Cen Chi’s gaze shifted.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, and in that instant, Chi Zhan felt a danger he’d never sensed before.
Cen Chi was getting angry.
To provoke someone as graceful and composed as Cen Chi into genuine fury—well, that had to count as some kind of twisted achievement.
But he wasn’t the one angry. What right did Cen Chi have to be?
“Why, Ah-Zhan?” Cen Chi suddenly smiled—but there was nothing gentle about it. That smile was stripped of all pretense, revealing raw emotion beneath the facade. “What’s so wrong about being with me? What do you hate about me?”
“I don’t hate you, but—”
If he were being honest, Cen Chi was an exceptional person. But that alone wasn’t reason enough to be with someone.
“Your heart was racing when I kissed you.” Cen Chi’s voice was calm, as if he were merely stating a fact. “You feel something for me, don’t you?”
“That was just nerves. It doesn’t mean anything.” Chi Zhan fought to salvage his ground.
“Just nerves?” Cen Chi murmured, inching closer again.
Chi Zhan tensed like a startled animal, fur practically standing on end.
“Cen Chi, don’t push your luck.”
Cen Chi stopped in his tracks—and to Chi Zhan’s horror, laughed.
“That’s the first time you’ve ever called me by name.”
…That’s what he took away from this?
Why were all these romance targets so goddamn weird about what they focused on?
Secretary Chi was losing his mind.
“As for this so-called boyfriend…” Cen Chi said slowly, “Let him come find me. I’m starting to get curious—who is it, really?”
There was something loaded in his words, like he already knew the truth.
“You don’t strike me as someone who’d date online. And after all this time, you’ve never even met in person. Even if that kind of love exists, it’s fleeting at best. You can tell him everything,” Cen Chi said lightly. “You know where I work. If he has a problem with me, he’s welcome to come. I’ll be waiting. Is that enough?” Cen Chi asked. “Now, you don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
“……”
He knew it. Giving in to the lure of cats and following Cen Chi home had been a monumental mistake.
Chi Zhan had been utterly routed. One advance after another, Cen Chi had knocked down every line of defense. And now, a terrifying realization dawned:
Had Cen Chi always known that the so-called “boyfriend” didn’t exist?
Everything he’d just said was a quiet declaration:
I know you’re lying. But I’m willing to pretend I don’t.
“Alright.” Cen Chi seemed to notice the tangled mess of thoughts above Chi Zhan’s head and finally offered him an out. “It’s late. You’ve got work tomorrow. Go get some sleep. I washed your pajamas from last time—want to wear those again?”
“I… I should go,” Chi Zhan refused reflexively. After everything that just happened, how could he possibly spend the night under the same roof with Cen Chi?
“It’s still raining, and it’s already late. You won’t be able to get a ride from here,” Cen Chi said, as if he’d predicted this response. “If you insist on going back now, you’ll have to walk half an hour just to reach the rideshare zone. Then wait at least another hour for an available car. There are no malls or shelters along the way—you’ll definitely catch a cold. You won’t make it to work tomorrow. And then what? Zhou Yanxing will be worried.” Cen Chi’s voice was gentle, coaxing. “He’ll come find me to treat you. And you’ll need to give him a reason for being sick. So what will you say… ‘Secretary Chi stayed over at my place for a bit, got kissed by me, freaked out, stormed out into the rain and walked a whole kilometer before hailing a ride, and caught a cold.’”
Chi Zhan stared.
“You really think I’d tell him the truth?”
“Of course not,” Cen Chi said easily. Then his eyes flicked to Chi Zhan’s wrist. “But… unless I’m mistaken, the watch Zhou Yanxing gave you—it has a GPS tracker, doesn’t it?”
Chi Zhan froze. He had completely forgotten about that.
“He probably doesn’t check your location all the time, but what if one day he randomly does? What will you say then?”
“……”
Cen Chi’s move was masterful.
Even with all his defenses up, Chi Zhan hadn’t anticipated this. He was still playing checkers—Cen Chi had already finished a game of chess.
“I won’t try anything else tonight.” Cen Chi handed him a cup and stepped back, deliberately putting space between them. “Just drink this and go to sleep.”
Chi Zhan eyed him warily.
“I won’t mention any of this to Zhou Yanxing,” Cen Chi added. “And I can erase this part of the record. He won’t find out.”
Chi Zhan was now trapped—couldn’t stay, couldn’t leave. And Cen Chi was right: at this hour, even if he left, he wouldn’t get home until deep into the night.
“Swear to me. You mean it. You’re not lying.”
“I swear,” Cen Chi agreed without hesitation. “If I’m lying… may I never win your heart.”
…What kind of twisted vow was that?
After washing up, Chi Zhan returned to the living room—but Cen Chi was no longer there. He’d probably gone to bed already.
Chi Zhan finally relaxed a little and was just about to close the bedroom door when something warm and fluffy suddenly barreled into him, belly-up.
“Meow-Meow?” Chi Zhan blinked in surprise, but couldn’t help scooping the cat up for a cuddle.
Meow-Meow stood up, meowed once, and just when Chi Zhan thought it was hungry—it suddenly hooked its paw around his leg, reared up, and performed a perfect backflip in place. Then, as if nothing had happened, it scratched its cheek with a paw and sauntered off.
“…???”
Backflip… it was real?!
The little black cat pranced into the bedroom. Cen Chi handed it a dried fish treat and gently patted its head.
“Good job.”
