Chapter 48: The Cannon Fodder in a Dogblood Novel (48)
“Xiao Yu? That person just now?”
“En, yes.”
“Sorry, I didn’t pay attention to him.” From beginning to end, Zhou Shuli’s gaze had been entirely on Shen Tangqing. He hadn’t even noticed what Xiao Yu looked like.
“Oh, is that so…” Shen Tangqing hesitated, but finally decided to create an opportunity for Zhou Shuli to get to know his “future wife.”
“Brother Zhou, how about I call him over to eat with us?”
His expression was momentarily unnatural. He felt like he had become a matchmaker pulling red strings, and for two men at that. It was inexplicably awkward.
Zhou Shuli’s eyes darkened. He had finally gotten a chance to be alone with Shen Tangqing; he didn’t wish for any third wheel to appear.
After a few seconds of silence, Zhou Shuli softened his tone and spoke with a slight apology.
“Sorry, I’m not very used to eating at the same table with strangers.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Actually, I’m not that close with him either.” Shen Tangqing laughed dryly twice. His thoughts of matchmaking were thoroughly extinguished.
Zhou Shuli unhurriedly took off his gloves, picked up a piece of Longjing Shrimp, and placed it on Shen Tangqing’s plate, calmly changing the subject.
“Try this shrimp; it tastes pretty good.”
Shen Tangqing’s gaze was attracted by his hands for a moment.
He wasn’t a hand fetishist, but Zhou Shuli’s hands were truly beautiful—
Probably because they rarely saw sunlight, the skin had a cold whiteness to it.
Pale blue veins protruded faintly on the back of his hand, his knuckles were slender, and there was a tiny brown mole at the webbing of his thumb and index finger.
It was clearly a cold and ascetic bone structure, yet it revealed a seductive sexual tension.
It wasn’t until Zhou Shuli withdrew his hand that he came back to his senses.
“Thank you, Brother Zhou.”
A very faint smile hung on the corner of Zhou Shuli’s mouth. “It’s nothing. Taste it and see if it suits your palate.”
With the first bite, Shen Tangqing’s eyes lit up.
It was his first time eating shrimp with this flavor.
It had a faint tea fragrance, very refreshing, and a hint of sweetness in the aftertaste.
“It’s delicious.”
The smile at the corner of Zhou Shuli’s mouth deepened a bit. “If it’s delicious, eat more.”
Ignoring the small interlude with Xiao Yu,
The two chatted while eating, and the atmosphere was very pleasant.
After drinking two mouthfuls of soup, Zhou Shuli looked up at Shen Tangqing and spoke tentatively, as if joking, “I heard from Little Geng that you haven’t had a girlfriend either?”
Shen Tangqing nodded. “Haven’t met the right one.”
Zhou Shuli’s hand holding the spoon paused slightly.
“Falling in love does indeed require finding the right person.” He gave Shen Tangqing a meaningful look.
“Actually, as long as it’s the right person, sometimes gender isn’t that important… I went on a business trip to M Country a while ago and attended the wedding of a same-sex couple friend.”
Zhou Shuli paused here for a second before carefully speaking again, “They were very happy. It made me have the desire to get married for a moment.”
As his voice fell, he chuckled lightly at Shen Tangqing. “You won’t laugh at me, right?”
His gaze rested on Shen Tangqing’s face, carefully observing his expression.
Shen Tangqing’s heart gave a jolt. He knew Zhou Shuli was gay, so naturally, he wouldn’t say anything to spoil the mood.
Moreover, he genuinely felt that sexual orientation was a freedom, and everyone had the right to choose their own partner.
Of course, although he had no opinion on gay people, he didn’t accept becoming one of them himself.
He smiled and echoed Zhou Shuli’s sentiment.
“How could I laugh at you? I think what you said is very true. Gender isn’t actually that important. Finding someone suitable, someone you like, is the most important thing.”
Zhou Shuli’s fingertips resting by his side moved slightly, a moment of excitement in his heart.
It’s good that Shen Tangqing doesn’t reject me being same-sex as him!
His originally deliberate fake smile turned into a genuine one, and his tone became lighter.
“Yes, liking them yourself is the most important thing.”
After Zhou Shuli finished speaking, he looked at Shen Tangqing. “Do you want some more honey brew?”
Osmanthus honey brew was a specialty drink of Hexia Yan. It tasted of rich osmanthus in the mouth, not cloyingly sweet, but with a hint of bitterness, leaving a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth.
Shen Tangqing thought it was quite tasty. “Sure…”
He reached out to take the jade bottle, but Zhou Shuli was a step faster than him.
Their hands covered each other unexpectedly.
Zhou Shuli’s pupils contracted sharply, and a strange thin redness quickly rose on his face.
The warm touch from his hand felt like countless tiny insects to him, quickly drilling into his limbs and bones along the skin on the back of his hand.
Itchy…
Tingly and numb…
It directly stirred up an itchiness throughout his entire chest cavity.
Itched so much he felt restless and hot.
He abruptly tensed his body.
Doing his utmost to suppress the uncontrollable feeling and desire coming from within his body.
Fortunately, Shen Tangqing withdrew his hand very quickly. Taking the jade bottle from Zhou Shuli’s hand,
He didn’t notice Zhou Shuli’s abnormality and spoke with a beaming smile, “Brother Zhou, I’ll pour it myself.”
Zhou Shuli lowered his eyes, the broken hair on his forehead concealing the surging desire in the depths of his eyes… His Adam’s apple rolled rapidly for a moment.
He abruptly stood up from his seat, trying his best to suppress the slight tremor in his voice. “I’m going to the restroom.”
With that, he walked quickly out the door.
Shen Tangqing looked confused.
Stomach upset? Walking so fast?
Zhou Shuli ignored the astonishment in Shen Tangqing’s heart.
After leaving the private room, he walked quickly to the restroom.
It wasn’t until he splashed ice-cold water on his face and gasped for two rough breaths that he felt a little more sober.
He propped both hands on the sink, looking up at himself in the mirror. The desire in his black eyes was fully exposed without reservation at this moment.
Ice-cold water dripped down his forehead and cheeks… The broken hair on his forehead was stuck with water droplets, clinging to his skin. In his disarray, there was a messy beauty.
After a few seconds, he straightened up.
He pulled out two tissues and wiped his face and hands haphazardly, then leaned against the edge of the sink.
His gaze fell on the back of the hand that had been touched, his eyes filled with a morbid obsession.
Actually…
Really touched it.
So want to possess—
He felt like he couldn’t wait any longer.
Even if—just hugging Shen Tangqing without doing anything would be good.
But… it would scare him, right?
I need to find a suitable opportunity to confess to him.
Zhou Shuli took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.
He didn’t actually have much of an addiction to smoking, but at this moment, he could only rely on it to deeply suppress the desire in his heart…
Halfway through the cigarette, the restroom door was pushed open.
It was Xiao Yu.
The lights in the restroom were very bright, falling right on Xiao Yu.
It made his skin look even fairer, his eyelashes long and curled. Even wearing a waiter’s uniform, it was hard to hide the cold and resilient temperament about him.
However, Zhou Shuli withdrew his gaze after just one glance.
No matter how beautiful a man was, he had no interest. He only liked Shen Tangqing.
No, more accurately, it was an obsession.
From the first glance, he had already been moved.
Xiao Yu also recognized Zhou Shuli. His gaze lingered on him for a moment.
He remembered; this was the man eating with Shen Tangqing.
His appearance and temperament were both outstanding. However, as long as he didn’t snatch Shen Tangqing from him, it didn’t matter.
His steps didn’t pause; he walked directly to the innermost stall.
After all, he didn’t have the habit of relieving himself in front of people.
When he came out of the stall, Zhou Shuli had finished his cigarette and was washing his hands.
Xiao Yu walked to the sink next to him.
Just as he was about to wash his hands, the restroom door was pushed open again.
This time, it was Shen Tangqing who came.
Seeing the two standing side by side, Shen Tangqing froze for a moment.
Did he… come at a bad time?
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