Chapter 60 – Don’t Leave Me Again

Everywhere, it was the scent of the other person.

Xi Yufeng didn’t hold back, ruthlessly prying open his teeth, invading and taking over territory, giving Jiang Ruo a suffocating feeling of being invaded and held captive.

His response was equally passionate, aimlessly sucking and biting the other’s beautifully shaped thin lips, as if marking out territory, branding it with his own imprint.

When they separated, Jiang Ruo felt a faint pain in his chest, the aftereffect of brief oxygen deprivation.

He took deep breaths forcefully, then extended his tongue to lick his lips, saying, “Today, it’s wine-filled chocolate flavor.”

The pupils, ignited with desire, instantly turned dark. Xi Yufeng tilted his head to move in again, but Jiang Ruo stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder.

“I have a cold,” Jiang Ruo said cautiously, “I might infect you.”

Xi Yufeng spoke hoarsely, “It doesn’t matter.”

Moreover, they had already kissed, what difference did once, twice, or many times make?

Clasping the back of Jiang Ruo’s head, Xi Yufeng kissed him again.

Later, the two sat at the dining table, each with a bowl of noodles.

The film festival in Hais City had just ended, and Jiang Ruo rushed to the airport, having eaten nothing but breakfast that day.

Xi Yufeng hadn’t closed his eyes all night, and he hadn’t had time to eat during the social engagements either; it was perfect timing to join Jiang Ruo for a meal.

The side dishes were cold dishes prepared by Aunt Fang and stored in the fridge — sausages, ham, braised eggs — sliced and ready to eat on plates.

Jiang Ruo was starving, devouring his meal ravenously. He slowed down only when there was little left in his bowl.

“Why did you suddenly come back?”

“Did you go to Hais City?”

Their voices overlapped almost simultaneously. Jiang Ruo chuckled, and Xi Yufeng also lifted the corner of his lip, yielding the floor, “You first.”

Jiang Ruo took a tissue to wipe his mouth. When he spoke again, his pace was slightly slower, “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to Hais City?”

“There wasn’t time on the phone,” Xi Yufeng said, “And I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Jiang Ruo’s focus was on the first half of the sentence, muttering, “We talked so much, how could there not have been time…”

Xi Yufeng didn’t hear clearly, “What?”

“Nothing.” Jiang Ruo put down the tissue, sitting up straight, “Then, since you were already there, why did you rush back to Feng City?”

Given Xi Yufeng’s capabilities, finding out which hotel he was staying in would have been effortless.

After a moment of silence, Xi Yufeng said, “I didn’t want to scare you again.”

He used the word “again,” equating his uninvited arrival with installing a tracker on Jiang Ruo’s phone, believing Jiang Ruo would still be angry.

Jiang Ruo found himself at a loss for words, “These are two different things. Besides… Am I really that easy to scare?”

“You were startled at the door earlier.”

“I was dozing off.”

“Waited long?”

“No, just a little while.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“…”

“Hmm?”

Realizing he couldn’t bluff his way through, Jiang Ruo averted his gaze, somewhat uneasily saying, “Just… wanted to give you a surprise.”

As for whether it counted as a surprise, he had already gotten his answer from Xi Yufeng’s “uncontrolled” reaction.

After dinner, Jiang Ruo cleaned up the dishes, Xi Yufeng joining him.

It proved that certain household chores weren’t suited for two people to do together.

Two bowls, a plate, and two pairs of chopsticks — they took a full half hour to wash.

During this time, a bowl was shattered, and the pot lid clanged to the floor. The cause was that Jiang Ruo looked slim in an apron, and Xi Yufeng couldn’t resist wrapping his arms around him after looking for a while. Then, with a gentle force, he easily lifted him up and placed him on the countertop next to the sink.

Now Jiang Ruo was taller than Xi Yufeng. He lowered his head, smilingly asking, “Putting me here, planning to clean and eat me?”

Xi Yufeng’s Adam’s apple rolled slightly as he raised his head, lightly pecking the corner of Jiang Ruo’s lips.

Subsequently, Jiang Ruo couldn’t resist leaning in, planting a kiss on Xi Yufeng’s fluttering eyelid.

A soft sigh followed, “Tell me, how could I not rush back?”

Xi Yufeng opened his eyes, looking at him with a hint of confusion.

“I’ve tasted that bitterness,” fingertips gently brushed the corner of his eye, Jiang Ruo also gazed at Xi Yufeng, “How could I bear to let you worry and be unsettled?”

On a night of heavy snowfall, using it to sleep was indeed a waste.

But neither of their physical conditions were good, and Jiang Ruo was concerned that the chill might be contagious due to close contact. Therefore, they each took showers and lay in bed facing each other, continuing the unfinished conversation from earlier.

“When you called last night, I was already asleep,” resting his head on folded hands, Jiang Ruo said, “I left the awards ceremony early because of a fever, but I’m fine now.”

It was also on the plane back to Feng City that Jiang Ruo learned about the significant online uproar caused by his “sullen face and big-star attitude” when he received his award the previous night.

Fortunately, his outstanding performance in “When Orioles Take Flight” led Zheng Yiting to have the public relations department intervene, capitalizing on the buzz to release highlight clips of Xie Fangyuan’s performance. Marketing accounts followed suit, re-posting the clips, leaving passersby who watched them in awe.

The public was always infinitely tolerant of those with talent, thus “sullen face” became “arrogant due to talent,” after all, “big-star attitude” required confidence.

Of course, the internet was full of sour grapes, and there were always dissenting voices, claiming Jiang Ruo bought his award.

Mentioning this, Jiang Ruo couldn’t help harboring doubts, “You wouldn’t have actually bought the award for me, would you?”

Xi Yufeng said, “If it were me, I’d buy you Best Actor.”

“That’s true.” Jiang Ruo nodded, then shook his head, “Ah, this is what you call the power of capital.”

“Being able to stand out amidst the grip of capital indicates your excellence.”

“But winning this award is partly because of my dancing.”

“Good dancing is also because of your hard work.”

Jiang Ruo’s eyes lit up, “I’ve decided, I’m adding you to my compliment group immediately.”

Xi Yufeng asked, “What’s a compliment group?”

“A group that praises me nonstop twenty-four hours a day.”

“…”

“So, don’t want to join?”

“Add me.”

Jiang Ruo laughed, his shoulders shaking, “I’m teasing you, do you really think such a group exists?”

Xi Yufeng again, “…”

Due to the capitalist’s authority, Jiang Ruo was pressed onto the bed, kissed until he nearly fainted.

From side-by-side, they shifted to one on top of the other. Jiang Ruo’s chest heaved violently, breathing rapidly, yet still worrying, “You, you shouldn’t do this, if you really get infected…”

Xi Yufeng didn’t care, instead asking something else, “What if you didn’t wait for me?”

He asked Jiang Ruo, “If I hadn’t returned today, would you have missed me?”

Jiang Ruo was initially taken aback upon hearing this, then he smiled.

“If I didn’t wait for you today, I’d come back tomorrow,” he raised his eyebrows, speaking casually, “I dare say, even if you sprouted wings, you wouldn’t be able to escape my palm.”

Xi Yufeng adored his confident and flamboyant appearance, making a move to approach him again.

Jiang Ruo couldn’t bear it, pushing him away, his lower body twisting awkwardly, an unusual blush on his face, “If you keep moving like that, I can’t guarantee I won’t do something to you.”

Xi Yufeng leaned in to his ear, “Those words should be mine to say.”

That night, Xi Yufeng slept soundly for the first time in a long while.

When he woke up, Jiang Ruo was no longer by his side. Lifting his gaze, a slender figure stood by the window, putting yesterday’s discarded shirt back on.

Halfway through buttoning it up, seemingly sensing something, Jiang Ruo turned around, meeting Xi Yufeng’s eyes as he looked at him.

Unable to help but smile, he said, “It’s still early, go back to sleep. I have a performance today, Xiao Shen is already waiting downstairs.”

Xi Yufeng didn’t continue sleeping, but got up, walking forward to embrace Jiang Ruo from behind.

The strength was somewhat heavy, as if afraid he would disappear, afraid that last night was just a dream.

The heartbeat pulsed through the flesh, that faint chilliness, after a night of fermentation, spread intensely, compelling Jiang Ruo to tremble along.

He closed his eyes in pretended resolve, saying, “Starting from now, I’ve decided not to look at your face.”

Xi Yufeng asked why, Jiang Ruo replied, “I’m afraid if I take another look at you, I won’t be able to leave. By then, if it becomes a scandal online again, I’ve already thought of the headline, ‘Jiang Ruo’s Delay Causes Performance Troubles, All Because of That Man.'”

Xi Yufeng feigned ignorance, “That man, who is he?”

Jiang Ruo hinted indirectly, “In this world, is there another man who flies over a thousand kilometers just to make a phone call?”

Xi Yufeng chuckled.

Jiang Ruo continued, “In this world, is there another Xi Yufeng who would bare his heart for me without reservation?”

Xi Yufeng remained silent, his arms around Jiang Ruo unconsciously tightening.

“There isn’t.” Jiang Ruo answered for him, his voice clear, “There’s only you.”

Quickly, Xi Yufeng associated the recent events with their previous encounter at the Meng residence.

He asked straightforwardly, Jiang Ruo didn’t intend to hide anything, “Back then, I didn’t dare look at you, because I was afraid I would waver again.” Shrugging, he added, “After all, I’m also a principled person. If I gave in to the temptation of beauty, it would be embarrassing if it got out.”

Although there were plenty of rumors about the two of them that were even more negative than that.

The very principled Jiang Ruo still couldn’t resist the temptation before leaving, being pressed against the door by Xi Yufeng for a long, lingering kiss.

Unwilling to be outdone, Jiang Ruo caught his breath and asked, “Was it you outside the theater backstage that night?”

He was referring to the person who reached out to support him when he nearly fell due to the crowd’s commotion.

There was no need to conceal it, Xi Yufeng said, “Yes.”

“Saw my performance?”

“Mm.”

“Was it good?”

“Mm.”

“Am I good-looking or — ”

“You’re good-looking.”

“Is the person good-looking or the dance — ”

“Both are good-looking.”

“That hip-twisting move, do you want to try it — ”

Xi Yufeng warned, “Jiang Ruo…”

Getting the desired response, Jiang Ruo pushed the person on top of him away, “Later, I’ll have Xiao Shen send you the stage video. Now, I must go, goodbye!”

Teasing and then running away was exhilarating.

However, not long after sitting in the car, Jiang Ruo began to regret it.

There were still many things left unsaid. Jiang Ruo picked up his phone, unsure where to start. After pondering for a while, he brought up a topic: I just remembered, why haven’t I seen Aunt Fang? Has she moved out?

Xi Yufeng quickly replied: Aunt Fang went back to fetch some things.

Jiang Ruo: Oh. I miss her quite a bit.

Xi Yufeng: She misses you too.

Jiang Ruo: Does only she miss me?

Xi Yufeng: There’s also me.

Before he could savor these three words, Xi Yufeng sent another message.

— Don’t leave me again.

Silently repeating these words several times, confirming their meaning, Jiang Ruo suddenly released a sigh that had accumulated in his throat.

He finally understood why his heart would ache every time he turned to leave.

Disappointment and hurt were secondary; what pained him was that he would never meet someone like this again.

Someone who would willingly fall from grace for him, touch the mundane emotions of love, and empathize with the pain he had experienced.

Jiang Ruo’s reply was swift: I’ve never left.

— You’ve always had me.