Bite (1/2)
When his name was suddenly called, Su Zesui’s eyelashes trembled, but he kept his eyes tightly shut, too nervous to open them. His small hand, tense with anxiety, accidentally brushed against the other person again.
The man’s fingertips had faint calluses—likely from years of holding pens and lab equipment. They weren’t rough, but carried a kind of restrained intensity, like power hidden beneath an iceberg. The brief contact only made Su Zesui’s face flush hotter.
Gu Yilan looked at him for a while, then gently took hold of his wrist with his other hand and calmly withdrew his hand from Su Zesui’s grip.
The sudden emptiness in his palm let the stuffy summer air rush in. Su Zesui instinctively curled his slender fingers.
He could clearly feel the man’s intense gaze falling on his face. Embarrassed, Su Zesui kept his eyes closed and tugged the blanket over his face to hide.
Ahoo had only said that after marriage, holding hands was expected—but it never mentioned how it could make your heart race like this.
But not long after, that flimsy layer of shame-cover was lifted away again, and the man’s voice came from very close by: “Isn’t it stuffy in there?”
Su Zesui shook his head with his eyes still closed.
Seeing that the boy was clearly pretending to sleep and refusing to admit it, Gu Yilan’s tone carried a trace of helpless amusement: “Did I interrupt your sleep?”
Hearing this, Su Zesui finally opened his eyes wide and stared at Gu Yilan, making it clear he wasn’t sleepy and didn’t want to sleep.
He lifted their previously clasped hands and looked in confusion at the damp sweat clinging to his palm, as if he couldn’t understand why such simple contact had felt so intense.
Gu Yilan checked his phone. It was just past midnight—clearly, the boy hadn’t been up too late yet.
Just as he put the phone down, the boy beside him spoke again in a sweet, soft voice: “Brother, hold hands.”
Su Zesui had already wiped the sweat from his palm on his pajamas and now reached out again.
Looking at the pale, upturned hand, Gu Yilan pressed his thin lips together and lightly ground his molars.
He had expected Su Zesui to have some insecurities—but not to this extent.
“How about a hug, then sleep?” Gu Yilan compromised, backing up a little.
Su Zesui withdrew his hand and looked up at him.
Usually, he only saw Mr. Gu in harsh daylight or bright lighting—always impeccably dressed, tall and upright like a pine tree, exuding a cold, distant aura that kept people at arm’s length.
But now, under the night’s shadow, with Gu Yilan lying beside him, his sharp features softened into the darkness. The aloofness faded, replaced by a kind of lazy hostility that wrapped around Su Zesui like a stifling cocoon, making it hard to breathe.
Taking advantage of the darkness, Su Zesui let his gaze linger on Gu Yilan’s prominent Adam’s apple, then slowly trailed down to his broad shoulders and chest.
The thin pajama fabric barely hid the flat, muscular stomach beneath—just looking at it brought back memories of that solid warmth and the sense of safety it gave him.
“Hug.” Su Zesui opened his arms.
Lying down while hugging felt odd, so Gu Yilan sat up slightly, looked at the boy, and opened his arms a bit.
“Come here.”
Su Zesui sat up too, propping himself on his hands, carefully crawling a short distance across the soft bed before opening his arms again and sinking into Gu Yilan’s warm embrace.
The scent of soap on Gu Yilan’s clothes filled Su Zesui’s nose, making him feel light-headed.
Gu Yilan patted his back lightly twice, like coaxing someone to sleep. His voice, however, remained calm and distant, as if he were merely completing a task: “Is that enough?”
Su Zesui didn’t want to let go, so he pretended not to hear.
“Afraid of the dark?” Gu Yilan guessed.
Su Zesui shook his head.
He wasn’t afraid of the dark. In fact, he liked it. In the dark, no one could find him, no one could bully him.
What he feared was the biting winter wind that came with the night—how it stole every last bit of warmth, leaving a person feeling like they’d fallen into an icy abyss, unable to feel joy again.
Gu Yilan assumed the boy just wasn’t used to sleeping in a new place, so he let him cling on for a while before changing the subject: “You’re getting a wedding gift. But the ceremony itself—we’ll hold off on that for now.”
Su Zesui was still young, not fully capable of discerning these things. Gu Yilan wanted to give him a chance to change his mind.
But Su Zesui completely ignored the second half of his sentence, voice full of barely-contained excitement: “Where is it?”
“It’s not set up yet. I’ll take you to see it tomorrow afternoon,” Gu Yilan replied, raising an eyebrow. “Are you done hugging? Time to sleep?”
Hearing that, Su Zesui finally let go.
Just as Gu Yilan thought he was going to lie back down and tuck himself in, the boy suddenly lifted the hem of his pajamas and reached up to take off his shirt without warning.
That shock of pale skin instantly exposed to the air made Gu Yilan’s breath catch. He reacted quickly, grabbing the boy’s hand and frowning: “What are you doing?”
Su Zesui froze.
He remembered—his brother had said that they should take off each other’s clothes.
So, he reached out again—this time, to help Mr. Gu undress.
Gu Yilan immediately pinched his fingers, voice husky and strained: “Speak.”
Su Zesui thought for a moment, then asked: “Did you shower?”
Ahoo had advised that before and after “burn with passion,” it was best to bathe.
Gu Yilan didn’t know why the boy was asking that, but answered anyway: “I did.”
There was a small bathroom in his study. He had taken a quick cold shower there before coming back.
Su Zesui frowned, confused.
Something still didn’t feel right.
Meeting the man’s scrutinizing gaze, he finally said the most straightforward thing he could think of: “Hot.”
After hugging for several minutes, Su Zesui now sat on his knees in front of Mr. Gu, still burning from the man’s scorching body heat. The warmth had spread from his lower abdomen all the way to the tips of his ears, leaving him slightly breathless.
Undressing, showering, heat—these key words pieced together naturally pointed to a certain conclusion.
Gu Yilan was long used to the boy’s jumbled way of speaking. He let out a barely noticeable breath of relief, gave the blanket a gentle shake, and said, “Showering in the middle of the night isn’t good for your health. Lie down for a bit, and the heat will pass.”
Upon hearing that, Su Zesui flopped straight down onto the soft pillow like a stiff plank of wood, letting the man tuck him in.
He rolled over, turning his back to Gu Yilan, and fumbled around until he found his phone. Then, he opened Ahoo.
——Where had he gone wrong? Why wouldn’t Mr. Gu hold his hand? Why wouldn’t he take off his clothes? Wuwuwu!
Gu Yilan had just laid down when he caught sight of the boy’s fluffy head and the glaring white glow of the phone screen in the dark.
Gu Yilan: …
“Sleep,” he said.
But it was already too late. Su Zesui had found the answer!
The great Ahoo said: there must be mutual affection, bold initiative, natural progression—then would come the fiery passion, the steamy lovemaking, and endless joy.
He had found the reason, but didn’t quite understand it. So he turned to his own imagination, trying hard to decode it all.
Mutual affection—He really liked Mr. Gu. Did Mr. Gu like him too?
Bold initiative—Seems like he’d need to be even more proactive from now on.
Natural progression…
“Brother, do your mother and father… approve of the marriage?” Su Zesui turned off his phone, rolled over, and asked Gu Yilan.
Caught off guard by the rare mention of “mother and father,” Gu Yilan took a moment to register what the boy was asking. After a pause, his Adam’s apple bobbed as he answered, “Mm.”
“Do I… need to meet them?” Su Zesui asked cautiously.
“You can,” Gu Yilan replied, eyes now closed. “In a few days. Not the right time yet.”
“Brother, should I start recording my voice from now on?” Su Zesui asked again.
“That’s fine too,” Gu Yilan said, his voice now tinged with fatigue. “Sleep.”
The recorder, once meant to intimidate, could now be used to help Su Zesui improve his speech skills.
Su Zesui knew Mr. Gu was tired and didn’t want to disturb him any further. He responded obediently with a soft “mm-hmm,” then began thinking things through on his own.
He needed to be even cuter, so Mr. Gu would like him more.
He had to be even more proactive, so Mr. Gu would accept him.
He had to meet Mr. Gu’s parents…
As his thoughts spun through all these social strategies, sleepiness overtook him, and he drifted off.
It was the soundest sleep he’d had since arriving in this world. No dreams, no restlessness—just peace. When he woke the next morning, his entire body felt relaxed and his mood was light.
He squinted his eyes open, reached for his phone, and checked the time—
Nine-thirty?!!
He’d slept in two and a half hours later than usual!
Su Zesui immediately sat up.
After quickly washing up, he was about to rush out the door when the butler uncle, standing right outside, said, “No need to hurry, little master. Young Master Gu told me to let you sleep in today.”
Only then did Su Zesui relax. He slowly made his way down the stairs. As he passed the living room, the corner of his eye caught the timetable posted in the most conspicuous spot. His face flushed red, and he lowered his head in embarrassment.
After breakfast, he spent some more time browsing Ahoo again and recorded an audio clip he was quite proud of. Soon, it was lunchtime.
In the dining room, Su Zesui handed the recorder to Gu Yilan, looking at him with hopeful eyes.
As he wished, Gu Yilan turned it on and listened to the recording while eating.
“Today is July 13th. I was soooo sleepy this morning and fell asleep on my desk, wuwu.
At noon, I went out for lunch with Brother—it was really good, hehe.
And I met one of Brother’s friends—Brother Gong Chuang, wow~
In the afternoon, I happily got our marriage certificate with Brother~
At night, I slept with Brother, yay!”
Unknowingly, Gu Yilan had already put down his chopsticks. He frowned slightly, listening intently to the recorder.
Compared to previous ones, this log was more proper in content… except for all the strange little interjections.
With a soft beep, the recording ended.
Gu Yilan put the device away and turned to glance at the boy beside him.
Su Zesui also looked up at him, face stiff and serious, and said solemnly: “Heehee.”
Gu Yilan: ?
The butler, standing to the side, almost lost it. He quickly turned away and covered his mouth to stifle his laughter.
“Talk properly,” Gu Yilan said.
Su Zesui blurted out, holding out his hand to Gu Yilan: “Oh oh! Brother, give it back!”
Gu Yilan: …
He handed the recorder back to the boy, frowning: “Where did you learn that?”
Sensing the look coming his way, the butler quickly wiped the amusement off his face and gestured with both hands—not me.
“Online, neh~” Su Zesui poked at his rice.
With these cute interjections, he would become more adorable. Then Mr. Gu would surely fall in love with him too. And after that, they’d do that and that, and this and that~
…Even though he had no idea what this and that actually meant.
“Isn’t talking like that exhausting?” Gu Yilan asked.
Su Zesui shook his head. “Nope! Hehe~”
The boy’s soft, sweet voice should have been a perfect match for such playful talk—but unfortunately, his tone was totally flat, his face completely expressionless, even a bit solemn. It felt more like he was reading a textbook aloud: monotone, proper, yet somehow ridiculously adorable.
The butler nearly lost it again.
“Go back to how you were before,” Gu Yilan said calmly, lowering his gaze. “After lunch, I’ll show you your wedding gift.”
Hearing “wedding gift,” Su Zesui’s eyes lit up. He immediately made an “X” gesture over his soft lips, fell silent, and began eating obediently.
He tried to recall what he used to be like—probably quiet and blank-faced, only good at eating.
But now, he’d learned so many things from Mr. Gu and was much more impressive!
Change back, change back.
im giggling lmfaooo second hand embarrasment is hitting me hard rn 😭