Chapter 45

Chapter 45

In the dimly lit room with fluttering curtains, the golden-haired young man took the lead, prolonging the kiss for a long time.

It wasn't until Lan Yexing was limp and breathless that Qiao You eased his embrace. Still, one arm remained firmly around the boy's waist, while his other hand cupped the boy's face. He asked hoarsely, "Xiao Xing, tell me, what happened to you?"

His long, slender fingers tightened slightly on the boy's cheek, a possessive, controlling gesture. He smiled and said, "I want to know everything—even if you told the amnesiac me, it doesn't count. It's the current me who wants to know everything about you."

A soft, helpless smile touched Lan Yexing's lips: He truly didn't understand why they needed to distinguish so sharply; they were clearly the same person...

But the kiss had indeed soothed him, and having just learned of Qiao You's past, his heart had ached and softened intensely the moment he saw him.

So he pointed to his bed and said softly, "Why don't you sit there first? I'll turn on the light."

After all, if he truly wanted to explain, he'd have to start from a long time ago.

Qiao You was silent for a moment, then released Lan Yexing's hand. He took a few long strides and unceremoniously settled onto Lan Yexing's bed.

It was a clean, soft bed, emanating Lan Yexing's usual pleasant scent. At the foot of the bed lay a neatly folded, marshmallow-soft comforter. Qiao You raised an eyebrow at the sight: Surely high schoolers didn't still have such childish taste, did they?

Yet, the comforter looked excessively soft and promised great comfort.

As if sensing his thoughts, Lan Yexing, who had just turned on the light, turned and looked at him pointedly: "Whatever you're thinking, don't say it out loud. Even you, before your amnesia, didn't judge my taste."

The handsome blond man smiled slightly and blinked innocently: "I just wanted to say, it's very cute."

Lan Yexing walked a few steps, a slight twitch at his lips, and sat down on the chair in front of the young man, ultimately deciding not to argue.

Qiao You then looked past him at Jiang Xiaozhou's side of the room—it was his first time in their shared dorm, and he realized how intimately two people sharing a room could coexist.

It was truly... irritating.

He narrowed his eyes and asked casually, "Are you and your roommate on good terms?"

Lan Yexing, who easily grasped his meaning, readily explained, "Just ordinary friends."

Qiao You gave a casual "hmm," then glanced at the dial on Lan Yexing's right wrist—even though he had lost most of his memories of being with Lan Yexing, he sensed something was amiss the moment he saw that dial.

If his past self, before the amnesia, hadn't questioned Lan Yexing about it, it meant the dial was harmless to Lan Yexing, and he must have been tolerating it—he knew himself; he definitely disliked and could barely stand Lan Yexing wearing such a thing.

Lan Yexing followed his gaze, extended his hand, and gently covered the dial. He said earnestly, "He's not an enemy; he's my partner, my friend. This is certainly my secret. But to explain this secret, I first need to talk about my origin."

Lan Yexing looked at him, his light-colored eyes holding a hint of distant nostalgia. He said softly, "Senior, if I told you that I don't belong to this world, but come from another world that has many similarities and even more differences with this one, what would you think?"

Would he think he was lying?

Qiao You's green eyes suddenly deepened. His smile became even more brilliant and charming. "Of course I would believe you." After a pause, he added like a perfect lover, "And I would respect all your choices and wishes, Xiao Xing."

Lan Yexing felt a little helpless. He pointed out bluntly, "But you look like you're about to lock me up and imprison me right now."

The moment he heard him say he was from another world, even though Qiao You was still smiling, his muscles suddenly tensed for a moment, and his aura became cold and dangerous as if he was about to do something terrible. The cold red light that suddenly surged in his green eyes seemed to want to completely devour him.

Qiao You blinked without any guilt: "Oh, I've been found out."

Would the amnesiac version of him have been so easily seen through by Lan Yexing?

He was about to continue his charming facade when he saw Lan Yexing's expression suddenly soften.

Lan Yexing looked at him with that helpless yet honest gaze, then extended his hands towards him, like a docile deer offering itself to a terrifying beast. He said softly and earnestly, "Here, you can lock me up."

After a pause, he added, "But this is only temporary. After all, we still have things to do."

Lan Yexing's eyes curved, and he smiled brightly at him: "As for the long term, let's wait until everything is over."

His expression when looking at the young man was less indulgent and more doting.

Qiao You's breath hitched, and he suddenly widened his eyes.

An intense love, mixed with something else, surged wildly through his limbs. His heart pounded rapidly, and a profound, exhilarating tingling and excitement welled up within him. Even his scalp tingled—the young man had revealed his love to him in such a vulnerable way. He clearly wanted to carefully hold him in his arms, kiss him, cherish him, and gently hold him close, then tell him—that he loved him just as much, and that he was willing to be imprisoned by him forever.

But what was this despicable and strange excitement that surged wildly with love?

The two hands extended before him were like tempting, irresistible forbidden fruit. He longed to just grasp them, and then, yielding to that despicable thought, continue to lock him up, imprison him, make him unable to return to his own world, and stay by his side forever...

After taking a bite of that forbidden fruit, what did it matter if he fell into hell? —Rather, he couldn't resist this supremely sweet hell.

He also couldn't resist this temptation right in front of him...

Just as his mother had shrewdly assessed him long ago—"You seem to have no desires, but when faced with what you truly want, you are actually more greedy and more susceptible to temptation than anyone else. You are actually more prone to falling than anyone, Xiao You—"

His mother's old words, gentle yet tinged with schadenfreude, now echoed in his ears as clear as day—so, what were his mother's suggestions and admonitions for his tendency to fall?

His ears buzzed, and Qiao You effortlessly recalled the next sentence from his mother, who was always unique, even as a child:

"It's rare for a child as arrogant as you to have a chance to truly fall, so, fall completely—that is to say, if you ever encounter someone you truly desire, don't hesitate at all—snatch them back!"

His seemingly gentle father then smiled softly beside her, nodding in agreement.

As if enchanted by those distant old words, Qiao You held his breath and suddenly extended his large hands, possessively grasping both of the slender, fair wrists in his palms, as if placing an unbreakable shackle on the young man.

With a slight pull, Lan Yexing was drawn into his arms—he pulled the young man onto his lap, still using one large hand to restrain both his wrists from behind. Lan Yexing did not struggle, allowing him to do as he pleased.

Qiao You intimately rested his chin on the young man's neck from behind. He playfully bit his earlobe, suppressing all the dark thoughts boiling within him, and murmured hoarsely, "Baby, how could I bear to lock you up?"

As he said this, that powerful hand tightened its grip on the young man's two wrists. His thumb sensually caressed the smooth, white skin there, longing to cruelly rub it red, but ultimately didn't.

Qiao You knew that his dark thoughts were honest, and what he was saying now was also the truth.

Just like his amnesiac self, he couldn't have failed to find an opportunity to do something to Lan Yexing, but he ultimately did nothing, didn't he?

As a child, he must never have imagined that one day in the future, he would meet someone like this, whom he wanted to fiercely plunder and fight for, yet couldn't bear to do anything to...

Would his father and mother have foreseen this day for him?

If they knew, they would surely... be even happier for him.

Qiao You held the young man on his lap with utmost tenderness, kissing his neck. He continued hoarsely, "Xiao Xing, I won't lock you up. But, just like this, let me hold you a little longer."

Qiao You pressed another kiss on the young man's fair, warm neck. He watched as the exposed skin of the young man gradually reddened from these actions. He morbidly listened to his breathing, murmuring possessively, "Good boy, just like this, let me hold you. And then, I want you to tell me everything about you..."

Lan Yexing blushed, obediently lowering his eyes and letting him act. A sweet smile appeared on his cheek. He softly said, "Okay."

A satisfied smile appeared on Qiao You's face. He inhaled the dizzyingly sweet scent on the young man's skin, suddenly recalling his parents' later words: "—But, win them back with love. You must know that love will make the person you like willingly enter your cage and fall forever."