Zhao Pingchuan's pupils widened sharply at his final word, and his expression froze for a moment.
Ji Ran had used up all his courage. He watched Zhao Pingchuan's expression, waiting for his answer.
Zhao Pingchuan's heart beat faster and faster, making his voice a little unsteady. "Ranran, do you mean what I think you mean? Are you willing to...?"
Ji Ran smiled and nodded. "I am."
With that, he watched Zhao Pingchuan's face anxiously.
Would Brother think I'm being too forward? Maybe he's never brought it up because he doesn't want to?
The wait was actually very short, but Ji Ran found it a little agonizing.
Zhao Pingchuan didn't know what he was thinking.
It was as though a fire had set everything alight, burning away all his reason. He really hadn't expected Ji Ran to bring this up today.
Though it was bound to happen sooner or later, he had been waiting for the day Ji Ran was ready.
He hadn't expected that day to come so soon, catching him so completely off guard.
Kissing alone was no longer enough. A large hand slipped under the hem of Ji Ran's pajamas, the loose clothing offering no resistance at all. Zhao Pingchuan moved his lips to Ji Ran's neck, sucking and licking, forcing Ji Ran to tilt his head back.
He was breathing heavily, though he didn't know whether the kiss just now had used up all the oxygen in his lungs.
He could feel Zhao Pingchuan's desire. It was a side of him only Ji Ran had seen: Zhao Pingchuan losing control.
Ji Ran loved it.
The air grew hotter, a flush spread across his skin, and his voice came in fits and starts as he breathed rapidly. "Brother, I'm yours. No one can take me away."
Zhao Pingchuan's movements came to an abrupt halt.
Huh?
Ji Ran looked over in confusion and saw the man's expression turn terrible in an instant, even going a little pale. The intimate, heated atmosphere plunged to freezing.
"What's wrong?" Ji Ran asked.
Zhao Pingchuan pressed his lips together, his hand still around Ji Ran's waist. His dark eyes looked into Ji Ran's as he asked hoarsely, "Ranran, are you doing this because I can't let that go?"
He had thought he was hiding it well, but Ji Ran had known all along.
What does that make this?
Am I using my misery to win Ji Ran's sympathy? His Ranran was so kind and loved him so much that of course he couldn't bear to see him suffer.
But that wasn't what he wanted.
Ji Ran froze. It took his somewhat sluggish brain a while to understand what Zhao Pingchuan was saying. He felt helpless and a little like laughing. Why is Brother so hung up on this?
Ji Ran gripped Zhao Pingchuan's collar and pulled him closer, rapidly closing the distance between them.
Zhao Pingchuan braced a hand against the edge of the bed just in time to avoid falling on top of Ji Ran.
Ji Ran said indignantly, "Zhao Pingchuan, what are you thinking? I do feel for you, and I do care about you, but can't I tell love from sympathy?"
Zhao Pingchuan blinked his long lashes, his deep-set eyes fixed intently on him.
"I love you and I want you. Do you understand?"
Ji Ran rarely spoke to anyone in such a blunt tone, especially not Zhao Pingchuan, but his assertive manner did a great deal to soothe Zhao Pingchuan's heart.
He said, "I want this to happen naturally, because it's what we both truly want."
For the first time, Ji Ran thought his brother was being such a fussbudget. He smiled helplessly. "I love my boyfriend, and I'm willing to become one with him in body and soul. Of course, I won't deny that I hope this will put his mind more at ease. What's wrong with that?"
There was even a challenge in his eyes, as if to say, Do you dare?
Those frank, sweet words of love came raining down on Zhao Pingchuan, dispelling all his misgivings. He finally smiled too, lowering his head to rest his forehead affectionately against Ji Ran's. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Nothing."
The night was still long, and they had plenty of time. Everything happened naturally.
When it was over, they fell asleep in each other's arms, and Zhao Pingchuan had his first peaceful night's sleep in a long time.
Someone would hold on to him through his recurring nightmares and tell him that he wouldn't leave, that they would always be together.
Ji Ran had been astonishingly bold the night before, a newborn calf unafraid of tigers. But when he opened his eyes the next morning and remembered what had happened, he wanted nothing more than to hide his head under the covers.
Zhao Pingchuan caught every bit of his conflicted expression, and a soft chuckle escaped him.
Ji Ran looked over abruptly and saw the man watching him, his eyes and brows full of a gentle smile. His face grew even hotter as he stammered a greeting. "Brother, you're awake."
Zhao Pingchuan knew when to stop and had no intention of teasing Ji Ran. He murmured an "Mm," leaned over, and kissed him. "Good morning."
After last night, the two had been completely open with each other and had done the most intimate thing there was to do. But this good morning kiss carried a different kind of intimacy and tenderness.
Ji Ran braced himself and slowly sat up. He took stock of how he felt. His body felt a little strange, but it wasn't serious. Since it was his first time, Zhao Pingchuan had been very restrained, watching his expression at every moment for fear that he might be enduring pain.
Just like now, though Zhao Pingchuan said nothing, his gaze stayed on Ji Ran as he quietly observed him. Only when he saw that his expression was normal did he breathe a sigh of relief.
Yesterday had been too rushed, and he hadn't prepared anything. On top of that, Ji Ran's words had stirred him up, and in the heat of the moment, all he could think about was possessing him completely. Although he had regained some of his reason afterward, he was still afraid he might have hurt Ji Ran.
Ji Ran had been embarrassed at first, but when he realized Zhao Pingchuan was even more nervous than he was, he couldn't resist teasing him. "I'm not made of glass. I won't break that easily."
Zhao Pingchuan pressed the back of his hand to Ji Ran's cheek. "You're not glass. You're more precious than diamonds."
It was a very cheesy thing to say, but Zhao Pingchuan said it so seriously that all Ji Ran felt was how much he treasured him.
Ji Ran had been so tired last night that he had slept straight through until dawn and hadn't noticed how Zhao Pingchuan was doing. Remembering it now, he asked, "Brother, how did you sleep last night?"
He cared a great deal about the quality of Zhao Pingchuan's sleep because he knew that sleeping poorly for a long time was mentally draining and made a person more prone to negative emotions.
Zhao Pingchuan smiled. "Pretty well."
"Really?" Ji Ran's eyes lit up. "Don't lie just to make me feel better."
"No." Zhao Pingchuan felt that his credibility was already on shaky ground. He assured him, "I really did sleep pretty well."
Ji Ran thought for a moment, then said, "All right, I'll believe you for now. You can't hide it from me anyway."
Zhao Pingchuan nodded. "Ready to get up?"
Ji Ran reached for the phone by the bed and checked the time. "We should, or we'll be late for work."
"Do you need to take the day off?" Zhao Pingchuan asked.
Ji Ran paused at that and squinted one eye at him for a while, his tone full of teasing. "What are you thinking? I can go to work."
Zhao Pingchuan patted his head, his expression composed, as though it were an ordinary expression of concern. "I wanted you to get some more rest."
Ji Ran showed him he was fine through his actions. He got out of bed, put on his shoes, and got up to head to the bathroom, his voice drifting back. "My work is mental labor. It won't affect me."
They had gotten up later than usual today, but when he reached the living room, he discovered that Zhao Pingchuan had prepared breakfast long ago and had packed it up while he was washing up.
Ji Ran took it and saw a sandwich and a cup of hot milk. Zhao Pingchuan picked up his car keys and said, "We're short on time. Eat breakfast on the way."
Ji Ran smiled and pressed close to him, clinging to him as the two walked along unsteadily. "My boyfriend is so thoughtful."
"It's only right."
Fortunately, Zhao Pingchuan hadn't been left with any psychological trauma about driving. Otherwise, Ji Ran really wouldn't have felt comfortable letting him drive alone.
Zhao Pingchuan seemed to see what he was thinking. He freed one hand to pinch his cheek. "I'm really fine now. Don't worry."
"I'm not worried." Ji Ran smiled obediently.
Today, Zhao Pingchuan dropped him off right at the entrance to his company. They happened to run into Zhou Jianghua, who had arrived just in time, and Zhao Pingchuan greeted him.
Zhou Jianghua saw Ji Ran, then the car behind him. Recognizing the man in the driver's seat, he eagerly came over and called out, "Brother Chuan! Dropping Ji Ran off at work?"
Zhao Pingchuan nodded and smiled faintly. "Good morning."
Zhou Jianghua wanted to chat with Zhao Pingchuan a little longer, but Ji Ran reminded him, "We're about to be late."
They had to clock in at the company, so Zhou Jianghua reluctantly said goodbye to Zhao Pingchuan and went inside with Ji Ran.
As they walked, he teased, "Boyfriends really do get treated differently from little brothers. He even brought you right to the office building."
Ji Ran smiled but naturally didn't explain the reason.
Zhou Jianghua suddenly remarked, "I used to think it was pretty unbelievable for two men to be together."
Feeling Ji Ran's gaze on him, he hurriedly explained, "I'm not homophobic. It's just my first time having someone around me like the same sex, and I'm not quite used to it."
Ji Ran smiled. "I know."
Only then did Zhou Jianghua relax. He went on, "But seeing you and Brother Chuan together, I really think it's great. You two get along even better than a lot of straight couples."
Ji Ran thought about it seriously and said, "Maybe it's because we were family first, and only became lovers afterward."
Zhou Jianghua thought that made sense. "Yeah. For you two, love is just the icing on the cake."
Before they fell in love, they had already been the most important person in each other's lives.
Ji Ran asked curiously, "What's gotten into you today? Are you longing for love?"
Zhou Jianghua waved a hand. "What nonsense. Seeing Brother Chuan bring you to work just got me thinking, that's all."
Ji Ran patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him. "You'll meet the person you're destined for too."
Zhou Jianghua grinned. "If we can be like you two, that would be ideal, of course."