“That day, I had a fever of 39°C.”

This was Ke Mingxuan’s reply. There was no complicated reason, he was simply sick, and Bian Yiqiu happened to come by. That was all. You couldn’t expect someone with a high fever, dizzy and weak, to move as quickly or as smoothly as usual.

Bian Yiqiu didn’t respond, and after a while, his head tilted to the side.

Ke Mingxuan turned to look and realized Bian Yiqiu fallen asleep, unsure if he had even heard his answer.

In fact, he was quite grateful for the fierce cold he caught. Without it, how else would he have discovered just how interesting this man was? And the more he thought about it, the more he found him intriguing.

As this crossed his mind, Ke Mingxuan couldn’t help but smile, though, unfortunately, he didn’t realize that his smile carried any special meaning at the moment.

After returning to the city, both of them got busy again and didn’t make an effort to stay in touch.

Originally, their relationship was just a sex buddy arrangement, at least in Ke Mingxuan’s eyes. To Bian Yiqiu, it was even more straightforward—just the “sex” part, without the “buddy.” Outside the bedroom, they barely got along, always at odds with each other. In fact, there was one time they almost destroyed a private room at a club over a soft and delicate pretty young man.

Looking back, it’s actually kind of funny. At that point, they had only slept together a couple of times, yet Bian Yiqiu already found Ke Mingxuan insufferable. One night, he heard from He Xu that a group of university students had come to the club, each looking innocent and fresh-faced, but in reality, they were wild and promiscuous—hard to resist for anyone. So, Bian Yiqiu went, specifically asking for the most handsome, skilled young man. But the owner was in a tough spot, the guy Bian Yiqiu wanted had already been taken by another customer.

Bian Yiqiu was the type who feared nothing, and after losing to the surname Ke twice, he was full of frustration with nowhere to vent. When he heard this, he was furious, his rebellious nature coming to the forefront. He threatened that if he didn’t see the person today, the club might as well close for good.

The owner was left with no choice but to go next door to negotiate. A few minutes later, the door to the private room opened again. This time, it wasn’t the owner who entered, but Ke Mingxuan, carrying the young man in his arms as if to show off, a clear act of defiance.

Bian Yiqiu’s anger flared up uncontrollably. On the other hand, Ke Mingxuan’s smile was unusually gentle and warm. “Ah, it’s Boss Bian. Should’ve said earlier—he’s all yours.” With that, he casually shoved the young man in his arms toward Bian Yiqiu, watching him calmly. His expression was smug, as if saying, I’m doing you a favor, now kneel and thank me. The cocky attitude was like throwing gasoline on Bian Yiqiu’s already smoldering temper, instantly turning it into a raging inferno.

“I don’t need your damn charity!” Bian Yiqiu didn’t even spare the young man a second glance. He swung his fist and landed a punch without a second thought.

That fight was Bian Yiqiu’s best performance, second only to the parking lot incident. He was this close to defeating Ke Mingxuan, just that close. But that tiny margin was all Ke Mingxuan needed to crush Bian Yiqiu’s fiery rage, pinning him down and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, whispered, “You lost again.”

However, that time, they didn’t go any further. Ke Mingxuan had brought some friends to talk business, and Bian Yiqiu had several bodyguards with him. With so many eyes on them, it was impossible for anything to happen.

It was a shame that the exquisitely decorated private room was left in ruins after their fight. The owner was on the verge of tears, but he couldn’t afford to upset either side. Nervously, he suggested, “How about the three of you… play together?” The moment the words left his mouth, he was met with a double dose of disdain—Bian Yiqiu’s eye roll and Ke Mingxuan’s cold smirk. The owner could only watch in bewilderment as the two, who had been at each other’s throats just moments before, calmly walked out of the room, one after the other, not even sparing a glance at the young man. Everyone who had witnessed the scene knew that Ke Mingxuan and Bian Yiqiu were like fire and water, completely at odds.

Bian Yiqiu thought those two words—fire and water—described his relationship with Ke Mingxuan perfectly. He believed that their connection could only remain this way. Even after multiple encounters in bed, nothing should change. The simplicity of a casual sex buddy arrangement made him feel safe, something he was good at managing. But if that relationship veered off course in any way, he felt his territory was being threatened—his instincts told him it would be dangerous to continue down that path.

In fact, Ke Mingxuan had always approached him with a powerful, unmistakable sense of danger. And Bian Yiqiu’s own response? It was nothing more than an uncontrollable instinct to conquer, driven by primal, male desires.

When Ke Mingxuan said he lost in the parking lot that time because he was sick with a high fever, Bian Yiqiu was once again sharply reminded that he had never actually surpassed Ke Mingxuan’s strength. The past two months, when he had believed he could turn the tables, had only allowed Ke Mingxuan to indulge in a few more rounds of playing cat and mouse. Thinking back to every time he was pinned beneath Ke Mingxuan, only to stubbornly say, “Next time, I’ll definitely XXXX,” Bian Yiqiu couldn’t help but feel both ridiculous and foolish. He was sure that in his heart, Ke Mingxuan must’ve been calling him an arrogant idiot.

Now that he knew he could never defeat him, Bian Yiqiu felt a blow to his pride, but at the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had never planned to get further entangled with someone like Ke Mingxuan before the off-road event, and now he had a solid, undeniable reason to let go.

So, when Ke Mingxuan sent another message asking him to meet at their usual spot, Bian Yiqiu replied with two words, effortlessly: “Not going.”

Not “I’m busy,” not “Something came up,” and definitely not “Maybe another time,” but simply, “Not going.” How forceful and assertive those two words were.

At that moment, Ke Mingxuan was in the highest office of He Sheng Media, standing before a vast, panoramic floor-to-ceiling window. With a commanding presence, he looked down from the peak of his empire on the seventy-ninth floor, surveying the sprawling city below. The vehicles and pedestrians moving in the web-like patterns of the city seemed so insignificant in his eyes, as tiny as ants.

He looked at the two simple words, which had no hidden meaning, and, a little unexpectedly, smiled. He didn’t think much of it and didn’t reply. Ke Mingxuan never lacked people willing to crawl into his bed.

After rejecting Ke Mingxuan with an odd sense of satisfaction, Bian Yiqiu called his men and had them send two obedient, attractive young men to his room.

With the new year approaching in the final half of the year, the two of them went about their business, happily ignoring each other. The only connection between them was when Bian Yiqiu’s precious little man, Lu Xiao, had a falling out with someone named Chu and decided to play a bit of a “runaway” act. Late at night, he went to a celebrity club to discuss with Bian Yiqiu the difference between “liking someone” and “wanting to sleep with someone.”

Chu Yi probably searched all over Z City for Lu Xiao, but in the end, it was Ke Mingxuan who called to ask if Lu Xiao was with him. Bian Yiqiu, playing dumb, managed to brush him off with some nonsense.

After hanging up, Bian Yiqiu declared to Lu Xiao, with all seriousness, that for him, there was no difference: he slept with those young men because he liked them. Who would go to bed with someone they can’t stand? That’s just insane.

But the moment he said it, he mentally cursed himself, then muttered in self-reproach: “You really are insane, aren’t you? And it’s not a mild case either!”

Once again, Bian Yiqiu came to the clear conclusion that staying away from Ke Mingxuan, that toxic pathogen, was absolutely the right decision!

December 24th, Christmas Eve, also happened to be the anniversary of Jiu’an Group. Despite his reluctance, Boss Bian had no choice but to suit up, tie on a mask of propriety, and step into the role of the group’s top leader to give the opening speech.

The celebration was held at the refined and luxurious clubhouse of the Yuelong Bay Hotel. In addition to the group’s various level executives, the guest list included numerous political and business elites as well as entertainment stars, drawing dozens of media outlets eager to cover the grand event.

The speech had been prepared in advance by Ye Zhen and emailed to him. All Boss Bian needed to do was to familiarize himself with it a few times, walk gracefully onto the stage with a polite smile, keep his gestures poised, and read the speech with his rich voice and a touch of emotion—then he’d be all set.

The next morning, as Ke Mingxuan ate breakfast, he spotted a nearly half-page photo of Bian Yiqiu in the newspaper and remarked, “Well, he does look rather respectable.”

After stepping off the stage, the seemingly “respectable” Boss Bian immediately loosened the suffocating tie around his neck, ready to toss it aside. But he was promptly intercepted by Director Ye, who arrived in a sleek black fishtail gown. With an air of elegance, she slipped her arm through his, leaving him no choice as she pulled him back into the crowd, ensuring he spent the entire evening mingling and conversing with various guests, drink in hand.

Of course, the pairing of a handsome man and a beautiful woman drew plenty of attention. So when Ke Mingxuan turned the page, there it was—a photo of Bian Yiqiu and Ye Zhen in a close, seemingly intimate pose. The accompanying article was a tapestry of speculation, even suggesting that Ye Zhen had sacrificed her executive role at PWC to return to Jiu’an Group for love, painting a picture of romance and devotion.

Bian Yiqiu felt wrongfully accused of the situation. When Ye Zhen joined Jiu’an, he was busy ruling over Tongshan Prison and didn’t even know she existed. Honestly, he wanted to ask that reporter which eye they used to spot this supposed “self-sacrifice for love” in Ye Zhen. Were they blind?

Whether the reporter was blind or not, most people who saw the article believed it, except for Ke Mingxuan. Being in the media himself, he could easily tell what was true and what was fabricated. But what really bothered him was the sight of Bian Yiqiu’s hand resting on Ye Zhen’s waist—it was just… distracting.

He closed the newspaper, no longer interested in reading. This meant he missed a minor but noteworthy incident at the Jiu’an anniversary gala—Huarui Group’s CEO, Ruan Chengjie, was barred from entering the venue due to not receiving an invitation.

The head of the PR department, unsure of what to do, hesitated to let him in due to his status but couldn’t turn him away either. So, she politely asked him to wait and quickly rushed into the venue to consult with Bian Yiqiu.

“Who did you say? Who’s outside?” Bian Yiqiu, having made his rounds with the guests and feeling a bit drained, took a moment to process the name Ruan Chengjie and still couldn’t quite register it.

“Ruan, the CEO of Huarui Group.”

“Jiu’an has no business dealings with Huarui, and there’s no personal relationship between them. Why is he here?” The question came from Ye Zhen, standing beside him.

“I’m not sure. I’ll go check it out.” Bian Yiqiu replied, placing his glass back on the tray of the waiter. Without hesitation, he made his way towards the door. No matter the reason Ruan Chengjie was there, it wasn’t right to leave him waiting outside.

Besides, it wouldn’t be entirely accurate to say they had no connection. After all, during the last off-road trip to Fengling, Ruan had helped him change a tire. It wasn’t likely that Ruan would show up now to settle scores over the 5-17 plot of land.

Ruan Chengjie certainly wasn’t there to settle any scores. As one of the top real estate giants in the country, Huarui Group had no need to bother with a plot of land, big or small, by personally seeking him out. He wasn’t that idle. However, the reason for his visit was indeed something not so easily explained.

Hearing footsteps, Ruan Chengjie, who had been admiring the courtyard’s night view under a tree, turned around. A slight, amiable smile tugged at the corners of his lips—a greeting that seemed to suggest the familiarity of old friends.

Though both were figures at the top of the food chain, Ruan Chengjie exuded an air of restrained, mature elegance. His demeanor was the complete opposite of Ke Mingxuan’s uninhibited, carefree arrogance—two entirely different styles.

Bian Yiqiu also smiled and stepped forward, extending his hand. “What brings President Ruan all the way here?”

Ruan Chengjie took his hand out of his coat pocket and shook it. “The weather forecast said it’s the northeast wind today.”

The two shared a genuine, heartfelt laugh, but neither expected that this simple handshake would be caught by a nearby reporter. The next day, it appeared on the business section, accompanied by a sensational, speculative headline: “Huarui and Jiu’an Join Forces—Will Z City’s Real Estate Industry Experience Another Wave of Frenzy?”

In reality, after their brief, polite handshake, Bian Yiqiu’s next question was, “How come you’re here?”

“Just passing by, thought I’d drop by to say hello,” Ruan Chengjie answered briefly.

“Care to come in for a drink?” Bian Yiqiu asked.

“Forget it, I’m not dressed for it.”

Bian Yiqiu teased, “Even if you, President Ruan, wore rags, you’d still set a new trend in the fashion world.”

Ruan Chengjie replied seriously, “Next time Jiu’an has its anniversary, I’ll show up in rags.”

“Sure, I’ll have my secretary send you the invitation ahead of time.”

“Well, that’s settled then. You have no idea how awkward it was when I got blocked outside just now.”

Both of them laughed.

Ten minutes later, Bian Yiqiu suddenly sneezed. The reason was that the heating inside the venue was cranked up, but he had left his coat in the lounge and was only wearing his suit, while the temperature outside was close to freezing.

He hadn’t expected to be this chatty. There was no awkward silence, no boredom, and certainly no urge to strangle the person in front of him like when he was with Ke Mingxuan. In fact, chatting like this, so calmly and peacefully, felt like a memory from years ago.

Just as Ruan Chengjie was about to mention that Huarui Group would be investing 4 billion in a new project at East Bay next year, he was suddenly interrupted by a thunderous sneeze from Bian Yiqiu. He immediately stopped mid-sentence, furrowing his brows and urging him to go inside.

“You started telling me this and now I won’t be able to sleep tonight without hearing the rest,” Bian Yiqiu said, pulling a neatly folded, finely striped pocket square from his suit pocket. Without hesitation, he unfolded it and used it as a handkerchief to wipe his nose. “4 billion? That’s quite an investment. What’s the project?”

Ruan Chengjie shook his head, signaling his refusal to continue the discussion: “It’s cold out here. You’d better go inside first. We’ll schedule a time to talk later.”

Bian Yiqiu was about to say something else when someone came out to find him, saying he needed to go on stage to present an award. So, their conversation came to an abrupt end.

Ruan Chengjie waved at him and turned to leave.

Twenty meters away, on the garden road, the glaring headlights of a car suddenly lit up, and Bian Yiqiu realized that Ruan Chengjie’s driver had been waiting there all along.

Of course, Bian Yiqiu didn’t lose sleep over only hearing half of what Ruan Chengjie said—because by the second half of the evening, he had drunk too much. When Zuo Cheng helped him back to the villa, he was already dizzy and disoriented. Forget Ruan Chengjie’s words; he couldn’t even remember who Ruan Chengjie was anymore.

But as he gazed at the warm yellow light spilling from the small villa, Bian Yiqiu paused in his steps. His bloodshot eyes reflected a mix of confusion and uncertainty.

He asked Zuo Cheng, “Has anyone been here?”

Zuo Cheng replied, “I had someone turn on the air conditioning and run the hot water in advance.”

Bian Yiqiu didn’t ask any further questions. He stumbled through the door, weaving unsteadily upstairs. As he walked, he began tugging at his tie, shedding his shirt, and unbuckling his belt. One item after another was discarded along the way, until, just before stepping into the bathroom, he was completely naked, like a newborn.

Zuo Cheng didn’t bother picking up the clothes, simply following in his boss’s footsteps. Just as the boss was about to tumble into the bathtub in a precarious manner, Zuo Cheng reached out just in time to prevent a disaster that could have ended in a bloody mess.

But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, the boss, still thoroughly drunk and unable to maintain his balance, inevitably crashed into the tub. Instinctively, he reached out to grab something for support, and, as luck would have it, grabbed Zuo Cheng, who was just handing him the shower gel.

And so, the two grown men crashed into the tub together with a loud splash, hot water splashing everywhere.

Zuo Cheng collapsed sideways, his ribs almost aching from the impact, while Bian Yiqiu landed perfectly on top of him. He seemed unscathed, staring at Zuo Cheng with a pair of eyes that were fogged by alcohol, intense and focused, like a wolf eyeing its prey. Zuo Cheng recognized that look all too well—it was the same one Boss Bian gave to every handsome man who eagerly crawled into his bed.

“…” Zuo Cheng froze, his mind screaming internally: Boss, I only sell my skills, not my body!

But Bian Yiqiu was completely oblivious to Zuo Cheng’s thoughts. His arms, as firm as steel, tightened around Zuo Cheng’s body as he leaned in, ready to bite.

Zuo Cheng made up his mind, eyes closed in resignation, his expression one of brave sacrifice. He lifted his leg and, with a swift kick, sent the drunken Boss Bian flying out of the bathtub.

Bian Yiqiu felt incredibly dizzy, his vision swirling like a kaleidoscope, filled with shifting colors and light. He knew there was someone in his arms, but couldn’t make out who it was. Driven purely by instinct, he was focused on his primal urges and didn’t even anticipate being kicked into the water. Warm water rushed into his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, making him even dizzier. He couldn’t even manage to lift his head, and was about to sink completely.

Zuo Cheng quickly flipped out of the bathtub and, with a swift motion, pulled his boss out of the water, preventing him from sinking further.

Bian Yiqiu coughed a few times, feeling slightly more awake. At least now he could recognize the person in front of him. His voice still carried a touch of childish grievance as he spoke.

“Ah Cheng, I think someone just kicked me.”

Zuo Cheng responded seriously but with a hint of absurdity, “Boss, you drank too much and bumped into the edge of the tub.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” Bian Yiqiu lay in the bathtub, half-heartedly splashing water over himself, as though he accepted Zuo Cheng’s explanation.

After finishing his shower and drying off, Bian Yiqiu walked out of the bathroom completely naked. Zuo Cheng, behind him, was on the phone, sounding frustrated as he spoke to someone, “Get someone to warm the bed for the boss, now!”