Chapter 64: “Caught in the Act”

Chapter 64: "Caught in the Act"

After posing that question, Yin Li was on the verge of tears, his arms pushing forward in a futile attempt to create distance between them.

"I truly do."

Qi Xie candidly admitted. He yearned to be close to Yin Li, to touch him, to deeply inhale his scent. Every contact with Yin Li sent waves of pleasure through his nerves.

Yet Yin Li was terrified of him. He trembled all over, his fingers quivering. His nails dug deeply into his own flesh, as if trying to tear himself apart.

Yin Li asked him, "What do you intend this time? Like before?"

Qi Xie responded, "Not the same."

It felt as if Qi Xie had pierced a gaping hole in Yin Li's heart, causing him excruciating pain. He pleaded, "Can we... not do it here? Please..."

The area was bustling with passing vehicles and throngs of people. The thin privacy film on the windows shielded nothing, and anyone intent on peeping would see everything. In such a scenario, how were they any different from stray dogs coupling openly in the wild?

"Not here."

But after a long wait, Qi Xie remained silent. Was he not even willing to grant him this small request?

Yin Li closed his eyes, his moist lashes sticking together in clumps. He waited quietly for Qi Xie's next move, thinking that if it began sooner, it would end sooner. However, the moment he sensed movement from Qi Xie, he instinctively tried to recoil.

In the darkness, he heard Qi Xie take a deep breath and softly say, "Don't hide. If you're unwilling, I won't touch you."

Yin Li paused, his fair face awash with disbelief. He hesitantly asked, "Really? Truly?"

Qi Xie: "I'm not lying."

Yin Li had been deceived by Qi Xie many times before, so he still couldn't fully trust him. He negotiated, "Then release me first."

The grip Qi Xie had on him was so tight. Yin Li wanted to retrieve his hands. Being restrained this way made him feel extremely vulnerable.

"No," Qi Xie not only held him tighter but also pressed down harder. "Tell me, what did you feel?"

While Qi Xie didn't put his full weight on Yin Li, one hand was braced on the seat and the other held Yin Li's hand against his heart, letting him feel the rapid pulse.

Yin Li was completely enveloped by Qi Xie's scent. A cold, distant snow-like fragrance now felt hotter than molten lava.

The atmosphere in the carriage was peculiar.

Puzzled by Qi Xie's odd request, Yin Li slowly said, "Your chest?"

Qi Xie paused briefly before pressing, "What else?"

"Else?" Yin Li pondered, his fingers curling slightly, "Your heartbeat... it's racing."

"Yes," Qi Xie acknowledged. "It beats faster when I see you, and even more so when I see you cry."

Yin Li blinked in confusion. Just then, a car from the opposite side passed by, its headlights momentarily illuminating the darkness. He caught a glimpse of Qi Xie's flushed face, sweat even forming on his forehead.

As the vehicle sped past, Qi Xie's husky voice echoed, "Your tears... they excite me."

Tears and sobbing made the darkness within him surge. That's why he wanted to blindfold Yin Li that night. The harder Yin Li cried, the more he wanted to torment him. He couldn't bear to look into those eyes when Yin Li wept.

"Why are you telling me this?" Yin Li's thoughts were a whirlwind, his face burning hot, and it felt like his tears were evaporating. "Stop talking..."

Why did they always discuss such intimate matters? Every time he heard such explicit words, Yin Li wished the earth would swallow him, so he'd never have to face Qi Xie again.

Qi Xie: "Why is it beating so fast? Feel it – is it broken?"

His heartbeat seemed even faster than before, and his body temperature was noticeably higher. Yin Li felt an illusion as if the skin where they were touching was about to meld together.

"I'm no doctor; I can't tell."

Yin Li quickly withdrew his hand, and this time Qi Xie didn't stop him.

He hugged both hands to his chest, adopting a defensive posture which made him feel much safer. However, he soon heard Qi Xie calling out to him.

"Yin Li."

Yin Li's voice trembled, his eyelashes quivering in tandem: "What is it?"

"I really want to torment you," Qi Xie confessed in a tone of despair. His head throbbed with pain, his body ached, feeling like an addict in withdrawal. It was as if countless poisonous insects crawled over him, burrowing into his flesh, gnawing at his nerves.

He longed for physical contact with Yin Li, even if it was just a slight touch.

Yin Li tensed immediately, his back arching defensively, recoiling several times, "You promised not to touch me..."

"Yes, I won't."

Qi Xie nuzzled against his forehead but resisted getting closer. His hands were placed to the side, behaving himself, "I'll keep my word."

The carriage fell silent for a while. Yin Li remained lying down, aware that Qi Xie was watching him intently, like a predator ready to pounce.

He swallowed nervously, "So, why did you buy our house?"

Qi Xie replied, "You needed money."

Yin Li opened his mouth, at a loss. He did need money, desperately so, and was considering every possible way to get it. Yet, if someone threw a hefty sum of cash in front of him, he'd struggle to accept it without reservations. There's no such thing as free money, and he'd constantly think about how to repay it.

He hadn't expected their house to be sold so quickly, nor had he anticipated Qi Xie being the buyer.

It was good and not so good.

The good part was that the money significantly helped his family's immediate financial crunch. The downside was that he felt indebted, and his relationship with Qi Xie became even more complicated.

"You bought it just because I needed money?" Yin Li tried to discern the expression on Qi Xie's face.

Qi Xie: "Mhm."

Yin Li said, "That house isn't worth 150,000, perhaps not even 100,000."

It's a loss-making deal for Qi Xie.

"It is."

Qi Xie continued, "It's valuable because you lived there."

For reasons unknown, Yin Li's heart skipped a beat. He had lived in that house for sixteen years, leaving traces and imprints of himself everywhere.

Qi Xie's remark seemed so strange, as if implying he bought the house solely because of Yin Li. The atmosphere inside the car grew tense, slowly heating up.

Perhaps they were sitting too close; their body warmth influencing one another.

"Regardless, I should thank you," Yin Li thoughtfully added, "Could you hold onto the house for now and not sell it to someone else? I'll find a way to repay you."

After all, it was the home his parents planned to retire in. If he could, he'd want to buy it back.

He never found Qi Xie to be easily swayed, so he braced for rejection. As expected, Qi Xie responded, "Alright, but I have a condition."

Yin Li: "What condition?"

Qi Xie suddenly seemed like a different person, leaning close and whispering menacingly into his ear, "Next time you play that game, you must recognize me!"

“……”

He was still hung up on that? Even kids weren't as vindictive. Exhausted from explaining, Yin Li nodded in agreement, "Alright... keep your word, then."

Thud, thud—

The car window was suddenly tapped.

Yin Li jolted, turning to look outside, but was suddenly pulled into Qi Xie's embrace.

Holding onto Qi Xie's clothing and pressed against his chest, Yin Li could hear the rapid beat of his heart. It was racing. He discreetly felt his own, which was also pounding fast.

Yin Li tried to wriggle free, murmuring, "Someone's here."

Thud, thud—

The car window was rapped on again, and a voice called out from outside.

"Ying Li?"

Qi Xie felt the person in his embrace shiver, the collar clenched tight. In a hushed tone, he said, "Shen Yao."

Ying Li recognized it too and whispered, "Why...why is he here?"

If he saw them like this, would he misunderstand?

Ying Li had watched his fair share of melodramatic TV dramas in the past. Though they had done nothing, with Qi Xie lying on top of him, the position was hardly dignified. It wouldn't look good to be seen this way.

With a sense of helplessness, Ying Li asked, "What do we do?"

Qi Xie replied, "We go out."

The look of bewilderment in Ying Li's eyes hadn't faded, "Go out?"

"Yes."

Qi Xie lifted him, sitting him upright.

The movement was quite abrupt, causing the car to shake slightly. Ying Li gave him an embarrassed glance.

Qi Xie pressed down the lifted hem of Ying Li's clothing and wiped away a tear that was about to fall from his eye. Possessively, he didn't want anyone to see Ying Li looking so vulnerable, as if anyone could bully him.

Throughout this, Ying Li's mind raced, considering all possible excuses. Then he told Qi Xie, "You're not allowed to speak later."

Qi Xie asked, "Why?"

Ying Li, getting a bit anxious, replied, "Just don't. If they ask anything, remain silent. I'll handle it."

Whenever Qi Xie opened his mouth, it often led to misunderstandings. They hadn't done anything wrong, but he was especially fearful of misperceptions.

Qi Xie nodded and said, "Alright."

At the moment the car shifted, Shen Yao was stunned, his gaze fixed intently on that glass window.

Finally, with a soft click, the car door opened.

Qi Xie was the first to emerge from inside.

Ying Li stared stiffly at the person before him.

Not just Shen Yao; Song Ji Mo was also present, smirking amusingly from the side as he observed them.

"You...you all..." Shen Yao stuttered, as if his words were trapped.

Fearful of being discovered, they had parked their car at a distance, shadowing Qi Xie's vehicle from the moment Ying Li got in.

Shen Yao saw the car in front stop, then watched, wide-eyed, as Qi Xie climbed into the back seat. He was dumbstruck for a long while, until Song Ji Mo nudged him, "Aren't you curious? Qi Xie isn't as timid as you."

Shen Yao turned to him, a flicker of anger evident in his eyes, "What do you mean?"

Song Ji Mo smirked, his smile dripping with sarcasm, "Haven't you realized? You're rather dense."

He coldly remarked, "Did you honestly think you were Ying Li's only suitor? Things are becoming increasingly interesting."

With Song Ji Mo being so transparent, if Shen Yao had only felt something off about Qi Xie's behavior towards Ying Li before, he was now entirely certain of Qi Xie's feelings for Ying Li.

Shen Yao pounded the steering wheel in frustration, "Damn, it really is."

In three minutes, one could pin Ying Li to the chair and kiss him. Given Ying Li's lack of strength, the limited space, and nowhere to hide, he couldn't resist. It would be a kiss on one's own terms.

The few steps felt agonizingly long for Shen Yao. As he contemplated whether to smash the car window, the door finally opened.

Two individuals stepped out, one after the other.

The expression on Qi Xie's face was startling. His sharp eyebrows furrowed menacingly as he regarded them with an icy stare.

Beads of perspiration dotted Ying Li's forehead, his eyes misty, and his lashes uneven as if he had been crying recently.

Song Ji Mo chuckled, casting a teasing glance at the relatively composed duo, "What did the captain do to make him cry?"

Ying Li's face flushed crimson, shaking his head vehemently, "No, no, he didn't bully me. I just felt a bit unwell."

His voice sounded muffled and nasal, giving further credence to the notion that he had been crying.

"Where do you feel unwell? Your face is so red. Do you have a fever?" Song Ji Mo affectionately placed his hand on Ying Li's forehead to check his temperature.

"I'm not feverish." Ying Li shifted uneasily backward, "Why are you both here?"

"It's too late, and it's hard to hail a cab around here. I was worried, so I came," Shen Yao said, his brows still knitted in concern. He looked at him intently, "Are you sure you're alright?"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted between the two, quickly pinpointing an anomaly — a noticeable wrinkle on Qi Xie's coat, as if it had been grasped by someone. This, juxtaposed against his stern face, added an undercurrent of sensuality and intrigue.

Back at the Azure Bay, Shen Yao waited, and as expected, when they both went upstairs, Qi Xie drove off. He rushed downstairs only to encounter Song Ji Mo waiting in the parking lot, as if he had anticipated this, lying in ambush.

Honestly, Shen Yao wasn't fond of Song Ji Mo and wasn't keen on aligning with him. Yet, at this moment, he felt they were on the same side.

Taking a deep breath, Ying Li felt it bizarre for them to discuss this in the middle of the street, quickly saying, "I'm fine, really. My heart just fluttered a bit earlier, but I'm better now."

"A fluttering heart, huh?" Song Ji Mo nodded, glanced at Qi Xie, and inquired, "Captain, did you help him by pressing on his chest to calm him down? How exactly did you do that?"

Caught off guard, Ying Li blurted out before thinking, "No, I recovered on my own."

His voice was almost a whisper, "He just came to check on me."

Song Ji Mo simply responded, "Oh."

If one can't see from the front seat, look at the back seat.

Ying Li's lie was unconvincing and his act rather clumsy. However, Song Ji Mo chose not to call him out, subtly letting his eyes sweep over the exposed skin of Ying Li.

No trace on his lips, none on his neck either. Nothing at all.

Thankfully, nothing.

He has a soft spot for handsome, unblemished boys — a little lie here and there doesn't matter.

Shen Yao narrowed his eyes, an aura of malevolence emanating from him.

"Finished with your questions?" Qi Xie turned, barely glancing at them, instructing Ying Li, "Get in the car."

Ying Li, already feeling awkward, nodded in agreement. However, Shen Yao suddenly gripped his wrist, asking, "Whose car are you taking?"

Author's Note:

Hehe, I'll hail my own cab!