Qian Xiaoke wasn’t a stranger to kissing—he wasn’t that inexperienced.
Take last time, for instance. When he and Jiang Tongyan had just met, on that big hotel bed, they were kissing pretty passionately.
But later, Qian Xiaoke thought it over and figured he might’ve still been buzzed from the alcohol. Otherwise, how could he have done something so bizarre?
Yes, he’d reflected on it. He knew he was odd.
He was a reserved and pure person—when his head was clear, he wouldn’t just hop into bed with anyone.
That said, it was exactly because of that time that the two of them ended up with this messy fate.
But to be honest, kissing Jiang Tongyan was still pretty… comfortable.
It was like steaming in a sauna. Sure, he only went once a year during company outings—since it was kinda pricey—but that weird, wonderful feeling stuck with him.
His pores opened, limbs went weak, and he felt pure bliss—he wanted to hit the sauna again.
Qian Xiaoke felt comfortable like he had turned to little ball of cotton, letting Jiang Tongyan knead and shape him however he pleased.
As for Jiang Tongyan, he felt like he wasn’t kissing Qian Xiaoke’s mouth but drinking some secret brew Qian Xiaoke had stashed away. No—Qian Xiaoke was the brew, a high-proof liquor that hit hard with one sip.
Jiang Tongyan was drunk on it.
Kissing boosts blood circulation—there’s science behind it. Jiang Tongyan wasn’t making it up to trick Qian Xiaoke.
With better blood flow, his whole state perked up. What started as a ‘treatment’ slowly turned into something tender and sweet.
Jiang Tongyan had always felt his current problem wasn’t physical. He knew his body—robust as hell! It was purely psychological, sparked by Qian Xiaoke pissing him off back then, leaving him with a mental block.
A heart ailment needs a heart cure.
The one who tied the bell must untie it.
Now, the heart ailment was healing bit by bit, and the person who tied the bell was in his arms. Jiang Tongyan was getting a little c0cky.
Kissing was really comfortable, but only with someone you liked.
Of course, Qian Xiaoke didn’t have this awareness. He was just feeling it, while Jiang Tongyan was the only one overthinking and getting all worked up.
What treatment?
What doctor-patient relationship?
Bullshit.
Jiang Tongyan got it—he was messing around with Qian Xiaoke every day because he liked this little bastard!
Because he liked this little bastard, kissing became extra meaningful.
At some point, rain started falling outside, and the sky darkened. Raindrops pattered against the glass window—outside, the temperature must’ve dropped, but the two in the room were burning up.
The ears were burning.
The cheeks were burning.
Qian Xiaoke said, “Jiang Tongyan! You…”
“Don’t speak,” Jiang Tongyan said, one hand covering his mouth, the other resting on his soft hair. “I’ll ask you a question—just nod or shake your head.”
Qian Xiaoke’s heart was racing, his brain barely functioning.
He hadn’t expected that after all his research and prep, none of his tricks would matter—just kissing Jiang Tongyan, and this guy… seemed fine!
Maybe he was fixed.
He wasn’t sure.
Qian Xiaoke’s eyes darted to Jiang Tongyan, waiting for the question.
“Do you want it?” Jiang Tongyan hadn’t meant to ask this—confessing outright would’ve been way cooler!
But he was scared, afraid of rejection. A CEO getting rejected? It’s a major loss of face!
Wanna date me?
Or wanna do that thing?
Qian Xiaoke, figure it out yourself—Jiang Tongyan could only get this far with words.
Jiang Tongyan, this guy, had taken too many emotional losses. He had failed in every relationship he pursued. Anyone would end up with psychological trauma.
He was already a proud guy, but after constant setbacks, and now with Qian Xiaoke, after being limp for so long, some things just couldn’t be said out loud.
Jiang Tongyan hoped Qian Xiaoke could read minds, picking up his truest feelings from this simple ‘Do you want it?’
But obviously, Qian Xiaoke was just an ordinary 27-year-old broke corporate slave. If he could read minds, he would have struck it rich ages ago.
When Jiang Tongyan asked, Qian Xiaoke hesitated.
He was torn, unsure what to choose.
Qian Xiaoke saw himself as a pure and innocent boy.
Sure, his age didn’t quite fit ‘boy’ anymore, but emotionally, he was still pure.
Okay, maybe not emotionally pure either—a pure innocent boy wouldn’t have hooked up with a hot stranger he had just met while still tipsy.
Back then, he could blame the lingering buzz, but now he was stone-cold sober.
Rationally, Qian Xiaoke knew he shouldn’t.
But humans are emotional creatures!
He craved a taste of adult happiness too!
In those few seconds, Qian Xiaoke was overwhelmed, like he was back in the college entrance exam hall, unsure whether to follow the judgment of reason or the call of emotion.
Seeing him waver, Jiang Tongyan got nervous. He was terrified his freshly improved state would crash again. He leaned down, kissing Qian Xiaoke through his own hand—basically kissing his own hand back.
It actually came off pretty romantic and pure, straight out of a BL novel.
Jiang Tongyan gazed at Qian Xiaoke with tender eyes, but his words were cold and ruthless.
He said, “I’ll count down from three. If you don’t answer, I’m leaving.”
He barely got ‘three’ out before Qian Xiaoke threw his arms around his neck. “Gege, hurry up already!”
Humans are emotional animals—why overthink it? Just go for the joy!
Later, Qian Xiaoke wrote in his diary:
I think it’s worth reminding all my friends and family that there are risks and you need to be cautious. When picking partners, be careful—choose someone you really know, don’t be reckless.
That was his rational takeaway, meant to tell everyone he didn’t endorse one-night stands.
Beyond the rational summary, he added a deeply emotional line: Jiang Tongyan’s condition improved, and this attending physician felt a tiny bit of joy and relief today.
Just a tiny bit, because while Jiang Tongyan’s condition was improving, they still couldn’t go all the way.
The scene had turned super awkward.
They had scrambled to find a KY substitute in Qian Xiaoke’s place, managed a friendly ‘deep exchange’ before Jiang Tongyan went soft again, and just when it seemed they’d reach an understanding, at the last second, Jiang Tongyan wilted.
So close.
After, Jiang Tongyan sat on the bed’s edge, staring at the cold rain outside, smoking a cigarette called ‘sorrow’.
Meanwhile, Qian Xiaoke, the ever-thoughtful ‘little doctor’, patted his shoulder gently from behind. “Healing takes time—can’t rush it. A little progress each time, and one day, you’ll fire all cannons here with me.”
Fire all cannons?
Jiang Tongyan looked at him.
“Fire all cannons,” Qian Xiaoke said, grabbing his hand, cheering him on firmly. “Keep going—you can do it!”
========
When Jiang Tongyan left Qian Xiaoke’s place, he felt a bit off.
His condition had improved, and under his whatever, Qian Xiaoke had even let out little cat-like mewls.
But he still couldn’t fully satisfy the other, and besides smoking, he didn’t know what else to do.
It sucked.
It hurt his pride.
As Jiang Tongyan stepped out, the rain kept falling. Qian Xiaoke offered to see him off, but he shoved him back inside.
Qian Xiaoke asked through the door, “Should I send you off to the airport tomorrow?”
Jiang Tongyan felt something lodge in his throat. He would love for Qian Xiaoke to see him off, but he also felt too ashamed to face him.
Funny thing—Qian Xiaoke messed up first and caused this, yet now Jiang Tongyan felt he couldn’t hold his head up around him.
Where’s the justice in that?
“No need,” Jiang Tongyan said. “Cheng Sen’s sending a car.”
“…Oh,” Qian Xiaoke said, standing inside, pursing his lips.
Yeah, true—what could he do if he went? Without a car, it was just a hassle.
Qian Xiaoke could clearly sense Jiang Tongyan’s mood swings today—starting off happy and excited because things were better, then steadily sinking. It felt rough.
He didn’t know how to comfort Jiang Tongyan. For the first time, he felt his mouth was too dumb.
Qian Xiaoke’s nose stung—he genuinely felt bad for the guy.
After Jiang Tongyan went downstairs, Qian Xiaoke stayed at the door, frozen, like someone had hit his pressure points.
Meanwhile, Jiang Tongyan stood at the building entrance, watching the pouring rain, thinking he had been a bit rash. In such heavy rain, he would inevitably get wet if he went to the entrance of the community to take a taxi.
He sighed, feeling impulsive.
But it was already like this—going back to borrow an umbrella would be even more humiliating.
Jiang Tongyan pulled out his phone, sent another message to his therapist to confirm their meeting, and even considered a full physical checkup. After sending it, he sighed long again and stepped out.
The rain was heavy and cold, kinda like that day Lu Yiping1from Romance in the Rain drama went to her dad for money.
A few steps out, someone called him.
This idol-drama-like?
Jiang Tongyan turned—yep, it was.
Qian Xiaoke ran out with an umbrella, and stepped into a puddle. He slipped in his flip-flops, and nearly fell flat. Lucky Jiang Tongyan reacted fast, grabbing him into his arms.
“What are you doing?” Jiang Tongyan frowned at him. “Filming an idol drama?”
“Yeah,” Qian Xiaoke said, feet and pant legs wet. Since Jiang Tongyan was taller, he had to hold the umbrella high. “It’s pouring—I’ll walk you out.”
Under the umbrella, they were like a little safe haven.
Qian Xiaoke looked up at Jiang Tongyan, pulling neatly folded tissue from his pants pocket.
He wiped the rain off Jiang Tongyan’s face. “So pitiful.”
Jiang Tongyan looked down at him, and the longer he looked, the harder it was to hold his emotions.
It sucked, but Qian Xiaoke somehow moved him too.
The cold autumn rain had chilled Jiang Tongyan, but Qian Xiaoke warmed his heart.
“A CEO can’t look this lost,” Qian Xiaoke said, realising he really pitied Jiang Tongyan. “People would laugh if they saw.”
Just as he finished, Jiang Tongyan pulled him into a hug.
Now it was straight-up idol drama.
Qian Xiaoke froze, then held the umbrella with one hand and patted his back with the other.
“There, there, I know you’re upset,” Qian Xiaoke said, coaxing him like a kid. “Sorry—it’s all my fault.”
As he spoke, Qian Xiaoke’s eyes reddened. He was so mad at himself—it was his fault Jiang Tongyan ended up like this.
Qian Xiaoke comforted Jiang Tongyan but ended up crying himself. “Sorry… it’s all because of me… don’t be like this… it hurts to see…”
Both of them were hurting.
Neither of them felt okay.
Jiang Tongyan was already down about his body issues, and Qian Xiaoke crying doubled it.
“Don’t cry,” Jiang Tongyan said. “People might think your husband died.”
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