Chu Lai had always been a low-key student ever since he was young.

Maybe his grades weren’t good enough to qualify as an “excellent” student, but at least his behavior was always satisfactory to the teachers. He never caused trouble and was obedient. If only his presence wasn’t so low that people often forgot about him, it would’ve been even better.

As a result, Chu Lai’s school days didn’t involve any activities like giving speeches under the national flag, performing in arts shows, or doing any social practice that required him to stand out.

But he never expected that all of this would come back at his wedding—

escaping from the wedding in the snow.

Outside, snow was falling heavily, just as the weather forecast had predicted for today. But it rarely snowed in S city, so this was the first time Chu Lai realized how even snow falling on an umbrella had weight.

Under the umbrella felt like a world cut off from everything else. He unconsciously followed Cen Wei forward, as if this would be their future too. Perhaps it would still be a vast, snowy landscape ahead, but he now had someone to walk beside him.

With the heavy snow and it being a popular holiday, Chu Lai realized as soon as he got into the car that they were stuck in traffic again. The road around the lake was filled with cars, and the long causeway leading to the heart of the lake was dotted with people holding umbrellas, walking in the snow.

The world was vast and white, but not desolate.

Chu Lai asked Cen Wei, “Where are we going?”

The man driving responded simply, “No idea.”

Chu Lai turned to look at Cen Wei. The traffic was still jammed, and the car’s radio was playing the local traffic station, reminding people to travel safely.

Cen Wei tilted his head and asked, “Do you have a place in mind?”

“In this kind of weather, going straight home seems like a waste, doesn’t it?”

Chu Lai caught on to the hint, “Are you suggesting something?”

Cen Wei also understood, “I didn’t mean that.”

But Chu Lai didn’t argue, “Then let’s go to my place.”

Cen Wei was stunned for a few seconds. “Your place?”

Chu Lai nodded, “My old home.”

He entered an address into the GPS, and a female voice announced the destination was still in the old part of the city, quite far away, with several routes planned out.

Cen Wei glanced at the drive time and the traffic situation, then nodded, “Let’s hope we can get there before dark.”

He asked Chu Lai, “Are you hungry? Seems like we’ll be stuck here for a while.”

Chu Lai looked out the window. “I ate a lot of snacks, so I’m not hungry. Are you?”

The wedding was officially held at noon, but it was delayed due to the snow. Thankfully, the wedding team had prepared for this, and at least Liu Yuan had texted Chu Lai to say that the food at the banquet was quite good.

His friend even asked thoughtfully, “Aren’t you hungry after running away?”

The teasing had long surpassed subtlety. His earlier congratulations for the wedding night had already been filled with suggestive winks.

Chu Lai sent a few emojis in reply before putting down his phone.

Outside, the snowflakes continued to drift. He glanced at the pedestrians taking pictures by the roadside, and Cen Wei smiled, “We can grab something to eat when we get there. You should know the place better.”

The person in the passenger seat, however, didn’t appreciate the gesture. “You make it sound like you didn’t go to high school there too.”

Cen Wei replied, “That was so long ago. How could it be the same now?”

He asked again, “Do you go back there often?”

Chu Lai shook his head, “Not really.”

His phone kept buzzing with notifications, and Cen Wei’s wasn’t any different. It was mostly messages about how both grooms had run off on their wedding day.

The next second, Chu Lai pulled a candy out of his pocket and handed it to Cen Wei, “Want one?”

Since it was already in his hand, Cen Wei had no reason to refuse. He nodded, “But I don’t want mango flavor.”

Chu Lai blinked, “You don’t like mango?”

He realized that he didn’t know much about Cen Wei after all. The man, who was holding the steering wheel, shook his head and even added, “I want blueberry.”

When Chu Lai gave him his own blueberry-flavored candy, the other party then said he didn’t want it.

After a back-and-forth, Chu Lai finally understood that Cen Wei was just messing with him.

Both of them had wedding boutonnieres pinned to their chests, clearly showing they had just gotten married. The left lane began to clear, but their lane was still stuck. It was evident that the traffic was unusually bad, with people even getting out of their cars to take pictures. The snowflakes danced in the air, and the view of the lake in the snow was quite picturesque.

Chu Lai unwrapped a blueberry candy and popped it into his mouth, “Eat it or leave it.”

Cen Wei chuckled, “So fierce?”

His suit today looked expensive. With silver embroidery at the collar of his folded shirt, his puffed-out cheeks from the candy diminished his otherwise dignified appearance by half. He and Chu Lai were dressed in matching outfits, making them look like high school boys trying to wear adult clothes. The awkwardness of youth showed clearly when Chu Lai glared at him.

Chu Lai glanced at him, unwilling to engage, and unlocked his phone with one hand to check something.

He still didn’t like face-recognition locks, preferring to enter his password manually. But before he could finish typing the last number, someone pulled him over, cupping his face. The next second, Cen Wei kissed him, domineeringly prying open his lips as if trying to steal all the blueberry flavor from his mouth.

Chu Lai nearly couldn’t breathe. When the kiss was over, the man chuckled softly and stroked Chu Lai’s cheek.

But the candy was gone, and Chu Lai pressed his lips together, “Wasn’t that a bit too much?”

He mumbled, “I’ve only ever seen this kind of thing in manga. Who actually does this in real life?”

Cen Wei grinned, “Is it from that book on your shelf, Pure-Hearted High Schooler Who Doesn’t Plan to Live Properly?”

Chu Lai had just bought that last month and hadn’t finished reading it yet.

It was a romance manga with a tagline that promised “sweetness to the point of heartache” but Chu Lai had been too busy to read the physical copy.

He was the type who, once he bought a physical copy, couldn’t bear to read the digital version online. He felt it was a waste, so he kept delaying, only to find out that Cen Wei had read it.

Chu Lai asked, “When did you read it?”

Cen Wei replied, “On the way out for sampling. I bought the digital version.”

It was still snowing outside, and the navigation kept warning about heavy traffic ahead. The car’s heater was on, and Cen Wei was smiling at Chu Lai. Chu Lai responded, “No spoilers.”

When Chu Lai first met Cen Wei chatting by the roadside, he felt this person was full of contradictions. He looked like a business elite, but when talking about Chu Lai’s hobbies, he could keep up easily.

After living together, Chu Lai had also checked out Cen Wei’s bookshelf. It could be summarized like this: if Chu Lai owned it, so did he; if Chu Lai couldn’t get his hands on it, Cen Wei already had it. His collection was so extensive he could probably start a secondhand bookstore.

Cen Wei said, “I won’t spoil it.”

With his mouth now empty, Chu Lai opened the mango-flavored candy and said, “The manga is more romantic than real life.”

Cen Wei chuckled, “Want to do it again?”

Chu Lai said, “You’re driving. Focus on safety.”

Though he sounded righteous, he was already reminiscing about the kiss. Cen Wei didn’t say more, and by the time they reached Chu Lai’s old home, it was almost dusk.

Their parents had called them on the way, but no one scolded the two runaway grooms.

Cen Jianxun was in high spirits, telling them to enjoy their wedding night.

The term “wedding night” might not sound awkward in writing, but it was enough to leave Chu Lai speechless for a while. “Grandpa really is…”

Cen Wei added, “Too straightforward.”

Chu Lai said, “Saying those four words aloud just sounds weird.”

Cen Wei asked teasingly, “What’s weird about it?”

Chu Lai muttered, “It makes people’s minds wander.”

By saying this, he was also hinting to Cen Wei that he, too, was thinking about it. However, it was Cen Wei who tightened his grip on the steering wheel, seemingly stirred by the suggestion.

Chu Lai’s childhood home was on a narrow street. The area was still a residential zone, with stores that looked somewhat unorganized. Some of the two-story buildings were so narrow they looked like slices.

Suddenly, Cen Wei realized he had some vague memories of this place. His grandmother used to love watching shows about old house renovations, often marveling at how talented the designers were, turning a twenty-square-meter house into a living space for six people.

They parked outside, and the snow had stopped.

The umbrella that had stolen the spotlight at the wedding had now become the subject of conversation, thanks to Cen Jianxun.

The two of them had barely touched their phones while out, so they had no idea that the ten-second video of them holding an umbrella and escaping the wedding in the snow had blown up on several social media platforms.

Many people thought it was a scene from a TV drama, asking when it would air.

Some even recognized the background as the wedding venue of a well-known hotel in S city, while others were asking where they could buy the beautiful umbrella that Cen Wei had been holding.

Lianxin Umbrellas, an old brand in the umbrella industry, hadn’t kept up with marketing trends under Cen Jianxun’s management. But once Cen Wei officially took over, he changed their approach.

Now, the marketing team was full of young people who loved stirring things up, frequently causing a stir on trending topics, and their advertising was always unique.

Of course, they wouldn’t miss the chance to capitalize on their boss’s wedding. As the video went viral, they seized the opportunity to link it to their company.

The wedding became a hot topic of conversation. The Cen family had a great reputation in the industry, and many guests had received wedding favors, including umbrellas and souvenirs. Some guests were even sharing pictures of the umbrellas they received on social media as the video gained popularity.

The umbrellas given out as wedding favors weren’t yet available for sale, and the styles were tailored to match the age of the guests, so there wasn’t much overlap. Sharing the gifts on social media only added to their prestige, and the image of the two grooms leaving hand in hand made a lasting impression on many people.

Shen Yangxu hadn’t expected that attending his boss’s wedding would also mean working during the event. Realizing that this was the perfect time to launch the “Zhu Xian” series, he voluntarily agreed to work through the holiday, messaging Cen Wei: “Pay me more! I want the highest bonus tier!!! And a cut of the project revenue!!”

Meanwhile, the people at the heart of the viral snowy wedding video were standing on a street in the old part of town, chatting with each other about their grandparents’ youth.

It was already evening, and the small restaurants along the street were bustling. Chu Lai pointed out to Cen Wei what these stores had looked like more than ten years ago.

Still feeling the cold, Chu Lai wore an overcoat over his suit, one of Cen Wei’s coats. But the way they were dressed made them stand out here. Even someone like Chu Lai, who wasn’t bothered by how others looked at him, felt a bit shy about buying street food. So, he directly took Cen Wei to his childhood home instead.

This area was a maze of twists and turns, full of old houses. Chu Lai’s home was on the first floor, and just when Cen Wei wondered if Chu Lai had forgotten the key, he was surprised to see it was a code lock.

He asked, “You changed the lock?”

Chu Lai nodded, “I hate carrying keys.”

As the door opened, the smell of old times wafted out. Chu Lai turned on the lights and found two pairs of slippers. He entered first to pull off the dust covers.

“I come here occasionally to spend the night. I don’t like hiring cleaners, so I usually clean it myself.”

The house was about sixty square meters, with two bedrooms and one living room. The kitchen seemed to be outside, which fit the style of the old alleys in S city.

The lightbulb wasn’t very bright. Chu Lai hung his overcoat and suit jacket on the side and went to change his clothes.

He liked to wear loose clothing. He had gone inside as a noble young man and came out looking like an ordinary college student. Holding a small card, he walked over to Cen Wei and asked, “What do you want to eat?”

“Isn’t there a delivery app for this area?” asked Cen Wei.

“The owner of this place delivers personally,” replied Chu Lai. “They say the platform fees are too high, and if we order by phone, we get a free big chicken claw.”

He was so familiar with the process that it made Cen Wei laugh. Chu Lai slapped the menu card against his chest, “Hurry up and pick something. I’m starving.”

He went over to boil some water. Everything here carried a sense of nostalgia, including the small TV.

The wall had a family photo hanging on it, featuring the grandmother Chu Lai had mentioned before.

Imagining Chu Lai coming here alone to clean and eat by himself made a wave of loneliness wash over him. Unable to resist, Cen Wei asked, “Did you ever bring Shen Quanzhang here?”

Chu Lai shook his head, boiling the water while finding clothes for Cen Wei to wear.

Surprised, Cen Wei asked, “You dated for so long, and you never brought him here?”

The floor tiles were old-fashioned floral tiles. Chu Lai washed two cups and replied, “The facilities here aren’t great. There was one time I was planning to come here, and he was with me, but as soon as we got off the bus, something came up at work, and he had to leave.”

Satisfied, Cen Wei said, “Then I’m the first.”

He was tall, and standing in the low-ceilinged house made the place feel even more cramped, completely out of sync with his aura. Yet Chu Lai could hear the pride in his voice, calling him childish as he watched the steam rise from the kettle.

“So, have you decided what to eat?” asked Chu Lai.

“You order. I’ll eat anything,” replied Cen Wei.

He added, “Since it’s our wedding day, can we order a bit more?”

Chu Lai agreed, “Sure.”

“And… are we staying here tonight?” asked Cen Wei.

Surprised, Chu Lai looked at him as if he hadn’t thought of that.

But without saying anything, Cen Wei simply held the takeaway menu card between his fingers, his gaze fixed on Chu Lai.

The old kettle whistled as the water boiled. Chu Lai got the hint and said, “I didn’t bring any condoms.”

“I swear, I didn’t plan on doing anything here. Do you believe me?” said Cen Wei.

“Oh,” replied Chu Lai. The kettle switched off automatically, and the steam floated in the air. Leaning against the vintage dining table, Chu Lai looked at him, “But I have some.”

The next second, Chu Lai’s gaze shifted downward. This glance was different from the quick look outside the bar when they were waiting for a taxi, as if he had already confirmed what he was thinking.

Turning his face away, Cen Wei said, “I’ll go out and buy some.”

Chu Lai chuckled, pulling the menu card from his hand. “No need, Mr. Cen. Please place your order first.”

Chu Lai’s wedding was nothing like the complaints most people had about weddings being too tedious.

Most newlyweds spend their wedding night exhausted, but he and his partner sat in an old house eating takeaway instead.

There wasn’t much on the old TV, so they played a vintage movie on their phones while eating. But they didn’t really pay attention to the movie, as they spent most of the time chatting.

Originally, Cen Wei had planned to mute his phone, but the studio’s progress continued even during the holiday. The vice president didn’t report directly to him, but he couldn’t escape the built-in notifications from the work apps.

Shen Quanzhang knew that Chu Lai was getting married today and had tried to avoid thinking about it while hanging out with friends.

It was New Year’s Day, and a college reunion was taking place. Shen Quanzhang had tried to decline, but he still ended up being dragged along, only to find himself forced to watch a viral video that had exploded on social media.

Even though the video didn’t show his face, he’d recognize that back anywhere!

“Wasn’t Chu Lai your ex-boyfriend?”

“I’ve never seen your boyfriend before, Shen Quanzhang. Is he super introverted?”

“You’ve never met him either?”

“Right. I saw him once at school while eating, and he looked pretty young.”

“So, how did you guys break up?”

Some people who weren’t very active online didn’t know the full story. It was hard for Shen Quanzhang to explain, so he just said, “He found someone better.”

Someone else chimed in, “I saw some friends posting that today’s viral video star is Chu Lai. Is that true, Shen Quanzhang? You’d recognize him, right?”

Gritting his teeth, Shen Quanzhang said, “Yeah, that’s him.”

The reunion was mostly about people bragging, but some of them noticed that Shen Quanzhang was in a bad mood and advised the others to stop asking.

However, there were always a few who lacked tact, continuing to ask questions like where he was working now, whether it was at a big company, or if his ex-boyfriend also worked at a top firm…

Just as he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, a coworker called, “Do you have time? We need to work overtime, but of course, it’s paid.”

“I’m in my boyfriend’s city, so I can’t make it,” replied Shen Quanzhang hastily, grabbing the chance to leave.

Once he got to the company, he realized they were working overtime because of the boss’s wedding. Working on holidays meant getting paid extra, and some people didn’t mind because they had nothing better to do.

The hot topic was still the impact of the boss’s wedding. When Shen Quanzhang arrived, the chatter died down, likely because they found it awkward to talk about in front of him.

He sat at his desk with a blank expression.

These days, work was torture for Shen Quanzhang, and his personal life wasn’t any better. This was the best-paying job he could find, but his work relationships were a disaster.

Everyone knew that he was the ex-boyfriend of the boss’s husband, and seeing him reminded them of that connection.

Whether or not Cen Wei cared, the supervisors who handled promotions certainly considered it. When Shen Quanzhang talked to friends about it, they suggested that he might be better off quitting.

Surrounding him, people were still whispering, some rewatching the viral wedding video of Cen Wei and Chu Lai.

“Isn’t it so romantic? They got married, and their sales blew up. I doubt this company will go bankrupt while Cen Wei is around. I want to work here until I retire.”

“So where are they now? I thought this project was dead in the water…”

“Even during his wedding, the boss was hustling. There’s a reason we’re not as successful as him…”

It hadn’t occurred to Shen Quanzhang that after his ex-boyfriend got married, he’d still be working for his ex’s husband’s company.

Unable to hold back, he posted on social media, complaining for a moment about his bad luck working overtime, and ended up refreshing just in time to see Liu Yuan’s post about the wedding: “The most extravagant wedding I’ve ever attended, totally worth the gift money. Wishing our Lai Lai a lifetime of happiness, and may you always have someone who loves you unconditionally and supports you forever!”

Along with the post were nine pictures, the centerpiece being a group photo with the grooms.

Somehow, against his better judgment, Shen Quanzhang clicked on it. The photo showed Liu Yuan with Chu Lai, Cen Wei, and a few other guests.

In his memory, Chu Lai was someone who rarely wore formal clothes, but now he was dressed in what looked like a custom-tailored suit, with Cen Wei holding him gently, smiling warmly at the camera.

Shen Quanzhang had almost forgotten what Chu Lai’s smile looked like. The person in the photo seemed distant, so distant that it felt like their years together had been a dream.

They worked until late into the night, with people ordering takeout. When Shen Quanzhang went to the smoking area, all he could see when he closed his eyes was Chu Lai’s face.

In the end, he couldn’t help but call him.

With a new SIM card and a new number, there was no chance he had been blocked.

It didn’t matter that it was late at night—Chu Lai always liked staying up late, playing through a new game level before going to bed, and when he turned over, he’d roll around in the blanket.

But in his tired, post-overtime haze, Shen Quanzhang forgot what day it was and forgot that just because he and Chu Lai weren’t compatible didn’t mean Chu Lai wasn’t compatible with someone else.

The phone was answered, but it wasn’t Chu Lai’s voice.

It was a deep male voice, one that Shen Quanzhang was very familiar with—Cen Wei’s voice.

Panicked, he hung up immediately.

Chu Lai hadn’t put his phone on silent while they were at it, so the call woke him up. Drowsily, he asked, “Who was it?”

The caller ID showed a local number, and whoever it was hung up in a hurry after hearing his voice. Cen Wei had a pretty good idea who it might’ve been.

Pulling Chu Lai into his arms, he said, “Just a spam call.”

The room was small, with only one bed and one table. This was the room where Chu Lai had slept from childhood through high school.

The bed was small, too—so small that it creaked every time they moved, forcing Chu Lai to cling tightly to Cen Wei’s neck, afraid he’d fall off.

It felt as if Chu Lai had been tossed about in a storm for too long. This boat hadn’t yet reached calm waters, and the waves crashed into him deeply, making it irrelevant whether they had all the necessary precautions. At least the long-lost sense of intimacy was entirely different from before.

Even a man who was out of practice in such matters could become skilled in this situation, especially when their feelings were mutual.

The room didn’t have any fancy sensor-controlled sleep lamps. The only light came from a streetlamp outside, its glow filtering through the window glass. In the dim light, Cen Wei could make out the hazy outline of Chu Lai’s face.

The room was very clean, so clean it felt devoid of life, much like the impression Chu Lai gave at first.

He was empty, but not lifeless, as if still holding onto a sliver of hope, waiting to be embraced, to be filled with love.

Once the room had people in it, everything changed. The narrow, 1.2-meter-wide bed forced Cen Wei to hold Chu Lai close. The younger man, now with a hoarse voice, mumbled, “I can’t seem to block these spam calls.”

Cen Wei chuckled, “Want me to block them for you?”

The person in his arms didn’t respond. The house had no heating, and even after a shower, it was still cold. The warmth of their bodies pressed together was easy to get addicted to.

Chu Lai had no idea how haughty he seemed in bed, impossible to tame. Yet once they were fully connected, he became soft and pliable, as if entirely at the mercy of the other.

This contradiction was enough to drive someone to sink into obsession, wanting to go for another round.

One round after another, it was never enough.

Chu Lai gave a soft hum, his voice sounding very obedient.

After blocking the unfamiliar number, Cen Wei thought to himself, what right does someone who doesn’t cherish him have to feel regret?

When Chu Lai woke up the next day, the sun was already high in the sky. His little room was perfectly positioned to catch the sunlight, giving him the feeling of being a kid again, spending the weekend at home.

Except when he sat up, something felt off. Glancing down, he saw that even with his pajamas on, there were still marks left on his body, and he could still feel that full, slightly swollen sensation of having been filled and then emptied.

In a flash, the memories of last night flooded back. He flopped back down and rolled over, pulling the blanket with him for another roll.

Unfortunately, the bed was too small, so rolling once caused him to hit the wall.

He thought of what Liu Yuan had said—it wasn’t that both he and Cen Wei were sexually frigid, that was just a misjudgment. Otherwise, how could they go again and again and still not feel like it was enough?

This kind of thing really did have… its own flavor.

Also, Cen Wei was so much better than Shen Quanzhang.

In fact, he was almost too good, to the point where thinking back on it now made Chu Lai a little scared.

Two people who were falsely thought to be sexually frigid ended up on an old wooden bed that couldn’t handle it. Now that Chu Lai was tossing and turning, the bed creaked even louder.

But Chu Lai didn’t bother calling out to Cen Wei. He had already heard the door open.

The old house’s kitchen was outside, so if Cen Wei went out early, he was probably buying breakfast. The soundproofing here wasn’t great, so Chu Lai could even hear him chatting with the neighbors.

“Do you live here? I remember this was the Chu family’s house. Did he rent it out?” asked an old lady when she saw Cen Wei about to open the door.

The man had already changed out of yesterday’s suit, now wearing clothes he had found in Chu Lai’s wardrobe.

Luckily, Chu Lai liked buying oversized clothes. Now, with his hair parted slightly and standing under the sun, the man no longer seemed distant, holding breakfast as he explained to the old lady, “No, it wasn’t rented out. I’m Xiao Chu’s boyfriend.”

The old lady made a sound of realization, “Oh, so you’re Xiao Chu’s boyfriend. I asked him about that last time, and he said he’d been in a relationship for many years.”

Lying inside, Chu Lai heard everything.

But Cen Wei didn’t mind, smiling as he added, “Actually, we got married yesterday.”

The old lady exclaimed, “Married yesterday? Then you’re not just his boyfriend anymore, you’re Xiao Chu’s husband now!”

With a smile tugging at his lips, Cen Wei nodded.

He was naturally handsome, and the old lady was a long-time resident of the alley, having watched Chu Lai grow up. Through their conversation, Cen Wei learned quite a bit about the area.

For example, where Chu Lai’s father’s shop had been, or where Chu Lai liked to go after school to buy snacks.

Lying in bed, Chu Lai, still sore, didn’t feel like getting up to stop them. Listening to the conversation from inside gave him a sense that Cen Wei was earnestly trying to learn about his childhood.

When Cen Wei entered the room, having placed breakfast on the table, the young man in bed appeared to be breathing evenly, but he was clearly pretending to sleep.

Though this wasn’t the first time they’d shared a bed, it was the first time they had done anything. It was technically Chu Lai’s first time, but somehow it was him who felt embarrassed.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Cen Wei called out, “Lai Lai.”

Chu Lai rolled over, “I’m still sleepy.”

With a smile, Cen Wei said, “If you’re not hungry, sleep a little longer.”

The door was open, and the smell of breakfast was incredibly tempting. Chu Lai could already catch the scent of green pepper meat buns.

Opening his eyes, Chu Lai asked, “What did you buy?”

He was wearing pajamas from before, and as he lay sideways looking at the man sitting on the edge of the bed, the sight of him wearing old clothes from Chu Lai’s wardrobe felt refreshing.

“Green pepper meat buns from the corner store, cream soy milk from the shop next door, and glutinous rice cakes from a place with a long line,” replied Cen Wei.

Thinking about how he and Cen Wei’s diets didn’t overlap much—Chu Lai liked carbs, while Cen Wei controlled his intake—he asked, “Are you sure you’ll eat that?”

“You said yesterday you were exhausted and wanted something good to eat, didn’t you?” replied Cen Wei.

Then he added, “Are you in a lot of pain?”

The way he asked made it seem like this was someone’s first time, though Chu Lai shook his head, “Just a bit bloated.”

Saying that made him feel strange, so he shook his head again, “Anyway, it’s definitely different.”

“We’ll switch things up next time,” said Cen Wei.

Surprised, Chu Lai looked at him, “I nearly died the way you did it yesterday, and you still want to switch?”

Chuckling, Cen Wei replied, “That book about pure-hearted romance…”

But before he could finish, Chu Lai covered his mouth, “Enough already. I’m still sore. You said it would be the last time, but you kept going.”

His voice was soft, his eyes puffy from crying, and though his tone was calm, the way he glared was full of life, making it impossible for Cen Wei to resist kissing him.

Unable to stop him from coming closer, Chu Lai wrapped his arms around Cen Wei’s neck and said, “No more. I’ll die.”

With his face buried in Chu Lai’s neck, Cen Wei’s voice grew deeper, “But you said it felt good.”

Chu Lai was too embarrassed to discuss this in broad daylight. He was good at keeping a straight face when watching R-rated films, but when it came to himself, he focused more on the everyday aspects of life, excluding intimate relationships.

Now he realized that this kind of intimacy could indeed help foster their relationship—provided it was with someone he really liked.

His partner was skilled, requiring no comforting, and his responses were perfect. It wasn’t a chore or an obligation, and their connection was anything but rigid.

“It did feel good, just a bit too much. You were over the top,” admitted Chu Lai.

Taking the cup of water Cen Wei handed him, Chu Lai couldn’t help but recall the sensation of touch, nearly choking on the water.

But Cen Wei didn’t feel the need to shy away. Looking into Chu Lai’s eyes, he asked in a casual tone, “Did you dislike it?”

Outside, the occasional sound of a child riding a bicycle could be heard. The sun was warm after the snowfall, and the thick snow on the rooftops had melted, creating a steady dripping sound.

That night, along with the sound of melting snow, Cen Wei had completely taken over, and in the dim light, Chu Lai had been thoroughly consumed by a sense of unmatched security.

Tears were impossible to hold back. Now, looking into Cen Wei’s eyes, Chu Lai gave a soft “mm” and said, “I liked it.”

Then, he made a request, lifting the blanket and pointing to the inside of his thigh, “Next time, don’t bite me here.”

Chu Lai emphasized again, “It really hurts when the wound rubs against my clothes while walking.”