Ji Yanzhi raised both eyebrows, his gaze darting over Ji Ting. Then he turned the wheel and pulled over by the roadside.
He unbuckled his seat belt and turned fully toward the passenger seat. "Ji Ear, was that little speech of yours a new deadpan joke?"
"No." There was not a trace of humor in Ji Ting's expression. "If my previous statement must be classified, it falls under risk warnings."
A few seconds of silence passed.
"Pfft-"
An irrepressible chuckle escaped Ji Yanzhi's throat. Then his laughter grew louder and louder, until his shoulders shook and he even clutched his stomach.
"Hahahaha... Ji Ear... my Academician Ji..." he said between fits of laughter, reaching out to pull him firmly into his arms and resting his chin on the crown of Ji Ting's head. "These compulsory measures of yours... are just... so adorable I can't stand it."
He tightened his arms and declared through muffled laughter beside Ji Ting's ear, "Don't worry. For the sake of my personal safety, I will absolutely, absolutely fulfill that lifetime commitment-with quality guaranteed and expectations exceeded!"
Ji Ting lifted his face from his embrace, genuine bewilderment surfacing in his eyes. "You don't think this is a bad thing?"
"How could I?" Ji Yanzhi met his gaze, the sweetness in his eyes almost overflowing. "Love officially certified and guaranteed by the state, the only one of its kind in the world. I'm honored. I couldn't ask for more."
Ji Ting looked at him, as though tiny points of starlight had lit up in his eyes, gathering and spreading little by little until they became a gentle sea of stars.
He said nothing at first, simply reaching out to hug Ji Yanzhi back. "I'll love you for the rest of my life too. I promise."
Early