Laying It Bare

The hall was exceptionally quiet. Every word Si Jinyan spoke landed heavily on Chi Li's heart.

The meaning behind Si Jinyan's words could not have been clearer.

Chi Li's back was tense, and Si Jinyan saw his usual wariness toward him all too clearly.

In every respect, their starting point—their very first meeting—had been wrong.

Si Jinyan's gaze moved away from the pale nape of Chi Li's neck. The restless desire within him desperately wanted an outlet, but he could not do this.

The pheromones surrounding them suddenly softened.

"Chi Li," Si Jinyan said, holding him as he lowered his head and gently rested it against the back of Chi Li's neck. The gesture carried a hint of dependence, and his words were filled with tenderness. "This isn't just because of pheromones."

Si Jinyan had thought about matters concerning Chi Li many times before. Perhaps even Chi Li had noticed.

Given Si Jinyan's position and identity, he had always retreated again and again when facing Chi Li, seeming indecisive and hesitant.

The current situation was already terrible for Chi Li. He was in unfamiliar territory, and every movement he made was under Si Jinyan's control.

Yet Chi Li had not completely lost his composure. He could even sit here and eat breakfast with Si Jinyan because he had long sensed something deep down. His intuition stirred—he had something Si Jinyan wanted.

But Chi Li had never dared to determine exactly what it was.

Now, Si Jinyan's words laid that purpose bare before them both. Si Jinyan had made it clear: he did not want the value Chi Li's pheromones could provide. He wanted Chi Li.

Si Jinyan's voice fell silent.

The atmosphere became suffocating, as though it had frozen solid.

Instead, Chi Li gradually calmed down, able to quietly weigh