Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Yao Xianqing quickly realized his words could be easily misunderstood and promptly recounted everything that had happened that night. Upon hearing there was no impropriety between him and Qi Yuwen's wife, Qi Yuwen's gloomy expression lightened considerably.

Qi Yuwen took two steps forward, reaching out to pull his wife from Yao Xianqing's arms. Seeing Qi Yuwen approach with a stern face, Yao Xianqing instinctively stepped back, a retreat that made Qi Yuwen's temple throb.

"Yao Xianqing!" Qi Yuwen's voice was sharp, calling his name for the first time.

Yao Xianqing remained still, knowing he was in the wrong. It was then that Qi Yuwen took his wife from his embrace.

For a moment, neither man spoke.

Qi Yuwen carried You Nan into the house. Yao Xianqing, torn between leaving and entering, chose the latter. He was still quite concerned about You Nan.

You Nan seemed like a genuinely good person. If Qi Yuwen truly didn't care for him, it would be better to let him go.

Qi Yuwen knew Yao Xianqing had followed him inside but paid him no mind. Had he not witnessed such intimacy between Yao Xianqing and You Nan earlier, he would have coaxed Yao Xianqing to come in, sit, and chat, even if Yao Xianqing hadn't intended to enter.

But now, he had no such inclination.

Yao Xianqing broke the silence, "You Nan must have been startled while driving today. You've been busy with business trips lately; perhaps hiring a driver to take him home daily wouldn't cost much."

"If he enjoys driving school, he can go. If not, then don't bother."

Qi Yuwen knew Yao Xianqing's character well: gentle, kind, always considering others' perspectives, and even a bit indecisive.

It was precisely this kindness that had drawn him to Yao Xianqing years ago, a fondness that had lasted seven or eight years.

Hearing Yao Xianqing advocate for his wife, urging him not to make things difficult for You Nan, made Qi Yuwen uneasy.

The man's eyelid twitched, and his tone became stiff, "Learning to drive was You Nan's idea."

Yao Xianqing fell silent. He wouldn't obstruct anything You Nan wished to do.

Yao Xianqing stood by the bed, watching Qi Yuwen clumsily remove You Nan's jacket and shoes. As Qi Yuwen's hand moved to You Nan's waist to unfasten his pants, he turned his face and said, "Yao Xianqing, please wait outside."

Yao Xianqing agreed, turned, and left, closing the door behind him.

With the third person gone, the tense atmosphere in the room eased slightly. Qi Yuwen expressionlessly removed You Nan's pants, revealing the boxers underneath.

Qi Yuwen's hand, still holding You Nan's pants, stiffened—clearly unprepared for this sight.

His wife's skin was very fair, glowing like warm, lustrous jade under the soft yellow light.

You Nan had a small face and appeared slender, yet his thighs were plump; one could tell they would feel soft even without touching them.

Pursing his lips, Qi Yuwen pulled the thin quilt over You Nan and then left the room.

Yao Xianqing had mentioned that You Nan only had a small glass of wine, ate little, and was a well-behaved drunk who hadn't vomited. Qi Yuwen planned to stay with You Nan for a while after seeing Yao Xianqing off.

Yao Xianqing sat in the living room. Qi Yuwen came down and poured him a glass of water. "Drink."

Beyond these two simple words, Qi Yuwen had nothing else to say to Yao Xianqing.

Yao Xianqing acknowledged him and sat on the sofa, discussing some of their shared business dealings. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Yao Xianqing stood up to take his leave.

Qi Yuwen did not try to persuade him to stay. He saw Yao Xianqing out, then returned and poured the untouched water from the coffee table into the sink.

As Qi Yuwen washed the cup under the running tap, the rushing water echoed Lu Chengwan's words to You Nan in his mind: "Don't thank me, it was Yao Xianqing who got you in."

He knew Yao Xianqing was thoughtful—he admitted that—but showing such concern for a friend's wife felt like overstepping.

Qi Yuwen asked himself: No matter how much he liked Yao Xianqing, his care would be directed solely at him, not extended to his family.

Turning off the tap, Qi Yuwen, without even drying his wet hands, pulled out his phone from his pocket. He had already dialed the instructor's number but hung up immediately, remembering Yao Xianqing's mention that the instructor was drunk and had gone home.

Qi Yuwen wanted to understand what had happened that night from a third party's perspective—how Yao Xianqing had taken care of his wife.

The man restrained himself. His mood was like the sea darkening under gloomy weather—calm on the surface but brooding and suppressing something within.

Qi Yuwen entered You Nan's room and pulled a chair to sit beside him.

The man gazed intently at the face lost in peaceful sleep.

You Nan's features weren't individually striking, yet together they were captivating, especially when he was silent or asleep. His serene expression seemed to possess a magic that could soothe restless emotions.

Qi Yuwen leaned closer. The main light in the room was off, and only the bedside lamp was on, casting a soft glow on both their faces.

Qi Yuwen reached out and touched You Nan's cheek. The skin was smooth and feverishly warm.

A faint scent of alcohol lingered. Qi Yuwen's fingers traced You Nan's lips and slipped inside. The taste of alcohol grew stronger. You Nan's eyelids, eye sockets, and neck were flushed red. After just one sip, he seemed softened by alcohol.

Soft.

Qi Yuwen picked up the water glass prepared for You Nan on the bedside table and slowly poured it into You Nan's mouth, rinsing away the alcohol taste.

You Nan's lips didn't close, and clear liquid trickled from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto the bedsheet and leaving a dark stain.

The man stared expressionlessly at his lips.

It still didn't seem clean enough.

Qi Yuwen's fingers moved, his fingertips brushing against white teeth and a soft tongue.

After a glass of water, the alcohol scent in the air seemed to dissipate. Qi Yuwen withdrew his hand, took the glass, and went into the bathroom. The wet, sticky sensation on his fingers remained. He rinsed them under running water until they felt clean, then stared at his fingers. On impulse, he raised his hand and lightly sniffed them.

The alcohol smell was gone, replaced by something else.