Cheng Yue was still utterly baffled when a warm body pressed up behind him.
Ji Huaijin buried his face against the ends of his hair and nuzzled him. "Are you okay?"
What do you think? Why don't you try being forcibly woken up like that?
Flustered and annoyed, Cheng Yue wanted to jab him with his elbow.
"I didn't handle things properly. I let you suffer."
His elbow stopped halfway.
Ji Huaijin stroked his shoulders and back, over and over. His gentle voice enveloped him from behind, steeped in affection. "This won't ever happen again."
So many people in this world longed for a promise from him, yet he gave one to Cheng Yue with effortless solemnity.
Silence settled over them. All they could hear were their hearts beating in sync.
After a long stretch of silence, Cheng Yue rolled over, lowered his eyes, and poked his waist. "Ask me again."
With all his attention fixed on him, Ji Huaijin gave a knowing chuckle.
In this run-down, desolate village courtyard, that gentle voice reached Cheng Yue's ears once more.
"Cheng Yue, will you date me?"
This time, he didn't run away.
"Oh."
"Hmm?"
Cheng Yue lay flat on his back, his tone light. "We'll see."
In the quiet room, Ji Huaijin laughed, the sound brimming with indulgence and affection. "All right. Whatever you want."
Cheng Yue closed his eyes, his lips curving silently.
Happiness put a spring in Cheng Yue's step. He got up bright and early, went out to buy a heap of groceries, and brought the doctor from their town's best clinic home with him.
Lin Shuyang had been right. Ji Huaijin really was a beast.
He had driven for over a dozen hours with a cracked rib, then still managed to put Cheng Yue through his