Walking Through Open Doors

Chapter 7 - The Rebirth Of Butterflies

Oooh. This trip to the village just keeps getting better and better. Not that he isn't looking forward to having some authentic Yunnan food for lunch. He is even looking forward to picking up the groceries he needs to teach Zhou Cheng Ling to make pork dumplings. It's just that this is entertaining in a more adult way.

Jing Bei Yuan has been roasting Zhou Zi Shu to the point where the author basically has smoke coming out of his ears and has taken to huddling over in the corner. And the best part is that Zhou Zi Shu isn't actually denying any of Jing Bei Yuan's teasing, which makes Wen Ke Xing wonder if there are some actual truths to some of the pokes. Maybe he's not as unwanted of a guest as he thinks he is? Maybe this might turn out to be a great week after all?

He's relieved that he is about to get some clothes that actually fit him so that he doesn't have to walk around in borrowed sweatpants for the entire week. He's not against wearing Zhou Zi Shu's clothes, it's just that it's not ideal—or all that comfortable. It had, however, been quite enjoyable to watch the man get all flustered in the gym this morning, so the lack of clothes did have its perks.

He really is trying to not be as shameless as he had been in his youth, or, well, up to like a few years ago when he had gotten most of his fantasies out of the way. His youthful libido had sown a lot of wild oats but then woken up one day and decided that it wanted to settle down and watch the oats grow. And after meeting Zhou Cheng Ling, maybe even quite literally watching it grow up.

"Do you really have to take his measurements? It's not like you're going to make him clothes! You can just pick stuff out and let him try them on," Zhou Zi Shu grumbles from where he is leaning against a shelf, eyes never leaving the two of them. "Or you know," he continues, waving his arms in the general direction of the store front, "just let him pick out his own clothes like a normal person."

Generally, Wen Ke Xing doesn't mind it when handsome men feel him up—and the shop owner is handsome with fair skin, sharp angles, calculating eyes behind wavy, brown hair. And he's taller than Wen Ke Xing, which is a bit impressive. However, these days he prefers when it happens in a more private setting. In his early twenties, he would have enjoyed a more public and hands-on approach. And on one drunken occasion at University, he might have even thought 'the more, the merrier'—and it had been merrier.

"Nonsense. You're just jealous that I got to his body first," Jing Bei Yuan shoots back, way too cheerfully from where he is measuring Wen Ke Xing's waist. "I did get here first, right?" He continues, eyes sparkling. And Wen Ke Xing is pretty sure that he's not the most shameless person in the store.

The doorbell jingles twice and a deep voice speaks behind him, from the other end of the shop, "I see that my husband started without me."

"Baobei, I couldn't help myself. He just arrived in town and he is rather handsome," Jing Bei Yuan chuckles and then continues to measure Wen Ke Xing's hips.

"You do like them young and pretty, don't you?" the new voice continues, soft and humoring.

Wen Ke Xing can't help but smirk. He is clearly younger than both Zhou Zi Shu and Jing Bei Yuan, but he is an adult and has been for quite some time now. "I like them a bit more mature and experienced myself," he says, and watches Zhou Zi Shu's eyes snap to his in an instant.

"Well, I've been married to Xi-Er for over ten years. It's time I trade him in for a younger model," Jing Bei Yuan continues and decides to redo the measurement of his waist, making a show out of circling his arms around Wen Ke Xing.

"Bei Yuan..." Zhou Zi Shu and the new guy say in unison, one exasperated and the other quite amused, and the man hugging him in a semi-professional manner, pulls back and winks at him. He's a bit pleasantly surprised that the mountain hermit has friends this entertaining. Yes, this might turn out to be quite a great week indeed.