Chapter 22

"Missing out on me was his loss," Catherine said proudly. "I'm not about to hang myself from a single tree. Don't you people in Hua Country have a saying? Giving up an entire forest for one tree is an unwise choice."

Xin Chun said, "You're very wise."

"That's right." After saying that, Catherine downed her glass of champagne in one gulp.

Xin Chun concealed the smile that had quietly risen to his lips and asked, "Have you ever tasted Hua Country liquor?"

Catherine said, "Not yet. Do you have any recommendations?"

"Of course."

When Owen finished talking with his uncles and came over, he found Xin Chun and Catherine chatting merrily.

Chapter 22

Catherine left as soon as she saw Owen. After the banquet, in their room, Owen held Xin Chun and asked softly, "What did you two talk about? Catherine was smiling very happily."

Xin Chun said, "Liquor. She likes drinking, so I gave her a few recommendations."

Owen had never paid much attention to Catherine, but he had heard about her habit of collecting liquor. He rubbed Xin Chun's earlobe. "William told you?"

Xin Chun nodded without the slightest guilt.

Owen curved his lips in a smile, a low, sexy sound spilling from his throat. He leaned closer, his nose brushing against Xin Chun's. The atmosphere turned intimate as he gradually moved lower, pressing kisses to his lips and neck. His straight nose lightly swept over the skin at the side of Xin Chun's neck, bringing a ticklish sensation.

Xin Chun could not help laughing, his chest trembling as he tried to lean back, but Owen's palm covered his back, leaving him nowhere to escape.

Xin Chun did not want to escape either.

After sucking a kiss mark onto his neck, Owen raised his head again. "How many glasses did you drink, hmm, baby?"

Xin Chun tilted his head slightly as he thought. "Four, or maybe five. Catherine brought them for me. They were all low-proof champagne. I'm not drunk, Owen."

Owen kneaded the back of his neck and replied softly, "But your face is red. Do you know that?"

Xin Chun touched his cheek. He knew, but he innocently shook his head.

Owen's hand moved from the back of his neck to the front. One finger hooked Xin Chun's tie loose. Owen tossed the removed tie aside, then loosened his own and threw it together with Xin Chun's. His Adam's apple was exposed, shifting slightly, looking especially sexy between the folds of his black shirt.

It was as though he had cast off his restraints. Aggression radiated from him inside and out, like a beast smashing apart its cage—dangerous, yet seductive. And the prey he intended to hunt was right before him.

Xin Chun ran his fingers over Owen's Adam's apple. Under the gaze of those dark green eyes, he slowly unbuttoned Owen's shirt and vest until Owen's fine body was completely revealed.

"Are you going to keep unbuttoning?" Owen asked hoarsely.

Xin Chun lowered his head. If he continued... it would be his pants. But why shouldn't he continue?

The man before him belonged to him. He could do whatever he wanted.

Xin Chun reached out...

The truth proved that the consequences of "doing whatever he wanted" only left him miserable. He could not bear it, whimpering and crying as he was thoroughly tormented.

Owen never once mentioned that he was jealous, yet his actions made it abundantly clear.

The next day, as expected, Xin Chun did not wake up until noon.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Owen beside him. Joy and a sense of security welled up in his heart. He moved closer and snuggled against him, Owen's scent filling his nose. "Morning."

"Morning." Owen kissed Xin Chun's forehead.

"The sunlight is so glaring. The weather looks nice today. What time did I sleep until?"

"A little after ten. Still sleepy? You can sleep a little longer."

"My waist hurts."

Owen's voice was smiling. "I'll massage it for you."

Xin Chun gave a soft huff and enjoyed the service as a matter of course.

But he did not go back to sleep after all, because Catherine came over. She claimed to be visiting Marcus, but in truth, she had come to find Xin Chun.

William was there as well. Seeing this, he looked deeply aggrieved. Why was Catherine looking for Xin Chun? They had clearly only met once, hadn't they?

Catherine had brought Hua Country liquor. She acted incredibly fast—Xin Chun had only mentioned it last night, yet Catherine had already used her connections to buy the liquor today. Its alcohol content was not low.

"Come on, let's drink." Catherine arranged all the bottles on the table. She wanted to taste them one by one.

"With this much liquor, won't we get alcohol poisoning if we finish it all?" William asked.

Catherine said, "It's not like we're drinking every last drop. Are you joining us or not?"

William said, "...I'm in."

Xin Chun said, "Drinking different kinds of liquor makes it easier to get drunk, and it's bad for the stomach too. We can drink this bottle and this one first. Put the rest away."

"Fine." Catherine did not care either way.

There were matching small porcelain liquor cups. The manor had a home theater, so they curled up inside that afternoon, eating, chatting, and watching movies. In the end, Catherine drank herself unconscious and was carried away by William.

She had a room at the manor too, so she would probably be staying the night.

Xin Chun had drunk as well, and his cheeks began turning rosy again.

"Mmm, Owen, carry me." Xin Chun sank into a beanbag chair and held out his arms toward Owen.

Owen bent down to pick him up.

But Xin Chun changed his mind. "No, don't carry me. Give me a piggyback ride."

"Okay." Owen touched his face, turned around, and crouched down. "Get on. Be careful."

Xin Chun climbed out of the beanbag chair and slowly draped himself over Owen's back, wrapping his arms around Owen's neck. Owen supported his legs and stood up. His legs were strong and steady, without the slightest wobble.

"Are you holding on tight?"

"Mhm." Xin Chun rubbed his cheek against Owen's shoulder.

Owen carried Xin Chun out of the theater room. Not long after, they unexpectedly ran into Duan Wei in the hallway.

Duan Wei looked at them. "Is Xin Chun... drunk?"

Owen said, "Yes. I was just about to take him back to his room."

Duan Wei said, "Then... should we prepare some hangover soup for Xin Chun? He can drink it so he won't feel so bad."

"I'll go tell the kitchen..."

Xin Chun had been lying on Owen's shoulder with his eyes closed, but now he made a couple of soft sounds and muttered in a spoiled, soft voice, "Why did we stop? So annoying."

He tightened his arms around Owen, pressing his heated cheek against Owen's neck.