WP Chapter 50

For several weeks in a row, there was no word from Chen Yi. Sun Chen, buried in schoolwork, hadn’t dropped by Jiang Yibai’s place either.

Jiang Yibai wanted to know how the two kids were doing, but he was also worried he might be overstepping. After all, he was just a part-time extracurricular tutor, not really in any position to interfere too much.

He hesitated for a while, then after sending a message to Sun Chen, he set his phone down and looked over at his boyfriend, who was working. His attention shifted instantly.

Si Shaorong’s latest novel had reached a crucial point. It wasn’t that it was about to end, but rather, it had arrived at a major plot twist. Si Shaorong had always written power-fantasy upgrade stories, the kind where each plot twist came every few chapters, keeping readers on edge and thoroughly entertained. But this time, he was attempting a romance-fantasy adventure.

The fantasy and adventure were secondary. The real focus was on the romance.

Si Shaorong had expected it would be tough for him to write. To compensate, he had amped up the fantasy and adventure elements, worried that the romance would come off too shallow and the character dynamics too weak to support the whole structure.

But with Jiang Yibai around, the story had surprised even the editor from the start. The shift in writing style went smoothly, and any details that felt thin at first were fleshed out beautifully during revisions.

Now, he had reached the emotional turning point between the male and female leads, a critical section he had been stuck on for three days. He had written three different versions, only to scrap them all. Jiang Yibai was finally witnessing what it looked like when Si Shaorong became fully absorbed in his work.

Calling it “frazzled” didn’t quite fit. His face didn’t really show any signs of irritation or frustration. Most of the time, he was expressionless, unreadable. But inside, he was far from calm. Sometimes, he would suddenly get up in the middle of a meal without saying a word. The first time it happened, Jiang Yibai panicked, thinking he had done something wrong, only to find that his boyfriend had gone back to the bedroom to rewrite a draft in silence.

Other times, he would get up in the middle of the night to head to the study and open his laptop, or spend the entire day holed up in there. When it was time to eat, Jiang Yibai would knock on the door, and it would take ages for him to respond. There were no more hugs or kisses like usual. His eyes no longer focused. He stared at everything like he was lost in thought.

Jiang Yibai had even seen him standing in front of the toilet looking deeply contemplative, as if he were studying how the damn thing worked. It was both hilarious and heartbreaking.

When Si Shaorong was completely immersed in his writing, he truly became just as Zhen Zhen had described, so slow to react to anything outside his work that he seemed cut off from the world.

During meals, no matter what Jiang Yibai said, he wouldn’t respond. He could spend more than two hours in the shower, and when Jiang Yibai got worried and knocked on the door, he discovered it wasn’t even locked. Pushing it open, he saw his boyfriend standing naked under the showerhead, arms braced against the wall, completely motionless like a statue, steam swirling around him.

It was late at night, and the whole scene felt a little eerie.

Jiang Yibai also noticed something amusing. When Si Shaorong entered this kind of trance-like state, his subconscious reactions became surprisingly honest.

In the morning, before he was even fully awake, he would instinctively snuggle up to Jiang Yibai, rubbing against him until he was comfortable, then give him a quick kiss before slipping into his pajamas and heading off to work.

Sometimes he would come out to use the bathroom and forget to close the door. Jiang Yibai would stand off to the side, cracking sunflower seeds while watching from the doorway.

Si Shaorong had absolutely no reaction at times like this, which made Jiang Yibai even more entertained. But even if he tried teasing him then, the reaction would take so long it might as well circle the globe. It would be evening before Si Shaorong suddenly asked, “What were you saying earlier?”

So Jiang Yibai eventually gave up trying to tease him.

Mealtimes were even more interesting. It turned out that, subconsciously, Si Shaorong had clear preferences when it came to cups and bowls. Normally, he never showed it, but when he was in this state, no matter what he was eating or drinking, he would only reach for his favorite.

There was one noodle bowl in particular. It was pretty big and not very attractive—an old-fashioned white porcelain bowl with a bit of blue patterning around the rim. Jiang Yibai couldn’t even remember when he had bought it.

For some reason, Si Shaorong was especially fond of that bowl. Once he entered his “zone,” it was like flipping a switch into a different obsessive personality. No matter what he was eating, even porridge, it had to be that one bowl.

He could be completely spaced out, not responding to anything, but he would still dig through the cupboard and find that exact bowl without fail.

Jiang Yibai took note of it and started using only that bowl for him every time, just to save him the trouble of searching.

Now and then, Jiang Yibai got the feeling that he wasn’t in a relationship at all, but raising a kid. One time, while watching TV in the living room, he saw Si Shaorong walk out frowning, clearly lost in thought, completely ignoring everything around him as he headed to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

Thinking he was hungry, Jiang Yibai followed. Before he could ask what he wanted to eat, he saw his boyfriend calmly place his water cup inside the fridge, close the door, stare at it for a few seconds, and then, as if waking from a dream, open the fridge again, retrieve the cup, and place it on the water dispenser beside it.

Jiang Yibai: “…”

This sudden shift into what felt like full-blown idiocy lasted several days. Eventually, Jiang Yibai called Zhen Zhen. She didn’t seem too concerned when she heard about it and simply told him to keep an eye on Si Shaorong’s condition. Apparently, there was once a glorious precedent where he had gone two full days without eating or sleeping.

Jiang Yibai was stunned. “Two days without food or sleep? That’s impossible.”

“It’s entirely possible with him. Why do you think I insisted on finding him a roommate?” Zhen Zhen said. “He already owns a place. Why would he bother living with someone else?”

Jiang Yibai knew about that but had never really asked. Now, hearing this, he pressed further. “So his place is just sitting empty?”

“Rented out,” Zhen Zhen replied. “I handled that for him. No point letting it sit there unused. Though honestly, even renting it out is a waste. He spent a fortune renovating it. Everything in there is top of the line.”

Jiang Yibai was puzzled. “Then why not find someone he could share with?”

Zhen Zhen rolled her eyes on the other end of the line. “You think someone like him can just let others know where he lives? Let them move in? What if he ends up with another woman like Qin Cheng?”

Jiang Yibai could hardly keep a straight face. “Why did it have to be a woman in the first place?”

Zhen Zhen choked for a moment, muttering, “Well that was the original plan, okay? How could I have known a man would turn out even more dangerous?”

Jiang Yibai: “…”

Now that he had personally experienced the baffling “world” that Master Si lived in, Jiang Yibai paid even closer attention to his boyfriend’s sudden bouts of near-total life dysfunction.

Even accompanying him to the bathroom had shifted from “openly peeking” to genuinely worrying that the man might get lost inside.

One day, Jiang Yibai returned home with groceries and also brought ribs from that braised meat shop Si Shaorong liked. As soon as he opened the door, he saw his boyfriend lying face-down on the couch like a corpse, completely still. Alarmed, he dropped the bags and rushed over to flip him over.

“Baby? Darling? What’s going on?” Jiang Yibai panicked and checked his breathing. “Are you still alive? Why are you lying here like this? Aren’t you suffocating?”

Si Shaorong was dazed for a while before shaking his head. “No. Where did you go?”

Jiang Yibai froze. Why did his boyfriend sound so pitiful?

“I went out to buy groceries. Got you those ribs you like. Happy?”

Si Shaorong burrowed into his arms and clung to him without moving. He mumbled, “Am I a terrible writer?”

Jiang Yibai immediately rubbed his back in comfort. “Of course not. Not even close. Daddy won’t allow you to talk about yourself like that.”

Si Shaorong nuzzled against him for a while longer before finally snapping out of it and sitting up. “Hm?”

Jiang Yibai couldn’t stop laughing. He kissed his darling on the tip of his nose. “What is it? Stuck on something?”

“I can’t write.” Si Shaorong let out a defeated sigh. “I just can’t get past this part.”

Jiang Yibai knew he had been rewriting that section for days, but he wasn’t Si Shaorong and had no idea what his plan was, so even if he wanted to comfort him, he had no idea where to begin. After thinking for a bit, he offered a suggestion.

“Don’t pressure yourself so much. You can just keep writing, go a couple chapters ahead. Maybe something new will come to you later.”

Si Shaorong shook his head. After a pause, he asked, “What do you do when you hit a block?”

Jiang Yibai wanted to say, “Do you think the kind of stuff I write ever gets stuck? What would I be stuck on, the sex?”

But obviously, that wasn’t something he could say. Clearing his throat, Jiang Yibai put on a serious face. “If the plot can’t move forward, I write a sex scene.”

Si Shaorong: “…What?”

Jiang Yibai leaned in like he was sharing some secret technique. “If the story stalls, write sex. Use it to develop the relationship. If the romance hits a wall, write sex again. It’ll help break through the emotional tension.”

Si Shaorong: “…”

It was the first time he had heard of such a method. He looked impressed, like he had just discovered his wife was secretly a genius.

Jiang Yibai laughed and rubbed his cheeks. “I’m just messing with you. Don’t take it so hard. Relax.”

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Yibai made a suggestion. “Why don’t you take a few days off? Stop thinking about anything. I’ve got time right now too. How about we go on a trip together?”

Si Shaorong froze again. “A trip?”

“Summer break’s over. It’s low season right now.”

Si Shaorong was tempted. He had never taken a real trip with Jiang Yibai. He remembered reading once that one way to test a relationship was to go traveling together.

He sat up straight and grabbed his boyfriend’s hand. “Okay!”

Jiang Yibai: “…” Why so serious?

Once they made up their minds, they jumped straight into action. Jiang Yibai opened his laptop, and the two of them started planning the trip together.

Si Shaorong didn’t go out much, so he never bought a car. Jiang Yibai didn’t have one either. They figured they could borrow one from Li Xun.

Li Xun’s family owned several cars, so lending one wasn’t a big deal. But when they called him, he sounded hesitant and evasive, like something was off.

Jiang Yibai was lying against Si Shaorong while the latter played with his foot, massaging and pressing here and there. It tickled so much he couldn’t stop squirming or laughing, and he spoke through breathless laughter. “What’s wrong with you? Your bar going under or something?”

“You’re the one going under.” Li Xun clicked his tongue, and after a long pause, he finally said, “I went to a gay bar a friend owns the other day. Saw someone there. I only caught a glimpse from far away, didn’t get a good look, but he looked like…”

Jiang Yibai said blankly, “Looked like what? A person?”

Li Xun frowned, a cigarette dangling from his lips. After a long pause, he finally said, “Forget it. Probably just my eyes playing tricks on me.”

“You’re always doing this, saying half a sentence and stopping…” Jiang Yibai’s curiosity was piqued, but before he could press further, his boyfriend’s hand slid up his leg, trailing along his pants. The tingling sensation instantly shifted into something else. A jolt of electricity shot through him, buzzing pleasantly under his skin. He let himself sink further into the couch, adjusting into a more comfortable position as he let Si Shaorong have his way, continuing the call with Li Xun.

Si Shaorong knew every sensitive spot on his lover’s body, and this place was no exception.

They hadn’t really touched each other in days. Both of them were already brimming with pent-up tension. Unable to hold back, Si Shaorong leaned in and kissed him. Jiang Yibai gave a muffled “Mm” and said, “Forget it, never mind. I’ll come pick up the car tomorrow… mm…”

The noise on the other end of the line was loud. Li Xun couldn’t hear a thing. “Huh? What?”

“I said… mm…”

Si Shaorong pulled down Jiang Yibai’s pants and knelt down beside him. He bit Jiang Yibai’s ear playfully, making him suck in a sharp breath and pinch his cheek in warning.

“I’ll come get it… mm… tomorrow.”

Si Shaorong’s tongue slid along Jiang Yibai’s lower lip. Jiang Yibai turned his head and murmured something to him, just loud enough for Li Xun to hear.

“Jiang Yibai! For fuck’s sake, have some decency!” Li Xun shouted in frustration before hanging up.

Jiang Yibai burst out laughing, the phone slipping down to rest on his chest. He reached out to pull his boyfriend closer, their breaths hot and tangled. A moment later, the poor phone fell to the floor with a thud, completely forgotten, as the room filled with the sound of lovers tangled in heat and desire.