Times of Our Lives - Chapter 32

After renting the apartment, Xie Meng moved all their luggage in. Ji Qinyang and Zhai Lin put up a layer of soundproofing in the small room, and Mo Sujuan sent over the drum kit and electric piano.

 

Guo Linan flipped through the handwritten scores: “This is quite a project. Besides writing for Qian Mo, you’re also submitting to entertainment companies?”

 

“Submitting to entertainment companies is tough, right?” Bai Xintian polished two templates and handed them to Zhai Lin: “It’s nearly impossible to write for well-known singers now.”

 

Zhai Lin, biting a nail, mumbled: “Online singers are an option too. Platforms like YY and Weibo are pretty popular now.”

 

“The audience is different, and the quality varies a lot. The gap is too big.” Ji Qinyang finished installing the last soundproofing panel, took off his gloves, and pulled his sweater off his back: “And I’m impatient. I need money.”

 

Guo Linan shrugged. As the weather started to warm up after April, they had started off wearing quite a bit of clothing, but by the end, they were all sweating.

 

Ji Qinyang ended up just wearing a T-shirt, reassembling the drum kit and electric piano, and adjusting the sound equipment with his headphones on.

 

Bai Xintian suddenly asked: “How long have you had those headphones? Aren’t you thinking of getting a new pair?”

 

Even though Ji Qinyang’s headphones were well-maintained, they clearly showed their age. For someone into music, upgrading equipment is as routine as buying new clothes. Ji Qinyang was meticulous about many details, but he had used these headphones almost all the time.

 

Zhai Lin, with a serious look, said: “You wouldn’t understand, this headphone has significance.”

 

Guo Linan, clueless, asked: “What significance?”

 

“Straight guys wouldn’t get it,” Zhai Lin waved dismissively.

 

Xie Meng had finished his classes with Xu Shaohe early and was being constantly gossiped at by his classmates: “Aren’t you living on campus anymore? Are you cohabiting with your girlfriend?”

 

Xie Meng sighed: “I’ve told you it’s a guy.”

 

Xu Shaohe bluntly asked: “Is it homosexuality?”

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Xu Shaohe: “Don’t think I don’t know. There are lots of fangirls in the class who keep talking about good CPs and stuff.”

 

“Just focus on your studies,” Xie Meng said: “Stop worrying about random things.”

 

Xu Shaohe obediently said “Mm,” and then asked: “Can I come over to your place to hang out?”

 

Xie Meng was speechless: “What would you come over for?”

 

“Just to hang out with the guys,” Xu Shaohe said nonchalantly: “Play cards or whatever.”

 

Xie Meng was frustrated: “You should be studying hard. Aren’t you aiming to get into Tsinghua’s affiliated high school?”

 

Xu Shaohe pouted: “Boring. Mengmeng, you’re so much like a scholar.”

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Xu Shaohe: “Your girlfriend must find you unbearable. Too dull and uninteresting.”

 

Zhang Ganggang and Han Dong brought hot pot ingredients to celebrate the move. With Xie Meng not around, Ji Qinyang refused to cook, so they started the hot pot, washed vegetables, and soaked noodles.

 

When Xie Meng returned, the other three were already waiting in the living room, ready to eat.

 

“No stir-fried dishes?” Xie Meng smiled as he took off his scarf.

 

Zhang Ganggang immediately complained: “Yimei won’t cook!”

 

Ji Qinyang gave him a sideways glance: “If I cook, you do the dishes?”

 

Zhang Ganggang fell silent at the mention of doing the dishes. Han Dong gave Xie Meng chopsticks and sauces, and the four of them gathered around the induction cooker to eat.

 

Ji Qinyang and Qian Mo had temporarily agreed on a six-month collaboration plan. He would work behind the scenes, responsible for lyrics and music under his own name, but even with only a 20% share of concert revenue, covering daily expenses and production costs made it difficult to manage rent.

 

“How about submitting to entertainment companies?” Han Dong asked.

 

Ji Qinyang: “No response from the big ones. The smaller ones replied, but they seem to want to buy out the rights.”

 

Zhang Ganggang, with his mouth full of broccoli, looked like a hamster: “What does ‘buy out’ mean?”

 

Xie Meng frowned: “Does it mean giving your song to someone else?”

 

Han Dong: “It’s not that simple. It’s like being a ghostwriter—credit for lyrics and music goes to the singer, and if the song becomes popular, they become famous.”

 

Ji Qinyang remained silent and used his chopsticks to pick out some meat for Xie Meng’s bowl.

 

Zhang Ganggang looked at him and, after swallowing his broccoli, tentatively suggested: “Why don’t you just sing it yourself? You could participate in a talent show or something, and you’d definitely get popular.”

 

Ji Qinyang chuckled and scolded: “Just eat your food.”

 

After finishing the hot pot, they moved on to fruit. The bowls, chopsticks, and pot were left on the table, and no one paid attention to them. Finally, Xie Meng couldn’t stand it anymore and washed everything up alone in the kitchen. Ji Qinyang leaned against the kitchen door, watching his back.

 

Xie Meng wasn’t surprised when he noticed Ji Qinyang.

 

“Are you going to help?” Xie Meng asked while drying a bowl.

 

Ji Qinyang smiled: “Are you asking me to?”

 

Since Xie Meng had watched Ji Qinyang practice several times, he began to deliberately avoid letting Ji Qinyang do any chores. From cleaning and washing clothes to cooking and washing dishes, Xie Meng took care of everything.

 

“I’m almost done,” Xie Meng said while wiping the water off the countertop. He suddenly asked, “What do you think of Zhang Ganggang’s suggestion?”

 

Ji Qinyang played dumb: “What suggestion?”

 

Xie Meng turned around and thought for a moment before saying, “Debuting as a singer? I don’t know what the professionals say…”

 

“Becoming an artist,” Ji Qinyang clarified. He locked the kitchen door behind him, walked up to Xie Meng, and braced himself against the countertop, trapping Xie Meng between his arms. Xie Meng was pushed back slightly.

 

“…” Xie Meng sighed: “That’s not what I meant.”

 

Ji Qinyang: “I didn’t mean that either,” he said with a double entendre.

 

Xie Meng looked at him.

 

In the dim, yellow kitchen light, Ji Qinyang’s features were flawlessly handsome. Xie Meng sometimes wondered what such a face would look like on camera, on television, or in videos.

 

Because he was so good-looking, Xie Meng worried that seeing him might make more people jealous. But hiding him felt like a shame.

 

Han Dong knocked on the door from outside: “We’re leaving.”

 

Zhang Ganggang tried to come in: “What are you guys doing?”

 

Ji Qinyang turned and said, “Nothing. You guys go ahead.”

 

Han Dong seemed to say something to Zhang Ganggang, and after they said their goodbyes, the sound of the door closing was heard.

 

Ji Qinyang sighed with relief: “Finally, they’re gone…”

 

Xie Meng pushed him aside: “Move, I’m going to shower.”

 

Ji Qinyang lowered his head: “Join me?”

 

“…” Xie Meng placed his hand directly on his face.

 

After being together for so long and with Ji Qinyang being a vigorous young man, they had never had a quiet night since moving in together. But for some reason, Ji Qinyang had never gone all the way.

 

Neither of them mentioned it, and Xie Meng had originally thought that today’s shower would be the same, whether using hands or mouths made no difference.

 

Until he was pinned underneath Ji Qinyang, Xie Meng hadn’t fully reacted.

 

“I got something prepared,” Ji Qinyang suddenly whispered in his ear.

 

“?” Xie Meng watched him reach into the drawer beside the bed and pull out a small blue jar.

 

“It was out of stock a few days ago. They said it was only available in oil-based,” Ji Qinyang started his routine of kissing Xie Meng all over, even his toes.

 

Xie Meng: “…You bought this just for this?”

 

Ji Qinyang seriously said, “It’s said online that water-based lubricant is better.”

 

Xie Meng didn’t know what to say. He was heated from Ji Qinyang’s kisses and reached out to pull him closer.

 

Ji Qinyang placed a pillow under Xie Meng’s waist. To ensure there was enough lubricant, he poured a lot onto his hand, first slowly rubbing around Xie Meng’s back entrance with his finger, then gently inserting one finger. He watched Xie Meng’s expression closely, stopping immediately if there was any sign of discomfort.

 

“That’s enough…” Xie Meng couldn’t hold back any longer and signaled Ji Qinyang to enter.

 

“It will hurt,” Ji Qinyang smiled. He was also struggling to hold back, not even clear on what he was enduring, but he was stubbornly focused on making Xie Meng comfortable. He wanted Xie Meng to stay aroused during the penetration, finding the thought more thrilling than his own climax.

 

When Ji Qinyang finally penetrated, Xie Meng couldn’t help but moan. He quickly covered his mouth, but Ji Qinyang forced him to lift his hips, making Xie Meng look at their joined bodies. Xie Meng tried to turn away, but Ji Qinyang wouldn’t let him.

 

“You need to watch me fu–ck you,” Ji Qinyang began thrusting in and out with firm and slow movements. Each time he withdrew and re-entered, his gaze was intensely hot. Xie Meng remained aroused throughout, with pre–c–um continuously leaking.

 

He felt embarrassed but couldn’t control himself, tears welling up from the shame.

 

Ji Qinyang kissed Xie Meng’s forehead, then his eyes, nose, and finally his lips.

 

Ji Qinyang kissed Xie Meng deeply and for a long time.

 

That night, they had s-e-x many times. Ji Qinyang didn’t climax during the process. The last time, he picked Xie Meng up and had him sit on his lap, thrusting upwards until Xie Meng begged him to stop.

 

Exhausted, Xie Meng fell asleep quickly afterward. Ji Qinyang, having discarded the con–dom but not wanting to climax, spent the night holding Xie Meng while in a semi-erect state.