Object of Affection

Xu Duwan had lived long enough to believe in anything—red rain falling from the sky, the sun rising in the west—but he would never believe that Shen Mingjin would actually carry him.

So when Shen Mingjin suddenly picked him up from the ground, Xu Duwan was completely frozen.

His whole body stiffened, like a startled cat with all its fur standing on end. He stared at Shen Mingjin, dry-mouthed and speechless, like a doll with no thoughts of its own.

His pale fingers clutched tightly at the hem of his shirt, and for a moment, it felt like his blood was flowing backward. He even forgot how to breathe until Shen Mingjin sat down by the flower bed, still holding him, and gently rubbed his stomach. That was when his senses finally returned.

Shen Mingjin's warm, dry palm seemed to carry some kind of magic. A steady warmth seeped through Xu Duwan's skin and thin clothes, slowly spreading inside him. Even the storm in his stomach, which had been churning painfully, started to settle.

At first, Xu Duwan gritted his teeth and tried to resist, but in the end, his body betrayed him. The warmth was too comforting. His eyelids drooped, and he nearly dozed off.

Before his body could completely relax, his mind snapped back to reality. His fingers twitched slightly before finally making a decision—he reached up, grabbed the collar of Shen Mingjin's shirt, and rubbed his soft face against him.

Like a cat silently showing affection to its owner.

His delicate cheek brushed against Shen Mingjin's collarbone, as soft as jelly, as light as the wind. His warm breath caressed the skin, stirring something silent yet undeniable.

The leaves rustled in the breeze, and sunlight filtered through the gaps, leaving dappled patterns on Xu Duwan's fair, delicate face. Stray strands of hair tickled his forehead. His half-lidded almond-shaped eyes shimmered softly, paired with his high nose bridge and lips as red as cinnabar. His skin was as flawless as freshly fallen snow.

For once, he was completely quiet.

Shen Mingjin paused. He looked away, as if he wasn't used to this.

His hand rested lightly on Xu Duwan's waist. He shifted slightly, letting the other person lean on him more comfortably. When he noticed that some color had returned to Xu Duwan's pale face, he lowered his gaze and, in a gentle voice, asked:

"Are you feeling better?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Xu Duwan's eyelashes trembled. He pursed his lips and said nothing.

The only response was his grip tightening around Shen Mingjin's hand.

Shen Mingjin wasn't sure what that meant. Was he uncomfortable? Or did he actually like it? Based on how Xu Duwan usually acted, he didn't seem like the type who enjoyed being close to others. So, being considerate, Shen Mingjin started to pull his hand away.

"If it doesn't hurt anymore, then I'll—"

"It hurts…"

Xu Duwan immediately interrupted, his voice trembling slightly. It was soft and sticky, like melted marshmallow—sweet and delicate.

"...Mingjin, it hurts…"

Maybe it was the pain that made him weak. Or maybe it was the rare gentleness in Shen Mingjin's actions. Either way, Xu Duwan suddenly didn't want to let go. Slowly, he moved closer, pressing his face against Shen Mingjin's collarbone and rubbing against him again—like a small, harmless creature seeking comfort.

"..."

Shen Mingjin's heartbeat suddenly skipped.

For a moment, he forgot the cold, merciless expression Xu Duwan usually had when he pushed him against the wall.

Shen Mingjin was used to dealing with anger, threats, and intimidation. But when faced with trust, reliance, and warmth—he didn't know what to do.

His hand hung in the air, uncertain. He didn't pull away, nor did he place it on Xu Duwan's stomach again. It was as if he had been startled into stillness.

Xu Duwan, after showing his vulnerability, suddenly felt nervous too. He kept his eyes shut, refusing to look at Shen Mingjin's face, but his heart was beating wildly—like a drum being struck over and over.

What would Shen Mingjin do?

Would he, as always, walk away coldly? Or would he just say, "It has nothing to do with me" and leave?

The longer Shen Mingjin stayed silent, the more Xu Duwan's palms became sweaty. His long, dark eyelashes trembled in despair. His heart slowly sank—falling deeper and deeper into an ocean of uncertainty, surrounded by nothing but silence.

Xu Duwan forced a bitter smile, mocking himself for expecting too much. He tried to straighten up, to pull himself out of Shen Mingjin's arms.

But in the next second—

He was pulled right back into a warm embrace.

Xu Duwan's eyes widened. "..."

"Then… should I go buy you some medicine?"

A smooth, gentle voice flowed like water. Xu Duwan lifted his head and met Shen Mingjin's deep, dark eyes, which reflected his own surprised face.

Shen Mingjin patted Xu Duwan's back lightly, his other hand still massaging his stomach. His voice remained calm and warm.

"You probably didn't eat this morning, so your stomach started hurting."

Hearing the way Shen Mingjin spoke—as if he was soothing a child—Xu Duwan lowered his head. His ears, which had turned red, pressed lightly against Shen Mingjin's chest. In a muffled voice, he replied:

"Maybe."

"Then do you want medicine, or do you want breakfast?" Shen Mingjin studied his pale face carefully. Seeing how quickly his complexion had improved, he wondered if he had some hidden medical talent.

"I'll buy it for you."

"Breakfast."

Xu Duwan had spent a whole semester bringing breakfast to Shen Mingjin, but he had never once eaten something Shen Mingjin bought for him. He lifted his head and stared at Shen Mingjin, as if testing his limits.

"I want the one you buy."

He deliberately emphasized the last few words. His fingers unconsciously dug into his palm, his expression a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

"Alright." Shen Mingjin didn't think much of it. He simply nodded.

"I'll go buy it now."

He took off his jacket and spread it on the flower bed to keep Xu Duwan's clothes from getting dirty. Then, carefully, he helped him sit down. Before leaving, he crouched down and held Xu Duwan's hand, his voice unusually soft.

"I'll be right back. Wait for me, okay?"

"Mm."

Xu Duwan looked down at their intertwined hands. His face quietly flushed red again. When Shen Mingjin finally let go, he felt a reluctant emptiness.

Shen Mingjin walked a few steps away before suddenly pausing. He seemed to remember something, then reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. After hesitating for a moment, he turned back to Xu Duwan and asked:

"Do you have money?"

"Huh?"

Xu Duwan was still feeling happy about holding hands. He was a bit slow to react as he raised his head.

"My phone's out of battery."

Shen Mingjin waved the black screen in front of him and explained,

"I bought this phone two years ago. It fell into the ocean once, so the battery sucks. If I don't charge it overnight, it dies. I can't use it to pay."

Seawater? Why would Shen Mingjin go into the sea for no reason?

This thought flashed through Xu Duwan's mind so quickly that he couldn't even catch it.

Without thinking too much, he instinctively reached for his phone, intending to hand it to Shen Mingjin for payment—completely forgetting how much trouble this could cause him if his fake young master at home found out.

…But then, an awkward realization hit him. His phone wasn't working either.

Yesterday, in a moment of impulse, he got into a fight with Gu Zhe, and his phone accidentally fell out of his pocket. It shattered into pieces—eight, to be exact—and even the tempered glass screen protector cracked.

"My phone is broken too…"

Xu Duwan fiddled with it for a bit before giving up. Instead, he pulled out his wallet, casually taking out a neat stack of red banknotes. Handing them over to Shen Mingjin, he spread them out in his palm like a cat offering its belly for pats.

"Here you go."

"…That's too much."

Shen Mingjin glanced at the money, hesitated for a moment, then lightly plucked a single bill from the stack. As he did, he casually ran it across Xu Duwan's nose, making him nearly jump out of his skin in surprise.

"Keep the rest."

Shen Mingjin then tapped Xu Duwan's forehead lightly and gestured toward the passing crowd with a flick of his gaze.

"…Oh."

Xu Duwan's face flushed red, and he obediently nodded.

"There's a breakfast shop just outside the hospital. But they're really busy in the morning, so you might have to wait in line for ten minutes," said a mother holding a child, who was just about to leave. She had overheard their conversation and kindly offered a tip.

"I'll be back in about twenty minutes, then."

Hearing this, Shen Mingjin thanked her, thought for a moment, and then turned to Xu Duwan.

"Okay."

After confirming that Xu Duwan's expression showed no signs of discomfort, Shen Mingjin relaxed. He neatly folded the money and slipped it into his pocket before heading outside.

By now, the sky had fully brightened. The scorching sun hung in the sky like an orange gemstone, radiating intense heat that felt as though it was burning the skin. The light was so blinding that it was hard to keep one's eyes open.

Just as the mother had said, the bun shop was packed with customers.

Shen Mingjin found himself squeezed in with the crowd, and even after ten minutes, the line had barely moved.

Under the relentless sun, dizziness crept in. His palms started to itch strangely, as if tiny ants were nibbling at his skin.

He moved his fingers, pulling his hand out of his pocket, and froze when he saw it—

A faint yet vivid red rash bloomed along his fingertips, spreading up his arm like peach blossoms in full bloom. Moments later, a few raised welts followed.

What's happening?!

Shen Mingjin's pupils shrank.

Just as he realized something was wrong, his heart suddenly skipped a heavy beat.

It felt as if a pair of invisible hands had tightened around his throat, and his lungs were being squeezed downward. Air caught in his throat, refusing to flow freely.

Instinctively, he scratched at the itch on his neck, but the more he scratched, the worse it got. Within seconds, darkness swallowed his vision, his body went weak—

And he collapsed straight into the person behind him.

"Hey! Bro—!"

The person behind him was a clean-cut young man with glasses, casually waiting in line while scrolling on his phone.

He had zero warning before a whole human being fell on him.

With no time to react, he instinctively caught Shen Mingjin—only to lose his balance and land on his butt.

His phone flew out of his hand, and his glasses slipped askew.

With help from the surrounding crowd, he sat up properly, then patted the unconscious Shen Mingjin in his lap. A flicker of panic flashed across his face as he nervously asked,

"Why did he suddenly pass out?!"

Then, as if afraid of being blamed, he quickly added,

"I swear I didn't do anything! He just collapsed on me!"

"Maybe it's heatstroke? Look how red his face is."

A concerned middle-aged woman hurriedly called for others to help move Shen Mingjin to a shaded area.

A few young women with water bottles poured water over his reddened skin, hoping to cool him down.

Cool water trickled down his bare arms, washing away the dust and grime, leaving only faint, shimmering traces behind.

Nobody knew how much time passed.

By the time Shen Mingjin finally woke up, the young man under him was on the verge of losing his patience—his legs had gone completely numb.

As Shen Mingjin's eyes fluttered open, his dark pupils shifted from dazed to clear. He abruptly sat up, his gaze locking onto the young man, who was now fanning him with two leaves.

Suspicion crept into his voice.

"…Who are you?"

"Lei Feng."

The young man answered concisely.

Shen Mingjin: "…"

"…Just kidding."

Seeing Shen Mingjin's increasingly baffled expression, the young man adjusted his glasses and got straight to the point.

"You were waiting in line at the bun shop just now, right? You probably had heatstroke and passed out. It scared the hell out of me. I helped carry you to a shaded area, and since I was worried about you being alone, I decided to stay and watch over you."

"…Just now?"

Shen Mingjin's heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah."

The young man, now a little tired from talking, casually checked his watch and snapped his fingers.

"An hour and a half ago."

"…"

Upon hearing that, Shen Mingjin's heartbeat quickened even more. He rubbed his temples and muttered a low, sincere,

"…Thank you."

"No problem."

The young man had no other business here. He had already convinced himself this was just a good deed for the day, so he was about to leave—

But Shen Mingjin called out,

"Wait."

"Hm?"

The young man folded his arms and raised a brow. "What is it?"

"My friend is waiting for me. I'm afraid he'll misunderstand the situation. Can you come with me and help explain?" Shen Mingjin asked apologetically. "It'll just take a few minutes…"

"Sure."

The young man was currently unemployed and had nothing better to do, so he agreed without hesitation.

"Thank you."

Shen Mingjin nodded, then walked over to the bun shop, making sure to buy some snacks for Xu Duwan before heading back.

The owner of the bun shop was about to close for the day. When Shen Mingjin walked in, the owner lazily lifted his eyelids.

"We're out of meat buns. Only sesame buns and soy milk left."

"I'll take a few sesame buns then."

Shen Mingjin quickly handed over the money, not even waiting for the change. He was in a hurry—Xu Duwan was still waiting. He grabbed the young guy next to him and rushed out, worried Xu Duwan might get an upset stomach from waiting too long.

—

"Wanwan, stop just sitting here. The sun is blazing! What if you get heatstroke?"

Jiang Ruoling had been sitting with Xu Duwan under the scorching sun for an hour now. The trash in the flower bed nearby was starting to reek under the intense heat. Annoyed, Jiang Ruoling swatted away a tiny ant crawling on her arm, stepping back into the shade, and continued persuading her friend.

"It's been over an hour. Even if he was buying breakfast for next year, he should've been done by now. Maybe he just took the money and left. You're getting played—why are you still waiting for him?"

Xu Duwan remained silent. Under the harsh sunlight, his face looked even paler, almost glowing. He clenched his clothes tightly, refusing to speak, his gaze stubbornly fixed in the direction Shen Mingjin had disappeared.

Jiang Ruoling sighed, shading her eyes from the glaring sun.

"You seriously don't get it? You already got tricked by him once. Why are you still hanging onto a broken tree?"

Xu Duwan bit his lip hard, almost tasting blood. His expression turned dark and obsessive, his voice barely above a whisper.

"How could he lie to me again…?"

Jiang Ruoling fanned herself. "For all you know, he already has someone. Maybe he just got a call and ran off to meet them."

At those words, Xu Duwan suddenly stood up. His expression twisted into something terrifying—dark, almost monstrous. His eyes were cold and heavy, as if he had just crawled out of the depths of hell. He stared straight at Jiang Ruoling and said, one word at a time:

"He is not allowed to have someone else."

Jiang Ruoling blinked in disbelief. "His eyes are his own. If he wants to be with someone, what can you do about it?"

"I won't let him."

Xu Duwan didn't even realize what he was saying. By the time he snapped back to his senses, he was already gripping Jiang Ruoling's collar, pushing him against the wall. His fist tightened, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"Wanwan… you—" Jiang Ruoling's fear spiked. He had never seen Xu Duwan like this. The obsession in his eyes was beyond reason. As he stared at the fist trembling in the air, every hair on his body stood on end.

Xu Duwan's face was emotionless, but his clenched fist moved on its own. Jiang Ruoling shut his eyes tightly, bracing for impact.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

…But the punch never came.

Jiang Ruoling cautiously opened one eye, only to be completely stunned.

Shen Mingjin had suddenly appeared from behind, his arms wrapped around Xu Duwan in a tight hold. For someone who could take on ten bodyguards at once, Xu Duwan was suddenly powerless, his wrists locked firmly in Shen Mingjin's grasp.

"Why are you hitting people again?"

Shen Mingjin held him close, making sure he wouldn't lash out again. His voice was calm, patient.

"Tell me what happened."

Xu Duwan's eyes were red. He stared at Shen Mingjin, feeling the heat from his grip. His lips trembled like a cornered rabbit.

"He… He said you ran off with your boyfriend just now."

Shen Mingjin blinked. "What? I didn't catch that."

Pulling out a still-warm sesame bun, he handed it to Xu Duwan. "Here, it's hot. Want some?"

Xu Duwan hesitated at the words "sesame bun." His fingers twitched, debating whether to take it. But before he could, a voice interrupted.

"He's asking if you ran off with your boyfriend just now."

The young guy from the bun shop, who had been tagging along with Shen Mingjin, casually slung an arm over his shoulder and grinned.

"Yeah, that's me. I'm his boyfriend."

For a second, Shen Mingjin froze.

Xu Duwan was also stunned. He turned to Shen Mingjin, waiting for him to deny it. But Shen Mingjin didn't say a word.

The silence made Xu Duwan's mood plummet. Normally, he would've been overjoyed if Shen Mingjin personally bought him breakfast. But now, looking at this random guy casually touching Shen Mingjin, a deep irritation spread through him.

His mind reeled. He remembered how Shen Mingjin had once told him, "I'm not into men." But now, this?

Xu Duwan felt like he had just been slapped in the face.

Without warning, he slapped Shen Mingjin's hand away, the white sesame bun rolling onto the dirty ground.

Shen Mingjin looked at him, startled.

Xu Duwan's fists clenched. That stranger's arm draped over Shen Mingjin's shoulder felt unbearable to look at. His expression turned cold.

"Someone like you…" His voice was eerily calm. "I don't want anymore."