The Cannon Fodder Who Fell in Love at Art School - Chapter 22

Once a person immerses themselves in the sea of knowledge, their brain can overload. Fang Chen’s little lamb brain kept drowning and gasping for air, until finally he collapsed on the sofa like a skewer of lamb meat, utterly unaware of the world around him.

I can’t study anymore.  His eyes glazed over, and he murmured in Chinese,  If I see one more letter, I’m going to throw up.

Xis frowned.

His own Chinese wasn’t advanced enough to catch every word Fang Chen said; he usually got the gist.

Throw up?

Looking down at Fang Chen from above, Xis’s gaze fell on the boy’s small stomach. He reached out and lightly touched it, voice calm,  It’s not even bloated. How could you throw up?

Fang Chen’s eyes went wide.

How could someone say something so ambiguous with such a straight face?!

He scooted upright, clutching his belly, cautiously studying Xis’s expression for any hint of intention. But the man’s eyes met his calmly, like he had just made the most ordinary comment in the world.

Maybe it was just Fang Chen overthinking.

Frustrated, he muttered to himself. Blame Jemin, always sending him weird things, filling his mind with all sorts of… nonsense.

He hugged his small belly earnestly.  I’m dizzy… I don’t want to study anymore.

Xis watched him for a few more seconds before nodding. “Alright. The rest can wait until tomorrow. I’ll make a schedule with your daily tasks listed.”

Fang Chen, the little lamb, felt his heart sink. Two icy shivers ran down his spine he almost wanted to escape.

Tomorrow too?

Xis announced indifferently,  Not just tomorrow. At your pace, you’ll need to review here every day until the exams are over.

The little lamb flopped onto the sofa again.

Dreams lost. Turned into roast lamb.

Finally, a hint of a smile appeared in Xis’s eyes. He reached out, lightly tapped Fang Chen’s forehead with two fingers, and said,  Relax. I have some game discs here. See if there’s anything you like while I make dinner.

Don’t make Chinese food.  Fang Chen suddenly said, looking up at him seriously. 

Just eat whatever nutritious meals you usually have. I’ll eat the same as you, okay?

Xis raised an eyebrow. “Bet!”

He made a quick call, probably to a chef or assistant, giving short, precise instructions before hanging up.

Turning back, he found the little lamb still staring blankly at him on the sofa.

Feeling a soft warmth in his chest, Xis couldn’t resist; he reached out and ruffled Fang Chen’s black hair. So soft, just like the boy himself obedient, without an ounce of temper.

Well, not entirely he had thrown a small tantrum on the phone earlier.

But even the slightest irritation from him felt like a storm to Xis.

Because he cared.

Xis lowered his gaze, masking the darkness in his eyes, and asked in his usual calm tone, 

What games do you like? Or is there a movie you want to watch?

Fang Chen brightened a little. “Coco have you seen it?”

Finding Nemo was the only movie Fang Chen loved and could watch endlessly. Whenever he was bored alone, he would pull it out.

“No.”

Xis rarely watched movies, nor did he have much interest but if the person beside him was Fang Chen.

Do you want to watch this one?

He quickly queued up the movie.  I think I’ve heard of it. Seems interesting.

Fang Chen pouted.  It’s really touching. I cry every time I watch it.

Xis’s brow twitched. Hesitant, he asked,  Do you want to watch something else? 

Fang Chen shook his head quickly.  No, I like this one.

“Alright.”

Xis stared at him for two seconds. He thought: watching a movie is fine, but he hoped Fang Chen wouldn’t cry. Yet, if he was right there. A few tears would be okay.

He would comfort him.

But Xis underestimated the boy.

Fang Chen cried pitifully, eyes and nose red, tears streaming down.

“Don’t cry.”

Xis frowned, softly coaxing, “Let’s stop watching. Dinner’s here let’s eat first.”

The boy looked up at him, eyes still misted, as if blinking lightly would spill more tears.

If no one remembers me, I’ll disappear first.

He was an orphan, with no parents or relatives, and now trapped in a book world, floating like a leaf on the water.

Xis reached out, catching a tear before it fell.

You won’t.  He whispered.  You won’t disappear.

Fang Chen paused, looking at him. Normally, the color of Xis’s eyes made him seem cold, detached but now, he felt… gentle.

He sniffled softly. “Sorry, I’m a bit embarrassed.

If he’d known he’d get this emotional, he wouldn’t have chosen this movie.

Xis smiled faintly, crouching down to meet Fang Chen’s eyes. “Not embarrassing at all. Crying while watching a movie is normal. It’s me who’s unusual. Joey and the others call me Stone, Ice says I have no normal emotions.”

Fang Chen, voice still nasal from crying, gave a small hum. “Not true. You’re great.”

Xis couldn’t help it he lightly pinched Fang Chen’s earlobe. Instant, fleeting. When the boy’s eyes widened in surprise, his hand was already withdrawn as if nothing had happened.  Alright, eat something now.

The meal had already been delivered, luckily still warm in the insulated boxes.

While Xis arranged the dishes, Fang Chen washed his face, his eyes swollen from crying. He glared at his reflection.

Crybaby!!

Once out, hunger hit. He patted his belly and happily ran to the kitchen.

But entering the dining area, he froze.

He had said he’d eat the same nutritious meal as Xis but he hadn’t expected it to be this nutritious.

A serving of vegetable salad, pan-seared chicken and salmon, and a glass of red wine for Xis. For Fang Chen, a glass of orange juice.

Xis pulled out his chair. “Is it okay to eat? If not, I can make something else.

Fang Chen snapped out of his daze. “Perfect!”

Just as he picked up his fork, a sudden clap of thunder outside startled him. He almost dropped it.

Looking out, he saw the sky dark and stormy rain was coming.

“Scared?”

If you want, I can continue translating the next part in the same natural, immersive style to preserve the emotional tension and character intimacy.

*******************

Fang Chen popped a cherry tomato into his mouth and nodded. “A little.”

We just got a storm alert,  Xis said evenly. The rain tonight might get pretty heavy.

Fang Chen blinked in confusion, not quite grasping what Xis meant.
And in the next few seconds, the rain outside came down in torrents. Even through the glass, he could see the fat raindrops splattering against the windows in a steady downpour.

“The rain’s too strong,” Xis spoke again, his tone calm as ever.

 I’ve got plenty of spare rooms here. Stay over tonight, I’ll take you back to campus tomorrow.

What???

It took Fang Chen a moment to process it. His first instinct was to refuse, but he stopped himself just in time.

Right he’d come here today to test Xis on purpose.

If he could stay the night naturally, wouldn’t that make things even easier?

So he lowered his head, forked up a piece of fish, chewed, swallowed, and said softly.

 Alright then.

As they turned slightly away from each other, both their lips curved just a little.

Dinner wasn’t much, so Fang Chen finished quickly, then just sat there, watching Xis expectantly.

After a moment’s thought, Xis picked up his wine glass and offered it to him. 

“Want to try a sip?”

Fang Chen waved his hands quickly.

“It’s not strong,” Xis said mildly. “Helps you sleep.”

That made Fang Chen hesitate.

He was easy to convince especially when spoken to like that.

He took the glass carefully, had a small sip, smacked his lips, and his eyes brightened.  

Hey, it actually tastes good.

Then he had another sip. And another. And another.

By the time Xis finished replying to a message and looked up, the entire glass was empty. Fang Chen was licking his lips unconsciously, as if reluctant to let the taste go.

Xis’s eyes darkened slightly. He stared at him for two seconds.

 “Good?”

Fang Chen nodded eagerly, like a chick pecking rice.

 “Yeah, it’s sweet.”

You drank it all. I didn’t even get to taste it,  Xis said, his gaze lingering on Fang Chen’s lips.

Ah?  Fang Chen made a small, confused sound, blinking up at him.

He looked dazed, a little stupid, the corners of his eyes still pink from earlier tears. It was a look that tugged at something dangerous inside a person.

But Xis finally looked away, forcing down whatever had risen.

“Are you full?”

What answered him was a soft hiccup.

Xis chuckled. “I’ll clean up. It’s getting late you can take a shower. There are new clothes in the closet, wear whatever you like. 

“Okay!

The wine wasn’t strong, but Fang Chen had drunk too quickly. When he stood, he felt a bit dizzy.

Steady, he told himself. Walk straight. Don’t embarrass yourself.

And yet Xis could only watch as the little lamb wobbled unsteadily toward the guest room.

The truth was, the cleaning staff came every day he didn’t need to clean up himself. But he had to give his hands something to do, or else he might just find himself standing outside that guest room door.

He tidied up absentmindedly, then made a few phone calls by the floor-to-ceiling window.

He’d just hung up when the guest room door opened.

And there was Fang Chen barefoot.

His hair was still damp, droplets sliding down the black strands and soaking into the white shirt he wore, the fabric turning half-transparent where it clung to his skin.

There were plenty of clothes in the closet, but he’d somehow chosen a crisp white dress shirt formal, but unbuttoned unevenly, without any pants. The loose fit made him look both innocent and unintentionally… tempting.

Technically, not wearing pants wasn’t that odd the shirt hung long enough to brush his knees. The collar gaped slightly, and all Xis had to do was lower his gaze a little to see far more than he should.

And then, the boy frowned, looking troubled.

Xis,  he said, voice soft and serious, the disposable underwear here is all too big.

 I can’t wear them.

Xis’s throat bobbed visibly as he swallowed, his gaze heavy on the boy in front of him so intense it almost had weight.

Too big?

Then, under that shirt, was he.

*************