PTBC chapter 60

More than half an hour later, Xia Yan lay on the bed, exposing a section of his snow-white waist. He was lying across the bed, with his neck arched back like a swan, a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, and a look of dazed pleasure on his face.

If he just lit a cigarette now, it would be the perfect post-intimacy moment.

From the bathroom, the sound of water splashing could be heard.

After a while, the sound of water stopped, and Xu Cong came out.

Xia Yan couldn’t help but fix his gaze on him.

Xu Cong had washed his face, and water droplets rolled down his chiseled face. He looked like a work of art, with his fair skin, long eyelashes, and pale lips. He had the appearance of someone who was cold and full of aggression, but the way he had just leaned down to wrap his mouth around Xia Yan…….

It was filled with temptation, much like the god of lust.

Stop it.

Xia Yan ordered himself.

He closed his eyes, forcing himself to shift his gaze to the ceiling.

But it didn’t help. Xu Cong sat beside him, took one of his hands, and leaned down to kiss him again.

Xia Yan’s eyelashes fluttered, just enough to brush Xu Cong’s face.

This kiss was far more gentle than the previous one, and much more affectionate.

Like a perfect afternoon, resting under a tree in the shade, drifting into a short nap.

Delicate, intimate.

Xia Yan’s eyelashes trembled, and his heart seemed to race, making his fingertips tremble as well.

When Xu Cong finally pulled away, Xia Yan stared at him for a while.

Xu Cong looked back at him, a smile hidden in his eyes. Despite rushing to catch a flight and not having rested all day, he didn’t seem tired at all.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, playing with the ends of Xia Yan’s permed hair, soft and curly, wrapping around his fingers like a little tail. He smiled and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Xia Yan didn’t reply.

He thought about Zong Yi’s words earlier, about the strange videos he had sent him just now.

And now, the living, breathing, and domineering Xu Cong, who had invaded his life and was doing whatever he pleased.

All these things were crammed into his mind, pushing him to the brink of explosion.

He couldn’t help but wonder if he and Xu Cong should continue like this.

He had allowed Xu Cong’s kisses and hugs, the two of them secretly being together behind the other teammates’ backs, without any conclusion, without any deadline. Would they just keep entangling like this, endlessly?

This couldn’t go on.

Just like Zong Yi had said.

Sooner or later, Xu Cong wouldn’t be satisfied with this shallow relationship and would want more.

Like just now, Xu Cong had already done something beyond the scope of their agreement.

Xia Yan shuddered.

He stared at Xu Cong, his gaze filled with mixed emotions.

He had never been in a relationship, and he couldn’t be as indifferent as Zong Yi, casually getting together with a teammate.

Let’s not mention others, how would Bai Yu and his teammates look at him if they found out? A relationship within the team? What kind of strong heart would be able to handle that?

And besides, this was Xu Cong!

The chances of breaking up in a relationship were high, and even though Xia Yan had never been in one, he had seen countless love stories, witnessed all kinds of heartbroken lovers. He didn’t love Xu Cong to the point of life or death, and even if they forced themselves to be together, it might not last.

It was worse.

No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t seem as secure as staying good friends for life.

Xia Yan swallowed nervously.

Earlier, he had mocked Zong Yi, refusing with a coy attitude, only to get himself into this passive situation.

But looking at himself now, he seemed no better than Zong Yi.

He was just as tangled up, just as conflicted.

“Xu Cong.”

Xia Yan suddenly called out.

“Hmm?”

Xu Cong lowered his head to look at him.

Xia Yan had a serious expression, but when he met Xu Cong’s eyes, he felt inexplicably guilty.

But his lips moved, and he said, “Shouldn’t our relationship have a deadline?”

Xu Cong narrowed his eyes slightly. “What do you mean?”

Xia Yan became even more flustered under his gaze, that familiar look.

Every time Xu Cong threatened him about going abroad, it was always this expression. But after thinking about Zong Yi’s outcome, he sat up straight and began to negotiate with Xu Cong.

“Don’t play dumb,” he pinched Xu Cong, “You’ve gotten your kisses and hugs from me, and I’ve agreed to them, but you can’t keep doing this forever, can you? I’ve already taken a step back, but you have to give me a deadline, right? How long do we need to keep this kind of relationship before you’re satisfied?”

Xu Cong’s gaze fell on Xia Yan’s face, then slowly traced down to his lips.

Xia Yan’s lips were still swollen, and his collarbone had marks from his kisses, but now he was negotiating.

A deadline?

The very idea of it made Xu Cong laugh. A deadline? The only deadline he accepted was a lifetime with Xia Yan.

Xu Cong didn’t speak, merely looking at Xia Yan, making him feel uneasy and restless.

“Go on.”

Xia Yan panicked and pinched Xu Cong again. “You can’t take advantage of me like this,” But then, he started to give in, unintentionally compromising. “How about six months? If not, a year? Any more than that is really too much. You don’t know how close Xiao Ning almost caught us that day. I felt like I was going to die. Don’t make me keep living in constant fear… Besides, there are other omegas in the world. You don’t need to tie yourself to me forever.”

Xu Cong almost laughed out loud.

Listen to that.

If Xia Yan were in charge of negotiations, he’d probably reveal his cards in the first round.

Normally, Xia Yan was a sharp person, fighting for the team’s interests, but in front of him, he was completely defenseless.

Xu Cong looked at Xia Yan as if seeing someone guarding a mountain of gold but being so generous with it.

Even though he was forcefully taking what he wanted, invading relentlessly, Xia Yan would still open up to him.

Unfortunately, he was an insatiable gambler.

Xia Yan was already in such a difficult position, so passive. Xu Cong could easily take his time, like boiling a frog in warm water, going along with Xia Yan’s wishes, pretending to be friendlier, and eventually make Xia Yan fall into his arms without realizing it. But instead, he chose to push forward.

He still felt it was too slow.

He had waited for too many years, and now his desires were insatiable.

He wanted Xia Yan to wake up from his dreams immediately and confirm his feelings for him.

Xu Cong caught Xia Yan, his fingers brushing over Xia Yan’s rosy lips before gently kissing him.

Very lightly.

Extremely gentle, lingering, again and again, as if kissing a warm little kitten.

“Your request is too hard to fulfill,” he mumbled between kisses, his voice low, “I don’t know how long it will take for me to be satisfied. I think about kissing you, owning you, possessing you every day. One or two years is definitely not enough, even ten years would be hard, twenty years would be passable…”

Xia Yan’s face darkened as he listened.

He reached out to pinch Xu Cong.

But Xu Cong pulled him into his arms, resting his chin on Xia Yan’s shoulder, leaning against him, as intimate as if whispering sweet words.

“But maybe, next month, I can let you go.”

Xia Yan froze. “What do you mean?”

Xu Cong loosened his grip slightly, meeting Xia Yan’s gaze.

He said calmly, “Next month, I’ve taken time off to go to Pinggang for a few days. My great-uncle is celebrating his 80th birthday and asked for all the younger generation to attend. Since I didn’t go home for the New Year, my parents and older brother haven’t seen me in a while, so they insisted that I show up.”

At first, Xia Yan felt anxious, thinking Xu Cong was about to leave again.

But when he heard the rest, he let out a sigh of relief. It made sense—it was a legitimate reason to visit his great-uncle for his birthday and reunite with his family.

But he still didn’t understand the connection to Xu Cong’s previous words.

Then, he heard Xu Cong continue, “When I go back, my family wants to introduce me to an omega. I’ve heard we have a 90% compatibility match, which is considered a very rare match, so my parents are very eager for me to meet him.”

Xia Yan felt a sudden emptiness in his chest.

For a moment, he couldn’t process the words, staring at Xu Cong blankly.

Xu Cong, meanwhile, brushed the short hair at Xia Yan’s ear and twirled his fingers at the tips.

He then said, “I didn’t want to meet him at first, but you’re right—there are so many omegas in the world, and it’s possible there’s one who’s a better fit for me. A 90% compatibility rate may not be enough to resist someone with a 100% match. I’ve heard he’s a nice guy, just graduated. If I meet him and feel something for him, maybe I’ll be able to move on from my unrequited love for you. You’ll be able to be free of me. It’ll be a happy ending for both of us, right?”

Right.

Xia Yan thought, indeed, if an omega really appeared and shifted Xu Cong’s affections, the problem he had been struggling with would be solved immediately.

But his lips moved, and inside, he felt blank, his mind clouded and confused, unsure of what to do.

He could only subconsciously nod in response to Xu Cong.

Xu Cong released Xia Yan’s hair.

He lowered his gaze slightly, hiding his emotions in the dim light. “So, you see, maybe next month, you’ll be free of this awkward relationship.”

He smiled at Xia Yan, “Wish me good luck, I hope I fall in love with that omega at first sight.”

With that, he got off the bed.

He walked to the door and looked back at Xia Yan, who was still sitting on the bed, somewhat stunned.

“Goodnight,” he said to Xia Yan.

With a soft click, the door clicked shut.

The world inside and outside the door was suddenly separated into two different realms.

The corridor outside was pitch dark, only the faint light from the downstairs living room illuminating this small area.

Xu Cong stood in thought for a while, his expression cold in the dimness, but he soon chuckled.

The omega introduction was true.

But it wasn’t anything official, just a casual mention from his parents. The 90% compatibility was something he made up on the spot. In reality, he didn’t know anything about the omega at all, because he had already firmly declined.

But so what?

He wasn’t going to let go of any opportunity.

The quickest way to realize affection was never through gentle guidance but through jealousy.

Affection breeds jealousy.

He had been jealous for so many years, hating all the alphas, omegas, and even betas around Xia Yan.

Occasionally, he also wanted to see Xia Yan show a hint of jealousy.

Just a little would do.

He wasn’t too greedy.