Ji Ruan had always thought that someone like Gu Xiuyi would only dine at high-end restaurants. He never expected that Gu Xiuyi would choose such a down-to-earth soup pot restaurant.
The place was located in an alley two streets away from Jing University. Its storefront looked quite ordinary, yet the inside was packed with people. By the time they arrived, there were no seats left.
Just as Ji Ruan was considering whether they should go somewhere else, Gu Xiuyi led him straight to a private room in the back.
It seemed like he knew the owner, as they exchanged a few familiar words when the food was served.
Once the pot was set up, Gu Xiuyi blanched some ingredients in the broth. Noticing Ji Ruan’s curiosity, he casually explained, “Back in university, my dorm mates and I used to come here all the time. Every year on the winter solstice, we’d have a meal here.”
“Really?” The restaurant was warm, and after sitting for just a short while, Ji Ruan’s cheeks were already a little flushed. As he took off his scarf, he remarked, “No wonder you seemed so familiar with the owner just now.”
Gu Xiuyi smiled. “He was my college roommate.”
“…Huh?”
Ji Ruan was momentarily stunned.
So, they often ate at their roommate’s restaurant… but their roommate was the owner? He found the relationship a little confusing. Halfway through taking off his down jacket, he slowed down, leaving one sleeve hanging loosely over his shoulder.
“So, you were just supporting your roommate’s business?” he asked.
Gu Xiuyi shook his head with a smile, reaching over to help Ji Ruan take off his coat and place it aside. “No, he only took over the place after he graduated.”
Ji Ruan poured himself a cup of hot tea. “So, he bought the restaurant?”
“This is actually quite an interesting story.” The lamb in the pot was cooked, and Gu Xiuyi picked up a few slices and placed them in Ji Ruan’s dish. “Eat slowly, it’s hot.”
Ji Ruan blew on the meat to cool it down, took a small bite, and gestured for Gu Xiuyi to continue.
“My roommate was obsessed with this place’s soup pot. Besides coming with us, he often came alone. Over time, he got to know the original owner pretty well.”
Gu Xiuyi spoke at an unhurried pace, as if casually chatting with a friend, but also with the tone of someone telling a bedtime story to a child.
“The original owner had been running this restaurant for decades but had no children. As he got older, he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep up much longer and would likely have to close the place.”
Gu Xiuyi chuckled. “My roommate decided he couldn’t live without this soup pot, so he took the old owner as his master and learned the craft.”
Ji Ruan’s eyes widened. “He actually did that? That’s a complete change in his life path…”
“Yeah.” Gu Xiuyi nodded. “Sounds impulsive, doesn’t it? He studied finance, but then he switched to making soup pots. At the time, his parents were about to send him abroad for further studies. When they found out, they nearly lost their minds, but he was determined.”
Gu Xiuyi spoke in a calm tone, without any exaggeration, yet Ji Ruan found himself completely drawn in.
He was so engrossed that he forgot to pick up his chopsticks. “And then?”
Gu Xiuyi smiled and placed more food on his plate. “Eat properly.”
“The first few years were tough. His parents thought he was being utterly irresponsible with his life and even cut off contact with him for a while. But he remained steady and kept learning the craft.”
Looking at Ji Ruan’s bright, attentive eyes, Gu Xiuyi continued smoothly:
“Eventually, the old owner could no longer keep up with the physical demands of the job, so my roommate took over the restaurant. He even formally acknowledged the old owner as his godfather and cared for him like his own parent. Last year, he had a daughter, and things with his family slowly started to improve.”
Ji Ruan took small sips of the soup, subconsciously savoring it.
To be honest, the restaurant’s food was indeed excellent. The broth was rich and aromatic, and the lamb was tender without any gaminess, melting in his mouth with an incredibly fresh taste.
Even someone like him, who didn’t know much about cooking, could tell that the owner must have poured his heart and passion into perfecting his craft.
With his spoon still in his mouth, Ji Ruan took a few more gulps of soup. Somehow, knowing the story behind it made the flavors seem even more profound.
Licking his lips, he chuckled. “Your roommate is quite a sentimental person.”
Gu Xiuyi raised his brows slightly, as if weighing those words, then nodded.
“He definitely follows his heart. And in the past couple of years, his business has only gotten better. He’s always cheerful and seems a lot happier than if he had gone off to be an executive at some multinational corporation.”
Gu Xiuyi pondered, “But it’s also because he himself was steady and could use his actions to prove to his parents that his choice was the right one. Now, both sides of the family get along particularly well.”
Ji Ruan hadn’t expected to hear such a story from Gu Xiuyi.
In his perception, Gu Xiuyi had always been a cold, formidable, and shrewd businessman.
Someone like him should have a life straight out of a classic domineering CEO novel—born in luxury, raised in luxury, surrounded by indulgence and invulnerability. A life that, while enviable, was also somewhat hollow.
Yet, in this small private dining room, amidst the swirling steam and rich aroma of the lamb soup pot, Gu Xiuyi told him a story that was somewhat ordinary but remarkably gentle.
It felt as if having such warmth in his life had prevented the sharp edges of his personality from fully hardening into armor amidst years of relentless competition. Occasionally, he would still reveal traces of a more grounded, human side.
And what Ji Ruan liked most was exactly that—genuine, everyday life.
He picked up a piece of bok choy and chewed with puffed cheeks like a little rabbit. The steam from the hot pot turned his cheeks pink, and his eyes were hazy and unfocused, lost in thought.
Gu Xiuyi propped his head up with one hand and pinched Ji Ruan’s soft earlobe. “Why do you always space out? Do you like listening to stories that much?”
Ji Ruan’s earlobes had also been warmed to a soft pink from the steam, making them feel pleasantly warm and soft. Gu Xiuyi couldn’t resist pinching again, only for Ji Ruan to dodge sideways.
“I’m not spacing out,” Ji Ruan covered his ear and eyed Gu Xiuyi warily. “I’m thinking.”
His expression, as if he were watching out for a big bad wolf, amused Gu Xiuyi. “Thinking about what?”
Ji Ruan pursed his lips, picked up some food for himself, and mumbled, “Thinking that you suddenly seem like a real person…”
Gu Xiuyi obviously heard him clearly and let out a light chuckle. He reached out to pinch Ji Ruan’s ear again, his voice low and teasing. “Hmm?”
Ji Ruan couldn’t hold back his laughter, swatting Gu Xiuyi’s hand away. “I’m warning you, don’t mess with my ears! If I go deaf, you’ll be scared to death!”
Gu Xiuyi, despite saying he’d be scared, was laughing with unmistakable delight.
After their meal, the sky had cleared up. The warm sunlight bathed them, lifting Ji Ruan’s mood. He turned to Gu Xiuyi with a smile. “Are you busy later?”
Gu Xiuyi didn’t answer immediately. “Why?”
Ji Ruan wasn’t wearing his scarf, and when he tilted his head up, his collar revealed a glimpse of his fair, slender neck. “Want to come watch me paint?”
His eyes were bright, and for a moment, Gu Xiuyi’s heart stirred.
Gu Xiuyi looked at him thoughtfully. “It won’t bother anyone?”
“Nope.” Ji Ruan shook his head with a smile. “The other two have things to do this afternoon. I’ll start painting first, and you can leave when they come back.”
Gu Xiuyi’s lips twitched into a smile again. He covered his mouth, coughed lightly, and said, “Alright.”
**
The top floor of the clock tower had excellent lighting, with sunlight streaming through its expansive windows.
After nearly half a month of gloomy weather, Beijing finally saw the clouds part, revealing a bright sun in the sky.
Ji Ruan took out a small remote and pressed a button. A faint mechanical sound echoed from above, and the light-blocking panels on the roof slowly retracted, making the studio even brighter.
Only then did Gu Xiuyi realize that the ceiling was embedded with large glass skylights, allowing the sunlight to filter through, casting shimmering spots of light throughout the room.
The clock tower had undergone renovations over the years since his graduation, and Gu Xiuyi could faintly sense the passage of time.
As the indoor heating warmed up, Ji Ruan took off his down jacket and tied a dark-colored oilcloth apron around his front. Gu Xiuyi noticed several faint paint stains on it.
On the wall stood a massive canvas, seemingly near completion. The finished parts were covered with dust-proof fabric, concealing the artwork beneath.
Ji Ruan casually rolled up his sleeves, bunching them at his elbows, and explained, “Three of us have been working on this painting for months. If we don’t cover it, the dust will be hard to clean.”
His exposed wrists and forearms were slender, his skin so fair it was almost dazzling under the natural light—so much so that for a moment, it seemed to blend into the white sweater he was wearing.
Gu Xiuyi crossed his arms and forced himself to look away from Ji Ruan’s snow-white arms. “Makes sense… Are you going to paint from up there?”
Ji Ruan was about to climb the ladder. The painting was enormous, and he needed the extra height to reach the upper sections.
“Yeah.” Ji Ruan grinned. “How else am I supposed to reach?”
But Gu Xiuyi frowned. The ladder was made of iron, and although it looked sturdy enough, it had sharp corners and no handrails. What if he fell?
Instinctively, Gu Xiuyi stepped closer, positioning himself near Ji Ruan as he gazed up at him. Just looking at the height made him feel uneasy.
But Ji Ruan was fully focused on his work.
His lips were pursed slightly, a faint dimple appearing on his cheek. His fingers, gripping the paintbrush, were white from the pressure, yet his knuckles remained a soft pink.
Suddenly, Gu Xiuyi found Ji Ruan’s expression incredibly captivating.
It seemed like he was painting the sun.
In the top-right corner of the canvas, stroke by stroke, he was shaping a rising sun. Gu Xiuyi didn’t understand painting, but the glow surrounding the dawn looked beautiful.
Ji Ruan worked in complete silence, and Gu Xiuyi didn’t interrupt him. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when Ji Ruan finally paused and straightened up.
His waist was sore from standing too long. He reached behind him to rub it but stopped when he remembered that his hands were covered in paint—he didn’t want to stain his white sweater. Instead, he awkwardly pressed his lower back with the back of his hand and wrist.
The soreness spread, making his waist feel like it wasn’t even part of his body anymore.
Noticing Ji Ruan’s strange posture and the discomfort on his face, Gu Xiuyi reached out to steady the ladder. “Your waist hurts?”
Ji Ruan gave a wry smile and sighed. “Yeah, I’ve been standing too long these past few months.”
In truth, his waist was killing him. He had even woken up in the middle of the night two days ago because of a sudden cramp.
He had never heard of someone getting a cramp in their waist before, but maybe… he was just prone to cramping.
Gu Xiuyi’s expression grew serious. He extended a hand and spoke with a firm tone. “Come down.”
Ji Ruan glanced at the painting. He had nearly finished his part, and it was probably time for a break. “Alright.”
He waved his paint-stained hands at Gu Xiuyi. “Don’t touch me, or you’ll get paint all over your hands.”
"Mm." Gu Xiuyi responded absentmindedly but completely ignored Ji Ruan’s words.
He raised his hand, grasped Ji Ruan’s slender forearm, and with little effort, lifted him off the ladder and set him steadily on the ground.
Ji Ruan’s whole body tensed from the sudden movement, and as his waist and back were pulled, a sharp pain shot through him. He couldn’t help but hiss, “Tss—”
Gu Xiuyi supported his lower back and carefully studied his expression, noticing that Ji Ruan’s lips had even turned a little pale.
"How about..." Gu Xiuyi hesitated for a moment before slowly suggesting, "I give you a massage?"
Ji Ruan’s lower back was still stiff, aching unbearably. He frowned at Gu Xiuyi. "…Does Boss Gu know how to do massages?"
Gu Xiuyi seemed to want to crack a joke but remained expressionless. "No, I’ll just press randomly. Want to try?"
"You're so honest..." Ji Ruan couldn't hold back a chuckle. He relaxed slightly and leaned against Gu Xiuyi. "Alright, give it a shot."
Gu Xiuyi had been loosely supporting Ji Ruan’s lower back the whole time. His sweater was thin, allowing him to clearly feel the delicate curve of his waist.
Ji Ruan felt Gu Xiuyi apply a bit more pressure, and the moment he pressed down, the tense muscles in his lower back began to swell with soreness.
It seemed like Gu Xiuyi was silently observing his reaction. Then, he pressed again—this time with noticeably more force. A wave of aching numbness exploded, shooting straight up to Ji Ruan’s head.
His entire body went rigid, and he instinctively let out an "Ah—"
The hand on his waist suddenly froze.
Ji Ruan looked up and saw that Gu Xiuyi had stiffened as well, his Adam’s apple moving slightly as he swallowed.
Ji Ruan remained frozen for a moment before slowly realizing…
The sound he just made—
It seemed a little weird.
Maybe even… not very appropriate…
No, it wasn’t exactly inappropriate…
The problem was—it probably sounded too appropriate!
Which made it way too easy to misinterpret!
Ji Ruan’s face instantly flushed red. In all his life, he had never suffered such a secondhand embarrassment. He jerked his hands up and covered his face. "S-Sorry…"
Gu Xiuyi remained motionless for several seconds—so still that Ji Ruan couldn't even sense his breathing.
After a while, a paint-stained hand was gently pulled away, and he heard Gu Xiuyi sigh softly—
“Your face is smudged.”
The author has something to say:
Boss Gu: Sigh, fck…*
Ruan Ruan: Whimpering qaq
T/N: I just love how comfortable Ji Ruan is with Gu Xiuyu~