Chapter 35: Can I sleep with the baby tonight?

As it turned out, Fu Xingran was indeed quite cunning, and Su Lixu had figured out his feigned clumsiness; it was intentional.

“I’ll wait for you down below. Don’t be afraid to fall. Just fall towards me.”

Su Lixu watched as Fu Xingran slid down the slope. It was nothing like the awkward steps he took moments ago. He was proficient to the point of expertise, almost ready to perform a snow-covered somersault in mid-air.

“So, it was intentional. He went to great lengths to take advantage of me.”

Observing this scene with amusement, He Shi playfully nudged Su Lixu’s arm. “Lixu, is having a younger boyfriend fun?”

Su Lixu responded with a wry smile, “What do you think?”

“I find him quite entertaining. He’s strategic, expressive about his likes, and possessiveness is a common trait. His behavior isn’t that bad, rather interesting,” He Shi lowered his voice. “And, he has a great physique.”

Su Lixu chuckled helplessly. “What are you thinking?”

“Nothing. I’m just appreciating him from a male perspective. What are you thinking?” He Shi teased in response.Su Lixu sighed, “I’m going down.”

“Go and embrace the opportunity.” He Shi put away his ski poles and snowboard. “My mission is accomplished. Now, I have another appointment to attend.”

Su Lixu puzzled asked, “?” He Shi smiled mysteriously.

Su Lixu suddenly understood and nodded in understanding. “Alright, take care on your way.”

Fu Xingran, who had already reached the bottom, waited for a while but didn’t see Su Lixu’s figure. After a few more minutes, he finally saw Su Lixu gliding down at a leisurely pace. However, there was no sign of He Shi following, instantly improving Fu Xingran’s mood.

Su Lixu wasn’t adept at using the snowboard brake. Seeing Fu Xingran nearby, he could only sway the snowboard left and right to slow down. Eventually, he sat down on the snow, his posterior feeling the impact.

“Ouch…” He couldn’t help but gasp when his butt touched the snow. Today had been full of tumbles like never before.

“Did it hurt from the fall?” Fu Xingran walked over to Su Lixu, helping him up while patting the snow off his shoulders, back, and lower back. He smirked, “Your butt must be hurting from the falls today. Should I give you a massage when we get home?”

“You’re the wolf in sheep’s clothing, aren’t you?” Su Lixu, seeing Fu Xingran’s triumphant expression, remarked, “You claimed you couldn’t ski, watched me fall, and found it amusing, didn’t you? Is this how a boyfriend should act?”

Upon hearing that term, Fu Xingran laughed even deeper. “I thought you could ski, thinking that if I claimed I couldn’t, you could teach me hand in hand. Who knew you couldn’t ski either? But now that I’m your boyfriend, I have to show my true self. No more pretending— I can ski.”

Su Lixu sidestepped, avoiding Fu Xingran’s inappropriate hand, but stumbled on his snowboard.

Quick to react, Fu Xingran grabbed Su Lixu’s arm, unable to suppress his laughter.

After regaining his balance, Su Lixu looked at him with a faint smile. “Is it that amusing?”

“Not funny, but incredibly cute.” Fu Xingran reached for Su Lixu’s face, pinched it gently, and turned it around. “Why is my boyfriend so adorable? I’m so happy to have such a cute person as my boyfriend.”

In the snowy landscape, the young man in a pink skiing suit smiled brilliantly. His slightly curved eyebrows outlined a lively and vibrant spirit, a far cry from the resentful boy from years ago, now radiating vitality.

“Boyfriend,” Su Lixu softly called.

“Yeah?” Fu Xingran responded contentedly.

“Professor He has left.”

“Hmm?” Fu Xingran’s tone rose at the end.

“Going home?” Su Lixu asked, raising his gaze.

In that silent exchange, there was an unspoken understanding.

The sound of the password lock ‘beeping’ echoed, the door impatiently pushed open from outside. The lights remained off, only the sound of the closing door cut off all external noise, leaving only the muffled moans.

Outside the spacious French windows, a bright blue sky and sunny weather awaited, a broad daylight scene. Sunlight streamed into the room, hastily enclosing the reflections of intertwined figures kissing on the floor.

Chilled by the snow outside, the coldness clung to them as they slowly melted in the warming entrance area, blending with each breath.

“Fu Xingran.”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“Boyfriend.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Is there any other term of endearment you’d like?”

“Baby, I want to call you baby, really want to.”

Fu Xingran’s hand held Su Lixu’s nape, whispering softly near his ear. The words “baby” sounded particularly affectionate and gentle in the dim light.

Su Lixu raised his eyes to meet Fu Xingran’s gaze. The lighting was ample, allowing him to discern Fu Xingran’s expression clearly, feeling the intense gaze seizing his attention.

The air between them, at such a close distance, carried a scorching warmth, accentuated by these words.

“Are you serious?” Su Lixu questioned the use of this term, wondering if such endearment was a bit too sweet between two grown men.

“Baby.”

Su Lixu’s waist tightened as Fu Xingran bit his ear. However, in the bright environment, within Fu Xingran’s embrace, this “baby” didn’t seem overly mushy.

“I want to call you like this.”

The next moment, Su Lixu exclaimed as Fu Xingran lifted him, placing him on the shoe cabinet. Accidentally, his shoulder hit the light switch behind him.

A “click” sounded in his ears, resembling the heavy beat of a heartbeat.

He plunged into Fu Xingran’s gaze, fiery, affectionate, openly laid bare on his face. Fu Xingran’s eyes were undeniably straightforward, as if getting a bit closer would devour him whole.

Subconsciously, Su Lixu leaned back, his eyelashes fluttering, throat tightening.

It was becoming real, in broad daylight, a clear-headed moment.

“Seems… isn’t daytime a bit inappropriate?” Fu Xingran caught Su Lixu’s fluttering eyelashes, his breath slightly hastening. Finally, he saw Su Lixu’s ears turning red.

“What, trying to provoke me and act spoiled again? What’s wrong with daytime? I can see more clearly.”

Su Lixu: “You rogue.”

“Nice, say it a few more times for me.”

In the entrance area, Fu Xingran stood in front of the shoe cabinet, supporting Su Lixu’s side, staring at him. It seemed like he was trying to control his happiness, but he couldn’t help but burst into laughter when he met Su Lixu’s gaze.

Laughter that made the heart uneasy.

Su Lixu couldn’t help but laugh along. “Annoying.”

The two of them laughed like fools in the entrance area.

After an unknown amount of time, Fu Xingran slowly recovered before looking back at Su Lixu. Then, he asked a question he was curious about, “So, when did you start liking me?”

His fingers were not idle, hooking onto Su Lixu’s fingers.

Su Lixu leaned against the wall behind him, tilting his head as if in thought. The first scene that flashed in his mind was the scene of the first snowfall.

At that time, he had impulsively suggested going out to enjoy the snow, and Fu Xingran had earnestly stood with him on the balcony for half an hour. In the end, both froze, their noses and sneezes turning red before returning inside.

Thinking about it now, it was indeed childish, and he had never thought of himself as that kind of person.

Yet, in front of Fu Xingran, he found different sides of himself emerging. It was a different feeling from when Fu Xingran was still his doctor, no longer maintaining a professional and gentle demeanor. This side belonged to both of them.

And with Fu Xingran, when he did something wrong, Su Lixu could get angry, and when Fu Xingran amused him, he could be happy. In different situations, he would exhibit different reactions, including the whimsical desire to go out and enjoy the snow.

He’s thirty now, and in the eyes of others, he should be a mature and stable adult. Yet, against all odds, Fu Xingran doesn’t want to live his life here as if he needs to conform to a standard template. He feels that his life has only started to become interesting now.

His parents passed away early, he witnessed his brother’s departure, and pain and suppression accompanied him for almost twenty years. Suddenly, one day, he encountered Fu Xingran, this unreasonably bright flame, and gradually fell into this irrationality, turning into another flame.

Including that day of the first snow, his impulse to tell Fu Xingran that he wanted to go out and enjoy the snow. Perhaps from that moment, his feelings for Fu Xingran had already changed. More accurately, it started when he pushed open that half-closed door, changing everything between them.

The real spark, however, happened on that day of the first snow.

“On the day of the first snow.”

Fu Xingran turned his face away and laughed again.The laughter was deep and gentle, and he clenched his fist against his lips, trying to restrain himself from laughing too conspicuously. However, he couldn’t resist the impact of Su Lixu’s words.

Even more foolish than his laughter just now.

Seeing him laugh again, Su Lixu felt a bit flushed, pursing his lips not to join in, “Are you ever going to stop?”

“Baby,” Fu Xingran called.

Su Lixu was stunned for two seconds by this address. Dazed, he met Fu Xingran’s smiling gaze, his eyes shimmering.

“Baby,” Fu Xingran called again, moving closer to Su Lixu. “Just respond to me.”

Su Lixu coughed awkwardly, “Respond to what?”

“Call me too.” Fu Xingran looked at Su Lixu with puppy eyes. “I also want to hear you call me baby.”

“…Don’t you think it’s a bit cheesy?”

“I don’t think so because I like you.” Fu Xingran’s gaze gradually moved downward, landing on Su Lixu’s slightly blushing earlobe. The smile on his lips deepened, “Try calling it, I’m sure it sounds good.”

Su Lixu thought, a boy who can be cute and cry and gets candy, how much sweetness has this guy given him? Not to mention he’s also good-looking.

He smiled helplessly, “Baby.”

This gentle and charming “baby” made Fu Xingran feel like his bones had turned soft. If he could hear Su Lixu call him like this every day, he would be incredibly happy.

“So, can I sleep with my baby tonight?”

Fu Xingran made Su Lixu restless, and he jumped off the shoe cabinet heading towards the room, “I… I’ll go take a shower first.”

No experience, it’s over, will he lose face?

“Now?” Fu Xingran caught up quickly, “Really? Really?”

The teasing and joking tone in the young man’s voice made Su Lixu feel like he was on fire, urgently needing cold water to cool him down.

He walked into the bathroom, intending to close the door, but saw Fu Xingran following him, directly blocking the doorway. Su Lixu took a deep breath, then seriously said, “Xingran, we haven’t prepared anything… have we? Don’t be in such a hurry.”

Although he had no experience, he knew there should be some precautions and preparations, right? He wouldn’t just jump into bed without any preparations.

Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the pink-gold packaging that Fu Xingran took out of his pocket.

The words on it were too clear, leaving him speechless.

Fu Xingran held the cute little thing between his fingers, waved it at him, and smiled brightly, “I have it, always prepared, just in case.”

Su Lixu: “…”

“Baby, come on~” Fu Xingran bent down, passed through Su Lixu’s arms, and then pulled him into the bathroom.

“Close the door!”

“Oh, there’s no one at home.”

“But still!”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Su Lixu gritted his teeth. This shameless little brother Fu Xingran!

Today, he’s once again this shameless little brother without any restraint.