Chapter 25: More Kissing

To protect his senior from being poisoned, Meng Chunxun decided to let Song Chunhui sleep on the sofa, while he and Li Huan would make do together, using the opportunity to probe further.

A brat with a sarcastic tone, what good could he be?

The junior agreed readily, but Song Chunhui was a bit uneasy. He thought to himself, could this brat be eyeing his junior? What if he took advantage of the night and stabbed Chunxun? Then he’d be a sinner for eternity.

“If Brother Meng thinks it’s okay, then I have no problem,” Li Huan said with a nonchalant smile.

“So, are you two really okay with this?” Song Chunhui asked.

Meng Chunxun, trying hard to act straight, replied, “Of course, if Xiao Li were a girl, then definitely not.”

Li Huan nodded and added, “Yeah, luckily Brother Meng is a guy.”

“Oh, oh.” Song Chunhui looked at his fresh-faced junior, then at the cheeky brat, and finally felt sorry for his own poor backside.

The three of them agreed, and that was that.

Worried that the lube in the wardrobe might be discovered, Song Chunhui dug out a pair of sandals he no longer wore but couldn’t bear to throw away for Meng Chunxun to change into, along with a new toothbrush and towel, and sent him off to shower.

As soon as Meng Chunxun entered the bathroom, Song Chunhui hurried back to his room to retrieve the lube and hid it under the kitchen sink, buried among a pile of plastic bags used for trash.

Li Huan just watched Song Chunhui busying himself. When Song Chunhui came out, Li Huan pointed to an old desk in the corner of the living room and asked, “Brother Song, can I borrow your laptop?”

Song Chunhui suddenly remembered the dozens of porn videos on his computer and immediately refused, “No, I have a lot of important data on there. You can go to an internet cafe.”

“…” Li Huan could only think that the computer contained evidence of Song Chunhui embezzling public funds, so it was normal not to lend it.

But didn’t this four-eyes refuse a bit too quickly? In bed, he was much better than at the beginning; last night, just a little oral and he’d obediently hold his legs.

The sound of running water continued from the bathroom.

Song Chunhui quickly gave Li Huan a look and went into the room himself. Unexpectedly, the next second, he was pinned against the wall by a forceful strength, his glasses disappeared from his face, and an arrogant kiss attacked his lips, an aggressive aura surging in, instantly occupying his entire mouth.

After pinning down his struggling arms, Li Huan didn’t give Song Chunhui any chance to resist, kissing him fiercely and urgently, his tongue capturing the one trying to escape, entangling it relentlessly.

He had long noticed that four-eyes liked kissing, though he wouldn’t admit it. Every time they kissed, he would behave, especially during the act, he would respond to him.

The scorching heat, almost melting Song Chunhui, made him gradually lose his senses, forgetting everything around him, instinctively drawing warmth like a drowning man clinging to driftwood, greedily swallowing the continuous warmth.

Actually, Li Huan didn’t kiss often and had no kissing skills to speak of. Feeling the strength wrapping around his waist, he quickly ended the kiss and stepped back, looking at Song Chunhui’s bewildered eyes with a smile, teasing him lightly, “Wife.”

“…” The chaotic consciousness instantly cleared up, Song Chunhui’s breath was slightly panting, and he pushed Li Huan away, urgently whispering, “Where are my glasses? Give them to me.”

Li Huan picked up the glasses that had been thrown onto the bed.

The room door was still open, and Song Chunhui, still in shock, quickly put on his glasses. The blurry world finally became clear, and his mind was also crystal clear.

“Why so tense?” Li Huan reached out, using his thumb to wipe away the moisture at the corner of Song Chunhui’s mouth, swiftly erasing the trace.

The overly intimate gesture made Song Chunhui uncomfortable all over. He frowned in disgust, swung Li Huan’s hand away, and warned him, “Sleep properly and don’t make a move on my junior.”

Seeing Song Chunhui’s tense expression, as if guarding against a thief, Li Huan snorted lightly, “If you’re afraid I’ll make a move on him, why let him sleep with me? He does look better than you.”

“…” Song Chunhui was so angry his eyes went black, ready to curse, but the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

He didn’t have time to waste words, thinking that everything he was enduring now was just to fool the brat. Once the contract was signed next week and the funds were in, he could resign.

“Who was the beast that said his heart was all on me yesterday?” Song Chunhui lowered his voice, “If you dare betray me, I’ll chop you up with a knife.”

“…” Li Huan was stunned for a moment, then smiled, leaning slightly closer to Song Chunhui, “Then kiss me, hurry, your junior is coming out.”

This damn brat…

Before the bathroom door opened, Song Chunhui, for the first time, took the initiative to approach Li Huan, quickly pecking his lips, grinding all his grievances between his teeth, and awkwardly retreated to the living room.

Li Huan raised his hand to touch his lips. Four-eyes finally took the initiative once.

Seems like more kissing and training is needed.

“Brother Hui, I’m done showering, you can go now.”

Bothered by the fact that he had just kissed a gay man, Song Chunhui couldn’t calm down, replying, “Let Xiao Li go first, I still have to wash clothes, it’ll take a while.”

Li Huan took his change of clothes and went for a shower second.

It was rare to have some alone time with his senior, but a third wheel had to appear, leaving Meng Chunxun feeling down as he sat on the sofa, then lay down to feel it out.

“Brother Hui, I feel bad making you sleep on the sofa. How about I go back?”

“What are you saying? It’s so late already. Leave after lunch tomorrow. I’ll go buy some groceries in the morning.”

Song Chunhui insisted on keeping his junior. When he went to the room to get a blanket, he suddenly remembered he only had two thick blankets and an air-conditioning quilt for summer. How should he distribute them?

Letting his junior sleep with the brat was too dangerous.

For two consecutive nights, Song Chunhui had been sleeping naked, held by Li Huan. That creepy thing pressed tightly against his butt, and he was afraid it would end up against his junior’s butt at night. After all, men are impulsive and don’t care about feelings, relying solely on conscience and responsibility. The brat had no conscience.

When Li Huan finished showering and came out, Song Chunhui changed his mind. In the end, he had to take out 200 yuan from his commission bonus.

“Xiao Li, I’ll transfer you 200 yuan. Go get a room at a hotel.”

Li Huan glanced at Meng Chunxun and said with difficulty, “Brother Song, I’m really sorry, but I can’t sleep well in hotel beds. How about letting Brother Meng go?”

Meng Chunxun immediately stopped Song Chunhui, “Brother Hui, why waste money? I’ll just squeeze in with Xiao Li.”

Since neither of the parties had any objections, Song Chunhui had no choice but to give up, taking out the air-conditioning quilt and a down jacket, leaving the two thick blankets for his junior and the assistant, and went to shower.

The sound of running water started, and Li Huan closed the room door. After hanging his underwear on the balcony, he asked Meng Chunxun again, “Brother Meng, are you really not gay?”

“Is it any of your business?” Meng Chunxun lost his previous politeness, “I’ve known Song Chunhui for years, we’re like brothers. What’s it to you? Mind your own business.”

“Don’t get excited,” Li Huan sat on the bed, speaking slowly, “I have a psychological shadow about gay people. If you are, sleeping in the same bed with you would make me sick, so I wanted to clarify.”

Meng Chunxun: “…”

Li Huan didn’t have pajamas, so after showering, he changed into a thin sweatshirt and sweatpants, lying down directly, and said, “Since you didn’t answer directly, I’m really scared. Better sleep with clothes on.”

“…” Afraid of ruining the good image he had maintained in his senior’s mind, Meng Chunxun held back his temper and denied, “I’m not gay.”

“Oh.” Li Huan responded blandly, raising his pillow a bit, and took out his old phone to chat with his “shield.”

It was getting late, and Meng Chunxun sat on the other side of the bed, pondering for a long time, still wanting to have a good talk with the sarcastic brat. He had a gut feeling things weren’t that simple, and the other party was likely after his senior.

“Xiao Li.” Meng Chunxun had just opened his mouth when a soft female voice came from behind, from a voice message on Li Huan’s WeChat.

“Only now you remember to reply to me. I thought you were dead. Next time, if you ignore me like this, I won’t talk to you anymore.”

Li Huan pressed the talk button, “I was busy during the day, running around outside all day is so tiring, and you’re still mad at me. I’ll bring you a gift when I get back, okay?”

After sending the voice message, he asked Meng Chunxun, “What’s up?”

The words on the tip of Meng Chunxun’s tongue were swallowed back. Remembering that his senior had said Li Huan had a girlfriend, it was really hard to figure out.

“I’m going to sleep. Keep your chatting quiet.”

“Sorry, my girlfriend wants to hear my voice, so I’ll type instead.” Li Huan exited the interface and opened the pinned “Baby,” turning to send a message to Song Chunhui.

If there’s anything shady, it must be in Song Chunhui’s phone and computer.

Now, with a little rascal who talks dirty in his phone, Song Chunhui had to delete his WeChat chat history every day. Even when taking a shower, he had to bring his phone, afraid his junior would see the filthy words the brat sent.

What you fear, you get.

Song Chunhui grabbed a towel, wiping the water off his body, when his phone screen lit up, making his heart skip a beat. He picked it up and looked, and his eyes went black.

Xiao Li: [Wife, I really want to hold you while sleeping. Show me your little bird (kiss)]

“…” This beastly thing.

Song Chunhui didn’t dare reply, planning to ignore it.

After thinking it over, why was he acting like a cheating adulterer, so cowardly? Instead, it gave the brat a chance to push his luck. No, he had to teach him a lesson.

But before he could send a message, another one came from the other side.

Xiao Li: [I’ll sneak to the bathroom for a few bites (kiss)]

“…”

Song Chunhui was about to collapse, hurriedly replying: [Don’t come over! Go to sleep!]

Xiao Li: [But I miss you, I’m coming over]

Miss my ass.

Song Chunhui believed Li Huan could do it, reluctantly compromising: [I’ll let you eat tomorrow, stop bothering me]

Xiao Li: [What will you let me eat?]

Song Chunhui, fuming, replied with the word “bird,” feeling he had never been this childish, really wanting to punch the brat. How could someone who looked decent be so cheap?

Xiao Li: [Wife, you missed a word]

Unable to bear it any longer, Song Chunhui replied: [Get lost]

Xiao Li: [Transfer me 30 yuan, and I’ll get lost]

“Brat…” Song Chunhui cursed quietly, taking 30 yuan from the failed hotel room bonus and sending Li Huan a red envelope.

Xiao Li: [Thanks, wife, love you^^]

Seeing the word “love,” Song Chunhui was momentarily lost. His first love had also said “love” to him, more than once.

In their three-year relationship, the deepest words of affection between him and Fang Fang were “I love you.” Back then, he naively thought love could last a lifetime.

Song Chunhui occasionally pondered, what exactly is love?

Why does he yearn for such an intangible thing, neither visible nor tangible, when money is more practical? And yet, Li Huan, this little rascal, uses it as a joke, losing its original sincerity.

After washing his underwear and clothes, Song Chunhui carried the basin out, only to find the room door closed, making him worried. He quickly opened the door under the pretense of hanging clothes and turned on the light.

On the 1.8-meter double bed, his junior and the brat each had their own blanket, with half an arm’s distance between them, like an invisible boundary.

Song Chunhui was satisfied, saying, “I’m just hanging some clothes.”

“Brother Hui, let me help you.” Meng Chunxun got out of bed.

“It’s just two pieces of clothing.” Song Chunhui couldn’t stop him, and his autumn clothes were snatched away by his junior.

Meng Chunxun: “No need to be polite. Didn’t you often help me hang clothes when you stayed at my place, cook for me, and tidy up the house?”

“Well, you know, you can’t bite the hand that feeds you.” Song Chunhui joked.

“When I reported on my first day of college, you were the one who received me, helped me with my luggage, ran around buying a lot of things, and even made my bed.” Meng Chunxun said, getting emotional, “You’re like my own brother.”

“That was years ago.” Song Chunhui hung up his underwear.

“No matter how many years, I remember your kindness.” Meng Chunxun said seriously.

Song Chunhui was too embarrassed to let his junior know that the reason he was so diligent was to earn some extra money. Helping buy a round of daily necessities could earn him ten or twenty yuan.

After hanging the clothes, he patted his junior’s shoulder, “I also see you as my own brother. Go to sleep.”

Such a deep brotherly bond, Li Huan watched from the side, amused.

Four-eyes really liked collecting younger brothers. If he knew this younger brother wanted to steal a kiss from him, what kind of funny reaction would he have? Probably wouldn’t even be brothers anymore.

Song Chunhui never looked at the little rascal on the bed. Only when he was about to leave and turn off the light did his gaze meet Li Huan’s across the room.

Still not trusting him, he said, “Keep the door open while you sleep, for ventilation, otherwise it’ll be stuffy.”

Meng Chunxun: “Okay, Brother Hui, you sleep well too.”

Lying alone on the sofa facing the darkness, Song Chunhui wasn’t that scared anymore because the door was open, and there were people in the house, making it lively at night.

He wrapped himself tightly in the down jacket and air-conditioning quilt. When he muted his phone, a new message popped up on WeChat, making his eyes go black with anger.

Xiao Li: [Wife, I’m jealous, comfort me]

Comfort my ass, does this brat ever stop?

Xiao Li: [You’re so good to him, but so mean to me]

Xiao Li: [I’m so sad]

Xiao Li: [Emoji]

Seeing a crying puppy emoji, Song Chunhui was speechless, unwilling to respond. Who knew Li Huan would keep pestering, sending the emoji over ten times, spamming the screen, really asking for a scolding.

He thought for a moment, then seriously replied: [Stop acting crazy. We’ve known each other for years, can you compare? Relationships are mutual, you know? Whoever treats me well, I treat well. You know what you’ve done for me, and you want me to comfort you? I’d rather comfort a dog than you]

Xiao Li: [Can he make you feel good?]

“…” Song Chunhui was speechless.

Xiao Li: [You ignore my efforts, I’m not happy]

In his heart, Song Chunhui said, who cares if you’re happy or not, too lazy to bother with you.

Xiao Li: [Goodnight, wife]

Unable to understand the brat, Song Chunhui didn’t want to. This relationship was too absurd. At most, he’d endure another week, then get the money and return to Jiangcheng to start over.

He deleted the chat history and closed his eyes to sleep.

The whole night passed peacefully.

Sleeping on the sofa left Song Chunhui with a sore back, waking up before six.

This was his junior’s second time in Ancheng, the first being when he helped him move. After quietly washing up, he went downstairs to a breakfast shop to buy fried dough sticks and soy milk, generously buying a portion for the brat too.

When Song Chunhui returned home, his junior was already up, and Li Huan was sitting on the sofa.

“Chunxun, why not sleep a bit more?”

“Once I’m awake, I can’t fall back asleep.” Meng Chunxun went to the bathroom to wash up.

Song Chunhui placed breakfast on the table, then asked Li Huan, “Xiao Li, have you washed up? If so, come eat breakfast.”

“All done.” Li Huan glanced towards the bathroom, where the sound of brushing teeth was coming from.

“Then you eat first.” Song Chunhui took out fried dough sticks, soy milk, and a tea egg for Li Huan.

While Meng Chunxun was brushing his teeth, Li Huan got up and walked to the table, wrapping his arms around Song Chunhui from behind, tightening his grip for a moment, then turned to kiss Song Chunhui’s cold cheek before quickly retreating.

“Thanks, Brother Song.” He smiled.

“…” Song Chunhui was scared half to death, glaring at Li Huan, raising his voice a bit, “Eat your food, the money will be deducted from your next month’s salary.”

“Don’t deduct it from my salary,” Li Huan laughed as he sat down, “I’ll pay you back tonight.”

Song Chunhui didn’t believe a word of it. When he and his junior sat down to eat breakfast together, Li Huan, who finished first, left in a hurry, not knowing where he went.

“Brother Hui,” Meng Chunxun said, “I completed a big project recently and got a bonus. I’m taking an early vacation. Once you resign, let’s go on a trip together. My treat. Didn’t we say we wanted to visit the ancient towns in the south?”

With no job prospects, unstable income, and being pestered by a little pervert, Song Chunhui wasn’t in the mood for a trip, nor did he have a reason to let his junior spend money, so he declined.

“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself,” Meng Chunxun advised.

“You don’t understand,” Song Chunhui said, “I’ve kind of started seeing the girl you introduced me to. Not sure if it’ll work out, but I’m quite busy lately. My job is unstable, and I feel embarrassed to date. I need to earn more money. If I keep delaying, I’ll be forty soon. I want to get married; living alone is a bit lonely.”

“…” Meng Chunxun regretted not playing the villain, breaking his senior’s heart. Would his senior develop a shadow towards women and rely on him instead?

Just like a few years ago, when his senior went through a breakup, he was the one who accompanied him through it. If only all the women in the world hated his senior.

“Then consider my company again. It’s hard to find a job at the end of the year.”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m worried.” Song Chunhui sighed, “I’ll look online, send out resumes. If there’s nothing good, I’ll try your company.”

Meng Chunxun felt a bit relieved. Whether it worked out or not, as long as his senior could return to Jiangcheng to find a job, that brat’s reach wouldn’t extend, and he could always be on guard.

At noon, Song Chunhui personally cooked to entertain his junior.

After seeing his junior off, he walked to a nearby supermarket to buy some daily necessities. Mainly because the supermarket had just opened a few days ago, and spending 39 yuan allowed for a lottery draw.

If it could be bought online, Song Chunhui usually did so for the sake of saving money. This trip was just to join the fun, see if he could get any bargains, and he did. He won a bottle of soy sauce worth 10 yuan in the lottery, while the aunt next to him only got a bar of soap, and some were even worse, just a pack of tissues.

At times like this, Song Chunhui felt lucky.

Good luck meant everything would go smoothly.

Carrying flour in one hand and a shopping bag in the other, he hummed a song on his way back: “A hero doesn’t fear humble beginnings, with ambition high, the sky is proud…”

When he reached downstairs, he saw a delivery tricycle, and the delivery guy was carrying a box upstairs.

Song Chunhui followed behind, not expecting the guy to knock on his door, and the recipient was Mr. Song, with his phone number.

He didn’t know what it was, sent from Beicheng.

When Song Chunhui opened it, it turned out to be a box of exquisitely packaged hair wax, exactly six cans.

He had researched hair wax and recognized the brand, something he couldn’t afford. Where did the brat get the money? Buying so much at once, was he crazy?

If it were one can, Song Chunhui could accept it, but six cans felt like too much to handle. This was different from the mental damage compensation the brat owed him.

He immediately sent a WeChat message to Li Huan, who usually replied instantly, but now there was no response.

It wasn’t until dusk, when Song Chunhui had reheated the food and was about to eat, that a message came.

Xiao Li: [My brother sells hair wax in Beicheng. I got it at an internal price, not much money. My wife deserves the best. When I earn more, I’ll buy you clothes too.]

“…” Song Chunhui didn’t know what to say. Why was this brat competing with his junior? So childish.

Xiao Li: [Wife, wait for me to come home. I have a surprise for you.]

Song Chunhui only hoped it wasn’t a shock. He’d had enough stimulation these past two days. Luckily, his tolerance was strong; most people couldn’t handle it.

After dinner and a shower, Li Huan returned.

With no third wheel in sight, Li Huan openly hugged Song Chunhui, rubbing all his coldness onto him, burying his face in Song Chunhui’s warm neck, rubbing and acting spoiled, “So cold, wife, hug me.”

Feeling the cold, Song Chunhui didn’t hug Li Huan but didn’t push him away immediately either, just scolded, “Aren’t you ashamed, acting like a three-year-old? What’s there to hug? Move!”

“I went out to earn money, and you still give me a hard time.” Li Huan let go, took out his phone, and transferred 1,000 yuan to Song Chunhui via WeChat, “Here’s the rent.”

“…” Song Chunhui was suspicious, “Where did you earn this? Don’t tell me it’s from shady dealings?”

Li Huan: “Damn, how could you think that of me?”

Song Chunhui: “What kind of job earns 1,000 in a day? Introduce me, let me see.”

Li Huan: “You can’t do it.”

Song Chunhui: “What do you mean? What did you do?”

“To please my wife, I sold my looks.” Li Huan looked aggrieved, “I asked you to hug me, and you wouldn’t even do that.”

Never seen such a childish fellow, Song Chunhui gave him a cold look, “That’s great, you might as well quit and sell your looks, pay off the mental damage compensation you owe me sooner.”

Li Huan didn’t say anything, threw his phone on the table, and suddenly bent down, scooping Song Chunhui up onto his shoulder and turning around.

Caught off guard, Song Chunhui let out a startled cry, feeling his insides shift. Before he could shout twice, his head spun, and he was thrown onto the bed, his breath blocked in an instant, his glasses pushed up and gone again.

“Mm—”

Song Chunhui struggled, and Li Huan kissed him fiercely, slowly becoming gentler, kissing tenderly and lingeringly, while his hand moved down. With Song Chunhui wearing pajama pants, it was convenient for him.

“Mm…” Song Chunhui desperately turned his head to avoid the kiss, panting as he scolded Li Huan, “Beast, are your hands dirty? I just showered, don’t mess around, you—” Before he could finish, his body stiffened, unable to speak.

The whole room was immersed in darkness, with only a sliver of light from the living room, allowing Song Chunhui to barely see where he was and what he was doing. But he felt so hot, his whole body was hot, so hot that his consciousness gradually blurred, finding a trace of belonging in the soft, wet heat. He didn’t want to leave; no one had ever given him such intense warmth, too intense for him to dare touch, afraid it would disappear at a touch.

“Cough, cough…” Li Huan choked, swallowing it down, his face instantly darkening.

Hearing the swallowing sound, Song Chunhui’s consciousness cleared, quickly sitting up, wanting to say something but not knowing what, so he cursed, “You brat.”

“…” Li Huan’s face darkened further, but fortunately, the lights were off. He squatted in front of Song Chunhui’s knees, tilting his head to rub against his leg, acting spoiled, “Why are you angry again, always so fierce to me, I’ll be sad.”

Song Chunhui suddenly remembered his childhood, the village chief’s big yellow dog had rubbed against him like this. It was one of his few happy memories, but unfortunately, the big yellow dog was later poisoned by bad people, and he cried over it.

“I’ve showered, don’t want to shower again.” Song Chunhui pushed Li Huan away, got up to pull up his pants, and asked, “Is that money legit?”

Knowing Song Chunhui was still holding back, Li Huan didn’t force it, standing up to explain, “I went to the gym to work as a personal trainer part-time. Today I got two students and got an advance on my commission from the boss. I’ll go part-time every weekend, and if I don’t work overtime at night, I’ll go too.”

Song Chunhui paused for a few seconds, saying, “That’s not bad.”

“I knew you’d say that,” Li Huan was dissatisfied, “Both students are male, one looks like a dead gay, what if I get harassed?”

“…” Song Chunhui retorted, “Aren’t you a dead gay too? Pot calling the kettle black.”

Li Huan: “That’s different, I only have eyes for my wife, I don’t care about other men.”

Song Chunhui: “…”

“Wife, shower with me.” Li Huan pulled Song Chunhui up, “Save water, you can’t refuse me, I’ve had a hard day, very tired.”

“…”

Song Chunhui wasn’t heartless, but the brat wasn’t a girl. Even if it were a girl, he’d have to think twice. With that black heart, who would dare marry him?

He certainly wouldn’t.

Showering together inevitably led to being taken advantage of, naturally leading to that thing.

Song Chunhui could only comfort himself, it would be over after next week. As for the hair wax, he’d use one can, and return the rest to the brat.

*

Yu Weiyan, Monday.

Song Chunhui used the new hair wax, and it worked well. He wanted to style Li Huan’s hair into a neat slicked-back look, but was refused. The brat stubbornly refused to style it.

“Wife, spare me.”

“What’s wrong with you, come here!” Song Chunhui grabbed Li Huan’s arm, “You’re wearing a suit, style your hair neatly, clients will like it, might even sign a contract with you.”

Li Huan: “I don’t want clients to like me, only you.”

“…” Song Chunhui gave up, “Really hopeless.”

Breakfast was plain steamed buns, Li Huan couldn’t eat them, so he left for work first, buying a cup of soy milk, a fried dough stick, and a tea egg at the breakfast shop outside the community.

The commission he handed in last night, he kept a hundred for himself, finally not having to look at four-eyes’ face. Plus, after paying the rent, four-eyes was much more obedient last night, humming and hawing, letting him kiss, hug, and suck, without scolding him.

Li Huan set a bigger goal, full of motivation.

But before getting off work in the evening, he unexpectedly saw Song Chunhui’s resignation letter.

Author’s Note:
Lyrics from Ren Xianqi’s “Ren Xiaoyao”