Sissy (Niang Niang Qiang) - Chap 15
Chapter 15
Li Chengxiu nodded and quickly turned around to go to the kitchen, as Shao Qun watched his every move.
Li Chengxiu half-squatted in front of the refrigerator, looking for ingredients. At the same time, Shao Qun was sitting under a cool breeze, admiring Li Chengxiu’s half-exposed snow-white waist, fantasizing about hugging him from behind, taking off those baggy knee-length shorts and leaving a row of teeth marks on his protruding spine.
Li Chengxiu got up as soon as he found what he was looking for, interrupting Shao Qun’s obscene thoughts.
He quickly put on his apron, washed the vegetables, cut up the meat and sautéed it all in a hot pan. The house was soon filled with a tempting aroma.
Shao Qun’s eyes followed Li Chengxiu around, examining his back.
His soft messy hair, his white and slender neck, his thin shoulders, his slender waist, and his straight and beautiful calves made Shao Qun want to hold him in his arms and play with him to his heart’s content.
When he smelled the fragrance of cooked vegetables and saw all the food, Shao Qun felt so hungry that he could not wait to start eating.
In a short while, Li Chengxiu served him four main dishes – a cold-cut spicy pork heart and a plate of mixed snacks, of which two were vegetarian (kale in garlic sauce and Chinese cabbage in a broth) and one contained meat (sweet and sour pork ribs). Additionally, there was also a spinach tofu soup.
Cold-cut spicy pork heart Kale in garlic sauce
Sweet and sour pork ribs Chinese cabbage in a broth
The dishes were quite homely, but they looked very particular – one didn’t even need to taste them to know that they were delicious.
Shao Qun sat at the small round table and looked at the dishes in front of him with slight concern.
He was very picky about his meals. He didn’t eat organ meat, and he hated coriander. The kale looked good, but he didn’t like onion, ginger, and garlic. Apart from the condiments, all he could eat were pork ribs, cabbage, and the tofu soup. Although Shao Qun was not happy about the selection, he didn’t say anything. Now was obviously not the time. When he gets this chef here to be docile, he’d be able to order whatever he wants.
Even though Shao Qun didn’t complain and just avoided the pig heart and kale, Li Chengxiu quickly noticed the pattern. He was a cook after all, and it was his job to pay attention to different people’s preferences.
He was indifferent, thinking that even if he knew that Shao Qun didn’t like it, he would have still put garlic and coriander into every dish.
Shao Qun took a piece of spareribs. The color of the spareribs was red and bright, the meat was fresh and tender, and the crust was crispy and sweet. This dish really appealed to him. Then he added a piece of cabbage to his bowl. The Chinese cabbage in the broth was actually his favorite dish. It seemed very simple, but preparing it right was the ultimate test for the skill. This cabbage was fragrant and delicious, cooked exactly right. It left a juicy and sweet aftertaste. Shao Qun took a couple more pieces and couldn’t stop praising: “Chengxiu, your cooking is delicious.”
Li Chengxiu smiled shyly: “Thank you.”
When Shao Qun saw him smiling, his mood also improved. Although there was only one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and one soup for him to choose from, this food was tastier than all the dishes served at Manchu–Han Imperial Feast[10].
Li Chengxiu ate in a similar way he did when he was a child. He shrank his shoulders, held the bowl delicately in his hands, and quickly stuffed the food into his mouth. Although his movements were careful and neat, it was not very pleasing to the eye. Rather, one would think how can this man eat like a total sissy? Maybe being full of delicious food put Shao Qun in an agreeable mood but when he was looking at Li Chengxiu, instead of thinking how awkward he was, he felt that the man was “pretty cute”.
Li Chengxiu got up to clean up the dishes. Shao Qun leaned back and offered: “Let me help you.”
But this was obviously just lip service – Shao Qun was not going to lift a finger.
Li Chengxiu turned his back to him and replied, “No need.”
Shao Qun took out a cigarette from his trouser pocket. As soon as he lit it up, Li Chengxiu frowned and turned towards him: “No… no smoking.”
Shao Qun spread his hands: “Just one.”
Li Chengxiu still glared at him: “No.Smoking.”
“Okay, okay.” Shao Qun took a deep breath, before he unwillingly put out his cigarette and threw it into the trash can.
Li Chengxiu then turned around and continued washing the dishes. Shao Qun pouted angrily, as he was sitting back in front of the round table. He drummed his slender fingers on the table and rolled his eyes.
Li Chengxiu deliberately dragged the time, hoping that Shao Qun would be bored and leave quickly. He didn’t expect that Shao Qun wouldn’t want to leave even after all the dishes were clean.
He had no choice but to wipe his hands and ask, “Do you want tea?”
Shao Qun raised his eyebrows: “I’ve been sitting here for so long without you saying a word to me. I’m really not very thirsty.”
Li Chengxiu groaned quietly, not knowing how to react.
“However, if we’re going to drink tea, how about we also talk a bit?”
Li Chengxiu looked at his watch – it was eight pm already, and this guy still wouldn’t leave…
Both of them sat at the small round table in front of the teapot that Li Chengxiu had prepared. They were in a reaching distance from each other.
Li Chengxiu was not afraid of silence at all. He could last days without saying a word to anybody. Just sitting and drinking tea quietly didn’t make him feel embarrassed one bit.
Shao Qun waited for a long time for Li Chengxiu to look at him, before he deliberately sighed: “Chengxiu, do you hate me that much?”
Li Chengxiu looked at him in surprise, then shook his head: “No.”
“Then why don’t you even want to talk to me?”
“…Can’t speak.”
“You were not like this before. Why do you seem to be struggling to speak now?”
Li Chengxiu looked at the tea leaves floating in his cup and silently lowered his head.
Shao Qun lightly put his hand on top of his head and said softly, “Is it because of me?”
Li Chengxiu shuddered and turned his head away to avoid his hand.
Shao Qun took a hold of Li Chengxiu’s hand, but this time he secretly exerted enough strength to prevent him from breaking away: “Chengxiu, tell me about what happened back then. After I left, why did you drop out of school? Was it because of me?”
Li Chengxiu glared at him angrily and used his other hand to get rid of Shao Qun’s grip.
“Chengxiu, Chengxiu.” Shao Qun grabbed his arm with both his hands instead of letting go, “Don’t be afraid. If you still blame me, just say so. I’m willing to compensate you.”
“No…no…no need to say anything.”
“Then why did you drop out?”
“Had nothing to do with you.”
A trace of displeasure flashed in Shao Qun’s eyes, but it was fleeting. He stared in Li Chengxiu’s eyes and said reluctantly: “If you don’t want to tell, I won’t force you. I just want you to know that over the years I have never forgotten you.”
Li Chengxiu looked at Shao Qun at a loss.
“You haven’t forgotten me either, right? How good it was between us back then… I’m sorry, it was my fault at the time. I was young, and I was so scared. I…”
“Don’t say it!” Li Chengxiu shouted out suddenly, looking flustered, “Don’t say it. I don’t want to hear it.”
Shao Qun tightly held Li Chengxiu’s hands in his palms and looked at him affectionately: “I must say these words to you. I should have said them back then.” He shook Li Chengxiu’s hand, smiled, and said: ” You were my first love.”
That was indeed the truth. When he first started having wet dreams, the object of his lust was always Li Chengxiu. The first time he hid under a quilt and touched himself, he was also thinking about Li Chengxiu. His fantasies were full of lingering images of having sex with him. Who knows how many unspeakable nights Shao Qun had spent with Li Chengxiu in his imagination. No matter how many good-looking men and women he had afterwards, he could never forget the original impulse that opened the door for him to this whole new world.
The main issue was that he didn’t have a taste at the time.
He had been thinking about it for so many years. Since he never actually got what he wanted, there was still this lingering obsession.
Shao Qun observed Li Chengxiu’s bewildered expression and leaned halfway across the table, almost pressing his lips against Li Chengxiu’s face.
“Chengxiu, it can’t be that you didn’t know that, right?”
Li Chengxiu couldn’t help recalling some scenes from the past. It was a long time ago, so his memory was blurry, and many details were already unclear and half-forgotten. He only remembered that even though in the end Shao Qun left without looking back, before that he seemed to be very fond of Li Chengxiu.
And that uncontrollable kiss… Maybe what Shao Qun was saying was true.
Shao Qun lightly caressed his face and whispered softly: “Believe me, I really liked you at that time. But I didn’t even realize it myself. I was only twelve years old back then, and liking someone of the same sex was a big issue for me. It was too difficult for me to accept, so I ran away like a coward. I left you to deal with the fallout and left. My family arranged for me to go to the UK. But I really regret it. I’ve been regretting it for many years. I looked for you after I returned to China, but I couldn’t find you. Chengxiu…” Shao Qun gently rubbed his cheek with a sincere expression, “I’ve missed you.”
It took Li Chengxiu a long time to recover from shock. His first reaction was to bury his head in his chest.
Shao Qun pressed his fingers against his chin, raised his face, looked into his eyes and said, “I’m so happy to see you again.”
The fingertips that touched his cheek seemed to be on fire, making Li Chengxiu’s entire face burn bright red. He nodded stiffly, held his breath for a long time and finally let out just an: “Oh…”
Shao Qun kept leaning closer and closer towards him. Li Chengxiu could feel the heat of his breath on his face. Shao Qun’s eyes were full of affection, so much so that Li Chengxiu felt like he could drown in them: “Chengxiu, I want to take care of you. Just like before…” Shao Qun’s lips slowly met his.
Li Chengxiu immediately woke up from the daze and jumped up from the chair.
Shao Qun’s eyes suddenly also regained clarity. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and smiled reassuringly: “Sorry, Chengxiu, I’m moving too fast.”
Li Chengxiu was a complete mess. In a trembling voice he tried to articulate himself, “You…You want…”
Shao Qun stood up. His hands were still up in the air, as he approached Li Chengxiu.
“You know, I still feel very much the same when I see you. I’m single now, and I believe you are too. Why not give each other a chance then? I want to make up for the mistakes I made when I was young. And yes, I want to be with you.”
Shao Qun’s words were straightforward and candid, and there was a confident smile on his face. His gestures were firm and unrestrained. Even if one ignored his appearance, just his forceful charisma alone was already very attractive.
Li Chengxiu was flabbergasted by his words. He didn’t expect that Shao Qun would suddenly show affection to him. The two of them had only met two or three times so far, but he was already confessing to him.
While Li Chengxiu was still stupefied, Shao Qun took a big step forward, stretched out his long arms and hugged his waist, pressing him tightly into his arms.
Li Chengxiu cried out, but before he could escape, Shao Qun grabbed his arm and whispered into his ear: “Don’t be afraid, Chengxiu. Don’t be afraid, let me hug you for a bit. You know what? Back then, I liked holding you the most. I still don’t know why. Maybe you can explain it to me?”
Li Chengxiu’s body trembled uncontrollably.
Shao Qun’s pure male presence, Shao Qun’s strong arms, Shao Qun’s broad chest, Shao Qun’s magnetic voice. Shao Qun…
Fourteen years have passed like a dream. In a trance, Li Chengxiu remembered a beautiful young boy with a sour face. He would fiercely tell him that he wanted to do this and not that…He would rush to hug him whenever he could – without a reason, just like that. Was that Shao Qun the same person as this one? Then why did he seem stranger than some strangers?
It’s been too long. Although he still remembered the Shao Qun from school, this Shao Qun was still somebody he didn’t even know. He didn’t hate him but he didn’t like him much either. However, if a person he’d never even met was suddenly so nice to him, Li Chengxiu wouldn’t be able to stay indifferent. After all, nobody had treated him this way before.
Seeing that he didn’t answer, Shao Qun continued to push: “Of course, it’s because I like you. And now, I’m also holding you because I like you.”
Shao Qun likes him? Li Chengxiu looked at him in confusion, wondering if he had suffered a heat stroke today that made him imagine all these unbelievable things.
Shao Qun looked at his unfocused eyes, confused expression, and slightly parted pale pink lips. He really wanted to press him against the wall right now and have a taste. He regretted that when he was a child other than hugging him he didn’t do more stuff that he could cherish in his memories.
Shao Qun knew very well that in the game of conquering people’s hearts one had to be patient and relaxed. Impulsivity could easily negate all the efforts. After he had reliably conveyed what he wanted to say, he should just let the seeds slowly sprout in the heart of the other party and wait till they bloomed. Shao Qun had full confidence in himself in all aspects of life, and his love life was no exception. He didn’t believe that Li Chengxiu could stay indifferent.
He leaned over and quickly pecked Li Chengxiu’s cheek. Then he immediately let him go, took a big step back, spread his hands, and gave him a mischievous smile.
Li Chengxiu’s face was blushing from embarrassment. He didn’t know whether to be angry or not. Such intense emotions were rare for him. He thought about it for a long time, and felt that he really didn’t understand anything, so he asked, “Wh… why?”
Shao Qun laughed when he heard the question: “I just like you. What do you mean with “why”?”
Li Chengxiu thought for a while and sternly said, “We are both men.”
Shao Qun smiled and slowly blinked: “Xiao Chengxiu, you are not being honest. Ask yourself, whether you like men or women. And if you like women, why are you still not married at this age?”
Li Chengxiu felt that Shao Qun had seen right through him and felt ashamed.
He knew that he had no interest in girls since he was a kid but he also didn’t have the courage to show interest in boys. He had no relatives around, no friends, and no one actually to talk to. He lived a solitary and lonely life. His loneliness was like a beast that terrified him but wouldn’t let him go. He really wanted to have someone to accompany him, but he didn’t dare to approach anyone. Does he like men or women? That question was so far beyond the point. As long as someone was willing to stay with him and live a good life together, he would accept both men and women, both young and old. However, he couldn’t accept Shao Qun. One look at him was enough to know that he wasn’t someone who wanted to live an honest life.
Shao Qun observed his face and suddenly showed a surprised expression: “Chengxiu, in all these years, have you never been in love?”
Li Chengxiu lowered his head, neither confirming nor denying.
Shao Qun was suddenly inexplicably excited. He was now more eager than ever to have a piece of this virgin ass as soon as possible.
He let out a laugh: “Chengxiu, don’t be nervous. We are both adults here, so there is nothing inherently wrong about this. You see, I’m the same as you.I’m not breaking any laws by liking you. And since you’re also single, why don’t you think about it and let me take care of you?”
Li Chengxiu was distraught for a while, then he slowly shook his head: “I don’t know.”
Shao Qun’s tone was doting and gentle: “I’m not in a hurry. You don’t have to agree now. We still have a lot of time ahead of us to get along. You will gradually find out that I’m a good person. Don’t be too quick to reject me, okay?”
Shao Qun’s attitude was so sincere that it was impossible to refuse. Li Chengxiu was still in a state of shock. He couldn’t get back to his senses for a while, so all he could say was a stiff “um”.
Shao Qun smiled slightly and touched his soft hair: “Thank you for your hospitality today. I’ll be going now. I still have some things to do tomorrow, so I’ll come pick you up at ten o’clock in the morning, okay?”
“Okay……”
“Have a good rest. See you tomorrow.”
“Okay……”
After sending Shao Qun away, Li Chengxiu took out a rag and started cleaning up the house, wiping everything he could see in front of him. He stopped only after he was soaked in sweat and completely exhausted. He then sat on the bed in a daze, holding his knees in his arms.
He thought that the emptiness of the room was unpleasant.
If he didn’t speak and didn’t move, everything was completely silent. Shao Qun came, and Shao Qun left – suddenly the apartment went from lively to deadly quiet. The difference was now very obvious, which made Li Chengxiu’s loneliness feel several times worse than usual.
