Chapter 51

Chapter 51

That night, the group gathered at Chen Mo's rental house, which was actually Xi Siyan's place, to cook a makeshift hotpot. Since Chen Mo had just moved in and lacked equipment, they even went to a nearby supermarket that was still open late at night to buy a pot. To take care of Chen Mo's stomach, they specifically bought a yin-yang pot.

It was summer, and they had the air conditioning on.

The rising steam from the hotpot brought a warm, homely atmosphere to the house.

"Want a drink?" Jiang Xu suggested.

They brought out a dozen beers and clunked them onto the table.

Chen Mo kindly reminded them, "Really drinking? Aren't you guys supposed to have classes tomorrow?"

"Fear what," Bai Cheng interjected, "A high school life without sneaking out, getting scolded, having parents called in, or writing a few reflections is incomplete!"

This juvenile declaration received unanimous cheers and agreement.

Chen Mo didn't bother arguing further.

After all, even Xi Siyan didn't object; when Qi Lin placed two beers in front of him, he skillfully opened them with an opener and clinked glasses with others.

Chen Mo didn't drink; everyone knew about his poor stomach, so no one urged him.

His seat was on Xi Siyan's left, with Lao Gou on the other side. Lao Gou kept fishing out yam from the clear soup for him, saying it was nourishing.

Chen Mo took a bite and threw it in the trash.

Lao Gou, engaged in conversation yet still vigilant, spun around in astonishment, "Damn, despising me?"

"Not cooked enough, idiot." Chen Mo cursed.

Everyone laughed heartily.

With more people around, the conversation veered into various gossips and topics endlessly.

Most were trivial jokes, but someone suddenly mentioned, "Mo Ge, we know you've been dealing with a lot lately. We can't help much, but if you need anything, just say the word. Brothers will do whatever they can."

Before the words were finished, many agreed.

At that moment, Chen Mo had just finished eating a rib Xi Siyan casually put in his bowl, with half a bowl of broth left.

He looked around.

Among these people, Lao Gou had the deepest connection with him.

At least Lao Gou knew some of his past experiences before the news broke. He also understood the actual situation between Chen Mo and the Yang family, knowing that renting this place wasn't just about moving out of school.

But sometimes, young men don't need detailed explanations; they play together daily, and when something serious happens, they're ready to jump in without hesitation.

Chen Mo smiled, put down his chopsticks, and stood up.

He fetched a glass.

When he looked at Xi Siyan, the latter leaned back in his chair, seemingly aware of his intention.

Xi Siyan reminded, "No more than half a cup."

Chen Mo poured himself a third of a bottle.

This detail seemed odd upon reflection, given there were other beers on the table. But in the current atmosphere, neither the participants nor anyone else thought twice about it.

Chen Mo raised his glass, "Since we're friends, I won't beat around the bush. Saying thanks sounds too sentimental. I know it'll be hard to gather like this again, with Xi Siyan already guaranteed admission and many of you participating in various competitions. You're welcome here anytime as long as I'm here. Finally, I wish everyone here a bright future and a path filled with flowers."

Some pounded the table, others tapped their chopsticks.

"Too formal!"

"Mo Ge, you're raising the bar too high; it makes me feel guilty."

"No more talk, let's toast."

"Drink, drink, drink."

The meal was incredibly lively.

Qi Lin brought another dozen beers midway through, leading to a house full of drunkards by one in the morning, turning Chen Mo's freshly cleaned house into a mess.

Even those who usually commuted couldn't go home.

Chen Mo packed up all the garbage and placed it outside, tidying up briefly.

He opened all the windows to air out the place.

Just as he came out of the bathroom, he ran into Xi Siyan coming out of his room.

"Everyone settled?" Chen Mo glanced behind him, seeing at least five people sprawled across the 1.8-meter bed in Xi Siyan's room.

Xi Siyan nodded.

There were two more on the living room sofa: Qi Lin and Jiang Xu.

Chen Mo's room, initially prepared for the youngsters, was smaller than Xi Siyan's.

It had a small double bed.

Chen Mo gestured, "Should we move them in?"

Xi Siyan glanced at the sofa, "Let them stay there. If they take your bed, where will you sleep?"

"I’m fine with anything," Chen Mo said indifferently. "Besides, they’re guests after all. It wouldn’t be right to leave them in the living room while we sleep in our rooms. And besides, you have such a severe case of OCD, yet you still let several people lie on your bed, didn’t you?"

Xi Siyan glanced at him but said nothing more. The two of them worked together to carry the two guys from the living room into the bedroom.

They were both tall and athletic boys who loved playing basketball.

Tall and lanky, they looked slim but were actually incredibly heavy, especially Qi Lin, who was completely out cold and couldn’t help at all.

Once on the bed, he turned over and hugged a pillow, mumbling, "Wife."

"Beer can get you this drunk?" Chen Mo stood by the bed, catching his breath, wanting to snatch back his pillow. He saw Xi Siyan rubbing his temples and frowned. "Headache? I saw you drink quite a bit too."

"It’s okay." Xi Siyan shook his neck.

At three in the morning, Chen Mo and Xi Siyan each occupied one end of the sofa. Xi Siyan turned off the lights in the living room, finally cooling down the remnants of the night’s festivities as the world sank into the quiet of the late night.

The four-seater sofa was wide enough.

But for two big guys, it was still a tight squeeze.

Chen Mo sat with his knees bent, staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. By the moonlight through the window, he could see Xi Siyan’s long legs crossed and resting on the floor.

"Is it too uncomfortable for you like this?" Chen Mo asked.

Xi Siyan replied quickly, "No, it’s only a few hours until dawn." Then he asked, "Can’t sleep?"

"A little."

There was movement from the other side, and Chen Mo realized Xi Siyan had gotten up.

"What are you doing?" Chen Mo whispered.

Xi Siyan: "I remember there’s a bamboo lounge chair on the balcony. I’ll sleep there; you rest here."

"Hey!" Chen Mo got up instantly, grabbing Xi Siyan’s wrist.

Still kneeling, Chen Mo felt a bit awkward about holding his wrist.

But he didn’t care and said, "I’m not saying I can’t sleep because you’re here. That chair is so hard, and it hasn’t even been wiped clean yet. Just stay here."

Xi Siyan didn’t move.

Chen Mo could feel him looking at him, but due to the dim light, he couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

Seeing that Xi Siyan wasn’t speaking, Chen Mo continued, "I’m really not being fussy. Even though we never clarified things that day, you don’t need to consider my feelings all the time. Xi Siyan, can you understand? I’m not a child who needs constant care. In fact, when you said you wanted to try, I didn’t refuse immediately because I was selfish, relying on the fact that you said you liked me. I thought..."

"Then be a little more selfish," Xi Siyan said.

Chen Mo: "Huh?"

"I mean," Xi Siyan suddenly took his hand and sat back on the sofa, pulling Chen Mo to sit beside him, whispering near his ear, "be a little more selfish."

Chen Mo could smell the faint scent of alcohol and feel the warmth of his breath.

Especially after Xi Siyan spoke, he didn’t pull away but instead buried his head in Chen Mo’s neck.

His hair was neither soft nor hard, brushing against Chen Mo’s chin and ears, causing a tickling sensation. Chen Mo didn’t feel any discomfort; he just felt stiff and a bit awkward, unsure what to say.

This time, Chen Mo didn’t ask if he was drunk.

He just asked, "Still have a headache?"

"Mm," Xi Siyan responded.

Chen Mo had never seen Xi Siyan like this before. He was used to seeing him confident and composed, even when he was being harsh or sarcastic. But he had never seen this private side of him.

Last time, when he was drunk, he even broke the ice and kissed him.

Seeing him now made Chen Mo feel both curious and a bit touched.

"Want some water?" Chen Mo offered.

Feeling Xi Siyan shake his head, Chen Mo continued, "I have painkillers in my room. I can get you one; they work well."

Again, Xi Siyan refused.

Chen Mo: "You can’t stay in this position all night, can you?"

"Chen Mo." Xi Siyan finally moved, but not to get up.

Chen Mo could feel his name mumbled against his neck, followed by a slight pressure of teeth.

"Damn!" Chen Mo cursed, grabbing Xi Siyan’s hair at the nape of his neck, leaning back on the sofa and frowning, turning his head, "What are you doing?"

After a few seconds, Xi Siyan finally released him.

He didn’t move back much but controlled Chen Mo’s head, bringing it closer, close enough to see each other’s eyes clearly.

Only then did Chen Mo realize he had been tricked.

Xi Siyan’s eyes were clear, showing no signs of drunkenness or discomfort, completely different from the vulnerable person who had just buried his head in Chen Mo’s neck and refused medication.

"You..." Chen Mo tried to speak.

Xi Siyan interrupted him with a gesture, whispering, "Why didn’t you dodge just now?"

Chen Mo was speechless: "You’re biting me and asking why I didn’t dodge?"

"You could have called out or used a bit more force to make me let go. Why didn’t you do either?"

"Because..." Chen Mo couldn't even continue his own sentence.

What could it be if not that he subconsciously didn't want to do it?

Damn!

A smile played at the corner of Xi Siyan's lips as he caressed the inside of Chen Mo's wrist, which was resting by his side.

"I took it as your agreement."

"What?"

"To try with me."

Chen Mo was left speechless.

This "try" was subtle, not quite about dating, but had a sense of forbiddenness that was almost acknowledged yet never fully spoken.

Especially in this moment.

The house was full except for them; both rooms were occupied with sleeping people.

Chen Mo wasn't a conservative person.

In fact, he was always daring and adventurous when it came to decisions, exploring the unknown.

Xi Siyan's elaborate efforts stirred the restless elements within Chen Mo, making them boil. Having been in a position of power for years, he had a pathological need for control, walking on the edge yet enjoying being in command. So when he lost his usual composure under Xi Siyan's provocations, he became even more curious about what Xi Siyan would look like when truly vulnerable and out of control.

The future successor of the Xi family.

A genius elite towering above others.

But this year, still just a minor, an eagle yet to spread its wings.

"How do we try?" Chen Mo, now relaxed with a mix of adult indulgence and a hint of vindictive mischief, quickly regained his composure. He grabbed Xi Siyan's hair again, his fingers trailing down his nape, and said, "Where do we start?"

"Like this? Or like this?"

Chen Mo's hand slid over the young body's spine through the thin shirt, then circled back, brushing against the shoulder, and undid the second button below the throat, careful not to touch the warm skin beneath.

Their breathing grew heavier.

Not just Xi Siyan's, but also Chen Mo's.

The heavy night, with incessant insect sounds from the neighborhood greenery.

Intermingled breaths, the slight contact through clothing, all made the young bodies restless. Nothing had happened, no excessive closeness, yet there was a sense of disarray.

Chen Mo's hand paused on the fabric around Xi Siyan's waist.

Xi Siyan looked down.

Then he looked at Chen Mo and whispered, "Not continuing? You can undo it and reach in."

His voice was hoarse, almost deliberately seductive.

Just then, Chen Mo's door clicked open from the inside.

Chen Mo instantly pulled back a meter.

He realized it was Qi Lin, with his messy hair, squinting his eyes, looking for the bathroom.

He couldn't find the switch and fumbled along the wall.

Xi Siyan: "Go straight, turn right."

Qi Lin trusted him completely.

Without any hesitation, he went straight, then turned right.

There was a dull thud.

His head hit the wall.

Chen Mo held back the warning he was about to give.

Seeing Qi Lin holding his forehead, now awake, glaring at the person on the sofa who was leaning on the armrest with one hand.

He cursed, "You, Xi, can you be any more of a jerk?! Bastard!"