Chapter 110

Chapter 110

The cheerful sound of a nursery rhyme drifted from the chairman's office of Yan's Group.

Yuvius rode a children's toy electric car, a pacifier in his mouth.

Xie Yunshen sat on a toy scooter, looking serious. "Little rascal, we agreed no turning midway."

The little prince continued to break the rules, biting his pacifier, his little feet pedaling furiously.

"Come on, off you get." Xie Yunshen reached out with both hands, scooping Yuvius out of the toy car.

Yuvius, so upset he was gasping for air, threw away his pacifier and ran crying behind the desk with his arms held out.

Yan Shiqi, who was dealing with work, picked him up and placed him on his lap.

"..." Xie Yunshen gave a look of disdain, turning to Yi Wuyi. "Referee! He's cheating!"

Yi Wuyi, crouched by the sofa (the finish line), silently raised the octopus toy in his hand. "Player one, Xie Yunshen, wins the race."

Xie Yunshen flashed a victory sign.

When Yan Shizhou entered, he saw this chaotic scene.

His older brother held the little prince while giving instructions to Secretary Zhao. The office floor was covered with two play mats, piled high with all sorts of toys.

Two grown men over six feet tall sat on the mats playing with model cars.

This situation had been going on for a week.

The stately chairman's office of Yan's Group had become a children's playground.

"You two are almost old enough to be his grandfathers, yet you're arguing with a kid over toys." Yan Shizhou placed the documents on the desk, leaning against it as he looked at them.

"Huh?" Xie Yunshen grabbed a party horn and blew into it carelessly.

"Guys in their thirties could be grandfathers, right?"

"Yeah, and there are those in their thirties who are still single."

*Pfft!* Xie Yunshen blew the horn, and a little paper clownfish popped out.

"..."

Yan Shizhou glanced at his older brother, who sat in his chair watching Xie Yunshen, his eyes filled with nothing but affection and not a trace of impatience.

He had come in for nothing but to be a third wheel to their public displays of affection. Yan Shizhou walked over, grabbed Yi Wuyi by the collar, and led him away. "It's time I got him back."

"Hey, give me back my referee!" Xie Yunshen watched reluctantly as Old Five was dragged away by Yan Shizhou.

The door closed, and the secretary had left too.

"A-Shen, take Yuvius." Yan Shiqi said.

Xie Yunshen took Yuvius from his arms, looking at the fast-asleep child in amazement. "Mr. Yan, do you have magic powers?"

Every time, Yuvius would fall asleep in Mr. Yan's arms.

Xie Yunshen placed the child in the nearby crib and covered him with a blanket.

"No, usually he doesn't seek me out. Only when he's sleepy will he come to me." Yan Shiqi pointed out.

Xie Yunshen checked the time; it was just around two in the afternoon. Right, it matched the nap time the butler had mentioned.

"...This cheeky little kid figured it out." Xie Yunshen adopted an overly dramatic anime style. "He must have discovered the incredible sense of security emanating from Mr. Yan."

He watched the child's sleeping face for a while, seeming lost in memories. In truth, that hazy emotion had been thinly clinging to his heart, never truly going away, but he realized there was nothing he could do about it.

He stayed like that for a moment, then Xie Yunshen silently got up and began cleaning up all the toys into the toy box.

Yan Shiqi walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "If you're still hurting, just hold me."

Xie Yunshen paused, then continued putting away the toys. "It's nothing, I'm much better now."

Seeing his serious expression, Xie Yunshen couldn't bear to make him worry. He picked up the party horn and blew it at him, the paper clownfish tapping the tip of his nose.

Yan Shiqi took the toy from his lips and kissed him, pressing his own warm lips against his, gently nuzzling.

Xie Yunshen automatically responded to him. His lifeless body seemed to awaken a bit of fervent energy. He craned his neck to embrace him, his tongue exploring his lips and teeth, twining with his tongue.

Xie Yunshen had been holding back his feelings these past few days. Yan Shiqi had noticed. They were both adults; in a situation like this, physical comfort was the most practical thing.

"Let's go inside," Yan Shiqi spoke during a gap in the kiss.

Xie Yunshen got the hint, holding him. "Mr. Yan isn't working?"

"Recharging to improve work efficiency." Yan Shiqi gently patted his cheek with his fingers.

That touch was like adding fuel to the fire.

The office wardrobe had a side door. Opening it led to a private rest area where no one would disturb them.

Xie Yunshen half-carried, half-kissed him until he laid him on the bed. The kiss deepened further as he pulled off his tie, revealing fair skin beneath the black, elegant suit.

Used to a life of luxury, his skin was also delicate, completely different from his stern, authoritative manner. A gentle suck or bite would leave marks that lasted for days.

His fingers gently wiped away the moisture from the corner of his mouth, then he bit his shoulder.

"My neck too." Mr. Yan breathed rapidly, tilting his head back, the thin layer of skin revealing his bobbing Adam's apple.

"Mr. Yan said last time not to suck on the neck," Xie Yunshen laughed.

"This time, I permit it." Yan Shiqi lowered his gaze to look at the person on top of him.

This way of teasing was truly lethal.

Xie Yunshen's heart surged, his breath hot. He rubbed his nose against his skin, feeling the veins flowing with warm blood, smelling that unique, precious scent that belonged solely to him.

The usually steady and composed Yan Shiqi grew unusually impatient. He pressed his palm against the back of his head, pushing it against his neck, signaling that he couldn't wait any longer.

Xie Yunshen gently bit the skin on the side of his neck with his teeth, giving his Adam's apple a light nip. He felt that bobbing skin of Mr. Yan's tremble subtly, like a sliding, resilient pearl, utterly irresistible.

Especially with Mr. Yan tilting his head back against the pillow, the tremors of his body and the beating of his heart transmitted through the hands holding him.

Xie Yunshen sucked hard between the two warm collarbones.

Yan Shiqi responded to his deep kiss while searching for an opportunity amidst the dense kisses to remind him. "Yuvius will wake up in two hours."

"Mr. Yan, you seem like you've become the child's father." Xie Yunshen smiled, his hand wandering downward, only then discovering that Yan Shiqi was wearing a belt today.

Yan Shiqi was lost in the lingering feeling of what had just happened, staying quiet.

“That child is quite adorable, isn’t he?” He undid the metal buckle with one hand—click—then forced the pants open with brute strength. His warm palm fit perfectly against the dip at the small of his back.

“Hmm… Western kids all look somewhat similar.”

“I think Mr. Yan really likes him.”

“No, it’s because he’s someone very important to you that I love him by extension.”

“…” The answer took him by surprise.

Xie Yunshen gazed at Mr. Yan’s face, as the shadow of desire gradually expanded in his pupils. He reached out and embraced him.

In City A’s winter, the sky unleashed a heavy thunderstorm that had been building for days. Dark clouds drifted densely over the undulating mountains, rain lashed down, and the foothills were constantly washed over, leaving the forest grass sodden.

Yuvius’s cries did not ring out at the usual time.

Yan Shiling sent a message to Xie Yunshen: “Sister-in-law, I’ve taken Yuvius out to play.”

He also attached a selfie.

A hand slipped out from under the blankets, dropped the phone onto the nightstand, and slipped back to wrap around his lover’s body.

“Let’s sleep a little longer.” Xie Yunshen kissed his ear, his breath lingering on the back of his neck.

They meant to sleep, but then one turned, a forehead brushed against lips, and the two were kissing and embracing once more.

Sometimes kissing felt like an addiction—insatiable and greedy—and Mr. Yan always indulged him without question.

Xie Yunshen held his waist with one hand, kissing and nuzzling his spine until Yan Shiqi’s body went limp, melting into his embrace.

“Mr. Yan, never leave me.” He pressed Yan Shiqi’s palm against his own lips, rubbing it gently as if kissing it.

After cheating death so many times, Xie Yunshen cherished life more than anyone and knew that people could die at any moment.

But this time, Blanken’s real death once again stirred up a hidden emotional shadow deep within his heart.

Yan Shiqi lifted his head and held him. “You should go attend that prince’s funeral.”

A flash of surprise passed through Xie Yunshen’s eyes. “Why?”

“Even if just to ease your regret. Besides, as Blanken’s only bloodline, Yuvius will certainly be required to attend his father’s funeral.” Yan Shiqi kissed his hand.

Xie Yunshen smiled faintly. “Mr. Yan, how… how can you be so good?”

While holding him, Yan Shiqi finally remembered the custom-made ring he had ordered. The delivery date had passed, but there had been no word from the brand.

He dialed the luxury brand’s number, only to find it was not in service.

Searching online, he discovered that this jewelry brand did not exist.

Just like Xie Yunshen’s small building, this brand had vanished as the worlds merged.

Yan Shiqi could only ask Secretary Zhao to screen for a reliable brand from scratch.

“It must be a unique, irreplaceable ring.”

Sure enough, that evening, the butler Diado called Xie Yunshen. The royal family demanded that His Highness Yuvius attend Prince Blanken’s funeral.

“It’s royal protocol. Despite all my arguments, the king has ordered that Yuvius must attend. Mr. Xie, tomorrow, I will come to fetch His Highness.”

Xie Yunshen silently marveled at Mr. Yan’s foresight while replying, “No need. I will personally take Yuvius to the funeral.”

Diado was taken aback. “You may also attend. Prince Blanken surely would have been very pleased.”

Hearing this, Xie Yunshen felt as if his heart had been stabbed once more.

The funeral was held ten days after the prince’s death, at the royal palace of Country E.

Xie Yunshen took the little prince and boarded a flight to Country E.

Due to the prince’s character and prestige, the funeral captured the world's attention, with many citizens spontaneously praying outside the palace.

Since Prince Blanken’s death, Prince Yuvius had not appeared in public, leaving the people deeply worried for the young prince’s safety.

If the young prince did not appear at this funeral, it would likely cause public unease.

At the solemn royal funeral, petals and white drapes fluttered in the wind. The prince’s body lay on a platform adorned with Country E’s national flowers.

People looked on with anxious hearts.

Until a black car stopped outside the palace, and a man wearing a black face mask stepped out.

Dressed in a black formal suit, Yuvius was led by him onto the petal-strewn carpet.

The straight rows of guards on both sides lowered their rifles and saluted them.