Chapter 14: Xi Xingling
This personality of lighting up at the slightest bit of sunshine was probably why he was still willing to believe in love even after enduring so much torment.
Hard to say if it was good or bad, but at this moment, Li Dong found himself powerless against him. He only wanted to treat him well, to let him learn what real kindness looks like, so he would not sell his soul for a scrap of attention.
After leaving Golden Butterfly with Xi Xingling, whose face was haggard and steps unsteady, Li Dong bought him a large hooded down jacket and told him to put it on.
“So warm.” Xi Xingling happily leaned into him, both plush sleeves wrapped around Li Dong’s arm. “Where to now?”
Li Dong tipped up his chin and kissed one of those walnut eyes. “Food first. I am going to fill you up.”
“!!!” Bliss lit his face. He puckered. “Another kiss?”
The man really was starved for kindness. Treat him decently and he was grateful to tears.
Li Dong indulged him with a peck. “Come on. What do you want to eat? And nothing too greasy.” His palm slid over Xi Xingling’s rear, part warning, part check-in. “You okay here?”
“Mm.” Xi Xingling hugged his arm as they walked. “I took a bath just now and put on lanolin oil. It feels fine.” He even added, “We can still do it tonight.”
At this moment, Li Dong was reminded of that saying: there are no fields that can’t be plowed, only oxen that die of exhaustion. Truly wise words.
“Is there anything in that head besides doing it?” he asked.
“That’s not fair.” Xi Xingling looked aggrieved. “I act like this because I like you. I don’t do this with other people.” He really did feel wronged. Li Dong made it sound like he threw himself at anyone.
“What’s lanolin? Is it specifically for butts?”
“No! It’s for face and body, but you can use it there too.” His eyes lit when he got on the topic. “There’s a new butt mask everyone’s raving about. They say it makes your skin all soft, but it’s expensive. I can’t afford it.”
“How much?” Li Dong waved it off. “Forget it. After we eat, I’ll take you shopping. If you want something, get it.”
“Really?” Xi Xingling looked up, thrilled. “Can I get clothes and a bag?” He did not dare say jewelry. That felt too extravagant.
Li Dong had meant drugstore and body care things, not outfits and bags. “Aren’t you tired?” An afternoon of shops at least. What Xi Xingling needed more than new clothes was sleep.
“I’m not. I almost never sleep to noon. If I go back now I won’t fall asleep. Shopping is great. I’ve been too broke lately to do it properly.” He conveniently ignored all the shopping he had already done recently.
Li Dong dropped it and took him to eat.
“Ah, I ate so much. I am going to get fat.” Xi Xingling complained, but his chopsticks kept moving. At work he ate on a schedule and watched his portions. The cafeteria food was decent, but there was a ceiling. With Li Dong it was delicacies and novelty. He could not stop.
“You? Fat?” Li Dong glanced at those thin arms and legs, that slender neck, and wondered what standards he was using.
“Haha, when you say it I feel better already.” Xi Xingling took another bite, chewing happily. “Not bad. This place is delicious.” Just pricey. He and Qian Xiaozhun usually did not dare step in when they passed.
“Don’t binge,” Li Dong said, swallowing the automatic line of eat more if you like it. “Your body is not up to it. If you really love this, I will bring you again.”
“When? This weekend?” Xi Xingling brightened. “Great. I am yours all weekend.” He ducked back to his plate.
By the time he was full it was 2:20 p.m.
Floors three through six of the mall were all big-name counters and boutiques. From a little after two until nearly four-thirty, Xi Xingling towed Li Dong from store to store.
He bought clothes, shoes, bags, and then some.
His Moments feed, which used to be unrequited-love melodrama, turned overnight into high-spend flexing.
Starling: New-season coat from XX. Which looks better, light gray or khaki? [photo][photo]
The photos were mirror shots in the coats, taken by Li Dong.
“Second Young Master, which color looks better on me?” Honestly he thought both looked great. Gray had gray’s charm; khaki had khaki’s style. They were pricey though. He was embarrassed to ask for both.
“They both look good.” By the nth time, Li Dong was numb. “If you can’t decide, take both.”
“Thank you, Second Young Master~” Xi Xingling looped his arms around Li Dong’s neck and kissed him, then skipped off to the fitting room.
Xingling: X brand winter care trio, top pick for cold weather. On sale now for XXXX. Grab it if you like it~
Xingling: The classic mini backpack from X is finally mine. Loved it since it launched. Changing into it for work tomorrow.
He had a coworkers-only list in his Moments and hid these posts from them. The daigou-flavored captions were meant for the “sisters” circle. Sure enough, comments rolled in: Xingling, you doing reseller now?
Xingling: Are you blind? Obviously I’m shopping. Buy buy buy~
Qian Xiaozhun: [angry] You sl*tty Xingling, too cheap to treat me to good food, but shopping for designer brands yourself. Go die~
Xingling: You go die. I didn’t pay. Someone else picked up the tab.
Qian Xiaozhun: Who? Han Second Young Master?
Xingling: Say no more. Big dinner this weekend. I’ll introduce you.
Qian Xiaozhun: Sl*tty chicken. Tail’s wagging into the sky. Careful you poke a hole in the heavens.
Two hours in, the haul was impressive. He only posted a fraction. Put everything up and those sl*tty chickens would die of jealousy.
They stuffed it all into Li Dong’s car. He drove him home and carried the bags upstairs.
“Today was amazing. Thank you, Second Young Master~ Give me a kiss?”
Caught off guard, Li Dong got ambushed again. “Do you have to be in heat every single day?” After two or three hours of this, he was mentally and physically done. He just wanted to sit. Quietly.
The menace had no off switch. He stuck like glue every other minute.
“Second Young Master?” The man pushed him off and went straight to the bedroom to sleep.
“Okay.” Still buzzing, Xi Xingling hummed to himself in the living room, opening packages and basking in the spoils.
He left the price tags on, then tapped totals into a calculator.
“Wow…” He covered his O-shaped mouth. Shock and more shock. “I spent that much.” Would Second Young Master be mad?
Like a guilty little wife, he tiptoed to the bedside and whispered, “Second Young Master, are you asleep?”
“What?” Li Dong did not open his eyes.
“I did the math. What I spent this afternoon…”
“How much?”
“Th-this much…” He held the calculator up to Li Dong’s face.
Li Dong cracked one eye and glanced. Not bad. Compared to Han Yubai’s savings, a drop in the bucket. “So you spent it. If it makes you happy, fine.”
His nose stung. He felt like crying. Li Dong was too good to him.
“Then… can we go again this weekend? I invited my friend, the roommate who bent me.” He was a little embarrassed about letting Li Dong treat his friend, but he was dying to show off.
“The weekend…” Li Dong’s head throbbed. Was this a girlfriend or what? Back in university his girlfriends had not been this obsessed with shopping and preening. Skincare, beauty, butt masks… good grief.
“I am exhausted. We’ll talk later.” He did not want to overindulge him or let him swell up too fast.
“Okay. I won’t bother you.” Xi Xingling took it well. He grabbed his backpack to swap into the new bag.
Out came the giant toy from last night. He slid it into its dust bag so fast his face went pink, then shoved it aside.
Fresh bag packed, he took the toy to wash and store for future use.
For those nights without Han Yubai, he would not have to lie awake in restless misery. Whenever he missed him, he could… take it out. He brought the new ointment into the bathroom as well, to soothe and moisturize his poor chrysanthemum.
In the bedroom, Li Dong heard a suspicious little hum float from the bathroom. His scalp prickled.
F*ck… terrifying.
They had gone at it five, six, seven, eight times just last night, and now…
Or maybe he was imagining things.
He dragged himself up anyway, barefoot to the bathroom door, and pushed it open.
Inside, Xi Xingling had one hand braced on the wall and the other behind him. He startled when Li Dong stepped in and froze.
“What exactly are you doing?” Li Dong’s eyes flicked to the toy on the counter.
“Putting on cream…” His chrysanthemum had taken damage last night.
“…” Even applying ointment, he had to sound like he was being ravished. Li Dong was impressed despite himself. “Keep it down. I am really tired.” He pulled the door closed for him and trudged away like a dead ox.
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