“Tell me about everything that happened before we met,” Xu Lan requested. He tossed a walnut cookie that Bai Wu made into his mouth, but not before twirling in between his fingers first. He then crossed his legs and sat on the woolen blanket.

Xu Lan had slept until ten o’clock at night but was roused awake by his grumbling tummy. Even though he said that they could get some takeout, Bai Wu still insisted on waking up to make some snacks for him. The attentive Bai Wu had already cleared up the sofa and mopped the room floor a few times. Xu Lan had a latent fear of that antique sofa and threatened to sell it off.

“… There’s nothing to talk about. They’re not good things.” Bai Wu, who was positioned in front of the oven, stared blankly and replied hazily. His past was nothing but repetitive acts of humiliation, abuse, and abandonment. There was no need to tell Xu Lan about all that unpleasantness.

“What if, back then, I was the same as the others?” Xu Lan asked melancholically.

“No ifs!” Bai Wu shot back and clattered against the small weak oven. That night was not a tranquil one in Xu Lan’s home, and the lotus flowers were not blooming outdoors. The poor sofa and pitiful oven could only suffer the abuse and shed silent tears.

“Bai Wu, not everyone looks at you that way. You met me, right? There’s plenty of other good people out there, you just haven’t met them yet.” Xu Lan ate another walnut cookie.

Bai Wu smiled slightly. He walked over and pointed at his own empty mouth. Xu Lan chose the biggest cookie and handed it over to him, but he simply frowned and shook his head.

“Use your mouth.”

“… We’re two grown men and still, this…” Xu Lan paused for a moment before finally speaking timidly.

“…” Bai Wu said nothing further and sat disappointedly opposite Xu Lan. Picking up a small cookie, Bai Wu tossed it into his mouth and glanced at his phone. The company had called him quite a few times.

Xiao Xiao was the one who introduced him to the job. Model scouting agencies contacted her after seeing the few pictures she previously took of him that were posted on the internet. She randomly picked the most famous agency and sent over a CV. After Bai Wu returned, everyone was contacting him directly and asking him to sign contracts. The money in the ATM card, Xiao Xiao explained, was royalty from the use of his pictures.

Xu Lan looked at Bai Wu uncomfortably. After a while, he stretched his trembling hand and tugged at Bai Wu’s shirttails.

“Hm? Xu Lan! Come closer!” A blush appeared on Xu Lan’s bronze skin and lingered on his face. With eyes that did not know where to look, he was holding a cookie between his teeth and tugging shyly at Bai Wu’s shirt. Bai Wu stood up, held Xu Lan’s chin, and pulled him closer.

As soon as Bai Wu bit the cookie, Xu Lan wanted to break free, but the hand that held Xu Lan’s chin had no intention of letting go. The situation remained like that until Bai Wu finished the cookie, but seemingly wishing to continue expressing himself, Bai Wu licked the corner of his mouth before finally letting the man go.

The walnut cookie was crisp and flavorful. Entering the mouth, it melted away into a velvety mush, swirling across the tongue as well as leaving its fragrance across his teeth and lips. It was as delicious as devouring Xu Lan whole.

“I, think it’s a bit excessive for me. I’m not, I’m not used to it. Even if, even if its… I won’t do this.” Xu Lan wiped his mouth. His face remained red.

“Mm, I know. It’s just that, I wanted to do it.” Bai Wu’s bright, round eyes seemed to smile as they stared at Xu Lan.

“Uh, don’t look at me like that.” Xu Lan covered his eyes suddenly; his voice was low and hoarsely rich.

“Why?” Bai Wu asked, bewildered.

“I, I want to kiss you,” Xu Lan said. His eyes were red as he looked down embarrassedly.

“… Muahaha, no problem, I’m here and you can kiss me all you want!” Bai Wu moved the remaining walnut cookies away from the blanket and pulled at Xu Lan with one hand, sending him tumbling to the ground.