Chapter 70: I Don't Need You to Guard Me, I Want You to Love Me

The rain that day was torrential—greater even than the night Yiping confronted her father for money.

Zhou Yili had been playing games at Sheng Que’s house late into the night. As he dashed home through the downpour, he spotted Shen Jixing crouched beneath a cluster of wild roses by the roadside.

“Shen Jixing?”

Almost instantly, Zhou Yili shrugged off his jacket and wrapped the drenched boy in it.

“What are you doing here? It’s not a tutoring day. Are you out of your mind?”

He sounded nothing like the mischievous or obedient boy he was in class. Now, Zhou Yili’s brows were knotted with worry, his tone urgent as he touched the rain-soaked line of Shen Jixing’s shoulder.

His hand met icy skin.

Water beads slid from the boy’s elegant brows and eyes. Zhou Yili wanted to embrace him, but dared not, afraid of offending him, anxious and helpless as he struggled to warm him.

“Are you stupid, standing here in the rain?”

“Did you come to find me?”

Standing before him, Shen Jixing resembled glass kissed by water—beautiful, fragile, breathtaking.

Zhou Yili placed his palm over Shen Jixing’s shoulder, imparting whatever warmth he could muster.

He thought, if only Shen Jixing would accept his pursuit, he could hold him close and warm him.

But Shen Jixing was always aloof and proper—except for that one time, never crossing a single line.

Zhou Yili knew he didn’t stand a chance.

“Mm.”

The glass beauty spoke, and Zhou Yili was startled.

“I came to find you.” Shen Jixing raised his wet, long lashes, fine droplets clinging to the tips, a delicate, vulnerable beauty.

“I waited for you a long time, but didn’t know where you’d gone.”

Zhou Yili was stunned.

A belated regret gripped his heart, making it hard to breathe. The urgency and sharpness in his expression faded away.

“I—I didn’t know you were looking for me.”

His damp bangs clung to his forehead as he carefully shielded Shen Jixing from the wind and rain, offering all the warmth he could.

He gently wiped the rain from beneath Shen Jixing’s eyes with his fingertip. “Sorry, it’s my fault, my fault—I’m the bad guy.”

He really had no need to apologize, Shen Jixing thought.

He hadn’t told Zhou Yili beforehand.

He’d simply come, aimless, just wanting to find him.

The idea had struck Shen Jixing suddenly. “Zhou Yili.”

“Mm, I’m here.”

Zhou Yili couldn’t embrace him.

On this chilly rainy night, he wrapped the beautiful hands in his own, lowered his gaze, and breathed warmth upon them.

“Do you want to sleep with me?”

“Plop—”

Raindrops from the rose bushes struck their intertwined hands.

Tiny crystalline beads burst like flowers before their eyes. Zhou Yili stood frozen, staring blankly at him, unsure how to respond.

A little endearing.

Shen Jixing chuckled softly, “Do you dare, little one?”

On a boy so brimming with youthful confidence, the words fell like a unique challenge.

“Tch.” Zhou Yili still warmed his hands, brows and eyes wet and wild. “What wouldn’t I dare? I’ll book a room right now.”

He fumbled in his pockets, failing several times.

Shen Jixing glanced at him and said quietly, “Let’s go to your house.”

“I want to go to your room.”

Shen Jixing didn’t realize what a blow this was to Zhou Yili.

The person before him was the secret crush he had yearned for so long, who had never responded.

He’d already resigned himself—if Shen Jixing didn’t like him, so be it. He wasn’t much anyway.

Shen Jixing had the right to choose whom he loved.

Now his white moonlight wanted to go to his room, to spend the night together.

That same room he’d slept in since he was a child, saturated with his presence.

His white moonlight wanted to lie in his den, give himself entirely.

Zhou Yili felt as if he’d been struck dumb.

His lashes trembled rapidly. Though standing in the damp end of the rain, his body burned like a small furnace.

“Oh, oh—okay.”

He half-wrapped the slender pale shoulders, letting Shen Jixing lean into him. “I’ll take you home.”

Zhou Yili brought the drenched beauty home.

He found him clothes to change into, and sat soaked on a stool, silently waiting for him to finish his shower.

Shen Jixing emerged from the bathroom, barefoot, wearing Zhou Yili’s gray sweatshirt.

Zhou Yili shot up, not daring to look at those bare, long legs. The wild youth seemed to have vanished.

He was nervous beyond belief.

“I…I didn’t buy any. I’ll go get some.”

Shen Jixing glanced out the window. The rain had grown heavier.

On that stormy night, Zhou Yili dashed into the rain without a backward glance, disappearing around the villa’s corner.

Shen Jixing leaned on the windowsill, his brows and eyes tinged with a cool smile.

“How can he be so adorably foolish?”

Zhou Yili was gone for quite a while.

When he returned, Shen Jixing was already asleep, nestled against the headboard.

Outside, rain fell ceaselessly. Beneath the soft lamp, Shen Jixing slept quietly and beautifully, his features like an ink painting.

Zhou Yili unconsciously lightened his footsteps.

Like a gentle cub, he crouched slowly beside the bed, quietly watching him.

Sensing something, Shen Jixing opened his eyes slightly. “You’re back?”

Zhou Yili was still drenched, wet bangs hanging over his brows and eyes.

He gave a soft “mm,” placing the items he’d brought on the floor.

“Are you tired? You can sleep first if you want.”

Shen Jixing asked, “What about you?”

Under the warm light, the soaked Zhou Yili sat before him, his dark, lovely eyes clearer than rain.

“I’ll keep watch over you.”

Shen Jixing was silent for a moment.

He slowly sat up, the sweatshirt’s collar askew, revealing a stretch of pale, exquisite collarbone.

He radiated a natural, fatal allure.

Zhou Yili only wished for his comfort.

Until Shen Jixing gave a faint laugh, then pulled him onto the bed, pressing him down and leaning in to kiss his cold, soft lips.

“I don’t need you to keep watch over me.”

Shen Jixing’s lips hovered over his, kissing him again and again, seeking the source of that clean, intoxicating scent filling the room.

He didn’t lie, but was adept at silence.

I don’t need you to keep watch over me. I want you to love me.

“Do whatever you want, Zhou Yili.”