The last time they had slept together was after coming back from the amusement park, when Ji Shang had massaged An Yubei's feet to ease the soreness in his thighs.
They hadn't slept together for several days.
An Yubei missed Ji Shang's warm embrace a little.
Even though it was still summer and so hot outside that they needed the air conditioning on indoors, An Yubei still missed that warm, secure feeling.
An Yubei was used to being alone. He had been on his own since childhood.
Eating alone, sleeping alone, living alone.
Now that someone was there to keep him company so he wasn't lonely, An Yubei had become unable to do without him before he knew it.
He wanted to sleep with Ji Shang. It was a feeling he couldn't quite put into words.
Waiting anxiously for Ji Shang's reply, An Yubei nervously bit his nails.
He had nearly bitten his nails down to nothing before Ji Shang finally replied.
[Xiao Bei, you're grown up now. You can't sleep with me anymore. It wouldn't be convenient.]
An Yubei felt as if he had been struck by lightning and stared unhappily at his phone.
Ji Shang had turned him down!
Usually, Ji Shang agreed to whatever An Yubei asked, so An Yubei had thought he had special privileges. Now it seemed those privileges weren't available every day.
[Why? What's inconvenient about it? I want to sleep with you.]
An Yubei switched to acting cute. Ji Shang was usually most susceptible to this approach; whenever An Yubei acted cute, Ji Shang would give in.
[My dearest Brother Shang, please, let me come over!]
[You really want to sleep with Brother Shang?]
An Yubei sent over a cute sticker.
[Of course.]
[If you want to sleep with me, you can't do it for free. Do something for me, and I'll let you.]
An Yubei: "...!"
Why did it feel like the conversation had gone off track?
Why did it feel like he was trying to get some action for free?
[Do what?]
[It's not hard. Come over first.]
An Yubei narrowed his eyes in thought for a moment, then slipped on his slippers, got out of bed, and opened the door to go find Ji Shang.
As he approached Ji Shang's room, he noticed the door wasn't closed. A sliver of warm yellow light showed through the gap.
An Yubei poked his head in like a little thief.
Ji Shang wasn't on the bed. He was shirtless, doing push-ups on the white rug beside it.
An Yubei didn't know how many Ji Shang had done, but judging by the sweat on his body, it must have been a great many.
"Can't sleep either?"
An Yubei came in and shut the door, kicked off his slippers, and sat cross-legged on the white rug.
It was already past two in the morning. If Ji Shang was still exercising at this hour, the only explanation An Yubei could think of was insomnia.
Just like him, Ji Shang couldn't sleep either.
"Mm, I couldn't sleep."
Ji Shang panted heavily, the muscles in his back growing firm and taut with the movement of his body.
Without his clothes, Ji Shang's body was all solid muscle.
His contours were smooth and full of power.
An Yubei couldn't resist reaching out to poke Ji Shang's biceps.
"What would it take for you to sleep with me?"
An Yubei smiled playfully, looking just like an old lecher coaxing a young girl.
Ji Shang turned to look at An Yubei and curled his lips into a smile. "Record a video for me, and I'll let you."
An Yubei: "...!"
Why does it feel like I'm lusting after Ji Shang's body?
Oh my god, I really just want an innocent night's sleep, nothing else.
Like, no touching Ji Shang's abs or licking his Adam's apple.
An Yubei licked his lips, suppressing the urge inside him.
"What kind of video?"
Ji Shang stood up and wiped away his sweat. "One like You Zhi's video. All you have to say is, 'Dear Ji Shang, I love you.'"
An Yubei: "...?"
That's mortifying. What if I don't want to record it?
Ji Shang leisurely wiped the sweat off his body. An Yubei's gaze followed him the entire time, reluctant to look away for even a moment.
"Can't we negotiate?"
Holding the towel, Ji Shang said, "Take your time thinking it over, Xiao Bei. I'll shower first."
Watching Ji Shang's retreating back, An Yubei's heart pounded.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom.
An Yubei leaned against the side like a kitten waiting for its owner.
After a dozen or so minutes, Ji Shang emerged, drying his hair with a bath towel wrapped around his lower half.
An Yubei's mouth instantly went dry, and he felt an unbearable itch of desire.
If I refuse, I won't get to sleep with Ji Shang.
Ji Shang smells so good!
I really want to touch Ji Shang's abs.
So An Yubei summoned his courage and said, "I'll record it. I'll do what Brother Shang says."
After showing off his body for a while, Ji Shang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The temptation had worked. Xiao Bei had given in.
Following Ji Shang's instructions, An Yubei began recording the video in front of the phone.
"Dear Ji Shang, I love you!"
At the end, An Yubei even added a kiss. "Love you, love you, love you!"
An Yubei was already good-looking. Acting cute for the video, coupled with that kiss, dealt a critical hit straight to Ji Shang's heart.
Ji Shang pressed a hand over his pounding heart, turned, and went into the walk-in closet to ease his inner agitation.
An Yubei obediently hopped onto the bed and quietly waited for Ji Shang to return.
Once Ji Shang had changed into his pajamas, An Yubei patted the spot beside him and smiled. "Hurry up, Brother Shang."
"Why are you so eager for some action?" Ji Shang teased.
An Yubei's cheeks flushed, and he ducked his head under the covers.
You can't blame me for being eager. Ji Shang is just too tempting.
Hearing An Yubei's thoughts, Ji Shang paused slightly as he climbed onto the bed.
What was Xiao Bei thinking about?
After lying quietly in place, An Yubei couldn't help moving closer.
"Can we negotiate one more thing?"
Ji Shang leaned against the headboard and wrapped an arm around An Yubei. "Go ahead."
"I want to kiss your Adam's apple again." An Yubei was like a little baby craving a treat, as though he were asking a parent whether he could have some candy.
Ji Shang paused, feeling rather aggrieved.
An Yubei only wanted to kiss his Adam's apple, but he wanted much more.
The little guy only started fires and took no responsibility for putting them out. What a headache.
Ji Shang paused before saying, "Then I'll bite your ears."
An Yubei rolled over to lie on top of Ji Shang and smiled. "Be gentle, then. Don't bite too hard. It'll hurt."
Ji Shang's eyes darkened, and he answered in a low, hoarse voice, "All right."
An Yubei unceremoniously took his Adam's apple into his mouth, licking it back and forth with the tip of his tongue. He was like someone playing with an amusing toy, finding enjoyment in it.
While he happily played, Ji Shang felt as if he were being tortured over and over in a frying pan.
His voice grew lower and hoarser, his reason nearly at its breaking point. He gripped An Yubei's waist. "Have you had enough?"
"No." An Yubei's lips were wet. He wiped them and said, "Five more minutes."
"No." Ji Shang rolled over and pinned An Yubei beneath him, his tone dangerous. "It's my turn to play with you."
An Yubei trembled inwardly. Be gentle. Please don't break me.
Ji Shang's reason was on the verge of collapse.
An Yubei arrived late for breakfast that morning.
Ji Shang had already gone to work, while An Yubei had enjoyed a good night's sleep and slept until he woke naturally.
As he chewed his sandwich, An Yubei heard Lao Wang say, "Are there still mosquitoes in your room? This one must have been pretty big. Your ears are swollen."
Lao Wang smiled as though he had seen through everything.
An Yubei nodded guiltily. Last time, he had been bitten by a mosquito. This time, he had been bitten by Ji Shang.
But admitting it was embarrassing, so he could only let the mosquitoes take the blame.
"Yes, a huge one."
As big as Ji Shang.
"Then there must have been two mosquitoes last night!" Lao Wang smiled with his lips pressed together. "I noticed Mr. Ji's Adam's apple was swollen too."
An Yubei guiltily lowered his head and drank his milk, not daring to look at Lao Wang.
Actually, he was that big mosquito.
"Mm, the mosquitoes have been pretty vicious lately."
Lao Wang, who had seen through everything: "...!"
Like hell I believe you two!
What did the mosquitoes ever do wrong? Why should they take the blame for you?