Chapter 31 – 031

The previously bustling hotel lobby instantly fell silent, so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard.

Someone emerged from the exclusive passageway designated for the business association, the same one where a staff member had earlier directed Gu Xian and the others. Noticing the unusually quiet atmosphere, the person asked in confusion, “What’s going on here…?”

!!!

The hand on Xie Yunjing’s butt caused the pupils of the usually composed middle-aged businessman to quake with shock.

Xie Yunjing pressed down on Gu Xian’s head, pried his hand off his own butt, and turned to the group of senior business executives with whom he had just been having a pleasant conversation. He nodded in acknowledgment and said, “Something came up. I’ll take my leave.”

The group, snapping out of their shock, expressed their understanding. Someone even raised their glass in a teasing manner, saying, “Take care, young Mr. Xie.”

Xie Yunjing wrapped his arm around Gu Xian and strode quickly toward the car. However, by the time he was ready to shove Gu Xian into the car, Gu Xian was already extremely dissatisfied with his forceful behavior.

“Let go of me! I don’t want to go with you, this is kidnapping!”

The car door was only so big, and Gu Xian clung on like an octopus. Each time Xie Yunjing pried him off one part, he latched onto another. Even though Xie Yunjing didn’t take his resistance seriously, it still took quite some effort to finally shove him into the car.

Once inside, Gu Xian changed his demeanor completely. Patting the seat with a satisfied smile, he prepared to sprawl out and claim the entire backseat for himself.

“Don’t even think about throwing up in my car.” Xie Yunjing, who got in right after, pulled Gu Xian back and shoved him further to the side, causing Gu Xian’s head to bump against the window.

The cold, hard glass made Gu Xian uncomfortable. He shifted uneasily, eventually leaning toward Xie Yunjing instead.

Xie Yunjing caught Gu Xian’s hand, which was fumbling around in search of a more comfortable spot, and guided him to rest against his shoulder. The heavy stench of alcohol on Gu Xian was overwhelming, evidence that he’d been drinking recklessly.

“Did you really have to turn yourself into such a mess?”

Not long ago, Gu Xian had still been in that apathetic, indifferent state, as if he couldn’t care less about anything. When he first joined Guangyao, he clearly hadn’t intended to take the job seriously.

Was it because of that guy, Ke Silin? Xie Yunjing thought of the scene where Ke Silin had pinned Gu Xian down, tearing at his clothes. Back then, Gu Xian had been utterly distraught and desperate to terminate his contract. Yet later, when Wei Wenxian ended up in prison and Guangyao was on the verge of collapse, Gu Xian didn’t leave after all.

“Or is it because of someone else?”

“Gu Xian, I’m talking to you,” Xie Yunjing said, nudging Gu Xian’s head.

Gu Xian, who had just started feeling drowsy, instantly grew annoyed. “You’re so annoying!”

Unbothered, Xie Yunjing repeated his question with a calm expression: “Is it really necessary to turn yourself into this for Guangyao?”

Gu Xian reached out, seemingly trying to push him away, but his strength wasn’t enough, and besides, he still needed to lean on Xie Yunjing for support.

When he couldn’t shake off the annoying presence beside him, he started grumbling and cursing, “What’s all this talk about necessary or unnecessary! Ming Lang just likes drinking—I can’t f***ing do anything about it!”

“You don’t have to stick with him,” Xie Yunjing replied coolly.

“Stop talking nonsense! Do you have any idea how much effort it took me to convince him to direct?” Gu Xian, losing his patience, covered Xie Yunjing’s mouth with his hand. “Mind your own business! When it comes to the crew, I—I’m in charge!”

Just a few days ago, Gu Xian had been holding Xu Jia affectionately, even saying things like, “Spicy enough, I like him. He’s mine.”

Xie Yunjing couldn’t quite pinpoint what he was feeling, but he just couldn’t stop himself from asking. Under Gu Xian’s soft and weak hand covering his mouth, he calmly spoke, “Do you really like that Xu Jia so much that you had to bring him into the crew as the male lead?”

Gu Xian raised his head, his eyes widening in disbelief. He was certain he had covered Xie Yunjing’s mouth, yet the man was still able to talk. Frustrated, he pressed down harder, only for Xie Yunjing’s lips to brush against his palm again, making his hand itch.

“What’s your relationship with Xu Jia?”

There had to be at least a few sober people left at Guangyao. How could they possibly trust someone as drunk as Gu Xian to Xu Jia’s care?

“What relationship…” Gu Xian, frustrated by his inability to stop Xie Yunjing from talking, looked a bit dejected. “He came for the audition, and Ming Lang picked him. Simple as that.”

He glared at Xie Yunjing. “Why can you still talk? You’re so annoying!”

“…” It was rare for his arch-enemy to act this foolishly. Xie Yunjing couldn’t help but take an extra moment to look at him.

Ever since running into him, this drunkard had repeatedly mumbled about how annoying he was. Xie Yunjing, partly out of revenge and partly to mock him, retorted, “If you hate me so much, why did you kiss me?”

“I kissed you?!” Gu Xian’s eyes widened even further, his tone indignant and accusatory. “Nonsense! You’re the one who—no, wait—bit me!”

Finally giving up on covering Xie Yunjing’s mouth, he pointed at his own lips with a finger. “Look, the scar’s still here!”

The bite marks Xie Yunjing had left long ago had already faded without a trace. Gu Xian’s lips, now fully healed, looked particularly red under the influence of alcohol. The slight pressure from his finger made them appear even fuller, with a soft indentation.

Xie Yunjing stared at them for a couple of seconds before shifting his gaze uncomfortably. He decided to remind the confused drunk peacock, “That was last time. Think again, carefully.”

Gu Xian tilted his head in puzzlement, then suddenly pulled his hand away from his lips as if he’d been burned. His expression shifted several times—conflicted, embarrassed—before settling on one of righteous indignation. “Even if that’s true, you were the one who made the first move!”

“Gu Xian,” Xie Yunjing pinched the bridge of his nose, suppressing an untimely impulse before turning his gaze back. “I kissed you once, and you want to kiss me back to even the score? You’re not that foolish, are you?”

After all the questioning, Xie Yunjing had figured out one thing: while drunk, Gu Xian’s logic might be scattered, but he didn’t lie.

Gu Xian’s expression shifted immediately. His brows furrowed tightly, his face reflecting clear resistance. Yet, when his gaze swept over Xie Yunjing’s face, he suddenly became spirited again, flashing that familiar, arrogant look Xie Yunjing knew all too well.

“Anyway, it’s not like I’m losing out!”

The unintended compliment made Xie Yunjing chuckle despite himself, though he wasn’t the only one whose thoughts were straying in a dangerous direction.

“Gu Xian.” This time, he followed the desire in his heart and pressed his finger against Gu Xian’s lips.

The soft, elastic texture was irresistible, but Gu Xian, annoyed by Xie Yunjing’s bold move, immediately opened his mouth to bite his finger.

Xie Yunjing pressed against his palate, leaving him no choice but to keep his mouth open and protest with muffled sounds. He stuck out his tongue, trying to push away Xie Yunjing’s finger, but the soft texture with its slight, grainy friction only made Xie Yunjing lower his head and lean in closer.

“If it’s not a loss, how about trying it again?” he murmured.

It wasn’t a sincere question, as Gu Xian had no way to respond.

Gu Xian’s face was filled with indignation at having his mouth forced open. The moment Xie Yunjing withdrew his hand, Gu Xian was ready to protest, “What the hell are you—mmph!?”

Xie Yunjing pressed against his lips, prying his mouth open again, yet he didn’t close his eyes.

Of course, Gu Xian wouldn’t admit defeat in front of his arch-enemy, not even while drunk. So, he too kept his eyes wide open.

Xie Yunjing stared into his eyes, deepening the intrusion. Gu Xian tried to push back with his tongue, seemingly attempting a counterattack. But in his current state, how could he possibly match Xie Yunjing? His attempt at resistance only made it easier for Xie Yunjing to entangle with him further.

“Mm…” The look in Gu Xian’s eyes initially brimmed with anger and defiance, but it was gradually overtaken by a hazy mist.

Xie Yunjing didn’t miss a single shift in his expression. He watched as the corners of Gu Xian’s eyes turned red, as a glimmer of tears gathered at the edges, and as his breath became increasingly uneven…

Suddenly, Xie Yunjing bit down hard on Gu Xian’s lower lip.

For more than a decade, it seemed he had been using the wrong approach when dealing with Gu Xian.

There was another way to stop Gu Xian from showing that infuriatingly arrogant expression, besides opposing him, provoking him, or making him suffer.

Xie Yunjing pinched Gu Xian’s chin and, at last, fulfilled his wish by licking away the moisture at the corner of Gu Xian’s mouth.

“Gu Xian.”

Gu Xian looked even worse than he did after his first post-workout massage.

“You like my butt, you like my face, so who is it that you actually like?”

Author’s Note:

This story teaches us: don’t drink recklessly, and definitely don’t get drunk—otherwise, it’s way too easy to get eaten up (pointing fingers.jpg).