A forced kiss

Xu Shi's wrist was clamped tightly in a strong, muscular hand.

The other person was so strong that he gave Xu Shi no time to react, yanking him into the room.

As the world spun around him, Xu Shi was pulled off balance and sent crashing toward the door.

Xu Shi instinctively closed his eyes.

The pain he expected never came. The back of his head hit a soft cushion of flesh.

It was probably the man's palm.

Who was it?

He could not smell pheromones, but a faint woody fragrance lingered around his nose. It seemed to be fir.

So familiar.

Frowning, Xu Shi struggled to open his eyes-

"Uh..."

A large hand covered his eyes tightly.

The next second, a familiar strip of fabric was tied over his eyes.

[What was this?]

[A tie?]

[Xie Yanci's tie was red.]

He reached up to take it off.

The Alpha reacted instantly, catching both his unruly hands in one hand and pinning them hard above his head.

Xu Shi still wanted to struggle, but the difference in their strength was too great. He could not move at all.

"Let me go!"

"Do you know who my husband is? You're dead if you dare touch me!"

"I'm warning you... mmph..."

An overwhelming kiss descended, leaving Xu Shi struggling to breathe.

It went on until his legs weakened and he collapsed onto the couch.

That felt so good.

That kissing technique felt so good.

He leaned back against the couch with his head tilted up, his slightly curled eyelashes brushing against the tie with a soft rustle.

The lounge fell silent again. The man who had rewarded him with that incredibly pleasurable kiss had already left, leaving only Xu Shi still craving more.

Blindfolding him with a tie, restraining him by force...

Neither of those things had anything to do with a repressed old stick-in-the-mud like Xie Yanci.

Who was it?

Xu Shi reached up and lightly touched his lips, swollen and red from the kissing. A trace of scorching warmth seemed to linger on them.

That felt so good...

He felt a little of the forbidden thrill of cheating, along with a little anticipation.

Only after a very, very long time did he reluctantly pull off the tie.

The room's harsh light made him instinctively squint. Once his eyes adjusted, he finally got a clear look at the dark red tie that had been used as a prop for flirtation.

Made of silk and custom-crafted entirely by hand, it was probably quite expensive.

It looked like the one Xie Yanci had worn today.

But Xie Yanci was a germaphobe. They had done it twice, and he had never kissed him. Besides, that particular CEO was always rational. How could he possibly fool around like that outside?

Xu Shi did not know.

He lay back down on the couch, tilted his head back, and gently laid the expensive tie over his eyes.

Only that familiar woody agarwood scent remained around his nose.

Xu Shi savored the memory for a long time.

That had been his first kiss.

For his very first kiss, he had encountered an Alpha who was such a good kisser. He thought he would never forget it for the rest of his life.

Would there ever be a second time...?

"Hehe." Xu Shi handed his packed belongings to Xiao Chi, unable to stop himself from quietly chuckling.

"What's gotten into you?" Xiao Chi asked cautiously.

"Let me ask you something." Xu Shi instinctively lowered his voice. "Who got a private VIP lounge at this event?"

Xiao Chi took out his iPad and checked the event's guest list and arrangements. "Four people, but there's no specific list of names."

Four people...

Xu Shi lowered his eyes.

Xie Yanci definitely had one. Wen Yu and Xia Shian might have been there too, so who was the fourth person?

* ! *

Xu Shi startled.

Could it have been his Mr. Right?!

"Hey." Xiao Chi's innocent voice interrupted his fantasy. "Why are your lips swollen?"

Xiao Chi had only graduated from university last year. As Xu Shi's assistant and manager, he was so busy that he had no time to date at all.

Besides, Xu Shi was married, so his thoughts naturally would not go in that direction.

Xu Shi's ears instantly turned red.

He waved a hand and explained awkwardly, "Haha, I had a bit of an allergic reaction to the new lipstick. I already threw it away."

"The organizers gave us that lipstick. I thought canceling your red-carpet appearance at the last minute was bad enough, but they actually gave us substandard makeup too!"

Xiao Chi was indignant.

"An entertainer's face is their livelihood. Aren't they afraid they'll disfigure someone?"

"I hate these people who suck up to the powerful and trample on everyone beneath them!"

"We're not going to play villains and stay at the bottom of the industry forever! Once you start getting lead roles, let's see how they can keep bullying you!"

"..."

Xu Shi did not dare interject at all.

He had read his own script. He really was destined to play the villain all his life.

He even had to die to bring about the main bottom's happy romance.

Daydreams of turning his fortunes around were best left to his previous life.

Xu Shi gave a bitter laugh inwardly.

The reporters outside the building gradually left. Sitting in the stationary van, Xu Shi lowered his eyes and looked out the window.

He breathed onto the window, then drew a smiling face in the condensation with a long finger.

After a very, very long time, he let out another heavy sigh.

It was unclear whether he was thinking about that kiss that had led nowhere, or lamenting his short life that he could do nothing about.

He hated Xie Yanci, that awful man whose affections shifted whenever someone new caught his eye.

Beep-

A horn suddenly sounded in the underground parking garage.

Startled, Xu Shi instinctively looked back.

A jet-black Maybach was pulling out of a parking space. Its license plate had five ones.

Xie Yanci's car?!

Xu Shi instinctively glanced at the dark red tie in the paper bag, his heart pounding.

The traffic jam ahead had been cleared, and the van was about to leave.

Almost instantly, Xu Shi opened the door. "Xiao Chi, go on without me. I still have something to do."

"Wait..."

With a bang, the door was shut.

Urged on by the many cars behind it, the van was forced to leave.

Xu Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

As though he had made up his mind, he picked up the paper bag and ran toward the VIP passage.

"Xie Yanci!"

His shout echoed through the vast parking garage.

The Maybach, which had been about to leave, came to a steady stop.

It reversed, slowly coming to a stop in front of Xu Shi.

"..."

His long fingers settled on the door handle, but as he looked at his own face reflected in the window, Xu Shi froze.

What exactly did he want to question Xie Yanci about, stopping his car so excitedly?

Do you still have your tie?

Were you the one who kissed me just now?