Chapter 21 Who Is the Dominant One?

Chapter 21: Who’s in Charge

“Tomorrow… or maybe in a couple of days.”

Cheng Ye stopped himself mid-sentence, swallowing his words. His eyes darted as he immediately put on a weak expression, furrowing his brows and softening his voice. “I haven’t been feeling well these past couple of days… It might be my heat. I’m all tired and dizzy. I’m afraid I’ll just be a bother if I go.”

Shen Xu said nothing, simply watching Cheng Ye’s sudden, inexplicable act of weakness, his gaze sweeping between Cheng Ye’s rosy complexion and the two empty, greasy paper bags in front of him.

This guy, who claimed to be uncomfortable and weak from his heat, had just wolfed down two “Family Feast” egg-filled pancakes in record time.

Seeing no reaction from Shen Xu, Cheng Ye grew unsure. He leaned his whole body against Shen Xu, wrapping his arms around him, his fingers tracing restless circles on the collar of Shen Xu’s shirt. “Babe,” he drawled, stretching out the word, “tonight… wanna do it?”

“No,” Shen Xu said flatly, effortlessly catching Cheng Ye’s wandering hand and pressing it against Cheng Ye’s own slightly bulging belly from overeating.

He was that stuffed. One good jostle and he’d probably throw up.

“Let’s go for a walk outside to digest.”

With that, Shen Xu started to get up, trying to peel the clingy “koala” off himself.

But Cheng Ye was quicker, grabbing Shen Xu’s sleeve and using the momentum to fall back onto the sofa, half-sprawled, looking up at Shen Xu with eyes all misty.

“Really not doing it?” he asked again, sounding a little disbelieving.

Shen Xu shook his head again.

“But I already prepped myself.”

Shen Xu: “…”

The air went still for a few seconds. Shen Xu’s usually calm face showed shock.

…

In the master bedroom of a high-end villa in the capital, thick blackout curtains shut out the outside world, leaving only a warm yellow lamp casting hazy shadows on the walls. A night breeze slipped through a crack in the window, gently stirring the sheer curtains. The two figures reflected on the wall swayed, their postures intimately tangled.

Cheng Ye braced his hands on either side of Shen Xu, looking down at him. Shen Xu’s usually neat hair was now scattered across the pillow, fine sweat beaded on his forehead. His calm, self-possessed eyes were now misty, the corners red, and his thin lips, tightly pressed, parted now and then to let out small sounds.

Looking at this face, now even more beautiful with desire, Cheng Ye felt a strange sense of achievement and almost wanted to laugh.

This guy was shy now? Where was that Shen Xu from the hotel, who’d put on gold-rimmed glasses and seriously demanded that Cheng Ye play the “disobedient student” while he was the “strict teacher,” oozing control?

“Let me give you a little Yue Qicheng treat.”

Cheng Ye smirked, a mischievous glint in his eye, and whispered in Shen Xu’s ear. Then, holding Shen Xu’s firm, lean waist, he slowly lowered himself down.

Neither of them had much experience in this area—especially reversed roles. Though the internal-external order hadn’t changed, the subtle shift in power made it both awkward and intensely exciting.

Shen Xu couldn’t take the slow torture and loss of control any longer. He raised a hand, weakly pushing against Cheng Ye’s chest, fingertips trembling.

But Cheng Ye caught his wrist, pressing it down beside him, and interlaced their fingers. Looking at the increasingly flushed face before him—the furrowed brows and unfocused eyes—an illusion of being in charge rose in him, making his heart race and blood boil.

Shen Xu’s face was beautiful enough, and the tight lines of his waist and abdomen radiated power. If not for the current situation and the distinct foreign sensation reminding him, Cheng Ye would’ve almost thought he was the top.

He even thought that if he were rich and powerful, he might keep such a pretty boy by his side.

Unfortunately, the reality was the opposite. He was the one being kept and controlled.

Shen Xu seemed to catch his breath, regaining some clarity. Panting, he spoke in fragments, voice hoarse beyond recognition: “Make sure... when you get to the secretarial department... don’t talk too much... don’t fight anyone... if they try to get information out of you... don’t be stupid and fall for it...”

Even now, he was still trying to set rules for him. Cheng Ye was both amused and annoyed. He intensified his movements, making Shen Xu grunt, the rest of his words stuck in his throat.

“Secretarial department?” Cheng Ye frowned, stopping his motion, and muttered discontentedly, “Aren’t I your personal assistant? The kind that just brings tea and water?” In his imagination, he would be the one sticking close to Shen Xu, handling personal and private matters.

Shen Xu, made uncomfortable by the sudden stop, gripped the bedsheet beneath him. He sighed helplessly. “Read fewer trashy novels.”

A secretary was a secretary—someone paid to do a job. There was no room for such romantic fantasies.

Cheng Ye leaned down, his lips brushed against Shen Xu’s ear, and asked the real question of the night: “And... the salary? How much will you give me?”

Even at a time like this, he was still thinking about money. Shen Xu was speechless. “How much do you want?”

Cheng Ye’s eyes darted, and he immediately threw out an exorbitant number. He expected Shen Xu to haggle or refuse outright.

To his surprise, Shen Xu only gave him a long look before nodding with ease.

“Fine.”

Fine? Just like that? Cheng Ye froze, hardly believing his ears.

In that moment of distraction, Shen Xu suddenly reached out, grabbed the collar of Cheng Ye’s pajamas, and yanked him down hard!

Caught off guard, Cheng Ye lost his balance and let out a yelp. He was pressed into the soft pillow with irresistible force. Shen Xu’s hand shifted to grip the back of his neck, his thumb rubbing against the wounded, still-bandaged gland.

In a dizzying reversal, control shifted instantly.

Shen Xu loomed over him, desire still churning in his eyes. He lowered his head and bit down on Cheng Ye’s collarbone—a punishing bite that left a clear mark.

“I think I bit