Ji Shi's already displeased expression darkened another shade when he saw Lu Xunji.
He had clearly had a good first impression of the man, but now everything about him seemed like an eyesore.
"Going shirtless this early in the morning, Young Master Lu? Aren't you afraid of catching a cold?" he sneered. "Cold medicine in the points shop is pretty expensive too..."
Lu Xunji ignored him completely, brushing past him, going downstairs to get a glass of water, and leaning against the counter to take a couple of sips.
His skin was very fair, so any other color on it stood out sharply.
Half a purplish-red bite mark peeked out from beneath his pants. Ji Shi instantly felt as though something had seized his throat, leaving him unable to utter a word.
There was absolutely no way he could have bitten himself there.
Xie Ji had slept in Lu Xunji's room last night, so it went without saying whose handiwork that deeply suggestive mark was.
Jealousy bubbled up inside Ji Shi, and his gaze grew a little more resentful.
Xie Ji was still tidying the bed in the room when he heard the system notification announce that Ji Shi's affection for him had dropped by ten. A hundred points landed in his balance along with it.
Xie Ji: "?"
Who had upset him this early in the morning?
Looking at his points balance, Xie Ji sighed.
There really were more good people in this world. Someone had given him a hundred points first thing in the morning.
As it turned out, Lu Xunji hadn't just been saying it. He really did go out for his morning workout, stretching in the courtyard before running two laps around the villa.
It was also time for the cameras, which had been off all night, to come back on, and viewers trickled into the livestream.
[Little Young Master Lu really works so hard. I remember he was the first one up yesterday too.]
[Lu Xunji works out every morning... but why isn't he wearing a shirt today? He was all covered up yesterday.]
[Young Master Lu must have heard the pleas of all his wife fans and decided to treat them first thing in the morning... that chest, that waist, those abs, those long legs. Tears are running out of the corners of my mouth!]
[Little Lu, remember: flowers fade, people daze, but my love will never say goodbye.]
[Tell Auntie the truth. Were you just playing with Auntie's feelings? Auntie's not young anymore. I've been seeing you behind my old man's back because I thought you were my true love. When we first met, you thought Auntie was feminine and beautiful. Last night you asked Auntie to wash your underwear, and I did. So why did you block Auntie as soon as you got home? Don't do this to Auntie. My heart can't take it. Come back to Auntie. I'll do anything you want. If you see this, remember to message Auntie back. I'll be waiting.]
[Enough, I'm telling you. Xie Ji, give that girl her phone back!]
[I can't out-hornypost you bastards. I'm so frustrated I scratched my ass at the bus stop.]
[Wait, has nobody noticed the bite mark on Young Master Lu's waist?]
[Feels like he deliberately got it on camera for me to see...]
[He couldn't have bitten himself there, right? Seriously? They went that wild?]
[Whose bite mark is that!??? Holy shit! Who! Who dared bite my husband?! God damn it, I woke up and my husband was gone!]
[Blind guess: Xie Ji. Feels like something only he would do...]
[Another vote for Xie Ji. Our Young Master Lu is a total unattainable flower, all cool and ethereal. I feel like he hasn't been nice to anyone except Xie Ji, let alone let them leave such a suggestive mark somewhere so private.]
[So? You're telling me my wife bit my husband?]
[Maybe your husband did something to your wife...]
[Love between three people really is too crowded.]
The bite mark on Lu Xunji's waist sparked a heated discussion, while the owner of that bite mark, suspect Xie, walked out of Lu Xunji's room wearing a perfectly ordinary T-shirt.
He wasn't deliberately trying to hide anything. Softness and comfort were his main priorities when dressing.
Normally, his clothes covered the bite mark on his shoulder.
When he sat at the dining table and raised his other hand high to pour soy milk, one side of his T-shirt slipped down a couple of inches.
Mu Yao had been staring intently at Xie Ji's face as he ate when he suddenly caught sight of the glaring bite mark beneath his clothes.
He paused and put down what he was holding, not asking about it outright in front of the cameras.
Only after Xie Ji had finished eating and was about to change into his work clothes in the changing room to go feed the cows in the cowshed did he seize the chance to squeeze in.
Fortunately, the changing room was spacious enough to fit two men.
Xie Ji had just looked up to ask what he wanted when Mu Yao gripped his shoulders, trapping him between his arms.
Xie Ji frowned.
He didn't know whether it was because he had used [Rosemary] on Mu Yao, but he really didn't like the smell of him.
The fragrance was a little overpowering, especially at a distance far closer than any safe social boundary allowed.
Mu Yao tugged his shirt down to expose the bite mark, a hint of jealous resentment gathering in his eyes. "Who did this?"
Xie Ji pushed Mu Yao away with a cold expression and adjusted his shirt, sounding annoyed. "What's it got to do with you?"
Mu Yao's fingers tightened. "How does it have nothing to do with me?" he said through gritted teeth. "You're the little cake I've set my sights on. I haven't even taken a bite yet. Who the fuck got their mouth on you so fast?"
Xie Ji didn't understand. "What?"
"I said, who did this?" Mu Yao had no intention of explaining. He pressed closer, even more forcefully, his thumb pressing the bite mark on Xie Ji's shoulder as he swore under his breath again. "Fuck. Who left this on you? Tell me!"
Xie Ji raised his hand and gripped Mu Yao's wrist.
He wasn't very strong, but he knew a few pressure points. Even a little force could make Mu Yao's arm go weak.
Xie Ji swatted Mu Yao's hand away and lifted his chin, a trace of coldness showing in his misty blue eyes. "I don't like you talking to me like this, so I'm not going to answer your question. If you don't understand what manners are, I don't mind teaching you."
Mu Yao raised an eyebrow and gave Xie Ji a look of curiosity.
Perhaps because this was so different from the meek softness he displayed in front of everyone, Mu Yao found it fresh and thoroughly intriguing.
His gaze settled on Xie Ji's shoulder. Though Xie Ji's grip had left his arm aching and numb, he still recklessly reached out to rub the bite mark. Only after a long moment did he ask, "Was it Lu Xunji?"
He could more or less guess. At present, aside from Lu Xunji, the only one close to Xie Ji was Ji Shi. That big oaf would never leave something so suggestive. If he had already gotten this far with Xie Ji, he would probably have been up bragging before dawn.
Xie Ji said nothing, tacitly admitting it, and found Mu Yao a little annoying.
After all, Mu Yao wasn't Ji Shi. He hadn't given him money or any benefits.
Much less was he someone as important as Lu Xunji, to whom his life was tied.
"Get out." He held his chin high like a noble, snow-white fox, ordering the lowly human who dared stroke his pristine fur to leave.
Mu Yao curled his lips into a smile. No longer as blunt and rough as before, he showed a little more of a hunter's patience.
"Sorry... I got too worked up just now," he said quietly. "I was just worried when I saw you were hurt."
As he spoke, he produced a dew-covered rose from his pocket like a magic trick. "Will you let me make it up to you, little cake?"
Xie Ji gave a soft scoff. "Get out. Don't you understand?"