Chapter 13: I Love You
The car heater was blasting. Liu Ming Zhou placed Chi Qui Lin in the passenger seat and reclined it.
Unlike that night, Chi Qui Lin knew Liu Ming Zhou was fully conscious, and so was he.
Even though Liu Ming Zhou was holding him close, Chi Qui Lin was still conflicted. Why hadn’t he rejected Liu Ming Zhou?
Perhaps it was Liu Ming Zhou’s meticulous care, showing his gentler side, or perhaps Liu Ming Zhou’s unintentional words, echoing his former crush.
Liu Ming Zhou’s movements were gentle and reverent. Seeing Chi Qui Lin’s vacant gaze, he sighed softly, “Brother, you’re spacing out again.”
Chi Qui Lin snapped back to reality, meeting Liu Ming Zhou’s soft gaze. Thinking of how this warm young man had hurt his past self, a mix of emotions flooded him.
“Xiaozhou,” Chi Qui Lin hesitantly spoke.
Liu Ming Zhou unbuttoned Chi Qui Lin’s shirt, kissing his collarbone lightly before softly replying, “I’m here. What is it, brother?”
Chi Qui Lin wanted to ask Liu Ming Zhou why he had pretended to be Yao Xin Yu to send the breakup text message, but he feared it would upset him again.
As he hesitated, Liu Ming Zhou’s hand reached for his belt. “Brother, ask whatever you want quickly, or you won’t have a chance later.”
Chi Qui Lin was focused on formulating his question, not noticing Liu Ming Zhou’s movements. “Do you like Yao Xin Yu?”
“Never liked him,” Liu Ming Zhou’s hand slowly slipped under Chi Qui Lin’s waistband. “I only like you, and I’ve only ever liked you.”
Chi Qui Lin was speechless. Liu Ming Zhou liked Jing Qiu Chi; what did it have to do with him, Chi Qui Lin?
But Liu Ming Zhou’s eyes, reflecting the starlight, were so bright. Chi Qui Lin liked that clean, warm gaze and allowed himself to succumb.
Feeling melancholy, his pale lips parted and closed before he slowly said, “One more question, Xiaozhou. Do you hate Chi Qui Lin?”
Liu Ming Zhou didn’t answer but countered, “Do you hate me?”
Chi Qui Lin was stumped, vaguely replying, “I don’t know.”
Liu Ming Zhou’s kisses trailed down his collarbone, his hot breath on Chi Qui Lin’s pale skin, making Chi Qui Lin instinctively want to curl up.
Liu Ming Zhou saw his intention and leaned over, “Any more questions, brother?”
Chi Qui Lin mustered his courage and asked again, “Why did you use Yao Xin Yu’s phone to send the breakup text to Chi Qui Lin?”
Liu Ming Zhou answered, “Because Yao Xin Yu isn’t trustworthy. I wanted Chi Qui Lin to face reality and leave him; it was a better choice for him.”
Liu Ming Zhou’s tone was firm, his gaze sincere; Chi Qui Lin couldn’t refute him.
Or perhaps he preferred to accept this explanation.
“Brother,” Liu Ming Zhou spoke again, “Do you like Yao Xin Yu?”
“I don’t know…” Before he could finish, Chi Qui Lin froze.
He was Jing Qiu Chi! He hated Yao Xin Yu; how could he hesitantly say “I don’t know”?
Chi Qui Lin realized this slip-up was a major one. Sure enough, Liu Ming Zhou looked at him with an amused expression, deliberately using his canine teeth to lightly brush against his skin. “What does ‘I don’t know’ mean, hmm?”
“Liu Ming Zhou, you…”
Liu Ming Zhou chuckled, “Jing Qiu Chi didn’t even finish nine years of compulsory education before becoming a spoiled rich kid at his father’s company.”
Chi Qui Lin’s pupils constricted, but Liu Ming Zhou had mentioned Jing Qiu Chi was an English major. Could it be…
Seeming to read Chi Qui Lin’s mind, Liu Ming Zhou spoke again, “Jing Qiu Chi didn’t study English; he majored in Russian. According to him, he hated English, taking an hour to memorize a four-letter word.”
Chi Qui Lin was stunned. “Wait, I…”
“Brother,” Liu Ming Zhou’s voice suddenly turned low. His slender, strong arm lifted Chi Qui Lin’s long, supple leg, hoarsely asking, “Is it so hard to admit you’re Chi Qui Lin?”
Normally, Chi Qui Lin might have given up. But he’d been overwhelmed by familiar feelings, currently engaging in intimate acts with Liu Ming Zhou in the car. Admitting he was Chi Qui Lin would be admitting he was involved with his rival.
But since Liu Ming Zhou knew his true identity and said he liked him…
Chi Qui Lin suddenly realized something, staring at Liu Ming Zhou.
“Brother, have you figured it out?” Liu Ming Zhou chuckled softly, his body pressing down, carefully asking, “Does it hurt?”
Liu Ming Zhou’s touch was gentle. Chi Qui Lin didn’t answer, simply raising his hand to wrap around his neck.
Liu Ming Zhou still asked, “Brother, do you like me?”
Hearing Liu Ming Zhou’s question, Chi Qui Lin involuntarily thought of Yao Xin Yu. Yao Xin Yu never considered his feelings, always hurting him.
Especially after his disfigurement, Yao Xin Yu no longer wanted to touch him. The only time they’d been intimate, he’d called out another name.
Liu Ming Zhou’s name.
And now, Liu Ming Zhou repeatedly asked, “Brother, do you like me?”
Heh, the rival he once despised actually liked him.
What would Yao Xin Yu feel if he saw his beloved Liu Ming Zhou in his arms?
Various thoughts flooded Chi Qui Lin’s mind, and he blurted out, “I like you.”
This seemed to embolden Liu Ming Zhou. Chi Qui Lin felt the possession intensify. He was about to ask Liu Ming Zhou to slow down when his lips were covered.
Long fingers and a soft tongue explored his mouth, breaking down Chi Qui Lin’s last defenses.
The starlight poured into the car, illuminating Liu Ming Zhou’s face in shifting light and shadow.
“Brother, I love you.”