Rong Rong wanted to leave.
After all, at a moment like this, staying would only make things more awkward.
But Yu Mo was calling him…
Rong Rong’s feet felt as if they were nailed to the spot.
He didn’t step inside, but he didn’t turn to leave either.
Yu Mo, leaning against the bed, quickly grabbed a few tissues and wiped himself clean.
Then, he walked straight toward Rong Rong at the door.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
Yu Mo’s expression and tone were so natural. If not for the slight hoarseness in his voice, Rong Rong would have almost doubted what he had just witnessed.
“I… I forgot.”
Even though it was Yu Mo who had been doing that, it was Rong Rong whose face was now as red as a tomato.
Yu Mo looked at the stammering Rong Rong and smiled.
“Rong Rong, I thought you wouldn’t come tonight.”
As he spoke, Yu Mo naturally took Rong Rong’s hand.
He led Rong Rong into the bedroom.
The faint scent in the room hadn’t completely dissipated yet.
Yu Mo had Rong Rong sit on the small sofa while he opened the window to air out the room and changed the bedsheets.
The new bedsheets he put on were the ones Rong Rong had bought for him.
“Rong Rong, wait for me a little longer.”
Afraid Rong Rong would get bored sitting there, Yu Mo handed him an art book he usually enjoyed.
Soon.
The sound of the washing machine running and the shower could be heard from the bathroom.
Yu Mo had taken another shower.
By the time he finished, Rong Rong, curled up on the small sofa, hadn’t even turned a single page of the art book.
“Rong Rong, I’m done.”
Yu Mo half-knelt on the rug in front of the sofa, looking at Rong Rong.
“Are you sleepy?”
Rong Rong: “No.”
At this time of night, Rong Rong would usually feel a little drowsy.
He kept a very regular schedule. Aside from the occasional late nights spent finishing his artwork, he was always an early riser and an early sleeper.
But today, his mind felt as if it were filled with paste.
Muddled.
He couldn’t sleep.
“Let me help you fall asleep.”
Yu Mo reached out and took the art book from Rong Rong’s hands.
The next moment.
He lifted Rong Rong directly from the sofa and carried him to the bed in a few steps.
The two of them lay down together.
It wasn’t the first time Rong Rong had slept beside Yu Mo, but it was the first time he felt so stiff lying next to him.
Although the bedsheets beneath him had been changed, for some reason, Rong Rong still felt as if his back were burning.
“Rong Rong, are you still feeling shy?”
Yu Mo looked at the rigid Rong Rong and suddenly chuckled.
“This is actually very normal. Haven’t you ever done it yourself?”
Rong Rong: “……”
Rong Rong pressed his lips together and didn’t answer.
But Yu Mo seemed suddenly curious about the question.
He propped himself up on one arm and leaned slightly closer.
“Good Rong Rong, tell me, have you ever done this? When you do, who do you think about?”
“Do you know how to do this?”
“Do you want me to teach you?”
With the last sentence, Yu Mo’s breath brushed against Rong Rong’s cheek.
Rong Rong felt his face grow so hot he could probably fry an egg on it.
With difficulty, he raised a hand and pushed Yu Mo away.
“I don’t need you to teach me.”
“Then teach me, Rong Rong.”
Yu Mo was the type to take an inch when given a mile. He had never been so blatant with his teasing before.
Although some of his past remarks had long been filled with an unusual possessiveness.
Rong Rong had grown accustomed to hearing such words and to his persistent clinging.
It was like the proverbial frog in gradually warming water. Initially, the frog remains sluggish.
But tonight…
Yu Mo personally turned the originally tepid water into a sudden boil!
“Rong Rong, did you hear me clearly just now?”
“What?”
“I called your name.”
Yu Mo said, “This isn’t the first time.”
Rong Rong: “!”
Rong Rong felt as if steam was about to rise from the top of his head!
Staring at Yu Mo closing in before him, he could no longer bear it. His body slid downward, burrowing straight under the covers.
He buried himself completely!
“Don’t say anymore, Eggy. I don’t want to hear it.”
“Alright, I won’t say more. It’s stuffy under there. Come out quickly.”
Yu Mo tried to coax the person out from under the blankets.
Rong Rong’s hands gripped the quilt tightly, refusing to let go.
Time passed slowly.
Finally, Yu Mo let out a helpless laugh, then wrapped both the quilt and Rong Rong into his arms.
“Rong Rong, I want to ask you one question, just one last question.”
“If you answer properly, I’ll let you sleep peacefully. How about that?”
After a long silence, Rong Rong mumbled slowly, “Go ahead and ask.”
Yu Mo nuzzled him through the quilt.
“In the future, when I do… that, can I still think of you and call your name?”
Rong Rong was about to shake his head.
But Yu Mo added, as if talking to himself, “If I can’t think of you anymore, then who should I think of… Let me see who else I could possibly think about.”
Rong Rong: “No!”
Almost instinctively, Rong Rong blurted out, “You can’t think of anyone else.”
Yu Mo chuckled, “Okay.”
Amid Yu Mo’s delighted laughter, Rong Rong belatedly realized what he had just said.
At that, he buried himself even deeper under the covers.
That night, Rong Rong thought he would be unable to sleep.
But unexpectedly, held by Yu Mo—quilt and all—gently rocked and patted, he gradually drifted off without realizing it.
After he fell asleep, Yu Mo carefully extracted him from the blankets and gazed at him for a long, long time.
“Rong Rong, I really… I like you so much it’s driving me crazy.”
Yu Mo himself didn’t know exactly when he had started liking Rong Rong.
He only knew that, from childhood till now, he never wanted Rong Rong to leave his sight.
Even as a child, seeing Rong Rong make friends with others would make him jealous.
As they grew older and entered adolescence, the person he dreamed of was Rong Rong.
And from then on, in every intimate dream, he was entwined with Rong Rong.
He had never dared to tell Rong Rong about these dreams.
He was afraid of frightening the timid little fox.
But now, he couldn’t hold back any longer.
The chaotic night passed.
Though Rong Rong had slept late, he woke up unusually early.
He woke up even earlier than Yu Mo.
Perhaps due to the stimulation from the previous night, he had a rather unsettling dream while in Yu Mo’s arms.
Now awake, he trembled as he lifted the covers to look underneath.
After looking, Rong Rong’s face turned a bit pale.
Oh no.
Yu Mo’s newly changed bedsheet would probably need changing again.
This was the first time Rong Rong had… on Yu Mo’s bed, aiming at his sheets.
The feeling made Rong Rong wish he could just disappear.
His mind, which had been muddled like paste the night before, now started racing.
He began calculating the likelihood of successfully knocking Yu Mo out.
Before Rong Rong could properly assess the feasibility of this plan, Yu Mo, who was holding him, let out a couple of soft groans.
“Rong Rong.”
Yu Mo tightened his embrace, instinctively nuzzling his head against Rong Rong’s chest. His hair wasn’t long, but the sensation was ticklish enough to make Rong Rong squirm away.
In their little game of evasion and pursuit, Yu Mo fully woke up.
“Rong Rong, you’re already awake.”
Yu Mo’s morning voice was slightly hoarse. It was deep and alluring. Though Rong Rong had never admitted it, he secretly loved the sound of Yu Mo’s voice first thing in the morning.
“I just woke up.”
Rong Rong cautiously avoided physical contact, afraid that Yu Mo would notice his unusual state. But as luck would have it, the more he tried to hide, the more obvious it became. Before he could evade much, Yu Mo’s leg brushed against him and detected something amiss.
“Rong Rong?”
Yu Mo’s voice was tinged with confusion.
Rong Rong lowered his head, too embarrassed to speak. “Don’t say anything. Just get out of bed.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“Go away.”
Rong Rong’s voice was barely a whisper as he tried to shoo Yu Mo away.
But at a moment like this, how could Yu Mo possibly leave? He chuckled softly, the vibrations rumbling through his chest, making Rong Rong wish he could turn back time—even just a little. If he could, he’d definitely knock Yu Mo out this time.
“Rong Rong, this is completely normal. There’s no need to be embarrassed.”
“I used to have this happen a lot, too.”
Yu Mo’s attempts to comfort him were entirely useless. All Rong Rong wanted was for Yu Mo to leave. The two remained locked in a stalemate on the bed until, after a short while, Yu Mo got up first.
He stood by the bed without leaving.
“Rong Rong, get up. I’ll tidy up.”
“I’ll do it myself. You go.”
Rong Rong adamantly refused to let Yu Mo handle the cleanup. Knowing how embarrassed he was, Yu Mo finally relented and didn’t tease him further.
“Alright, I’ll go make breakfast.”
Yu Mo voluntarily left the room.
The moment he was gone, Rong Rong sat up. He got out of bed and opened Yu Mo’s wardrobe. Though he had never stayed overnight before, he found clothes that belonged to him.
Yu Mo had a habit of buying him outfits.
Rong Rong picked out a clean set and hurried to the bathroom.
After freshening up, he returned to change the bedsheets. He hadn’t had much experience with this task before, but he managed fairly well. He tossed the soiled sheets directly into the washing machine and washed his own dirty clothes by hand. He didn’t dare leave them unwashed. If Yu Mo saw them, he wouldn’t hesitate to wash them for him personally.
Rong Rong lingered in the bedroom for a while before finally stepping out. When he reached the dining area, he found that Yu Mo had already prepared breakfast. It was simple: congee, fried eggs, and some pre-made buns from the fridge, courtesy of the housekeeper.
“You must be hungry. Sit down and eat.”
Rong Rong had initially planned to eat at home. But seeing that Yu Mo had already set a place for him, he had no choice but to take a seat. Throughout the meal, Rong Rong kept his head down, avoiding eye contact.
After breakfast, Rong Rong still didn’t want to leave with Yu Mo. He made an excuse about needing to see Feng Yuan and quickly slipped away.
Yu Mo watched his nearly fleeing figure and smiled.
Rong Rong’s excuse about wanting to find Feng Yuan wasn’t entirely made up.
He really did want to stay by Feng Yuan’s side to calm down a bit.
Although Feng Yuan and Qin Xun were in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, they weren’t the type to neglect their friends for the sake of romance.
Seeing Rong Rong arrive, Feng Yuan decisively abandoned Qin Xun.
“Rong Rong, you’re here!”
Feng Yuan patted the spot next to him, signaling for Rong Rong to sit down. “Look, isn’t my sunroom cozy?”
Qin Xun had built a sunroom on the balcony, complete with wooden flooring and a soft carpet. There were also rocking chairs and a small round coffee table with fruits and snacks.
Two rocking chairs were placed side by side. After Rong Rong settled into one, he turned sideways to face Feng Yuan.
“Yuan Yuan, are you happy being with Qin Xun?”
“Of course I am.”
Feng Yuan and Qin Xun’s relationship had been smooth sailing from the start.
They had grown up together and never been apart. Neither had ever felt attracted to anyone else.
Though outsiders might find their journey together a bit too straightforward or even boring, for Feng Yuan, who was deeply in love, his heart was brimming with happiness!
He truly cherished his relationship!
Rong Rong stared intently at Feng Yuan’s smiling face, sensing his genuine joy.
“Yuan Yuan, how did you and Qin Xun… get together?”
Rong Rong wasn’t usually one to pry into others’ affairs.
But today, he kept pressing Feng Yuan for details about his relationship with Qin Xun.
This made Feng Yuan keenly aware that something was off.
“Rong Rong, you want to fall in love!”
“You must have encountered something. Tell me about it quickly.”
Feng Yuan’s intuition kicked in, his gaze sharpening instantly. He sat up straight, abandoning his previously relaxed posture.
His questioning made Rong Rong stammer, almost reverting to his childhood habit of stumbling over his words.
After being grilled for a while, Rong Rong finally blushed and confessed about Yu Mo.
“I knew it had to be Eggy.”
Feng Yuan sat back with a knowing look, completely unsurprised.
“That kid has liked you since we were little!”
“I even told Qin Xun back then. I said Eggy sticks to you even more than he does to me, his big brother.”
And that little rascal was a total hypocrite.
When Feng Yuan, his big brother, ate or slept with Qin Xun, Eggy didn’t bat an eye.
But back in kindergarten, during naptime, Rong Rong once shared a bed with another child. When little Eggy saw it, he nearly fumed with anger.
The little troublemaker even raised his tiny fists, ready to fight the innocent kid who had shared a bed with Rong Rong!
“Rong Rong, do you like Eggy?”
Feng Yuan adored his younger brother Eggy, but Rong Rong was also his close friend!
If Rong Rong had no feelings for Eggy, he would definitely stand by Rong Rong and not let Eggy bother him!
Of course, having witnessed their dynamic over the years, he felt that Rong Rong might not be entirely indifferent to Eggy.
Rong Rong was very indulgent toward Eggy.
As Eggy grew older, he didn’t act overly intimate with his big brother. But with Rong Rong, he had no such reservations.
Feng Yuan had grown used to seeing the two of them holding hands.
“I don’t know.”
Rong Rong’s personality wasn’t as bold as Feng Yuan’s.
He could indulge in Eggy’s closeness and affection. But when it came to unfamiliar, brand-new relationships, he didn’t have the courage to start one.
“Rong Rong, don’t be afraid! If you like Eggy, be brave and go for it! If you don’t like him, that’s fine, too!”
“Anyway, I’ll always support any decision you make!”
“Thank you, Yuan Yuan.”
“No need to thank me! That’s what best friends are for.”
Feng Yuan’s sweet words flowed effortlessly, even when talking to his best friend.
With him by his side, it was hard for Rong Rong to stay in a bad mood.
The two of them lounged in the sunroom for half the day, played games together, and ordered takeout.
Before they knew it, the entire day had passed.
By the time Rong Rong left Feng Yuan’s house, he had made up his mind.
But the decision itself wasn’t important. What mattered most was that he was going home now.
He hadn’t been home since last night.
His dads must be worried about him.
Sure enough, as soon as he stepped inside, Rong Rong was surrounded by his two dads.
Bo Han gently touched his son’s cheek and asked with a smile, “I ran into a delivery guy in the neighborhood this afternoon. What did you and Yuan Yuan order?”
“Fried chicken.”
Rong Rong replied, “It’s been a while since I had it.”
As soon as he mentioned fried chicken, Chi Shui frowned.
“Fried chicken from outside isn’t clean.”
Though Chi Shui didn’t speak much, his care for Rong Rong had long been no less than Bo Han’s.
After saying that the fried chicken outside wasn’t clean, he turned and went to the kitchen, found a chicken, and started making fried chicken for Rong Rong himself.
Bo Han wasn’t much of a cook, so he brought out some novel things he had found online to show Rong Rong.
The atmosphere among the family of three was warm and harmonious.
Looking at his two dads, Rong Rong suddenly realized—
Given his situation, he really wasn’t suited to dating someone unfamiliar or newly met.
He didn’t want to leave his dads and build a new little family with someone else.
He just wanted things to stay as they were—able to spend time with his dads often, and of course…
Live with Eggy, too.
Just being close like this was perfect.
Rong Rong knew his desires were greedy, but he wanted both his dads and Eggy.
Chi Shui had been the main cook at home for years. He worked quickly while making delicious food.
Before long, he called Bo Han and Rong Rong to the table for dinner.
There was no rule at their dinner table about not talking during meals.
Both dads loved hearing Rong Rong share stories with them over dinner.
Like what interesting things had happened to him.
Or what new friends he had made.
In short, both dads enjoyed listening to their son share about his life.
But this time, Rong Rong ate quietly and didn’t say much.
Chi Shui couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times.
Rong Rong, while eating, said, “Big Dad, just focus on eating for now. I have something to tell you both after dinner.”
He was afraid that if he brought up what he wanted to say, his big dad might put down his bowl and stop eating.
So, he wisely decided to save the conversation for after the meal.
“What is it? Why so mysterious?”
Though Chi Shui asked, he noticeably started eating faster.
Once the meal was over, Chi Shui didn’t bother clearing the table first. He waited for his son to speak.
Rong Rong took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself.
“Big Dad, I want to date.”
Chi Shui: “You’re still young.”
“Big Dad, even Yuan Yuan is dating now.”
Chi Shui: “You don’t have to follow his example.”
“Big Dad…”
Rong Rong’s words were constantly interrupted by his big dad’s interjections.
Seeing this, Bo Han smacked Chi Shui’s arm in annoyance and warned him, “Stop interrupting. Listen to what Rong Rong has to say.”
Under Bo Han’s warning and threat, Chi Shui finally stopped cutting in.
Rong Rong cleared his throat and continued.
“I want to announce something.”
“I… I want to date Eggy. I like him.”
“Big Dad, I hope you won’t think about hitting Eggy anymore.”
“He’s a really good person.”
As soon as Rong Rong finished speaking, Bo Han was about to laugh and offer his support when Chi Shui beside him suddenly darkened.
The room filled with demonic energy, making Bo Han feel as if his eyes were about to go blind.
“Chi Shui! Calm down!”
“Don’t go crazy!”
“Rong Rong is just dating someone! It’s not like he’s committing murder or arson! And he hasn’t been bullied either! You need to calm down!”
Bo Han tried his best to soothe Chi Shui’s emotions.
Rong Rong also hurried over to coax his big dad.
“Big Dad! Don’t be so angry.”
“Let’s talk this through calmly.”
Even with both Bo Han and Rong Rong trying to persuade him, they could barely hold Chi Shui back.
Chi Shui was nearly mad with rage: “I knew that black-hearted egg was up to no good!”
“He’s had his eyes on Rong Rong since they were kids!”
“All these years, he’s had ill intentions!”
Chi Shui had never liked Eggy from the start. Now, all those years of pent-up emotions had finally exploded.
“I’m going to pull out his tendons!”
Seeing that Chi Shui was about to rush out and confront Eggy, Bo Han, in a moment of quick thinking, managed to calm him down slightly with one sentence.
“You big fool, use your brain and think! If Rong Rong ends up with Eggy, at least we know Eggy inside and out! If you reject Eggy, and Rong Rong ends up with someone else—someone we know nothing about—would you feel at ease?!”
“People out there can be so wicked, and relationships can be so toxic. What if Rong Rong finds someone with a terrible character? What would we do then?”
Seeing that Chi Shui had calmed down a little, Bo Han seized the opportunity to press on: “Even if Eggy is a bad egg, at least he won’t bully Rong Rong!”
“Think about it. Hasn’t he always treated Rong Rong well since they were kids?”
“Chi Shui, think carefully. Sooner or later, our Rong Rong is going to date someone. Sooner or later, he’s going to have a partner!”
“We’re a couple ourselves. You can’t selfishly expect Rong Rong to live alone forever! That’s not fair to him!”
Bo Han knew exactly how to persuade him effectively.
After he spent a long time reasoning with him, the demonic energy in the room finally dissipated.
Although Chi Shui’s face was still dark, it was clear that Bo Han’s words had gotten through to him.
With a tense, handsome face, he turned around without a word and went back to the bedroom.
For the first time in his life, he didn’t even wash the dishes!
Bo Han didn’t dare order him around at this point.
After watching Chi Shui return to his room, Bo Han turned to comfort his son.
“Alright, alright. Your big dad is starting to come around.”
“Don’t blame your big dad for being so strict with you. When you were little and lived with me, I didn’t raise you well. I let you suffer a lot and ended up making you timid and introverted.”
“Your big dad felt very guilty after he found out about this.”
When Chi Shui first learned he had a child, he wasn’t genuinely caring toward the little one at first.
Although it later became genuine, this brief experience still filled Chi Shui with self-reproach in the days to come.
Thus, no matter how much affection Chi Shui showered upon the little fox cub Rong Rong, it never felt like enough.
This first-time dad was so stubbornly overprotective, wanting to keep his son forever sheltered under his wings so he would never face any harm from the outside world.
But that was clearly unrealistic.
Bo Han patted Rong Rong’s hand and explained Chi Shui’s feelings to him.
He didn’t want Rong Rong to blame Chi Shui.
Rong Rong’s eyes reddened slightly as he hugged Bo Han.
“Dad, I understand.”
His big dad’s feelings, his big dad’s worries about him…
He understood it all.
He didn’t blame his big dad.
“Alright, I’ll take care of comforting your big dad.”
“You can go do whatever you want.”
Bo Han said with a smile before heading into the bedroom to comfort the distressed big dad inside.
Rong Rong watched as both of his dads went into the bedroom. After a moment, he left the room and went to Yu Mo’s place.
He had no classes all day, but Yu Mo did.
However, Yu Mo’s classes had already ended earlier.
He pressed his fingerprint to unlock the door and entered.
In the living room was Yu Mo, who had already returned home.
Seeing him, Yu Mo quickly walked over. “Rong Rong, you’re here.”
“I thought you’d avoid me for a few days.”
Yu Mo hadn’t expected Rong Rong to come so soon.
He led Rong Rong to the sofa, where several gift boxes were placed on the small coffee table in front.
Inside the boxes were gifts he had ordered for Rong Rong.
Yu Mo planned to follow his older brother’s approach in pursuing Qin Xun—sending Rong Rong flowers and gifts every day from now on.
He was also prepared for a long pursuit, just like his brother.
Rong Rong’s sudden visit left Yu Mo hesitating about whether to order flowers right away.
While he was still thinking about how to take things slow…
Rong Rong, sitting beside him, leaned in without any warning.
“Mwah.”
Rong Rong kissed Yu Mo on the cheek.
After the kiss, just like how he had announced to his dads at home that he wanted to start a relationship, he declared to Yu Mo, “We can be together now.”
Yu Mo: “!”
All of Yu Mo’s pursuit plans, all his intentions to take things slow, were completely thrown into disarray.
Fortunately, his reflexes were quick.
Almost immediately, he pulled Rong Rong into his arms and kissed him back.
“Rong Rong, I should be the one to confess first.”
“I’ve loved you for many years.”
“Will you be with me?”
Rong Rong: “Yes.”
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152