BF Chapter 25

Xu Shiji fell gravely ill, his vitality far from what it used to be. He had originally planned to rest for another two months before returning to the company, but now it was delayed again.

 

The kidnapping was handled discreetly without causing much of a stir. The kidnappers were naturally not caught; police extracted DNA from the cigarette butts left at the scene, and after comparing it against the database, they found that they were repeat offenders with heavy criminal records. After receiving the ransom, they immediately fled by boat to Southeast Asia and disappeared.

 

Everyone in the Xu family harbored their own hidden thoughts and dared not offend Xu Shiji, so no one mentioned the matter again after that.

 

Xu Shen received an unexpected bonus, though: Xu Shiji gifted him a brand-new yacht as a reward or perhaps compensation for his injury.

 

He wasn’t particularly interested in this kind of thing, but it was better than nothing.

 

Before sunset, Zhan Shili appeared at the pier of the yacht club, where Xu Shen had already been waiting on board for a long time.

 

Zhan Shili stopped below and looked up. Standing on the deck, hands in his pockets, Xu Shen was looking down at him with a beaming smile: “Nic, you’re so slow!”

 

The sea breeze tousled his fine hair, and sunlight danced across the corners of Xu Shen’s eyes and brows, making him glow.

 

Stepping onto the ship, Zhan Shili explained, “There was a bit of traffic on the way.”

 

Xu Shen nodded and asked him, “Do you know how to operate a yacht?”

 

“Mn.”

 

Today was the first time Xu Shen’s yacht would set sail, and he had only invited Zhan Shili.

 

They walked into the cabin control room together. Zhan Shili performed start-up checks first, his movements neat and efficient, recognizable as an expert at a glance.

 

“I was thinking that if you didn’t know how, I’d have to hire a sailor to join us on board, and then we wouldn’t be able to have our world of two,” Xu Shen joked as he leaned over nearby.

 

Starting the engine, Zhan Shili calmly replied, “These are all things I am required to learn as an assistant to a big boss. Sit tight.”

 

With the roar of the engine, their ship cut through the waves, chasing the setting sun and the gulls flying over the sea.

 

By the time they reached the open sea, it was already dusk. Zhan Shili turned off the engine and stepped out of the cabin. Xu Shen leaned against the edge of the deck railing, looking at something with great interest.

 

As Zhan Shili walked over, Xu Shen heard the footsteps and didn’t turn around: “Look, there are pink dolphins over there.”

 

Zhan Shili looked in the direction his finger pointed; indeed, two pink dolphins were chasing each other, playing in the sea.

 

Xu Shen marveled: “We’re really lucky, seeing pink dolphins on our first day at sea.”

 

Zhan Shili said flatly, “It’s Young Master Shen’s good luck.”

 

Xu Shen turned to look at him: “Nic, are you flattering me?”

 

“It’s the truth,” Zhan Shili answered.

 

Xu Shen agreed: “If you say so, then so be it. I hope that I can always be this lucky.”

 

Zhan Shili pulled up his hand to take a look; the wound on his arm had its stitches removed yesterday, leaving behind a scar.

 

“A scar in exchange for a yacht worth tens of millions,” Xu Shen clicked his tongue, “My dad is actually quite generous with me now.”

 

Zhan Shili’s fingers stroked the scar for a moment and he asked, “Does it still hurt?”

 

Xu Shen said dismissively, “I’m not that delicate.”

 

Zhan Shili asked no further and went to pour two glasses of red wine.

 

Xu Shen took a glass, leaning against the railing as he drank and asked casually, “How exactly did you clean it up? I heard those people ran away to the Philippines, and my dad has never given up sending people there to look for them. What if they’re captured by my father’s people and confess the things you did?”

 

The wine slid into Zhan Shili’s mouth, his throat rolling slowly as he spoke: “They’re all desperate criminals with countless enemies. As long as we spread the word that they’re on the run, there will be plenty of people to deal with them once they’re on the high seas. They won’t even have a chance to get to the Philippines.”

 

Xu Shen was rendered speechless for a moment: “Nic, do others know how evil you are?”

 

Zhan Shili looked at him: “Only Young Master Shen knows. Scared?”

 

“No,” Xu Shen leaned close, the fragrances of their wines mixing, “I just happen to like the bad ones.”

 

Zhan Shili’s gaze fell on his lips, and Xu Shen put one hand on Zhan Shili’s shoulder pressing their lips together.

 

The liquor was sloshed around between their intertwined lips and teeth, and Xu Shen felt a little dizzy, wondering if he was drunk.

 

As the kiss ended, he affectionately licked Zhan Shili’s lips, sucking on them from time to time: “Nic, does this count as us dating?”

 

His voice was low and husky, murmuring Zhan Shili’s name: “Does it count?”

 

“If you say it counts, it counts.” The hand Zhan Shili pressed against his back kneaded down to his waist with great pressure.

 

Xu Shen let out a muffled groan and chuckled softly against Zhan Shili.

 

What interrupted them was the abrupt ringing of Zhan Shili’s phone.

 

He held the phone and took a casual glance: seeing the caller was Xu Zikang, he let it ring, having no interest in picking up.

 

After it automatically hung up, the other side persevered and called a second time. Xu Shen gently suggested, “Answer it. Maybe it’s something important.”

 

Zhan Shili looked at him quietly, his gaze subtle.

 

Xu Shen’s eyes were filled with smiles, teasing and mischievous.

 

A moment later, Zhan Shili picked up the phone and answered the call.

 

Over the phone, Xu Zikang asked Zhan Shili if he was free to have dinner together that evening, saying that he had made a reservation at a restaurant to celebrate his birthday.

 

Xu Shen’s kiss covered Zhan Shili’s lips again, biting lightly on his lower lip before travelling down his chin and neck, finally settling on his Adam’s apple, sucking neither lightly nor roughly, teasing him to the extreme.

 

Zhan Shili squeezed his waist hard with his hand, warning him, but Xu Shen didn’t care in the slightest. He wrapped both arms around his neck and continuously kissed his Adam’s apple.

 

Zhan Shili’s throat bobbed, and over the phone Xu Zikang asked once more: “Nic, are you free to come over?”

 

“Not going,” Zhan Shili answered lazily, “You know I never celebrate my birthdays.”

 

Xu Zikang was very disappointed. Every time he invited Zhan Shili out recently, Zhan Shili was always unavailable. It was one thing on weekdays, but today was Saturday, and it was also Zhan Shili’s birthday.

 

“…Are you working overtime today too?”

 

“Not at all,” Zhan Shili said, slipping his hand under Xu Shen’s shirt and stroking him gently. “Picked up a wildcat. It’s too clingy and loves to act coquettishly with me, insisting I stay and keep it company. I really can’t make time, so maybe next time.”

 

Hearing this, Xu Zikang was somewhat surprised: “You’re keeping a cat?”

 

“Yeah. Didn’t plan to at first, but since I picked it up and it caught my eye, I decided to keep it on a whim,” Zhan Shili said calmly.

 

Xu Zikang asked hesitantly, “Can you let me come take a look? I like these small animals too.”

 

“I’m afraid not,” Zhan Shili refused directly. “Although it’s a wildcat, it recognizes people quite well and is rather spoiled. He won’t let anyone touch him except me. If you come, I’m afraid he’ll hide.”

 

Xu Shen’s lips wandered to his other ear, panting softly. Unable to suppress the laughter in his voice, he whispered, “Who’s the cat?”

 

Zhan Shili turned his head, kissed his cheek, and also sucked on his earlobe.

 

Over the phone, Xu Zikang could only drop it upon hearing him say so: “Then let’s talk when you’re free next time. Nic, don’t reject me again next time.”

 

Zhan Shili responded casually, “Mn.”

 

Hanging up the call, Xu Shen leaned in and took another bite out of his lips with a fierce expression.

 

Zhan Shili said, “I forgot to mention earlier that the cat I picked up is not only delicate and clingy, but also very fierce.”

 

“Stop making fun of me,” Xu Shen cursed him, “Bastard.”

 

Zhan Shili patted his waist: “I could tell you were having a lot of fun. You don’t even take Xu Zikang seriously. Why bother?”

 

Xu Shen looked into his eyes and asked, “Do you take him seriously?”

 

“I can’t let him go right now,” Zhan Shili said frankly, making no attempt to hide his despicable nature, “Third Young Master Xu still has some use to him, so I have no reason to let him go.”

 

Xu Shen fell silent for a moment.

 

This was Zhan Shili’s true nature. This ambiguous relationship between them wasn’t anything to begin with—if Zhan Shili were to distance himself from Xu Zikang just because of this, perhaps he should be all the more wary that this man had ulterior motives.

 

Xu Shen stepped back, turning his head to look at the distant sea.

 

The sun was setting, and a dazzling orange glow blanketed the horizon where the sea and sky met.

 

“I want to go swimming in the sea,” he said.

 

“Why swim this late?” Zhan Shili said disapprovingly, “The seawater is cold.”

 

Xu Shen didn’t think so: “It’s not even dark yet.”

 

Before Zhan Shili could say more, Xu Shen turned back, giving him a meaningful look, suddenly blossoming into a grin. Before Zhan Shili could react, he flipped over the railing with ease and jumped straight into the sea.

 

Zhan Shili was stunned, stepping forward and subconsciously reaching out his hand, yet failing to catch even a sliver of Xu Shen’s shirt hem.

 

Seawater splashed onto Zhan Shili’s face. He looked down in astonishment while supporting himself on the railing. Xu Shen had fallen into the sea and was sinking straight down, quickly swallowed by the seawater.

 

Zhan Shili’s pupils constricted sharply as he shouted, “Seren! Seren!”

 

There was no response below; the sea breeze blew, stirring the waves, and the person who had sunk below the surface had already vanished.

 

The image of Xu Shen’s final glance replayed over and over in Zhan Shili’s mind, and he couldn’t help but feel uncontrollably panicked. Knowing full well this was a prank by Xu Shen, he still fell for it.

 

Without time to think further, he kicked off his shoes, vaulted over the railing, and jumped down after him.

 

Groping around and managing to find Xu Shen’s body underwater, Zhan Shili grabbed him immediately, wanting to pull him to the surface.

 

Despite this, Xu Shen refused to cooperate, stubbornly pulling Zhan Shili down into the water.

 

Zhan Shili was angered by him, forcefully restraining both of his hands with a force so great it almost crushed Xu Shen’s wrists. Sensing his rage, Xu Shen leaned closer and kissed him haphazardly.

 

A chaotic kiss underwater, lips and tongues pushing and tangling.

 

When they finally broke through the surface, both of them choked on water. Climbing onto the yacht, Xu Shen collapsed on the deck, entranced as he stared blankly at the blood-red sunset overhead, bursting into laughter.

 

Zhan Shili was just as disheveled as him. He propped himself up on his stomach beside him, leaned in, and assertively pinched his chin: “What are you laughing at?”

 

Xu Shen laughed for a long time, his gaze falling onto Zhan Shili’s eyes, which were now filled with anger: “Nic, aren’t you even fiercer than me?”

 

“Is it fun?”

 

Zhan Shili tightened his grip, the movement exceptionally rough.

 

“Are you panicking?” Xu Shen asked him, “You knew I was just playing around, what are you panicking about?”

 

“I warned you not to overdo it,” Zhan Shili said gruffly.

 

“This counts as overdoing it too?” Xu Shen provoked deliberately. “Mr. Zhan, are you a sore loser?”

 

Zhan Shili frowned. He was indeed angry; Xu Shen’s “wildness” was far too unpredictable, intuitively making him feel uneasy.

 

After staring at each other in silence for a moment, Xu Shen suddenly propped himself up and pushed him. Caught off guard, Zhan Shili fell backward. Xu Shen flipped over and straddled his lap, leaning towards him from above.

 

“Nic, let me ask you a question.”

 

Lying on the deck, Zhan Shili let him be, his voice hoarse as he asked, “Ask what?”

 

“Can Xu Zikang, in that state of his, really satisfy you?” Xu Shen asked bluntly. This wasn’t the first time he had asked this question; the previous time Zhan Shili refused to answer him, but this time he was aggressive, determined to get an answer from Zhan Shili.

 

Zhan Shili stared at him for a long time with a glint of mockery in his eyes: “You care about this a lot?”

 

Xu Shen’s fingertip lingered on his lips, rubbing gently: “Can’t I just ask?”

 

Zhan Shili scoffed: “Coaxing him is very easy; there’s no need to sacrifice that much.”

 

Xu Shen was slightly surprised, raising an eyebrow. He smiled, growing amused: “Oh~”

 

“Oh what?”

 

Xu Shen leaned down, whispering, “But I’m not as easy to coax as he is, what should we do?”

 

An indescribable emotion surged in Zhan Shili’s gaze: “How does Young Master Shen need me to serve you?”

 

Xu Shen’s breath caught on his lips as he murmured, “Fuck me.”

 

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t/n: Aiyo, Shen Shen, too proactive ah!!!!!!!!!! ( ꩜/////꩜;)

CONTENT WARNING: Next chapter is spicy, you can tell based on the last thing Ah Shen says (eh, process is not described in detail, though. It can be considered obvious but also not explicit, more implicit but also not completely fade into black).

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