Translator: Lynn
“What’s your ideal type of girl?”
Jian Jie seemed to have been posed this question on the eleventh episode, and the answers were practically etched in his memory. “Cheerful, lively, filial, and understanding of my work,” Jian Jie responded with a smile to the host. But as he thought about Long Zichen’s “enthusiastic” phone call from the previous night, he felt that these descriptions weren’t quite adequate. Yet, he struggled to pinpoint a precise adjective to describe Long Zichen; he was brimming with vitality and had the ability to bestow the utmost joy.
Over these 30-odd days of not seeing each other, Long Zichen hadn’t voiced any complaints to Jian Jie. He had resorted to sending a barrage of text messages instead. As soon as Jian Jie finished recording the show and powered on his phone, his inbox was flooded with Long Zichen’s affectionate messages. But finally, after wrapping up promotions in several major cities, today marked the end, and he could head back to Anping for a break. With the last show recording done by 8 PM, Jian Jie had no plans to stay the night. He promptly instructed his assistant to book a 9:40 PM flight and was soon on his way back to Anping City.
It was midnight when he arrived home. Jian Jie gently opened the door, greeted by a pitch-black living room. By now, Long Zichen must have already fallen asleep. Setting down his suitcase, he intended to freshen up with a shower before spending the night in the guest room.
However, just then, the bedroom lights flicked on, revealing a shirtless Long Zichen at the doorway, clad only in shorts and slippers, still in a daze. The two locked eyes, and Jian Jie couldn’t help but smile. Long Zichen, on the other hand, dashed over, exclaiming with delight, “Darling, weren’t you supposed to come back tomorrow afternoon? It’s so early!” He hurriedly wrapped his arms around Jian Jie, grinning broadly. “I knew I woke up for a reason! My beloved is back!”
Long Zichen’s antics amused Jian Jie, and he patted him affectionately, saying, “I’ve just stepped off the plane and I’m all sweaty. I need to shower first. You should go back to sleep. Can you sleep with the air conditioner on? And why are you barely wearing anything?” At times, Jian Jie felt like the more mature one. Long Zichen was perfectly normal outside and at work, but his IQ seemed to take a dive once he was home. Nevertheless, it was endearing.
Jian Jie grabbed his clothes and headed for the bathroom, only to find Long Zichen trailing after him happily. Unable to dissuade him, Jian Jie reminded him, “Brother Chen, I’m about to take a bath. You should go to bed.”
“I’ve been eagerly waiting for you to come back. I can’t possibly sleep now. We haven’t seen each other for thirty-four days…” Long Zichen leaned against the doorframe, his voice laced with a tinge of resentment. Suddenly, a mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes, and he smirked at Jian Jie, “Let me give you a back rub. You bathe alone every day, so you must miss out on a back rub, right? I’ll make you feel brand new!”
Even a simpleton could discern Long Zichen’s underlying intentions at this moment, but Jian Jie was far from foolish. After such a prolonged separation, he too had been yearning for Long Zichen. Thus, he offered a smile and remarked, “Brother Chen doesn’t seem sleepy.” Then, after a brief pause, he added, “The company has granted me a week off, and I’m starting tomorrow. No need to wake up early…”
Oh, was his sweetheart implying he could spend the night? Long Zichen’s eyes brightened. “Then I’ll request leave for tomorrow as well!”
With a mutual understanding of the impending course of events, there was no shyness between them. They promptly shed their clothes and intertwined within the confines of the bathroom. The pent-up fervor of a month could no longer be repressed, especially in Long Zichen’s case, who was exuding an extraordinary level of eagerness. He kissed Jian Jie fervently and caressed his lover’s body, as though he sought to compensate for a month’s worth of longing.
Separated by a slight gap, their young forms came together, and Long Zichen, panting, complained to Jian Jie, “I’ve been sleeping alone all these days, and I can’t get a proper rest.”
Jian Jie’s thoughts were perpetually intertwined with Long Zichen’s, and he murmured softly, “I’ve missed Brother Chen greatly too.”
Upon hearing this, Long Zichen grinned widely, revealing his bright white teeth. He lowered himself again, taking Jian Jie’s erection into his mouth. The sensation was intensely stimulating, leaving Jian Jie’s entire body tingling. He stroked Long Zichen’s hair as he wrestled to restrain the burgeoning desire within him.
“Brother Chen, that’s enough,” Jian Jie eventually uttered, his voice strained, fearful he wouldn’t be able to contain himself.
Even amidst this ambiguous ambiance, Jian Jie felt a touch of helplessness. He accepted the lubricant from Long Zichen, asserting, “Brother Chen, turn around; let me handle it.”
“In truth, I can manage on my own,” Long Zichen uttered before obediently pivoting around. He braced his hands against the smooth tiles, arched his back, and awaited Jian Jie’s penetration.
The foreplay didn’t extend for long, as Long Zichen’s impatience got the better of him. His nether regions were becoming unbearably rigid, while Jian Jie, on the contrary, was proceeding with his customary ease. Long Zichen’s legs quivered, and he let out an impatient moan, urging Jian Jie, “Xiaojie, I can’t hold back anymore—don’t tease me, come in quickly!”
The bathroom’s temperature was noticeably high, and with a quiet murmur, Jian Jie wiped his brow before gradually entering Long Zichen’s body. The sensation of their intimate connection was truly extraordinary. The quivering of their bodies, each friction, seemed to evoke innumerable pleasurable sensations, converging into a rushing torrent that perpetually stimulated their senses. In this moment, the veneer of decorum slipped away from Jian Jie, overtaken by raw instinct. He, like any other man, succumbed to the primal urge to possess his partner. Their union was fierce, as though it would never wane.
They indulged in a passionate tryst within the confines of the bathroom, forsaking any thought of drying off their bodies. Afterward, they embraced, kissed, and transitioned to the bedroom where their embrace was renewed.
Initially, Long Zichen was quite delighted. He perceived that his Xiaojie was brimming with happiness, having initiated their intimacy today. He fervently implored Jian Jie that they must engage in a marathon of 300 rounds, an effort to make up for the past month’s separation. Jian Jie obediently nodded and they continued in this vein until the early hours, ceaselessly alternating positions.
Ultimately, Long Zichen, confronted with the consequences of his own ambitious goal, found himself surrendering to fatigue. He abandoned all pretense of preserving the thrill, burying his head into the pillow and clutching the bedsheet as he endured Jian Jie’s advances. In a hoarse voice, he begged for respite, “Little Jie, let’s call it a day for now. I really can’t…”
Observing Long Zichen, spent and powerless, Jian Jie comprehended the situation. Overwhelmed by embarrassment, he ceased his actions, took a deep breath, and addressed Long Zichen, “Brother Chen, can you hold on a bit longer?” Such matters can’t proceed with the same relentless pace as flowing water.
Long Zichen, his cheeks streaked with tears, nodded, resolving to never underestimate his dear Xiaojie again. Although their fervent exchanges were exhilarating, the rapid pace threatened to wear out its novelty soon. Oh, the woes…
“It’s alright, and I’m at fault too; I was carried away.” Long Zichen strained to lift himself, pressing a weary kiss on Jian Jie’s lips before settling back down. With a solemn expression, he added, “If we keep up this intensity, we’ll need to schedule another session after some time. We need to aim for sustainable development. If things go explosively, there’s no point. We have to plan ahead, aiming to continue until we’re fifty-five years old… retire in style…” Long Zichen continued sharing his heartfelt sentiments, keen on enjoying his dear Jie for many more years.
Jian Jie mumbled an affirmation, enveloped by a sense of warmth and serenity. Long Zichen initially conversed with him in hushed tones, but soon his words faded away. Exhaustion overtook them both, binding them together as they drifted into sleep.
Jian Jie took a seven-day leave, during which Long Zichen remained by his side. The scorching August weather confined them mostly indoors, venturing out only to visit Brother Jian and Long Zichen’s mother. For the most part, they sought refuge in the coolness of their air-conditioned home, occasionally taking Amu out for an evening stroll. During this time, many community residents gathered in shaded areas, mostly oblivious to the fact that the young man in a T-shirt and shorts before them was the singer featured in the recent ubiquitous mobile phone advertisements on TV.
The week of vacation passed swiftly, and they both returned to work. The initial intense phase of promoting the album had waned. Now, Jian Jie only needed to record occasional programs and fulfill commercial commitments. Striving for improved security, he contemplated the idea of moving to a better community, thus requiring a bigger house. This idea was sparked when he overheard some gossip from Tong Liangliang. At only 20 years old, few paid attention to his relationship status. However, considering the long-term nature of the entertainment industry, he understood that if he remained unmarried at 30, he would likely be hounded by reporters seeking gossip. He aimed to prepare ahead. While he wasn’t afraid to disclose his status to the media, he didn’t want Long Zichen and his family to be perennially besieged.
He and Li Xiaoqi disclosed their housing plans and resolved to work harder in the upcoming period. The company and Li Xiaoqi welcomed Jian Jie’s motivation, assisting him in arranging various engagements. Due to his soaring popularity, his fee for commercial performances had reached 500,000, with no shortage of potential opportunities. However, performance companies with insufficient budgets were declining his offers. Yet, properties with two bedrooms and two living rooms in slightly upscale communities cost over 10 million yuan. Even selling his current residence wouldn’t suffice. Jian Jie had to continue to strive. He hadn’t revealed this plan to Long Zichen. Although Long Zichen earned an annual salary and dividends of over 100,000 yuan, as they were both in the entertainment industry, the cost of maintaining social connections was substantial. Since they moved in together, they had mostly relied on Long Zichen’s income for daily expenses. In Long Zichen’s own words, “Xiaojie saves all the big money he earns, and usually spends the small money I earn.”
Thus, Long Zichen didn’t have much saved. The 10,000 yuan deposit had scarcely grown. If Long Zichen knew about the house purchase plan, he would likely forego eating and drinking to save money. Jian Jie wished to avoid putting undue pressure on him. Buying a house was a positive goal, but it wasn’t worth living a strained existence for it.
Even though Jian Jie hadn’t mentioned anything, Long Zichen wasn’t oblivious. Witnessing Jian Jie’s sudden involvement in commercial performances, he sensed something amiss. Could his baby be facing financial constraints? Anxious to understand, he persistently questioned Jian Jie. Not one to hide anything, Jian Jie quickly revealed the truth to Long Zichen.
Long Zichen now felt deeply concerned. He couldn’t bear to see his beloved working so hard to buy a house while he remained idle. Gritting his teeth, he sold his collection of guitars and old records online and took on album production work for several singers. Having already produced Jian Jie’s two best-selling albums, and with several other singers from the company gaining fame, Long Zichen was ascending in his career. Invitations from other companies were also flowing in. To avoid being idle and to increase his savings, he actively worked to secure more deposits.
Long Zichen pooled resources, even requesting some financial assistance from his mother, ultimately gathering over 1.5 million yuan. Given the estimated worth of Jian Jie’s current four-bedroom apartment, combined with his album dividends, commercial performance earnings, and recent endorsements, he was confident that by the end of the following year, they would have enough to purchase a well-appointed three-bedroom unit in an upscale community without needing a loan.
Determined to ensure a future where they could live together without worries, Long Zichen resolved to economize on expenses. To Jian Jie’s amusement, Long Zichen was becoming more and more like a meticulous homemaker. Dining out became a thing of the past. Long Zichen refrained from supermarket visits for groceries and instead eagerly engaged with vendors at the local market in the early mornings, haggling for the best deals. Even his home chores were carried out with boundless energy, radiating vitality. Although their household now comprised just the two of them, Jian Jie no longer experienced the emptiness he once did.
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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