Music Lollipop

When Yan Ningke came home, Aunt An was cooking.

"You're back."

Yan Ningke scanned the living room, and Aunt An smiled knowingly. "Mr. Shao is in the study."

"Thank you, Aunt An."

Yan Ningke dropped his backpack and hurried upstairs with the little paper bag in hand.

The second floor had always been Shao Ke's territory alone. He was very territorial, and apart from cleaning every few days, even Yan Ningke rarely came up.

Of course, Shao Ke had never explicitly forbidden him from coming, but Yan Ningke had a strong sense of boundaries and respected his personal habits.

Still, there were always exceptions.

Like now.

The study door was open. Yan Ningke poked his head in for a look. Shao Ke was seated behind the desk, watching his computer screen, his left arm propped on the desk as his index finger tapped his temple, his right hand moving the mouse.

He looked so effortlessly in control as he worked, so handsome it made a person want to drool.

Just thinking about what he was about to do made Yan Ningke grin.

After thoroughly berating himself inwardly and making sure he had his emotions under control, he reached out and knocked.

"Mr. Shao."

Shao Ke had already spotted him out of the corner of his eye. He kept his expression neutral, wanting to see what mischief he was up to this time.

Shameless as ever, Yan Ningke walked in grinning without waiting for an answer, as though his knock had been nothing more than a token courtesy.

Shao Ke gave him a sidelong glance and continued looking at his computer without moving.

Putting on that prim and proper act.

Yan Ningke grumbled inwardly, but the smile on his face was positively shameless.

"Busy?"

Shao Ke gave a noncommittal hum.

Making himself right at home, Yan Ningke leaned over the desk, pushed the little paper bag toward him, and looked at him with a beaming smile.

Shao Ke glanced down at the paper bag, then back at him. "What's this about?"

Propping his chin on one hand, Yan Ningke gestured toward the bag with his lips. "Open it and see."

Shao Ke stayed still, meeting his gaze with slightly narrowed eyes.

Yan Ningke blinked.

After a long moment, Shao Ke moved. He opened the paper bag unhurriedly, and when he saw the wrapper, a trace of a smile finally appeared. "Candy?"

Yan Ningke corrected him. "It's a Music Lollipop!"

Shao Ke: "..."

What gave you the impression that I'm still young enough to eat candy?

Seeing his blank expression, Yan Ningke took the initiative to tear open the wrapper, switch it on, and hold it to his lips. "Bite down!"

Shao Ke's gaze turned strange.

Completely oblivious to what he had said, Yan Ningke impatiently nudged the candy toward his mouth. "Open up. Hurry, try it."

He had never tried one either and had been curious about it.

Seeing his thirst for knowledge, Shao Ke helplessly parted his lips.

"Well? Is there music?"

Shao Ke listened for a few seconds, then nodded slightly. "Yes. It's very quiet."

His mouth was filled with the taste of cheap powdered sugar, and he frowned slightly in discomfort.

Just as he was about to spit the candy out, a pair of warm hands covered his ears.

All at once, music echoed in his ears.

He looked up to find the young man's delicate features right before him, their breaths mingling.

"How about now?"

Still not satisfied, Yan Ningke edged closer. Their faces were almost touching, and Shao Ke suspected that if either of them moved, their lips would become entwined in an instant.

Since he was holding the candy between his teeth, half of it was still outside his mouth.

Shao Ke watched as the person before him lowered his lashes and leaned in. Then warmth touched his lips.

The hands over his ears loosened a little. Yan Ningke licked the candy and lifted his eyes. "Is the candy good?"

Shao Ke stared straight at him, his Adam's apple bobbing as his eyes darkened.

Yan Ningke kissed the candy again and again, his voice soft and syrupy. "Gege, now that you've eaten my candy, you have to grant me one request."

In the study, wet sounds and heavy breathing played alongside the music.

"Mr. Shao, dinner is ready!"

Aunt An's voice came from downstairs.

Yan Ningke released the shirt in his hands and slowly drew back, his eyes full of sensuality, catching the falling candy in one swift motion.

"Gege, so sweet."

Hearing no response, Auntie called again. "Mr. Yan?"

The man who could remain unmoved with someone in his lap now had desire in his eyes.

Yan Ningke smiled triumphantly, popped the candy into his mouth, and got up to leave.

"Coming!"

Shao Ke watched his figure disappear, then lightly wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb.

A lingering current still stirred in the room, proclaiming how passionately they had just entwined.

Yan Ningke had been downstairs for quite a while before Shao Ke came down in the elevator.

Their gazes collided and tangled. Yan Ningke curved his lips at him in a suggestive smile.

Shao Ke: "..."

Shao Ke smiled, pressing his tongue against the inside of his cheek.

You'd better keep being this cocky.

Still utterly ignorant of what his future held, Yan Ningke was hopelessly immersed in the joy of teasing a man.

Over dinner, he brought up the variety show with Shao Ke. "I suspect they probably wanted me on because they saw the photos I posted on Weibo."

Otherwise, how could he explain their picking him out of the vast sea of people in the entertainment industry?

"Mr. Shao, they're lusting after Lars's good looks!"

Gege one moment, Mr. Shao the next. You've really mastered this game.

Shao Ke calmly took a sip of soup and said evenly, "So?"

Yan Ningke chuckled. "So, I'd like to borrow Lars!"

Whatever. He ate the candy, so that means he agreed to my request!

Shao Ke sneered. So that was his little scheme. "When someone's this eager to please for no reason, they're either up to no good or after something."

"Hey, hey, hey, don't go making things up! My heart is pure, and heaven and earth can bear witness!"

Even if you see through me, don't say it!

Didn't he have his pride too? Hmph!

Having accepted his treat, what could Shao Ke do but agree?

On the day of departure, Yan Ningke carried bags of all sizes and led the dog out, ready to leave.

Shao Ke saw him to the door. The driver tactfully took the luggage from Yan Ningke and got Lars into the car first.

Yan Ningke glanced back, suddenly feeling reluctant to leave.

Really, all told, an episode only took two days and two nights. It was not far away, in a little village just outside the suburbs. The whole trip would take four days at most.

Yan Ningke wanted to say something to ease his feelings.

"Mr. Shao, wait here. I shall be right... ow!"

He received a smack on the forehead.

Shao Ke chided him lightly. "Nonsense!"

As though sensing his unease, he reached out and rubbed his head, his tone gentle. "Fight less with Lars. Don't embarrass yourself on television."

Yan Ningke: "..."

You really know how to comfort someone.

Still feeling down, Yan Ningke hooked his little finger around Shao Ke's and said softly, "I'll miss you."

Shao Ke said nothing, only tightening his little finger in response.

Lars had no idea where they were going, but that did nothing to dampen his good mood at the prospect of seeing the world.

Throughout the drive, he clambered at one window, then turned and pounced on Yan Ningke, as worked up as an angry girlfriend or a pig at New Year, impossible to hold down.

He actually quieted down as they neared their destination. Yan Ningke pinched his ear and teased, "What, you know you're about to meet some little lady dogs, so you're starting to put on an act?"

Lars rolled his eyes at him and covered his ears with both paws.

Not listening, not listening. Just a bastard chanting nonsense.