Ji Yunqing took the elevator to his floor, but instead of going to his own room, he went to Mu Nanyu's room and knocked on his door.
The door opened quickly, Mu Nanyu stood in front of him, slightly taller than him by half a head, looking a bit listless.
He seemed to truly realize how terribly wrong he had been and wanted to apologize, but he couldn't bring himself to say it in front of Ji Yunqing. So he simply gestured for the door to open, saying, "Come in first."
Ji Yunqing didn't know what to say for a moment, so she simply went into the room first. After closing the door, all outside sounds and disturbances were blocked out. There were only the two of them in the room, and the air seemed to be filled with a subtle atmosphere that was hard to control.
"... So, the reason you suddenly distanced yourself from me after you turned 17 was because you developed feelings for me but didn't know how to handle them, so you chose the dumbest and most awkward way?"
Seeing Mu Nanyu sitting on the sofa, constantly touching his nose and ears, looking hesitant and at a loss for words, Ji Yunqing knew he couldn't speak. So she sighed and spoke first.
"..." Mu Nanyu blushed instantly, his fingers fidgeting, his head bowed low, unsure of what to say, "I'm sorry, brother..."
Before Mu Nanyu could finish speaking, Ji Yunqing flicked his forehead twice with her finger. The light tap made him raise his head, and he met her helpless gaze.
"You... such a big thing, and you kept it all bottled up by yourself for so many years. I thought I had done something wrong to make you hate me. You were so clingy to me when we were little, and suddenly you've distanced yourself from me. I'm so heartbroken..."
As soon as Ji Yunqing finished speaking, Mu Nanyu could no longer hold back. He leaned over and hugged his waist, pressing his head against his waist and abdomen, his eyes moist as he apologized.
"Brother, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, I was afraid you'd hate me... afraid you'd find me disgusting... I'm sorry, I messed things up."
"I'm no good at anything, and I always make you angry... I'm sorry... I... I... Brother, please hit me, otherwise I won't be able to live with myself..."
Mu Nanyu hugged Ji Yunqing and cried, tears streaming down his face. Most of the tears soaked into his clothes and seeped into his skin, burning him and making him tremble slightly.
"You really deserve a beating. You're always talking to yourself and doing childish and stupid things. To be honest, you've been incredibly infuriating these past few years..."
Ji Yunqing pinched Mu Nanyu's cheek, cruelly refusing to wipe away his tears, and frowned as she recounted her grievances and anger over the years.
As Mu Nanyu listened, he felt increasingly annoyed with himself, so he hugged Ji Yunqing even tighter. Only after Ji Yunqing finished speaking did he look at him with a pitiful and cautious expression.
"I'm sorry... brother... please don't hate me? I'll never do it again."
"..." Ji Yunqing looked down at Mu Nanyu's pitiful, teary-eyed appearance, unconsciously comparing him to the chubby little dumpling he used to be, and ultimately couldn't bring herself to be cruel.
"ε=(´ο`*))) Sigh... I'm really defeated by you."
As Ji Yunqing spoke, she pinched his cheek again, then wiped away his tears, "Stop crying, you look like a kitten."
"Has my brother forgiven me?"
Mu Nanyu hugged him tightly, his voice hoarse as he spoke, afraid of upsetting the other person. Ji Yunqing flicked his forehead with his finger.
"I can't forgive you easily right now. You're too infuriating. Think about how to make amends. Crying won't solve anything. I won't be soft-hearted anymore."
Mu Nanyu blinked, sniffed, and stopped crying. He said "oh," and then frantically rummaged through his suitcase, pulling out a whip.
Why are you giving me this?
Ji Yunqing looked at Mu Nanyu, who was handing him the whip. From initial surprise to shock, he didn't even have time to ask him what it meant to carry a whip with him. His mind was buzzing.
"You hit me to vent your anger... spank me... like you used to discipline me when I was a kid..." Mu Nanyu said, feeling ashamed himself, but for some reason, his gaze was very firm.
Ji Yunqing: "..."
Ji Yunqing's throat tightened, and it took her a long time to find her voice. Her lips twitched as she raised her hand, pulled away the whip, and threw it away. Then she pinched his cheek, looking at him with a hint of disappointment.
"You brat! What have you learned all these years? Ծ‸Ծ You're twenty-five already, why would I hit you?"
"And why do you still carry that little whip with you? I remember hitting you once when you were little..."
"Ahem... this, that..."
Seeing Mu Nanyu's evasive gaze, Ji Yunqing understood everything. Her ears turned slightly red, and she rubbed his cheeks several times before saying with a hint of embarrassment and indignation, "You little pervert..."
"Brother, I was wrong. Please don't be with other men, and stay with me, okay? I really, really like you. I'll change anything you don't like, please control me..."
Mu Nanyu held Ji Yunqing's hand, his cheeks flushed, and looked at him cautiously. Upon hearing this, Ji Yunqing withdrew his hand and raised an eyebrow slightly.
"... How can you confess your feelings so perfunctorily? I don't agree; it's so insincere."
"Then can I officially start pursuing you?"
Mu Nanyu sensed a possibility, and his eyes lit up instantly. Ji Yunqing coughed lightly, turned around to pour herself some water, and spoke in a very calm tone.
"... We'll see how you do."
One sentence made Mu Nanyu ecstatic...