Gu Qichi had absolutely no idea what the word “behave” meant…

Holding him, Bo Yu’s dark, profound gaze swept over his water-red lips. He fell silent for a moment, then quickened his pace, taking large strides toward the bedroom.

A’ci followed closely behind the two of them. Her long, sweet meows rang out one after another as she strutted elegantly toward Bo Yu’s bedroom.

In the next second, the door shut with a click. The final reflection in A’ci’s lake-blue eyes was Bo Yu pressing Gu Qichi beneath him.

Scorching hot breath pressed down overwhelmingly. Bo Yu pried open Gu Qichi’s teeth. Startled, Gu Qichi instinctively tried to dodge backward, but the man firmly gripped the back of his neck, forcing his jaw up. Bo Yu’s tongue hooked around his, sucking at an unhurried pace. Their warm breaths tangled together, and crystal-clear saliva was transferred little by little into Bo Yu’s mouth.

It was sweet.

In the quiet room, the air purifier emitted a faint hum of operation. Mixed with it was the soft, wet sound of kissing.

Gu Qichi was kissed until he was speechless. His chest rose and fell slightly, his eyes half-closed. The corners of his eyes were a watery red, shrouded in a hazy, white mist.

Bo Yu pressed against the reddened skin around his eyes and let out a very soft laugh. His gaze was dark, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. Only when the mist at the corners of Gu Qichi’s eyes condensed into a teardrop and slid down did Bo Yu finally let him go.

“Gu Qichi, this is the correct way to give a reward.”

He leaned down, his thumb first wiping away the tear track at the corner of his eye. Then, he slowly and methodically licked away the glistening moisture at the corner of Gu Qichi’s lips, gave his lip a light bite, and finally pulled back.

“Go to sleep. Once you wake up, I’ll take you somewhere first, and then we’ll go get the certificate.”

His tone carried an indescribable sense of satiation and languor.

Gu Qichi’s waist was limp from the kiss. He slowly glanced at him and found that Bo Yu looked entirely refreshed and radiant. His eyes were shining, and a distinct, unbridled arrogance seeped from his brows.

Bo Yu was really pushing his luck.

Gu Qichi let out a silent sigh. Exhaustion swept over him. With his eyes half-closed, his head drooped down bit by bit.

The tightly strung nerves from the past few days finally relaxed. Tugging on Bo Yu’s sleeve, Gu Qichi was tucked into the blankets by him and immediately fell asleep.

Bo Yu had changed the sheets and bedding. They emanated a very faint, sweet cherry scent.

The pillow was fluffy and soft, sinking into a small dent. Gu Qichi buried most of his face in it, his soft, glossy black hair tangled into a messy lump.

He was still wearing Bo Yu’s pajama shirt, but the pants had been stripped off.

Bo Yu claimed it was better for his wounds to recover.

Anxious to sleep, Gu Qichi didn’t bother arguing and just let him do as he pleased.

He slept incredibly soundly. Although Bo Yu wasn’t tired, he still climbed into bed to keep Gu Qichi company, pulling him into his embrace.

The slender back pressed against a rising and falling chest. Their chests resonated, their hearts beating.

The frequencies of their heartbeats gradually aligned. The thump, thump sounds pierced through the eardrums, vibrating slightly, stimulating the cerebral cortex, pumping blood, and ultimately returning to the heart.

Bo Yu kissed the shell of Gu Qichi’s ear, the corners of his lips curling into a very slight arc. His eyes flickered, and he finally closed them.

In his sleep, whenever Gu Qichi rolled over, he could still feel the arm firmly clamped around his waist. It was intensely hot, like a branding iron, yet unexpectedly gave him a sense of security.

Their position shifted from Gu Qichi facing away to the two of them hugging face-to-face. They were too close, their breaths tangling. Bo Yu nuzzled downward, burying his head into the crook of Gu Qichi’s neck, and gently bit down on his collarbone.

It left an incredibly obvious tooth mark.

Looking at his masterpiece, Bo Yu couldn’t help but smile silently.

---

The evening sun was setting in the west. Rows of villas were bathed in the light, looking as if they were plated in gold. The sky was filled with pink clouds blooming into all sorts of strange shapes, dyeing the entire horizon red.

Gu Qichi shifted a few times beneath the covers, wishing he could bury his entire face into the pillow. His messy hair left shallow marks on his face. When Bo Yu fished him out of the bed, he found it rather amusing.

He had finally discovered that Gu Qichi’s morning temper was unusually huge.

A new batch of clothes had been added to the walk-in closet. They were all the latest seasonal designs. At a glance, the colorful array of garments packed together was almost dazzling.

They were all in Gu Qichi’s size.

Bo Yu had personally measured him while he was sleeping on the movie set.

The sapphire bracelet on Gu Qichi’s wrist had been taken off in the bathroom yesterday. In the moment their fingers intertwined, Bo Yu was afraid it would scratch him, so he swiftly removed it. He then put it back on him while he was asleep.

The blue-haloed gemstones radiated a soft glow under the light, hanging loosely on Gu Qichi’s protruding wrist bone, looking like it might slip off at any moment.

Gu Qichi opened his eyes in a daze. His face bore a flush from being smothered in the pillow for too long, and a few tears shimmered in his eyes.

Unable to hold back, Bo Yu leaned in and bit the tip of his nose, chasing away the last of his drowsiness.

“They’re all new arrivals for the season. I didn’t know what style you’d like, so I just bought them all.”

Bo Yu pointed to the wide-open walk-in closet, his gaze still glued tightly to Gu Qichi. “Go pick something to wear today.”

Following the direction of his finger, Gu Qichi saw two massive, completely stuffed wardrobes…

Gu Qichi: …

For the first time, he felt like a country bumpkin.

Or rather, he had still heavily underestimated Bo Yu’s financial power.

If Bai Heng were here, he would have respectfully introduced every single piece of clothing hanging there to Gu Qichi.

Bo Yu had personally handpicked every single one. Eighty percent of them were couple outfits; even the ones that weren’t were color-coordinated, making it obvious at a single glance what their relationship was.

It thoroughly satisfied Boss Bo’s psychological needs in certain regards.

Not wanting to be treated like a three-year-old and dressed by Bo Yu, Gu Qichi sensibly stood up. He slowly walked over to the closet, his eyes sweeping over the outermost row of clothes, and casually picked one out—

A loose, deep-V white T-shirt.

This T-shirt was from a niche designer brand. The design was extremely bold, combining sexiness with an ethereal flow. The white fabric draped perfectly, the neckline plunging low to reveal a sharply defined collarbone. Paired with a punk-rock metal necklace, it perfectly diluted the eroticism and added a touch of unruliness.

Gu Qichi had excellent proportions—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a perfectly angled collarbone that cast a shallow shadow under the closet lights. His legs were absurdly long.

It could be said that he could pull off any outfit.

Except…

His collarbone still bore Bo Yu’s tooth mark.

Bo Yu’s face was expressionless as he scanned Gu Qichi from the bottom up. His gaze lingered on the bite mark at his upper thigh for a moment before he uncomfortably looked away, moving to the collarbone, and then fell completely silent.

Gu Qichi was completely oblivious.

The young man’s collar was wide open, the deep-V T-shirt exposing a large portion of his chest, completely laying bare the marks all over it.

There was a full-length mirror in the closet. The smooth surface clearly reflected Gu Qichi’s figure.

His hand, which had been pulling up his pants, paused. The corners of Gu Qichi’s eyes lifted, his peach-blossom eyes carelessly sweeping a glance at the mirror. Catching sight of his own collarbone and chest, his tongue involuntarily pressed against his inner cheek.

He had forgotten there was a dog here.

Dressed like this, how could he possibly go out and see people…

Having no other choice, Gu Qichi had to pick out a simple white T-shirt instead, tossing it over his head and covering up the majority of the marks on his body.

He chose the simplest style: a white T-shirt with linen pants and an overshirt. Even though he had graduated a while ago, he looked exactly like a college student still in school.

Exceptionally youthful and radiant.

Like a tender sprout revealing fresh green, growing vigorously upward.

To match Gu Qichi better, Bo Yu made the rare decision to ditch his meticulous black, white, and grey three-piece suits and picked out a similar casual outfit.

Bo Yu had deep eye sockets and incredibly sharp, cold facial contours. After changing his outfit, the lines of his face unconsciously softened. As he stared intently at Gu Qichi, a shallow, clear smile rippled in his eyes.

Not a trace of his usual ferocity could be seen; he looked entirely different from his normal self.

---

Since they weren’t going to the Civil Affairs Bureau, Gu Qichi didn’t quite understand where the other man was taking him for the time being.

He didn’t talk much and usually didn’t care about these things anyway. His eyes drooped, looking rather listless.

The car drove steadily forward, eventually stopping in front of a massive shopping mall.

It was nearing 8:00 PM. The sky was darkening, the heavy curtain of night pressing down. The light of the stars above was obscured by the neon city lights below; only a faint silhouette could be seen.

This was the largest mall in the East City, invested in and built by the Bo Corporation.

The dazzling lights clashed and refracted against the glass structures, reflecting a brilliant glow that formed a sparkling river of stars.

It perfectly illuminated a transparent glass bridge connecting two of the commercial towers. The double-layered glass underfoot was made with special craftsmanship; walking on it created rippling water effects. If you looked closely, you could see tiny silver flakes shining within the ripples, looking exceptionally dreamy.

This bridge was also the most famous internet-celebrity spot in the East City, playfully dubbed the “Milky Way Magpie Bridge,” where many young couples loved to come and take photos.

At a glance, it was a sea of people, a continuous stream of visitors.

Gu Qichi didn’t know the romantic implications behind this bridge. He just gave it a faint sweep of his eyes before looking away, searching for another entrance.

Bo Yu was different.

Boss Bo had personally supervised its construction and spent a lot of effort marketing this “couple’s bridge.” Now that he had a wife, he had to take him for a stroll across it no matter what.

Otherwise, it would be a huge disservice to the hard work he poured into this bridge.

Thinking of this, Bo Yu reached out his hand. He first hooked Gu Qichi’s pinky finger, then wrapped his large palm entirely around Gu Qichi’s hand. With two slight movements, he slid his fingers between Gu Qichi’s, locking them tightly together in a ten-finger grasp.

“Let’s walk up there,” Bo Yu said, stepping a bit closer to naturally form a posture that half-circled Gu Qichi into his embrace.

It was a protective stance.

Following his pointing finger to the crowded glass bridge, Gu Qichi’s brows furrowed slightly. He pursed his lips imperceptibly and said, “Isn’t there a closer way? It’s too crowded up there.”

The great beauty didn’t want to go up; he hated squeezing together with a bunch of people.

Bo Yu could roughly guess his thoughts, but he really wanted to join the fun, so he started bluffing the great beauty: “The reason that bridge is so crowded is because it’s the only passageway left here.”

Gu Qichi: …

He was just lazy, not stupid.

But since Bo Yu had lowered himself to ask, Gu Qichi couldn’t be bothered to refute him. Raising an eyebrow, he simply let Bo Yu lead him up the bridge.

Indeed, as the naked eye could see, people were coming and going everywhere.

Many young girls wearing Hanfu and Lolita dresses were dragging their boyfriends around to take selfies.

Beneath their feet was an endless stream of traffic; behind them was the brilliant glow of thousands of city lights; and looking up, the bright, clear moon scattered silver radiance everywhere.

Gu Qichi withdrew his sightseeing gaze, involuntarily sighing. No wonder there were so many people; this bridge really was photogenic.

While he was looking at others, others were looking at them even more.

Despite wearing masks, they couldn’t suppress their outstanding auras.

Gu Qichi had a slender frame and a straight back, his neck bones slightly protruding. As he walked, his butterfly shoulder blades pressed against the thin T-shirt, outlining a faint trace. Adding to that the faintly visible bite and kiss marks on his collarbone, it lent an inexplicably erotic glamour to his purity.

As for Bo Yu, he was even more eye-catching.

The man had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. A bite mark was blatantly displayed on his Adam’s apple, the surrounding skin still faintly red. His back was even more exaggerated; as the fabric folded and shifted with his steps, clear scratch marks could be seen underneath—the traces exceptionally distinct.

And beneath his grey sweatpants, a shadowy bulge unconsciously rose, subtly lying in wait.

The two of them held hands, walking through the passing pedestrians as if there was no one else around, blatantly declaring their sovereignty.

It extinguished the thoughts of many people who wanted to come up and flirt.

When passing by a handsome, refined guy, Gu Qichi clearly caught the other’s quiet, muttered complaint:

“Damn it, why is everyone taken nowadays? I’m the only one here with no ‘1’ (top) to rely on.”

He was holding the arm of a tall, glamorous beauty, who gently patted his face and said sincerely: “It’s okay, honey, in these days of wandering, we’re all just lonely bottoms drifting in the wind.”

Gu Qichi expressionlessly retracted his ears.

Oh, so it wasn’t a beauty, but a handsome guy.

But the two of them were too loud. Even though Gu Qichi intentionally tried to tune them out, he couldn’t miss the last sentence of their conversation—

“I’m so jealous, his husband is so big, you can just tell it feels amazing!”
“When will I ever have that kind of blessing?!”

Gu Qichi fell silent again, but following their words, his gaze uncontrollably flicked over to Bo Yu’s dormant area.

Tsk.

Say what you will, it really was big.

He then withdrew his gaze, his tongue involuntarily pressing against his inner cheek.

And it really did feel amazing.

---

Crossing the glass bridge, they entered the interior of the mall. The lights were bright and piercing, the stores neat and orderly.

From the elevator entrance, Gu Qichi roughly surveyed the layout of the mall. His eyes lit up, his finger pointing to the sixth floor on the directory, finally showing some interest.

“Bo Yu, I want to go to the sixth floor. I remember the milk tea from that shop is really good.”

Normally, Bo Yu would immediately satisfy Gu Qichi’s request, but today he seemed a bit distracted. He raised his wrist to check the time and tightened his grip on Gu Qichi’s hand.

Bo Yu spoke: “Okay, we’ll go in a bit. Come with me to pick something up first.”

Gu Qichi was a bit puzzled. His gaze was clear, his amber pupils exceptionally translucent under the lights.

“Can’t we go buy a cup of milk tea first?”

Bo Yu pursed his lips. The vertical lighting lightly outlined his aloof, sharp profile. His facial lines softened significantly, and unexpectedly, a hint of tender affection could be seen.

Left with no choice, Gu Qichi followed Bo Yu through a series of twists and turns until they stopped in front of a jewelry store.

Surprisingly, while the rest of the mall was bustling with activity, this entire floor was cold and deserted, with no customers in sight.

Gu Qichi looked around. Indeed, not a single soul could be seen. He commented: “Is business bad on this floor?”

Bai Heng, who had already negotiated everything inside, and the waiting saleswomen: …
Madam, may we tell you that Boss Bo specially booked out the entire floor just for you…

Bo Yu lazily glanced at the fully-prepared Bai Heng and said flatly: “Mn, business is pretty bad here. They might be closing down soon.”

The saleswoman stepping forward to greet them: …
Excuse me, we exceed our sales quotas every single month!

But she only dared to complain in her heart. Her face remained flawlessly professional as she smiled brightly and led them into the store.

Gu Qichi belatedly realized that Bo Yu seemed to have brought him here specifically, and he couldn’t help but take a few more looks around.

The interior decor was highly elegant, featuring a European style. Pale white patterns traced the pillars by the wall, where a camellia flower slowly bloomed, pure and beautiful.

In the glass display cabinets, various diamonds and gemstones refracted a dazzling, brilliant array of colors.

In the very center stood an elderly man with a face full of smiles, holding a blue velvet box in his hands, waiting for their arrival.

“Ça fait longtemps, chéri.”
(Long time no see, dear.)

Gu Qichi didn’t understand and looked blankly at Bo Yu, who conversed with the old man fluently.

Bo Yu: “M. Lenore, ravi de vous rencontrer.”
(Mr. Lenore, a pleasure to meet you.)

Bo Yu: “J’ai hâte que tu me montres ton plus grand travail.”
(I look forward to you showing us your greatest work.)

Mr. Lenore: “Bien sûr, c’est le propriétaire de la bague?”
(Of course, is this the owner of the ring?)

Upon hearing this sentence, Gu Qichi noticed a very natural smile surface on Bo Yu’s face. The narrow corners of his eyes curved, and his long, thick eyelashes cast a faint shadow over his lower eyelids.

Bo Yu: “Oui, c’est mon amant, Gu Qichi, qui est aussi le propriétaire de l’anneau.”
(Yes, he is my lover, Gu Qichi, and also the owner of the ring.)

The saleswoman took the two blue velvet boxes from Mr. Lenore’s hands and, holding them in her palms, slowly walked over to Gu Qichi and Bo Yu.

It was a pair of couple’s rings.

The design was exquisitely delicate.

The outer band of the rings was elegant white gold. Inlaid in the center was a massive blue diamond, and surrounding the blue diamond was a circle of perfectly cut smaller diamonds. At a glance, it was immensely luxurious.

Seeing the rings, Bo Yu released Gu Qichi’s hand, changing their ten-finger interlock into a loose hold from beneath.

He pinched the diamond ring between his fingertips and smoothly slid it onto Gu Qichi’s ring finger. The size was an absolute perfect fit.

Gu Qichi’s hands were beautiful—his joints distinct but not protruding, slender and pale. His fingertips were a very light, pale pink, and white crescent moons sat at the base of his nails.

This diamond ring was a matching set with Bo Yu’s, but it also paired exceptionally well with the sapphire bracelet on his wrist.

Mr. Lenore also got a clear view of the bracelet on Gu Qichi’s wrist, his eyes filled with surprise.

Mr. Lenore: “Je ne m’attendais pas à ce que ce joyau soit vendu aux enchères.”
(I didn’t expect that you won this gemstone at the auction, it suits this gentleman very well.)

Bo Yu’s lips curled up as he nodded to him in acknowledgment, then began to toy with Gu Qichi’s fingertips.

Gu Qichi looked truly beautiful wearing the ring.

Bo Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, dark currents churning within them. His Adam’s apple rolled as he spoke with an unreadable tone: “Wear it from now on. You’re not allowed to take it off.”

Gu Qichi gave him a speechless glance, inspected the ring on his finger, and felt somewhat helpless: “If I don’t take it off, aren’t I just waiting for someone to rob me?”

Bo Yu’s eyes curved, a thin smile rippling on his lips: “Wear it with peace of mind. No one dares to rob you.”

“Whoever dares to rob you, I’ll blow their head into a ball of blood.”

Gu Qichi was silent for a while, his gaze very still.

Bo Yu was actually quite crazy; otherwise, in the other timelines he had experienced, Song Zhi’an wouldn’t have feared him to such an extent, and Gu Yuning, despite disliking him, wouldn’t have had to humor him with trembling fear.

In this life, the Bo Yu that Gu Qichi met seemed perfectly normal in every aspect.

But Gu Qichi knew Bo Yu was holding back. He could catch glimpses of it from various trivial details.

The first time they met in the private room after the hotel incident, Bo Yu had actually come to teach him a lesson. His gaze was sinister, and Gu Qichi had felt it when that malicious intent swept over his entire body inch by inch.

Aside from that, a petty person like Gu Yuning would never allow himself to bow and scrape to Gu Qichi to such an extent unless his life was truly in danger. Gu Yuan’an’s reaction was also suspicious, and Gu Chengtian was far too abnormally compliant.

He didn’t know exactly what Bo Yu had done to them, but it definitely wasn’t anything good.

Those rumors about him—some true, some false—might actually have one or two real incidents among them.

Gu Qichi didn’t even need to doubt it: if it weren’t for the excuse of this arranged marriage, Bo Yu would have found every possible way to lock him up.

Gu Qichi’s own possessiveness was strong, but in front of outsiders, he could barely manage to hide a fraction of it.

But Bo Yu’s possessiveness was even stronger. He wanted to brand his mark on every single part of Gu Qichi’s body.

It was the same logic as a puppy peeing to mark its territory. As long as he had even a tiny trace of Bo Yu’s scent on him, Bo Yu would absolutely never allow anyone else to covet him even a little bit.

If it were anyone else, the moment they sensed this kind of intent from Bo Yu, they’d probably call the police—or at the very least, run away.

But surprisingly, Gu Qichi didn’t want to run. In fact, quite the opposite: he really liked Bo Yu’s possessiveness toward him. It gave him a precious feeling of being deeply valued.

Furthermore, Gu Qichi actually wanted to test what Bo Yu’s reaction would be if someone else coveted him.

Would he just get simply jealous? Or would he be unable to control his rage and do something even more extreme?

The deeper he thought about it, the more excited Gu Qichi felt. The blood in his body felt like it had been ignited by something, burning and boiling. An indescribable shudder transmitted from the depths of his soul, and his heart began to beat rapidly along with it.

Under the dazzling lights, a bright smile spilled from his eyes and brows. His peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents, his under-eye bags plumping up, and his long, curled eyelashes fluttered. A flush slowly spread around his eyes, which, contrasted against his snow-white skin, possessed a breathtaking beauty.

Gu Qichi picked up Bo Yu’s hand and slid the remaining ring onto his finger.

The exact same spot—the ring finger, which was said to connect directly to the heart.

The two rings were identical in style, though Bo Yu’s was slightly more simple and elegant. The cut blue diamond was smaller, and the white diamonds surrounding it weren’t as densely packed as Gu Qichi’s, looking much cleaner and more generous.

“It’s beautiful. I like it a lot too.”

The great beauty didn’t know how to speak French. He tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then expressed his gratitude to Mr. Lenore in English.

Mr. Lenore nodded slightly. His whitening beard covered most of his face, but his mood could vaguely be guessed from the crinkling wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

The gentleman was also very pleased that Gu Qichi was able to wear his work.

He turned to Bo Yu and said: “Le diamant parfait doit être combiné avec la personne parfaite, mon cher Monsieur, votre lumière est plus brillante que ce diamant.”
(A perfect diamond should be paired with a perfect person. My dear sir, your light is more brilliant than this diamond.)

Bo Yu translated the sentence for him, only cleverly swapping the word “sir” for “baby.”

Gu Qichi’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. Lifting his eyelids, an arc of light flashed from the corners of his eyes. “I will wear it all the time.”

Then, he leaned close to Bo Yu’s ear and whispered in a soft voice that only the two of them could hear:

“Bo Yu, those clothes you bought in the walk-in closet… I saw them.”
“The cat ears, the white lace, the skirts, and those ones you hid…”
“I saw them all.”

Bo Yu’s breath violently hitched, his fingers unconsciously clenching into fists. His gaze darkened, under which rolled unspeakable, churning ink-like depths.

He was almost prepared for Gu Qichi to tear up their contract. After all, he was the one harboring those filthy thoughts first, and he was the one who violated the agreement first. It would be entirely justified for Gu Qichi to break the contract.

But then Gu Qichi paused. His warm breath brushed lightly over the shell of his ear, numbing and tingling, drilling into his brain like an electric current, stirring up a subtle shudder.

“If you behave well, next time I’ll try them on with you.”

Bo Yu’s breathing instantly fell into chaos. His Adam’s apple bobbed heavily, letting out an obvious swallowing sound.

Veins bulged on his forehead, his gaze black and heavy. After Gu Qichi said those words, the endlessly churning lust hidden in his eyes was exposed without any concealment right in front of Gu Qichi.

Gu Qichi was inexplicably reminded of a very fitting metaphor—
The arrogant Lion King lowering his noble head, just to beg for a kiss from the great beauty.
Even if it meant his body would be shattered to pieces.

Thinking of this, Gu Qichi smiled again. The faint vibration of his chest mixed with his light laughter, transmitting into Bo Yu’s ear once more.

Bo Yu’s ears turned completely red, his whole body burning up. He immediately shouted out: “Everyone out, clear the room!”

Waiting until the people in the store had filed out one by one, he buried his face into Gu Qichi’s neck in a manner bordering on self-abandonment. The heat was like a prairie fire, burning up whatever little reason he had left. Bo Yu’s voice was low and hoarse, tainted with a blatant layer of lust.

Hot air floated against the side of Gu Qichi’s neck. The fine hairs shifted slightly with their intertwining breaths, and a light wave of goosebumps rose beneath his skin.

“What counts as behaving well?”

Bo Yu closed his eyes, his long, straight eyelashes trembling with his breathing. Unable to endure it any longer, he bit down on the flesh at the side of Gu Qichi’s neck, holding that soft, snow-white patch of skin carefully in his mouth.

A slightly numbing, stinging pain came from his neck. As far as pain went, it wasn’t very obvious, but it continuously stimulated his nerves, making the rush go straight to his head.

Gu Qichi reached out and pressed the back of Bo Yu’s head, his fingers threading through his hair. His tone was somewhat careless, yet his emotions could be detected in the rise and fall of his voice.

“If you satisfy me, that counts as behaving well.”

Bo Yu’s hand wrapped around Gu Qichi’s lower back. The diamond ring on his ring finger pressed slightly uncomfortably against him. His palm was scalding hot, firmly clamping Gu Qichi’s slender waist with immense force, making his already exhausted waist ache even more.

But Gu Qichi didn’t make a sound, simply letting Bo Yu hold him like this.

He even considerately reached out and hugged him back, his fingertips slowly rubbing against his broad back, as if smoothing the fur of a massive feline.

Unfortunately, Bo Yu wasn’t actually a large feline. The more Gu Qichi stroked his fur, the higher his fire raged, entirely unable to be hidden.

Gu Qichi suddenly remembered a dirty joke he had heard once—

“Know why little girls like making guys wear grey sweatpants? Well, it’s the exact same reason guys like seeing girls in black stockings.”
“Grey sweatpants are basically a cheat code. They show it off just a little bit, and boom, so manly.”

When he heard it at the time, Gu Qichi had merely smiled indifferently, not caring much. He even had the leisure to tease the guy:
“What about guys whose ‘hardware’ is already good? Do they need to do that too?”

How had that person replied back then?

Struggling to scrape together a bit of memory from that time in his mind, Gu Qichi barely managed to recall the exact sentence.

The guy had said: “Man, guys like us with good hardware definitely wouldn’t wear those kinds of pants. Having little girls staring at us, how embarrassing would that be?”
“I’m a pure, innocent grown man, I still need some dignity.”

Gu Qichi had been drinking at the time. The sweet, cloying cocktail slid down his throat, the spicy alcohol stimulating his stomach and burning his reason. Above him was the endless vibration of club music, mixed with the chaotic static of the speakers and swaying men and women. The scene before him had looked bizarre and extraordinarily absurd.

Gu Qichi had kicked the man’s chair. Unexpectedly, he used too much force and kicked him straight onto the floor.

He had scoffed, his chest vibrating as he let out a faint sound, his tone unreadable: “Even if you wore grey sweatpants, no one would look at you. ‘Pure, innocent grown man’, what are you dreaming about?”

His thoughts gradually returned to the present. Gu Qichi rubbed his fingertips together, his hand pausing its strokes on Bo Yu’s back.

His gaze swept downward, from the top of Bo Yu’s fluffy hair all the way down, brushing past his red earlobes and flushed nape, pausing for a moment on the crystal-clear beads of sweat dotting it, before coldly withdrawing his gaze.

The great beauty blinked. His eyes were dazzling, flashing with fine starlight and an indescribable slyness.

There was no one else around. All the salesclerks and the designer, Mr. Lenore, had been cleared out by Bai Heng. In the massive store, only Gu Qichi and Bo Yu remained.

The overhead lights were exceptionally bright and brilliant. The crystal pendants fractured the light into a gorgeous array of colors, reflecting beautifully against the diamond collections in the display cases. It made the entire room feel suspended in an illusionary magnificence.

Gu Qichi asked softly, his tone unable to hide his smugness and teasing: “Bo Yu, are you feeling shy?”

Boss Bo didn’t speak. Gu Qichi moved his fingertips to his nape, his thumb pressing against the beads of sweat there, smearing a layer of crystalline moisture.

“You’ve even transformed.”

Hearing this, Bo Yu shifted reluctantly, his grip on Gu Qichi’s lower back growing even tighter, as if he wanted to snap his waist in two.

“Then… did I behave well today?” Bo Yu asked, his voice very muffled.

His voice was unbelievably hoarse, practically thick, heavy with restrained lust caught in his throat.

“You did behave pretty well.”
“Then help me.”
“But you already used up your chances yesterday, my waist hurts so much.”

The sentences rang out simultaneously.