In a Relationship With the Rugged Guy Next Door - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Fair-skinned, Beautiful, and Big Eyes…

“Does it look bad?”

This was Chu Feng’s first time doing something like this. He was shy—so shy that he stared straight at Chen Jingming, waiting for a reaction.

When Chu Feng had first found the body chain while tidying up, he assumed Jingming had bought it for himself. But when he picked it up, it was clearly not Jingming’s size. He had held it up to his own frame and realized it fit perfectly, but he had immediately put it away, frowning.

A man of iron and grit shouldn’t wear such things—it was too scandalous.

Jingming’s fingers were still on the keyboard. In his excitement, he accidentally held down the “N” key. When he shyly looked down, his document was filled with a row of “N-N-N-N-N” (In Chinese, Niu means cow).

“Baby?” Chu Feng walked toward the desk.

Jingming instinctively leaned back. The pressure was immense.

The body chain wasn’t a trendy, delicate rhinestone piece. It was a rustic, antique silver chain adorned with ethnic horsehair embroidery charms. The links were thick, the style exotic and rugged. On Chu Feng’s wild, muscular frame, it didn’t look tawdry at all; instead, it lent him an air of something ancient and divine.

His freshly washed hair was still damp, with a few strands brushing over his eyes. He looked like a tribal shaman guarding a sacred land.

Jingming’s gaze became almost reverent. He parted his lips slightly, unable to look away from every inch of the man. He let out a tiny, soft “Mhm.”

Chu Feng didn’t hear him. He stepped closer, gripping the armrests of the swivel chair and turning Jingming to face him. He looked down and asked, “Mhm? Does it look bad, Baby?”

The small sunflower pendant dangled from his chest, swaying right before Jingming’s eyes.

Jingming’s ears were so red they were nearly translucent. He nodded frantically. “It looks good.”

In this position, Chu Feng’s chest was practically pressed against Jingming’s face. With Chu Feng’s arms encircling the chair, there was no escape.

“Then why isn’t Baby looking at me?” Chu Feng knelt down, changing his perspective to look up at Jingming. “You’re not looking, and you’re not touching. Don’t you usually love squeezing my chest?”

“I…”

“Here, feel it.” Chu Feng took Jingming’s hand and placed it on his chest.

Jingming’s hand brushed the silver chain. The metal, though naturally cool, had become scorching hot from Chu Feng’s body heat. Jingming instinctively flinched.

“Baby…” A trace of disappointment crossed Chu Feng’s handsome face.

Jingming was swallowed. “I’m just… embarrassed.”

“Huh?”

“It’s just… you’re too handsome. You don’t look like my brother anymore.”

Chu Feng chuckled. “How could that be?” He pressed Jingming’s hand against his own cheek. “Squeeze it. It’s not a dream.”

Jingming’s heart hammered as he gently pinched Chu Feng’s face. “Is it real?”

“Very real. I missed you so much. Didn’t you miss me?”

Jingming felt hypnotized. “I did.”

Chu Feng smiled and leaned in to kiss him. The house was so quiet that the clinking of the silver pendants was audible—until the sound was drowned out by their heavy breathing.

…

The Shaman’s Ritual

Chu Feng let out a low groan, and Jingming trembled.

He loved the sounds Chu Feng made. Unlike Jingming’s own, Chu Feng’s voice was deep and resonant. Even as a man who could hold his breath for over two minutes, he made these breathless, desperate sounds when they kissed.

Jingming’s waist swayed rhythmically as he clung to Chu Feng’s neck. When Chu Feng tried to pull back for a moment, Jingming grabbed the silver chain on his chest. “Don’t go…”

Chu Feng’s eyes darkened with delight. He lifted Jingming up by the waist and sat him on the desk.

“Did you shower?” Chu Feng whispered. “Yes.” “You smell so good.”

His warm palms slid downward as he kissed the sensitive skin behind Jingming’s ear. In a low, breathy voice, he kept asking, “Do you like it?” “Do you want more?”

Jingming could barely understand the words. He only remembered the keyboard pressing into his lower back, and the exotic body chain swaying before him like a shamanic spell.

The height of the desk was perfect. The lamp cast light only on their bodies, allowing Jingming to hide his flushed face in the shadows while he finally let go of his shame and cried out.

…

The Morning After

Jingming woke up before dawn with an aching waist. He shifted slightly, and Chu Feng’s arm immediately pulled him closer.

“Baby,” Chu Feng murmured without opening his eyes. “Are you uncomfortable?” “Mhm.” “Mhm…”

Chu Feng fell back asleep, his steady breathing acting like white noise. Jingming drifted off again as well.

By 8:00 AM, Chu Feng was up and looking for clothes. He wore only a pair of jeans. Jingming watched from the bed, noticing several scratch marks on Chu Feng’s chest and shoulders, and a very prominent bite mark on his shoulder that had begun to scab.

“Any pain?” Chu Feng asked, tucking back Jingming’s hair. “Yes,” Jingming grumbled.

Chu Feng felt a bit sheepish. Last night had been long—he had reached his limit three times, and by the end, Jingming could only let out soft, kitten-like whimpers. “It’s my fault.”

“You always say that,” Jingming huffed. “But you never change.”

Chu Feng’s face burned. “Next time. I’ll definitely change next time.”

“I don’t believe you,” Jingming said, moving to the edge of the bed. “Brother, hold me for a while.”

…

New Opportunities

Jingming had to go to the ranch today to help the social media manager, Meng Qingyu, film some videos. One of their other employees was Li Jiawen, a college junior who was a literal “muscle-bound sunbeam.”

“Working here is great,” Jiawen said while Jingming revised a script. “I ride my motorcycle over after class, broadcast for four hours, and the canteen auntie makes me special fitness meals with tons of beef.”

Jingming, clutching his aching waist, gave him a thumbs-up. “I need to learn from you.”

Qingyu laughed. “The fans love his positive energy. They think our cattle must be just as happy and healthy as he is.”

Jingming and Qingyu discussed expanding their product line. Qingyu wanted to sell more than just beef—like local kiwis—but was afraid to ask the boss. “I’ll ask him for you,” Jingming promised.

On the way home, Jingming brought it up. Chu Feng was hesitant. “I want to support the local economy, but my reputation is built on quality control. I can’t guarantee the quality of other people’s products like I can my beef.”

“Qingyu is very steady with her work,” Jingming reminded him.

Chu Feng sighed. “Fine. I’ll talk to her.”

…

The Mystery “Girlfriend”

August arrived, bringing the humid heat. Jingming finished his script revisions, adding more emotional depth to the relationship between the protagonist and his adoptive parents. He sent the draft to several companies and waited.

One afternoon, Li Yongjing—the village secretary—arrived, looking tan and thin from his work in the fields.

“Where’s your brother?” Yongjing asked, putting a pineapple and a watermelon on the table. “In the kitchen.”

As they ate, Yongjing brought up a job opening at the museum for an exhibition planner. “They’re hiring. I mentioned you to their leaders. Do you want to interview?”

Jingming’s eyes lit up. “Really? Thank you, Brother Li!”

Yongjing then turned to Chu Feng with a mischievous grin. “By the way, someone wants your WeChat. Sister Jiang’s daughter. She’s two years younger than you, a teacher at the middle school. She’s beautiful and tall. Sister Jiang really wants you as a son-in-law. Want to chat?”

Chu Feng panicked, glancing at Jingming. Jingming kept his head down, eating silently.

“I’m not interested,” Chu Feng said quickly.

“Why not? You’re not getting any younger.”

Chu Feng felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t given Jingming a formal status yet, and he hated making him feel insecure or sidelined. But he wasn’t sure if he should come out to Yongjing yet.

“I already have someone,” Chu Feng said, setting down his chopsticks.

Yongjing froze. “What? Since when?”

“For a while now,” Chu Feng lied, his brain spinning to come up with a description. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. He… I mean, she moved away and just came back this year. She’s six years younger than me and works in… new media.”

A podcaster with 600 followers counts as new media, right? Chu Feng thought.

“Holy crap!” Yongjing laughed. “What’s she like?”

Chu Feng’s voice filled with genuine pride. “Beautiful. Extremely beautiful. Fair-skinned, with big eyes and a high nose bridge. Her face is a little chubby—so cute.”

Yongjing beamed, genuinely happy for his friend. “Wow, you’re really smitten. When do I get to meet my sister-in-law?”

Chu Feng looked at Jingming. He saw Jingming’s shoulders shaking and thought he was crying. He panicked and lifted Jingming’s head.

“Pfft—hahaha!” Jingming was doubling over, nearly falling off his chair from laughter.

“Baby, you scared me!” Chu Feng exhaled.

Jingming wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. “Brother Li, it’s true. She’s wonderful and talented. My brother is hopelessly in love with her.”

Jingming laughed so hard that even Chu Feng felt embarrassed.

“Anyway,” Chu Feng said, smiling sheepishly at Yongjing. “Don’t introduce me to any more girls. If… she found out, she’d be very upset.”

Yongjing snapped his fingers. “Got it!”