Xiao Yao got beat up.
To be precise, he got bitten first, then got his ass kicked.
While other people enter relationships full of sugar and sweetness, he had to go down the road of courting death. On the very first day of dating, his poor head almost got bashed in.
Well, it was kind of his fault. He had to go snooping and discovered Ti Xiao’s secret stash of spicy material.
At first glance, it was just a few sheets of paper. But when he pulled them out, it turned out to be a small, messily bound booklet—nearly twenty pages long, full of wildly creative poses that could make anyone’s heart race and cheeks flush. None of them were repeats. It was enough to last a whole month.
Honestly, it could’ve been called the holy grail of thirst traps.
He held the booklet high out of Ti Xiao’s reach, using his height advantage, and laughed.
No matter how doting that smile looked, to Ti Xiao, it was nothing but shameless humiliation.
And that wasn’t even the worst part—Xiao Yao decided to go full flirt mode.
One hand holding the booklet aloft, the other pulling Ti Xiao in close, their bodies pressed together. He leaned in and whispered, breath warm against Ti Xiao’s ear, “Wanna try this one tonight?”
That sultry voice, wrapped in heat and mischief, slithered into Ti Xiao’s brain like a jolt of electricity, setting every nerve on fire.
“Get lost!” Ti Xiao couldn’t take the teasing anymore. He threw punches and curses, his face flushed with rage. “Try your damn head!”
“But you drew me,” Xiao Yao argued, both hands flipping through the pages. “That’s my image rights. Don’t I get to see?”
Page after page flashed before Ti Xiao’s eyes—each line unmistakably his own handiwork. It had started out as just some innocent anatomy practice. But somewhere along the way, things had taken a very horny turn. And it didn’t stop—what began as three or five sketches had evolved into a whole little booklet.
If Xiao Yao hadn’t found it today, who knows how much longer the collection would’ve kept growing.
“Look at your head!” Ti Xiao shouted, leaping up to snatch it back.
He’d never hated being 5’8″ more than he did now. Every time he jumped, Xiao Yao just raised the booklet higher, like he was teasing a kid.
Burning with frustration, Ti Xiao did the only thing he could think of—he yanked up Xiao Yao’s shirt and bit down on that annoyingly perfect waistline.
And it actually felt… weirdly nice.
Xiao Yao let out a dramatic yelp. Victory for Ti Xiao.
The little booklet got stuffed back under the table leg to keep it steady, and the two of them sat down to eat like absolutely nothing had happened.
Well, except for Xiao Yao rubbing his waist in pain. That bite had left a deep red mark, still tender to the touch. But somehow, even the bite mark was kind of cute. Xiao Yao glanced at it again, satisfied, and pulled his shirt back down.
“Can you please just eat your food?” Ti Xiao scowled, knocking on the table.
Xiao Yao instantly grabbed his chopsticks and started wolfing down food like a man totally under his girlfriend’s thumb.
Ti Xiao, still simmering with shame and irritation, scrolled irritably through his phone with one hand while resting his chin on the other. The corner of his eye caught the sight of the little booklet under the table, and his mood sank even lower.
Getting exposed was already humiliating enough. But being caught feeding your own fantasies? Who else starts dating only to end up like this on day one?
He’d definitely have to hide those drawings properly once Xiao Yao left.
But… Xiao Yao didn’t leave. As night fell, he was still lounging on the couch, playing with the cat and watching TV like he owned the place. He even asked what Ti Xiao wanted for dinner.
“I don’t want to eat you, thanks,” Ti Xiao muttered internally, rolling his eyes while trying to think of a way to kick the guy out.
Just then, his phone buzzed—it was the family group chat. His niece and older brother had sent beach photos: blue skies, sandy shores, and a personal jab wishing him a happy single New Year.
That’s when he remembered the bet he made with Ti Jiji—and the fact that he hadn’t yet told his family about his brand-new boyfriend.
As annoying as Xiao Yao had been today, at least he helped Ti Xiao win that bet and finally exit Single-ville.
Big Brother: Just a reminder, New Year’s tomorrow in China.
Your Cute Little Niece: Just a reminder, New Year’s tomorrow in China 😘
Like father, like daughter. Ti Xiao replied with a salty “Oh.”
Smart & Brave Ti Xiao: Oh.
Your Cute Little Niece: What’s wrong, Uncle? Looks like you’re still single. Spending New Year’s Eve all alone must suck. But hey, there’s a countdown and fireworks at Xuan City Square tonight if you wanna feel less lonely~ 🎆
Ti Xiao snorted. Single? Please. Not only did he have a boyfriend—his boyfriend’s name alone could give the whole family a heart attack.
A few messages later, his parents chimed in too. No surprise there—everyone except his sister-in-law piled on, congratulating him on being single again. The whole family was basically having a Schadenfreude party.
Without hesitation, Ti Xiao dropped the bomb.
Smart & Brave Ti Xiao: Forgot to tell y’all—I just started dating yesterday 😎
Nothing felt better than showing off your boyfriend to your nosy family. Ti Xiao was so smug, he could’ve grown a tail and wagged it.
The chat went dead silent, and then—
Big Brother: ??? No way. You’re kidding, right?
Your Little Cutie Nan Nan: No way—Uncle, you better not be lying!
Sister-in-law: Nan Nan, what kind of thing is that to say?
“Your Little Cutie Nan Nan” has retracted a message.
Mom: Oh my gosh, for real? Got a photo? Let me see! If you’re faking this, you can spend next New Year alone too.
Ti Xiao flipped through his phone—yep, not a single picture of Xiao Yao.
The TV was playing segments of people all over the country prepping for the New Year and trailers for the Spring Festival Gala. Xiao Yao was watching with great interest while Ti Xiao quietly plotted a sneak attack: snap a candid photo to send to the family group chat.
Click. Xiao Yao turned his head at the sound.
Crap, forgot to mute the shutter.
Ti Xiao panicked, fumbled the phone, and it fell—screen facing up—right onto the floor. The photo he’d just taken lit up the screen: a little blurry, but clearly a handsome profile.
“Why are you sneakily taking pictures of me?” Xiao Yao scooted over, trying to pull Ti Xiao into his arms.
“Can’t I?” Ti Xiao snatched his phone back quickly, still acting tough. “You’re my boyfriend, what’s wrong with sneaking a photo?”
“Mhm.” Xiao Yao smirked, clearly pleased by the title, pulling him close with his chin resting atop Ti Xiao’s head. “Take as many as you want, however you want.”
Ti Xiao’s phone kept buzzing—his mom, niece, and big brother were all spamming the chat, demanding proof of this so-called boyfriend.
“Send me a photo of you,” Ti Xiao said, “so I can show my family.”
“Give me a kiss first,” Xiao Yao said, tapping the corner of his lips. “Right here.”
Ti Xiao leaned in and gave him a quick peck, but the moment their lips touched, a hand slid behind his head and deepened the kiss. Next thing he knew, he was on the carpet with Xiao Yao on top of him.
Wasn’t it supposed to be just one kiss?!
Ti Xiao screamed in his head, but he still responded eagerly—after all, his brain had been running a dozen NSFW scenarios a second. The sound of kissing soon filled the room.
He felt something press against the inside of his thigh, and a hand was wandering dangerously along his waistline, inching higher. Ti Xiao’s eyes flew open and he shoved Xiao Yao away, panting.
“Picture. Now.”
Xiao Yao wasn’t doing much better—face flushed, breathing heavy. He swiped through his phone and said, “Can’t find one…”
Ti Xiao: “…”
So after all that, after nearly being eaten alive, this is what he gets?! He was 100% sure Xiao Yao did that on purpose.
Seeing the mix of frustration and betrayal in Ti Xiao’s eyes, Xiao Yao took a deep breath, sat up properly, and said, “Just take another one of me like before.”
After that little tumble on the carpet, both of them were covered in Little Purrball’s fur, their hair all messy. And with the way Ti Xiao had pushed Xiao Yao off him, the guy was even looking a little hurt—like a kicked puppy.
Sigh… Ti Xiao’s heart softened immediately.
Not long after, a photo of the two of them was sent to the family group chat.
Smart & Brave Ti Xiao: Hope no one’s too shocked. [Photo]
And by “no one,” he meant Ti Nan Yi. The poor girl was definitely shocked.
Your Little Cutie Nan Nan: ??? How are you with my ENGLISH TEACHER?! That photo’s edited, right?! No way I’m buying this!
Big Bro: !!! I can’t believe I lost that bet. Nan Nan, when you’re back after New Year, you owe your uncle a shoulder massage.
Mom: Well this young man’s pretty handsome, I guess… Still a bit behind your dad when he was young. But if he’s a teacher, that means a stable job—not bad.
Dad: [Happy emoji]
Your Little Cutie Nan Nan: Uncle, tell me this isn’t real!!
Your Little Cutie Nan Nan: I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT AHHHHH
Smart & Brave Ti Xiao: It’s real. He’s literally right next to me.
Ti Xiao looked at Nan Yi’s messages and burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking from trying to hold it in. Finally, someone else got to experience the shock of a secret identity reveal.
“What’s got you so happy?” Xiao Yao, still riding high after their “carpet moment,” was cheerfully chopping in the kitchen, even his knife work had a rhythm to it.
“Here, look.” Ti Xiao handed him the phone, scrolling up the chat. “My niece Ti Nan Yi—turns out she’s your student. She’s losing her mind right now. I bet she feels like the sky’s falling.”
Your Little Cutie Nan Nan: Mr. Xiao, are you seeing this?! Are you and my uncle pranking me right now?!
Tsk tsk. Ti Xiao smirked. She even used the super polite “您”—she must really be scared of her teacher.
Ti Xiao was laughing nonstop on the side, forgetting all about the earlier teasing and the stash of hidden snacks that got discovered. The show-off energy kicked in hard, and there was no stopping him.
Smart & Brave Ti Xiao: Mom, look! Isn’t he way better than Auntie Zhang’s son? [Photo]
Smart & Brave Ti Xiao: He’s cooking right now, hehe~ [Photo]
Smart & Brave Ti Xiao: Isn’t he SO good-looking?! [Photo]
The chat was soon flooded with Xiao Yao pics. Only his mom was still half-heartedly replying, clearly out of steam—but that didn’t stop Ti Xiao. He was fully basking in the glow of showing off, already regretting not telling his family sooner. Ti Nan Yi’s reaction alone had been worth it.
He stood next to Xiao Yao, laughing nonstop at his phone, his whole face glowing with joy. That bright, contagious smile of his made Xiao Yao’s lips curl up too, almost involuntarily.
“The pan’s burning,” Ti Xiao said.
“Go watch TV outside,” Xiao Yao replied quickly, kissing him on the cheek while still juggling the kitchen chaos. “Too much smoke in here. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
By the time they sat down for dinner, it was already eight o’clock. The Spring Festival Gala was playing on every major channel. The hosts’ voices echoed, “I’ve missed you all so much!” And just like that, their warm, laughter-filled New Year’s Eve dinner was underway.
“Are you full?” Xiao Yao asked as he cleared the table.
“So full,” Ti Xiao said, rubbing his round belly with a satisfied sigh.
“Wanna go for a walk?”
Outside, it had started snowing again, a thick blanket covering the ground—as if welcoming the New Year. But even the snow couldn’t dampen anyone’s excitement. The streets were still filled with people, all heading toward Xuancheng Square.
“I heard there’ll be fireworks tonight.” Xiao Yao showed him a few pictures on his phone.
Fireworks had been banned in Xuancheng for years to protect the environment. But this year, maybe to mark some special occasion, the government made a one-time exception—fireworks were allowed again, just for the night.
Ti Xiao was honestly a little sleepy after the big meal. Warm, full… his body wanted nothing more than a nap. But seeing the sparkle of excitement in Xiao Yao’s eyes—and remembering it was their first day officially dating—he decided it was worth braving the cold for.
“Are you cold?” Xiao Yao asked, but before Ti Xiao could answer, he was already grabbing his hand and stuffing it into his own warm coat pocket. “This better?”
He even fixed Ti Xiao’s scarf and hat—the same fluffy bunny-ear beanie he’d bought him when Ti Xiao was sick. Ti Xiao insisted on wearing it tonight, claiming it was Xiao Yao’s first gift to him.
Setting aside Xiao Yao’s habit of sneakily teasing him, the guy was still the same caring, gentle person who always looked after him so well.
By the time they got to the square, it was packed. Shoulder to shoulder, people everywhere. Xiao Yao thoughtfully made space around Ti Xiao, guiding them to the front row for a perfect view of the fireworks.
He leaned against the metal railing and gently pulled Ti Xiao into the safe space between his arms, shielding him from the crowd.
Snowflakes floated down from the sky. A giant screen began counting down the final moments of the year. Every second that ticked by brought them closer to the New Year.
With ten seconds left, the crowd buzzed with excitement. People were shouting, laughing, starting the countdown together in one rising voice.
“Xiao Yao, is there something you really want for the New Year?” Ti Xiao had to raise his voice to be heard over the noise.
Eight seconds left.
“What?” Xiao Yao genuinely hadn’t heard him.
“I said—” Ti Xiao shouted, “Do you want a New Year’s gift? I’ll get you something!”
Five seconds.
This time Xiao Yao caught it. He grinned and said, “Oh, yeah. There’s something I want.”
Two seconds.
“What is it?” Ti Xiao turned back to ask.
“You,” Xiao Yao said simply.
One second left.
Fireworks suddenly burst into the sky, lighting it up with brilliant colors. The deep night was painted with radiant clouds and glowing streaks, while waves of “Happy New Year!” rippled through the crowd like a chant.
The lights reflected in Ti Xiao’s eyes, but the most dazzling sight wasn’t the fireworks—it was the person standing right in front of him.
Xiao Yao gazed at him without blinking, committing every detail to memory, sending it straight to the deepest part of his heart. Inside, it was like the thorns of all his past scars were quietly being smoothed out… and in their place, flowers began to bloom.
Before he kissed him, he poured every ounce of love he had into his voice.
“Happy New Year, my little Jiujiu. You’re the best New Year’s gift I could’ve ever asked for.”
