Jiang Zao had absolutely nothing left to say.
“This one’s the men’s version. Boss, do you want to take it home and try it out?” Qi Yiran lifted the little toy and waved it with an amused grin, the mischief in his eyes almost unbearable.
Jiang Zao immediately refused, flustered beyond measure. “No need. I… I don’t think I’ll ever use something like that.”
If Zhou Yuchi ever found out, he would probably die right there on the spot, without even time to explain.
Qi Yiran just laughed, handed him the project list, said goodbye in a cheerful tone, and went back to his desk, leaving Jiang Zao standing alone and mortified.
Left by himself, Jiang Zao stood awkwardly with that tiny, ridiculously pink little toy in his hand, unsure what on earth to do with it. After a long hesitation, he finally decided to deal with his messages first, pretending the toy did not exist.
【ZhouZhouSleep: What do you want to eat?】
【ZhouZhouSleep: Forget it, let’s just go to Wanxiang City. We’ll pick something once we’re there.】
【ZhouZhouSleep: Seven o’clock sound good? If I take the subway, I’ll be there by then.】
The reply came fast.
【MadDog(▽⽫▽#): No need.】
【MadDog(▽⽫▽#): Send me your company address. I’ll come pick you up after work.】
Jiang Zao froze completely.
No. No no no. Absolutely not!
【ZhouZhouSleep: You’re too polite.】
【ZhouZhouSleep: You’re the boss today. There’s no reason for you to come pick me up.】
【ZhouZhouSleep: I’ll head there myself. See you tonight [cat-heart.JPG]】
His office was inside a shared commercial building with multiple companies renting different floors. There was always the risk of someone seeing something they really should not. The last thing he wanted was Zhou Yuchi showing up anywhere near his side job.
Finally, it was time to clock out.
These days the sky darkened earlier than usual. By the time he stepped outside, the dusk had already deepened. The evergreen trees along the street were shrouded in a shadowy green hue, blending slowly into the heavy evening air.
He didn’t like traveling during rush hour, but this time the subway was completely packed with people heading out for dinner or shopping. He had to stand the entire way to Wanxiang City, his legs aching and shoulders sore by the time the train arrived.
At this point, he almost regretted not letting Zhou Yuchi pick him up after all.
When he got out of the station, his phone buzzed. Zhou Yuchi had already arrived and sent him a location pin.
It had been such a long time since the two of them had gone out for a meal together.
When they were little, Aunt Yang often took both of them out to eat. Zhou Yuchi’s father was always away on business, and Zhou was left on his own. Aunt Yang pitied the boy and would bring the two children along whenever she went anywhere, treating them equally.
By middle school, both families had gotten busier, so the two of them often ended up spending time together alone. But back then, Zhou Yuchi was always teasing him, always finding new ways to get on his nerves. Those were definitely not memories worth keeping.
After university, they were no longer in the same department, so they barely saw each other anymore. Even though Zhou Yuchi always stuck to him whenever he got the chance, they hadn’t walked side by side through a busy street in a very long time.
When Jiang Zao exited the station and took the elevator upstairs, he spotted Zhou Yuchi almost immediately.
It was impossible not to notice him.
The man was leaning against the wall in a sharp, perfectly tailored suit, jacket draped casually over one arm, with only a crisp white shirt underneath.
There was something about him, an aura of distance and cool restraint, that made people hesitate before approaching. Even when he looked relaxed, he exuded a detached sort of arrogance, a lazy yet dangerously magnetic charm.
People passing by could not help glancing twice.
Zhou Yuchi stood tall and straight, one hand casually in his pocket, his features sharply defined, the very image of a handsome scoundrel wrapped in elegance.
But when he saw Jiang Zao, something in his expression softened. His lips curved faintly, and the chill around him seemed to dissipate. He lifted a hand slightly, motioning for Jiang Zao to come over.
Several passersby looked between the two of them, and their expressions subtly changed, as if they had suddenly understood something unspoken.
Even a young woman who had been gathering the courage to approach Zhou Yuchi stopped mid-step, covered her mouth with a small sigh, and quietly turned away, clearly disappointed.
Jiang Zao stood rooted to the spot, utterly speechless.
What kind of weird situation was this?
“Crowded in the subway?” Zhou Yuchi asked as he walked over, taking the bag from Jiang Zao’s hand with a smooth, natural motion.
The movement was so practiced, so effortless, that Jiang Zao could not help wondering just how many girls this man had picked up before.
The fitted suit outlined his long legs and broad chest, the fine fabric stretching slightly across firm muscle, emphasizing his build and giving him that effortlessly mature air.
Jiang Zao’s gaze lingered for a moment too long before he muttered under his breath, “Why are you suddenly wearing suits every day?”
Standing beside him in a hoodie and sneakers, he felt like a high school student next to a corporate executive.
“Work,” Zhou Yuchi said simply, his tone calm. “We have a few conferences and project presentations lately. More formal occasions.”
Even his shoes were polished to a dark gleam, sharply cut and refined. Every detail about him radiated confidence and control. Standing next to him, Jiang Zao’s sneakers suddenly felt far too casual.
He sulked silently. One of these days, he was going to wear a suit to work too, just to prove he could look devastatingly good in one as well.
He rolled his neck, trying to ease the stiffness from standing so long on the subway, then grumbled, “Let’s just eat already. I’m starving.”
But before he could take another step, a strong arm suddenly wrapped around his neck.
He stumbled forward, colliding into a solid chest. Zhou Yuchi’s arm held him firmly, fingers cool against his jaw as they tilted his face to the side. His pale throat was exposed under the lights, his breath catching.
Jiang Zao froze in shock.
The cool touch on his skin quickly turned scalding, burning wherever those fingers brushed. He tried to turn his head away, but Zhou Yuchi’s grip did not allow him to move.
He could not even see Zhou’s expression.
A low, steady voice brushed his ear like the sound of restrained thunder, “What’s this?”
For a split second, Jiang Zao nearly snapped, ready to yell at him for being insane. What kind of public stunt was this supposed to be?
And then it hit him.
Oh no.
That mark on his neck… The one left by that stupid pink toy from earlier…
He went completely still, his ears turning bright red. The curse stuck halfway up his throat, his voice trembling as he barely managed to speak. “That… a mosquito bite.”
Zhou Yuchi’s brows drew together ever so slightly.
Why was he so flustered if it was only a bug bite? Why that nervous tone? Why the way his face flushed so easily?
Under the warm lights, Jiang Zao’s skin looked impossibly pale and delicate, almost translucent, the red mark standing out vividly against it.
The color, the shape, the placement, everything about it resembled the trace of someone’s lips and teeth pressed gently against his neck, a faint remnant of warmth and breath.
Zhou Yuchi’s eyes darkened, the faint glint in them turning colder, sharper. Something unspoken stirred inside him, restless and dangerous.
Jiang Zao stood stiffly in his arms, drenched in awkward sweat, his mind spiraling in panic.
What now? What should he do? He wanted nothing more than to disappear into the floor.
Zhou Yuchi’s thumb brushed over the mark, rubbing slowly, deliberately, his motion unhurried. Jiang Zao could feel every drag of skin against skin, each touch sparking a trail of heat through his nerves.
His ears burned. “What are you doing? Let go! We’re in public!”
Finally, Zhou Yuchi released him, his expression unreadable, his voice faint and cool. “Just curious where you work during the day.”
Jiang Zao almost groaned out loud.
Please, brother, do not be curious.
He quickly covered his neck with both hands, wishing he could crawl into a hole. All he wanted was to eat fast, go home, and lock himself away until this humiliation faded from memory.
He tugged lightly at Zhou Yuchi’s sleeve. “Let’s just eat, okay?”
He could not take another second of this tension.
They ended up choosing the first restaurant they came across. It was a small, quiet place that served simple set meals.
Jiang Zao slid into a seat, just wanting to finish quickly, but Zhou Yuchi sat down right beside him instead of across the table.
“What are you doing?” Jiang Zao asked, dumbfounded.
“I want the sofa seat,” Zhou Yuchi replied lazily, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Fine. Whatever. Jiang Zao no longer had the strength to argue.
Throughout the meal, Zhou Yuchi’s gaze never left him. It wasn’t sharp or obvious, but it was steady, persistent, and heavy. It felt as if he were quietly memorizing every inch of Jiang Zao’s skin, making sure no unfamiliar traces remained on him.
Jiang Zao bit his lip nervously. Could it be… he actually realized where that mark came from?
No, impossible. He could not possibly know about that kind of toy. And besides, Jiang Zao had not even taken it home!
He groaned inwardly, frustration bubbling in his chest.
The food arrived quickly, but there was an immediate problem, his dish was covered in chopped scallions, and he absolutely hated scallions. He always had.
Already in a bad mood, he grew even more irritated staring at the green mess, yet he was too hungry to give up eating. He frowned, debating whether to just endure it, when Zhou Yuchi quietly pushed his own untouched plate toward him.
The same dish. But every bit of scallion had been picked out.
“Eat,” Zhou said simply.
Jiang Zao stared at him in silence, caught off guard. He didn’t say thank you, but an old memory surfaced, back in school, he used to dump all the food he didn’t like into Zhou Yuchi’s bowl just to annoy him.
Zhou would always accept it without a word, giving him that lazy look and muttering, “No wonder you’re short if you’re this picky.”
The memory made his chest feel unexpectedly warm despite himself.
Dinner passed in awkward silence.
At least the meal settled their little “debt.” Zhou Yuchi would have no more reason to hold anything over his head now.
But somehow, his behavior afterward grew even stranger. He didn’t tease or talk much, yet his presence clung to Jiang Zao like a shadow, quiet, constant, and suffocating.
When they got home, Zhou cut up some fruit and brought it to him in the living room, then sat nearby, watching quietly as Jiang Zao ate.
Jiang Zao could barely swallow under that gaze.
He went to the kitchen to pour water, Zhou followed. He went to the study, Zhou followed. He went to the balcony for air, Zhou handed him a jacket, opened the glass door for him, and leaned lazily against the frame, eyes never leaving him.
Jiang Zao could feel his sanity slipping.
Was this man sick?
The night breeze was cool and carried the faint scent of wet leaves. From the balcony, he could see the small courtyard garden below, golden leaves scattered across the ground and a square pond glinting faintly, like fragments of ice floating in mint liquor.
Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore.
He spun around, glaring at the man in the doorway. “What is wrong with you, Zhou Yuchi?!”
Zhou stood half in shadow and half in light, his outline sharply defined. His brows lifted lazily, his expression calm yet unreadable.
The night air was cool, yet his voice was low and heavy, filled with something that felt dangerously serious.
“Who left that mark on your neck?”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
✦ A tiny offering to the translator may please the spirits of the Realm. ☕
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · The BossChapter 2 · Childhood FriendChapter 3 · Settlement of AccountChapter 4 · Button UnderwearChapter 5 · Open The DoorChapter 6 · (O△O)!Chapter 7 · Woe to himChapter 8 · Break The JarChapter 9 · Keep your promiseChapter 10 · MovieChapter 11 · Try on clothesChapter 12 · Hide! Hide! HIDE!Chapter 13 · ShameChapter 14 · ProtocolChapter 15 · TraceChapter 16 · What are you nervous about?Chapter 17 · Physical TestChapter 18 · Protect One’s OwnChapter 19 · MassageChapter 20 · BiteChapter 21 · Bring him homeChapter 22 · True LoveChapter 23 · After drinkingChapter 24 · MarketChapter 25 · Temporary TattooChapter 26 · Shooting GameChapter 27 · Escape GameChapter 28 · Terrifying dreamChapter 29 · ExhibitionChapter 30 · Pocky GameChapter 31 · TeasingChapter 32 · Pure scoundrelChapter 33 · Straight menChapter 34 · Gay BarChapter 35 · Lip lickingChapter 36 · Doesn’t seem like a good personChapter 37 · AddictionChapter 38 · Reporting videoChapter 39 · Rough LanguageChapter 40 · Wow!Chapter 41 · Hot spring resort～～Chapter 42 · It looks good!Chapter 43 · Hot SpringChapter 44 · HonestyChapter 45 · VinegarChapter 46 · I’ll keep you companyChapter 47 · Rocking ChairChapter 48 · VileChapter 49 · Losing ComposureChapter 50 · A Guide to Identifying Gay MenChapter 51 · Going HomeChapter 52 · KissChapter 53 · PeckChapter 54 · Pearl Wedding AttireChapter 55 · For No ReasonChapter 56 · Stop CalculatingChapter 57 · HandcuffsChapter 58 · Too FarChapter 59 · The MuzzleChapter 60 · Taking It FurtherChapter 61 · Does kissing feel good?Chapter 62 · HmmChapter 63 · GuidanceChapter 64 · VideoChapter 65 · No ProblemChapter 66 · Come DownChapter 67 · Is That All?Chapter 68 · HmphChapter 69 · Applying MedicineChapter 70 · ToysChapter 71 · BathroomChapter 72 · PlacementChapter 73 · WaitingChapter 74 · LoveChapter 75 · StarsChapter 76 · RoommateChapter 77 · BoyfriendChapter 78 · MouthChapter 79 · MidsummerChapter 80 · Aeroplane ChessChapter 81 · Ice CubesChapter 82 · All Night LongChapter 83 · SleepChapter 84 · The Alt AccountChapter 85 · End of the Main StoryChapter 86 · Extra 1Chapter 87 · Extra 2Chapter 88 · Extra 3Chapter 89 · Extra 4Chapter 90 · Extra 5Chapter 91 · Extra 6Chapter 92 · Extra 7Chapter 93 · Extra 8Chapter 94 · Extra 9Chapter 95 · Extra 10Chapter 96 · Extra 11