Chapter 28: I Feel Like You’re Nice to Hug
After walking the dog, Xie Siheng returned to find Chi Wang sitting on the living room sofa in his pajamas, typing on a laptop.
Xie didn’t think Chi Wang was waiting for him, so he quietly went about his own business. He first changed his shoes, then had Xiaomi step on a mat to clean his paws, and finally removed the dog’s leash. Xiaomi cooperated by giving a swift shake of his head.
Chi Wang’s voice rang out in praise, “Xiaomi is so smart; that head shake was worthy of a movie star!”
He always praised people and animals sincerely, and combined with his beautiful smile, anyone being complimented by him would feel especially pleased. Some people just have that kind of charm.
Xie glanced down at Xiaomi. The dog wagged his tail happily and rushed over to Chi Wang, extending his paw. Chi Wang genuinely reached out to hold it firmly, even though he had a bit of a cleanliness obsession and Xiaomi’s paws weren’t exactly spotless.
“Good boy, Xiaomi. Let me help you wash your paws,” Chi Wang said. He put down his laptop and led Xiaomi to the fish pond in the backyard to wash his paws, then dried them on a carpet. After finishing, he patted Xiaomi’s backside and said, “Go play by yourself now.”
Xiaomi obediently returned to his own bed.
Chi Wang washed his hands and then picked up his laptop again, sitting cross-legged on the sofa as he continued typing.
It was the first time Xie saw Chi Wang using a computer, and he noticed how fast he typed.
He hesitated for a moment before walking over. Glancing at the sofa but not sitting down, he stood beside it and asked, “What are you doing?”
Xie was tall, and standing there, he cast a large shadow like a wall. However, Chi Wang seemed unaffected, not even lifting his eyelids. “Working,” he replied.
Xie frowned slightly. “Working? Another part-time job?”
“Mm-hmm,” Chi Wang responded.
“How many jobs do you have now?” Xie asked.
Without slowing his typing speed, Chi Wang answered, “Still two. I quit the dog-walking and caddie jobs but kept the tutoring and work-from-home ones.”
Xie fell silent.
So Chi Wang had initially been juggling four jobs?
His tone softened a bit. “How long do you plan to keep working?”
Without looking up, Chi Wang said, “I’ll keep going. When it’s time to give birth, I might take a few days off.”
Xie was speechless.
Chi Wang seemed to remember something. “Oh, by the way, the light in my bedroom is broken. Could you help hold the ladder for me later while I fix it?”
“… You know how to fix it?” Xie asked.
“Sure do. Except for plumbing, I can handle a bit of everything,” Chi Wang said.
Xie was silent for a moment before saying, “No need. I’ll find someone to fix it.”
Chi Wang looked up at him. “I can fix it myself. Why spend the money? I’ve fixed the neighbors’ bulbs, fridges, and TVs. I’m pretty handy.”
“But you’re pregnant. You shouldn’t be doing these kinds of things,” Xie said.
These words stopped Chi Wang from arguing further. Reluctantly, he said, “Alright then, I’ll find someone to fix it. They should be able to come tomorrow morning. Can you let them in?”
Xie agreed.
“Great. I’ll contact them later,” Chi Wang said.
Xie finally sat down.
Chi Wang glanced at him and smoothly shifted over to make room.
Xie caught a whiff of Chi Wang’s scent. Even though the weather was cold, Chi Wang felt warm, exuding a cozy fragrance.
A hint of confusion flickered in Xie’s dark eyes. Suddenly, he said, “I want to hug you.”
Chi Wang was taken aback.
Do you hear yourself? he thought.
Maintaining his composure, Chi Wang replied, “You can, but why the sudden urge?”
Lowering his gaze, Xie’s long black eyelashes concealed the emotions in his eyes. In a cool voice, he answered, “I feel like you’re nice to hug.”
Chi Wang paused.
Stay calm; it’s just a small matter, he told himself.
Smiling, he said, “Alright then.”
He put down his laptop, uncrossed his legs, and generously opened his arms toward Xie.
Under the bright lights, Chi Wang’s face looked beautiful, his smile radiant. Though his frame was somewhat slender, Xie knew he wasn’t weak.
Xie slowly leaned in and extended his arms to embrace Chi Wang.
Even through several layers of fabric, Chi Wang’s warmth permeated into Xie’s embrace. Before hugging him, Xie hadn’t realized, but once he did, he found Chi Wang’s body soft yet resilient—a physique full of strength.
At that moment of the hug, Xie’s tense spirit suddenly relaxed, enveloped by a comforting warmth.
He tightened his arms around Chi Wang, holding him a bit more firmly. His face lightly brushed against Chi Wang’s shoulder, and his slightly short hair tickled Chi Wang’s ear, causing him to tilt his head slightly.
Though unsure why Xie wanted to hug him, Chi Wang wrapped his arms around Xie’s waist—realizing, to his surprise, how slim it was. As his hands moved upward, he felt the broadness of Xie’s back. Finally, he grasped Xie’s shoulders from behind. “Hey—”
A brief hug was fine, but holding on too long felt a bit odd. He gently pushed Xie but couldn’t budge him. “—Is that enough?”
Xie’s hoarse voice murmured in his ear, “Let me hold you a little longer.”
Chi Wang was perplexed but had no evidence that anything was amiss.
Xie continued to hold him for quite a while without letting go. Chi Wang urged, “Are you done hugging?”
Only then did Xie reluctantly release him, slowly stepping back. In a slightly low voice, he said, “Sorry.”
Seeing a flush on Xie’s face, Chi Wang instinctively reached out to touch his forehead, but Xie caught his hand, preventing him.
“Are you feeling unwell?” Chi Wang asked.
“No. I’m tired; I’m going to sleep,” Xie replied.
With that, he stood up and hurried upstairs.
Chi Wang was bewildered. “Wait, he’s leaving just like that?”
Feeling a bit puzzled but not dwelling on it, he picked up his laptop and continued working.
Back in his bedroom, Xie didn’t even shower. To preserve that hint of sleepiness, he immediately got into bed. With an almost compulsive precision, he set the room’s temperature and humidity to specific values before closing his eyes.
This time, his consciousness gradually blurred, and he actually fell asleep.
But it wasn’t long before Xie slowly opened his eyes. Glancing at his phone, he saw that he’d only slept for just over an hour.
He remained silent.
After a while, he got up and took a shower.
After his shower, he sent Chi Wang a message: [Are you asleep?]
Chi Wang was chatting with Luo Lianyun and Shu Tingyu in his room. Seeing Xie’s message pop up, he was momentarily surprised. Switching screens, he replied, [About to sleep. What’s up?]
He noticed the “Xie is typing…” indicator appearing intermittently.
Soon, Xie’s message came through: [Your room doesn’t have a light; it’s inconvenient. You can sleep in my room.]
Chi Wang replied, [Huh?]
Xie continued, [You’re pregnant; it’s inconvenient. Having someone nearby to take care of you would be better.]
Chi Wang lifted his pajama top to look at his stomach. Lying down, his belly was still flat, but sitting up, there was a slight bulge. Maybe it was psychological, but he felt like his abdominal muscles were fading; only under specific lighting could he see the outlines.
Of course, reduced exercise played a part.
He picked up his phone and typed quickly: [No need. I can manage on my own. I don’t usually need you to take care of me. Yes, I’m pregnant, but I’m not disabled.]
Material support was one thing, but having someone beside him—what difference would it make?
Was Xie planning to help him use the bathroom at night?
Confident in his reply, Chi Wang noticed that Xie didn’t message back.
But Chi Wang forgot how unlucky he could be. After putting down his phone and preparing to sleep, just as he lay down and tried to find the most comfortable position, his leg suddenly cramped.
He wasn’t usually sensitive to pain, but the sharp ache of a muscle cramp was different. He felt it immediately. For something to make him feel pain so quickly, it had to be intense.
He tried to massage his leg but couldn’t reach the right spot due to his position. Left with no choice, he grabbed his phone and summoned Xie for help.
Might as well use the free labor.
Xie arrived and politely knocked on the door three times. Chi Wang wondered why he bothered—did Xie think he’d be doing something unspeakable while limping around the room?
“Come in,” Chi Wang called out.
Only then did Xie open the door and enter.
He left the door open, and the bright hallway light spilled into the bedroom. In the half-light, Chi Wang’s attractive face appeared both hazy and delicate, exuding a subtle charm.
Seeing a small bottle in Xie’s hand, Chi Wang asked about it.
“Moisturizing lotion,” Xie replied.
Xie sat down at the edge of the bed, grasped Chi Wang’s ankle, and pulled his leg onto his own knee. With one hand, he rolled up Chi Wang’s loose pajama pants above the knee, revealing a straight, smooth calf.
Xie’s warm palm still held Chi Wang’s ankle, the heat making Chi Wang slightly uncomfortable, but he remained silent, his beautiful eyes watching Xie.
Xie quickly released his grip on the ankle. He opened the lotion bottle, squeezed some into his palm, warmed it up, and began applying it to Chi Wang’s calf.
The pain wasn’t severe, but the muscle cramp had left the calf tense. The pale skin quivered under Xie’s touch, with slight twitches beneath the surface.
Lowering his eyes, Xie focused on Chi Wang’s leg. Even without trying, the fair, jade-like skin filled his vision.
Chi Wang wasn’t short, with a well-proportioned figure and long legs. His frame was slender, so his legs were slim but not skinny. Instead, they were evenly toned, the muscles supple and full of strength—clearly the legs of someone who exercised regularly.
Xie said nothing, silently massaging his calf and part of his thigh. His strong hands left red marks with each press, warming the skin to a gentle heat.
Chi Wang didn’t make a sound.
Looking up slightly, Xie asked, “Does it still hurt?”
After pondering for a moment, Chi Wang replied, “I think there’s still a bit of pain.”
Catching the key phrase, Xie questioned, “‘I think’?”
Chi Wang explained, “I’m not very sensitive to pain. It seems like it still hurts a little.”
Hearing him say this so casually, Xie fell silent.
He pressed a bit harder, massaging Chi Wang’s leg until it turned rosy and the skin grew warm.
Chi Wang praised his massage skills, “That feels great. Even without the cramp, it’s comfortable. Could you massage my back too? I’ve been tired lately and have some backache.”
Xie commented, “That’s a symptom caused by pregnancy.”
Chi Wang paused, thought about it, and said, “Alright.”
Indeed, the backache had only started recently; he hadn’t had so many issues before.
After finishing with his leg, Xie moved to massage his back.
Chi Wang lifted his pajama top, revealing a large expanse of smooth, fair skin and a slender waist.
Xie considered telling him it wasn’t necessary—that he could massage over the clothes—but seeing that Chi Wang had already exposed his back, he said nothing.
He looked down at Chi Wang, who was lying comfortably, his face resting on a pillow. “Hurry up and massage me so I can sleep,” Chi Wang mumbled.
Open and carefree, cheerful and unburdened.
Xie was momentarily speechless.
XD