From the very beginning, when Chen Yi saw Ling Xie, he was endlessly attacked by meng. So much so that he had a strong impulse to hug Ling Xie. Unfortunately, Eun-tak was in the way. Chen Yi sent a major distress signal to his friend, who helplessly kept his arms suspended in the air. Get your lover out of here.
Young-Su saw Chen Yi's message and sent an SOS in return. Get yours away from mine. Sparks flew as a mutual understanding was formed under their gazes. A shared feeling of empathy was exchanged.
Meanwhile, Eun-tak was trying to calm his friend, who refused to raise his head. "What's wrong with you?" he whispered behind him while trying to turn around, only managing a glimpse of a clump of curly hair as the other clung tightly to him. Ling Xie merely shook his head.
Eun-tak kept trying to turn around while Ling Xie followed him, creating a comical scene as they walked in circles.
When the two men on the other side saw this, they abruptly moved to separate the two friends.
Ling Xie felt a tug on his back and couldn't react in time. He fell into Chen Yi's broad chest, his shoulders surrounded by robust arms. "Wa! Eun Eun, help!" He stretched out both hands and tried to squirm away but failed.
Eun-tak, who was held by the waist, heard his friend's cries and was about to reach out to help, but was stopped by Young-Su. He looked up, questioning him with his eyes. Young-Su didn't keep him in suspense. He simply whispered in his ear, "Chen Yi likes Ling Xie."
Eun-tak's eyes brightened in understanding. He nodded and gave Ling Xie an encouraging smile while waving goodbye.
Why?! Ling Xie saw his friend being towed away and knew he was in some sort of danger.
"Xie'er," Chen Yi muttered near Ling Xie's ear, sending a tickling sensation into his heart that made his face flush bright red.
"Who are you calling Xie'er?!" He spun around to glare at him, but only ended up making Chen Yi's heart beat faster. So cute, Chen Yi thought, chuckling softly as he tried to suppress the happiness he hadn't been able to feel for the past three years.
"Ling Xie is so cute~" Chen Yi nudged his forehead into Ling Xie's fluffy hair, inhaling the pleasant scent of his shampoo. He hugged him tighter.
A few moments of silence passed.
"Xie'er?" Chen Yi gently turned him around and immediately panicked. Ling Xie's face had turned paler than usual, and a tear was just about to fall from the corner of his eye. "What's wrong? Did I hurt you? Did you not like it?" Chen Yi paused, swallowing hard. "Do you hate it?" He couldn't bring himself to ask Ling Xie if he didn't like him.
"...Did you see it?" Ling Xie's lips thinned as he stared into Chen Yi's eyes.
"See what?" Chen Yi reached out to pat his head, but Ling Xie instinctively covered the back of his neck with both hands. Seeing him do that, Chen Yi truly believed he had hurt him. "Does it hurt?"
Ling Xie quickly shook his head.
Chen Yi breathed a sigh of relief, but confusion took over. "What is it?"
"...It's ugly."
"Hm?" Chen Yi continued to pat his head, secretly enjoying its silkiness and fluffiness, hoping to ease his tension.
Ling Xie opened his mouth, then shut it again. His eyes widened in surprise. What was he doing? What did he just say?! What's with this abnormally high level of trust?! No matter how he saw it, Chen Yi was still a stranger to him, someone he only had a crush on. So where had all this comfort come from?
Seeing his hesitation, Chen Yi decided to push his luck just a little. "Can't you tell me?"
Ling Xie was startled back to reality, meeting Chen Yi's earnest gaze. The seductive glint in Chen Yi's eyes had disappeared, replaced by a gentle look. A fleeting flash of pampering passed through his eyes—something Ling Xie barely noticed.
He wavered.
He didn't understand why this person made him feel both vulnerable and secure at the same time. It was as if he had found a place where he could possibly belong, without needing to hide.
That thought made him conflicted. It seemed too good to be true. He was anxious, afraid he might be blindly walking toward the light without realizing the pit ahead.
Ling Xie's lips trembled. "I have a scar... and it's ugly."
Chen Yi's hands froze, blinking in surprise. He actually told me?
He felt as if he were floating on cloud nine. If he weren't trying to maintain his cool and avoid ruining the moment, he would have done a victory pose right then. But Ling Xie was so trusting, so naïve. What if someone took advantage of him? Chen Yi's blood boiled at the thought. He gently caressed Ling Xie's face, silently vowing to punch anyone who dared hurt him. It doesn't matter. I'll be strong enough to protect him.
"What about it?" Chen Yi's voice was soft, genuinely puzzled. There was nothing wrong with the scar. Ling Xie was still Ling Xie, with or without it.
Ling Xie wore a confused expression, ready to argue, but before he could speak, Chen Yi turned him around again, causing him to tighten his grip on the back of his neck. Then, Ling Xie felt a soft, moist touch on his hand that was covering his scar. "What are you doing?!" he exclaimed, his heart pounding in his chest.
"It's not ugly." Chen Yi kissed his hand again.
"You haven't even seen it!" Ling Xie trembled as Chen Yi rained kisses on his hand.
"Then let me see it."
"I told you, it's ugly!"
"It's not."
"It is!"
"Then let me see it."
Ling Xie quickly turned around, placing his hands over Chen Yi's mouth to stop his kissing frenzy. "You!"
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow. He gently took hold of Ling Xie's hands and kissed them once more. He was satisfied when he saw Ling Xie, rendered speechless and blushing like a ripe tomato.
With a smile, Chen Yi touched his forehead to Ling Xie's. "I saw it. It's not ugly."