Love Me, Please Look - Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Hangovers, Haziness, and a Late Dinner
Zhang Shixu still woke up at 8 a.m. sharp, his internal clock refusing to let him sleep in—even on a Sunday.
Rubbing his eyes, he glanced across the room. Jin Heng and Chen Nan’s beds were both empty. Clearly, they hadn’t returned last night.
Zhang Yan, meanwhile, had asked to be woken up for a date today. As Zhang Shixu passed by his bed on the way to brush his teeth, he gave the mattress a light pat. “Time to get up.”
Zhang Yan stirred, grunted, and pulled the blanket tighter around him before groaning and reluctantly sitting up.
While brushing his teeth on the balcony, Zhang Shixu pulled out his phone and opened his chat with Jin Heng. No response yet.
Zhang Shixu: Where are you two?
He didn’t bother messaging Chen Nan. If something needed handling, Jin Heng was the reliable one.
But even after he finished changing and got ready to head out, there was still no reply.
Strange. Zhang Shixu frowned, but shrugged it off. They’re both grown Beta men—probably just crashed somewhere.
He slung his bag over his shoulder and stepped out into the day.
Meanwhile, in a plush hotel room, Chen Nan jolted awake as if he’d just been hit by a truck in a dream.
His groggy eyes scanned his surroundings—then dropped to his bare chest, which was covered in red marks and bite bruises.
Lower down? Oh, no.
“WHAT THE—?!”
Chen Nan sat bolt upright, heart pounding. The ache in his lower back confirmed a truth he really didn’t want to acknowledge.
Next to him, Jin Heng stirred, rubbing his eyes open and then locking eyes with Chen Nan.
A long, awkward silence.
Chen Nan broke it with a haunted look. “Why does… my ass feel like it’s on fire?”
Jin Heng blinked. “…Does it?”
That sent Chen Nan over the edge. “Are you seriously asking that?!”
Just then, a flood of blurry memories from the night before came rushing back: he’d gotten drunk on some ridiculous cider to prove his Beta tolerance, ignored Jin Heng’s warnings, flirted with some Alpha freshman, and then apparently dragged Jin Heng out of the party.
They couldn’t get back into the dorm, so he’d clung to Jin Heng like a baby koala, insisted he sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and then… things got fuzzy. Clothes were off. Way off.
He let out a deep sigh. “I was wasted.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you… regret it?” Chen Nan looked Jin Heng straight in the eye. Then quickly added, “Not that I care. I don’t.”
They were both Beta, after all. What was there to regret?
Jin Heng opened his mouth, hesitated, then stayed silent.
Rolling his eyes, Chen Nan didn’t wait for whatever speech Jin Heng was brewing. He reached for a pair of pants on the floor.
“Where are you going?” Jin Heng asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
“To shower.” Chen Nan said flatly, not looking back. He had no intention of stumbling and falling in front of Jin Heng—his whole lower half was sore like hell.
Jin Heng watched Chen Nan shuffle into the bathroom and then picked up his phone.
“Room 1208, XX Hotel. Bring two outfits. One needs to fit someone about 180cm tall.” He hung up without waiting for confirmation.
Later, Chen Nan emerged wrapped in a bath towel. Jin Heng, now dressed in a white bathrobe, was calmly eating breakfast by the window, scrolling his phone.
“Clothes are in the closet,” Jin Heng said without even looking up.
Chen Nan, still sore but trying to act cool, found two full outfits hanging inside. Including fresh underwear. One set was clearly smaller than the other—he took that one.
With a resigned sigh, he dropped the towel and started dressing.
Jin Heng turned around just in time to see him changing.
Chen Nan’s skin was pale and smooth, his muscles toned and athletic. But Jin Heng’s handiwork from last night was all over him—bite marks, hickeys, and especially a vivid trail around the back of his neck.
Once dressed, Chen Nan caught Jin Heng staring and frowned. “You haven’t showered yet?”
Jin Heng blinked as if caught red-handed, then stood up and disappeared into the bathroom.
Chen Nan plopped down in the seat across from Jin Heng’s, eyeing the breakfast: toast, porridge, and eggs. Pretty basic, but comforting. He took a bite and chewed thoughtfully.
As he ate, his mind wandered to Jin Heng and their strange not-quite-friendship. Despite their opposite personalities, Jin Heng was always around. Zhang Shixu was busy with school. Zhang Yan was off with his girlfriend every other day. That left Chen Nan and Jin Heng, orbiting each other like accidental companions.
He was still zoning out when Jin Heng returned, hair damp, fresh clothes on, and sat across from him again.
“What’s on your mind?” Jin Heng asked, snapping his fingers in front of Chen Nan’s face.
Chen Nan shook himself out of the trance. “Nothing, just thinking.”
“Thinking about what?”
“Our situation,” Chen Nan said, raising an eyebrow. “You ever do this with anyone else?”
Jin Heng frowned. “There is no one else.”
“You weren’t grossed out? I mean, we’re both guys. Both Beta.”
Jin Heng shook his head. “Not grossed out. You?”
Chen Nan smiled wryly. “Not as bad as I thought it’d be. Guess I always imagined my first time would be with my future wife.”
“I’m not grossed out either. I—” Jin Heng started to say something, but Chen Nan cut him off.
“You bought these clothes?” He tugged at the sweatshirt. “Comfy. How much? I’ll transfer you.”
“No need,” Jin Heng replied casually, reaching across the table to wipe something off Chen Nan’s mouth. “You done eating?”
Chen Nan wiped it again himself and stood. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
As they walked out, Chen Nan fully expected Jin Heng to make him split the cost for the hotel. One look at the luxurious decor, and his wallet started crying in advance.
At the front desk, however, the receptionist smiled and told him the room had already been paid for.
Chen Nan turned and gave Jin Heng a sharp look, muttered a quiet thank-you, and stomped off.
Jin Heng followed, calm as ever.
The hotel clerk, watching them leave, glanced again at the marks on the back of Chen Nan’s neck—still faintly visible under his collar.
She picked up her phone and immediately started messaging her best friend. Huge gossip. Two hot guys. Spent 50K last night. Totally wild.
Back on campus, it was already past noon when Zhang Shixu finally checked his messages.
There it was—Qi Junhe had texted him at exactly 5 p.m.:
Qi Junhe: I’m at the north gate.
Ten minutes later, another:
Qi Junhe: Did you see the message?
Zhang Shixu’s heart sank. He’d completely lost track of time.
Zhang Shixu: Sorry! I just saw this. Heading out now!
He rushed toward the gate, practically running.
When he arrived, Qi Junhe was still there, patiently waiting by the roadside.
“I’m so sorry I kept you waiting!” Zhang Shixu said, slightly out of breath.
Qi Junhe just smiled and helped him straighten up.
Didn’t I say not to rush?
Zhang Shixu shook his head, sheepishly grinning. “But I can’t leave you standing here all alone. Let’s go.”