NH chapter 041

Chapter 41: Words Cannot Express the Heart

It was clearly the bright daylight with the sun shining, yet this dilapidated room was unusually dark, as if isolated from the world outside.

The remaining light was cut into countless small squares by the empty window frames, and with the naked eye, one could see thousands of tiny dust particles dancing in the air, lively like notes leaping on a musical score.

The surroundings were eerily silent, with only the hurried breaths of the two intertwining, the only movement in the room.

The sound of fabric rubbing against itself echoed lightly, creating a rustling sound.

Huo Ye was pushed down onto the old wooden table, with several thin, dense cobwebs hanging between the table legs. His back pressed tightly against the table surface, and in the intensity of movement, a cloud of choking dust was raised.

He coughed a few times, the dust irritating his eyes, making them water and almost unable to open.

“Do you want to hear the third wish?” Shen Tingyu knelt between Huo Ye’s legs, skillfully locking him in place.

“… Not really.”

Huo Ye steadied himself for a moment, forcing himself to calm down.

Shen Tingyu didn’t get angry at his words. He silently stared at him for a few seconds, those deep eyes making one’s heart race.

Huo Ye felt a warmth in his chest; Shen Tingyu’s hand covered him through the fabric.

Huo Ye’s expression slightly changed, finally feeling flustered, instinctively wanting to push him away. However, Shen Tingyu’s strength was firm, firmly holding his racing heart in place, and Huo Ye could distinctly feel his heart pounding shamelessly against Shen Tingyu’s palm.

So eager, yet so crazy.

Don’t bump it, don’t bump it… it will be discovered.

Shen Tingyu stared at him for a long time, suddenly a hint of a light smile appearing in his eyes, like ice and snow melting.

“Words cannot express the heart.”

He pronounced each word slowly, the ending drawn out with a teasing undertone.

Shen Tingyu’s hand slowly moved upwards, inches brushing across Huo Ye’s heart and Adam’s apple, and finally grasping his chin.

His thumb pressed heavily on the left corner of Huo Ye’s mouth, rubbing it subtly in an ambiguous manner, while Shen Tingyu’s gaze remained locked onto Huo Ye’s. He lowered his voice, saying, “The third is that I want to be with you…”

He deliberately paused, suddenly falling silent.

Huo Ye was lifted, but slyly refused to fall, his eyes flashing as he asked, “—What?”

Even though he knew the answer, people always liked to ask questions they already knew the answers to; knowing and hearing it from the other person were two different things.

“What about you? What is yours?”

Taking the opportunity, Shen Tingyu counter-questioned, “I dare say all my three wishes involve you, what about you? Is there even you in your wishes?”

Huo Ye choked for a moment, “I…”

“Huo Ye, you know, I’m a greedy person. I give you three parts and want to take back seven.”

Shen Tingyu pushed further, again asking, “I can confess all of my wishes to you, yet you won’t tell me even a tiny part. Are you truly afraid that I might see them and they won’t come true? Or is it because you don’t have me in your wishes at all?”

He was too clever, able to precisely catch what he truly wanted amidst Huo Ye’s confounding information without missing a beat.

Huo Ye fell silent, pondering for a moment before saying, “Some of them. My wish is for everyone to be safe, I hope to do well in the college entrance exams, hope I can give my mom and younger sister a good life, and hope you stay healthy and happy forever, and hope everyone’s wishes can come true…”

“I don’t want any health or happiness; save that useless courtesy for others to say, I don’t want to hear it,” Shen Tingyu interrupted coldly.

“… Then what do you want?”

Shen Tingyu said, “I want to be with you forever.”

This was Shen Tingyu’s third wish.

Huo Ye figured it out, but hearing it directly still made his heart twitch slightly, feeling warm and bitter.

He should be happy, after all, not all affections receive a response, but Huo Ye couldn’t feel happy in the slightest; instead, he felt even more apprehensive. The usually smiling brows and eyes had a hint of melancholy today; Huo Ye shook his head and said, “How far is forever? Shen Tingyu, do you really know?”

For someone like Shen Tingyu, who had everything since childhood, he would instantly get what he wanted once he set his eyes on it.

Young people often speak of “forever” too lightly, unaware of the weight those two words carry.

“Forever” could be ten thousand years or a flicker of an eye.

“When I was younger, I loved making friends, being very kind to each one of them. At that time, promises didn’t require a price, so we made many agreements, just like the one I made with you.”

“I thought we could resist time, planning the future unabashedly, going to school together, working together, living together in a big house… But one day, he suddenly moved away and was forced by his parents to transfer schools, and after that, we hardly met.”

“Even though we couldn’t meet often, we had mobile phones to stay in contact. At first, we still had loads to talk about, as if the distance hadn’t changed us at all.”

“But Shen Tingyu, do you know? The most terrifying aspect of distance isn’t our separation, but that our lives lose intersection.”

With Shen Tingyu’s background and starting point, his future would take him to the most extraordinary places in the world, a position Huo Ye might never reach in his lifetime. Even if he remained true during the four years of university, what about after graduating? What about once they started working?

One living in a villa area and the other in a small rental house—seeing you shining brightly, could I resist the urge to go repeatedly and smooth out the wrinkles in my clothes?

No matter when, coming out to anyone is a big deal; either one gets what they wish and lives happily with the other for a lifetime, or they can’t even stay friends. When Shen Tingyu realizes his feelings are just a whim, and he doesn’t truly like boys.

Shen Tingyu had everything, but Huo Ye did not.

He, too, had his pride and self-esteem and did not want to be seen as a lifelong blemish after Shen Tingyu lost all interest.

Huo Ye rambled, trying hard to explain to Shen Tingyu how vast the gap between them was, how many obstacles there were. It wasn’t that he hadn’t envisioned Shen Tingyu in his future; it was that he didn’t dare.

After listening to him prattle on for a while, Shen Tingyu grew impatient, “Can you stop talking so much nonsense? I can’t understand. I want to kiss you; is that okay?”

Huo Ye: “…”

“Understanding means you say it’s okay,” Shen Tingyu continued, gripping the back of Huo Ye’s head, leaning down, and biting Huo Ye’s lips.

—Like a puppy! Huo Ye winced in pain, placing a hand against Shen Tingyu’s chest, wanting to push him away, but instead, he was tightly grasped.

Fortunately, Shen Tingyu only took a punishing bite, then gently began to lick Huo Ye’s lips.

He probably hadn’t kissed much either, a bit awkward, as if not wanting Huo Ye to notice his clumsiness. At first glance, he seemed especially fierce and dominant, but in reality, there was no skill—just raw emotion.

Shen Tingyu pressed Huo Ye down on the table, gripping his hand which was trying to refuse, suddenly forcing his fingers to interlock and pressing them upwards against Huo Ye’s head.

This overpowering action was rough and authoritative, forcing Huo Ye to lose any chance of resistance, his shoulders and chest completely exposed to him, his rapidly rising and falling chest even embarrassingly presenting itself.

Huo Ye couldn’t bear it any longer; although he liked him, he didn’t expect liking Shen Tingyu would end up like this!

Did he ever say he was a top?

The overwhelming force evidently scared him; Huo Ye never thought he would have the experience of being pinned down.

From the moment he realized he liked Shen Tingyu, to recalling their first meeting, Huo Ye always perceived Shen Tingyu as a beautiful boy, though spoiled and ill-tempered, he still had a naive cuteness that evoked Huo Ye’s protective instincts.

Perhaps if he said it out loud, others would think Huo Ye was crazy. Probably only he felt that this pampered and arrogant rich young man, Shen Tingyu, was adorable.

Huo Ye’s affection for Shen Tingyu was the kind that aspired to one day work three jobs just to earn enough to support him.

In short, Huo Ye never imagined he would be the one pinned down.

But if it were Shen Tingyu—

It seemed pretty normal.

After all, how could Shen Tingyu allow himself to be in a disadvantageous position?

Shen Tingyu kissed fiercely, his desire growing more intense, like a traveler in the desert who had trekked long and finally tasted sweet rain.

A little water was far from enough for him.

Huo Ye couldn’t catch his breath, unable to say anything, feeling Shen Tingyu lift his shirt with one hand, exposing a large area of smooth, pale abdomen and well-defined chest.

Compared to the skinny ordinary high school boys, Huo Ye’s physique was undeniably manly and unforgettable at a glance.

Broad shoulders, slim waist, covered with thin veins… the muscle lines were refined but not bulky, each inch perfect.

In the not yet warming weather of May and June, Huo Ye couldn’t help but shiver slightly upon contact with the cold air, goosebumps standing on end, an unknown tension engulfing him, making his heart almost leap out of his throat.

Noticing he seemed to be trembling, Shen Tingyu mercifully retreated a bit, allowing Huo Ye to catch his breath.

When he wanted to say something, the words didn’t come out, and now that he could speak, he didn’t know what to say. After holding it back for a long time, Huo Ye finally managed to say a few words, “You… don’t, don’t do this…”

Shen Tingyu asked, “What am I doing?”

One of Huo Ye’s waist was firmly held by Shen Tingyu, who lowered his eyes and measured it with his grip, suddenly his fingertips moved, sliding down the deep line between Huo Ye’s chest and abdomen.

“Is it like this?” he asked.

Huo Ye’s breath hitched, his solid abdominal muscles contracting in response.

“Enough, Shen Tingyu…”

Shen Tingyu pretended not to hear, his actions continuing, and finally, his thumb lingered on Huo Ye’s nicely shaped navel, then lightly pressed into it.

Huo Ye trembled violently, a low moan escaping his throat, sounding like he was desperately trying to restrain himself but also hinting at pleading, only making it more tempting to bully him.

Shen Tingyu quickly discovered this was a sensitive spot and continued to circle and knead around his navel, asking, “Is it like this?”

Huo Ye had difficulty breathing, gasping heavily, a thin layer of sweat forming on his abdomen, the droplets as fine as mist.

He was stimulated to the point of trembling uncontrollably, his mind spinning into a blank state, his narrow and slightly pointed chin tilted back, outlining an exquisitely beautiful jawline, his moist eyes blankly staring at the ceiling.

There was no way to think of right and wrong anymore.

What rationality, what homosexuality, none of that mattered now.

Shen Tingyu kissed him again.

Fearing Huo Ye might catch a cold, his shirt was tugged down a bit, and then his hand reached back into Huo Ye’s shirt, sweeping over every inch of warm, soft skin on his chest once more, reconnecting with that beating heart.

It was obedient; it never lied.

While Shen Tingyu kissed him wildly, he also seemed to be quite affectionate, murmuring in a way that made one feel a mix of love and hate.

All the restrained sensations of pain and muffled groans were swallowed by Shen Tingyu, who dominantly claimed him, sucking until Huo Ye’s tongue felt tight, transparent moisture uncontrollably spilling from the corners of his mouth.

“Huo Ye, who am I?” Shen Tingyu quietly licked every drop of silver at the corner of his mouth, asking softly.

The intent of seeking affirmation was glaringly obvious; he wanted Huo Ye to verbally declare his belonging, to stamp his label on him.

“Shen… Ting… Yu.”

Huo Ye had always indulged him, allowing him to have his way.

This time was clearly different from every other time he called his name; Shen Tingyu seemed to derive much pleasure from it, as if something hot and pressing was tightly against Huo Ye, its presence strong and abrupt.

Huo Ye’s scalp tingled; he understood that boys at this age were full of energy, able to respond several times even in their sleep.

But understanding didn’t mean experiencing; straight boys had not tried this before.

Huo Ye was quite overwhelmed at this moment.

He now felt that Shen Tingyu was no longer charming at all!

Shen Tingyu, completely unconsciously, repeatedly ground against him, his face showing no sign of it being something he was doing himself, still focused on licking Huo Ye’s increasingly red and swollen lips, his corners bitten to small ruptures.

“My third wish is what?”

Shen Tingyu started questioning again.

Damn it, why did he have so many questions…

Huo Ye’s willpower was astoundingly strong; even in such a muddled state, he managed to cling to a shred of remaining clarity, his brows furrowing repeatedly from the overwhelming sensations, and with great effort, he finally gave an answer.

His teeth clashed as he uttered fragments that couldn’t form coherent sentences; he could only push the words out syllable by syllable.

“I… want… to… be… with… you…”

He couldn’t resist taking a breath and continued, “fore… ver… to… get…her…”

Seizing the moment, Shen Tingyu licked from his chin to his Adam’s apple, shamelessly whispering in response, “Alright, I promise.”

At that moment, a voice from outside suddenly called out, disrupting the moment, “Boss! Are you not done yet?”

Huo Ye gritted his teeth and didn’t respond, thinking.

Your boss is still inside, almost getting laid.

“Boss, boss?…”

The voice of Xiong Ying seemed to get closer, likely standing at the entrance of the abandoned temple.

Shen Tingyu tensed for a moment, covering Huo Ye’s mouth with his hand.

“Shh, don’t mind him. Don’t let him in.”

He said, “I don’t want anyone to see you like this.”

“… Thank you, I also don’t want to.” Huo Ye gazed at the ceiling for too long; his eyes felt dry and helplessly closed.

The phone in his pocket kept vibrating, and they could hear Xiong Ying mumbling outside, “Why hasn’t he replied to messages?”

While bombarding him with texts, Xiong Ying walked into the temple, thinking Huo Ye was still by the old ginkgo tree hanging the prayer tags.

The vibrating sound annoyed Shen Tingyu; he was already somewhat displeased with Xiong Ying for spoiling his mood twice, so he leaned over to search for Huo Ye’s phone, simply deciding to put it on silent.

But just as he didn’t find the phone, the aged wooden table beneath them could not withstand their weight, creaking pitifully before it “collapsed!!—”

The table suddenly fell apart!

Caught off guard, it kicked up a storm of dust, and Shen Tingyu crashed to the ground in a disheveled heap with Huo Ye.

The noise was too loud to ignore.

Xiong Ying turned back, a bit dazed: “Huh??”