Qin Shu pictured a cat hopping on one leg. “Brother, you’re lying to me, right?” He’d only ever seen videos online of other people’s cats doing backflips, and that was already outrageous. One-legged hopping was even more over the top.
Xie Lanzhi said: “You’ll know if you come see.”
Qin Shu suddenly came to his senses, the tips of his ears burning red. There was no way Snowball could hop on one leg in this lifetime. What was possible was that Xie Lanzhi was inviting him over to his place.
Tomorrow he had a major exam, and he hadn’t finished reviewing yet. If he and Xie Lanzhi did… something at home, not only would he be too distracted to study tonight, but even tomorrow in the exam hall, he might still be reliving it.
Qin Shu thought long and hard, and after deep deliberation, he made his decision: “Brother, which one’s your parking spot?”
Failing a class could be fixed with a retake. Missing out on Snowball’s one-legged jump was a once-in-a-lifetime loss.
Xie Lanzhi, looking calm, said: “The empty one right by the elevator.”
Qin Shu parked, then went up the elevator with him.
It had only been a week since he confessed, and now he was going to his boyfriend’s house. Way too shameless! But don’t stop him—he was going!
He’d been to Xie Lanzhi’s place a few times before, but always with other people. This was the first time he was coming alone.
When Xie Lanzhi opened the door, Snowball came up complaining, eyes full of grievance. Qin Shu asked: “She didn’t run out of food, did she?”
“There’s a timed feeder. She won’t starve. She’s probably scolding me for being late.”
Snowball flopped on the floor in front of them, showing her snowy-white belly. When Xie Lanzhi rubbed her tummy, she even lifted her hind leg. The fur shaved off for her spay had only grown back a little, and the surgical scar could no longer be seen.
Qin Shu deliberately said: “Brother, make her do her one-legged hop.”
Snowball narrowed her eyes, as if saying, You’re making things hard for me, Fat Tiger.
Xie Lanzhi raised the temperature in the apartment. “Dry your hair first, then she’ll hop for you.”
Qin Shu took off his coat and shook his head. “It’s fine, I’m not that wet.”
“Wet or not, I can see it.” Xie Lanzhi pulled out a brand-new towel, draped it over Qin Shu’s head, and started rubbing for him. Qin Shu closed his eyes, letting him mess with his hair.
When he was done, Xie Lanzhi stopped and saw Qin Shu’s hair all mussed up like a bird’s nest.
His junior’s cheeks were flushed, his eyelashes trembling, and from the way he frowned ever so slightly, clearly uncomfortable from the rubbing. Xie Lanzhi unconsciously softened his breath.
“Brother, are you done?” Qin Shu opened one eye to ask.
Xie Lanzhi pulled the towel away, Adam’s apple bobbing. “Mm.”
Qin Shu checked his hair in his phone. His face looked fine, but without the face, he looked like he’d just hauled bricks for three days straight.
Xie Lanzhi walked toward the kitchen. “Want something to drink?”
Qin Shu followed. “Just came in from the rain, something hot?” Even as he spoke, Xie Lanzhi was already opening the fridge.
…What an un-synchronized couple.
“Milk?” Xie Lanzhi asked. “I can heat it up.”
Wow. First night at his boyfriend’s place after getting together, and instead of beer or soda, they were having milk. Perfect. Pure first love indeed.
Qin Shu nodded quickly. “Yeah yeah, I love milk. Helps with sleep too.” If he drank enough, maybe he wouldn’t be lying awake all night—assuming Xie Lanzhi didn’t “overdo things.”
Xie Lanzhi chuckled. “Which kind do you want?”
“There are… different kinds?”
“There are.” He turned slightly. “Come see for yourself.”
The fridge was built into the wall, a double-door monster. Inside, everything was sorted neatly. One whole shelf was for drinks—three or four kinds of milk, even goat milk.
Qin Shu picked up a pack of goat milk curiously. “Brother, you drink goat milk too?”
“I don’t. Snowball does.”
Qin Shu instinctively glanced back and saw a ball of white fur crouched in the corner, watching them with “secret observer” vibes. He silently put the goat milk back and picked up a carton of sweet milk. “I’ll take this one.”
When he shut the fridge and turned, Xie Lanzhi was still standing there. Their eyes locked.
Fridge behind him, Xie Lanzhi in front. Nowhere to escape.
“Brother—?” Qin Shu found his voice coming out hoarse, almost inaudible.
Xie Lanzhi didn’t hear, but he saw Qin Shu’s lips part.
Because of their height difference, Qin Shu’s gaze landed right on Xie Lanzhi’s Adam’s apple. He saw it bob, like when drinking. His heart, which had just calmed, started pounding again.
He licked his lips and handed the milk over. “Brother, heat it for me?”
Xie Lanzhi took the carton… and set it on the counter. ???
Qin Shu’s eyes followed. What—he wasn’t going to heat it? Wanted Qin Shu to do it himself?
Then Xie Lanzhi took a step forward. Qin Shu instinctively backed up, hitting the fridge.
Next moment, Xie Lanzhi lowered his head and kissed him.
In the 0.1 seconds before their lips touched, two random thoughts flashed in Qin Shu’s mind: d*mn, my hair looks awful, and d*mn, I’m really going to flunk.
Then everything went blank. The world vanished, leaving only the touch on his lips and the clean, fresh scent of Xie Lanzhi.
One hand hung at his side, the other pressed against Xie Lanzhi’s chest, unsure whether to push him away. His face burned crimson, his heart pounded like it would burst, and he was running out of breath.
A muffled sound slipped from Qin Shu’s throat, his hand pressing harder without meaning to. Instead of pushing him away, his wrist was caught.
Xie Lanzhi pulled his obstructing hand up and pinned it to the fridge above his head, giving him no room to resist.
Qin Shu’s body went soft, his last bit of strength gone. Xie Lanzhi pried his fingers open, interlacing their hands, while his other hand slid to Qin Shu’s waist.
Qin Shu’s duffle coat had already been taken off when they entered. Now he only wore a crewneck sweater. Even through the thick knit, Xie Lanzhi could feel the lines of his junior’s waist. With a slight pull, Qin Shu leaned forward, bodies pressed flush together.
Outside, rain poured. In the kitchen, the warm yellow light glowed. The fridge display flickered faintly. Snowball hopped up onto a chair, watching from behind. From her angle, she saw only her master’s back—and a helpless hand pressed against the fridge.
She licked her paw, very politely refraining from meowing.
No one knew how long it lasted—Qin Shu felt like three years. Finally, Xie Lanzhi straightened, and Qin Shu dazedly opened his eyes to meet a pair full of desire and raw sexiness.
He had kissed his boyfriend—no, he had been kissed by Xie Lanzhi!
His first kiss was gone! Gone in front of Xie Lianzhi’s refrigerator! What a weird place. Other people get kissed pinned against a wall—why was it the fridge for him?
Good thing Xie Lianzhi’s fridge was big enough… D*mn, from now on he’d never be able to look a fridge straight in the face again.
Qin Shu’s head was spinning, but there was a faint sweetness mixed in, like Xie Lianzhi had stuffed a giant ball of cotton candy into him.
Xie Lianzhi’s voice was low: “Heart’s beating so fast.”
Qin Shu bit his lips, which were nearly numb. “Ah, did Brother hear it?”
“No,” Xie Lianzhi said softly, “I was talking about myself.”
“Oh…” Qin Shu, already embarrassed, was now at a loss for words.
@Lu Jingyun, you said once you kissed you’d get past the awkward stage and move straight into the old married couple mode, right? Then why doesn’t he know what to say, where to put his hands and feet, or where to look? What kind of old married couple is this?!
Urgent!! What are you supposed to do after kissing your boyfriend for the first time?! Online waiting!!
Xie Lianzhi spoke again: “What did you eat tonight?”
Qin Shu’s face heated up. “On the way driving over I ate… ate a blueberry lollipop.”
Xie Lianzhi’s lips curved. “No wonder it’s so sweet.”
Qin Shu recalled the kiss from a minute ago and muttered, “Did Brother drink coffee?”
“Mm. I didn’t know you’d come, so I didn’t add sugar.” Xie Lianzhi pinched Qin Shu’s earlobe. “Sorry for making it bitter for you.”
Qin Shu shook his head. “Not bitter at all.” He couldn’t stand the bitterness of bitter melon, but the bitterness of the coffee his crush drank—please, let it come even stronger, and don’t hold back on his account, thank you very much!
Xie Lianzhi picked up the neglected sweet milk and went to heat it. “I’ll get you something sweet right away.”
Snowball let out a graceful “meow,” indicating she wanted some too.
As he passed, Xie Lianzhi tapped her head. “You’ll get some too.”
“I’ll wait for you in the living room.” Qin Shu fled the “crime scene” before Xie Lianzhi could say anything else.
Sitting on the sofa, Qin Shu blanked out for a while, then suddenly jolted and pulled out his phone, turning on the front camera.
—Oh my god, what was this creature with bedhead, a blazing red face and ears? A flamingo?!
So stupid, ahhh, and yet Xie Lianzhi actually managed to kiss him—he must really, really love him, wuwuwu.
When Xie Lianzhi came into the living room, he saw the dazed junior, looking both despairing and touched, who knew what he was thinking. He handed Qin Shu a cup of hot milk. Snowball leapt lightly onto the coffee table, tilting her head up at him: “Meow—”
Xie Lianzhi normally didn’t spoil his pet, feeding her only in the fixed spot. But since he was in a good mood, he broke the rule and put a small dish of goat’s milk on the table for Snowball to drink there.
Even drinking goat’s milk, Snowball was a graceful little cat, unhurried, pausing from time to time to glance at Qin Shu, who was also drinking milk.
A cat like this could do a one-legged hop? It’d be more believable if someone said Chu Cheng came to Xie Lianzhi’s place and danced the Daji tail-swing dance.
Thinking of that, Qin Shu couldn’t help laughing.
Xie Lianzhi asked: “What’s funny?”
“Just… just thinking about exams.”
“When’s the next one?”
Qin Shu’s smile faded. “Tomorrow afternoon.”
“Did you study enough?”
Qin Shu groaned miserably. “I had, but now I don’t remember a thing.”
“Hm? Why?”
Qin Shu righteously shifted all the blame onto Xie Lianzhi. “Because of you.”
Xie Lianzhi paused, then let out a soft laugh. “Sorry. Next time you have an exam, tell me ahead of time, I’ll restrain myself.”
“That’s not necessary.” Qin Shu stared into his cup. “Maybe getting a bit of the study god’s aura will help more.”
Xie Lianzhi’s breath caught again. The so-called “little playboy” always flirted without realizing, leaving him defenseless. He used to think Qin Shu did it on purpose, but seeing his reaction tonight—so raw and unguarded, like a blank page—how could he ever fit the title “playboy”?
Glancing at the wooden wall clock, Xie Lianzhi asked: “Do you have class tomorrow morning?”
Qin Shu tilted his head, thinking. “Second period, no.”
“I’ll come find you,” Xie Lianzhi said. “Help you remember what you’ve forgotten.”
“…Mm.”
“It’s getting late. I’ll take you back.”
“…Okay.”
“Not afraid of the dorm manager’s diss anymore?”
Qin Shu hesitated, then said: “But… I want you to send me.”
“….” Xie Lianzhi felt that if they stayed alone any longer, something would really happen. He stood, picked up their coats. “Let’s go.”
He drove Qin Shu back to campus. The road was smooth, every red light turned green. Qin Shu cursed in his heart.
At the parking lot, Xie Lianzhi told Qin Shu to stay put, got out with an umbrella, and opened the passenger door for him.
Qin Shu stepped out, standing with him under the umbrella. “Brother, you should drive home. Walking in the rain isn’t good.”
Xie Lianzhi said: “I’ll send you to the dorm entrance first.”
At this hour, there were few people around, faces hidden under umbrellas. Qin Shu suddenly remembered that while cars couldn’t park directly at the dorm, they could stop briefly to drop someone off—Xie Lianzhi could’ve just driven straight there.
He thought about reminding him, then turned and saw his perfect side profile and hand gripping the umbrella.
…Forget it, since they were already here.
Xie Lianzhi dropped him off at the dorm building. The dorm manager auntie spotted them, her expression clearly saying: “You two again.”
Qin Shu pretended not to see. “Brother, I’m going up?”
“Mm.”
Qin Shu didn’t leave right away. He stared at his boyfriend’s face for a while, then regretfully said: “We didn’t hold hands on the way today…”
Xie Lianzhi’s heart skipped a beat.
Qin Shu met his gaze, shy yet bold. “Next time, okay?”
Xie Lianzhi chuckled. “Okay.”
Back in the dorm, Qin Shu stumbled in a daze. As soon as he opened the door, Chu Cheng asked: “Did you pick up Brother Lan in his car today? Wait, what’s that expression… did you have a fling?”
Qin Shu ignored him, went straight to his desk, and pulled out his phone—changing Xie Lianzhi’s contact name to 【Boyfriend】.
Author’s note: Here it comes! This story tells us—always buy a big refrigerator!
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