The bedroom was steeped in an intimate haze, the atmosphere pushed to its peak.
Ji Zhouye pinched his chin, forcing the man beneath him to meet his gaze, not allowing him to dodge.
“Shen Li, look me in the eyes and tell me—who am I?”
Sweat dampened the loose strands of hair on his forehead. Shen Li’s eyes were red at the corners as he struggled to suppress the desire in them, remaining silent, unwilling to answer directly.
When no answer came, Ji Zhouye’s voice dropped, hoarse and threatening. “Say it.”
Shen Li frowned, breathing ragged. “Ji Zhouye.”
“Why didn’t you sleep with Sheng Wan today?”
Meeting Ji Zhouye’s lust-filled gaze, Shen Li shot back, “Why would I sleep with her?”
“Aren’t you desperate?”
“Well, isn’t President Ji here to help take care of my needs?” Shen Li said coolly. “Compared to others, I prefer President Ji’s skills in bed.”
Ji Zhouye raised an eyebrow slightly. “Let’s see how long you can keep that mouth tough. If you cry and beg even once tonight, I’ll look down on you.”
His lips came down, sealing Shen Li’s mouth, plunging deep into a tangled kiss.
A moment later, Ji Zhouye pulled back, his voice low and husky. “How do you want me to do it?”
Shen Li clenched his teeth. “Ji Zhouye, you won’t die if you don’t talk.”
“But you will if I don’t fuck you.”
Shen Li: “……”
That night was even more intense than the previous one. Ji Zhouye used up the entire box of protection.
Unlike last time, Ji Zhouye didn’t disregard him completely. He was patient with the foreplay, carefully observing Shen Li’s expressions as desire overtook him.
When it was over, it was two in the morning. Ji Zhouye left the bedroom.
Shen Li was exhausted, yet unable to sleep. Leaning against the headboard, he smoked, and his gaze accidentally fell on the used items in the trash can. His lashes trembled.
The more he thought about it, the darker his expression became. He dialed Ling Feng.
On the other end came a groggy, half-asleep voice.
Shen Li opened his mouth and cursed, “Are you sick in the head?! Damn you—why the hell did you stuff that thing into my pocket?!”
“What?” Ling Feng said. “You mean the condoms? I found out Sheng Wan’s private life is messy. I told you to take precautions so you wouldn’t catch something.”
“Get the hell out,” Shen Li snapped and hung up, tossing his phone aside.
If he had to give one, one would’ve been enough. Why give him a whole box and let him get pressed down and tormented for so long?
But it wasn’t really Ling Feng’s fault. Ling Feng had assumed Shen Li would be the one on top—no one expected he’d be the one getting fucked.
Ji Zhouye came upstairs carrying a bowl of noodles and set it on the table. “Eat.”
Shen Li glanced at it. “Not hungry.”
“Hurry up. Don’t dawdle.” Ji Zhouye shoved the chopsticks into his hand.
After all, having put him through that much, Ji Zhouye still softened in the end.
Shen Li saying he wasn’t hungry was a lie. He hadn’t eaten dinner, and after going until dawn, his energy was long depleted.
He got out of bed, sat on the chair, and ate slowly, while Ji Zhouye sat nearby watching him.
“They say President Ji is cold and ruthless, merciless in his methods. Who would’ve thought you’d cook a bowl of noodles afterward?” Perhaps because of the intimacy of the night, Shen Li felt less resistant and spoke without thinking.
A faint smile curved Shen Li’s lips. “It’s pretty good. Just like before.”
Ji Zhouye kicked the leg of the chair. “Don’t talk to me about the past.”
Shen Li nearly got kicked off the chair.
He understood boundaries well enough. If Ji Zhouye didn’t want to hear it, he wouldn’t mention it. He wisely shut up.
After finishing the noodles, Shen Li said, “Get me some clothes.”
He’d sweated a lot—it felt sticky and uncomfortable.
Ji Zhouye shot him a glance.
Shen Li realized his tone sounded like an order. Right now, he was the one being ordered.
And Ji Zhouye was the one paying.
How could he order the one paying?
If Ji Zhouye wanted to, Jiangqing Group could collapse tomorrow.
“President Ji, you brought me here directly. I don’t have any clean clothes.”
Ji Zhouye took out a set of pajamas and a pair of underwear from the wardrobe and tossed them to him.
After showering, he felt refreshed. When he came out of the bathroom, Ji Zhouye was changing the bedsheets.
The previous ones had been ruined.
Shen Li fell asleep the moment he hit the bed. Ji Zhouye turned off the room lights, leaving only a warm-colored floor lamp.
He didn’t sleep. He sat on the chair beside the bed, watching the man lying there.
He looked more mature—and thinner.
He’d always been slim, but not this thin.
After an unknown amount of time, Ji Zhouye turned off the last remaining lamp, lay down beside him, and pulled him into his arms.
All the unspoken emotions surfaced in that moment. He wanted to hold him tighter, yet feared waking him and letting him discover the feelings he was struggling to restrain.
Shen Li woke at six, his mind much clearer.
Night made people indulgent.
Now that he was sober, he knew exactly what he wanted—
To preserve his father’s life’s work.
Shen Li left the estate. The three hundred million Ji Zhouye had given him was left on the bedside table.
When Ji Zhouye woke up, the spot beside him was already empty.
On the bedside table lay the card with three hundred million and a note.
I did what you said. Don’t touch Jiangqing. I’m begging you.
Words like begging were something Shen Li would rather die than say in the past.
But the pressure of reality and his current circumstances had taught him how to beg. The once proud, unruly youth had become smooth and adaptable—saying whatever was needed. Compared to Jiangqing’s financial crisis, his pride meant nothing.
Ji Zhouye was forced by his family to go on a blind date.
Sitting in a café, staring at the man across from him, his face darkened completely.
Seeing his grim expression, the man opposite coughed nervously and introduced himself awkwardly. “Hello, my name is Lin Xi. Your… blind date.”
“We’re not compatible.” Ji Zhouye didn’t even introduce himself. He dropped the words and walked out.
Outside the café, Ji Zhouye called He Ya.
The call connected. “My precious son, what is it?”
“A male blind date?” Ji Zhouye pinched the bridge of his nose.
A mother setting her son up with a male blind date—this was explosive even by blind-date standards.
“Your brother said you like men,” He Ya replied. “I figured it was true. You never meet the girls I introduce.”
Ji Zhouye: “……”
“Tell Ji Zhiyu he won’t get a single cent from me this month.”
He Ya laughed. “Don’t be so fierce. Let Mom ask you one last question, okay? Don’t get mad.”
“Ask.” Ji Zhouye’s sixth sense told him it wouldn’t be a good one.
“Are you the top or the bottom?”
Ji Zhouye: “……”
Listening to the busy tone after the call ended, He Ya muttered softly, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t get angry…”
With the Shengyang Group cooperation gone, Shen Li could only think of other ways.
Ling Feng had no idea why Shen Li was looking at him like he wanted to stab him. “President Shen, don’t look at me like that… I’m scared…”
Shen Li grabbed a document and threw it at him. “It’s all because of you—”
Ling Feng caught it, neatly整理 the scattered papers, and put them back on the desk. “Because of me what?”
Because your boss’s entire body hurts.
“Nothing.” Shen Li leaned back tiredly and pressed his temples. “Get out.”
Ling Feng assumed Shen Li was in a bad mood over the failed Shengyang deal. “Call me if you need anything, President Shen.”
He said nothing more and left the office.
In the year since returning to the country, despite living in the same city, Shen Li hadn’t seen Ji Zhouye even once—not even by chance. Their encounter during the negotiation had been the first time.
The once aloof, unsmiling boy had matured, his features sharper and more severe.
He had imagined countless reunion scenarios—
Never did he imagine it would be in bed.