Chapter 21: I Don’t Want to Be Good, I Want You

Chapter 21: I Don't Want to Be Good, I Want You

"Hey, Mr. Huo, are you done with your work?"

Huo Yanchi wiped the dust off the flowerpot, humming an absentminded "Mm."

His Xiao Yezi’s long, straight, pale, slender legs swayed before him, making it impossible to focus.

Xiao Yezi’s body was becoming increasingly solid, almost indistinguishable from a normal person. Huo Yanchi averted his gaze and switched on the phone’s speaker.

"Come over at 6:30. The meeting with Mr. Zheng is at 7; it’ll take about twenty minutes to get there."

"Okay, Mr. Huo. I’ll bring the contract. If they’re interested, we can sign anytime."

Huo Yanchi hummed again, his fingers gently stroking Xiao Yezi’s tender shoot, clearly hinting that he wanted Xiao Yezi to accompany him.

Unfortunately, Xiao Yezi was a blockhead and couldn't decipher the longing hidden in Huo Yanchi’s impassive eyes.

"Xiao Yezi, I might be back late tonight. I might even have to drink. Be good and stay home."

Shen Junlan’s eyes widened. Huo Yanchi had stomach issues, and Dr. Zhou had specifically advised against drinking.

He instantly hopped onto Huo Yanchi’s shoulder, his eyes filled with reproach as he lightly flicked Huo Yanchi on the forehead.

"Huo Yanchi, Dr. Zhou said no drinking."

"Fine, fine, I’ll go with you. You’re impossible."

Shen Junlan’s tone carried a strange sense of resignation, and Huo Yanchi even detected a hint of bizarrely doting affection in it.

Tsk. Huo Yanchi tapped the flowerpot twice with his finger. It must be an illusion, definitely an illusion.

The place they had arranged to meet Mr. Zheng was Jinlanli, a lavish pleasure den. Rumor had it that it was run by a mysterious figure—even Huo Yanchi didn’t know the owner’s background.

Along the way, Xiao Yezi’s mouth hung open the entire time, letting out ‘wows’ at everything.

After just a few steps, he fell in love with the blindingly bright lights at the entrance, the swiveling chairs at the bar, and even the laughing dolls in other people’s hands.

"Huo Yanchi, can we decorate our home like this too? All flashy and shiny—it would definitely have a great atmosphere."

No, Huo Yanchi definitely did not want that!

If he opened his eyes only to see Xiao Yezi dancing on a dance floor...

Huo Yanchi thought it over seriously. Xiao Yezi was so beautiful—maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all...

Then again, was Mr. Zheng even normal? What kind of place did he choose?

"Mr. Huo, Mr. Zheng said he’s in VIP room A1 on the third floor."

"Mm."

Huo Yanchi held onto the hem of Xiao Yezi’s clothes, afraid that if he turned away for even a second, Xiao Yezi would end up clinging to someone else.

"Mr. Huo, Mr. Huo! I’ve long heard of your reputation. Truly, seeing is believing."

His voice reached them before he did.

Huo Yanchi lifted his gaze slightly and politely shook hands with Mr. Zheng, who had hurried over.

"Mr. Zheng, your company’s flower fertilizer is quite good. We might collaborate again in the future."

"Ah, it’s just a small business, nothing compared to you, Mr. Huo. I took the liberty of ordering some specialty dishes—please try them later and see if they suit your taste."

Mr. Zheng winked, and his assistant immediately opened several bottles of fine liquor, pouring a glass for Huo Yanchi first.

"Mr. Huo, to be honest, the requirements you gave for the flower fertilizer are something I’ve never heard of before. May I ask what kind of flower you’re growing?"

"A Clivia, the one and only in the world."

Xiao Yezi nodded vigorously beside him, then subtly reached for the glass in front of Huo Yanchi.

Just as his fingers were about to touch the glass, Huo Yanchi pressed his hand down, casually resting his own hand on the edge of the table, effectively trapping Xiao Yezi’s hand beneath his palm.

"Huo Yanchi, you’re pressing on my hand."

Huo Yanchi curled his lips. That’s exactly what I’m doing—if I didn’t hold you down, you’d sneak a drink.

"Mr. Huo, come, let’s have a toast."

Huo Yanchi took a sip from his glass, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xiao Yezi’s little sprout sucking the drink dry.

His expression stiffened for a moment—he had forgotten that Xiao Yezi had that ability.

"Wuwu, Huo Yanchi, this wine is so bitter and spicy! It’s choking me!"

Huo Yanchi moved his fingers slightly, stroking the back of Xiao Yezi’s hand to comfort him.

The greedy Xiao Yezi was taught a lesson by reality. Amid Mr. Zheng’s boisterous urging to drink, Xiao Yezi drank one glass after another until he finally stood up, swaying unsteadily, and collapsed into Huo Yanchi’s arms.

Xiao Yezi’s cheeks were flushed. He murmured fretfully as he tugged at Huo Yanchi’s collar, but Huo Yanchi quickly grabbed his wrist. One second later, and Xiao Yezi would have torn his clothes off.

"Mr. Zheng, no more drinking. Let me take a look at the flower fertilizer."

The assistant brought over a large box. The flower fertilizer was adorable, with plump paw pads that looked exactly like cat paws.

Shen Junlan sniffed at it repeatedly. Leaning on Huo Yanchi’s shoulder, he sat up, grabbed a piece of the flower fertilizer, and started nibbling on it. If Mr. Zheng hadn’t been drunk, he would have been terrified.

"Alright, Mr. Zheng, let’s sign the contract. We’ll go with the price we discussed earlier—I’ll buy out the rights."

"Ah, Brother Huo, you’re very magnanimous, truly generous."

"You’re a sucker! Who buys out a patent? Listen to me, let’s change the contract. I’ll give it to you at no cost, no charge."

Mr. Zheng was so drunk he could barely stand. His assistant hurried over to support him, awkwardly explaining, "Mr. Zheng has had a bit too much to drink."

"Too much? Nonsense! I’m happy. Brother, really, I can’t cheat you with a clear conscience. Take off another three million, and we’ll sign the contract right now."

Huo Yanchi had negotiated countless deals, but this was the first time he’d seen someone voluntarily lower the price. Naturally, he had no objections. He immediately had Zhao Qi amend the contract and signed it without hesitation.

***

Xiao Yezi was heavily drunk, draped clumsily over him. As the car’s partition slowly rose, Huo Yanchi’s well-tailored suit was half-torn open. He could grab Xiao Yezi’s mischievous hands, but he couldn’t stop the waving little shoot.

One bite of flower fertilizer after another—he even heard Xiao Yezi let out a little hiccup.

The twenty-minute ride felt endlessly long. Huo Yanchi carried Xiao Yezi with one arm and carried the flower fertilizer with the other as they went upstairs.

Back in familiar surroundings, Shen Junlan grew even more uninhibited. His clothes were torn, leaving only a thin shirt. He bent over, his eyes glazed as he looked at Huo Yanchi.

"Master, you smell so good, so good... I want a taste."

Shen Junlan chuckled twice and jumped onto Huo Yanchi, wrapping his arms around his waist, pressing his flushed cheek against Huo Yanchi’s neck.

"I'm a little hot."

Huo Yanchi held what felt like a burning hot potato in his arms—this wasn’t just "a little" hot, it was a lot.

"Xiao Yezi, be good."

"No, I don’t want to be good. I want you."

Startled by Xiao Yezi’s daring words, Huo Yanchi could only try to peel him off, dragging him into the bathroom for a cold shower.

Shen Junlan’s mind was still hazy, driven by instinct as he climbed onto Huo Yanchi’s bed. Once Huo Yanchi lay down, Xiao Yezi curled up and nestled into his embrace.

Surrounded by Huo Yanchi’s intense, alluring scent, Xiao Yezi couldn’t help but clench his teeth yearningly. He wrapped his limbs tightly around Huo Yanchi, buried his face in the crook of his neck, and sniffed deeply twice.

"Huo Yanchi, my mouth still feels spicy and bitter."

Shen Junlan managed two tears, feeling wronged. He’d never noticed how intoxicating Huo Yanchi smelled before. Feverish and restless, his knees rubbed against the sheets, letting out soft, muffled moans.

The bone behind his shoulder ached, and Shen Junlan frowned, shedding another couple of tears.

"Bad Huo Yanchi, you don’t even know to hold me."

Huo Yanchi, who was already being squeezed breathless: "..."

He wanted to, but with Xiao Yezi pinning him down, only his fingers could move slightly.

Alcohol was definitely not something to be left around Xiao Yezi. When he got drunk, Huo Yanchi had no idea how to handle him.

"Huo Yanchi, you don’t even want to talk to me."

"Xiao Yezi."

Shen Junlan murmured vaguely, pressing his fingertip to Huo Yanchi’s lips to stop him from speaking.

"Shh, Huo Yanchi."

Shen Junlan fell silent after that. His nose brushed against Huo Yanchi’s collarbone, his warm breath skimming over Huo Yanchi’s Adam’s apple before settling against the side of his neck.

Breathing in Huo Yanchi’s scent, he closed his eyes and nuzzled affectionately.

The last trace of translucency faded from Shen Junlan’s body, and under Huo Yanchi’s astonished gaze, a quiet change took place.

Huo Yanchi lifted his hand, feeling warmth beneath his palm.

It was smooth, jade-like skin—the complete, solid form of Xiao Yezi.

Author's Note:

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Dear readers, the next chapter will be a VIP release, updated at midnight. If all goes well, I’ll aim for daily updates after that. Thank you for your support—I’ll do my best! If you’re interested, feel free to check out some other sweet romance stories in my portfolio. Love you all! [Heart][Heart][Heart]