When the sensor light under the porch lit up, Shen Chuo subconsciously closed his eyes.

Pei Tingyue turned to look at him. “Are you nervous?”

“No,” Shen Chuo denied, not wanting to appear weak and be looked down upon by this person. “You open the door.”

He originally thought they were going to a hotel, but Pei Tingyue brought him back to his own home.

Entering the door, Shen Chuo stopped at the entrance to look around. The empty villa had little human presence, but it was spacious. Living alone not only wasted space but also felt too desolate.

“Since you’ve been stressed about buying a house, do you want to move in with me?” Pei Tingyue casually tossed a pair of slippers to him, as if it were just a casual question.

Shen Chuo turned his head, thinking he misheard.

“Surprised?” Pei Tingyue said matter-of-factly, “We already have our marriage certificate. Isn’t it normal to live together?”

“Just sleeping together,” Shen Chuo shook his head. “There’s no other relationship.”

“Sure whatever you say,” Pei Tingyue entered the living room ahead of him.

“Still want a drink?” he asked.

As Shen Chuo followed, Pei Tingyue had already unbuttoned his shirt, wearing it loosely to reveal well-defined chest and abdominal muscles.

—This was his home, and he could indeed be so casual, especially since the purpose of bringing someone back tonight was for that matter.

Shen Chuo couldn’t help feeling a bit dry in the mouth. “Anything is fine.”

Pei Tingyue seemed unaware of his discomfort, going to the liquor cabinet to get some drinks.

Shen Chuo’s gaze followed, inexplicably recalling that night in Las Vegas, those scenes of confusion and infatuation vividly emerging in his mind.

He thought he had forgotten everything, but he hadn’t.

Getting drunk was certainly not an excuse. Although it was indulgent, he did indeed taste the flavor of it.

So perhaps he wasn’t really so averse to coming back with this person tonight from the beginning.

“What are you thinking?” Pei Tingyue came back with the liquor, asking him sideways.

Shen Chuo’s thoughts were suddenly pulled back, feeling a panic in his heart. He stepped back, and the items on the display cabinet behind him were knocked over, making a “clang” sound as they fell to the ground, breaking into pieces.

Pei Tingyue frowned as his gaze fell on the mess. “Why are you so clumsy?”

Shen Chuo came back to his senses, saying “sorry” as he hurriedly bent down to pick them up. The glass trophy was shattered into large pieces and couldn’t be put back together.

“Forget it,” Pei Tingyue took the item from his hand.

Shen Chuo hissed softly as his thumb was cut by the broken glass.

Seeing this, Pei Tingyue’s brows furrowed even tighter. Impatiently, he said, “Stay still, I’ll get a band-aid.”

A few minutes later, Shen Chuo sat on the sofa as Pei Tingyue disinfected his wound with iodine, his face cold and silent.

After hesitating for a moment, Shen Chuo apologized again. “Sorry, I really didn’t mean to.”

Pei Tingyue pressed the cotton swab on his wound, holding his hand to prevent him from pulling away, and then covered it with a band-aid.

“I’m sorry…”

“Shut up.”

Shen Chuo immediately fell silent.

He thought of the words on that trophy—First Prize in the College Debate Competition. It was a common thing, but Pei Tingyue seemed to value it quite a bit. He didn’t know how many years he had kept it. It didn’t seem to match his personality.

Feeling guilty, Shen Chuo didn’t know what else to say. He just asked, “Are we still going to…?”

Pei Tingyue raised his eyes, coldly looking at him.

“Not interested anymore…” Shen Chuo trailed off.

“Does your hand hurt?” Pei Tingyue suddenly asked.

Shen Chuo was stunned.

Pei Tingyue said, “I asked if your hand hurts. What are you thinking about?”

“I thought you were angry that I broke your trophy.”

“Why were you standing there daydreaming just now?”

“I wasn’t.”

“Still thinking about your ex?”

“…Really not.” Shen Chuo couldn’t say it; he was just thinking about that night in Las Vegas.

Pei Tingyue didn’t bother with him anymore, stood up, and walked back to the display cabinet.

Standing in front of the cabinet, with broken glass at his feet, he stared expressionlessly at the trophy that was no longer intact on the cabinet, not revealing what he was thinking.

After a moment, he picked up the item and threw it into the nearby trash can.

Shen Chuo wanted to say something, but Pei Tingyue came back with two glasses of wine and placed them on the coffee table, gesturing to him.

Shen Chuo hesitated, reached out, took the glass, and took a big sip. However, as soon as the liquor entered his mouth, he regretted it. He didn’t know what kind of liquor it was, but it was spicy and strong, choking him unexpectedly, making him cough violently.

Pei Tingyue, with an emotionless gaze, watched his reaction, seeming to have expected it.

“What kind of drink is this? Why is it so awful?” Shen Chuo forcefully put down the glass, suspecting that he was retaliating and deliberately messing with him.

Pei Tingyue poured his own glass of wine into his mouth, swallowed it calmly, reached out, pushed Shen Chuo down onto the sofa, and leaned over.

“What are you do—”

Shen Chuo’s voice stopped abruptly as Pei Tingyue’s gaze made his heart inexplicably skip a beat, feeling particularly uncomfortable.

—Like a storm gathering, waiting to burst.

He regretted coming tonight more than ever.

Pei Tingyue’s breath fell against his neck. “Do you remember what you called last time?”

“What did I call?”

“You called it sex.”

Shen Chuo: “I…forgot.”

Never had he witnessed someone speak so seriously about lewd matters, but Pei Tingyue could.

Pei Tingyue’s hand had already slipped into his clothes, continuing what was interrupted in the car, roaming and kneading on his waist, hips, and butt.

Shen Chuo grunted, his breath gradually becoming unstable. “Stop touching me.”

“You’re still quite sensitive, aren’t you?”

Pei Tingyue stared into his eyes, his tone neither fast nor slow, his flirtatious words lacking much flirtatious intent.

Shen Chuo bit his lip and turned his head away, and Pei Tingyue’s kisses followed suit, starting from the neck and slowly moving downward, unbuttoning his clothes button by button.

Shen Chuo’s body was also very attractive, whether it was natural or due to years of indoor work, his skin was whiter than the average man’s. Though slim, he was just right. His waist was defined, his hips were curved, and touching him felt exceptionally good.

Pei Tingyue’s gaze repeatedly swept over, occasionally touching and kissing him, always at a leisurely pace.

Even the act of undressing was overly slow, or rather deliberate, relaxed, and effortless.

Being strung along like this, Shen Chuo couldn’t help but feel a bit frustrated. He also resented Pei Tingyue’s attitude of being in control, forcefully pushing against his chest, struggling to sit up, snatching the things from his hand, and panting, saying, “You’re too slow, I’ll do it myself.”

Pei Tingyue looked at him. Shen Chuo’s face was flushed, but his movements were decisive, without any hesitation. His lowered eyelashes trembled continuously, adding a particularly enticing meaning to his already beautiful eyes.

There was a slight fluctuation in Pei Tingyue’s gaze. Shen Chuo raised his eyes and caught his gaze. His throat rolled, “I’ve never seen you like this, expecting me to take the initiative even during sex.”

“How many people have you had sex with?” Pei Tingyue’s voice carried a teasing tone.

Shen Chuo instantly didn’t want to say anymore, throwing down the remaining items, reaching out to pull at his clothes.

Pei Tingyue was indeed not very interested at first, but when Shen Chuo approached, he naturally had no intention of refusing.

They were both men and knew best how to please each other. In the end, he was just an ordinary person.

Especially when Shen Chuo took the initiative to kiss him, and sweat beads rolled over the mole on his ear, he was indeed aroused. He firmly grasped Shen Chuo’s waist and pressed him down.

Shen Chuo wasn’t loud, but the sounds that escaped his mouth were quite pleasing.

From the living room on the first floor to the bedroom on the second floor, they tossed and turned for several hours.

After another shower in the bathroom, Shen Chuo was so tired that he could hardly keep his eyes open. “I’m done.”

Pei Tingyue touched his wet collarbone with hot water, “Feeling better now?”

In a half-asleep state, Shen Chuo nodded. “you’re quite skilled.”

“You said my skills were poor before?” Pei Tingyue let out an ambiguous laugh from his throat, “Saying one thing but meaning another.”

Shen Chuo reluctantly opened one eye to look at him. “Just so-so.”

He was satisfied, his eyes filled with satisfaction. Pei Tingyue stepped forward, pressing him against the tiled wall behind.

Shen Chuo frowned, but Pei Tingyue had already firmly grabbed his waist.

“I don’t want to anymore,” Shen Chuo pushed him away, “let go.”

“You came to me yourself,” Pei Tingyue squeezed his waist forcefully, his tone harsh, “you don’t get to choose.”

“What’s gotten into you again? Uh—”

The cursing voice quickly became fragmented moans. Shen Chuo grabbed his back in annoyance but couldn’t push away the increasingly aggressive person, so he had no choice but to accept it.

By the time this round was over, Shen Chuo could barely stand. Pei Tingyue hugged his waist. “Tired, let’s go to sleep.”

Shen Chuo resisted. “Stay away from me.”

“We’ve already done it,” Pei Tingyue said lightly, “You seemed to enjoy it.”

Physically, it felt good, but being forced into it again and again didn’t sit well with Shen Chuo.

But he didn’t have the energy to argue anymore, so he ignored the lunatic, wiped himself dry with a towel, and left the bathroom first.

Too exhausted to contemplate whether sharing a bed with Pei Tingyue was appropriate, Shen Chuo returned to the bed and fell asleep.

When Pei Tingyue also emerged from the bathroom, Shen Chuo had taken up half of the bed, already asleep with his back turned.

Pei Tingyue switched off the light and sat on the edge of the bed, lighting a cigarette.

The room was only illuminated by the faint glow of the cigarette, Pei Tingyue exhaled smoke lightly against the headboard, his gaze falling on Shen Chuo beside him through the smoke.

The blanket slipped down to his waist, revealing the various marks on his body, the sensation of kissing his body still lingering on his lips, slightly diluted by the bitter taste of smoke.

Pei Tingyue’s fingers trailed over, lightly brushing his back, Shen Chuo, asleep, unconsciously shrank. Pei Tingyue found it amusing and teasingly touched a few more times.

As the cigarette burned down, Pei Tingyue picked up the phone tossed on the blanket beside the bed, casually opened the camera, and took a picture of Shen Chuo’s silhouette.

Staring at the photo for a moment, Pei Tingyue stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, turned off the phone, and tossed it back onto the blanket.

Laying down with one hand behind his head, Shen Chuo rolled over in his sleep, moving closer.

Pei Tingyue turned his head, and Shen Chuo’s head had rolled onto his side of the pillow, his even breathing against his neck.

Pei Tingyue’s gaze shifted to Shen Chuo’s drooping eyelids, a slight smile on his lips as he closed his eyes too.