I know what your true, heartfelt happiness looks like. Since the incident, even when joking with me, you’ve always had something weighing on your heart. Sometimes I feel helpless, unable to help you. Now I can finally see you smile like this again, and I’m truly happy.”
He paused, caressing Luo Yingbai’s face, his gaze infatuated: “You are truly beautiful.”
With words like these, both were moved. But Luo Yingbai was eager to go home and see Jiang Yujia. Xia Xianning understood his feelings and didn’t try to keep him.
On one hand, Jiang Yujia was Xia Xianning’s teacher’s wife. On the other hand, as long as she didn’t wake up, Luo Yingbai would always be worried. Xia Xianning cared about this matter equally. That evening after work, he directly climbed through the window into Luo Yingbai’s bedroom in the middle of the night.
Luo Yingbai wasn’t asleep yet, sitting up in bed reading a book. When the window pushed open, he had already gripped the knife handle, but in the next moment saw Xia Xianning climb in.
“Xian Ning?”
Luo Yingbai was both surprised and amused: “How did you just come like this? No one would stop you if you used the main entrance.”
Xia Xianning said: “I just got off work, and it’s getting late. I was afraid of disturbing the teacher’s rest… I want to ask how your teacher’s wife is doing?”
“You’re right on point,”
Luo Yingbai laughed: “My mother actually spoke today, can you believe it?
Although it was just an unconscious mumble like talking in her sleep, the doctor said that being able to make a sound and regain consciousness is very hopeful. My old man was happy all afternoon and evening, and might have been too excited and tired, sleeping especially early.
When he said this, he had no idea that he was setting up a flag for himself. Around midnight, the old man who couldn’t be woken by gunshots knocked on his door.
Xia Xianning and Luo Yingbai in the room were in a state that couldn’t be interrupted. Hearing the knock, they both froze simultaneously. Xia Xianning stopped moving, and Luo Yingbai covered his mouth, suppressing a whimper.
His cheeks still flushed, he difficultly turned to look at Xia Xianning, and neither said a word.
Then the door lock clicked, and Luo Yingbai’s door was suddenly pushed open. In the darkness, only a silhouette could be seen standing in the doorway. Luo Jiao’s voice said: “Son?”
Luo Yingbai took a deep breath and responded: “Dad.”
Fortunately, Luo Jiao didn’t enter the room or turn on the light, and scolded: “You little brat, why didn’t you say anything in the room just now? Why did you lock the door!”
Luo Yingbai was also irritated and retorted: “Why are you calling me for no reason? I was already asleep! Who could respond so quickly in the middle of the night? I, I locked the door because…
He paused slightly, not yet having invented an excuse, when Luo Jiao suddenly took two steps inside, suspiciously asking: “Is there someone on your bed?”
Xia Xianning immediately made a decision, sitting up from beside him, calmly saying: “Teacher, it’s me.”
Luo Jiao asked: “Xianning, when did you arrive?”
Xia Xianning’s hand was gently stroking Luo Yingbai’s back under the blanket. Sitting shirtless on the bed, he looked natural and said to Luo Jiao: “I came to see my senior brother about something. It was already late, so I didn’t dare disturb the teacher and his wife, and just slept here.”
Luo Jiao then relaxed. He had woken up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, suddenly worried that something might happen to his son, and couldn’t sleep, so he came to check.
Seeing his disciple with Luo Yingbai, Luo Jiao felt reassured and said: “Alright, continue sleeping. Luo Yingbai, you’re not allowed to lock the door when sleeping. You’ll be sold without knowing it if you lock yourself in.”
Luo Jiao added: “Though you’re not worth much anyway.”
Luo Yingbai mumbled: “Who’s like you, knocking on people’s doors in the middle of the night.”
Luo Jiao walked a few steps towards the bed: “What did you say?”
Luo Yingbai: “Oh, oh, nothing! I was wrong! Please go back to sleep. If you keep talking, I won’t be able to sleep for the rest of the night!”
Luo Jiao slapped the back of his head, didn’t notice anything unusual, and finally left.
Luo Yingbai let out a long sigh. He had been thoroughly worked over by Xia Xianning, his breathing still carrying a hint of nasality.
Xia Xianning pulled him into his embrace, and Luo Yingbai softly said: “How can you do something wrong and not be afraid at all? Such an act!”
Xia Xianning kissed him and asked: “What wrong have I done?”
Luo Yingbai: “…”
Xia Xianning said: “They’ll find out sooner or later. If the teacher had discovered us just now, it would have been fine. We would have told the truth. I’ve thought about this many times before expressing my feelings to you.”
Luo Yingbai sighed: “Well, at most we’d just get beaten up. It’ll hurt for a bit and then pass. My dad is tough on the outside but soft-hearted and likes you, so he probably won’t do much…”
Xia Xianning asked: “What about me?”
Luo Yingbai: “What about you?”
Xia Xianning rolled over, pressing Luo Yingbai face-down on the bed, leaning close to his ear and whispering: “My issue from earlier wasn’t fully resolved.
Luo Yingbai was almost buried in the soft bedding, covering his face: “I’m going to be flattened by you… Resolved what! My dad just left and you still have the mood?”
Xia Xianning slightly lifted Luo Yingbai’s waist and countered: “If I don’t have the mood after he left, would I have had the mood while the teacher was here?”
Luo Yingbai tried to argue but couldn’t speak, his breathing suddenly becoming heavier. He caught his breath and couldn’t help saying: “Xianning, you, you be gentle! It hurts!”
Xia Xianning even teased him: “Didn’t you just say it’s just a few hits, and it’ll pass after hurting for a bit?”
Luo Yingbai gasped: “How is this… the same! Is this a few hits? This is dozens! Hundreds! Hey, hey!”
Xia Xianning grabbed his chin and blocked Luo Yingbai’s mouth. After everything finally ended and they had showered, Luo Yingbai climbed back into bed, feeling his eyes were too tired to stay open. He buried half his face in the pillow and mumbled drowsily: “I’ve always hated exercising, but since being with you, I feel like my physical activity has increased quite a bit.”
Xia Xianning patted his back intermittently, seeming quite satisfied, and softly said, “Go to sleep soon.”
In fact, Luo Yingbai was excited about the successful Weibo exchange and was not yet ready to sleep. He was exhausted but reluctant to rest, lazily closing his eyes and saying, “You don’t seem tired at all. What magical medicine did you have for dinner? By the way, I’m telling you, don’t always drink coffee, it’s not good for your health.”
Xia Xianning covered them both with the blanket and casually replied, “Didn’t eat dinner.”
Luo Yingbai sat up, “How could you not have eaten dinner… Ouch…”
He strained his waist. Xia Xianning quickly hugged Luo Yingbai’s shoulders and pressed him back onto the bed, saying, “I was in a hurry to see you, so I didn’t eat. It’s not a big deal. Aren’t you tired? Go to sleep.”
Luo Yingbai lay on the bed, examining him, “Your complexion doesn’t look quite right. Do you want me to find something to eat from the refrigerator?”
Xia Xianning laughed and pinched his nose, “No need. I can eat breakfast tomorrow.”
Luo Yingbai said, “Alright then. By the way, you haven’t stayed over at my place for a long time. I found a small shop on the street behind that makes delicious wontons. Wait, I’ll ask my senior brother to buy some for you tomorrow morning.”
For Luo Yingbai, not being able to sleep in was more terrifying than dying. Xia Xianning didn’t take his words seriously.
