Chapter 21: The Rival Always Wants to Taste Him Again [21]

Chapter 21: His Archenemy Just Can't Stop Wanting Another Taste of Him "21"

Shi Mo looked at the small cake in his own hand, then at the milk tea in Ye Qi's.

Mm, yep, those were the two cups he'd bought last time.

"What a coincidence."

Shi Mo let out a light laugh and was about to walk straight past Ye Qi when Ye Qi suddenly grabbed his wrist.

"I grabbed them on the way here—the shop had a buy-one-get-one-free deal, but there's no way I can finish both by myself."

Ye Qi cleared his throat and pushed the milk tea into Shi Mo's hands.

"So, consider it a gift."

Shi Mo raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, but this isn't really my flavor."

"But you literally drank this exact flavor last time—70% sugar, less ice, taro paste, no pearls!"

Ye Qi blurted it out before he could stop himself, and the second the words left his mouth, he met Shi Mo's half-smiling, half-amused eyes.

He shut up instantly and guiltily turned his head away.

Shi Mo smiled and gave the milk tea a little swirl. "Young Master Ye sure remembers my preferences well. And here I thought you said you just grabbed it on a whim?"

Ye Qi's lashes fluttered. "I've got a good memory. I remember things after one glance."

"Ye Qi, you've been acting kinda weird lately."

Shi Mo said it all casual-like as he tore open the straw wrapper and took a sip.

When Ye Qi still didn't react, he leaned right into his space, staring at his already-red earlobes, and murmured:

"Lin Ran suddenly lost his mind and said he likes me... Ye Qi, you're not secretly into me too, are you?"

"Or what... did that one night with me leave you hooked?"

"Ye Qi, Young Master Ye, you got a craving for my body?"

Shi Mo let out a soft laugh, his words dripping with teasing.

The warmth of his breath hit Ye Qi's ear. At Shi Mo's words, Ye Qi's mind flashed back to what he'd been doing every single night—climbing into bed with him.

Those wild, chaotic images tangled up in his head, like something had just exploded!

Ye Qi's face went crimson in an instant, his mouth suddenly bone-dry. He stared at the milk tea that Shi Mo had just brought right up to his face.

Remembering how Shi Mo had just been drinking from it, like something possessed him...

Ye Qi bit down on the same straw Shi Mo's lips had just been on.

Mm, it really didn't taste bad...

Shi Mo: "Ծ‸Ծ?"

Wait, didn't he say the milk tea was a gift for him? Why was he drinking it himself?

Shi Mo narrowed his eyes and pinched Ye Qi's red earlobe, looking like he was both amused and annoyed by his behavior:

"Taste good?"

"Yeah, good."

The second those two words left Ye Qi's mouth, the milk tea was shoved right back into his arms.

"If it's that good, then keep it and savor it."

Shi Mo shot him a smile and walked off with his little cake.

Leaving Ye Qi standing there, milk tea in one hand, the other hand covering the earlobe Shi Mo had just pinched.

He stared at the fresh shoe print on top of his shoe, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

Shi Mo hadn't stomped on his foot that hard.

Ye Qi's mind wandered, and he thought back to the foot he'd seen in the surveillance footage—stepping on that soft carpet.

If that foot weren't on his shoe, but instead...

Ye Qi dropped his gaze to the milk tea in his hand.

He wasn't a milk tea person, but right now, he drank every last drop.

Then he sent a red envelope to the person who'd messaged him earlier to let him know Shi Mo had shown up at the company.

He thought, if only he could plant a tracker on Shi Mo, then no matter where he went, he'd know the second he got there.

Ye Qi schemed quietly, remembering the bracelet Shi Mo had mentioned liking at the auction three months back.

He'd bought that bracelet, but never found the right moment to give it to him.

But now, it seemed, it was a good thing he hadn't given it yet—it'd be the perfect place to hide something...

Shi Mo had no idea about Ye Qi's scheming. When he got home that night, everything seemed the same as usual, but 447 reminded him:

[Xiao Momo, from now on, we can only talk in our heads.]

447 said indignantly: [Ye Qi's installed so many cameras and listening devices here. He seriously wishes he could watch you from head to toe!]

Shi Mo didn't show the slightest bit of displeasure. Instead, a smile curled at the corner of his lips, and a glint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

His little mad dog had finally grown some balls...

447 trailed off, like it just remembered something, and went quiet.

It had almost forgotten—Ye Qi had done way more than watch Shi Mo from head to toe. He'd touched every inch of him.

And now, with all these cameras everywhere, it was Shi Mo who'd deliberately handed him this opportunity.

447 was totally baffled: [Xiao Momo, I really don't get it. With you doing this, he watches you every day—doesn't that make you uncomfortable?]

Shi Mo blinked: [Of course not~]

Only by letting his prey believe it was the hunter could it willingly sink deeper and deeper into his trap.

Knowing Ye Qi as he did, when he couldn't hold out any longer, Shi Mo wouldn't be the one suffering.

He'd waited patiently for three years to finally reach a point where he could eat his fill every day without any strings attached. How could he possibly feel uncomfortable?

Honestly, there wasn't a single inch of his body Ye Qi hadn't already seen or touched.

So naturally, he didn't mind him setting up these little tricks.

447 nodded, though still a bit puzzled:

"But I don't get it—if he likes you that much, why go through all this trouble instead of just confessing outright?"

Shi Mo headed to his bedroom and answered:

"Probably because he thinks we're mortal enemies, and even if he confessed, I'd just mock him and wouldn't say yes."

That's why Ye Qi keeps bringing up the arranged marriage.

Basically, Ye Qi thinks a regular confession or proposal would get rejected, so he's using the whole 'arranged marriage' thing to be with him.

As long as he gets what he wants, the how doesn't matter.

447: "So, would you turn him down?"

Shi Mo sighed: "Of course, after all, I'm playing the villain. Though I don't have to be his enemy, I can't really be with him."

"Besides, he's just my food. No matter how delicious, eating the same thing over and over gets old. Once I've had my fill, I'll naturally move on to the next meal."

447 was at a loss for words. He wanted Shi Mo to be happy, but he couldn't argue with that logic.

Unless the heavens let up, once they completed their mission, they'd have to leave this world behind.

Let alone actually being with Ye Qi, the male lead who shouldn't have any romantic ties with him.

But...

447 looked at Ye Qi's corruption value and fell silent.

He had a hunch that even after they completed the mission, leaving wouldn't be so easy.

As for Shi Mo's talk about getting bored, he didn't take it to heart.

After all, through so many missions, Ye Qi was the first one Shi Mo had actually taken a liking to.

Given how much Shi Mo doted on and spoiled Ye Qi, he probably wouldn't get bored anytime soon.

"By the way, Xiao Momo, Lin Ran has been busy lately. He probably won't have time to bother you."

447 shook his head, brushing aside those complicated thoughts.

He flew back in front of Shi Mo, eyes sparkling as he looked at him, then did a little somersault, practically having "Praise me" written all over his face.

Shi Mo chuckled softly: "Mm, Xiao Qi, you're amazing. Keep it up. Once we deal with Lin Ran, I'll take you somewhere fun."

447 cheered happily: "Yay!"