UI CH 11

As he sucked on the chicken wing, Zhao Jiyu naturally bit down, tearing off a small piece of skin with his lips, and chewed while looking ahead. His lips were beautifully shaped and looked fuller with the oil on them. Shen Ran also noticed a tiny bead of scent in the center of his upper lip.

While Shen Ran was observing him, Zhao Jiyu turned and took a second bite. This time, he didn’t hold it securely, and the chicken was about to fall. Shen Ran reached out and pushed the chicken back into his mouth. The movement caused his knuckle to brush against Zhao Jiyu’s lips, and the soft sensation startled him.

Without waiting for Zhao Jiyu to react, he turned and sat on the sofa, eating the rest of the food in silence.

Zhao Jiyu glanced at him twice, then continued steering as if nothing had happened. Shen Ran stared at the fragrant grilled food on his plate. His stomach was clearly hungry, but the touch from before reminded him of their kiss that night, making everything taste off.

Even the chewiness of the meat felt like the texture of Zhao Jiyu’s lips. Realizing he was thinking inappropriate thoughts, Shen Ran grabbed his wine glass and emptied it.

Old Wu, thinking he didn’t like the grilled meat, grilled him some seafood and mushrooms. Shen Ran ate intermittently, and when he was almost done, he put down his fork, leaned back on the sofa, and gazed at the scenery outside.

Unexpected Intimacy:
The afternoon sea breeze, thick with dampness, repeatedly swept into the cockpit.

Shen Ran, having dozed off for a while, began to feel drowsy. The boat’s occasional swaying, like a gentle cradle, intensified his sleepiness. By the time Old Wu finally turned off the grill, he was already fast asleep.

Zhao Jiyu and Old Wu switched places, and Zhao Jiyu returned to the sofa. Two plates on the coffee table were empty, and the bottle of white port in the ice bucket was nearly half gone.

White port had a pleasant taste, and Zhao Jiyu usually drank it like a beverage; it was no surprise Shen Ran enjoyed it too. He picked up Shen Ran’s wine glass, finished the remaining small sip, poured himself another glass, and sat down beside Shen Ran, resting his arm on the back of the chair, leaning in close to the sleeping man from behind.

Shen Ran’s half-dry hair carried the scent of his usual shampoo and conditioner. A faint, almost invisible kiss mark on the back of his neck felt like a feather gently brushing against his eyelids. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to that patch of skin, lightly sucking.

Shen Ran was so exhausted these past few days that he didn’t even wake up from the kiss.

After gazing at those rosy lips for a long time, Zhao Jiyu finished his glass and got up to fetch the fishing gear.

As the afterglow of the setting sun slanted into the cabin from the west, Shen Ran heard the sound of something heavy hitting the water. Groggy for a moment, he shielded his eyes from the light and sat up, looking around.

The driver’s seat was empty. The boat was anchored in the middle of the sea, gently rocking with the waves. A low lounge chair with a bathrobe draped over it sat on the deck. He walked over and saw a figure not far from the boat.

Zhao Jiyu’s skin was very pale, especially noticeable in the water. He was wearing black triangle swim trunks, and the beautiful curve of his back’s butterfly muscles was visible as he extended his arms. His leg muscles were also perfectly defined as he stroked through the water.

From Shen Ran’s perspective, his proportions were exceptionally good.
Leaning against the metal railing, Shen Ran squinted at the vibrant sunset in the distance. He’d been in Xiamen for two years, and apart from basketball practice, he rarely had such leisurely moments to relax. Thinking about the last time he’d been on a boat, crammed onto the ferry to Gulangyu as a tourist, he turned to look at the figure in the sea.

Zhao Jiyu and he lived vastly different lives. They shouldn’t have had any interaction at all, if not for that accidental night. His fingers, resting on the railing, twitched slightly.

Shen Ran watched the figure swimming further away, but a slightly hazy scene flashed in his mind.

Although the lights were off, the face hovering above him, sweaty and panting, was unexpectedly clear, and the contours of the abs his fingertips touched were firm and well-defined.

Zhao Jiyu seemed to enjoy being caressed, and several times wouldn’t let him pull his hand away. The memory of that man’s indulgent and unrestrained expression caused Shen Ran to momentarily lose focus. If Zhao Jiyu were a woman, Li Ting wouldn’t be the school’s most beautiful girl.

The sound of splashing water stopped without warning. When Shen Ran came back to his senses, the figure that had been in his field of vision was gone. He looked around, but the sea had returned to its tranquil state, with only the waves gently swaying, carrying fragments of sunlight.

Stunned, Shen Ran straightened up and called out,
“Zhao Jiyu?”

The sea in front of him remained calm, without even a ripple, and no one answered. His breathing quickened involuntarily. He called out twice more, and still hearing no response, he realized the potential danger. Without bothering to go back into the cabin to call Old Wu, he untied his bathrobe, stepped onto the railing, and plunged into the water.

However, the moment he entered the water, the surface stirred nearby. Zhao Jiyu surfaced, wiping water from his face, and looked towards the splash Shen Ran had made.

Just as he was about to speak, his brow furrowed, and he gasped for air before sinking back down.
Shen Ran surfaced quickly after diving in and, seeing Zhao Jiyu disappear again, dove back down. He saw Zhao Jiyu bent over, clutching his left calf and trying to pull his toes in the opposite direction.

Shen Ran swam towards him immediately, wrapped his arms around his chest from behind, and brought him to the surface.

Zhao Jiyu’s first dive was for breath-holding practice, and he’d stayed under for over a minute before surfacing. However, his left leg cramped as soon as he came up, causing him to sink again. He’d also inhaled some water due to the short time he’d taken to breathe.

Shen Ran supported Zhao Jiyu, placing his arm over his shoulder to prevent him from sinking again.
“Is your leg cramping?”

Their bodies pressed close together, and the vibrations from Zhao Jiyu’s coughs traveled to Shen Ran’s chest. Shen Ran stroked his back, reassuring him,
“Relax, it’s okay.”

Zhao Jiyu coughed several times before stopping. Hearing his heavy breathing, Shen Ran asked,
“Is your leg still cramping?”

“Yeah,” Zhao Jiyu leaned his face against Shen Ran’s shoulder,
“It hurts a little.”

His voice was hoarser than usual, and his rapid breaths brushed against Shen Ran’s ear. But Shen Ran couldn’t worry about that now. After giving him a moment to recover, he began swimming towards the yacht.

When they got closer, he noticed there were no life rings or other rescue equipment hanging around the boat. Shen Ran looked at him again, but before he could say anything, he felt something was off.
They seemed to be a little too close. They’d briefly separated while swimming, but Zhao Jiyu had clung to him again, wrapping his arms around his neck, and their lower bodies were pressed tightly together.
His treading water and the surrounding currents kept bumping their bodies together.

Realizing this, Shen Ran tried to pry Zhao Jiyu’s arms away, at least to create some distance. But what he felt, Zhao Jiyu also felt. To keep holding onto him, Zhao Jiyu hissed,
“No, it’s cramping again.”

Instead of pulling his arms away, Shen Ran tightened his hold on Zhao Jiyu’s waist and called out towards the yacht, “Old Wu!”

He called out several times. Luckily, the yacht’s engine had been turned off, and Old Wu heard him from the kitchen. He ran up and saw Shen Ran. “Zhao Jiyu’s leg cramped!”

Old Wu immediately threw a life ring that was nearby. Shen Ran pulled it over with the rope and had Zhao Jiyu grab onto it. Old Wu then lowered a rope ladder, and working together, they managed to pull Zhao Jiyu onto the yacht.

They sat on the deck, and Old Wu asked anxiously,
“How did your leg suddenly cramp? Is it still cramping now?”

“Much better,” Zhao Jiyu said, catching his breath.
“Could you bring up some towels?”

Old Wu went below deck to fetch them, and as soon as his footsteps faded, Zhao Jiyu’s expression turned uncomfortable again. Shen Ran, who had been watching him, leaned closer and asked, “Cramping again?”

His hands were supporting his upper body behind him, and his long legs, still glistening with water droplets, were pressed against Shen Ran’s thighs.

Meeting Shen Ran’s worried gaze, he couldn’t help but nod.
Lifting his left leg, Shen Ran helped him stretch it, and Zhao Jiyu’s expression quickly relaxed.

After Old Wu brought them each a towel to drape over their shoulders, Zhao Jiyu lay back on the deck, removed his swim cap and goggles, and wiped the water from his face.

Shen Ran, also exhausted, lay down and breathed evenly, then turned to look at the person next to him.
Zhao Jiyu was looking at him too. His fine eyelashes were dotted with tiny water droplets, and his wet eyes seemed even more alluring than usual.

Shen Ran only met his gaze for a moment before turning away, looking at the fiery and vibrant afterglow on the other side.
A moment later, he heard Zhao Jiyu say softly behind him, “Thanks for earlier.”

After resting on the deck for a while, they showered one after the other.

When Shen Ran returned to the cockpit, a round table had been set up on the deck. Baked lobster with cheese and herb shrimp were placed in the center, and an opened bottle of sparkling red wine was in an ice bucket.

Zhao Jiyu was sitting in a white plastic-backed chair, a large parasol to block the sunlight angled beside him.
His gaze swept over Zhao Jiyu’s still loosely draped bathrobe, and Shen Ran sat in the chair opposite him at his invitation.

Old Wu brought out plates and placed two servings of steak drizzled with béarnaise sauce in front of them. The rich, creamy aroma of the sauce, combined with the savory scent of the grilled steak, instantly stimulated their appetites.

Zhao Jiyu took the knife and fork Old Wu handed him and said to Shen Ran, who was sitting still,
“Yours is medium-well, try it and see how it tastes.”

Shen Ran also picked up his utensils, cut a small piece of steak, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in his mouth. Zhao Jiyu, having placed his own utensils nearby, lit a cigarette and, noticing Shen Ran’s expression as he looked over, couldn’t help but smile. “Delicious, isn’t it?”

Shen Ran had never eaten steak so tender and flavorful before, and he couldn’t help but nod. “It’s very good.”

Placing his cigarette in the ashtray, Zhao Jiyu cut a piece of his own steak, which was medium-rare, and held it to Shen Ran’s lips with his fork. “The texture of medium-rare is even better. Try it. If you like it, I’ll switch plates with you.”