Early the next morning, Lu Qing headed out to Jiang University to pick up Yu Li’s military training uniform.

Jiang University had a famously strict military training program—known all across the city. Unless a student had a legitimate medical condition, attendance was mandatory, and the full seven-day training had to be completed.

Lots of students tried faking medical records to get out of it, but the outcome was always the same: delayed graduation due to missing credits. That’s why Jiang U’s attendance rate for military training was the highest in the city, year after year.

Yu Li, truthfully, didn’t want to stand under the scorching sun for a week, but he didn’t want to extend his graduation either. So he had no choice but to suck it up and deal.

“Young Master, I’ve got your uniform,” Lu Qing’s voice rang out just as the sound of the car pulling into the garage faded. A few seconds later, he called from the entrance.

A little head popped up from the couch—Yu Li sat up and looked toward the door.

The A/C was on inside the villa, so the moment the front door opened, a wave of heat came rushing in. Yu Li narrowed his eyes, already filled with dread.

So hot. And he was going to be out there for seven straight days?

With his physical condition, wasn’t he just begging to faint from dehydration?

That worry didn’t go unnoticed by Lu Qing, who walked in holding the uniform and crouched down in front of him.

“Young Master, I’ll be nearby the whole time these seven days. This is your size—do you want to try it on?”

“…No.” Yu Li was totally unmotivated. “Just throw it in the wash. I’ll wear it tomorrow.”

“Alright.” Lu Qing gave him one more glance before leaving.

That pale skin peeking out from under his shorts looked like it had never seen the sun before. So soft, so delicate. If he stood in the summer sun for seven days straight, who knew if he’d get sunburned?

Better start preparing everything he’d need now.

…

The weather was hot enough that clothes dried overnight. The training opening ceremony started at 9 AM, and right at 8:20, Lu Qing showed up in Yu Li’s room with the freshly washed uniform.

Maybe it was because training was officially starting, but Yu Li did something rare: he didn’t sleep in. Lu Qing called once and he actually got up.

The uniform fit perfectly. The belt cinched around his waist, highlighting the slim curve that was usually hidden under baggy T-shirts.

Standing beside the bed, Lu Qing looked at Yu Li’s back, silently lifting both hands as if measuring something in the air.

Such a narrow waist—he could easily wrap one arm around it.

Perfect for grabbing onto those hip bones and pulling—

Lu Qing exhaled deeply, muttering to himself: Stay calm. Focus. Then reached out to fix the rumpled blanket on the bed.

From the bathroom, the sound of him making the bed could be heard. Yu Li stood in front of the mirror, dead-eyed, letting out a long sigh.

He had just finished using a hydration mist and was now slathering sunscreen all over his face.

In this 35-40°C weather, stepping outside felt like entering a giant steamer. If he didn’t apply enough sunscreen, he’d be roasted into charcoal by the end of the week.

…Speaking of charcoal, Yu Li thought of Lu Qing.

Out of everyone around him, Lu Qing definitely had the darkest skin. He looked like someone who was permanently sun-kissed—and he sure didn’t seem like the type to bother with sunscreen. Probably just slapped on some shower gel and called it a day.

Yu Li poked his head out from the bathroom and stared at the man intently making the bed. After two seconds, he silently squeezed out another glob of sunscreen.

One dark-skinned guy in the house was enough.

He couldn’t afford to match.

…

Breakfast was simple—purple sweet potato buns and soy milk. Yu Li didn’t have much of an appetite and left half untouched.

At exactly 8:55, he joined his class lineup.

Xu An had saved him a spot. When Yu Li took it, he shot a glance toward the shade under the tree—where Lu Qing was already standing, carrying a big bag.

“Your man—uh, your bodyguard, came too?”

As the background music started, the military training ceremony officially kicked off. The school leaders were giving passionate speeches on stage while Yu Li muttered below it: “If he didn’t come, who’d carry my stuff?”

Xu An noticed that Lu Qing wasn’t leaving and asked curiously, “So he’s gonna wait here for you all day? Doesn’t he have anything else to do?”

Yu Li looked over in Lu Qing’s direction. Through the gaps between students, he could see the man still staring at him—head slightly tilted back, looking kind of silly.

Yu Li chuckled softly. “He doesn’t have anything else to do. His most important task is staying by my side.”

On call 24/7.

Damn.

Xu An was stunned. As the principal’s voice rang through the speakers with some poetic line about “tempered iron bones and dazzling youth,” Xu An was still digesting Yu Li’s words.

This sounded weirdly familiar… Like those dominating CEOs from dog-blood romance novels who’d say stuff like, “Your freedom is meaningless. Your only duty now is to stay by my side and please me.”

Wait a minute. Could it be that he got the plot wrong all along?

Was this not some poor, pitiful bodyguard falling in love with the rich young master, but…

An overbearing young master forcing his love onto his golden canary?

Spicy.

This was the first time Xu An had seen a 6’3” canary.

Real life was truly wilder than fiction.

…

At 10 AM sharp, the ceremony ended. Under the instructors’ guidance, each class was led to different parts of the sports field, forming row after row of neat formations.

Yu Li’s class was taken to the far end of the red running track—right near the tree where Lu Qing was waiting.

The moment they arrived, people couldn’t help but notice Lu Qing’s towering figure. Dressed all in black, not smiling, sharp-featured and intimidating, he looked even more imposing than the instructors themselves.

He stood there like some underworld boss, except… slung across his shoulder was a soft powder-blue crossbody bag that completely didn’t match his vibe. There was even a chubby corn plushie hanging off it.

Who he was waiting for was obvious.

Whose bag it was? Also obvious.

Immediately, several curious gazes turned toward Yu Li.

He felt it instantly. Frowning just a little, he was about to snap when the instructor barked at the group, and the eyes all snapped back into place.

Day one wasn’t too intense. Just standing at attention.

But as time dragged on, the sun got more and more brutal. Sweat soaked through everyone’s shirts, dripping down backs, evaporating as soon as it hit the plastic running track.

Yu Li hadn’t checked the forecast before coming, so he had no idea how hot it actually was. All he knew was—he was dying under the sun.

To his left, Xu An was mumbling complaints like a mosquito. Yu Li wanted to complain too, but he didn’t dare open his mouth—worried a drop of sweat would roll in.

There was only an hour and a half of training left after the opening ceremony, so they weren’t given any break.

If they were on their phones, an hour and a half would be gone in a blink. But standing like statues under the blazing sun? Time crawled.

Finally, the whistle blew. Muscles that had been clenched tight for over an hour relaxed all at once.

Everyone looked drained. The collective aura of misery could probably summon three demon lords.

Most people headed toward the cafeteria. Yu Li, still dazed from the heat, just stood there, not moving.

He hadn’t done any real physical labor in six years. The most he lifted was his own suitcase, and his exposure to sunlight on a normal day barely added up to thirty minutes. Now, suddenly standing under the summer sun for this long? Even his vision was starting to blur.

Xu An wanted to ask if he wanted to head to lunch together, but before he could speak, the man under the tree had already moved—crossing the track with long strides and scooping Yu Li right into his arms.

The three guys from Dorm 506 glanced at each other, then silently zipped their mouths and turned away.

Young Master Yu had his loyal guard boyfriend waiting. They weren’t about to play third wheel.

Yu Li leaned his forehead against Lu Qing’s shoulder, feeling miserable all over.

The uniform’s fabric was trash—itchy and cheap. Now that it was drenched in sweat, it clung to his skin like sandpaper.

If it weren’t mandatory, he wouldn’t be caught dead wearing something this cheap.

After standing in the sun for so long, Yu Li’s whole body had gone soft, his legs practically buckling as he leaned into Lu Qing’s chest.

Beneath the fabric, Lu Qing’s muscles tensed instinctively at the contact. God knew how much he wanted Yu Li to just stay nestled there forever—but he resisted.

He steadied Yu Li with one hand and opened the water bottle with the other, bringing it gently to his lips. His voice was soft, coaxing: “You’ve been sweating a lot. Drink some water first… We’ll cuddle later.”

Yu Li’s throat was parched. He didn’t even have the energy to scold Lu Qing’s word choice. He sipped obediently, little by little, until he’d drained half the bottle. Then he shoved it back into Lu Qing’s chest.

Without complaint, Lu Qing put the bottle away. Seeing the boy still looking wilted, he opened his arms again. “Can I cuddle now?”

“…!!”

Yu Li smacked him right on the chest—but it was more like a paw swipe. Lu Qing barely felt it.

Instead, his voice got even gentler. “Okay, okay, no hugs. Don’t be mad. My skin’s thick, don’t hurt your hand.”

Another smack.

This time, Lu Qing pressed his lips into a thin line. Didn’t dare speak again. Didn’t dare laugh.

He was genuinely worried that if he looked too happy about getting hit, Yu Li would start thinking he was some kind of freak.

…

During lunch, Yu Li didn’t say a word. His face stayed sour even after napping through the afternoon break.

And it stayed like that all the way until the afternoon session started—at which point he looked around and realized: everyone was just as dead as him.

Xu An looked like he’d left half his soul back at the dorm. Standing there like a zombie.

And Lu Qing was still at that tree. That tall, muscular frame stood out even more now—and even the passing instructors couldn’t help but sneak glances.

But Lu Qing didn’t notice. His eyes were locked on Yu Li’s side profile—fair and sharp under the sunlight.

Then his phone buzzed.

Right on cue, as all the office workers and students were drowning in afternoon dread, a message popped up from Qin Yue:

[Yu Li started school today. You must be all alone now. Got nothing better to do? Come work for me.]

Lu Qing: [I’m with Xiao Li at military training. No time.]

Qin Yue: [?]

Qin Yue: [I heard Jiang U’s training is brutal. How’s he doing?]

Lu Qing, looking at Yu Li’s miserable sunburnt expression, felt his heart ache. He grumbled back:

[Who invented this nonsense? It’s all empty, performative crap. Xiao Li’s face is almost bleached from standing still so long.]

Qin Yue: [? Bro. You made trainees in Country Y do two-hour handstands and added twenty minutes if they trembled even once. Now Yu Li stands under the sun for a bit and you’re this soft? That’s some god-tier double standard.]

Qin Yue: [And what’s the point of you being there? It’s not like you can do the training for him.]

Lu Qing: [You don’t get it.]

[If I’m not here, who carries his bag? Who brings his water? Who holds the umbrella? Who does he lean on when he’s tired? Who does he smack when he’s annoyed? And when some clueless idiot asks for his number—who blocks them?]

[I’m essential. Yu Li can’t live without me.]

A long pause.

Qin Yue: […]

[Bro… Stop simping. You deserve to be loved back.]