Chapter 100

Chapter 100

After nearly three hours of conversation, learning of their numerous secret rendezvous behind her back, Xie Qingyuan's forehead throbbed with popping veins countless times, repeatedly on the verge of slamming the table and drawing her sword against Ming Feiyu, yet restraining herself with sheer willpower.

She truly couldn't fathom why Ming Feiyu refused to release Xie Zhigui, why, after she severed their ill-fated connection time and again, they always found their way back to each other the moment her vigilance lapsed.

And what she found even more unbearable was that Xie Zhigui actually consented—willingly!

During those three hours, no one knew the torment she felt watching them exchange tender looks, gazing at each other with affection. And don’t think she was unaware, their hands intertwined beneath the table, never once parting!

If Ming Fei Yu forced Xie Zhi Gui into a relationship against her will, she would not hesitate to risk her life to take him back. But if the two were truly in love, and she tried to separate them, she would become like the stereotypical 'evil mother-in-law' from TV dramas, placing Xie Zhi Gui in an awkward position between them.

To avoid hurting Xie Zhi Gui, they couldn't take a heavy-handed approach to this matter.

By the time their conversation ended, it had gotten late. The atmosphere inside the private room was incredibly tense, so she took the initiative to suggest that Xie Zhi Gui should go home with her to rest.

Although the thought of Ming Fei Yu hiding in her home before, burning her Taoist temple, and even sleeping with her brother made her extremely uncomfortable, and she felt like hitting someone.

But seeing how inseparable the two seemed, coaxing Xie Zhi Gui away alone seemed unlikely. She had to endure it.

"Let's bring them home first, and then we'll figure things out."

Xie Zhi Gui looked at Ming Fei Yu for his opinion, and Ming Fei Yu chuckled and nodded, "I'll follow your lead."

"Alright, then let's go back and stay for the night."

Xie Qing Yuan didn't want to witness their sickeningly sweet affection, feeling a mix of annoyance and pain. On the way home, he walked ahead, burying his head and automatically ignoring the sounds from behind.

Once they got home, a new problem arose.

With a three-bedroom apartment and four of them, how should they divide the rooms?

After a moment of contemplation, Xie Qing Yuan, not wanting them to sleep together, said: "Little Gui and I will sleep together tonight, Dad, you go to my room."

She then glanced disdainfully at Ming Fei Yu, "You can sleep in my dad's room."

"No," Ming Fei Yu coldly refused, wrapping an arm around Xie Zhi Gui's shoulder, "I'll stay with Ah Gui."

Xie Qing Yuan felt an immediate urge to hit him, raising her voice, "Get this straight! You're in my house now, so you'll follow my arrangements!"

"You think you're going to sleep with my brother right in front of me? What a shameless dream!"

Ming Fei Yu, impatient, turned his head away with an expression that seemed to scorn her loud voice, but he didn’t speak directly out of consideration for Xie Zhi Gui’s feelings.

Xie Qing Yuan, even more angered, grabbed Xie San Xiao, who was attempting to slip back to his room quietly, "Dad, aren't you going to do something?!"

Xie San Xiao, who had been silent as if invisible but was suddenly called upon, was a bit stunned. He looked at Xie Zhi Gui, then at Ming Fei Yu, and stuttered, "I, I…"

Ming Fei Yu shot a warning glance at him, causing Xie San Xiao's face to immediately sour.

He was already worn out by Xie Qing Yuan's fiery temper and didn’t dare to offend Ming Fei Yu. He knew all too well how vindictive and cunning this creature could be.

In his moment of hesitation, Xie Qingyuan's expression darkened like a stormy sky, threatening to burst forth with thunder at any moment. His heart quivering, he quickly passed the hot potato to Xie Zhigui, "Xiao Gui! What do you say?"

"Me?"

Then, taking advantage of Xie Qingyuan's diverted attention, he yanked his collar free, hurried back to his room, and with a loud bang shut the door, continuing his retreat.

"Hey! You old thing, you dare to run!"

"Enough, sister!" Xie Zhigui frowned and spoke up, "No need for trouble, Ayu can sleep with me."

Xie Qingyuan objected sharply, "No way!"

Ming Feiyu had lost all patience with her, his voice cold and mocking: "And who are you to say no?"

Xie Qingyuan grabbed Xie Zhigui's wrist, "He's my brother!"

"He's also my lover, and I share a closeness with him that's greater than anything you have," Ming Feiyu declared possessively, pulling the other into his embrace.

"Dare to repeat that!"

Xie Qingyuan was thoroughly enraged, his gaze sharp as a knife, fiercely piercing through the other.

Caught in the tussle between the two, being pulled this way and that, Xie Zhigui felt the strain. As they openly competed, he suffered, his head throbbing with pain. He forcefully shook off Xie Qingyuan's grip, "Shut up, sister!"

"Are you talking back to me?"

"How... How could you become like this!"

Xie Qingyuan couldn't believe that Xie Zhigui would actually talk back to her for Ming Feiyu's sake. She was shocked and disappointed, too upset to speak.

"I'm begging you, please just don't talk for now!"

"You!"

“……”

The look in Xie Qingyuan's eyes was painfully heartbroken.

But Xie Zhigui didn't want to explain anything, he was too emotionally exhausted and didn't have the energy, hastily dragging Ming Feiyu into the room first.

These two were like barrels of gunpowder, and he was the spark. Once the three of them came together, an explosion was inevitable, not even leaving ruins behind.

Xie Zhigui released Ming Feiyu's hand, flopped down onto the bed with a long sigh of frustration, his eyes revealing nothing but weariness.

"Tired?"

"Mhm."

Ming Feiyu cradled his head, gently massaging his temples.

Xie Zhigui lifted his gaze only to see a faint smile playing on Ming Feiyu's lips.

"What's so funny?"

"I just felt like smiling."

"You actually find this amusing!"

Irritated, Xie Zhigui kicked at his shin, a petulant gesture, "This is all your fault. You've made me quarrel with my sister."

Ming Feiyu didn't dodge, reasoning that it wasn't as painful as a nail scratching a back, he let Xie Zhigui vent his frustration.

Growing up, Xie Zhigui had never talked back to Xie Qingyuan before. The words had bypassed his thoughts completely and regret followed immediately after he had spoken.

Everything Xie Qingyuan did was for his sake; he shouldn't make his sister upset, yet he couldn't tolerate her berating Ming Feiyu.

"So, it's all your fault!"

Xie Zhigui lifted his foot to kick again, barely touching him when Ming Feiyu's entire body toppled towards him. Before he could react, he was pinned down on the bed, enveloped by a familiar shadow.

"Alright, it's my fault, I admit it. I've even driven my sweet-tempered A'Gui to violence," Ming Feiyu pinched his cheek, "How about I make it up to you?"

Xie Zhigui didn’t buy his sweet nothings; though Ming Feiyu's lips were apologetic, his eyes—brimming with affection and desire—were more blatant than the glaring light on the ceiling. He wasn't seeking forgiveness; he aimed to charm Xie Zhigui into compliance, to easily sway him.

The old monster is just wicked.

Xie Zhigui feigned annoyance, pushing him away with his hands, "I don't want your compensation, get off!"

Ming Feiyu remained immovable, even clamping down on his wrist, pinning it by his side.

"What are you doing! …Mmmph..."

Ming Feiyu silenced him with a kiss, ensuring not a single word escaped him, leaving Xie Zhigui to merely gasp and moan softly.

Not knowing if Xie Qingyuan was eavesdropping at the door, he had to suppress his voice, muffling it so as not to let any sound leak out, though a breathy whisper still managed to escape from the corners of his lips.

With his hands restrained and his kicks futile, Xie Zhigui dared not bite Ming Feiyu’s tongue; he could only glare at him with his eyes.

Ming Feiyu noticed the glare but didn’t care; it wasn't the first time he'd been on the receiving end of such intimidation.

Yet, he softened his actions, turning a kiss full of longing into a tender consolation.

Xie Zhigui came back from the brink of dizziness and lack of oxygen, his face still flushed red.

Ming Feiyu was different this time; he didn't push Xie Zhigui to the edge but would kiss him briefly before letting him catch his breath, resuming just as Xie Zhigui's clarity began to return... letting him drift between lucidity and haze, rising and falling in the sea of affection.

After several such exchanges, any frustration Xie Zhigui had was thoroughly dissipated.

Dizzy, but not from lack of oxygen; rather, it was a light-headedness from being completely carried away by another, unable to resist.

The old monster was not only wicked; he was also full of tricks.

It was over. Xie Zhigui, with his head cocked and eyes half-closed in a daze, appeared utterly drained, as if all his strength had been sapped.

Ming Feiyu wanted to lift him up to wipe the sweat from his forehead and neck. He pulled him to sit upright, cushioning Xie Zhigui’s head on his shoulder. Scanning the room for a towel and not finding one, he contemplated whether to carry Xie Zhigui out to fetch one, but the next moment, he felt a slight pain on his neck.

“……”

Ming Feiyu tilted his head down to glance at the head nuzzling against his shoulder, patiently waiting for his temper to subside, with his palm gently supporting the back of Xie Zhigui’s head to prevent any backward collapse when his strength might fail him completely.

Xie Zhigui’s bite wasn't really painful; it was more a childlike nibble, as if he didn’t have a full set of teeth.

It was purely a venting gesture, leaving not even a tooth mark behind.

Soon, Xie Zhigui slumped against his shoulder, his eyes still hazy, panting lightly, the breath escaping onto the very spot he had just nibbled.

"Thick-skinned."

He muttered softly, and Ming Feiyu arched an eyebrow in response.

Ridiculously and amusingly, the breath he exhaled showed more effect than his bite, turning the skin a faint red.

Ming Feiyu certainly felt it and couldn't help but laugh mercilessly.

“……”

"What are you laughing at?! Don't laugh!"

"Alright, alright, I won't laugh, don't be mad," Ming Feiyu said, though his words were laced with laughter.

Xie Zhigui, too drained to lift a hand, could only inject a colder tone, "Is this how you make amends to me?"

Ming Feiyu retorted, "Who was it that said they didn't want my compensation just now?"

“……”

He seems to have shot himself in the foot.

Let it be.

He lacked the energy to create further trouble and feared accidentally provoking Xie Qingyuan.

"Ayu, I want to lie down comfortably."

Ming Feiyu patted him, "Alright, you stay still, I'll do it."

Xie Zhigui closed his eyes, and true to his word, didn’t move. He let Ming Feiyu support his back as he slowly lay down and pulled the covers over himself.

Ming Feiyu also lay down beside him.

Xie Zhigui suddenly opened his eyes, his head still, his pupils shifting to gaze at the person beside him.

"What's wrong?" Ming Feiyu asked.

Xie Zhigui: "If you kiss me now, you can't kiss me again tonight."

Ming Feiyu: "Why?"

Since when was there a rule about only one kiss per night?

Xie Zhigui suddenly became annoyed, "No reason! Just behave! This is my house!"

Seeing his intense reaction, Ming Feiyu understood something and a smile curled up at the corner of his mouth.

"What's the matter? Afraid your sister will catch you in the act?"

"...Yes."

Xie Zhigui didn't want to be stared at, so he turned his head away, his voice low, but Ming Feiyu could clearly see a trail of red creeping up from his cheek to his earlobe.

He wanted to draw closer, but the moment Xie Zhigui felt his breath, he'd shy away, not looking back at him.

If not from the outside, then approach from within.

A faint rustling came from beneath the covers, where, unseen, he boldly and carefully explored until his hand encountered a slender waist.

Just as he was about to embrace him, Xie Zhigui slapped his hand through the blanket, warning him, "I said no fooling around!"

Ming Feiyu stopped hiding his intentions, and before Xie Zhigui could react, he forcefully pulled him into his embrace, tightening his grip around his waist, drawing him into his arms.

Xie Zhigui was bound to struggle, and the quickest way to get him to relent was to hold him even tighter. Once he realized that struggling was futile, he would quiet down and start to negotiate terms.

"Let go!"

How could Ming Feiyu simply comply? Seeing that Xie Zhigui was getting a bit angry, he knew that if he let go now, Xie Zhigui would never give him another chance.

He didn't want to sleep alone in a cold bed. His grip did not slacken in the slightest, as he bit back, "You only said I can't kiss you, you didn't say I can't hold you."

Xie Zhigui: "..."

There was one thing Xie Qingyuan wasn't wrong about calling him — "Sly and crafty, full of tricks!"

Xie Zhigui glanced at the clock on the wall; the hands were almost at twelve. It had gotten late without him realizing it, and with a heavy tone of fatigue in his voice, he closed his eyes.

"Ayu, my sister has very keen hearing, so please, don’t make a fuss tonight. I really want to rest and would rather not see you two come to blows."

The disturbance affecting his own sleep was a secondary concern; the main issue was that it was too late to cause such a ruckus that it would keep the neighbors upstairs and downstairs awake. What would he say tomorrow when they came to ask what happened?

Could he really say it was because he brought his boyfriend home to sleep over, and they shamelessly made such a racket that his sister couldn’t stand it and kicked them out?

He wanted to live a good life, not die a social death.

Ming Feiyu could guess his thoughts with uncanny accuracy. Seeing the heavy weariness in his eyes, he didn't have the heart to torment him further.

In the end, he just pressed his forehead against Xie Zhigui’s, a substitute for the intended kiss.

Although Ming Feiyu was not fully satisfied, he had to be content with this compromise for now.

Xie Zhigui’s brow furrowed slightly, perhaps bothered by the stickiness of sweat.

"Alright, I promise not to disturb you. Go to sleep; I’ll watch over you."