Ten ten

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Xia Songbai was woken up by the ringing of his phone. He fumbled to grab it and glanced at the screen. Damn, it was Lian Sheng calling—he didn’t want to answer. Reluctantly, Xia Songbai pressed the call button, still carrying a bit of morning grumpiness from being disturbed during a particularly pleasant dream. "Hello?"

At the hospital, Lian Sheng frowned. "What time is it already? You’re still not up?"

None of your business.

"Sheng-ge..." Xia Songbai feigned weakness and coughed twice. "I got caught in the rain last night, and I think I’m running a fever again."

Lian Sheng was momentarily speechless.

Last night, he had left holding Ning Qingyang, completely forgetting Xia Songbai who was left behind. By the time Ning Qing had finished bandaging, Lian Sheng vaguely remembered Xia Songbai was still there.

But it wasn’t his fault—after all, Ning Qing had been hurt for his sake!

After a brief silence, Lian Sheng said, "Remember to take your medicine."

"Got it, Sheng-ge. How are you and Mr. Ning doing?"

Hearing Xia Songbai’s concern, Lian Sheng’s expression softened a little. "My injury isn’t serious, just needed a bandage. As for Qingqing... Ning Qing has a concussion and needs to be hospitalized for observation."

Looks like last night went smoothly—so he was calling Qingqing now.

In the original story, Ning Qing was the type who resisted people’s closeness; only those he trusted could call him by his nickname.

Xia Songbai deliberately said, "Then I’ll go visit him at the hospital."

"What are you going to do there?" Lian Sheng immediately replied, realizing his tone was a bit harsh, then softened, "Besides, you’re not close to him."

"But I’m worried about you. And... you carried Mr. Ning away last night, so you two must be pretty close?"

The tone clearly showed jealousy.

The original Xia Songbai had always been insecure and jealous. Lian Sheng finally felt that familiar dynamic again, handling it with ease. He soothed Xia Songbai for a while, promising to send him a gift. Pretending reluctance and a bit of jealousy, Xia Songbai finally agreed to hang up.

Lian Sheng found the fuss a little annoying but also thought that Xia Songbai was still the same as before, with a strong possessiveness toward him.

The previous feeling of losing control was just an illusion.

—

After hanging up, Xia Songbai stretched, hugging a pillow and rolling three times on the sofa.

What a comfortable sofa—expensive furniture really had its reasons.

He had slept there all night without any backache.

Suddenly, Xia Songbai paused.

Had he forgotten something?

Where was the big shot?

The room was silent. Xia Songbai turned over and suddenly realized he had slept a whole night on Shen Tingzong’s territory.

Hopefully, he hadn’t snored.

After confirming Shen Tingzong wasn’t around, Xia Songbai quickly washed up and prepared to leave.

When he opened the door, he was startled.

By the door stood the Portuguese butler from last night. "Mr. Xia, are you leaving already?"

Xia Songbai forced a smile. "Yes. Do you know where Mr. Shen went?"

"The master still has work. He’s probably on a plane now." The butler, sensing Xia Songbai didn’t understand Portuguese, switched to English with a refined Oxford accent. "He asked me to give you this gift as thanks for the fine tea last night."

He handed over a beautifully wrapped gift bag.

Xia Songbai politely declined, "Mr. Shen is too kind. I should be the one thanking him."

The butler replied, "It is my duty. Please don’t make it difficult for me."

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Xia Songbai had no choice but to accept. He hesitated whether to send a message to Shen Tingzong to thank or apologize, then suddenly remembered he didn’t even have Shen’s contact information.

The butler, thoughtfully, pressed the elevator button for him and mentioned that Shen Tingzong had arranged a car to take him wherever he wanted to go.

This time, Xia Songbai firmly declined, choosing instead to walk out of the wealthy district for half an hour before finally catching a taxi.

The weather was clear, and the distant coastline of Repulse Bay stretched endlessly, crowded with tourists. The most scenic stretch was blocked off by a private estate, leaving the area deserted.

Xia Songbai took a taxi for almost an hour from Repulse Bay to Mong Kok, paying an extra hundred dollars due to traffic.

The streets were lined with shops, their colorful signs like banners in the gray urban jungle.

Familiar with the area, Xia Songbai first picked up a takeaway breakfast from a stall, then turned into an alley. He climbed a rusty, narrow staircase, passing by an arcade and a secondhand bookstore, and stopped on the fourth floor to knock three times.

No response. Xia Songbai crouched down, lifted the doormat, took out a key, and inserted it into the lock.

Before he could turn it, the door suddenly flung open from the inside.

A scent of shampoo mixed with sea salt and mint wafted out. Di Guoxing stood there, looking displeased, shirtless and wearing only a towel around his waist. His sculpted abs and V-line were tattooed with an intimidating double-headed snake design, exuding dangerous, fierce sensuality.

His short silver-blue hair was wet and slicked back. His face was angular with a high nose, deep-set eyes, and furrowed brows, glaring at Xia Songbai.

"What do you want?"

Xia Songbai whistled at him. "Thanks for delivering my food last night. I bought breakfast—wanna eat together?"

Last night, Xia Songbai had asked him to bring tea, so this was his way of showing gratitude.

Di Guoxing’s expression darkened further. Without a word, he slammed the door, but halfway closed, fearing he might hit Xia Songbai, he pulled it back open. "Suit yourself."

Xia Songbai was unfazed, stepped inside, changed into his slippers, and placed the breakfast on the table.

Di Guoxing returned from the bathroom moments later, now wearing a T-shirt and pants.

Xia Songbai asked, "Did you win the race?"

"Yes."

"What place?"

"Why ask? Obviously first," Di Guoxing said as he started unpacking the breakfast. When he came to an especially fancy package, he paused. "What’s this?"

Xia Songbai glanced, quickly reaching to take it. "That’s not for you."

Di Guoxing was faster, having already unwrapped it, revealing a delicate purple clay jar. Opening it showed a sealed tea cake inside.

He sniffed it. Xia Songbai asked, "Can you tell what kind it is?"

"I’m not a dog," Di Guoxing scoffed. "So generous—who gave you this?"

Xia Songbai didn’t understand. "Is it expensive?"

"The tea I brought you yesterday is priceless. This one is priceless on the market."

Di Guoxing was raised by his grandfather in Fujian, where the family owned entire tea mountains. He practically grew up with tea.

Xia Songbai found his words convincing. "I didn’t know it was so valuable. I should return it."

Di Guoxing smirked, "You stayed out last night? Who was that guy you called in the middle of the night to deliver tea? Shouldn’t you have been getting condoms instead?"

His blunt talk made Xia Songbai’s ears flush bright red—like a juicy peach, tempting curiosity about whether a taste of honey could be savored.

"I have a fiancé, so don’t talk nonsense."

Bullshit fiancé.

Di Guoxing’s gaze swept over Xia Songbai, focusing on his neck, finding no marks of biting or kissing. Only then did he lazily drop his eyes.

"Your fiancé, huh."

No words could be dirtier than that tone.

Xia Songbai admired how Di Guoxing cursed without swearing but still defended Lian Sheng, saying falsely sweet, "Don’t say bad things about Sheng-ge."

Di Guoxing said nothing. Xia Songbai, wanting to return the tea cake, stood up. "You eat by yourself. I have to go..."

His wrist was grabbed. Di Guoxing still didn’t look up. "I know you’re protecting him. Is it so bad if I don’t badmouth him? Sit down and eat with me."

Xia Songbai wasn’t leaving because of Lian Sheng; he reluctantly sat back down. "I really have something to do."

"I’ll take you later."

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Di Guoxing was a racing driver. A couple of years ago, just starting out, he won the championship and quickly rose to fame. Now he was at the peak of his career. Besides being strong, he was handsome, with many fans online. His fan club was already the 102nd registered.

—As his good friend, Xia Songbai was naturally the number one member of his fan club.

Their meeting was serendipitous. Xia Songbai had just transmigrated and, feeling hopeless after reading the original story, bumped into a drunk Di Guoxing at a banquet.

The banquet wasn’t very high-class. Though it was said to be for wealthy families, only lower-tier families like the Xia family attended.

Di Guoxing, the only legitimate son of the Di family, should have been the center of attention, but he had an embarrassing background—

He was an illegitimate child.

If Lady Di hadn’t had only three daughters for many years, Mr. Di surely wouldn’t have recognized him and brought him back to the family.

A cannon fodder protagonist and an illegitimate child.

They were indeed suited to seek comfort in each other.

Xia Songbai felt relaxed and natural around Di Guoxing, distracted while holding a pineapple bun. Di Guoxing noticed and wiped the corners of Xia Songbai’s lips.

"What’s wrong?"

"How old are you? Don’t you even know when you’re dirty?"

Xia Songbai replied with an "Oh."

Di Guoxing asked again, "Who was it last night?"

"Why are you suddenly so nosy?"

"Never mind then. Let’s go. I’ll take you home."

Xia Songbai originally planned to return the tea cake to Shen Tingzong, but hearing this, he changed his plan. "Then just take me home."

"Got it, princess." Di Guoxing clicked his tongue. "I won’t sell you out."

Di Guoxing’s racing style was wild, and his usual ride was a Ducati V4—bright red like fire, capable of over 300 kilometers per hour. Riding it was exhilarating—if something happened, the afterlife would be painless.

Xia Songbai was cautious. Without a word from Di Guoxing, he obediently put on his helmet.

In the rearview mirror, his pale, flawless face looked like a flower gently blown open by the warm wind, basking in sunlight, every inch glowing.

Di Guoxing deliberately scared him by suddenly braking after starting. Xia Songbai collided into his back from the force.

"Ow—"

Xia Songbai quickly straightened up and rubbed the spot he hit, "Sorry!"

His touch was soft and gentle—so soft it tickled Di Guoxing.

Not just physically, but mentally distracted.

If this kept up, trouble was bound to happen.

Di Guoxing stopped him. "Hold on tight, or if you fall off, I’m not responsible."

Better to take a taxi alone.

Xia Songbai thought to himself but still reached out, grabbing the side of Di Guoxing’s shirt at his waist.

He was so careful because he was guarding his purity for Lian Sheng. Di Guoxing’s smile faded.

Xia Songbai didn’t know what he was thinking but felt the sudden acceleration as they weaved sharply through traffic, drifting through a gap between two cars.

Horns blared and curses filled the air, the rushing wind roaring into his ears.

Instinctively, Xia Songbai held on tighter, his hand through thin fabric clutching Di Guoxing’s thigh.

"Ow—"

This time it really hurt!

"Sorry," Xia Songbai obediently said.

Serves him right.

Don’t think he didn’t know it was on purpose to scare him.