Online Dating Fiasco with the Campus Heartthrob (DATING)
The bathroom was filled with steam. The moist air saturates every molecule.
Ji Su took a long shower, thoroughly cleaned from inside out, before being carried back to bed by Gu Zhao.
Almost as soon as his head hit the pillow, he closed his eyes, too exhausted to say a word.
Gu Zhao gazed down at the person beneath him.
Ji Su’s fair, delicate skin was flushed with a rosy hue. His long, curled lashes clumped together like butterfly wings battered by a storm, and his plump, moist lips resembled ripe berries, ready to burst with sweet juice at the slightest touch.
After a while, Gu Zhao picked up the air conditioner remote and lowered the temperature slightly before lying down on the bed.
He reached out to pull Ji Su into his arms, but as soon as his hand touched the slender waist, it triggered a shiver of sensitivity.
Like a broken mechanical doll, Ji Su couldn’t be touched at all.
Gu Zhao chuckled softly while patiently waiting for Ji Su to fall into a deep sleep before embracing him and drifting off together.
……..
On the morning of the third day, after waking up, Ji Su resolved to block the door with a table tonight.
If this continued, he might die at Gu Zhao’s hands…
Ji Su lay on the bed for a while, then got up and put on his shirt and trousers, carefully covering the bruises that were scattered across his skin.
He walked out of the bedroom and found Gu Zhao sitting on the sofa with a laptop resting on his lap as he typed.
A pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose bridge, giving him a scholarly and somewhat ascetic appearance.
Though, once he took off his clothes, the word "ascetic" couldn't be further from the truth...
Gu Zhao noticed his gaze and looked up: "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I slept well," Ji Su replied.
Gu Zhao set the laptop aside: "Come here."
Ji Su slowly shuffled over. "Are you busy?"
"Not really." Gu Zhao replied while taking his hand and pulling him onto his lap.
Ji Su inhaled softly. "Ouch…"
Gu Zhao leaned down to kiss him. "Still sore?"
Ji Su blinked. "It's manageable."
Although he had been thoroughly worn out, Gu Zhao's aftercare was impeccable. Aside from some muscle soreness, Ji Su hadn’t actually been injured.
Gu Zhao massaged his waist with warm hands, his voice laced with amusement. "A few more sessions, and you’ll get used to it."
Ji Su shivered in his arms and politely declined. "I don’t think that’s necessary…"
Gu Zhao’s tone was firm. "It’s very necessary."
Ji Su pursed his lips and changed the subject. "I’m hungry."
"Breakfast is ready, so let’s eat." Gu Zhao said before effortlessly lifting him and carrying him to the dining table.
After breakfast, the two went about their own tasks for a while.
As lunchtime approached, Ji Su received a phone call.
He was in the middle of sketching and answered without checking the caller ID. "Hello?"
"Xiao Chen told me you’ve been on break for a while," Ji Zheng Hai’s voice came through the phone. "Why haven’t you come home?"
Ji Su paused his drawing and replied, "Dad, I took on a part-time job this summer, so I stayed on campus."
"Why bother with a part-time job? How much can you even earn?" Ji Zheng Hai’s tone was disapproving. "Are you short on money?"
"I’m not short on money, Dad." Ji Su frowned but kept patiently explaining. "A part-time job is a good opportunity to gain experience and build a foundation for future work."
"What kind of experience? Are you really planning to work on construction sites in the future?" Ji Zheng Hai continued to lecture. "Since you’re on break, you should at least come home for a few days. Otherwise, people might think I only have one son."
Ji Su’s grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white from the pressure.
Finally, he agreed. "Alright, Dad. I’ll come home for dinner tonight."
Ji Zheng Hai sounded satisfied. "That’s more like it."
After hanging up, Ji Su sat at the table for a moment, lost in thought, before getting up and walking out.
Gu Zhao was in the kitchen, calmly and methodically preparing lunch.
Ji Su quietly approached and wrapped his arms around Gu Zhao’s waist from behind.
Gu Zhao turned his head. "Hungry?"
"No," Ji Su shook his head. "Thanks for your hard work, Brother Gu Zhao."
Gu Zhao chuckled. "Not afraid of me anymore?"
"I was never afraid of you," Ji Su’s ears turned slightly red as he murmured, "It’s just… maybe we could take it a bit slower, you know? Pace ourselves…"
Gu Zhao studied him for a few seconds before turning around and wrapping his arms around him, and leaning in for a kiss.
Ji Su obediently tilted his head up, meeting the scorching lips.
After a wet, lingering kiss, Gu Zhao rested his forehead against Ji Su’s and praised in a husky voice, "Such a good boy."
During lunch, Ji Su spoke up. "Gu Zhao, I need to go home after lunch."
Gu Zhao paused before lifting his gaze. "I won’t mess with you tonight."
"It’s not that…" Ji Su bit his lip. "My dad called and asked me to come home for a visit."
Gu Zhao stared at him intently, as if gauging the truthfulness of his words.
"It’s true," Ji Su raised one hand to his ear. "I swear I’m not lying."
Gu Zhao asked, "When will you be back?"
Ji Su replied, "I’ll probably stay for a night or two."
"Alright," Gu Zhao lowered his gaze. "After lunch, I’ll take you there."
"My home is quite far. It’ll take two to three hours by car, and it’ll be dark by the time you drive back. I’m not comfortable with that." Ji Su declined. "It’s more convenient for me to take a taxi."
Gu Zhao didn’t insist. "Got it."
After lunch, Ji Su packed up briefly.
Gu Zhao stood by while watching him. "Don’t bring the laptop. You’ll be back tomorrow anyway."
Ji Su thought for a moment. "I’ll take it. I won’t have much else to do at home."
Gu Zhao’s gaze drifted from his face down to his slender neck.
Ji Su belatedly realized and raised his hand to cover his neck. "Is there a mark?"
"It’s not obvious." Gu Zhao walked over and buttoned up one more button on his white shirt. "If your family asks, just say it’s a mosquito bite."
The hickey on Ji Su’s neck was indeed faint because most of the marks were concentrated on his back and legs, a mix of kisses, bites, and pinches that were somewhat unsightly.
Fortunately, those areas could be covered by clothes and wouldn’t be easily noticed.
Ji Su teased, "Are there mosquitoes that big?"
"Why not?" Gu Zhao bent down and nipped at the soft flesh of his cheek. "Isn’t that me?"
Ji Su: "..."
After packing, Gu Zhao took the bag. "I’ll walk you downstairs."
The two entered the elevator one after the other. He pressed the button for the first floor, and the doors closed.
As soon as Ji Su turned around, he was lifted by the waist, and the next second, his lips were sealed.
Gu Zhao kissed him fiercely, and in just a few seconds, Ji Su was almost out of breath.
With a "ding" the elevator doors slowly opened.
Gu Zhao let go and turned to walk out as if nothing had happened.
Ji Su followed behind while wiping the moisture from his lips with the back of his hand with his ears burning red.
Gu Zhao hailed a taxi by the roadside, noted the license plate number, and opened the back door.
Ji Su got in. "I’m off then."
"Mm," Gu Zhao reached out and pinched his cheek. "Come back soon."
Ji Su nodded. "Alright."
The driver stepped on the gas, and the taxi merged onto the main road.
Ji Su glanced at the rearview mirror and noticed Gu Zhao still standing there, watching him leave.
Only when the tall figure turned into a small dot did he look away.
He knew Gu Zhao was reluctant to let him go, but truthfully, he felt the same way...
……..
Around five in the afternoon, the taxi stopped at the entrance of the villa area.
Ji Su got out and walked inside.
A car was parked at the front door. He pushed open the gate and rang the doorbell.
Soon, the housekeeper opened the door. "You’re back."
Ji Su gave a slight nod in greeting and walked in.
Aunt Qin was sitting in the living room watching TV, while Ji Chen lounged on the couch beside her and peeling an orange.
"Aunt Qin," Ji Su called out. "Xiao Chen, I’m back."
"Brother!" Ji Chen’s eyes lit up instantly as he sprang up from the couch and enthusiastically rushed over. "You’re finally back!"
Ji Su steadied himself. "It’s only been a few days, but it feels like you’ve grown taller."
"Really?" Ji Chen let go and handed him the peeled orange. "Here, brother, eat this. It’s super sweet!"
Aunt Qin smiled and said, "No wonder you've been peeling oranges all this time, it was for your brother."
"Thank you, Xiao Chen." Ji Su also smiled. "Aunt Qin, I'll go upstairs to tidy up first."
"Alright, go ahead." Aunt Qin stood up. "Your father will be back soon."
Ji Su turned and headed upstairs with Ji Chen eagerly following behind and asking, "Brother, how many days are you staying home this time?"
"Not many," Ji Su casually replied. "I still have things to do at school."
"Ah..." Ji Chen was disappointed, dragging out his tone. "Brother, you rarely come back, can't you stay a few more days?"
Ji Su didn't want to elaborate: "I brought you a gift, do you want to see it?"
"There's a gift?" Ji Chen immediately cheered up. "What is it?"
Ji Su pushed open the door: "I'll give it to you in a moment."
As soon as they entered, a musty smell hit them.
"Cough, cough..." Ji Chen coughed twice. "Why is there so much dust?"
Ji Su walked to the window, pulled back the curtains, and opened the window to let fresh air circulate.
Since he hadn't been home for so long, his room hadn't been cleaned, and a layer of dust had settled on the bedsheet.
Ji Chen frowned while covering his nose, and said, "Brother, let's go out first and let Zhang Ma come in to clean."
"It's fine." Ji Su put down his backpack. "You go out first, I'll just change the bedsheet."
"Alright then," Ji Chen walked towards the door, then turned back. "Brother, remember to give me my gift!"
After Ji Su tidied up the room, it was just time for dinner.
He walked downstairs and saw Ji Zheng Hai sitting at the head of the dining table, with Aunt Qin and Ji Chen sitting on either side. The family of three was chatting and laughing, enjoying themselves.
Ji Su had seen this scene many times before. He stood at the staircase for a while before finally taking a step forward.
Aunt Qin was the first to notice him: "Su Su, you're here, come and sit."
Ji Zheng Hai's smile faded as he asked, "When did you get back?"
"Dad," Ji Su walked over and sat down opposite him. "I just got back not long ago."
"Aunt Qin and your brother have been talking about you all the time, but you don't seem to miss home at all." Ji Zheng Hai said sternly. "It takes so much effort just to get you to come back."
Ji Su remained silent and just kept listening quietly.
"Su Su, don't listen to your dad, he's the one who talks about you the most." Aunt Qin, sensing the tension, gently mediated. "By the way, Su Su brought a gift for Xiao Chen when he came home."
"Yes, Dad," Ji Chen chimed in. "Brother bought me my favorite figure. Who says my brother doesn't care about me?"
Ji Zheng Hai's expression softened slightly: "Alright, let's eat first."
The table was filled with an abundance of dishes, but Ji Su found it hard to start eating.
There were seafood he couldn't eat and celery he didn't like. None of the dishes were made according to his taste.
In fact, he should have gotten used to it over the years, but recently, staying at Gu Zhao's house, the table had always been set with dishes he liked.
So tonight's dinner became unbearable for him.
Ji Su lowered his eyelashes and picked up a bite of the vegetable closest to him.
"Oh no!" Ji Chen, who was peeling shrimp, suddenly stopped and looked at Ji Su. "I forgot to tell you, my brother is allergic to seafood!"
"Seafood allergy?" Ji Zheng Hai asked with a look of surprise. "Since when?"
Ji Su replied indifferently, "Always has been."
The atmosphere at the dining table turned silent. Aunt Qin awkwardly suggested, "Next time Su Su comes back, let's tell Zhang Ma not to prepare seafood."
"Just because he's allergic to seafood, does that mean no one else can eat it?" Ji Zheng Hai disagreed. "There's a whole table of dishes here. If you can't eat seafood, just eat something else."
This time, Ji Su didn't respond and simply picked up a piece of braised pork ribs with his chopsticks.
Ji Zheng Hai's expression darkened. Aunt Qin quickly changed the subject, "By the way, Lao Ji, last time you mentioned..."
Although he had little appetite, Ji Su remained seated at the table until Ji Zheng Hai put down his chopsticks. Then he stood up and said, "Dad, Aunt Qin, I'm done eating. I'll head upstairs now."
"You must be tired from the trip home today." Aunt Qin said with concern. "Go rest in your room."
Ji Zheng Hai seemed to want to say something but only waved his hand. "Go ahead."
Ji Su returned to his room and sat at his desk to send a message to Gu Zhao.
It seemed like Gu Zhao had been waiting for his message as he replied almost instantly.
Gu Zhao: [Can you take a call?]
Without replying, Ji Su directly dialed his number.
After two rings, the call connected, and a deep, magnetic voice came through the phone, "Did you have dinner?"
Ji Su rested his head on the desk. "I did."
"Really?" Gu Zhao sensed something off in his voice. "Did something happen?"
Ji Su suddenly felt a bit aggrieved. "I really did eat, I just didn't eat enough."
Gu Zhao asked, "Didn't you like the dinner?"
"Yeah," Ji Su replied softly. "It's not as good as what you make."
"Of course," Gu Zhao paused briefly. "Send me your address, and I'll order you some takeout. I'll cook something delicious for you when you come home tomorrow."
"It's already so late, and I don't feel like eating anymore," Ji Su straightened up. "Besides, I have some snacks in my bag."
"Then have some snacks to tide you over," Gu Zhao said in a low voice. "You won't be able to sleep if you're hungry."
"I know," Ji Su chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm a grown-up. I won't starve myself."
Gu Zhao replied softly, "You're not right in front of me, so I can't help but worry."
Ji Su's heart warmed and softened. "What did you have for dinner?"
"Just ate something random," Gu Zhao pretended to sound pitiful. "It doesn't taste good without you here."
Ji Su was a bit upset. "That's not okay. You need to eat properly even when I'm not around."
They chatted for a while longer, and then Gu Zhao suddenly made a request. "Let's video call. I want to see you."
"Can we do it later?" Ji Su negotiated. "I want to take a shower first."
Gu Zhao was silent for a few seconds before replying slowly, "You can take your shower. It won't interfere with the video call."
"Huh?" Ji Su was a bit confused. "You want to watch me shower?"
Gu Zhao chuckled. "I've already helped you shower before. Why can't I watch now?"
Ji Su's cheeks flushed. "No way."
Even though they had showered together before, it was always when he wasn't fully conscious.
Besides, video calling someone while showering is really weird...
"Then let's video call and shower together." Gu Zhao coaxed in a low voice. "I'll let you see me too, so it's fair."
Ji Su: "..."
Why does that actually sound reasonable?
Gu Zhao called out, "Baby?"
Ji Su whispered, "But I'm shy..."
"Alright," Gu Zhao didn't push further. "Go shower first, and we'll video call after."
Ji Su hung up the phone, grabbed his clothes, and headed to the bathroom.
Because he was thinking about the video call, he showered faster than usual. After finishing, he quickly threw on his pajamas and came out, not even bothering to dry his hair.
Ji Su sat cross-legged on the bed, opened WeChat, and initiated the video call.
A few seconds later, the call connected, and a handsome face appeared on the screen.
Gu Zhao had also just finished showering. His damp bangs fell over his forehead, giving off a wet, sensual vibe.
Ji Su's mood lifted instantly, and he greeted with a smile, "Good evening."
"Good evening." Gu Zhao responded. The camera shook a couple of times, then focused on his firm, well-defined chest. Beads of water rolled down the grooves of his abs.
Ji Su's eyes widened slightly. "Why aren't you wearing any clothes?"
Gu Zhao laughed. "How do you know I'm not wearing any?"
As he spoke, the camera continued to move downward.
Ji Su instinctively raised his hand to cover his eyes. "Why are you like this!"
A deep chuckle came through the phone. Feeling tricked, Ji Su couldn't help but part his fingers slightly and peek through the gap.
Gu Zhao was wearing pants—gray sweatpants loosely hanging on his hips a s seemingly pulled down a bit on purpose. Not only did they reveal his well-defined V-line, but they also showed off the bulging veins and a hint of...
Ji Su's blush instantly spread to his neck.
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