Jiang Luo slept extremely deeply, wishing he could dream it all over again, rolling around in the sheets a few more times.
He was indeed exhausted, compounded by the alcohol, and woke unusually late the next morning. Opening his eyes, he immediately saw Huo Zongzhuo sitting properly dressed by the bedside.
In an instant, all the scenes from last night’s “dream” flashed through his mind. Jiang Luo closed his eyes, thinking he must have drunk too much—otherwise, he wouldn’t have dreamt those things.
He tried to sit up, but suddenly felt a sting in his butt and an unfamiliar sensation across his body.
Instinctively, he pulled back the covers and looked down, only to find he was completely naked.
The discomfort and the pain in his butt—experienced as he was—instantly clicked.
This?
Not…
Ah?
Seeing Jiang Luo awake, Huo Zongzhuo rose from the sofa, bent over, and asked with concern, “Does it hurt?”
Jiang Luo froze, blinking up at him.
Huo Zongzhuo’s voice was gentle: “It’s my fault… it’s all my fault.”
Jiang Luo: Ah?
Ah?????
Not!?
Not!?
Not a dream????
Jiang Luo was stunned, confused, utterly shocked.
Not a dream at all!!!!
Huo Zongzhuo saw the expression and knew Jiang Luo had woken and was processing it.
He said nothing, simply watched, waiting for Jiang Luo’s reaction.
But Jiang Luo, after a moment of daze, suddenly flipped up with excitement, arms wrapping around Huo Zongzhuo’s neck. Eyes wide, both joyful and astonished, he exclaimed, “We really… slept together?”
“Huo Zongzhuo? You… can be with a man?”
“You said you didn’t like men, didn’t like me…”
“You can actually…?”
Before Huo Zongzhuo could answer, Jiang Luo blurted out, “Huo Zongzhuo! Since you can be with a man, and we… slept together, you should think about me!”
“Or… I could chase you, okay?”
“You don’t even know how much I like you!”
“I’ve dreamed of dating you, of being with you!”
Huo Zongzhuo was stunned.
Reacting quickly, Huo Zongzhuo cupped Jiang Luo’s face, holding his gaze without blinking, reading every expression, asking, “Say that again.”
“You like me?”
Jiang Luo was anxious, afraid it was all a dream again. But even if it was, he wasn’t going to waste this chance—opportunities like this might never come again!
He met Huo Zongzhuo’s eyes with absolute seriousness, speaking quickly, “Yes, I like you. I really like you.
“Since we slept together, and you can be with a man, think about me, okay?
“I really like you!
“Shall we try being together?
“I’ll treat you really well!
“Or I can chase you, that’s fine too.
“Is that okay? Please say yes.”
Huo Zongzhuo felt like he was hearing the most impossible words in the world. His usual calm, controlled expression shattered into utter disbelief.
All night, he had worried.
He worried Jiang Luo would turn on him, feel disgusted, maybe never want to see him again.
He’d considered countless scenarios—yet never imagined Jiang Luo would confess that he liked him, that he wanted to be with him.
Huo Zongzhuo’s body, mind, and soul were shaken.
Quickly, as if afraid of missing a moment, he locked his gaze on Jiang Luo and said, “Okay, yes. Of course. We… will be together.”
“You don’t blame me?”
“You’re not resentful?”
“You can accept being with me?”
Huo Zongzhuo needed reassurance.
Jiang Luo, equally anxious, replied, “Blame you? Why would I? How could I resent you?
“I’ve always liked you.
“Remember? I asked you if you liked men, if you liked me. You said no.
“If I didn’t like you, why would I ask?”
Huo Zongzhuo immediately explained, “I was afraid you’d hate me. I was too timid to admit it.
“I thought if I hid it, at least we could still be friends.”
Huo Zongzhuo asked again, “So you can accept being with a man, with me, right?
“You like me, and you won’t reject me, despise me, right?
“And you?”
Jiang Luo needed confirmation too: “How do you feel about me? What do you really think?
“We slept together, and you can accept me, right?”
“Yes, yes.”
Huo Zongzhuo gave a clear, firm answer: “I’ve had thoughts about you for a long time.
“I like you! Especially like you!”
Hearing that, Jiang Luo felt the world light up. Eyes wide, pupils shining: “Really? You mean it?
“You like me?
“You really like me?
“You’re not teasing me? Not just saying it to comfort me?
“It’s not just because we slept together that you’re saying it?”
“All true?”
“Yes, it’s true. I like you.”
Huo Zongzhuo’s heart almost leapt from his chest; he hadn’t expected this outcome.
Jiang Luo kept asking, confirming again and again, fearing it was a dream: “But I asked you before, you said you didn’t like men, didn’t like me…”
Huo Zongzhuo held his face, forehead to forehead, and explained firmly: “I was afraid you’d hate me, despise me. I’m a coward. I lied.”
Jiang Luo’s world brightened instantly, so bright he wanted to shout.
“Huo Zongzhuo!!!”
He cupped Huo Zongzhuo’s face, unwavering gaze, resolute voice: “Let’s be together!
“I like you, and you like me, so why wait?
“Of course we should be together!”
“Yes. Together.”
Huo Zongzhuo’s gaze was so intense it could devour.
They kissed again, devouring each other’s breath, wanting to swallow each other whole. Passionate, urgent, lingering—they tumbled back onto the bed together.
Jiang Luo lay on the pillow, still in disbelief, caressing Huo Zongzhuo’s face, deeply moved.
He confirmed again, “You really like me?”
“I was afraid it was just a dream.”
“Yes, I like you. I love you.”
Huo Zongzhuo kissed him, confirming again: “You won’t despise me, right?
“You won’t leave me, won’t stop wanting to see me?
“Your love… is like mine, yes?”
“Yes, yes.”
Jiang Luo nodded without pause: “It’s true. I like you.
“How could I ever hate you, leave you, or not want to see you?”
“Even if you didn’t like me, I’d stubbornly stay by your side.”
“I thought you were a normal man. You know, I asked before. You said you didn’t like men, didn’t like me…”
Huo Zongzhuo kissed him: “It’s my fault. I’m a coward. I didn’t dare admit it.
“My fault. All my fault.”
They kissed again, passionately, deeply, the emotions uncontainable.
No more words were needed.
They had confirmed each other’s hearts. Everything was clear.
Were they timid? Yes. But it was because of love. Love made them cautious, shy, afraid to speak, preferring to hide feelings rather than risk showing them.
If not for love, Huo Zongzhuo wouldn’t have denied calmly. If not for love, Jiang Luo wouldn’t have accepted it, wouldn’t have sung songs, wouldn’t have waited for Huo Zongzhuo’s eventual acknowledgment.
All because of love.
They were smart enough to understand each other without words.
Because they understood, Jiang Luo felt Huo Zongzhuo’s hidden depths, and Huo Zongzhuo understood Jiang Luo’s subtle reveals.
So it made sense.
And now, the two hearts, once shielded from the moonlight, finally pressed tightly together.
Clothes and pants were scattered beside the bed. The bed held two entangled figures, inseparable.
Huo Zongzhuo used the remaining bottle of lubricant, gentle and tender to the extreme.
Yet Jiang Luo still furrowed his brows.
Huo Zongzhuo bent over and kissed him.
Jiang Luo’s frown deepened, sensing something profound.
Who in the past dared say Huo Zongzhuo was incapable?
Jiang Luo wanted to slap them.
He could hardly bear it.
He tried to endure, until Huo Zongzhuo began.