Zou Yang’s fever still hadn’t broken. Every inch of skin Fan Jun’s palm touched was scalding hot, and his ragged breathing carried a scorching heat that quickly burned away his last trace of hesitation.

This was a completely different sensation from usual.

Every tiny touch he landed on Zou Yang was like adding a handful of firewood to a burning flame.

Along the lips, between the teeth.

Every bite was firm.

With a trace of guilt hidden beneath the intense arousal, he trailed down from Zou Yang’s throat, leaving a string of red brands on the rising and falling skin…

He kissed his way back up to Zou Yang’s neck, lingering over the pulse beating beneath the skin.

With his right ear pressed close to Zou Yang’s breath, he closed his eyes, greedily and carefully savoring the sound.

Sometimes deep, sometimes hurried, rising and falling with the shifts in his rhythm.

Occasionally, it would drag out a low, hoarse sigh.

Like a tiny fallen leaf tapping the surface of a lake—just a light touch, yet the ripples it sent out rippled all the way to the deepest core of his body.

“Are you…” Zou Yang’s hoarse voice leaked out softly between gasps, the tail end of his words carrying a slight tremble, “…listening?”

The voice was like fire, piercing his eardrums, burning into his blood, and being pumped through his entire body by his boiling heartbeat.

“Yeah,” Fan Jun replied.

Zou Yang’s arms wrapped around his shoulders, slowly tightening.

Drawing closer by the millimeter, pulling taut by the inch…

Fan Jun tilted his head slightly and gently rubbed his lips against the crook of Zou Yang’s elbow.

Then he pulled Zou Yang’s arms away, slowly straightened up, and trailed kisses all the way down to the inside of his wrists.

When the warm breath left him, Zou Yang felt a trace of chill tinged with emptiness.

He reached out toward Fan Jun, his fingertips brushing across his chest.

“I’m cold…”

Fan Jun didn’t make a sound. His palm simply returned to Zou Yang’s side, trailing slowly downward from his waist, to his leg…

A kiss landed on his ankle.

It was a sensation he had never felt before, like a tiny firework detonating, sparks bursting upward along his nerves. Even his breathing was blasted into a momentary pause.

He heard his own very soft sigh.

Fan Jun pulled open the drawer of the nightstand.

Through his own heartbeat, Zou Yang could clearly hear Fan Jun’s every movement—tearing open the packaging, twisting off the cap…

Following a slight coolness came Fan Jun’s breath splashing against his face, and fingers that nearly dug into his waist.

He instinctively arched his body, wanting to escape, but Fan Jun gripped his shoulders.

“Relax.”

“I…” Zou Yang didn’t know what he wanted to say. His consciousness swayed between chaos and clarity.

In the next second, Fan Jun’s palm covered the rest of his unfinished sentence.

His gasps were paused along with it.

The pain acted like an accelerant.

The craving deep within his heart ignited his blood and burned through his nerves. Flames seemed to dance across his skin; everywhere they reached was swallowed by total surrender.

…

“Zou Yang…” Fan Jun’s voice emerged from the chaotic panting by his ear.

“Hmm?” Zou Yang answered in a low voice, laced with a slight tremor.

Fan Jun bit down on his earlobe: “Call my name.”

“Fan Jun.” Zou Yang’s fingertips dug deeply between his shoulder blades.

“Again.” Fan Jun lowered his head and bit his shoulder, his tongue brushing against scorching heat.

“Jun’er…” Zou Yang’s voice gradually faded, leaving only trembling breaths.

“Again.” Fan Jun pressed his right ear against his lips.

“…Gege.”

Fan Jun didn’t say another word.

Every single emotion was unleashed in this silent entanglement…

The sky outside the window had already turned dark, and the light from the streetlamps illuminated the bedroom ceiling.

Zou Yang lay motionless, watching the faint halos of light slowly spinning and expanding outward.

The buzzing in his ears hadn’t faded even after several minutes.

“Should I turn on the light?” Fan Jun turned on his side and hugged him, rubbing the tip of his nose against the tip of Zou Yang’s ear.

“No,” Zou Yang closed his eyes. “Haven’t you looked enough?”

Fan Jun smiled but didn’t speak.

“I’m so hungry,” Zou Yang whispered.

“What do you want to eat?” Fan Jun asked. “I’ll order takeout.”

“Don’t know,” Zou Yang said. “Anything salty is fine.”

“Okay,” Fan Jun reached for his phone. Still keeping his arms around him, he tapped the screen right next to Zou Yang’s face. “Let’s have noodles. A small portion of braised pork noodles.”

“Why a small portion?” Zou Yang asked.

“Because you ate that massive ‘Lu Ze pursuit’ meal at noon,” Fan Jun said. “It’s so late, I really shouldn’t be letting you eat carbs again…”

“Understood, Coach Fan,” Zou Yang said.

After placing the order, Fan Jun tossed the phone aside and nuzzled into the hollow of his shoulder. “Wanna shower?”

“Yeah.” Zou Yang opened his eyes.

“I’ll carry—” Fan Jun sat up.

“No, no, no, no,” Zou Yang sat up as well. “I can walk by myself.”

But he quickly realized he was still incredibly dizzy, and following the wave of vertigo, he collapsed back onto the bed.

“That’s not what I meant,” Fan Jun laughed. “Aren’t you dizzy from the fever?”

“I think… I feel like…” Zou Yang turned his head to look at him, “I don’t have a fever anymore?”

Fan Jun cupped the back of his head, leaned in, and kissed his forehead to test the temperature. “It does seem less…”

He paused for two seconds and cleared his throat: “…scalding hot than before.”

Zou Yang looked at him, narrowing his eyes slightly. His voice was still hoarse and a bit nasal: “What are you thinking about?”

“Right now…” Fan Jun cleared his throat again, “what else could I be thinking about?”

Zou Yang didn’t speak. After a moment, he laughed: “Fuck.”

“Should I drag you over to shower?” Fan Jun hugged him tighter. “If you don’t want to wash right now, cover up a bit, don’t catch a cold again…”

“I’ll wash,” Zou Yang said. “I can start feeling the heat now. The fever definitely broke.”

“Let’s go then.” Fan Jun pulled him up from the bed, hugged him from behind, and half-pushed, half-carried him into the bathroom.

Hot water sprayed from the showerhead. Zou Yang reached out to test the temperature: “Hotter.”

“Not enough?” Fan Jun also reached out to check.

“I’m cold.” Zou Yang’s throat was still a bit raspy, carrying a sexiness that made one’s heart tremble slightly.

“You just said you could feel the heat…” Fan Jun turned the water temperature up.

Just as Fan Jun was about to step out of the bathroom, Zou Yang leaned against the wall, tilting his head slightly: “Together.”

“…Okay.” Fan Jun reached back and closed the bathroom door.

It was a single-person enclosed shower stall, and the space was very tight. With two people squeezed inside, they were basically pressed right against each other.

Zou Yang grabbed him, spun him a half-circle, pinned him against the wall, and leaned in.

The water from the showerhead cascaded from above like scorching rain, flowing down Zou Yang’s body and washing over his own.

In that instant, his hands resting on Zou Yang’s waist tightened slightly. He couldn’t help but reminisce about being held tightly by him, being enveloped by him… and the temperature that belonged uniquely to Zou Yang.

Zou Yang pressed against his ear and let out a long breath.

“Tired?” Fan Jun asked softly.

“Did it feel good?” Zou Yang asked.

Fan Jun paused, then burst out laughing: “Why… are you the one asking that?”

“You ask then.” Zou Yang hooked his chin over Fan Jun’s shoulder, half-leaning, half-hanging onto him.

“…Did it feel good?” Fan Jun had no choice but to ask.

“Pretty damn good,” Zou Yang smiled, but quickly clicked his tongue. “But it also… hurt.”

“Mm.” Fan Jun ruffled his hair.

“I can’t catch my breath,” Zou Yang said, taking a sharp inhale.

The movements of Fan Jun’s hands stopped. In a flash, he was transported back to a dozen minutes ago; Zou Yang’s hurried, chaotic gasping wrapped in the sound of water rushed from his memory straight into his ears.

He held Zou Yang tightly, lowered his head, and bit down on his shoulder.

“Motherfucker…” Zou Yang sighed. “I meant right now.”

…Oh.

Right now.

Fan Jun bit him until he was satisfied before letting go, reaching out to push the bathroom door open a crack.

The steam quickly dissipated.

Zou Yang rubbed his shoulder, then leaned against the wall and looked down at the trail of red marks stretching from his chest to his lower abdomen. “Did you do that on purpose? I bit you once, and you nearly tore me apart…”

“My teeth aren’t that good,” Fan Jun whispered.

“The marks are practically 3D,” Zou Yang touched a bite mark on his waist. “They’re raised, holy shit.”

“I didn’t use that much force,” Fan Jun touched his own shoulder; he could still faintly feel the small indent from where Zou Yang had bitten him earlier. “It’s just that you’re quite… sensitive.”

“Huh?” Zou Yang looked at him.

“Your skin is sensitive,” Fan Jun said. “The type where a single scratch gets red and swollen.”

“Bullshit,” Zou Yang lowered his head under the water. “You just bit hard.”

“Yeah,” Fan Jun turned his face and nuzzled against his ear. “I just wanted to tear you apart and eat you, chew you clean, meat and bones included.”

“Fuck.” Zou Yang shook the water off himself.

This shower set the record for the longest shower Fan Jun had ever taken in his life.

He practically stood under the hot water with Zou Yang, rinsing and chatting, dawdling for over half an hour.

His fingertips were pruned.

Thank goodness it was late and the takeout delivery was slow, otherwise he would have had to run out butt-naked midway through to grab the food.

Zou Yang flopped face-down onto the freshly made bed, dragging out a long sound: “Ah—”

“Does it hurt?” Fan Jun turned to look at him, a bit worried.

He really had been quite… reckless earlier. A few times Zou Yang instinctively tried to pull away, but he forcefully held him down.

“Sigh,” Zou Yang turned his head to look at him. “Do you have that little confidence in yourself?”

“How am I supposed to have confidence?” Fan Jun lay down next to him, turning his head to match his gaze. “I have no experience.”

“You have my experience,” Zou Yang said.

“…Is that how it works?” Fan Jun asked.

“Yeah,” Zou Yang nodded.

“Zou Yang,” Fan Jun hesitated, then leaned in a bit closer, his voice very low. “Do you… do you think I was… too…”

“Wild?” Zou Yang asked.

“…Yeah.” Fan Jun suddenly felt a little too embarrassed to look Zou Yang straight in the eyes.

“No,” Zou Yang said. “I like it. I’m a pervert.”

Fan Jun was at a loss for words for a moment.

“I’d still like it even if it wasn’t wild,” Zou Yang added. “After all, I’m not a pervert twenty-four-seven.”

Fan Jun couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“Zou Yang.” He used his finger to lightly trace Zou Yang’s face.

“What’s up, Gege?” Zou Yang said.

Fan Jun’s finger paused.

“Do you like it when other people call you Ge (Brother)?” Zou Yang asked.

“No, there are so many people who call me Ge,” Fan Jun thought about it. “It’s just when you call me that… it’s…”

“Hmm?” Zou Yang quirked the corner of his mouth.

“Very stimulating,” Fan Jun said.

The phone and the doorbell suddenly ringing at the exact same time was also quite stimulating.

Zou Yang pulled the quilt over himself.

Fan Jun practically vaulted straight from the bed to a standing position on the floor.

“Takeout.” He grabbed his phone and glanced at it.

“Is the takeout in your Trade City area always this vibe?” Zou Yang was a bit speechless.

Fan Jun threw on some sleepwear, went over to open the door, and took the food.

“Sorry about that, bit of a rush, almost went over the time limit…” Before the delivery guy even finished his sentence, he had vanished into the elevator.

“Thanks,” Fan Jun closed the door, pulling the food containers out of the bag. “Are you eating in bed, or sitting here?”

“Coming,” Zou Yang walked out while putting his clothes on. “If I said I was eating in bed, would you kill me?”

“I’d make you clean the bed before killing you,” Fan Jun said.

The noodles were decent. Because the sauce and noodles were packed separately, they weren’t too clumpy despite the delay.

Coupled with the fact that he was starving, Zou Yang buried his head and scarfed it down, finding it extremely delicious.

“Are you still dizzy?” Fan Jun asked.

“Huh?” Zou Yang paused, taking a few seconds to evaluate his condition, then shook his head. “I don’t think… I’m dizzy anymore.”

“Seeing the way you eat, it definitely looks like you’re not dizzy anymore.” Fan Jun smiled.

“Cured by a fuck, Doctor Fan.” Zou Yang dropped the line casually while chewing.

Fan Jun froze, and a moment later violently choked. He bolted up, rushed into the bathroom, and coughed for half a minute before coming back out.

“You’re probably not fully recovered yet,” he sat back down at the table. “I swear to god, does your fever exclusively target your brain…”

“Now that you got what you wanted, you’re starting to despise me.” Zou Yang clicked his tongue.

“…Just hurry up and eat,” Fan Jun sighed.

The next day was his observation day.

Zou Yang had never seen Fan Jun in such a frantic rush.

Last night, he had fallen asleep the moment he hit the bed, not even getting the chance to chat with Fan Jun a bit more. He didn’t know when Fan Jun fell asleep, but he knew Fan Jun woke up late.

Not only was there no breakfast, but they didn’t even have time to walk the dog this morning.

Fan Jun had no choice but to drag Xiao Bai—who absolutely refused to use the bathroom indoors—to the front door. He held a plastic bag under him and spent two minutes coaxing him, promising that once Xiao Yang Gege left, he would take him out properly.

“I can actually head over there myself,” Zou Yang said.

“It’s about to be morning rush hour, I’m worried taking a cab will make you late,” Fan Jun said, grabbing Zou Yang’s backpack off the sofa. “I’ll ride the e-bike and drop you off, it’ll be faster.”

“I can ride it myself too,” Zou Yang said.

“I’m worried you… from yesterday…” Fan Jun walked toward the door, “aren’t feeling well.”

He was actually fine; it wasn’t overly uncomfortable.

However, since Fan Jun didn’t have to be at work early, having him drop him off at No. 7 High School was definitely the best option.

Zou Yang leaned against his back, holding his phone to text Liu Wenrui.

[Zou Yang]: Bring me some breakfast.

Respect replied with a photo of his hand gripping three xiaolongbao.

[Zou Yang]: Okay, get me a drink too.

Respect sent another photo holding a bottle of soy milk.

[Zou Yang]: I don’t want soy milk.

[Respect]: A. Soy milk B. Shit.

[Zou Yang]: A.

[Respect]: Bought it. Waiting for you in the office.

Just as they neared the school, his phone rang. It was his mom.

“Mom?” He answered the phone, pressing his forehead against Fan Jun’s back to shield himself from the wind.

“Are you doing your observation today?” Mom asked.

“Yeah, heading there now. What’s up?” Zou Yang asked.

“At noon… no, this afternoon, or whenever you have time,” Mom said. “They’ve issued two critical condition notices for your dad… It’s probably not looking good. Do you want to go take a look?”

Regarding his dad’s condition, he actually wasn’t too surprised. With that level of severe burns—just like Liu Wenrui’s first reaction yesterday being that he would burn to death—it was essentially a fatal trajectory.

He sighed lightly: “I’ll go see him at noon. The time is enough anyway, ICU visits only last a short while.”

“Just take a look and leave. Don’t talk too much with your aunts and uncles,” Mom said.

“Afraid I’ll get into a fight with them?” Zou Yang smiled.

“I’m not afraid of that,” Mom said. “I’m afraid that if they can’t out-argue you, they’ll hit you. There are so many of them, and you’re alone.”

“What are you thinking,” Zou Yang clicked his tongue. “Do you think I don’t know how to run?”

“Do you want me to go with you?” Fan Jun asked.

“No need, go to work,” Zou Yang said. “It’s not like Boss He isn’t paying you a salary. Stop running out all the time.”

Fan Jun smiled: “Then don’t go alone either. Ask Liu Wenrui and the guys to go with you. It feels like everyone on your dad’s side is on a hair-trigger right now.”

“Yeah, I have to eat lunch with them anyway, I’ll just bring them along,” Zou Yang said.

The guys in his dorm had always been very enthusiastic in responding to this kind of thing.

“Hurry up and eat,” Liu Wenrui leaned against the corridor railing. “There might be a fierce battle at noon.”

“Battle what,” Zou Yang shot him a glance. “You want to beat up my dad’s relatives?”

“Can I not?” Liu Wenrui said. “Did I stop you when you beat up my cousin?”

“You’re really playing the ten-year revenge long game here, huh,” Zou Yang laughed.

“We still don’t know the situation over there,” Liu Wenrui lowered his voice. “I just chatted with Senior Zhou about the situation in her class. Zou Tianrui took a month off.”

“With this suddenly happening to her family,” Zou Yang took a bite of a bun, “let alone a month off, taking a leave of absence wouldn’t be surprising. She and my dad actually had a pretty good relationship.”

Liu Wenrui sighed.

When morning classes finished, the group didn’t dawdle and directly grabbed a cab to the hospital together.

Visiting hours were only half an hour long, and no more than two people could enter at the same time. After sanitizing, they also had to put on isolation gear…

Liu Wenrui accompanied Zou Yang into the ward.

Zou Yang stood beside the hospital bed, which was surrounded by a mess of monitors and machines. Aside from his head, almost his dad’s entire body was wrapped in gauze. The exposed parts showed pink-white flesh amidst the charcoal-black burns, and the tubes by the bed were filled with bloody foam…

Looking at his father, who was almost unrecognizable, he called out “Dad” and couldn’t say anything else.

“Uncle,” Liu Wenrui spoke up beside him. “Zou Yang came to see you.”

His dad’s hand twitched.

Zou Yang stepped forward and gently touched his dad’s fingers with his gloved hand.

His dad’s eyes kept looking in his direction, but they were unfocused. It was unclear if he could actually see him at all.

They didn’t stay in the ward for too long. Although Zou Yang hadn’t had much affection for his dad these past few years, even if it were a complete stranger, seeing them in this state would be hard to stomach.

When leaving the ward, Zou Yang saw Zou Tianrui. It had only been two days, but she had lost a ton of weight, her hair was a mess, and she sat spaced out on a chair at the end of the corridor.

“Xiao Yang,” his second uncle-in-law walked over. He was the only person on his dad’s side of the family whom Zou Yang was still willing to patiently exchange a few words with. “With your dad’s condition right now, it’s probably… the doctor says he’s in extreme agony right now…”

Zou Yang remained silent.

His second uncle-in-law glanced back toward the hallway window: “People from his company came too, and his lawyer was here today… Your dad has a will, the specific details aren’t clear yet…”

“Mm,” Zou Yang responded.

“When the time comes… the lawyer will notify you,” the uncle-in-law said.

“Mm,” Zou Yang nodded. “I’ll be leaving then, I have classes in the afternoon.”

After stepping out of the hospital’s main gate, while Liu Wenrui and the others discussed where to grab a bite, Zou Yang kept staring at the cars and pedestrians passing back and forth on the road.

He couldn’t describe the feeling. The initial shock and fear had passed. Right now, he wasn’t terribly sad, nor did he feel any sense of vindication that the cheating scumbag had finally gotten his comeuppance. He just felt very unreal, with a touch of melancholy.

It was as if in a long life, a page—one that could be considered important but also somewhat inconsequential—had just been turned over.

He took out his phone and dialed Fan Jun’s number.

Fan Jun answered almost in a second: “How is it?”

“It doesn’t look good, he probably won’t make it,” Zou Yang said. “I’m fine.”

“Mm,” Fan Jun replied.

“Let’s go back to Nanzhouping for dinner tonight,” Zou Yang said.