Chapter 56
He Qingrui, recently caught up in his new relationship, started contemplating the next steps after he and his boyfriend, Yu Fei, made things official.
One day, leaving the library, he tugged on Tan Ning’s sleeve, pulling him to a quiet spot in the woods. Whispering, he asked, “Tan Ning, what was it like the first time you… you know… with Lin Song’an?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… Yu Fei invited me to go camping at Ningjiang Park this weekend.” He Qingrui’s face turned red.
“Do you want to go?”
He Qingrui nodded.
“You’re asking me what to prepare?”
“Mhm.”
“Condoms, lube—”
Tan Ning’s mouth was quickly covered by He Qingrui, who was bright red. “Ahh! Keep your voice down!”
Although He Qingrui was usually outgoing, always standing confidently in front of Tan Ning, he was definitely more nervous than Tan Ning when it came down to these things.
“Fine, fine. You just want to know if it hurts, right?”
“Does it?”
Tan Ning nodded. He Qingrui grimaced, his face full of horror. “Really?”
Seeing Lin Song’an the next day, He Qingrui was conflicted, glancing him over from head to toe, thinking: So dating a rich, handsome guy like Lin Song’an isn’t all fun and games after all—top-tier alpha or not, he’s lacking in technique.
Noticing He Qingrui’s expression, Lin Song’an squinted slightly and asked Tan Ning, “What’s with your roommate’s face?”
Tan Ning shook his head. “No idea.”
Completely unaware of the misunderstanding, Tan Ning was preoccupied with Lin Song’an’s upcoming birthday.
April 6 was just around the corner.
Since finalizing his plans to study abroad, Tan Ning had been thinking about how to celebrate Lin Song’an’s birthday this year. What kind of gift should he get? Should he plan something special?
A watch or bracelet wasn’t necessary since he’d already gifted those before. It was clear that, while they shared much in common, Lin Song’an didn’t entirely agree with Tan Ning’s taste, though he never said so directly.
Tan Ning had finally managed to stash away his oversized sweatshirts, but now a collection of loose, Japanese-style cotton shirts was taking over his wardrobe. Lin Song’an grimaced at the sight, but, wanting to encourage Tan Ning to explore his style, he still praised, “Looks great!”
Tan Ning gave him a sidelong glance, huffing, “Don’t think I don’t know what you used to call me in your contacts.”
Lin Song’an feigned innocence. “Isn’t it just ‘Pretty Kitty’?”
Unimpressed, Tan Ning folded his “potato sack” clothes into Lin Song’an’s designer wardrobe alongside his five-digit-priced outfits.
Tan Ning knew Lin Song’an was picky, especially about clothes.
In the past, he’d watched Lin Song’an’s contact name for him go from “Stray Cat in a Sack” to “Cold-Hearted Cat,” then to “Friends with Benefits,” and finally to “Little Cat with Claws.” It was clear Lin Song’an had been making compromises between Tan Ning’s tastes and Tan Ning himself.
Tan Ning couldn’t understand why Lin Song’an updated his contact names so often. He found it childish.
Two days before Lin Song’an’s birthday, his secretary informed him of a last-minute trip he couldn’t decline. Returning to his office after the meeting, it hit him—his birthday was only days away.
He glanced at his blue watch.
What would Tan Ning get him this time? he wondered.
Returning home, he casually lay beside Tan Ning after a shower, tugging slightly on Tan Ning’s robe belt to get his attention. “Tomorrow’s April fifth, Ning Ning. Got any plans?”
“No.” Tan Ning flipped a page in his book.
Feeling slightly ignored, Lin Song’an switched topics. “How’s your practice going with the speaking coach?”
Lin Song’an had set Tan Ning up with an English-speaking coach to prepare him for studying abroad, and Tan Ning had been regularly meeting her after classes.
“Not bad.”
“How old is she?” Lin Song’an remembered his friend’s coach as a middle-aged woman in her fifties who’d lived in Vancouver before returning to China with her husband and teaching kids for fun.
“Twenty.”
Lin Song’an’s voice rose. “What?”
“Twenty,” Tan Ning repeated. “A guy. The woman you mentioned is his mom. She’s been busy lately, so he’s practicing with me. His English is even better than hers.”
Lin Song’an’s guard went up. “Is he good-looking?”
Tan Ning glanced at him. “Yes.”
“Omega or beta?”
“Alpha.”
Lin Song’an shot up. “No, absolutely not. You can wait until his mom is free or find someone else.”
Tan Ning ignored him.
Lin Song’an leaned against him. “Why are you ignoring me, Little Cat Tan?”
“You’re so childish.”
Giving up on subtlety, Lin Song’an said directly, “Little Cat Tan, my birthday is the day after tomorrow.”
“Mm.”
“Are you planning anything?”
“No.”
Lin Song’an buried his face against Tan Ning’s chest, rubbing against him like a kitten. “Why not?”
“Because I already have you.”
Momentarily stunned, it took Lin Song’an a moment to process this. “What? You already have me, so you don’t need to make an effort?”
“Yes,” Tan Ning said seriously.
Lin Song’an sighed, pulling Tan Ning into his arms. “Fine, fine. Don’t make an effort if you don’t want to. I guess that’s just what love is.”
Tan Ning smirked, and Lin Song’an leaned in to nibble his cheek and ear.
Soon Lin Song’an’s hands slipped under Tan Ning’s robe, murmuring in his ear, “No more speaking practice with him. You’re not allowed to be alone with some twenty-year-old guy.”
“Your mind is filthy.”
Lin Song’an laughed. “Not like you, Ning Ning. No sense of urgency at all—you’ve got me, so you take me for granted.”
The two of them spent the night together, and as they lay there afterward, Tan Ning gazed at the ceiling, his last lingering thought being: Lin Song’an sure has a high tolerance for me. No matter how I act, he never gets mad.
He’d already planned the birthday surprise.
He remembered a time long ago during a summer visit to Xuan City. Lin Song’an had been accompanying his father, Lin Yejun, on a business trip to Singapore and had messaged him, saying, [Ning Ning, if only you were waiting for me at the hotel.]
Now he had a chance to make it happen.
The next morning, Lin Song’an packed for his trip. Tan Ning feigned indifference, making himself breakfast. But as soon as Lin Song’an left, Tan Ning grabbed his things and secretly followed.
After discreetly asking Lin Song’an’s secretary for his hotel and room number, he slipped inside with a room key.
He’d brought one of Lin Song’an’s shirts with him.
Turning up the heater, he showered, then looked at his flushed reflection in the bathroom mirror. Even his ears were red. He rubbed his burning cheeks and ears. What’s there to blush about? You should be shameless like Lin Song’an.
Lin Song’an, after all, had no problem dropping his towel in front of him, insisting that Tan Ning touch his abs after working out, and then blaming Tan Ning if anything happened.
It’s just a bit of fun, he reassured himself.
The secretary tipped him off that Lin Song’an’s meeting would end in half an hour, so Tan Ning settled on the bed. At first, he wanted to hide under the covers but decided it looked too forced, so he sat on the edge instead.
He waited.
Tan Ning’s heart was pounding by the time Lin Song’an arrived, footsteps approaching closer and closer.
Lin Song’an opened the door, walked through the living area, and stopped at the bedroom door.
Just as Tan Ning was about to stand up, he heard a loud, angry slam.
“What?” Tan Ning thought.
Outside, he heard Lin Song’an yelling at his secretary, “Get me a new room immediately. Was it you who leaked my room info? Who else knew? Come look for yourself—tell me what’s sitting on my bed!”
Tan Ning: …
Author’s Note:
Lin Song’an: Defensive and offensive
