"Or... do you not consider me a good friend at all?"
Ling Shuangjiang's last sentence was spoken in a soft tone, yet it carried an indescribable sense of oppression.
Xie Wang suddenly stopped what he was doing, got up and placed the quilt and pillow on the floor next to Ling Shuangjiang. As if to prove something, he simply lay down and said, "Turn off the light."
Ling Shuangjiang smiled and said, "Okay."
The lights in the room went out instantly. Xie Wang wrapped himself tightly in the blanket, placed his hands on his chest, and felt his heart pounding strongly.
He hadn't even figured out his feelings for Ling Shuangjiang yet, so it was a bit inappropriate for them to be sharing a bed so openly.
But this was Ling Shuangjiang's own request. If he didn't agree, what if Ling Shuangjiang thought he was looking down on him? Wouldn't that be an even more absurd misunderstanding?
Do you need to turn on a night light?
Xie Wang vaguely remembered that when Ling Shuangjiang had a cold and was feeling unwell, there was a small night light on next to her when he entered her room.
Ling Shuangjiang responded from the side, "We need it, but it seems we don't have any here."
Xie Wang, worried that he might be scared, got out of bed and pulled the curtains open a crack. The storm outside had ended, and the sky was unbelievably clear.
The gentle, cool moonlight streamed in through the cracks, and he turned his head: "Is this enough? This brightness?"
Ling Shuangjiang: "Okay, thank you."
Xie Wang returned to bed, lying on his side facing Ling Shuangjiang. In the moonlight, he could clearly see the contours of Ling Shuangjiang's face.
Her slender, thick eyelashes cast a shadow, rising and falling slowly with her even breathing. Ling Shuangjiang's lips were beautiful, like cherry blossom petals in spring, with a faint pink hue.
"Xie Wang, so you were standing in the rain in the courtyard because you thought I was pretending not to know you?"
Ling Shuangjiang turned to Xie Wang and suddenly asked.
"Yes." Xie Wang didn't hide anything. "I thought you were with Lin Jiayi and felt that I was bothering you, so I was unhappy."
Ling Shuang lowered her voice with a hint of teasing: "Just because I'm unhappy, you went out in the rain?"
"I didn't get wet in the rain."
"I just forgot my umbrella and wanted to get it from my car."
Although she knew the other party was obviously being stubborn, Ling Shuangjiang still deliberately asked, "Oh~ so you need to stand in the yard for so long to get an umbrella from the car."
"It didn't take that long, just a few minutes." After calming down and thinking about it, Xie Wang felt that his behavior was a bit silly, like the male protagonist in an old novel who tortures himself and his heart, so he denied it as much as possible: "The rain was very cool at the time, and I was quite hot, so I just got a little wet."
"Okay." Ling Shuangjiang yawned, her tone suddenly softening: "I didn't mean anything by asking you this question so persistently. I just feel sorry for you and hope you won't do this again in the future."
"Feel sorry for me," Xie Wang repeated, a faint pink blush rising to his neck and ears.
"Of course I feel sorry for you." Ling Shuangjiang exhaled slowly, unconsciously moving closer to him. "When I saw you standing there, I felt very sad, so I couldn't wait to run over to you."
If it weren't for the darkness, Xie Wang wouldn't have dared to look Ling Shuangjiang in the eye.
He tried to keep his tone steady: "Yes, I won't go out in the rain anymore, even if it's hot."
"Okay, good boy." Ling Shuangjiang patted Xie Wang's head.
At this moment, Xie Wang's worldview was almost overturned.
He had thought that only elders could touch his head, but he never expected that being touched on the head by Ling Shuangjiang, who was six years younger than him, would be such a happy thing.
He even wanted Ling Shuangjiang to touch him again.
It feels really comfortable.
"Time for bed, Xie Wang."
"Good night."
Ling Shuangjiang's voice was sweet, and it was strangely alluring in the darkness.
"Good night," Xie Wang murmured after a long silence.
After an unknown amount of time, Xie Wang, whose hair still retained the warmth of Ling Shuangjiang's fingertips, recalled that question.
Does he have special feelings for Ling Shuangjiang?
After tonight's series of events, he was basically certain—it was true.
But he himself couldn't accept it.
Ling Shuangjiang treated him so well, yet he still had those kinds of thoughts about her. He even wondered if his long-term single status had caused him psychological problems.
If this relationship is real, he'd better correct himself before things come to light, otherwise he and Ling Shuangjiang might not even be able to remain good brothers anymore.
After all, Lin Jiayi's friendship with Ling Shuangjiang is also coming to an end.
At this moment, Ling Shuangjiang suddenly turned over, mumbled something, and slowly looked for a heat source, moving closer to Xie Wang.
A faint scent of gardenia and wood wafted over, and Xie Wang dared not move, letting Ling Shuangjiang rest her head on his arm.
In a daze, he had an urge to pull Ling Shuangjiang into his arms.
Their breathing rhythms gradually matched, and Xie Wang slowly raised his arm, placing it on Ling Shuangjiang's face.
He probably has some feelings for Ling Shuangjiang.
As for why he likes it, when he likes it, and how much he likes it, he is not quite sure at the moment.
Perhaps it was the time when he dressed as a woman?
It doesn't seem so.
Or did feelings develop over time?
It doesn't seem like it.
Xie Wang looked at Ling Shuangjiang in his arms, his expression becoming increasingly conflicted.
If he really likes Ling Shuangjiang, is he straight or gay?
At this moment, Ling Shuangjiang suddenly moved, seemingly getting closer to him, burying her head in his neck, absorbing his warmth.
Xie Wang couldn't resist taking a sniff.
It smells very good.
I don't know if it smells like shower gel or perfume.
He agonized for a full half hour, then held Ling Shuangjiang and muttered to himself:
"I like him, but I'm straight."
"I like him, but I'm straight."
In the darkness, Ling Shuangjiang opened her eyes and quietly curled the corners of her lips.
Chapter 34 Double Standards for Protecting His Wife
In the early morning, Ling Shuangjiang slowly opened her eyes.
Yesterday's torrential rain washed the courtyard clean and bright. Through the gap in the curtains, the garden deer in the courtyard looked as bright as new.
The sound of washing up came from the bathroom. Ling Shuangjiang put on her slippers, quietly walked to the door, and found that the door was open.
Xie Wang was brushing his teeth when he met Xie Wang's gaze. He abruptly stopped what he was doing and stared at Xie Wang in a daze.
Ling Shuangjiang leaned against the door frame, her smile tinged with a hint of languor.
Xie Wang is a bit dazed right now, which is inexplicably cute.
"I'll do it right away."
Xie Wang said a few words briefly and quickly washed his face. When he came out of the bathroom, he couldn't get out because Ling Shuangjiang was blocking his way.
Standing opposite Ling Shuangjiang, he lowered his eyes and said, "Go in."
Ling Shuangjiang remained calm and crossed her legs: "Did you sleep well last night?"
Xie Wang: "Hmm, it's alright."
Ling Shuangjiang yawned, her eyes immediately welling up with tears: "I didn't sleep well, and I always feel back pain."
"I didn't do anything," Xie Wang blurted out.
Ling Shuangjiang raised an eyebrow: "Huh? I didn't say what you did to me."
"I'm just explaining to avoid any misunderstanding," Xie Wang said seriously.
Ling Shuangjiang stopped teasing him and made way for him: "Let's order breakfast, we should head back."
Xie Wang: "Hmm."
Xie Wang was unusually silent during breakfast, only glancing at the stock market situation twice before spending the rest of the time eating in silence.
Ling Shuangjiang sat opposite him, eating her bread in small bites, glancing at him occasionally, her expression relaxed.
He had just woken up, and his lips were a pale color, but they were very handsome. As he ate his bread, his lips opened and closed, and his eyelashes fluttered gently, like a clean and beautiful porcelain doll. Xie Wang would steal a glance from time to time, but fearing he would be discovered, he would pretend to be nonchalant and continue eating his breakfast calmly.
Little did he know, Ling Shuangjiang had seen through all his little tricks.
—
At nine o'clock in the morning, after all the guests had gathered on the beach, Ling Shuangjiang and Xie Wang appeared together.
Before the live stream even started, Wen Ai teased the two of them, "How did you two end up together? Where did you go yesterday?"
Ling Shuangjiang chuckled: "Just browsing around."
Everyone present chuckled in unison, except for Lu Shaoheng and Shen Ke, who remained calm and watched the two without showing any particular emotion.
The production team was also unsure about the relationship between Ling Shuangjiang and Xie Wang, but dared not ask too many questions. They only hoped that the two could successfully complete filming the show in the next few days. If they could end up together after the show, the resulting buzz would be long-lasting.
As they boarded the ferry to the jungle adventure island, Xie Wang instinctively approached Ling Shuangjiang, slightly reserved, and asked, "May I sit here?"
Ling Shuangjiang looked up at him and smiled: "Of course."
Xie Wang pursed his dry lips, sat down, and gazed at the horizon: "Are we in the same group?"
Ling Shuangjiang smiled curiously, "Would you like to be in my group?"
He looked at his own eyes and thought they were beautiful, even clearer than aquamarine. Xie Wang was momentarily captivated, but then lowered his voice and said, "Of course."
Ling Shuangjiang smiled and said, "Okay, we're in the same group."