Chapter 42: Evade Me Once, Play With You Once

Chapter 42: Evade Me Once, Play With You Once

Qi Xie looked terrifying. His pitch-black eyes seemed to brew a tsunami, ready to unleash a violent storm and engulf Yi Li at any moment.

The palpable sense of danger was so intense that Yi Li felt as if he was about to drown. He regretted his position, his back pressed against a desk, with no room to retreat.

Qi Xie's question, "Do you dare to listen?" felt like an offer of a poisoned apple, asking, "Do you want a bite?"

Yi Li was torn and unsure whether to let Qi Xie continue speaking.

Seeing Yi Li's hesitation, Qi Xie's voice took on a mocking tone, "Well? Do you dare to listen?"

Yi Li stiffened his neck, meeting Qi Xie's gaze head-on, "Go ahead. There's nothing I'm afraid to hear."

He had heard harsh words before; anything else wouldn't be much different.

Qi Xie, observing Yi Li's seemingly fearless demeanor, responded with a slight smirk. The curve of his lips hinting at amusement and malevolence.

Yi Li took a half-step back. His slender back pressed entirely against the desk, leaning as far back as he could, his ribs protruding visibly.

Qi Xie placed his hands on either side of Yi Li, his body and the edge of the table forming an enclosing circle. As he leaned closer, his hawk-like eyes bore into Yi Li's, their gaze intense and shadowy.

"Do you know what men do with other men? It's not just a simple touch; it's more... from behind."

The whispered words in his ear sounded like the devil's murmurings. With every word Qi Xie uttered, Yi Li's face turned a shade paler.

"Let me in, and I'll be satisfied. Will you?"

Yi Li's face was drained of all color.

This was a realm of knowledge he'd never encountered. His mind went blank from fear, and yet Qi Xie continued to press him.

"Will you?"

Yi Li didn't know how to respond. His face transitioned from rigidity to shock. The moisture gathering at his chin made it hard to distinguish between sweat and tears. His plump lips were pressed tightly, giving him an appearance of utmost innocence.

How could Qi Xie speak of such things so nonchalantly?

During school, girls had confessed their feelings to him, and boys had too. Yet he had never pondered whether he preferred men or women. In this respect, he felt like a blank canvas, easily influenced by any color painted onto him.

Qi Xie had made his intentions clear. Yi Li gripped the edge of the table, his beautiful fingers interlocking, betraying his inner turmoil.

Would everything be settled if he agreed?

His lips moved mechanically. He could hear Qi Xie's breathing, slightly ragged and so close. He saw a dark, moist desire rising from the depths of Qi Xie's eyes, his entire presence radiating a spine-chilling aura.

It won't be.

It won't end that simply.

Qi Xie is truly wicked.

"Afraid?" Qi Xie observed the man before him, curling up in fear, a complex ripple of emotions surging in his heart. "Just a couple of words and you're this terrified? I overestimated your courage."

Yi Li felt a weakness in his legs, a weightlessness underfoot. He felt like he might collapse any moment when a lean hand with pronounced knuckles gripped his shoulder, hoisting him upright.

Yi Li shuddered involuntarily, slowly lifting his gaze. First, he saw Qi Xie's Adam's apple—twice as pronounced as his own—followed by a chiseled jawline, indifferent lips, and a prominent nose. He halted his gaze, not daring to look further up.

"If you're too scared to act, then don't provoke me with such words. I'm not a good man, got it?" Qi Xie lifted Yi Li's face, their noses almost touching. "Speak up, did you understand?"

With a trembling voice, Yi Li responded, "I understand."

His eyes closed, trying hard to control his crumbling emotions. Yet, Qi Xie persisted, pinching his chin, "Open them. Look into my eyes and say it."

The previously mild scent of cedar turned cold and bitter. Yi Li's vision blurred as he met those emotionless, icy eyes, feeling as if he was plunging into a freezing abyss. He nodded frantically, "I remember. I do."

With the back of his fingers, Qi Xie gently wiped away Yi Li's tears. Yi Li tried to turn away but was forced back, letting the warm fingers meticulously dry each tear on his face.

The gestures were gentle, but the tone was threatening, "Don't you dare avoid me. Every time you do, I'll punish you. Understood?"

Among the relentless malicious and vulgar words, Yi Li felt his dignity shatter around him.

Tears streaming, he numbly nodded, "I understand."

In just one day, he had cried several times. Qi Xie closed his eyes and sighed, seemingly suppressing some emotion, "You cry so much. Did you cry out the entire Pacific Ocean?"

Knowing he had thoroughly frightened the young man, Qi Xie continued to wipe Yi Li's tears. Yi Li cried so profusely that both of Qi Xie's sleeves were drenched.

The corners of his eyes were as red as if painted with rouge. Even his tears had the fragrance of gardenias, almost tempting Qi Xie to make him cry for days on end.

At some point, the hand on his shoulder had let go. The touch on his face was light and ticklish, but Yi Li didn't dare move.

Looking into Yi Li's misty eyes, Qi Xie whispered, "No live broadcast tomorrow. We're going to the capital to record the Mid-Autumn Festival gala, followed by a variety show. It might take three or four days. Pack several outfits—both thick and thin. Got it?"

Yi Li softly acknowledged with a hum, then added, "I understand."

Yi Li's tear ducts seemed to have a mind of their own, letting large tears, each bigger than a bean, roll down. Yet, not one fell to the ground. Qi Xie patiently wiped them away, his eyes as deep and inscrutable as a fathomless pond.

He'd help find a doctor, give him protective amulets, even buy medicine for him. Yi Li couldn't help but wonder if this was the same man who had just threatened him. Did Qi Xie have some kind of split personality disorder?

His heart raced as he clutched onto a sliver of hope, asking, "Those words earlier... you were just trying to scare me, weren't you?"

Qi Xie paused for a moment, countering with, "What makes you think that?"

With fingers clenched, Ying Li looked as if he was ready to flee at any moment. He measured Qi Xie carefully, saying, "You're taller and stronger than me. If you really wanted to... well, I couldn't fight you off, could I?"

Just like the previous night when Qi Xie dominated him, he had no chance of resisting. Yet, he couldn't understand why Qi Xie would intentionally say such things to intimidate him.

Qi Xie's heart constricted suddenly. Leaning in, he whispered in Ying Li's ear, "How do you know I've been holding back?"

He had held back so much that the veins on his forehead bulged, his head felt like exploding, and he had to scratch his hand raw to suppress the violent urge within.

Looking down at Ying Li's beautiful face led to a delicate neck that seemed as if it could be snapped with one hand. The birthmark on his collarbone looked unnaturally red, as if someone had sucked on it.

Ying Li's beautiful eyes were misty, resembling water-touched orbs of glass. Looking up at him, he seemed so obedient and peaceful, as if he would let anything happen.

After a long gaze, Qi Xie covered Ying Li's eyes with his hand, his voice trembling, "Don't look at me like that."

Long lashes brushed against his palm, sending waves of tingling sensation.

With his vision obscured and the warmth of Qi Xie's hand on his eyes, everything around seemed to stand still, bringing unexpected comfort.

After what felt like an eternity, when Ying Li opened his eyes again, all he saw was the retreating figure of Qi Xie, seemingly filled with anger.

He's gone.

Finally gone.

Every time he was alone with Qi Xie, he felt suffocated, as if someone was strangling his neck, controlling his every breath, making it incredibly uncomfortable.

Feeling as though he had narrowly escaped a perilous situation, Ying Li's heartbeat raced, and he leaned against a table corner to recover.

As he shifted his feet, he noticed something underfoot. Picking it up, he saw a small white pill, reminiscent of a fever reducer. He casually threw it into the trash bin.

After a sweaty morning hike, Ying Li felt sticky all over. As he showered, he noticed a pain in his shoulder. Pulling down his collar, he saw a large red mark on his shoulder, with his protruding collarbone seeming as if it would break through his pallid skin.

Splashing cold water on his face, the fog in his mind gradually cleared.

The course of events had spiraled far beyond Ying Li's expectations, becoming increasingly chaotic. He felt as though he never should have agreed to such a demeaning request from Qi Xie. However, he couldn't gamble with the opportunity to cure Ying Tao's illness; it was a risk he couldn't take.

Despite his exhaustion and fatigue, Ying Li lay in bed, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts – sometimes about his parents, at times about Ying Tao's illness, and occasionally about Qi Xie. His brain struggled to keep up with such intensive contemplation, leading to a restless night. The next day, he was nursing a severe headache. On boarding the plane, Xie Wen Shi even asked if he hadn't slept well.

Ying Li responded, taken aback, "Is it that obvious?"

Xie Wen Shi grinned, a twinkle in his deep blue eyes, "No, just noticed you seemed a bit down, just teasing you."

Ying Li's skin was enviably flawless. Not only did he never have pimples, but he also didn't even have dark circles under his eyes. The redness in his eyes was negligible. His natural beauty was enough to make anyone envious.

Since breakfast, Xie Wen Shi had been particularly attentive. Now he took the seat next to Ying Li, leaving Shen Yao no choice but to sit behind them. Shen Yao leaned forward, asking Ying Li, "Does your ankle still hurt? Sleeping on a sprained ankle can make it even more painful upon waking."

Shen Yao had slept well the previous night, having a rather... vivid dream involving only a pair of luminescent, soft, and fragrant feet. He was so reluctant to wake up that the blanket had noticeably risen.

Ying Li shook his head, "It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Little brother Li, did you sprain your ankle?" Xie Wen Shi peeked back, catching a glimpse of Shen Yao's earnest side profile, "Where did you guys go yesterday?"

He had stayed up late the previous night and saw from his balcony both Shen Yao and Qi Xie's cars returning, one after the other. He knew Qi Xie had taken Ying Li to the hospital.

Honestly, he was surprised when he heard the news. Qi Xie had always been cold and distant. Even after living together for over a year, his interactions were minimal. It was astonishing that he'd offer to take someone he'd known for less than a month to the hospital.

Shen Yao, on the other hand, was known for his warmth, but lately, he seemed excessively attentive. Especially that day when Ying Li cut his finger, Shen Yao's skillful act of holding the injured finger in his mouth had left him in shock.

And then there was Song Ji Mo, who seemed to grow more cheeky by the day.

Ever since Ying Li arrived, everyone seemed to have changed, though he couldn't quite pinpoint how.

Shen Yao responded to Xie Wen Shi's questioning tone, slightly irritated, "Went on a date, believe it or not?"

Xie Wen Shi instantly dropped his cheerful demeanor, retorting without hesitation, "A date with you? In your dreams."

An inexplicable tension filled the air.

Ying Li clarified, "We went to a Mid-Autumn Festival night market under the bridge after our visit to the hospital."

Xie Wen Shi mused, "Ah, so Shen Yao picked up Ying Li. He really has been exceptionally attentive."

Xie Wen Shi then inquired, "Is the night market only for one day?"

Bian Qiao suddenly joined the conversation, stating, "It lasts about a week."

Ying Li glanced at him and nodded, "Yes."

"Can we visit it together once we're back?" Xie Wen Shi pleaded with puppy-dog eyes, "I've never explored the night market around here."

"Why don't you just go on your own?" Shen Yao, who couldn't stand his coquetry, retorted, "What's lacking? Hands or feet? Do you really need someone to accompany you?"

Xie Wen Shi looked exasperated, "Did you eat gunpowder today? You're so irritable."

Shen Yao admitted to himself that he was unusually irate today. Seeing Xie Wen Shi cozying up to Ying Li only fanned his flames. He put on his headphones and eye mask, preparing to sleep.

After chatting with Xie Wen Shi for a few minutes, Ying Li began to feel sleepy. Their conversation was the only sound in the cabin. Noticing Ying Li's fatigue, Xie Wen Shi suggested he take a nap.

Across the aisle, Song Ji Mo offered Ying Li a panda-shaped pillow, "Use this; it'll make your nap more comfortable."

Hardly anyone can resist a cute panda, and Ying Li was no exception. He chuckled, "It's adorable."

Song Ji Mo responded with a smile, "A gift from my fans."

The panda pillow was stuffed with memory foam, making it especially soft and cozy. Ying Li inquired, "If you give it to me, what about you?"

"I won't sleep," Song Ji Mo's gaze shifted to Ying Li's fingers, "Did you remove the bandage? Has it scabbed over?"

"It has." Ying Li had removed the bandage while cooking that morning, finding it inconvenient. Fortunately, the wound had scabbed over, barely affecting his tasks.

Song Ji Mo's eyes darkened slightly, "Let me check."

"It's really healed," Ying Li showed him. The reddish-brown scar coiled around his slender, pale index finger like a tiny centipede, disrupting the harmony of the entire hand.

Song Ji Mo remarked, "Your hands are so small."

"Are they?" Ying Li took a look; his hands were of average size for an adult male, albeit with slimmer fingers.

Song Ji Mo placed his hand over Ying Li's and intertwined their fingers effortlessly, "Still think they're not small?"

Song Ji Mo's palm was significantly larger than his, with longer knuckles. Ying Li couldn't help but wonder why everyone's hands seemed bigger than his.

From the back seat, Qi Xie noticed and unconsciously scratched his own hand.

Shen Yao, having seen it too, squinted his eyes and coughed audibly.

The flight attendant approached with the meal cart and noticed Shen Yao in a short sleeve. She greeted him with a courteous smile, "Sir, I heard you coughing. Would you like a blanket?"

Shen Yao stiffened momentarily, "Thank you, but I'm fine."

With a caring tone, the flight attendant advised, "The ground temperature in the capital is 17°C, which is 7 degrees colder than Nancheng. Please make sure to keep warm and perhaps add an extra layer."

Shen Yao nodded, slightly embarrassed.

Song Ji Mo glanced back with a teasing smile.

After disembarking and navigating the throngs at the airport, the car from the TV station took them straight to the hotel to drop off their luggage.

As soon as Ying Li powered on his phone, he was inundated with missed calls, all from his roommate, Yang You An.

Yang You An had recently been selected for the national badminton team. After finishing his morning training, he received a call from another roommate.

His roommate exclaimed loudly, "Dude, have you checked Weibo? Ying Li's gone viral!"

Holding his phone with one arm and using his shirt to wipe sweat off with the other, Yang You An asked, "What do you mean 'gone viral'?"

His roommate explained, "He's basically an internet sensation now! Check out Weibo; our university's official website has even crashed!"

Confused, Yang You An opened Weibo. The trending topics were all about celebrities. He wondered what that had to do with Ying Li.

He then tried accessing the university forum, but it was so jammed that he couldn't get in.

His roommate sent him two screenshots.

The first was of Ying Li playing the guitar at a concert, taken by a fan. Even though his eyes were covered, Yang You An recognized Ying Li instantly.

He had been sitting in the front row during last year's school anniversary celebration.

The second screenshot was a long collage of snaps from a live stream. Despite the crowd and clutter, Ying Li stood out, noticeably distinct among a group of handsome guys.

There were numerous comments below the screenshot.

[I've seen this guy at the library so many times before! Turns out he's Number's nanny.]

[A college student working as a nanny? What kind of novel plot is this?!]

[He even became the savior of the concert and gained fame. Even fiction wouldn't dare to write this.]

[From our school? Impossible. How have I never noticed such a good-looking guy?]

[After all this talk, has no one mentioned which department and class he's from? This alumni group isn't up to the mark.]

[He's from the Music Class of the 23rd batch. His name should be Ying Li.]

[I unilaterally declare this man as mine.]

[Doesn't anyone else find the plot of a nanny and a superstar intriguing? I'm totally shipping them!]

[Don't tell me you all really believe he became a nanny? This is clearly a publicity stunt. Hua Shang is preparing to promote new talent; an official announcement might be coming soon.]

Yang You'an read all the comments, feeling a bittersweet sensation. It was as if a treasure he had hidden for years was suddenly discovered, and he wasn't ready to share it.

He didn't recognize any of the celebrities in the photo, but one man looked familiar with his tall stature and deep-set eyes. It was the man who had come to pick up Ying Li at the school gate.

He thought, no wonder he wears a mask; he's a superstar.

Why didn't Ying Li tell him?

After putting away his things, Ying Li called Yang You'an back while waiting for the elevator.

Yang You'an first inquired about his work and then asked, "Didn't you dislike being photographed? Why did you join such a show?"

Ying Li has always disliked taking pictures. Yang You'an knew that Ying Li didn't aim for fame. In an era where looks are highly valued, just a few video appearances would make him famous. He didn't need to ride on others' fame; all the online criticisms are baseless.

Ying Li honestly told him, "Someone in my family fell ill, and I need money. This show was the quickest way to earn it. What other options did I have?"

The elevator door opened, and as Ying Li pressed his floor, a large hand reached out.

Wearing a mask, Song Ji Mo entered, glancing at him, "On a call?"

"Yeah." Ying Li nodded, making space for him.

The elevator light was bright, casting a soft shadow under Ying Li's eyes as he quietly listened to the voice on the other end.

Yang You'an said, "How much money do you need? Why didn't you ask me? We're friends. If you're facing troubles, you can tell me, and I'll help as much as I can..."

With a sudden clang, the elevator jolted, the overhead light went out, plunging the surroundings into darkness.

Someone in the elevator screamed, "What's happening?"

"Is the elevator broken?"

From the other end of the call, Yang You'an, hearing the commotion, asked anxiously, "What happened to Ying Li?"

"Ying Li, are you there?"

Two voices echoed simultaneously.

"I'm here," Ying Li said, turning on his phone's flashlight. He noticed something amiss in Song Ji Mo's tone and asked, "Are you alright?"

"Can you hold me?"

Grasping Ying Li's arm, Song Ji Mo whispered, "You might find this funny, but I'm slightly claustrophobic."

Author's Note:

Embrace the one to be embraced, holding that moon, it bends over laughing.