Doctor Gu’s Orange Cat Boyfriend - Chapter 35

One bed.

 

Only one bed.

 

【Aaaaaah!】

 

【I just realized there’s only one bed—does that mean I have to sleep in the same bed as Gu Chaoyu?!】

 

【What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?】

 

Lin Mucí nervously clutched the hem of his shirt, his mind uncontrollably flashing back to that awkward moment with the “condom” earlier that day.

 

Just then, Gu Chaoyu, who had already settled onto the bed, patted the empty space beside him.

 

“What are you spacing out for? Come sleep.”

 

Gu Chaoyu’s voice sounded just like usual, deep and gentle.

 

But Lin Mucí couldn’t shake the feeling that there was some kind of amusement hidden within it.

 

He shuffled awkwardly to the edge of the bed, stiffly pulled back a corner of the quilt, and slipped inside.

 

He pressed himself tightly against the edge of the bed, wishing he could shrink into a paper-thin presence.

 

Between them, it felt like the childhood “demarcation line” had reappeared.

 

In the darkness, Gu Chaoyu seemed to chuckle softly, muttering under his breath

 

“It’s not like we haven’t slept together before…”

 

“When you turned into an cat, didn’t you crawl into my bed every single night?”

 

Lin Mucí’s ears twitched.

 

He thought he’d heard something, but couldn’t quite make it out.

 

“You… what did you just say?” he asked softly.

 

Gu Chaoyu rolled over, facing him.

 

In the darkness, he couldn’t see Gu Chaoyu’s expression, but he could feel that burning gaze locked firmly on him.

 

“Nothing,” Gu Chaoyu’s voice carried a hint of amusement. “I said you’re really cute.”

 

“Sleeping in the same bed with me makes you this nervous?”

 

Lin Mucí’s already feverish body grew even hotter.

 

【Cute?!】

 

【He called me cute!】

 

【But… the more he says that, the more nervous I get!】

 

Watching his innocent expression and hearing the little thoughts racing through his mind, Gu Chaoyu’s lips curved into an ever-widening smile.

 

He decided to fan the flames.

 

“Ah,” Gu Chaoyu sighed deliberately, a hint of teasing in his voice, “Just sharing a bed made you this bashful.”

 

“What if… we do some naughty things later? Won’t you just crawl under the bed?”

 

Naughty things?

 

What kind of naughty things?!

 

Lin Mucí’s mind buzzed, completely overwhelmed.

 

【Naughty things?!】

 

【Could it be… could it be what I’m thinking?!】

 

【No way! We’ve only been together for one day!】

 

【Already… already going for a home run?!】

 

【But I, I, I… I’m not ready yet!!!】

 

The words practically burst out of him, his voice thick with tears.

 

“That ‘condom’ really wasn’t bought by me!”

 

“It was my cousin! She secretly hid it in the fruit basket! I swear!”

 

Desperate to distance himself from the daytime “condom” incident, he nearly sprang off the bed.

 

The air instantly fell silent.

 

Silent except for Lin Mucí’s own heavy breathing.

 

Several seconds later.

 

“Ha!”

 

Gu Chaoyu couldn’t hold it in any longer. Laughter spilled from his chest, growing louder and louder.

 

Lin Mucí: “…”

 

Only belatedly did he realize what a stupid thing he’d just said.

 

It’s over.

 

I can’t show my face to anyone now.

 

He yanked the blanket up over his head, burying himself like an ostrich.

 

【Aaaah! Just kill me now!】

 

【Why did I have to explain that?!】

 

【Now I’m stuck with it forever!】

 

【This is like digging your own grave!!】

 

Gu Chaoyu laughed for a long while before finally stopping.

 

He reached out, gently patting the small mound beneath the quilt.

 

“Alright, little dumpling, come out. You’ll suffocate in there.”

 

Lin Mucí grumbled muffled protests from beneath the covers: “No… not coming out!”

 

“You silly little thing, what on earth are you thinking?” Gu Chaoyu’s voice brimmed with exasperation and affection.

 

With a slight tug, he pulled Lin Mucí—blanket and all—into his embrace.

 

“I’m not that kind of person, you know.”

 

His muffled voice, dampened by the quilt, reached Lin Mucí’s ears.

 

“I’ve liked you for so many years. How could I possibly be in such a hurry?”

 

“That kind of thing… Of course, it has to happen naturally when you’re completely ready and willingly accept me, right?”

 

Hearing this, Lin Mucí’s inner tension and awkwardness gradually faded.

 

Slowly, he peeked half his head out from under the quilt, revealing a pair of wet eyes.

 

“Then… then what was that ‘shameful thing’ you mentioned earlier?”

 

He still felt a bit reluctant.

 

Gu Chaoyu watched his cautious, probing expression and wore a look of utter innocence.

 

“I just wanted you to sleep with your head on my arm.”

 

He gestured toward the wide gap between them.

 

“Look at us now. Do we look like boyfriends who just got together?”

 

“Someone who didn’t know us might think we’re strangers sharing a bed.”

 

So… that’s what he meant!

 

Lin Mucí’s face flushed again.

 

His thoughts were too impure.

 

He bit his lower lip, his body shifting like a tiny hamster, inch by inch, slowly creeping toward Gu Chaoyu.

 

One centimeter.

 

Two centimeters.

 

Three centimeters.

 

Just as he was about to get close, a powerful arm suddenly reached out, slipping precisely beneath his neck.

 

The next second, the world spun.

 

Lin Mucí was swept away by a tremendous force, landing securely in a warm, solid embrace.

 

His face pressed directly against Gu Chaoyu’s chest.

 

His nose was filled with Gu Chaoyu’s pleasant lemon scent, while the sound of a strong, steady heartbeat drummed against his ear.

 

Thump.

 

Thump.

 

Thump.

 

Lin Mucí was utterly stunned.

 

【???】

 

【Wait a minute!】

 

【This isn’t how the script was supposed to go!】

 

【You promised you’d just be my pillow!】

 

【How did it suddenly turn into a full-on hug, hey!】

 

[Dr. Gu! I never expected you to be like this! You big liar!]

 

As if hearing his inner scream, laughter drifted down from above his head.

 

“Boyfriend!”

 

“This is your first lesson.”

 

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”

 

Gu Chaoyu tightened his arms, pulling the person in his embrace closer, his chin resting lightly on the top of his head.

 

“I’m being your pillow, charging a little fee, and hugging my newly appointed boyfriend. What’s wrong with that? Is that too much?”