Chapter 21 – Reassurance

He had long forgotten what it felt like to speak.

Waking up to the news of his parents’ fatal car accident, Grandma rushed over from her hometown, her graying hair disheveled, and held Xiang Ning’s hand tightly with her trembling fingers. It was unclear who was relying on whom. Xiang Ning’s voice was hoarse from crying, and even after taking medication and resting, he never spoke again.

At first, he didn’t want to speak. He couldn’t get over his parents’ death and didn’t want to face the pitying looks of his teachers and classmates, so he responded with silence. By the time Grandma realized something was wrong, he had become completely mute.

He Rong drove him home, and the warm light made Xiang Ning feel a bit more at ease, gradually feeling tired. He Rong led him to the bedroom, placed the quiet cat in his arms, and said softly, “Why don’t you sleep for a while? I’ll make you a bowl of noodles, and you can eat when you wake up.”

Xiang Ning nodded listlessly, watching He Rong leave quietly.

The cat lifted its head and meowed, as if offering comfort. Xiang Ning stroked its head and lay down on the bed.

If he hadn’t truly loved music, he wouldn’t have chosen to enter the industry after losing his voice. Over the years, he wrote songs for others and would occasionally open his mouth, instinctively humming a few notes, only to realize that the air remained silent, reminding him that he had long lost the right to sing.

The cat nuzzled against him, and Xiang Ning closed his eyes.

He couldn’t sleep.

Xiang Ning sat up dazedly, holding the cat and leaving the bedroom. The other two cats were fighting, and Xiang Ning saw He Rong go over to separate them, squat down, and sternly command, “Sit.”

Whether they understood or not, the two cats stopped fighting and reluctantly lay down.

“You’ve been misbehaving lately. Haven’t you noticed your dad isn’t in a good mood?” He Rong tapped their little heads and continued, “Just because someone spoils you, you cause trouble. It’s time for you to repay the favor. No fighting for the next few days, got it?”

The youngest cat meowed twice and ran off, tail up, and even rubbed against Xiang Ning’s legs when it saw him on the stairs.

“What are you doing up?” He Rong asked, noticing him.

Xiang Ning put the cat down, letting it play. He walked over and hugged He Rong’s waist, hesitantly leaning up to kiss him.

He Rong patted his face and led him to sit at the dining table.

A bowl of tomato sauce noodles with a poached egg was on the table. Xiang Ning’s ears were still red, and he picked up his chopsticks, poking a hole in the egg. The orange yolk flowed out, drizzling over the noodles, making them look especially tempting.

Xiang Ning picked up the noodles and ate silently.

He Rong was working on his laptop beside him. After Xiang Ning finished eating and cleaned up, he stood behind He Rong, staring at the back of his head, his mind wandering. He Rong didn’t mind, finishing his work and closing the laptop, taking off his glasses and turning around to ask, “What’s wrong?”

Xiang Ning took his glasses, putting them back on for him. He Rong adjusted the frame, looking at Xiang Ning and smiling, mouthing, “This looks good.”

“Does it?” He Rong didn’t think so, but he led Xiang Ning upstairs, the three cats following closely, only to be locked outside by their bad dad, scratching at the door in frustration.

“Leave them be.” He Rong straightened Xiang Ning’s head, glaring at the door with a smile. The cats meowed a couple of times and reluctantly stopped scratching.

They both took showers, and He Rong leaned against the headboard, casually flipping through a magazine. He had forgotten to take off his glasses.

Xiang Ning went over and leaned against him. He Rong put down the magazine, touching the damp ends of his hair, and asked, “Dry your hair?”

Xiang Ning nodded but didn’t move, waiting for He Rong to do it for him.

The warm air circled around his hair, and his fingers wandered to the young man’s earlobe, slowly caressing it. Xiang Ning’s ears turned red, and he reached out, grabbing He Rong’s wandering fingers.

His hair was half-dry. The hairdryer was set aside, and a pale wrist rested on the other person’s neck, the sound of fabric rubbing against each other faintly heard.

Xiang Ning closed his eyes, awkwardly extending his tongue to trace He Rong’s lips.

He Rong’s glasses were finally taken off and tossed aside, revealing deep-set eyes. Xiang Ning pinched the man’s earlobe, his fingers caught and guided to the man’s waist.

Then, his earlobe was drawn into a warm, wet mouth, and Xiang Ning’s body shuddered as his ear was playfully bitten, leaving a faint tooth mark.

He Rong’s hand traced the young man’s back, circling around his waist, and gently pulled down his loose pants.

Welp, they’re canoodling again.

He held Xiang Ning’s little member, outlining its shape through the underwear. Soon, it pitifully released a bit of liquid, and he pulled off the wet underwear, revealing it eagerly.

He Rong chuckled, watching Xiang Ning endure, his head turned to the side, his fingers clutching the collar of He Rong’s shirt.

This time, the lubricant and condom were ready. Xiang Ning lay on the bed, his buttocks raised in embarrassment. He Rong pressed on the small hole, the pink opening contracting in surprise at the cool liquid, reluctantly accepting a finger.

He Rong patiently expanded it.

Xiang Ning’s face buried in the soft sheets, he struggled to adapt to the foreign sensation. He Rong added another finger, knowing the young man was easily embarrassed, he leaned in and asked softly, “Does it hurt?”

Xiang Ning bit his lip and shook his head.

The member slowly entered, finally reaching the deepest point. Xiang Ning’s eyes were tightly shut. The sensation was like being torn apart, the sound stuck in his throat, only a few breathy sounds escaping, accompanied by a fine sweat, releasing the pain. He Rong didn’t rush, touching Xiang Ning’s flaccid member, soothing him.

After a while, their bodies began to move rhythmically.

Xiang Ning couldn’t take it and was the first to break, tears streaming down his face, sniffing and hugging the person kissing his collarbone. He Rong kissed him for a long time, then laid him down, his red eyes only making him more excited. After a few comforting words, he went at it again.

When Xiang Ning opened his eyes the next day, the youngest cat was sitting on the pillow, looking down at him. Seeing him awake, it licked his face.

Xiang Ning lay there, petting the cat for a while before slowly sitting up.

His lower body was sore, and even his arms felt weak. He thought angrily about the man who had left after, but when he looked up, he saw He Rong smiling and bending down to put on his shoes.

Xiang Ning tilted his head, looking at him questioningly.

“I’m not going to work today.” He Rong understood his meaning and answered, shooing the youngest cat away and leading Xiang Ning to the bathroom.

Xiang Ning went downstairs, seeing the thick cushions on the chairs, he turned his head away in a huff.

The table only had a light bowl of millet porridge, with no oil. He Rong waited for him to finish before going upstairs to change, asking before leaving, “Do you want to come with me?”

Xiang Ning, rubbing his waist, paused at the question.

“I can’t stop worrying about you when I can’t see you.” He Rong decided and acted, going upstairs to get a set of clothes for Xiang Ning, preparing the cat food, and kissing the ready Xiang Ning, saying, “Let’s go.”