Chapter 52
That night, Chi Suinian did not sleep well.
First, he dreamt of suddenly finding himself in a desert—no water, burning heat, parched thirst. After much struggle he stumbled upon an oasis, just as he bent down to drink, a giant snake of eerie colors lunged out of nowhere, coiling around him like prey and dragging him straight into the water…
Right before its fangs sank into him, Chi Suinian jolted violently, eyes flying open, breath harsh and unsteady.
What greeted him was a familiar sight.
The bedroom was the same, the bed was the same. The only difference was that at this moment, he was being tightly held in someone’s arms, steady heartbeats faintly resounding by his ear.
Lu Zhiyue was clutching him firmly—one arm looped around his shoulders, the other gripping his waist—an embrace at once intimate and binding. Their bodies pressed together so closely that Chi Suinian could hardly even struggle.
“……”
No wonder he had dreamed of being constricted by a giant snake—he really was being tied up.
It was the height of summer. Even though the air conditioner was running, two young men with strong bodies clinging together was still unbearably hot. A thin layer of sweat beaded on Chi Suinian’s forehead and along the bridge of his nose.
“Lu Zhiyue…” Chi Suinian tilted his head with difficulty. Movement restricted, he balled his fist and jabbed at Lu Zhiyue’s stomach. “Let me go, I’m roasting alive.”
The jab woke Lu Zhiyue. Still half-asleep, he blinked groggily at Chi Suinian for a long moment.
Annoyed, Chi Suinian twisted in his hold, gritting his teeth. “What are you staring at? Let go of me before I kick you.”
“Don’t be mad…” Lu Zhiyue’s voice was thick and husky with sleep. Seeing how much Chi Suinian was struggling, he hugged him tighter and dipped his head, brushing a light kiss across his lips.
In a coaxing, child-soothing tone, he murmured, “Be good. Sleep a little longer.”
“……” Chi Suinian froze rigid.
Who gave Lu Zhiyue the guts to steal a kiss without permission?
He was getting far too bold.
Chi Suinian glared fiercely, about to throttle the man, but his gaze caught for a beat on those thin, flushed lips. Something flickered in his mind, and his ears slowly turned red.
Frustrated, he scrubbed a hand through his hair. Damn it… was Lu Zhiyue poisonous or what?
He must’ve stayed at the Lu household too long, gotten infected too deeply—otherwise… why couldn’t he bring himself to strike back?
In the past, he’d never have hesitated—
“Why aren’t you sleeping? Tossing and turning so much…” At some point Lu Zhiyue had fully woken, squinting at him lazily.
How dare he ask that?
Chi Suinian let out a cold snort, baring his teeth. “You’re crushing me half to death. Move your pig paws.”
Lu Zhiyue arched a brow, expression calm. “What, I can’t even hold you?”
“No.” Chi Suinian’s voice was sharp.
He didn’t even know when he’d fallen asleep last night, but his sleep had been deep. Who knew how long this man had been clinging to him?
Expression blank, Chi Suinian thought grimly.
Lu Zhiyue clicked his tongue. “So heartless.”
“That’s right, I’m heartless,” Chi Suinian shot back. “Not just heartless—I’m cold as stone. If you can’t take it, then get lost.”
Lu Zhiyue’s brows dipped, his gaze steady. He fell silent, seeming to hesitate, to weigh something.
For no reason at all, Chi Suinian felt a surge of anger. He cursed under his breath, shoved the arm at his waist away, and swung his legs off the bed.
But as soon as he sat upright, a hand caught him around the waist.
Startled, Chi Suinian looked down instinctively—slender, well-boned fingers were braced across his abdomen.
That hand tugged lightly, but with enough force to draw him back.
He tried to resist.
But lost.
He was pulled into Lu Zhiyue’s embrace again, snapping coldly, “You—!”
“Don’t say things like that about yourself.”
Chi Suinian’s back hit the warmth of Lu Zhiyue’s chest. Just as he was about to thrash again, he heard him murmur, “Don’t deny yourself. You’re wonderful.”
Chi Suinian faltered.
“Obedient, hardworking. Even when you put on a fierce face, you’re still adorable. Always so irritable, threatening to hit people—but you’ve never once really raised a hand. So tell me—where exactly are you cold-hearted?”
You’re so good. How could I ever let go of you?
Heat crept across Chi Suinian’s face. The words were all compliments, yet why did they sound so ambiguous, so intimate?
…They were practically a confession.
His ears burned red. He turned his head away uncomfortably. “Lu Zhiyue, you’re blind.”
Lu Zhiyue chuckled softly. “My sight’s just fine—I can see you perfectly.”
Chi Suinian stiffened. He wrenched himself free of the embrace.
Lu Zhiyue glanced at him. “Where are you going?”
“None of your—” Halfway through, Chi Suinian cut himself off. Grinding his molars awkwardly, he muttered, “The bathroom. You gonna come there too?”
Lu Zhiyue smiled. “I’m feeling the urge as well. Why don’t we go together?”
Pervert.
Chi Suinian leapt off the bed, stalking toward the bathroom. “If you dare follow me in, I’ll cut it off… let’s see you suffer.”
Lu Zhiyue paused, lowering his gaze briefly. He wasn’t wrong—he really was holding it in.
With a helpless shake of his head, he reached for Chi Suinian’s pillow and gave the corner a punishing squeeze.
In the bathroom, the first thing Chi Suinian did was lock the door, then scoop handfuls of cold water onto his face to cool the burning flush on his skin.
But in the cramped, unventilated space, the splash of cold water only seemed to make him feel hotter.
Damn it…
He wasn’t some stranger to confessions—he’d been confessed to plenty growing up. So why was he so flustered now?
Pathetic.
After splashing his face again, his mind finally steadied. Looking into the mirror, he froze.
Two fresh kiss marks dotted his neck.
His skin bruised easily. A small bump or scrape would leave dark blotches that took forever to fade.
He touched the red marks at his throat, frowning faintly.
He didn’t remember Lu Zhiyue kissing his neck last night.
Tsk…
Just how many liberties had Lu Zhiyue taken while he was asleep?
Chi Suinian immediately turned to leave, intent on finding a shirt to cover the marks. Passing the bed, he saw Lu Zhiyue still sprawled there, yawning lazily, faint shadows under his eyes. Seeing him head for the wardrobe, Lu Zhiyue asked with a grin, “Taking a shower?”
Chi Suinian instinctively tugged up his collar and shot back, “What, I can’t?”
“No.” Lu Zhiyue’s gaze lingered on him. “Go ahead and wash. I’ll wait until you’re done.”
With a cold face, Chi Suinian walked to the wardrobe, pulled out some clothes in silence, and then disappeared into the bathroom.
By the time he came back from the shower, his mood had finally settled.
Lu Zhiyue was still sprawled on the bed. When he saw Chi Suinian walk out, his eyes paused on the fresh clothes for two seconds, and a shadow of emotion flickered in his gaze.
“That shirt looks really good on you,” Lu Zhiyue said.
Chi Suinian’s movement of straightening his cuffs froze. It was just a plain white shirt, not even a pattern on it. Good-looking, his ass.
Sometimes, he really couldn’t figure out what went on inside Lu Zhiyue’s head.
Chi Suinian carried his towel to the window, sat down with his back to him, and quietly wiped the water from the ends of his hair.
Sunlight poured in through the window, dazzlingly bright. The thin white shirt shifted with his movements, faintly revealing the contours of the body beneath.
Sleek muscles, a lean waistline—every detail fell perfectly into place.
Lu Zhiyue lowered his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Before he’d ever tasted sweetness, he could move cautiously and keep himself calm. But once he’d had a taste, greed surged—he only wanted more.
His mind slipped back to last night—Chi Suinian beneath him, mouth cursing nonstop even as his body trembled with pleasure. Those watery eyes, the flush spreading across his skin, the occasional sweet moan that escaped his throat, fingers clutching the sheets in nervous desperation… pitiful and yet unbearably enticing.
Just as he finished toweling his hair, Chi Suinian’s phone buzzed twice. He went straight out to the balcony to take the call.
Lu Zhiyue stayed sitting on the bed, staring absently at Chi Suinian’s slender back.
Last night, he had been so wound up he’d gotten painfully hard. Even after a cold shower, it had taken a long while to calm down. He didn’t think of himself as someone overly driven by desire—before Chi Suinian, he’d rarely even used his own hand.
But now, hours later, when he should’ve been composed again, just the sight of that thin back was enough to stir those restless urges all over.
Lu Zhiyue let out a faint sigh, lowering his gaze in frustration.
A moment later, he resigned himself, got out of bed, and went into the bathroom. The sound of running water soon followed.
Chi Suinian heard it and glanced back once. “…Mm? I’m listening, go on.”
On the other end, Qin Suitian continued, “Your car accident this time had nothing to do with Chi Mingyao or Chi Kaidong. It was Ding Xuxing. We found the driver he bribed—name’s Zhao Li. He’s confessed. That idiot Ding Xuxing even showed up in person to hire him. Zhao Li’s a sly one—he recorded the whole thing while taking the money, planning to use it for blackmail later. Never thought it’d end up as ironclad evidence instead. Even the officers said they hadn’t seen such a neat case in years.”
The result surprised Chi Suinian a little, but thinking it over, it made sense.
Ding Xuxing had always thought it was Suinian pulling strings behind his back, so of course he’d want revenge. The timing just happened to overlap with Chi Kaidong’s reappearance, which had thrown him off for a bit.
Chi Suinian asked, “What about Chi Kaidong?”
“No real movement. He didn’t go back to Chi Mingyao’s place—bought himself an apartment in the city. No maid either, so we don’t know what’s going on inside. I’ll keep an eye on it.”
“That’s odd.” Chi Suinian frowned. “He hasn’t reached out to any shareholders in private?”
For Chi Kaidong to parachute his way into the board, he’d need shareholder backing. But now, he was quiet—too quiet. No stirring trouble, no sudden appearances. Even Chi Mingyao, normally a walking powder keg, had gone still. The whole thing felt off.
“So far, no,” Qin Suitian said. “But I won’t rule out the chance he made arrangements before showing up. I’ll talk to some of the shareholders soon, test the waters.”
“Appreciate it.”
Qin Suitian chuckled. “No need to be polite. Chi Group is half my blood, too.”
Chi Suinian smiled faintly. “Alright then. When you’re free, let’s have dinner. My treat.”
“Then I’d better plan well—rare chance to bleed a capitalist dry,” Qin teased. “Can I bring a guest?”
Chi Suinian thought of his fiery-tempered boyfriend. “Ning Chen?”
“Mm.” Qin’s voice softened, tinged with sweetness. “He’s about to start summer break. Once I clear these cases, I’ll probably take some leave.”
“Travel?”
“Something like that.” Qin laughed. “It’s actually our wedding trip.”
Chi Suinian blinked. “That fast?”
“Not fast at all. He’s someone I’ve loved for years. We split once because of a misunderstanding. Finally got him back—I can’t risk losing him again. Binding it down with a contract is the only way I can rest easy.” Qin’s voice brimmed with tenderness.
“Congratulations…” Chi Suinian muttered, distracted, his mind drifting to Lu Zhiyue.
This man, too, claimed he’d loved him for years. But when Suinian had just woken from the accident, Lu Zhiyue had said the marriage only happened because Suinian clung shamelessly, making a scandal across the whole of Jin City until Lu reluctantly agreed…
But if he’d loved him all along, what “reluctance” was there?
…Had Lu Dog been lying all this time?
Chi Suinian’s lips pressed into a thin line. He cut the call short with Qin Suitian and stood dazed on the balcony.
“What’s on your mind?” came that familiar voice from behind.
Chi Suinian turned, studying him intently, searching. The stare made Lu Zhiyue’s stomach lurch—he almost thought he’d slipped up somehow. But running through things quickly, he found no cracks. “What is it?”
Chi Suinian asked quietly, “You said before… that you’ve liked me for many years?”
Lu Zhiyue nodded. “That’s right.”
Chi Suinian narrowed his eyes. “When I first got discharged, what did you say about how we got married?”
Lu Zhiyue froze. Now he understood what this was about. But before he could gather words to explain, Chi Suinian suddenly grabbed his collar, slammed him against the wall, and snarled, “Lu Zhiyue—you’ve been f*cking lying to me this whole time, haven’t you?”
P.S.- Is the cat out of the bag? (＃°Д°)
