Nothing to lose

Xia Zhi thought the villain was truly handsome. She simply lay on her side, propped her head on her hand, and watched him. "Tsk, tsk. What a shame."

A shame he was a villain.

A shame he was gay.

Xia Zhi glanced down at the dudou she was wearing. The internet had clearly said no man could resist this blend of seductive and innocent. Apparently, it did nothing for the villain.

Xia Zhi was just about to sneak out of bed when a large hand caught her slender waist. An immense force swept her over, and she found herself caught in the tiger's jaws.

The man enclosed Xia Zhi with his long arms and legs.

Like a little moth caught in a spiderweb, Xia Zhi could not move.

She struggled, only for him to pin her down even more firmly. "Stop squirming."

"Sleep with me for a while."

Having this woman beside him last night had kept him from sleeping properly almost the entire night, so he planned to keep sleeping in the guest room tomorrow night.

Xia Zhi was not worried that the villain would do anything to her. After all, even dressed like that last night, she had failed to move him.

"You're too heavy. You're crushing me. I can't breathe."

Lu Heng slowly opened his sleeping eyes, a trace of languor in them, without any of his usual cold sharpness. He studied Xia Zhi's slightly flushed face and cherry-red lips.

Suddenly, he remembered that night at Tang Fangjing's house.

He still remembered the warm, soft sensation of that fleeting kiss by the sink. Unexpectedly, he did not seem to dislike that sort of contact.

"Who are you trying to seduce, dressed like this?"

Xia Zhi's eyes curved with her smile. "Whoever climbs into my bed."

Lu Heng gently pressed a hand to Xia Zhi's lips, his slightly rough finger stroking back and forth over them, yet he never leaned in to kiss her.

Lu Heng felt he still had a mental barrier when it came to taking someone else's saliva directly into his mouth.

He could not do it.

In the end, Lu Heng rolled out of bed and went into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water came from inside.

Xia Zhi had thought Lu Heng was going to kiss her. Only after he left did she realize that the damn gay man had been toying with her.

Damn villain. Rotten villain. He kept using his good looks to tease her.

He had gone too far.

Xia Zhi decided there was no straightening the villain out, no matter what. In that case, she certainly could not force him straight. What if she broke him?

She had to respect other people's sexual orientation.

And so, Xia Zhi went to a gay bar for the first time.

Everyone stared at her, suspecting she had come to the wrong place.

The bar owner came to shoo her away too, tactfully telling her that this was no ordinary bar. But an ordinary bar was not what Xia Zhi was looking for.

"I'm in the right place."

When the bar owner heard that the woman was choosing a charming birthday present for her boss, he had to admire this secretary's creativity.

"Your boss will definitely love this gift."

Xia Zhi said, "Money isn't an issue, but he has to be clean."

"My boss is very particular."

Seeing Xia Zhi's refined bearing and expensive clothes and accessories, the bar owner guessed that her boss was someone important and hurried to bring out his hidden treasure.

Xia Zhi looked at the boy before her. He really was delicate and good-looking.

She could not resist reaching out to pinch his collagen-plump cheek and almost asked what brand of cosmetics he used.

The boy seemed a little reserved, but he did not reject Xia Zhi's touch.

Xia Zhi thought of ancient emperors selecting consorts. At least half the candidates would be eliminated over the course of the process. She cleared her throat and put on an air of formality as she stated her requirements.

"No scars or injuries on his body, and his medical examination results have to be satisfactory."

"Also, make absolutely sure he's clean and no one has touched him."

The boy lowered his head, his face turning scarlet.

The bar owner was about to strip the boy on the spot, but Xia Zhi hurriedly stopped him. She had no penchant for peeping at men's bodies. "I trust you."

"You can inspect him."

And so the owner took considerable liberties with the boy again. Though the procedure was quite simple, he took over ten minutes to finish the inspection. The boy bit his lip and endured it without a sound.

"Rest assured, miss. I guarantee he's perfectly clean."

Xia Zhi studied the frail youth who seemed unable to fend for himself. She could see his embarrassment and could not help softening her voice.

"What's your name?"

The boy kept his head lowered. "Song Ye."

"Which Song? Which Ye?"

The boy fell silent for a moment before answering slowly, "Song as in the Tang and Song dynasties. Ye as in bastard."

Xia Zhi was slightly taken aback. It was the first time she had heard someone introduce himself that way, but she did not dwell on it. The youth before her truly was beautiful, perfectly matching her image of a little bottom.

In any case, if he did not go with the villain today, he would be forced to go with someone else someday.

Whatever else might be said, the villain was an exceptional man. Perhaps the two of them might even make it work.

Then she would really have done a good deed.

After paying the bar fee, Xia Zhi happily led Song Ye away.

She took a taxi with Song Ye to Jiangcheng's largest, most luxurious hotel, booked a presidential suite, and led him straight upstairs.

As she walked, she sent Lu Heng a message with the hotel's location and room number.

-Honey, I have a huge, huge surprise for you. You'll definitely love it.

-I'll be waiting. Come over after work.

Xia Zhi swiped the key card and entered room 1809. It was spacious and luxurious, with a living room outside and a bedroom farther in. She estimated when Lu Heng would finish work, then asked the hotel to prepare a romantic candlelit dinner.

Seeing the youth standing dazedly before the floor-to-ceiling windows, Xia Zhi recalled how he had introduced himself and felt that this boy had a story.

But no character named Song Ye had been mentioned in the original novel, so Xia Zhi did not know what his fate would be.

She glanced down at her watch. "Song Ye, go take a shower."

"Wash thoroughly."

"My boss is a bit of a clean freak."

Not a bit. An extreme, extreme clean freak.

Song Ye turned to look at Xia Zhi. She truly was the most beautiful woman he had seen in his eighteen years of life. Even movie stars could not compare to her. Given the choice, he would rather serve her.

Seeing that Song Ye was merely looking at her without moving, Xia Zhi thought he must be reluctant and reassured him.

"Don't worry. My boss is young and handsome, not some decrepit old man. You won't be losing out by being with him."

Song Ye continued staring at her.

His gaze was a little like that of a young beast waiting for a chance to pounce on its prey.

Xia Zhi urged him again. "Hurry up. He'll be getting off work soon. You need to be ready before he arrives."

Only then did Song Ye turn and head toward the bathroom.

Xia Zhi suddenly remembered something. "Wait."

She rummaged through her bag and tossed him an outfit that gay men supposedly loved.

"Wear this."

Song Ye reached out a long arm and caught the clothes. He looked at Xia Zhi again before turning and entering the bathroom.

Bored out of her mind, Xia Zhi started playing a game. Unexpectedly, she ran into Ji Qinghe, who carried her through two straight rounds of kills and found a moment amid the action to talk to her.

"What are you doing? Don't you have to have dinner with your husband around now?"

Now that she mentioned it, Xia Zhi really was a little hungry.

Should I order takeout?

After all, the candlelit dinner was reserved for the villain and his little bottom.

Xia Zhi was just about to invite Ji Qinghe out for dinner when she felt a pair of damp hands settle on her shoulders.