Shoutout to nyanmaru for the commission!
As night deepened, the man beside him had already fallen asleep, his disheveled hair draped over Ye Mu’s neck, causing an itchy discomfort.
Ye Mu reached out and shifted him a bit, then laid on the pillow, staring up at the ceiling. His clear, cold eyes appeared somewhat vacant.
His body was exhausted, but for some reason, even with his eyes closed, he couldn’t fall asleep.
Chen Mo, pushed aside, felt a bit cold and unconsciously inched closer. He snuggled up to Ye Mu’s waist, pressing his face back against the warm skin of his neck.
Ye Mu frowned slightly, trying to push his hand away and distance himself, retreating to the edge of the bed.
Chen Mo’s lips were set in a tight line, and even in sleep, his profile carried a hint of aggression. Sensing Ye Mu’s resistance, he fully embraced him, draping a long leg over his hips. From the side, it looked a bit like a child hugging a favorite toy while sleeping, exuding possessiveness.
Ye Mu felt somewhat immobilized. Eventually, he stopped resisting and simply let Chen Mo hold him.
The room was quiet, with only the sound of Chen Mo’s deep, steady breathing filling the air. The warmth of his breath intermittently touched Ye Mu’s skin, inducing an inexplicable sense of calm.
Ye Mu’s eyelids trembled slightly, and he glanced sideways at Chen Mo. Their lips brushed accidentally, a feather-light and ticklish touch.
Chen Mo, weary, opened his eyes just enough to squint at him. Seeing that Ye Mu was still awake, he reached over with one hand and pulled Ye Mu’s head to rest on his chest, signaling him to go to sleep.
The man’s chest muscles were firm, and through the black tank top, the defined curves of his muscles were visible, exuding a strong masculine aura. Listening to his rhythmic heartbeat, Ye Mu found his own heart skipping a few beats unexpectedly.
The night remained as quiet as ever, but he could no longer sleep. After skillfully freeing himself from Chen Mo’s embrace, he got up and walked to the balcony.
The frigid wind, several degrees below freezing, blew fiercely, making him shiver but also bringing a sliver of clarity to his mind.
To be honest, he didn’t dislike Chen Mo. On the contrary, due to his young, handsome face and his arrogant, aloof demeanor, Ye Mu found himself somewhat attracted to him.
However, that attraction had always been limited to a simple admiration for the same sex, nothing more.
But after tonight, he couldn’t help but feel cautious and fearful. Things were not as simple as he had thought; Chen Mo’s male charm and the influence he had on him were beyond his control. Nearly every kiss and touch, even just a hug, could throw him off course and make him lose his head.
This feeling was addictive and inescapable, like the first time he fell in love with someone, only more intense. It was like a tornado, unexpectedly sweeping through his world, rekindling a fierce fire just as he had put out the previous emotional turmoil, burning his mind and making him intoxicated and unrestrained.
He found himself uncontrollably longing and clinging to this heat, which both drew him closer and pushed him away. His heart trembled, his blood felt stagnant, and his skin tightened, all signals that he was struggling, afraid of falling into the abyss again.
The winter wind continued to howl, ruthlessly cutting through every inch of his cells, yet he stood there motionless.
Ye Mu furrowed his brow deeply, a deep furrow etched on his forehead. His mind was in turmoil, and for the first time in his life, he felt a bit lost and unsure of his path.
There was some slight noise behind him, someone dragging their shoes over. “Standing out here in this cold, are you trying to freeze yourself to death?”
A warm blanket was draped over his shoulders from behind. Chen Mo, who had come over without Ye Mu noticing, suddenly pulled him back inside.
Ye Mu lowered his head, his bangs covering his brows and eyes, obscuring his expression.
Chen Mo looked at him intently, walked over, and placed his hands on Ye Mu’s shoulders, frowning. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
Ye Mu didn’t respond immediately. After a long pause, he wiped his face and forced himself to focus on work. “What time is it?”
Chen Mo glanced at the clock in the living room and replied, “Five in the morning.”
Ye Mu nodded slightly, then went into the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face. Afterwards, he dressed in a suit and tie, looking ready to go.
Chen Mo watched him, his face stern. “Where are you going? There’s still three hours before work starts.”
Ye Mu remained indifferent, pressing his lips together and replying, “I have a field inspection today. I need to go early.”
Chen Mo narrowed his eyes. “It’s not even dawn yet. What kind of inspection are you doing? You’re not trying to avoid me because of last night, are you?”
Ye Mu lowered his gaze, his expression unchanged. “Adults being intimate is nothing to be ashamed of. I’ve thought about cohabitation all night and decided against it. It would cause too much trouble for both of us.”
Chen Mo looked at the deep blue shadows under his eyes, knowing that Ye Mu was always weighed down by his thoughts. He no longer insisted, his handsome face remaining expressionless as he said in a low voice, “Alright, I’ll find a place in a few days and move out.”
Ye Mu was somewhat surprised by how easily he agreed but didn’t say more. He nodded in thanks.
Just as he was about to step past Chen Mo and leave, Chen Mo grabbed his wrist and said, “The inspection can wait. Let me make you some noodles. Eat first, then go.”
Ye Mu shook his head. “No need, I’m not hungry.”
Chen Mo’s face, like white jade, showed a hint of disapproval. “Your stomach is already sensitive; don’t be pretentious. Wait a moment, it’ll be ready soon.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and headed to the kitchen.
Ye Mu saw his persistence and didn’t argue further. He sat down at the dining table.
Chen Mo didn’t dawdle, quickly preparing the meal. He skillfully cut vegetables, his profile showing rare seriousness.
With his tall, athletic build, his focused back looked quite handsome. Ye Mu watched him, unable to look away for some reason.
Chen Mo’s movements were swift. In just a few minutes, a bowl of fragrant noodles was set before Ye Mu. “Try it.”
Ye Mu looked down, picked up the chopsticks, and took a few bites, despite lacking appetite, to show appreciation.
Seeing his lack of enthusiasm, Chen Mo asked, “Not good?”
Ye Mu was silent for a while before responding, “It’s quite flavorful. I haven’t had noodles this good in a long time.”
Chen Mo’s eyes softened as he looked at him meaningfully. “Since it’s good, why not have a few more bites?”
Ye Mu understood what he meant and replied nonchalantly, “Noodles are hard to digest. I’m afraid of stomach pains later.”
Chen Mo’s narrow eyes remained calm, and he didn’t say more. He bent down to clear the bowls and went back to the kitchen.
Ye Mu glanced at him and then picked up his keys to leave.
Chen Mo was indeed impressive in many ways, but he lacked courage.
The project with Song Shi involved the demolition of land in the Jiulong Bay area. Most of the surrounding land had been purchased for office buildings, but one local village had yet to be acquired. His task was not only to conduct a field inspection but also to sign land sale agreements with the villagers to ensure they moved out promptly to avoid project delays.
Yan Chen likely knew about this and was eager to meet him in the next few days.
They had agreed to meet at 8 a.m. Ye Mu arrived a bit early and, finding it boring, sat in his car waiting.
Perhaps due to the warmth inside, he fell asleep with his eyes closed.
When he woke, half an hour had passed. He looked around but didn’t see Yan Chen’s car.
As he was about to call, someone knocked on his car window.
Ye Mu looked to the side, rolled down the window, and said calmly, “Morning run?”
Yan Chen, dressed in a black sports shirt with a white towel around his neck and sweat glistening on his forehead in the rising sun, looked cold and aloof. He wiped his face with the towel and responded in a low voice.
Ye Mu forced a smile, got out of the car, and said, “Not your usual style, coming to work not in a suit.”
Yan Chen’s face remained frozen, and he sneered indifferently. “It’s just a field inspection. You’re making a big deal out of it. Are you afraid people won’t know you’re here to acquire land if you don’t wear a suit?”
Ye Mu took out a few folders and looked at him. “We still need to sign several contracts. It’s appropriate to dress formally.”
Yan Chen’s expression was emotionless as he glanced at Ye Mu’s unshaven chin, due to his hurry. He spoke with a chilling tone, “It seems you haven’t been focusing on work lately. The villagers here are stubborn; signing contracts in a single day is impossible.”
Ye Mu lowered his gaze, flipping through the materials Liu Yi had given him the other day. After a few minutes, he quietly said, “Sorry, I didn’t prepare thoroughly.”
Yan Chen glanced at him with impatience. “Go back and change your clothes. These stubborn villagers are unruly and violent. If they see someone in a suit, they’ll think you’re here to buy land and might start throwing pots and pans.”
Ye Mu frowned. “Why would they react so severely? The village’s economy is struggling. They should be happy that a company is buying land.”
Yan Chen’s face was expressionless, his eyes cold and harsh. “The specifics weren’t detailed by Song Shi. I sent a few people to inquire but got nothing. Looks like we’ll have to rely on an internal investigation.”
Ye Mu bit his lip, then slightly parted it. “I have a change of clothes in the car. Wait a moment.”
Yan Chen glanced at him without any emotion, then remained silent.
Ye Mu went to the trunk, pulled out a black gift box, opened it, took off his suit, and put on a white knit sweater.
Yan Chen watched, his frown deepening. “That’s the birthday gift I gave you last year. You’re only wearing it now?”
Ye Mu remained composed, slowly raising his eyes to meet Yan Chen’s gaze, his voice calm. “I didn’t want to wear it before, so I kept it aside.”
Yan Chen’s expression darkened slightly. “And now?”
Ye Mu averted his gaze, his lips moving slightly. “It’s not important.”
Yan Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, watching him for a moment. His tightly pressed thin lips exuded a sharpness like the edge of a sword, but he quickly reined in his temper. “You’re right. We’ve been apart for so long. If you still said you cared, it would trouble me.”
Ye Mu pressed his lips together, not wanting to continue the topic. He turned his head to glance at the remote village. “So, what’s the plan now? Do we just walk in?”
Yan Chen remained silent, his gaze shifting slightly. He looked at Ye Mu’s face for a moment before his eyes moved down to the faint kiss mark on his neck. His gaze darkened, and a cold, vicious glint suddenly flashed through his eyes.
When Ye Mu received no response after a long while, he couldn’t help but turn back and ask again.
Yan Chen didn’t answer, his eyes half-closed dangerously. His face was cold and gloomy as he struggled to suppress the violent emotions rising within him, trying to stay calm. His lips tightened as he asked, “Which man did you hook up with last night?”
