Are All You Straight Guys Like This Chapter 105

Early morning. The sky at the horizon revealed a pale fish-belly white; the entire city had just awakened, shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

Inside a top-floor duplex apartment in the CBD of the capital.

Sunlight passed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, slanting in through the gap between the curtains.

On the large bed at the center of the room, the covers were slightly raised. Soon, a suppressed, moisture-laden sob sounded. From the folds where the thin quilt draped over the edge of the bed, a hand extended, fingertips flushed pink, clear and lustrous, like rain dampening a spring robe, as if words wished to speak yet held back.

Ye Ran still hadn’t fully woken up. The corners of his eyes were stained with a lingering red; crow-feather-like strands of hair clung to his cheeks. His mouth was parted, and the tip of his tongue could faintly be seen pressing against his lower jaw, rosy and full, like a heavy, ripe berry drooping from a branch, juice overflowing.

Scalding, searing breaths followed his lips deeper in, winding around his tongue and sucking, filled with the aggression that had yet to fade from waking.

Ye Ran slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was scattered and dazed. He drooped his eyelids listlessly, and with a weak, boneless palm pressed against the man atop him, he pushed at his shoulder, his voice light and hoarse: “…Shen Shi?”

The man buried at his neck gave a gentle “Mm.”

“Are you… not going to work today?” Ye Ran was being worked to the point of wanting to cry. In front of Shen Shi, he never restrained his emotions; no matter how tenderly he was treated, he would end up shedding many tears without realizing it, the tip of his nose and his eyes both flushed red.

“I am,” Shen Shi drew close, gently kissing his cheek. “I can go a bit later today.”

His breathing was also somewhat heavy, dark waves rolling in his eyes, like a male beast in the midst of a hunt, brooking no resistance.

Ye Ran had no strength left to resist. Hearing this, he gave a muffled “mm,” obediently looping his arms around the man’s neck. With his eyes closed, his long lashes were quickly dampened by moisture, tears falling one by one.

He couldn’t help opening his mouth, taking small breaths. Before long, his snow-white cheeks were covered in sweat and a flushed tide of color. Shen Shi turned his head to kiss him, the force a little fierce, yet his voice remained low, hoarse, and gentle as he kept calling him: “Little darling, come with me?”

“…I bought you new paints and a new easel, hmm? Want to go take a look?”

Ye Ran was coaxed into a hazy daze, responding a few times indistinctly like a little kitten. Then he heard the man laugh deeply by his ear, pull away the blanket, and lift him up with warm, solid arms, kissing away his tears as he soothed him all the way into the bathroom.

…

They spent nearly an hour in the bathroom, then lay back down and slept a second round. By the time the clock hand pointed to ten, Ye Ran finally managed to eat breakfast.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sun was blazing. On the dining table were sandwiches and seafood congee.

Ye Ran ate slowly. Shen Shi had already left, sending him a text a little after nine, telling him to remember to reply once he woke up.

He raised his hand to pick up his phone. As his long sleeve slid up, on the soft, snow-white skin along the inside of his arm were deep red marks left by kisses.

These past few days, Shen Shi had been very intense. Last night they went on until midnight, and this morning it had gone on endlessly again.

Ever since marrying Shen Shi at the end of last year, Ye Ran had grown more and more familiar with the heavy desire and dominance hidden beneath Shen Shi’s refined, gentle exterior.

A man in his thirties who had finally tasted desire, during their three-month honeymoon, he took the naïve and unknowing Ye Ran to an island. With the island’s population cleared out in advance, all facilities were complete. Ye Ran was trapped in the hotel; at the worst of it, he cried from morning till night, his mind muddled, and whenever he heard Shen Shi’s voice, he would reflexively whimper and beg for mercy.

In just three short months, he had gone from a still-pure, handsome male college graduate three years out of school to a pitiable househusband doing his utmost to satisfy his husband’s needs.

It had been more than half a year since they got married.

Last month, the studio had an overseas assignment that required going to France for a full month. Ye Ran didn’t notify Shen Shi, using the excuse of going out to relax. Once he ran off, it was for an entire month.

Perhaps buoyed by the success of his earlier sneaking off to New Zealand, this time Ye Ran didn’t take it too seriously. Even though he reported where he was going and which hotel he was staying at, he felt it was no big deal, and even thought he was indeed gifted, perfectly suited to this kind of you-chase-me-I-run narrative style.

Only after the business trip ended and he returned full of springtime cheer did Ye Ran taste the bitter fruit of it. That very night, he was disciplined on the bed until he was dazed and muddled, agreeing to who knew how many unequal terms before he finally coaxed the man whose eyes held not the slightest hint of a smile into kissing him with helpless tenderness.

He had been pampered by Shen Shi for so long, growing up immersed in Shen Shi’s love and gentleness. The matter of marrying Shen Shi had been held down by Shen Shi’s parents and Ye Ran’s father, grinding on for a full three years before the three of them finally relented.

Three years, enough time for Ye Ran and Shen Shi to adapt, to understand each other.

So even though Ye Ran had long known about the possessiveness and ferocity buried deep in Shen Shi’s bones, he wasn’t afraid. After all, that ferocity was covered by a mild, refined exterior; aside from in bed, it didn’t affect daily life. Ye Ran felt he should also dote on Shen Shi a bit, so he very generously turned a blind eye.

He had agreed to go to the company today to keep Shen Shi company.

Ye Ran didn’t delay. Rubbing his waist, he got up, took vegetables and fresh meat out of the fridge, and prepared to cook something to bring along.

Over the past three years, under Shen Shi’s arrangements, much of the Shen Group’s business focus had already shifted to the capital.

The Junting Building was likewise located in the CBD center.

After going downstairs, Ye Ran found his legs a bit sore and his waist very soft. He really couldn’t drive so he could only take a taxi to Junting.

The midday sun hung high, dazzlingly bright.

On both sides of the pedestrian crossing stood lush evergreen trees, sunlight filtering through interlaced branches and scattering mottled patches of light.

Nearby residential compounds were rich with the breath of everyday life. Several elementary schools were letting out at the same time; children in school uniforms, wearing little yellow hats, hopped and skipped, lining up into long queues under the traffic police’s direction, crossing the road obediently.

Ye Ran stood out like a crane among chickens in the midst of the elementary schoolers, a lunch box in his hand. He wore a casually draped white shirt, long legs straight and slender, fine sweat at his temples clinging to his cheeks, whether from afar or up close, he carried a distinct charm.

Uncle Li happened to be driving past the intersection and smiled as soon as he spotted him.

“Young master!”

There was a temporary parking spot by the roadside. Uncle Li waved, catching Ye Ran’s attention, his smile growing even broader. “Heading to Junting? I’ll give you a lift.”

Ye Ran was also happy to see him. Uncle Li no longer handled his daily transportation, Shen Shi had arranged a new driver for him. These past few days, the driver’s daughter had fallen ill, so Ye Ran had given him leave.

He jogged over, eyes bright, hair blown slightly loose by the wind, and said with a smile, “Long time no see, Uncle Li.”

The car’s air conditioning was on. Over three years, many things had changed, fine lines had deepened at the corners of Uncle Li’s eyes, yet his vigor remained robust.

“Isn’t that so? Madam Shen and Mr. Shen in Haicheng talk about you two every day, hoping you’ll have time to come live in Haicheng for a while.”

Ye Ran thought about it. National Day was coming up soon, and his father had also settled in Haicheng. “Alright. Over National Day, Shen Shi and I will go back.”

“Really? That’s great, that’s great, Madam and the others will be so happy.” Old Li was delighted. He knew that once Ye Ran made up his mind, the matter was already ninety percent settled.

He drove Ye Ran all the way on green lights; in just ten minutes, they arrived at Junting.

The Junting Building rose thirty stories high, its exterior neat and orderly, composed of privacy glass windows. Under the scorching midday sun, the silhouettes of passing vehicles and pedestrians were faintly reflected.

Ye Ran got out at the entrance instead of going to the parking garage. In just a few short minutes, he was already sweating from the heat. The white shirt clung to his back, outlining a clear, slender figure.

As soon as he entered the lobby, cool air rushed toward him. On the large screen in the center, an advertisement was playing for Junting’s flagship property of the quarter.

The receptionist froze when she saw him and immediately moved to call the president’s office.

Ye Ran lifted his eyes slightly and smiled faintly, shaking his head at her before heading lightly toward the elevators.

He’d forgotten to bring the card for the executive elevator this time, so he could only squeeze into the staff elevator.

It was a shift-change time; people were coming and going in the lobby. The receptionist’s cheeks flushed as someone suddenly leaned against the counter.

The man, dressed in work attire, handed over a milk tea with a smile. Following her line of sight, he grew alert and casually asked, “Sister Ah Wen, who was that just now?”

Ah Wen shot him a reproachful look. “Don’t pry. Why are you hanging around in front of me again, have you finished your work?”

“Almost, I’m swamped. Feels like I’ll be working overtime again tonight.”

The man lay against the counter, searching for topics to keep talking. Thinking of the man he’d just seen, and then of the shy look in Ah Wen’s eyes, he still couldn’t put his mind at ease. “Sister Ah Wen, tell me, who was that just now? You know him?”

“Not just me. Aside from you interns, people in the company should all know him.”

Ah Wen pressed her lips together and smiled. “That was President Shen’s partner.”

Ye Ran took the elevator straight to the twenty-second floor. To go higher, one had to transfer elevators.

Without an elevator card, Ye Ran sighed with a headache and finally called Shen Shi.

The phone vibrated twice and was instantly picked up.

Shen Shi’s low voice came through the speaker. “Little darling? Are you here?”

“Mm. I’m on the twenty-second floor. I didn’t bring the elevator card today.”

Shen Shi chuckled. He seemed to stand up, pushing back his chair and walking out. There was some background noise, but his tone remained gentle. “Alright, I’ll come get you. What do you want for lunch?”

Ye Ran said, “I brought food for you. I fried some crispy pork and made tomato-and-egg soup.”

“Why didn’t you sleep a bit more?”

Leaning against the elevator, Ye Ran looked at his reflection in the mirrored surface, smiling at the corners of his mouth. He reined it in slightly and straightened up. “Couldn’t sleep anymore.”

“Then nap here at noon?” Shen Shi asked.

Ye Ran paused, then laughed. “Sure. I’ll be waiting for you.”

On the other end of the line, Shen Shi laughed as well.

With a ding, the elevator arrived.

Someone happened to be stepping out of the staff elevator beside it, a man in work clothes, face blank, wearing an expression of utter collapse as though his worldview had just suffered a massive shock.

Ye Ran politely withdrew his gaze. At the same time, the doors of the executive elevator in front of him opened. Shen Shi stood inside, dressed in a silver-gray suit, his tall, superior build outlined by a gray vest.

He lowered his head, and when he saw Ye Ran, his gaze softened further. Without waiting for Ye Ran to signal, he strode out, half-wrapping an arm around Ye Ran’s back, took the insulated lunch box from his hands, and said with a smile in a low voice, “So heavy, thanks for the trouble, little darling.”

Ye Ran stiffened when Shen Shi wrapped an arm around him. With his ears burning red, he stepped out of Shen Shi’s embrace, both awkward and embarrassed, glancing past Shen Shi’s shoulder to look behind them.

The male employee whose worldview had already taken a blow now looked as though his soul had left his body, standing there blankly with his mouth hanging open.

Ye Ran wanted Shen Shi to be more mindful, but Shen Shi looked completely unconcerned. He naturally took Ye Ran’s hand and led him into the elevator. In the split second before the doors closed, Ye Ran noticed that the employee still hadn’t come back to his senses.

The scene felt eerily familiar. Back when Ye Ran’s relationship with Shen Shi had been exposed at the company, it was because Shen Shi, in front of everyone, had crouched down to tie Ye Ran’s shoelaces—chatting with him gently the whole time, even telling him they’d go out to eat together after work.

The very next day, the news that Shen Shi had a partner of the same sex, had met the parents, gone public, and was even already married spread throughout the entire Beijing social circle.

From that point on, Shen Shi never stayed out past ten at night for business engagements.

Thinking of this, Ye Ran took a deep breath, buried his head in Shen Shi’s chest, and rubbed against him messily. “Pay attention!”

Shen Shi half-held him, his chin resting against Ye Ran’s shoulder, his breath warm as ever as he kissed Ye Ran’s reddened ear. “What’s wrong?”

“They all heard it!”

At his age, being called “little darling” by his partner was fine as private intimacy. But once he thought about other people knowing, Ye Ran felt mortified.

Shen Shi knew he was thin-skinned and usually called him Ranran in front of others. Caught off guard like this, Ye Ran felt heat rising all over him again, sweat beading on his body. His slender back, outlined in snow-white against the white shirt, made Shen Shi lower his gaze. His palm lightly covered it. He said nothing. Only after bringing Ye Ran into the office did he hold him and start kissing him.

The insulated bag was set down casually on the coffee table.

Ye Ran sat on Shen Shi’s lap, his legs spread wide. The hem of his shirt tucked into his waistband was pulled free, and a warm, broad hand slipped in along the gap. Shen Shi tilted his head back, kissing him deeply, his Adam’s apple rolling as he drew in the soft, sweet, melting juices from his mouth.

His eyes were dark, a gentle smile in them, listening to Ye Ran speak brokenly by his ear about eating.

“Alright.” The sense of emptiness in his arms from the entire morning finally came to an end at this moment. Holding Ye Ran, Shen Shi looked at his moisture-laden eyelids and lashes, couldn’t help lowering himself again to kiss him. “…Little darling, open your mouth… mm, stick out your tongue too. After kissing, then we’ll eat.”

A sticky, clingy lunch dragged on for more than an hour. Fortunately, the insulated containers were powerful, and there was a microwave outside the executive office. Ye Ran collapsed into the boss’s chair, eyes half-closed as he panted, while Shen Shi went to reheat the food. Their clothes were slightly disheveled, but no one dared say a word.

After eating, Ye Ran stretched lazily. The two of them held each other and lay down on the large bed in the lounge, sleeping soundly.

Without Shen Shi disturbing him, Ye Ran could sleep straight through until four in the afternoon.

The lounge faced the sun. Floor-to-ceiling windows were covered by electric curtains, and by the viewing area near the window stood a painting easel and paints that Shen Shi had newly arranged for Ye Ran.

As the sun set, the horizon filled with clouds aflame. Orange afterglow filtered through the curtains and spilled onto the bedside.

Ye Ran pressed the remote, watching the curtains slowly draw open. Outside, the evening glow filled the sky, ten thousand households lighting up.

Night in the capital was about to arrive.

Neon lights flickered; streetlights along the roads lit up one by one.

Wearing pajamas and hugging a cushion, Ye Ran drowsily kept his eyes open, gazing at the boundless sky, watching the sun sink behind the mountain peaks, the sky turning gray-blue, watching stars begin to flicker, clouds shifting and changing.

“Ka-da.”

The lounge door was pushed open. Bright light from outside spilled in for an instant, then was shut out again.

From the shadows came a tall man with deep-set features. He moved slowly, leather shoes stepping on the wool carpet. When he drew near and met Ye Ran’s clear, tranquil gaze, he let out a soft laugh. “Awake?”

Shen Shi was still wearing a smoke-gray vest, his shirt sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows. An afternoon of work had left no trace on him. He half-knelt by the bed, leaning over Ye Ran, eyes gentle as he coaxed him, “If you were awake, why didn’t you call me?”

Ye Ran slowly lifted a hand, slid his fingers into Shen Shi’s neatly slicked-back hair, and gently rubbed. “Didn’t want to call… when did you wake up?”

Shen Shi lay down beside him, feeling the soft pressure on his scalp, closed his eyes. “Two.”

“So early?” Ye Ran massaged his scalp, feeling a little heartache. He sprawled over Shen Shi’s chest and gradually increased the pressure, earnestly searching for acupoints, working step by step just as he’d been taught in class. “Then let’s go to bed early tonight.”

Shen Shi let out a low laugh, turned his head to kiss Ye Ran’s arm, eyes still closed, voice hoarse with amusement. “Baby, waiting for me here?”

Ye Ran hadn’t quite reacted; once he understood, he laughed, pretending to be fierce as he rubbed against him. “Yeah. Aren’t you afraid of, you know, exhausting that thing?”

Shen Shi slowly opened his eyes. In them, Ye Ran was laughing uncontrollably, rubbing messily along his jaw, hair slightly tousled and sticking up, truly like a little cat spoiled past all bounds. He indulgently waited for Ye Ran to stop on his own, voice warm. “We can try when we get back.”

“Huh?” Ye Ran was still a little dazed. “Try what?”

Shen Shi said leisurely, “Try whether I’ll get exhausted from excessive ej*culation—”

Before he could finish, Ye Ran suddenly raised his voice and cut him off, cheeks flushed, eyes dark and bright. “Hey—have some shame. You’re not allowed to say it!”

Shen Shi laughed. “Why can’t I say it?”

“Because I censored it myself, and you didn’t,” Ye Ran argued reasonably. “You can also censor it yourself before you say it.”

Realization dawned on Shen Shi. He kissed the cheek Ye Ran offered up. “Alright, I’ll say it again. Tonight we’ll try whether I’ll—”

“Ah!” Ye Ran cut him off again and pounced back on him. “You still can’t say that.”

Amusement filled Shen Shi’s eyes. Patiently, he asked, “And why is that?”

“Because that kind of thing…” Ye Ran racked his brains. “It’s called private talk. It can only be said in the bedroom.”

“Isn’t this a bedroom?” Shen Shi asked.

“Of course it’s not! This is a public place. Anyway, you’re not allowed to say it,” Ye Ran replied.

“Alright, then I’ll say it when we get home.” Shen Shi nodded.

“No, you can’t say it at home either.”

“Little darling,” the man’s low laughter rippled through the room. “You’re very domineering right now.”

The young man being so described had ears burning red. He lowered his voice, quickly rubbing up again, letting the man kiss his cheek and coax him as he continued, “I am domineering. From now on you’re not allowed to say things like that…”

“Alright, I won’t say it anymore. What do you want for dinner?”

“Let’s eat Yipin Zhai’s private dishes. But we don’t have a reservation, will we be able to?”

“We will. Tell me what you want, I’ll have them prepare it in advance.”

“I want sweet-and-sour pork, flavored eggplant, mango sticky rice…”

Night spread out.

The day’s life drew its curtain.

Soft murmurs drifted from inside a Bentley speeding along the road, heading toward the private restaurant in the south of the city.

Tomorrow morning, Ye Ran has to go to the studio for a bit. At noon he can go deliver lunch to Shen Shi, and in the evening accompany Shen Shi to dinner and then go home together.

If Shen Shi has social engagements, then he can secretly slip out to hang out with An Yu. If Shen Shi doesn’t have any engagements, then they’ll have to start their nighttime life early.

Ah.

What a truly difficult choice.

Author’s note: Updates begin on the childhood friends arc.

Can’t wait until next week to see more? Want to show your support? Come to my Patreon where you can get the remaining chapters of Are All You Straight Guys Like This right away ! Or go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! :)