Found Him! My 'Glass-Hearted' Ex is a Pop-Up Star - Chapter 17

Duan Zhuyan was displeased. His face was dark, and his expression remained cold as he placed several pieces of ribs into Ying Ruo’s bowl. “Shut up and eat,” he said in a low, heavy voice.

Ying Ruo became well-behaved. He stopped talking and quietly buried his head in his food. It seemed the “deep conversation” method was not going to work either; Duan Zhuyan looked like he had absolutely no desire to have a heart-to-heart with him. As Ying Ruo stuffed rice into his mouth, he chewed thoughtfully.

Sitting beside him, Duan Zhuyan’s eyelashes were lowered, his stern aura carrying a heavy sense of oppression. His rolled-up sleeves had not been pulled down, revealing the smooth, tight lines of his forearms and prominent veins. His hands were broad and large, with long, slender fingers. Looking at those well-defined hands, Ying Ruo’s face turned slightly red for no reason.

Whether it was from fitness, boxing, or lab work, there was a thin layer of calluses on Duan Zhuyan’s palms and knuckles. He had not felt it that strongly before, but the thought of the box of condoms he had seen on the bed and Duan Zhuyan’s blushing ears made the subtle sensation of those calluses brushing against skin feel suddenly hypersensitive. Like an electric current, the feeling shot to the top of Ying Ruo’s head and surged downward, numbing his whole body.

He wondered if it was true. Did he really have sex with Duan Zhuyan?

Actually, the fact that they had kissed was already shocking enough to Ying Ruo. Now they were living together, engaging in intimacy in bed, and he was even the one on the bottom. He reflected on the fact that they had only been dating for a little over two weeks. He questioned how the progress had fast-forwarded to something he felt he would not do even in two months or even two years.

Ying Ruo could not help but steal another glance at Duan Zhuyan. The stray hairs on Ying Ruo’s head swayed with his chewing, while the rest clung obediently to his fair face. His cheeks were flushed, and his thick, long lashes curled slightly upward. He wondered if he had been threatened, but being threatened into sexual acts felt too much like an adult movie. Besides, whatever he had, Duan Zhuyan had as well.

Beyond shyness, Ying Ruo was now filled with curiosity and disbelief. He wondered if such things were innate skills, and if it really felt good to be with a man. Since he was willing to be with Duan Zhuyan so early on, he definitely did not dislike it. Duan Zhuyan looked so fierce; Ying Ruo wondered what kind of expression he would make while doing something like that.

Ying Ruo truly had many questions he wanted to ask, but if he dared to ask, he would probably be hit by Duan Zhuyan. Besides, nobody asks an ex-boyfriend those kinds of questions. Jokes aside, Ying Ruo was genuinely curious about what had happened between them. Since Duan Zhuyan would not talk, he realized he would have to figure it out on his own.

Ying Ruo felt a bit depressed, but since he could not remember anyway, he decided to stop overthinking. Before he knew it, he had finished his rice. Seeing that there was still plenty of food left, Duan Zhuyan asked, “Would you like some more?”

The dishes were so good they practically demanded more rice. Ying Ruo wanted another serving, so he nodded. “Sure! It is really delicious. You are amazing, Duan Zhuyan.”

“Stop praising me. You are acting like you are coaxing a dog,” Duan Zhuyan remarked while frowning.

Having said that, he stood up, took Ying Ruo’s bowl, and walked toward the kitchen without looking back. For some reason, even though his words were cold, Duan Zhuyan seemed to be in a pretty good mood. The tips of his ears were a bit red, and it felt like there was a tail wagging behind him. Ying Ruo blinked, sensing that the man actually liked the praise.

“Eat less,” Duan Zhuyan said indifferently as he returned and set the bowl back in front of Ying Ruo. “If you eat too much, your stomach will act up again.”

“Thank you,” Ying Ruo said, taking the bowl.

Dinner was actually quite pleasant, or at least that was what Ying Ruo thought. Duan Zhuyan was truly diligent; he began tidying the kitchen immediately after eating. Ying Ruo was assigned to sit on the sofa and rest. Because the food was so delicious and perfectly suited his taste, Ying Ruo finished the entire second bowl Duan Zhuyan gave him. Although he was not a picky eater, after eating plain food for so long, this Chinese meal was top-tier for an international student.

Even though Duan Zhuyan had warned him to eat less, he still overdid it. Suddenly, Ying Ruo felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. He realized his stomach was starting to hurt. He glanced at Duan Zhuyan, who was still cleaning up, and silently lowered his head. He had already troubled the man with so many things and felt too embarrassed to ask for more care. He decided to endure it, hoping it would pass soon.

Ying Ruo stood up to move around, making small talk to distract himself from the pain. “You must have a lot of friends, do you not?”

Duan Zhuyan turned around. “Why do you say that?”

Ying Ruo replied, “Even though you look fierce, have a bit of a temper, and are not very pleasant when you speak, you are a good person. You are generous, and you cook such great food. There must be plenty of people who want to hang out with you.”

Duan Zhuyan remained silent. He wondered what was with the long list of insults at the beginning. Ying Ruo was about to continue when Duan Zhuyan cut him off. “Do you think just anyone gets to eat the food I cook?”

Ying Ruo froze for a moment. The sound of running water stopped, leaving only the faint ticking of the mechanical clock on the wall. Duan Zhuyan dried his hands. The overhead light cast a halo that traced his silhouette. His tone was flat and his expression was casual, as if he were just making a passing remark. “I only cook for people I want to cook for.”

The silence in the room deepened. Ying Ruo could almost hear his own heartbeat and the nearly imperceptible catch in his breath. He did not know how to respond. He turned around stiffly, his hands unconsciously curling into fists. “Oh, I see. So that is how it is,” he stammered.

He suddenly felt awkward, and the stomach discomfort only made him feel more out of place. Just as Ying Ruo was about to find an excuse to head home, Duan Zhuyan approached him unnoticed. The light in front of him was blocked out. Ying Ruo looked up and met those deep eyes. Thinking he was in the way, Ying Ruo was about to move when his waist was suddenly gripped gently by a large, warm palm.

Caught off guard and losing his balance, Ying Ruo followed the man’s lead and landed right on Duan Zhuyan’s lap. His slender waist was held by the large hand, which pressed inward with some strength, forcing his body against the man’s chest. For a split second, he felt Duan Zhuyan’s hair brush against his cheek, followed by a puff of warm breath.

Then, his knees were nudged apart. Duan Zhuyan’s leg pressed against Ying Ruo’s ankle, prying it outward and rotating his entire body until he was sitting right between the man’s legs. Once again, his back felt the intense heat of the chest behind him and the rough texture of those calloused hands. Ying Ruo’s brain turned to mush for a moment; his ears burned as he tried to scramble up.

However, Duan Zhuyan’s hand moved to Ying Ruo’s stomach. Through the sweatshirt, he began to rub very gently. “Be still,” Duan Zhuyan said with lowered eyes. His hand did not stop, slowly massaging Ying Ruo’s belly.

Ying Ruo’s body was tense. It was not until his stomach began to warm up and the pain subsided that he realized Duan Zhuyan was massaging him because he had noticed the discomfort.

“You can lean on me,” Duan Zhuyan said, holding him from behind while gently rubbing his belly. His choice of words, however, remained blunt. “I knew you would be in pain. You usually do not eat properly, and then this time you wolfed it down like I was going to steal it from you. Of course you would feel sick.”

Ying Ruo said nothing. Any sentimental feelings he had were instantly neutralized by that comment. They stayed like that in silence for a while. A moment later, Duan Zhuyan pursed his lips and softened his voice. “Feeling better?”

“Yes, thank you. I feel a bit better now,” Ying Ruo relaxed, sensing the relief. He added sincerely, “Your technique is really good; it is so comfortable.” He then added, “Could you go a little bit lower? It feels really good there.”

Their bodies were practically fused together. Sitting behind him, Duan Zhuyan’s gaze fell directly on the pale, exposed nape of Ying Ruo’s neck. Due to the height difference, he could see a glimpse of a collarbone through the loose sweatshirt and the pinkish skin flickering in and out of view as the hand moved the fabric. The more he rubbed, the more the gap between the clothes and skin shifted. Yet Ying Ruo acted like nothing was wrong, genuinely enjoying the massage.

Duan Zhuyan felt a surge of irritation. He wondered if this was how someone should react to physical contact with a former intimate partner. Although Duan Zhuyan had not initially intended for anything more, given the position and the atmosphere, he was surprised by how calm Ying Ruo was.

Outside, it began to rain. Rain in London was always sudden and without warning. The sound of wind and rain tapping against the glass seeped into the warm air of the room. Duan Zhuyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed visibly as he swallowed. An unnamed desire surged. He wondered if Ying Ruo even knew where he was sitting right now.

Ying Ruo actually had not leaned back yet. He was just focused on how effective the massage was at relieving his stomach ache. He had not expected Duan Zhuyan to be so skilled at this; he was so practiced, it was as if he had specifically learned how to do it. At that thought, Ying Ruo froze for a few seconds. He wondered if Duan Zhuyan had learned this specifically for him.

Before he could finish the thought, he felt the large hand on his stomach shift and begin to move downward. The chest muscles of the person behind him pressed into his back, and two sturdy arms wrapped around him from behind. The man’s head moved closer to the crook of his neck, his chin nearly resting on his shoulder, warm breath spilling onto his skin. Because Ying Ruo could not see Duan Zhuyan’s face, the sensations became even more vivid.

The large hand that had been decently helping him massage his stomach now became two, supporting his narrow waist and pulling him tight into a hug. Then, one hand hooked its fingers just a few centimeters above his hip, caught the hem of the sweatshirt, and with a curl of the knuckles, pulled the fabric upward and reached inside.