Pumpkin porridge
When Lin Xiyan opened the door, she was holding pumpkin porridge that she had bought from the school cafeteria, which was said to be easy to digest.
The curtains in the room were only half-drawn, letting in slanting sunlight. The air was filled with the faint scent of disinfectant and the clean air of Jiang Yibai. The man was leaning against the headboard, holding a physics competition problem set. His brows were slightly furrowed, and he looked a little bored, a bit listless, like someone who had just been sick.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, Jiang Yibai immediately raised his head. Seeing Lin Xiyan, his lifeless purple eyes instantly lit up, as if suddenly injected with brilliance.
"Are you back?" His voice was still a little hoarse, but his tone had risen, with obvious joy.
"Yeah." Lin Xiyan responded softly, closed the door with his backhand, and walked in. He put the porridge on the bedside table, "I brought porridge for you."
Before he could finish his words, the person on the bed moved.
He doesn't look like a patient at all! His movements were so fast that Lin Xiyan didn't even react. He casually threw the question set in his hand aside, and Jiang Yibai threw back the quilt. With a single stride, he jumped out of bed and rushed towards him.
"Hey you..." Lin Xiyan only had time to let out a half-exclamation before he was tightly embraced. The force was so strong that he stumbled back a step, his back lightly pressed against the door.
Jiang Yibai hung his whole body on him, buried his head in the crook of his neck, took a deep, deep breath, and made a sound of extreme satisfaction, almost a sigh.
"Hmm...my wife smells so good..." His voice was muffled, with a hoarseness from just recovering from an illness and a kind of self-righteous stickiness. His warm breath sprayed all over Lin Xiyan's sensitive neck skin, "The smell of school...the smell of sunshine...and a little bit of chalk dust...all the smell of you..."
As he spoke, he took a few more deep puffs, like a drug addict who had finally found the solace he'd longed for. Not satisfied, he began nuzzling him with his cheeks and nose. He nuzzled the back of his neck, his chin, and behind his ears. His furry hair brushed against his skin, bringing waves of fine itchiness and shivers.
Lin Xiyan froze, the lingering sensation of the plastic bag of porridge still lingering in her hand. Her cheeks, ears, and neck were turning red at a visible speed, the heat alarming.
"You...don't..." He didn't know where to put his hands and feet, and he didn't dare push too hard - after all, the man was still delirious with fever yesterday. He could only turn his head away in vain, his voice small and panicked, with a slight tremor, "...the porridge, the porridge is going to spill..."
"Never mind it." Jiang Yibai hummed, tightening his arms and trapping him firmly between himself and the door panel. He continued to rub against him, like a large dog that had finally found its owner, wanting to rub his entire body weight and scent against him. "Let me hug you... recharge... I haven't seen you for a day..."
His tone sounded aggrieved, and a bit weak from being sick, but his actions were strong and clingy.
Lin Xiyan felt limp from being rubbed against him, his heartbeat so rapid it felt like it was about to burst out of his throat. The repeated calls of "wife" made his ears numb and his head feel dizzy. His strength to resist was gradually drained away.
"You... haven't fully recovered yet... don't, don't make trouble..." He tried to reason, but his voice was too soft and unconvincing.
"It's okay." Jiang Yibai raised his head, resting his chin on his shoulder, his eyes shining as he looked at his profile so close to him. He said with certainty, "Just smelling your scent makes me feel better."
He leaned closer again, rubbed Lin Xiyan's burning ear with his tall nose, and murmured softly, as if sharing a secret: "It smells really good... I can't explain it... It's just so good... It makes me feel at ease when I smell it..."
Lin Xiyan shrank back, her face flushed with heat. This guy... how did he become so clingy and blunt after getting sick? How could he say something like this so naturally...
He was extremely embarrassed, his eyes evading, not daring to look at Jiang Yibai. But the originally desolate and cold place in his heart was warmed by this unreasonable intimacy and straightforward attachment, and trembled slightly, giving rise to a very secret joy.
Jiang Yibai looked at his flushed face and trembling eyelashes, his heart softening and itching. He chuckled, no longer satisfied with just nudging, and began to touch his neck with his lips. It wasn't a kiss, but a warm, gentle touch, like a feather brush, but it was even more heart-wrenching than a kiss.
"Itchy..." Lin Xiyan couldn't help but shrink her shoulders, her voice carrying a pitiful nasal tone, and her hands unconsciously grabbed the fabric of Jiang Yibai's clothes on his waist, not knowing whether she wanted to push him away or pull him closer.
"Where does it itch? Here?" Jiang Yibai deliberately played tricks and rubbed the most sensitive part of his neck. Feeling the slight trembling of the body in his arms, he felt extremely happy. "Still here?"
He simply treated Lin Xiyan as some kind of large comfort doll, the kind that had an aura that made him addicted and he couldn't let her go.
The two of them stayed together by the door for a long time, until Lin Xiyan's legs became a little weak, and Jiang Yibai, who had finally "recharged", loosened his grip a little, but his arms were still around his waist.
"What kind of porridge did you buy?" Jiang Yibai finally had the mind to care about other things. He rested his chin on Lin Xiyan's shoulder and turned his head to look at the bag on the bedside table.
"Nan, pumpkin porridge." Lin Xiyan answered in a low voice, his breathing still a little unstable.
"Oh," Jiang Yibai replied, not very interested. His attention turned back to Lin Xiyan's face. Seeing that his blush had not yet faded, he couldn't help but lean over and touch his lips with his. "Should be sweet, right?"
"...I don't know." Lin Xiyan was disturbed by his intimate touch from time to time.
"Try it later." Jiang Yibai said, but he had no intention of touching the bowl of porridge. Instead, he hugged the person and slowly led him to the bed. "You are tired of standing. Go back and sit down."
He half-hugged and half-embraced Lin Xiyan to the bed, sat down first, and then very naturally pulled him to stand between his legs, put his arms around his waist, and looked up at him.
This posture forced Lin Xiyan to look down at him. Jiang Yibai's complexion was much better than this morning, but there was still a hint of fatigue in his eyes. However, the smile and concentration in his eyes were so strong that they could not be dispelled.
"Are you bored in the morning class?" Jiang Yibai asked, patting his back gently, as if he was chatting casually, or as if he just wanted to find a topic to keep him for a while.
"Not... not bad." Lin Xiyan answered honestly. Actually, it was a bit boring, but he didn't say it.
"Lu Panji and the others are bothering you again?" Jiang Yibai thought of the message in the group and his lips curled up.
Lin Xiyan shook her head, and her cheeks felt hot again when she thought of the message she had sent: "...No."
"What's wrong?" Jiang Yibai was keenly aware of his subtle emotions. He hooked his fingers on the fabric at the hem of his school uniform and gently tugged. "You seem... a little listless?"
Lin Xiyan was stunned for a moment. The slight sense of depression that had crept in from being alone, which he himself hadn't quite noticed, had been easily caught by the other person.
He lowered his eyelashes and was silent for a few seconds before he said softly, "...No."
"You're lying." Jiang Yibai's voice softened, with a hint of coaxing. He tightened his arm around his waist, pulling him closer to him. "Tell me? Hmm? Did I scare you yesterday?"
He was referring to his fever and drowsiness.
Lin Xiyan immediately shook his head: "No!"
He answered too quickly and too hastily, revealing something. He looked at Jiang Yibai's close, concerned eyes, pursed his lips, and lowered his voice with a subtle sense of self-blame: "It's because of me...that you..."
"Stop." Jiang Yibai extended his index finger and gently pressed it on his lips, stopping him from continuing. His fingertips were warm and dry.
"Student Lin Xiyan," he deliberately put on a stern face, but his eyes were full of tenderness, "We discussed this issue yesterday. It was my own fault for not paying attention, and it has nothing to do with you. If you keep imagining it, I will..."
He paused, as if thinking about the "punishment" measures, then suddenly laughed, with a bit of malice: "I will continue to kiss you until you have no time to think about these things."
Lin Xiyan's face flushed red again, and the place on her lips where his fingers had pressed felt like it was on fire. He looked away in panic, his heart pounding like a drum.
"Look," Jiang Yibai smiled triumphantly, his fingers slid down and gently pinched his chin, his tone softening again, "Don't always take the blame on yourself. It hurts me to see you."
He spoke the last three words very softly, but they were like a feather, gently scratching the softest part of Lin Xiyan's heart.
Lin Xiyan stared at him blankly. There was no trace of joking in those purple eyes, only seriousness and a deep tenderness that he was still slowly learning and adapting to.
That look, as if he were some precious and fragile item, could always easily break down all his anxieties and defenses.
His heart felt sore and swollen, like cotton soaked in warm water. Those swirling, gray thoughts seemed to be dispelled by this man's straightforward and clumsy "threat" and gentleness.
He nodded very lightly.
"So good." Jiang Yibai smiled and rubbed his lower back with satisfaction. "Now, how about drinking some porridge with the patient?"
He finally let go a little and reached for the bowl of porridge. Lin Xiyan subconsciously wanted to take the spoon himself, but Jiang Yibai dodged him.
"I'll do it." Jiang Yibai opened the lid. The porridge was still warm, and a sweet aroma wafted out. He scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and then very naturally handed it to Lin Xiyan's mouth, "Try it first to see if it's sweet."
Lin Xiyan: “……?” Wasn’t he the one drinking?
He looked at the spoon that was handed to his mouth, then looked at Jiang Yibai's expectant eyes, opened his mouth hesitantly, and put the spoon in it.
The sweet and sticky pumpkin porridge melts in your mouth and is just the right temperature.
"Is it sweet?" Jiang Yibai asked, looking at him without blinking.
Lin Xiyan nodded.
"Then let me try it." Jiang Yibai said, and with the spoon that Lin Xiyan had just used, he scooped a spoonful into his mouth and tasted it seriously, "Hmm, it's quite sweet."
Then he scooped up another spoonful and handed it to Lin Xiyan's mouth again: "Take another bite."
Lin Xiyan finally realized that this person was simply trying to feed him. His cheeks flushed slightly as he whispered, "...Eat it yourself. I bought it for you."
"Let's drink together," Jiang Yibai started to act like a spoiled child, pushing the spoon forward again and looking at him eagerly, "It's boring for me to drink alone. You drink with me, ok? Just as... a way to replenish your energy?"
He always has so many reasons, and they are so justified.
Lin Xiyan looked at his still pale face and expectant eyes, unable to say no. He could only open his mouth slightly and take another bite.
Jiang Yibai smiled immediately, as if he had received some kind of reward. He took a bite himself, and then fed him another. The small bowl of porridge was eaten up in this way, you and I took a bite.
During the process, his eyes were almost always on Lin Xiyan's face. Looking at his slightly bulging cheeks and lips moving slightly due to chewing, his eyes were so soft that they seemed to be dripping with water.
After finishing the last bite, Jiang Yibai took a tissue and wiped the corners of Lin Xiyan's mouth naturally.
The movements are gentle and focused.
Lin Xiyan's body stiffened slightly, but she didn't move away. She just lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling violently.
After wiping, Jiang Yibai didn't retract his hand. He gently touched his cheek with his fingertips and whispered, "You still look a little thin. Eat more."
His fingertips, warm from the porridge he had just drunk, felt very present when they touched his skin.
Lin Xiyan's heart skipped a beat. She raised her eyes and met his deep and gentle purple eyes.
The air seemed to become sticky again.
Jiang Yibai looked into his clear, slightly confused amber eyes, and the sense of satisfaction in his heart swelled again. He put down the tissue, reached out again, gently pulled him closer, put his arms around his waist, and pressed his face against his flat belly.
"I'm full." He sighed contentedly and closed his eyes. "This is more comfortable."
Lin Xiyan's body stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed. His hand hesitated for a moment, and finally, very lightly, it landed on Jiang Yibai's soft, slightly curly black hair, touching it awkwardly.
It was like caressing a large beast that had retracted its claws and was relying on him peacefully.
The sunlight flows quietly, enveloping the two people hugging each other in a warm halo.
At this moment, there was no need for too many words. The subtle touches, the warmth of the cuddling body, and the sweet pumpkin scent that lingered in the air were enough to soothe two hearts that were slowly drawing closer.
The years are long, but fortunately, they still have enough time to slowly learn how to love and be loved.
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