TLDMDTBS Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Ji Ruan’s hands were stiff.

He hadn’t learned how to swim in his previous life, and it was even less likely he would in this life. The feeling of being out of control in the water was terrifying.

“I can’t do it.” Ji Ruan pointed at the external device behind his ear. “I have to take this off if I go in the water, and I won’t be able to hear.”

“You don’t have to learn it right away,” Gu Xiuyi smiled. “Isn’t it fine to just relax and have some fun?”

His tone was light, with an air of casualness that carried a hint of subtle persuasion.

Ji Ruan felt a stirring in his heart.

He suddenly understood why experts often emphasized learning through play.

At first, when Gu Xiuyi suggested teaching him, Ji Ruan only thought that “learning” was a daunting task and instinctively rejected it. However, when he realized that the other’s intent wasn’t so goal-driven, his whole demeanor relaxed a little.

Although the phrase “learning through play” didn’t quite apply to him, Ji Ruan looked at the ripples on the water’s surface, gradually generating a bit of an impulse to try.

After all, swimming freely in the water was a rare joy he seldom experienced in his barren life.

Ji Ruan licked his lips. “But I don’t have swimming trunks.”

This pool was not open to the public, and it seemed like there were no places to buy anything.

Gu Xiuyi exchanged glances with him. The shimmering waves reflected in Ji Ruan’s eyes sparkled with star-like light, gentle and enchanting.

He knew Ji Ruan was convinced.

Often, Ji Ruan was an easy child to understand. He seemed to not deliberately conceal his emotions, or rather, he was lazy to conceal them—doing whatever he felt like as long as he was comfortable and happy at that moment.

This straightforwardness made him appear particularly innocent and naive when he wasn’t even aware of it, like a refreshing summer slushie, causing those who watched him to feel a sudden rush of affection.

“You can just wear regular shorts,” Gu Xiuyi said, pushing himself up from the pool wall. “You brought some, right?”

He intentionally moved a short distance away, but still splashed a few droplets of water onto Ji Ruan’s face, the glistening drops hanging from his brow and eyelids.

Gu Xiuyi didn’t think much of it, habitually pinching Ji Ruan’s chin to wipe them away, forgetting his own hands were still wet.

As a result, Ji Ruan’s whole face ended up damp, tilting his head to look at him with a dazed expression.

The water splashed on Ji Ruan seemed to leave him bewildered, staring blankly at Gu Xiuyi. “… Are you playing a prank?”

His eyes were exceptionally large when he was confused, and the disbelief in them was particularly infectious.

Gu Xiuyi released his grip, finding Ji Ruan’s expression somewhat amusing, but quickly suppressed his laughter. “Sorry, I forgot to dry my hands.”

“……”

Ji Ruan casually wiped his face with the sleeve of his shirt, pushed against his knee to stand up, feeling a bit dizzy after crouching for too long. He was already used to such situations, swaying slightly before regaining his balance.

Gu Xiuyi came over to support him, his damp hands soaking Ji Ruan’s sleeve, sticking uncomfortably to his skin.

Without thinking, Ji Ruan pressed against Gu Xiuyi’s arm, feeling the warm body temperature and the tight muscle under his fingers, reflexively pulling away.

He closed his eyes, waiting for the black fog in front of him to dissipate. “… Maybe you should put on a shirt?”

“I know,” Gu Xiuyi’s voice was calm. “Let’s wait for you to recover.”

They were very close, and Ji Ruan could feel the other’s body warmth and the dampness in the air around him.

Ji Ruan unconsciously eased his breathing, his vision gradually clearing up. He took two steps back, struggling to distance himself from the nearly embrace: “… I’m okay now.”

“Mm,” Gu Xiuyi’s expression was much steadier than his, as he picked up a bathrobe and put it on, loosely tying the belt at his waist. “Go change your shorts.”

It seemed that he was genuinely concerned for Ji Ruan’s well-being, only half-embracing him until he was standing properly—chivalrous, polite, and gentlemanly.

Ji Ruan touched the tip of his ear, pausing for two seconds before following him.

When heading to the room to change shorts, Ji Ruan, for some unknown reason, inexplicably dug out a tank top and put it on.

The tank top matched his shorts, made from thin material, and was printed with a dark blue oil painting-style seascape. It was one of his summer pajamas.

When he came out, Gu Xiuyi raised an eyebrow slightly but didn’t say anything and led Ji Ruan back to the pool.

“Before going into the water, let’s get used to it by wetting ourselves first,” Gu Xiuyi said.

Ji Ruan sat on the edge of the pool, soaking his calves in the water. Hearing this, he reached out and splashed some water onto his neck and forearms.

The water in the heated pool wasn’t particularly cold, but there was still a difference from his body temperature. Ji Ruan shivered, his teeth chattering. “Is this… how it’s done?”

“Mm.”

His movements were correct, but they were too gentle.

Gu Xiuyi squatted down beside him and splashed a few handfuls of water at him.

Ji Ruan immediately shook, hunching his shoulders and grabbing the sleeve of Gu Xiuyi’s bathrobe to hide beside him, making himself a bundle.

Gu Xiuyi chuckled and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, patting him. “Are you that scared of the water?”

How could a little mermaid be so afraid of water?

“Why would I be scared…” Ji Ruan rubbed his cheeks with the back of his hand, his fingers pale and tender, looking obstinate. “It’s just that I’m not used to it; it’s a normal physiological reaction.”

“Mm, right. It’s a physiological reaction.”

Gu Xiuyi held Ji Ruan tightly and, without giving him a chance to protest, splashed water at him, soaking the little mermaid completely in just a few moments. Ji Ruan shivered lightly, his chin covered in sparkling droplets.

Ji Ruan’s skin was delicate and moist. As Gu Xiuyi wiped the water droplets off, it felt like his fingertips were gliding over soft satin, a sudden sense of unexplainable satisfaction surged within him.

“That’s enough,” he touched the external device behind Ji Ruan’s ear, softly asking, “Take it off?”

Ji Ruan’s hair was damp, the moisture at his ear gave him a sense of urgency, feeling that if he didn’t take that thing off soon, water would seep in. He didn’t have time to consider anything else. “Quick, take it off.”

Gu Xiuyi dried his hand, took the device off, and placed it on a nearby table before jumping into the pool.

He knew Ji Ruan wouldn’t hear much sound at that moment, so he simply opened his arms, signaling Ji Ruan to come over.

Just now, Gu Xiuyi’s move to enter the water looked a bit cool, and Ji Ruan tried to imitate it, not wanting to embarrass himself in front of him.

He bit his lip and pushed off the edge, leaping in.

Ji Ruan believed he entered the water elegantly, but in reality, he just “swooshed” in.

He couldn’t even find his footing. The moment his feet touched the bottom, he slipped in the shallow area and nearly drowned in the boring part of the pool, ultimately needing Gu Xiuyi to pull him back.

The results of Gu Xiuyi’s years of fitness training showed at that moment, holding onto Ji Ruan’s waist with an unbelievable steadiness.

Ji Ruan coughed up some water, panic-stricken as he lay against Gu Xiuyi’s shoulder, gradually stabilizing himself.

He felt Gu Xiuyi moving him a bit deeper into the pool. The waves rippled against his chest, and the lack of solid ground beneath made him feel insecure, but this light experience also felt strangely thrilling.

This was the second time Gu Xiuyi had held Ji Ruan’s waist this way.

The first time was on that rainy day, when Ji Ruan was soaking wet, his waist so soft that it was astonishing.

This time felt a bit different. Ji Ruan seemed somewhat scared, his body tense, his waist appearing particularly pliable.

Gu Xiuyi could distinctly feel his shallow waist indentation, and submerged in the water, Ji Ruan’s already thin clothing clung even more snugly, his palm practically resting against skin.

Gu Xiuyi turned his head and took a deep breath, releasing the hand holding Ji Ruan’s waist, now supporting his arm instead, forcing himself to focus on teaching.

At that moment, Ji Ruan was a complete swimming novice, completely lost in the allure of the blue water surface, blinking his big eyes with excitement, entirely unaware of Gu Xiuyi’s unusual behavior.

As he couldn’t hear clearly, he also did not notice Gu Xiuyi’s silence.

He even thought Gu Xiuyi was very professional, guiding him through the movements, making sure he didn’t choke on water. If Gu Xiuyi didn’t act as a boss, he might consider applying to be a swimming coach.

Though Ji Ruan hadn’t learned a thing.

He perhaps truly had no athletic talent. After soaking in the water for nearly an hour, apart from floundering around and calling for help, he couldn’t master any techniques.

Finally, he laid back on Gu Xiuyi, gasping for breath.

Gu Xiuyi was also quite helpless. Swimming was never suitable for gentle teaching methods; no one learned without choking on water first.

However, he had never intended to train Ji Ruan to be a swimming athlete; just a bit of fun with a kid was sufficient.

He just didn’t expect Ji Ruan’s stamina to be so poor, completely relying on him throughout, yet still panting heavily.

“Ugh!—”

Suddenly, the person in his arms sunk down.

Gu Xiuyi reacted faster than his mind processed, catching Ji Ruan. “What’s wrong?”

Ji Ruan choked on water as he fell, his brows furrowed, his face grimacing in pain. “My leg… cough, cough…”

He bent his back instinctively, seeming to endure immense suffering.

Gu Xiuyi realized immediately that it was likely a cramp.

“Ji Ruan—” he started to call out but then halted mid-sentence.

Ji Ruan couldn’t hear.

Gu Xiuyi supported the back of Ji Ruan’s head, using a slightly forceful grip to press him against his shoulder, leaning down to his ear: “Ji Ruan, it’s okay, it’s just a cramp, relax…”

As he spoke, he guided Ji Ruan toward the shore, lifting his waist above water, quickly climbing up himself before carrying Ji Ruan to a nearby lounge chair.

Ji Ruan’s right calf was cramping severely, visibly twitching. Gu Xiuyi pressed down slightly, and he instinctively recoiled in pain.

But Ji Ruan didn’t like exercising, with hardly any muscles on his body—thin arms and legs all soft flesh, making it impossible to compete in strength against Gu Xiuyi.

So when Gu Xiuyi held his ankle and stretched it, Ji Ruan could only endure the pain like a wilted fish.

Slowly, the muscle in his calf softened under Gu Xiuyi’s palm, and Gu Xiuyi eased up as well, standing tall and taking a long breath.

He took a couple of steps forward and pinched Ji Ruan’s chin. “From now on, I should take you swimming less often.”

Torturing himself also frightened others.

Ji Ruan must have been worn out from the cramping, his eyes staring blankly into space.

Gu Xiuyi waited for a moment, not receiving any response, then remembered that at this distance, Ji Ruan couldn’t hear.

A little hearing-impaired person with all senses sealed.

“Are you two taking a hot bath or what—” Duan Zeping’s voice echoed through the empty swimming hall, followed by a series of footsteps.

That group had come over after eating barbecue to swim and exercise.

As Duan Zeping got closer, he noticed Ji Ruan laying there on the lounge chair, drenched and limp. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Gu Xiuyi covered Ji Ruan with a large bath towel, wrapping him up tightly before picking him up. “You guys have fun; we’re leaving first.”

With that, he left in a stylish manner, leaving the crowd glancing at each other.

“What’s going on?” Duan Zeping asked, shocked. “Did he really take a bath with you?”

Li Sui’an glanced at the clear water’s surface and replied lightly, “Is Gu Xiuyi really such a person to disregard public morals in your eyes?”

In the end, Song Ling, who understood Ji Ruan’s condition best, cut to the chase: “You guys are overthinking it; Ji Ruan must have cramped up.”

Everyone: “……”

·

Back in the room, Ji Ruan was the first to take a shower, quickly rinsing off before weakly collapsing onto the bed.

This bed was an oversized 2.5 by 2.5 meters, and with two people lying on it, they each only needed one blanket, making it practically like they were separated by a galaxy, existing in completely different dimensions.

Ji Ruan was too tired to think much, throwing himself onto the bed and, with the last bit of rationality, occupying only a small portion on the right side.

Gu Xiuyi hesitated in the bathroom while showering, pondering how they should sleep at night. Ji Ruan had just come of age and was inexperienced; if he rashly suggested sleeping together, it would inevitably be unfair to the kid.

This seemingly luxurious suite contained one huge King Size bed, but had a significant flaw—there was no couch for normal adults to rest on.

If they didn’t sleep together, he wouldn’t have anywhere to stay. After all, this wasn’t his hotel, and he and Ji Ruan had already registered their marriage; it wouldn’t sound good if they shared separate rooms.

The decisive Gu Xiuyi in the business world found himself stumbling over such trivial matters, pondering in the bathroom, taking the longest shower of his life.

By the time he came out, he found Ji Ruan had already fallen asleep, leaving only a small lamp on the bedside.

Holding the blanket while lying sideways, the external device had been taken off and obediently placed on the bedside table. His cheek sunk into the soft pillow, sleeping particularly sweetly.

Gu Xiuyi’s heart hung in the air, feeling frustrated for a long time, but it seemed in the end, he had confined himself.

The innocent child wouldn’t have the same worries weighing him down.

He approached slowly, quietly observing Ji Ruan’s sleeping face, then gently rubbed the back of his hand against the boy’s cheek, who looked exceptionally obedient while sleeping, his cheeks rosy.

That night, Gu Xiuyi couldn’t sleep very soundly, only slowly entering a deeper state in the early hours.

“Clap…”

In a hazy state, the sound of something slapping echoed.

Gu Xiuyi frowned but didn’t wake up.

“Clap!”

A much louder sound followed.

Gu Xiuyi abruptly opened his eyes and turned his head.

In the dark, Ji Ruan was still lying obediently on his side, but suddenly he raised his hand and “clap” hit his own thigh.

Before Gu Xiuyi could react, Ji Ruan slapped himself again, startling Gu Xiuyi into leaning over quickly, grasping his wrist.

“What are you doing, Ji Ruan?”

Ji Ruan opened his eyes drowsily, his gaze still dazed. “Huh…?”

Without saying a word, Gu Xiuyi turned on the light, holding Ji Ruan’s face to inspect. Ji Ruan’s pale face was forcibly marked with a vivid palm print from his own slap.

Gu Xiuyi: “……”

Gu Xiuyi felt his heart ache a bit. “Why did you hit yourself?”

It seemed Ji Ruan finally emerged from his dream, rubbing his hair as he slowly sat up. Under Gu Xiuyi’s slightly anxious gaze, he nonchalantly rubbed his eyes, dazed for a while before groping around.

Gu Xiuyi waited impatiently, extending his arm to hook the external device to Ji Ruan’s ear, gently patting his face. “Hmm? Ji Ruan? Tell me why you hit yourself?”

Ji Ruan’s gaze drifted to Gu Xiuyi’s face, still unfocused. The sleepy aftermath made him unusually obedient and clingy.

He nuzzled against Gu Xiuyi’s palm, quietly “ah” sound escaped him: “There’s a mosquito…”

“Mosquito…”

Gu Xiuyi felt a surge of frustration rise within him.

So this person, slapping himself, was dreaming of killing a mosquito?!

Where did mosquitoes come from?!

A breeze passed by, brushing against Gu Xiuyi’s bare arm. He slowly turned his head—

The window wide open, causing the curtains to billow gently.

The stunning mountain view in the daytime had turned into a mosquito haven at night.

Gu Xiuyi examined the back of Ji Ruan’s hand and calf, discovering multiple red mosquito bites; Ji Ruan was still drowsy, trying to scratch at them. Gu Xiuyi quickly grabbed his hand to stop him.

“Don’t scratch; it’ll bleed if you break the skin.”

Ji Ruan frowned, pulling away from Gu Xiuyi’s hand and leaning against the headboard. “But it itches…”

“Endure the itch.” He raised Ji Ruan’s wrist to his ear. “Wait a moment; don’t lower your hand.”

This suite might ridiculously lack a couch, but it still had basic amenities, including some insect repellent spray.

Gu Xiuyi found the spray and applied it to Ji Ruan’s body, and once the lights brightened up, he finally saw the mosquito that had been feeding on Ji Ruan.

It was a decent size and was a flowered one.

No wonder it left such big welts.

But Ji Ruan remained very nonchalant; no matter how the flower mosquito fluttered around him, he either waved it away or slapped himself, just refusing to take action against the mosquito.

Gu Xiuyi couldn’t watch any longer and raised his hand, delivering a loud clap.

Smack—!

He accurately killed the flower mosquito.

Looking at the small bloodstain on his palm, all of it Ji Ruan’s precious Rh-negative type A blood…

He felt inexplicably heartbroken.

He went to wash his hands and returned to find Ji Ruan still leaning against the headboard, daydreaming, and could not help but feel a surge of anger, walking over to pinch Ji Ruan’s cheek. “Are you really reluctant to kill?”

With the mosquito gnawing on you like that, why not fight back?

Ji Ruan was completely awakened by the loud clap from Gu Xiuyi.

He had never liked killing mosquitoes, finding them dirty, and after slapping them, he would have to get up to wash his hands, which was a hassle he didn’t want to deal with. Spraying some repellent would do the trick.

As he tried to defend himself, Ji Ruan’s eyes suddenly sparkled, and a hint of mischief flickered in them.

He revealed a big smile, his dimples round and adorable, looking at Gu Xiuyi’s damp fingertips and said in an extremely admiring tone, “Wow, Boss Gu is amazing~”

“…?”

All of Gu Xiuyi’s grievances transformed into a light shiver down his spine.

It was just killing a mosquito… what was so amazing about that?

Gu Xiuyi looked at Ji Ruan’s enchanting dimples, and his lips unconsciously curled up.

It was merely helping to swat a mosquito… was it necessary to smile so sweetly?