By the time Shen Li reacted, he jumped up and ran to the floor-to-ceiling window. Looking down, he saw a familiar figure standing beside a business car, the glow of a phone screen visible in their hand.
His restless heart instantly calmed at the sight of that figure.
A curve formed at the corner of his lips. “Wait for me.”
The time in the elevator felt like centuries to Shen Li.
The numbers on the display flicked by; as the countdown began, his heart raced faster.
When the elevator doors opened, he ran straight toward Ji Zhouye.
Stopping in front of him, breath uneven, he asked, “Why are you here?”
A faint scent of alcohol drifted into his nose. “Drank?”
Ji Zhouye: “You’re smoking; it stinks.”
Shen Li felt a bit embarrassed. He’d smoked too much tonight, and the smell clung to him.
The mingling of faint alcohol and tobacco made the air intoxicating.
“Go home.”
Ji Zhouye first slid into the car; Shen Li followed and sat beside him, the partition between the front and back seats lowered.
Shen Li felt inexplicably nervous. The lowered partition made his thoughts wander.
He usually put on a confident, flirtatious front, experienced in matters of affection, but deep down, he was as nervous as a love-struck novice.
In the confined space, he imagined an intimate scene that never happened. Shen Li drew a deep breath, forcing himself to abandon those unrealistic thoughts.
When Ji Zhouye glanced at him, he noticed a faint blush on Shen Li’s ear. If it weren’t for what had happened on the bed before, he might have been fooled by Shen Li’s outwardly confident demeanor.
A subtle curve formed at Ji Zhouye’s lips, fleeting but noticeable.
Shen Li didn’t notice, but when his eyes met Ji Zhouye’s deep gaze, his breath hitched.
The tight space made him uneasy. Normally, he might handle it better—but today, his mind had gone wild just at the sight of the lowered partition.
The look in Ji Zhouye’s eyes seemed to see through everything, which made him even more embarrassed.
Shen Li squirmed uncomfortably. “How did you know I hadn’t gone home yet?”
Leaning lazily against the seat with his long legs crossed, Ji Zhouye tried to appear casual.
“Your assistant.”
Shen Li: “…Assistant?”
Ling Feng?
When had Ling Feng been recruited by Ji Zhouye?
“Why would he tell you?” Shen Li thought. If this was serious, he’d fire him first thing Monday.
Ji Zhouye: “I asked.”
“Why ask?” Shen Li stared intently, hoping to find a crack in his expression, any sign that he still cared.
But there was none. Nothing at all on Ji Zhouye’s face.
“No reason,” Ji Zhouye said calmly. “Why aren’t you going home after work?”
Thinking of Ji Zhouye staying at the club so long, Shen Li felt a tight knot in his chest.
He turned to look out the car window and muttered, “That’s your home, not mine.”
His words carried a bit of discomfort, though not inaccurate. The estate wasn’t his home; he was just a temporary resident when Ji Zhouye needed him.
When the day comes that Ji Zhouye finds someone else, someone more suitable, Shen Li would leave.
So, this isn’t home—not now, not necessarily in the future.
The cramped space reeked of jealousy. Shen Li might not have realized it, but his plaintive expression revealed everything.
Time changes people, but some things can’t be altered.
Even after all this time, a single expression could reveal the person from back then.
What was uncertain was whether his jealousy stemmed from affection or mere possessiveness.
Ji Zhouye looked away. “Why dwell on this? Does it really matter to you whether it is or isn’t?”
Shen Li let out a quiet laugh, looking annoyingly casual. “Of course it matters. You are you, I am me. Your possessions have nothing to do with me.”
At the moment Ji Zhouye appeared downstairs, he had been secretly happy. Talking like this, he admitted, was surprisingly satisfying.
He turned irritably to offer Ji Zhouye his back. “Don’t talk to me.”
The fiery tension made him forget who was really in charge. Dare to speak to Ji Zhouye like that? He must be out of his mind.
Shen Li adjusted his position, trying to get comfortable, secretly checking if Ji Zhouye was angry.
After all, this person beside him could completely destroy Jiangqing with just a finger.
He straightened up unnaturally and rubbed his nose. “I was just joking.”
Knowing Ji Zhouye, he probably wouldn’t be petty enough to destroy Jiangqing over one remark.
Ji Zhouye closed his eyes, pretending to nap, ignoring him.
The whole ride, Shen Li was restless, wanting to say something, but seeing Ji Zhouye’s disinterested look, he kept quiet.
Over and over, he struggled to speak but never managed a word.
Eventually, he began to complain internally: if Ji Zhouye wasn’t doing anything, why lower the partition and cause misunderstandings?
Seeing no movement from Ji Zhouye, Shen Li leaned closer, tracing his features.
Long dark lashes, sharp contours, a smooth jawline… his gaze lingered on the protruding Adam’s apple. Shen Li swallowed unconsciously.
Suddenly, a sharp brake threw him forward, and his head bumped against Ji Zhouye’s chest. He wasn’t sure if Ji Zhouye felt it, but his own head certainly hurt.
Looking up into Ji Zhouye’s eyes, Shen Li felt utterly embarrassed—a sudden brake had revealed all his little thoughts.
Driver: “Mr. Ji, sorry, an electric car ran the red light.”
Ji Zhouye: “It’s fine.”
Using that moment, Shen Li moved slightly away from him.
Ji Zhouye glanced over, eyes dark. “Why pull away? Think I’ll eat you?”
“About the same.”
Shen Li barely finished speaking when Ji Zhouye’s figure leaned over him, exuding his crisp aura.
Before he could react, Ji Zhouye grabbed his jaw and kissed him.
Along with the tension came sweetness. Ji Zhouye pursued him deeply; he dodged, he chased.
The awkward atmosphere instantly reached the height of intimacy.
Hands caressed, lips licked and sucked.
Shen Li hooked his arms around Ji Zhouye’s neck, tilting his head to respond.
He was dazed from the kiss—he didn’t know how they got out of the car, back to the estate, ending up on the bedroom bed.
Their eyes reddened; shirts came off. But just as they were about to go further, Ji Zhouye got up and headed to the bathroom.
Shen Li, lost in desire, realized only then. He shouted after Ji Zhouye: “Ji Zhouye, damn it, are you… not working?”
The last two times had been fine…
Why now the “not working” act?
Did he take drugs the first two times? Didn’t take any today, so it didn’t work?
If it doesn’t work, don’t tease people like that. Is there no humanity?
Shen Li clicked his back molars together. “Damn.”
At the bathroom door, he kicked it lightly. “Ji Zhouye, next time just say it straight if you can’t. I won’t mock you.”