Their eyes locked. The corners of the mouth of Shi Yu twitched, and his gaze gradually darkened. He understood that Duan Jinghuai suspected him of having an affair with Hao Shuai. He wondered if the man had rushed into his company early in the morning in a fit of rage just to interrogate him about this. He questioned if Duan Jinghuai actually cared or if the man simply hated sharing prey with those close to him.
The thought of being prey made Shi Yu feel as if he were being treated with a laughable lack of respect. His silence acted like a blade stabbing into the heart of Duan Jinghuai. With a dark, smoldering fire in his eyes, Duan Jinghuai reached out and pinched the chin of Shi Yu. He asked with a mocking tone if Shi Yu had slept with Hao Shuai.
The palms of Shi Yu were damp with sweat. He felt as if something within him had shattered, and the pain gnawed at his soul. He clenched his fingers and met the gaze of the man without flinching while offering a naive smile. He asked what if he did and reminded the man he previously made it clear it was just for fun. He asked if President Duan was expecting him to take responsibility.
The initial question from Duan Jinghuai had been a reckless probe, but the indirect admission from Shi Yu set him ablaze with fury. With a grim face, he leaned down and bit the lips of Shi Yu. The movement was fierce and overbearing as his tongue swept across the mouth of Shi Yu and stripped him of his breath.
Shi Yu could feel the rage because this kiss was more violent than any before. He was pressed back into his chair, and his lips were numbed by the biting while a faint taste of blood filled his mouth. He struggled to breathe and bit back hard. Duan Jinghuai narrowed his eyes and pulled back slightly. A streak of bright red blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He gave a cold, dismissive scoff and wiped it away with the back of his hand while asking if that was how Hao Shuai kissed him.
The lips of Shi Yu were stained a deep crimson. He tilted his head back as a flush spread across his pale skin and his nose and ears tinged with red. Beneath those scholarly glasses, his eyes shimmered with moisture. He panted heavily while his chest rose and fell beneath his thin shirt.
The Adam’s apple of Duan Jinghuai moved. He leaned against the edge of the desk, pulled the chair of Shi Yu closer, and snatched off his glasses. He gripped the back of the head of Shi Yu and kissed him again even harder this time. Two heated breaths chased each other like clashing blades as neither side was willing to back down.
The sound of their intimacy filled the quiet office. Duan Jinghuai continued his aggressive assault and asked with a cold laugh if it was fun. Shi Yu laughed too while gripping the collar of Duan Jinghuai with eyes full of provocation. He began to say it was average, but before he could finish, the heat on his lips vanished. He was swept up and placed onto the office desk, which caused files to fall onto the floor.
Feeling the coolness against his back, Shi Yu stared with wide and startled eyes. He noted that they were in the office. Duan Jinghuai gripped the waist of Shi Yu while leaning his forehead against the forehead of the other man. He asked what it mattered and questioned where Hao Shuai had taken him.
The overbearing tongue of Duan Jinghuai cut him off again with possessive intent. Shirt buttons were torn open, and suit trousers were wrinkled. The phone in the pocket of Duan Jinghuai began to ring, but he ignored it as his teeth continued their assault. Light marks remained on the pale skin of Shi Yu from their time at the villa. The gaze of Duan Jinghuai flickered, and he deepened those marks without mercy.
In the high-level meeting room of Jinghang, executives sat around a long table. Assistant Chen anxiously dialed the number of Duan Jinghuai over and over, but there was no answer. Everyone was waiting for him to start the meeting. Amidst the vibrations and the hoarse murmurs of Shi Yu, Duan Jinghuai impatiently turned off his phone and tossed it aside. Even the remaining documents on the desk were soiled.
A wave of heat surged, and the sudden offensive exploded like a lit fuse. The heart of Shi Yu hammered against his ribs as his hands gripped the desk while he felt as though he were drowning. Duan Jinghuai was as aggressive as a wild wolf. The thought of Shi Yu kissing or embracing another man drove him mad. A sense of weightlessness, stronger than eight years ago, pulled him into a desperate descent. His eyes were red, and his control finally snapped.
Eventually, the hoarse and tiny voice of Shi Yu reached the ears of the man as he noted that it hurt. He covered his eyes tightly with his wrist while his body trembled and his voice was full of restrained tears. The mind of Duan Jinghuai went blank. Like a ship hitting a reef, his soul seemed to shatter.
Shi Yu had been pampered since childhood but was stubborn by nature. He would grit his teeth even if he were bleeding. Duan Jinghuai could not stand to see him like this because even if Shi Yu were not in pain, the heart of the man would ache in sympathy. Yet he had been the one to cause the pain.
His reason returned. Duan Jinghuai felt as if sand had been scattered in his throat. He opened his mouth and reached out to grip the palm of Shi Yu while his voice was low and hoarse. The fingertips of Shi Yu were trembling and felt stiff and cold. He slowly moved his wrist away from his eyes and met the gaze of Duan Jinghuai with eyes full of tears.
Duan Jinghuai felt as if his heart were being roasted over a fire. He reflected that he was being a bastard. He sat back in the chair and pulled Shi Yu into his arms while kissing his eyes with a soft and gentle touch to dry the tears. His palm rested on the leg of Shi Yu while the heat of his touch closed in. Shi Yu leaned into the shoulder of the man while his body went soft as the white light from the window stung his eyes.
As the noise in the office subsided into silence, Shi Yu panted against the shoulder of the man. Duan Jinghuai frowned while worried about the health of Shi Yu and whispered a coaxing request to let him see. Shi Yu snapped back to reality, pushed himself up, and kicked Duan Jinghuai. He gritted his teeth and told the man to get out.
Duan Jinghuai entered his own office in silence and ignored the anxious gaze of his assistant as he went straight into his private lounge. He turned on the shower and let the cold water pour over his head. He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall while his Adam’s apple moved. Dozens of minutes later, he emerged in a fresh shirt and dried his hair with a towel.
Assistant Chen mentioned the morning meeting, but Duan Jinghuai replied that he would send an email explaining it later. Assistant Chen nodded and handed over a file from President Xie. Duan Jinghuai frowned with impatience and gave it a cold glance before telling the assistant to leave it there.
Once his assistant left, Duan Jinghuai rubbed his brow. His mind was full of the image of Shi Yu with red-rimmed eyes. He was usually a clear-headed and rational man, yet he repeatedly lost control when it came to Shi Yu. He was still worried. Since he was blocked on WeChat, he opened his SMS app and typed the number he had known for years.
Duan Jinghuai sent a message asking if Shi Yu felt better and if he should take him to the hospital. He stared at the screen and repeatedly checked it. Five minutes passed, and there was no reply. Duan Jinghuai sighed and sent two more messages to apologize and ask the other not to be angry. He suggested they have dinner tonight at a restaurant of the choice of Shi Yu. He noted they should eat something light and that Shi Yu should avoid spicy food for a while.
Shi Yu had just finished tidying himself. He picked up the documents from the floor and shredded the ruined papers. His heart was in a similar state of upheaval. The physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in his heart. His pride would not allow him to show weakness, nor did he dare reveal his feelings to Duan Jinghuai. He could only force himself to stay close while licking his wounds. He began to wonder if he should really continue this.
His phone chimed, and he stared at the messages until his eyes ached. Duan Jinghuai asked Shi Yu not to ignore him and noted he could even curse at him. The man noted he was begging. Shi Yu wondered if the man was this patient and considerate with his other lovers.
Outside the massive glass window, the sunlight was intense. A figure was bathed in the light, and the fire at his fingertips slowly licked a cigarette butt. Smoke rose as Duan Jinghuai leaned against the window with his eyes closed in thought. After a long time, the phone on the desk lit up. Shi Yu had sent a few simple words stating he had plans tonight.
Duan Jinghuai instinctively asked what the plans were and who Shi Yu was meeting. He offered to go with him. Shi Yu replied by asking what exactly Duan Jinghuai wanted. He noted he earned both the Chengzhou and Swan Bay plots with his own ability and owed the man nothing. He stated he was not property and had the right to control his own time.
A chill ran through him as Duan Jinghuai stared at the phone. He asked if Shi Yu wanted to distance himself that badly. This time, Shi Yu remained silent for a long time. He eventually asked what their relationship was. The words were light, yet they hit Duan Jinghuai like a sledgehammer. He realized Shi Yu was right. He wondered what their relationship was. Since the day eight years ago when Shi Yu had left the country without a word, Duan Jinghuai had known the answer. They had no relationship at all.