Why Does First Love Feel This Sweet? - Chapter 10

Chapter: 10  The Enlightenment Teacher

Sheng Yi dreamed of the past again.

After his mother passed away, he entered a wild, rebellious adolescence. At thirteen, he and Rong Yu were in their first year at Hongyu International School. There, Sheng Yi met Cheng Wenge, a boy he hit it off with instantly.

Rong Yu remained the untouchable “God of Study” and school idol, while Sheng Yi ranked second to last in the grade. Realizing his son wasn’t cut out for academics, Sheng Ming spent a fortune to find him a master art teacher. As fate would have it, the teacher only took two disciples: Sheng Yi and the boy ranked dead last—Cheng Wenge.

The two “underachievers” became inseparable, spending their weekdays slacking off and their weekends stuck in the art studio.

As they grew older, Rong Yu became more introverted, showing his gentle side only to Sheng Yi while remaining cold to everyone else. He gave all his free time to Sheng Yi, but Sheng Yi spent his weekends with Cheng Wenge. Even at night, Sheng Yi would spend his limited time in Rong Yu’s room playing online games with Cheng Wenge.

Rong Yu grew quieter. Walking the dog, Xiao Jie, became a solo activity for him.

One summer night in their second year of middle school, Rong Yu returned from a walk to find the faint scent of smoke in the bedroom. Sheng Yi was on the bed with his laptop, playing DotA with Cheng Wenge.

Rong Yu glanced at him, walked to the trash can, and found a cigarette butt hidden under a banana peel.

“Where did this come from?” Rong Yu’s voice was chilly.

Sheng Yi tried to play dumb, but Rong Yu didn’t need words. He called Xiao Jie over and let the dog sniff the butt. Within five seconds, the professionally trained dog dragged Sheng Yi’s backpack off the chair and fished out a pack of cigarettes.

Sheng Yi was speechless. He expected a lecture, but Rong Yu simply confiscated the cigarettes and said nothing.

The next day, Rong Yu became incredibly clingy. He followed Sheng Yi everywhere at school—even to the restroom. Sheng Yi had no chance to buy or smoke another cigarette. At lunch, Rong Yu insisted on eating at the second cafeteria (which Cheng Wenge hated). Gradually, every minute Sheng Yi had previously given to Cheng Wenge was reclaimed by Rong Yu.

His life was completely occupied by Rong Yu once again.

…

During the summer after middle school graduation, sixteen-year-old Sheng Yi spent a day at Cheng Wenge’s house watching things that curious teenage boys watch. That night, as he lay in Rong Yu’s bed, the images from those videos kept flashing before his eyes.

Rong Yu, reading by the bedside lamp, noticed the “Sleep God” tossing and turning. He placed a cool hand on Sheng Yi’s burning ear.

The light touch was the breaking point. Sheng Yi bolted into the bathroom.

He stayed in there for a long time. Rong Yu, also a teenager, guessed what was happening. Every boy has those biological urges, but Sheng Yi had never been one to act on them; usually, he just let the feeling pass. But tonight, twenty minutes of cold water didn’t help.

Just as Sheng Yi was reaching his limit of frustration and confusion, Rong Yu knocked. “Hang-hang.”

“Xiao Yu…” Sheng Yi sounded like he was about to cry. He was too desperate to be embarrassed. “What do I do?”

Rong Yu, forcing himself to stay composed, said, “Come out first.”

Five minutes later, a miserable-looking Sheng Yi returned to the bed. Rong Yu locked the door and turned off the lights. In the darkness, Sheng Yi could only see the faint outline of Rong Yu’s neck in his grey silk pajamas.

“Close your eyes,” Rong Yu’s voice was low and slightly strained.

“Xiao Yu… no, it’s okay, I’ll be fine after a nap.” Sheng Yi was nervous. Even as best friends who slept together every night, he had never heard of a friend helping with this. Rong Yu was too “clean” for such things.

Yet, the thought of that clean, pristine aura being used to help him created a powerful, irresistible stimulus in his mind.

A hand pulled back the covers. Sheng Yi’s breathing hitched as he grabbed Rong Yu’s silk sleeve. “Do you… do you know how?”

“I haven’t tried,” Rong Yu whispered. “What did you watch today?”

“Just… those videos,” Sheng Yi confessed. “I’m not a bad kid, I was just curious.”

He expected a lecture, but Rong Yu was incredibly permissive. “It’s okay. It’s normal to be curious at this age. But don’t get addicted.”

Then, a cool hand touched his sleep pants.

“Xiao Yu.”

“It’s okay,” the familiar voice soothed him. “Just this once.”

Reassured by that familiar tenderness, Sheng Yi closed his eyes.

…

Sheng Yi woke up feeling completely drained. He sat up and looked at the curtains. It was dark outside.

As the memory fragments settled, he was shocked. The puzzle was solved. No wonder he felt something for Rong Yu. His best friend had been his “enlightenment teacher.” Rong Yu was so good to him that he had even helped with that.

The door opened. Rong Yu stood there in a crisp white shirt, holding a glass of milk. “Finally awake.”

Sheng Yi’s brain flooded with blood. He felt an unprecedented sense of intimacy mixed with embarrassment. He dove back under the covers.

I slept for twenty hours? Did I pass out from just one go? How weak am I? His dignity as a man was in tatters.

“Get up,” Rong Yu said, rubbing Sheng Yi’s messy hair.

Sheng Yi grabbed his phone and sent a text to Cheng Wenge: Brother, you’re overthinking it.

Cheng Wenge: ? Sheng Yi: If Xiao Yu likes me, I’ll livestream myself eating a tube of toothpaste. Cheng Wenge: … Cheng Wenge: One night and you’re brainwashed again? This guy’s methods are top-tier clapping. Be careful, I’m worried you’ll wake up one day bent and in his bed thinking it was your own lack of self-control.

Sheng Yi ignored him and looked at the tailored suit on the bed. “Am I acting in another big scene tonight?”

“My grandfather’s 80th birthday,” Rong Yu said.

Sheng Yi sighed. “Fine. I’ll see the lie through to the end. It would look bad if I missed this right after the wedding.”

As Sheng Yi sat lazily on the bed, Rong Yu reached out to lift his pajama top. “Hurry up and change.”

“I’ll do it myself!” Sheng Yi yelped, his skin burning where Rong Yu’s cool fingers had brushed his stomach. “Get out first!”

Rong Yu suddenly felt like teasing him. He pinched Sheng Yi’s waist lightly. “We can’t be late. I’ll help you change faster.”

Sheng Yi, ticklish, collapsed on the bed laughing. With red ears, he blurred out, “I haven’t seen you yet, it’s not fair!”

Rong Yu raised an eyebrow. He stood up and began unbuttoning his own shirt with one hand.

Slowly, the shirt opened, revealing a pale, lean chest and the outline of abdominal muscles. His cold, handsome face exuded a magnetic, unconscious sexiness.

Rong Yu looked down at him. “Look then. After you’re done looking, change your clothes.”

Sheng Yi stared, his eyes fixed on the sharp, sexy line of Rong Yu’s collarbone. He finally snapped out of it and lightly kicked Rong Yu’s leg. “Xiao Yu, you’re… so shameless!”

Rong Yu smiled thinly, buttoned his shirt back up, and threw a fresh shirt at Sheng Yi’s head. “Change. I’ll help you with the tie.”

After Rong Yu left, Sheng Yi sat there in a daze. Does this guy have two faces? He’s like this with me… how “thirsty” is he going to be with his actual wife in the future?

He paused while buttoning his shirt, remembering the image of those long, clean fingers unbuttoning the white fabric. It was a simple action, but performed by someone with Rong Yu’s “celestial” face, it was incredibly… sexy.

Sheng Yi squeezed his eyes shut and recited poetry in his head to clear the “urges” he shouldn’t be having toward a friend.

Wait, I think I saw a mole on his collarbone…

He pulled on his pants, mumbling under his breath, “What a demon.”