Chapter 54: Hello, boyfriend

“……”

Lin Wushui’s puzzled question had just slipped out when he immediately realized the truth.

He was standing just a step away from Zhang Xianyu, those deep, pitch-black eyes gazing steadily at him.

“You want to know?”

Zhang Xianyu inexplicably felt that Lin Wushui was different from usual at this moment—no, very different.

There was an unspoken, gripping sense of danger.

Yet he still nodded, tilting his face up, his clear light-colored eyes fixed on him stubbornly, “I want to know.”

Lin Wushui smiled.

He took two steps forward and stood behind the sofa where Zhang Xianyu sat.

Now one stood, one sat; one in front, one behind.

Zhang Xianyu turned his body slightly, tilting his face up to look at him.

They were so close that if Lin Wushui leaned down even a little, he could easily embrace and kiss him.

The suppressed feelings surged in his chest like a tempting demon coaxing him to lean down and capture that flush of rosy warmth.

Lin Wushui closed his eyes but couldn’t suppress his desire.

Slowly, he bent down and gently pressed a kiss on the lips that seemed to be willingly offered up as Zhang Xianyu kept his face tilted.

“That’s what I meant.”

Lin Wushui’s Adam’s apple moved; his lips were burning, his whole body aflame.

He stared at Zhang Xianyu’s slightly parted mouth and surprised expression, a smile forming on his face while his voice dropped into a husky, low tone.

“What else do you want to know? I’ll tell you everything.”

Zhang Xianyu’s face flushed crimson.

The rosy color quickly spread from his cheeks to his neck, even coloring the tips of his ears.

He subconsciously pressed his lips together.

The kiss on his lips was light, fleeting—but he still sensitively caught the warmth from that kiss.

Dry and hot, a temperature that could melt a person entirely.

“You like me?”

“Yes.”

“Since when?”

Zhang Xianyu asked, voicing a question he’d been confused about for a long time.

Lin Wushui thought back but didn’t really know when he had started to fall for him. He recalled their first meeting and that inexplicable attraction, then smiled deeply.

“Probably love at first sight.”

Zhang Xianyu didn’t say anything.

Though he couldn’t see his own face, he guessed it must be red from the burning heat.

Lin Wushui, looking steadily at him, was blushing as well.

Both of them, cheeks flushed, eyes locked.

“……”

“……”

They spoke at the same time, then stopped simultaneously.

Lin Wushui looked at him, lips pressed into a thin line, “You go first.”

Zhang Xianyu lowered his eyes.

His heart started to pound uncontrollably.

After swallowing twice with difficulty, he finally asked in his usual hesitant tone, “Are we…together now?”

Lin Wushui’s breath filled the room, his dark eyes fixed on him.

“You…agree? You like me?”

Zhang Xianyu’s lips curved slightly.

A small joy rippled in his heart until he heard the question, then he asked in confusion, “If I didn’t like you, why would I want to be with you?”

Lin Wushui’s expression flickered several times before settling into pure delight.

It felt like a grand, beautiful dream.

He had been scheming how to catch the fish he liked, only to find the fish had crashed headfirst into his net, telling him it liked him too.

More unreal than any dream.

Lin Wushui stood frozen, staring at him.

Zhang Xianyu, feeling shy under his gaze, lowered his eyes.

He had never been in a relationship before, didn’t know how couples should act.

So he shyly said, “I’ve never been with anyone before…I don’t really know what dating…should be like…”

His words were vague, but Lin Wushui understood and smiled.

With a husky voice, he said, “It’s okay. I haven’t been with anyone either. We can learn together.”

Zhang Xianyu’s lips lifted high, his clear eyes brightened like glass washed clean by water, pure and transparent without a trace of impurity.

He looked at Lin Wushui for a while, then feeling a little silly about the way they were just staring at each other, he turned away awkwardly.

“Dinner’s not made yet. I’ll go cook.”

“No rush.”

Lin Wushui grabbed his hand, blushing with deep, intense eyes.

“Let’s…learn how to kiss first…”

Zhang Xianyu’s eyes widened.

Before he could react, Lin Wushui pulled him into an embrace.

They hugged across the sofa; Zhang Xianyu gripped Lin Wushui’s arm to steady himself, while the back of his head was cupped by a warm, dry palm.

Their lips met, burning with heat, and fireworks exploded in their minds.

Neither had much experience; their kisses were clumsy and awkward.

Zhang Xianyu’s first time feeling this was a bit painful, but he didn’t want to pull away, letting Lin Wushui nibble at his lips recklessly.

When they finally parted, their lips were chapped and slightly swollen.

Lin Wushui wanted to try again, but Zhang Xianyu refused, pushing him away and heading to the kitchen.

“Let’s cook first.”

Lin Wushui stayed still, watching as Zhang Xianyu entered the kitchen, put on an apron, took ingredients out of the fridge, and started preparing.

He watched with clear eyes, feeling his heart slowly fill.

Xiaonanhai, perched on the cat tree, disdainfully meowed once and buried his head in his furry belly.

Zhang Xianyu made a simple two dishes and one soup meal.

When the food was placed on the table, Lin Wushui didn’t even look at it—just stared straight at him.

“Eat.”

Zhang Xianyu put the bowl in front of him.

Lin Wushui finally came back to himself, withdrawing his burning gaze reluctantly.

He picked up the bowl, took a bite, then glanced at him again.

After the meal, Lin Wushui insisted on washing the dishes.

Zhang Xianyu pushed him to take a shower.

When he came out in his pajamas, he saw Lin Wushui sneakily hiding something by the Trash Bin.

Frowning, he said, “Broke another bowl?”

Lin Wushui stiffened, turned around expressionless, and replied, “No.”

Zhang Xianyu noticed the shards still on the floor.

Since Lin Wushui was his boyfriend now, he decided to overlook it and said nothing, turning to look at Xiaonanhai.

Lin Wushui carefully packed the shards, sealed the trash bag, placed it by the door, then finally breathed a sigh of relief and went to shower.

When he came out, Zhang Xianyu had already returned to his room.

Light faintly shone through the door crack.

Lin Wushui stood there for a moment, thinking that since they had confirmed their relationship, everything was natural now.

He raised his hand and knocked.

Zhang Xianyu shuffled to open the door.

He was wearing light blue loungewear, his freshly washed hair falling over his forehead.

He looked nothing like the mature, steady man he was outside; instead, he looked several years younger.

“What is it?”

Zhang Xianyu looked at him curiously.

After a moment, a sudden impulse struck him.

He stepped forward and kissed Lin Wushui on the lips, a smile lifting his mouth.

“Good night.”

He thought Lin Wushui probably wanted a good night kiss but was too shy to ask.

Lin Wushui’s breathing grew heavier after the kiss.

His gaze stuck to Zhang Xianyu’s lips, redder than usual, then slid down to his neck and collarbone.

Suddenly, he felt parched.

“Good night.”

Pulling his wild, racing heart under control, Lin Wushui said good night in a low voice.

Then, reluctantly, he turned and went back to his room.

They had just confirmed their relationship; they had to take things step by step.

Neither slept well that night.

Lin Wushui was full of suppressed emotion, and Zhang Xianyu was full of worry.

The next day after breakfast, one went to school, the other to work.

Before leaving, they practiced kissing once more, then parted reluctantly.

Zhang Xianyu rubbed his still-warm face, trying to focus on class but couldn’t.

He absentmindedly touched his lips and recalled that morning’s kiss.

Their second practice had improved a lot compared to the first—no more bumping teeth.

Though Lin Wushui’s kisses still felt like he was trying to swallow him whole.

The spots that had been chapped yesterday hadn’t healed yet, and new wounds appeared this morning.

He decided Lin Wushui needed to practice his technique properly.

Zhang Xianyu rubbed the sore spots on his lips thoughtfully.

“Fish? Class is over!!”

Zheng Pang shouted several times without a response.

Finally, he cupped his hands near Zhang Xianyu’s ear and yelled again.

“Hm?”

Zhang Xianyu snapped back to reality, looking at him confused.

“Class ended five minutes ago!”

Zheng Pang shook his head and gestured helplessly.

“What’s up with you and Danqing? Both of you are spaced out.”

Zhang Xianyu felt his ears heat up and cleared his throat.

“Oh, let’s go eat.”

Zheng Pang shook his head and grabbed Rodanqing’s arm.

“Let’s go.”

Just as they started walking, Zhang Xianyu’s phone rang.

He answered—it was Lin Wushui.

“Class over?”

“Yes.”

“I’m at the school gate. Want to eat together?”

Zhang Xianyu looked back at Zheng Pang and Rodanqing waiting for him.

He pressed his lips and said, “Okay, wait for me.”

After hanging up, Zhang Xianyu showed his phone to his best friends.

“I’ve got a date today. I’m eating outside.”

Then he ran off like the wind.

Zheng Pang: “???”

Lin Wushui waited at the school gate.

After going to the company in the morning, he kept savoring that morning’s kiss, the warmth beneath his palm.

Zhang Xianyu was truly an excellent boyfriend.

Although it was all new, he wasn’t shy.

He learned together with Lin Wushui about the things couples should do.

Thinking of the boy’s shy cooperation, Lin Wushui lost all focus at work.

He barely made it to the school gate on time at noon, eager to have lunch with him.

They had only parted for a few hours, and he was already longing for him.

This was probably what love felt like.

Lin Wushui smiled as he saw the boy walking toward him in the sunlight.

He got out of the car to greet him.

“What do you want to eat?”

Zhang Xianyu squinted and smiled back, “What do you want to eat?”

“Anything,” Lin Wushui smiled.

“I just want to have lunch with you.”

His ears turned a little red again.

Zhang Xianyu’s eyes curved as they walked side by side toward the school’s Xiao Chi Yi Tiao Jie.

“Then let’s just pick a place randomly.”