Chapter 21: I’ve Been Raising You as My Wife

When Lu Tingshen stepped out of the bathroom, he saw the young man lying on the bed, playing with his phone.

His long, fair legs swayed back and forth, catching Lu Tingshen’s attention. His slender ankles looked as if they could be easily held with one hand.

He tossed the towel he had been using to dry his hair onto a chair, walked over, and knelt on the bed with one knee. Reaching out, he grasped Ji Jinbai’s delicate ankle.

Feeling the movement, Ji Jinbai turned his head and wiggled his leg. “What are you doing?”

Lu Tingshen didn’t respond, instead gently rubbing his ankle.

Ji Jinbai felt ticklish and softly protested, “Let go of me, you’re making me itch.”

After saying this, he lightly pressed his other foot against Lu Tingshen’s thigh.

Lu Tingshen finally stopped teasing and gently released his ankle, which now bore a faint red mark from his grip. Despite not using much force, it had still left a trace.

“You’re so delicate,” Lu Tingshen remarked.

He wrapped an arm around Ji Jinbai’s waist and flipped him onto his back, then leaned over him, bracing his hands on either side of Ji Jinbai’s head to avoid putting pressure on him.

Looking down at the man above him, Ji Jinbai noticed the deep, intense gaze and the overwhelming aura of dominance that made him feel both captivated and slightly intimidated.

Lu Tingshen leaned down and kissed him.

Ji Jinbai’s eyes welled up with tears as he complained, “You’re so annoying, I could barely breathe.”

Though his words were full of complaint, his arms wrapped around Lu Tingshen’s neck in a clear contradiction.

Lu Tingshen chuckled softly at his soft, pouting expression and planted a kiss on his flushed cheek.

With one arm still around Ji Jinbai’s waist, Lu Tingshen held him close.

Ji Jinbai grabbed his arm and let out a small huff.

Suddenly, Ji Jinbai seemed to remember something and glared at Lu Tingshen. “Where did you learn all this? It’s only been a day, and you’ve already picked up these tricks?”

“I’m a real man,” Lu Tingshen said in a husky voice. “Some things don’t need to be learned, like…”

He leaned closer to Ji Jinbai’s ear and whispered something.

Ji Jinbai blushed and lightly smacked Lu Tingshen’s chest, a mix of anger and embarrassment. “Ahhh, you’re so annoying, get away from me!”

Lu Tingshen grabbed a tissue and wiped his hands. “Be good.”

An hour later…

Ji Jinbai was so upset that he started crying, pounding on Lu Tingshen’s shoulders.

He pulled the blanket over himself and turned away, leaving only the back of his head visible to Lu Tingshen.

Seeing the slight tremble of Ji Jinbai’s shoulders under the blanket, Lu Tingshen walked to the other side of the bed and crouched down to look at him.

Ji Jinbai saw him and let out a “hmph,” turning away again, refusing to look at him.

Oh no, he’s really mad.

Lu Tingshen firmly pulled him into an embrace, but Ji Jinbai bit his lip and looked away.

Seeing the tears glistening in Ji Jinbai’s eyes, his reddened nose, and the pitiful, childlike expression, Lu Tingshen felt as if he had committed some unforgivable sin.

He turned Ji Jinbai around and held him against his chest, gently stroking the back of his head and wiping away his tears with a soft touch. “There, there, don’t cry. You look like a little kitten.”

Ji Jinbai remained silent.

Seeing that he wasn’t responding, Lu Tingshen continued to coax him. “Alright, next time I’ll try to hold back a bit.”

His long fingers brushed away the crystal-clear tears, but Ji Jinbai only cried harder, even pounding his fists against Lu Tingshen’s chest.

Lu Tingshen leaned in closer, but Ji Jinbai pushed his face away. His hand slipped, inadvertently pressing Lu Tingshen closer, brushing against the skin of his neck.

The man patiently and gently coaxed the delicate little crybaby, kissing his rosy cheeks and lowering his voice to soothe him.

“Hmph~ You said the same thing last time,” Ji Jinbai said hoarsely.

“Alright, why are you so delicate, hmm?”

“My delicate darling, you’re delicate in every way.”

Ji Jinbai glared at him with reddened eyes, complaining in a soft voice, “You’re so annoying, it’s all because you spoiled me…”

Lu Tingshen found him utterly adorable and chuckled softly.

“Little kitten, stop crying, or your eyes will hurt tomorrow, and you’ll throw a tantrum again.”

“Don’t call me a kitten,” Ji Jinbai said, flushed with embarrassment.

“Which little friend is it that cries so easily, hmm?”

“Every time after we’re done, you’re so delicate and need to be comforted. Isn’t that just like a spoiled little kitten?” Lu Tingshen teased in a deep, playful voice.

Ji Jinbai looked up at him and muttered discontentedly, “It’s not every time, it’s only been twice.”

Lu Tingshen wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed the top of his head. “Alright, no more sulking.”

After a round of gentle coaxing, Ji Jinbai finally calmed down and was willing to engage with him.

Lu Tingshen got out of bed, walked over to the table, and picked up a few sheets of paper, handing them to Ji Jinbai.

“Sign your name here, and this house will be transferred to your name. I’m giving it to you.”

Ji Jinbai looked at the contents of the paper—it was a property transfer agreement.

He frowned and tossed the papers aside, tears welling up in his eyes as his chest heaved with emotion. His voice was both aggrieved and hoarse.

“What do you mean by this?”

“Right after we’ve been together, you give me a house? What do you take me for?”

Ji Jinbai wiped his tears and choked out, “Do you think of me as your little lover?”

Lu Tingshen wanted to step forward to comfort him.

“Don’t touch me!”

Lu Tingshen hadn’t expected that simply giving him a house would backfire so badly.

He wanted to give Ji Jinbai everything he had, to make him feel secure.

But from Ji Jinbai’s reaction, it seemed he had chosen the wrong moment. This was the first time he had dealt with such a situation.

He ran a hand through his hair, looking helplessly at the prickly little hedgehog in front of him, almost laughing in frustration.

“What do I take you for? Don’t you know, hmm?”

“I don’t want to hear it!” Ji Jinbai covered his ears and closed his eyes, refusing to listen.

Lu Tingshen couldn’t help but laugh at his stubborn antics. He pulled Ji Jinbai’s hands away from his ears.

Wrapping his arms around Ji Jinbai’s waist, he whispered in his ear, “Ji Jinbai, listen carefully. I, Lu Tingshen, treat you as my wife. Don’t you dare overthink this again.”