In a Relationship With the Rugged Guy Next Door - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: “Ge just wants to give you a scrub…”

When Chen Jingming entered the shower, Chu Feng had already drenched himself. He stood there like a massive mountain, back turned to Chen Jingming. His muscles weren’t the “protein powder” type found in gyms; they were the large, compact results of years of manual labor. There was even a faint tan line visible on the back of his neck.

The bathroom was thick with steam. Chu Feng shook his wet hair. Stereotypically, men in agriculture kept their hair buzzed short for convenience, but Chu Feng didn’t. His hair was long enough for his bangs to almost cover his eyes, a look that softened the harsh lines of his face and neutralized the “tough guy” intimidation.

Water droplets slid from his damp strands down his broad, solid back. Chen Jingming suddenly felt like he was watching a scene from a movie. He thought to himself: If this guy opened an OnlyFans account, he’d be a millionaire.

“Baby,” Chu Feng turned around. “Why aren’t you taking your clothes off?”

Chen Jingming snapped out of it, stammering, “I… I don’t like to.”

Chu Feng chuckled. “You don’t like taking your clothes off to shower?”

Water had already splattered across Chen Jingming’s shirt. He reached for the exfoliating mitt. “I’m shy, Ge.” “Why?” “My body isn’t good,” Chen Jingming said. “Standing next to you makes me feel inferior. That’s why.”

Chu Feng laughed heartily, propping one hand against the wall while holding the showerhead with the other. “Why compare yourself to me? I’m just a rough man.” Chen Jingming looked down and noted that he was, indeed, quite “rough.”

His face flushed red from the steam, Chen Jingming changed the subject. “I’ll scrub your back.” Chu Feng hummed in agreement, hung the showerhead, and turned back around to lean against the wall.

Chen Jingming slipped on the mitt and moved closer. Chu Feng’s back was incredibly broad. It was Chen Jingming’s first time scrubbing someone else’s back; because Chu Feng was so tall, he had to keep his arms raised, and they began to ache almost immediately.

“Harder, Baby,” Chu Feng said, his voice thick and drowsy from the alcohol.

Chen Jingming put more effort into it. His movements were wide, causing his hand to occasionally brush against Chu Feng’s glutes. Exhausted, he spent ten minutes finishing the job.

“Thanks, Baby.” Chu Feng turned around to wash the rest of himself. He saw Chen Jingming and laughed again. “Look, your clothes are soaked and sticking to you since you wouldn’t take them off.”

Chen Jingming was about to say it didn’t matter, but he looked down. The wet white T-shirt had become completely transparent, clinging to his skin and revealing everything. It looked weirder than if he were wearing nothing at all.

Chu Feng gave a “kindly” smile. “Baby’s nipples are pink. Not like mine.”

“GE!!” Chen Jingming exploded, crossing his arms over his chest. “How can you say that? That’s so weird!”

Chu Feng looked puzzled, but seeing that Chen Jingming was genuinely upset, he stopped laughing. He tried to explain: “Ge isn’t making fun of you. It’s just… a guy thing. Comparing bodies, comparing sizes.”

“Hmph!” Chen Jingming thought: Of course you love to compare, everything about you is huge. But I’m not straight! “I’m angry!”

Chu Feng immediately softened. “I was wrong. I apologize.” Chu Feng always yielded to him; there was never any room for a real fight. Chen Jingming sighed. “Then don’t ever mention it again.” Chu Feng raised a hand as if taking an oath. “Never.” “Then finish up quickly. I’m going out,” Chen Jingming muttered.

Chu Feng grabbed his arm. “You’re soaked, where are you going? You’ll catch a cold. Take it off and let Ge scrub you. We’ll dry off and go to sleep.”

Both felt the other’s logic was completely abnormal. The shower continued to hiss, the steam making the room stifling.

“Baby, do you not like Ge being good to you?” Chu Feng asked suddenly. “It’s not that,” Chen Jingming whispered.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, or perhaps it was words suppressed for too long. Chu Feng lowered his head in silence for a moment, then pushed back his wet hair to reveal his high nose and forehead. He braced his arms against the sliding shower door.

“You’re angry with me, aren’t you? Angry that Ge let you leave with those people back then. It was my fault…”

“No…” Chen Jingming’s heart tightened when he saw Chu Feng’s eyes reddening. This man was always steady, always the pillar of strength. It seemed no hardship could break him, no pain could make him cry.

Chu Feng leaned down to look Chen Jingming in the eye. “Wrong is wrong. Let Ge make it up to you, okay? Let me be good to you. I want to take care of you. Cooking for you and washing your clothes makes me happy. Just like when we were little—whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”

Chen Jingming couldn’t look him in the eye. The years of bottled-up grievances were like a broken window—he couldn’t hide them anymore. His nose stung with the urge to cry.

“Don’t want to forgive Ge?” Chu Feng’s voice was hoarse with guilt. “No, no,” Chen Jingming said quickly. “It’s not like that.” “Then why won’t you let me be good to you? Ge just wants to give you a scrub.”

Chen Jingming was mortified. “You… you’re drunk.” “Not that drunk.” Chu Feng finally relaxed slightly, sensing Chen Jingming’s resistance fading. He reached out to pull at the wet T-shirt. “Can I, Baby?”

Chen Jingming looked at his bloodshot eyes and sighed. After all that, it still came down to taking off his clothes and showering together. He was helpless; he was terrified that if he refused again, this giant of a man would actually cry. He couldn’t stand the sight of a “tough guy” in tears.

“Baby,” Chu Feng pulled him closer. Chen Jingming lost all his strength and closed his eyes in resignation. “Fine. Take it off.”

…

He said he would scrub, and he really did scrub. After the shower, Chu Feng hit the bed and fell asleep instantly. Chen Jingming lay there sighing. His back was scrubbed bright red—it stung.

Chu Feng’s leg was bent at the knee, resting against Chen Jingming’s. When Chen Jingming shifted, Chu Feng let out a mumble. “It’s late, Baby,” he said drowsily. Chen Jingming hummed and didn’t dare move again.

Moonlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting a long silver line on the floor. Looking out at the familiar night sky, he thought about Chen Lang saying his eyes had been soulless. Chu Feng’s steady breath warmed his cheek.

“Ge… after the light in my eyes disappeared, it flew into the sky and became stars,” Chen Jingming whispered ever so softly. “When they twinkle, it’s because I’m thinking of you. Thank you for being good to me.”

He didn’t know if Chu Feng heard him; the man just shifted slightly and draped an arm over Chen Jingming’s waist with a muffled grunt.

…

The next morning, breakfast was corn and steamed buns Chu Feng had prepared. He ate quickly, then sat across from Chen Jingming with his laptop, working while he accompanied him.

Chen Jingming wasn’t a picky eater. In fact, he was famously easy to please, which led him to believe his own cooking was decent. Since returning, his appetite had improved; he was currently gnawing on a sweet cob of corn. He observed Chu Feng—the sound of the keys, the furrowed brow, and the way he occasionally mashed the Enter key just like Chen Jingming did when writing.

Since he was meeting business associates today, Chu Feng had shaved cleanly and wore a deep blue dress shirt—a “branded” one he’d bought at Heilan Home specifically for clients. The shirt had no stretch; when he moved, the muscles in his shoulders and arms strained against the fabric. His prominent Adam’s apple sat just above a slightly messy tie.

Chen Jingming had been thinking of other things, but looking at him, he couldn’t help but think: A rough man in a business shirt really is inexplicably sexy.

“Why are you staring at me?” Chu Feng asked, saving a file and turning around.

Chen Jingming had brought his phone down today. He held the corn with both hands and cleared his throat. “Ge, that Teacher Du Li said they’re hiring an editor. You said you had a friend to introduce… who is it? A friend of yours?”

Chu Feng smirked and leaned back. “You could say that. Known them a long time.” “What did they say? Do they want the job?” “Haven’t asked yet. Why?”

Chen Jingming bit his lip. “How about you don’t ask them? Actually… I haven’t been lazy these years. I’ve written novels, worked as a screenwriter, and interned at a magazine. Now that I’m back in Changxi, I shouldn’t just be a tag-along behind you forever. I should have something of my own to do, right?”

Chu Feng teased, “Is being Ge’s tag-along so bad?” Chen Jingming asked seriously, “Is it so good?” Chu Feng was defeated. “…”

“I want you to help me give my resume and portfolio to Teacher Du,” Chen Jingming said. “See if I’m a good fit.”

“Hahahaha!” Chu Feng suddenly burst out laughing. Chen Jingming ruffled his hair in confusion. “What? Do you think I can’t do it? You haven’t even seen my resume.”

“Baby!” Chu Feng reached over and pinched Chen Jingming’s cheek. “That ‘friend’ is you. Ge only knows one great writer.”

Chen Jingming breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m not a ‘great writer’.” “You are. And you’ll be a super great writer one day.” “Then I’ll send you my resume to give to her.”

“Actually, I’ve already shown her some of your work,” Chu Feng admitted, looking a bit sheepish. “The stuff you published in magazines before.” “So you’ve read it too?” “Of course.”

That meant Chu Feng definitely knew about everything that had happened in the past month. It became a thing they both knew but tactfully avoided mentioning. Back on rainy nights in their childhood, when they shared a bed and Jingming would babble stories while lying on Chu Feng, Chu Feng had said: When Baby grows up, he’ll be a writer.

By that evening, Chu Feng received a reply from Du Li. He picked up Chen Jingming from Hu Xianyun’s house and told him: “In two days, you’re going to the Media Center to meet the Editor-in-Chief for a chat.”

This meant the resume was a success. The meeting was just a formality to see his personality. “Really!!” Chen Jingming jumped twice in excitement. Chu Feng was just as happy. He picked Chen Jingming up and spun him around. “I knew you could do it. I’ll go with you the day after tomorrow.”

“No, Ge! Put me down! I’m dizzy!” Chen Jingming squealed.

Hu Xianyun, coming out with a bag of fresh bamboo shoots to see him off, sighed. “I’m the one who’s dizzy (from the cringe)…”