Chapter 7
It was like a person used to strict self-discipline suddenly taking a bite of junk food loaded with chemical additives—the stimulation on the taste buds was intense beyond compare.
Pei Zhi’s burning body heat felt like a powerful sedative being injected into his warm skin. That comfortable warmth traveled along his blood vessels to every part of his body, little by little soothing the agitation in Xie Ning that had gone uncomforted for so long. His craving was satisfied for a brief moment, only to rise again after the slightest pause, this time doubled.
Xie Ning lifted his lashes in confusion. After a long while, he slowly shook his head. “I… I’m fine.”
He immediately put some distance between himself and Pei Zhi, yet the lingering comfort on his skin kept reminding him of what had just happened.
Once he came back to his senses, his mind still felt light and dizzy. It seemed he really had suppressed his needs for too long. Like a spring compressed to the limit, the harder it was forced down, the more violently it rebounded.
The same kind of conversation, a similar scene, the same kind of accident.
It was as if Xie Ning were forcefully enduring something. An unclear flush had mixed into his pale, soft cheeks. The setting sun cast his skin in especially fine detail, and it also made the corners of his eyes look especially wet.
Even now, Pei Zhi could still catch the faint scent that belonged to Xie Ning.
Just like in that memory, Xie Ning quickly regained his composure. The vulnerability and helplessness from moments ago seemed as though they had only been a hallucination on Pei Zhi’s part. He was once again that calm, distant, effortlessly self-possessed Xie Ning.
Pei Zhi said, “Sorry. I shouldn’t have touched you. I couldn’t think of a better way.”
At the speed the motorcycle had been going, by the time anyone reacted, it would already have been too late. Most of the street racers around them were thrill-seekers who did not care whether they hit someone, nor did they care about the consequences.
Xie Ning said, “You don’t need to apologize to me. I was just startled.”
“But I really… don’t like being touched by other people.”
There was no way Xie Ning could tell Pei Zhi the real reason. Not even his parents knew that he had skin hunger. He had always relied on willpower to suppress his cravings, and he had always done a good job of it.
Yet both accidents had happened because of Pei Zhi.
Xie Ning knew they were accidents, but he did not like accidents like this. So once again, he could only use germaphobia as an excuse, to prevent any possible physical contact between himself and Pei Zhi in the future, even the kind of contact that was perfectly normal in ordinary social situations.
That contact just now had also made him somewhat wary.
At the moment, he did not even need especially intimate contact. Even something as simple as a hug made him feel… extremely comfortable.
A lot of people knew Xie Ning had germaphobia, so it was perfectly normal that he disliked being touched.
Pei Zhi gave a low acknowledgment, looking slightly distracted.
To be safe, Xie Ning decided to stay at his apartment that night. “You should go back to the dorm. I’m not going back tonight.”
“I’ll take you,” Pei Zhi said.
“I can just call a car.”
“Xie Ning, your face is very red.” Pei Zhi looked at him disapprovingly. “You seem like you have a fever.”
Originally, Pei Zhi had wanted to take Xie Ning to the hospital.
Even if not the hospital, then at least the campus clinic, so he could have his temperature checked.
Xie Ning said, “…I don’t have a fever.”
“Let me take you.”
Pei Zhi’s attitude was firm, so in the end, Xie Ning could only send him the address.
Xie Ning’s parents had bought him a high-end apartment. The security there was excellent, and outside vehicles were not allowed in. Normally, even deliveries and takeout had to go through the property staff, who disinfected them before bringing them upstairs. But it was a bit far from school.
Xie Ning said, “My studio is very close to my home. I originally wanted to take you there to have a look. But right now I really do feel a little… unwell.”
“Mm.” Pei Zhi steered with one hand, controlling the automatic gear shift with the other. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Xie Ning. Xie Ning’s complexion had already improved a lot. He said, “Get some rest early.”
“Thank you for driving me home.” Xie Ning was just about to unbuckle his seatbelt when Pei Zhi’s voice came again.
“Why did you choose me?” Pei Zhi asked the same question once more. “Why didn’t you keep choosing Shen Ye? Why did you choose me instead?”
The roots of Xie Ning’s lashes were still slightly damp, but his expression remained cool and calm. He undid the buckle and did not look into Pei Zhi’s eyes. “Because I like your… body.”
“It’s very perfect.”
…
The first thing Xie Ning did after getting home was take a shower.
Just now, Pei Zhi had pulled him into his arms. Even though the hug had lasted less than a minute, Xie Ning still felt as if his entire body had been covered in Pei Zhi’s scent.
A faint woody fragrance mixed with leather, full of domineering, forceful aggression.
Water ran noisily. In the hazy steam stood a pale, slender body. As Xie Ning showered, he thought in silence.
He had never had such a severe reaction before.
Recently, he could clearly feel that his skin hunger attacks were becoming more and more frequent, and each time more intense. Often, the craving seemed to build layer upon layer, impatient to break through the cage of reason.
What surprised him the most was that he did not dislike Pei Zhi’s touch.
Xie Ning had germaphobia, especially severe psychological germaphobia. He disliked other people getting close to him, especially strangers, let alone physical contact.
In both accidents, Pei Zhi had accidentally touched him, and neither time had the area of contact been particularly small. He should have been disgusted, but not once did he feel any revulsion.
On the contrary, it felt very comfortable and made him want even more contact.
Thinking about the timing, it was about time for him to see the doctor again.
Xie Ning wiped the water from his body, put on a bathrobe, and sent a message to his psychologist to make an appointment.
…
When Pei Zhi got back to the dorm, his mind was full of Xie Ning’s voice from before he got out of the car.
“Because I like your… body.”
“It’s very perfect.”
Pei Zhi had never thought his body was all that good, nor did he pay much attention to such things. He had heard compliments like that plenty of times before, but never once had they made him this restless.
That cool, detached voice lingered by his ear. Pei Zhi could not settle his thoughts, and once again he went out onto the balcony.
This was the sixth time he had gone to the balcony to look in the mirror.
Gu Nian, who was brushing his teeth, jumped in fright. “What’r you doin’, Bacon?”
After thinking for a moment, Pei Zhi asked, “Do you think… my body is good?”
Gu Nian brushed his teeth and mumbled unclearly, “Very good.”
“Is it still not good enough?” Pei Zhi muttered to himself. “If I sign up for a gym, would the results be even better?”
“?” Gu Nian rolled his eyes. “You already hit the genetic lottery. What more do you want? Can you not be so insane? Besides, you already train for so many hours every day, and you still want to sign up for a gym? Aren’t you afraid of working yourself to death?”
Pei Zhi could not take in a single word.
While showering, he repeatedly studied his own body. His abs seemed decent enough, but his Adonis belt could still use more work.
Pei Zhi grabbed his phone, opened a local app, picked the highest-rated gym nearby, contacted a personal trainer, and signed up for classes. Only then did he feel a little more at ease.
A WeChat message popped up.
[Ning: Have you thought it over?]
[Willing: Mm.]
[Ning: Does “mm” mean you’re willing to be my model?]
[Willing: Yes.]
[Ning: Are you free tomorrow? I’m free all day tomorrow, and I’m planning to go to my studio. If you’re free, just come straight to my place. The studio is very close to my home.]
[Willing: Do I need to shower?]
[Ning: You can shower at my place.]
The hand gripping the phone suddenly broke out in a hot sweat. Pei Zhi’s expression tightened, and for some reason he began to feel nervous.
When Pei Zhi suddenly stopped replying, Xie Ning thought he might be feeling anxious and tense.
A lot of people got camera anxiety. In real life they were perfectly relaxed and natural, but the moment a camera was pointed at them, their whole body stiffened.
[Ning: Have you done this before?]
[Willing: No.]
Pei Zhi typed the words one by one.
[Willing: I’m still a virgin.]
