≪ ☰ ≫ 

Arc 8: Chapter 9

Lin Yuan grabbed Jin Ran’s hand with a wide smile, and even playfully scratched the other’s palm: “How was studying? Do you have a lot of homework?”

Under the darkening sky, the shadows in Jin Ran’s eyes didn’t seem as cold as before. He clasped Lin Yuan’s smaller hand and responded: “Yeah.”

Jin Ran stared at Lin Yuan’s soft and peachy cheeks, the other’s smiling lips, and bright eyes. They walked side by side under the sunset like it was the most natural thing to do. It made Jin Ran’s heart ignite with a slow burning fire. But they were surrounded by other students, so even though his impulses were surging, Jin Ran couldn’t act.  

The pad of Jin Ran’s fingertip slowly stroked the back of Lin Yuan’s, carrying a hint of suggestion: “But no matter how much, it won’t get in the way.”

Hearing this made Lin Yuan remember what happened last weekend. His legs went a little weak at the thought, would Jin Ran make him pass out again?

Their car pulled into the garage and Lin Yuan was about to get out of the car when Jin Ran suddenly caught his wrist. 

Lin Yuan tilted his head and looked back at Jin Ran: “What’s wrong?”

The teenager’s eyes rippled with complicated emotions, as if he had a hundred things to say. But in the end, he didn’t say anything and let go of Lin Yuan, getting out of the car. 

Lin Yuan smiled at Jin Ran’s back from behind and felt like the other was awkward and cute.

Jin Ran made a beeline towards the bathroom. He locked the door behind him and rinsed his face with cold water. 

The cold water did nothing to calm his boiling blood and desire. He raised his head to look in the mirror, two pairs of gloomy eyes locking their gazes. Jin Ran couldn’t believe himself, back in the car, he actually wanted to ask if Lin Yuan could pick him up like today in the future. 

But they were nothing to each other…

Jin Ran’s eyes darkened with a trace of madness.

When Jin Ran came out of the bathroom, he wanted to drag Lin Yuan into the bedroom and start directly.

Jin Ran didn’t see Lin Yuan in the living room, he was actually in the kitchen. 

When Jin Ran walked to Lin Yuan’s side, he found the other was slicing pork into thin strips, as if he was about to cook. Jin Ran couldn't believe his eyes. He said almost incredulously: “What are you doing?”

Lin Yuan answered with a smile: “I’m making dinner. We’ll have shredded pork with noodles, and I’ll fry an egg to put on top, sound good?”

Jin Ran couldn’t comprehend how Lin Yuan and cooking could be connected. How could the devil do something as ordinary and domestic as cooking?

But the truth was right in front of him. 

The teenager’s voice was obscure: “Okay. Noodles tonight, then.”

Jin Ran watched the whole process as Lin Yuan finished cutting the pork, frying eggs, boiling noodles, and prepared the broth. 

When the food was ready, Lin Yuan pointed to one of the bowls: “Jin Ran, this one’s yours.”

At a glance, Jin Ran could see the difference between the two bowls. His had at least two-thirds of the meat. 

Never once in his life had Jin Ran been shown so much preference and care. Not in the orphanage, not in the Lin household. 

Before the first bite, Jin Ran didn’t care about the taste. Even if it tasted awful, he would still finish every bite. Because Lin Yuan made it for him.

To his surprise, the food tasted good. Really good. Jin Ran raised his eyes and saw Lin Yuan was bent over his bowl, slurping noodles like he was enjoying a five star meal. 

Jin Ran lowered his head. Strands of his bangs fell over his face, half-shielding his eyes.

“Did you learn to cook back then?”

The moment the question left his mouth, he regretted it. Why did he bring it up? Obviously the time in the mountain village had been Lin Yuan’s greatest torment, he shouldn’t have mentioned it.

Unexpectedly, Lin Yuan didn’t get angry. Lin Yuan shook his head and said positively: “Of course not, I learned it for you. I want to fatten you up a bit, you’re too thin now. Holding you will be more comfortable too.”

Jin Ran’s movements paused. Lin Yuan went out of his way to learn how to cook for him… because Lin Yuan cared about him. Jin Ran heard his heartbeat galloping in his chest, deafening like a storm raging through his body. 

What to do… He could hardly remember how much pain Lin Yuan had once caused, even the memory of the car accident was beginning to blur.

Jin Ran could only remember the warmth of Lin Yuan’s hug, the touch of Lin Yuan’s kiss, and the scene of how Lin Yuan ran to him in the sunset. 

He didn’t just like Lin Yuan a little…

He seemed to like Lin Yuan quite a bit.

Jin Ran held Lin Yuan’s hand and covered his cheek with it. He was like a tamed beast, trying to express his favor and restrain his violence. 

   【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 80%.】

When they finished dinner, Lin Yuan sat back in satisfaction and ordered sweetly: “I cooked, so you have to wash the dishes. Other families are like this, cooks don’t wash the dishes.”

Jin Ran’s eyes deepened. He had to admit that he was pleased by the phrase “other families”, because it sounded like they were also a family.

Jin Ran and Lin Yuan’s home…

While Jin Ran was washing the dishes, Lin Yuan was not resting. Lin Yuan hugged the teenager from behind and kissed the back of the other’s neck from time to time. He riled up Jin Ran so much that Jin Ran almost couldn’t hold back. 

After tidying up the kitchen, Jin Ran sat on the sofa and Lin Yuan sat on his lap. 

Jin Ran felt the weight on his thighs and commented: “You say I’m thin but you’re thinner than me. It feels like you don’t have much meat on your bones.”

Lin Yuan was helpless about this. This body was malnourished throughout childhood, so he had a bad stomach and couldn’t eat normal portions of food. He could only take care of his health slowly.

Lin Yuan looked down at Jin Ran and whispered: “Is it uncomfortable to hold?”

The desire in Jin Ran’s eyes was not concealed at all: “No, very comfortable hold.”

Lin Yuan’s round eyes curved as he smiled sweetly: “That’s good.”

Jin Ran’s slender and cool fingers stroked Lin Yuan’s hair, rubbing behind Lin Yuan’s ears and neck. 

Lin Yuan inexplicably felt stimulated. Without waiting for Jin Ran to move, Lin Yuan kissed the other’s lips. 

Jin Ran raised his head and immediately separated his lips, waiting to taste Lin Yuan’s tender tongue.

This was the first time Lin Yuan was in a dominant position during kissing. Today, with Lin Yuan kissing him like this, the tip of Jin Ran’s heart was stirred. 

He liked the feeling of Lin Yuan wanting him and desiring him. It made his blood boil with excitement. 

Lin Yuan kissed eagerly. But when Lin Yuan was about to pull Jin Ran’s clothes, he suddenly stopped and slowly pulled away, hugging the other and panting slightly.

Jin Ran was puzzled. He nibbled on Lin Yuan’s earlobe and asked with unsatisfied desire: “Why’d you stop?”

Lin Yuan said in a low voice: “You still have homework to do, I can’t delay your studying.”

Jin Ran suppressed his desire to completely take Lin Yuan and peppered Lin Yuan’s face with kisses: “You’re so good.”

Lin Yuan giggled and he squirmed off Jin Ran’s lap. He looked at Jin Ran with clear eyes and said with a soft voice: “Jin Ran, I’ll be more good in the future, I promise.”

Now, Jin Ran didn’t want to think about whether Lin Yuan was sincere or fake. As long as Lin Yuan was in his arms, it was enough. He was like a moth flying into the fire, sacrificing everything for that irresistible warmth.

Jin Ran solved problems for a while. In the middle, he suddenly thought of something and asked Lin Yuan next to him: “You still don’t want to study?”

Lin Yuan nodded his head like a rattle: “Don’t want to!”

Jin Ran leaned towards him and said: “But Uncle and Aunt only have you, you can’t be like this forever.”

Lin Yuan wanted to say that having Jin Ran study was enough. He would let Jin Ran manage the company and then he would take care of Jin Ran. But he worried that Jin Ran would overthink if he said this, so he covered his ears and refused to listen. 

Jin Ran didn’t push anymore. Anyways, Lin Yuan was still young, being happy was the most important thing. 

After finishing two practice exams, Jin Ran put down his pen. 

He couldn’t wait to hold Lin Yuan’s hand and gently pinched the other’s fingers. He couldn’t stand it any longer: “Wash together?”

Lin Yuan flushed. Even though he was a little shy, his small dimples deepened: “...Sure.”

Jin Ran lifted Lin Yuan onto the sink counter, and then he went to get things from the bedroom. 

When he entered the bathroom again, their eyes collided with each other, and they knew they wouldn’t hold back. Jin Ran walked over to Lin Yuan and lifted the teenager’s legs around his waist.

Lin Yuan subconsciously clamped down, and encircled the other’s neck: “I have to go home tomorrow afternoon, so you can’t kiss so hard.”

Jin Ran gently stroked Lin Yuan’s Adam’s apple: “How can I control this? Did you forget how you scratched my back?”

Lin Yuan’s ears heated up and he compromised: “You can kiss below, but not above here.”

Jin Ran didn’t agree or disagree, he directly kissed Lin Yuan. He sucked the other’s soft lips and his tongue explored Lin Yuan’s warm caravan. The sweet taste from the other’s mouth drove him crazy.

Jin Ran used to feel contradictory when he kissed Lin Yuan before. His heart was always painful because his reason battled against the instincts of his body, but today, their kisses had become different. 

From the counter to the shower, their clothes fell on the ground, and everything was drowned out by the sound of rushing water. 

At the end of the shower, Lin Yuan’s fair complexion emerged colored with light pink, like a beautiful rouge.

It was four o’clock in the morning by the time everything was over. Lin Yuan’s eyelids felt heavy. After Jin Ran blow-dried his hair, he fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. 

Jin Ran hugged Lin Yuan in his arms, feeling the other’s soft, fluffy hair against his face, and steady breaths hit his neck. 

In the dark, Jin Ran’s fingers slowly stroked Lin Yuan’s face. His movements were extremely light and soft, as if touching a delicate treasure: “Are you asleep?”

The only thing that answered him was Lin Yuan’s breathing.

“Lin Yuan, are you asleep?”

Jin Ran asked over twenty times, repeatedly confirming that Lin Yuan was asleep and couldn’t hear him. At this time, the teenager no longer needed to hide himself. Deep in his eyes, possessiveness and madness emerged like a desperate beast. 

Jin Ran kissed Lin Yuan’s face with affection, his voice stained with loneliness: “Lin Yuan, will you laugh at me? Will you think I’m pathetic? You tormented me so much, but I still…” 

Like you…

Jin Ran’s voice lowered: “Lin Yuan, kiss me…”

Lin Yuan naturally couldn’t respond to him. Jin Ran seemed to have found a reason to convince himself. He pinched Lin Yuan’s face childishly and whispered: “You didn’t kiss me, didn’t meet my requirements, so I don’t like you that much. Only a little… a tiny tiny bit…”

So don’t be complacent, I only like you a tiny bit…

At ten the next morning, Lin Yuan woke up and held his almost broken waist, biting the pillow and sulking.

He didn’t know why they couldn’t have chosen another spot. What about the bed or sofa? Next time, he would never stand up while doing it again!

Like last time, Jin Ran hugged Lin Yuan until he realized that Lin Yuan was about to wake up, and then let go. 

This time, Jin Ran didn’t overthink. He waited outside for ten minutes and then pretended to come in to see if Lin Yuan was awake. 

Jin Ran’s cool fingers rubbed Lin Yuan’s neck lightly: “I didn’t leave a mark on your neck this time.”

For some reason, Lin Yuan seemed to feel that Jin Ran was like a big dog asking for praise. He could practically see a wagging tail.

Lin Yuan grabbed the other’s hand and took a bite. He kissed it right after but he said aggrievedly: “My back hurts so much! It’s all your fault, I won’t allow it next time!”

Jin Ran felt like Lin Yuan was too cute. He leaned closer and teased: “But you were being so loud last night, you liked it.”

Lin Yuan was shocked and covered his mouth. He asked in disbelief: “Really? Was I really loud?”

Jin Ran nodded and he kissed the back of Lin Yuan’s hand: “Really. Hearing that you liked it so much, I couldn’t stop at all.”

Lin Yuan pouted and flushed. He snuggled into Jin Ran’s arms and still felt wronged: “Then at most only one round a night. My waist hurts so much, Jin Ran.”

Jin Ran complied and reached out to massage the other’s waist. 

Lin Yuan felt much more comfortable. He lingered in the teenager’s arms for a long time before he remembered Jin Ran had to study. He asked tentatively: “Are you coming here next Saturday? You don’t have to come, you have so much homework to do.”

All of a sudden, Jin Ran’s hands exerted force and Lin Yuan cried out in pain. 

Jin Ran reacted and felt guilty, but he didn’t know how to coax people. He could only kiss Lin Yuan’s eyes while gently kneading the place that he pinched. 

The pain came and went quickly. Lin Yuan looked at the handsome and expressionless teenager and wondered silently if his husband wanted to kiss him. 

Lin Yuan pecked Jin Ran’s chin and said: “Nevermind, I like doing this with you. Even if it’s a bit hard on you, will you indulge me?”

Hearing this, Jin Ran slowly lowered his head and hid the fierce storm raging in his eyes: “...Okay.”

It seemed like… he liked Lin Yuan a little bit more…

   【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 77%】

From then on, the two of them would stay at Lin Yuan’s extra house every week. Mother Lin asked what they were doing once, but Lin Yuan put on the original Lin Yuan’s impatient look and she didn’t ask again.

Time passed quickly in senior year. Lin Yuan’s daily routine was to relax, kiss, and hug Jin Ran, and then prepare all kinds of tonics and food for him. He really accomplished putting more meat on Jin Ran, making the other’s appearance more healthy and handsome. 

Before the college entrance exam, Lin Yuan was so worried for Jin Ran he couldn’t sleep. 

Jin Ran looked at his anxious appearance and his heart felt like it was being soaking in a warm spring. 

He kissed Lin Yuan soothingly and whispered: “Don’t worry. If I don’t do that well, I can still take the exam again next year…”

Since he wasn’t in a hurry to escape the Lin family, it didn’t matter. 

Fortunately, Jin Ran’s scored very well. He placed second place in the city, allowing him to choose any university in China. 

But he chose an unexpected college: Jiang City University. 

When Lin Yuan found out, he was sitting on Jin Ran’s lap, exchanging kisses. He paused and then his heart began to beat irregularly. He still asked: “Because of me?”

Jin Ran hugged the teenager tightly. 

He hated Lin Yuan, but he liked him. 

Maybe only when he knew for sure Lin Yuan would never leave, his hatred could completely disappear. 

“No, it’s not because of you. I just don’t want to leave…”