Chapter 4: Xi Xingling
“Second Young Master, you don’t actually dislike me, do you? Then please give me a chance.” Xi Xingling pleaded with all his heart, voice working hard to sound sincere. Whenever he imagined being rejected by Han Yubai and never getting close to Han Tianlin again, it felt like someone was carving his heart with a knife. “Second Young Master, I beg you. I really want to stay by your side.”
“…”
“Second Young Master… Second Young Master…” His voice slipped into a sob, pitiful and thin.
“It isn’t impossible.” Li Dong thought for a moment and set his terms. “As long as you follow my rules, I can give you one chance, but there is only one. If you cross a line, I will tell you to get lost, immediately. Think it through first.”
“I agree.” Xi Xingling did not hesitate.
“I haven’t even said them yet…” Li Dong was speechless. “First, when you are with me, you do not see my brother, and you do not mention my brother. Second, when you speak, have some backbone. Stop begging at the drop of a hat. Stop kneeling. Are you a man or not?”
“But if I don’t beg, there is no chance.” Wasn’t this chance begged for just now? Xi Xingling clutched the phone, eyes shining.
“… Fine. Keep this spirit of talking back. Better yet, keep your boundaries. If anyone violates them, slap them hard.”
“Except… well, except for the person I like. With him I am happy to be pushed around.” But when facing the person he liked, he couldn’t wait for them to violate him. If that actually happened, Xi Xingling would wake up laughing in his dreams.
Li Dong had no words. “All right, the third rule. I want you to be reserved. Be proud. Do not act like a doormat.”
“Does Second Young Master like roleplay then?” And the type you like is reserved and proud. That was not hard. “Okay. Tonight I will play someone proud for you. Do you prefer a police officer or a doctor? I can do both.”
“…”
Li Dong wished for a rope to hang himself and go back to his own planet.
“Second Young Master, why did you go quiet again?” Xi Xingling coaxed carefully. “I am really hungry. Can we eat together?” He also realized he still did not know where Second Young Master lived and was itching to find out.
“Did you remember what I just said? If you cross a line even once, I will tell you to get out and I will not take you back.”
“Mm…” Hearing how serious Li Dong was, Xi Xingling dropped the intentionally soft whine and answered properly. “I remember, Second Young Master.”
He knew exactly how hard these terms would be.
But he had no choice except to agree.
If he did not, he felt he would have no reason to live. The empty days and nights would gnaw him down to nothing, and in the end he would probably go find other men just to fill the void.
Then he would have even fewer chances to see Han Tianlin.
Second Young Master was different. At the very least, being with him made Xi Xingling feel happy.
“Send me your location.” One phone call and Li Dong’s mood had swung all over the place. He just hoped he would not regret his decision tonight.
“I’m still at the company. Are you coming to get me?” Joy burst out of Xi Xingling, then he worried about imposing. “Maybe I should take a cab to you instead. I’d feel bad making you pick me up.”
“Cut the nonsense,” Li Dong said. “Stay where you are.”
He hung up, told the family he was going out, and drove off.
Han Jewelry Design Department.
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god… I look like a mess right now…” Xi Xingling rummaged through drawers, slapped on a face mask, spritzed cologne, and chewed gum.
“Xingling? Got a date after work?” Xia Bailun had not left either. He planned to stay late to score points and assumed Xi Xingling was doing the same. “Tsk tsk, look at you. Who are you going to see?”
He had no idea the call in the restroom earlier had been to Han’s second young master.
“Someone important.” Xi Xingling sniffed his forearms and underarms. “Bailun, what do you think of this cologne? Too strong?”
Maybe Second Young Master liked something lighter. He had even said yesterday that Xingling’s outfit was too provocative…
“It’s fine.” Xia Bolun glanced at the bottle. It was an absurdly expensive brand, so of course it smelled good. Asking was just showing off.
“Then I’m relieved.” Xi Xingling checked the time, hurried to the restroom to take the mask off, then came back to dab lotion and a touch of lip balm.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
“Bailun, I’m off. Bye!” He grabbed his bag and rushed out.
“Tacky,” Xia Bolun fanned the air disdainfully at the sweet scent in his wake.
Inside the elevator, Xi Xingling finally took Li Dong’s call. “Second Young Master, I’m in the elevator. I’ll be down right away… okay, got it.”
Every time the other end hung up on him with a click, he felt mysteriously happy.
He hurried out of the building and scanned for the luxury car.
Li Dong did not dare pull up to the main entrance, lest someone with an agenda see him. He parked nearby and told Xi Xingling to walk over.
“Second Young Master.” Breathless, Xi Xingling appeared at the window.
Li Dong turned and took in that bright face, smiling so blissfully it defied reason.
“Do I have to get out and invite you in?” His tone was casual with a hint of irritation. He had been bottling it up all afternoon.
“No, no.” Xi Xingling did not dare. He dashed around to the passenger side and climbed in.
His eyes were hot and eager on Li Dong.
Li Dong tapped his own cheek. Xi Xingling shamelessly leaned over and kissed him, cupping his face and reluctant to let go.
“Off.” Li Dong could not stand the drool all over his face.
And that quick hug had left the whole car saturated with fragrance. Good grief. Had he emptied half the bottle?
“Do you like this scent? Is it too strong?” Xi Xingling asked, working to please, then undid two or three buttons of his casual shirt so his pale skin showed and hid by turns.
“It is poison,” Li Dong gave him four curt syllables and shifted away. He even left the window cracked once they were moving. That was how much he could not stand it.
“Then I won’t wear this one again.” Xi Xingling regretted it at once. He should have bought a lighter, fresher scent. It would have been cheaper too.
His gay bestie had sworn this brand was a “virgin-killer,” so he had gritted his teeth and bought it.
“Listen. Don’t wear anything. Six God floral water smells better than this,” Li Dong said, pinching his nose. One hand on the wheel, he suddenly looked roguishly handsome in Xi Xingling’s eyes.
“Okay.” He nodded obediently. “I will switch to Six God then.”
Li Dong decided silence was safest.
The way characters in this author’s world thought was not something normal people could keep up with.
They went to a different restaurant from last night. Li Dong switched on purpose.
His temperament was low-key and restrained. He was not used to places where a meal could cost tens of thousands. He felt more comfortable in a simple, popular spot.
This was purely for himself, not for Xi Xingling.
But Xi Xingling read it differently. The elegant, cozy little place struck him as romantic and tasteful. He relaxed completely.
“Thank you, Second Young Master. I really like it here.” He sat down, looked around with visible delight, and then watched Li Dong with tender eyes.
“Heh…” Li Dong said nothing and let the misunderstanding stand. He had been single for thirty years and did not really know what romance or atmosphere meant.
Only when someone pursued him would he occasionally realize, oh, so that trick is what people call romance.
He had never told anyone in his circle that he was gay, and his pursuers had always been women. Whether by nature or intention, he was used to treating them gently.
Facing Xi Xingling now, he still found himself speaking more sharply when exasperated, but his attitude was basically friendly and without malice.
When Xi Xingling said Second Young Master had a good temper, that part was true.
“Second Young Master…” The scene shifted from the little restaurant to a dimly lit hotel room.
He had been flirting over dinner, and once they were in the room he went all in. It was like he had studied every trick little bottoms used in a thousand videos, he nearly made Li Dong fall victim to his tactics.
Li Dong had not made wild promises, but even his measured ones were not for the faint of heart.
This guy used every trick in the book, leaving Li Dong unable to cope. He quickly seized back control to avoid dying before achieving victory.
“Second Young Master, let me stay by your side,” Xi Xingling pleaded, voice thick with tears. He clung with all his strength and refused to let go. Being with this man felt too good.
Men often had that flash of thought in those moments. It felt like love for the person in your arms, but it was a trick of the senses, a brief illusion.
In that fleeting illusion, Li Dong kissed him.
Until now he had not. That mouth had done a lot of things and said a lot of things that made him want to keep his distance. Rationally, he had never planned to kiss it.
Unfortunately, reason returned right after. Li Dong quickly pushed his hands and feet away then went to shower.
“…” Xi Xingling lay there staring at the ceiling, limp as if he might die, not moving at all.
The chill on his skin snapped him back. He wrapped himself in a quilt. “Second Young Master…” Why had he left right after they were finished? Emptiness and coldness swept in. He pulled on the hotel robe and padded to the bathroom door. “Second Young Master!”
“…,” The water had covered the noise of scratching at the door. If he had not turned the tap off, he would have thought it was a cat. “What are you doing?” Could a man soak in peace?
“I want to come in,” Xi Xingling said.
“Then come in.” Li Dong lay in the tub, lazy and loose.
He opened his eyes to find a white figure squatting by the bath, smiling with squinted eyes.
“Second Young Master…” Xi Xingling leaned in to kiss him.
“Back off. Wash up first, then kiss me.” Remembering exactly what that mouth had been doing, Li Dong pushed his head away, a bit rough.
“Okay.” Off he scurried to rinse his mouth. He rinsed several times before coming back to crouch by the tub again, looking up hopefully. “Can I kiss you now?”
They held each other’s gaze for a few seconds. Li Dong finally turned his face, as if granting a favor.
“Mwah.” Xi Xingling kissed his lips, his eyelids, his cheeks, every place he could. “Second Young Master, you were amazing just now. I thought I would die from it…” He was still swimming in afterglow. The sight of that face made stars pop in his vision. He wanted to beg for another round.
“Mm.” Li Dong did not look at him, focusing on his soak.
When the silence stretched, he opened his eyes. The other man was staring at him, caught between happiness and sorrow, joy and ache.
“Thinking about my brother?” Li Dong asked out of nowhere.
“Huh? No…” Xi Xingling lurched to his feet and staggered away. “I’ll rinse off. I need to wash my butt…”
The view from behind was on display, but Li Dong felt no impulse whatsoever.
“Ah, Second Young Master, you left hickeys on my neck. How am I supposed to dress tomorrow?”
“…”
“Forget it. I’ll avoid low collars,” he muttered to himself.
Low collars in this weather?
And since Han Tianlin was not in his orbit right now, who exactly was he dressing up for…
“Second Young Master, can I get in the tub too?” In another moment he had turned back, striking little poses facing Li Dong, blowing kisses and waggling his brows.
Li Dong sighed. “Fine. Come.”
Before Xi Xingling could grin, Li Dong stood, wrapped a towel around his waist, and stepped out.
“Second Young Master is mean,” Xi Xingling pouted, abandoning the bath to follow with a bright smile. He jumped onto Li Dong’s back from behind.
“Off,” Li Dong said calmly.
“I won’t.” Biting his lip, delighted, he murmured, “Second Young Master has such a good temper…” When he had used his mouth earlier and accidentally nipped, the man had hissed in pain but had not gotten angry.
When they truly did it, he could be tender enough to melt your soul, and when strength was called for, he could be so forceful it made you cry, leaving you wishing you could die in his arms.
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