Chapter 105

Chapter 105

The measuring tape, repeatedly lifted and released, snapped against his skin, leaving red marks that made him appear vulnerable. The subtle pain it brought only intensified Xie Qingyue's excitement.

Xie Qingyue’s handsome features froze, stunned by what he had just heard.

He spun around abruptly, but his body was tightly pinned, unable to move. Only his head could twist back, his lips brushing against Chen Zui’s cheek behind him, turning into an unexpected kiss.

But at that moment, he had no mind to dwell on such a fleeting intimacy.

“What did you say?”

After all, the two had always engaged in a subtle dance of unspoken attraction. Chen Zui’s sudden, direct proposition utterly bewildered him, his heart pounding wildly.

His mind had already instinctively rejected Chen Zui’s suggestion.

As a man of principles, how could he…? Perhaps he could do such a thing with someone else’s lover, but that someone else absolutely should not be Lu Buyan.

They were sworn brothers, best friends.

To have reached this point already made him feel guilty enough toward Buyan…

His reaction was precisely what Chen Zui anticipated. Walls don’t crumble with a single blow; they need repeated impacts to collapse entirely, allowing them to fall together.

He rested his chin on Xie Qingyue’s shoulder, enveloping him in a complete embrace.

“No need to be so shocked, Mr. Xie.”

He spoke in a low, seductive tone, releasing the measuring tape from Xie Qingyue’s waist, then slowly winding one end of it around that proud, erect length.

Xie Qingyue tilted his head, watching him with a nervous gaze.

How could he not be shocked?

After wrapping the tape once, Chen Zui glanced at the numbers and teased, “Xie Qingyue is quite robust.”

Xie Qingyue’s gaze was drawn to those slender hands with faintly powdered knuckles, winding the tape round and round, completely covering that part and transforming it into his plaything.

“Mr. Xie feels guilty toward Lu Buyan.”

As his hand tightened the tape, Xie Qingyue’s breath hitched.

He believed there was no need to discuss this topic, as his guilt toward Buyan was an undeniable fact. He was even more culpable than Chen Zui. Chen Zui was merely a detached lover who only dealt with Buyan for money, but he was different…

Xie Qingyue’s eyelashes fluttered downward. Their recent cohabitation had been too blissful, the boundaries crossed with alarming speed.

Reflecting on it now, he was startled to realize how far he had knowingly transgressed.

The overly tight tape caused the tip to swell to a purplish-red.

Pain surged through him.

Chen Zui slowly eased his grip on the tape. Because it had been so tight, the moment it was released, the skin showed patches of red and white, and the tormented little thing seemed to weep.

Chen Zui wiped away those tears and continued, as Xie Qingyue’s breathing became unsteady, “If you were to fuck me, that would be you bullying your brother’s lover. But my proposal is me fucking you—that’s you being bullied by your brother’s lover. It doesn’t count as you betraying your brother.”

Ao Tian, with only voice perception activated: *So logical! Giving the host a thumbs-up!*

The virtual baby octopus raised one tentacle.

Xie Qingyue was stunned once again by Chen Zui’s twisted logic. He had to admit, Chen Zui was indeed a smooth talker. It was impressive enough that he could conceive such reasoning, but somehow, when he articulated it, it carried a strange credibility.

Xie Qingyue watched as Chen Zui rubbed the tears against the weeping tip, attempting to coax out more.

“So now there’s only one question left.” Chen Zui turned his gaze to Xie Qingyue.

It took Xie Qingyue a long moment to force his eyes away from the weeping shaft and meet Chen Zui’s gaze. If he weren’t leaning entirely into Chen Zui’s embrace, he would have collapsed already.

“What question?”

The tape tightened again.

“Will Mr. Xie allow me to bully him?”

A good question.

But one Xie Qingyue couldn’t answer immediately.

After all, twisted logic was still twisted logic.

After a long, silent stare, Xie Qingyue averted his eyes. “The measurements are done. Rest now.”

Ao Tian: *“Oof, rejected.”*

Chen Zui wasn’t disheartened; he’d expected it. It would have been strange if Xie Qingyue had agreed right away.

“Wait a moment longer.”

The tape was removed, replaced entirely by Chen Zui’s hand.

Xie Qingyue: “You don’t have to do this.”

After all, he couldn’t give Chen Zui what he wanted.

Chen Zui chuckled softly. “This is a reward for being good.”

Xie Qingyue’s face flushed crimson.

Being flustered by Chen Zui was as effortless as breathing.

—

Chen Zui returned to the bedroom and flipped through the script for the next day’s shoot.

Honestly, acting was quite enjoyable. He even felt like staying in this world a bit longer to act in a few more films—perhaps a sci-fi movie, or taking on a role in a fantasy drama, soaring through the air, summoning wind and rain, training to attain immortality.

Playing an emperor sounded fun too, maybe a tyrant.

Chen Zui mused.

It was truly interesting to be alive. He had died too early in his original world, without getting to spend much of the money he’d saved, without retiring and traveling the world.

Chen Zui set down the script and thought of the wolf cub.

Next door, Xie Qingyue stood lost in thought under the shower spray. After a while, he lifted a hand to sweep his hair back. Once he had Chen Zui put on the women’s clothes, he would make him go back to his own place.

This couldn’t continue any longer. He had to harden his heart and make a decision.

—

Chen Zui looked at the contract Xie Qingyue had pushed toward him.

Xie Qingyue: “The company will give you the best treatment. I will elevate you to the position of Best Actor. You won’t need to conform to the industry’s rules, attend unwanted dinners, meet people you’d rather avoid, and there will be no shady business coming your way.”

Xie Qingyue had a habit of offering compensation to others.

Just as he had done with Lu Buyan, now that he had decided to reset things with Chen Zui, he naturally had to offer Chen Zui some compensation as well.

In this regard, he was quite generous.

Chen Zui casually flipped through the contract: “Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether it’s you or Lu Buyan who’s keeping me.”

He set the contract down and signed his name with a flourish.

The handwriting was bold and unrestrained.

“Too bad we met a little too late.”

The words struck Xie Qingyue’s heart like a hammer, bringing a dull, aching pain.

If only he hadn’t helped Buyan deliver that agreement that day…

Perhaps he and Chen Zui just weren't meant to be.

If one day Buyan ended their arrangement, he would definitely…

The two arrived at the filming set.

Chen Zui noticed that Xie Qingyue’s attitude toward him had cooled considerably.

He didn't say a word the whole way.

It seemed last night had frightened him—so the contract this morning was compensation?

What a cold yet emotional man.

After they got into costume, the two went to the bathroom set, and filming officially began.

Chen Zui grabbed Xie Qingyue’s dripping wet head.

“Did you get away?”

As he spoke, Xie Qingyue’s pupils trembled, along with the water droplets on his eyelashes.

He had already realized—the person who had been following him just now was his lover!

So his suspicions were right all along.

“Why did you lie?” Chen Zui’s face twisted with anger as he roared at Xie Qingyue, no longer hiding his true nature.

His grip tightened, jerking Xie Qingyue’s head back with force.

Xie Qingyue was too scared to speak, his hands twitching as he struggled to rise, to escape, to grab something—anything—that could serve as a weapon.

Chen Zui continued his relentless questioning: “He caught you, didn’t he? Not only did he catch you, he touched you! Kissed you!”

He shouted, his voice hoarse and strained.

As if he weren’t the one he was accusing—acting like a deranged, psychotic man, the veins on his forehead bulging menacingly.

With that, he shoved Xie Qingyue’s head back into the bathtub.

Xie Qingyue’s hands flailed, struggling against the water’s surface.

Chen Zui held him down firmly, his eyes wild with madness: “Why did you lie to me? Why!”

“You promised not to keep secrets from me. You promised…”

As his voice trailed off, his grip loosened. He pulled Xie Qingyue, who was nearly drowned, out, his own eyes red-rimmed as he gazed at Xie Qingyue coughing up water, adopting the demeanor of a victim.

Cupping Xie Qingyue’s face, he whispered, “Don’t push me. I don’t want to hurt you.”

He frantically grabbed a piece of clothing to wipe Xie Qingyue’s face, then pulled him into an embrace, gently patting his back as he soothed, “It’s okay now, it’s okay.”

The camera focused on Xie Qingyue’s face as he caught his breath.

A face filled with weariness, fear, and numbness.

“Will you lie to me again?”

Xie Qingyue’s eyes flickered, and within the numbness, a spark of resilience and strength emerged.

“No, I won’t.”

“Will you try to run away?”

Xie Qingyue slowly raised his hands and wrapped them around Chen Zui, his voice gentle as he said, “No,” but his eyes were cold.

Director Xue called, “Cut!”

Several assistants rushed over with towels for Xie Qingyue, and Chen Zui helped him up.

“Did you swallow any water?”

“No.”

Xie Qingyue took the towel and wiped himself casually. After all, they still had to shoot a few more takes from different angles—no need to dry off completely.

During the break.

Chen Zui approached Xie Qingyue: “Is it just my imagination, or are you actually giving me the cold shoulder, President Xie?”

Xie Qingyue took a drag of his cigarette: “After I wear the women’s clothing, you should move back to your own place.”

It seemed he had truly made up his mind to stay faithful to Lu Buyan—he had even shared this plan with Chen Zui.

He was determined to draw a clear line between them.

His gaze toward Chen Zui held no evasion.

Chen Zui said nothing and left.

Filming resumed, and neither of them let their emotions interfere with their work. The shoot proceeded smoothly.

After wrapping up, Chen Zui went to the restroom.

Xie Qingyue waited for him in the lounge.

The door opened.

“Why isn’t Chen Zui here?” Lu Buyan, who’d just stormed back, headed straight to the set.

“Why are you back?” Xie Qingyue was momentarily speechless, but quickly snapped back to attention and added quickly in his usual tone, “You should have told me, so I could have arranged to throw you a welcome-back.”

Lu Buyan shot him a searching look.

As a good friend, he shouldn’t let the other continue to sink into this hopeless crush.

“Qing Yue.”

“What’s wrong?”

Lu Buyan rarely felt this nervous, but he had to make things clear; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to continue being friends with Xie Qingyue.

Lu Buyan: “I really never expected you to have such feelings.”

Xie Qingyue’s eyes turned sharp behind his glasses. Had he been found out? But he kept his cool: “What do you mean by that?”

Lu Buyan sighed, wrestling with how to put it to avoid hurting their brotherly bond.

“Actually, there’s nothing wrong with liking someone—I admit that.”

Xie Qingyue stared at him, wondering where he had slipped up and been discovered.

But since it's come to this, he would take responsibility.

“I overstepped.”

Xie Qingyue spoke up, shouldering all the blame upon himself to keep Chen Zui out of it.

Hearing his admission, Lu Buyan knew he'd been right—Xie Qingyue did have feelings for him.

“Qing Yue.”

“Although I don’t know when or why you started liking me, you're like a brother to me.”

“Sorry, I can’t return your feelings.”

Confusion and bewilderment appeared on Xie Qingyue’s face. Before he could make sense of it, a sound came from the door.

He and Lu Buyan both turned to look and saw Chen Zui standing at the doorway. It was unclear how long he had been there or how much he had heard.

The atmosphere instantly turned weird.

Chen Zui glanced at both of them, his gaze lingering on Xie Qingyue, who rose slowly under his gaze.

Chen Zui: “Sorry for interrupting.”

He thoughtfully closed the door behind him as he left.

Xie Qingyue: !

He must have misunderstood something…

Lu Buyan: “Qing Yue, even if I don’t like Chen Zui, my heart still belongs to Si… Hey? Where are you going?”

Xie Qingyue ran out of the lounge, leaving behind only a door swinging wildly from the force.

Lu Buyan stood there dumbfounded for a moment before scratching his head irritably.

Qing Yue must be unable to accept this reality and unwilling to face it, which is why he ran away.

For someone of Qing Yue’s temperament to lose composure like this…

“Sigh…”

He must be head over heels for me.