Xie Ruan met Bo Jin’s half-smiling gaze and felt his face heat up.
Knowing Bo Jin’s usual style, he didn’t need to think hard; the so-called ‘check’ was clearly just an excuse for him to indulge himself.
Xie Ruan licked his dry lips and warned, “Don’t go overboard.”
“Me? Overboard?” Bo Jin raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “What did I do?”
Where didn’t he go overboard? Xie Ruan fumed inwardly. Having someone strip in the dorm—who did that? At the very least… at least wait until lights-out.
But, no matter how much he ranted internally, he couldn’t voice it.
“Not wasting my time with you.” Xie Ruan feigned indifference, avoiding Bo Jin’s eyes as he stepped toward the door.
If he couldn’t win, he could at least escape! Only an idiot would sit around and comply!
“Try running,” Bo Jin said calmly, without shifting from his spot, “and see if I don’t march straight to your dorm and strip you myself.”
The simple threat was enough to stop Xie Ruan in his tracks.
Bo Jin wasn’t bluffing.
After all, he’d already managed to get rid of Song Xinghe without breaking a sweat.
Xie Ruan valued his dignity too much to let that happen.
“Come here.” Bo Jin patted the spot next to him.
Xie Ruan didn’t budge.
Did he think he was stupid, walking into a trap?
But… if he didn’t go, what if Bo Jin got up and made him?
Bo Jin didn’t press him, just waited patiently.
After a long hesitation, Xie Ruan finally shuffled over, sitting a safe distance away.
It wasn’t lights-out yet, and the hallways were bustling with students, and maybe even a patrol by the dorm staff. Surely Bo Jin would keep his limits, right?
Glancing at the door, Xie Ruan silently cursed. How could the dorm staff allow him to cover the little window on the door? Rules should apply to everyone equally, honor students and otherwise!
Bo Jin ignored his quiet fretting. The dorm bed wasn’t big, and there was only so far Xie Ruan could scoot.
“If you want me to let you off, it’s not impossible.”
Today, Bo Jin seemed surprisingly accommodating.
He pointed to his lips, making his intent unmistakably clear. “Charm me.”
Xie Ruan’s gaze followed.
Bo Jin had an appealing mouth, with well-defined lines and a pale hue. His lips held a slight, teasing smile as if waiting for Xie Ruan.
Xie Ruan swallowed involuntarily.
In truth, he liked kissing Bo Jin, whether gentle or assertive. It always… left his legs weak.
The air in the room grew suddenly charged. Xie Ruan gripped the strap of his bag, then finally made up his mind. He placed a hand on Bo Jin’s shoulder and tilted up to kiss him.
It was an innocent kiss, just lips pressed together, gentle and fleeting, but sending ripples through his heart.
A faint smile glinted in Bo Jin’s eyes, and he parted his lips slightly in response.
Out of habit, Xie Ruan’s tongue followed without thinking.
The simple kiss gradually deepened, Bo Jin taking the lead and easing him down onto the bed. Surrounded by the faint scent of lemon soap, Xie Ruan felt himself sink into the softness of the bed, as Bo Jin’s increasingly demanding kisses left him dizzy, feeling thoroughly claimed.
Suddenly, Xie Ruan felt a chill on his waist and stomach, instinctively flinching as he opened his eyes.
His school jacket had fallen open, and his T-shirt had somehow been pushed up, exposing his lean torso.
Panicked, he stammered, “You—”
“Shh.” Bo Jin lifted a finger to Xie Ruan’s lips, quieting him. “Stay still. I need to see if you’re hurt.”
Xie Ruan was rough and tumble by nature; Bo Jin didn’t buy that the cut on his lip was his only injury.
“I’m fine…,” Xie Ruan muttered, shifting under Bo Jin’s hand, making a last attempt to resist.
Bo Jin gave him a knowing look. “If you keep moving, I’ll take it as an invitation.” He glanced down, hinting at his own reaction.
Xie Ruan froze, quickly abandoning any more struggles.
Bo Jin meticulously examined Xie Ruan from head to toe, inch by inch.
In the process, he took advantage of the opportunity to tease his boyfriend, leaving Xie Ruan breathless, flushed all over, and practically begging for mercy. Only then did Bo Jin, with a satisfied grin, give him a gentle kiss on the lips and let him go.
After smoothing Xie Ruan’s hair and adjusting his clothes, Bo Jin asked considerately, “Need me to help you out?”
Xie Ruan blushed, looking down in embarrassment, wishing he could just hide the evidence of his flustered state. “N-no need.”
The hallway was brightly lit, and students were passing by. How could he possibly let Bo Jin “help him out” here?
“Really don’t need it?” Bo Jin’s tone was full of playful regret.
Xie Ruan, now red with embarrassment and irritation, shot back, “Take care of yourself!”
Was he the only one feeling worked up here? Bo Jin was just as affected!
Bo Jin’s eyes lit up, seizing the moment, “Then how about you help me—”
Xie Ruan promptly covered his mouth, expressionless.
“Alright, alright.” Bo Jin pulled his hand away, placing a kiss on his palm. Turning Xie Ruan’s face to look directly at him, he dropped the teasing. “Will you still be getting into fights?”
Xie Ruan shook his head. “No more fighting.”
He genuinely couldn’t handle the consequences anymore.
“Fists solve nothing,” Bo Jin said as he opened his phone and logged into his email, guiding Xie Ruan step by step. “The right way is to cut off the problem at its source.”
Peeking at the screen, Xie Ruan barely glimpsed words like “Shen Family” and “taxes” before Bo Jin finished. It was enough to give him an idea of Bo Jin’s plan.
Watching Bo Jin’s faint, cold smile, Xie Ruan swallowed. “How… do you know their company has tax issues?”
How did he know?
Through years of careful observation and gathering information.
It wasn’t out of pure malice; after all, the Shen family had, in a way, raised him. But if it weren’t for all the filth Shen’s family did in secret, how could they still live so comfortably?
Yet—
With a derisive smile, Bo Jin pressed “Send” without hesitation.
After all these years, he had finally clawed his way out of that mire and found someone he cared about. Why should he let the Shen family continue to bully him?
He lowered his gaze, wiped his digital trail clean, then tossed his phone aside with a slight smile.
“Reporting bad companies is everyone’s duty. My red scarf feels a bit brighter today.”
“Remember what you just said,” Bo Jin tilted Xie Ruan’s chin, his expression half stern. “Next time, it won’t be this easy.”
Easy? Xie Ruan inwardly objected but didn’t dare provoke Bo Jin, muttering only, “Got it.”
Instead of heading straight back to his dorm, Xie Ruan took a detour to the restroom to freshen up, erasing any trace of what had just happened. No way would he face his friend, Song Xinghe, looking this disheveled, flushed, and entirely ready to be teased.
“I thought you weren’t coming back tonight,” Song Xinghe said, looking up from his phone with a teasing grin when Xie Ruan finally entered.
Hanging his bag on the chair, Xie Ruan shot him a look, “Where else would I go?”
“Who knows?” Song Xinghe shrugged. “Just imagine: late at night, two guys all alone, sparks flying everywhere. Where couldn’t you go?”
Xie Ruan: “…”
He wasn’t about to discuss his private life with Song Xinghe, so he simply reached over and swatted him. “Cut the nonsense. What did you want earlier?”
Hearing this, Song Xinghe’s smirk faded, replaced by a more thoughtful expression. After a moment’s pause, he asked, “Are you sure your little brother’s okay with you and Bo Jin’s relationship?”
As his best friend, Song Xinghe knew some of the complex dynamics in Xie Ruan’s family, even if not all the details.
It wasn’t that he mistrusted Xie Ruan’s younger brother, He Chen, but… with their half-sibling relationship, it was better to be cautious.
Xie Ruan blinked, finally catching on, and shook his head. “Don’t worry. He won’t say anything.”
Even if he did, Xie Ruan wouldn’t care.
“I just wanted to give you a heads-up. Long as you know what you’re doing.” Song Xinghe shrugged, returning to his phone.
“I get it,” Xie Ruan knew Song Xinghe meant well. Patting his shoulder, he added, “Thanks.”
“Get lost! Gross.” Song Xinghe playfully recoiled, feigning disgust.
Xie Ruan chuckled and didn’t argue.
“Aren’t you going to wash up?” During a break while waiting for the game to load, Song Xinghe glanced over and saw Xie Ruan still sitting in his chair, assuming he’d forgotten. He reminded him, “Lights are going out soon.”
Xie Ruan coughed, “I already did.”
The implications of that statement hit Song Xinghe hard. His hand slipped, and his phone dropped onto the bed. “W-wait, you showered in Bo Jin’s dorm?!”
“No!” Xie Ruan was baffled at where his friend’s thoughts were going. “I just washed my face and brushed my teeth.”
Song Xinghe looked at him in disappointment. “You’re hopeless!”
Here was God Bo, right within reach, and he didn’t make a move?! What’s wrong with you? Who cares about the timing—just go for it! It’s Bo Jin! How is that not a win?
Xie Ruan: “…”
Xie Ruan just sighed, climbed onto his bed, and pulled up his blanket to sleep, ignoring Song Xinghe’s frustration. Song Xinghe shook his head with a disappointed sigh, picked up his phone, and resumed gaming.
While Xie Ruan’s life seemed peaceful—good grades, a boyfriend, and a close friend for company—on the other side, Chen Wei was about to be hit by a storm.
That evening, a well-dressed man in a suit and carrying a briefcase suddenly appeared in the He family neighborhood.
The man had an air of authority that set him apart from the ordinary residents. He looked like he had traveled a long way, with a bit of dust from his journey, but it didn’t detract from his attractiveness. His presence drew the attention of several young women and wives as he passed.
“Auntie, could you tell me how to get to Unit 8, Apartment 1804 in Area C?” The neighborhood was large and somewhat disorganized, so to avoid getting lost, the man politely stopped an elderly woman with graying hair to ask for directions.
As it happened, the elderly woman was Grandma Zhao, who lived just above Xie Ruan’s family.
As soon as she heard the address, Grandma Zhao perked up. “You’re looking for Little He? Are you his friend? Wow, I didn’t know he had friends like you. Come, come, I’ll take you there—I live in Building 8 too.”
“Thank you.” The man smiled and added with a patient explanation, “Is ‘Little He’ He Jinqing? I’m not his friend; I’m Xie Ruan’s uncle.”
“Oh, you’re Xie Ruan’s uncle?” Grandma Zhao stopped, surprised.
“Yes,” the man smiled warmly, a touch of nostalgia in his expression. “It’s been many years since we last saw each other. I wonder how he’s doing.”
When Brother Xie suicided suddenly, he’d barely had time to react, attending the funeral in a daze. Later, he found a letter and will that Brother Xie had left him.
By the time he had sorted through his thoughts and tried to find Chen Wei, she had already left with Xingxing, and he had no idea where they had gone.
Over the years, he never gave up looking, but it wasn’t until now, with advances in technology, that he was finally able to find them.
Holding back his excitement, he asked Grandma Zhao, “Auntie, could you tell me how they’re doing?”
He had come as soon as he’d gotten word, only knowing that Chen Wei had remarried, had another son with her ex-husband, and seemed to be living well. Beyond that, he was in the dark.
“Ah, Little Xie…” Grandma Zhao glanced at the man’s restrained excitement and sighed with sympathy. Without embellishment, she recounted everything she knew.
As he listened, the man’s expression grew colder, though the faint smile never left his lips, maintaining an air of calm and composure.
Grandma Zhao couldn’t help but marvel at his poise. Just look at his grace and composure—a person of his caliber surely couldn’t be ordinary. No wonder she had heard that Chen Wei’s ex-husband was a big boss; birds of a feather flock together.
“Here we are.” At the elevator, Grandma Zhao pointed to the door with a lucky “Fu” character on it.
“Thank you.” The man thanked her once more, watching as Grandma Zhao entered her own home before he raised his hand and knocked on the door.
“Coming!”
Chen Wei, who had just finished dinner, was cleaning up the kitchen. Hearing the knock, she thought it was He Jinqing coming back for something he’d forgotten, as he often did. Usually, he’d call and ask her to bring it over, so it was odd that he’d come back himself.
Puzzled, she hurried to open the door, smiling as she said, “Back for something ag—”
The words froze in her throat.
She stared at the man in front of her, her face paling instantly.
“Sister-in-law, long time no see.” The man greeted her with perfect politeness, smiling faintly. “Aren’t you going to invite me in to sit down?”
