The bed was covered in flower petals.
Liu Xiangyi’s footsteps faltered, and his left eyelid gave a nervous twitch. Bracing himself with a mask of feigned composure, he teased as he walked further into the room:
“Just where is President Zhong finding these ‘couple’s strategies’? Why are they all so improper?”
Zhong Qinhuai replied languidly, “How is it improper? This post has over a hundred thousand likes. It says this is a practical guide specifically designed to enhance emotional intimacy.”
At this, his narrow phoenix eyes darted toward Liu Xiangyi, dark and inscrutable.
“The post also mentions that if a partner is only willing to go out for food, drinks, and movies but refuses this final step, they’re likely just ‘stringing the other person along’ and aren’t sincere about the relationship.”
Liu Xiangyi: “…”
Why did he feel a sudden, inexplicable pang of guilt?
But recalling last night’s experience, the fact that this brat had absolutely no clue how two men actually did it, Liu Xiangyi’s panic vanished instantly. He turned to face Zhong Qinhuai, his gaze flashing with a mix of provocation and hidden meaning.
“President Zhong, are you even capable?”
Zhong Qinhuai’s expression shifted for a fraction of a second before he replied with breezy nonchalance, “Whether I am or not—won’t you find out once we try?”
He arched an eyebrow at Liu Xiangyi. “Or is President Liu simply afraid?”
Liu Xiangyi: “…”
Fine. The contest is on again.
Liu Xiangyi let out a snort. “I’m brave enough, I just wonder if President Zhong has what it takes.”
Last night proved that when it came to intimacy, Zhong Qinhuai was a complete blank slate. Liu Xiangyi even suspected the guy didn’t know how to use a condom. He was that much of an amateur.
Liu Xiangyi planned to sit back and watch so he could ruthlessly mock him later.
Ten minutes later, Liu Xiangyi walked into the room to find the bed carpeted in rose petals. It was, as it turned out, a “themed” lovers’ hotel.
Liu Xiangyi: “…”
Unexpected, yet somehow entirely on brand. He could still sleep here, provided he swept those petals off the bed first.
Action followed thought.
Liu Xiangyi walked over and prepared to shake out the duvet to clear the petals, but then his eyes caught a display cabinet above the headboard. It was made of transparent glass and showcased whips, candles, toys, and an assortment of various “lifestyle” accessories.
Furthermore, Zhong Qinhuai seemed to have discovered it even earlier. He was currently studying a pair of delicate, silver handcuffs. After a moment of research, he turned to look at Liu Xiangyi.
That ghostly gaze landed squarely on Liu Xiangyi’s wrists.
The intensity of the stare made Liu Xiangyi’s brow jump. He continued to shake the petals off the duvet with forced indifference. “President Zhong, normal human couples respect each other’s wishes. You understand that, right?”
Catching the subtext, a flash of playfulness crossed Zhong Qinhuai’s eyes. He toyed idly with the handcuffs, drawing out his words: “Oh? So, President Liu is too scared to play?”
This time, Liu Xiangyi didn’t fall for the bait. “President Zhong, normal human couples take things one step at a time. Trying this on the second day of dating, don’t you think that’s a bit excessive?”
Zhong Qinhuai glanced at Liu Xiangyi’s wrists. They were pale and slender, yet the way he snapped the duvet indicated they were far from weak; they held a vibrant, hidden strength. They were also marked by a faint, lingering red line—perfectly suited for those silver cuffs.
But since Liu Xiangyi wasn’t interested, Zhong Qinhuai put them back with a touch of regret and moved on to study the other items.
These were things he had never seen before. Initially, he researched them with genuine interest, until the sound of the shower began to hiss from the bathroom. Zhong Qinhuai couldn’t help but steal a glance.
The bathroom was made of frosted glass, making it difficult to see clearly, but through the swirling steam, he could make out a vague silhouette. Tall, slender, and radiating a soft, translucent whiteness.
Zhong Qinhuai’s breathing hitched. With an effort, he tore his gaze away and refocused on the display cabinet.
Yet the sound of the water persisted, rhythmic and clear through the glass door. To Zhong Qinhuai, the water felt like fire. It spread from the bathroom to his own skin; the temperature in the bedroom seemed to rise, and his body grew inexplicably warm.
He lost all interest in the trinkets in his hand and tossed a candle back into the case. His fingers tapped lightly against the glass as he pulled out his phone to look something up.
A moment later, the bathroom door clicked open. Liu Xiangyi emerged, and seeing Zhong Qinhuai hunched over his phone again, his heart skipped a beat. He walked over while drying his hair.
“President Zhong, you aren’t looking up more ‘strategies,’ are you?”
Zhong Qinhuai waved the phone languidly. “Of course. I’ve prepared a few other activities. I wouldn’t want you to find the long night boring, President Liu.”
Liu Xiangyi’s hand paused on his towel. He looked up with a smile that carried a hint of gritted teeth. “Then, should I thank you?”
Zhong Qinhuai laughed, set the phone down, and stood to head toward the bathroom. As he passed Liu Xiangyi, he paused to press a kiss to his lips.
“You really should. After all,” He leaned in, whispering against Liu Xiangyi’s ear with a chuckle, “A boyfriend as dedicated to ‘research’ as I am is hard to find.”
This brat!
Liu Xiangyi fumed silently at his retreating back. He spent the next twenty minutes in a state of restless unease, wondering what kind of trouble the ghost was cooking up this time.
Finally, he got his answer.
Zhong Qinhuai emerged in a grey hotel robe and sat beside him. Browsing through his phone, he said casually, “The guide says that watching a movie together before bed helps promote emotional bonding.”
A question mark slowly formed in Liu Xiangyi’s mind. Didn’t we just watch a movie?
Before he could work it out, Zhong Qinhuai leaned in closer so Liu Xiangyi could see the screen. It seemed he really just wanted to watch another movie on the phone. If it was that simple, it wasn’t an unacceptable request.
Liu Xiangyi let out a sigh of relief.
Then, Zhong Qinhuai tapped the screen. The movie began. The opening scene featured two men stumbling through a bedroom door, locked in a heated kiss as they moved toward the bed.
Liu Xiangyi: “?”
I knew it! Celebrating too early was a mistake. It’s impossible for this guy not to stir the pot!
Then another thought hit him: why was Zhong Qinhuai watching this kind of “adult romance” with him in the middle of the night? Could it be.
Noticing Liu Xiangyi’s flickering expressions, Zhong Qinhuai smiled and arched an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say I wasn’t ‘capable,’ President Liu? So, I found some material to study. The guide says researching together improves a couple’s compatibility in bed.”
Liu Xiangyi: “…”
If it was just watching, he suppose it was fine. Considering the jade was still in the brat’s hands, Liu Xiangyi played along and kept watching. On the screen, one man was pushed onto the bed while the other began to undress.
At the climax, the phone screen suddenly hissed with static. The image went black.
Liu Xiangyi: “?”
He turned to see Zhong Qinhuai calmly putting the phone away. “Since the phone is broken, we’ll save it for next time.”
Liu Xiangyi: “??”
Letting me off that easily? That’s not like him at all.
Just as Liu Xiangyi was about to ask what his real game was, Zhong Qinhuai lay down, hands folded over his stomach in the perfect pose of a sleeping beauty.
Liu Xiangyi: “???”
Though confused, he was happy to see the activity end. He didn’t press for answers. He reached out and killed the lights.
The room plunged into darkness. As Liu Xiangyi prepared to lie down, his elbow brushed against a switch. He didn’t notice it at first, but the moment he fully reclined, his body stiffened.
This was one of those legendary waterbeds.
It swayed gently and slowly in the dark room, making faint, rhythmic sounds like spring water rippling in circles. It was, admittedly, very comfortable.
Liu Xiangyi enjoyed the sensation at first, but as the bed swayed, it gradually drifted their bodies together. He took a deep breath, attempting to steady himself so he wouldn’t slide toward Zhong Qinhuai, but the bed moved like rolling waves, pushing him steadily in the ghost’s direction.
Another wave surged, nudging Liu Xiangyi further. This time, he unexpectedly bumped into something cool and firm. He turned over to find himself pressed against Zhong Qinhuai’s chest.
Zhong Qinhuai had turned over at some point and was staring at him silently.
Perhaps because Liu Xiangyi had turned so abruptly, Zhong Qinhuai hadn’t had time to hide his expression. Liu Xiangyi had seen him being passive-aggressive, nonchalant, or mocking many times.
But for the first time, Liu Xiangyi realized that Zhong Qinhuai could look at him with a gaze like this.
It was softer even than the moonlight outside the window.