Chapter 43
They didn’t linger at the airport. Soon, they took a taxi to the hotel. Long Yu’s team was attending a high-level seminar, so the hotel was well-appointed. During the golden autumn season, many tourists were in Hainan, and the hotel lobby was crowded. While checking Fang Jing Yao in, Long Yu spoke quietly to him.
Fang Jing Yao had a lot to say, all spoken sweetly. “The flowers you sent were lovely. I was worried the vase wouldn’t last, so I planted them in a pot—hopefully they’ll survive a few more days.”
Long Yu was momentarily stunned. “I sent flowers again today—they should have arrived. Is anyone at home… like Yifan?”
Fang Jing Yao blinked. “You sent more? Yifan’s not here—I booked him a ticket yesterday, he left.”
Long Yu, unusually embarrassed, adjusted his glasses. “I went to school the other day to calm down. I didn’t know you were coming, and I felt bad leaving without seeing you, so I had flowers delivered every day for a few extra days. If no one was home, the delivery person probably left after a few tries.”
Fang Jing Yao covered his face, ears red. “…My mom’s home.”
Long Yu cleared his throat.
“How many days did you order them for?” Fang Jing Yao asked.
“…Two weeks,” Long Yu replied.
Fang Jing Yao thought Long Yu was amazing—he had timed it perfectly until Fang Jing Yao returned from Hainan. “Okay, no need to wait until we go home. My mom will be even happier seeing them than I am.”
Fang Jing Yao’s mother regularly visited Huang Bao’er to cook meals and kept an eye on the cat. Since they lived in the same neighborhood, seeing the deliveries wouldn’t have been missed.
It was their turn to check in. Long Yu handled it for him, telling the front desk: “12th floor, please.”
The receptionist was puzzled but agreed. Long Yu guided Fang Jing Yao to the room and pointed to the nearby opposite side. “I’m staying over there, very close. I’ll come by tonight.” He leaned close and whispered in Fang Jing Yao’s ear.
Fang Jing Yao smiled, adjusted his tie, and said, “Alright, I’ll wait for you.”
Long Yu had business to attend to and went to his meeting.
Fang Jing Yao felt reassured staying on the same floor. He called his mother to report his arrival. Since he often traveled, she wasn’t surprised and reminded him to be careful in the heat and avoid cold drinks to protect his stomach.
Fang Jing Yao wanted to mention the flowers but felt embarrassed. “Mom, did you go to Huang Bao’er’s today?”
“Yes, I’m here now. Why?”
Fang Jing Yao covered his face. “…Did someone send something?”
“No,” she replied.
“Oh… okay. Just checking.”
Later, Fang Jing Yao unpacked at the hotel while watching Bao’er eat. The cat ate heartily, oblivious to him. After twenty minutes, Fang Jing Yao was satisfied and said goodbye, finishing his unpacking.
The north was already autumn, but Hainan still felt like summer. In a rush, Fang Jing Yao had brought mismatched clothes. He decided to buy something outside to make do.
Long Yu finished his meeting early, skipping other engagements to return. Though calm on the surface, he was internally thrilled, eager to have dinner with Fang Jing Yao. The thought alone made him smile.
He knocked on the room door and saw Fang Jing Yao holding two sets of new clothes, ready to change. “Wait for me, I’ll change quickly—it’s so hot, I’m sweating,” Fang Jing Yao said.
He stepped into the bathroom, followed by Long Yu.
Fang Jing Yao looked surprised. “Are you using the bathroom? Wait a moment—very quick…”
Long Yu’s eyes stayed on him. As Fang Jing Yao lifted his clothes, Long Yu stepped closer, pressing him against the wall, nuzzling his shoulder gently with his teeth.
Fang Jing Yao shivered and pushed lightly. “You again? Chen Xi almost laughed at me this morning. Look at my neck—the marks haven’t even faded.”
Long Yu chuckled behind him, holding him close. “I think you look better without clothes than with them.”
Fang Jing Yao said, “I think you’re even more… bold than before.”
“How bold?” Long Yu asked.
Fang Jing Yao’s ears burned. “Ah, Long Yu! Stop biting! I didn’t realize you were this kind of person… Can you let go? Are we going out to eat or not?”
Long Yu’s voice was hoarse. “Not going out.”
All their plans for a sweet, romantic dinner were disrupted. Fang Jing Yao had scoped out a restaurant and imagined a cozy evening, but Long Yu’s boldness was stronger than any of his plans.
Long Yu, feeling the heat of the moment, gave in to his desire for the first time in twenty-eight years.
Originally, Long Yu had planned to avoid his colleagues and sneak off to see Fang Jing Yao at night, but by the time he fully woke up and let go of Fang Jing Yao, it was already past midnight.
Fang Jing Yao was utterly exhausted from all the rough handling. He lay there, letting Long Yu hand him a glass of water, waving him off to go.
Long Yu didn’t leave. He sat on the edge of the bed and said, “You were just holding me, not letting me go.” He was wearing a bathrobe, hair still damp, and bent to plant a kiss on Fang Jing Yao, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his eyes. “I’ll carry you to wash—water’s already warmed.”
Fang Jing Yao’s back hurt so much he could barely move, and he stubbornly replied, “No need, I can manage myself.”
Long Yu lifted him up, pressing his nose to Fang Jing Yao’s. “I’ll do it. I made it, I’m responsible.”
Fang Jing Yao was tall himself, and being lifted so suddenly took him by surprise. He quickly looped his arms around Long Yu. “Long Yu, I’m heavy. Can you handle me? If you drop me, I’ll really be mad…”
Long Yu held him steadily, walking to the bathroom to help him bathe. Halfway there, Fang Jing Yao’s comment almost made him give in to a playful reaction, but he’d already indicated he was more than capable.
Fang Jing Yao coldly refused the idea.
Long Yu applied shampoo to his head, washing his hair while sighing: “You were praising me just now, and now you’re not listening at all.”
“I was calling you ‘brother’ just now—did you hear that?!” Fang Jing Yao shot back, irritated.
Long Yu chuckled—a small, sweet smile. He finished washing him thoroughly, eyes never leaving him. At first, Fang Jing Yao was shy, but when Long Yu complimented him, he said seriously, “This is the most beautiful body I’ve ever seen.”
Fang Jing Yao wanted to add, “You’ve seen how many?” but then remembered Long Yu’s profession and fell silent. After all, after all these years in medical school, Long Yu probably had seen quite a few. Fang Jing Yao twitched his lips and decided to be straightforward, showing himself freely.
The bath took over half an hour. Long Yu’s small playful gestures continued but didn’t tire him out—just a few extra kisses were enough to satisfy him.
Long Yu’s biological clock wasn’t working today. Though it was late, he wasn’t sleepy. Fang Jing Yao, on the other hand, was exhausted. Wrapped in the blanket, he just wanted a simple sleep.
Long Yu couldn’t sleep either. He rolled over, hugging him softly. “Not chat for five more minutes?”
Fang Jing Yao closed his eyes, reached out, found his mouth, and pressed a hand over it. “Stop talking. Go sleep.”
Long Yu kissed his palm, gently rubbed it, savoring the touch. “You were praising me just now.”
The pause was long. Long Yu was likely waiting for a response—and some praise.
Fang Jing Yao thought, Of course I praised you! If I didn’t, you wouldn’t have worked so hard earlier. You were practically reckless. Fang Jing Yao had more or less figured out Long Yu’s temperament. Praise him, and the little side of him swells—he might react calmly on the surface, but his actions speed up.
Long Yu couldn’t resist asking again: “Was I good just now?”
“Excellent. Sleep now, or I’ll get up and suck your yang energy,” Fang Jing Yao replied dismissively, yawning and nestling into Long Yu’s embrace. He heard Long Yu laugh and mutter through his nose: “Tomorrow, I wonder how you’ll explain this to your colleagues…”
Long Yu didn’t return home that night. The next day, he went straight to the conference.
