With his vision blocked, all light was cut off, plunging Xie Ruan’s world into darkness. Yet, his other senses sharpened.
Bo Jin’s searing touch, his hot breaths, his irresistible strength—all of it was amplified, sending shivers through Xie Ruan, making him unsteady.
“Legs feeling weak?” Bo Jin held him around the waist, pressing him close to prevent him from sinking down. He chuckled lowly, “Feeling a bit weak?”
“You’re weak!” Xie Ruan’s face was flushed, his breaths rapid, his heart pounding wildly.
He raised his hand to pull the tie from his eyes, but as soon as he started, Bo Jin caught his hand.
Bo Jin chuckled, “Who’s the weak one here?” He tugged mischievously at the knot on the tie, forcing Xie Ruan’s head to tilt back, exposing his fair neck. “I’m a perfectly respectable person. Why would you slander me like that? What if the neighbors hear about this, what will the property manager think of me, or even that big yellow dog in the complex?”
He grasped Xie Ruan’s chin, bending down slightly. “Looks like I’ll have to prove myself to clear this misunderstanding.”
Xie Ruan, caught off guard by Bo Jin’s persistence, protested, “You were the one who started it!”
Seeing his earnest attempt at defense, Bo Jin sighed internally. Xie Ruan was still too young; reasoning was pointless here. Bo Jin only wanted to tease him.
The old scoundrel had no heart and didn’t understand when to stop.
“Yes, I was wrong.” Bo Jin went along with the flow, apologizing smoothly. “No right to speak without experience—I shouldn’t have claimed you were weak without trying it myself.” He lowered his head and gently kissed Xie Ruan’s ear. “You’ve worked hard; tonight, let me see for myself.”
See for yourself, my foot!
Bo Jin’s intentions were far from innocent.
Xie Ruan’s face flushed, spreading red all the way down his neck, and he pushed Bo Jin away, trying to leave. But just as he almost broke free, Bo Jin pulled him back.
“Where are you running to?” Seeing Xie Ruan’s utterly flustered expression, Bo Jin tried to hold it in but finally buried his head in Xie Ruan’s shoulder, laughing uncontrollably. “Scared of the hard work? No worries, I’ll handle the effort—you can just enjoy…”
Before he could finish, Xie Ruan yanked him up by his hair, clearly furious.
“Kidding, kidding.” Bo Jin, knowing he’d pushed too far, gently pulled Xie Ruan’s hand down, pressing a kiss to his wrist. “When did you get here?”
The heat on Xie Ruan’s face hadn’t faded. He looked away, muttering, “Just now.”
“Liar.” Bo Jin traced lightly along his temple, his eyes so soft they could melt. “Your wrist is freezing.”
Xie Ruan’s hands never got cold in winter; he was like a little heater. The only way they could be so cold was if he’d been waiting outside for quite a while.
Seeing through the lie, Xie Ruan pursed his lips and mumbled, “Your lights weren’t on…”
It wasn’t that he didn’t have a key—Bo Jin had given him one long ago. He couldn’t explain it, but seeing Bo Jin’s place dark and empty made him not want to go in.
He hadn’t planned to wait downstairs; standing in the freezing cold made no sense. Xie Ruan’s lashes trembled slightly. He’d just thought he’d stand there for a moment; maybe he’d run into him.
Xie Ruan didn’t explain further, but Bo Jin understood.
Bo Jin took a deep breath and pulled Xie Ruan into a tight embrace.
He’d never felt fortunate. Abandoned by his birth parents, left by his adoptive family, and avoided by many due to his hyperthymesia, he felt like a living disaster.
But right now, with Xie Ruan by his side, he suddenly felt at peace.
Because of him, all the pain and resentment from his past felt worth it.
It was those very experiences that had shaped him into the person Xie Ruan now adored.
Bo Jin lowered his head and kissed Xie Ruan deeply, with restraint and tenderness.
Xie Ruan was someone who responded best to gentleness, hardly able to resist Bo Jin’s soft approach. Even his tone, trying to push him away, was much gentler than usual: “Let’s go upstairs…”
As Bo Jin kissed the corner of his lips, his words came out slightly muffled, “It wouldn’t look good if someone saw us.”
Then, remembering Bo Jin’s earlier remark about “letting them have a chance to be envious,” he added, “It’s a bit cold now.”
“Alright.” Bo Jin chuckled softly, aware Xie Ruan was lying but not calling him out.
Xie Ruan relaxed and immediately reached up to pull off the tie covering his eyes.
“Don’t move,” Bo Jin grabbed his hand, “I’ll do it.”
Standing still like this, letting Bo Jin undo anything felt a bit embarrassing to Xie Ruan, so he instinctively turned his head.
“What’s this,” Bo Jin paused with a smirk, “Reluctant to take it off? Who would’ve thought, Xie Little-Ruan, you actually enjoy this.” He clicked his tongue. “Noted. We’ll do it like this from now on.”
The man really couldn’t be given an inch.
Furious, Xie Ruan began, “You—”
But before he could finish, the lights suddenly turned on. He blinked reflexively, looking up and meeting Bo Jin’s amused gaze.
His heart started racing.
In that moment, Xie Ruan suddenly realized he really, really liked Bo Jin.
Maybe *like* wasn’t even the right word…
He swallowed, wanting to be the first to enter the building, but Bo Jin held him back.
“Wait for me.” Bo Jin said.
Lifting the hand that held Xie Ruan’s, he carefully wrapped the tie around it, looping it into place. He looked into Xie Ruan’s eyes and bit the other end, skillfully tying it into a knot.
Xie Ruan’s throat went dry, fully aware Bo Jin was teasing him, yet he couldn’t help his reaction.
Cursing himself inwardly, he broke free from Bo Jin’s hand and rushed into the building, determined not to listen to him this time.
Behind him, Bo Jin couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face.
Once they were home, Bo Jin turned on the heater immediately.
The room warmed up quickly. Xie Ruan removed his coat, opened the food container, and pushed it in front of Bo Jin, feeling a bit nervous. “Eat up—it’s sauerkraut and pork dumplings. Not sure if you’ll like them.”
It was his first time doing something like this, and he felt a little shy.
Bo Jin picked up a dumpling and took a bite, clearly pleased. “Tastes good.”
He wasn’t just praising it because it was from Xie Ruan; the dumplings really were quite tasty. The filling was fresh, the skin thin, and since it had been cooled, the wrapper was slightly firm—just the texture he liked.
Xie Ruan glanced to the side, taking out his phone. “That’s good, then.”
After a pause, as if remembering something, he asked Bo Jin, “Did you eat dinner tonight?”
Eating dumplings on New Year’s Eve was tradition, but if Bo Jin had already eaten, a few bites would be enough. He didn’t want him overeating.
Catching on to what he was thinking, Bo Jin chuckled and shook his head. “No, I haven’t.”
The annual gathering included food, but he’d only stopped by briefly and left, not even drinking a sip of water. He was starving by now, so Xie Ruan’s box of dumplings was perfect timing.
“Really?” Xie Ruan worried that Bo Jin was saying this just to reassure him.
“Really.” Bo Jin set down his chopsticks, turned to the side, and raised his chin, gesturing at Xie Ruan. “If you don’t believe me, feel my stomach.”
As if!
Xie Ruan leaned back in distaste, his body language clearly rejecting the idea.
Bo Jin didn’t mind; he was genuinely hungry and quickly polished off the whole box of dumplings with some vinegar, finally putting his chopsticks down, satisfied.
After dinner, they curled up on the sofa, chatting while watching the New Year’s Gala.
Bo Jin idly played with Xie Ruan’s fingers, asking, “Staying over tonight?”
Xie Ruan had noticed that Bo Jin enjoyed small gestures of physical affection—not necessarily doing anything, just being close.
He hesitated.
In truth, he’d already planned to stay and spend the New Year with Bo Jin, but he wasn’t sure…
Xie Ruan swallowed, wondering if Bo Jin’s question had another, more meaningful layer.
Seeing him silent, Bo Jin raised an eyebrow. “Is it that hard to answer?”
“No…” Xie Ruan coughed, taking a sip of cola to hide his nerves. “I’ll… stay.”
Anyway, if he wanted to say no, Bo Jin would probably respect his wishes. Besides… Xie Ruan lowered his eyes, wiping his mouth as his ears reddened slightly. Even if something *did* happen, it wouldn’t be the end of the world; he was about to turn eighteen, practically an adult…
Bo Jin watched as Xie Ruan’s imagination seemed to take off, his ears turning redder and redder until they were nearly glowing. Realizing what he was hesitating about, Bo Jin chuckled to himself.
He was at an age where desires were strong, and ever since meeting Xie Ruan, he’d lost count of the dreams and countless sheets he’d washed, but he still had enough restraint to know the right time and place.
Although… he really did want to.
Bo Jin rubbed his nose, feeling a bit warm himself. Clearing his throat, he pushed the stray thoughts from his mind and changed the topic. “Since you’re on break, why not stay a few more days?”
Xie Ruan shook his head. “Can’t, my family’s visiting relatives on the second day of the New Year.”
Bo Jin asked, “Which side?”
Xie Ruan paused, realizing what he meant. “My stepdad’s side, He Chen’s dad’s family. My mom’s side doesn’t have anyone left.”
Xie Ruan genuinely didn’t feel like going. It wasn’t that He’s family was bad—they were all down-to-earth people. The only odd one was He Jinqing. But he always felt out of place among those relatives; everyone was polite, but when it went too far, it felt distant.
Bo Jin was a bit surprised. “Your mom doesn’t have any family left?”
At Xie Ruan’s age, his mom was only about forty. People married young back in the day, so his grandparents might not even have been sixty when they passed. All gone by that age?
And even if the older generation was gone, wouldn’t there be siblings? At least one?
“No,” Xie Ruan said. He actually didn’t know much about his mother’s side of the family, never having met them. Thinking hard, he added, “My mom’s hometown is in the mountains. She said one year there was a landslide, and her whole family was lost.”
Bo Jin narrowed his eyes, sensing something was off. “When did that happen?”
Xie Ruan thought for a moment. “I think it was the year she came out to work. She was lucky enough to escape.”
Too coincidental. Bo Jin never believed in coincidences—aside from the one that brought him and Xie Ruan together.
Since Xie Ruan didn’t seem to know much more, Bo Jin didn’t press the topic. No need to ruin the New Year by bringing up that woman; he just made a mental note to investigate later.
“Anyway,” Bo Jin said with a nod, “you’ve got one more relative to visit this year.”
Xie Ruan was puzzled. When did he get a new relative? Where did they come from?
“Aren’t I one?” Bo Jin asked confidently. “Don’t treat your husband like he’s not family.”
Xie Ruan: “…”
There it was—Bo Jin’s shamelessness, right on cue!
Xie Ruan shot him a glare, then looked around at Bo Jin’s empty house. If he hadn’t come over, Bo Jin would be spending New Year’s alone. A sudden pang of sadness welled up inside him.
“I…” He lightly hooked his fingers around Bo Jin’s hand, lowered his gaze, and softly said, “Me too.”
It was so quiet that at first, Bo Jin didn’t quite catch his meaning. Then, seeing Xie Ruan’s shyly fluttering eyelashes, he understood: Xie Ruan was saying that he, too, was now family.
Bo Jin’s heart melted, feeling overwhelmed by sweetness.
How many lifetimes’ worth of good karma had he accumulated to meet someone like Xie Ruan?
On TV, the New Year’s countdown began.
The announcer’s voice echoed: “Ten, nine, eight… three, two, one!”
Bo Jin felt his chest swell with warmth. Taking a deep breath, he pulled Xie Ruan into his arms, hugging him tightly and whispering, “Happy New Year.”
Xie Ruan hugged him back, answering with quiet sincerity, “Happy New Year.”
