The events that unfolded on the sports field this afternoon spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the school forum as soon as the military training ended. The video of Yu Li’s muscular boyfriend carrying the little chick Xu Baicheng to the small garden went viral, with comments ranging from “xswl¹” to “Weiwu Bro’s boyfriend power kdl².”

Weiwu Bro is Lu Qing. Since no one knew his name and couldn’t keep referring to him as “he” or “that guy,” the students on the forum decided to give him a special nickname after today’s incident where he scared off a rival with such might and dominance.

This gossip was the biggest scandal at Jiang University since the start of the school year. Pei Yu, always at the forefront of surfing the web, naturally saw the post immediately.

After finishing his meal and lying on the bed, Yu Li received a barrage of messages from Pei Yu.

Pei Wo Dian Qian Ba: [Share link: First-hand gossip from military training! Full video, come quickly! 【Click to jump】]

Pei Wo Dian Qian Ba: [Whoa, such a big thing happened today!! Why didn’t you tell me!]

Pei Wo Dian Qian Ba: [Ahhhhh, I was on the other side of the field, miles away from you, or I would’ve loved to be there for the gossip firsthand ahhhhh!!]

Yu Li tried to calm him down: [Calm down first]

Pei Yu wasn’t listening: [You have no idea how shocked I was when I checked the forum today. And because it involves you and Xu Baicheng, many young people from prominent families in Jiang Cheng know about it. They didn’t dare to ask you, so they came to me with a million questions.]

Pei Wo Dian Qian Ba: [By the way, did your bodyguard really hit Xu Baicheng? Otherwise, why did he run so fast like he was being chased by a dog?]

Yu Li: “…”

Yu Li replied: [Didn’t hit him]

Pei Yu was puzzled: [Didn’t hit him? Then why was he so scared?]

Yu Li: “.”

Maybe it was just a natural reaction to feeling threatened.

Yu Li didn’t explain, but Pei Yu filled in the blanks himself: [Not to mention, the male model bro is really intimidating when he’s angry. His look was like he wanted to tear Xu Baicheng apart. It’s normal for Xu Baicheng to be scared. He’s really embarrassed this time; the whole forum is laughing at him.]

He added: [By the way, Xiao Li, Xu Baicheng is petty. You should tell the male model bro to be careful these days.]

Looking at Pei Yu’s last message, Yu Li’s eyes lowered slightly, and he replied: [Lu Qing is my man; he wouldn’t dare.]

Pei Yu agreed but still reminded him: [He wouldn’t dare do anything big, but after military training, you’ll have classes, and Lu Qing can’t always be with you. You still need to watch out for small tricks.]

Small tricks.

Xu Baicheng indeed takes after his father, liking to play small tricks in private.

But for some reason, Yu Li felt deep down that those so-called small tricks were nothing Lu Qing couldn’t handle.

Just like how easily he dragged Xu Baicheng off the field.

…

For a whole hour, Pei Yu kept Yu Li chatting about all sorts of school gossip until the door was knocked from outside. Lu Qing came in with a plate of fruit, and Yu Li finally put down his phone.

Tonight’s fruit was cherries, piled one on top of the other, bright red and juicy.

Since they were just taken out of the fridge and washed, they still had glistening water droplets on them.

The man placed the transparent bowl of cherries on the bedside table, glanced at Yu Li’s curled-up legs, and naturally sat down on the edge of the bed. He scooped up the nearest leg and rested it on his own thigh.

These past few days of military training, he had been massaging Yu Li’s legs every night, which had become an unspoken routine between them. Today was no exception.

Yu Li was already used to the physical contact with Lu Qing. Feeling the strength of those big hands kneading his calf, he sat up, adjusted to a more comfortable position, and started eating the cherries.

For a moment, the room was silent. Lu Qing focused on massaging his legs, looking very calm.

However, even without any eye contact, Yu Li felt that the man seemed to have something on his mind.

If he was hesitating to speak, it was probably about Xu Baicheng.

Afraid of the Xu family’s retaliation?

Judging by Lu Qing’s furious state today, it didn’t seem likely.

Then what was it?

Yu Li couldn’t guess, so he chewed on a cherry and poked Lu Qing’s arm, asking somewhat indistinctly, “Do you want to tell me something?”

Lu Qing didn’t expect Yu Li to be so perceptive. He hadn’t said a word, yet the other could see through his thoughts.

Could it be that after living together for so long, they were starting to have a tacit understanding?

Thinking of this, Lu Qing couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Just as he finished laughing, he got a solid slap on the shoulder.

The satisfaction of being slapped was quite something, and Lu Qing quietly behaved himself.

Seeing he wasn’t laughing anymore, Yu Li raised his chin at him, “Spit it out.”

“Ahem.” Lu Qing cleared his throat uncomfortably, “Actually… it’s not something worth bringing up.”

As soon as he said this lame excuse, Lu Qing felt a chill in his lower abdomen.

He looked down to see Yu Li’s foot, which had been properly resting on his thigh, now pressing against his abs.

The room had the air conditioning on, and Yu Li’s foot was a bit cold. But as soon as it touched Lu Qing’s abs, the chill quickly dissipated in the man’s warm body heat.

Clearly, Yu Li was speechless at his excuse and, finding the position convenient, decided to give him a kick. But the kick was soft and lacked force.

The soft foot of the young master suddenly pressed against such a sensitive area. Even knowing the other had no ulterior motives and just wanted to kick him, Lu Qing couldn’t help but let his mind wander.

“Young Master…”

Sitting made it hard to exert force, and Yu Li didn’t expect his kick to have such a teasing effect.

Feeling the hot, defined contours of the abs under his foot, a hint of embarrassment rose in his heart. He mumbled, “I kicked the wrong place,” while trying to pull his foot back.

“You did kick the wrong place.” Lu Qing muttered almost inaudibly.

It should’ve been a bit lower, where it was even hotter than the abs.

After mumbling this, he grabbed Yu Li’s slender ankle and pulled that white foot back onto his abs.

“Xiao Li, your foot is cold. Let me warm it up.”

Now, the young master wasn’t called anymore.

Yu Li glanced at the man’s abs, which were tense from exertion, and didn’t pull his foot back. He just shot him a glare and said fiercely, “Spit it out!”

“It’s just…”

Lu Qing’s hand holding Yu Li’s ankle started to rub unconsciously.

His palm was calloused, making Yu Li feel a bit ticklish.

“It’s just…”

Yu Li couldn’t help but click his tongue, and his young master’s temper flared up. He was about to pull his foot away: “Forget it, I don’t want to hear it.”

“Okay, okay!” Lu Qing leaned forward to stop him, and in the commotion, Yu Li’s foot pressed even deeper and lower, stopping just at the lower abdomen.

The man’s body froze, and looking at the displeased boy in front of him, he spoke again, his breath seemingly heavier: “Today, that Xu young master said that with the relationship between the Yu and Xu families, you two would eventually have an arranged marriage.”

“I just wanted to ask, young master, would you really have an arranged marriage with Xu young master?”

Yu Li was stunned for a moment, not even caring if his foot was too low, and asked, “You hesitated for so long just to ask this?”

Lu Qing didn’t speak, just stared at him with those dark eyes.

Their gazes met in the air, and Yu Li picked up a richly colored cherry and popped it into his mouth, answering without hesitation, “No.”

Lu Qing’s eyes visibly brightened, and he asked, “Really?”

“Really. What good would it do me to lie to you?” Yu Li chewed.

“But Xu young master said,” Lu Qing looked at Yu Li’s lips stained red by the juice, his fingers rubbing the ankle slowly moving up, circling lightly: “You two grew up together, childhood sweethearts, with deep feelings that outsiders can’t easily interfere with.”

Hearing such a disgusting statement, Yu Li couldn’t help but frown, asking with some difficulty, “Did he say that when you dragged him to the garden?”

Actually, no. When Lu Qing dragged him away, Xu Baicheng only said three things to him—

“You toad wanting to eat swan meat, you dead bodyguard, trying to embarrass me in front of Xiao Li, huh? Let me go if you dare, and we’ll fight one-on-one!”

“What kind of look is that? You’re not going to hit me, are you?! I’m the eldest young master of the Xu family, and you, a mere bodyguard, dare to touch me?!”

“What did you say?? Beat my **?? Are you crazy!!! Let me go now!!”

Recalling this, Lu Qing nodded without hesitation, “Yes.”

Yu Li didn’t hesitate either: “He’s lying.”

These four words made Lu Qing feel like he was floating with happiness. Just as he was about to speak, a pretty face leaned in, looking at him suspiciously, “Why are you asking this? Do you care a lot about me having an arranged marriage with Xu Baicheng?”

Lu Qing froze, and in the instant he met those clear eyes, he had the illusion of being seen through.

Afraid of Yu Li noticing anything, the joy and relief that had just risen in his heart froze in place, not daring to overstep.

Facing Yu Li’s question and gaze, Lu Qing turned his head, answering softly, “No, I just think Xu Baicheng isn’t good enough for you. An arranged marriage with him would be too much of a grievance for the young master.”

After he finished speaking, Yu Li didn’t respond, but Lu Qing could clearly feel the young master’s gaze lingering on his face.

Eyes, nose, lips, every part bore the traces of Yu Li’s gaze.

Lu Qing’s heart tightened slightly, wanting to say something, but Yu Li had already smiled and said, “You’re right, he’s not good enough for me. Alright, the fruit’s finished, and my foot’s warm. I’m going to sleep.”

With that, he lightly pressed his leg against the man’s tense abs, signaling him to let go.

The foot was already in a rather dangerous position, and as Yu Li exerted force, Lu Qing felt a rush of heat rapidly descend, ignite, and explode where Yu Li had stepped.

The next second, he released the ankle, standing up abruptly.

His movements were swift as lightning, and before Yu Li could even see clearly, the man had taken the empty bowl of cherries and swept out of the room like a gust of wind.

The man’s hurried “goodnight” also dissipated with the sound of the door closing.

Yu Li stared at the closed door for a moment before slowly spreading the blanket and wrapping himself up.

He rubbed his feet together, feeling the unusual warmth lingering on one of them, and murmured softly, “Such a fiery temper.”

1. LOL ↩︎
2. Ship ↩︎