As Ning Zhiyuan spoke, Cen Zhisen’s movements paused, his fingers still resting on Ning Zhiyuan’s neck. There was a speculative glint in his eyes.

Ning Zhiyuan didn’t avoid his gaze, remaining calm. “Really, the one you saw before and many more, I’ve had so many female companions come and go that I’ve lost count.”

Their breaths were close, like the murmurs between lovers.

In a silent gaze, Ning Zhiyuan’s eyes seemed teasing yet innocent. Cen Zhisen once again realized that he didn’t have much advantage in the confrontation with Ning Zhiyuan.

His expression remained unchanged as his gaze shifted to Ning Zhiyuan’s neck. He focused on the beautifully curved jawline and the mole. His fingers slowly caressed it twice before releasing and stepping back.

He turned on the lights.

“What kind of wine do you want?” he asked.

“Whatever you like,” Ning Zhiyuan replied.

Cen Zhisen gestured, “Come inside.”

Ning Zhiyuan followed him into the living room, first admiring the night view outside. With the Chinese New Year only two days away, the lights tonight were even more dazzling than when he last visited.

Turning around to say something, his gaze stopped when he saw Cen Zhisen standing by the sofa, unbuttoning his shirt cuffs, followed by the tie. The rose-shaped knot he tied himself was a bit too intricate. Instead of forcefully pulling it apart, Cen Zhisen, with patience, used the glass cabinet in front of him as a mirror to slowly untie it.

Ning Zhiyuan walked over, offering, “Let me do it.”

Cen Zhisen glanced at him, and Ning Zhiyuan, with a natural expression, skillfully untied the knot, as if he had done it many times before.

Cen Zhisen’s raised hand lightly held Ning Zhiyuan’s hand, and his thumb traced along the veins, “Zhiyuan.”

“Hmm?” Ning Zhiyuan made a sound, focusing on the actions in his hand, seemingly indifferent to what Cen Zhisen was doing.

“Do you know what it means to help someone put on or take off a tie?” Cen Zhisen asked.

Following his lead, Ning Zhiyuan asked, “What does it mean?”

“It’s a sexual innuendo,” Cen Zhisen said.

Ning Zhiyuan finally looked up, and Cen Zhisen stared at him intently, not probing but rather aggressively, without any concealment.

After thinking for two seconds, he answered, “I’ve said that I prefer getting straight to the point. I don’t play those suggestive games.”

Just like before, the tone was joking yet innocent. He was probably doing it on purpose.

Cen Zhisen even thought about what would happen if he truly got straight to the point, how Ning Zhiyuan would react, and whether he could remain so calm and composed.

But forget it. He also enjoyed this slow hunting process.

After taking off the tie, Ning Zhiyuan casually threw it on the sofa alongside his coat. He reminded Cen Zhisen, “Hurry up, it’s really late.”

Cen Zhisen’s gaze followed his movements. “Wait for it,” he said.

He went to the liquor cabinet to choose a bottle, feeling particularly delighted.

Ning Zhiyuan glanced around and noticed the note on the refrigerator from his last visit was still there. He asked Cen Zhisen, “That, you kept it?”

Cen Zhisen’s attention shifted, and he looked at it, saying, “I Kept it. It’s quite interesting.”

“It is quite interesting,” Ning Zhiyuan said. “It’s impressive that you wrote those things early in the morning. I didn’t expect you to be so attentive.”

Cen Zhisen turned to look at him, and this time, Ning Zhiyuan’s statement wasn’t a tease but a sincere comment.

“There are many things you don’t know about me that you wouldn’t expect,” Cen Zhisen said, returning his attention to the liquor cabinet, “You’ll find out later.”

“Okay, I’ll wait and see,” Ning Zhiyuan said with a smile. “Surprise me.” continuing to enjoy the night view.

Cen Zhisen chose a bottle of wine from the liquor cabinet. He said, “Let’s have something special tonight.”

Ning Zhiyuan said, “I’m fine with whatever.”

Cen Zhisen handed him a glass, and as Ning Zhiyuan took it, he noticed the color and fragrance, more like a beverage.

“Pink Port,” Cen Zhisen explained. “Give it a try.”

Ning Zhiyuan’s voice raised with interest, “Oh, I might get drunk later.”

“You won’t get drunk,” Cen Zhisen said. “It’s just a bit higher in alcohol content than regular wine.”

He roughly knew Ning Zhiyuan’s alcohol tolerance. Ning Zhiyuan had gotten drunk twice in front of him, both times on strong foreign liquors—whiskey and brandy. If he really wanted to get Ning Zhiyuan drunk, he could choose those. However, rather than getting him drunk, he preferred to see Ning Zhiyuan in the state of not completely drunk but pleasantly tipsy.

After a sip of the wine, Ning Zhiyuan asked casually, “Have you ever heard a saying? What was it… boys drink red wine, men drink port, and those who want to be heroes drink brandy.”

Cen Zhisen’s eyes showed a hint of a smile. “Is that so?”

“Yeah,” Ning Zhiyuan also smiled. “I think port is not bad. After all, most people in this world can’t become heroes, they just seek romance.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” Cen Zhisen said. “We’re all ordinary people.”

“Yeah, we’re all ordinary people,” Ning Zhiyuan murmured, gently rubbing the glass in his hand.

Cen Zhisen clinked glasses with him. “Let’s drink.”

Although the wine was sweet, its alcohol content was indeed higher than regular red wine. After a few drinks, the kick was surprisingly strong.

With two glasses down, Ning Zhiyuan leaned against the glass wall, unbuttoning the top button of his shirt. Holding a glass of wine in one hand, he tilted his head slightly, looking at Cen Zhisen in front of him. He seemed genuinely a bit tipsy.

Cen Zhisen, slightly taller than him, around 1.9 meters, a height difference Ning Zhiyuan hadn’t considered significant before. However, whether due to the alcohol or some other reason, he felt a warmth throughout his body. Even the imposing feeling from Cen Zhisen standing in front of him seemed stronger than before.

Ning Zhiyuan didn’t like this feeling. Wanting to do something, he raised his hand and touched Cen Zhisen’s Adam’s apple.

Upon the touch, there was a drastic movement in the area sensed by his palm. Cen Zhisen stared at him, and his pupils slightly contracted. His eyes and voice changed, no longer as steady. “What are you doing?”

Probably due to the alcohol, he was indeed less composed than before, especially when Ning Zhiyuan made such a teasing move.

Seemingly oblivious, Ning Zhiyuan only stared at the area his hand touched. The rise and fall of Cen Zhisen’s Adam’s apple felt ticklish to the palm of his hand.

After a moment, he looked up and asked Cen Zhisen, “What about you? Has anyone touched you here?”

The same question Cen Zhisen had asked when they first entered.

Cen Zhisen looked at him but didn’t answer. Ning Zhiyuan’s eyes were full of curiosity.

After a brief eye contact, Cen Zhisen suddenly raised his hand, gripping Ning Zhiyuan’s wrist and forcefully pinning him against the glass wall. The glass in Ning Zhiyuan’s other hand, not held securely, fell to the ground, spreading the fragrance of the wine.

Cen Zhisen’s breath approached, his slightly hoarse voice close to Ning Zhiyuan’s ear, tempting, “Zhiyuan, do you want to try what it’s like to be in bed with a man?”

Ning Zhiyuan calmly asked, “Which man? You?”

Without waiting for Cen Zhisen to respond, he turned his head, exposing the fair and slender neck more clearly in front of Cen Zhisen, closing his eyes with a smile. “Not really, you’re my brother.”

Cen Zhisen’s breath became unsteady. “I’m your brother?”

“Yeah, you’re my brother,” Ning Zhiyuan repeated, sighing as if with emotion.

“I’m not,” Cen Zhisen emphasized those two words, reminding him. “My younger brother is called Cen Zhe, not you, Ning Zhiyuan.”

“If you say that, I’ll be sad,” Ning Zhiyuan lowered his voice. “Brother, you’re drunk.”

Cen Zhisen increased the force on Ning Zhiyuan’s wrist. “So, what were you doing just now?”

Ning Zhiyuan said, “I’m also drunk.”

Cen Zhisen’s slightly heavy breathing still lingered near his ear. After a short standoff, this person let out a low, hoarse laugh from his throat. “I thought you dared to do anything.”

“Cen Zhisen,” Ning Zhiyuan also reminded him, “Provocation won’t work on me.”

He turned his head, locking eyes with Cen Zhisen. “I don’t fall for that.”

Cen Zhisen’s gaze became more audacious and explicit than before, detached from the loss of control moments ago. “Really not considering it? I’m skilled not only in kissing.”

“And besides, without experiencing the taste of a man, how do you know if you’re truly straight?” he continued.

Ning Zhiyuan remained unmoved, shaking his head with a smile. “Not considering it.”

This time, he truly wasn’t considering it.

Cen Zhisen saw the expression on his face and felt an itch in his heart. Clearly rejecting someone, yet seemingly unintentionally teasing.

This kind of Ning Zhiyuan was indeed special.

Unfortunately, tonight could only end here.

Ning Zhiyuan still stayed the night.

After saying “good night,” they each went back to their rooms. Ning Zhiyuan stood in the dark for a moment after closing his door, a slight curve forming on his lips.

Cen Zhisen’s tie had slipped out from his coat when he unintentionally brought it in. Ning Zhiyuan picked up the tie, winding it around his hand, gently caressing the patterns on it with his fingertips, as if sensing something.

Finally, he lowered his head, bringing the tie to his nose and sniffing. It still carried the scent of that person — the scent of cologne mixed with Cen Zhisen’s own unique fragrance.

As he lay down on the bed, the tie covered his eyes.

Ning Zhiyuan closed his eyes, and in his mind played the scenes of tonight — the entwining of lips and tongues, the collision of gazes, the touching of skin. The ambiguous moments were vivid.

And when he deliberately tempted Cen Zhisen, the rare loss of control on his face.

He wanted to see more.

With his left hand, he rubbed the scar on his right wrist. The curve of his lips widened, silently laughing.