Chapter 31: Kiss

Chapter 31: Kiss

Xie Yu no longer had a headache, but he was left dumbfounded, wondering, "What's coming?"

His fingers fumbled slightly in the drawer as he pulled out the leather box. At first, he was guessing what kind of gift might be inside, but the moment he opened the clasp, his fingertips froze in place.

Xie Yu: "?"

He could hardly believe his eyes.

The box was lined with velvet silk, and on top of the silk lay a pitch-black whip.

The handle was soft leather, well-crafted, and comfortable to hold. For certain enthusiasts, it would probably be quite appealing.

Xie Yu: "..."

Putting two and two together from earlier events, he seemed to understand what was going on.

Shen Ci heard the sound of the box opening. He tensed his back, cold and nervous, his skin prickling with goosebumps. As Xie Yu approached, he suddenly spoke in a very soft voice: "Porcelain."

The footsteps behind him came to an abrupt halt.

Shen Ci breathed a sigh of relief, his tense back relaxing and softening once again.

They hadn't done anything yet, so of course, this wasn't a situation where the safe word needed to be used. It felt more like a small test than a call to end the game. Shen Ci wanted to confirm whether, after five years, the safe word was still effective, and whether Xie Yu would stop when he couldn't take it anymore.

The result confirmed, Shen Ci turned back and said, "It's okay, you can go on."

Instead of the whip's sharp crack, he heard a soft sigh.

Then there was the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. Shen Ci glanced back and saw the leather box, along with its contents, being thrown by Xie Yu. It sailed through the air and crashed into the corner with a loud clang. The box couldn't take the hit, and two corners got dented. It rolled a few times along the ground before coming to a pitiful stop.

...Why did he throw it away?

Shen Ci was a bit confused and about to ask when he saw Xie Yu's displeased expression. Xie Yu strode over, and suddenly Shen Ci felt weightless as he was lifted into the air.

"Xie Yu!"

Xie Yu chuckled, "Now you know to call out?"

He scooped Shen Ci up by the knees. Shen Ci felt the world spin, and after a moment of dizziness, he was carried into the bedroom and thrown straight onto the bed.

Xie Yu cared about sleep quality and had swapped out the mattress. The one in the bedroom was very soft, so it didn't hurt when he landed. Shen Ci sank into the soft bedding, but before he could speak, a handsome face suddenly loomed close—Xie Yu pinned his wrists above his head, trapping him firmly between his arms and the bed.

The position was precarious. They were less than two inches apart, and Xie Yu's strength was overwhelming. Shen Ci felt like prey caught by a predator, completely powerless to resist, forced to lie there at Xie Yu's mercy. He stared anxiously at Xie Yu, his wrists twitching nervously.

Then the predator poked his head with a finger.

The poke was firm, stinging a bit.

Xie Yu sighed, feeling a bit exasperated, "No offense, Shen Ci, but what the hell is going on in that head of yours?"

He probably understood what Shen Ci was thinking. Xie Yu's hangover headache probably seemed like a mental breakdown, and since the last time Xie Yu had acted out was also after drinking, it had left Shen Ci with some psychological trauma. Shen Ci probably thought that Xie Yu would have a mental breakdown and self-harm whenever he drank. Plus, when Xu Qingshan had analyzed the condition, he mentioned that the original host's illness was severe and that he had previously found relief by hitting people. Shen Ci must have figured a few hits were better than Xie Yu going completely off the rails.

...At least he wasn't a total idiot. Xie Yu checked the whip—it was a light, playful prop, and Shen Ci had even remembered the safe word.

Pinned down, Shen Ci looked up at him, confused and innocent.

Xie Yu sighed, unsatisfied, and poked Shen Ci's forehead again, making his head bob. Then he scolded, "Teaching Assistant Shen, are you stupid or what?"

When he held Shen Ci earlier, the body in his arms was still trembling slightly. Now, wrapped in the blanket, Shen Ci finally calmed down. Shen Ci clearly had no special kinks nor did he enjoy pain. When Xie Yu picked up the whip, he had even been scared.

Yet, he still kept the tools ready in the living room cabinet.

Shen Ci turned his tilted head back, quietly watching Xie Yu, observing his expression carefully: though still pale, it was within a normal range, but his expression looked troubled. He frowned tightly, his lips pressed together, seemingly at his wit's end, with a hint of resigned despair.

Shen Ci asked softly, "Are you alright now?"

He struggled slightly. "Let me take you to Qingshan Hospital. Move aside, I'll call Dr. Xu..."

—He still thought Xie Yu was mentally ill.

Xie Yu thought to himself, is this even a life? Previously, their relationship was task-based, and Shen Ci thought he was mentally ill, OK, no problem, as they would part ways once the task was completed. But now they'd even met each other's parents, and the person in his arms was about to become his wife, yet still thought he was mentally ill. If they played some intimate games, drank a bit, or if he occasionally had a headache, Shen Ci would send him to Qingshan Hospital. Is this even a life?

Xie Yu already had a headache, and now it was throbbing harder. He pinned Shen Ci down, not budging an inch. "Let me make this clear: I don't have a mental illness."

Under Shen Ci's puzzled gaze, he admitted reluctantly, "—Okay, I did have one, but it was very mild, and it's already cured. And I don't like hitting people, I don't have that kind of perverse hobby, I've never hit anyone..."

"Alright," he took a deep breath, continuing his self-abandonment, "I did hit a bully at the school gate, but that was because he snatched a girl's wallet. I saw the girl was about to cry, so I intervened."

Shen Ci still hesitated, pursing his lips slightly. "But..."

Xie Yu didn't want to hear "but." This matter was just unexplainable now, and even if he tried, it wouldn't be clear, otherwise the stigma of having a mental illness would stick to him. So he grabbed Shen Ci by the nape, forcing him to look up, then leaned down and kissed him directly.

"!"

Xie Yu had never kissed before, and neither had Shen Ci. At first, they were like two awkward kids, lips touching, teeth clashing. But perhaps compared to Shen Ci, who had always been a good kid, Xie Yu, who had once been rebellious, naturally had an advantage. Soon, he mastered the technique of kissing.

He pried open Shen Ci's lips, forcing his bewildered tongue to respond, then licked and sucked, making wet sounds, while the hand behind Shen Ci's head held firmly, cutting off all retreat routes, forcing Shen Ci to look up.

He stole the breath from Shen Ci's mouth, and the person in his arms had completely softened at some point, looking at him blankly, as if stunned by the kiss.

Xie Yu sighed again, "Teaching Assistant Shen, breathe."

He bullied the person in his arms not too harshly, seeing how foolish Shen Ci looked, feeling exasperated, scolded him sternly, "Do you know what that thing is for? You dare let me use it? Do you know what the consequences are if things get out of hand with that thing?"

If it fell into the hands of someone like the original owner, it would definitely lead to an accident.

Shen Ci was a bit indignant, his competitive academic genes inappropriately surfaced. "I know."

"Oh? So you do know?" Xie Yu raised an eyebrow. "Alright, just so happens I don't know, Teaching Assistant Shen, explain to me, how exactly is it played?"

"..."

Shen Ci turned his head away, curling his fingers, the embarrassment clearly written on his face.

Knowing is one thing, saying it out loud is another, especially since he was the toy, teaching someone how to play with himself was just too much.

Xie Yu was determined to teach him a lesson. "Say it, what's the play method? What are the consequences? How many days will it hurt? How much pain will there be? How many hits can you take? Say it?"

"..."

He was relentless, pressing question after question, Shen Ci, pushed to the brink, blurted out, "I did my homework!"

Xie Yu laughed in anger.

He twirled Shen Ci's hair, meaningfully saying, "Oh, so you did your homework, truly worthy of the top student Shen, even doing homework on such matters, come, tell me young master, what homework did you do?"

Xie Yu, now gentle in nature, was once a rebellious figure, with a mischievous streak hidden in his bones. The more Shen Ci resisted, the more he wanted to tease him.

Shen Ci's face turned as red as a lobster, even his toes curled up inside the blanket. He struggled slightly but was held tightly, as if Xie Yu wouldn't release him without an answer.

Shen Ci calmed down slightly, lowering his gaze: "It's like this—I researched related papers, reviewed research literature from international sources, compared images of injuries, and gained a general understanding of pain levels. The tools were also carefully compared, selecting one that causes less harm. Additionally, I bought medical alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotics for sterilization and anti-inflammation, and chitosan antibacterial film to aid wound healing..."

Xie Yu: "..."

Shen Ci began speaking in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, but as he continued, his confidence grew, and he eventually spoke fluently, treating it as a science requiring careful analysis.

He really did research it.

Xie Yu was at a loss for words.

Shen Ci: "At the same time, I compared the mechanisms of various drugs, choosing the ones with fewer side effects... mmm!"

Xie Yu couldn't stand it any longer and kissed him again.

This time, he kissed Shen Ci until he was nearly breathless before releasing him. Shen Ci gasped for air, looking at him with wide, incredulous eyes, a thin layer of moisture glistening in them.

Xie Yu looked at him calmly: "I don't want to hear this, Teaching Assistant Shen. First, tell me, how exactly is this supposed to work?"

Shen Ci: "..."

He remained silent.

"Now you're silent? Speak up." Xie Yu pinched his chin, "Didn't you want to please me? Tell me, what would please me."

Shen Ci continued to remain silent.

This time, he remained silent for so long that Xie Yu began to wonder if he had teased him too much, hesitating whether to release him and then comfort him. After all, Shen Ci meant well, but ended up being pinned down and scolded, which was understandably upsetting.

However, before he could let go, Shen Ci suddenly raised his arms, encircling Xie Yu's neck and hugging him.

Xie Yu's hands were originally propped on either side, but caught off guard by the hug, he tumbled onto the bed, pressed tightly against Shen Ci.

Shen Ci wrapped his arms around Xie Yu's back, pressing his cheek against his shoulder, and asked, "...Like this?"

He was like a top student, carefully testing the correct answer to a question.

Xie Yu lay down on his side, casually tousling Shen Ci's hair, and sighed: "Although it's hard to explain now, Shen Ci, I swear, I never intended to hurt you, whether with a whip or anything else."

The ear clip he wore for the plot—Xie Yu didn't even let Shen Ci pierce his ear.

From the first moment Xie Yu saw Shen Ci, he never thought of harming the young man in front of him. He couldn't bear to leave any marks on the porcelain-like skin. Beautiful porcelain should be well placed in a glass case, wrapped in velvet for protection, not shattered into pieces.

Xie Yu gave a light kiss on Shen Ci's forehead: "Really, hurting you wouldn't make me happy, quite the opposite, it would make me very sad. So please, protect yourself, and don't joke like this with me."

"...Okay."

It was truly an attitude of care and respect, without any hint of disdain.

Shen Ci vaguely remembered before, apart from the initial contract full of insults, Xie Yu had always been like this, always gentle and peaceful. It was he himself who overthought, almost missing out.

The vulgar and overbearing Xie Yu who mentioned the contract, and the dashing and free Xie Yu holding him now, seemed like two different people.

The matter was half resolved, Xie Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Playing the role of a foolish playboy every day was quite tiring, so he was in a good mood, facing Shen Ci, pondering another question.

He asked softly: "Teaching Assistant Shen, can you tell me why you like me?"

Speaking of this, Xie Yu was completely baffled. He approached it with a gaming mindset, following the script step by step, and smoothly passed 60%, but somehow, the plot started to veer off in a bizarre direction, uncontrollable by ten horses. Several times Xie Yu thought the system would have a stroke, and the protagonist who was supposed to hate him to death was now nursing him and crying, almost becoming his wife.

Xie Yu had never been in love before. Although having a male partner was indeed unexpected, Shen Ci was so good-looking that he didn't need anything else.

Shen Ci hesitated.

If he had to admit it, he had actually liked Xie Yu for five years.

The first half of Shen Ci's life had been a relentless grind, like a tightly wound screw that couldn't afford a single misstep. His family situation was too poor, and he had a sick grandmother. Every step he took felt like walking on a tightrope over a cliff; one wrong move and it would all come crashing down.

In elementary school, while other kids were playing or going to after-school activities, Shen Ci was buried in math Olympiad problems because only by ranking in the top few in the school could he get a scholarship to enter middle school. The money, which might just cover a weekend trip for his classmates, was enough to cover several months of living expenses for him.

In middle school, he studied like his life depended on it because only by acing the independent enrollment exam and getting into the top class could he get his tuition waived. If he couldn’t, he wouldn’t be able to attend high school.

University was no different. The scholarship, which only one percent of students could win, was something other students could vie for with piano competitions and extracurricular achievements. Shen Ci had nothing. To compete, he had to push himself to the limit.

No kid is born to love exams or competition, and Shen Ci was no different. He had also felt like throwing up from staring at experimental data, but he had no choice but to push through.

He was a string stretched to its limit. If he weren’t so tough, he would have snapped long ago.

But Xie Yu was different. He had this natural ease about him. When Shen Ci was in his arms, it felt like being shielded, with a comforting sense of security, as if all the weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Xie Yu took Shen Ci on motorcycle rides and cruise trips, strolled with him through the school’s ginkgo-lined paths and the bustling commercial streets, showing him the sights Shen Ci had overlooked in the seven years he’d been there, and drinking the milk tea he had seen countless times but never tried… It was like splashing vibrant colors into a black-and-white world. For the first time in over two decades, Shen Ci felt truly alive.

In fact, both before meeting Xie Yu and after they parted ways, Shen Ci had always struggled with mild insomnia. Before, it was due to family pressure; later, it was due to the complexity of company affairs. He was used to being wound up tight, even at night, making it hard to relax and sleep.

But with Xie Yu by his side, maybe it was that sense of ease or the feeling of safety, but he always slept soundly.

The day Xie Yu came back to Jiangcheng, Shen Ci had his first good dream in five years.

Shen Ci had been quiet for a while. Xie Yu had no clue he'd been lost in thought. He patted Shen Ci's shoulder: "Come on, what's on your mind? I'm really curious."

"..."

It felt too awkward to say something like that out loud. Shen Ci was both embarrassed and a little irritated: "I like you because I like you. Do I need a reason?"

"Alright." Xie Yu shrugged, knowing Shen Ci was shy. "Tell me when you're ready."

The two of them snuggled for a bit. Both were young and full of energy, and having never been intimate before, it was hard to hold back. Though they hadn’t fully bared their hearts today, they had come halfway, and as they snuggled, they found themselves kissing again.

Xie Yu played with Shen Ci's hair, starting to kiss from his forehead, moving down along the temple, kissing the sideburns, cheeks, and finally landing on the earlobe.

The earlobe wasn’t completely smooth; near the edge, there was a hard protrusion, cold to the touch, like some kind of metal.

Shen Ci's hair was styled oddly, with one ear deliberately left longer, just covering the earlobe. He was already dazed from the kisses, but when the kiss reached his ear, he paused, wanting to turn his head away. But after closing his eyes, he resolutely offered his ear back, letting Xie Yu kiss it.

Xie Yu stopped and played with the hair: "What are you wearing?"

He pulled the round, beautiful earlobe out from the hair and raised an eyebrow slightly. There was a small accessory on it, the "X" he had given.

When he picked this one, Xie Yu was just going through the motions of the plot, not wanting anyone to see it, so he deliberately chose the smallest one. It was shiny silver but only the size of a grain of rice, hidden in the hair and invisible.

"Have you been wearing it all along?"

Xie Yu tugged at it and found it was on quite tightly. He flipped Shen Ci's earlobe. Originally, it was an ear cuff, but now it was an earring. The item was the same, but the style had been changed.

Shen Ci had pierced his ear.

Xie Yu muttered: "I didn’t want to pierce your ear, afraid you'd feel pain, but you went ahead and did it."

The small accessory hanging on his ear looked quite nice. Xie Yu kissed the earlobe and bit the small thing: "Why not use the ear cuff? Wasn't it good?"

Shen Ci didn't know why, but his ears were burning hot, even though there were hardly any nerves there. Yet they were incredibly sensitive, swelling up at the slightest touch. He nudged Xie Yu away, saying, "The original clip broke."

Xie Yu kissed him softly and lingeringly, "Just get a new clip then."

Shen Ci: "It fell on the floor, and it's too tiny to find easily. I was afraid it might fall again and be lost forever, so I switched to an earring. It's less likely to fall off."

Xie Yu: "It's no big deal if it gets lost, just a small trinket."

He hadn't put much thought into buying it, but Shen Ci had worn it with care.

Xie Yu noticed this little detail and was quite pleased, mumbling, "Why have you been wearing it all this time? Do you really like the design?"

Wearing it had nothing to do with the design at all. Shen Ci opened his mouth, unsure what Xie Yu's question reminded him of, then suddenly blushed and turned his head away.

Xie Yu: "Speak up, why have you been wearing it? If you like it, we can go pick out a few more."

He still had millions in his account; it was time to buy some matching rings or something.

"..."

This was originally a very ordinary question. Shen Ci only needed to answer routinely, like or dislike, but he hesitated for a long time, suddenly reached out and hugged Xie Yu.

What he was about to say next, Shen Ci would never have dared to say before, but having just opened up to each other, Shen Ci knew that Xie Yu only respected and cared for him, without any hint of disdain. So those slightly shameful, absolutely unspeakable words he had seen on websites turned into just the right amount of flirtation.

He tilted his head down, his voice barely above a whisper: "It was a gift from the young master, I dare not take it off."