Chapter 52: Once Is Not Enough
Bang—
A loud noise shattered the silence of the night sky, and brilliant fireworks bloomed one after another, dazzling in the sky.
“So beautiful.”
Resting against Qi Xu’s embrace, Xie Yang stared intently at the splendid fireworks, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the visual feast.
He had never seen such beautiful fireworks before.
Qi Xu had said these fireworks were specially arranged for him.
Holding onto Qi Xu’s arm, Xie Yang kissed his cheek and looked at him with sparkling eyes, saying, “Thank you.”
Qi Xu smiled indulgently, pinched his chin, and kissed him on the lips. “As long as you like it.”
Originally, he had done it to please Xie Yang.
Even though it was spring now, the weather was gradually warming up. Xie Yang had just taken off his coat during dinner because he felt hot, but now, standing in the courtyard and feeling the evening breeze, he felt a bit cold. His nose tickled, and he sneezed.
Qi Xu quickly took off his own clothes and draped them over Xie Yang, looking somewhat nervous. “Let’s go back to the room. You can see the fireworks from there too. Don’t catch a cold.”
Xie Yang had a weak constitution, and he would catch a cold if he got slightly cold.
Qi Xu remembered that during their online dating days, Xie Yang had gotten sick a few times.
Xie Yang nodded obediently. He couldn’t help but sniffle and didn’t quite understand why Qi Xu was shielding him from the wind. Couldn’t he bear it?
Back in the room, Qi Xu had the maid make a bowl of ginger soup and sent it to his room.
Xie Yang’s face instantly fell. Without thinking, he knew this was for him to drink.
Qi Xu pinched his cheek, looked at him seriously, and said, “Drink the ginger soup to dispel the cold. Otherwise, if you catch a cold and have to take medicine or get a shot, which one do you prefer?”
At the mention of getting a shot, Xie Yang frowned. Reluctantly, he said, “Then I’ll drink the ginger soup.”
Although he didn’t like the taste of ginger soup, it was still better than going to the hospital for a shot.
The ginger soup was quickly delivered. The maid at Qi Xu’s house was very skilled. She sliced the ginger thinly and fried it over high heat. Although Xie Yang didn’t like ginger, he could still feel its strong fragrance and richness. The soup also contained slices of meat and brain flower, and the aroma of wine mixed with the taste of ginger, giving a pungent sensation.
The maid brought a large bowl of ginger soup and placed it in front of Xie Yang. Qi Xu stood beside him, watching him drink.
Xie Yang wrinkled his brow and took a sip. The ginger wine flavor was strong, but it wasn’t as bad as he had imagined.
However, he was still worried about finishing such a large bowl of soup.
He served Qi Xu a small bowl, mimicking his serious tone, and said, “You’ve been out in the courtyard catching cold winds, so you should drink some ginger soup to drive away the cold. If I catch a cold, I might pass it on to you.”
Qi Xu raised an eyebrow but didn’t expose his trick. After the ginger soup cooled a bit, he gulped it down in one go.
Xie Yang: “…”
How did he finish it so quickly? There’s still a large bowl left.
He’s relentless.
Xie Yang tried to ladle another bowl for Qi Xu, hoping to share the burden, but Qi Xu silently watched him. In the end, Xie Yang slowly finished it himself.
With a large bowl of ginger wine in his belly, Xie Yang felt warm all over, even breaking out a light sweat and sporting an unnatural blush.
He went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth several times to wash away the taste of ginger wine. He had rushed into the bathroom earlier and forgotten to bring his pajamas, so he had to find a robe to wear.
When he emerged from the bathroom, he hurriedly went to the wardrobe. He carefully selected a pair of pajamas and took a long time finding a decent one. Just as he was about to take it out, Qi Xu grabbed his hand.
“The fabric of this one isn’t comfortable. Let’s change it.”
Xie Yang didn’t understand. “But I find it quite comfortable.”
It was made of real silk, smooth to the touch, definitely comfortable to wear.
Qi Xu randomly picked another one from the nearby row of clothes—a pink, hollowed-out strap nightgown, very short, barely reaching Xie Yang’s thighs.
“This one suits you well.”
Xie Yang swallowed and looked at the almost transparent dress with difficulty. “It doesn’t look good. How about another one?”
He knew Qi Xu wouldn’t pick anything conventional for him.
There were still a lot of pajamas in the apartment that he hadn’t unpacked. Unexpectedly, there were also so many weird clothes here.
Qi Xu put back the pink nightgown from earlier and picked out a white one instead.
Xie Yang: “…”
This one is worse than the pink one earlier.
The white halter-neck nightdress had a bit more fabric than the previous one, but it was almost transparent, more like a see-through outfit.
Xie Yang: “Let’s change it for another one.”
Qi Xu raised an eyebrow, flicked through the clothes on the rack, and paused on a stranger piece. Xie Yang quickly said, “I still prefer the pink one from earlier.”
Finding the pink nightdress, Xie Yang said, “Let’s go with this one. I think it’s good.”
In the evening, he had a hard time because Qi Xu didn’t see him change clothes.
This time Xie Yang learned his lesson and didn’t chase him out again.
Just now, he didn’t bring clothes into the bathroom, and he didn’t wear anything underneath. If he changed clothes in front of Qi Xu, wouldn’t that be…
Xie Yang was about to untie the belt of his robe but suddenly stopped.
Qi Xu: “Why not continue?”
Xie Yang hesitated and didn’t know how to speak. The blush that had faded from his face gradually returned.
Qi Xu leaned close to his ear and chuckled ambiguously, “Want me to help you?”
Xie Yang avoided his gaze, his heart pounding. He resisted his confusion and blurted out, “I’ll do it myself.”
Qi Xu looked at him with interest after hearing this, his gaze filled with inexplicable meaning.
Xie Yang felt the air grow tense. He could clearly feel his cheeks burning up, and even his usually cold hands were warming.
He slowly untied the belt and put on the pink nightdress.
During this time, he felt Qi Xu’s eyes on him, a burning sensation washing over him.
His breathing became unstable, and he shyly turned his head to look into the closet, trying to find a pair of shorts to wear. The dress was too short, and every move might reveal more than intended.
Qi Xu lowered his head to look at him, his eyes lazy and filled with a playful smile. “What are you looking for?”
Xie Yang pursed his lips slightly. He felt that the atmosphere was not right. Qi Xu seemed like a hunter quietly waiting for prey to fall into his trap.
And he was futilely struggling under the hunter’s gaze.
He lowered his eyelids and whispered, “Didn’t we already… earlier in the evening?”
Qi Xu’s lips curled into a shallow smile. teasingly, “Just once, isn’t that enough?”
Understanding his meaning, Xie Yang froze in place.
Just once… Wasn’t that enough?
Qi Xu didn’t give him a chance to refuse. He picked Xie Yang up horizontally and placed him on the bed in the bedroom.
As his actions unfolded, the extremely short nightgown on him now slightly rolled up, revealing his allure without reservation.
Xie Yang hurriedly grabbed at the hem of his clothing, attempting to cover himself.
Qi Xu knelt on one knee on the bed, chuckling softly, his voice carrying a seductive tone: “I’ve been waiting for this moment since you lay on my bed this afternoon.”
He was someone with a strong cleanliness habit, but as Xie Yang’s presence gradually filled his room and occupied a corner, he felt a satisfying sense of being filled.
Especially when he saw Xie Yang lying on his own bed, this sense of satisfaction reached its peak.
Xie Yang curled up, hugging his own legs, his gaze wandering, as if trying to conceal inner unease and shyness.
Qi Xu leaned closer, his whole being exuding a dangerously enticing aura, lightly picking at the strap of Xie Yang’s shoulder.
Xie Yang timidly glanced at him, their eyes meeting briefly before he quickly averted his gaze, softly pleading, “Don’t do this.”
Qi Xu moved his hand downward, his voice almost bewitching as it echoed near his ear again: “How about now?”
Xie Yang blushed and turned his face away.
Unable to resist, Qi Xu lowered his head to gently kiss his fair neck, leaving behind a trail of moist kisses.
The strap slipped off at some point, and Xie Yang bit his lip tightly, the stinging sensation of kisses and his rapid heartbeat leaving his mind blank.
…
Suddenly, it started raining outside.
The patter of raindrops drowned out all other sounds.
Under the eaves, the rain trickled down, forming a curtain of water.
The garden, baptized by the heavy rain, turned its dry soil into moist earth.
…
The delicate flowers wilted under the onslaught of the pouring rain.
…
The downpour eventually ceased.
Qi Xu held Xie Yang tenderly, burying his head in the crook of his neck, gently licking the marks left on his neck.
…
With a “bang,” fireworks outside sporadically lit up again, startling Xie Yang with their loud noise. He glanced at the window.
Qi Xu carried him to the glass window.
Every step was an excruciating torment.
Xie Yang weakly pressed his hands against the window glass, struggling not to collapse.
“I… I don’t want to look,” he whimpered.
Qi Xu chuckled softly, his quick breath surrounding Xie Yang’s ear, “I thought you wanted to watch. Isn’t it beautiful? Or perhaps you’ve changed your mind?”
Before Xie Yang could fall, Qi Xu tightly embraced his waist.
He slumped in Qi Xu’s arms, turning his head to kiss his cheek desperately, pleading, “Not here, please?”
Qi Xu asked, “Then where do you want to?”
Tears in his voice, Xie Yang choked out, “Anywhere.”
Qi Xu pondered briefly. Regardless of the cloakroom, bathroom, or every corner of the bedroom, he had experienced them all. Gripping Xie Yang’s waist, he turned him to face him, step by step opening the bedroom door.
Xie Yang clung fearfully to his neck.
Step by hesitant step.
Xie Yang couldn’t help but cry, “Someone might come.”
Qi Xu softly reassured, “Don’t worry. At this hour, without my consent, no one dares to come up. No one will see.”
Xie Yang bit Qi Xu’s shoulder deeply, nervous, “Where are you going?”
Qi Xu opened the door to the piano room, sitting with him at the piano. His warm breath fell on Xie Yang’s ear as he pressed the keys, coaxing, “What song do you want to hear?”
Xie Yang was driven nearly mad by him.
Qi Xu pulled him back slightly, letting him lean against the keys.
The piano immediately produced a discordant melody.
Xie Yang could only hold Qi Xu tightly, leaning into his embrace.
Qi Xu suppressed the surge in his eyes, gently laughing near his ear, “Baby…”
Flushed, Xie Yang wanted to refuse.
…
Xie Yang shook his head, tears that had been welling up in his eyes for a long time finally fell uncontrollably.
Qi Xu stared at his face for a while, then lifted Xie Yang into his arms and walked back to the bedroom with measured steps.
Xie Yang was completely unaware of what Qi Xu had done.
He just felt very tired, limbs limp and powerless.