SDVPP Chapter 82

Rong Xu had always looked at him with a smile. Even when his face was neutral, that trace of tenderness was unmistakable.

But now, someone had truly crossed Rong Xu’s bottom line.

His ink-dark eyes were shrouded in shadow, devoid of even the slightest warmth.

Chi Han, afraid he was bottling everything up again, quickly tried to soothe him. “I didn’t even get a good look at him. Look, I even tore up his postcard!”

As he spoke, Chi Han swiftly ripped the postcard into pieces and tossed the scraps into the trash can beside them.

Rong Xu lowered his gaze, watching the fragments drift down. The red gleam in his eyes hadn’t faded.

A feral beast, long locked in his heart, was slowly baring its fangs, ready to break free and tear apart those reckless enough to provoke him.

His features remained clouded with gloom, but by the time he lifted his eyes again, the storm had been buried.

He curled his lips into a smile, raised a hand to massage the back of Chi Han’s neck, his thumb pressing lightly against the jut of his throat, the smile never reaching his eyes. “Don’t think about him again.”

Chi Han swallowed nervously, grabbed Rong Xu’s hand, and bit it lightly, blurting, “I’m not. I swear! Totally erased from my head! You’re all that’s left!”

Rong Xu’s expression eased at last. He lowered his head, resting his face lightly against Chi Han’s ear, murmuring, “Then tonight, you’re only allowed to look at me.”

Chi Han: “…”

“Only you! I won’t look at anyone else tonight!”

Reassured, Rong Xu let himself be placated, for now. He picked up the French roses he’d left on the table, wrapped an arm tightly around Chi Han’s waist, and didn’t let go for a second.

Chi Han couldn’t help but chuckle. However, the moment Rong Xu shot him a cool sideways glance, he instantly straightened his lips and pretended to study the paving stones on the ground with scholarly seriousness.

He had always thought all red wine tasted the same, so it was a surprise to discover that each one here seemed to come from a different vineyard, each with a distinct flavor.

Some were tart, some leaned sweet, and one even had a spicy kick.

He bent down to look at the label on a barrel. It seemed to be the winery’s name.

Rong Xu glanced at the alcohol content and stopped Chi Han just as he reached for a second glass.

“It’s too strong. Any more and you’ll be drunk.”

Chi Han smacked his lips, the taste lingering sweetly: “Really? It tastes sweet to me. I’m not dizzy at all.”

Watching Chi Han’s bright eyes, Rong Xu felt relieved he’d insisted they eat first. If they’d drunk on an empty stomach, Chi Han might already be out cold.

“These wines sneak up on you. A sip is fine, but don’t overdo it, or you’ll regret it in the middle of the night.”

Though Chi Han still wanted another taste, he obediently set down the glass.

After all, the foolish things he did last time he got drunk were still vividly etched in his memory.

Even though he wasn’t drunk yet, he felt giddy, light on his feet, and inexplicably happy.

People began to stream out of the nearby mall, gathering on the street.

Everyone seemed to be heading in the same direction.

Rong Xu gently pulled Chi Han into his arms, shielding him as they walked forward together.

Chi Han seemed to realize something and grabbed Rong Xu’s sleeve with excitement. “Are they about to set off fireworks?”

Rong Xu smiled and gave a small nod, gently reminding him, “Watch your step.”

The two followed the stream of people into a wide-open plaza, which by now was filled with a sea of onlookers.

Luckily, the fireworks were set high enough that there was no need to fight for a spot.

Rong Xu led him to a quieter corner. Chi Han nestled against him, still hugging the bouquet. The warmth between them spread through every place they touched.

Rong Xu tightened his arms around him, resting his chin softly atop Chi Han’s head, nuzzling with a rare tenderness.

Suddenly, a murmur rippled through the crowd. It sounded like the show was about to begin.

Chi Han straightened up a little, eyes alight with anticipation as he looked toward the sky.

“Chi Han.”

The cool voice drifted down from above him. Instinctively, he looked up to find Rong Xu’s lips moving. But before he could hear the words clearly, a sharp sound split the sky.

Then came an explosion of light.

The fireworks burst into brilliant bloom across the night, painting everything in dazzling color.

Chi Han remained in that upward gaze as Rong Xu leaned down and kissed him.

In his field of vision, half was Rong Xu and half was the sky.

The lights of the fireworks flickered in Chi Han’s wide eyes like a dream too beautiful to bear, trembling at the edges of reality.

All he could think about was the shape of Rong Xu’s lips just now.

He closed his eyes tightly and kissed back, with everything he had.

What Rong Xu had said was: “I love you. Until death and beyond.”

Chi Han’s lips tingled, but still, like a moth to flame, he threw himself fully into that kiss, determined to pour all his feelings into it.

Between kisses, Chi Han murmured against Rong Xu’s lips, his voice low and slurred, “Rong Xu, I… love you, too. Until death and beyond.”

The thunderous crack of fireworks made his ears ring. He didn’t know if Rong Xu had heard him. But when he felt the response in Rong Xu’s more fervent embrace, Chi Han couldn’t help but smile.

He knew Rong Xu had felt it.

All across the vast plaza, couples of every age—young and vibrant, or slightly stooped with hair silvered by time—kissed beneath the fireworks. In that moment, the only thing that existed was love, pure and moving.

A photographer nearby raised their camera, quietly capturing the tender scene.

…

By the time the assistant arrived to pick them up, Chi Han’s cheeks had taken on a telltale flush.

Rong Xu sighed and wrapped him snugly in a blanket. He’d known it: Chi Han was drunk after all.

Worried he’d feel unwell, Rong Xu asked the assistant to drive slowly. By the time they returned to the hospital, Chi Han had already drifted off, warm and cozy beneath the blanket.

Rong Xu carefully carried him upstairs, straight from the elevator.

Chi Han, who was supposed to be asleep, suddenly cracked open his eyes beneath the blanket. Hidden from Rong Xu’s view, he began frantically typing like some secret agent on a clandestine mission.

Chi Han: [Where’s the stuff I asked for?]

Assistant: [It’s all in the cabinet by your bed.]

Chi Han: [Perfect. Next year’s promotion and raise? Yours.]

The assistant instantly replied with a grateful heart GIF.

Chi Han exited the chat interface with a satisfied tap and continued pretending to sleep.

Rong Xu only felt the person in his arms shifting restlessly, assuming his stomach must be upset. Without hesitation, he carried Chi Han back to their room.

“Chi Han, open your eyes. Drink this hangover soup first.”

He poured a bowl from a thermal container and helped Chi Han sit up, half coaxing, half insisting, until he got him to drink it down.

Chi Han was still relatively clear-headed, but he was definitely starting to feel warm all over.

Muttering that he needed a shower first, he didn’t have to ask twice. Rong Xu immediately carried him to the bathroom.

From washing his hair to drying his back and blow-drying his hair, Rong Xu tended to him with meticulous care.

Now lying on the bed in fresh pajamas, Chi Han poked Rong Xu with his toes and murmured stickily, “Go take a shower, okay? I’m fine now.”

If you don’t go shower, how am I supposed to set things up?

Rong Xu had no idea what Chi Han was plotting. After confirming he truly seemed fine, he grabbed fresh clothes and headed to wash up.

The moment Chi Han heard the shower start, he flipped out of bed and opened the drawer beside it.

As expected of the assistant, they got exactly what I imagined!

Chi Han quickly changed, fumbling with the buttons as his head swam a little.

He’d originally planned to give Rong Xu this gift in a few days, but tonight, Rong Xu had clearly been genuinely upset.

He had to comfort him properly.

Just imagining how Rong Xu might react made Chi Han’s fingertips grow cold with nerves.

Was Rong Xu going to like the gift he’d prepared?

…

After turning off the water, Rong Xu paused and listened intently to the silence outside. No sound. He assumed Chi Han must’ve already fallen asleep.

Drying his hair with a towel, he carefully opened the bathroom door, only to be swallowed by sudden darkness.

Rong Xu’s brows drew together, and he stayed still at the threshold.

Did Chi Han turn off the lights?

He slowly walked toward the bed, reaching out with one hand to feel.

But the bed was empty.

The realization sent a chill straight through him, his expression turning cold in an instant.

A second later, a warm body pressed against his tense back.

The familiar scent washed over him, and his muscles relaxed on instinct.

“Chi Han? Your head doesn’t hurt? Why are you standing on the floor…”

Rong Xu turned to pull him into an embrace, but Chi Han slipped out of his arms like a fish, coaxing him to sit down on the bed. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Rong Xu’s neck, whispering in a husky voice unlike his usual tone, “Sit still. I have a gift for you.”

Rong Xu could see nothing but blackness, only the faint outline of Chi Han’s figure. And it looked like he wasn’t wearing the same pajamas as before.

Something clicked. Rong Xu’s throat moved in a quiet swallow as his fingers clenched into the bedsheet.

Chi Han stepped back a few paces and switched on a small hidden light he’d prepared earlier.

The light wasn’t bright. If anything, it was dim and moody, casting a shadowed glow around Chi Han.

Half-revealed, half-concealed in the haze.

Yet Rong Xu saw clearly, in an instant, what Chi Han was now wearing.

His heartbeat raced as blood surged downward.

Chi Han switched on the mini speaker, and a teasing melody began to flow, stirring the mood between them with ease.

The alcohol was starting to hit. He touched his heated ear tip, mentally recalling the movements he’d studied.

His fingertip skimmed his lower lip, traced along his jawline, down his slender neck, and paused at the button of his shirt collar.

Moving with the rhythm, he gently swayed his body and tilted his head back, exposing the vulnerable line of his throat.

A flick of his finger—click—the top button came undone, revealing the elegant curve of his collarbone.

Rong Xu tilted his head slightly, shadows pooling in his eyes, his breath quickening, voice low and deep with heat:

“Keep going.”

Chi Han glanced down at him, lips tugging upward into a smirk—equal parts provocation and invitation. With a flourish of his fingers, he reached the second button. Then the third.

Through the movement, a glimpse of pale skin and a subtle point on his chest came into view.

Every detail struck directly at Rong Xu’s nerves. His throat bobbed visibly, long legs crossed, fingers drumming restlessly on his knee. But then, Chi Han stopped.

Trailing his right hand along his side, he lifted the hem of his shirt and with a soft click, unfastened his belt.

The sound was like a whip striking the soul, making one shiver uncontrollably.

Rong Xu took a deep breath, a fire igniting across his body like a blaze sweeping through the plains.

Chi Han lightly licked the pad of his left index finger. With a gentle flick of his right hand, the sleek black pants slipped down his hips, barely hanging on, revealing the dark fabric underneath.

Rong Xu slowly closed his eyes, feeling that the calm rationality he had upheld for years stood no chance in the face of such a scene.

Chi Han gradually approached, his long legs folding as he knelt on Rong Xu’s thighs. His voice carried an endless allure, and the delayed effect of the alcohol flushed his face like a peach blossom; even his breath carried a dizzying intoxication:

“Rong Xu, the rest… you help me…”

Rong Xu gripped Chi Han’s waist, slowly raising his gaze.

In his eyes was a madness and desire that Chi Han had never seen before.

He suddenly let out a low laugh, pushing the man down into the thick carpet beneath them.

Rong Xu’s burning palm caressed Chi Han’s cheek, his movements growing increasingly unrestrained.

He bit down on Chi Han’s Adam’s apple, licking over it repeatedly, tearing away every last shred of pretense.

“Chi Han… mine. I really want to lock you up here, so only I can see you…”

Chi Han shivered at the touch of his fingers, involuntarily arching his body.

Before he could say anything, he was swept into an endless wave of scorching heat.

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