Why Does First Love Feel This Sweet? - Chapter 22

Chapter: 22 The Five-Minute Rule

The bath ended in the early hours of the morning, leaving Sheng Yi utterly exhausted. With all pretenses melted away, he lay half-draped over Rong Yu, shamelessly admiring the doctor’s physique.

“Feels so good,” Sheng Yi purred, his cheek resting on Rong Yu’s chest.

“Do you want to stay a few more days?” Rong Yu asked, his fingers twining through Sheng Yi’s soft hair. He felt guilty that his sudden illness had kept Sheng Yi cooped up in the room all week.

“I don’t want to leave,” Sheng Yi admitted, his hand tracing the lines of Rong Yu’s abs. He felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had touched this body a thousand times before.

He realized that his feelings for Rong Yu were just as intense as Rong Yu’s were for him. He loved the way the usually composed doctor lost control under his touch. However, the honeymoon wasn’t a total free-for-all.

Sheng Yi climbed up to sit on Rong Yu’s waist, looking down into those deep, dark eyes. Just as he leaned in for a kiss, Rong Yu reached out, clicked off the bedside lamp, and kissed his forehead instead.

“Sleep,” Rong Yu commanded.

“Wait, what?”

“Your body is still recovering,” Rong Yu said calmly in the dark. “We can’t do this too often. From now on, no more than three times a week. And no ‘solo’ sessions.”

Sheng Yi was stunned. “Dr. Rong… how long until I’m ‘fully recovered’?”

There was a pause. “At least a year.”

Sheng Yi slumped back into the pillows, his lower back actually feeling a bit sore. The gates to the New World had been slammed shut and plastered with a “Three Times a Week” permit.

…

The next day, they left the island for a bustling tourist port to visit ancient ruins. The sun was fierce, baking the old stones and vibrant local markets. Sheng Yi, dressed in a lively summer outfit, was back to his energetic self, dragging Rong Yu through the crowds to look at souvenirs and street art.

They stopped at a booth where a cool-looking Asian painter was sketching the harbor.

“This one is good,” Sheng Yi whispered in Rong Yu’s ear, thinking the painter wouldn’t understand. “Post-impressionist style, though the colors are a bit floaty…”

The painter, wearing a backwards cap and a silver earring, turned a sharp, handsome face toward them. “You want to fix it for me, then?” he asked in perfect Mandarin.

Sheng Yi gave an awkward smile. “My bad, man. It’s a great piece.”

The painter, Ling Ye, noticed Sheng Yi’s portfolio. “You look familiar. Central Academy of Fine Arts?”

“Not yet. But I might be at B-University’s Academy next year,” Sheng Yi replied.

Ling Ye gave a cool, enigmatic smirk, glanced at the stone-faced Rong Yu, and turned back to his work. As they walked away, Sheng Yi noticed Rong Yu’s cold expression and teased, “What, not allowed to talk to handsome guys?”

“He’s not as handsome as you,” Sheng Yi added quickly, piling on the flattery. “The man more handsome than you hasn’t been born yet.”

…

By afternoon, Sheng Yi’s energy had completely flatlined—a childhood habit Rong Yu remembered well. They found a restaurant where Sheng Yi collapsed into a chair, guzzling pineapple juice.

“Weren’t you going to sketch?” Rong Yu asked, amused.

“Too tired,” Sheng Yi moaned, his hand shamelessly wandering onto Rong Yu’s thigh under the table. “I never see you at the gym, how is your body so perfect?”

“You just don’t see it. I run every morning,” Rong Yu said, pinning Sheng Yi’s wandering hand down.

Suddenly, a girl’s excited voice shrieked from behind them: “Brother! Sister-in-law!”

Sheng Yi blinked. Sister-in-law? Shouldn’t it be Brother-in-law?

Yang Yue, Rong Yu’s younger cousin, came running up in a denim skirt, her eyes sparkling. Behind her, the rakish Rong Qi followed, looking devilish even behind sunglasses.

“Heard you fell sick the first week of your honeymoon,” Rong Qi teased Rong Yu. “You need more exercise, little brother.”

Rong Qi “dumped” Yang Yue on them for the afternoon, and Sheng Yi, ever the softie, agreed to let her tag along. They headed to the beach for a sunset bonfire festival.

…

That evening, the beach was packed. In the chaos of the drums and crowds, Yang Yue vanished. When Rong Yu finally tracked her down via phone, he found her standing next to Ling Ye, the painter from earlier.

“What a coincidence,” Ling Ye drawled, looking at Sheng Yi. “Found your little cousin wandering around. How about we all grab dinner?”

At the restaurant, Yang Yue was busy trying to find a way to get Ling Ye’s WeChat. Ling Ye, however, was focused on Sheng Yi’s art. “Your skill is high. Why are you still worrying about exams? You should pass easily.”

Sheng Yi kept his answers vague, sensing Rong Yu’s growing frostiness. To help Yang Yue out, Sheng Yi nudged her: “My ‘sister-in-law’ here is a fan. Why don’t you guys exchange contacts too?”

At the mention of “sister-in-law,” the corner of Rong Yu’s mouth finally twitched upward.

Ling Ye looked at the two men. “Wait… you guys are married?”

Sheng Yi proudly raised their joined hands to show off the wedding rings. “On our honeymoon.”

…

Back at the hotel suite, the air shifted. Sheng Yi, feeling bold, pushed Rong Yu onto the sofa and straddled him. “I’m not unreasonable,” Sheng Yi declared, pinning Rong Yu’s shoulders. “Whoever comes out on top first is the ‘Husband.'”

Rong Yu didn’t resist. He just watched him with a half-smile.

Sheng Yi leaned down to kiss him, his heart racing. He followed his memories of… “research videos” he’d seen years ago. But just as he thought he was making progress, Rong Yu’s eyes snapped open.

In the next second, Sheng Yi was flipped over.

Rong Yu easily pinned Sheng Yi’s wrists with one hand and reached for a white silk ribbon from a wine bottle on the nearby table. Sheng Yi felt like a beautifully wrapped gift box, bound neatly with the soft silk.

“Rong Yu! You bastard! You’re cheating!”

The “doctor” remained unruffled. Five minutes later, the struggle was over.

Sheng Yi sat on the sofa, dejected, his head between his knees. Rong Yu sat on the other end, twirling the white ribbon around his fingers. “A bet is a bet.”

“……Husband,” Sheng Yi whispered, barely audible.

“I can’t hear you.”

“……Husband!” Sheng Yi said a little louder.

Rong Yu looked down calmly. “Did you say something?”

Sheng Yi took a deep breath, his eyes red with mock fury and embarrassment. He shouted so loud the glass windows rattled:

“HUSBAND!!!!”