Chapter 91: Husband
The space in the washroom was narrow, and the temperature was somewhat stifling. Xie Shibai’s jaw was being held, his entire being sinking into the soft sofa. A few strands of his black hair clung to Lu Ciheng’s hand. “Not pretending anymore?”
He discovered that after Lu Ciheng’s fake injury was exposed, the man had actually become even more righteous and unyielding.
Lu Ciheng’s lips curled. “How can you call it pretending? It really did hurt before.”
Xie Shibai didn’t believe him. He pinched Lu Ciheng’s wrist, his tone slightly cold. “Who would believe you?”
Lu Ciheng nuzzled Xie Shibai’s cheek with obsession, his nose rubbing against the other’s hair. It was as if he had finally pinned down a long-haired, beautiful cat and was kissing it for all he was worth, seizing every opportunity to “huff” the cat. “Xie-laoshi, say what you said just now one more time.”
Being pinned and nuzzled by a Beagle wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience. Xie Shibai’s hair was a mess, with black strands scattered across his face. He understood Lu Ciheng’s brain circuitry all too well. “You were just scolded, and you want to hear it twice?”
Lu Ciheng’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, his voice very low. “Xie-laoshi, you know what I want to hear.”
Xie Shibai knew exactly what Lu Ciheng wanted to hear. He said calmly, “Liar.”
Lu Ciheng looked down at Xie Shibai’s lips, his brow furrowing slightly. “That’s not it.”
Xie Shibai absolutely refused to mention it, avoiding those two words. “Get lost.”
Although Lu Ciheng found being scolded quite “refreshing,” he currently wanted to hear Xie Shibai call him Gege one more time. He dragged out his words, his tone sounding a bit aggrieved. “Xie-laoshi, you know… just once.”
Xie Shibai remained tight-lipped.
The Beagle, whose “best-before date” was fast approaching, was notoriously persistent and rowdy. He leaned in and pecked at Xie Shibai’s lips and cheeks, coaxing him in a sticky-sweet way. “Xie-laoshi…”
Xie Shibai hooked his finger into Lu Ciheng’s clothes and said unceremoniously, “Besides getting drool all over my face, what else can you do?”
Lu Ciheng paused, his heart skipping a beat in shock, thinking Xie Shibai was truly angry. But when he looked over, he met the hidden, slightly mischievous smile in the depths of Xie Shibai’s eyes.
Lu Ciheng breathed a sigh of relief, realizing what happened. “Xie-laoshi, you’re playing with me again.”
Xie Shibai pushed Lu Ciheng’s face. “Get up, you’re heavy.”
He didn’t understand how the man trained. His body was covered in firm, hard muscle that felt uncomfortable to even hold.
Lu Ciheng buried his nose in Xie Shibai’s palm, taking a deep breath of his scent, and gave a few casual, dismissive hums.
Xie Shibai was silent for a few seconds. He pushed Lu Ciheng’s face with force, using his knee to nudge the man’s abdomen—avoiding the side of his waist—to push him away.
“Sss—”
Lu Ciheng hissed, drawing in a sharp breath. He sat up, kneeling and clutching his side.
Xie Shibai froze, a chill running down his spine. “Did I hit the wound?”
Lu Ciheng shook his head silently.
Xie Shibai hesitated. “Then why?”
Lu Ciheng looked up. “I’ve got a hard-on.”
Xie Shibai: “…”
He punched Lu Ciheng.
Lu Ciheng let out a muffled chuckle, clutching his face where he was hit. His breathing was somewhat heavy. “Seriously.”
Xie Shibai’s gaze was icy. “Get far away from me. Looking at you is an eyesore.”
Lu Ciheng pondered for a few seconds and laughed. “One look and it’s love? Xie-laoshi, I didn’t expect you to love me this much.”
Xie Shibai: “…?”
Lu Ciheng leaned in with a grin. “Does Xie-laoshi want another hug?”
Xie Shibai: “Roll.”
Lu Ciheng: “I’ll roll right over.”
Xie Shibai was somewhat speechless and couldn’t even be bothered to scold him anymore. “…You’re sick.”
Lu Ciheng hummed in agreement, wrapping his arms tightly around the other in the narrow sofa. “Yeah, I’m sick. Dr. Xie, won’t you save me?”
Xie Shibai grabbed Lu Ciheng’s arm. His nose was filled with Lu Ciheng’s scent. The two were pressed very close in the cramped sofa. The feeling of a tight embrace was full of security—warm and comfortable.
Xie Shibai narrowed his eyes and said casually, “You’re beyond saving. Just wait for death.”
In this moment, a simple hug could alleviate most of his skin hunger.
Not long after leaving the ship, they resumed filming, though they had to cooperate with the police for follow-up work at all times.
The public attention on Ye Yingpu’s case was very high. Everything he had done was dug up by diligent netizens. Under the calls for severe punishment, officials announced that an extradition plan was being negotiated.
The first livestream after Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng’s return instantly pushed the popularity of Infinite Heartbeat to the top of the domestic entertainment industry. Although it was the end of their honeymoon phase, they dominated the trending searches for a long time.
Netizens could spend forever just watching them pack their luggage in the livestream.
Knock knock—
The door was knocked. Lu Ciheng was still packing their return luggage, and Xie Shibai went to open the door.
Su Xingran was currently shoving Li Lechi aside, muttering, “If you’ve got the guts, go fight with Lu Ciheng. What kind of skill is it to fight with me?”
Li Lechi held a coffee, looking helpless. “Bro, Lu-gou wants to stick to Xie-ge for twenty-five hours out of twenty-four. Where would I get the chance? I’m seriously done. Was Lu-gou a piece of chewing gum in his past life?”
The netizens in the livestream loved to see this.
[The Chihuahua War, LMAO.]
[Dead. Calling Lu-gou a chewing gum spirit is so accurate.]
[Why does it feel like Xie-laoshi is getting more and more beautiful?]
[Obviously because he’s being hehehe.]
[Why do I understand this instantly?]
Xie Shibai: “…”
Not really. Chewing gum loses its flavor after a while. He was more like maltose.
Su Xingran noticed the door open and immediately brightened into a radiant smile, raising the coffee in his hand. “Xie-ge, do you want some coffee? Just bought it.”
Li Lechi also handed a coffee over. “Xie-ge, drink mine. I bought a salted cream butter latte.”
Su Xingran glared at Li Lechi. “Drink mine.”
Li Lechi: “Mine tastes better. Drink mine.”
Xie Shibai took both coffees. “Thank you.”
After the coffee was delivered, Su Xingran craned his neck to look inside. “Xie-ge, do you want me to help you pack? Senior Lu shouldn’t overexert his body.”
Li Lechi immediately added, “Right, we’re good workers.”
Lu Ciheng, who had been listening for a while, silently stood behind Xie Shibai. Using their height difference to his advantage, he hooked an arm around Xie Shibai and buried his chin in the crook of the other’s neck. He stared at the two of them with a cold, wolf-like gaze, competing for dominance from the very start.
Lu Ciheng said with a fake smile, “No need. I can do it myself.”
Su Xingran wanted to say more, but he saw Lu Ciheng’s exposed arm and silently shut his mouth. He felt like a single punch could flatten him.
Li Lechi was also utterly defeated.
Once the two left, Xie Shibai took a sip of the coffee. As soon as he finished, he saw Lu Ciheng staring at him. “What?”
Lu Ciheng asked, “Is that coffee as good as the ones I make?”
Xie Shibai glanced at him, noting his competitive behavior. “No.”
Lu Ciheng instantly transformed from a jealous state to a joyful one, packing the luggage with even more vigor.
As soon as the plane landed, Xie Shibai unexpectedly received a call from Xie Huacheng. After all, since Old Man Xie began grooming Xie Shibai, Xie Huacheng had long since treated his son as an outsider, constantly claiming Xie Lingxi was his heir.
“You’ve made a lot of money from acting these years, right? I’ll send you a card number; transfer everything to me immediately.” Xie Huacheng said coldly, “I want to see the remittance in five minutes.”
Xie Shibai looked at the caller ID to confirm it was indeed Xie Huacheng. “What do you want money for?”
Lu Ciheng glanced at Xie Shibai.
Xie Huacheng’s tone was impatient. “Why do you care so much? If I tell you to give it, just transfer it.”
Xie Shibai said calmly, “I don’t have any.”
Xie Huacheng’s temper flared instantly. “How can you have no money? Aren’t you celebrities ‘208w’? You’ve filmed plenty; where did all the money go? I’m your old man! It’s only right that you give me money to show filial piety. Itemize the costs of raising you all these years and send it all to my card.”
Xie Shibai couldn’t be bothered to communicate. “No money. Ask your precious son.”
He hung up and sent a message to Chen Qisheng, telling him to move faster and get Xie Huacheng locked up.
Lu Ciheng pulled Xie Shibai slightly, helping him avoid a pillar in front of them. Xie Shibai didn’t even look up, following Lu Ciheng blindly.
After getting in the car, Xie Shibai finished replying to a message and looked up to find his seatbelt fastened and a blanket draped over his legs. Tudou’s harness was buckled into another seat.
Lu Ciheng curled his lips and looked at Xie Shibai with delight. “Xie-laoshi, you trust me this much?”
The feeling of total trust made Lu Ciheng’s mood ecstatically joyful.
Xie Shibai looked up at him and said flatly, “Will you die if you talk less?”
Lu Ciheng immediately shut his mouth, though the curve of his lips couldn’t be suppressed.
Xie Shibai didn’t deny it.
Upon returning home, the moment he stepped inside, Xie Shibai felt as if he had experienced another lifetime. He pulled his suitcase toward his room, but the suitcase didn’t budge.
Lu Ciheng crouched down and hugged Xie Shibai’s suitcase, looking up at him from below with a somewhat pitiful tone. “Xie-laoshi, are you going to that room?”
Xie Shibai always felt that from this angle, Lu Ciheng looked a bit like a dog. He stared at his face for a few extra seconds and raised an eyebrow. “Where else?”
Lu Ciheng stood up with a whoosh and leaned in with a pair of innocent, black puppy eyes. “Aren’t we living together?”
Xie Shibai intentionally feigned ignorance. Looking at those puppy eyes, he suddenly felt like teasing. “Why should we live together?”
Lu Ciheng’s gaze toward Xie Shibai was full of accusation, like he was looking at a scumbag who leaves after getting what he wants. “Xie-laoshi, that’s not right, is it?”
Emotions between adults were usually unspoken. Xie Shibai had to handle the Xie family’s affairs, and before things were settled, his workload would be heavy, potentially lasting late into the night. Going back and forth would disturb Lu Ciheng’s rest.
Xie Shibai made up a random excuse. “You kick the blankets in your sleep.”
Lu Ciheng paused for a few seconds, watching helplessly as Xie Shibai pulled the luggage into the room. He tried hard to recall whether he actually kicked the blankets or not.
That night, the pitter-patter of rain hit the glass, accompanied by distant thunder. Xie Shibai’s bedroom door was knocked.
Xie Shibai opened the door, looking confused.
Lu Ciheng was standing at the door holding his own pillow. His 193cm frame was so sturdy it looked like it could break the doorframe. His sleeveless loungewear revealed muscular arms. His usual “cool guy” expression was currently that of a pitiful Beagle.
His voice was low and pitiful, but if one listened closely, it hid a mischievous streak. “Laogong, I’m afraid of thunder.”
Xie Shibai was completely wide awake the moment he heard those words.
“…Are you insane?”
Translator’s Note:
- Laogong (老公): Literally means “husband.” In Chinese internet slang and romantic contexts, it is a very flirty way to address a partner.
- Gege (哥哥): Older brother. Again, a flirty term used for a boyfriend/husband.
- 208w: A slang term in the Chinese entertainment industry referring to high celebrity salaries (based on the rumor that a certain actress made 2.08 million RMB per day).
- Chewing Gum vs. Maltose: Xie Shibai is playing with the idea of Lu Ciheng being “sticky.” Chewing gum loses its flavor, but maltose is naturally sweet and stays sticky.
Recommended Reads
