AAUMOBIP C17

Chapter 17

Yun Jingqiu: ?

“I want to eat it. Just yesterday you told me that today we’d have crayfish, and now you won’t let me eat it?”

“No.” Song Zhiyuan was very firm. “These two dishes are yours. The crayfish, I only made because I wanted to eat it.”

“Yesterday, I said I’d make crayfish today. I never said you could eat it.” Song Zhiyuan had his own reasoning.

Xiao He hurriedly tried to mediate: “Yun Ge, calm down. Look, these two dishes are pretty good too, and there’s also spicy hot pot—spicy hot pot can count as a dish as well.”

Yun Jingqiu gave Song Zhiyuan an immature glare, not taking off his gloves: “I’ll peel the crayfish for Xiao He.”

“Yun Ge, do you mean you’re going to hold the crayfish under the table, and peel it with your clumsy left hand and your agile right hand?”

Yun Jingqiu couldn’t lift his left arm, so it could only hang under the table. But his left hand was still fine—just now, he had used it under the table to put gloves on his right hand.

Letting an injured man peel crayfish for someone with two perfectly fine hands—that was just bullying!

Xiao He casually pulled the gloves off Yun Jingqiu’s hand and smiled at him: “Yun Ge, I can do it myself.”

He rejected Yun Jingqiu’s kindness.

Unable to eat crayfish, he could only watch that fragrant, colorful, and delicious pot of crayfish while chewing on tasteless broccoli.

Fortunately, there was the spicy hot pot Xiao He had brought—it went well with rice.

Yun Jingqiu ordered: “Tomorrow I want chicken.”

“Eat, eat, eat.” Song Zhiyuan was making loud slurping sounds while eating and responding to his employer.

He had put a lot of chili into the crayfish, yet he was the type who loved spicy food but couldn’t handle it well. So he was drinking water like crazy while still stuffing himself with crayfish.

Xiao He thought the spice level was just right. The crayfish were fresh, easy to peel, the meat firm, the tails springy, dipped in sauce—absolutely delicious.

He was so absorbed in eating crayfish that he looked completely satisfied.

Yun Jingqiu looked at Xiao He resentfully.

Xiao He only smiled at him.

Once full, Song Zhiyuan slipped away.

He had booked a nearby hotel room at a discounted rate.

It wasn’t peak season, so the boss readily gave him a very good price.

Ever since he learned Yun Jingqiu planned to rent a place here, Song Zhiyuan had known that lovestruck Yun Ge would definitely drag his partner into the room for unspeakable activities.

As a qualified assistant, he knew to retreat at the right time, leaving space and privacy for his employer.

After dinner, Xiao He casually washed the plates and bowls, then carried his luggage to tidy up the guest room.

Yun Jingqiu leaned against the doorframe, watching him.

“Really not considering moving into the master bedroom?” Yun Jingqiu suggested again. “The master bedroom is bigger, with its own bathroom, a more comfortable mattress… and me to keep you company at night.”

Apart from the last point, the rest were tempting conditions.

Xiao He rejected him again: “No, I’ll stay here. I won’t disturb you.”

“How could Xiao He ever disturb me? I’d be overjoyed to live together with you.”

“On Weibo, fans are all celebrating our cohabitation. I’m in a great mood right now.”

Xiao He: “Living together doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping in the same bed.”

“Tsk.”

His plan fell apart completely, and Yun Jingqiu was a little unhappy.

“You only brought this few clothes? You don’t have enough.” Yun Jingqiu continued.

Xiao He never really liked buying clothes. As long as they could be worn, that was enough. So his wardrobe wasn’t very full.

Even when they met offline for the first time, he had rummaged through his closet for ages before picking an outfit.

“Want to shower?” Yun Jingqiu invited. “Use the master bathroom, all your things are in there.”

Xiao He: “I can take them out.”

From meeting in real life to confirming their relationship to moving in together, only a few days had passed—it was progressing too fast. Xiao He was struggling to keep up.

He hung his few clothes in the wardrobe, placed his laptop bag on the desk, and took the toiletries Yun Jingqiu had prepared for him in the master bedroom into the shared bathroom.

Along the way, he also grabbed Yun Jingqiu’s new shampoo and shower gel, putting them in the same bathroom.

This house had only three residents. Although it was called a shared bathroom, hardly anyone else used it.

The assistant often stayed in hotels, so this bathroom was basically Xiao He’s private one.

Xiao He pushed Yun Jingqiu out of the bathroom when he followed him inside.

Why hadn’t he realized before that Yun Ge was such a tag-along?

Oh right—before, they had only been in an online relationship. Of course he wouldn’t have known.

“I’m going to shower,” Xiao He said.

Yun Jingqiu nodded: “I know.”

“Please leave.”

“I’ll help you wash.”

Xiao He looked at his not-so-healthy arm, pushed him out, and shut the door.

Letting Yun Ge help him wash? Who would be helping who, exactly?

Soon, the sound of running water filled the bathroom.

Yun Jingqiu stood outside, his voice muffled by the door and the water.

“Can you reach your back? I’ll scrub it for you.”

“No need.” Xiao He refused.

Yun Jingqiu still didn’t leave.

Xiao He looked at the shadow behind the frosted glass door, silent, not bothering to chase him away.

Even if he did, this man might not leave. Xiao He had come to understand Yun Ge’s shamelessness by now.

“I got Xiao He a new computer. Want to play games together tonight?”

Xiao He: “Okay.”

He had already seen the computer in Yun Jingqiu’s room.

The master bedroom’s layout had changed. The old desk was gone, replaced by a massive gaming desk with two desktop setups and gaming chairs.

That area had been transformed into a gaming zone.

Now he could play side by side with Yun Ge.

“I’ll wait for you in the room.” Yun Jingqiu finally left.

The shadow behind the frosted glass door disappeared. Xiao He paused for a moment, then turned on the showerhead to rinse the foam off himself.

After bathing, he walked into the open master bedroom in white pajamas, towel drying his hair.

Yun Jingqiu wasn’t in the room. Water sounds came from the master bathroom—he must be showering.

Xiao He called: “Yun Ge, I’m going to use your hairdryer.”

The water stopped. Yun Jingqiu replied: “Okay, you know where it is.”

Xiao He had used it before, so he knew where to find it.

He started slowly drying his hair.

Yun Ge showered slowly—his arm wasn’t convenient.

At last, he came out, wearing only a towel around his waist. His body wasn’t fully dried, and droplets slid down his muscles into the towel.

Such good skin, such a good figure.

Xiao He couldn’t help but think.

“Why come out like this?” he asked.

Yun Jingqiu walked over. His pajamas were on the bed, but his body was still damp.

He untied the towel, wiped the water from his skin, and began dressing.

His back was to Xiao He as he put on clothes one-handed.

“Towels are convenient,” Yun Jingqiu said. “If I dress inside and drop my clothes on the floor, they’d get dirty.”

That was true.

In his black underwear, Yun Jingqiu stood while Xiao He, now done drying his hair, walked over, tugged at his shirt, and helped him dress.

“I really wish you’d help me shower,” Yun Jingqiu still couldn’t give up.

Expressionless, Xiao He finished dressing him, then gave his butt a sharp slap: “Behave.”

“Blow your hair and come play.” He walked to the gaming zone, looked at the two PCs, and asked, “Which one do I use?”

“They’re both new. Xiao He, pick whichever.” Yun Jingqiu rubbed his sore backside and looked pitifully at Xiao He’s back.

Xiao He really had strength. His butt was still tingling.

Xiao He had become bolder than before. Last time he was reserved—this time he acted recklessly.

Xiao He booted up both computers and sat in a gaming chair.

After a long while without hearing any movement, he turned around, confused.

Yun Ge was still standing there, rubbing his butt with an expression like a pervert.

No, he was a pervert.

Xiao He regretted slapping him.

It didn’t feel like punishment at all, but more like a reward. Yun Ge was even savoring it.

Realizing his thoughts were turning strange, Xiao He forced himself to calm down. Just as he was about to urge him, he noticed water dripping from Yun Jingqiu’s hair—he hadn’t dried it yet.

So Xiao He went over, picked up the hairdryer, and dried Yun Jingqiu’s hair for him.

His hair quality was good—once dry, it looked slightly wavy and fluffy.

“Come on,” Xiao He said. “How are you going to play with just one hand?”

Then he remembered a problem.

Yun Ge’s arm was still injured. How could he play?

But last night, he had still played games with him.

Under Xiao He’s curious gaze, Yun Jingqiu rested his left arm on the desk, still able to use the keyboard with his left hand.

His hands were big—he could press the WASD keys and even reach the letters on the right side without much effort.

And he did all this without moving his arm.

His right hand handled the mouse.

Gaming didn’t require moving his arm, only stretching his fingers.

But over time, his left fingers would start to feel sore.

“Your arm is really okay?” Xiao He looked at him worriedly.

Yun Jingqiu answered smugly: “I’m fine.”

The game began. For Xiao He, it was his first time playing on such high-end equipment—the graphics were unbelievably smooth. Even landing in crowded P City1, the PC didn’t lag at all.

The experience was worlds apart from his old, clunky laptop.

After just one try, Xiao He fell in love with the smooth gameplay.

Throughout the match, he worried Yun Ge’s arm might worsen, but seeing him only moving his hand and not his arm reassured him somewhat.

After one round, Xiao He immediately said: “I’m done.”

“Why stop?” Yun Jingqiu was addicted.

Xiao He glanced at his cast arm, worry in his eyes.

Yun Jingqiu smiled, comforting him: “It’s fine, doesn’t hurt. Gaming is just light activity, not strenuous exercise.”

“Then let’s watch a movie together?” Yun Jingqiu suggested.

Xiao He nodded.

“What do you want to watch?”

Xiao He answered instinctively: “The Second World.”

Yun Jingqiu’s expression stiffened—it was rare for him to look troubled: “Pick something else…”

The Second World was a film he had starred in, released last year.

“I want to watch this one.” Xiao He opened the video app.

It was logged into Yun Jingqiu’s account, which had memberships for all platforms.

He searched and clicked play.

Yun Jingqiu closed his eyes in embarrassment.

At the start, a messy-haired, bearded, vacant-eyed homeless man wandered the streets.

That was why Yun Jingqiu didn’t want Xiao He to watch this film with him.

He admitted it was a good movie, and his character wasn’t just a homeless man. But to portray the role convincingly, he had put in enormous effort.

As a result, the image of the foolish, broken vagrant left a deep impression.

Now, letting his lover—still in the honeymoon phase—see him so disheveled, Yun Jingqiu felt very self-conscious.

¹ P City (P城): A popular high-traffic landing spot in the battle royale game PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds).