What happened next was only natural.
In this secluded mountain hideaway, the villa was utterly quiet. The wind chimes in the garden flowers had fallen asleep, only the trickle of water and chirping insects flowing through the summer night.
Ye Xi bit his hand, lashes lowered, desperately trying not to make a sound.
The white marble walls reflected Bai Yue’s faint shadow.
And Bai Yue, half-kneeling on the cold floor, looked up at him from below…
Ye Xi thought he could hear his own heartbeat loud and clear.
Thump-thump—thump-thump—
Restless.
Pounding like drums.
As if it would burst out of his chest.
He stared at Bai Yue in a daze, a bead of sweat slipping down his forehead.
In that haze, he felt like the person before him wasn’t Bai Yue, but a devil sent to tempt him.
How else could someone be this beautiful, this enticing?
In Ye Xi’s mind, Bai Yue had always been refined and restrained, noble and reserved.
Back in high school, he’d been like that—wearing his neat uniform, white shirt and blazer crisp and perfect, standing in the morning sun. Even when he smiled politely, there was a cold, distant air about him.
But now Bai Yue was half-kneeling before him, gazing up at him without blinking.
This was a posture of submission.
Like a beast lowering its head, baring its vulnerable throat, showing its gentleness only to its mate.
Bai Yue’s pale, cold face was still as composed and dignified as ever, as if no dust could ever cling to it.
But now that face was stained with a faint sheen of sweat, making it unbearably beautiful. Those gem-bright eyes, however, were filled with a beast’s aggression, as though only by chewing him up and swallowing him down could Bai Yue find a moment’s peace…
Just being stared at like that made Ye Xi tremble all over.
Not to mention those crimson lips, slightly parted, as if holding a spell between them.
Dragging him into ecstasy, only to push him straight off a cliff.
Ye Xi wanted to say “enough,” wanted to say “stop”…
But when he opened his mouth, what came out was nothing but helpless pleas.
……
More than half an hour later, Bai Yue carried Ye Xi’s limp body back to bed.
Ye Xi had still been in a dazed, out-of-body state, but the moment his back touched the soft mattress, he instantly revived like a salted fish, sprang up, and dove under the blanket.
Wrapped tightly in the quilt, he curled into a big lumpy ball, fooling only himself, not daring to look at Bai Yue.
But Bai Yue laughed. He sat on the edge of the bed, leaning close to him. “Do you really not want to see me that much?”
Ye Xi didn’t answer.
“Are you in pain?”
Ye Xi squirmed a little under the covers.
His face was already red to the point of exploding. He wished Bai Yue would just shut up.
Please, just let him off.
As a for so long straight-laced high school boy, he really couldn’t handle this shameless side of Bai Yue.
“Or is it… that I made you dislike me?”
Bai Yue’s eyes curved slightly outside the blanket, but his voice carried a note of loss.
Lowering his gaze, he even looked somewhat pitiful. “If you don’t like it, I won’t do it again.”
Ye Xi: “…”
He wanted nothing more than to tape Bai Yue’s mouth shut.
What a menace.
He wasn’t as innocent as before. Ye Xi had already vaguely realized the truth: the moonlight he’d always worshiped might actually be a dark moon.
Bai Yue wasn’t really the gentle, upright senior he’d remembered. He was sharp enough to pierce through walls.
Now he was just tricking him.
So Ye Xi bit his lip hard in defiance.
But then he heard a soft sigh outside the quilt.
“Sorry. I scared you.” Bai Yue’s voice was gentle.
Ye Xi froze.
Restless, he shifted under the covers. After a moment’s thought, he poked his head out, his cheeks flushed pink, his eyes wet.
He mumbled something softly.
“What did you say? I didn’t hear clearly.”
Bai Yue leaned forward, his body almost enveloping the little mound Ye Xi was hiding in.
“I said… I don’t dislike it.” Ye Xi’s voice was still faint, but he managed to force the words out. “…I—I like it.”
The moment he finished, he heard Bai Yue’s quiet chuckle.
It’s over, Ye Xi thought.
He’d fallen right into the trap.
Too late now—Bai Yue pulled him straight out of his quilt fortress.
On that quiet, cool summer night, with even the moonlight softened, Bai Yue pressed him down on the bed, kissing him deeply, again and again.
“Say it again,” Bai Yue coaxed. “Do you really like it?”
Ye Xi’s answer was to bite down hard on his lower lip.
…..
The next few days passed for Ye Xi in a daze of enchantment.
After the initial storm of shame, he simply gave up resisting.
Now he understood why this resort was perfect for an affair.
Too perfect.
No people around, mountains and water misty all around, making them feel exiled from the world, as if only he and Bai Yue existed.
They could be a pair of runaway lovers, or honeymooning sweethearts.
They made mischief in every corner of the villa; they kissed under the grape trellis in the garden, innocent and reverent.
In their free time, Bai Yue even took him out—not to do anything special, just to pick wild fruit in the mountains, row on the lake, or play tennis.
Bai Yue even personally made him honey pancakes, as if they really were living a secluded life together.
On the last day of the vacation, the hotel staff quietly arranged a candlelit dinner in the glass conservatory beside the villa, timing it so as not to disturb their activities.
When night fell, after dinner, Bai Yue picked Ye Xi up and danced with him.
From the retro phonograph drifted a tender, almost plaintive female voice. With his limited English, Ye Xi listened to the lyrics and felt she must be blaming her unromantic lover…
Of course, he couldn’t dance.
The Zheng family had hired him instructors before, but seeing he was hopeless, they gave up and let him grow wild.
So now, held in Bai Yue’s arms, he moved like a puppet on strings, constantly stepping on Bai Yue’s feet.
Luckily, Bai Yue was only teasing, not truly trying to teach him.
In the soft candlelight, Bai Yue held him, swaying gently with the music. Their shadows stretched and tangled across the floor.
Bai Yue whispered, “If you hadn’t come to confess to me that day, bringing a bottle of red wine to try and get me drunk, I would’ve brought you here, in this flower house, and confessed to you myself.”
“To be honest, my thoughts weren’t that proper either. I thought maybe if you’d had a little wine, felt a bit dazed, with the starlight and roses so pretty on a summer night, you might get confused for a moment… and say yes to me.”
At this, Bai Yue chuckled quietly.
He kissed Ye Xi’s temple.
“This song was chosen for you too. If you hadn’t agreed to me, you’d have been that unromantic lover in the song…”
But unlike the plaintive female voice in the lyrics, he wouldn’t pour out complaints.
That would be too weak, too useless.
He would never give up so easily.
Ye Xi laughed too, hugging him back.
He buried his face in Bai Yue’s shoulder. Though his heart brimmed with happiness, he felt a subtle pang, like his heart had been dipped in cool lemon water.
Pressing close to Bai Yue, he thought, This is wonderful.
He liked Bai Yue.
Bai Yue liked him.
What greater blessing could there be?
He lifted his head, pecked Bai Yue on the lips.
With the candlelight glowing around him, his face, still flushed from wine, looked rosy.
“I would have said yes.”
He whispered, “If you confessed to me, how could I not say yes?”
His eyes were earnest. “I’d just be happy enough to die.”
Bai Yue paused, then smiled, pulling him tighter into his arms.
…..
That night, while Bai Yue was in the shower, Ye Xi poked around the ornate box by the bedside.
Handcuffs?
No—too much.
Ribbed… toys?
Definitely not—too extreme, he was just a poor beginner.
A fang choker?
Didn’t the hotel have anything less wild?
A whole stream of sarcastic comments rolled through his head.
But since Bai Yue was about to come out, he hurriedly grabbed something, slipped it on himself.
When Bai Yue emerged, toweling off his damp hair, he froze mid-movement at the sight of Ye Xi sitting on the bed.
A drop of water hit the floor with a soft plip.
Ye Xi was wearing a white, semi-sheer night robe. Clearly not something the hotel had provided—he must’ve smuggled it from his luggage.
Exquisitely made, perfectly tailored, like a piece of mist wrapped around him. The lace cutouts at the waist revealed glimpses of a lean, taut line.
And not only that—around his neck was a white silk choker with a little golden bell hanging from it.
Across his eyes lay a white lace blindfold, hiding his clear, beautiful gaze.
He looked like a gift, prepared only for his beloved, waiting to be unwrapped.
Under Bai Yue’s quiet stare, Ye Xi felt as though fire was burning in his chest.
But he tried to keep his face stiff, forcing an air of calm as if mountains could crumble before him without him batting an eye.
It’s fine, he told himself.
Just a roll in the sheets. A man should be brave enough to take the first step.
He’d coveted Bai Yue for so long—if he didn’t seize this vacation to finally sleep with him, he’d regret it for seven nights straight.
Better to go all in.
But though he told himself that, he waited and waited, and Bai Yue just stood there watching him.
Like a little frog puffing itself up, his bravado slowly deflated.
Suspicious, he tilted his head toward Bai Yue’s direction.
Even with the blindfold, it was lace, not solid silk—he could still sense Bai Yue’s movements.
Why wasn’t he coming closer?
Doubt crept in. Did Bai Yue not go for this?
That couldn’t be.
The dating instructor who’d helped him choose the outfit had sworn this look was invincible—no man could resist.
If the roles were reversed, if Bai Yue dressed like this for him, he’d throw away every shred of dignity immediately.
He waited a bit longer, then couldn’t resist lifting the blindfold just a crack.
And the moment he focused, he realized Bai Yue had already crossed the room and was standing right by the bed, watching him.
Bai Yue was already tall, close to one meter ninety. Even with his lean, straight figure, just standing nearby gave off an overwhelming sense of pressure.
He bent down slightly, holding Ye Xi’s hand so he couldn’t completely lift the white lace blindfold.
He had to admit, this blindfold on Ye Xi’s face was stunning.
Compared to something sultry in black, this white attire suited Ye Xi far better—like an angel asleep in a garden.
So pure, so innocent. White knitted lace, every stitch delicate, tied at the back with long ribbons trailing down. Snow-pale skin, dewy red lips, hair smooth and soft, head tilted up just slightly, exposing a long, elegant neck adorned with a little bell.
Bai Yue cupped Ye Xi’s face and kissed his brow.
That kiss landed, and Ye Xi suddenly quieted, no longer glancing around nervously.
“Is today Thanksgiving, or Christmas?” Bai Yue suddenly asked in a low voice.
Ye Xi didn’t understand, blinking under the blindfold, his lashes trembling.
“If not, then why have I received such a delightful gift?” Bai Yue continued softly.
Ah.
Ye Xi lowered his face in Bai Yue’s arms, a little embarrassed.
He then heard Bai Yue ask again: “What do you mean by this, Ye Xi?
“I’m not very clever with some things, maybe you need to say it outright.”
As he spoke, Bai Yue untied the white lace blindfold from Ye Xi’s face.
The pretty, delicate mask slipped away slowly. In the darkened manor night, the sleeping angel opened his eyes, revealing his true face.
Those clear, restrained phoenix eyes—ordinarily so serious that they might be mistaken for coldness—now brimmed with spring water and peach blossoms, unbelievably soft and shy.
“Does it mean what I think it means?” Bai Yue asked quietly.
Ye Xi pressed his lips together. By now, he’d realized—Bai Yue loved to ask when he already knew the answer.
On any other day, Ye Xi would’ve found it hard to say out loud.
But that day was different.
Here, cut off from the world, they were nothing more than runaway lovers.
He could do whatever he wanted.
“Yes…” Ye Xi admitted with difficulty. “I’m seducing you.”
He grabbed Bai Yue’s sleeve. Even knowing the answer, he still whispered in shame: “Did I succeed?”
The reply was Bai Yue’s lips pressing against the back of his neck. When his mouth finally left, Bai Yue’s fingers lightly untied the ribbon at his nape.
A soft jingle.
The golden bell dropped onto the bed, rolled in a circle, and came to rest at the edge—like an omen marking the beginning of the night.
Bai Yue leaned down, kissing Ye Xi’s earlobe.
His low voice said, “Very successful.”
