Arriving home.

As soon as his mom saw Lu Che, she was delighted. Lu Che, with a charming smile, said, “Auntie, your cooking is the best! I couldn’t resist coming over for a meal again,” and added, “I brought some dragon fruit from home. My grandma grows them in the front yard, and they’re super sweet!” Xu Xing’s Mom couldn’t stop smiling, completely charmed.

Xu Xing had told his mom in advance that Lu Che would be joining them for dinner, so she prepared a table full of sweet and spicy dishes. Lu Che ate with great enjoyment, showering his mother with compliments, making her so happy that her eyes crinkled with laughter. He even remarked that Xu Xing’s dad was lucky to have married her.

His mom was beaming and said, “You sure know how to flatter, young man!”

Xu Xing picked up a piece of cola chicken wing, nibbling on it thoughtfully, and thought to himself: Lu Che certainly has a sweet mouth, and not just when he talks—he’s sweet when he kisses too.

His Dad chimed in, “Lu Che, you should marry a girl who’s good at cooking in the future.”

Lu Che replied with a laugh, “Where would I find someone as good as Auntie here? By the way, Class Rep, can you cook?”

Xu Xing, caught off guard, turned his head to find Lu Che smiling at him, with a playful wink—his timing was impeccable.

Xu Xing answered honestly, “I can’t.”

Lu Che replied smoothly, “I can cook a little. My mom never cooked, so I had to make noodles or a one-pot meal for myself from middle school on. People who can’t cook can just find someone who can—everyone has their own luck.”

Xu Xing gave a nonchalant “oh” as he continued eating, but under the table, he gave Lu Che a kick. It was one thing for Lu Che to sneak in flirty comments when they were alone, but he was even teasing him in front of his parents—couldn’t he rein it in a little?

Lu Che took the kick without losing his smile and said, “Once the college entrance exams are over, I’ll have to come over and learn some cooking tips from Auntie!”

His Mother chuckled and replied, “You’ll definitely be a caring husband one day.”

Xu Xing kept his head down, eating, but suddenly felt Lu Che’s foot brushing against his calf under the table, light and ticklish, as if it were teasing his heart.

Lu Che wanted Xu Xing to hear how his “future mother-in-law” praised him—charming, caring, and totally worth marrying for a lifetime of happiness!

Xu Xing’s response? When they were alone in Xu Xing’s room with the door closed, it was practically a “domestic dispute” as Xu Xing punched Lu Che lightly, grumbling, “Could you tone it down a bit in front of my parents?”

Lu Che stepped back, rubbing his arm where he’d been hit. “Alright, alright.”

He looked a bit hurt.

Xu Xing sat down at his desk, and then heard Lu Che say, “But… Class Rep, my mom already knows about us.”

Lu Che looked a bit anxious, worried that Xu Xing might be upset he’d told her without discussing it first. He quickly added, “She really likes you! She thinks you’re polite and, well, incredibly handsome.”

Xu Xing paused.

When they’d visited City A last time, Lu Che had mentioned that his mother gave him freedom, allowing him to make his own life decisions as long as he didn’t do anything truly wrong. Even liking Xu Xing was okay.

Xu Xing, however, wasn’t sure his parents would accept his relationship with Lu Che so easily, which made him feel as though he wasn’t giving their relationship enough commitment.

He glanced at the ear-cleaning tool on the table, picked it up, and spun it around in his fingers before turning to Lu Che. “Want me to clean your ears?”

When they were kids, Xu Xing and Xu Yin would often compete to have their mom clean their ears, finding it incredibly soothing. Once, Xu Xing had accidentally made Xu Yin cry, and in a panic, he’d said, “Don’t cry! When Mom cleans our ears, I’ll let you go first!” It worked.

Since then, “ear-cleaning” had become a way for them to apologize or make up.

Lu Che instinctively touched his earlobe, slightly nervous but smiling, “Sure.”

Xu Xing moved to sit in the center of the bed and patted his lap, “Rest your head here.”

Lu Che thought he’d misheard, but a grin spread across his face. Kicking off his slippers, he climbed onto the bed, wrapped his arms around Xu Xing’s waist, and laid his cheek against his stomach, stealing a quick, playful kiss through Xu Xing’s clothes.

With all those layers, it was only visually provocative to Xu Xing. He pinched Lu Che’s cheeks, making him pout, and said, “Face the other way.”

“Alright…”

Reluctantly, Lu Che turned. As Xu Xing grabbed his ear, Lu Che, tense, said, “Be gentle—I’m really sensitive to pain.”

Lu Che wasn’t looking forward to it; even the tiny tool scraping the outer ear would make him wince.

Because of the dim lighting, Xu Xing had Lu Che hold a phone with the flashlight on.

Lu Che’s face twisted with each touch, his neck pulling back, and the flashlight shook several times, forcing Xu Xing to keep adjusting it.

“Easy…ow…”

“Class Rep… ow…”

Xu Xing sighed inwardly. He’d been perfecting this skill for years with his mom and Xu Yin as his “clients.” Clearly, Lu Che just couldn’t handle pain.

He muttered, “When was the last time you got your ears cleaned? Turn over.”

Lu Che let out a satisfied sigh, “It hurts, but it feels so good…”

He obediently switched sides.

Xu Xing gently tugged on his ear and teased, “With how sensitive you are, aren’t you afraid of being beaten up if you ever get in a fight?”

Lu Che shut his eyes tight and murmured, “That’s why I make sure to hit them first.”

“….”

Lu Che’s logic was flawless, leaving Xu Xing speechless.

Xu Xing carefully finished cleaning his ears, ending with gentle scraping along the outer edge. Lu Che was so relaxed he didn’t want to move.

Looking at his peaceful face, Xu Xing felt a sudden urge and quickly leaned down to plant a kiss on his cheek.

Lu Che’s eyes flew open, and he sat up, gazing at Xu Xing with a mix of surprise and innocence. “I missed it. I need another one.”

His expression was hopeful.

Xu Xing, unable to resist, leaned forward and gave him a quick, light kiss on his lips. “Now go study.”

Lu Che licked his lips, his eyes sparkling, and tried negotiating. “How about this, Class Rep: for every half-hour of focused studying, you give me a kiss?”

Xu Xing looked at him. “One hour.”

Then, Xu Xing returned to his desk.

Lu Che grinned, triumphant. He’d set it low, knowing Xu Xing would double it. The Class Rep’s final line of defense!

That night, Lu Che was more motivated to study than ever, earning four kisses in total, which escalated from quick pecks to a deeper kiss before bed. Lu Che was entirely satisfied.

—

The next morning, Lu Che opened his eyes to see Xu Xing curled up in his arms. This warmed his heart, and he carefully shifted, wanting to make him more comfortable—until he froze, realizing the fabric he touched wasn’t cotton but something silky, and that Xu Xing’s legs weren’t covered by sleep pants.

Lu Che’s curiosity took over as he gently touched along Xu Xing’s waist, slowly down to his thigh, savoring the feeling of his skin, hoping not to wake him.

But just as he was about to move his hand further, Xu Xing stirred. He pushed Lu Che’s shoulder, repositioned himself, and looked at him, slightly annoyed.

Lu Che quickly pulled his hand back, eyes wide and innocent.

Xu Xing sighed, his gaze shifting, and said, “That time you were asking the class rep next door about our last exam, right? I didn’t score as high as you, so you were really pleased, huh?” Lu Che’s eyes sparkled, amused.

“Although… I did promise you a reward,” Xu Xing said, and pulled back the covers. Lu Che saw Xu Xing in an oversized dress shirt with three buttons undone, exposing his collarbone and part of his chest in the dim light.

When reality aligned with his dream, Lu Che stared in a daze, wondering what led Xu Xing to do this.

But he didn’t have long to wonder. Xu Xing moved closer, guiding Lu Che’s hand back to where it had rested earlier, draping his leg over Lu Che’s thigh, and nuzzled into his chest without another word.

Because of Xu Xing’s movement, Lu Che’s hand ended up at the base of Xu Xing’s thigh, brushing against the soft skin hidden from view. The sudden touch woke Lu Che from his daze, as the feeling beneath his hand fanned the flames of desire that had been simmering below the surface.

Lu Che leaned closer, pulling Xu Xing’s leg towards him. He wrapped a hand around the back of Xu Xing’s head, capturing his lips in a deep kiss. His lips pressed hard, tasting and savoring, while his fingers trailed up and down Xu Xing’s inner thigh. The warmth of the kisses deepened, and Xu Xing, feeling the soft, tickling sensation, parted his lips and extended his tongue slightly. Lu Che eagerly took this chance, pulling Xu Xing’s tongue into his mouth to playfully explore. When Xu Xing tried to pull back due to the numbing soreness of his tongue, Lu Che mischievously bit it lightly, catching him off guard, then soothed the bite with gentle licks. His hands continued to squeeze and explore the tender curves of Xu Xing’s hip, drawing a soft murmur from him.

Xu Xing felt his senses blur as he leaned against Lu Che, his hand accidentally pressing against Lu Che’s toned abs as he tried to regain control. But every attempt to push Lu Che away only seemed to spur him on, his touch becoming more insistent, his kisses more fervent.

After one last intense kiss, Xu Xing finally broke free, taking deep breaths as he caught his breath. His ears caught the sound of Lu Che’s low murmurs as his lips traveled down his neck, nipping at his collarbone and marking him with soft kisses and gentle bites, leaving a trail downwards. The possessive edge in Lu Che’s actions mixed with tender care, creating a pattern of passion and gentleness. Xu Xing found it deeply satisfying, even thrilling.

Just as Xu Xing began to feel completely consumed by Lu Che’s attentions, he felt a surge of warmth across his chest as Lu Che pressed kisses against his skin, his hands roaming. Lu Che’s explorations brought Xu Xing close to the edge, leaving him caught between wanting to escape and being drawn in even closer.

Once things quieted down, they gradually settled into a comfortable silence. Lu Che wrapped his arms around Xu Xing from behind, pressing a soft kiss to the back of his neck before they both drifted into sleep.

---

The next morning, Xu Xing was messaging his younger sister, Xu Yin, when she suddenly requested a photo of the family registry book. After Xu Xing fulfilled the request, she teased him with a message:

“Is Lu Che staying over again?”

Xu Xing: “Yeah…”

Suddenly, an incoming video call invitation appeared on his phone: “Xu Yin is inviting you to a video call.”

Xu Xing hesitated but eventually accepted.

On the screen, Xu Yin’s face appeared, beautifully made up and seemingly about to go out with her roommates.

Xu Xing’s eyes landed on the red string charm she wore as a bracelet before he looked away, asking, “What are you doing?”

Xu Yin replied, “Is Lu Che with you? My roommates want to see our school’s heartthrob. Help them reset their standards for handsome guys.”

Three curious faces peered eagerly into the screen.

Xu Xing sighed, nearly ending the call then and there.

But Lu Che, who had been studying nearby, looked up when he heard his name. Xu Xing switched to the rear camera and told him, “Say hi to my sister.”

Lu Che sat up, leaning casually against the bed, looking both effortless and alluring.

To others, Lu Che might have looked like a model exuding confidence. But to Xu Xing, he just looked a bit sleepy.

Quiet comments filtered through the phone, with whispers like, “Wow, he really is handsome!” and, “Hold back, girls!”

Xu Xing inwardly scoffed. So what if he’s handsome? Lu Che was his, after all.

When Lu Che heard it was Xu Xing’s sister, he immediately sat up straighter and greeted her politely, “Hello, sister. Just so you know, Yi Ze bullies me sometimes.”

Xu Xing: “…”

Xu Yin: “…”

Though Lu Che’s comment was clearly a lighthearted attempt to entertain, Xu Yin’s tone was unexpectedly serious as she asked, “Did he give you trouble?”

Lu Che laughed and vaguely replied, “Oh, yeah.”

Xu Xing switched the camera back, catching Xu Yin smirking, only to see her clench her lips tightly. Knowing his sister well, he could tell that she’d just swallowed back a curse that had almost slipped out.

Xu Xing said, “Don’t listen to Lu Che’s nonsense. Fights are a two-way thing, anyway.”

Xu Yin shook her head and muttered, “Yi Ze is such an idiot.”

Not many people dared insult Yi Ze, especially to his face, but Xu Yin was one of the rare ones who would do it both behind his back and right in front of him. She didn’t just insult him; she was willing to throw punches, too. Similarly, Lu Che wasn’t afraid to trade blows or words with him. The biggest difference was that while Yi Ze never fought back when Xu Yin insulted him, with Lu Che, he’d be ready for a full-on showdown at the slightest disagreement.

Xu Xing found the whole thing exasperating.

Lu Che, on the other hand, found it quite satisfying.

During the summer, Xu Yin had inadvertently learned about Lu Che through Xu Xing, which left her feeling uneasy. She quickly categorized Lu Che as a spoiled rich kid and worried he might hurt Xu Xing if he ever confessed his feelings to him.

So, she decided to find out more about Lu Che through Yi Ze. While she hesitated, sighing as she broached the topic, Yi Ze finally asked, “Why do you want to know about him?”

Xu Yin mumbled something about a friend with a crush as an excuse.

Yi Ze responded, “If you like him, I’ll make sure he’s out of the picture.”

That comment had made Xu Yin furious, leading her to call him every name in the book, from “possessive jerk” to “absolute idiot.” She thought she’d knocked some sense into him, but it turned out Yi Ze was a genuine “idiot.”

Thus, the tenuous peace between Yi Ze and Lu Che had already broken down before the new term even began. When Yi Ze defended a classmate from Lu Che’s group, it wasn’t just because they’d called him “big bro Yi Ze”; it was primarily because Lu Che was on the other side.

Xu Yin didn’t bother explaining how Xu Xing and Lu Che had realized she was in touch with Yi Ze since Xu Xing had already seen them together plenty of times.

When Xu Yin ended the video call in a huff, Lu Che chuckled gleefully, saying, “Looks like Yi Ze’s whipped. How embarrassing.”

Xu Xing let out a scoff, unimpressed by Lu Che’s gloating. “And you’re any better?”

Lu Che froze for a second, then shamelessly moved closer to hug Xu Xing. “Honey~”

Xu Xing: “Get lost!”

---

Author’s Note: If Lu Che and Yi Ze ever found themselves in a group meeting for the first time, these two “tough guys” would probably expect a subtle game of rivalry. Instead, it’d likely turn into a battle of who could hide their “wife-worshiping” tendencies better.