"So-Called Inspection," Heart Racing a Little Too Fast

The air inside the car seemed to turn into thick honey, every breath carrying a suffocating heat.

Jian Ning's fingers still rested on Huo Si's second button. The exquisitely crafted obsidian button felt especially cold beneath his trembling fingertips, yet it could not suppress the scorching body heat radiating from the body beneath his palm.

[Gulp.]

Jian Ning clearly heard himself swallow.

[These pecs... aren't they a little too unfair? I can feel that explosive power even through his shirt.]

[Jian Ning, get a grip! He's just a man, isn't he? Just an outrageously gorgeous man. You've seen the world—meaning you've eaten plenty of gossip through the system. Stop shaking!]

Huo Si lowered his gaze, leisurely watching the little fox in his arms through the passing shadows cast by streetlights outside. He was clearly terrified, yet he still stubbornly insisted on "inspecting the goods."

He could feel Jian Ning's hand trembling, and he could hear those adorable thoughts that contradicted his words.

"Why did you stop?"

Huo Si's voice was low and husky, carrying a trace of malicious urging. His large hand covered Jian Ning's, guiding it farther down. "Didn't you want to inspect the goods? You've only undone one button. What can you inspect from that?"

Jian Ning felt as if the back of his hand had been burned. He instinctively tried to pull away, but Huo Si held him firmly in place.

"Well... Mr. Huo, I think we should look past appearances and examine the essence." Jian Ning's eyes darted everywhere, unwilling to meet Huo Si's gaze, which seemed capable of pulling people in. "I think your... inner beauty is more important than your outer appearance! Yes, exactly! I'm someone who values substance!"

[Help! If I keep going, I'll be touching his abs! If I piss this old man off and he... does me in this cramped car, will I have to take responsibility for this Rolls-Royce worth tens of millions?]

[The key is... Assistant Lin is still driving up front! Even with the partition up, what if the car starts shaking too much...]

At the mention of "car sex," a dark glint flashed through Huo Si's eyes.

This little thing really had plenty of trash in his head.

"Value substance?" Huo Si chuckled, suddenly leaning close to Jian Ning's ear and gently biting his round earlobe. "Unfortunately, I'm a vulgar man. I prefer... more superficial forms of communication."

The moment the words fell, Huo Si gave him no more chance to retreat.

Taking the initiative, he clasped the back of Jian Ning's head and kissed him again.

This kiss was no longer the punishing, plundering kind from before. Instead, it became exceptionally long and tender.

Like savoring a dessert that had been treasured for a long time.

His tongue swept over Jian Ning's teeth, drawing out tremors from every inch of him as he patiently guided the inexperienced little thing into responding.

Jian Ning's mind completely exploded like fireworks.

[Mmph...]

[That technique... did he take some sort of advanced course? Why does it feel even better than last time...]

[I'm done for. My legs are weak. System, give me some oxygen...]

After who knew how long, only when Jian Ning felt he was about to suffocate did Huo Si mercifully let him go.

Their foreheads rested together, their breaths intertwining.

The corners of Jian Ning's eyes had reddened, his lips gleaming with moisture as he panted heavily like a fish out of water.

Huo Si was not doing much better. His collar hung open, revealing his sexy collarbones, while his gaze was frighteningly deep. His long fingers gently stroked Jian Ning's burning cheek, his voice hoarse beyond recognition.

"How was the inspection? Satisfied?"

Jian Ning's brain was still starved of oxygen. He nodded instinctively. "S-Satisfied... five-star review."

Huo Si laughed softly, the vibration in his chest making Jian Ning's heart go numb.

"Since you're satisfied," Huo Si said, helping him straighten his rumpled clothes and fastening his seatbelt again, "shouldn't you sign for delivery tonight?"

Jian Ning jolted and instantly sobered up.

[Sign for delivery?!]

[No, no, no! Can I return it within seven days for no reason?]

When the car pulled into the villa garage, Jian Ning practically leaped out of it as if fleeing for his life.

He moved so quickly, it was as though wolves were chasing him.

Huo Si watched his fleeing back, leisurely straightening his own collar. The smile in his eyes had yet to fade.

No rush.

There would be plenty of time.

The little fox had entered the wolf's den. Where could he possibly run?

When they returned to the villa, Uncle Chen, the butler, had already prepared a late-night snack.

It was not expensive French cuisine, but two steaming bowls of little wontons. The clear broth was dotted with bright green scallions and seaweed, filling the air with a tempting fragrance.

Jian Ning had used up too much energy in the car earlier—mostly from emotional exhaustion. Now, catching the scent of the food, his stomach gave an embarrassingly loud growl.

He covered his stomach awkwardly.

"Come eat." Huo Si was already seated at the dining table, looking perfectly calm, as if he had not nearly lost control in the car just moments ago.

Jian Ning shuffled over, sat down, and lifted the bowl to take a sip of soup.

Warmth slid down his throat and into his stomach, making his whole body relax.

[Wuwuwu, home cooking really is the best. French food might be expensive and pretty, but it doesn't fill you up at all.]

[Uncle Chen is such a great cook. If I ever leave the Huo Household, I have to poach Uncle Chen with me!]

Huo Si's hand paused around his spoon.

Leave the Huo Household?

This little thing was still thinking about running away?

He set down his spoon, took a document from the briefcase beside him, and pushed it in front of Jian Ning.

"Read this after you finish eating."

With a little wonton in his mouth, Jian Ning asked indistinctly, "What is it? Breakup compensation... oh, no, a severance package?"

His eyes lit up.

Huo Si gave him a cold look. "In your dreams. It's a Supplementary Cohabitation Agreement."

Jian Ning: "..."

[A supplementary agreement? Is this evil capitalist trying to squeeze out the rest of my value again?]

He wiped his mouth and picked up the document.

There were only a few simple clauses, yet every single one made Jian Ning's heart pound.

Clause One: Party B, Jian Ning, must return home before ten every night. In special circumstances, such as filming night scenes, Party B must notify Party A, Huo Si, two hours in advance and enable real-time location sharing.

Jian Ning curled his lip. [Tch, a curfew? Am I an elementary school student?]

Clause Two: In public settings, including but not limited to film sets and variety shows, Party B is strictly prohibited from maintaining a social distance of less than half a meter from any other man or woman, especially exes.

Jian Ning stared wide-eyed. [Half a meter? How am I supposed to act then? Do all my kissing scenes have to use camera angles?]

Clause Three: Party B must provide Party A with three "truths of the day" every day.

Note: They must be sincere and may not be perfunctory or dishonest. If Party A discovers that Party B has lied, each instance will result in a fine... [crossed out], or repayment with a kiss lasting no less than one minute.

When Jian Ning saw the third clause, he felt terrible all over.

"Mr. Huo, I can put up with the first two clauses. But what the hell is this third one? Truth or dare?"

Huo Si leaned back in his chair, his hands folded together as he looked at Jian Ning with an unfathomable gaze.

"Jian Ning, you have too many secrets. I know you're hiding things from me—such as how you know all that gossip, or why you sometimes seem like a completely different person."

"I'm not forcing you to tell me all your secrets. But since we're now in... this kind of relationship, I need some sense of what's real."

Huo Si's voice was unusually serious.

"I don't want the only things I hear every day to be lies you made up just to please me."

Or those thoughts where he called him an "old man."

Jian Ning froze.

He looked at Huo Si. Under the lights, there was less aggression in the man's eyes and something more... something Jian Ning could not put into words.

[A sense of what's real...]

[Is he saying he wants to know the real me?]

[Not the money-grubbing fake innocent act, nor the drama queen who talks nonsense all day, but... me?]

Jian Ning's heart softened for no reason.

Ever since coming to this world, he had always lived behind a mask, relying on the system's gossip to survive. Huo Si was the first person who knew he was acting yet was still willing to play along with him, and even... wanted to see the real face beneath his mask.

"Then... what if the truth I tell is something you don't want to hear?" Jian Ning asked cautiously.

Like calling you an old man, or complaining that your skills are average—though they were actually pretty good.

Huo Si raised a brow. "As long as it's true, I'll listen."

Jian Ning bit his lip, picked up the pen, and signed his flamboyant name at the bottom of the agreement.

"Fine. I'll sign it. Who's afraid of who?"

Huo Si looked at the signature, a satisfied curve appearing on his lips.

"Very good. Then we'll start now."

He checked the time. "It's not midnight yet. Tell me your three truths for today."

Jian Ning: "..."

[That fast?! This capitalist refuses to take even the slightest loss!]

Jian Ning's eyes spun as he cleared his throat.

"First, this bowl of wontons is really delicious. I almost wanted to lick the bowl clean just now."

Huo Si nodded. "Mm. Approved. The second one."

"Second..." Jian Ning looked at Huo Si. Suddenly, he felt a little embarrassed, and his voice grew quieter. "Last night... the bowl of noodles you made for me was actually the best bowl of noodles I've ever had in my life."

The original Jian Ning had been an orphan. No one had ever cooked specifically for him.

Huo Si's gaze softened a little. "Mm. The third one."

Jian Ning took a deep breath, as though making up his mind. He stood, leaned across the dining table, and quickly kissed the corner of Huo Si's lips.

Then he immediately pulled back, his face red as a tomato.

"Third... actually, in the car just now... I-I didn't want to return it. I was scared... scared that I'd be the one who couldn't handle it first."

After saying that, Jian Ning did not dare look at Huo Si's expression at all. He tossed the document onto the table, turned, and ran upstairs.

"I'm done! Going to sleep!"

His rapid footsteps disappeared at the staircase.

Only Huo Si remained in the dining room.

He lifted a hand, his fingertips touching the corner of his lips where he had just been ambushed.

That tiny, soft sensation seemed to still linger there.

After a long while, a low chuckle echoed through the empty villa.

"Couldn't handle it..."

"Looks like I need more practice."

That night, though the two were in their separate rooms, those three "truths" brought their hearts a little closer.

The next morning, Jian Ning was awakened by a rapid knock on the door.

He opened it with a nest of messy hair, only to find Su Mo standing outside with a serious expression and an official red-headed document in hand.

"What is it, Sister Su? Did the sky fall?" Jian Ning asked with a yawn.

Su Mo adjusted her glasses and looked at him with a complicated expression.

"The sky hasn't fallen, but you're about to become famous. Or rather... you're about to face a tribulation."

"The Love Emergency production team just sent out an official announcement. You're the first mysterious guest."

Jian Ning looked confused. "Didn't we agree on this yesterday? What's so surprising?"

Su Mo took a deep breath.

"The problem is, they just announced another surprise mysterious guest."

"Huo Si."

Jian Ning's jaw dropped to the floor.

[H-Huo Si?!]

[What is he going on a dating show for? To be a mentor? Or to be the rich sponsor?]

Su Mo shook her head and shoved her phone screen in front of Jian Ning.

"No. He's participating as an 'ordinary male guest.' And the show's promotional tagline is—"

[A Buddhist prince of Beijing's elite descends to earth, all to win back his runaway little wife.]

Jian Ning stared at the outrageously embarrassing slogan, and his vision went black.

[Little wife?! Who are they calling that?!]

[Huo Si, you old man! Are you trying to make me die of embarrassment in front of the entire country?!]