The originally tidy bedsheets were pressed into wrinkles, and the moonlight reflected the silhouettes of two people fallen upon the bed.
One person lay completely passive on the mattress, while the other knelt with one leg on the bed, supporting himself with a hand on the far side to completely envelop the person beneath him. His free hand was currently tugging at the only thing providing cover for the naked body below, a pure white towel.
Yu Yanzhuo pinched a corner of the towel with his fingers, the expression on his face looking quite natural.
“Let go.”
Shi Jingyan gripped the towel around his waist tightly with both hands, his teeth clenching slightly at Yu Yanzhuo’s overly blatant expression.
“Why should I?”
As he spoke, he increased the strength in his hands, desperately defending the last bit of fabric on his entire body.
Yu Yanzhuo’s expression remained calm. “How am I supposed to fuck you if I do not take it off?”
Hearing this, Shi Jingyan’s cheeks, which were already slightly flushed from the steam of his bath, took on an unnatural shade of red. No matter how many times he heard it, he could never get used to this incubus’s overly direct way of speaking.
Seeing Yu Yanzhuo’s fingers begin to apply force, Shi Jingyan realized the fabric of the towel was slipping from his hands inch by inch. His sense of shame took over, and he spoke up somewhat urgently.
“It does not have to be taken off!”
His intention was simply to have some fabric for cover so that he would not seem so exposed, but in Yu Yanzhuo’s ears, those words took on a different meaning.
Yu Yanzhuo’s movements stopped. His gaze slid down from Shi Jingyan’s face inch by inch, finally landing on the base of his thigh barely covered by the towel. He smiled.
“You like it this way?”
“What?”
Before Shi Jingyan could react, he heard Yu Yanzhuo continue, “Indeed, leaving some fabric on the body can enhance the pleasure. What else do you like? How about wearing a tie? Putting on socks would also feel more stimulating.”
When he realized what Yu Yanzhuo was talking about, Shi Jingyan’s neck and chest began to flush red. He snapped in exasperation, “I do not like that!”
However, he neglected the strength in his hands. Yu Yanzhuo seized the opportunity to flip away that pitiful towel, followed immediately by a cool palm pressing against him. Shi Jingyan took a sharp breath, feeling his heart rate and breathing accelerate simultaneously. Only the spot where his skin touched that of the incubus became exceptionally hot. He bit his lip and raised his forearm to cover his eyes.
It was a long time later when Yu Yanzhuo’s interest finally subsided.
He straightened his body unhurriedly. Shi Jingyan panted for a few breaths and grabbed a corner of the hopelessly wrinkled quilt, barely managing to cover his lower body. Yu Yanzhuo watched this futile attempt at concealment and chuckled, but he did not stop him.
The person sitting on the bed steadied his breathing, appearing somewhat hesitant. A few seconds later, as if he had made up his mind, he spoke.
“You, you have not come for the past few days.”
Surprised that he would bring this up voluntarily, Yu Yanzhuo leaned against the wall and looked at him, his tone casual. “Mhm, I went to Italy for a few days to play.”
Shi Jingyan blinked and gave a soft mhm as he lowered his head, seeming to think about something. After a long while, he whispered, “I thought.”
The latter half of the sentence became quieter and quieter until it was swallowed back into his throat. He had thought Yu Yanzhuo was unhappy because he had so bluntly rejected the offer of a partnership opportunity that day. For the eldest young master of Huanya Century, who was usually high and mighty, being rejected so directly would be no small matter.
Yu Yanzhuo’s gaze fell on him, watching him for a few seconds before the corners of his lips turned up slightly.
“I have a very good temper.”
Shi Jingyan looked up abruptly. He heard that? He had kept his voice very low just now. Right, he was an incubus; his hearing should far exceed that of a human.
At the thought that his words had been heard by Yu Yanzhuo, he suddenly felt uncomfortable again. He raised a hand to touch his nose and then brushed his still warm earlobe. Fortunately, it was not too hot.
Yu Yanzhuo certainly would not get angry over such a small matter. Ultimately, whether Shi Jingyan accepted or not did not matter to him. Regardless, Shi Jingyan still had to let him play.
Recalling this, however, Yu Yanzhuo remembered his thoughts from before he arrived tonight. He was about to speak when he saw Shi Jingyan look up at him, his voice steady and carrying a hint of formality.
“My name is Shi Jingyan.”
Shi Jingyan remembered that he had not told Yu Yanzhuo his name, even though they had been intimately involved many times.
Yu Yanzhuo blinked. Seeing his expression, Shi Jingyan suddenly understood something.
“You already knew my name?”
Yu Yanzhuo narrowed his eyes and smiled. Shi Jingyan felt a strange sense of being played, and he felt a delayed sense of embarrassment and shame for introducing himself so solemnly in this kind of situation.
He gritted his teeth. “When did you find out?”
“After the first time I went back from your place, I had someone look into it.” Yu Yanzhuo looked innocent. There was a complete sense that everything was within his control.
Shi Jingyan remained silent. He stood up, went to the wardrobe, took out a bathrobe, and put it on. He coldly tied the belt neatly and pulled the collar tight.
Yu Yanzhuo stared at him and suddenly asked, “What is your relationship with Shi Yuyang?”
He had already heard the answer to this question from Shi Yuyang once, but this time he wanted to hear Shi Jingyan’s version.
Shi Jingyan’s movements paused. He stood with his back to Yu Yanzhuo, appearing to think about whether he should answer. After a long time, he spoke in a low voice.
“I used to be a member of the Shi family. After I graduated from university, I directly took over part of the family business. Because I was the only son, everything in the family was naturally handed to me to inherit. About two years ago, Shi Yuyang showed up.”
“He grew up in an orphanage and somehow heard about his background. He followed various clues and found his way here, even bringing a paternity test to prove that he was the true heir who should possess everything the Shi family owned.”
“The evidence was solid, and there was nothing to refute. It was only then that I learned I was the outsider in the family. After that,” he paused, “I felt it was no longer appropriate for me to stay there, so I left home. Mr. and Mrs. Shi had a good attitude and told me I could seek their help if needed, but I felt I had no status or right. Besides, I am an adult; I can tell what is a sincere word and what is just polite social talk.”
Shi Jingyan paused again. “That is all. It is not very complicated, and many people have heard about what happened to the Shi family.”
It sounded identical to what Shi Yuyang had said, just without the hostile irony and belittlement. Yu Yanzhuo recalled that Shi Yuyang was now taking over the family business as the deputy general manager.
“So that is why you are in your current industry?”
Shi Jingyan nodded slightly. “I just used what I studied before and what I learned during those few years helping out at home.”
Yu Yanzhuo put one hand in his pocket and carelessly smoothed his hair. “Shi Yuyang hates you very much.”
Shi Jingyan gave a short laugh. “It is normal. After all, I occupied the first twenty odd years of his life.”
Is that so? Yu Yanzhuo did not think the venomous look Shi Yuyang gave him was merely to that extent.
The figure standing by the wardrobe moved and turned toward him. “That day at Yunding, you were eating with him.”
Yu Yanzhuo let out a hum of agreement. “We discussed a business deal. He invited me warmly, so I went.”
Shi Jingyan looked at him. He remembered that in the original plot, it was because of this opportunity that Shi Yuyang established a connection with Yu Yanzhuo. Although that so-called plot only unfolded from his perspective, he did not know what the relationship between Shi Yuyang and Yu Yanzhuo was supposed to be according to the original development, whether they were simply business partners with a good relationship, or something closer.
Shi Jingyan opened his mouth, feeling his throat a bit dry. “He is very interested in you.”
He did not know why he said such a thing; it was ambiguous and seemed to have a hidden intention. Hearing this, that stunning face of Yu Yanzhuo did not even show surprise. His expression was as flat as if he had heard a boring piece of gossip.
“There is no one who is not interested in me.”
His tone was the same lazy, casual one as always, magnetic and alluring, sounding perfectly natural.
Shi Jingyan was left speechless. He could find absolutely no angle to refute such an arrogant and blunt statement. It was indeed the case. This thought flashed through his mind and was quickly covered up. He steadied himself and turned to look at Yu Yanzhuo leaning against the wall.
“I am tired.”
Yu Yanzhuo tilted his head. “You want me to sleep with you?”
Shi Jingyan could only emphasize his tone. “I mean, it is time for you to go back.”
“Kicking me out right after you have had your fun? How sad.” Yu Yanzhuo’s beautiful, peach blossom shaped eyes drooped slightly, and his lips were pursed. Even those golden eyes dimmed a bit. He truly seemed sad, just as he said.
“No, I mean, uh, I am not kicking you out.” Shi Jingyan froze. Before he could even think, he spoke up, rare for him to be nervous, wanting to explain. But he stopped abruptly when he saw Yu Yanzhuo’s eyes suddenly fill with laughter.
This heart playing liar. And he, the idiot who was so easily fooled, was not much better.
Seeing his sudden change in expression, Yu Yanzhuo felt a surge of pleasure. He then exceptionally walked to Shi Jingyan’s side and reached out his hand.
“What are you doing?” Shi Jingyan pulled at his collar with some caution, covering the small patch of chest that was barely exposed. Once or twice a night was enough; he could not handle any more. He had to wake up early for the company every day and often stayed late to handle work. Lately, work had been so busy that he sometimes had no rest on weekends. His energy could not compare to this non-human, top tier second generation heir who lounged around all day and loved to play.
Yu Yanzhuo looked at Shi Jingyan’s wary expression, his lips curling into a low laugh. Then, while Shi Jingyan was off guard, he reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling him toward himself.
Shi Jingyan stumbled toward him. A rejection was already on the tip of his tongue, but he was startled to find that the hand did not slide down familiarly as before. Instead, it moved to the side of his face. A heady fragrance unique to this incubus wound its way into his nose, and Shi Jingyan was so shocked he even forgot to move.
Yu Yanzhuo’s fingers held the side of his face. He lowered his head slightly, approaching the face that was still slightly flushed. Like his palm, his cool lips landed on the warm skin of the cheek.