BF Chapter 7

Zhan Shili tightened his grip on Xu Shen’s waist.

 

Xu Shen gently licked and sucked at his Adam’s apple. The warm sensation of his lips caressing his skin was exceptionally clear, causing Zhan Shili to unconsciously swallow.

 

Outside the door, Xu Zikang was still muttering away about something, but his muffled voice was blocked out, and neither of them had the slightest interest in listening. Xu Shen’s kisses gradually drifted up, sliding from Zhan Shili’s neck to his chin, finally landing on the corner of his lips.

 

Xu Shen was slightly out of breath. He paused for two seconds, but just as he wanted to press further, Zhan Shili tilted his head slightly, creating some distance between themselves: “That’s enough. Stop playing around.”

 

Xu Shen’s movements came to a halt. He looked up, meeting Zhan Shili’s forceful yet playful gaze, and murmured regretfully, “Alright then, never mind.”

 

His eyes carried a mischievous smile; he had tasted the sweetness of having an affair, but it was far from enough.

 

Zhan Shili squeezed his chin firmly, stepped back, and pulled open the bathroom door.

 

“Nic, I…”

 

Xu Zikang was about to say something, but Zhan Shili blocked his line of sight with his body, pulling the door shut behind him, and cut him off: “Let’s go.”

 

As their footsteps and voices gradually faded into the distance, Xu Shen leaned against the wall behind him, his finger resting on his lips, and slowly closed his eyes.

 

Outside, the cocktail party had drawn to a close, and guests were leaving one after another. Xu Zikang suggested going out for tong sui¹Tong sui is just sweet soup. It’s considered a dessert to be eaten after dinner/lunch, and there are many variations., and Zhan Shili didn’t object.

 

When Xu Shen showed up, Xu Zikang looked at him and asked curiously, “Ah Shen, where did you go just now?”

 

“Just went to the bathroom,” Xu Shen said without batting an eye. “Are you guys leaving now?”

 

Xu Zikang said, “Nic and I are going to get some tong sui. Do you want to come?”

 

Xu Shen curled his lips into a smile, “As long as you don’t mind me playing third wheel.”

 

Thinking Xu Shen had picked up on the dynamic between him and Zhan Shili, Xu Zikang’s expression became a little unnatural: “Not at all, let’s go together.”

 

There was a tong sui shop nearby. Once seated inside, Xu Shen ordered a serving of mango grass jelly, while Zhan Shili and Xu Zikang both ordered the shop’s signature water chestnut tong sui.

 

The desserts were served quickly. Xu Zikang smiled and said, “I rarely eat tong sui at places outside. My grandfather used to always tell me that food outside isn’t clean and wouldn’t let me have it.”

 

Zhan Shili replied, “This place is a well-established shop; a lot of people come here.”

 

Xu Zikang said happily, “Then I definitely have to give it a try.”

 

As he spoke, he asked Xu Shen, “Ah Shen, do you like eating these?”

 

Xu Shen picked up his spoon and said, “A bowl of tong sui is pretty expensive. When I was a child, my mom couldn’t bear to spend money on it. Later, when I went abroad, I couldn’t get authentic Hong Kong-style tong sui anymore.”

 

Xu Zikang was momentarily embarrassed. Despite both being sons of Xu Shiji, they led completely different lives. His comment just now had been unintentional, and he hadn’t meant anything, but there was no telling how Xu Shen might interpret it.

 

However, Xu Shen seemed to have just mentioned it casually. After finishing his sentence, he took a sip from his bowl, smacked his lips in satisfaction, and said, “It is indeed quite good.”

 

He then asked the other two with a grin, “Is your water chestnut good?”

 

Xu Zikang offered, “It’s not bad, you can try mine.”

 

“Then I won’t be polite.” Xu Shen reached out with his spoon. Since Xu Zikang was sitting slightly farther away, he reached straight into Zhan Shili’s bowl. When Zhan Shili looked up at him, Xu Shen gave a gentle blink. “Thank you, Mr. Zhan.”

 

Zhan Shili didn’t say anything but pushed his bowl forward a bit to let him help himself.

 

Xu Shen scooped up a small spoonful and popped it into his mouth. It was very sweet, much sweeter than his own. He actually didn’t care for desserts this cloying, but if he had to rate it, the taste was surprisingly good. “Quite sweet. Delicious.”

 

Zhan Shili nodded. “Mn.”

 

A strange feeling briefly crossed Xu Zikang’s mind, but he didn’t dwell on it. He brought up the art exhibition from earlier, mentioning that nearly all hundred opening commemorative badges he had prepared were given out, leaving only the last two. He asked Zhan Shili if he wanted them.

 

Zhan Shili obliged and said he would take them. Xu Zikang pulled out the badges and handed them over. He had specifically set these last two aside with a small motive in mind, wanting to keep one for himself and give one to Zhan Shili.

 

The oblivious Xu Shen chimed in, “This commemorative badge is really beautiful. Third Brother, I want one too.”

 

Xu Zikang hesitated, unsure of what to say when Zhan Shili spoke up: “You can take mine.”

 

Before Xu Shen could reach out to take it, Xu Zikang took out the last one and handed it over first. “Ah Shen, take this one.”

 

Xu Shen asked him, “Third Brother, won’t you be left without one yourself? How could I possibly accept it?”

 

Xu Zikang shook his head slightly. “It’s fine. You two can have them.”

 

Xu Shen said, “Wouldn’t this just be me stealing one’s love?”

 

Xu Zikang laughed. “How is it that dramatic?”

 

“As long as it’s not, then I’m relieved.”

 

Saying “thanks,” Xu Shen accepted the badge without a shred of modesty.

 

He and Zhan Shili were sitting close together, their legs touching under the table. Zhan Shili reached down with one hand, pressing against Xu Shen’s knee and giving it a gentle tap, warning him to behave.

 

Xu Shen gave Zhan Shili a glance, stopped messing around, and dutifully lowered his head to eat his tong sui.

 

At 9:30, they stepped out of the tong sui shop, where the chauffeur was parked by the curb waiting for them.

 

Zhan Shili pushed Xu Zikang to the car and opened the door. Before he could bend down to carry Xu Zikang inside, Xu Shen stepped in ahead of him: “Third Brother, let me carry you into the car.”

 

Xu Zikang couldn’t bring himself to refuse, so he could only nod.

 

Xu Shen carried him into the vehicle, climbed in himself, and pulled the door shut. Zhan Shili walked around to the front passenger seat, got in, and instructed the driver to head straight back to the Xu Family estate.

 

Having been busy all day, Xu Zikang was exhausted and fell asleep in his seat shortly after the car started moving.

 

Xu Shen pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts to find the number that had been left lying around ever since he saved it, and sent a message: [Did I interrupt your date with my Third Brother?]

 

Zhan Shili glanced at his lit-up phone screen and casually replied: [Asking what you already know, hm?]

 

Xu Shen: [Then let me apologize to you.]

 

Zhan Shili: [Stop causing trouble.]

 

Xu Shen: [I’m being sincere.]

 

Zhan Shili: [Is this fun for you?]

 

It actually was pretty fun. Flirting with Zhan Shili both openly and discreetly right in front of Xu Zikang… Xu Shen had to admit it was a novel and entertaining thrill, one he wouldn’t tire of anytime soon.

 

[Nic, what cologne are you wearing? It smells really good.]

 

Zhan Shili replied: [You like it?]

 

Xu Shen: [I do, but it would be even better if it weren’t mixed with someone else’s scent.]

 

Zhan Shili’s gaze lingered on this line of text. He wondered how much actual sincerity was behind the ambiguous words that came so effortlessly to the person in the back seat.

 

Quite amusing.

 

[First come, first served. Are you even in a position to be picky?]

 

Xu Shen: [Fair enough. Seems like I can only be the one who comes second.]

 

Zhan Shili: [Good that you know.]

 

Xu Shen: [Oh come on, don’t get too cocky.]

 

Zhan Shili didn’t reply again, turning off his phone.

 

The car arrived at the estate, and Xu Zikang woke up as they parked. Xu Shen carried him out of the car as before and placed him into his wheelchair. After saying “see you next time” to Zhan Shili, he began pushing Xu Zikang toward the entrance.

 

Xu Zikang seemed hesitant, likely wanting to speak a bit more to Zhan Shili alone.

 

He hadn’t had any alone time with Zhan Shili all evening. The things he had said outside the restroom earlier were only matters that were on his mind; Zhan Shili hadn’t reacted much to them. They had only been dating for half a year, and their relationship had always been lukewarm. Zhan Shili seemed gentle and considerate, but in reality, he had a very strong sense of boundaries and didn’t easily let anyone get close. Their relationship always felt like he was performing a monologue, a one-man show.

 

Zhan Shili seemed oblivious to Xu Zikang’s inner turmoil, simply telling them to go inside and rest early before driving off.

 

Because of this, Xu Zikang’s mood plummeted; he didn’t say a single word from the moment they walked in to when they reached his room upstairs.

 

Xu Shen was too lazy to say anything either and headed straight back to his own room.

 

Once inside, he tossed the badge Xu Zikang had given him into the trash, then sat down at his desk with only the reading lamp switched on.

 

He pulled out his gold coin and spun it a few times on the desk. Every time the coin landed, it landed heads up.

 

Xu Shen slumped onto the desk, staring blankly at the motionless gold coin for a moment. Then he pulled out his phone, casually opened the camera, and took a selfie.

 

Zhan Shili swiped open his phone screen, and two new messages came in almost simultaneously—

 

Xu Zikang: [Nic, thank you for tonight.]

 

Zhan Shili glanced at it but didn’t click on it. He swiped to open the other one, which was a selfie:

 

In a dimly lit room, Xu Shen was resting on his desk, staring into the lens. His dark, bright eyes revealed no emotion; it looked as though he was staring directly at the person viewing the photo at this moment.

 

Zhan Shili: [What’s the meaning of sending this photo?]

 

Xu Shen: [Do you like it?]

 

Zhan Shili: [You don’t smile when you take photos?]

 

Xu Shen looked at the photo he had just taken and replied: [I don’t smile when I don’t feel like it. Why should I smile when there’s nothing to be happy about?]

 

Zhan Shili: [Unhappy?]

 

Xu Shen: [A little worried.]

 

Zhan Shili: [Worried about what?]

 

Xu Shen held his phone and typed slowly: [My father said he wants me to start going to the company in a couple of days and I’m worried I won’t adapt well.]

 

Zhan Shili: [Weren’t you doing fine abroad? Why worry about joining your family’s own company?]

 

Xu Shen: [You even know about that? Makes sense, my father definitely had you guys thoroughly investigate my background.]

 

Zhan Shili: [Don’t worry, I said I’d take care of you.]

 

Xu Shen reminded him: [Nic, except for myself, I have no other bargaining chips to offer.]

 

Zhan Shili: [Mn.]

 

What that single word was supposed to mean was anyone’s guess. Xu Shen touched his lips, where the warmth from his earlier kiss on Zhan Shili’s lips still lingered.

 

A saint immune to temptation? Fake. Playing cool and composed? Real. At the end of the day, Zhan Shili was nothing more than a worldly man driven by common desires.

 

His act as a saint immune to temptation was fake, but his act of being cool and composed was real. Ultimately, Zhan Shili was nothing more than a worldly man driven by common desires.

 

After all, he himself was lustful and harbored hidden motives, thoroughly enjoying every second of it.

 

Xu Shen: [I was actually pretty unhappy tonight. I was lying when I said I wanted to get along with Xu Zikang. I have a grudge against him, I don’t like him, I hate him. Out of all the people in the Xu family, he’s the one I despise the most.]

 

Zhan Shili: [Did he offend you?]

 

Xu Shen: [Yeah, he offended me.]

 

Zhan Shili: [How did he offend you?]

 

Xu Shen: [Since you put me after him, I’m not telling you.]

 

A few minutes later, a new message came through: [Stop overthinking. Take a shower and sleep early. Good night.]

 

Xu Shen suddenly lost interest, turned off his phone, and set it down.

 

On the other side, Zhan Shili slid his finger across the screen, zooming in on Xu Shen’s selfie.

 

His fingertip slowly traced along the young man’s face, from his eyes down to his lips, paused for a moment, and tapped “save.”

 

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t/n: more info on tong sui (sweet soup) if interested — https://www.instagram.com/p/DM7hFoaBbmr/

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♡♡♡ if you like my translations, please consider buying me a kofi~! ♡♡♡

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  Tong sui is just sweet soup. It’s considered a dessert to be eaten after dinner/lunch, and there are many variations.