X
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Join the ServerJiang Yu’s throat tightened, words failing him.
The booth’s lighting was dim, the music a slow-rock blues.
Li Xiao’s palm was scorching hot, his fingertips trembling slightly from the alcohol.
“I know you hate me.”
Li Xiao continued, his voice growing lower:
“You think I’m disgusting, that I just want to play with you.”
“But I’m not… Jiang Yu, I really am not.”
Suddenly, he pulled Jiang Yu’s hand to his own chest, pressing it over his heart:
“Feel it. See how fast it beats. Every time I see you, it’s like this.”
Under his palm, the heartbeat was heavy and rapid, pounding against Jiang Yu’s hand through the fabric of his shirt and chest.
Jiang Yu’s fingers curled involuntarily.
“Li Xiao, you’re drunk.”
He tried to pull his hand back, but Li Xiao held it tight.
“I am drunk.”
Li Xiao laughed, a bitter smile:
“Sober, I wouldn’t dare say this.”
He leaned forward, the distance between them shrinking instantly.
The strong smell of alcohol mixed with Li Xiao’s usual cologne washed over him.
Jiang Yu could see the flutter of his eyelashes, the fragile glimmer of tears in his eyes.
“Jiang Yu…”
Li Xiao’s voice was close to his ear, his breath hot:
“Give me a chance, okay?”
“Let me pursue you like a normal person, be good to you, take care of your sister.”
“I won’t pressure you, won’t force you.”
“But can you… not push me so far away?”
By the end, his voice was almost choked with sobs.
Jiang Yu was frozen solid.
He had never seen Li Xiao like this.
All the dominance and cynicism stripped away, leaving only raw vulnerability and pleading.
Somewhere in his heart, it felt like a heavy blow.
A sour ache, a swelling pain, and a hint of pity he couldn’t ignore.
“Li Xiao…”
Jiang Yu opened his mouth, his voice dry:
“Let go first. I’ll get you a glass of water.”
“No.”
Li Xiao shook his head stubbornly, his fingers tightening:
“If I let go, you’ll leave.”
“I won’t leave.”
Jiang Yu heard himself say:
“I’ll get you water, I’ll be right back.”
Li Xiao stared at him for a long time, as if judging the truth of those words.
Finally, he slowly released his grip.
Jiang Yu stood up and walked to the bar.
His hands were still trembling slightly, his heart racing uncontrollably.
He poured a glass of warm water and grabbed a clean towel, then returned to the booth.
Li Xiao was still in the same position, leaning back on the sofa, eyes half-closed.
Jiang Yu handed him the glass:
“Drink some water.”
Li Xiao didn’t take it, just looked at him:
“You feed me.”
Jiang Yu paused.
“My hands have no strength.”
Li Xiao added, his tone natural.
Jiang Yu looked at his flushed face and dazed eyes, then finally sat down beside him and brought the glass to his lips.
Li Xiao drank in small sips from his hand.
His Adam’s apple bobbed with each swallow, water droplets sliding from the corner of his mouth down his jawline to his neck.
Jiang Yu looked away, set down the glass, and wiped Li Xiao’s mouth and neck with the towel.
His movements were very light, his fingertips occasionally brushing the skin on Li Xiao’s neck, which was burning hot.
“Jiang Yu.”
Li Xiao suddenly spoke.
“Hmm?”
“You’re so good to me.”
As he spoke, he shifted his weight and rested his head on Jiang Yu’s shoulder.
Jiang Yu’s whole body stiffened.
Li Xiao’s hair brushed against his neck, his breath hot on his collarbone.
“Li Xiao, get up…”
“No.”
Li Xiao closed his eyes, his voice slurred:
“I’m dizzy. Just lean for a bit.”
His arm wrapped around Jiang Yu’s waist, pressing his body close.
Jiang Yu could feel his weight and warmth, and the firm muscle under his shirt.
Too close.
Close enough to hear each other’s heartbeats.
Jiang Yu’s hand hovered in midair, unsure whether to push away or lower it.
Finally, he slowly lowered his hand, letting his body go stiff as he allowed Li Xiao to lean on him.
Time ticked by.
The music and voices outside the booth seemed muffled, like sound through water.
Only the breathing and heartbeat of the person in his arms were terrifyingly clear.
Jiang Yu looked down at Li Xiao’s profile.
He was asleep, eyelashes casting tiny shadows under his eyes, brows slightly furrowed as if in a bad dream.
Asleep, Li Xiao shed all his aggression, looking almost… childish.
Jiang Yu’s fingers twitched, almost lifting to smooth the crease between his brows.
But in the end, he held back.
After who knows how long, Li Xiao stirred and slowly opened his eyes.
He looked like he’d just woken, his gaze still a bit dazed. He looked at Jiang Yu, then around.
Li Xiao sat up and rubbed his temples:
“Sorry, I was crushing you.”
“It’s fine.”
Jiang Yu stood up, creating distance:
“Feeling better? Need me to call a designated driver?”
Li Xiao looked at him, his eyes much clearer but still carrying a trace of drunkenness:
“No need. I can drive myself.”
“You’ve been drinking. You can’t drive.”
Jiang Yu frowned.
“Then… will you take me?”
Li Xiao looked up at him, his eyes probing:
“Or, stay and wait for the driver with me?”
Jiang Yu checked the time. It was three in the morning.
He hesitated for a few seconds:
“I’ll wait with you for the driver.”
Li Xiao smiled:
“Good.”
The driver arrived quickly.
Li Xiao stood up, still a little unsteady.
Jiang Yu instinctively held his arm.
They walked out of the bar together. The cold autumn night air sobered Li Xiao up considerably.
The driver, a middle-aged man, was already waiting by the car.
Li Xiao got into the back seat, and Jiang Yu stood outside the car:
“Be careful on the road.”
“Jiang Yu.”
Li Xiao called him back, lowering the window:
“Tomorrow… can I come see you again?”
Jiang Yu was silent.
“I won’t pressure you.”
Li Xiao added, his tone earnest:
“Just like tonight—have a drink, talk. Okay?”
Jiang Yu looked at his hair, messy from the night wind, and his eyes that gleamed startlingly in the dark.
Finally, he nodded:
“The bar’s open. You’re welcome anytime.”
Li Xiao smiled, a smile that seemed exceptionally bright under the streetlamp:
“Good. Good night, Jiang Yu.”
“Good night.”
The car drove off.
Jiang Yu stood where he was, watching the taillights disappear around the corner.
He raised his hand and touched the shoulder where Li Xiao had leaned.
A trace of warmth remained, along with a faint scent of cologne.
Back in the bar, the manager came over and asked cautiously:
“Is Mr. Li okay?”
“He’s fine. The driver took him back.”
Jiang Yu said, then walked to the bar.
Wu Qi sidled up, winking:
“I saw everything just now. Mr. Li fell asleep on you, and you didn’t move an inch.”
Jiang Yu’s ears burned, and he lowered his head to wipe a glass:
“He drank too much.”
“Getting drunk shows his true feelings.”
Wu Qi giggled:
“I think Mr. Li is serious about you.”
Jiang Yu didn’t answer, just kept wiping the same glass over and over.
He knew that Li Xiao’s words, his looks, his actions tonight were slowly breaking down his defenses.
And he realized his own resistance was growing more and more powerless.
At four in the morning, he finished work.
Jiang Yu changed clothes and walked out of the bar. His phone buzzed.
It was a WeChat message from Li Xiao, just two words:
[“Arrived.”]
[Photo: The villa’s entrance light]
Jiang Yu stared at the photo for a few seconds, then replied with one word:
[“Mm.”]
Immediately, Li Xiao sent another:
[“See you tomorrow.”]
Jiang Yu put away his phone and walked to the bus stop.
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