Chapter 71: I Think It’s Cute as Hell, Okay?
After walking to the optical shop, the staff first took Wen Ling to get an eye exam. Cheng Ge stayed outside the curtain, peeking at Wen Ling communicating with the staff.
It only took about twenty minutes. Left eye: 2.75; right eye: 2.50.
Low-degree myopia, not very serious.
“For real?” Cheng Ge looked at the prescription, staring suspiciously at Wen Ling. “How do you give me the feeling that you have a 5.00-degree prescription?”
He had to squint and lean in even when the computer font was that large; Cheng Ge had thought Wen Ling was severely nearsighted.
It never occurred to Cheng Ge that Wen Ling might be doing it on purpose.
Wen Ling just liked it when Cheng Ge pressed his warm palm against his forehead. He liked it when Cheng Ge shook his head and rambled at him. In those moments, Wen Ling felt that Cheng Ge’s heart and eyes were full of him.
The staff first prepared suitable lenses for Wen Ling to wear. The frames were a heavy, mechanical plastic shell, making Wen Ling look like a mischievous kid playing a prank.
Wen Ling had never worn glasses before. He hadn’t even had the chance that normal kids had to try on a nearsighted friend’s glasses for fun.
With the glasses on, Wen Ling’s vision suddenly became incredibly clear. He found it quite novel.
The main reason it was novel was because Cheng Ge was beside him. Small dimples appeared at the corners of Wen Ling’s mouth. “I can see you so clearly. Cheng Ge’s eyes are so bright.”
Cheng Ge was sitting by the bed where a bit of slanted sunlight could reach. “I can even see the fine fuzz on your face. It’s so short. Do I have it too?”
“You do.” When they slept together before, Cheng Ge would linger in bed for a few minutes after waking up. He would keep his eyes open, thinking about things or zoning out for a while.
But eventually, his gaze would always land on Wen Ling—usually on his face. When the sunlight hit the back of Wen Ling’s head through the curtains, he could see that layer of very short fuzz on Wen Ling’s face.
Sometimes when Wen Ling got stuffy in Cheng Ge’s arms, his face would turn pink. At those times, Cheng Ge felt Wen Ling’s face looked like a honey peach.
“I can see your eyelashes very clearly too,” Wen Ling leaned in close to Cheng Ge, the light fragrance on his body drifting straight into Cheng Ge’s nose. “I can even count them.”
Probably having grown used to it over this period, Cheng Ge wasn’t even annoyed by Wen Ling leaning so close anymore. In fact, he liked the pleasant scent on Wen Ling’s body more and more. His hand felt an itch, and he patted the top of Wen Ling’s head. “Didn’t you count them before?”
“That was different. Besides, you woke up before I finished counting that time. That was so long ago.”
“Then go ahead and count.” Cheng Ge reclined in the chair, smiling lazily. He really felt that Wen Ling, wearing those trial glasses, looked like a curious baby, focusing only on studying him.
Wen Ling actually started counting Cheng Ge’s eyelashes. Just as Cheng Ge was about to call him childish, Wen Ling suddenly stopped and rubbed his forehead against Cheng Ge’s chest, almost lying on top of him.
Cheng Ge still wasn’t used to being lovey-dovey with Wen Ling in public, but he didn’t push him away either. He patted Wen Ling’s back. “What’s wrong with you?”
“My head is dizzy.”
“It’s like this when you first wear glasses. You need to adapt for a while.” Cheng Ge massaged Wen Ling’s temples for a bit. Wen Ling tried to take an inch after being given a yard, wanting more. “I feel bad.”
“Is it very dizzy?” Cheng Ge frowned. He felt that Wen Ling would only proactively express his feelings when he had reached a point of great discomfort.
“Maybe I should ask the staff. Maybe the prescription is wrong.”
Wen Ling held Cheng Ge down to stop him from getting up, humming and whinging. He took Cheng Ge’s hands and placed them on his temples. “No need. It’ll be better if you massage me more. Use both hands.”
Cheng Ge finally figured out what this “Little Emperor” was planning.
“Then sit up straight. Don’t act like you’re spineless. How am I supposed to massage you otherwise?”
“Okay then.” Wen Ling sat on the small chair next to Cheng Ge, sitting up perfectly straight, waiting for Cheng Ge to give him a massage.
Cheng Ge first rubbed Wen Ling’s face indignantly. Only after venting his frustration was he willing to massage him.
Day after day, always ordering him around.
Wen Ling used to love having Cheng Ge knead the back of his neck; now he had developed a new service.
Probably because it was too comfortable, Wen Ling’s tone became soft. “Be a bit gentler. Go slowly.”
A typical case of acting spoiled after getting a bargain.
“No.” Cheng Ge answered bluntly, but the movements of his hands still unconsciously became lighter and slower.
Wen Ling truly loved it when Cheng Ge kneaded and pressed him here and there. It was so comfortable.
“Don’t close your eyes,” Cheng Ge shook Wen Ling’s head. “They let you wear these to test them out, but you’re just enjoying yourself.”
Wen Ling curved his eyes. It was unclear if he had finally learned to be embarrassed or if he was simply in a good mood. “Because Cheng Ge’s massage feels so good.”
Cheng Ge pinched Wen Ling’s face again. “Stop being cheeky.”
Then Wen Ling blinked his eyes and quieted down, staring at various parts of Cheng Ge.
Actually, Wen Ling didn’t quite understand what “stop being cheeky” meant, but Cheng Ge said it to him often. He felt like Cheng Ge would find him annoying in the next second, and Wen Ling didn’t want Cheng Ge to find him annoying at all, so he would immediately shut his mouth.
Cheng Ge felt quite nervous being stared at by Wen Ling. He was afraid Wen Ling would lean in and kiss him in the next second. But he was the one who told him to keep his eyes open, and now that the person was being quiet, if he nitpicked again, it would be his own problem.
After testing the trial glasses, the staff brought the two of them to the counter. In front of them were a dazzling array of frames, styles so numerous they made one’s head spin.
Cheng Ge nudged Wen Ling’s arm with his elbow. “Which kind do you want?”
Wen Ling took the opportunity to grab Cheng Ge’s wrist. “I don’t know. Let me look first. There are so many.”
Cheng Ge wasn’t being awkward this time, letting Wen Ling lead him. “Then you look first.”
Wen Ling first picked up a pair of black round-frame glasses to try on, leaning in front of Cheng Ge. “Is this okay?”
As soon as Cheng Ge saw Wen Ling, he felt like he’d been electrocuted. He immediately turned his face away, his hand against his lips as he coughed. “It’s okay.”
“You’re lying. You didn’t even look.” Wen Ling’s tone was drawn out, making him sound aggrieved.
His brows and eyes also became pitiful.
“I looked, I looked.” Cheng Ge couldn’t stand Wen Ling’s grievances. He turned his head back, staring at Wen Ling for two seconds before turning away again. “It really is okay.”
…Damn it. How can someone look so cute in glasses?
Before, Cheng Ge thought the way Wen Ling acted dorky was cute. Now, it was entirely his face that was cute…
“Then I’ll take this one,” Wen Ling said.
“Don’t—don’t you want to try others?” Cheng Ge pinched his ear. “Try a few more. This is too perfunctory.”
“Ugly. You don’t like them, so I don’t like them either.”
Cheng Ge was stunned and retorted, “They’re not ugly. I didn’t say I don’t like them.”
“You won’t even look at me.”
Cheng Ge heard the slight disappointment in Wen Ling’s voice. He thought, Is this little nuisance being sensitive again or throwing a tantrum?
He remembered that Wen Ling seemed to have a deep-seated misunderstanding of his own appearance. His heart softened, and then he steeled himself, pinching Wen Ling’s face. “I think it’s cute as hell, okay?”
Wen Ling was dazed for a moment, blinking. He asked in disbelief, “Really?”
See, see? This guy just has to be unsure and keep asking. Cheng Ge clenched his fist, his thumb rubbing the middle of his index finger. “Really, really. If I’m lying, I’m a dog.”
Only then did Wen Ling reluctantly believe him. It didn’t matter what others thought of him; he only cared about Cheng Ge’s opinion of him.
He tried on another pair of silver semi-rimless glasses and a classic large black frame.
They were all excessively cute.
To prevent another misunderstanding, Cheng Ge kept his eyes on Wen Ling the entire time, fearing he might upset him again.
“Cheng Ge,” Wen Ling suddenly called his name seriously. Then he reached out and pinched Cheng Ge’s earlobe. “It’s so magical. Cheng Ge’s ears turned red again.”
Translator’s Note: Cheng Ge is definitely a “tsundere” (hard on the outside, soft on the inside). He calls Wen Ling a “monster” or “nuisance,” but in his heart, he’s thinking “cute as hell.” In Chinese, “可爱死了” (Cute to death) is a very common way to express that something is incredibly, irresistibly adorable.
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