He did not dare tell Qi Wu his true identity. For one thing, Qi Wu had genuinely wanted to kill him back then, and had even provoked him.
For another, he had noticed that Qi Wu got along very well with everyone in the Mutual Aid Society. If someone died in an instance, he would mourn alongside the others, looking deeply saddened.
He had been a boss for over two years, so he must have killed members of the Mutual Aid Society. Besides, he had killed plenty of people in the instance Qi Wu had entered back then. He might even have killed a teammate who was very important to Qi Wu.
If that were the case, could Qi Wu still accept him?
"Why do you think they matter more than you?"
"Wh... what?"
Chu Qingjiu seemed unable to process what he had heard. Had he misheard?
Qi Wu abruptly brought his other hand up to cup Chu Qingjiu's face. His voice was low, husky, and intimate, its resonant tone casually seductive.
"No one matters more than you. No one."
"I just act like I fit in. That doesn't mean they actually matter that much to me."
"Before I met you, I didn't care. After meeting you, you became my first priority."
He presented himself as easygoing and could get along with anyone. Precisely because he could get along with anyone, no one held any particular importance to him.
They were all dispensable. If they died, they died; he could always meet plenty of other people. But Chu Qingjiu was one of a kind, irreplaceable.
Chu Qingjiu felt as though he had been fooled by that earnest expression again. Qi Wu's affection level was clearly still only 0, yet those words inexplicably filled him with joy.
Something seemed to be beating very fast at that moment-
It was his heart.
His breathing suddenly quickened, and he immediately lowered his lashes to avoid that earnest, burning gaze. But Qi Wu abruptly tipped his chin up, forcing him to look at him.
"Chu Qingjiu."
This was the first time Qi Wu had called Chu Qingjiu by name. Those three syllables seemed especially captivating on his tongue, making Chu Qingjiu's ears redden and his heart beat harder and harder.
His breathing grew uncontrollably ragged. No matter how hard he tried, he could no longer keep his face composed or pretend to be indifferent.
"Don't doubt my feelings for you. Don't ignore me or shut me out. Do you hear me?"
"..."
"Answer me."
Overwhelmed by Qi Wu's oppressive presence, Chu Qingjiu could barely breathe. He desperately wanted to escape his hold and go somewhere Qi Wu could not find him. Then he would no longer be troubled by him.
"If you won't speak, I'll kiss you until you do."
Qi Wu's tone was overbearing, brooking no argument. Chu Qingjiu had just been about to speak when Qi Wu kissed him, making his eyes fly wide open.
There were still so many people watching behind them...
Chu Qingjiu felt that doing something like this with other people around was far more than his thin skin could bear. He was not that uninhibited yet, and began struggling with muffled sounds.
Qi Wu pulled back a little and said with a wicked, teasing half smile, "The harder you struggle, the more likely they are to notice. Do you want them to see me pinning you in a corner and kissing you?"
"..."
This clingy pest was so scary when he was angry.
An intoxicating flush rose to Chu Qingjiu's cheeks, and his slightly narrowed eyes seemed to offer a silent invitation.
The corners of his beautiful eyes were now damp and red, his violet irises veiled in mist, giving him a vulnerable, touching look.
With his chin tilted up by Qi Wu, Chu Qingjiu's normally pale lips had been kissed red, like red fruit flesh glistening with juice.
He had clearly done nothing, but that innocent, bewildered look still made Qi Wu's heart tighten. His eyes darkened, and he lowered his head to kiss those beautiful, tempting red lips.
"Mmph..."
Qi Wu kissed him deeply, with a dominance that allowed no refusal, forcing Chu Qingjiu to brace his entire back against the wall and tilt his head up to accept that overbearing, passionate kiss.
After Qi Wu's threat, Chu Qingjiu no longer dared struggle. He did not want anyone coming over to watch them at a time like this, either.
He could also sense that Qi Wu seemed to be venting all his suppressed anger through this kiss.
Qi Wu nipped and bit at him, his rapid, scorching breaths spilling over Chu Qingjiu's face, suffusing his entire body with Qi Wu's warmth.
In such an open space with other people around, he had no idea whether the others could hear those sounds that made his face burn and his heart race.
The six players could only see Qi Wu's tall, broad back, not Chu Qingjiu's upper body. Qi Wu was big enough to gather Chu Qingjiu entirely into his arms and shield him completely from view.
All they could see was Qi Wu bracing one hand against the wall, his head slightly lowered as though he were talking to Chu Qingjiu.
Watching Qi Wu's back, Wu Zhong said quietly, "These brothers are so strange. They're always having a spat. I wonder if they'll make up in a bit."
"My main concern is that the kid might cause trouble. And his older brother's health isn't good, either. Who knows if they'll end up holding us back?"
The speaker was a man of around thirty with rugged, masculine features, named Zhang Shan.
Another man, refined and gentle in bearing, smiled. "Don't worry. Little Chu may be in poor health, but he's intelligent. His younger brother has probably been looking after him all along."
The gentle-looking man was named Lin Chi, and he wore a smile before he even spoke. Chu Qingjiu, however, felt that he was a smiling tiger, so he had not interacted with him much.
Chu Qingjiu had no idea the other six were discussing them. Eyes closed, he remained entangled with Qi Wu, kissed until his legs went weak and he could no longer stand steadily. He could only rest all his weight against the wall to keep himself from falling.
Qi Wu kissed his lips, then drew back a fraction. With their lips still brushing, he murmured indistinctly, "Big brother... don't ignore me."
Qi Wu softened his manner again. He did not want to lose his temper with Chu Qingjiu. Though he had indeed acted that way because he had lost control earlier, he had now come back to his senses.
Chu Qingjiu panted, his voice trembling, husky and alluring. "Mm... my legs are weak..."
Chu Qingjiu desperately wanted to wrap his arms around Qi Wu's waist and lean his whole body against him, but there were still six people behind them.
He was afraid the others would discover what they were doing in the corner.
Before you continue