Chapter 42: You’re My Husband. 

Shen Jize turned towards the bedroom, “Come on, Rong Rong, let me show you your room.” There was a hallway beside the living room, with one room on each side.

Shen Jize pointed to the room on the right and said, “This is my current bedroom, yours is across the hall. Go in and take a look, if you don’t like it, let’s swap.”

Lu Rong pushed open the door of the opposite room, the space inside was frighteningly large. In addition to the private bathroom and terrace, there was a cloakroom and a small study attached to it.

“It’s too big, Brother! It’s enough for us to have one room.” He turned to Shen Jize at the door and said. In his mind, he and Shen Jize should live together.

Shen Jize touched his nose and said vaguely, “It’s more convenient to stay alone if you have a room available. But when you bring Grandpa to the capital to play, you can stay in my bedroom.”

“Okay.” Lu Rong’s eyes narrowed with a smile when he heard about his grandfather.

Shen Jize’s cell phone rang, and he walked toward the living room to answer it while Lu Rong began tidying up his room.

He hung his few clothes in the closet, but he felt that it looked more empty after. When he returned to the living room, he saw Shen Jize sitting on a lounge chair on the balcony, reading a book in his hand.

Lu Rong went out, sat beside him with a small chair, and poked his head out to read the book.

“It’s a script.” Shen Jize explained.

Lu Rong felt bad about staring at the script, so he withdrew his eyes.

“You haven’t had your juice yet, go get it.” Shen Jize spoke again.

Lu Rong jogged back inside and brought out the glass of juice from the coffee table. He was holding the juice and drinking it, while secretly looking at Shen Jize.

Shen Jize read the script very intently, the light fell on his well-defined face, even his eyelashes were coated with a layer of hooded color; he was so handsome like he wasn’t real. Seeing that he didn’t notice his gaze, Lu Rong turned his head more and more frequently, his eyes were glued to him.

Shen Jize lowered his head, suddenly reached out and lifted a strand of ink hair that fell in front of his forehead, the end of his eyes rose slightly, there was some arrogance, but the movements didn’t diminish his handsomeness.

Lu Rong was struck by beauty in this moment, and his heart and soul couldn’t help but stir.

Shen Jize’s face was slightly sideways, the angle was perfect, the sunlight fell on his face creating bright spots and dark shadows.

…Brother really looks good.

Shen Jize suddenly put the script on the round table, stretched out his hand, calmly moved his head to the side, got up and walked towards the door. He got the food from someone and walked back in.

“Come over when you’re done with the juice and get ready to eat.” Shen Jize sat down at one end and was about to ask Lu Rong to sit at the other when the other came around with an empty set of dishes and sat down naturally next to him.

Shen Jize paused and simply said, “You’re hungry, right? Come on, eat.”

The dishes were very delicate and the plates were very beautiful, with the logo of one of the major hotels in the capital printed on the edge, and Lu Rong understood that this was the takeaway that Shen Jize ordered when he was packing his luggage.

“Brother, do you usually order takeaway?” Lu Rong took a bite of rice and asked as he chewed, his cheeks puffing out.

Shen Jize wanted to say that he basically never ate at home, but he just nodded vaguely, “Yes.”

“But this take-out is delicious.”

Shen Jize took the empty bowl in front of Lu Rong and filled it with soup with a soup ladle, saying, “Even if it’s good, we have to cook for ourselves. It’s not good to eat outside all the time.”

“That’s true, it’s not good to eat outside all the time.” Lu Rong bit the head of his chopsticks and stared at him, asking, “Brother, do you know how to cook?”

Shen Jize looked at him with a smirk, “Cooking? You must be the one to do it.”

Lu Rong said in shock, “But I don’t know how to cook.”

“Since you’re my bodyguard, you must cook for me too.” Shen Jize put away his smile and said solemnly.

Lu Rong was stunned for a moment and said, “Actually, I think it’s not bad to eat takeout all the time.”

“You just said it’s not good to eat out all the time.”

Lu Rong looked at him with difficulty and said, “But I… but I really don’t know how to cook.”

Shen Jize glanced at his white and tender fingers, “It’s okay if you don’t know how to cook, you can learn.”

“I might—”

“If you can cook, you’ll get paid more.”

“Extra pay… How much is it?” Lu Rong’s eyes widened slightly.

“Twice.” Shen Jize leaned back idly in his chair.

Lu Rong replied quickly, “Well, I don’t know how to do it, but I can learn.”

After lunch, Shen Jize’s phone kept ringing, all about work. He pointed to Lu Rong, who was staring next to him, and gestured to the bedroom door to take a nap. Lu Rong wasn’t too sleepy, but he obeyed and went back inside, lying down on the big soft bed. He listened to Shen Jize’s vague conversation outside the door, and turned his head to look around, happy and a bit incredulous.

I finally found my brother, and now we live together.

He buried his head in the blanket, smiled silently for a while, and closed his eyes contentedly.

Lu Rong woke up with a start and found that it was quiet around him. He put on his slippers and walked out of the bedroom, but didn’t find Shen Jize in the living room, so he went to the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator door. The fridge was empty, and he opened those cupboard doors as well, only to see stacks of empty dishes and plates, with no sign of rice, noodles or spices.

My brother asked me to cook, but there’s nothing here.

Lu Rong was worried until he heard Shen Jize’s voice, “Rong Rong, want to go to the supermarket?”

He turned his head and saw Shen Jize changing his shoes at the door, as if he was going out.

“Let’s go!” He jogged over and followed. There was a supermarket in the area, and it would take about ten minutes to walk along the road. If they drove the car and parked at the roadside, it would only take two or three minutes.

Shen Jize didn’t drive the car, he was obviously in a good mood. His hands were shoved in his trouser pockets of slim casual pants, as he was flinging his two long legs, walking along the empty road. Lu Rong, who had shorter legs than him, was a dozen meters behind him and struggled a bit to keep up.

“Brother, wait for me!” Lu Rong called from behind.

Shen Jize hooked his lips, but his tone was serious, “I’m walking very slowly. Follow me, don’t look around.”

“Oh.”

Lu Rong accelerated his pace, like a race walker in a sprint, and Shen Jize seemed to maintain the same pace, but each step was bigger, increasing his speed without being noticed.

Lu Rong couldn’t catch up after a short distance, and stopped to say, “You’re going too fast, I can’t catch up.”

Shen Jize turned to look at him, bewildered, “I’m just my usual speed, so you’re too slow, I guess”

Lu Rong caught the flicker of laughter in his eyes and realized he was teasing him, and exclaimed, “You’re lying!”

Before the words were out of his mouth, he dashed forward.

Shen Jize hurriedly turned around and ran, and the two chased each other down the empty neighborhood road.

The evening sunset glowed through the branches and leaves overhead, spotted on the two, as Lu Rong ran forward, Shen Jize also didn’t dare relax, running like a gust of wind.

Lu Rong, seeing that he couldn’t catch up, stumbled two steps on purpose and let out a yell. Shen Jize was really fooled and stopped with a sharp brake, turned around and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Lu Rong took the opportunity to rush forward, but when Shen Jize found out, and turned his head to run, Lu Rong grabbed a handful of his clothes, then wrapped his arms around the waist, hanging on him like an octopus.

“Brother, I… I… I got you.” Lu Rong panted and said.

Shen Jize laughed and held Lu Rong’s body to keep him from sliding down, Lu Rong bumped his forehead on his chin, put his hands around his neck, and narrowed his eyes wryly, “I just lied to you too.”

The skin on his face was transparently white in the sunlight and pinkish, like the smoothest kind of jade. Shen Jize looked at him and slowly withdrew his smile, his gaze slipping from the tip of his upturned nose all the way down to his pale pink lips. He stared at the two slightly open lips and couldn’t help but slowly approach them.

Lu Rong noticed his movement and followed suit, his long eyelashes fluttering like dark raven wings.

Shen Jize, as if testing, carefully approached, paused, approached again, paused again, and finally stopped a few centimeters from those lips.

Lu Rong held his breath as he watched his movements, and when Shen Jize stopped still, he suddenly and swiftly moved forward and kissed him heavily on the lips, making a crisp boing sound.

Shen Jize was frozen in place, and Lu Rong, who was centimeters away, looked at each other and felt each other’s hot breaths. Just as Lu Rong came forward again, Shen Jize abruptly let go and took two steps back, turning hastily in the direction of the supermarket.

Lu Rong stood frozen in place, looking at his back, and called out again, “Brother, wait for me.”

Shen Jize didn’t turn around or turn back this time, but walked straight ahead. Lu Rong only jogged to catch up with him and went alongside him, turning his head to look at his face as he ran.

Shen Jize still had his hands in his trouser pockets, his handsome face had no expression, looking neither angry nor happy.

Lu Rong asked anxiously, “Brother, what’s wrong with you?”

When Shen Jize didn’t make a sound, his eyes only looked ahead, he asked again, “I kissed you… are you not happy?”

Hearing these words, Shen Jize suddenly stopped without any warning, Lu Rong didn’t stop, ran out a few steps and then fell back and stood in front of him.

Shen Jize’s black eyes were looking at Lu Rong, the bottom of his eyes seemed to have unreadable emotions, so Lu Rong’s heart began to panic, as he said nervously, “If you don’t like it, I won’t kiss you later.”

When Shen Jize still looked at him, he stepped forward and took Shen Jize’s coat by the ends and shook it, asking ingratiatingly, “Brother, is that okay? Don’t be angry.”

Although his face had a smile, he couldn’t hide his look of chagrin and panic. Shen Jize fixed his gaze at him, and seeing his face turn gradually white, his heart suddenly softened, before he gave a long sigh. He reached out to touch the top of Lu Rong’s hair and said in a low voice, “Rong Rong don’t be afraid. I don’t dislike you kissing me, and I’m not angry.”

“Then why are you unhappy?” Lu Rong wasn’t reassured by his words, but became more apprehensive, with round eyes staring at him, watching his expression.

Shen Jize avoided his gaze and looked sideways at the shrubs next to him, looking at the blooming moonflower among them. After a few seconds of silence, he asked, “Rong Rong, what am I to you?”

Lu Rong didn’t understand why he suddenly asked this question, and was momentarily stunned, his mouth half-open in confusion.

Shen Jize turned back to him and continued to ask, “Am I just your brother in your heart?”

Lu Rong came back to his senses and nodded his head, “You’re my brother.” He saw Shen Jize’s face didn’t ease because of these words, but was more ugly, so he added more tone, “You are my favorite, most dearest brother.”

Shen Jize looked at him steadily and said in an unprecedentedly stern tone, “If you only think of me as a brother, then don’t make such actions as kissing me.”

Lu Rong shuddered in fear and hurried up to wrap his arms around his waist, saying repeatedly, “You’re not only my brother, but also my husband. You’re still my husband.”

Shen Jize didn’t move his hand, but also didn’t hug him back, only lowered his eyes fixedly looking at the person in front of him. His eyes were as deep as a bottomless lake, and they seemed to have a lot of words hidden inside. Lu Rong hurriedly took his hand and put it on his back, and wanted to kiss him on the chest a few times like before.

When he was young and upset, as long as he kissed him like this, everything would pass. But just as he was about to go up, he remembered Shen Jize just said not to kiss him again, and didn’t dare to go forward, and just froze in place.

Looking at Shen Jize’s stern look, he didn’t know how things had suddenly developed this way. He was just fine, but then his brother said he was unhappy. He didn’t know what exactly had annoyed him.

Lu Rong’s heart was scared and anxious, and tears were welling up in his eyes.

Shen Jize saw his appearance, but hardened his heart and didn’t try to soothe him, only said in a deep voice, “Rong Rong, you have to think clearly. Think well before you tell me what I really am to you.”

“Husband! You’re my husband!” Lu Rong’s words took on a nasal tone and he shouted, “We’ve been married since we were kids, and I’ve known since I was a kid that you’re not only my brother, but also my husband.”

Shen Jize closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.

“That’s what I’m afraid of, you know, Rong Rong.” He opened his eyes and ran his hand up Lu Rong’s face, rubbing his thumb over his skin, saying dully, “I don’t want that to be the definition I impose on you, I don’t. I want you to think clearly, to figure out exactly what you feel for me.” His fingers slowly slid down and nudged at Lu Rong’s heart, “Think with this. Rong Rong, Brother is not angry with you, Brother will never be angry with you.” Shen Jize said word for word, “But because you’re too important to me, I have to be responsible for you.”

In the supermarket, Shen Jize was in front of the shelves, picking out the goods, and Lu Rong was pushing the cart behind him. It was empty, with only a few people gathering in twos and threes. Because the people who lived in this neighborhood were rich and famous, and there were several celebrities, even if someone recognized Shen Jize, they just looked at him a few times, and didn’t come around to ask for autographs and the like.

Shen Jize saw everything thrown into the cart, which were only a variety of shampoo and body wash bottles, and even a bag of green rangs. Lu Rong could only follow him, find those things that they didn’t need, and then pick them up and put them back on the shelves.

He pondered about the conversation Shen Jize had started while looking at the long back of the man in front of him, turning his eyes away as he sidled up to the shelf to get something, and then continuing to peek when the man turned back. He understood Shen Jize’s meaning, that he wanted to confirm his own mind. But he felt he didn’t need to confirm it at all. The little seedling that was planted in his heart as a child had long since grown into a huge tree over the years, with Shen Jize engraved on every branch and leaf.

“Brother～” he cried out petulantly.

Shen Jize was holding a bottle of bath salts and looking at the date of manufacture when he turned his head at the sound.

“Flutter, flutter, flutter.” Lu Rong pressed two fingers to his heart, making a jumping motion, and said, “My heart says it thought it through, and you’re my husband…”

Shen Jize indifferently turned his head back and went on to the next item.