Chapter 42: The Rival Always Wants to Taste Him Again [42]

Chapter 42: The Rival Always Wants to Taste Him Again "42"

"What are you thinking about, smiling so happily? What, did the Lin family go bankrupt?"

Shi Mo glanced at Ye Qi, one eyebrow raised slightly.

He said it like that, but he was just messing around. To hold steady as one of the three great families, the Lin family wasn't that easy to take down.

Not to mention Lin Ran's protagonist aura hadn't been fully reclaimed yet, with a half-dead protagonist halo still hanging around.

Lately, he'd been keeping tabs on the outside world through 447.

He knew the Lin family was on its last legs, yet some invisible force was inexplicably keeping them alive.

Ye Qi had probably picked up on this too, but he figured if he just pushed hard enough, he could handle it, so he wasn't worried.

Of course, Shi Mo wasn't about to let him worry for long...

"Not yet, but soon."

Ye Qi said, ruffling Shi Mo's hair, casually pocketing his phone, then draped an arm over Shi Mo's shoulder and pulled him into a hug.

"The sun is nice today..."

Ye Qi's voice trailed off, then he cleared his throat and said, with a hint of meaning:

"A Mo... how've you been feeling lately?"

Shi Mo blinked, confused: "Feeling about what? You still worried I'm gonna let what people say online get to me?"

Ye Qi's lips parted, but for a moment, no words came out. Only when the blush crept from his ears to his cheeks did he finally mumble:

"I mean... how're my skills, in your opinion?"

That caught Shi Mo off guard—he clearly hadn't expected Ye Qi to ask so bluntly out of nowhere.

"Hmm..."

He let out a soft chuckle, a glimmer dancing in his eyes. He deliberately drew out his words, pausing for a beat before saying:

"I think... they're alright."

Ye Qi got the answer he wanted, and the tension in his chest finally eased.

Then he shifted, holding Shi Mo differently, eyes bright as he asked:

"Then... can I ask for a proper label?"

"A Mo, I don't wanna stay just a lover forever. How about I get to be your boyfriend?"

"I'll treat you right, I swear. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you. If you're willing, I'll transfer every asset I own into your name!"

Ye Qi ducked his head as he spoke, burying his face in the crook of Shi Mo's neck and nuzzling softly, his voice full of hope and excitement:

"No matter what you do from now on, I'll be right there with you. Anything you wanna eat, I'll make it for you... A Mo, can I get promoted?"

Shi Mo let out a soft chuckle, his tone teasing:

"Oh? So if I don't let you be my boyfriend, you're not gonna cook for me anymore?"

Ye Qi rushed to say, "Of course not!"

Shi Mo said, totally calm: "Then why would I promote you?"

Ye Qi: "QAQ!"

"A Mo... do you still think my skills aren't good enough?"

Ye Qi looked at Shi Mo, his voice small and hurt.

The idea that Shi Mo thought his skills weren't good enough, and that's why he could only ever be a lover—that had become a wall he couldn't get past.

Like an invisible label stuck to his back that he couldn't peel off no matter what.

Shi Mo gently ruffled Ye Qi's hair, then cupped his face.

Then, under Ye Qi's hurt and confused gaze, he took the lead, cupping Ye Qi's face and pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

Ye Qi's eyes fluttered as Shi Mo sighed softly against his ear:

"Isn't this good enough? Why do you have to be my boyfriend?"

"Young Master Ye, I still like you better the way you are now..."

"If you really need a title, I can't give you one. You're free to end things between us if you want."

Ye Qi's heart clenched at Shi Mo's words, and he almost instinctively tightened his hold around Shi Mo's waist.

He didn't get it. He could clearly tell Shi Mo had feelings for him too.

So why was Shi Mo still not satisfied, still refusing to give him a label and let him be his boyfriend?

A wave of hurt spread through his chest, making his nose sting and his eyes burn.

One arm around Shi Mo's waist, the other hand gripping the back of his neck, he kissed him hard!

This kiss wasn't gentle like before—it was desperate and fierce!

"Mmm..."

In that moment, the Ye Qi in front of him almost merged with the unhinged Ye Qi from his dreams.

A flash of excitement crossed Shi Mo's eyes, but he quickly hid it.

He indulged him, silently giving in.

He let Ye Qi do whatever he wanted.

"Let's go back to the room..."

Shi Mo's voice shook a little as he spoke. He knew what Ye Qi wanted.

He also knew that after being rejected like that, Ye Qi needed an outlet right now.

So when Ye Qi rarely pushed back, he just sighed softly and let him have his way...

But the consequence of indulging like that was that Ye Qi hadn't taken any precautions at all.

And he'd never been so full in his life.

As a result, he could only let Ye Qi carry him back to the room and lie in bed for a whole day.

Shi Mo's last thought as he faded into unconsciousness was that if he weren't a succubus, he might end up falling ill from this.

But for now, he just wanted to sleep well.

Ye Qi looked at Shi Mo, sound asleep on the bed, feeling regretful and guilty.

He had truly been too furious, which was why he had been so unrestrained and had pushed Shi Mo to this state.

He wondered if Shi Mo would blame him when he woke up—and if so, would he use this as an excuse to cut ties completely?

The more Ye Qi thought about it, the more anxious he became. His eyes landed on Shi Mo's ankle.

There were marks left there from gripping too hard.

Just moments ago, he had barely been able to suppress the wild thoughts in his mind—he truly wanted to keep this person locked by his side forever...

Ye Qi silently averted his gaze, but then his eyes landed on a small black box sitting in the corner.

His breath caught, and he stood up and walked toward it.

It was as if a voice was whispering temptations in his ear...

He knew exactly what was inside.

And when he snapped back to reality, he was holding a slender chain in his hand—a silver-white bracelet engraved with rose patterns.

This was something he'd prepared two years ago.

It was Shi Mo's birthday that day.

He had watched Shi Mo standing amidst a sea of roses and taken the first photo he'd ever secretly snapped of him.

And he'd had this chain custom-made.

At the time, he only thought that putting this on Shi Mo would look stunning.

Later, he realized his thoughts were too crazy.

So he locked the chain up but never deleted that photo.

Until now.

Ye Qi felt his heart racing, but he still wrapped the chain around Shi Mo's ankle.

Just as he had imagined so many times in his dreams...

He'd done it after all.

Ye Qi looked down at Shi Mo, who was sound asleep and completely unaware. Most of his figure was hidden in the darkness, his gaze burning like fire.

Moonlight streamed through the window, falling only on Shi Mo's face, the cold light making him appear graceful and elegant.

Yet the marks on his body were clearly intimate.

Those marks all told the story of how this pristine white paper had been painted on, bit by bit, by someone hidden in the shadows.

Ye Qi curled his fingers around the chain, wrapping it around Shi Mo's ankle again and again, murmuring softly as if he wanted to devour the person before him,

"A Mo..."

"I won't give you the chance to abandon me..."

Every word was filled with madness, yet swallowed up by the darkness.

Ye Qi finally turned and left.

He told himself he couldn't do this.

At least not like this, not right now.

He had to arrange everything, to make sure Shi Mo had no chance to cast him aside.

So much so that he failed to notice Shi Mo silently curling his lips into a smile after he left.

Shi Mo's ankles were sensitive.

Though he was very sleepy, after having his ankle grabbed and played with so wantonly just moments ago, sleep was impossible.

Now he sat up, propping himself up with one hand, and let out a yawn.

He lazily glanced at the chain on his ankle that Ye Qi hadn't taken off.

Mm, it's pretty nice.

He hoped the other things Ye Qi had prepared would be just as pretty as this chain.

Otherwise, he'd be really disappointed...