hubby? Well, I’ll call you plenty! Let’s see if it makes you happy or drives you crazy!

That voice was so sweet, it reminded Si Xuanyang of a kind of marshmallow from his childhood: pure white, soft to the touch, sweet when bitten, and with a luscious, addictive fruit center once opened up.

His legs almost buckled, and he nearly collapsed forward.

“Didn’t I tell you to stop talking!? Do you just love using your mouth!?”

Grinding his teeth, Si Xuanyang grabbed Yu Sen’s thighs and stood up firmly.

Yu Sen smiled and then nuzzled his face softly against Si Xuanyang’s neck.

Afterward, he glanced at his poor boyfriend’s face—oh no! His jaw muscles were visibly clenched!

“I’m sorry, hubby. Can we go now? When we’re together, being too close to the bed makes me nervous. I always feel like something bad is about to happen. Come on, let’s hurry and eat. I’m starving…”

Si Xuanyang was about to explode.

He felt like this person’s sole purpose was to torment him.

He glanced down and breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully, his pants were loose…

In this back-and-forth battle, Yu Sen had won a rare round. Swinging his legs joyfully, they arrived at the dining area, where the ingredients had just been delivered, fresher than ever. He was in such a good mood that he ate enough for three people at brunch.

Of course, when they ran into Si Xuanyang’s family members, there was plenty of teasing.

In the cozy cabin, with the fire burning warmly, Yu Sen wore just a light sweater, exposing his neck, which was covered in hickeys, much to the shock of the Si family. But by now, they weren’t fazed by Yu Sen’s sweet ‘hubby’ talk—they’d become used to it.

After a day of rest, Yu Sen’s stamina was about 70% recovered. He spent the next few days enjoying every activity the area had to offer—sledding, bonfires, barbecues, brewing, ice fishing, skiing. He did it all, having a blast.

After several days, Shu Yuqing, who had become even closer to him than to her own sons, spent her free time flipping through medical books and enthusiastically teaching Yu Sen about health and wellness.

One leisurely morning, Shu Yuqing asked Yu Sen for his parents’ phone number, saying she’d find the right time to get in touch with his future in-laws.

Yu Sen hesitated but eventually gave it to her.

Though his father was strict, he loved him, and his mother was open-minded. While he hadn’t yet told them about Si Xuanyang, he didn’t think his parents would be a problem. As long as the timing was right, everything would work out.

After suffering for so long, he could finally breathe a little, relax, and enjoy himself for a while.

But he relaxed too much. It wasn’t until the day before they were about to leave that Yu Sen realized how fast time had flown and how long he’d been neglecting his young boyfriend.

So that evening, he sent Si Xuanyang away and made his way decisively into the inn’s small shop.

Usually, only a few leisurely guests from nearby inns came here to browse, mostly buying daily necessities or souvenirs.

The young man behind the counter, unlike the enthusiastic sales staff outside, simply smiled at him with squinted eyes and said, “Take your time,” then gave him plenty of personal space, without casting another glance.

Yu Sen casually walked around and finally stopped in the clothing section, picking and choosing, but none seemed satisfactory.

As for women’s swimsuits, those with too much fabric are hard to take off, and those with too little lack that faint sense of taboo. No, no, not right…

Pants were a straight pass. If he’d decided to wear women’s clothes, wearing pants wouldn’t be sincere!

He remembered that he had promised to wear a sailor outfit for Si Xuanyang back in Halloween town. A uniform would be the most appropriate. However…

He held up a sailor skirt uniform, surprised that they actually sold it, and worriedly thought he might not fit into it.

Looking at the size: XS. It was practically an impossible task.

But not wearing it would make him seem unreliable, which could affect their relationship.

After hesitating for two seconds, Yu Sen called out, “Hey! Little JZ clerk! Can you come over and check if there are other sizes for this outfit?”

“Coming, coming!”

The young man came over with a big smile, looking about 18 or 19, his smile clean and harmless, likely a relative of the shop owner working a winter break job.

“You’ve taken a liking to this skirt? We have all the sizes for it. Is it for your sister? What’s her height and weight approximately? I can help you find the right size.” The young man beamed.

Yu Sen glanced at him: “It’s not for my sister, it’s for me.”

“???” The young man’s smile froze for a few seconds but then quickly returned. He cautiously sized Yu Sen up and tentatively asked, “This size is based on female standards. How about I get you a size L?”

Yu Sen was shocked: “How could I be an L? At least XXL! Kid, take a closer look at me.”

The young man blushed a little, his gaze shifting downward. He mumbled, “But your waist looks pretty slim…”

Yu Sen: “…But my shoulders might not fit!”

The young man’s gaze shifted up slightly: “But you don’t have a chest.”

Yu Sen was left speechless, not understanding why the boy’s tone carried a hint of regret.

“But my shoulders are still much broader than a girl’s,” Yu Sen sighed, deciding not to argue with the young one. “Bring me an XXL to try. If it’s too big, at least it’ll be loose.”

“Okay… please wait a moment.” The young man nodded and quickly ran to the store’s backroom.

After about half a minute, he returned with a garment bag and gestured to Yu Sen: “Sir, we have a fitting room over there. Would you like to try it on?”

“Alright.”

Yu Sen took the thin bag and calmly walked into the fitting room.

This wasn’t a traditional sailor uniform but had been modified to fit popular tastes. The skirt was a dark blue pleated skirt, short enough to just cover his thighs. The long-sleeved white blouse on top was somewhat sheer, with a matching dark blue sailor tie at the shoulders.

He roughly gauged that it would fit, so he re-packed the clothes and, after tidying himself up, walked out of the fitting room.

The young man stood by the clothing rack with his head lowered, seemingly preoccupied. When he heard the door open, he looked up suddenly, only to see Yu Sen still wearing his regular clothes. The disappointment in his eyes was obvious.

Yu Sen: “…I’ll take this set. Ring me up.”

“Oh, okay, right this way.” The young man slowly returned behind the counter.

Yu Sen leisurely strolled through the clothing and accessories section, his gaze drifting over the small trinkets. Suddenly, something caught his eye, and his expression shifted to one of excitement, as if he were about to stir up some mischief.

He quickly grabbed two items he had his eye on and placed them on top of the sailor outfit.

“Wait, add these two to the bill as well.”

The young man looked up and saw the black garter belt and sheer stockings in Yu Sen’s hand. He gulped instinctively and murmured, “Being an adult is great. Only adults know how to have fun.”

…

Si Xuanyang, following his cunning boyfriend’s request, personally went to the inn’s supply room to pick out a large plate of fresh strawberries. On his way back, his eyelids kept twitching, and he felt a sense of unease.

He could tell that Yu Sen had deliberately sent him away earlier, but he didn’t say much, as he was used to going along with whatever was on his mind.

Now, reflecting on Yu Sen’s expression before he left, a strange feeling arose in his chest, causing his heartbeat to speed up slightly, along with a growing sense of anticipation.

As he approached the courtyard door and noticed their darkened room, he felt something was off.

It seemed like there was a faint whimpering sound coming from inside.

He carefully opened the door and placed his fingers on the switch by the cabinet, flicking it on.

Then, his pupils constricted, and the tray in his hand crashed to the floor with a loud clang, the bright red strawberries rolling across the tatami, some even landing beside the person lying there.

“Yu Sen—!”

When Si Xuanyang first saw the scene in front of him, he was so shocked he nearly had a heart attack, but when he met those familiar eyes, he suddenly realized — this person was playing a game.

In the familiar living room, Yu Sen was curled up on the tatami in a sailor outfit.

Si Xuanyang stood still, his heart racing chaotically to the beat of a wild drum.

The person on the tatami wore a semi-sheer blouse, its hem untucked, wrinkled and draped loosely over his waist.

….

Yu Sen leaned against Si Xuanyang and said, “I’m all yours anyway. Tonight, you can handle me however you want.”

“Really?” Si Xuanyang paused mid-action.

“Really,” Yu Sen lifted his head and kissed his little boyfriend’s collarbone. Tears filled his eyes, but a smile appeared: “But remember, we have to save food. We can’t waste all these strawberries, okay?”

“I know.” Si Xuanyang, who was dangerously seductive, curled his lips and kissed away the tear stains from Yu Sen’s eyes. “I’ll crush them on your body and eat them all, bit by bit.”

“Hmm… but what if there are still some left?”

“Then I’ll put them inside my body, and make you… crush them, bit by bit…” Si Xuanyang kissed him, “Smash them.”

“You’re amazing, hubby!” Yu Sen reached out and hugged him tightly, staring blankly at the chandelier on the ceiling, murmuring, “Meeting you was truly wonderful. I really don’t regret following Si Nan to Thailand to buy that clock, not at all.”

Si Xuanyang looked down tenderly. “And then? Do you have anything else to say?”

“…But I regret lying to you. If I hadn’t lied about my relationship with Si Nan, maybe we could have been together sooner.”

“And what else?”

“What else? Well… it’s almost New Year’s. I want to take you home to meet my parents during the New Year. A formal introduction. You better behave well. My dad is super strict, and if you mess up, I won’t be able to help you.”

“Hmm, I promise to behave. Anything else? Think carefully.”

Yu Sen paused. “Something else? Oh… I need to win over your dad, right? Aunt Shu said Uncle Si listens to her, so I shouldn’t be afraid. Don’t worry, it’s no big deal. I’m so charming, and if all else fails, I’ll just make another dumpling feast for him, hahaha…”

“No, that’s not it.” Si Xuanyang suddenly said.

“Huh?” Yu Sen tilted his head, looking at him in confusion.

“It’s that one sentence. The one I most want to hear.”

Yu Sen laughed softly.

—”Yes! I love you too!”

—The end—

^[1]【For the deleted portion, please visit Weibo @荆棘小花转圈圈】