Yan Qi was the same age as Cheng Xu’s younger brother, Cheng Jin, only older by half a year. 

By that time, the Cheng family was already wealthy and working hard to elevate their status. One of their strategies was to form connections with the local “native aristocracy,” and they had the best relationship with the Yan family. 

Cheng Xu had watched Yan Qi grow up, as the Yan family had seven children, all from the same mother—a rarity on Imperial Planet due to the impact childbirth could have on lifespan. 

Yan Qi, the eldest, was fifteen years younger than Cheng Xu. In Cheng Xu’s heart, Yan Qi was like a younger brother, and he even occasionally thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to introduce him to his own younger brother, Cheng Jin.

However, when Yan Qi was seventeen, he confessed his feelings to Cheng Xu. At that time, Yan Qi wasn’t particularly tall yet, but he had a strong presence. Despite his handsome face, his punches were fierce, making Cheng Xu feel he was reliable—someone who could even be a good influence on his younger brother. 

But then Yan Qi told him he liked him. When Cheng Xu first heard those words, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He was a straight male and essentially the pillar of the Cheng family. Many people had approached him with marriage proposals or confessions, but they were generally women or “New Females.” 

A confession from another male was unprecedented.

Cheng Xu didn’t mock him but smiled, asking, “Little Qi, are you playing some game with your friends? Is this a dare in Truth or Dare?” He was offering Yan Qi a way out because he could see from the youth’s trembling lips and clenched fists that he was serious. 

However, accepting it was out of the question. Beyond the fact that they were both male, Cheng Xu had no homosexual inclinations, and there was a fifteen-year age difference. If Cheng Xu had married early, he could have had a son close in age to Yan Qi.

Yan Qi was very good-looking, with a healthy skin tone, but at that moment, his face was pale, and his eyes glistened with desperation. The atmosphere grew awkward as silence filled the room. The sound of thunder rumbling outside was accompanied by heavy rain. 

Amidst the downpour, Yan Qi said, “I’m not joking, nor am I playing games! Xu Ge, I really like you! I like you so much that I want to be with you!” He suddenly lunged forward, catching Cheng Xu off guard, causing him to stumble onto the couch, with Yan Qi pressing down on him. 

Nervous yet determined, Yan Qi kissed him.

Cheng Xu could feel the youth’s trembling lips and chattering teeth. He realized how frantic and nervous Yan Qi was. 

Instead of forcefully pushing him away, Cheng Xu allowed him to kiss him, thinking it would prevent further embarrassment. Yan Qi, believing he wasn’t being rejected, looked ecstatic and was about to deepen the kiss when Cheng Xu gently tilted his head back, separating their lips. 

“I didn’t push you away not because I wanted this,” Cheng Xu said softly, “but because I didn’t want to embarrass you further. Do you understand?”

Yan Qi’s excitement cooled rapidly, his eyes reflecting hurt. Cheng Xu helped him up and said, “You should go home. I’ll take today’s incident as a joke, and I won’t hold it against you.” 

Yan Qi, feeling insulted, shouted, “I’m serious! Xu Ge, I really like you! I want you to look at me, be kind to me, and see me! I even want to make love to you! I want to be your partner!”

Despite Cheng Xu’s calm composure, his face tightened at those words. Closing his eyes briefly, he looked at the hysterical youth and said in a final tone, “I don’t like you. In fact, I hoped you could become Cheng Jin’s partner; I thought there was potential between you.”

Yan Qi’s face contorted in disbelief. “Who would like that idiot?” he retorted bitterly. 

“I hate him! I hate that he gets all your attention! I hate that he can be affectionate with you while I can’t! I hate that he doesn’t appreciate everything you’ve done for him!” His words were filled with venom. 

Cheng Xu’s expression turned cold. “I won’t allow you to speak about my brother like that. You should go home and not come here again.”

Yan Qi stared at him, devastated, before running out into the rain. As he left, Cheng Xu noticed the tear streaks on his face. Watching Yan Qi disappear into the storm, Cheng Xu felt a twinge of regret. He hadn’t expected the situation to escalate like this and was concerned that he might have been too harsh.

The rain continued to pour as Cheng Xu paced in his room, unable to focus. Worried, he decided to check on Yan Qi and confirm with his family that he had arrived home safely. Although a marriage between the families was now impossible, Cheng Xu didn’t want to ruin the good relationship they had.

As Cheng Xu headed downstairs, he ran into his younger brother, Cheng Jin, who was coming inside, dripping wet but smiling. “Brother, guess what I just saw?” he said excitedly. “I saw Yan Qi crying outside. He must’ve been rejected after confessing to someone!” Cheng Jin giggled. “Should I offer him an umbrella?”

Cheng Xu, keeping his tone calm, replied, “No need. Just stay away from him for now.” Before his brother could ask why, Cheng Xu added, “There’s a nice drink waiting for you inside.” After his brother left, Cheng Xu grabbed an umbrella and went outside.

The rain was torrential, and the sky was ominously dark. As Cheng Xu searched for Yan Qi, he eventually found him squatting in a corner, drenched and sobbing. Despite knowing that engaging further with Yan Qi could complicate things, Cheng Xu couldn’t stop himself from approaching.

When the umbrella covered Yan Qi’s head, the young man looked up, surprised to see Cheng Xu. His anger faded instantly, and he hoarsely whispered, “Xu Ge…”

Cheng Xu’s heart softened at Yan Qi’s swift change in demeanor. 

“If something happened to you, I wouldn’t know how to explain it to your family,” he said, handing him the umbrella. “Go home, take a hot shower, and treat your wounds.”

Cheng Xu knew there was no possibility between them, yet the depth of Yan Qi’s affection shook him. After ensuring Yan Qi took the umbrella, Cheng Xu turned to leave, but Yan Qi suddenly grabbed him, forcefully kissing him again under the umbrella.

Caught off guard, Cheng Xu was licked and even bitten on the lips. His instinct was to push Yan Qi away, but he couldn’t bring himself to hurt the crying youth. Sighing inwardly, Cheng Xu lowered his fist. “You’re still young, Little Qi. I’ll allow you this irrational moment, but I hope you’ll wake up after you go home,” he said, gently pushing Yan Qi away.

Yan Qi didn’t follow him this time but shouted through the rain, “I won’t give up!”

Cheng Xu didn’t take it seriously. Avoiding a student was easy for him, and his business on other planets kept him away for most of the year. When he returned, he thought Yan Qi had forgotten the incident. But then he heard his younger brother mention that Yan Qi had fallen for someone else.

Relieved, Cheng Xu attended a banquet at the Yan family’s home, where he encountered Yan Qi again. The youth had grown taller and more mature, causing Cheng Xu’s heart to skip a beat. But Yan Qi didn’t mention the past, and Cheng Xu was able to relax. However, by the end of the banquet, Cheng Xu had fainted, and when he woke up, he was in Yan Qi’s room—half-naked.