UI CH 38

Zhao Jiyu had been watching him closely and didn’t miss even the slightest reaction in his eyes. Just as Zhao Jiyu was about to lean in and touch those lips, the male lead in the movie they were watching suddenly honked a car horn. The sound startled Shen Ran, making him turn his head. Zhao Jiyu’s lips barely missed his cheek, instead landing against his shoulder.

The left side of the couch sank slightly under Zhao Jiyu’s weight. Shen Ran glanced at the movie screen before turning back, only to find that Zhao Jiyu had buried his face against his shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Zhao Jiyu shook his head, then lifted his face and said,
“Stop eating instant noodles. I’ll order Japanese food instead.”

Shen Ran had grown up with a habit of not wasting food and couldn’t stand seeing it go to waste. He replied,
“You eat that. I’ll finish my noodles.”

“Is instant noodles really enough to fill you up?”
Zhao Jiyu asked again.

Considering Shen Ran’s appetite, it wasn’t quite enough. Seeing him hesitate, Zhao Jiyu picked up the phone from the table, selected a Japanese restaurant from the food delivery app, and handed it to him.
“Pick whatever you want.”

Shen Ran took the phone and quickly scanned the menu, only to be shocked by the prices. Zhao Jiyu noticed that he ended up choosing only a few simple vegetarian hand rolls, clearly being overly polite again. Taking the phone back, Zhao Jiyu asked,
“Last time I ordered Japanese food for you, was there anything you liked?”

At that time, they weren’t even familiar with each other, and Shen Ran hadn’t touched the food at all. Zhao Jiyu had already guessed this, so he simply ordered a variety of dishes based on Shen Ran’s usual preferences. By the time the order was placed, Shen Ran had finished his instant noodles, so he got up to take a shower.

As the warm water cascaded over his face, Shen Ran closed his eyes, and once again, fragments of an unfinished memory surfaced in his mind.

He pondered for a long time. He must have been too exhausted back then, which was why he couldn’t recall how he had answered. All he remembered was carrying Zhao Jiyu on his back the whole way home, being so drained afterward that he skipped dinner, showered, and went straight to sleep. The next day, Zhao Jiyu had come looking for him.

But he had gone out with a few friends, and the two of them didn’t meet. When he returned home, his mother mentioned it, but he didn’t think much of it. Then, on the third morning, he heard Professor Zhao say that Zhao Jiyu’s mother had taken him back home.

At the time, Professor Zhao was leading a group of university students on a field study in the area, and they had only planned to stay for a week. Shen Ran, one of their local guides, had only spent a short amount of time with them. Who would have thought that years later, in college, he would unexpectedly reunite with Zhao Jiyu?

During his freshman year, he had already heard plenty of rumors about Zhao Jiyu. However, Zhao Jiyu’s current appearance was vastly different from back then—he no longer had a buzz cut, now wore glasses, and his entire demeanor had changed. Shen Ran had completely forgotten those dusty memories from the past. He never could have imagined that, two years later, they would get to know each other again in such an unexpected way.

When he stepped out of the bathroom, he heard Zhao Jiyu calling him. Walking into the living room, he saw the coffee table covered with two large black-and-red Japanese food platters. The one on the left was filled with various grilled meats, while the one on the right featured an array of sashimi surrounding a large Ise lobster. The presentation alone was mouthwatering, not to mention the selection of desserts on the side.

Shen Ran’s first reaction was surprise—why had Zhao Jiyu ordered so much food again? But before he could say anything, Zhao Jiyu handed him a small spoon and a box of caviar, telling him to give it a try.

He scooped up a bite, tasting the fresh, sweet caviar that wasn’t at all fishy. He couldn’t help but nod.
“It’s delicious.”

Zhao Jiyu poured him a cup of sake. Shen Ran took a sip and found that the sake from this restaurant had a pleasant, slightly sweet flavor.

The two of them leaned against the sofa, eating while an English-language romance movie played in the background. Though both of them understood English just fine, Shen Ran wasn’t particularly interested in this type of film. Noticing this, Zhao Jiyu asked if he wanted to switch to a soccer match instead.

Talking about this got him excited. Zhao Jiyu found a CBA basketball game to watch, and Shen Ran ate while watching. His appetite improved significantly, and he even occasionally chatted with Zhao Jiyu about basketball. When the conversation got heated, he proactively raised his glass for a toast.

After finishing the bottles of sake they ordered, Zhao Jiyu went to the liquor room and picked out a bottle of liqueur. Shen Ran drank quite a bit more, and by the time the game was nearing its end, he was already tipsy. Leaning against the back of the sofa, he grinned foolishly and complained to Zhao Jiyu about how satisfying it was to see a certain player get blocked.

Zhao Jiyu sat beside him, listening and joining in on his complaints. When the game ended, Shen Ran hugged a pillow and collapsed onto the sofa, mumbling,
“Watching a game with you is the best, way better than watching with Yan Mingjin.”

Zhao Jiyu also lay down, resting his head on Shen Ran’s waist. “What’s so good about it?” he asked.

“That kid just loves arguing with me,”
Shen Ran lifted a hand and made a few gestures in the air. “He never lets me win.”

Zhao Jiyu looked up at him.
“Do you like being let win?”

Shen Ran opened his eyes and met the gaze of the person resting on his waist. Maybe it was the alcohol, but he suddenly found Zhao Jiyu’s smiling eyes inexplicably cute. He nodded.
“You’re the only one who lets me win.”

“Then I’ll watch more things you like with you in the future.”

As he said this, Zhao Jiyu buried his face against Shen Ran’s waist. Shen Ran felt the rhythm of his breathing rise and fall against him, his gaze drifting blankly toward the ceiling. After a moment, he let out a soft “hmm.”

The two lay there with their eyes closed for a while. The finished game was left on pause, and the house was so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard. This silence reminded Shen Ran of the night Zhao Jiyu had entered his room.

Resting the pillow under his head, he reached out and ruffled Zhao Jiyu’s hair.
“That night when you came into my room, what were you going to do?”

Zhao Jiyu caught the hand ruffling his hair and murmured, “It’s nothing now.”

Shen Ran still remembered what he had overheard on the phone that night.
“You were upset?”

After a long silence, Zhao Jiyu finally lifted his head and said, “Yeah. How about you watch something happy with me now?”

Zhao Jiyu was still holding Shen Ran’s wrist. Shen Ran didn’t find the warmth of his grip unusual, but seeing Zhao Jiyu’s unhappy expression, he couldn’t help but nod. “Alright.”

Zhao Jiyu sat up, grabbed his phone, and fiddled with it. Soon, the TV screen changed. A man and a woman appeared on the street, chatting warmly before entering a convenience store together.

The scene felt somewhat familiar to Shen Ran, but his muddled brain couldn’t immediately place it. It wasn’t until the two bought a few small items and walked into a hotel room across the street that he suddenly realized what this might be.

Turning his head to look at Zhao Jiyu, he saw that the man was leaning against the sofa, watching the screen with a relaxed expression, seemingly unaware of his gaze.

Shen Ran continued watching the man and woman on the TV.

The camera followed them into the hotel room, panning around the environment. The theme was warm and romantic, with pink tones, and rose petals were scattered across the bed.

When the camera entered the bathroom, the girl had already taken off her outerwear and was shyly smiling at the lens.

Shen Ran’s gaze instinctively landed on the girl’s chest. But when he tried to focus on her face, he found it impossible. Instead, an image surfaced in his mind—one that only existed in his dreams, something unspeakable and utterly inappropriate.

He glanced at Zhao Jiyu again. The man was still in the same posture as before, his eyes half-open, looking a little drowsy and unfocused.

The sound of running water from the video pulled Shen Ran’s attention back. The girl was lifted into the bathtub, her white lace garment becoming translucent upon contact with the water. Shen Ran watched as the man in the video leaned down to kiss her. As their interaction grew more passionate, he unconsciously swallowed. Before long, he realized that the girl’s moans were getting to him—not only making him feel unbearably warm but also increasingly restless.

Since staying at Zhao Jiyu’s place, he had been holding himself back, maintaining control. But now, his impulses surged beyond his restraint. After a moment of struggling internally, he couldn’t help but glance again at the person sitting near his feet. Zhao Jiyu’s expression was hidden in the shadow of his glasses, but his breathing had also grown heavier.

While he was lost in thought, the couple on the screen had already moved to the bedroom. Fresh rose petals stuck to the girl’s damp legs, while the rest were scattered around the sheets. The camera alternated between close-ups and wide shots, and every time the girl’s face appeared, Shen Ran inexplicably thought of Zhao Jiyu—his long hair cascading over his shoulders in a dream he dared not acknowledge.

This jarring yet oddly tolerable image dominated his mind, to the point where every reaction from the girl on screen became intertwined with his subconscious image of Zhao Jiyu. His fingers clenched against the sofa cushion as he struggled to suppress the chaos in his thoughts. Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore.

Without caring what expression Zhao Jiyu was making behind him, he got up abruptly, slipped his feet into his slippers, muttered that he was going to bed, and quickly walked into his room.

The moment he closed the door behind him, the tension in his chest finally eased, and he let out a deep breath. The room had good soundproofing—he could no longer hear anything from outside—but his mind wouldn’t quiet down. Even lying in bed, the images from earlier kept replaying: Zhao Jiyu sitting on his lap, kissing him just like in that forbidden dream.

Grabbing a tissue, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. Then, pulling the blanket over his head, he forced himself to sleep. But his instincts defied his attempts at suppression. Just as he was on the verge of losing control, a cool hand slipped through the gap in his blanket and grasped his wrist.

His breath hitched. His muddled brain hadn’t caught up yet, but he felt someone press down on him through the thin blanket. Though the fabric blocked his view, it couldn’t mask the sensation of warm breath ghosting over his neck. The realization that Zhao Jiyu had actually come into his room hit him just as the blanket was lifted slightly, revealing Zhao Jiyu’s face in his hazy vision.

“You won’t be able to sleep like this.”

Zhao Jiyu’s voice was lower than usual, his fingers tightening around Shen Ran’s wrist. His cool fingertips brushed over the sensitive skin, leaving a faint ticklish sensation. But Shen Ran quickly snapped back to reality, realizing the situation. He struggled to pull his hand free, attempting to push Zhao Jiyu away.

As Shen Ran struggled, Zhao Jiyu flipped him onto his side, pinning him between himself and the wall. The blanket that had been lifted was kicked into the corner. Zhao Jiyu buried his face into Shen Ran’s neck again, taking a deep breath before rubbing against him.

His breath was hot and urgent, brushing against the sensitive skin of Shen Ran’s neck. Shen Ran couldn’t take it—he weakly tried to push the head away, his voice hoarse and powerless as he muttered, “Get off.”

Zhao Jiyu pressed his cheek against Shen Ran’s burning earlobe and whispered softly by his ear,
“Let me help you.”

The word “No” got stuck in Shen Ran’s throat. He shut his eyes tightly, his entire focus consumed by the sensation of Zhao Jiyu’s fingers stroking him. A dizzying pleasure surged uncontrollably, dragging him deeper into indulgence. Though his mind told him this was wrong, his body betrayed him, craving a firmer grip, a faster pace.

His heated breaths escaped more frequently. His shoulders trembled slightly, his right hand gripping Zhao Jiyu’s wrist while his left pressed against the wall for support. But no matter what, he couldn’t resist the pleasure Zhao Jiyu was giving him. The wetness seeping from him coated Zhao Jiyu’s fingers, making the motions even smoother, the sensation even more intoxicating. He couldn’t help but turn his face toward Zhao Jiyu, parting his lips, only to have them immediately captured in a kiss.

Overwhelmed, Shen Ran reached up to pull at Zhao Jiyu’s hair, but before he could, his mouth was invaded. Zhao Jiyu’s breath poured over him, engulfing him completely. In his daze, he felt as if he had returned to that rainy night, back in Zhao Jiyu’s arms, being filled to the brim.

Zhao Jiyu’s tongue curled around his, teasing and stroking, the wet heat addictive. Shen Ran’s half-lidded eyes couldn’t make out the face so close to him, so he shut them again. His hands moved from Zhao Jiyu’s hair downwards, sliding over the smooth silk fabric of his robe before settling on his firm, rounded backside.

Zhao Jiyu wasn’t startled by his groping. Instead, he leaned in close to his ear and murmured, “You can reach inside.”

The whispered invitation, warm against his skin, seeped into Shen Ran’s mind like a spell. Entranced, he lifted Zhao Jiyu’s robe. At first, he rubbed him through the silky fabric of his underwear, but soon his fingers slipped inside, pressing between the soft flesh.

His fingertips probed the tight entrance, feeling the resistance of dryness. Undeterred, he explored further, touching the two full, heated globes beneath.

Zhao Jiyu continued kissing him, the overwhelming pleasure dulling Shen Ran’s senses. He didn’t even realize how far he had gone until, mimicking Zhao Jiyu’s earlier actions, he grasped and kneaded the sensitive skin. When Zhao Jiyu’s breath hitched, he shifted to squeeze the supple flesh of his backside, pressing the two firm cheeks together between his fingers, pulling Zhao Jiyu closer to him.

Zhao Jiyu was still stroking him when their lower bodies suddenly pressed tightly together. His hand stilled. The stimulation stopped.

Uncomfortable with the abrupt pause, Shen Ran opened his eyes, displeased.

Zhao Jiyu caressed the corner of his damp eye before kissing him lightly on the lips and chuckling,
“Do you want to take me?”

Gazing into those mesmerizing eyes—like reflections of the moon rippling in the water—Shen Ran didn’t answer. Instead, he pressed their bodies even closer.

Zhao Jiyu gasped slightly. “Wait… this feels a little uncomfortable.”

Supporting himself with his arms, Zhao Jiyu put some distance between them and guided Shen Ran’s hand downward.
“Help me take it out.”

Shen Ran wasn’t sure what he was supposed to take out. When his fingers pushed aside the edge of Zhao Jiyu’s underwear and grasped something equally swollen, he quickly let go, pressing his hand against Zhao Jiyu’s abdomen and turning his head away. “Don’t…”

His voice was slurred, but Zhao Jiyu heard him clearly. Leaning close to his ear, he coaxed softly,
“But I feel so uncomfortable… Ranran, can you really bear to ignore me?”

Being called that so suddenly, Shen Ran froze for a moment, unsure of how to respond. He turned back, meeting Zhao Jiyu’s gaze at such a close distance.

They always said that a beauty’s every expression—whether a frown, a smile, or even a moment of anger—was filled with allure. In this moment, Shen Ran finally understood what that meant. Zhao Jiyu furrowed his brows slightly, his eyes filled with a deep, sensual longing. Under such a gaze, Shen Ran’s mind went blank. When Zhao Jiyu leaned down and kissed him, guiding his hand back to stroke him, Shen Ran simply followed along.

His eyes remained locked onto the man above him. Shen Ran watched as Zhao Jiyu’s expression shifted into one of pleasure—his teeth sinking slightly into his lower lip as he tried to suppress his moans, but failing. Even when he noticed Shen Ran’s gaze, he didn’t shy away. Instead, his misty eyes locked onto Shen Ran’s, his breath uneven as he pleaded,
“Ranran, go a little faster, okay?”

It was as if something snapped in Shen Ran’s mind. He really did speed up his movements. He didn’t even notice when Zhao Jiyu pulled his hand away—only that Zhao Jiyu was completely lost in the pleasure he was giving him. The sight of Zhao Jiyu’s beautiful face tinged with seduction made Shen Ran feel like he was about to burst from the ache of his own arousal. He desperately wanted to be touched.

Just as he had that thought, his other hand instinctively reached down to grasp himself. Noticing his movement, Zhao Jiyu pulled his hand away, then lowered his gaze and pressed their heated lengths together, guiding Shen Ran to hold them both at once.

Shen Ran had never imagined doing something like this before. His eyes, flushed red, dropped to where their arousals lay entwined in the dim light. He could clearly see that they were both substantial, their tips glistening. As his fingertips brushed against the sensitive tip, he heard Zhao Jiyu gasp at the same time he did.

That simultaneous reaction sent a jolt through his senses. The realization that Zhao Jiyu was completely under his control—that he could do anything he wanted to him—sent heat surging through him. The hardness in his palm twitched slightly, though he couldn’t tell whose it was. As his fingers traced over the prominent veins along the shaft, he picked up the pace.

Soon, Zhao Jiyu slumped forward onto him, his inner thighs clamping around Shen Ran’s legs. Leaning down, Zhao Jiyu captured his lips in another kiss.

Their tongues tangled, hot and wet, as Zhao Jiyu’s body temperature continued to rise. Shen Ran felt dizzy from the kiss, yet his hands never stopped their movements, stroking them both in rhythm.

Zhao Jiyu’s kisses trailed down from his lips to his chin, then along his jawline, until they reached his throat. He sucked gently on Shen Ran’s Adam’s apple, sending a shiver down his spine, making him feel like he was about to lose control.

Sensing it, Shen Ran’s hand paused. Zhao Jiyu’s gaze gleamed mischievously, but instead of urging him to continue, he simply lifted Shen Ran’s T-shirt, slipping his head underneath before latching onto one of his nipples.

The T-shirt on Shen Ran’s chest was pushed up high, blocking his view of Zhao Jiyu’s actions, but his senses had never been sharper. Zhao Jiyu’s tongue flicked over his nipple, sending pleasure coursing through him until his waist arched involuntarily, rubbing his arousal against Zhao Jiyu’s. His hands pressed down on the head buried against his chest.

After sucking his right nipple until it was swollen, Zhao Jiyu moved to the left, his hand slipping down to replace Shen Ran’s, stroking both of their arousals together. The simultaneous stimulation overwhelmed him, rapidly pushing him toward the edge. Shen Ran gripped Zhao Jiyu’s shoulders tightly, his feet pressing against the bed as he reached his climax.

The pleasure hit him like a wave lifting him high before gently setting him back down. A tear, formed purely from the intensity of sensation, slipped from the corner of his eye. His cries filled Zhao Jiyu’s ears, but Zhao Jiyu didn’t stop. The overwhelming sensation became unbearable, and Shen Ran rasped out a plea, “No more! Stop, stop…”

Zhao Jiyu hadn’t reached his peak yet—he wanted Shen Ran to experience even deeper pleasure. The more Shen Ran begged him to stop, the faster he moved.

Shen Ran’s limbs went weak, his calves tensed almost to the point of cramping, yet his waist remained lifted, as if instinctively chasing the pleasure. But he couldn’t keep up with the relentless escalation. Soon, an unfamiliar pressure surged within him, momentarily clearing his hazy mind. Zhao Jiyu still didn’t let up, and in the end, with a hoarse cry, Shen Ran reached another climax. Thick, white fluid spilled onto his abdomen, followed by a sudden warmth—hot liquid splashing against his own stomach.

Zhao Jiyu’s hands, both palms and backs, were wet with the clear fluid. He lifted his gaze to Shen Ran, who was trembling from the lingering waves of pleasure, his body shuddering now and then. Completely dazed, he lay sprawled on the pillow, chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.

Resting against Shen Ran’s chest, Zhao Jiyu listened to his heartbeat, his own breathing finally slowing. When he lifted his head, Shen Ran still had his eyes closed, his expression so peaceful it looked like he had fallen asleep.

His arousal was still firm in Zhao Jiyu’s grasp. Thinking about how easily Shen Ran had climaxed twice, Zhao Jiyu wanted to coax him into going again. However, after calling his name twice without receiving a response, he realized Shen Ran had truly fallen asleep.

Considering how much he had drunk tonight, if they went any further, Shen Ran would definitely lose his temper in the morning. With a sigh, Zhao Jiyu reluctantly let go. He kissed Shen Ran again, gently sucking on his lips until his breathing grew heavy once more, then finally pulled away, albeit reluctantly.