“Bite you?”
“Yes.” Gu Heng narrowed his playful black eyes, leaned closer, eyes full of eager anticipation, and lifted a strand of Zuo Shihuan’s hair with his finger.
“Last time. Either kiss me or bite me. Otherwise, I simply won’t stop.”
Zuo Shihuan’s expression shifted repeatedly, trying to appear calm and unaffected by Gu Heng’s antics, though the deep blush on his ears betrayed him.
Gu Heng’s smile deepened; the corner of his lips curled as he asked, “Have you made up your mind yet?”
“…………”
“Isn’t it worth it? It’s just a kiss. Or, if not that, then bite me.” Gu Heng mischievously pointed to his lips, the gesture both teasing and enticing.
“I’m not picky at all and there are plenty of people who want to get close to me. But I only let you kiss and bite me however you want. No matter how you look at it, Shihuan, you’re the one getting the better deal here.”
At first, Zuo Shihuan almost believed it… What a load of cr*p!
The way that shameless b*stard said it made it sound like he was the one taking advantage of Gu Heng.
When in truth, the moment this guy started kissing, he couldn’t stop, clinging endlessly, not even letting him rest. His lips had gone numb from all the kissing; any more and they’d start peeling.
He couldn’t let himself get dragged into this man’s rhythm again.
Otherwise, when things got out of hand, he’d be the one left with the headache.
But the moment Zuo Shihuan thought about all those people Gu Heng had mentioned, the ones who wanted to get close to himm he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about it…
Gu Heng always joked and fooled around, but he rarely lied.
He had no need to.
He really was that popular.
Zuo Shihuan had known that from the start.
After all, who wouldn’t be drawn to Gu Heng?
Among any crowd, Gu Heng was like the center of the spotlight, turning heads, stunning people into stopping in their tracks.
Even Zuo Shihuan himself had been no exception.
The first time he saw Gu Heng, standing there under the dim, hazy lights of an underground elevator, walking out with lazy, unhurried steps, his cold face lifted, gaze rising—
His heartbeat lost control.
His head spun.
The world seemed to turn upside down. The air thinned until he could barely breathe, as if the sky and sea had swapped places and he, entranced, sank helplessly into the deep.
From that moment on, he lost the solid ground beneath his feet.
Like a moth to a flame, he could never escape.
Zuo Shihuan had long accepted that Gu Heng was someone everyone desired. He himself had never expected to have anything to do with such an extraordinary, noble-looking man.
But a chain of unexpected events had quietly, almost naturally, pushed them together.
To this day, he still couldn’t quite understand what it was that Gu Heng liked about him, he hadn’t done anything special.
Sure, after joining the Zuo family he’d gained money, but Gu Heng couldn’t care less about that.
And while he wasn’t bad-looking, there were plenty of people better-looking than him. Gu Heng himself looked more stunning than any celebrity.
As for personality, he was ordinary. Even dull. Methodical and disciplined, the kind of man who never did anything outside of plan or schedule.
Gu Heng, on the other hand, was his complete opposite: charming, unrestrained, and often so arrogantly willful it made people grind their teeth in frustration. No one could do anything about him.
He was the kind of person you could both love and hate.
And Zuo Shihuan had experienced that firsthand.
Every time Gu Heng did something that softened his heart, the man would immediately reveal that infuriating streak again.
But when Gu Heng wanted to win someone over, it was as if he could place the entire world in their hands, utterly irresistible.
Unfortunately, most of the time, Zuo Shihuan was the one being driven mad.
Like right now.
Gu Heng raised a brow, his black eyes bright and gleaming with smug delight. He idly tapped his fingertip against his own lips, catlike in provocation, talking casually about how popular he used to be while those dazzling eyes stayed locked on Zuo Shihuan’s gradually cooling expression.
Infuriating. So d*mn punchable.
Zuo Shihuan knew Gu Heng was doing it on purpose: to provoke him, to make him jealous, to goad him into giving in. Yet even knowing that, he couldn’t stop the fire from flaring inside.
He shouldn’t fall into Gu Heng’s trap.
But he couldn’t help it.
Especially when Gu Heng started mentioning those past people, those past things, stories Zuo Shihuan had never heard before.
Something sharp and sour welled up in his chest, his nose stung, and his eyes reddened. He wanted to reach out and cover Gu Heng’s mouth, to stop him from saying another word.
He couldn’t bear hearing about a past where he hadn’t existed.
He was supposed to be a rational, mature adult.
He knew how to separate the past from the present. Whatever had happened before: old lovers, admirers, flings, it was all just the past. Now, Gu Heng was here, beside him.
That should’ve been enough.
But if reason and emotion could really be so easily divided, the world wouldn’t be filled with so much heartache.
Even knowing Gu Heng was deliberately provoking him, even understanding it all, Zuo Shihuan still glared at him, eyes darkening, fists clenching tight until every bit of calm and reason burned away.
So much for being mature and rational.
He was being childish. Petty.
And he remembered every single word Gu Heng had said.
Turning his head aside so Gu Heng wouldn’t notice how much it got to him, he muttered stiffly, “I don’t care. That’s your freedom. You can have as many people chasing after you as you want, I don’t give a d*mn.”
“Shihuan, is that really what you think?” Gu Heng let go of the strand of hair twirling around his finger and lifted his gaze, those dark eyes steady and serious as they met Zuo Shihuan’s.
“What else am I supposed to think?”
Zuo Shihuan let out a brittle laugh, his eyes still faintly red. He couldn’t hold back the bitterness anymore, and his voice dripped with sour irony:
“The past is the past, what can I think of it? Anyway, Gu Heng, you can kiss or bite whoever you like. It’s none of my business!”
“How is it none of your business?!” Gu Heng immediately furrowed his brows, catching Zuo Shihuan’s wrist as he said with fierce conviction,
“I want it to be your business! If even you, Zuo Shihuan, don’t want to care about me then what am I supposed to do?”
“Who cares about you!” Zuo Shihuan threw off Gu Heng’s hand but his tone, though defiant, had softened slightly.
Gu Heng froze, glancing at his hand that had just been shaken off, then looked carefully at the side of Zuo Shihuan’s face, the slightly red corners of his eyes, and suddenly realized that Zuo Shihuan wasn’t just sulking.
He had actually been crying.
Gu Heng stiffened, leaning closer to see his face, but Zuo Shihuan, still fuming, turned away and refused to let him.
He’d gone too far.
He’d messed up again.
Panic seized Gu Heng. He quickly pulled Zuo Shihuan into his arms, his brows knitted, voice tense as he gritted out, “Shihuan, you’re not allowed to not care about me!”
“Let go of me—” Zuo Shihuan snapped, chest rising and falling with anger.
But Gu Heng’s embrace, as always, was strong and domineering; Zuo Shihuan couldn’t break free. He struggled until he was panting and sweating, but he couldn’t escape the man’s grip.
“I’m not letting go!” Gu Heng said between his teeth, tightening his hold even more—and, as if to twist the knife, added in wounded indignation, “I gave you my first kiss, Zuo Shihuan! You’re not getting away from this, you have to take responsibility for me for the rest of your life!”
“…………”
Zuo Shihuan blinked, stunned, then his face flushed. He lifted his head, eyes sore, and said, “First kiss? Doesn’t look like it. You seemed way too experienced. How do I know you’re not just making this up to mess with me again? You said yourself, plenty of people tried to get close to you.”
“I didn’t!” Gu Heng cut him off firmly. Then, bending slightly, he pressed his forehead against the back of Zuo Shihuan’s neck, his brows drawn tight, voice low and hoarse: “I only let you kiss me, only let you bite me. Zuo Shihuan, except for you, I don’t want anyone else…”
The disbelief in Zuo Shihuan’s eyes made Gu Heng feel wronged and miserable, especially since the man still wouldn’t look at him, only kept turning away, avoiding him.
Gu Heng felt utterly defeated.
The arrogance and teasing from moments ago vanished, replaced by a stubborn, pitiful expression.
Zuo Shihuan, half-skeptical, found that his anger had quietly ebbed.
And he couldn’t help thinking—
Could it really have been Gu Heng’s first kiss?
Emotionally, he wanted to believe him. Even if Gu Heng had only said it to comfort him, the words still made his heart tremble, a flicker of indescribable joy bursting like light in his chest, bright and warm.
But reason told him otherwise.
A mysterious Beta from the lower city: young, strikingly handsome, the kind of man who wasn’t just adored like a star among stars, but like the sun itself.
Would someone like that really have kept his first kiss, only to give it to him, an Alpha he’d just met?
It was hard to believe. Especially when Gu Heng’s actions didn’t fit the image of someone pure or inexperienced. That first kiss had been bold, confident, skillful like it came from a man well-versed in desire, someone who’d played and conquered before.
Even if Gu Heng’s pride wouldn’t let him lie about something like that…
Zuo Shihuan still feared it. Feared that Gu Heng was just teasing him again.
So he kept his doubts close, neither daring to hope nor to confirm. He didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want to hear any more about Gu Heng’s past: the people, the stories, the things he hadn’t been part of.
People he couldn’t help but envy, people who had once been part of Gu Heng’s life.
But Gu Heng wasn’t willing to let it go.
“You’re in my arms now so you’re stuck with me for life! You can’t escape!” Gu Heng said fiercely when he saw that Zuo Shihuan stayed silent. The quiet scared him, so he held on even tighter, voice trembling with stubborn intensity.
“Don’t even think about running. You’re mine now! Zuo Shihuan, you’ll be tangled up with me for the rest of your life, so give up already!”
Zuo Shihuan lowered his eyes.
He had never thought about letting go of Gu Heng.
As long as Gu Heng stayed by his side, he would continue on with him, unwavering. It was just that sometimes he wanted to cover his ears, to block out everything, to not hear or know anything about Gu Heng’s past or the people in it.
Maybe from Gu Heng’s perspective, those things didn’t matter.
And maybe they shouldn’t matter. But hearing them, whether true or not, still sent tiny invisible needles pricking into his heart.
Painful.
And impossible to explain.
But Zuo Shihuan’s silence and avoidance made Gu Heng’s fingers clench tighter.
A dark shadow flickered deep in his eyes: frustration, resentment, unwillingness. He lowered his head and wrapped Zuo Shihuan in his arms again, voice rough and self-mocking:
“Zuo Shihuan, sometimes I’m terrified of your silence. I’d rather you yell at me, hit me, anything, but don’t go quiet on me, don’t avoid me, don’t push me away little by little with that polite distance.”
“I’m not pushing you away,” Zuo Shihuan said softly, eyes lowered.
“Liar.”
Gu Heng glared at him, eyes brimming with grievance and hurt. “You did it last time, and the time before that too. Once you make up your mind, you walk away without even looking back.”
“…………” Zuo Shihuan was speechless, stifled by a sudden rush of frustration.
He didn’t think it was his fault.
Their separations had always been mutual decisions, something they had both agreed on.
If anything, it was Gu Heng who was unpredictable: leaving suddenly, returning suddenly, throwing his quiet, orderly life into chaos every single time, shaking the steady rhythm of his heart into storms.
By all logic, he should be the one angry at Gu Heng.
But Zuo Shihuan wasn’t good at arguing. His anger pooled in his eyes; several times he opened his mouth, only for his mind to go blank in exasperated confusion.
He wanted to fight with Gu Heng.
He just didn’t know how.
So, in a burst of flustered anger, Zuo Shihuan suddenly stood up and said without looking back, “I’m going out for a walk.”
Gu Heng froze, his fists whitening as he clenched them tighter. “Where are you going?”
“I—I don’t know.” Zuo Shihuan’s voice shook with irritation and heat. It was a rash, impulsive decision, but he still frowned and said to Gu Heng, “I don’t want to fight with you. I just want to get some air. When I’ve cleared my head, I’ll come back and talk to you again.”
“You want to go where? I can come with you!”
“I—I don’t even know. I just don’t want to argue with you. I’m not used to it, and I don’t want to fight. I just want to go out and cool off for a bit.”
“Argue?” Gu Heng let out a sharp laugh, frustration and bitterness twisting his face. “How would I dare argue with you? Every time you go silent, my heart jumps into my throat, what am I supposed to do?”
Zuo Shihuan clenched his hands, his mind a mess.
Gu Heng’s eyes reddened as he gritted out, “Zuo Shihuan, you’re far more ruthless than I am. I’m terrified of your silence and your politeness, they make me feel like a stranger you can toss out of your world at any moment.”
Zuo Shihuan’s lips parted slightly, eyes flickering with surprise and confusion. His emotions tangled together as he turned to look at Gu Heng’s red-rimmed eyes, his heart softened despite himself. He sighed, his tone gentler. “I’ve never thrown you out. I just thought we both needed to calm down and think things through.”
That answer didn’t satisfy Gu Heng at all.
His expression hardened. “Fine. Go, then! You want to calm down, right? You don’t even want to talk to me anyway!”
“I already said that’s not true!”
“…”
This time, Gu Heng fell silent, his dark eyes narrowing with disbelief.
Zuo Shihuan could only sigh helplessly. “Even if I go out for a walk, I’ll come back soon. It’s not like I have a car. Where could I possibly go in the middle of the night?”
Gu Heng looked at him coldly, clearly unconvinced, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms, waiting to hear what other excuse Zuo Shihuan could come up with.
Seeing that, Zuo Shihuan’s temper flared. He’d been explaining so much his voice was hoarse, and irritation surged up. “Can you be reasonable for once? I just want to go for a walk, it’s not like I’m kicking you out! And besides, this is your home, I’m the one leaving! If anything, I’m the one compromising here!”
At being yelled at like that, Gu Heng showed no reaction outwardly. But the next second, to Zuo Shihuan’s shock—
He bent down, grabbed his black windbreaker from the floor, then flopped down heavily on the cold metal sofa, lying flat in defeat and throwing the jacket over his head.
Through the thick fabric, his voice came out muffled.
“Go on then. Since the moment you stop talking to me, my heart doesn’t even want to beat anymore. Just let me rot here, die for all I care then you won’t have to worry or deal with me ever again, Zuo Shihuan.”
Zuo Shihuan stared at him, completely dumbfounded. He stepped forward and tugged at Gu Heng’s arm.
But Gu Heng only clamped the jacket tighter over his head, refusing to let go.
Seeing this ridiculous scene, Zuo Shihuan couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry. “When did I ever not care about you? Take that thing off! Doesn’t it feel suffocating under there?”
“So what if it does?” came Gu Heng’s muffled, aggrieved reply. “You’re leaving anyway. Even if I suffocate until my heart stops, you won’t see it. Just go. That way you won’t have to argue with me or be bothered anymore.”
Zuo Shihuan was at his wits’ end. Even though he knew Gu Heng wasn’t actually going to suffocate himself, his chest still tightened uncomfortably.
He rubbed his forehead and sighed softly. “Fine, I won’t go, alright? Can you please take off that jacket now?”
Gu Heng was quiet for a few seconds, as if thinking something over.
Sensing a flicker of hesitation, Zuo Shihuan gently tugged at the jacket covering him and coaxed, “Come on, take it off. Even if you’re not suffocating, just looking at you makes me feel like I’m suffocating.”
But Gu Heng stubbornly refused. “No!”
Zuo Shihuan frowned. “No what?”
“If I take it off, what if you do the same thing again? Stop talking to me, run away again?” Gu Heng’s tone was deadly serious, as if he’d just made a perfectly logical point.
Clutching the jacket like a shield, he even started negotiating. “It’s not about me taking it off anymore. You’re the one who wants me to, so you’d better explain properly, why did you suddenly stop talking to me? Why did you suddenly want to leave me behind?”
“I already told you I wasn’t trying to leave you!” Zuo Shihuan snapped, completely losing patience.
Without thinking, he reached to snatch the jacket away. “If you won’t take it off, then I’ll do it for you!”
“No!” Gu Heng resisted fiercely.
“You don’t get a say in this! Let go!” Zuo Shihuan growled, rolling up his sleeves and wrestling for the d*mned jacket.
Like h*ll was Gu Heng going to stay under that thing forever!
“No—!”
“Let go already!”
“Not until you answer me!”
“Answer my *ss!”
All pretense of upper-class composure gone, Zuo Shihuan kicked off his dress shoes, climbed onto the metal sofa, half sprawled on top of Gu Heng, and yanked at the infuriating jacket with both hands.
The jacket and the man under it were both equally exasperating.
For a moment, Zuo Shihuan nearly succeeded, one corner of the jacket slipped, revealing Gu Heng’s ear and the sharp line of his jaw.
But Gu Heng, sensing danger, twisted nimbly, and in an instant snatched the jacket right back.
Defeated again.
Zuo Shihuan stared at his empty hands, fingers numb from the struggle, sweat dripping down his forehead as he panted heavily, dizzy with exhaustion and frustration.
Meanwhile, Gu Heng remained under the jacket, still defiant, shouting, “Zuo Shihuan! If you don’t tell me the truth, I swear I’ll suffocate under here before I let go!”
Zuo Shihuan finally exploded. “Gu Heng, can you not be so childish!”
“Who’s the childish one here? You’re the one who runs away whenever there’s a problem, leaving me behind! If you’re so determined to go, then go! Once you’re gone, my suffocating to death won’t have anything to do with you!”
“I keep telling you I wasn’t trying to leave you behind… Forget it.” Zuo Shihuan pressed a hand to his forehead, exasperated. If this went on, they’d still be arguing come morning.
But he couldn’t just leave Gu Heng like this either.
Because knowing Gu Heng, if he did step out for a walk, when he came back, that stubborn fool would still be acting exactly the same way.
Zuo Shihuan felt utterly trapped by Gu Heng’s childish antics and worse, he couldn’t bring himself to be heartless enough to ignore him.
“What do you want, then?” Zuo Shihuan sighed helplessly, frowning as he looked toward the lump on the sofa, Gu Heng’s face still completely hidden beneath the jacket. Another sigh. Then through gritted teeth, he said, “Gu Heng, what will it take for you to take off that d*mn jacket?”
“It’s simple,” came Gu Heng’s muffled reply. “Zuo Shihuan, you just need to promise me one thing.”
Sensing Zuo Shihuan’s surrender, he finally loosened his grip on his “shield.”
Zuo Shihuan narrowed his eyes warily. “What thing? Say it first.”
Gu Heng lifted the jacket. His short black hair stuck out in messy tufts, making him look disheveled but striking. He sat up straight, his face serious and heavy, staring at Zuo Shihuan for several long seconds before he spoke.
“I want you to promise me that if we ever have a disagreement, if there’s something about me you don’t like, you can hit me or yell at me if you want. But you cannot just go silent. You cannot say nothing, explain nothing, and then try to run away.”
“I didn’t—” Zuo Shihuan gave a dry, helpless smile.
“Really?” Gu Heng cut him off, his brows furrowing. He locked eyes with Zuo Shihuan and said quietly but firmly, “If you’re not planning to run away, then look me in the eye. Say it while looking at me, say you’re not trying to avoid me.”
“Look at me.”
Gu Heng clasped Zuo Shihuan’s hands tightly, stopping him from retreating a single step. Gone was the usual teasing arch of his brow; his face was deadly serious now.
“Shihuan,” he said, voice low but steady, “tell me, what are you thinking?”
“…”
“You’d rather storm out of here in anger than tell me why. If I made you upset, I’ll apologize. I’ll change. I’ll keep trying until you forgive me until you stop being angry.”
Gu Heng’s gaze was bright and piercing, cutting straight into Zuo Shihuan’s heart.
It was a look that left nowhere to hide.
Zuo Shihuan’s pupils contracted. His palms tightened as he tried to convince himself it wasn’t as serious as Gu Heng made it sound. He had only wanted to go for a walk, how did that somehow become, in Gu Heng’s eyes, an act of abandonment?
He would have come back.
If Gu Heng hadn’t been so unreasonable and shameless, he wouldn’t have gotten angry in the first place. If he hadn’t already quit smoking, he would’ve probably gone through a whole pack out of sheer frustration.
But no matter how angry he was, he never once hated Gu Heng.
As for hitting or yelling at him, he could never do that.
He didn’t want to acknowledge Gu Heng’s accusation, nor did he want to make that ridiculous promise. He had no interest in violence, not even in the heat of emotion.
Zuo Shihuan tried to soften his expression, to lift the corners of his lips into a faint smile but when he met Gu Heng’s earnest, searching gaze, he realized he couldn’t smile at all.
Not only could he not smile—
Under that gaze, all the excuses, denials, and evasions he had prepared stuck to his lips, unable to come out.
Because Gu Heng would see through him.
Better to say nothing at all than to let Gu Heng watch as he struggled to defend himself because once Gu Heng looked into him, he would see everything Zuo Shihuan tried to bury:
The shame, the jealousy, the insecurity, the parts of himself that felt dirty and small. The parts he didn’t want Gu Heng to see, the parts that weren’t fit for the light.
Even after all these years, Zuo Shihuan had stopped feeling inferior about growing up poor. Yet in front of Gu Heng, he still wanted to be perfect: flawless, shining, untouchable.
Not the man in the crisp suit, poised and confident among the elite who beneath that polished exterior still had the damp, grimy mud of the slums clinging to his heels.
Not the man who still, deep down, carried that same rough-edged instinct—
Who still lost his temper and cursed when pushed too far.
Who, beneath his practiced politeness and composure, harbored a thousand petty irritations and silent grudges, muttering crude words in his head and plotting little revenges against people who crossed him.
So many times—
When faced with things he couldn’t control or change, he just wanted to crawl into some dark, unseen corner, to lick his wounds in silence. Alone. No pity, no comfort. Just time to patch himself up until he could step back out into the world as the strong, composed version of himself again.
But why—
Why did Gu Heng have to drag him out of that corner?
Why force him to confront it, to admit that, yes, in that moment, he was trying to run away? To escape, to resent, to recoil from the truths of Gu Heng’s past that he’d never known before?
Was that so wrong?
Zuo Shihuan began to resent Gu Heng for it—
For dragging him into the light.
Like a naked vagabond thrown under the blazing sun.
No matter how warm or bright, sunlight could never scrub off the filth and fleas of a drifter.
A vagabond walking among the crowd—
The brighter the light, the clearer his stains became. The more others would see, the more they would recoil.
Zuo Shihuan didn’t want to be that man. He didn’t want those ugly, jealous parts of himself to one day make Gu Heng despise him.
He had endured the loss of someone close before. Even when that person had upended his life before leaving, he had managed to clean up the wreckage and go on alone.
Because he had always expected loss. He had always been prepared for abandonment.
But now, it was different.
He suddenly realized he couldn’t accept the idea of Gu Heng leaving him one day.
Letting his life return to a world without Gu Heng, it felt like having just glimpsed vivid colors beyond black, white, and gray, only to be thrown back into that same silent, desolate monochrome film. Even imagining the faintest possibility of such a loss made him cowardly and afraid.
Even the smallest chance of it, he didn’t want to risk it. That was why he kept avoiding anything that might strain his relationship with Gu Heng.
He didn’t want to argue with him.
He wanted to run.
He really wanted to run away.
Only…
Just as Zuo Shihuan wanted to flee, Gu Heng, who had already anticipated it, grabbed both his hands. He couldn’t escape, forced instead to face Gu Heng’s questioning gaze.
Gu Heng held onto his hands, saw the resistance and avoidance in Zuo Shihuan’s eyes, yet still asked hoarsely, eyes reddening in stubborn hurt, “Zuo Shihuan, do you really hate me that much? That you don’t even want to say a single word to me?”
How could Zuo Shihuan possibly hate Gu Heng? He only hated that cowardly part of himself that wanted to run away.
“I don’t want to make things hard for you.”
Gu Heng lowered his head, a flicker of dim hurt crossing his eyes. He released Zuo Shihuan’s hands and said in a low voice, “Alright, I’ll go. If I’m the one making things hard, then I’m the one who should leave.”
Forcing a smile, Gu Heng stood up and said softly, “So much happened today. You must be tired, Shihuan. There are spare towels, toothbrushes, and bath towels in the cabinet, rest well. I… I won’t bother you anymore.”
After speaking,
Gu Heng brushed past him, not even taking his jacket, as if ready to step out into the rain just like that. His lonely, desolate back slowly faded from view.
Zuo Shihuan’s eyes widened, and before he could even think, he reached out and grabbed the hem of Gu Heng’s coat, murmuring under his breath, “I don’t want you to go.”
“…” Gu Heng froze.
Zuo Shihuan went blank for a moment, realizing what he had just said. Yet even so, he didn’t want Gu Heng to leave. He was the one who wanted to run, so how could he let Gu Heng be the one to go?
But Gu Heng still didn’t turn around.
Thinking he hadn’t heard, Zuo Shihuan raised his voice slightly, “I—I don’t want you to go.”
Gu Heng’s body moved slightly. He turned his head, but didn’t look at Zuo Shihuan.
Zuo Shihuan tugged gently at the hem of his coat again, and with a rush of courage said, “I don’t want you to go. I don’t want to hear about the people you met before. I even want you to stay away from them. Don’t look, and don’t let anyone else look at you.”
He spoke in a rush, breath catching unconsciously by the end, yet his gaze didn’t waver for even a moment.
A few silent seconds passed.
To Zuo Shihuan, those few seconds stretched endlessly long. His eyes lowered in loneliness, fingers beginning to loosen from Gu Heng’s coat until he suddenly heard a deep, magnetic chuckle.
“Zuo Shihuan, sometimes you’re really domineering. You keep saying I’m the b*stard, but when you get possessive, you’re even worse.”
Gu Heng turned around, crossing his arms, brows raised in amusement. “Besides, my eyes are on my face, how am I supposed to stop others from looking at me?”
Zuo Shihuan’s eyes brightened slightly. He gripped the coat tighter, biting his lip hard as he muttered, “I don’t care. They’re not allowed to look. And you’re not allowed to look at anyone else either.”
Gu Heng lowered his head and laughed softly, raising a brow helplessly. “So you were giving me the cold shoulder just because you were jealous?”
Caught off guard, Zuo Shihuan froze, his eyes darting nervously as guilt flickered across his face. Maybe even he realized it was a bit childish to sulk and avoid Gu Heng out of jealousy.
Gu Heng shook his head with a sigh. “Alright, looks like I misunderstood then. I’ll go take a walk… ah, it’s really pouring tonight. Even if I get soaked and catch a cold, that’s fine, since someone doesn’t care at all, not even enough to explain.”
“You didn’t misunderstand!” Zuo Shihuan said in a panic, grabbing Gu Heng again. “It’s me—I was jealous, okay? I thought… I’m sorry. I know I was being unreasonable. Your job is already hard enough. I shouldn’t have been so petty and demanding.”
Hearing Zuo Shihuan, usually so reserved and shy, actually admit to being jealous made all of Gu Heng’s pent-up frustration instantly melt away, replaced by smug delight he could hardly hide.
But Zuo Shihuan’s vague, halting words still left Gu Heng puzzled.
Sometimes, Gu Heng was genuinely afraid of him, of how quietly Zuo Shihuan could stew over something, seeming calm and thoughtful while secretly holding a ticking bomb that might go off at any moment.
Just recalling it made Gu Heng’s chest ache again.
Studying the man before him, Gu Heng frowned and asked, “So what exactly was it, then? What did you think?”
“I thought you were hiding things from me. Like today, I only just found out about your special work.” Zuo Shihuan’s light brown eyes dimmed a little. He covered his face with one hand and said in a low, regretful voice, “Before that, you were just an ordinary Beta. Even if you worked in some dangerous, messy district, I could still pull you out of it. But after learning you’re part of a special federal agency, even as a member of the Zuo family, I have no right to interfere.”
“I know you’ve already taken huge risks for me. Working in that kind of role must force you to do things you don’t want to. Honestly, I don’t care who your first kiss was with. Even if you had exes, that’s fine. I… I just don’t want you to tell me about your past flings. I… I don’t want to know.”
Gu Heng’s brows drew tighter and tighter as he interrupted, “Wait, Shihuan, are you saying you think I’ve had lots of flings?”
Zuo Shihuan hesitated, glanced up at him, and said nothing but his expression said enough.
“So you got upset and ignored me because you thought I was lying to you?”
Gu Heng nearly choked on his disbelief. Good grief, so Zuo Shihuan had worked himself up imagining nonsense and ended up branding him a liar? What an injustice.
“Wait—you said not only that…”
“What else, then?” Gu Heng was breaking into a cold sweat now. What else had Zuo Shihuan imagined? If they didn’t clear this up soon, he really was going to die of false accusations.
Zuo Shihuan raised a hand to cover his face, lips pressing together nervously before he spoke.
“I—I just don’t want to argue with you. I don’t want us to fight over things like this and end up breaking apart.”
Gu Heng’s expression softened. With a helpless smile, he pulled Zuo Shihuan into his arms.
“What are you thinking? How could we ever separate over something so small?”
Zuo Shihuan hid his face against him, speaking softly. “I just want us to be okay… to never fight. I don’t ever want to see you slam the door and walk out, leaving me alone. If that day ever really came, I’d rather be the one to leave.”
Gu Heng froze.
In that instant, he understood why Zuo Shihuan had acted so foolishly earlier.
Because once before, there had been someone, someone closest to him, who had hurt Zuo Shihuan the deepest, leaving behind scars and shadows. It made him fearful and insecure, afraid Gu Heng might someday turn into that same heartless person who walked away from him.
Gu Heng wanted to tell him, to make him believe that he would never leave him alone.
But in the end, he couldn’t say it.
Because maybe, once upon a time, someone had said those very same words to Zuo Shihuan… and still left him behind.
So instead of empty promises, Gu Heng decided he’d prove it, every single day, that no matter how the tides of the world shifted, the one who stayed beside Zuo Shihuan would always be him.
Rather than swearing forever, he’d make sure Zuo Shihuan would never again feel lonely or uneasy, so that every time he turned around, he’d see Gu Heng there with him, again and again, until forever.
Gu Heng’s eyes softened. With a pang of tenderness, he pressed a light kiss to the top of Zuo Shihuan’s head and smiled. “What are you thinking? How could I ever let you go outside alone? What if some little seductress lures you away? You’re so cute, no matter what, I’ll just cling to you shamelessly and drive all those shameless ones away.”
Zuo Shihuan frowned in mild confusion, the spot where Gu Heng had kissed him growing hot, the warmth spreading across his face until it turned red. Somehow, even through Gu Heng’s ridiculous teasing, he felt reassured.
Still, a tiny trace of dissatisfaction lingered in his chest.
He lifted his head slightly, light brown eyes clear and serious. “I’m an Alpha, a grown, tall, male Alpha. There’s no way I can be called ‘cute.’ That word should describe small, delicate Omegas or Betas.”
Gu Heng’s eyes widened a little. Watching Zuo Shihuan argue so earnestly, adorably, even with his serious light brown eyes and lips still a little swollen from his earlier kiss, it made him look even more enticing.
How could he possibly think he wasn’t cute?
He was so cute Gu Heng wanted to keep him as his treasure, to hold him close to his heart, tuck him in his pocket, or cradle him in his palms and kiss him all day long.
Gu Heng pressed a hand to his lips, suppressing the itch in his throat, afraid he’d lose control and pin Zuo Shihuan down right then and there.
But Zuo Shihuan seemed completely oblivious to the danger, tugging at Gu Heng’s coat as if demanding an explanation, determined to defend his proud Alpha dignity.
What could Gu Heng do?
He simply leaned in and kissed him several times in a row, laughter brimming in his eyes, until the shy, blushing Zuo Shihuan finally shut up. Then he burst out laughing.
“How could you not be cute? Shihuan, you’re adorable and a little silly.”
Gu Heng tightened his arms around him, resting his chin on Zuo Shihuan’s shoulder. His deep, dark eyes carried helpless affection as he smiled.
“I’m the one who should be upset, you silly thing who refuses to believe me. Everything you imagined doesn’t even exist. Other than you, I don’t want anyone. There’s no ex, and no ‘flings’ either.”
Zuo Shihuan looked a little guilty, then pursed his lips and muttered with faint grievance, “But didn’t you say lots of people tried to get close to you before?”
Gu Heng suddenly pulled back, leaning down so their eyes met, his gaze full of wounded accusation. “I’m the one who’s really wronged here! I never hid anything from you or lied to you. Honestly, I should go to the hospital and get certified: pure as ice, clean as jade! You’re the only person I’ve ever kissed.”
Zuo Shihuan hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Alright, I believe you.”
That only made Gu Heng look even more aggrieved. “What do you mean, alright? Zuo Shihuan, you still don’t really believe me, do you!”
Zuo Shihuan’s eyes darted aside before he gathered his courage and muttered, “You kissed me the first time we met. You were so smooth and natural about it, it’s hard not to think you’ve had practice.”
Gu Heng narrowed his eyes, voice full of mock resentment. “Oh, so you’re blaming me for being too talented, huh? Then what about you? Back when we’d barely met, you offered to keep me with money. I’d like to know, Young Master of the great Zuo family, how many people have you made that same offer to, to be so smooth about it?”
Zuo Shihuan was speechless, guilt flashing across his face, though he still glared at Gu Heng in defiance.
Gu Heng snorted. “Right—looks like we’re even, then.”
But soon after, he sighed, scratching his head and murmuring, “Alright, fine. I admit I wasn’t taking it all that seriously back then.”
Zuo Shihuan let out a small hum, as if to say, See? I was right.
Gu Heng ground his teeth, then said again, “But I really never kissed anyone else. I’ve never been with anyone, either!”
Zuo Shihuan’s eyes were full of disbelief, as though that were impossible to imagine.
Gu Heng let out an incredulous laugh. “So you’d rather believe I’m some flirt who can’t keep it in his pants than believe I’m actually a clean, untouched virgin, huh?”
Zuo Shihuan instinctively nodded then, under Gu Heng’s dangerous, narrowing gaze, quickly shook his head.
Gu Heng groaned and smacked his own forehead in exasperation. He refused to believe he couldn’t explain this clearly, so he sighed and went on, “Look, it’s because I used to be so busy. And most of the people who came near me had ulterior motives. I could see it instantly, it was boring and annoying, so I had no interest.”
“In truth, I used to be indifferent toward love or sex. It didn’t matter. Whoever it was, it was all the same to me.”
By the end, his eyes had gone cold and lazy, that faint indifference carrying a chill sharp enough to make others instinctively shudder.
In truth, everything Gu Heng had just said was what he truly thought. Once upon a time, he hadn’t cared who he slept with, Beta, Omega, it didn’t matter. As long as they didn’t disgust or irritate him, it was fine.
Ever since he neared adulthood, powerful nobles and officials had endlessly tried to curry favor with him, offering up their precious, beautiful Omega sons and daughters. Even if they couldn’t become the Empire’s Crown Princess, being his lover would suffice.
Gu Heng himself was well aware.
Even if he had no affection at all for any of those Omegas presented to him, he would still eventually choose one he didn’t find unpleasant to marry.
Only—
Even such a simple requirement had proven impossibly difficult.
Almost every Omega, male or female, who approached him, spoke with eyes and lips full of admiration and longing. Whether sincere or not, it all left him weary and repulsed.
And what if their love was real?
He wasn’t lacking in admirers, nor in people desperate to chase after him.
He had thought he would stay detached and indifferent for life, like his imperial father, simply selecting an Omega whose pheromones matched his own to be his spouse,
while feeling no affection for that spouse, nor even for his future children.
However—
Ever since he met Zuo Shihuan, met that Alpha from the Federation, everything had changed. A complete upheaval, a transformation so vast even the old him would never have dared to imagine it.
The moment he thought of Zuo Shihuan, he actually realized this man would get jealous over such a trivial thing.
Truly—
Gu Heng lowered his head and let out a quiet laugh. The tight line of his brow loosened; the cold, distant light in his eyes melted into warmth and a faint smile. His lips even curved up uncontrollably.
But soon after—
Gu Heng restrained his smile and looked at Zuo Shihuan’s thoughtful expression. Suddenly, his heart jolted with panic.
He’d confessed everything in one go, but forgot that his views were far from ordinary, the kind most people would find shocking or unacceptable.
Though he had never cared what others thought, he did care what Zuo Shihuan thought. If Zuo Shihuan found him strange, even feared or rejected him, what then?
Anxious, Gu Heng bit down hard on his molars, instantly regretting it. He shouldn’t have spoken so bluntly, shouldn’t have said such abnormal things without softening or disguising them.
Now he didn’t even dare guess what Zuo Shihuan thought of him.
His gaze flickered. Then, quickly knitting his brows, he looked up with a pitiful expression and said in a plaintive tone, “Now you believe I wasn’t lying to you, right, Zuo Shihuan? I know my views sound hard to accept, but it’s all because of my family.”
Having found a convenient scapegoat, Gu Heng hastily shifted the blame, speaking in an aggrieved tone: “It’s because of my family that I used to think that way. My upbringing was… special. No one ever taught me properly. My parents, they didn’t marry out of love, but out of compulsion. Even though they despised and used each other, they still lived together, even had me.”
His eyes dimmed with complexity, a faint trace of mockery and coldness flashing through.
Yet the next moment—
Gu Heng lifted his eyes again, looking pitiful as he leaned into Zuo Shihuan, seeking comfort, and murmured softly, “That’s how I used to think… but I’ve changed now. My heart and body belong only to you.”
Zuo Shihuan froze, his eyes full of tenderness. He gently patted Gu Heng’s back, guilt and sorrow welling up until he too leaned forward, holding Gu Heng tightly in his arms.
He had never imagined Gu Heng had gone through such painful things.
He’d thought this arrogant, reckless man had been spoiled since childhood, adored by everyone. He hadn’t expected his family life to be so complicated.
If it weren’t for him, Gu Heng wouldn’t have had to tear open those old wounds with his own hands.
Zuo Shihuan’s eyes filled with tears. Hugging Gu Heng tightly, he choked out between sobs, his voice trembling, “It’s my fault… I shouldn’t have doubted you, Gu Heng…”
Tears streamed down his face, falling drop by drop onto Gu Heng’s shoulder, and onto his heart.
Originally, when Gu Heng had mentioned his past, his heart had carried a faint bitterness, a cold resentment. But as Zuo Shihuan’s pitiful tears fell one after another, that bitterness melted away, his heart softening, thawing like winter snow in spring warmth.
Now it was Gu Heng’s turn to gently pat Zuo Shihuan’s back, soothing him, coaxing him not to cry so hard.
“I’m fine. Those things are long over. I don’t care anymore.”
“But… but…”
Zuo Shihuan lifted his head, eyes red and brimming with tears. He tried to speak several times, but tears just kept falling from the corners of his eyes. Finally, his voice went hoarse, no words left, and he lowered his head again, pressing against Gu Heng’s neck, biting his lip to stop himself from sobbing aloud.
Unable to calm him otherwise, Gu Heng kissed the wet corners of his reddened eyes, tasting the salt of his tears as he kissed them away. His heart ached, helpless and pained, as he held Zuo Shihuan tighter, each drop of those unstoppable tears striking against his chest like tiny blows.
Regret.
He’d only meant to act pitiful to earn Zuo Shihuan’s sympathy and forgiveness.
But now he regretted it, regretted everything he’d done before. Because more than forgiveness, he just wanted Zuo Shihuan to stop crying.
How could he let someone he loved so deeply cry for him, cry until his eyes were red?
Gu Heng thought to himself that he must be the biggest b*stard in the world to make the one he loved cry, and for his own sake, no less.
“Don’t cry anymore. I’m really fine.”
Gu Heng reached out, wiping away the tears at the corners of Zuo Shihuan’s eyes. Lowering his head, he pressed his forehead against the other’s, his deep gaze full of tenderness and affection.
Cupping Zuo Shihuan’s face in his hands, he kissed the corner of his lips softly, smiling with gentle warmth.
“It hurts me to see you cry. I stopped caring about those people long ago. Isn’t it enough that I have you by my side now?”
Zuo Shihuan stared blankly, dazed, meeting Gu Heng’s soft, smiling eyes.
“Now that I have you, that’s enough for me, okay?”
Gu Heng leaned in, his tone teasing, eyes gleaming with playful mischief. He took Zuo Shihuan’s hand, pressed a kiss into his palm, then another on the back of his hand.
The trail of kisses spread from the wrist, to the collarbone, neck, and then to his cheek.
His fingertips brushed over Zuo Shihuan’s skin, warm and delicate; breaths mingled, sticky with heat. His thumb gently stroked the other’s flushed, swollen lips, a touch tinged with faint pity and tenderness—
But the next second, his lips descended without mercy.
Zuo Shihuan’s pupils trembled in shock; his lips instinctively pressed together, but were pried open by a forceful tongue and teeth, invaded and taken over completely, leaving him powerless to resist.
His breath was slowly stolen away.
Each shallow gasp grew heavier, stickier.
Zuo Shihuan gripped at Gu Heng’s chest, his fingers clutching the fabric, soft whimpers spilling between their lips only to be swallowed again, like a fish sinking soundlessly to the bottom of the sea.
He wanted to struggle, to push away but his hands were caught.
Pressed against the wall, one thigh lifted and hooked over Gu Heng’s knee.
He was trapped in Gu Heng’s arms.
Looking into those dark eyes, dull yet blazing with masculine desire, eyes that looked like they could devour him whole, Zuo Shihuan trembled and instinctively drew back his neck.
Perhaps sensing it, Gu Heng reined in that predatory gleam a little. His eyes curved, a low laugh escaping his throat as his thumb brushed across the other’s lips. “Trying to run?” he murmured, voice low and magnetic. “That won’t do.”
The deep, velvety laughter echoed, making Zuo Shihuan’s ears tingle and his body go weak before being swept into yet another wave of fervent kisses.
But this time, the kiss lasted too long.
Zuo Shihuan’s mind grew hazy, dazed, eyes reddened and glistening with tears. His clenched hands slowly lost strength and slipped down.
He lost track of time, only feeling his heart pounding too fast, breath coming in shallow gasps, his face flushed scarlet, his body soft and weak, every signal warning him to—
Let go.
Breathe.
At the very brink of suffocation, he was suddenly released.
Fresh air flooded his nose and lungs, and it felt like a rush of emergency rescue. He gasped hard for air, only to choke on the cold oxygen, bending over and coughing uncontrollably.
“How silly of you,” Gu Heng drawled, voice half-amused, half-exasperated. “Still haven’t learned to breathe while kissing?”
Zuo Shihuan ignored the teasing, still coughing, eyes red and watery, clutching his stomach as his body shook.
At last, Gu Heng sighed, unable to watch anymore, and scooped him up to the sofa.
“If I hadn’t let go early, what would’ve happened to you?” he said helplessly, his broad palm gently rubbing Zuo Shihuan’s chest in comfort.
After a long while, Zuo Shihuan finally caught his breath, turning his head away, ears bright red, too embarrassed to answer.
He was frustrated with himself. Why was something so simple so hard to learn? It was infuriating to always end up being teased by Gu Heng like this.
Gu Heng studied him for a while, until Zuo Shihuan’s face grew even redder. Thinking he was about to be mocked again, he glared at him.
Gu Heng only smirked and said, “Your lips really are swollen. Looks like we can’t keep kissing.”
Zuo Shihuan’s ears flushed even redder. He clenched his fists and glared again, as if to say and whose fault is that?
Gu Heng raised a brow. “How is that my fault?”
Zuo Shihuan turned away, not wanting to look at that smug face.
But Gu Heng wasn’t about to let him off so easily. He leaned in shamelessly, brows drawn in exaggerated grievance. “Speaking of which,” he said pitifully, “I was the one wronged and misunderstood. Shouldn’t you be the one to kiss me to make up for my hurt feelings?”
Zuo Shihuan: “……”
Had he just dug his own grave? Now Gu Heng had something to hold over him.
A hint of amusement flashed through Gu Heng’s eyes, though his tone stayed casual. “But I’m not that petty,” he added lightly. “Since your lips are already swollen, I’ll let you rest.”
Zuo Shihuan actually felt touched for a second.
He lifted his shy, amber eyes and hesitated. “Actually, it’s not that bad… How about… one last kiss?”
The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Heng’s pupils darkened to an alarming depth. The veins on his temples and forearms twitched faintly but Zuo Shihuan didn’t notice. Gu Heng quickly schooled his expression into a slow, meaningful smile.
“So tempting,” he murmured. “Makes me want to devour you right now. But… maybe later.”
Zuo Shihuan blinked in confusion. “…?”
Why did it suddenly feel like some dangerous beast had fixed its gaze on him?
Gu Heng tapped his chin thoughtfully, then curved his lips into a grin. “Or how about this,” he said. “You’re always accusing me of being… impure, right? Then why don’t you check for yourself?”
“…?”
Zuo Shihuan looked baffled, then quickly shook his head. “But I don’t misunderstand you anymore! I was overthinking earlier, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“This time,” Gu Heng said slowly, raising a brow, “it’s not up to you.”
He took Zuo Shihuan’s hand and placed it flat on his abs, a smirk tugging at his mouth. “My only request for compensation. Check for yourself, Zuo Shihuan. If you want to know whether I’m clean or not, just undo my shirt and see for yourself.”
Zuo Shihuan’s eyes went wide with shock, frozen in place, utterly speechless.
“What’s wrong? Not moving?” Gu Heng tilted his head in mock confusion, then suddenly gave a wicked grin. “Do you want me to give you a demonstration?”
“I—I—I…” Zuo Shihuan stammered, face so hot it could steam. His mind went blank, tongue tripping until he bit it by accident, gasping sharply.
“So clumsy,” Gu Heng chuckled, leaning closer. “Let me see.”
Gu Heng suddenly wrapped his arms around his waist, lifted him into the air, and finally made him sit on his lap.
Zuo Shihuan was so startled that he cried out in surprise.
In the blink of an eye, he felt ashamed and embarrassed.
Zuo Shihuan covered his face with both hands, his ears turning bright red.
He didn’t want to face reality or what was to come.
Although Gu Heng found Zuo Shihuan’s shyness endearing, he couldn’t let him continue to be so shy.
Gu Heng feigned grievance and said in a low, dejected voice, “Shihuan, you won’t see this?”
Zuo Shihuan slowly lowered his hand, hesitated, and tugged at Gu Heng’s sleeve, saying, “Then, then you can look, but there’s nothing to see.”
“How can there be nothing to see? Open your mouth—”
Zuo Shihuan opened his mouth, blushing and looking bewildered. He nervously let Gu Heng’s fingers move back and forth between his tongue and lips, his heart pounding with anxiety.
Fortunately, Gu Heng withdrew quickly.
“Although it’s a bit red, there’s nothing seriously wrong.”
Gu Heng’s words put Zuo Shihuan at ease. However, he did not notice the dark look in Gu Heng’s eyes, and the fingers that had just touched his soft, wet, red tongue were constantly rubbing against it as if savoring something.
“Then everything’s alright, right?” Zuo Shihuan’s eyes darted around.
“Didn’t you promise to make it up to me?” Gu Heng frowned, looking aggrieved, but then smiled and said, “Come on, the first step is to unbutton my clothes.”
Zuo Shihuan froze, his hands trembling.
Gu Heng continued to press Zuo Shihuan, step by step, and said with sad eyes, “You’re not even willing to compensate me for something this simple?”
Zuo Shihuan couldn’t bear to see Gu Heng looking so wronged and hurt. He realized that he had misunderstood Gu Heng earlier and was in the wrong, so he should make it up to him.
“Well, okay then…”
A trembling hand.
It was placed on Gu Heng’s chest.
Zuo Shihuan dared not look to the side, concentrating on unbuttoning Gu Heng’s clothes, but his hands trembled uncontrollably, his cheeks were burning red, and his heart was pounding.
All of this made it incredibly difficult for him to even unbutton a single button.
It was quite a struggle to unravel one of them.
Before Zuo Shihuan could even breathe a sigh of relief, he looked down and was immediately struck by a captivating sight: a sexy Adam’s apple, a delicately shaped collarbone, and a full, well-defined chest…
Suddenly, Zuo Shihuan felt dizzy.
He hesitated to make his move on the next button.
Suddenly.
With a “click”.
Then, with another “click,”…
Zuo Shihuan snapped out of his daze and looked toward the source of the sound in confusion. He was immediately shocked and stared wide-eyed at Gu Heng’s deep, lustful, and dark eyes. He blushed and was speechless.
It turns out that Gu Heng couldn’t wait any longer.
Each and every suit button.
It was bitten off.
Click, click.
By the time Zuo Shihuan realized it, there were only a few buttons left on his suit jacket, revealing his fair and delicate chest skin, as if he were about to be pounced on by a lustful beast at any moment.
Through the pants.
He could feel that thing getting hard.
It was terrifyingly big.
Zuo Shihuan was so frightened that he dared not move, his pupils trembling incessantly.
“Are you scared?” Gu Heng soothed Zuo Shihuan by kissing his ear, his ambiguous chuckle echoing, and then said, “Don’t be scared, you never need to be scared of me.”
Zuo Shihuan lowered his head, shyly leaning on Gu Heng’s shoulder, still not daring to move, his neck turning red with embarrassment.
***
An undercurrent of tension simmered in the air.
Accompanied by the soft, rustling sound of clothes falling.
The room, which was usually deserted, was now so hot that even a lightly struck match would ignite a large shower of sparks.
A series of hot, labored sobs and cries echoed through the silent room.
His chest was kissed.
Gently kissed and nibbled at it.
The faint sobs and the trembling, pinkish-white body were ignited by the burning heat, each spot ablaze with desire.
Rapid breathing.
Sensitive || Trembling.
Suddenly.
A flash of white light appeared in Zuo Shihuan’s mind.
It felt like being struck by an electric current.
His waist, which was being choked, suddenly straightened, his trembling fingers tightening as he gripped a broad, sturdy shoulder, before his body went limp and he sat down.
Zuo Shihuan could no longer hold on and weakly rested his head against Gu Heng’s neck, allowing Gu Heng to affectionately kiss his reddened and moist eyes, his light brown eyes still misty as if he were drunk.
“Zuo Shihuan, you came.”
Gu Heng chuckled ambiguously, whispering in his ear, and placed his stained fingers in front of him. A playful glint appeared in his deep, dark eyes as he spoke.
In an instant, Zuo Shihuan, still reeling from his clim*x, snapped back to reality, his scalp tingling with shame. He stammered, “…I…I…”
“What’s wrong with you?” Gu Heng asked with a mischievous smile.
Upon seeing this, he still wanted to tease him further.
Zuo Shihuan’s face turned bright red, and he pushed Gu Heng away abruptly: “I’m going to take a shower!”
Do you need my help?
“No, no need! I can manage on my own.”
After saying that, he ran to the bathroom.
Suddenly, a burst of hearty laughter came from behind, and someone kindly reminded him, “The bathroom is in the third room.”
Enraged, Zuo Shihuan turned around and glared fiercely at Gu Heng.
But before Gu Heng could react…
Zuo Shihuan panicked even more and ran to the bathroom.
***
Until the bathroom door was locked tight.
Leaning against the door.
Zuo Shihuan slowly slid down, his legs went weak, and he sat on the ground, his heart still pounding.
