“Let go of me… first.”
Chi Zhan was practically kneeling in Chu Xingxiao’s lap. As Chu shifted slightly, his arms wrapped half-around Chi Zhan, pulling him in so that his shoulder leaned against Chu’s chest. Through the thin layer of fabric, Chi Zhan could feel the pounding of his heart, the searing heat of his body—so hot it was impossible to ignore. Worse still, that hand—deliberate or not—rested at his waist, making it impossible for him to stand up and leave.
“If there’s a problem, talk it out properly. Drinking won’t solve anything.” Chi Zhan finally gave in and tried reasoning with the drunk. “Alcohol just helps you run from reality. But when you wake up, the problem will still be there—won’t it?”
He tried to turn his head to see Chu Xingxiao’s expression, but the angle made it awkward. He gave up. Just as he was about to continue, Chu Xingxiao poured himself another drink.
“…You’re right.”
The words were murmured right beside his ear, low and hoarse. The warmth of Chu’s breath brushed his skin, thick with the haze of intoxication and heavy with loneliness. “But what am I supposed to do…I fell in love with my ge’s boyfriend.”
Chi Zhan hadn’t even fully processed the words before he felt himself being gently turned. Chu Xingxiao took a sip of wine, tilted his head, and kissed him—pouring the alcohol straight into his mouth.
Chi Zhan’s eyes flew open as dizziness flooded his brain.
…He had to be dreaming.
***
The chilled wine, sweet and tangy, with a faint, burning edge, slid down his throat. Completely unprepared, Chi Zhan shoved Chu Xingxiao away the second their lips parted, turning his head and coughing violently.
That was when he realized—it wasn’t a dream.
Chu Xingxiao hadn’t kissed him in the traditional sense. It was a drunken, unconscious contact more than anything—there was no depth to it. Yet his movements weren’t rough, just desperate, like he was venting everything inside. The soft press of his lips still lingered, like a jolt of electricity had slammed straight into Chi Zhan’s chest, numbing every nerve.
Chu’s eyes were still dazed. He reached out and grabbed Chi Zhan’s hand again—only to be shaken off. He stared, disappointed, then nuzzled his cheek into Chi Zhan’s palm like a lost little creature.
“…Don’t leave me, please…”
He hadn’t even realized Chi Zhan wasn’t the person he was searching for.
Chi Zhan’s head throbbed. He wiped his lips, and for the first time, fully understood one thing—He had just kissed Chu Xingxiao.
Clearly, Chu had zero kissing experience and was just following his instincts. But Chi Zhan wasn’t any better. He’d been completely overwhelmed by that sudden, full-frontal assault.
Chu’s cheeks were burning hot—so much that Chi Zhan’s fingers curled reflexively from the heat. He was furious, flustered. Tried to pull his hand away again—failed.
Chu Xingxiao, drunk out of his mind, still had a damn death grip.
Chi Zhan was about to explode.
He should never have come out here in the middle of the night.
He should’ve just let Chu drown in his sorrows with alcohol. Let him drink till dawn, rather than go through… whatever this was.
“I like you. Be with me. Just give it a try,” Chu mumbled, trying to kiss Chi Zhan’s fingers again. “…brother in law.”
“……”
“Look closely. Who do you think I am?”
Chi Zhan couldn’t break free. Chu Xingxiao clung to him like an oversized piece of sticky candy, slurring and dazed, confusing everyone for the person in his heart.
Left with no other option, Chi Zhan grabbed the nearest glass with leftover wine—and threw it straight into Chu Xingxiao’s face.
The entire room fell silent.
Chu Xingxiao seemed frozen in place. Chi Zhan hadn’t even flinched when he splashed him. Only after the wine drenched his hair and face did Chu finally shut his eyes tight—almost comically delayed.
The wine dripped down from his hair, his fringe, across his cheeks and chin in steady rivulets. A single streak down the corner of his eye looked almost like a tear. Even soaked like this, he was still annoyingly good-looking.
“Stop acting like a drunk idiot,” Chi Zhan said coldly. “Look at me. Really look. Who do you think I am?”
Honestly, Chi Zhan would’ve preferred this whole thing end quietly. If Chu Xingxiao woke up tomorrow with no memory, that would be ideal. It’d save them both from a mountain of awkwardness. But the problem was—Chi Zhan couldn’t even pry himself free. This was the only last-resort option left.
He stood up, refusing to even glance at Chu Xingxiao’s expression. Normally, after getting doused like that, anyone would sober up a little. He wanted to just leave him there and forget all of it. As he reached the bathroom door and gripped the handle, he still couldn’t help but glance back.
…Damn this ridiculous bleeding heart of his.
Chu Xingxiao hadn’t moved. He just stared at Chi Zhan, eyes wide open, still holding the exact pose from when he’d left.
“If you’re awake, clean yourself up,” Chi Zhan said, voice tight with restrained anger. Then he went into the bathroom.
After a quick clean-up, Chi Zhan returned to his bedroom. There wasn’t a trace of sleepiness left in him. But it was late. He had work tomorrow. He had to force himself to sleep…
Who exactly did Chu Xingxiao fall in love with? His brother in law?
Chi Zhan replayed the words in his head.
“Someone I can’t possibly be with.”
“I fell in love with my ge’s boyfriend.”
These romance targets were seriously something else. They stayed quiet for ages, but once they made their move, it was full-blown chaos. Didn’t they care about basic family bonds anymore?
The whole “brother stealing his brother’s lover” storyline might make for spicy gossip or a sensational plot in a dog-blood webnovel, riding on the thrill of taboo. But when it actually happened to you?
Yeah. Not thrilling at all.
Chi Zhan rolled over, trying to erase the memory of what had just happened—but it wouldn’t leave.
Moments later, thoroughly irritated at being made someone’s substitute, Secretary Chi punched the mattress in frustration.
Tomorrow, he was kicking Chu Xingxiao out. Hotel or under a bridge—he didn’t care. No discussion. No compromise.
Meanwhile, just one wall away, Chu Xingxiao sat in silence. When Chi Zhan disappeared into the bedroom and didn’t come back out, he stared blankly at the door for ages.
Eventually, he gave up. He cleaned up the living room, then went to wash himself off.
