Why are you backing away? Did you think I was going to kiss you?

Yu Xiuyuan sprang back, his entire back practically pressed against the sofa cushions.

Yun Chuan smiled at him, his amusement tinged with knowing satisfaction. "Why are you backing away? Did you think I was going to kiss you?"

Yu Xiuyuan knew he had been played.

Was this for his family's benefit?

He gritted his teeth, straightened up, and even leaned closer to Yun Chuan, forcing himself to say, "Fine, I won't back away."

Yun Chuan's smile deepened, and his gaze grew utterly unrestrained, sliding down inch by inch from Yu Xiuyuan's eyes, over the bridge of his nose and the peak of his upper lip, before settling on those two lightly pursed lips.

At the same time, his hand slowly rose, his fingertips hovering tantalizingly close.

Yu Xiuyuan's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

He knew Yun Chuan was teasing him again.

Hold your ground. Back down and you lose.

"Open your mouth." Yun Chuan's voice was low and unhurried.

Yu Xiuyuan swallowed. Was he trying something new because he hadn't managed to scare me? Did he think I'd read too much into it again?

Steeling himself, Yu Xiuyuan barely parted his lips.

"Good boy..." Yun Chuan's praise was as soft as a sigh.

His fingers settled at the corners of Yu Xiuyuan's mouth and gently pushed upward, manually shaping his lips into a smile.

Yu Xiuyuan held his neck stiff, thinking, Just as I thought. All this guy can do is bluff...

The next second, Yun Chuan abruptly shifted his grip. He caught Yu Xiuyuan's chin between his thumb and forefinger, applied a little pressure, and curled his fingers, forcing a gap between his teeth.

The warm pad of his thumb slipped inside at an unhurried pace and gently brushed that pointed canine.

"It really is a little sharp..." Yun Chuan's