HIM Chapter 26: Like a Fleeting... Kiss.
Bo Qin was only jolted to awareness when He Xizhou pushed him toward the door. He grabbed He Xizhou’s hand, blurting, “Wait a second,” turning to look at him. “I haven’t taken my makeup off yet.”
He Xizhou lowered his head to meet Bo Qin’s gaze. One arm was still draped over Bo Qin’s shoulder — their distance very close. “Why take it off? You look great like this.”
“I know I look good,” Bo Qin elbowed He Xizhou lightly, “but your grandma’s there. This makeup is too heavy.”
He Xizhou chuckled. “It’s not heavy. Besides, they’re very open-minded — you’ve met them, haven’t you?” He gave Bo Qin’s shoulder a little squeeze. “Don’t be nervous. Just act like you did the first time you met them.”
Bo Qin struggled to pull back, but He Xizhou’s gentle strength kept him in place. A bit of competitiveness flared up in him — What the hell does this guy eat to be so strong? I don’t believe I can’t overpower him.
Just as the two were stuck in this half-playful tug-of-war, the door suddenly opened. A little girl in a blue dress, He Yueyue, looked up at them innocently and said, “Uncle, what are you guys doing?”
He Xizhou and Bo Qin, still pressed close: “…”
Bo Qin instantly let go. He Xizhou smiled and handed the gift he had in one hand to Bo Qin, then crouched down to pick her up. “Playing a game with your little uncle.”
Cradled in He Xizhou’s arm, Yueyue turned her gaze to Bo Qin. Her eyes curved with joy as she said, “Hi, Little Uncle. I’m He Yueyue. Your performance on TV just now was so cool!”
Bo Qin reached out and smiled. “Hello, He Yueyue. I’m Bo Qin. Thank you for the compliment. Your dress is really pretty today.”
Yueyue’s eyes lit up. She eagerly reached out her tiny hand to shake his. In her soft, childish voice she said, “Thank you, Little Uncle.”
Too cute, Bo Qin thought. Who could resist this?
The house was lively. Other than He Xizhou’s sister, He Linglan, Bo Qin had met everyone before. He crouched down to greet the grandmother sitting on the sofa. She gently patted his cheek. “Xiao Qin, your performance just now on TV was really beautiful.”
The gifts Bo Qin brought were all thoughtfully chosen. After giving his present to He’s father — a refined, elegant man — the man handed Bo Qin a small gift box with a smile, joking, “Returning the favor.”
“I got you a watch. Not sure what style you like, so I picked one for you and Xiao Zhou each. Consider it a wedding gift.”
He Xizhou walked over and helped Bo Qin open the box — a luxury mechanical watch from a world-famous brand. It was the same model He Xizhou wore on his wrist. Tony had even joked once, This guy changes watches all the time. Always has millions on his wrist — doesn’t it get heavy?
He Xizhou took out the watch. “Want me to put it on you?”
He’s father raised a brow but quickly turned his attention to teasing Yueyue, who was playing with a puzzle.
Bo Qin took the box. “Not now — we’re about to eat.”
He Xizhou just quietly looked at him.
Bo Qin sighed. “It’s too expensive. And I just signed a watch endorsement — it’d be awkward to wear this.”
The excuse was solid and irrefutable. He Xizhou returned the watch to the box. “It’s not expensive. The thought behind it is what matters.”
I’ve never seen a thought worth millions, Bo Qin thought.
When giving his gift to He Linglan — a confident, elegant woman with long, wavy red hair — she smiled and said, “Finally meeting you in person. You really are handsome.”
Guess this whole family is face-obsessed, Bo Qin mused.
After dinner, everyone gathered on the sofa to chat and digest. The tight knot of nerves in Bo Qin finally melted away. No exaggeration — this was the first time he’d ever felt the quiet warmth of a real family. And when the lights suddenly went out and Yueyue wheeled out a cart singing the birthday song, Bo Qin looked at the smiling faces in the candlelight and felt a sting in his nose.
For some reason, he thought: He Xizhou is really lucky.
Bo Qin lowered his head. He Xizhou tilted his own to glance at him, then gently put an arm around his shoulders and softly asked, “What’s wrong?”
By the time Bo Qin looked up, he’d already gotten a grip on his emotions. He smiled. “Nothing.”
He Linglan noticed something and teased, “Xiao Qin, want to lead the birthday song?”
She was friendly and natural — Bo Qin couldn’t refuse. Yueyue ran over and looked up at him, asking, “Little Uncle, are you going to sing like you did on TV?”
Bo Qin crouched down to meet her gaze. “How about you sing with me, Yueyue?”
Yueyue suddenly covered her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers shyly. “Okay~”
Everyone laughed. Bo Qin was a little confused.
He Linglan said, “Ignore her. She’s just a little fangirl — thinks you’re too handsome.”
Bo Qin: “…”
After the birthday song, He’s father cut the cake. Once the younger folks had eaten, the grandmother felt tired and went upstairs with He’s parents.
Since Bo Qin had played piano for them before, He’s mom had tuned and moved the grand piano to the main living room. Yueyue ran over. “Little Uncle, do you play piano?”
Bo Qin smiled and nodded. “Do you?”
Yueyue nodded back. This time she didn’t hold back — she grabbed his hand and said, “Little Uncle, can I invite you to play piano with me?”
Bo Qin opened his hand, letting her tiny one rest in his palm. He crouched again to her eye level. “Of course. It would be my honor.”
The little girl instantly covered her face again and started spinning in circles.
Bo Qin played with Yueyue for over an hour. Eventually He Linglan came to carry her off — the girl was reluctant.
“Yueyue,” He Linglan said, “your little uncle is really tired. But you napped all afternoon. Aren’t you embarrassed to keep bothering him?”
Yueyue gasped, “Why would you say that in front of Little Uncle!”
Bo Qin laughed. “It’s normal for kids to nap a lot. You’ll grow out of it.” He stood and helped Yueyue down. “I used to sleep a lot when I was little, too.”
Yueyue was a well-mannered kid. Bo Qin really enjoyed her company. If he weren’t so exhausted, he’d have played with her a while longer.
Once upstairs, Bo Qin collapsed onto the bed and finally turned his phone’s data on. Messages started buzzing non-stop. He tossed the phone aside and lay with his eyes closed for ten minutes before lazily checking them.
They fell into two main categories — one group led by Luo Ming and Xiao Ran, fellow musicians and dancers, gushing praise for his amazing performance tonight. The other group, led by Manager Chen and Zhu Guanyun from his studio, saying the topic wasn’t trending — their promotion was being suppressed across platforms.
Bo Qin called Zhu Guanyun.
“We tried our best,” Zhu said. “The hashtag’s been taken down three times — and not just on one platform.” He cursed. “All that money we paid over time — all for nothing.”
“Don’t be mad,” Bo Qin laughed. “It’s not worth it. I glanced at the trending list. Jiang Rong’s tags are all over the place. There’s no way we’re getting up there tonight. Everyone go wash up and sleep.”
Zhu sighed. “Your fans are hardcore. The more suppressed it is, the harder they promote you — they’re in beast mode.”
“Being my fan is such a tough job,” Bo Qin chuckled. “It’s not the first time. They’re experienced.”
“Spoken like a true veteran of suffering,” Zhu laughed. “King of finding joy in misery.”
Bo Qin really didn’t mind. Maybe he was just numb to the helplessness by now. He had done everything he could — the rest was fate.
“Gotta be zen,” Bo Qin stretched. “That’s how you stay happy.”
After lying in bed for a while, he felt the makeup suffocating his skin. When he wiped his face, he realized he hadn’t removed it yet. Instantly annoyed.
Tony had left in a rush and didn’t take off his makeup. There were no products in the room either. Bo Qin rolled over and called He Xizhou.
“Hey, gege,” he said. “What are you up to?”
There was a brief pause. “You need something from me, don’t you?”
“So smart. How’d you guess?”
“You never call me ‘gege’ unless you want something,” He Xizhou chuckled. “Spill it.”
“Okay, can you go to your aunt or sister and borrow some makeup remover for me?” Bo Qin rubbed his eyes. “I left in a hurry and didn’t bring anything.”
“…Why don’t you go?”
“I’m embarrassed,” Bo Qin flopped down on the big bed. “Help me out, ge. If I don’t get this stuff off, I’m gonna break out.”
He Xizhou said, “Wait,” and hung up.
Bo Qin happily opened his game app and started playing.
Halfway through the match, He Xizhou knocked and entered. Bo Qin didn’t even look up. “That was fast — thanks. Just leave it, I’ll handle it.”
In-game, Bo Qin got a kill. He Xizhou didn’t leave. Bo Qin glanced over and asked, “What’s up?”
Arms crossed, He Xizhou gave him a look. “So I’m just your tool now?”
Damn, that tone. Bo Qin immediately dropped his phone — Luo Ming was screaming on the other end of the game. Bo Qin scrambled to the foot of the bed. “Don’t be like that gege, my bad! You’re the best!”
He put his hands together in a pleading gesture. “You’re a living saint.”
Said saint raised a brow with a half-smile. “I’ll do your makeup removal.”
“Do what now?” Bo Qin blinked. “You know how?”
“I do now. I asked my sister.”
“I can do it myself…” Bo Qin scratched his head. “It’s okay, really.”
He Xizhou ignored him and opened a cleansing wipe for the eyes. His long, warm fingers gently tilted Bo Qin’s chin. “Close your eyes.”
Bo Qin reflexively did so. A cool patch pressed against his eyes. He Xizhou’s motions were soft. Bo Qin said, “Use a bit more force, or it won’t come off properly.”
They were very close — so close their breaths mingled. Bo Qin could even see the tiny fuzz on He Xizhou’s skin. The moment He Xizhou tilted his chin, he regretted it. This atmosphere is way too weird.
He Xizhou switched wipes, brushing over Bo Qin’s nose. Then he suddenly leaned closer, gazing at him with trembling lashes, an almost fragile clarity in his eyes.
Bo Qin’s breath caught. For a moment, he thought He Xizhou was going to kiss him.
He couldn’t take it anymore — his face was burning. He grabbed He Xizhou’s wrist, about to say I’ll do it, but He Xizhou pinched his nose.
Bo Qin mumbled, “What are you doing?” and swatted He Xizhou’s hand away.
The ambiguous atmosphere shattered.
He Xizhou tsked. “You hit hard — now my hand’s red.”
Bo Qin glared at him. “Why’d you do that?”
“You’ve got a pimple on your nose.” He Xizhou said calmly.
Bo Qin touched it and began wondering if he’d overreacted. Then He Xizhou said, “All done. Here’s some face wash — after that, put on some serum.”
He wiped his long fingers dry. “My sister said so.”
Bo Qin looked up at him. He Xizhou smiled slightly, raised his hand — Bo Qin reflexively closed his eyes — and felt his warm fingertip gently brush his eye corner, accompanied by He Xizhou’s tender voice:
“Goodnight, Xiao Qin.”
Then he turned and left.
The warmth of that fingertip lingered at the corner of Bo Qin’s eye — light and ephemeral.
Like a fleeting, barely-there... kiss.
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