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Ye Xingzhou withdrew his hand as his brow slightly furrowed as he stared directly into Qi Xing's reddened eyes.
Qi Xing glared at him with his breathing uneven.
Ye Xingzhou spoke first, "If you really don't want to, ignore your parents' wishes and stay with me. Even if they cut ties with you, let them."
Qi Xing was taken aback, "... No."
Ye Xingzhou responded, "Mm, no."
Qi Xing was different from him. Ye Xingzhou could disregard anyone's thoughts, but Qi Xing couldn't. Therefore, they had to compromise.
Qi Xing himself knew that Elder Chen's suggestion was actually the best solution. If it weren't for his godfather's words today, no matter how much Ye Xingzhou lowered his stance to show sincerity, his father wouldn't be satisfied, and the situation would have reached a deadlock.
But he felt incredibly stifled, both helpless and frustrated, even angry that Ye Xingzhou could remain so calm at this moment. He knew it wasn't Ye Xingzhou's fault, and his venting was unreasonable.
"Dad said we're not allowed to meet in private, and you have no reaction at all?"
Ye Xingzhou replied, "Your dad's words are just his thoughts. If you don't want to listen to him, then his words have no effect on me."
Qi Xing grew even angrier, "Are you just throwing all the problems at me?"
"Or we could meet secretly, as long as your dad doesn't find out," Ye Xingzhou tried to soothe him.
"Who wants to meet you secretly! It's not like we're having an affair!"
Qi Xing was so furious he lunged at Ye Xingzhou and threw punches at his body, wishing they could fight again.
Of course, he hadn't completely lost his temper. This time, he avoided Ye Xingzhou's face and vital areas, only hitting softer spots, and even held back his strength, like a cat scratching.
Ye Xingzhou let him vent. Once Qi Xing had calmed down, he suddenly grabbed one of Qi Xing's hands and pulled him forward. Caught off guard, Qi Xing stumbled and fell onto the sofa behind Ye Xingzhou. He grabbed the bastard's collar, his chest heaving, and finally managed to ask, "Why didn't you fight back? Does it feel good to be hit?"
Ye Xingzhou placed a hand on Qi Xing's lower back, "You're upset. I will let you hit me until you feel better."
"You—" Qi Xing was speechless, finally deflating and muttering, "I just can't feel better."
Ye Xingzhou asked, "Are you really that unhappy?"
"Are you happy?" Qi Xing retorted, "Why should someone else decide our relationship?"
"Qi Xing," Ye Xingzhou reminded him, "I've said it before, as long as you can ignore it, I can too."
Qi Xing hung his head. He couldn't.
He wasn't like Ye Xingzhou, this bastard. His parents and godfather treated him well, and he couldn't just disregard them.
"I really don't want to go back to school..."
Ye Xingzhou said, "There's nothing wrong with learning more."
"Stop sounding like my godfather," Qi Xing pouted, "Forcing me to go to school, you all just think I'm useless."
Ye Xingzhou replied, "It's not that bad."
"So you do think I'm useless." His fists clenched again.
Ye Xingzhou leaned back on the sofa, looking up at Qi Xing. His eyes were still red, but after venting, he didn't seem as listless as before. Clenching his fists and looking fierce, he was more like himself.
Unfortunately, the kitten wasn't yet weaned and needed his family's protection. Ye Xingzhou couldn't bear to force him to abandon everything.
"Can't you live without me?" Ye Xingzhou suddenly asked.
Qi Xing snapped, "Screw off."
They had agreed that neither would be dependent on the other, and he wasn't going to be the first to give in.
Ye Xingzhou said, "Then you decide. Do you agree with your Grandpa’s and dad's conditions? If not, I'll take you back to talk to them."
Qi Xing replied, "You've already agreed, what's there to say?"
"My thoughts don't represent yours," Ye Xingzhou reminded him again.
Qi Xing lowered his head, dazed for a moment, then awkwardly said, "What else can we do? There's no other way. Fine, I'll go to school, and we won't meet. I'll see if there's any other guy I like. If I find someone more considerate and understanding than you, I'll dump you, ow—"
Ye Xingzhou pinched his waist hard, and Qi Xing glared at him, thinking, 'You bastard, I'll dump you sooner or later.'
He climbed off Ye Xingzhou and kicked him, "Let's go."
Ye Xingzhou reached out and yanked him back.
Qi Xing didn't react in time and fell back onto Ye Xingzhou. Ye Xingzhou raised a hand to the back of Qi Xing's head to force him closer, and kissed him.
Qi Xing frowned as he parted his lips. Ye Xingzhou's tongue invaded and messily tangled with his own. Soon, Qi Xing's tongue was bitten and the pain made him slightly uncomfortable, so he tried to pull away.
But hearing Ye Xingzhou's slightly heavier breathing and seeing the storm brewing in his eyes, Qi Xing's hand, which had been pushing against his shoulder, paused. He finally realized, belatedly, that he wasn't the only one feeling stifled and frustrated.
Someone like Ye Xingzhou, who could endure and compromise for him and even accepted the harsh conditions proposed by others, perhaps had it even harder.
Qi Xing stopped struggling and slowly wrapped his arms around Ye Xingzhou's shoulders and responded to his kiss while gently stroking his back, also soothing him.
Perhaps sensing Qi Xing's emotions, Ye Xingzhou's kisses gradually became less frantic and finally lightly sucking on his tongue before pulling away before breathing heavily.
Qi Xing smacked his lips before complaining awkwardly, "You bit my tongue and now it hurts, you bastard."
Ye Xingzhou said, "You can bite me back."
Qi Xing reached out and pinched his face.
There wasn't much else to say.
Qi Xing wasn't truly opposed to going to school. His Grandpa's words about standing on his own to truly protect Ye Xingzhou made sense. It was just the thought of being apart from Ye Xingzhou for so long that was unbearable.
But it had to be this way.
Later, when they returned to the elders. Qi Xing sat on the sofa and spoke up, "I have no objections to Grandpa's proposal. Since it's been said that once I finish school, you won't oppose us anymore, Dad, you can't go back on your word then. Grandpa, you have to be my witness."
Elder Chen nodded with a smile, "Alright."
Qi Ronghua's face twitched, "What do you take me for? Am I the kind of person who goes back on my word?"
"Who knows." Qi Xing muttered softly, then added, "Also, during this time, I won't be coming home. I'll still stay at Ye Xingzhou's place, and you can't oppose it."
Before Qi Ronghua could say anything, Wang Cuilan agreed first, "Alright."
Before getting into the car, Wang Cuilan suddenly called them back and pulled Ye Xingzhou aside to speak with him privately. Qi Xing stood by Ye Xingzhou's car, waiting, and noticed his father peeking out from the car while staring at his mother and Ye Xingzhou like a thief.
Qi Ronghua seemed to sense something as his gaze landed on Qi Xing, and immediately straightened up, to sit up properly again.
Qi Xing found it amusing.
Ye Xingzhou had already returned, "Let's go."
Qi Xing asked, "What did my mom say to you?"
Ye Xingzhou replied, "Nothing, we'll talk at home."
On the way back, it started to rain. Qi Xing leaned back in his seat while looking out at the rain-soaked city and inexplicably reminded of that rainy night at the charity gala.
The look that Ye Xingzhou gave him before leaving and sitting in the car. He could still remember it clearly, as if it were destined.
"Ye Xingzhou," Qi Xing's gaze remained on the window, "Are you really going to give me all your things?"
Ye Xingzhou said, "Keep them."
After a moment, Qi Xing turned to look at him, puzzled, "Are you out of your mind? That's all your assets."
The windshield wipers swept back and forth, so the splashing rain was blurring in Ye Xingzhou's eyes, "Having someone to give things to is nice."
Qi Xing was instantly speechless.
Ye Xingzhou didn't say more and just focused on driving.
He was indeed willing to give everything to Qi Xing.
Without Qi Xing, he would truly be alone and no matter how much wealth he had, it would just be a number. Having someone he was willing to give these things to was meaningful in itself.
Qi Xing had once asked him if he felt lonely.
He indeed felt lonely, and had always been before meeting Qi Xing.
Having tasted what it was like to not be lonely, he never wanted to go back.
Qi Xing said, "... Alright, I'll keep them then. After all, what's mine is yours."
Ye Xingzhou replied, "Mm."
When they got home, Qi Xing saw a letter on the side table by the door and picked it up without much thought. Upon seeing the sender, he immediately perked up and eagerly opened the envelope.
It was indeed their marriage certificate that were mailed over.
After browsing through it three times, Qi Xing, who had been depressed all night, finally broke into a smile. Ye Xingzhou took it and looked it over before reminding him, "Keep it safe."
Qi Xing replied, "You don't have to tell me."
He had thought it would take a few more days to receive it, but the certificate arriving in their hands tonight was a nice surprise.
Finally something good is happening.
Qi Xing said, "I'll have it framed later."
Ye Xingzhou replied, "As you wish."
Slumping onto the sofa, Qi Xing felt relieved.
Ye Xingzhou, with his back to him, casually took off his suit jacket then removed his tie, unbuttoned his shirt, and took off his watch and cufflinks.
His movements are slow and deliberate, as if a prelude to something.
Qi Xing lay sprawled on the sofa with his legs resting on the coffee table and hands casually folded in front of him.
One finger tapped the back of the other hand and while watching Ye Xingzhou's movements, he unconsciously licked his lips.
He couldn't remember if it was the second or third time he had followed Ye Xingzhou back here, and it was the same then.
Watching this bastard take off his things one by one, like a beast shedding its disguise.
And today was no different.
Qi Xing closed his eyes as his whole body burned up, even though he hadn't drunk anything tonight.
When Ye Xingzhou's breath drew near, at the last second before their lips met, he opened his eyes and met Ye Xingzhou's gaze.
Ye Xingzhou paused, and so did he.
After a moment of silent staring, he raised his hand to hook a finger around the third button of Ye Xingzhou's unbuttoned shirt.
"A year and a half, can you hold out?"
Qi Xing's eyes were teasing, but Ye Xingzhou's lips covered his, silencing him.
The kiss started uncontrollably.
From being pressed down by Ye Xingzhou to forcefully flipping over and sitting on top of him.
Qi Xing, as if holding his breath today, was determined to take control.
Pulling Ye Xingzhou's hair, tangling his tongue in his mouth and kissing without finesse but with great effort.
Ye Xingzhou's lips were bitten and bleeding.
He pulled back slightly and suddenly said, "Your mom said you've been pampered since childhood, with a bad temper, and told me to indulge you."
Qi Xing was taken aback, "... That's all my mom said to you?"
Ye Xingzhou replied, "Mm, she said even though you like to pick fights outside, you're actually quite delicate. She's worried I might bully you."
He emphasized the word "bully," as if it carried a deeper meaning.
Qi Xing mentally cursed his mom for telling Ye Xingzhou such nonsense before giving him another chance to tease him, "Haven't you bullied me enough? Have you no shame?"
Ye Xingzhou chuckled softly, "But your mom's right, you are quite delicate."
Qi Xing was about to roll his eyes, "So what if I'm delicate? My parents spoil me, can't I be delicate? Everyone was a baby once."
Ye Xingzhou asked, "Baby?"
Qi Xing retorted, "Yes, baby. Got a problem with that?"
Ye Xingzhou replied, "Mm, baby."
Deliberately savoring the word, Ye Xingzhou's voice seemed particularly pleased. Just as Qi Xing was about to say more, Ye Xingzhou leaned into his ear and whispered again, "Baby."
Qi Xing was stunned, "??"
Ye Xingzhou lowered his voice and while suppressing his laughter, he murmured again, "Baby."
Qi Xing felt goosebumps rising all over his body and finally realizing Ye Xingzhou was teasing him, "Stop it, you bastard—"
Ye Xingzhou's kiss covered him again.
After being kissed into a daze, Qi Xing, with their lips still touching, panted and said, "Ye Xingzhou, I think I really can't live without you. Did you put a spell on me?"
His earlier resolve not to be the first to give in was long forgotten, and saying it out loud actually felt like a relief. It wasn't that he couldn't live without Ye Xingzhou, but it was true that he couldn't leave him.
Ye Xingzhou's breathing hitched, and his kisses became even more intense that it was almost reckless.
But it still wasn't enough.
Not just for Ye Xingzhou, but Qi Xing also felt it wasn't enough.
He wanted deeper possession and tighter entanglement.
He wanted this person.
Everything about him.
The heat in his body surged wildly and screamed for an outlet.
As sweat poured down, Qi Xing, caught in this chaotic rhythm, tilted his head back as he struggled to breathe. He saw his reflection in the glass door of the liquor cabinet, disheveled and lost while deeply entangled in desire, and only able to follow the person holding him and sinking deeper.
"Ye Xingzhou," before his rationality completely crumbled, Qi Xing tried to stop and call his name, "Can you...say something to me..."
Ye Xingzhou looked up at him with his eyes dark, a storm brewing within.
Qi Xing panted lightly and waited for a moment before being faintly disappointed, "Can't you? Well, you never say anything nice to me anyway."
Ye Xingzhou's hand slid from his sweaty cheek to the back of his neck, as if caressing, before finally speaking hoarsely, "Qi Xing, I've said before, no one stays in the same place waiting for someone else forever."
Qi Xing stared at him, and Ye Xingzhou continued, "But if it's you, I'll wait. Just don't make me wait too long."
Qi Xing's expression in that instant looked as if he was about to cry, but Ye Xingzhou smiled and pressed him even closer while holding his hand tightly and pulling him down into the depths together.