The Cannon Fodder Who Fell in Love at Art School - Chapter 28
The stimulation before bed had been far too much.
Even after crawling under the covers, the little lamb’s head was still spinning.
Though Xis promised again and again that he wouldn’t cross the line, Fang Chen still locked the door.
His promises didn’t mean a thing!
Maybe it was because of that strange series of “exercises” before sleeping, but Fang Chen ended up having a messy, chaotic dream.
In the dream, someone held him tightly from behind. He struggled, trying to look back and see who it was, but the embrace only tightened, keeping him firmly in place.
The man’s large hands circled his waist, as if trying to pull him right into his body.
Half-conscious, Fang Chen murmured Xis’s name.
The man chuckled lowly behind him, then turned him around and kissed him deeply.
Only then did Fang Chen finally see the man’s face clearly.
It was Xis.
He gazed down at him intently, eyes focused and unwavering.
When daylight flooded the room, Fang Chen sat on the bed in a daze. He lifted the blanket to take a peek, then shut it again in agony.
Ugh!
So pathetic!
Not only had he gotten up he’d finished?!
What was he going to do now?!
He’d have to wash the bedsheets!
With a groan, Fang Chen squeezed his eyes shut in despair, then reluctantly got up to wash his face and start pulling the sheets off the bed.
It was already close to noon. The guest room door remained closed, and even after Xis sent a few messages, there was still no reply.
He frowned at the time, hesitated a bit, and then went to knock.
After a moment, the door cracked open and a messy head of hair popped out—Fang Chen’s. He eyed Xis warily.
“What do you want?”
“You’re awake. Why didn’t you come out? And you didn’t reply to my messages,” Xis said, squinting a little. “Come out and eat.”
Fang Chen’s eyes flicked around nervously. “I… I’m not hungry.”
He started to close the door, but Xis’s hand caught it and pushed it open effortlessly.
He stepped inside, tall and imposing, each step making Fang Chen retreat until his back hit the wall.
“What are you hiding?” Xis asked, looking down at him.
Fang Chen’s heart skipped a beat, and he shook his head furiously.
Xis’s gaze dropped to the droplets of water still clinging to Fang Chen’s fingers, then he turned and headed for the bathroom.
“Wait Xis!”
Too late.
The door swung open, revealing a bright basin on the floor soaking sheets floating inside.
There wasn’t a washing machine in the guest room, so Fang Chen had to do it the old-fashioned way.
Standing behind him, Fang Chen forced an awkward laugh. “Ha… I, uh, spilled juice on it. It’s fine, I was just washing it. You can go really, I’m not hungry…”
Xis turned, eyes glinting with amusement.
That looked like he could see right through him made Fang Chen’s stomach twist. He lowered his head.
Was it juice, Xis drawled, “or milk?”
That teasing tone made Fang Chen’s ears burn. He snapped, glaring up at him, “None of your business! Get out!”
The man’s lips curved slightly. Ignoring his protests, he took Fang Chen’s hand, led him to the sink, rinsed his fingers clean, and said gently, “You don’t need to wash it. The cleaning lady will handle it.”
Fang Chen’s face stiffened. No way he’d let someone else wash that.
“I’ll do it myself,” he muttered stubbornly, puffing out his cheeks as he moved to sit back down on the stool.
Xis stopped him.
I’ll wash it.
Fang Chen hesitated, then thought for a moment and straightened up, trying to sound righteous.
After all, he’d helped Xis yesterday! Having Xis wash his sheets today didn’t seem so unreasonable.
The little lamb rose on tiptoe, patting Xis on the shoulder. “Fine, you wash then. I’m going to eat.”
Before he could escape, Xis bent down and planted a quick kiss on his cheek soft and warm but Fang Chen darted away before he could do anything more.
Breakfast was already laid out on the table Chinese-style, fragrant and colorful. It looked like Xis had cooked it himself.
Fang Chen didn’t think too hard about it. He sat down and ate heartily.
When he’d finished, Xis came out from the guest room. “You’re done eating?”
Fang Chen immediately shot him a glare. “What, was I supposed to wait for you?”
No,” Xis said evenly. “You said your hand hurt yesterday. I thought I’d feed you.
Whose fault do you think that is?!
Fang Chen nearly ground his teeth to dust. He turned away. “I’m going back to school.”
Xis walked over and quietly wrapped his arms around him from behind. “You don’t have class today. Can’t you stay?”
“You even know my schedule?” Fang Chen huffed.
Xis wisely fell silent.
“I have rehearsals later,” Fang Chen added, struggling to pull free, but the man only held him tighter.
Sometimes Fang Chen really thought Xis must have some kind of touch-starved syndrome always needing to hug or kiss him the moment they were close.
And to think he’d once wondered if Xis was maybe… not that into him.
Ha. Clearly, it was his brain that wasn’t working.
Xis pressed little kisses against Fang Chen’s neck, his breath hot and heavy, making him squirm and laugh from the ticklishness.
Stop! Who said you could kiss me?
The man paused. “So I can’t even kiss your neck now?”
“Not unless I say you can,” Fang Chen declared firmly.
Xis narrowed his eyes, gaze dark and unreadable but said nothing. After a beat, he murmured, “Baby, stay home. I’ll rehearse with you.”
“Rehearse? With you?”
“Why not? You can rehearse with that other guy, but not me?”
It took Fang Chen a moment to realize who “that other guy” referred to. He almost laughed in disbelief. “I told you already, we’re not even close!”
Xis replied smoothly, “If you’re not close with him, all the more reason to rehearse with me.”
Fang Chen was speechless.
In the end, he gave in again.
Still wearing Xis’s black silk robe, Fang Chen sat cross-legged on the carpet, wrapped up tight like a dumpling to make sure not a single patch of skin showed.
He pointed to the tablet in front of them. “The red lines are your dialogue. After I say my lines, you respond. And if I hit you, you have to fall to the ground and react, got it?”
Xis lazily replied, “Got it.”
“You don’t sound very convincing. What did I just say? Repeat it.”
Xis was concise: “You hit me. I react.”
Fang Chen’s face went dark.
If he weren’t afraid of provoking a real reaction, he might’ve actually punched him.
He gave Xis a deadpan stare.
After two seconds, Xis raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. I got it.” He glanced at the tablet. “You start?”
“Didn’t you hear what I said? Stay away from Zhu Yingtai, or my young master won’t let you off!” Fang Chen barked his line, punctuating it with a small punch to Xis’s chest.
The man raised an eyebrow at him.
No reaction.
Fang Chen blinked at him pointedly.
Xis glanced down at the tiny fist against his chest it barely counted as a tap but he dutifully clutched his heart, staggered
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone before Zhou Lili’s cautious voice came through. “Fang Chen?”
Fang Chen blinked, lifted his phone to check the screen, then sat up a little. His tone was polite. “Yes, it’s me. What’s wrong?”
Zhou Lili explained that there would be a dinner gathering that evening.
Fang Chen didn’t even think before refusing.
He hated socializing.
But Zhou Lili didn’t give up. “Come on, Fang Chen. It’s a dinner for our group of exchange students. You’ve never come before. There won’t be many people this time, just the ones involved in the play rehearsal.”
When Fang Chen still wouldn’t agree, Zhou Lili simply refused to hang up. She kept persuading him for almost ten minutes until his head started to ache, and in the end, he gave in.
That’s great. I’ll send you the address. Don’t be late tonight.
After hanging up, Fang Chen scrolled through his messages and saw that Xis had sent him several.
[Baby, I miss you.]
[Can I pick you up tomorrow?]
[The parrot learned to do a backflip.]
[I can do one too.]
Fang Chen hadn’t planned to reply at all, but after a moment’s thought, he sent a short message telling Xis about the dinner that evening.
The man replied quickly. [I’ll come get you.]
Fang Chen typed back, [No need.]
After that, no matter what Xis sent, he didn’t respond again.
The dinner was at a restaurant near campus.
Fang Chen arrived right on time. The private room was already half full, and after a glance around, he chose the seat in the corner.
When Zhou Lili came in, she had to look around before spotting him. “Fang Chen, why are you sitting all the way back here?”
Fang Chen gave an innocent look. “It’s all the same.”
“Fair enough.”
Chen Fang came over, smiling as he sat down right beside him.
Fang Chen turned his head away, speechless.
Chen Fang ignored his coldness and chatted cheerfully. “Why didn’t you come to rehearsal today?”
Fang Chen’s expression froze. Of all things to bring up.
The “rehearsal” from earlier that day flashed through his mind. He clenched his jaw. “I had something to do.”
He had practiced at home.
To hide the marks on his neck, Fang Chen wore a white turtleneck sweater. The soft fabric and pale color made him look like a little snowball cute even when he tried to stay stern.
Chen Fang’s gaze lingered on him for a long time before he forced himself to look away. “By the way, that day… why did you and Xis come out of the changing room together?”
He asked it on purpose, wanting to see Fang Chen flustered and scrambling for an excuse.
But the boy only looked back at him calmly. “Chen Fang, you seem very interested in my business.”
Under that clear black gaze, Chen Fang faltered. It took him a few seconds to recover. “I just care about you as a friend. Isn’t it normal to care about friends?”
Fang Chen smiled a sharp, mocking smile.
The expression stung. Chen Fang’s face darkened.
“Oh, you mean Xis.” Fang Chen’s tone was lazy, almost bored. “I told him my clothes glow in the dark, so he came to see for himself.”
Chen Fang’s face turned ugly.
What a lunatic, Fang Chen thought bitterly.
Back at the seaside, he had already made it clear they weren’t anything more than acquaintances. Yet Chen Fang kept showing up again and again. It made no sense.
Because of that annoying presence beside him, Fang Chen barely enjoyed his meal. Still, since he had come, it felt rude to leave midway. He sat through the whole dinner with his head down, and the moment it ended, he grabbed his coat and left.
“Fang Chen!”
Chen Fang called after him and quickly caught up. “I’ll walk you back.”
Fang Chen had run out of patience. His brows drew together. “Why would I need you to?”
Chen Fang stopped in front of him without replying.
Fang Chen tried to step past, but Chen Fang suddenly reached out to grab him. “I just want to talk.”
Startled, Fang Chen dodged away. “Don’t touch me!”
That reaction like he was something filthy made Chen Fang’s temper snap. His voice turned cold. “What, young master Fang is too noble to be touched?”
Fang Chen froze.
Wait what did he just call him?
Young master Fang?
Seeing the shock on his face, Chen Fang pressed on, his voice laced with bitterness. “I can’t touch you, but Xis can? Do your family even know you’re dating a foreigner? You really are something. Got kicked out of your house, sent abroad, and still managed to land on your feet. What’s wrong? Saw Xis’s money and power and jumped at the chance?”
Fang Chen stood motionless, his mind buzzing.
Chen Fang reached for him again but before his fingers could touch, a strong hand caught his wrist.
The next second, he was flung aside like a piece of trash.
He hit the doorframe hard, coughing as pain shot up his arm. His anger flared—until he looked up and saw the tall man standing protectively beside Fang Chen.
Xis’s gaze was icy. “You touched him?”
Chen Fang’s face went pale. He didn’t dare answer.
Xis had already disliked him before. Now, seeing him try to lay a hand on Fang Chen, his anger surged to the limit. He looked ready to tear him apart before Fang Chen quickly grabbed his wrist.
“Baby?” Xis frowned slightly.
Fang Chen’s lips moved. His expression was pale. “Let’s go, Xis.”
Xis stared at him for a moment, then nodded.
The car was parked nearby. Fang Chen got in quickly, and only after sitting down did he finally breathe again.
Chen Fang knew who he was.
After crossing into this world, the original Fang Chen had already been cast out by his family. He’d almost forgotten about that part of his past.
But back at the beach, Chen Fang had clearly asked him where he was from.
Could he have done that on purpose?
Had he realized the truth that Fang Chen wasn’t the same person anymore?
His mind spun wildly, even imagining being taken to a lab and dissected.
Suddenly a warm hand cupped his cheek. Xis’s voice was gentle. “Baby, what’s wrong? What happened?”
Fang Chen blinked, coming back to his senses. “Nothing.”
Xis frowned almost imperceptibly. It was clear that something was wrong.
But he didn’t press further. His voice softened. “Let’s go back to the apartment near campus.”
Fang Chen hesitated, then nodded.
He couldn’t deny it being with Xis made him feel safe.
By the time they reached the apartment, his nerves had eased. Thinking it over calmly, maybe things weren’t as bad as they seemed. If Chen Fang had really discovered something, he would’ve confronted him long ago instead of waiting until now.
As Fang Chen sat there lost in thought, Xis reached out to ruffle his hair. “It’s late. Go shower and sleep.”
Fang Chen turned his head, looked at him for a moment, then crooked a finger.
Xis leaned down in surprise.
Fang Chen rose on tiptoe and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before darting toward his room.
By the time he disappeared behind the door, Xis was still standing there, frozen.
After a few seconds, he lifted his hand to touch the spot where Fang Chen had kissed him.
They had shared passionate kisses before, but Fang Chen had never initiated one.
Even a fleeting, innocent kiss like that made Xis’s heart stir.
The memory of that soft touch lingered, light and warm. He chuckled under his breath, then walked toward the guest room and knocked. “Baby, I need a shower too. Let’s do it together.”
Fang Chen gritted his teeth. I knew it. Shouldn’t have shown him any affection. He’s so quick to take advantage.
What was he thinking? How could he forget Xis was a wolf?
Someone once said, Mercy toward a wolf is cruelty toward a lamb.
Too bad he realized that only after Xis had already walked in.
Now they were standing under the same showerhead.
It’s fine, Fang Chen told himself. We’re both guys.
Just close your eyes and pretend it’s a locker room.
In college, everyone showered together in the dorm anyway.
He repeated the thought over and over like a mantra.
It’s fine.
He’d just treat Xis like his roommate.
Right. His roommate.
Wait.
If they were roommates, wouldn’t that mean living together too?
Would you like me to continue translating the next chapter in the same tone natural and emotional but cleanly phrased?