“I deleted it,” Shi Jingyan said.
Shi Jingyan remained silent for a few seconds before speaking flatly. “Why keep it?”
He was certainly candid.
The smile on Yu Yanzhuo’s lips did not fade. He did not hesitate to let his gaze travel from Shi Jingyan’s face down his entire body. The man looked as though he had just returned from a meeting; his jacket was off, and he wore a button-down shirt with the collar neatly fastened, all the way to the very top button.
When they had last met, Shi Jingyan was wearing a bathrobe. Seeing him now, Yu Yanzhuo felt that these serious clothes suited him much better, especially since they stirred a sudden impulse to tear them open.
Yu Yanzhuo’s gaze lingered momentarily on the man’s chest, the area that most captured his attention. The scent on this man was still so alluring. Even amidst the heavy mix of perfumes and alcohol in the club, Yu Yanzhuo could clearly smell that sweet, syrupy aroma that only he could detect. To a normal human’s nose, Shi Jingyan probably smelled of faint, clean soap. But to Yu Yanzhuo, it was a scent that made his hunger grow increasingly intense.
Observing Shi Jingyan’s calm, almost cold expression, Yu Yanzhuo realized one thing: this man did not recognize him.
Admittedly, Yu Yanzhuo was a prominent figure at the top of the wealthy socialite circles, but this man was clearly several years older and was not the type to run with that crowd. Regarding business, Yu Yanzhuo recalled the information Huan Lian had sent. Shi Jingyan had founded a beauty company and served as the CEO. As for the name, he could not remember it. In any case, it was not a company that could ever hope to associate with Huanya in this lifetime. There was no way he would have had the chance to see Yu Yanzhuo in person.
Thinking this, Yu Yanzhuo’s interest was piqued further. As the child of a succubus and the Chairman of Huanya, he had been pampered his entire life. He was surrounded by countless people and had long since grown tired of the men and women who threw themselves at him. Huan Lian claimed he was a heartbreaker who never stayed attached, but in reality, Yu Yanzhuo was simply bored.
At this moment, however, he felt a profound curiosity toward the person in front of him.
“It does not matter,” Yu Yanzhuo said, his voice rising with a teasing lilt. He moved closer until Shi Jingyan could feel the warmth of his breath against his face.
As he drew near, a sophisticated fragrance enveloped Shi Jingyan’s senses. It seemed to be a custom-made luxury perfume, carrying the clarity of Bulgarian rose mixed with the mellow notes of rum. It felt like a light feather brushing against his skin, sparking an unbearable itch.
Shi Jingyan never liked being too close to others and instinctively tried to step back to create distance. Before he could, the man deftly reached out and gripped his wrist through the thin fabric of his shirt sleeve. The warm touch pressed against his skin, and Shi Jingyan looked up, bumping straight into those lazy, smiling golden eyes.
He heard the owner of those eyes speak in a slightly hoarse, magnetic voice. “I will make you add me back.”
The voice vibrated at the same moment the heavy bass dropped on the dance floor. The perfectly timed tone seemed to strike a chord in Shi Jingyan’s heart. Suddenly, his throat felt dry.
“Have a drink with me,” Yu Yanzhuo said leisurely. It was not a request. Without waiting for a response, he maintained his grip on Shi Jingyan’s wrist and turned toward the stairs.
Suddenly, someone blocked their path. Yu Yanzhuo raised an eyebrow.
Shi Yuqing, who had been ignored for a long time, seized the opportunity to stand in their way, his chest heaving slightly. In that brief window of time, he had recognized exactly who this man was: the crown prince of Huanya Century, Yu Yanzhuo.
He was a famous figure among wealthy heirs. Beyond his top-tier family background, he possessed a charm that made him irresistible to everyone. Rumor had it that he only had to beckon with a finger for young masters from elite families to flock to him, eagerly seeking his favor. Before meeting Yu Yanzhuo in person, Shi Yuqing had assumed these were just wild exaggerations. Now that he saw him, he realized the reality far surpassed the rumors.
Shi Yuqing composed himself and spoke in a steady voice. “Young Master Yu, it is an honor to run into you today. Might I have the pleasure of buying you a drink?”
His tone was humble and filled with longing.
Upon hearing this, Shi Jingyan’s body stiffened. The bar was loud, and he could not hear exactly what Shi Yuqing was saying, but he could hear the clearly subservient tone. The Shi family was quite powerful; he rarely heard Shi Yuqing speak to anyone with such humility.
Yu Yanzhuo’s gaze swept over Shi Yuqing’s nervous face, and he offered a smile that betrayed no emotion. “Sweetheart, you are not my type. And besides, my time is very precious.”
Shi Yuqing stared blankly as Yu Yanzhuo dropped those words and pulled Shi Jingyan past him. He turned quickly, but the two figures were already disappearing into the crowd.
The man had said he was not his type, yet he had walked away with Shi Jingyan. With that ungrateful fake who left the Shi family? Shi Yuqing gritted his teeth, his fists clenching involuntarily.
Second Floor Private Booth
The manager quickly cleared a new private booth on the crowded second floor. Yu Yanzhuo naturally placed an arm around Shi Jingyan’s waist, leading him inside. Shi Jingyan tried to resist, but he was ushered into the booth and forced to sit down.
The waiter respectfully handed over the drinks menu and left, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.
Yu Yanzhuo leaned in, his warm breath hitting Shi Jingyan’s ear. “See what you like. Order whatever you want.”
It was too close. Shi Jingyan had never been this physically close to anyone in his life. He frowned and said coldly, “Let go of me first.”
“Hmm? Why? I am not stopping you from ordering.” Yu Yanzhuo’s voice remained cheerful and matter-of-fact.
Shi Jingyan’s brow furrowed. He reached up to push Yu Yanzhuo’s hand away from his waist so he could stand up. He worked out in his spare time and considered his strength to be above average for a man. However, even when he applied force, Yu Yanzhuo’s hand remained as still as if it were welded to his side.
Recalling how Yu Yanzhuo had managed to enter his apartment on the twenty-fifth floor, Shi Jingyan slowly stopped struggling. He stared at the expensive drinks menu and pushed it aside, his voice calm and cold. “I do not need anything.”
“You do not like it? Should I call a mixologist to make something specifically for your taste?” Yu Yanzhuo moved even closer, his fingers tracing slowly down Shi Jingyan’s spine.
“I do not drink,” Shi Jingyan emphasized.
“You come to a bar but do not drink?” Yu Yanzhuo laughed. He stared at Shi Jingyan’s profile. “Or do you have another motive?”
Shi Jingyan was slightly annoyed and turned to look at him. “Do you think everyone is as frivolous as you are?”
Not only was he being hands-on, but he had also casually called Shi Yuqing “sweetheart” after meeting him once. It was incomprehensible. Preposterous. He wanted to say more, but the words caught in his throat when he met Yu Yanzhuo’s eyes.
Those golden eyes looked like a sea of molten gold, shining brilliantly in the dim room, appearing as though they could steal one’s soul. Yu Yanzhuo looked down at his expression and laughed.
“I am frivolous?” he asked back, his tone light and indifferent. Instead of backing off, he reached out, his well-defined fingers gripping Shi Jingyan’s jaw in a way that made it impossible to pull away.
Yu Yanzhuo pulled him closer, his voice full of laughter, both intimate and mocking. “If I am frivolous, you are much the same.”
“That day, you were in my hands.” He lowered his voice, leaning into Shi Jingyan’s ear to whisper the final words.
Shi Jingyan’s head buzzed. Instantly, a flush spread from his face down to his neck. “I, no, that, that was because you insisted, you.”
Hearing such blunt words, Shi Jingyan’s usually logical mind became clouded, and even his speech became jumbled.
He is panicked already?
Yu Yanzhuo chuckled at his rigid expression and pulled him directly into his lap, giving his earlobe a gentle bite. “Fine, if you will not drink alcohol.”
Shi Jingyan’s eyes widened, thinking Yu Yanzhuo had finally had his fun, only to hear him continue leisurely. “I will drink something else.”
As he spoke, his hand moved down Shi Jingyan’s neck, skillfully squeezing his chest before reaching toward a lower area.
“Stop it.” Shi Jingyan gritted his teeth, his ears turning crimson with shame as he tried his best to refuse.
Yu Yanzhuo made a clicking sound with his tongue and raised his hand. Before Shi Jingyan could react, he felt something stuffed into his mouth: Yu Yanzhuo’s fingers.
“Mmm!”
Shi Jingyan’s eyes widened in disbelief. How could someone be so completely shameless? He was forced to tilt his head back. His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously, and before he could resist further, Yu Yanzhuo leaned in again.
“Hold it well. You are not going to bite, are you?”
The lilt in his voice brushed against the man’s ear like a fine brush. Because of those words, Shi Jingyan could feel his body undergoing an obvious change.
Why? Shi Jingyan had never felt so helpless. Then, he heard Yu Yanzhuo’s knowing, soft laughter and closed his eyes in shame.
This man, just as he had claimed, was a succubus, and a top-tier one at that.