Orange Storm chapter 54

A Kiss

Sometimes, Jiang Zhijin felt that Fang Xing was a bit like a puppy.

For instance, when he first arrived, he seemed a bit disheveled and shy, like a stray dog picked up by someone. Later, after becoming familiar, he would become a bit closer to you, obedient and not requiring much attention. But once touching certain specific points, he would reveal a bit of sharp teeth, displaying a direct and unreserved side.

Like now. Fang Xing stared directly at him, his gaze focused, insisting that Jiang Zhijin say something.

After observing Fang Xing for a while, Jiang Zhijin, seemingly helpless, leaned back on the sofa with a sigh.

“Can I smoke?” Jiang Zhijin asked.

“Sure,” Fang Xing replied.

Jiang Zhijin reached for a lighter and a pack of cigarettes from the coffee table, took one, and lit it.

“Nothing special. It’s just that when others were having puppy love, I didn’t like girls. During high school, living in the dorms, they gathered to watch movies, but I wasn’t interested, and my roommates laughed at me.”

Jiang Zhijin chuckled, and the white smoke slowly dispersed in front of him. He continued, “I didn’t think much at the time, but later I gradually realized that there might be an issue with my orientation… It’s a very ordinary process, really.”

Not being interested in girls, not wanting to date girls, discovering a preference for the same sex over the opposite sex, and then realizing one is gay—it’s a very ordinary process.

But in the era when Jiang Zhijin’s thoughts weren’t so open, the panic and confusion he felt at the time were known to no one. Even he took quite a long time to confirm his differences from others and accept himself.

So, when Fang Xing quickly accepted his orientation, and even confirmed that he liked… someone, Jiang Zhijin sometimes felt it was quite unreal.

He didn’t want Fang Xing to mistake the companionship for love; that would be irresponsible to himself.

Listening to Jiang Zhijin slowly talk while picking up his beer and taking a sip, Fang Xing held the beer in his hand.

The aluminum can felt a bit cool against the slightly warm palm of his hand, providing a refreshing sensation. He looked at Jiang Zhijin and asked, “So, when did you—”

“Start dating, right?”

Jiang Zhijin smiled and thought for a moment before answering, “After enlisting, about two years.”

“I had just been promoted, and I became the squad leader for the new recruits, and he happened to be under my command… He was also,” Jiang Zhijin said.

“What was he?” Fang Xing was momentarily confused but quickly realized.

He was… also gay.

At that time, Jiang Zhijin was probably around twenty-one years old. Fang Xing listened silently, imagining what Jiang Zhijin and the other person looked like at the time. Taking another sip of beer.

Jiang Zhijin continued, “He pursued me for a while, saying let’s give it a try, and then we got together. Later, I got injured and had to leave, but his training performance was good. He planned to directly enter military school through the army, so we broke up.”

Jiang Zhijin spoke casually, summarizing the whole story in a few sentences. He turned to look at Fang Xing and asked, “Satisfied, buddy?”

Fang Xing smiled and, pushing his luck, asked, “What do you usually do when you’re dating someone?”

“Same as anyone else dating.” Jiang Zhijin was a bit annoyed. “In the army, it’s hard even to have a meal alone. It’s mostly walking together during training and occasionally going out to watch a movie on days off.”

“Oh,” Fang Xing said.

He took another sip of beer.

“Any more questions? If not, go to bed,” Jiang Zhijin said, a bit of a headache. He reached out to touch Fang Xing’s shoulder, planning to help him stand up.

As soon as his hand touched Fang Xing’s shoulder, Fang Xing grabbed it.

The next second, he pulled hard, pulling Jiang Zhijin down. Unprepared, Jiang Zhijin fell heavily on the sofa.

“Fuck—”

Before he could finish swearing, Fang Xing flipped over and leaned against him. He almost pressed down on Jiang Zhijin, overlooking him from a higher position.

Apart from the oppressive feeling, Fang Xing happened to be straddling Jiang Zhijin’s thighs, in a somewhat awkward position. Jiang Zhijin took a deep breath, wanting to kick Fang Xing off, but his whole body was pressed down, and his hands were held by Fang Xing.

Fuck.

The noise scared Tang Yuan next to them, and the cat suddenly rushed into its nest.

“It’s all real,” Fang Xing said a second before Jiang Zhijin exploded.

Jiang Zhijin was taken aback, “What?”

“My sexual orientation, my preferences, are all real,” Fang Xing looked at Jiang Zhijin, his tone calm and unhurried.

“Just because of my young age, it doesn’t mean that my likes and orientation aren’t genuine… that argument doesn’t hold here. Don’t use such excuses to deceive me.”

“Don’t also say it’s because I’m young and don’t understand the pressures of reality. It’s not that I don’t dare; it’s you,” Fang Xing said.

After hearing this, Jiang Zhijin’s anger almost reached its peak in an instant.

I really dare not, Jiang Zhijin thought. I dare not be in a romantic relationship with a high school student ten years younger than me, especially when this person is the son of someone I call sister and is a child entrusted to me by her due to her trust. I dare not be in a romantic relationship, kiss, or go to bed with someone of this status, even if it’s sometimes I find attractive.

But Jiang Zhijin didn’t say these words.

“Fang Xing.” Jiang Zhijin suppressed his anger and directly called Fang Xing’s full name.

“If you let go of my hand now and go back to your room to sleep, we can still say a proper goodnight. Otherwise, you’ll be in trouble.”

He stared at Fang Xing and slowly said, “I’ll count to three. Don’t force me—”

Fang Xing interrupted him, “Force you to do what? hit me, right? One, two, three, go ahead.”

Jiang Zhijin, halfway through his words, almost burst into laughter. He stared at Fang Xing without speaking, seriously suspecting that Fang Xing was pretending to be crazy under the influence of alcohol, but in fact, he was sober.

However, Fang Xing’s ears did have an abnormal flush. Jiang Zhijin could feel that the hand holding his wrist was very hot, as if running a fever, and the palm was damp with sweat. Fang Xing’s eyes seemed a bit unfocused, but he still focused on looking at his face.

“Not hitting, right? Fine,” Fang Xing said.

Then he suddenly lowered his head and quickly kissed Jiang Zhijin on the lips.

It was a genuine kiss, but it didn’t deepen, not even involving their tongues. The speed was so fast that Jiang Zhijin almost didn’t react in time.

Probably due to a lack of experience, when Fang Xing leaned down to kiss, the force was quite strong. His teeth even knocked against Jiang Zhijin’s lips, causing pain that made Jiang Zhijin inhale a breath of cool air.

Before Jiang Zhijin could fully catch his breath, Fang Xing quickly withdrew from his lips and took a few steps back.

Fang Xing nodded at him, “Goodnight.”