Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

"Happy New Year, Shang Song."

Shang Song was still in a daze when he heard the blessing. He paused for several seconds before slowly and heavily humming in response.

Then, as if that wasn't enough, he blinked his wet eyes hard, his eyelashes brushing against Xie Jing's eyelashes, making them tickle.

His voice was a little hoarse, yet soft, filled with joy:

"Happy New Year, Xie Jing."

After he finished speaking, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up again, with that silly curve, and his eyes were shining as he looked at Xie Jing, as if he couldn't get enough of looking at him.

Outside the window, the most boisterous noise had subsided, leaving only sporadic firecracker sounds.

Xie Jing's breathing gradually stabilized, and his eyes, which had been churning with unfamiliar emotions, slowly regained their depth.

He ended the forehead-to-forehead contact, but the arms around Shang Song's waist remained tightly wrapped, only the pressure lessened slightly.

His gaze fell on Shang Song's swollen, moist lips, his eyes seeming to darken further before slowly moving upwards to meet Shang Song's strikingly bright eyes once more.

"Those seals..." Xie Jing's voice was lower and hoarse than usual, and if you listened carefully, you could even hear a slight panting. "If you're curious, you can ask me. There's no need to... secretly investigate."

Shang Song was slightly taken aback, not expecting Xie Jing to bring this up. She pursed her still tingling lips and muttered softly, "I was just... afraid you wouldn't want to say it."

Xie Jing slowly shook his head. "There's no reluctance."

His fingertips unconsciously twitched slightly at Shang Song's waist, then he added in a more solemn tone:

"You can ask anything. You don't always have to be so... cautious."

He wasn't talking about the seal.

He was saying that Shang Song had long been characterized by subconscious unease, withdrawal, and caution due to class, background, mindset, and barriers to contact between them.

Xie Jing noticed.

Perhaps they sensed it a long time ago, but didn't know how to deal with it.

But at this moment, at the beginning of the new year, after this awkward yet lingering kiss, he chose to speak out.

Shang Song was still half-lying in Xie Jing's arms, but he was already somewhat stunned.

No need to be overly cautious.

So... Xie Jing knew all along.

I've always known.

I know the joy and bewilderment he felt when he looked up at the sky, I know his clumsy attempts to please and his anxieties, I know that he was like a moth cautiously approaching a flame, both coveting that light and heat and afraid of being burned, and even more afraid of being ignored.

He looked up at Xie Jing's excessively handsome face, his mouth almost stretched to his ears, and his heart was pounding like a rabbit's, its legs kicking rapidly against his chest.

"So...can I touch your abs now? Just for a moment! Or...can I take a look?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Jing was stunned.

Young people's ideas... are very unconventional.

His arms around Shang Song's waist tightened at first, then slowly relaxed.

He looked down at Shang Song's expectant and cunning eyes, his gaze inexplicably darkening.

Shang Song felt a little guilty under his gaze, his smile faded, and he tried to make amends in a low voice:

"Uh...is it not very convenient here? Shall we go back to the room?" He pointed to his bedroom, his eyes darting around, his ears burning.

Xie Jing lowered his eyes, gently patted Shang Song's back, and then spoke:

"Let's go back to Xishan and see."

Shang Song: "...Huh? Why?"

He was puzzled as to why he had to go back to Xishan to see abs.

Seeing his expression, Xie Jing's eyes darkened further, and his thin lips parted to utter three words:

"It doesn't look good."

Shang Song paused for a second, then immediately retorted without thinking, "No way! I secretly rubbed against you when I hugged you! I could feel it even through your clothes! Eight! The outline is so clear! It must be beautiful!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he realized what he had revealed. His face turned bright red, his eyes darted around, and he wished he could shrink into a ball and spin around in place.

Xie Jing seemed surprised that Shang Song had such a detailed "investigation report." His dark eyes lit up again, and the corners of his tightly pursed lips unconsciously curved upwards for a moment.

It seemed like she was amused.

However, his persistence did not waver in the slightest.

"I'll show you again when we get back to Xishan."

Shang Song was so captivated by the fleeting smile on Xie Jing's lips that she forgot all about being shy and her mind raced.

Why do we have to go back to Xishan? Can't we even stay here, in our own room?

Could it be that... Xie Jing thinks that seeing abs should be done in a more private and atmospheric place?

For example, that super large main courtyard in Xishan?

Going back to Xishan to see, does that mean there might be something else... like tonight's earth-shattering breakthrough?!

Thinking of this, Shang Song's face instantly burned bright red, and his heart skipped several beats.

Is that so? Is that what Xie Jing meant? Because... because we need to do something more intimate, so we have to go back to the safest and most private Xishan?

Yes! That must be it!

Xie Jing has contact difficulties, so he definitely won't feel comfortable in his dilapidated house!

Back in Xishan, the abstinent professor might just transform into some kind of unspeakable beast this time!!!

He'll be so handsome he'll be trembling with fear!

Shang Song's breathing quickened involuntarily, and his eyes shone with an astonishing light as he demanded a guarantee from Xie Jing:

"...Really? You'll show me when we get back to Xishan? Then you can't forget when you get back, or make up some other excuse to keep me waiting..."

Xie Jing took in all the fascinating changes in his expression.

His thoughts were almost entirely written on his face, vivid and lively, carrying the undisguised desire of a young person.

"Mmm." He raised his hand and gently rubbed Shang Song's burning cheek with his fingertips, the movement still a little awkward. Although he knew that what Shang Song wanted was not what he originally intended, he said:

"Never forget. Never procrastinate."

However, just as Shang Song's smile grew wider because of his answer, Xie Jing added a sentence.

Very serious, almost to the point of being a warning.

"But it really doesn't look good. Be prepared."

Shang Song chuckled and pressed, "Not good-looking? What kind of not good-looking? The kind that's too exaggerated? That kind is definitely not good-looking."

As he spoke, he secretly moved his fingers forward a little while holding Xie Jing's lower back, his fingertips lightly touching the firm contours of the muscles through the fabric: "But it doesn't feel exaggerated to me... it's like thin skin, I like thin skin."

Xie Jing could feel the careful touch on his side waist; it was a little itchy, but not uncomfortable.

He lowered his eyes and looked into Shang Song's bright eyes, which seemed to say, "I've found out" and "Admit it already."

He remained silent for a few seconds, and finally nodded, acknowledging Shang Song's assessment of "thin skin".

Then, he gently grasped Shang Song's still-mischievous hand, steadily removing it from his side, and said while holding it:

"It's thin skin. Let's go back to West Mountain to check. It's getting late, time to sleep."

Shang Song's eyes immediately crinkled into crescent moons with laughter.

He automatically interpreted Xie Jing's words as—sleep now, conserve your energy, and then go back to Xishan to take care of important matters.

His lips and chin were smirking as he nodded frantically.

Xie Jing released Shang Song's hand and gently patted his back instead: "Go wash up."

"Hmm!" Shang Song jumped up from the sofa like a puppy on command and rushed to the bathroom in a few steps, not forgetting to turn back and give Xie Jing a big, silly smile.

The bathroom door closed, and the faint sounds of running water and off-key humming could be heard from inside.

Xie Jing sat on the sofa, turned off the TV, and put down the remote. The complex expression on his face slowly subsided, and he returned to his usual calm.

Then, he slowly raised his hand and, through the fabric of his clothes, placed it on his left abdomen.

It doesn't hurt there.

It hasn't hurt for a long time.

But it doesn't look good.