Chapter 45: I Like You

Thirty seconds passed…

One minute passed…

The two of them stood in the entrance, holding hands, staring at each other.

“…That’s it?”

“Uh, what else should there be?” Xiao Chi thought back to the content of the manual. It seemed like there was only this simple action.

Ji Chenxuan looked at him with suspicion. “What nonsense did you read again?”

“100 Secrets to Love.” Xiao Chi confessed, seeing Ji Chenxuan’s face darken, and quickly added, “Liu Bing gave it to me and told me to study it well so I can pass the teacher’s test soon.”

“…”

So, this guy only wanted to sing better.

Suddenly, Ji Chenxuan felt a sharp pain in his teeth, his cheek twitching with discomfort. He helplessly raised his hand, shaking the paw still in Xiao Chi’s grip. “I’m going to the kitchen to cook.”

“I’ll go with you!” Xiao Chi said enthusiastically.

They passed through the living room and corridor into a spacious, open kitchen. Anna had already prepared fresh vegetables and meat, neatly arranged on the cutting board.

The two of them stood in front of the glass counter. Ji Chenxuan lowered his eyes, glancing at their still-joined hands, and pursed his lips. “I’m going to cut the meat.”

Xiao Chi eagerly volunteered. “I’ll help you.”

Without further ado, he picked up the knife with his free hand and immediately demonstrated a one-handed meat-chopping technique, the blade swiftly hitting the cutting board with such speed that it left behind a series of afterimages.

Ji Chenxuan stared in disbelief. “…You can do that?!”

Dinner was served.

Ji Chenxuan’s right hand was still tightly held by Xiao Chi, almost slick with sweat, showing no intention of letting go.

He sighed helplessly. “Can I at least eat first?”

Xiao Chi, who was eating with one hand, looked up from his bowl. “Go ahead, eat.”

Ji Chenxuan pouted. “Hand.”

Xiao Chi, still fully committed to the “love rules”—holding hands at all times—responded, “You can use your left hand.”

“…I’m not left-handed.”

With that, Xiao Chi picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and brought it to Ji Chenxuan’s mouth. “Ah, open up.”

Ji Chenxuan swallowed nervously, slowly opening his mouth to accept the food, half-resisting, half-enjoying Xiao Chi’s feeding service. His cheekbones flushed a light pink, and his mind was a mess of thoughts. Could it be that my good days are finally here?

He had to thank Liu Bing for coming up with this crazy idea. Ji Chenxuan secretly laughed to himself.

But soon, he stopped laughing.

Xiao Chi and Ji Chenxuan were stuck at the bathroom door, with steam swirling out and misting up their faces.

“I’m going to take a shower and use the bathroom. Why are you following me?”

“I can help you,” Xiao Chi replied seriously.

Ji Chenxuan was at a loss for words. “What do you need to help me with in the bathroom?”

Xiao Chi actually thought for a moment. “Help you take off your pants?”

“…” Ji Chenxuan’s ears turned bright red, and he almost choked on his own breath from laughing so hard.

Xiao Chi quickly pulled out the first page of the “Love Manual” and said seriously, “In love, you always hold hands. So, I should go in with you.”

Ji Chenxuan, using his other hand, helplessly covered his face and sighed deeply. “It doesn’t mean always—it’s just an exaggerated way of saying it.”

Xiao Chi widened his eyes. “So the book lies?”

“No…” Ji Chenxuan was completely at a loss, grabbing the manual and handing over the second page. “This is more appropriate!”

Xiao Chi looked closely. “Second tip: Go on a date?”

“Yes!” Ji Chenxuan took a deep breath, quickly recovering from his earlier embarrassment, and smiled meaningfully. “Tomorrow is the weekend, so we’ll take the day off and go on a date. You said you wanted to experience love, right? Well, without a date, how can you call it love?”

—

The Next Day.

President Ji forcefully canceled his original schedule, freeing up the whole day to take Xiao Chi on a date. Liu Bing had no choice but to wait, as who could oppose the boss?

Ji Chenxuan, with his phone on flight mode, soared through the sky for nearly two hours, folding the wings and descending onto a small island by the sea.

From the sky, the various sizes of coral reefs surrounded a heart-shaped island, scattered like pearls across the blue sea.

Lover’s Bay, also known as “Red Pink Beach,” was a famous love destination. It was currently the off-season for tourism, and there were few visitors on the island. Almost everyone walking along the path was a couple.

The night before, Ji Chenxuan had instructed Zhou Tong to reserve a private beach to avoid any disturbances from outsiders.

Blue skies, white clouds, green trees, and the sea waves, which washed up onto the sand, transitioning from a clear blue to a vibrant pink. The entire beach was made from coral powder, and walking barefoot on it felt soft and smooth, as if strolling on a pink carpet.

Even the air seemed to carry the sweet scent of love.

Having lived in the steel-and-concrete metropolis for so long, it was Xiao Chi’s first time experiencing such a natural wonder. He rolled up his pant legs and ran excitedly on the beach, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

This private beach was just for the two of them. Ji Chenxuan had his hands in his pockets, leisurely following Xiao Chi, stepping in his footprints as they strolled along.

In this moment, all the noise and restlessness seemed to fade away, and the entire world settled down. Their minds emptied, free from work, worries, and grudges.

There was no love filled with uncertainty, no feelings half-understood or confusing.

Only the salty sea breeze, the bright spring sunlight, and each other’s smiles remained.

The waves crashed onto the shore one after another. Xiao Chi stepped into the shallow water, ran around in the waves, and then came back. Ji Chenxuan brushed the bits of sand off his face and smiled softly, “Do you want to get in the water and play?”

Xiao Chi sighed regretfully, “I can’t swim.”

“You really have skills you can’t do?” Ji Chenxuan laughed, “I thought you were good at everything.”

Xiao Chi grumbled, “I don’t need this skill, so I never learned it. But if you teach me, I can pick it up quickly.”

Ji Chenxuan shrugged, “I can’t swim either.”

“Then why did you bring me to the beach?”

“Do you see that big rock up ahead?” Ji Chenxuan walked up to Xiao Chi, taking his hand.

On the beach, there was a naturally-formed, concave, shallow curve, with a massive rock embedded in the sea. Its smooth surface appeared as though it had been split by a giant axe, the edges worn down by years of seawater, making it look like a heart half-lying in the sea.

Ji Chenxuan led him to the other side of the rock, and Xiao Chi’s eyes widened in surprise as he let out a soft “huh.”

The side of the rock had not been washed by the sea, and it was covered in countless indentations, with many short arrows stuck inside the holes. There were more arrows that had fallen out, which were retrieved by specialized staff for recycling.

“What is that?”

Ji Chenxuan took two specially-made arrows from a smart rental machine, handing one to Xiao Chi. The arrows were slightly heavy, short and thin, with no arrowheads, making them harmless to people. They were just the right size to fit into the holes in the rock.

“Have you heard of Cupid? In Western legends, the messenger of love shoots arrows into the hearts of two people, and they fall in love.”

Xiao Chi became curious, “Really? Is love that simple?”

Ji Chenxuan chuckled, shaking his head, “Of course not, it’s just a romantic legend. It’s just for fun, no harm done. These arrows are made from a special alloy, very strong, able to withstand wind and sun. They symbolize unwavering, steadfast love…”

Xiao Chi held the two arrows in his hands, curiously bending them—

The rest of the sentence got stuck in his throat. Ji Chenxuan watched as the short arrow let out a faint cry and bent.

“…………”

Xiao Chi scratched his head awkwardly. “Uh… they aren’t that strong.”

Ji Chenxuan sighed weakly, holding his forehead. “What was I thinking, bringing you here!”

If this blockhead could understand the hints, it would be a miracle!

Xiao Chi realized he had made a mistake and looked at Ji Chenxuan helplessly. “Are you upset?”

He held the bent arrow and pointed to the “stone heart” nearby. “If I stick them in, would you be happy?”

“It’s not just about sticking them in,” Ji Chenxuan shook his head slowly, his heart full of mixed emotions. He let out a bitter laugh. “Forget it, don’t worry about it. It’s just a silly trick for men and women to deceive themselves.”

He took Xiao Chi’s hand and walked back, silent the entire way. Xiao Chi couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong. His once exuberant mood felt like it had been covered by a layer of haze, dull and uncomfortable.

It wasn’t until they had walked a long way along the coastline, and people began to appear, that Ji Chenxuan asked him to put on a hat and sunglasses to avoid being recognized.

“Ji Chenxuan, look! Someone jumped into the sea!” Xiao Chi suddenly grabbed his arm, pointing ahead at a figure rapidly descending from a tall tower.

“He didn’t jump into the sea, that’s bungee jumping. It’s an extreme sport. There’s a rope attached,” Ji Chenxuan squinted and observed for a while before suddenly asking, “Do you want to try it?”

Xiao Chi’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “I want to try it.”

Ji Chenxuan, who never liked to refuse his requests, smiled. “Wait here, I’ll make arrangements.”

When they reached the bungee jumping tower, the few tourists who had been there earlier had scattered, and a sign was hung at the entrance indicating that the business was paused for an hour.

On the tower, the sea breeze howled around them, untamed, and the waves were strong. The vast blue sea shimmered under the sunlight, sparkling like gold.

The staff efficiently secured the safety ropes for both of them. Xiao Chi craned his neck to look at the sea below.

The surging waves seemed to hide a fierce beast beneath the surface, ready to swallow anyone whole. The distance from top to bottom was enough to kill someone several times over. Just one glance was enough to send a chill down one’s spine, with goosebumps rising all over the body. Many people had backed out at this point.

Ji Chenxuan clearly wasn’t new to bungee jumping. His expression remained calm as he gently tightened his grip on Xiao Chi’s hand. “Are you scared?”

Xiao Chi had never experienced anything like this before, and his body’s natural response was uncontrollable. His organs were thumping wildly in his chest. He hesitated, nodded, then shook his head.

“Are you scared or not?”

“A little,” Xiao Chi said softly. “But if you’re here, I’m not as scared.”

He pursed his lips and smiled at Ji Chenxuan, a smile tinged with a little hesitation, a bit of shyness, and an indescribable joy.

It was like being fearless even in the darkness of the night, like being alone in an unfamiliar world but not feeling lonely.

Ji Chenxuan gazed at him intently. A beam of sunlight broke through the layers of clouds and shone into his eyes. His heart suddenly softened to the point of feeling vulnerable.

What was he hesitating about?

Endless waiting, never receiving a response. He didn’t understand, so he just opened up his chest.

Let’s just fall deeper into this, to possess this person, by whatever means necessary, whether it’s tying him up or locking him away!

“If you’re scared, hold my hand. Never let go. When we’re back on land… I’ll tell you a secret.”

Xiao Chi blinked. “What secret? I want to know now!”

Ji Chenxuan didn’t answer, only softly reminded, “Are you ready? I’ll count to three, and we’ll jump together. When we reach the bottom, a boat will come to pick us up.”

“One, two, three, jump—”

The world flipped upside down!

The sky spun as they fell, the howling wind rushing past, its force making the eardrums hum.

The intense sensation of weightlessness wildly stimulated the cerebral cortex, and his heart felt as if it were about to leap out of his chest, only to plummet endlessly into the deep sea.

He couldn’t hear anything anymore, couldn’t think of anything. The only thing left in the world was their hands tightly clasped together, providing him with a sense of stability and reality.

Xiao Chi’s mind went completely blank, his eyes wide open. The physiological shock was impossible to overcome. Tears as big as beans rolled down his forehead, defying gravity, before being whipped away by the force of the fall.

Is this… the feeling of dying?

He had spent so much time in front of the computer, in the infinite depths of darkness, always dazed and numb, but he had never felt such an intense sense of approaching death!

Was something gripping his arm, holding him close around the waist?

Xiao Chi struggled to turn his head, and Ji Chenxuan was staring at him without blinking, holding him tightly. Their chests were pressed together, and thump-thump, thump-thump, whose heartbeat was pounding like a drum?

Suddenly, Xiao Chi had an epiphany—if he were really going to die, at least Ji Chenxuan would be by his side.

The safety rope quickly stretched to its limit, pulling them both upwards, swinging like a pendulum in mid-air.

The speed of their ascent slowed, and Xiao Chi finally exhaled a sigh of relief from the extreme pressure. While waiting to descend, his tear-streaked, runny-nosed face was buried in Ji Chenxuan’s shoulder, making soft, animal-like sounds.

Ji Chenxuan held him tightly, a deep laugh spilling from his throat as he gently patted his back. “Don’t be afraid, it’s over… we won’t play this again, okay?”

The staff had already been waiting on a yacht out on the water, ready to pick them up.

The waves were even bigger than before. The yacht bobbed up and down, like a small boat drifting on the sea. Xiao Chi barely reached the side of the boat, half-sitting and leaning against it, still feeling light-headed. He waited for the staff to untie the safety rope from his feet.

Bungee jumping was exhilarating… he thought, still dizzy, but he never wanted to do it again…

But Ji Chenxuan said he had a secret to tell him. What could it be?

Whoosh—

The sea breeze blew so hard that Xiao Chi could hardly keep his eyes open. The last of his tears evaporated quickly. His limbs felt like they didn’t belong to him, weak and limp. As he saw Ji Chenxuan being lowered to the boat as well, he shakily got up, trying to reach him.

Suddenly, a fierce wind picked up—

A huge wave tilted the yacht, and Xiao Chi’s foot slipped. His balance wavered, and before he knew it, he had accidentally flipped over the side of the boat and fell into the sea!

“Xiao Chi!” Ji Chenxuan’s face instantly turned pale, his nerves snapping. Without thinking, his body reacted before his brain could, and he jumped straight into the sea after him!

He caught him!

Ji Chenxuan gripped Xiao Chi’s hand tightly. A wave crashed over them, instantly throwing both of them several meters away. He struggled to keep afloat, then realized that neither he nor Xiao Chi could swim!

The cold, salty seawater quickly submerged them, flooding their ears, noses, and mouths, dragging them down into the sea like weights.

The staff on the yacht were terrified out of their wits and immediately jumped into the water to rescue them.

After much scrambling and effort, they finally managed to get the two of them back to shore. Someone rushed to call for a doctor. Xiao Chi coughed up several mouthfuls of water, then collapsed on the couch in the shore lounge, taking deep breaths. Ji Chenxuan wasn’t much better off, his whole body drenched, shivering in the chilly April air.

“You… nearly scared me to death…” He grabbed a towel and scrubbed Xiao Chi’s face forcefully.

His other hand still clung tightly to his, as if he was afraid that if he let go, Xiao Chi might disappear.

After changing into dry clothes, both of them were so exhausted that they couldn’t move a single finger. Xiao Chi gradually regained some strength, leaning against Ji Chenxuan like a dried-out fish. “You can’t swim… so why did you jump in?”

Ji Chenxuan remained silent for a long time, then held him even more tightly, as though he wanted to press him into his body, embed him into his very bones.

It wasn’t until Xiao Chi nearly struggled to breathe that he faintly heard the hoarse voice in his ear:

“…^[1]“The woodcutter asked the tree for an axe handle, and the tree gave it to him” is a metaphor often used to symbolize self-sacrifice, unconditional giving, or love that offers a part of … Continue readingThe woodcutter asked the tree for an axe handle, and the tree gave it to him…”

Xiao Chi felt like his mind had rusted, staring at him in confusion.

Ji Chenxuan had anticipated that he wouldn’t understand. He smiled softly, buried his face in Xiao Chi’s neck, took a deep breath, and said, his voice as light and ethereal as a poem:

“Because… I like you… more than life itself…”