AAUMOBIP C22

Chapter 22

The person he liked was right beside him, so Liu He originally thought he could not fall asleep.

But his body was absorbing the warmth of the one next to him, and Yun Jingqiu’s body carried the exact same shower gel fragrance as his own. Surrounded by a toasty, warm body, Liu He quickly drifted into dreamland.

This deep sleep lasted until seven in the morning.

When Liu He opened his eyes, all he saw was a stretch of flesh‑colored skin.

Blinking in confusion, he reached out to poke — it was solid muscle. The texture was somewhat resilient, firm yet soft at the same time, and it felt pleasantly satisfying beneath his fingertips.

“Awake, and immediately resorting to molestation? No wonder Xiao He was willing to sleep with me. Turns out you’re a little pervert.”

A voice drifted down from above his head — it was Yun Jingqiu.

Liu He instantly snapped awake.

This was the second time.

The second time he had woken up beside Yun Jingqiu — and then molested him.

This was the second time!

Flustered, Liu He pushed against Yun Jingqiu’s chest, putting some space between them before finally feeling a sliver of security.

His voice faltered:

“Can you really blame me? Yun‑ge was the one seducing me. First thing in the morning, you shove those chest muscles in my face — if that’s not seduction then what is it?”

“Ha.” Yun Jingqiu supported himself up, sitting upright. The quilt slid down from his torso, revealing his upper body bare to the slightly cool air of the morning. “The one playing the molester points his finger at me as the seducer. Do you know what that’s called?”

Liu He stared at that sculpted body for a while, then replied half‑dazedly: “Called what?”

“That’s called the victim‑blaming doctrine!” Yun Jingqiu answered with firm conviction.

Liu He immediately seized on the flaw, mercilessly exposing it: “You were still wearing pajamas before going to bed last night.”

So it had clearly been Yun Jingqiu, deliberately taking off his clothes in the middle of the night to hold him while sleeping — that was the very first seduction!

“I have a habit of sleeping naked. Wearing clothes, I can’t fall asleep.” Yun Jingqiu shamelessly lied without changing his expression.

Liu He looked at that thick‑skinned face in silence for a while, then finally conceded defeat — when it came to acting skills, Yun‑ge’s face was far thicker than his own.

“But I definitely saw you wearing pajamas last night.” Liu He muttered quietly to himself.

Not just last night — every time before, Yun Jingqiu had worn pajamas.

But since they had never slept together before, Liu He couldn’t exactly know whether Yun Jingqiu put on clothes only after waking.

Today was colder, and the quilt warm enough — perhaps that was why.

It was a day off today, and Liu He didn’t need to do any lab work. He could stay at home.

When Liu He looked at Yun Jingqiu, he caught the emotion held upon that face —

He couldn’t tell clearly whether Yun Jingqiu was still pretending to act or if it was genuine feeling.

Either way, he himself felt reluctant to part with him.

“When are you leaving today?” Liu He asked.

Yun Jingqiu absent‑mindedly played with Liu He’s fingers while answering:

“In the morning I’ll go get my plaster removed at the hospital. Noon, I’ll pack up some things. I’ll leave in the afternoon.”

“You’ll see me off, right? And remember to eat meals on time.” Yun Jingqiu warned, “You’re way too skinny.”

Liu He nodded.

Lately he had already set alarms on his phone at mealtimes just to remind himself to eat.

“Looks like we’re about to start a long‑distance relationship then.” Yun Jingqiu sighed, “I’ll come visit you. But I’ll also trouble Xiao He to visit me more often.”

Yun Jingqiu lived in City A long‑term, while Liu He studied in City C. The two cities were only about a little more than an hour apart by high‑speed train, so it wasn’t too troublesome.

Liu He nodded: “Okay.”

Whenever time permitted, he would go see Yun‑ge.

Yun Jingqiu smiled, grasped Liu He’s hand, and placed it onto his own abs: “Feel free to touch.”

Then he grabbed his phone and tapped a few times.

Liu He’s phone immediately buzzed.

“Hand me your phone for a second.”

Liu He obediently handed it over, casually blurting out his password: “980419.”

Yun Jingqiu laughed aloud: “My birthday?”

Unlocking the phone, he started browsing.

Liu He didn’t feel there was anything shameful stored inside, so while absent‑mindedly touching Yun Jingqiu’s abs, he leaned forward to look as well.

After all, it was normal for your partner to check your phone.

Right then, Yun‑ge opened the social app.

He was already pinned at the top of Liu He’s chat list. At the moment, there was one unread message in that thread.

The message was striking: 【[Transfer] Please accept payment】.

“‘187 Boyfriend’?” Yun Jingqiu read the remark Liu He saved him under, chuckling coldly. “This note really sounds like something a player would use.”

He clicked into the chat, claimed the 200,000 RMB transfer he had just sent himself, and then changed the remark.

Liu He watched in shock as the saved contact name 【187 Boyfriend】 was brazenly changed into 【Husband】.

Liu He: ……

He didn’t know whether he should first be shocked by the fact that Yun‑ge had just transferred him 200,000 RMB, or shocked that this man shamelessly revised his remark into that.

But — this was 200,000!

Startled into awareness, Liu He ripped his hand away from Yun Jingqiu’s abs, snatched the phone, and immediately tried to return the money.

“Why would you suddenly transfer me money? It’s not like I don’t have any. I can’t accept this!”

He keyed in the amount — 200,000 — fingerprint verified, wrote the recipient’s name, and immediately sent it back.

With a breath of relief, he grumbled: “What, is your money blown in by the wind? Last time you gave me that pricey watch already. Now you send me 200,000 directly — how could I possibly take that?”

But then—

Liu He: ?

Oh yes…he forgot.

He then thought of another solution — he would use the ZhiXBao app1 to transfer the money instead.

Opening the blue app, he cleaned out his unread messages, and searched for Yun Jingqiu’s chat box.

As soon as he went in, he was dumbfounded to find that Yun Jingqiu had already transferred him 200,000 RMB there — and it had been two days ago.

Liu He: ?

He turned to glare at the culprit.

Yun Jingqiu beamed smugly: “Don’t think about sending it back. The money was given willingly — I even remarked it as a voluntary gift.”

“Two whole amounts of that…” Liu He couldn’t even speak.

“There’ll always come a time when you need money.” Yun Jingqiu said. “Imagine yourself without — going out with friends, you don’t even dare to buy what you like, or eat what you like. How is that life?”

Liu He had always lived frugally, never once having so much money within reach.

After his parents divorced right after his college entrance exam, they divided and went on with separate new families. Aside from covering just the first year of his university tuition as his eighteen‑year birthday gift, they had never supported him again.

For a long time, their marriage had already collapsed. Liu He had once tried desperately to stop the disasters, but one argument after another eventually numbed him. He came to accept the outcome.

During vacations he worked part‑time jobs, piecing together living expenses.

Later he borrowed student loans, applied for need‑based student allowances, tutored middle and high schoolers, and, with the scholarship he received every year, worked his way through until the end of his undergraduate studies.

By the time he succeeded in getting into graduate school, he had enough saved up for tuition and living. Plus, with his graduate stipend and the money earned from “moving bricks”3 for his professor, his days became less suffocated — though still restrained.

Before the divorce, his family had been quite well‑off.

But after eighteen, Liu He had never again experienced the luxury of spending carelessly.

And never once did he think of asking his so‑called parents for more. He simply lived on by himself.

Ever since eighteen, he walked his own road.

But — whatever he was with Yun‑ge, it was absolutely not about his money.

Blinking, recalling his past, Liu He’s eyes grew a little red.

“So what’s Xiao He planning? I heard before you wanted to continue into a doctorate?” Yun Jingqiu asked.

Liu He’s voice was muffled: “Mm. My advisor can recommend me. If all goes as planned, I can get into the research institute.”

“The one in City A,” Liu He whispered softly.

Yun Jingqiu’s eyes filled with delighted laughter: “Great. I’ll be waiting for you in City A, then.”

“By next year I can go over.” Liu He steadied his emotions, not mentioning the matter of returning the money again.

Instead, he wrapped his arms around Yun Jingqiu’s waist, snuggling against his chest.

His hair was soft, and when it rubbed lightly against Yun Jingqiu’s chest it tickled him faintly.

Yun Jingqiu restrained himself, pressing a kiss onto the crown of his head.

“I’m going to get up.” Liu He held him for a moment longer and then prepared to climb out of bed.

“Mm,” Yun Jingqiu responded.

Perhaps because he had witnessed that image last night, Yun Jingqiu, watching Liu He’s retreating figure, couldn’t help but feel that from the base of his spine sprouted a fluffy white rabbit’s tail.

His mood soared, his throat tickled with laughter that he barely suppressed.

He texted his agent, Brother Wang, asking when they would set out.

Brother Wang removed him from the blacklist on social media.

【Baldy Wang: Pack up your things and go right away】

【Baldy Wang: As per your request, I bought a rabbit villa for the house】

【Baldy Wang: So now you finally can’t bear to part with your little darling, huh?】

【Yun Jingqiu: Xiao He said after graduation he’ll come find me in City A】

【Yun Jingqiu: People without lovers can’t understand this — the feeling of your beloved running toward you】

【Yun Jingqiu: Xiao He loves me!!】

【Yun Jingqiu: I’m in such a great mood today, I’ll treat you to dinner】 (Message failed, rejected by recipient.)

“Tsk, so be it. If you won’t eat, then don’t. But blocking me — really now?”

Well, if Wang‑ge didn’t see, then that dinner would be cancelled anyway.

Humming as he went, Yun Jingqiu got dressed.

When he walked out of the bedroom, Liu He had already left.

Cream⁴ was curled up on the sofa, its fur plush and soft. Tilting its head, the rabbit gazed at Yun Jingqiu as he entered the living room.

Yun Jingqiu sat beside it and said, “Cream, come here.”

He placed his hand down nearby.

The rabbit gave him a glance, then hopped over, crouching within the palm of his hand.

Truly worthy of being Xiao He’s son — so clingy and affectionate.

Yun Jingqiu’s mood soared further. He purchased premium rare rabbit food and decided to build a luxury castle for Cream.

He would make Cream the happiest rabbit alive.

That afternoon, Liu He wrapped up his experiment earlier than usual, intending to see Yun‑ge off.

But when he checked his phone afterward, Yun‑ge had already departed.

【Husband: I took Cream with me】

【Husband: After being in a cast so long, my left arm muscles have withered — need to specifically work that arm back】

【Husband: Brother Wang told me to lose ten pounds】

【Husband: Am I really that fat?】

【fon: Yun‑ge’s fat】

【fon: Body’s actually very good】

Liu He thought, then added: 【I like it very much】

Indeed, for actors the requirement of maintaining image was high. They tended to appear three pounds heavier on screen, so they always had to control weight for better visuals.

Recently Yun Jingqiu’s arm had been injured — so exercise wasn’t possible. He was eating well, and naturally the weight had risen a bit. But in reality, he was not fat at all.

【Husband: I really like Xiao He’s body】

【Husband: Feels so good to touch】

Staring at that message coming from 【Husband】, Liu He flushed hot all over.

Originally, when “187 Boyfriend” sent these kinds of teasing words, he barely reacted. But now?

Why did it suddenly feel so different…

Was it because his relationship with Yun‑ge had gone one step deeper now?

Taking a deep breath, he replied: 【Don’t talk nonsense】

【fon: I’m home now】

【Husband: Xiao He, move into the master bedroom】

【Husband: The bed in there is more comfortable】

Liu He stepped into the master, opening the wardrobe.

【fon: Why are your clothes still here? Didn’t you take them with you?】

【Husband: Left them for you to wear on video calls with me】

【Husband: You know the boyfriend’s shirt trope, right?】

【Husband: Tonight, pick one of my shirts and wear it for our video call, okay?】

【Husband: Xiao He must look amazing in my clothes】

【fon: ……!】

Looking at the wardrobe stuffed with clothing — quite a lot of it, actually, taking up a third of the space — Liu He was stunned.

Thankfully, the rest of the space was enough for his own clothes.

Yun Jingqiu hadn’t brought much with him when he came to City C, but now all those clothes of his had been deliberately left here.

Among them was his commonly worn black trench coat.

There were pajamas, sweaters, pants, black undershirts — even several pairs of underwear.

Though Liu He and Yun Jingqiu were only 9 cm apart in height, the underwear sizes were somewhat different.

He had already noticed during those moments they “helped each other” that Yun‑ge seemed a bit larger.

Suppressing his curiosity, Liu He picked up one such pair, compared it for size.

Feeling like a criminal, he glanced nervously around, triple‑checking there was no one else in the room. Only then did he sigh with vague relief.

Still…he couldn’t escape the feeling of being a total pervert.

Footnotes:

1. Yun‑ge (云哥) — “Ge” (哥) is a Chinese honorific meaning “older brother,” often used between male friends to denote respect or intimacy, not literally a sibling. Here it shows closeness and admiration. 
2. “ZhiXBao” (支X宝) — This is a veiled reference to Alipay (支付宝), a major Chinese mobile payment app. Authors sometimes obscure brand names in web novels. 
3. “Moving bricks” (搬砖) — A popular slang phrase in China meaning doing tiring, often low‑paid, hard labor work (here humorously referring to assisting his academic advisor with menial or heavy tasks). 
4. Cream (奶油) — This is the name of Yun Jingqiu and Liu He’s pet rabbit. The Chinese nickname “奶油” means “cream” or “butter,” a cute, endearing pet name.