Yu Shiqing raised his hand to stop him. “What?”
Jiang Yu only asked, “Will you give it or not?”
Yu Shiqing still had a smile on his lips. “Don’t say silly things. You’ve had too much to drink tonight. Go get some rest.”
As he was about to turn around, Jiang Yu blocked him closely.
“Jiang Yu—”
“You promised with your own mouth. As long as you have it, you can give me anything,” Jiang Yu interrupted. He repeated, “The one I like is you. Only you.”
Yu Shiqing showed a hint of helplessness. He held Jiang Yu’s face with one hand, lifting his chin with his thumb to make him look clearly. “Who am I?”
Jiang Yu answered calmly, “Yu Shiqing.”
Yu Shiqing said, “Good. Since you know, then don’t joke like this.”
Looking straight at him, Jiang Yu continued unbuttoning the second button and said, “This isn’t a joke.”
Yu Shiqing glanced down and didn’t stop him. “Alright, it’s not a joke.”
Jiang Yu paused with both hands. “Then will you give it or not? I can give you a few seconds to think.”
Yu Shiqing couldn’t tell what his state was, so he followed along, thinking, “Between friends—”
“I’m not talking about normal friends,” Jiang Yu frowned slightly but stared straight at him. “I said before, once I’m ready, I’ll tell you something. Now I’m telling you: I like you, Yu Shiqing. I’m serious.”
His tone was steady, his words clear. Except for the smell of alcohol, even his eyes were no different from usual.
He didn’t seem drunk at all.
Seeing this, the smile in Yu Shiqing’s eyes finally faded.
Jiang Yu stared at him and undid the third button. “Aside from you, I’ve never considered being with anyone else.”
“That’s enough,” Yu Shiqing grabbed his wrist, his voice calm again. “You’re drunk. Go rest.”
“I’m not drunk. You know that very well.”
Yu Shiqing straightened from the doorframe, easily brushing away Jiang Yu’s hand and heading toward the bathroom. “Even if you’re not drunk, you’re not thinking clearly.”
“I am thinking clearly.” Jiang Yu strode in front of him, the alcohol making his impulses surge wildly inside. “I said I like you; I’ve fallen in love with you, and now I want to pursue you and be with you—”
“Jiang Yu, that’s enough.”
“It’s not enough,” Jiang Yu pressed the toilet lid down and pushed Yu Shiqing to sit. “This day, this moment, this question I’ve been preparing too long for this. You have to give me an answer.”
Yu Shiqing was caught off guard and stumbled into the seat.
“Tell me now,” Jiang Yu pressed down on his shoulders, leaning over and looking down at him. “The promise you gave me, does it count or not?”
Yu Shiqing frowned. “Jiang Yu, we’re both alphas.”
“So what?” Jiang Yu’s fingers tightened. “I’m only asking how you feel. I only care about your feelings.”
Hearing this, Yu Shiqing felt something stir quietly in his heart but the feeling passed in a flash, too quick to grasp.
Jiang Yu’s expression was tense, his chest full of anxious emotions that almost poured from his throat. He forced them back again and again, only asking, “What’s your answer?”
Looking into Jiang Yu’s unwavering eyes, Yu Shiqing closed his own for a moment and avoided his gaze for the first time.
“Jiang Yu, you’re just mistaking friendship for love—”
Before he could finish, something soft pressed against his lips.
Yu Shiqing’s eyes snapped open.
Jiang Yu’s trembling eyelids were right in front of him.
In the next second, Jiang Yu pulled back slightly. “Does this count as friendship?”
Yu Shiqing hadn’t responded yet when Jiang Yu leaned in again, kissing his lips, his jaw, his neck. A low, husky voice sounded beside his ear, hot breath rolling past its sensitive curve.
“Does this count as friendship?”
Yu Shiqing raised his hand to grab Jiang Yu’s shoulder and neck, trying to push him away, but Jiang Yu had already undone the fourth button. As he tugged at the hem of Yu Shiqing’s shirt, the remaining buttons popped off all at once.
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
They hit the wall with sharp sounds, then rolled onto the floor.
Jiang Yu grabbed Yu Shiqing’s waist and pulled at his belt, eyes dark and burning. “Or does this still count as friendship?”
Maybe it was the alcohol, but Yu Shiqing, sitting on the toilet, had nowhere to exert force. He frowned deeply and leaned forward, wrapping his arms around Jiang Yu’s waist and pulling him onto his lap to stop this ridiculous behavior.
“Jiang Yu, don’t mess around.”
“Is it wrong to express feelings?” Jiang Yu looked down at him. “I’m just reminding you friends don’t kiss.”
Yu Shiqing’s frown deepened.
“And we’ve kissed before too,” Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow, “We’ve even done more intimate things. You never rejected it.”
Yu Shiqing said, “That was because—”
“Because of my heat?” Jiang Yu finished for him. “Then how do you explain your physical reaction to me?”
Yu Shiqing didn’t answer.
From the outside, no one could see Jiang Yu’s taut nerves. “Admit it. You have feelings for me.”
As he spoke, his hand slipped under Yu Shiqing’s shirt. “Or, should we try again? Maybe it’ll help you confirm.”
Yu Shiqing quickly stopped him. “Enough.”
“You don’t like that idea?”
Yu Shiqing looked up at him, his cold features showing indifference in his silence.
Jiang Yu’s heart tightened. After the impulse faded, a never-before-felt nervousness crept in.
Would Yu Shiqing accept him or reject him?
Just the thought of being rejected was unbearable.
Right now, the silence in the room was like a slow torture. Every second of waiting felt like forever.
Yu Shiqing’s mind was also in chaos. This was something he had never experienced before.
Jiang Yu’s confession came too suddenly, completely unexpected. The most rational thing to do would be to cut things off immediately.
“Yu Shiqing, what are you hesitating for?” Jiang Yu asked. “Are you going back on your word? You want to walk away from me?”
Yu Shiqing replied, “Jiang Yu, this is good for you.”
Same-sex love was not widely accepted. Breaking ties and cutting off Jiang Yu’s feelings might be the only realistic choice.
“Good for me?” Jiang Yu said in a low voice. “Only I know what’s good for me. If you accept me and fall in love with me, that is good for me.”
Yu Shiqing fell silent for a while. Then he said, “Get up first.”
“Is it just because I’m also an alpha that you won’t accept me?” Jiang Yu stayed still. “You’re not against me marking you, not against my kisses. We’ve been together so long, can you really say you feel nothing for me?”
Yu Shiqing said, “If being together all this time made you think that, I’ll move out of Yufeng Garden as soon as we get back.”
Jiang Yu looked at his moving lips and suddenly kissed him again, cutting off his unfinished words.
Yu Shiqing’s pupils contracted.
Unlike before, this kiss was deep and lingering. The scent of alcohol filled his mouth and spread.
Jiang Yu’s left arm wrapped around Yu Shiqing’s neck, his right hand holding his forearm tightly to prevent interruption.
Yu Shiqing stood up, intending to set Jiang Yu down, but Jiang Yu clung to him.
Yu Shiqing instinctively supported Jiang Yu’s hips to keep him from falling. Once he had steadied him, he realized what he was doing and frowned.
“Get down.”
“No.”
Yu Shiqing walked to the bed and bent down to place him on the edge, but Jiang Yu never let go.
“Unless you give me an answer.”
Yu Shiqing was about to speak when Jiang Yu added, “If you reject me without thinking it through, then don’t ever think of getting rid of me.”
Yu Shiqing was silent for a long time.
Just before Jiang Yu couldn’t hold back from asking again, Yu Shiqing finally said, “Okay.”
Jiang Yu was stunned, his heartbeat instantly out of rhythm. “Okay what?”
“I’ll give it serious thought and then give you an answer.”
Jiang Yu’s lips were already curving into a smile, his eyes quickly lighting up with joy. “You’ll think about it?”
“Is that enough for you?”
“No.” Jiang Yu tried to keep his smile straight, but like always, he failed. “You haven’t accepted me yet, why should I be satisfied?”
Yu Shiqing said, “If you’re not satisfied with that, wouldn’t rejection be easier?”
“Of course not. Accepting me is the easiest thing.”
Yu Shiqing didn’t argue. “Still not letting go?”
Jiang Yu finally let go, then stood up and asked, “How long do you plan to think about it?”
Yu Shiqing turned to him. “How long do you think it takes?”
Jiang Yu’s eyes sparkled. “No rush. Take your time.”
Seeing Yu Shiqing begin buttoning up the shirt, Jiang Yu asked, “Aren’t you taking a shower?”
“I’m going to book another room.”
Jiang Yu frowned and blocked him. “Why?”
Yu Shiqing gestured behind him. “There’s only one bed.”
All rooms had been booked in advance. Only one had a double bed, which Yan Hongyun had given to the two of them, just as always.
“So?” Jiang Yu said. “There’s only one bed at home too.”
Yu Shiqing looked at him.
Jiang Yu shifted his gaze slightly, then quickly returned it. “We’ve slept together before. I’ve never done anything to you, you don’t need to worry.”
Before Yu Shiqing could object, he added, “Besides, the awards just ended. Who knows how many reporters are watching this hotel. If you get another room, the media will say we had a falling out.”
That made sense. So, Yu Shiqing didn’t insist.
After washing up, Jiang Yu got into bed first, lifting the blanket and lying on the left side, not crossing the line.
Seeing Yu Shiqing come out of the bathroom, he said, “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything.”
Yu Shiqing walked to the right side and lay down.
Jiang Yu scooted closer.
Yu Shiqing closed his eyes. “Jiang Yu.”
“Before you make your decision, there’s no need for us to draw a line. I’m just used to sleeping next to you. No rush to change that.”
He always had a clever excuse.
They were only staying one night. It was already late. Yu Shiqing said nothing and let him be.
“Sleep,” he said.
Jiang Yu smiled in the dark and closed his eyes. “Okay.”
The next morning, they got up one after the other.
After washing up and before going downstairs for breakfast, Jiang Yu stood by the door and saw Yu Shiqing approaching.
Suddenly, he said, “Wait.”
Yu Shiqing stopped in front of him. “What?”
“Don’t move.” Jiang Yu stepped closer, eyes on Yu Shiqing’s collar.
Yu Shiqing also looked down.
And in that moment, Jiang Yu leaned in and kissed his lips.
It was quick and light.
Feeling the familiar soft touch again, Yu Shiqing sighed. “Jiang Yu.”
“You said you were going to think about it. Pursuing someone requires action,” Jiang Yu said confidently. “Until you’ve decided, a daily kiss is necessary.”
Yu Shiqing replied, “Until I’ve made my decision, you don’t need to do anything.”
“Okay,” Jiang Yu agreed easily. Then he opened the door and looked at him. “After you, Mr. Yu?”
