Chapter 51: Don’t Push Me Away
The scent of gardenias permeated the entire room, carrying a faint sweetness.
Xie Yang groggily sat up in bed. The large room was empty except for him; Qi Xu was nowhere to be seen.
The unfamiliar environment made him feel uneasy.
He glanced around Qi Xu’s bedroom and slowly walked to the closet, intending to change his clothes.
From the state of the wardrobe, it was clear that his belongings had been unpacked. His clothes were neatly arranged alongside Qi Xu’s.
A subtle feeling grew in his heart.
Just like in the apartment, it seemed this place would gradually become his home too.
As Xie Yang was about to change, Qi Xu walked in.
“So this is where you are.”
Xie Yang hastily closed the wardrobe and said nervously, “I just wanted to change my clothes.”
Qi Xu sat on the sofa and smiled, “Go ahead, change your clothes, and then come downstairs to eat.”
Feeling Qi Xu’s teasing gaze on him, Xie Yang pressed his lips together. “You need to leave first.”
Qi Xu replied, “Why should I leave? This is my room.”
Xie Yang twisted the hem of his dress with his hands, staying silent.
He was wearing a camisole nightgown that Qi Xu had put on him before bed. The dress was very short, barely covering his thighs, and any large movement would expose him.
Seeing Qi Xu approach, Xie Yang instinctively tugged the hem of the dress down.
Qi Xu’s gaze lingered on his straight legs.
His fair skin had a faint pink hue, very enticing.
Xie Yang’s rounded toes curled up, and as Qi Xu got closer, Xie Yang nervously took a step back, bumping into the wardrobe door with a thud.
Qi Xu pinned him against the wardrobe, his hands on either side of Xie Yang’s head, staring at him for a long moment, his voice husky. “What are you afraid of?”
Xie Yang lowered his eyes, his heart pounding, his voice trembling. “N-nothing.”
Qi Xu lifted his chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. “You say you’re not afraid, but are you scared I’ll eat you up?”
Xie Yang swallowed, his eyes darting nervously. “Aren’t we supposed to eat?”
Qi Xu wrapped his arms around Xie Yang’s waist, pulling him closer. He laughed, “So you want to eat first?”
Even through his clothes, Xie Yang could feel the heat radiating from Qi Xu. He shrank back, fighting the urge to panic. “I didn’t mean that. Let me go so I can change.”
Qi Xu held his leg and smiled, “No rush, we have time.”
Xie Yang’s expression tightened, just as he was about to refuse, Qi Xu kissed him on the lips.
…
The cold wardrobe door rubbed against his back, causing him discomfort. He looked at Qi Xu with a pitiful expression.
Qi Xu looked at his face, took a deep breath, and finally bit deeply into his neck.
“Ouch.”
Xie Yang pounded on his chest, trying to push him away.
Qi Xu kissed his earlobe and his voice was husky, “Don’t push me away.”
“Ugh.” Xie Yang couldn’t help but whimper softly, his legs weak and powerless, finally collapsing limply into Qi Xu’s arms.
An hour later, Qi Xu carried him out of the bathroom and back into the dressing room.
Xie Yang buried his face in Qi Xu’s chest, his cheeks flushed.
Qi Xu handed him clothes and said, “Do you want to change into this outfit?”
Xie Yang glanced at it. Qi Xu always had good taste, and he didn’t object.
But suddenly, he seemed to understand—if he had let Qi Xu help him change clothes from the beginning, maybe he wouldn’t have had to endure so much.
…
On Chinese New Year’s Day, the Qi family hosted a banquet.
As Qi Xu led Xie Yang downstairs, they heard the lively noise in the hall on the first floor, indicating a gathering of many people.
Xie Yang stopped in his tracks, nervously looking at Qi Xu. “Did we invite a lot of guests today?”
Qi Xu replied, “It’s usually a banquet today, and we came back just in time.”
Xie Yang muttered, “…”
This didn’t seem like the right time at all!
Why did it feel like Qi Xu intentionally brought him back today?
Qi Xu led him towards the stairs.
Xie Yang stood still, frowned slightly, and hesitated. “With so many guests today, is it really appropriate for you to introduce me like this? Maybe I shouldn’t go down.”
Qi Xu reassured him, “They are all relatives, it’s okay. They know about your existence.”
Xie Yang timidly said, “But I have social anxiety.”
Even though he was with Qi Xu, the thought of meeting so many people triggered his social anxiety.
Qi Xu squeezed his hand sympathetically. He knew Xie Yang was timid, but he needed to take this step and move forward.
“Don’t worry, you don’t have to interact with them. This is Mother’s wish.”
Xie Yang asked, “Your mother?”
Qi Xu nodded, “She wants to officially introduce your status.”
Xie Yang was puzzled. He didn’t fully understand what Qi Xu meant by that and asked blankly, “Why?”
Qi Xu ruffled his hair and chuckled, “I’ve told you before, she really likes you and is very satisfied with you as her daughter-in-law.”
So, taking advantage of today’s Qi family banquet and the presence of guests, Qi’s mother was eager to introduce Xie Yang to everyone. It was also a way to remind others that the selection of the Qi family’s daughter-in-law had been decided, and there was no need for further inquiries or matchmaking attempts. She found those tiresome.
Blushing slightly, Xie Yang could feel Qi Xu’s mother’s affection for him, especially after their long chat in the afternoon.
Qi Xu said, “Let’s go.”
As their footsteps echoed on the stairs, the guests in the hall downstairs curiously looked towards the staircase.
Qi Xu led Xie Yang to appear in front of everyone. Xie Yang, shy and nervous, kept his head down, sticking closely to Qi Xu’s side, following his steps.
“Yang Yang.”
Hearing Qi’s mother’s voice, Xie Yang quickly looked up at her and replied, “Auntie.”
Qi’s mother waved at him, patting the empty seat next to the sofa, smiling, “Come and sit here.”
Xie Yang glanced at Qi Xu, as if seeking his opinion.
Qi Xu patted his hand, “Go ahead.”
Xie Yang nodded and took a seat beside Qi’s mother.
The onlookers had various thoughts, but they maintained neutral expressions, even uttering a few pleasantries to please Madam Qi.
Never had they expected that the illustrious Qi family would accept a male spouse, and moreover, treat him with such importance.
Although homosexuality was not uncommon in this era, for such a prominent family to openly acknowledge such a “scandal” was truly unheard of.
During the banquet, Xie Yang sat next to Madam Qi.
Qi Xu said, “This restaurant’s seafood is the best. Eat more. After dinner, I’ll take you to see the fireworks.”
Xie Yang picked up a shrimp and fed it to him. “Hmm, delicious.”
Qi Xu teased him softly in his ear, “Is it the shrimp that’s delicious, or is it because I peeled it for you?”
Glancing around discreetly and seeing no one paying attention, Xie Yang whispered back, “It’s delicious because you peeled it.”
Qi Xu smiled satisfactorily, dipped a freshly peeled shrimp in sauce, and held it to Xie Yang’s lips.
The affectionate interaction between the two naturally did not escape the notice of the others at the table, though everyone tacitly ignored it.
As Madam Qi had said, “Children are shy and easily embarrassed.”
Madam Qi sighed acidly, “I raised you and nurtured you all these years, yet I’ve never eaten shrimp peeled by you.”
Qi Xu replied, “If you want to eat, you should ask Father.”
Qi Father gave him a stern look and repeated Madam Qi’s words, “I raised you and nurtured you all these years, yet I’ve never eaten shrimp peeled by you.”
Xie Yang discreetly tugged at Qi Xu’s sleeve, awkwardly smiling, and quickly peeled two shrimp into the bowls of the aunt and uncle.
Madam Qi chuckled, “Yang Yang is so thoughtful.”
Qi Xu playfully tapped Xie Yang with a crab leg and hmphed, “You’ve never peeled one for me.”
Xie Yang felt that Qi Xu’s action of tapping him with the crab leg was becoming more skilled.
He could only helplessly appease him, “Don’t tease.”
However, Xie Yang still earnestly peeled a few shrimp for him.
Qi Xu was finally satisfied.
Madam Qi muttered, “Even at this age, still so childish.”