Chapter 102

Chapter 102

This was a kiss devoid of all emotion.

No personal agenda.

This was merely work.

Xie Qingyue imagined parting his lips, allowing Chen Zui to enter, intertwining his tongue with Chen Zui's, kissing until they were inseparable, until they grew breathless, until even their saliva threatened to spill from the corners of their mouths.

Then exploring every conceivable variation of a kiss.

As the passionate kiss concluded, both their breaths grew heavier. Chen Zui's eyes remained clear, still fixed on his prey with predatory intent, while Xie Qingyue had already closed his eyelids, oblivious to his surroundings.

He opened his eyes after a moment's pause.

Meeting Chen Zui's gaze, he heard Chen Zui say, "The sensation of that kiss didn't quite align with the script's requirements. Let's try again."

A perfectly legitimate reason.

As a diligent and proactive professional, Xie Qingyue had no grounds to refuse Chen Zui.

"Alright."

This time, they bypassed preliminary dialogue and plunged directly into a kiss, as if in a competition: who would be more assertive, whose kissing technique was superior, whose passion could ignite the other first, who would seize dominance.

The room filled with the wet sounds of their kissing, enough to make anyone blush.

Xie Qingyue's hand unconsciously threaded into Chen Zui's dark hair, while Chen Zui's arm, wrapped around his waist, slipped beneath his clothes.

—

Upward, toward the spot where he had once applied a bandage for Xie Qingyue.

The instant of contact.

The sensitive Xie Qingyue snapped back to reality, seizing Chen Zui's hand.

Kissing could arguably be justified as work, but this clearly exceeded that boundary. If he permitted Chen Zui to proceed, how could he face Lu Buyan with a clear conscience?

"This isn't in the script."

He merely held Chen Zui's wrist, yet Chen Zui's fingers remained free to move, brushing against him.

The little thing perked up in a few strokes, asserting its presence.

Apparently, it liked him very much.

Xie Qingyue tried to evade, but Chen Zui's arm was behind him.

In truth, his earlier statement wasn't false; he genuinely was sensitive, and half his body went limp.

Chen Zui's hands were mischievous, but his expression was earnest, as if pondering the script: "What man keeps his hands to himself while kissing?"

Such an honest remark.

With a firm squeeze of his hand, he continued amidst Xie Qingyue's muffled groan, "This is what I call immersive acting."

Ao Tian, who had only deactivated his visual sensors, found this amusing. He mentally noted the term—it might prove useful someday.

Chen Zui was silver-tongued.

But this time, Xie Qingyue's moral compass was too strong. Unlike before, he didn't concede or reluctantly accept Chen Zui's suggestion. As a good friend, he had to consider Lu Buyan's reputation.

Xie Qingyue: "Such detail isn't necessary."

Chen Zui didn't press the issue. His hand slid down and away: "Alright, whatever President Xie says."

He wouldn't force Xie Qingyue.

He would give Xie Qingyue the choice.

He wanted Xie Qingyue to walk, step by step, down the path of completely betraying Lu Buyan and coming to his side.

"Then let's try again. President Xie should have been wearing glasses at the time. Let's try it with glasses on," Chen Zui suggested with a straight face.

Xie Qingyue left his embrace to retrieve his glasses. He glanced down at the "little thing" that had been well-attended to, noting the man's slightly rough fingertips and higher body temperature. It felt as if a few more squeezes would melt it.

Truth be told, he hadn't had enough.

But…

Xie Qingyue returned with his glasses and quite naturally settled onto Chen Zui's lap.

Again, they omitted the preceding lines and went straight to the point. However, as Chen Zui leaned in, the glasses became an obstruction. Chen Zui reached to remove Xie Qingyue's glasses: "So, when two people kiss, they should probably take off their glasses first."

Removing Xie Qingyue's glasses was something that excited Chen Zui, as if he were peeling away his refined, moral facade.

Revealing his true, desire-driven nature.

Exposing it before his eyes.

The glasses were removed.

Their gazes met without obstruction.

Chen Zui: "So, when I take off your glasses, it means I'm going to kiss you. You should be prepared to be kissed."

The logic was flawless. After all, in the script, they were a couple who had been in love for years. Such implicit understandings and small details were fitting.

Chen Zui stared into Xie Qingyue's eyes and repeated, "When I take off your glasses, it means I'm going to kiss you."

Xie Qingyue nodded.

Chen Zui put the glasses back on Xie Qingyue and then removed them again. As he removed them, Xie Qingyue closed his eyes, his lips slightly parted, awaiting the impending kiss.

An obedient demeanor, ripe for the taking.

Another kiss that didn't end until they were breathless.

Under this pretext, they kissed again and again, their lips swelling slightly before they finally stopped.

Each returned to their own room.

Ao Tian: [I've got good news for you. The favorability level has reached 80%.]

It rose so easily, it felt almost too effortless.

Chen Zui rested his head on his arm, looking relaxed. With 80% favorability, he could still restrain himself from touching his nipples. Honestly, Xie Qingyue's sense of morality was remarkably strong.

Otherwise, with this level of favorability, he should've been all over me already.

Just wait.

But sooner or later, that day will come.

Xie Qingyue sat dazedly at the foot of the bed, still savoring the kiss. His tongue, still tingling, swept over his teeth.

He'd just kissed Lu Buyan’s lover.

He picked up his phone.

Lu Buyan, attending a banquet abroad, was surprised to see the red envelope Xie Qingyue had sent him.

He was shocked by the amount when he opened it.

Before he could send a question mark back.

Qing Yue: [Take good care of yourself while you’re abroad.]

Lu Buyan frowned at the message. This...

His buddy was suddenly being unusually attentive.

Could it be...

His eyes widened!

Holy shit!

Does Qing Yue have a thing for me?!

Lu Buyan panicked and didn't dare reply, instead recalling every moment he and Xie Qingyue had shared.

——

Morning, at the dining table.

Xie Qingyue wasn’t in his usual seat but was instead sitting on Chen Zui’s lap.

The two weren’t eating breakfast—they were making out.

And they were completely absorbed in it.

Of course, the excuse they used was the same as before. There probably weren’t any actors more dedicated to researching their roles than the two of them.

Their passionate kiss ended with a string of saliva stretching between them, broken by their heavy breaths, making their hearts race.

Chen Zui: "President Xie, you acted really well."

Which simply meant: President Xie, you kiss really well.

Xie Qingyue reached for his glasses on the table and replied, "You weren't so bad yourself."

Ao Tian’s sharp comment: Hypocritical humans.

After breakfast, the two headed to the filming set.

The journey was filled with a tense silence full of anticipation.

Xie Qingyue parked the car. Once they stepped out, they would be in a world visible to countless eyes.

Both tacitly refrained from getting out of the car immediately.

Though they shared the same unspoken thought, Chen Zui, who had always been the one providing Xie Qingyue with excuses, remained silent this time.

Time didn’t allow Xie Qingyue to wait any longer.

There were only two choices: get out of the car or...

Xie Qingyue was in an internal struggle.

His gentle voice suddenly broke the silence in the car: "Should we review the scene one more time?"

Chen Zui’s lips curled into a smile: "Sure."

Ao Tian: Tsk tsk, such a hungry boy—can’t get enough of kissing.

The SUV experienced its first kiss from its owners. With this beginning, who knew what else awaited it in the future?

Ao Tian: Brother SUV, the best is yet to come~

——

Chen Zui was getting his makeup done in the makeup room.

Xie Qingyue, meanwhile, sought out Director Xue: "Director Xue, let’s shoot today’s kissing scene with a fake kiss."

He said this with his slightly swollen lips.

Making it seem like he was very careful about boundaries.

Director Xue was both surprised and not surprised. He had been wondering whether Xie Qingyue and Chen Zui’s relationship would involve a real kiss.

After all, Chen Zui was Xie Qingyue’s friend’s romantic partner.

But since the friend hadn't said anything, he thought perhaps Chen Zui was seeing both of them.

The entertainment industry was already complicated.

But now it seemed the three of them weren’t that messy—he had misunderstood.

"Sure, no problem."

There was no issue with the producer’s request, especially since it was such a small matter.

When Chen Zui found out their kissing scene would be faked, he almost laughed out loud.

He glanced at Xie Qingyue, who had made the request.

Perhaps his expression was too obvious, as Xie Qingyue rarely showed a hint of embarrassed anger.

Adorable.

This guilty-looking guy.

Their scene officially began. Having practiced privately so many times, it went smoothly.

Except for Chen Zui’s rare mistakes, which slowed things down a bit.

The staff were somewhat disappointed.

They had originally hoped to see a kissing scene between them.

Watching two such handsome guys lock lips would have been quite a sight.

---

After the shoot, Xie Qingyue sent some behind-the-scenes photos to Lu Buyan.

[Today there was a kissing scene, but it was faked.]

"President Xie is checking in with Lu Buyan."

Chen Zui's voice suddenly appeared. Xie Qingyue locked his phone and turned around.

Busted.

"What do you want to say?"

Xie Qingyue stood his ground; as someone in authority, he kept his cool.

Eye contact can sometimes be flirtation, sometimes probing, and at other times a standoff.

Like now.

The atmosphere between the two was unusually tense.

Some things are thrilling in secret, but they get messy when brought into the open.

Especially for people who care about appearances.

Until Chen Zui curled the corner of his mouth and said, "I wanted to say President Xie is right."

He stepped forward, his thumb ghosted through the air along Xie Qingyue's lips: "Our shoot today was indeed faked."

The tension melted away.

Their gazes remained locked.

You and I are most compatible when we're in cahoots.

---

After thinking it over all night, Lu Buyan was now absolutely certain that Xie Qingyue liked him.

Otherwise, why would he be giving him cars and money?

This was clearly a playbook for pursuing someone.

The so-called "keeping an eye on things for him with Chen Zui" was probably just an excuse to closely keep tabs on his and Chen Zui's situation.

He looked at the new message Xie Qingyue had sent.

See?

Someone like Chen Zui, with such sexy lips, and he didn’t even kiss him.

There must be a problem!

The meaning of this photo wasn’t to explain to him that he and Chen Zui hadn't crossed any lines.

It was trying to tell him indirectly that Xie Qingyue was still clean!

Lu Buyan got it.

He sighed, could only blame his own irresistible charm. For Xie Qingyue to have held out for so many years before developing feelings for him, he really had shown incredible restraint.

What was he going to do now?

He truly didn't feel that way about Xie Qingyue.

"Ah, I really am a dangerous man..."

---

This time, Chen Zui successfully prepared three dishes and a soup. To be honest, he might actually have some talent in this area—the food looked quite impressive.

Xie Qingyue: "This is completely at the level of a five-star hotel."

Very supportive.

Chen Zui: "In situations like this, do you know what the opening line should be?"

Xie Qingyue shook his head.

Chen Zui looked at him: "President Xie, would you like to eat first, or—eat—me—"