Chapter 34: Swollen Lips.

The two friends howled excitedly in the apartment. The adrenaline rushing through their veins made them feel even more blissful. They were both in their competitive mode as they played a game at the computers. To top it all they were trying out the gaming chairs Gu Shan's uncle had just delivered a few hours ago. There were two chairs; one black and another white but with the same design. The chairs featured magnetic head pillows and adjustable lumbar supports offering comfort to the two gamers.

"Let me reheat the food it's almost nine,"Liu Daxun said getting up from his seat.

Gu Shan took off his headphones and reached for his phone that had been lying on the table. Li Yunxi's message popped up on the screen. It was sent thirty eight minutes ago. His fingers lingered on the keyboard intending to reply but he dropped the idea thinking of something else.

"Daxun-ge I'm taking trash out I'll be back,"Gu Shan shouted.

"Right now? Can't you take it out tomorrow?"

"I'll be quick,"Gu Shan said dismissively and rushed out of the apartment carrying the trash bag.

*****

Li Yunxi was lying somnolent on the couch. After he gave up waiting for Gu Shan's reply,he sought to watch TV but the monotonous movie induced sleep and fatigue and without knowing there he was battling to keep his eyes open. He was almost surrendering to Morpheus when he heard a knock at the door. He groggily dragged himself from the couch and walked sluggishly towards the door. His eyes that could barely register his surroundings suddenly opened wide seeing the person standing at the doorstep. Gu Shan stood in front of him carrying a trash bag.

"Do you want to take trash out?"

"Huh?"

"I'm saying trash,"Gu Shan said shaking the trash bag to emphasize his message.,"Let's take out trash together,"he added.

"Oh. Let me grab ours."

Li Yunxi disappeared into his room and came back a few minutes later wearing a hoodie while his left hand carried the half filled trash bag.He walked out of the apartment locking the door behind him. Together they went downstairs to the bins where they usually threw their accumulated junk.

When they reached at the bins,Li Yunxi was the one who stuffed the trash in the bins. His gentleman mode had suddenly been activated and he decided to carry out the task.

"I texted you..."Li Yunxi began moistening his lips.

"I saw it. I was busy playing games that I didn't look at my phone. I only saw it now."

"Oh. I was just bored. Xiao Hui went out on a date so I was hoping we could hang out together but I'm guessing you already have plans."

"You can join us . It's fun. Besides I bought gaming chairs and they are really comfortable. You can play against me..."

Gu Shan rambled everything about his new gaming chairs but Li Yunxi had long stopped registering his words. He was staring at the other's lip movements while thinking of something naughty. He really wanted to shut those beautiful lips with his.

"Yunxi-ge, Yunxi-ge. Are you even listening? " Gu Shan called out waving his hand in front of Li Yunxi.

"Sorry I just got distracted."

"Let's go,"Gu Shan said turning on his heel to leave but Li Yunxi suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him back kissing him lightly.

"What are you doing? People will see us," Gu Shan whisper yelled at him jerking himself away.

"No one will see us."

Where the dustbin was located ,the place was slightly obscured by the building with little light reaching the place.

The two stood there for a long time awkwardly staring at each other.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that,"Li Yunxi said feeling guilty and turned to leave. Gu Shan suddenly held his hand and Li Yunxi looked back at him in surprise.

"Can we do that again?"Gu Shan said shyly,"I mean... kissing?" He didn't know why felt so embarrassed to ask for such a thing. Normally he wasn't someone who would be desperate for intimacy but something about how Li Yunxi kissed him stirred a somewhat good yet weird feeling in him.

Li Yunxi gently pushed him gently against the adjacent wall and kissed him passionately. He bit Gu Shan's lower lip asking for entrance and the latter complied to his wishes. His cold hand slipped under Gu Shan's upper garments and began caressing his tummy. Gu Shan gasped at the sudden cold feeling but with time he got used to it and moaned into the kiss while Li Yunxi's hand serviced his tummy. Li Yunxi's hand trailed upwards to Gu Shan's chest and grabbed one of Gu Shan's nipples pinching it.

"Ouch!"Gu Shan whimpered.

Li Yunxi smirked seeing his reaction.

"You always let your guard down around me and I like catching you off guard,"Li Yunxi said smiling mischievously.

"Damn you!"Gu Shan cursed and slapped Yunxi's chest playfully but in the process Li Yunxi pulled him closer and kissed him again. Gu Shan was afraid at first but he again melted into the kiss. It was the thrill of doing something naughty in a public place with the risk of being caught. Do you wanna hang out had suddenly changed to do you wanna make out? They only parted away from each other after five minutes of continuous snogging.After their little making out session,they headed back to the apartments each going their separate ways like they weren't even in each other's arms a few minutes ago.

*****

Li Yunxi only appeared at their apartment some minutes later acting like someone intending to hang out with his friends.

Liu Daxun was just plating the food when Li Yunxi showed up.

"Yunxi have you eaten yet?"

"I did ,a while ago,"Li Yunxi replied nonchalantly. His concentration was somewhere else. He was busy looking around in search of the boy whose lips he had just devoured a moment ago.

"That doesn't count. I'm serving you some,"Liu Daxun said with finality and brought two extra bowls to serve food for Li Yunxi.

Within a few minutes,Gu Shan joined them. He had freshened up and he was wearing his silk pajamas. His hair was a little damp and dishevelled but in a beautiful way.

In their small table,Li Yunxi was seated beside Liu Daxun while Gu Shan sat across from them and they all started having their late dinner. They were all quiet only the clinking sound of cutlery confirming their presence and actions.

"ShanShan?"Liu Daxun called him out , fixing his gaze directly at his friend.

"Yes?"Gu Shan responded sipping his water.

"Why are your lips swollen?" Liu Daxun asked suspiciously.

Gu Shan, stunned by his friend's words, suddenly spat the water and some of the droplets landed on the two guys seated before him. He grabbed several serviettes and gave them apologizing in the process while he himself gently patted his chin with the serviette wiping off the spilt water droplets and proceeded to wipe the table.

"Are they really that swollen?"Gu Shan asked awkwardly. He instinctively ran his thumb over his lower lip to feel its texture.

"Not much."

"I accidentally bit it,"Gu Shan lied. Li Yunxi's gaze never left Gu Shan every single time. He subtly watched how the boy struggled to save himself from his friend's inquisitiveness . But he can't lie he found it cute how the boy struggled hard to come up with a lie but ended up giving a lame one. But yeah ,what else could count as a relevant reason for having swollen lips apart from kissing? Biting one's lips sounded more relevant.

"You're lucky it didn't leave a wound,"Liu Daxun said.

Gu Shan hummed and sipped his water again.

"If I didn't know you well I would have thought someone kissed you so hard,"Liu Daxun commented casually and yet again his face was splashed with water directly from Gu Shan's mouth.

It seemed like Gu Shan wouldn't have dinner in peace. He felt like he would get exposed any minute from now.

"What is wrong with you today?"Liu Daxun raised his voice.

"It's because you keep talking nonsense!"Gu Shan retaliated raising his voice too.

And then the two friends started bickering at each other. Li Yunxi silently watched them in amusement - apart from Gu Shan himself,only he knew the mystery behind the swollen lips.

"Yunxi aren't I telling the truth? Doesn't he look like he was kissed?"Liu Daxun said pointing at Gu Shan's lips. Now that caught Li Yunxi off guard. He almost spat his food but considering his good gag reflex,he managed to maintain his cool. Gu Shan glanced furtively at him and he fell at a loss for words. He didn't want to go against Gu Shan at the same time Liu Daxun's assumptions based on observation made sense. He was left in a dilemma. He had to side with either of them but being the smart guy as he was he decided to play ignorant.

"Do they look so swollen to you? I don't think they are that swollen,"Li Yunxi replied nonchalantly.

That was the longest Gu Shan had ever kissed in his life and of course his lips had to react that way for being abused more than normal.