Chapter 6: The Donkey and the Carrot

As they reached the front door, Xie Jun pulled Kui Ming’s hand out of his pocket. “Are uncle and aunt at home?”

“They’re not here.” Kui Ming didn’t seem to mind and continued to stick close to him. “They’re hardly ever home all year round.”

Kui Ming’s parents were both workaholics, spending most of the year flying around the country for business. The time they could spend at home with their son was rare. When it came to Kui Ming’s education, they followed a simple principle: make sure there’s enough money.

Kui Ming pulled Xie Jun into the house and closed the door behind them. The Alaskan Malamute, tongue hanging out, darted in as well.

“Can I ask for a day off today?” Kui Ming swatted away the silly dog’s large head that kept nudging him and waved a game controller in front of Xie Jun.

Xie Jun nodded.

“You can sit on the bed.” The TV in his bedroom was directly facing the bed. Kui Ming patted the spot beside him on the bed, and then, belatedly, he seemed to feel a bit embarrassed about it.

The two of them took off their shoes and sat cross-legged together.

Kui Ming handed the game controller to him, smiling happily. “This one is for two players. I haven’t played it yet; I saved it to play with you.”

“Woof.”

The silly dog, eager to join in, tried to jump onto the bed as well, but Kui Ming pushed its big head away. “You’re not allowed on the bed.”

The silly dog whimpered twice, resting its head on the edge of the bed, its tail wagging as if it could understand them playing the game.

“Jun Jun,” Kui Ming nudged Xie Jun’s shoulder with his own, “I think I did pretty well on this exam.”

“How well did you do?” Xie Jun showed a hint of a smile.

When he wasn’t smiling, he appeared distant and indifferent, much like the snowflakes drifting outside the window, beautiful and imposing, with an air that warned strangers to keep their distance.

But when he smiled, it was like a tiny ice flower breaking through the ice, revealing the spring beneath.

Kui Ming was momentarily captivated. He wasn’t sure if it was because the room was too warm, but his face turned slightly red. He leaned his head on Xie Jun’s shoulder, hinting strongly, “The kind of good that means scoring over a hundred points more.”

Xie Jun smiled again.

Kui Ming didn’t catch what he said at all. He suddenly lunged forward and pressed his lips to Xie Jun’s, causing them both to fall back, sinking into the soft mattress.

Kui Ming gently nibbled and savored Xie Jun’s lips. Xie Jun didn’t push him away; instead, he placed a hand on the back of Kui Ming’s head, tilting his own slightly to deepen the kiss.

Kui Ming grew even more excited, and the sound of their mingling breaths and lips created a suggestive, intimate noise.

Xie Jun was only wearing a slightly low-neck sweater in the room, and the collar had been pulled loose by Kui Ming, revealing a small, dark mole just above his collarbone.

Kui Ming stared at it for a couple of seconds, then suddenly leaned in and licked it.

He pressed against Xie Jun, their bodies tightly entwined, each acutely aware of the reactions of the other’s body.

Xie Jun lightly kicked him, telling him to get up.

Kui Ming rested his head on Xie Jun’s shoulder. “Last night, I had a dream, and you were in it.”

Xie Jun’s lips still glistened slightly, a faint blush at the corners of his eyes, and even his usually indifferent gaze now held a trace of tenderness, just like how he had appeared in the dream.

“What did you dream about me?” Xie Jun asked, his tone a bit lazy.

“Just… just like what we just did,” Kui Ming stammered.

“Even more exciting than what we just did.”

Xie Jun glanced at him, but his expression didn’t seem angry. Emboldened by this, Kui Ming leaned in closer and said, “If a hundred-point improvement earns me a kiss, what if I improve by another hundred?”

Xie Jun curved his lips into a smile. “Next time, if your rank makes it into the top hundred of the grade.”

“What will happen then?” Kui Ming leaned in closer.

Xie Jun smiled, “What did you dream about last night?”

Kui Ming swallowed hard, feeling a warm sensation at the tip of his nose, but luckily, he didn’t get a nosebleed.

Feeling dazed, Kui Ming lay down with his head resting on Xie Jun’s legs. His boyfriend was really handsome, even from this angle.

“Jun Jun.”

“Hmm?”

“Have you ever heard the story about the donkey and the carrot?” Kui Ming suddenly mused. “You’re like that carrot dangled in front of me.”

“Oh?” Xie Jun ruffled his hair. “So, you’re the donkey?”

Kui Ming didn’t mind. “Being a donkey isn’t so bad. Just look at how fresh and juicy my carrot is.”

Where else could you find such a fresh, beautiful, and naturally sweet carrot?