chapter 35 – living together

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Xie Ning said, “Ah?”

 

“I live alone at home too, and there are a bunch of empty rooms.” Zhuang Yan explained, “and it’s right next door.
It’s very convenient to move again and if you forget anything, it’s easy to come back here and grab it.”

 

Xie Ning hesitated.
“But…”

 

Zhuang Yan asked, “But what?”

 

Xie Ning forced himself to find a reason.
“Will it be too troublesome for you?”

 

Zhuang Yan laughed.
“What’s so troublesome about this?”

 

Xie Ning was still hesitating.
“What if I first move to a different house? Xu Qing probably won’t be able to find it for a while.”

 

Zhuang Yan didn’t reject that idea, but only smiled.
“My film is tentatively scheduled to begin officially filming in 2 months.
The preliminary preparations are busy; are you sure you can find the time to move?”

 

Xie Ning paused, and frowned.
“I should still have the time to be able to move, right?”

 

Having said that, he still wasn’t very sure.

 

As the lead art director, he needed to meet with the directors and cameramen to discuss the conceptual design, scenes, lens shots, etc.
in the preliminary preparation stage, and additionally needed to travel with Zhuang Yan to scout out scenery.

 

It was his first time working for film and television, so he couldn’t help but be nervous.
Zhuang Yan must know better than he does.

 

Zhuang Yan just smiled and asked, “Then after you move, do I have to go around half the city every morning and night to pick you up and drop you off?”

 

Xie Ning said, “…I don’t need you to pick me up.”

 

Zhuang Yan let out a sigh.
“Then I don’t want you to move even more.
Not only is it farther, but I also don’t get the benefit of picking you up and dropping you off.”

 

Xie Ning: “…”

 

Zhuang Yan ruffled his hair and said, “Why make it so bothersome? Just move in next door, since it’s easier.”

 

Xie Ning lowered his head, thinking.

 

Zhuang Yan asked, “NingNing the child, are you having misgivings about something?”

 

Xie Ning shook his head.
“…No.”

 

Zhuang Yan smiled and asked, “Are you worried I’ll do something to you?”

 

It was okay if he didn’t say it, but when he asked this, Xie Ning’s face immediately started to burn.

 

Wasn’t he just exposing himself?

 

“I do harbor some evil intentions towards you, but…without your permission, I won’t do anything to you.” Zhuang Yan raised his eyebrows.
“Believe me?”

 

Xie Ning was afraid Zhuang Yan would misunderstand, and quickly said, “It’s not that I don’t believe you.”

 

If Zhuang Yan really was someone to take advantage of others, then at Lan Zhai, Xie Ning would have been consumed fully.
He still had the ability to judge others.

 

Although Zhuang Yan loved to tease him and would occasionally ask for some benefits, on the matter of principles, he very much respected Xie Ning’s will.

 

Xie Ning was never worried that Zhuang Yan would do anything to him, but…

 

He murmured, “Isn’t this too fast?”

 

“What’s too fast?” Zhuang Yan wondered.

 

Xie Ning, blushing, quietly said, “We’re not even together yet, but might already-already live together.”

 

Zhuang Yan lifted his eyebrows and looked at him.
“So you’re saying that our progress is too fast if we cohabitate?”

 

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Xie Ning became even more embarrassed when he heard the word “cohabitate” uttered so easily.

 

Zhuang Yan remembered that he was thin-skinned and couldn’t stand being teased, so he said, “Then how about this? Give me some rent and pretend you’re borrowing my place to live for a few days.”

 

Xie Ning asked, “How much?”

 

“However much you want.” Zhuang Yan didn’t really care, and said, “You and I don’t lack the money, and…”

 

“And what?”

 

Zhuang Yan couldn’t help himself and made a joke.
“In the future, maybe my money will become yours anyways.
Don’t be so polite now.”

 

Xie Ning: “…”

 

When he reacted, he didn’t know what to say.

 

Seeing how he wasn’t accepting yet, Zhuang Yan asked again, “Do you have a better idea?”

 

Xie Ning shook his head.

 

He wasn’t unmoved by Zhuang Yan’s suggestion, but…making him really go and move in with Zhuang Yan, he…

 

Just thinking about it, his face blushed again, and his heartbeat sped up.

 

Zhuang Yan couldn’t help but laugh.
“What, are you being shy again?”

 

Xie Ning denied it, saying, “No.”

 

“You’re lying.” Zhuang Yan purposely looked at his blushing face for a while before saying, “NingNing the child, if you don’t agree, I’ll suspect that you’re being a hypocrite, loosening the reins only to catch me better, and leaving me hanging on purpose.”

 

Xie Ning hurriedly refuted, “I’m not!”

 

Zhuang Yan smiled again, saying, “Isn’t it that you actually really want to live with me and even thinking of it makes your face red, but you’re too embarrassed to tell me the truth and want to drag it out for a little?”

 

Xie Ning: “…”

 

He really couldn’t deal with Zhuang Yan when he was like this, so he could only surrender and beg for mercy.
“I’ll agree to move over, so you…stop talking.”

 

Zhuang Yan was satisfied, let out a breath, and lightly replied, “It wasn’t easy to make you agree.
If we kept going at it, I would have used a big move.”

 

Even though he knew it was a trap, Xie Ning couldn’t help but be curious and asked, “What big move?”

 

“Just to directly knock you out, tie you up, and take you home.” Zhuang Yan glanced at him meaningfully, and said, “Then when you wake up and cry about wanting to go home, I’ll get annoyed and lock you up at my house.”

 

Xie Ning knew he was joking as soon as he heard it.
“Yo-You’re speaking nonsense.”

 

Zhuang Yan, indifferent on the surface, said, “That’s not for sure.
When I get angry, I don’t even know what I’m capable of.”

 

But Xie Ning confidently said, “As angry as you get, you wouldn’t do anything to me.”

 

Zhuang Yan helplessly smiled, letting down his facade.
“It looks like you’re clear about how I treat you, but you still want to dangle me like this.”

 

Xie Ning said quietly, “I know you’ve always been good to me.”

 

Zhuang Yan stared at his ear tips, and asked, “Then why are you still blushing? Is it because…you’re actually looking forward to me treating you like I just joked about?”

 

Xie Ning was so bashful that these couple of words almost made smoke come out of his head.
“S-Stop teasing me like this?”

 

Zhuang Yan paused and smiled, saying, “I only said I wanted a couple of benefits, and you can’t take it anymore?”

 

Xie Ning truthfully said, “…I can’t deal with it.”

 

Zhuang Yan sighed.
“You can’t even take this much.
What will we do in the future, wouldn’t it be…”

 

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He left his words unfinished and it took Xie Ning a long time to realize.
He felt like the blush on his face wouldn’t go away even after a full night.

 

He would rather just go outside and be blown away by the cold wind!

 

“I-I’m finished eating.” Xie Ning quickly put down his chopsticks, got up, and ran away.

 

After Zhuang Yan slowly gathered up the dishes and chopsticks and put them in the sink, Xie Ning had sorted out his mood and probingly walked back into the living room.

 

He asked, “Then when am I going to move?”

 

Zhuang Yan, washing his hands, replied, “We’ll move now.”

 

Xie Ning paused.
“So hurriedly?”

 

Zhuang Yan nodded.
“The faster the better.
In the short time it took me to park the car, he had already found you, so I’m worried about leaving you here tonight.”

 

Xie Ning hesitated.
“But I haven’t packed my things yet.”

 

“There’s no need to pack.” Zhuang Yan curled his lips upwards and said, “I have everything already, so you just need to bring yourself.”

 

Xie Ning: “…”

 

Although he said that, Xie Ning still sorted out a couple of changes in clothes, toiletries, and other personal things.

 

He was too embarrassed to bring the two rabbits that sat on his bed, afraid that Zhuang Yan would think he was too childish.

 

Zhuang Yan sat beside him and resisted the urge to smile.
“You’re not attached to your bed, are you? You don’t need to bring sheets, bedding, pillows, and stuff like that; I have all of those.”

 

Xie Ning: “…I didn’t plan to bring it in the first place.”

 

“You don’t need to bring pajamas either, I have new ones.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“I also have towels and toothbrushes, so you don’t need to bring so much.”

 

“…Oh.”

 

“Change of underwear…”

 

Xie Ning couldn’t hold back anymore, and said, his entire face red, “Your house doesn’t have that, does it?”

 

Zhuang Yan laughed.
“I have them, and they’re new, still in the package…but I thought about it and the size is probably not right, so it would be uncomfortable if you wore it.
I decided to let you take some with you.”

 

Xie Ning was once again teased verbally, and he turned around to arrange his things, ignoring him.

 

He went once again to Zhuang Yan’s house.
The pile of camera equipment that was in the living room was gone now, probably put away long ago, either at home or in his office.

 

Auntie Rong was also not there.
He didn’t know if Zhuang Yan specifically told her that she didn’t need to come to cook today.

 

Like Xie Ning, Zhuang Yan was living alone in Lakeside Villa, so he really did have many empty rooms.

 

He purposely cleaned up the room that was separated from his by just a wall, and arranged for Xie Ning to live in it.

 

“This is the biggest room,” Zhuang Yan explained.

 

Xie Ning…Xie Ning had no other choice.
As a guest, he could only listen to Zhuang Yan’s arrangement.

 

Everything in the room was complete.
The bedding was new and looked soft and fluffy, making people want to lie down.

 

The decoration was similar to Zhuang Yan’s personality.
The color theme was darker, and gave him a sense of calm and stability.

 

Every decoration had Zhuang Yan’s influence, and living there was like being surrounded by Zhuang Yan’s breath.

 

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Zhuang Yan took him around the floor to take a look.
“The third floor is where I usually live.
Other than the necessary cleaning, nobody will enter.
My bedroom is right next to yours, and this is my study.
If you can’t find me in my room, come look for me in the study.
Most of the time I’ll be here.”

 

Seeing Xie Ning’s hesitant expression, Zhuang Yan said, “Don’t worry, there’s nothing that others can’t see in my study.
You can come whenever you want.”

 

Xie Ning nodded after hearing this.
“Mmn.”

 

Zhuang Yan then took him to the bathroom.
“There’s a lot of space in your bedroom, so it has a small balcony, but it doesn’t have a personal bathroom.
The third floor’s bathroom is here, and it’s not too far from your bedroom.
If you think it’s too troublesome, I can arrange another bedroom for you that has a personal bathroom.”

 

Xie Ning didn’t dare to trouble him again, so he said, “There’s no need, this one is pretty good.”

 

Zhuang Yan made a sound in agreement.
“There are toiletries in the bathroom, and the shampoo and body wash are all new.
I don’t know which brand you like, so I just put the ones that I normally use.”

 

Xie Ning thought for a moment, and couldn’t help but ask, “Do you use this bathroom as well?”

 

Zhuang Yan smiled.
“I don’t use this one.
My bedroom has a personal bathroom.”

 

Xie Ning then let out a long sigh of relief.

 

Zhuang Yan teased him, saying, “Of course, if you want it, I don’t mind letting you borrow my bathroom as well.”

 

Xie Ning shook his head wildly.
“I don’t want to!”

 

Zhuang Yan raised his eyebrows.
“You really don’t want to?”

 

Xie Ning, decisively, said, “No!”

 

Zhuang Yan pretended to be disappointed and sighed.

 

Actually, based on Xie Ning’s naivety, he could give a random reason to make Xie Ning have no other choice but to use his bathroom.

 

Something like, there are no other bathrooms on the third floor, or the water heater in this one is broken, etc.

 

But Zhuang Yan didn’t dare to.

 

When he imagined Xie Ning coming out of the shower, with the steam and heat still on him, wearing loose pajamas and stepping into his room, he couldn’t help but become fidgety.

 

Xie Ning, at that time, would definitely be red all over, with his head lowered, and with the smell of his body wash lingering.

 

Maybe his pajamas were put on messily, and the collar would be open, exposing his round shoulders, pale, delicate skin, and delicate collarbones…

 

Zhuang Yan had seen him like this before, so the scene in his imagination was even more vivid.

 

And with Xie Ning’s give-all attitude towards him, if Zhuang Yan coaxed him with a couple of sentences, Xie Ning might have actually easily agreed to some random, messy demands.

 

Like being kissed while in his arms, or something like that.

 

Xie Ning, 9 times out of 10, wouldn’t refuse.

 

But…while kissing, isn’t that a minor incident that’ll spark a war?!

Zhuang Yan felt like he definitely wouldn’t be able to bear it.

 

A man like him, full of sap, seeing the person he likes coming out of the bathroom, disheveled.
Was it possible to not have any thoughts in such a situation?

 

Holding him in his arms and kissing him, was it possible to not have any reaction at all?

 

Although Zhuang Yan was moved, he didn’t want to treat Xie Ning so casually like that.

 

It was still too early.

 

He wants to spend his life with Xie Ning, so he wants to be serious and protect the feelings between him and Xie Ning.

 

He hopes that the feelings and relationship between them would come naturally, and not because of a momentary fascination.

 

Throwing those blushing and heartbeat-quickening images out of his mind, Zhuang Yan chuckled and continued to say to Xie Ning, “It’s too late today, but I’ll have Auntie Rong tidy up an empty room for you to be your art studio tomorrow.”

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Xie Ning paused.
“There’s no need for so much trouble.”

 

Zhuang Yan said, “Other things are easy to deal with, but your design drafts and hand-painted boards must be moved over.
Plus, since you’re doing this for my film, just think of it as me doing this for the sake of more perfection.”

 

When Zhuang Yan said it like that, Xie Ning couldn’t find a reason to refuse, and could only helplessly nod his head.

 

“…Thank you.”

 

Zhuang Yan heard this and paused, immediately replying, “What are you thanking me for?”

 

Xie Ning said, “Thank you for being so good to me, and thinking of everything for me.”

 

Zhuang Yan laughed lightly and scratched the tip of his nose.
“I’m good to you because I like you.
But I’m not doing all this for nothing.
Since I can slowly wait for you, until the day you give me an answer.”

 

“And, I hope you can give me a more substantial reward than a verbal ‘Thank you’.”

 

Xie Ning asked, “…What reward?”

 

Zhuang Yan looked at him, holding back a smile.
“What do you think?”

 

Xie Ning: “…”

 

He lowered his head and twisted his fingers together nervously.
After a while, he stood on his tiptoes and lightly gave Zhuang Yan’s face a peck.

 

“Like-like this?”

 

Zhuang Yan: “…”

 

It was…too easy to trick him, wasn’t it?!

 

He casually made a joke and Xie Ning took it seriously?

 

If he said a couple more words, wouldn’t Xie Ning have just been eaten by him?

 

In his heart, he smiled like flowers were blooming while spurning his shameless self.

 

Too beastly.

 

Be a human.

 

Zhuang Yan, who decided to be a human, took a couple of deep breaths and said, “I really like this reward.”

 

Xie Ning lowered his head and stared at his shoes, and his ears became red at the speed of light.

 

Zhuang Yan tried to get his wandering mind back to business.
“Actually, you probably won’t stay for long at my house.”

 

Xie Ning, curious, asked, “Why?”

 

Zhuang Yan said, “In two days, I’m going to go and find shooting spots.
I’m going to the film and television base first, and there are other shooting locations as well.
I estimate it’ll take a couple of days, and you’ll go with me.”

 

When work was brought up, Xie Ning immediately perked up.
“What should I pay attention to at shooting locations?”

 

“Not much, just look at which places are suitable for shooting and which ones should be rebuilt and placed,” Zhuang Yan said.
“Although it’ll be a little tiring, look at it from a relaxing perspective and treat it like a vacation at the public’s expense.”

 

Xie Ning nodded.
“So it’s like that.”

 

Zhuang Yan added a sentence, silently in his heart.

 

To find joy in sorrow, and relax the meaning a little more, it can be considered a honeymoon.

—————————————-

Author’s Note: ZhuangZhuang: Am I too timid? I have to imagine everything.

NingNing: …(blushing after imagining)

Actually, both ZhuangZhuang and NingNing are experts at using their imagination.
It’s just that ZhuangZhuang’s imagination is relatively rascal-y, and doesn’t blush after using it.
NingNing, when he imagines, just…