Twenty-one whales

"Clear background, good health, no underlying diseases"—these were the same words Jing Chengyun had heard when she broke up with Wen Fan.

"Peninsula Couples Hotel, Room 3506. Hurry up, and just bring whatever else you think is appropriate. Thanks."

Suddenly, something wrapped around her from behind—warm and fuzzy. It was Su Zile, who had finished cleaning and returned to her side. "Who are you on the phone with?"

"My first love. I asked him to drop something off."

"To deliver nipple clamps? If you break me, who’s going to produce lemon soda for you to drink?"

Jing Chengyun couldn't help but laugh. "You're thick-skinned, how could you be broken? If you break, just go to the hospital and get fixed."

Su Zile’s expression stiffened. No one had ever described him as "thick-skinned." He lived frugally, yet he tightened his belt to ensure he could bathe in milk mixed with rose essential oil every day. Before sleeping, he would meticulously apply body lotion, and he even shaved his body hair with extra diligence.

Every inch of him was fair and rosy, without the slightest flaw, yet Jing Chengyun called him thick-skinned? Was he really not refined enough?

Su Zile fell into deep self-doubt but didn't dare to ask. If he asked, wouldn't that mean he accepted her assessment?

Enduring the heartache, he wrapped his tail tighter around Jing Chengyun. "Yunyun—can I call you Yunyun? We’ve already slept together, and you’ve even had my fox milk, suckling so happily. Since that’s the case, show me a little more affection."

"Your demands aren't exactly high." The fuzzy sensation at her waist made her mood improve with just a light touch. Jing Chengyun leaned back against Su Zile and pulled over her introductory programming book to continue studying.

Rather than showing affection to a fox spirit, it was better to show some to the quite interesting world of programming.

Stung by her cold attitude after having her way with him, and still brooding over the words "thick-skinned," Su Zile simply opened his browser and searched for strange questions like "How to become refined," "How not to be thick-skinned," and "How to make girls compliment me," reading every discussion in detail.

Anyway, with Jing Chengyun lying in his arms, she couldn't see his phone screen.

So, in this situation, he could even safely open the notification pop-up from his cousin, Wen Fan.

Wen Fan: [Lele, where are you? I’ll treat you to dinner tonight. Thanks for breaking up Yunyun and that dead rabbit. So, how are things between you and her now? Are you dating?]

Su Zile whistled in his heart. Was this Wen Fan’s probe? Testing whether he was the "big-chested man" Jing Chengyun had mentioned.

Su Zile: [No need, cousin. I’m working overtime at the Time Travel Bureau today. Let’s meet when I have time. I’m not dating Jing Chengyun; she just thought the dead rabbit was no good, so she dumped him.]

Wen Fan: [It’s that simple?]

Su Zile: [I guess it’s also because my charm was too successful, and I managed to overshadow that dead rabbit! When spirits compare, it’s enough to infuriate one! Don’t worry, cousin. Jing Chengyun and I are just ordinary colleagues. She might think I’m decent, but she definitely doesn’t like me.]

***

Tricking Wen Fan first, keeping him in the dark so he wouldn't know who had spent the night with Jing Chengyun—he was even cluelessly delivering adult toys.

What kind of expression would Wen Fan have when the truth was revealed?

Hehe, the feeling of stealing a tryst behind his best brother’s back was truly exhilarating!

*

Jing Chengyun could finish a section of the book in twenty minutes. To truly master complex knowledge like programming, it was best to combine it with hands-on practice. She was starting to want to go home and tinker with her computer.

Just then, a rhythmic knocking echoed. Jing Chengyun guessed it was likely Wen Fan. She didn't even bother putting on shoes, walking barefoot to the door. As she expected, Wen Fan stood outside, glistening with a light sheen of sweat.

"You're here!" Jing Chengyun took the bag and looked inside. "Thanks for the trouble. I'll buy you coffee another day. You should head back."

"It's nothing. As long as you're having a good time, it’s no trouble at all." Wen Fan was used to being summoned and dismissed by Jing Chengyun, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.

Subconsciously glancing down, he noticed she wasn't wearing shoes and frowned. "Yunyun, why aren't you wearing shoes? Step onto my feet so you don't catch a cold. I still have something to say."

Jing Chengyun didn't stand on ceremony. Lifting her ankle, she placed her sole onto Wen Fan’s black leather shoe.

She wasn't light, carrying a bit of weight, but Wen Fan didn't even furrow his brow. He placed a hand on her lower back to keep her steady.

Wen Fan was dazed for a moment and said, "I asked the front desk to upgrade your room service and got you a diamond membership. You need to activate it with your ID."

With that, he took out an exquisite card and handed it solemnly to his ex-girlfriend. "In the future, it will be much more convenient for you to bring others to the hotel."

Jing Chengyun traced the texture of the card, surprised. "You're too thoughtful and thorough, aren't you? Wen Fan, you weren't like this when we were dating."

It was no exaggeration to say that every day since becoming single, Wen Fan had been reflecting on why he was dumped—for three years, without interruption. Therefore, this reunion, even as just an ordinary friend, he wanted to be at his best.

Wen Fan glanced into the room, but only saw the window ledge opposite the entrance; the bed was out of sight.

If he revealed his inner journey over the past three years, perhaps Jing Chengyun would see him in a new light: *Wow, he loved me so much.*

However, walls had ears. If the big-chested man in the room was a petty person and forced Jing Chengyun to explain, wouldn't that just cause trouble for her?

Suppressing the urge in his throat, Wen Fan typed a line on his phone memo: [Since you like men with chest muscles, I can introduce you to a few models with great physiques. They are all virgins. Do you need that?]

***

Seeing that short line, Jing Chengyun’s eyes went wide. Wen Fan hadn't been seen for three years, and now he was acting like a pimp!

Surprised, an image appeared before her: several bare-chested, handsome models standing in a row, waiting to be handled as she pleased.

...That image made her feel a bit dizzy from the sheer amount of chest muscle.

Deep inside the room, Su Zile had been waiting for Jing Chengyun to return, growing anxious. What were Yunyun and his cousin doing behind his back? Were they kissing or hugging?

Yunyun wasn't wearing shoes, and his cousin let her step on his feet—damn it! Su Zile pounded the bed in anger. Why didn't he have that kind of thoughtfulness? He had forgotten to remind Yunyun to wear shoes, letting his cousin have the chance to shine.

Now was the time to strike back.

Su Zile pulled the blanket over his head, determined not to let anyone pull it off. He pinched his throat and called out in a soft, seductive voice:

"Yunyun, come back soon. Come back and hold me... I feel so uncomfortable, my whole body is so hot... I want you to touch me, kiss me, make me cry... You haven't called me 'baby' for two whole minutes. You’re so mean..."

"Shut up!" No matter how smart Jing Chengyun was, she couldn't have imagined the fox spirit would go crazy at a time like this.

Seeing Wen Fan’s equally shocked expression, she explained, "He’s just running a high fever, nothing major. You should go now; I’m going to sleep with him. Thanks for delivering the items. I, Jing, have no way to repay you except—"

"Except by letting me join you." Wen Fan’s arm suddenly braced against the doorframe, his expression cold. A suspicion had taken root in his heart—a suspicion that, if confirmed, could drastically change the relationship between him and his cousin.

The person inside was deliberately altering their voice, yet Wen Fan caught a hint of familiarity.

Had Lele lied to him? Had he claimed not to be dating Yunyun while actually being her submissive in secret?

Recalling Lele’s usual appearance—always properly dressed and dashing, never showing off a superior chest—could it be that the boy really was hiding something under his clothes?

Steadfastly meeting Jing Chengyun’s surprised and threatening gaze, Wen Fan pushed forward. "Yunyun, let that man come out. I want to see if he’s worthy of you."

Wen Fan didn't want to be too angry with his cousin; after all, he was the one who had asked his cousin to seduce Yunyun in the first place. It was normal for his cousin to fall for her.

He just felt uncomfortable inside—simply uncomfortable. As cousins, there shouldn't be any deception. Lele knew exactly how important Jing Chengyun was to him.

"Yunyun, don't let him in... I'm shy..." Su Zile was slightly nervous. He didn't want to reveal the truth too quickly; it was far more fun to keep fooling Wen Fan for a while longer.