Chapter 107

Chapter 107

The thought popped into Lu Buyan's mind, and he felt he might be going crazy.

How could there be anything ambiguous between them? One was his brother, the other his lover.

Chen Zui: "Sorry, Lu Buyan told me to take off your glasses."

He set the glasses down, internally pleased with Xie Qingyue's reaction. Though he didn’t show it outwardly, his hand, after putting the glasses aside, rested on Xie Qingyue’s thigh.

He gave it a light squeeze.

Xie Qingyue also came back to his senses, shifting his gaze to Lu Buyan, trying to figure out what he was playing at now.

The figure in his line of sight was blurry.

He picked up his glasses and put them back on, looking toward Lu Buyan with a questioning glance. Seeing that the two still maintained a polite but distant manner, Lu Buyan decided he must have been overthinking things earlier.

He might not trust Chen Zui's character, but Qing Yue would never betray a friend.

He smiled: "Xia Yan said you look even more handsome without glasses."

Xie Qingyue looked toward Xia Yan, who seemed quite satisfied with how he looked without his glasses. Xia Yan spoke up: "Xie, have you considered getting surgery? Wearing glasses is such a hassle. It’s much more convenient without them."

He grinned.

Xie Qingyue: "Thanks for the suggestion, but no need to worry about it."

His reply was blunt. After all, with his status and personality, how could he allow someone he just met to so openly criticize him?

Xia Yan’s smile faded, and he snorted at Lu Buyan: "Quite the temper, huh."

He was a pampered rich kid himself, not one to take criticism.

Lu Buyan laughed it off to defuse the tension. After that earlier thought crossed his mind, his desire to set Xie Qingyue up with someone grew even stronger, even though he had dismissed the idea.

But people are often contradictory, or perhaps driven by their subconscious.

While Lu Buyan was busy placating Xia Yan, he neglected Chen Zui. However, Chen Zui had his own thing going on—the hand resting on Xie Qingyue’s thigh gradually moved toward a more intimate area.

Xie Qingyue, who was chatting with others, raised an eyebrow, then leaned forward slightly, pressing against the edge of the table to close off any possible gap, and continued his conversation.

No one was really talking to Chen Zui, so he focused on his little game.

*Squeeze.*

Lu Buyan kept glancing at Chen Zui and Xie Qingyue, but the two showed no interaction. Even their body language was completely opposite; they were turned away from each other. He really must have been overthinking it.

Under the table, a hand boldly undid the zipper.

Xie Qingyue’s hand trembled as he reached for his wine glass.

*You reckless bastard.*

He set the wine glass down and instead pulled out a cigarette. As soon as he put it to his lips, someone nearby immediately offered a lighter to light it for him. Chen Zui watched as Xie Qingyue let the other man light it for him, slowly exhaling smoke.

Chen Zui’s hand squeezed harder.

Xie Qingyue jumped suddenly, then quickly coughed twice to cover it up.

Lu Buyan glanced at Xie Qingyue, whose eyes showed no sign of Chen Zui. He had been chatting with others the whole time. Lu Buyan felt guilty for suspecting his friend.

As for Chen Zui, when he looked over, the guy was idly playing with a napkin.

"Chen Zui."

Chen Zui looked at him.

"Do you think Qing Yue and Xia Yan are a good match?"

Chen Zui’s hidden hand under the table moved further back along Xie Qingyue’s thigh, making Xie Qingyue squirm uncomfortably, unsure of his intentions. Xie Qingyue could only shift slightly to give him space.

"I don’t think they’re a good match."

As soon as Chen Zui said this, both Lu Buyan and Xia Yan’s expressions changed.

Lu Buyan: "Why not?"

Chen Zui turned sideways, resting his chin on his hand as if in thought, while his hidden fingers searched for their destination, brushing against a fold in the fabric.

"They’re just not a good match in any way."

"I think you two would be a better pair—the 'Double Yan' ship."

He chuckled.

Realizing where he was heading, Xie Qingyue, caught off guard, instinctively sat on his hand. The cigarette in his hand was burning down to the filter, and he was so startled he didn’t react, taking another deep drag out of reflex.

Xia Yan said to Lu Buyan, "Your boy toy is quite interesting."

Lu Buyan was annoyed by Chen Zui’s messy pairing suggestions. Did he really not fear being dumped? He snorted at Chen Zui: "Just shut up!"

Then, impatiently, he added, "Move. Let Xia Yan have your seat."

Xia Yan: "Forget it."

He glanced at Xie Qingyue, who clearly had no interest in him. He wasn’t about to force himself where he wasn’t wanted. Patting Lu Buyan’s shoulder, he said, "I know you mean well, but there’s no spark between us."

Lu Buyan started chatting with him again: "Sorry, bro. Next time, I’ll introduce you to another handsome guy."

Xie Qingyue didn’t dare move, all while keeping up with the conversation around him.

A good while passed like this, and Chen Zui’s hand grew warm from being trapped.

Xie Qingyue received a message from Chen Zui.

"Baby, my hand’s gone numb."

Reading the message, Xie Qingyue felt his face grow hot.

"Stop messing around. Move your hand."

"Okay, Boss Xie."

A fleeting smile crossed Xie Qingyue’s lips before he adjusted his position slightly. True to his word, Chen Zui withdrew his hand and even thoughtfully tidied everything for him.

"Lu Buyan wants to set you up with a boyfriend. Are you interested, Boss Xie?"

"I was almost tempted," Xie Qingyue replied dryly.

"What’s the difference?"

"You’re what’s missing."

Chen Zui smirked slightly as he leaned back comfortably, suddenly feeling like a giddy young man.

Xie Qingyue also had a faint smile, unable to suppress the sweetness in his heart.

He wasn't content to let Chen Zui keep teasing him.

"Your words are so sweet, President Xie."

"I want a taste."

Xie Qingyue stared at the message: "Want to go to the restroom?"

"I'll be waiting for you in the last stall." Chen Zui put away his phone and left his seat.

Lu Buyan: "Where are you going?"

Chen Zui: "To the restroom."

Lu Buyan didn’t press further. They’d been eating for a while, and everyone had been drinking quite a bit, so people were frequently leaving for the restroom. Thus, Xie Qingyue's departure didn't attract any attention.

He deliberately avoided the others from the private room and easily met up with Chen Zui in the last stall.

The venue for their gathering was a high-end hotel, and even the restroom felt upscale—scented diffusers, elegant chandeliers, and gleaming floors. Staff members almost immediately tidied up after each person entered.

Once they had their private space, the two immediately kissed as soon as they saw each other.

But they had to be careful not to make any obvious sounds, so their kisses were exceptionally soft and drawn-out. Chen Zui's hand slid from Xie Qingyue's waist to his butt.

He got a handful, almost too much to hold.

He pulled Xie Qingyue entirely into his embrace.

Voices outside now and then made it even more thrilling.

Lu Buyan glanced at the two empty seats beside him. He knew Chen Zui had gone to the restroom, but had Xie Qingyue gone too? And Chen Zui had been gone for quite a while.

Did he fall in or something?

Ao Tian: "Shit! Shit! Shit!"

Chen Zui, still kissing Xie Qingyue, asked: "What's wrong?"

Ao Tian: "Remember when Liang Chen mixed up the books earlier, and I said these two books are linked?"

Chen Zui: "Yep."

Ao Tian: "Now the other book is also in chaos because of the changes we made to the plot. The higher-ups are arranging for someone to go, but our Dark Transmigration Bureau is short-staffed, so we'll have to wait."

Chen Zui: "So what are you trying to say?"

Ao Tian: "The higher-ups have notified us not to make any major plot changes for now. Once someone is sent to the other world, we can go full throttle. That means you can't reveal your relationship with Xie Qingyue to Lu Buyan yet. Or, if you prefer, you could just hook up with Xie Qingyue while posing as Lu Buyan's lover and then leave. That’s an option too."

Ao Tian: "It's your choice."

Chen Zui looked at Xie Qingyue, whose eyes were closed, lost in the moment. The second option didn’t sit right with him. While the sneakiness of this role was exciting, he didn't want to leave while his relationship with Xie Qingyue remained hidden.

He recalled Xie Qingyue's earlier promise to take responsibility, likely meaning he would confess everything himself to Lu Buyan and take all the blame.

Xie Qingyue opened his eyes and immediately met Chen Zui's dark, shiny gaze.

He whispered: "What's wrong?"

Now wasn't the right time to discuss this. Chen Zui gave him another playful kiss: "Let's go back."

Xie Qingyue returned first.

Lu Buyan's gaze immediately fell on his lips, which seemed noticeably red.

Not long after, he received a message from Chen Zui: "Something came up. I'm leaving first."

Lu Buyan: ...

He scoffed in irritation.

He glanced at Xie Qingyue again. Although things hadn't worked out with Xia Yan, he hoped Xie Qingyue would understand that he could never like him and would finally give up on him.

As the dinner ended, Xie Qingyue, as usual, didn't join the next part of the evening.

Before leaving, he glanced at Lu Buyan. It wasn’t the time to bring up Chen Zui either, so he averted his gaze.

Lu Buyan: Tch, still hung up on me.

When Xie Qingyue opened the car door, he saw someone lying in the passenger seat. Their eyes met, and both laughed simultaneously.

Chen Zui spread his arms, and Xie Qingyue, sliding into the car, immediately lunged at him, playfully biting his chin: "I thought you'd left."

Chen Zui messed up his hair: "I wouldn't leave while you're here."

Xie Qingyue: "Tomorrow, I'll go talk to Bu Yan and tell him about us."

Chen Zui: "We have to hold off on telling him yet."

Xie Qingyue lifted his head slightly, studying him: "Why? If it's about money, I have plenty."

Chen Zui couldn't tell the truth—that he had approached him because of the system.

That would be too messed up.

Even though his feelings were genuine.

He dropped his hand from Xie Qingyue’s hair and gently rubbed his ear: "It's not that. Can we wait a little longer?"

The touch reddened his ear.

Xie Qingyue's expression didn't soften; after all, Chen Zui was being vague.

"Don't you want to end this relationship with him?"

His tone was sour, no longer using "Bu Yan" but coldly referring to him as "him."

Chen Zui chuckled.

Xie Qingyue tried to pull away from him.

He held him close, not letting go.

"Yes."

"Just for a while."

"Trust me this once."

Xie Qingyue rolled his eyes: "Alright, I’ll trust you this once."

"But only if you wear women’s clothes for me."

"You want me to wear women’s clothes for you?"

They said at the same time.

Although Chen Zui had guessed it, he was still surprised by Xie Qingyue's fixation on him wearing women’s clothes.

Xie Qingyue was all anticipation.

Chen Zui nipped at his ear: "Alright, I’ll wear women's clothing and fuck you."

Xie Qingyue couldn’t help picturing it, his heart raced.

"I’ll prepare the women's clothes for you."

"Okay."

"But you have to quickly end the deal with him."

After he said this, Xie Qingyue felt even more like a mistress who acted like the real partner.

But he couldn’t care less.

Especially when Lu Buyan’s call came through right at that moment. As soon as Chen Zui picked up, Xie Qingyue hung up on him.

Then he kissed him: "Don’t you answer."