Confessions Under the Influence and the Taste of Home

Ji Yanli’s words fell softly by his ear, and Chu Ci felt a “boom” in his head, as if something had exploded. His eyes flew wide, and he blinked rapidly in disbelief.

His throat felt tight and dry. His thin lips trembled, the words almost bursting out uncontrollably.

“Who would lik—” Chu Ci couldn’t hold back anymore, grinding his molars as he started to speak. But the moment he met Ji Yanli’s gaze, his entire body stiffened. The words at the tip of his tongue took a sharp, forced turn: “In this displaced and drifting world—”

Chu Ci snapped out of his daze, his pupils shrinking. He realized he had been controlled by that damned “Deep Affection Buff” again, so he quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.

But he was one step too late. The words he swore he’d never say in this lifetime squeezed out from between his teeth against his will.

“…I actually like you.”

The five short, airy words floated in the silence. Chu Ci took a deep breath and looked up at Ji Yanli. The youth was clearly stunned for a moment, then narrowed his eyes with an “I knew it” expression.

Chu Ci felt like he was falling apart.

He closed his eyes and was about to tip backward when Ji Yanli grabbed the fabric of his shirt. With a slight tug, the limp Chu Ci bumped right into Ji Yanli’s chest.

The rich fragrance clinging to Ji Yanli made Chu Ci’s head swim. His hands rested lightly on Ji Yanli’s chest, and before he could look up, the youth leaned down and whispered into his ear: “It was just a joke. Why are you so nervous?”

‘Who’s nervous!!’

The youth’s indignant inner voice shattered the ambiguous atmosphere. Ji Yanli looked down at the soft earlobe before him.

‘I want to die!!!’

Warm breath stirred the stray hairs by Chu Ci’s ear. The soft tips pricked his sensitive skin, and the intense itchiness made it hard for him to breathe. His cheeks were stained with an uncontrollable blush.

As their warm bodies pressed together, the overlapping rhythms of their hearts made it impossible for Chu Ci to tell whose heart was beating faster.

He blinked rapidly and pushed against Ji Yanli’s chest to stand up straight. But at that moment, Ji Yanli seemed to lean even closer. An inexplicable heat enveloped Chu Ci’s ear, sending a shiver down his spine. Then, a soft sensation pressed against his ear cartilage.

Chu Ci froze on the spot.

…What was that!!

Was that Ji Yanli’s lips?!!

What was Ji Yanli doing with his mouth?!!

Chu Ci felt like hundreds of people were beating drums and gongs in his head. His eyes were wide with shock, so much so that he forgot to blink. The warmth and texture of Ji Yanli’s lips were so clear that the dazed Chu Ci didn’t even notice his eyes were getting dry.

The youth tilted his head slightly, his half-parted lips brushing against Chu Ci’s right ear. His scorching breath made Chu Ci’s skin burn. He even seemed to do it on purpose—taking the thin skin of Chu Ci’s ear between his lips and pressing down gently, as if tasting a piece of candy. The movement was lingering and intimate.

Chu Ci was about to explode. His breathing was ragged and fragmented, leaving only one ridiculous thought in his mind.

‘Ji Yanli is crazy!’

‘Ji Yanli has absolutely lost it!’

Hearing Chu Ci’s frantic inner thoughts, Ji Yanli slowly raised his eyes to look at the boy’s blood-red ear. He couldn’t help but let out a light chuckle, finally releasing Chu Ci’s burning ear.

Looking at Chu Ci’s shy and embarrassed expression, Ji Yanli felt he had a natural talent for making him feel flustered.

Chu Ci’s mind was a blank slate; he didn’t seem to have fully recovered yet. Before Chu Ci could start “scratching” like an angry cat, Ji Yanli reached out and ruffled his soft hair. Just as the bell rang, he leaned close to the side of Chu Ci’s face and whispered in a low, husky voice: “I’ve helped you so many times. Shouldn’t you repay me?”

“Treat me to a meal today.”

Without waiting for an answer, he turned around and walked back into the classroom as the deafening bell rang.

For the rest of the class, Ji Yanli could feel the angry and aggrieved gaze burning into his back.

Chu Ci glared at Ji Yanli’s silhouette, his molars making a “crick-crack” sound. His fingers gripped his pen so hard his knuckles turned white, and he scrawled twisted patterns across his textbook.

If one looked closely, the scribbles revealed a full page of: “Ji Yanli, you brat, just you wait.”

Next to it was a drawing of a little person with a bleeding mouth—evidently a dismantled version of Ji Yanli.

Finally, lunch break arrived. Chu Ci was to treat him. When they reached the cafeteria entrance, Ji Yanli paused. “Eating at the cafeteria again?”

Chu Ci snorted. “Don’t be so picky. I’m poor and can only afford the cafeteria. If you don’t want to eat, then leave.”

He spoke bluntly, his voice laced with hostility. Just as he was about to swipe his card, his wrist was suddenly grabbed. Before he could react, he was pulled away.

He was never a match for Ji Yanli’s strength. Chu Ci stumbled along behind him, glaring at the back of the youth’s head. “Hey! Where are you taking me?!”

Ji Yanli looked back with a smirk. “We’re going out to eat. My treat. Save your treat for next time.”

Chu Ci muttered under his breath, “I never said I wanted to treat you…”

As one of the top private high schools in the city, Chenqing High had strict rules. Students weren’t allowed to leave campus at noon. But since Ji Yanli was born with privileges, the two of them walked out of the school gates in front of everyone, pulling and pushing at each other.

Ji Yanli didn’t take him to a high-end restaurant. Instead, they went to a regular Chinese stir-fry joint.

Since it was peak lunchtime, the place was packed. Thick steam wafted from the exhaust pipes. The lady boss, wearing an apron, stood at the door greeting guests warmly.

“Sister Qin.”

Ji Yanli stopped at the entrance. Standing tall and refined, he looked like a cool breeze on a sweltering day compared to the shirtless men eating nearby.

“Oh my!” Sister Qin’s smile deepened when she saw him. She patted the shoulder of the boy who was half a head taller than her. “Xiao Li is here! I haven’t seen you in so long, you’ve grown so tall!”

Chu Ci stood aside, his gaze shifting between the two. They seemed very familiar, but he clearly remembered that Sister Qin was not a character in the original novel.

“It’s been about two months, right?” Sister Qin looked at him with a hint of heartache. “Last time you went back, did your parents give you a hard time?”

Ji Yanli looked down at her. In just two months, she had gained a few wrinkles and looked much older. He averted his gaze and shook his head. After seeing her sigh in relief, he asked, “Sister… has that person come looking for you again?”

Sister Qin forced a smile. “No. Thanks to you helping me last time.”

Despite her words, Chu Ci could see the paleness she couldn’t quite hide. Ji Yanli, being more sensitive, must have noticed it long ago. Chu Ci frowned, having no idea what had happened between them.

Perhaps his gaze was too direct, as Sister Qin finally noticed Chu Ci. Her melancholy vanished, and she patted Ji Yanli’s back. “Did you bring a friend for lunch today?”

Ji Yanli looked back at Chu Ci and nodded obediently.

“Good, good!” Sister Qin affectionately grabbed Chu Ci’s arm and pulled the two tall boys inside. “There’s a spot in the back. Any later and you wouldn’t have found a seat. Xiao Li, take your friend and sit. Tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll arrange it!”

The place was crowded, forcing Chu Ci to press right up against Ji Yanli. Finally, they reached a small table in the back and sat facing each other. The aroma of food invaded Chu Ci’s nose, and his stomach gave an ungraceful growl.

Ji Yanli handed a laminated menu to Chu Ci. “See what you’d like.”

Chu Ci stared at the names of the dishes, falling into a state of indecision.

“Sister Qin isn’t a local, but her hometown dishes are very popular here. That’s why the business is always good.”

Ji Yanli thoughtfully poured a cup of tea for Chu Ci. Looking at the way Chu Ci gripped his pen, he suddenly let out an ill-timed chuckle.

Chu Ci looked up, frowning. “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing,” Ji Yanli replied. “I just think you look a bit cute when you’re struggling to choose.”

Chu Ci nearly choked on his breath. Resisting the urge to snap back, he blushed and made a few random marks on the menu before handing it back.

Ji Yanli added a few dishes as well, continuing, “Sister Qin used to know my grandmother.”

He handed the menu to a passing waiter with a polite nod.

“When I was little, I didn’t live with my parents. I lived in a small county with my grandmother. It wasn’t a big place, but thinking back, it was the happiest time of my life.”

Ji Yanli took a small sip of tea. “Sister Qin lived right next door. She’s seven years older than me. She was already in middle school when we met. I didn’t like to talk much as a kid, so she often took me out to play.”

“Later, something happened, and my parents took me back. Many years have passed, and I only found out two years ago that she had opened a shop here.”

Chu Ci listened silently before asking, “What she said earlier… what did you do last time?”

Ji Yanli looked at him, his pale fingers tracing the smooth rim of the glass. “What? Do you care about me?”

The wording was easily misunderstood. Chu Ci was speechless and almost threw his tea at him.

‘Who cares about you? Don’t flatter yourself.’

Ji Yanli’s lips curled up.

“It was about Sister Qin’s ex-boyfriend. He was a domestic abuser. When I saw her, she had large bruises on her arms. I asked and found out he did it.”

“I took it upon myself to help her get rid of him. I played a little game and sent him to prison.”

His tone was incredibly flat, as if he were talking about everyday chores.

As he spoke, the dishes arrived. Chu Ci stared at the colorful, fragrant food and swallowed instinctively.

Seeing the sparkle in Chu Ci’s eyes, Ji Yanli tilted his head and said softly, “Eat if you’re hungry.”

Chu Ci didn’t stand on ceremony. He immediately shoved a mouthful of food into his mouth. The perfect balance of flavors and a hint of spice exploded in his mouth, instantly opening his appetite.

Chu Ci cleared his bowl in no time. He looked up with satisfaction to see Ji Yanli still taking small, elegant bites. The boy opposite him was as refined as ever, eating only from the few plates closest to him. However, those dishes looked like boiled vegetables with a bit of soy sauce—Chu Ci didn’t even want to look at them.

Chu Ci rested his chin in one hand, and a sudden idea struck him.

He picked up a piece of meat from the clay pot nearby, did some secretive “preparation,” rolled the meat up, and placed it into Ji Yanli’s bowl.

Ji Yanli paused, staring at the piece of meat. He looked up, frowning curiously.

“Look at how thin you are. Eat more high-quality protein and put on some weight.” Chu Ci blinked innocently, his tone sounding very thoughtful.

After speaking, Chu Ci immediately lowered his head and went back to his food.

But Ji Yanli didn’t move. He looked at the meat, then at the head-down Chu Ci.

—As everyone knows, when Chu Ci is quiet, he’s definitely up to no good.

Ji Yanli used his chopsticks to unroll the meat. Sure enough, a pile of chili peppers, peppercorns, and various spices spilled out.

Ji Yanli: “…”

On the side, Chu Ci peeked up like a thief. Seeing no reaction, he couldn’t help but urge, “Hurry up and eat. Don’t you like it?”

Ji Yanli sighed helplessly. Then, cooperating, he picked up the spice-filled meat and put it into his mouth with a blank face.