Help, My Buff Roommate is Begging to Touch my Abs - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Call Me “Husband”

When Zhao Yuheng returned, he sensed that Jin Bao’er, lying in the lower bunk, had breathing that was long yet shallow and hurried; clearly, he wasn’t asleep yet.

Zhao Yuheng wasn’t in a rush to lie down himself. Instead, he aimlessly scrolled through his WeChat Moments.

His finger, as if possessed, stopped on a private folder in his photo album.

It was a candid photo he’d taken today of Jin Bao’er catching up on sleep, slumped over a desk.

In the photo, the person had his neck tucked in, the lines of his profile soft and gentle.

He looked like a kitten that had just had its fur smoothed over, his eyelashes still fluttering slightly.

The more Zhao Yuheng looked, the more pleasing it seemed, and the curve of his lips simply wouldn’t go down.

He stared at the screen for a long while before unhesitatingly opening the settings.

He set this photo as his phone’s lock screen wallpaper.

Having done all this, he turned off the screen. Guided by the faint light filtering through the window, he tucked his arms behind his head and lay there with his eyes closed.

In the darkness, his mind was filled with Jin Bao’er’s soft sleeping face.

He even lightened his breathing unconsciously, for fear of disturbing something.

…

A few days later, Zhao Yuheng and a few brothers returned from an internet cafe after a gaming session.

The night breeze was slightly cool, but it couldn’t disperse the high spirits written across his brow.

“You guys go back first. I’m going to the copy shop to pick something up.”

He stopped in his tracks and spoke to the brothers behind him.

“What? You’re actually going to copy materials in secret? Pulling a ‘competitive academic’ move behind our backs?”

A few brothers looked at him with faces of “grievous disappointment,” their expressions carrying a playful “anger.”

“No, just printing some identification info for my brother.”

Zhao Yuheng was perfectly frank, his tone carrying a trace of protection that went unnoticed.

The brothers exchanged glances, their eyes saying “I get it”: “Jin Bao’er?”

“Yeah,” Zhao Yuheng grunted in response.

“Zhao Yuheng, are you sure you’re not gay?”

One of the brothers nudged his shoulder provocatively, trying to find a crack in his expression.

Hearing his buddy’s words, Zhao Yuheng wasn’t exactly angry, but he wasn’t pleased either: “Even if every man in the world turned gay, it’s impossible for me to be gay.”

The guys burst into laughter: “Then what’s the deal with you sticking to him like a piece of sticky candy every day?”

“Yeah, sitting together in class, walking together after class you even have to call him just to go get food at the canteen.”

“If it weren’t for the fact that he doesn’t like the smoky atmosphere of the internet cafe, you’d probably force him to come along, wouldn’t you?”

Zhao Yuheng was momentarily speechless, his earlobes inexplicably turning hot: “…”

“Isn’t that just how normal brothers are? Isn’t it trendy now to have ‘meal buddies’ and ‘study buddies’?”

He explained with a straight face, trying to mask that moment of guilt.

Seeing him like this, the three of them stopped teasing.

Indeed, if even their Brother Heng turned gay, there probably wouldn’t be any straight men left in this world.

A few minutes later, Zhao Yuheng walked out of the copy shop holding the photocopies of the household register and ID card.

By the light of the streetlamp, he curiously glanced at Jin Bao’er’s date of birth: August 23, 2002.

Every August was right around the summer vacation.

This kid was actually more than a year younger than him; he was a total “little brother.”

A sense of satisfaction inexplicably rose in Zhao Yuheng’s heart; he felt that him being the “older brother” was simply a matter of course.

Even if his actual age were older.

With this “easy to bully” appearance, he had to be the big brother and protect him.

Afterward, he also looked at the other documents, especially the family information column; after reading it, his heart felt a bit heavy.

Finally, Zhao Yuheng tucked the documents away carefully, took the file bag, and walked quickly back to the dormitory.

These materials were prepared by Jin Bao’er to apply for a scholarship.

This matter had been a hassle for nearly a month, being extremely tedious.

Zhao Yuheng had even thought about asking Jin Bao’er how much the amount was.

He’d considered just transferring the money to himself, but he knew that with Jin Bao’er’s stubborn temper, he would never take his money for no reason.

Usually, even being treated to a meal required half a day of decline he was like a food-guarding, sensitive little hedgehog.

“Bao’er, your photocopies are back.”

Zhao Yuheng pushed open the dorm door, his voice carrying a hint of a smile, the end of his tone dragging out a bit.

Jin Bao’er was looking down at a book; hearing this, he looked up at him, his eyes clear.

The oldest and second-oldest in the dorm also looked up at the sound, their gazes circling between the two.

Jin Bao’er felt a numbness all over his body from being called “Bao’er.” Embarrassed, his cheeks turned slightly red, and his earlobes quickly stained with a thin pink.

The oldest and second-oldest consciously remained silent.

They just shared a smile, their eyes clearly writing: I ship it.

Zhao Yuheng didn’t think there was anything strange about the nickname at all; he only felt that his relationship with Jin Bao’er had grown closer.

After the last argument, he was even more afraid of losing this brother. He was always thinking of doing something to make up for it, so he subconsciously called him “Bao’er.”

Anyway, his name was Jin Bao’er; dropping the “Jin” made it more intimate.

“Don’t be so ambiguous, Brother. People who don’t know might think you have a crush on me.”

Jin Bao’er sighed helplessly, twirling a pen in his hand, trying to hide the waves in his heart.

“Is that not allowed? I just happen to think you’re precious.”

Zhao Yuheng stared at him with deep, black eyes.

His gaze was burning, as if trying to look through the skin into the bones, his manner so serious it seemed unreal.

Jin Bao’er’s heart skipped a beat; he almost believed that nonsense.

That gaze was too focused, like an invisible net trapping him firmly.

“Alright, alright, then call me ‘husband’ and let me hear it.”

Jin Bao’er put on the act of a “straight man” perfectly; as long as he wasn’t embarrassed, the embarrassment belonged to the other person.

Hearing this, Zhao Yuheng tossed the documents onto the desk.

With long strides, he sat down in the chair next to Jin Bao’er, his thigh almost pressing against the other’s.

Before Jin Bao’er could react, he threw an arm around his shoulder.

His palm was broad and warm, directly covering half of Jin Bao’er’s back.

“What? Even if I liked you, I’d be the ‘Top.’ The one who should be called ‘husband’ is you.”

Jin Bao’er’s body stiffened instantly upon being suddenly hugged, but then he relaxed again.

In the eyes of straight men, it seemed that aside from kissing on the lips, even helping each other out with physical needs was just considered “mutual assistance.”

But Jin Bao’er was muttering in his heart.

If I really called you that, would you dare to answer?

Seeing that Jin Bao’er wouldn’t open his mouth, Zhao Yuheng suddenly felt mischievous.

A thick arm directly throttled his neck, pulling him into his embrace.

“Are you going to call me husband or not?”

He used a bit of force, and Jin Bao’er’s body was forced to be tightly encircled in his arms, his whole person almost lying half over him.

His back could clearly feel the man’s powerful heartbeat, and the scorching body heat passed through the thin clothing.

There was also that nice, faint lavender scent on Zhao Yuheng that instantly invaded Jin Bao’er’s breathing.

“I won’t, I won’t.”

Jin Bao’er was still being stubborn, but his voice sounded a bit muffled due to the close proximity.

Who knew that Zhao Yuheng would free up a hand, slide it down along his waistline, and make a move as if to grab between his legs: “Calling me or not? Call me or not?”

That palm carried rough callouses and the heat could be felt even through the pants; wherever it passed, it seemed to bring a string of electric currents.

Jin Bao’er subconsciously clamped his legs shut, yet he still couldn’t dodge that mischievous hand, getting a light scratch on his inner thigh.

“Calling me or not?”

Zhao Yuheng leaned close to his ear, his warm breath puffing against Jin Bao’er’s sensitive earlobe, his voice low and hoarse.

Jin Bao’er trembled all over, his defenses completely collapsing: “Husband… husband…”

He could only call out in resentment, his voice soft and waxy, carrying a few hints of begging for mercy.

Only then did Zhao Yuheng release his hand contentedly, but he didn’t let go of him immediately. Instead, he gave his cheek a squeeze.

The texture was so good he was somewhat reluctant to let go: “Wouldn’t it have been over if you’d just called me that earlier?”

After saying that, he stood up slowly and, right in front of Jin Bao’er, unconcernedly stripped off his jacket and pants.

He revealed firm, tight abs and a V-line, casually grabbing the underwear at the head of the bed to change.

Jin Bao’er: “…”

Does this big straight guy just love displaying his physique in front of people that much?

He hurried to avert his gaze, his heart beating so fast it felt like it would jump out of his throat, his face burning terrifyingly.

…

Finally, Jin Bao’er lay on the bed and opened his phone to look at the online course he had bought.

The content in the course always felt familiar to him, so, refusing to give up, he searched for it on WeChat.

As it turned out, he actually found the exact same thing.

The content was entirely identical, only the other party had changed it into a PPT format—and it was a free public account article!

Jin Bao’er instantly felt the illusion of the sky falling.

No, he had been scammed!

That was 500 bucks; he had saved it up by being frugal, and what he bought was a so-called “advanced skills course,” yet it was actually a pirated version stripped from someone else’s public account!

Jin Bao’er’s heart ached so much he wanted to cry, and he rolled around on the bed clutching his quilt.

Damn scammer!

He just wanted to learn some writing techniques; how could he still be scammed?

Those 500 bucks were enough for half a month’s living expenses; he could have eaten several big meals.

That night, Jin Bao’er was so angry he couldn’t sleep.

By the next morning, the ready-and-waiting Zhao Yuheng discovered that Jin Bao’er had two massive dark circles under his eyes, his spirit as withered as an eggplant hit by frost.

“Did you go out being a thief last night?”

Zhao Yuheng frowned, reaching out a hand to check his forehead. The touch was ice cold, yet his cheeks were terrifyingly hot. “Do you have a fever?”

“I’m okay, no fever.”

Jin Bao’er listlessly dodged his hand. Even looking at the refreshed, handsome, and dashing Brother Heng before him.

He couldn’t muster any energy after all, his “sustenance for life” was gone.

Zhao Yuheng didn’t ask further, assuming he had just stayed up late.

Class was about to start; without taking no for an answer, he grabbed Jin Bao’er’s wrist, his palm dry and warm, forcibly rushing him toward the classroom.