“Limited to kissing, hand-holding, and that kind of skin-to-skin contact, I really can’t accept anything else. I hope you can agree to this request of mine.”
Lin Ze intertwined his fingers, his index fingers nervously rubbing the back of his hands. He was afraid that the request he had just made would be rejected by Yi Yan.
After all, Yi Yan was the one in control of this situation.
The contract had stated in black and white that both parties were required to fulfill the obligations expected of a couple.
“Fine.”
Lin Ze raised his head abruptly, his ink-black eyes looking at Yi Yan with a trace of surprise.
He had originally expected Yi Yan to find him overly fussy and lecture him for a bit, but he never imagined that Yi Yan would agree so readily!
“Today, let’s start with a kiss.”
Yi Yan buried the tip of his nose against the crook of Lin Ze’s neck and took a deep breath. “You can’t refuse me anymore.”
Lin Ze’s straight back stiffened unnaturally. It felt as though a venomous snake was slithering up his spine, its flickering tongue dripping viscous fluid that threatened to melt right through his back.
“Open your mouth.” Yi Yan’s voice was low and hoarse, carrying an unspeakable, seductive allure.
It was clearly a command, yet it was spoken in an interrogative tone that made anyone feel as though he were granting them a choice.
Yet, did he really have a choice?
He stiffly closed his eyes.
The moment his eyes shut, did he vaguely seem to hear the sound of Yi Yan’s satisfied, soft chuckle by his ear?
During that time, Lin Ze felt as though he had plunged into a dream.
In a dark, chaotic corner, a long snake had invaded his territory.
Brutal and uninhibited, it plundered every corner of the village. Looking at the chaotic ruins, the long snake felt not a shred of guilt; instead, it grew even more arrogant and brazen, deepening its encroachment.
A dream within a dream.
For a long while.
Only then did Yi Yan prop his chin up, his eyes smiling merrily as he used a fork to spear a piece of meat and feed it into Lin Ze’s mouth.
Watching Lin Ze chew the food expressionlessly and in silence, offering no resistance and acting as obedient as a little rabbit, deeply pleased Yi Yan.
Yi Yan held Lin Ze’s hand, pressing a light kiss to the back of his hand.
It was as light as a feather falling onto the back of his hand, leaving a faint, tingling itch.
Seeing Lin Ze’s gloomy, ash-covered expression, Yi Yan parted his thin lips leisurely. “Baby Zeze, you’re just not used to it yet. Once you experience this more often, you naturally won’t resist it as much.”
Lin Ze silently swallowed the food in his mouth.
Let’s hope so.
Time slipped away unnoticeably, bringing the hottest month of summer.
Just as Yi Yan had said, once you experience it more often, you get used to it?
Lin Ze even hypnotized himself into believing it.
A kiss was nothing; it wouldn’t kill him or cause him to lose a pound of flesh. Once his dad’s company returned to normal operations and he managed to raise enough money, he would immediately pay Yi Yan back and end this absurd romance.
Ever since that candlelight dinner, Yi Yan acted as though he were training Lin Ze, pestering him for kisses every single day.
Over time, Lin Ze stopped offering excessive resistance to Yi Yan’s intimate contact, tolerating it at most with lingering internal awkwardness.
“How about we go play at the beach tomorrow? I’ve already planned out your itinerary for the next few days! Going on a trip with Zeze is bound to be a lot of fun.”
After making this suggestion, Yi Yan took an excited sip of his red wine, leaning his head against Lin Ze’s shoulder.
Who would have thought that this romantic moment would be shattered in the very next second by Lin Ze’s words?
“I have classes tomorrow, so I can’t go with you.”
Sure enough, Yi Yan’s smile gradually faded the next second.
“Full day of classes?” Yi Yan asked.
“Right. Full day.” Lin Ze nodded.
“Ask for leave.” Yi Yan didn’t hesitate.
“No. I have to go to class.” Lin Ze shook his head.
“Class? What kind of crappy class is that? Not even accompanying your boyfriend, who else do you want to keep company? Are you going to chat with your professor about literature for all eternity? Do you even understand it?”
Yi Yan’s attitude reverted to the arrogant and overbearing demeanor he had when they first met, acting like an aristocratic second-generation heir skilled in sarcasm.
Lin Ze’s fiery temper flared up as well. “My grades are first in the class, do you think I understand it?”
“Just first in the class,” Yi Yan pouted and muttered, still maintaining a thoroughly dismissive tone.
“Oh, forgot to add, I’m also first in the entire grade!” Lin Ze crossed his arms, lifting his chin triumphantly.
Long-term exposure had slowly made Lin Ze forget his romantic relationship with Yi Yan.
As long as he ignored Yi Yan’s wandering hands and treated it like harmless banter between good buddies, he didn’t actually feel much internal repulsion.
“Well, well, well, look at you looking so pleased with yourself.” Yi Yan pinched Lin Ze’s nose, a gesture full of ambiguous affection.
Lin Ze frowned slightly and turned his head away.
He felt like he was being treated like a young girl, and he really disliked it.
“Then the day after tomorrow. The day after tomorrow is the weekend, surely you won’t tell me you have classes and no free time then?”
“The day after tomorrow?”
Lin Ze dragged out the end of his sentence thoughtfully, leaving Yi Yan’s heart itching with suspense while the inner Yi Yan went wild with secret frustration.
“I seem to have work the day after tomorrow.”
“Work my foot, you’re not allowed to go. Ask for leave!” Yi Yan ground his teeth fiercely. Lin Ze rejected him so ruthlessly every single time; it was so infuriating, he really wanted to bite him!
“But because of you, I’ve already taken three days of leave this month. I can’t ask for any more, my pay will get docked.” Lin Ze sat on the sofa and explained.
“It’s fine, I’ll help you ask them for leave, that way you can rest easy!” Yi Yan patted his chest with absolute confidence.
“You’re just a tiny customer at Night Charm, do you really think you carry that much weight?” Lin Ze let out a hearty, derisive laugh.
“Daring to doubt your boyfriend’s capability?”
Yi Yan narrowed his eyes with a roguish smile, reaching out one hand to clamp down on Lin Ze’s jaw.
“Wrong, I was wrong!” Lin Ze patted Yi Yan’s back after several minutes.
Only then did Yi Yan show mercy and let go of him.
Lin Ze frowned uncomfortably and lowered his gaze.
“You admit defeat really fast.” Yi Yan curved the corners of his mouth in delight, using his thumb to gently wipe the corner of his lips.
After recovering, Lin Ze glared at him and punched Yi Yan in the chest in sheer frustration.
The force wasn’t even that great, yet Yi Yan put on a wincing, teeth-baring act.
With a chuckle, Yi Yan let out a muffled hum. “Hitting me this hard, are you trying to beat your husband to death and leave yourself all alone to live in widowhood?”
“You’re only good for talking nonsense.” Lin Ze rolled his eyes at him.
He had assumed Yi Yan was just blowing hot air, but to his surprise, Yi Yan genuinely helped him secure paid leave.
Two whole days of it!
And his pay wouldn’t even be docked?
For the first time, Lin Ze appreciated Yi Yan this much. He really wasn’t just talking big!
Paid leave to go to the beach, with fun waiting for him, why wouldn’t he go?
Lin Ze thought to himself with quiet satisfaction.