The kiss was hasty yet resolute, bitter yet sweet. He knew this act was somewhat shameless, but his body, as if bewitched, was beyond his control. Just as uncontrollable was his heart, which felt as though it was about to leap out of his chest. He even gave rise to a dangerous hope—if Shen Liu were to wake up at this very moment…then everything could be laid bare, and he wouldn’t have to keep hiding anymore.
But Shen Liu remained sound asleep, his chest gently rising and falling, his breath tinged with the lingering scent of alcohol.
Qin Mu let out a sigh, both disappointed and relieved. He savored that lingering kiss over and over in his mind, then carefully lay down beside Shen Liu. He had planned to lie there just for a moment before moving to the couch, but ended up falling asleep without realizing it—only to be caught red-handed when Shen Liu woke up in the morning, needing to pee. Before he had a chance to blush and stammer an explanation, the man pushed him back onto the pillow. “If you haven’t slept well, sleep a bit more. I’ll go buy breakfast.”
With a guilty conscience, Qin Mu buried his face under the blanket and let out a long sigh. He truly didn’t know what to do with this ghost of a man.
Apart from his torturous and bumpy path in love, what also weighed on his mind was his living expenses.
Thanks to his excellent college entrance exam scores, K University had proactively waived his tuition for all four years. However, he didn’t meet the criteria for the ‘financial hardship’ student aid and thus couldn’t apply for subsidies. He had to cover his living costs on his own. Before the semester started, he took on several short-term jobs. He worked as a barista during the day, doing night shifts at an internet café, and tutoring the neighbor’s little daughter in English two evenings a week.
Although he spent the entire summer working nonstop and was often so exhausted that he could barely move, his mood remained both joyful and tinged with reluctance to leave. To him, this was the ‘last period of time’ he had set aside in his heart to be with Shen Liu. Even though Shen Liu was willing to let him continue staying over, Qin Mu still insisted on moving into the school dormitory. He couldn’t allow the ghost in his heart to keep growing unchecked.
The night before registration, Shen Liu gave him a cellphone as a gift—the exact same model as his own. Qin Mu accepted it. For a long time afterward, that sliding Nokia phone contained only one contact number. Shen Liu also handed him thirty thousand yuan in cash, saying it was from Qin Aihua and Zheng Yan. Since Qin Mu refused to go home or see them, the couple had no choice but to ask Shen Liu to deliver it on their behalf.
On registration day, Shen Liu helped him settle into his dorm, took him to set up his student card and internet access, showed him around the library and cafeteria, and walked with him through every corner of K University. Qin Mu followed him down the tree-lined paths, painfully suppressing the urge to take back his decision.
At last, he left Shen Liu.
The initial discomfort was overwhelming, but fortunately, his classmates and dormmates were all friendly, helping him gradually integrate. Military training, classes, part-time jobs as a campus staff member, joining clubs and volunteer groups… With help from Feiyan and others, Qin Mu gradually stepped into a brand-new campus life and built a social circle of his own. He didn’t slack off academically either, maintaining his grades steadily in the top tier.
Shen Liu was intentionally trying to foster Qin Mu’s independence, rarely took the initiative to disturb him. The two saw each other less and less often, but kept in touch through daily texts. They exchanged morning and evening greetings, shared amusing stories from the day, and occasionally grabbed a meal together at the cafeteria. Qin Mu had thought that his feelings would gradually fade after parting, but contrary to his expectations, he couldn’t stop himself from missing him.
On Christmas, Shen Liu invited him back to the small apartment to celebrate. Qin Mu took a detour to pick up a cake and arrived late, only to open the door and find a room full of people. Shen Liu sat with a beautiful girl on his left, and an empty seat on his right. Feiyan pulled him over to sit in the vacant spot, winking as she whispered, “That’s Liu kiddo’s rumored girlfriend—the campus belle from the business school.”
It was like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over his head. Qin Mu forced a stiff smile. “She’s very pretty.” From then on, he entered a dazed state. He drank mechanically and swallowed mouthfuls of bitter sourness. His loneliness turned the festive atmosphere into something incoherent and messy, and a flickering reel of past memories began playing in his mind. He knew Shen Liu would eventually have a girlfriend. He also knew he had no right to feel jealous. But emotions and reason were two different things—he simply couldn’t keep his heart still.
The group got tipsy and began teasing one another, egging each other on to call the girl ‘sister-in-law’ and demanding that Shen Liu drink on her behalf. Shen Liu cursed, “Get lost. I’ve been in poor health lately, can’t drink that much.”
“Your hand still isn’t better?” Glasses asked.
Qin Mu froze. “What happened to his hand?”
Fatty cut in, “He was trying to show off! There was no way he could’ve blocked that shot, but he insisted on trying and got slammed hard—got flung a long way, hand basically ruined.”
Shen Liu had never mentioned a word about it to him. Qin Mu’s mood sank even lower, and he furrowed his brows.
“It’s just a sprain. A few days and it’ll be fine.” Shen Liu brushed it off lightly, his eyes glancing at Qin Mu’s wine glass. “Shouldn’t you be putting that down by now?”
Qin Mu said nothing.
“Why are you bossing him around like that?” the girl interjected with a smile.
Shen Liu habitually slung an arm over the back of Qin Mu’s chair, tilted his head, and said, “I’m his older brother.”
Bitterness bubbled up in Qin Mu’s chest, wave after wave, impossible to suppress. He forced a smile and raised his glass. “In that case, as the younger brother, let me toast my sister-in-law.”
The people around them roared with laughter. The girl blushed and protested, “You’re all such bullies!”
Shen Liu lifted his eyelids and gave Qin Mu a cold and unwavering stare. “Put it down.”
The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.
Qin Mu didn’t move. His heart felt like it was being torn apart. You’re protecting her to the point you won’t even spare me this bit of dignity?
Seeing the tension rise, the girl hurried to ease the situation. “It’s not that I won’t drink—it’s just that I really can’t hold my liquor… how about half a glass?”
Without a word, Shen Liu took the glass from her hand and drained it in one go, leaving Qin Mu out in the cold.
“Whoa, our knight in black armor,” Fatty cracked a joke, trying to break the tension. “Come on, someone play a round with me—loser downs their drink!”
The guy with glasses immediately chimed in, “Forget alcohol, I dare you to finish this bowl of spicy hot pot soup!”
“Bring it on! Who’s afraid of who?”
The table quickly returned to a noisy buzz.
Qin Mu sat there at a loss. He could tell Shen Liu was angry. It was such a foreign feeling, after all Shen Liu had never been mad at him before. He had no idea how to deal with it. After a moment of hesitation, he quietly set his glass down.
Shen Liu got up and walked out. Qin Mu wanted to follow, but the girl beat him to it. He could only sit there in silence.
Feiyan patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about him. He’s got a temper. Let’s just keep drinking.”
After seven or eight more drinks, Qin Mu was finally properly drunk. Dizzy and drowsy, he couldn’t bring himself to leave as long as Shen Liu was still around. In the end, Feiyan dragged him into a game circle.
Truth or Dare.
The empty beer bottle spun round and round, pointing to everyone but him. Qin Mu felt like a ghost—utterly invisible in the room’s laughter and chatter. He could see it all but couldn’t touch it. He didn’t belong.
In the final round, Shen Liu’s rumored girlfriend chose “Dare,” and drew the task: A passionate kiss. But by some twist of fate, the bottle’s mouth didn’t stop in front of Shen Liu. Instead, it tilted crookedly and pointed straight at Qin Mu.
The bizarre pairing left everyone speechless.
Qin Mu, already a little numb with alcohol, stared blankly at the bottle, as if trying to analyze the probability of it pointing to him.
The girl awkwardly asked, “No knight to save me this time?”
Shen Liu tossed aside his half-eaten apple and stood up. Fatty whistled.
“Hold on a sec,” Feiyan interrupted on purpose. “She drew passionate kiss—if it’s not going to be a wet one, then you better chug that beer instead.”
Everyone assumed Shen Liu would just drink the beer. Even Qin Mu. Until Shen Liu half-knelt in front of him, reached out, and wrapped an arm around his neck—then Qin Mu realized something was off.
Before he could react, Shen Liu’s lips were already on his. It was fierce and commanding.
It was like a massive avalanche had erupted in Qin Mu’s head, collapsing all reason into rubble. He couldn’t tell if he was dreaming or awake. Shen Liu cupped his jaw, forcing his mouth open. The sweet and crisp taste of apple swept in. Tongues tangled, saliva mixed, and obscene sounds echoed in the stunned silence.
Someone gasped. Fatty was trembling and whispered, “Holy shit…”
Qin Mu’s scalp tingled as he shoved Shen Liu away.
“Satisfied now?” Shen Liu wiped the corner of his mouth with a flick of his finger. Though the question was directed at Feiyan, his eyes never left Qin Mu.
Feiyan swallowed hard. “…Satisfied.”
“Good. Then let’s wrap this up. It’s late,” Shen Liu said, ruthlessly kicking everyone out.
Qin Mu’s face flushed and he couldn’t say a word. His heart was racing wildly, completely out of control. He just wanted to run, but his limbs wouldn’t cooperate. He couldn’t walk in a straight line and nearly knocked over the coffee table.
Shen Liu grabbed his arm. “You stay.”
Qin Mu struggled, but must have pulled Shen Liu’s injured hand. Shen Liu hissed in pain. Qin Mu immediately froze.
The atmosphere was far too strange, and the onlookers had lost all will to spectate. One by one, they fled like their lives depended on it. Fatty sobered up instantly, the guy with glasses didn’t even bother to grab his 800-degree specs. The two of them supported each other as they bolted. Feiyan and the others raced to get dressed like they were competing in a quick-change contest. The Shen Liu’s rumored girlfriend left with a gloomy face and said nothing.
In less than three minutes, the room was empty, leaving only Shen Liu and Qin Mu. The silence was overwhelming.
Qin Mu had already downed a barrel of jealousy and drowned himself in alcohol. He had been cold-shouldered, then kissed out of nowhere. His emotions had been yanked up and down until his temper finally snapped. He stared at Shen Liu and mocked coldly, “Aren’t you going to see your girlfriend off?”
Shen Liu shoved him hard and pinned him against the wall. “You’ve been out for just a few days and you’re already acting out—itching for a beating, aren’t you?”
Qin Mu, dizzy and irritated, struggled. “If you don’t let go, don’t blame me if your arm ends up broken.”
Shen Liu pressed him down with his chest, deliberately using his injured right hand to hold down Qin Mu’s wrist. “I’ll give you a chance. Go ahead.”
“…You’re insane.” Even in his drunken haze, Qin Mu remembered not to touch his injured arm. But that left him unable to move, pinned and helpless. He muttered, “Stop messing around, will you?”
Shen Liu was so close and their faces nearly touching. Under the light, the dark depths of his eyes sparkled faintly, and with a teasing smile he asked, “Angry?”
“If you didn’t want me to kiss her, you could’ve just said so… why do all this…” Qin Mu’s voice faltered. He lowered his eyes, avoiding Shen Liu’s gaze.
“A law student like you—don’t you know that a debt must be repaid to be fair?” Shen Liu curved his lips in feigned innocence. “You stole a kiss from me while I was drunk. I deserve a chance to collect.”
Qin Mu’s heart gave a violent jolt. His eyes widened in disbelief.
…He knew?
…He had known all along?
Panic surged through Qin Mu. A wave of shame flooding him until he felt scorched inside and out. He was like a thief cornered in a dead-end alley with only two choices; to surrender or fight to the bitter end.
But this was Shen Liu. Once he made a move, he never left an escape route.
“You’re right. I didn’t want you to kiss her.” Shen Liu murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the side of Qin Mu’s neck. “After all, I raised you for so long. How could I let someone else kiss my child bride?”
The tingling and electric sensation made Qin Mu shudder involuntarily. He must really be drunk, so drunk he had started dreaming strange and impossible dreams. Dreams where up was down, right was wrong.
And yet… he didn’t want to wake up.
He had finally heard the words he had longed for, from the person he loved. Whether they were true or not, none of it mattered anymore.
Shen Liu found his reaction utterly amusing. He cupped Qin Mu’s face and gave it a light squeeze. “You really are made of wood, huh?”
Qin Mu stared at him for a moment, dazed, then silently wrapped his arms around him. He held him tightly, like he was afraid he might lose something precious. He hugged him so hard he almost crushed him.
“You silly thing, ease up—I’m about to suffocate,” Shen Liu said helplessly. “Go lie down for a bit. I’ll take care of this mess…”
But Qin Mu wouldn’t let go.
“…Fine,” Shen Liu said with a laugh, and simply carried him straight to bed.
T/N:
Hello, very long time no see.. I never plan to abandon this series for this long, but life happens… I need time to solve my financial situation properly, and with the fact that I need to move and everything… I just always came home exhausted and have no time or strength to translate
So I’m sorry for making you guys wait long, I don’t have any excuses; just that I need to focus more on my rl to get more money so I can leisurely translate without burden.
Since half of the problem solved, I will be posting more than just one chapters 🙂
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