Chapter 14: Don’t You Like Me Being Clingy?

Lu Tingshen had originally planned to take Ji Jinbai out for dinner, but Ji Jinbai, recalling the breakfast the man had made last time, cooed and told Lu Tingshen that he wanted to eat his cooking.

Fortunately, the fridge at home still had fresh ingredients sent over by the housekeeper, so there was no need to go to the supermarket. Lu Tingshen took him straight home.

Lu Tingshen took off his suit jacket, rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing his strong arms.

He opened the fridge and saw that there was meat, vegetables, and a few rolls of noodles inside. He turned to Ji Jinbai and asked, “What would you like to eat?”

Ji Jinbai walked over in his slippers and looked into the fridge.

“I want Tomato and Egg Noodles and steak,” he said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation as he looked at the man. Lu Tingshen chuckled softly and replied gently, “Alright.”

“Go sit in the living room and watch some TV. It’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”

Lu Tingshen wrapped an arm around his shoulders and led him out, seating him on the living room sofa before turning on the TV.

Then he went back into the kitchen. Soon after, the man came out with a plate of cut fruit, carefully prepared with a fork, and gently placed it on the table in front of Ji Jinbai.

He softly instructed, “Be good and rest here for a bit. If you’re hungry, you can have some fruit to tide you over, but don’t eat too much, or you won’t have room for dinner later.”

Ji Jinbai sat cross-legged on the sofa, leaning back with a pillow in his arms. He nodded obediently to the man, indicating that he understood.

Lu Tingshen returned to the kitchen, tied an apron around his waist, and took out the necessary ingredients from the fridge. He skillfully washed and chopped the vegetables.

The kitchen was semi-open, and the man hadn’t closed the door. From Ji Jinbai’s angle, he could clearly see the man cooking attentively.

The movie playing on the screen barely caught Ji Jinbai’s attention. His gaze was completely drawn to the figure in the kitchen.

The man was tall, and the apron tied around his waist accentuated his well-defined figure. At this moment, the man seemed quite different from his usual composed and commanding self.

As Ji Jinbai watched him, a word suddenly popped into his mind—Lu Tingshen gave him the feeling of a very domestic and nurturing husband.

Ji Jinbai covered his mouth and giggled.

He put down the pillow and quietly ran over, leaning against the doorframe, his eyes filled with tender amusement as he silently watched him.

Lu Tingshen was flipping the steak when he felt a soft touch on his back. Ji Jinbai had wrapped his arms around the man’s waist from behind.

The young man’s face gently nuzzled against his back, carrying a sense of dependence and contentment.

Lu Tingshen turned down the heat, took a couple of steps to wash his hands, and dried them with a clean cloth.

As he moved, the little tail clinging to him followed closely, the small hands unwilling to let go for even a moment.

The man couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Lu Tingshen turned around, wrapped an arm around his waist, and gently stroked his soft hair. He spoke in a tender voice, “Didn’t I tell you to stay outside? The kitchen’s full of smoke, and I don’t want you to get bothered by it.”

Ji Jinbai buried his face in the man’s chest and nuzzled against him, not saying a word.

Lu Tingshen thought he was utterly adorable at this moment. His hand caressed the young man’s slightly slender back as he looked down at his fluffy head.

With a doting and gentle tone, he said, “Why are you so clingy, hmm?”

A muffled voice came from his chest, soft and cooing, “I’m only clingy with you~”

Ji Jinbai lifted his head from the man’s chest, his eyes like a galaxy of stars as he gazed at him. He whispered, “Don’t you like me being clingy?”

Lu Tingshen scooped him up in one swift motion, causing Ji Jinbai to let out a surprised gasp and instinctively wrap his arms around Lu’s neck.

Carrying the person in his arms, Lu Tingshen left the kitchen, his gaze tender as he looked down at him, gently pinching his nose.

“I like it, no matter what you do, I like it all.”

He planted a kiss on Ji Jinbai’s cheek before setting him down on the sofa.

“Alright, sit here for a while longer. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Be good.”

Ji Jinbai nodded with a curved smile, “Okay.”

Soon after, Lu Tingshen brought out a bowl of noodles and a steak, placing them on the dining table.

He glanced over at the figure lounging haphazardly on the sofa and chuckled softly, “Jinbai, come eat.”

Ji Jinbai ran over barefoot, his eyes lighting up at the rich aroma of the tomato noodles and steak.

“It smells amazing, Lu Tingshen, you’re really something.”

“Why didn’t you put on your shoes? The floor’s cold. Go put on your slippers.”

Noticing Ji Jinbai standing barefoot on the floor, Lu Tingshen frowned and urged him to go get his slippers.

Ji Jinbai had been in such a hurry that he forgot to put on his shoes.

Ji Jinbai looked up at the man, then stepped closer to him. Lu Tingshen’s deep eyes met his.

With a playful boldness, Ji Jinbai poked Lu Tingshen’s chest.

Glancing toward the sofa, he turned back, his tone coquettish, “I don’t want to walk over there. You go get them for me.”

Lu Tingshen smiled, gently caressing Ji Jinbai’s cheek, his voice affectionate.

“Alright, now you’re ordering me around.”

Ji Jinbai grinned brightly at him, lightly pushing his arm.

“Hurry, hurry.”

Lu Tingshen sighed in mock exasperation, walked over to fetch the slippers, and Ji Jinbai obediently put them on.

The two sat down to enjoy their dinner.

Lu Tingshen ate quickly, but his manners were impeccable, even elegant, a testament to his refined dining etiquette.

Ji Jinbai took small bites of his noodles, his eyes occasionally drifting to the man eating gracefully across from him, finding the sight utterly pleasing.

After dinner, Ji Jinbai offered to do the dishes, but Lu Tingshen stopped him.

“I’ll handle it. Your hands are for painting, not for chores like this.”

Before Ji Jinbai could protest, Lu Tingshen efficiently cleared the table and headed into the kitchen.

Ji Jinbai lounged lazily on the sofa when Lu Tingshen walked over and sat down, pulling him into his arms and gently stroking his slender waist.

Ji Jinbai lazily wrapped his arms around Lu Tingshen’s neck, his fingers lightly tracing the skin at the nape of his neck.

The sensation tickled Lu Tingshen, who couldn’t help but chuckle softly, resting his head against Ji Jinbai’s.

Seeing the mischievous glint in the young man’s eyes, Lu Tingshen’s gaze darkened.

He leaned down and captured Ji Jinbai’s lips in a kiss. Ji Jinbai’s arms tightened around his neck.

Ji Jinbai’s eyes, usually bright and clear, were now closed, his long lashes fluttering slightly, betraying his nervousness.

Ji Jinbai gripped Lu Tingshen’s arm.

Lu Tingshen’s eyes darkened further as he scooped Ji Jinbai up and carried him upstairs with long strides.

Ji Jinbai clung to Lu Tingshen’s neck, obedient and pliant, as Lu Tingshen laid him down on the bed.

Lu Tingshen turned on only the bedside lamp and two wall lights, casting a warm, intimate glow over the room.

Lying on the bed, Ji Jinbai pushed lightly against the man hovering over him, “Go take a shower first.”

Lu Tingshen looked down at Ji Jinbai’s flushed, tempting face and smiled ambiguously, “We’ll shower later.”

Amused by Ji Jinbai’s childlike behavior, Lu Tingshen leaned down to tease him.

Ji Jinbai opened his shimmering eyes, glaring at him with a mix of shyness and annoyance.

Being glared at, the man felt a sense of novelty.

Under the dim light, the young man appeared gentle and delicate, his flawless collarbone something many girls could only envy.

Lu Tingshen found him utterly beautiful, his body and mind completely captivated by him.

What Lu Tingshen loved most were his straight, slender legs, smooth and hairless, as if they were made of polished jade.

Lu Tingshen kissed his tender, fair cheek.

Reaching into the drawer, he felt around but didn’t find what he was looking for, only then remembering he hadn’t prepared anything.

The man frowned, feeling a bit annoyed, and Ji Jinbai glanced at him, immediately understanding the situation.

Wrapping his arms around the man’s neck, he shyly yet boldly said it wasn’t necessary.

……