Chapter 29
◎Winter nights seem to grow longer◎
For Song Jinyu, the time she spent as a doll was like a dream.
He was pampered by his parents for more than ten days and was finally able to walk.
Christmas had just passed, and the Christmas spirit hadn't faded from the shops on the street. The little ornaments on the trees at the entrance were mostly pulled off by passing children. Song Jinyu went to the cake shop to buy toast slices and took them to Xiao Ji's house.
It was very cold today. After he fell ill and woke up, he became especially sensitive to the cold. He wrapped himself up in several layers, looking like a bear.
The little bear, holding a slice of bread, knocked on Xiao Ji's door. When Song Jinyu heard the door open, she jumped up and down twice.
"Damn, it's freezing! Let me in!"
As soon as Xiao Ji opened the door, someone rushed in in a great hurry.
The whole slice of bread was crumpled into several pieces by Song Jinyu, and lay on the cold marble countertop along with the crumpled bag.
The room was very warm. Song Jinyu took off her hat, coat, scarf, and sweater...
He was like an onion, peeling back layer after layer of himself. Xiao Ji closed the door, saw this scene, and laughed for no reason.
Song Jinyu turned around sharply, "Did you just laugh?"
Xiao Ji composed himself and said, "No."
"How could there not be..." Song Jinyu skillfully found slippers and put them on. "I clearly heard you laugh. Are you mocking me?"
He snorted, "So, you, Xiao Ji, are you? I was even thinking about how hard you took care of me before, and you even bought me food. Is this how you treat me?"
Xiao Ji glanced at the slice of bread.
She said she was buying it for him, but she ended up buying things she liked herself.
In the end, the bread slice ended up in Song Jinyu's mouth. He nestled on the sofa, crunching away as he ate it. "Have you tidied up the dolls I asked you to tidy up?"
Xiao Ji took out the dolls that were packed in the box.
Song Jinyu peeked into the box. In just a few months, countless dolls had been given to him—realistic, plastic, plush… They didn’t look very big, but there were so many that they almost filled the entire box.
He touched them one by one, saying, "They've had a tough journey with me. My mom bought a cabinet to install doors, and she put them in the cabinet when we got back."
As she spoke, Song Jinyu pulled out a little naked figure. "Didn't you already learn how to make clothes? Make them a set too, otherwise I'll have to buy them clothes."
Xiao Ji, however, said, "I won't do it."
Song Jinyu looked at him.
Without Song Jinyu inside, Xiao Ji's attitude towards the dolls plummeted. He didn't care if they were bumped or damaged in the box. He didn't even bother making clothes for them, and he even took away the clothes that he had made for Song Jinyu before.
"You're so stingy, Xiao Ji," Song Jinyu said.
Xiao Ji went to make coffee again. Even the repetitive action he performed every day carried an air of elegance, the bitterness of the coffee blending with the caramel aroma of the bread.
“I am very stingy,” Xiao Ji said. “Whether it’s clothes or makeup, I only do it for Song Jinyu.”
Song Jinyu accidentally dropped a large piece of bread. He picked it up and put it in his mouth, muttering, "Why are you being so mushy about a few pieces of clothing? Take it or leave it."
Xiao Ji's eyelids twitched. "Song Jinyu, they've all fallen to the ground."
"So what if it fell on the ground? Don't you know the three-second rule?" Song Jinyu said indifferently. "Besides, you clean your room every day, your floor is probably cleaner than my bed."
Xiao Ji: "..."
A pile of bread crumbs that Song Jinyu had eaten were scattered on the sofa.
He stood up and carelessly dusted off the bread crumbs. "I've got my things, I'm leaving."
Xiao Ji took a sip of coffee. "Want some hot pot?"
Hot pot can be eaten anywhere, but the broth that Xiao Ji made himself suited Song Jinyu's taste perfectly, and he swallowed his saliva without any backbone.
After finally managing to take off his gear, Song Jinyu soon started putting it back on. He spread his arms and tilted his head back, letting Xiao Ji wrap a scarf around his neck. "You can just go buy it yourself. Why do I have to go too? I don't want to go. It's freezing outside. Wearing so many layers is too much trouble."
Xiao Ji lowered her eyes and adjusted her scarf. "The doctor said you need to walk around more and not lie in bed all day. The more you lie in bed, the weaker you'll become."
"But it's so troublesome. Wearing so many layers looks ugly. I used to only wear one base layer in winter."
"That's why you're prone to catching colds in winter."
Song Jinyu: "..."
He gave Xiao Ji a slap on the calf.
Xiao Ji helped him put his hat on as well.
The orange hat pressed down on Song Jinyu's eyebrows. His face was still thin, with a pointed chin, which made his already large eyes appear even larger.
When those eyes looked at him, Xiao Ji's heart softened for a moment.
“Song Xingxing…”
He called out to Song Jinyu, "Tell me, are we still just friends?"
"..."
Song Jinyu hesitated for a moment.
Xiao Ji waited for a while but didn't get a reply. He concealed the darkness in his eyes and said calmly, "Let's go."
Just as he was about to open the door, Song Jinyu spoke.
“I…” He licked his lips nervously, “I don’t actually know. Over the years, I’ve never liked anyone else. I don’t know if I’m gay or straight.”
"When you first told me this, I seriously considered whether I wanted to be with you, but... but being together means taking responsibility, and I haven't thought it through yet. I haven't told my parents... and I haven't told your family either..."
Xiao Ji just stared at him.
After being stared at for a while, Song Jinyu stammered and couldn't continue speaking. His gaze wandered for a moment before meeting Xiao Ji's eyes again.
He seemed to draw strength from his eyes, paused, and said softly but clearly, "But if that person is you, I'm willing to try."
Before anyone knew it, Song Jinyu found herself cornered by Xiao Ji like a clumsy penguin, their breaths mingling together.
Xiao Ji said, "You're already thinking about family matters before you're even together with me?"
Song Jinyu belatedly realized her mistake and her cheeks flushed red. "No way!"
"Well, if you say no, then no."
"Song Xingxing, do you want to kiss me?"
Song Jinyu was stunned, completely unexpected that there was such a big difference between the two sentences. But Xiao Ji’s words seemed to be a question, but they were actually a notification. After he finished speaking, he felt his scarf being grabbed and he was pulled forward a step. The next second, cool lips were feeding him.
Kissing is not suitable for patients who have just been discharged from the hospital.
In just a few moments, Song Jinyu was out of breath. His tongue was being hooked, and because he couldn't breathe, his eyes were unfocused. When he came to his senses, the man's hand had already slipped under his clothes and into his waist.
The clothes made a rustling sound, and he was lightly pinched on the side, causing him to shudder uncontrollably.
His chin was pinched, and he was forced to eat things that weren't his own. He wanted to drown in the air that only contained Xiao Ji...
Winter nights can feel quite long.
...
Rong Jiao was the first to notice that the two were acting strangely.
Having acted for so long and worked in the business world with Xiao Zheng for so many years, she can see through people and their intentions at a glance.
But since the Lunar New Year was just around the corner, she didn't say anything, allowing both families to enjoy the holiday happily.
After the New Year, as the weather gradually warms up, Song Jinyu will be going back to school. Before leaving, he wants to take one last look at the school where he is doing his internship.
Xiao Ji drove him there.
His new film, an art film, was released, but it barely broke even at the box office. The media outlets that had previously praised him as a star director have now started mocking him again.
Unfortunately, the director isn't an actor; when the satirical article is thrown onto the internet, it doesn't even make a ripple.
However, none of these trivial matters are as important as Song Jinyu's smile.
After the New Year, the weather was sunny for several days in a row. After New Year's Eve, the Song family went to the beach for a trip. When they came back, Song Jinyu had gotten a shade darker from the sun.
He never wears sunscreen, so he just gets tanned.
At that time, Xiao Ji envied the sunlight, because it could leave its mark on him, while he had nothing.
Thinking of this, Xiao Ji tilted his head and looked at Song Jinyu, who was talking to someone at the door.
He was annoyed by the sun, so he was only wearing a T-shirt. He had been resting for a long time and had finally gained some weight, but he still looked thin. The already loose clothes looked even bigger on him. He had a long neck, and because the person opposite him was shorter than him, he unconsciously lowered his head when he spoke, so the sunlight shone through his open clothes.
Above his shoulder blade, Xiao Ji saw a magenta mark.
The mark he left behind.
Song Jinyu scratched the back of his head and turned to see Xiao Ji staring at him.
Teacher Li followed his gaze and paused when she saw Xiao Ji. She said, "Do you remember Zhuo Fan? He came to me asking about you before. I heard you deleted him?"
Song Jinyu scratched her head and said casually, "Oh right... He used to be pursuing me, but I felt it wasn't right to keep his contact information while I had a girlfriend, so I deleted him. I explained it to him."
He spoke frankly, saying that as long as someone is liked by him, his love will be poured out without reservation.
Teacher Li asked, "Is it him?"
“Yes.” Song Jinyu said, “You met him in the ward last time. His name is Xiao Ji, and he’s a director.”
Teacher Li looked away, smiled, and said, "I don't really like him, but since you like him, I sincerely wish you both well."
She asked, "Aren't you really going to see the children?"
"I'm not going," Song Jinyu said. "It would be sad for them to see me and then leave. I just came to tell you. After all, I'll be coming back after I graduate."
"I thought you wouldn't come back after you graduated."
Song Jinyu grinned, "How could that be? The little devils may be mischievous, but they're not annoying. Besides, if I don't come, who will lead them in playing games?"
Teacher Li smiled, and then tears welled up in her eyes.
Song Jinyu added, "It would be great if you could ask me for two more PE classes."
This time, Teacher Li really smiled.
"I wouldn't dare. The principal would love to schedule PE classes for you every day. Who would dare to take that away?"
The two were standing too close, and Xiao Ji frowned as he leaned back in his chair.
Just as he was about to go downstairs, Rong Jiao sent him a message.
"Come to my house tonight."
She wasn't discussing it; she was informing people.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
