Chapter 66: Collecting Interest~
After Chu Yi submitted the thick stack of materials for his professional title review, he felt like every last bit of his energy had been drained away. A strong sense of drowsiness washed over him like a tide, and his eyelids felt so heavy he could barely lift them.
His mind was in a mess and he just wanted to find a place to lie down immediately. Zhou Ai, the thrilling experience last night, his new boyfriend...all of them were thrown out of his mind.
Almost instinctively, he dragged his exhausted body and hailed a taxi to the apartment in Cheng Yingzhi's name. Entering the password, opening the door, changing shoes—the whole process was numb. He walked into the bedroom and threw himself directly onto the bed, almost falling asleep as soon as he touched it, forgetting even to pull himself up under the covers.
He slept soundly until a series of persistent and even rough knocks on the door, "bang bang bang", came like a sledgehammer into his dream.
Chu Yi frowned in dissatisfaction in his sleep, trying to ignore the annoying noise, but the knocking on the door showed no sign of stopping, and instead became louder and louder. He was finally dragged out of his deep sleep.
His brain was still in a stuck state of shutting down and restarting, and Chu Yi couldn't even open his eyes. He relied entirely on a sleepwalking instinct to stagger to his feet, staggered to the door, and mechanically turned the door lock.
Zhou Ai was standing outside the door, carrying bags of steaming breakfast and a bunch of snacks she had just bought. Her face showed the anxiety of having been on the road and a hint of grievance of being ignored.
However, when he saw the appearance of the "culprit" inside the door, all his emotions instantly turned into a mixture of laughter and tears and a little bit of gnashing of teeth -
Chu Yi's hair was a mess like a bird's nest, and he was still wearing the wrinkled sweater from yesterday. His eyes were barely open, his gaze was dull and unfocused, and he gave off a strong aura of "Don't mess with me until I wake up."
"Chu Yi!" Zhou Ai lowered his voice and called his name with a hint of grinding his teeth.
This call was like a key, slightly turning the rusted gears in Chu Yi's brain. He blinked his sleepy eyes, and his blurry vision gradually focused on Zhou Ai's handsome face, which was full of dissatisfaction.
After a few seconds, the fragments of last night's memory slowly pieced together.
Oh, by the way, this person seems to be... my boyfriend now.
Zhou Ai opened his mouth and was about to start his "accusation", questioning why he didn't answer the phone and why he disappeared.
Unexpectedly, Chu Yi suddenly stretched out his hand, not to hug or welcome him, but to cover his mouth!
"Hmm..." Zhou Ai was caught off guard and his eyes widened.
Chu Yi didn't even give him a chance to speak, dragging the tall Zhou Ai inside. Then, he conveniently took the heavy packaging bags from Zhou Ai's hands and tossed them onto the dining table next to him without even glancing at them, making a clang.
After doing all this, Chu Yi seemed to have completed a difficult task. He continued to naturally hold Zhou Ai's hand, holding his hand without saying a word, and walked straight to the bedroom like a sleepwalker.
Zhou Ai was completely confused and followed Chu Yi obediently like a big doll.
As soon as he reached the bed in the bedroom, Chu Yi immediately threw off his slippers and climbed back into the bed, which still retained his body warmth. Then he naturally found a comfortable position, closed his eyes, and patted the empty space beside him. In a sleepy, indistinct voice, he muttered:
"Let's talk about it when we wake up..."
As soon as he finished speaking, his head tilted, his breathing instantly became even and long, and he actually fell asleep... peacefully in a matter of seconds!
Zhou Ai stood there, watching the person on the bed fall asleep instantly, and even rubbed the pillow unconsciously. He was completely petrified.
The urge to bring charges, the anxious search he'd been on, all felt like a punch hitting cotton. He was stunned for a few seconds, then finally chuckled helplessly and shook his head.
What else can I do?
The boyfriend you choose yourself should be pampered even in sleep.
He quietly took off his coat and shoes, carefully lifted a corner of the quilt, and lay down beside Chu Yi. The bed sank slightly because of his joining, and Chu Yi seemed to notice it in his sleep and moved unconsciously.
Zhou Ai hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't help it. She carefully stretched out her arm, gently passed through the gap between Chu Yi's head and the pillow, and slowly and gently pulled him towards her.
Chu Yi did not resist. Instead, like a kitten looking for a source of heat, he followed his strength and adjusted his posture very naturally. He pressed his soft cheek against Zhou Ai's warm chest and even rubbed it with satisfaction. He found a more comfortable position and his breathing became deeper and steady.
Zhou Ai held his breath for a moment, not daring to move. Only after confirming that Chu Yi was really asleep again did he slowly let out a long sigh, feeling that his heart, which had been hanging in the air, had finally settled down.
He looked down at the defenseless sleeping face of the person in his arms. Her long eyelashes were like two small fans, casting a faint shadow under her eyelids. Her nose was small and her lips were slightly open. She looked extremely well-behaved.
"You heartless little thing..." Zhou Ai complained in a low voice, but her tone was full of doting, "I'll forgive you this time."
He couldn't help but lower his head and place a gentle kiss on Chu Yi's forehead.
Then, Zhou Ai completely lost his sleepiness. He was so energetic that he could run another five kilometers.
He began to "play" with his sleeping boyfriend with great interest, like a child who had obtained a new toy.
He gently traced Chu Yi's straight nose with his fingers, and then couldn't help touching his slightly curled eyelashes with his fingertips, causing the sleeping person to wrinkle his nose in dissatisfaction.
He even sneaked over and pressed his lips against Chu Yi's warm cheek, but the touch was instantaneous and then he secretly rejoiced like a cat that had successfully stolen some food.
Later in the game, he simply took out his phone, switched it to silent mode, and started taking photos of Chu Yi's sleeping face from various angles - some were lying on their sides obediently, some buried half their face in his chest, and some unconsciously pursed their lips... Every photo looked so adorable.
"So cute..." Zhou Ai looked at the "trophies" on the phone, the corners of his mouth almost stretched to his ears.
Finally, he couldn't help it and buried his face deeply in Chu Yi's warm neck. He took a deep breath of the clean scent that belonged to Chu Yi, which was clear and had a hint of citrus. His heart was filled with great satisfaction and happiness.
The sun is shining outside the window and the room is quiet and warm.
Zhou Ai thought that lying there like this might not be so bad.
As for those questions that I’ll “think about later when I wake up”…
Well, let’s wait until his “good boy” has had enough sleep.
The two slept in each other's arms, unaware of the passage of time. Chu Yi was the first to wake, consciousness slowly emerging from a deep slumber. When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by a warm orange-yellow hue outside the window. The afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the gaps in the curtains, painting the room with a lazy, tranquil hue.
He shifted slightly, and immediately felt a heavy weight against his neck, along with his even, warm breath. He turned his head and saw Zhou Ai still sleeping peacefully, her cheek pressed against his skin, her hair softly rubbing against his jaw, like a large dog relying on its master.
Chu Yi then realized belatedly that Zhou Ai seemed to have come to see him in the middle of the trip, and he had pulled him onto the bed in a daze... Thinking of this, Chu Yi couldn't help laughing. He was so sleepy that his behavior was completely out of control.
He did not disturb Zhou Ai, but just lay there quietly, letting the light of the setting sun move slowly in the room, enjoying this rare peace and intimacy.
After an unknown number of minutes, Chu Yi was gazing at the deepening dusk outside the window in a daze when he suddenly felt a heaviness.
Before he could fully react, Zhou Ai, who had been buried in the crook of his neck, had turned over with a neat movement and covered him tightly under her again.
Chu Yi blinked, looking up at the handsome face above him, its contours becoming increasingly distinct in the dusk light. The light deftly outlined Zhou Ai's high nose bridge and smooth jawline, half bathed in warm light, half shrouded in shadow, creating an indescribable sensuality.
Chu Yi was a little dazed, and as if possessed, he raised his hand and gently poked Zhou Ai's cheek illuminated by the light with his fingertips.
Zhou Ai was amused by his little action. She lowered her head and kissed Chu Yi on the lips lightly, making a soft "bo" sound.
"This is considered interest." Zhou Ai said righteously.
Chu Yi raised an eyebrow, adjusting to the haziness of just waking up, and his mind became clearer: "What interest?"
"I didn't tell my boyfriend where I was and made him worry about the interest for the whole morning." Zhou Ai snorted and pretended to put on a stern face.
Chu Yi laughed, looking at his expression of "I feel wronged but I want to be magnanimous", and deliberately asked: "What is the principal?"
A wicked smile flashed in Zhou Ai's eyes. He lowered his head again, leaned close to Chu Yi's ear, and said something in a very fast and soft voice.
Chu Yi's ears visibly turned red, and even his neck was stained with a thin layer of pink. The next second, Zhou Ai received a solid kick to the calf from Chu Yi, with such force that it nearly knocked him off the bed.
Zhou Ai was kicked so hard that his teeth gleamed, but he wasn't annoyed at all. Instead, he approached her with a playful smile, like a piece of taffy that couldn't be shaken off. His heart and eyes were now filled with the desire to hug the sweet and soft "kitten" and cuddle with her.
However, just as he moved closer, Chu Yi raised his foot and pressed his toes against his shoulder, preventing him from getting closer.
Zhou Ai raised an eyebrow and immediately grabbed Chu Yi's ankle, which was resting on his shoulder. Chu Yi's ankle was very slender, with distinct joints and fair skin, and he could easily wrap his hand around it.
He exerted a little force, and Chu Yi was easily brought in front of him. The insignificant resistance collapsed in an instant.
"Stop it," Zhou Ai held the delicate ankle, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the protruding ankle bone, but he looked at Chu Yi seriously, "Can you explain it to me now? What happened this morning? Disappeared? Hmm?"
Chu Yi felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by him. The warm touch on his ankle also made his heart beat faster. He had no choice but to look away and explain quietly: "The hospital called at 7 o'clock in the morning, urging me to submit the materials for the promotion. Today is the deadline. I was rushing to the hospital and was so anxious that my phone was silent and I didn't notice your call... I didn't mean to ignore it."
After hearing this, Zhou Ai's remaining lingering doubts completely dissipated. So that was it, he'd been overthinking it. He looked at Chu Yi's slightly flushed cheeks and evasive eyes, and his heart softened.
"Alright," Zhou Ai pretended to be generous and loosened his ankle, but moved closer to him, almost touching noses. "Since you're here for serious business, be good and I forgive you."
The words "good boy" hit Chu Yi's skin again. His face flushed, and without a second thought, he kicked forward with his free foot.
"Zhou Ai! I told you not to call me that."
The two of them had been fighting on the bed for quite a while, and Zhou Ai's calves were probably bruised from being kicked for his foul mouth. Chu Yi felt a bit sorry for him after kicking him to the end, so he asked him to roll up his trouser legs to have a look. However, because Zhou Ai had made three requests in a row, the ruthless Chu Yi kicked him twice more before the fight ended abruptly.
———
When the two finally sat down at the dining table, ready to enjoy their first meal of the day, the clock on the wall had already pointed to 6:30 p.m. The lights outside the window were beginning to light up, and night had quietly fallen, but the apartment was brightly lit, filled with the aroma of food and a warm homely atmosphere.
Zhou Ai, wearing a brand new apron with cartoon patterns on it, was busy in the kitchen, humming a tuneless song, her movements a little awkward but full of enthusiasm.
On the other side, Chu Yi was wearing a soft light gray sweatshirt and a pair of loose white home pants. He was sitting at the dining table and was not idle. He held a mobile phone in one hand and replied to messages from his colleagues in the hospital. In the other hand, he spread out several documents. From time to time, he picked up a pen to draw notes on them. His expression was focused and serious, and he was completely immersed in his own world.
Although it was claimed that Zhou Ai cooked the meal, the dinner was actually quite simple: cook two servings of instant pasta, fry two steaks as a garnish, and mix a ready-made salad.
To quote Zhou Ai’s comment: The technical content is not high, what matters is participation and thoughtfulness.
The water in the pot was bubbling, waiting for the noodles to be added. Zhou Ai paused for a moment, turning down the heat and leaning against the sleek door of the kitchen freezer, his arms folded leisurely across his chest. His gaze passed across the open kitchen area and landed on Chu Yi, who was sitting at the dining table.
The afterglow of the setting sun had long since faded, and the bright light from the room softly cast a shadow on Chu Yi, outlining his downcast brows and focused profile. He was completely focused on the information in his hands, completely different from his usual aloof, shy, and bewildered demeanor. He exuded a unique, calm, and intelligent charm.
As Zhou Ai watched, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted up, forming a gentle and satisfied arc.
He had always heard people say, "A serious man is the most handsome," but he had always thought it was just an empty compliment. It wasn't until now, looking at Chu Yi before him, that he truly understood the meaning of this statement.
This attraction is not just visual appreciation, but also a kind of heartfelt admiration and excitement. It comes from the appreciation of the brilliance of a person who is devoted to his or her favorite field, and the recognition of his or her professionalism and inner strength.
Zhou Ai suddenly recalled the time they'd truly crossed paths. He'd been grimacing in pain when he'd fallen off the stage, but he'd held on. It was also at that time that Chu Yi, masked and unable to fully see his face, only those bright eyes revealed, suddenly bursting into his world.
In the dim light, those eyes were unusually bright, calm, and focused. It was those serious eyes that, at that moment, deeply attracted him and planted a seed of curiosity and affection in his heart.
And now, this seed has broken through the soil and grown into a towering tree.
"Tsk," Zhou Ai secretly clicked his tongue in his heart, with a bit of smug relief, "My taste is really unmatched."
The water in the pot began to boil violently again, reminding him that it was time to put the food in. Zhou Ai withdrew his gaze and turned back to the "battle", but the smile on his face lingered for a long time.
He knew that what he loved was this complete and multifaceted Chu Yi - whether it was the calm and professional Dr. Chu at work, the clumsy and shy "Guaiguai" in private, or the "Pi" who once silently guarded him, he was deeply fascinated by them.
Being able to cook a simple dinner for the one you love, watching him or her within your reach, and working hard for what you both love is probably the most ordinary happiness that life can give you.
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