The second time

Pei Yang's legs had gone so weak he could no longer stand. Resigned, Feng Wanting held him around the waist with one arm and took out the wallet he had specifically brought along with the other, pinching out several hundred-yuan notes and setting them on the counter.

"Thanks for your trouble. A tip."

Under the two men's astonished gazes, Feng Wanting hooked an arm under Pei Yang's knees, scooped him up effortlessly, and carried him out of the bar.

Lifted off the ground, Pei Yang instinctively tightened his arms around Feng Wanting's neck. Only after being tossed into the back seat did he regain a little awareness.

Feng Wanting settled into the driver's seat and turned his head slightly to address Pei Yang behind him. "Where do you live? I'll take you home."

"...Home?" Pei Yang parted his lips.

He currently lived in a run-down old residential complex, where there were hardly any young people. Most of those out walking at night were elderly men and women, making the place look more like a retirement home.

Pei Yang had never cared about any of that, nor had he ever felt ashamed of living there. He had simply remembered the disdain in Xia Jingmo's eyes when he visited his home.

"...Not going home." Pei Yang climbed up from the back seat, wedged his slender body between the driver's and passenger's seats, and leaned forward, his lips brushing Feng Wanting's ear as he said, "Let's get a room. Get... a room."

"..."

Feng Wanting was momentarily speechless.

How could someone start a fire and take no responsibility for putting it out?

He had no desire to end up sleeping with Pei Yang again for no apparent reason.

"Are you rich?" Feng Wanting looked into those beautiful eyes. "Why do you keep going on about getting a room?"

"I have money... of course I have money!" Pei Yang patted around himself for a while before producing a wallet.

Feng Wanting raised his eyebrows in surprise. Getting this drunk somewhere as chaotic as a bar without losing his wallet was remarkably lucky.

Dizzy and muddleheaded, Pei Yang struggled to open his wallet, spread the bill compartment, and tipped it upside down.

"Hey!" Feng Wanting quickly cupped his hands beneath it, afraid the money would scatter everywhere.

Clink-

A single coin dropped into his palm.

"?"

Feng Wanting nearly died laughing. "You're planning to get a room with one yuan?"

"I..." Pei Yang looked confused. "I remember... having money..."

Refusing to give up, he continued rummaging through the shriveled wallet. Feng Wanting quietly watched him search, and a few seconds later, he actually found something.

In the dim light, Feng Wanting made out a bank card.

Pei Yang held the card between his slender fingers and imperiously offered it to Feng Wanting. "Here. Spend as much as you want."

Feng Wanting doubted that someone with only a single one-yuan coin in his wallet would have any money in his bank account. He sighed and started the car. "Sit properly."

Drunk Pei Yang refused to listen, pouting. After they had driven a short distance, he clutched Feng Wanting's shoulder with one hand and whispered, "Can we not get a suite this time?"

Feng Wanting, who had never intended to get a hotel room, tilted his head. "Hmm?"

Pei Yang mumbled, "It's a little expensive."

Feng Wanting's lips curved as he deliberately teased him. "I'm only comfortable staying in suites. What should we do? Why don't we forget it? I'll take you home."

"No!" Pei Yang shouted. "You're so fussy!"

"Can't help it. That's just how I am."

Pei Yang fell silent for a long time. Unable to see him clearly in the rearview mirror, Feng Wanting thought he had fallen asleep. But when he turned to look, Pei Yang's moist eyes were wide open. He was clearly thinking something over, his expression as serious as though he were working through a math olympiad problem beyond his level.

"All right..." Pei Yang finally spoke softly, as though he had worked it out, and reluctantly said, "Then... let's get a suite. I'll work hard. I can always... earn it back."

"I never asked. What do you want a room for?"

"To have sex." Pei Yang frowned, thinking Feng Wanting was rather stupid. "What else would we get a room for?"

Feng Wanting paused, his spirits subdued. "Pei Yang, what are we to each other that we'd have sex?"

"Do we have to be something to each other to have sex?" Pei Yang's voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was almost inaudible. "Then what are Song Yixiao and Xia Jingmo to each other?"

Feng Wanting turned the steering wheel and drove into the garage. The sensor beeped as it detected the car, and the automatic door opened with enough noise to drown out the second half of Pei Yang's words. Feng Wanting asked again, "What?"

Once the car stopped, Pei Yang peered out the window, completely forgetting what he had meant to say. "We're at the hotel?"

Feng Wanting got out and opened the car door for Pei Yang for the second time. "We're here."

Pei Yang hugged Feng Wanting's arm and obediently followed him into the villa.

As they stepped onto the entryway carpet, a three-tiered crystal chandelier blazed to life, countless beams refracted through its prisms spilling down like crushed diamonds. It took Pei Yang nearly a minute to take in the first floor of the villa. Once he recovered, he grabbed Feng Wanting's wrist and tried to pull him outside.

Feng Wanting remained rooted to the spot, unmoving no matter how hard Pei Yang tugged. "Where are you going?"

Pei Yang looked on the verge of tears. "I... I probably can't... afford a hotel like this."

"You don't have to pay," Feng Wanting said helplessly. "Stop fussing and come upstairs to rest."

"..."

Biting his lip, Pei Yang blinked his big, curious eyes and followed Feng Wanting upstairs, where Feng Wanting ushered him into a large, clean guest room. "You'll sleep in this bedroom."

Pei Yang looked around the unfamiliar room, refusing to release Feng Wanting's hand. Realizing Feng Wanting would not be sleeping with him, he asked anxiously, "What about you?"

"I have my own-"

Before Feng Wanting could finish, Pei Yang suddenly rose onto his toes and gave him a light peck on the lips.

A kiss scented with alcohol.

"Don't leave me." At some point, Pei Yang's eyelashes had clumped into dark strands. The corners of his eyes looked pitiful as he pleaded, "Don't leave me alone."

"..."

The same trick again?

Feng Wanting looked down at Pei Yang, his gaze cool.

Just like that night, he pulled out all the stops to make him stay, only to kick him aside after getting his pleasure and using him, even spending money to draw a clear line between them and never see him again.

"Last time, your boyfriend cheated. What is it this time?" Feng Wanting asked.

Pei Yang's alcohol-addled brain could not process the meaning of that question yet. He hugged Feng Wanting tightly, his chin pressing into his chest, and asked in return, "What?"

"You wouldn't drink this much if nothing was wrong." Feng Wanting guessed that something had upset Pei Yang again. Perhaps having sex last time had been particularly soothing, which was why he had sought him out again. "Do you have to act out like this every time you're unhappy?"

Pei Yang only understood "unhappy." Slowly but agreeably, he nodded. "I am unhappy."

"But I don't know why... seeing you makes it a lot better."

Pei Yang's hands crept up from Feng Wanting's waist, roaming over his entire back, and he kissed him again. "Kissing you makes me feel better too."

Feng Wanting truly could not handle him. He drew a soft breath. "Why?"

"I don't know..." Pei Yang's eyes were full of confusion. A moment later, he said hoarsely, "Maybe... because you're good-looking."

Feng Wanting: "..."

Pei Yang's lashes fluttered, his eyes as innocent as a three-year-old's. He held himself back for a moment, then, seemingly unable to resist, kissed the corner of Feng Wanting's mouth again.

Feng Wanting felt as though his senses had dulled. Even the beating in his chest slowed for a moment.

He surrendered, his voice softening too. "Will you regret it again when you're sober?"

Pei Yang did not answer because he could not understand. His head was foggy, and all he wanted was to do what felt good. He stretched out his arms, wrapped them around Feng Wanting's neck, tilted his head, and slipped out the tip of his tongue.

"...Mm."

Feng Wanting's restraint had reached its limit. He kissed Pei Yang as he kicked the door shut.

With a bang, the whole world seemed to fall silent.

At last, Feng Wanting moved the arms hanging at his sides, his large hands gripping Pei Yang's slender waist.

-He had wanted to do this the second time he saw Pei Yang.

In the tiered conference room, Pei Yang had looked perfectly respectable, his shirt buttoned all the way up and his tie hanging neatly down the center. Of all the people there, he alone had seen how the outwardly proper Pei Yang could be utterly wanton in bed.

When desire overtook him, he lost control of his expression. That cold face melted, revealing a side of him unlike his usual self.

Just like now.

"Ah..."