Unmatched Chapter 4
byChapter 4 The Second Kiss
Zhao Shuyi certainly didn’t ask Xie Qi to meet just to argue.
He had prepared a set of peace talks, intending to repair his terrible relationship with Xie Qi—whether Xie Qi accepted it or not was irrelevant; his main goal was to guide himself: prioritize the big picture, stop resisting the Zhao Family, and accept this Marriage Arrangement.
The plan was solid. Before Xie Qi arrived, Zhao Shuyi felt that as long as he showed sincerity and controlled his personal emotions, he could surely turn conflict into harmony.
But the moment Xie Qi appeared, he realized he had overestimated himself.
First, the voice:
Xie Qi’s provocative tone instantly made Zhao Shuyi frown. He sounded like an arrogant hedgehog, incapable of speaking calmly and properly.
Next, the scent:
Xie Qi must have been fooling around somewhere before coming, as he carried several different perfume scents. Zhao Shuyi had a sensitive nose, never used perfume himself, and disliked it on those around him. Xie Qi was fundamentally incompatible with him.
And the expression:
Xie Qi had a handsome face, but without a smile, it looked cold and unfeeling. When he walked up to Zhao Shuyi, he didn’t sit down. He shot a series of unfriendly signals with his eyes, gazing down at Zhao Shuyi condescendingly: “Why aren’t you talking?”
“…”
Because he didn’t want to start cursing the moment he opened his mouth, naturally.
Zhao Shuyi was silent for two seconds, then pointed to the sofa opposite: “Please sit.”
“So polite?” Xie Qi sat down cooperatively, sounding suspicious, “You wouldn’t be asking me for a favor, would you?”
Zhao Shuyi didn’t respond, giving him a faint glance.
Perhaps because he was too familiar with the entertainment industry, Young Master Xie’s style of dress was quite flamboyant, influenced by his company.
He wore a jacket that should technically be classified as a suit jacket but was designed strangely, paired with a champagne-colored shirt unbuttoned low at the neck, accessorized with a necklace. His demeanor was dissolute, not a single hair reliable.
Zhao Shuyi, however, had specifically changed into a more serious formal suit for receiving a guest. He had been in a bad mood these past few days, and his complexion was poor. Sitting there coldly, he looked detached and emotionless, as if he could ascend to immortality the next second.
They were clearly not on the same path.
Zhao Shuyi didn’t know what there was to discuss with Xie Qi; he had forgotten all his prepared talking points. If he had a choice, he wouldn’t want to stay for another second.
But he was the one who initiated the meeting.
“Secretary Ye, you can go back to your work now.” Zhao Shuyi didn’t notice Ye Zhao’s hesitant expression and dismissed him, leaving him alone with Xie Qi.
Once the third party left, Xie Qi stopped being polite. He scanned the living room furnishings and gloated: “I heard you were put under house arrest here for refusing the Marriage Arrangement? Not bad, the environment is better than I expected.”
Zhao Shuyi: “…”
No wonder he agreed to the meeting so readily; he came to watch a spectacle.
Zhao Shuyi suppressed the urge to retaliate and tried to be polite: “Xie Qi, I asked you here today to discuss something very important.”
His politeness was equivalent to showing weakness, which Xie Qi appreciated: “Go on.”
Zhao Shuyi asked, “What has Xie Yuran been busy with lately?”
Xie Qi paused: “What could she be busy with? Eating, drinking, having fun, and dating. She went to Europe the day before yesterday and hasn’t returned. Do you need her for something?”
“…”
Judging by his tone, Xie Qi was unaware.
Zhao Shuyi was silent for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. He suddenly realized that Ye Zhao hadn’t explicitly confirmed that the Marriage Alliance partner was Xie Yuran; it was possible he had guessed wrong.
But he had already arranged a face-to-face meeting with a member of the Zhao Family. If he had truly guessed wrong, wouldn’t Secretary Ye have stopped him?
The situation was strange in every way. Zhao Shuyi felt a bit lost: “Nothing, just asking casually.”
“‘Just asking casually’?” Xie Qi grew wary, “You specifically called me here just to ‘casually ask’ what my sister is busy with? Zhao Shuyi, don’t be ridiculous.”
“Is it ridiculous?” Zhao Shuyi offered a cooperative smile and pushed the water glass toward him, “Want some?”
Xie Qi refused: “I don’t like tea.”
“Coffee?”
“No need, thank you.”
“Don’t be shy. We might be family soon.”
Zhao Shuyi observed Xie Qi’s expression, confirming that he was indeed unaware, but his reaction was significant; his eyes chilled several degrees: “What do you mean? Zhao Shuyi, don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to my sister.”
Zhao Shuyi didn’t answer. Xie Qi pieced the story together himself: “You refused the Marriage Arrangement because of Xie Yuran?”
“…”
He was quite good at imagining things. Had he watched too many idol dramas?
Zhao Shuyi wasn’t sure of the situation yet, so he couldn’t speak plainly, although he felt it was highly likely to be Xie Yuran.
But this realization made Zhao Shuyi hesitate again.
Marriage was a matter between two people. Xie Qi was unaware, and Xie Yuran was probably unaware too. Both sides were being forced by their parents. He could sacrifice his personal feelings for the sake of Chaoyang Group’s big picture, but Xie Yuran seemed too pitiful.
She was just a young girl.
Zhao Shuyi’s refusal to refute or explain was taken as confirmation by Xie Qi, whose expression darkened further. Zhao Shuyi was puzzled: “Why are you reacting so strongly?”
Xie Qi said coldly: “I warn you, stop having ideas about Xie Yuran.”
Zhao Shuyi found this extremely odd: “I didn’t hear that you two had such deep sibling affection.”
Quite the opposite, in fact; they were rumored to have clashed several times.
Xie Qi, however, said: “I just don’t want my sister to be tricked by a male swindler.”
“What male swindler?” He was mocking him now. Zhao Shuyi was baffled, “Who did I trick?”
Xie Qi’s expression stiffened: “Everyone knows what you’re like in private. Who are you trying to fool?”
Zhao Shuyi claimed ignorance: “What am I like?”
Xie Qi suddenly stood up, looming over him: “Zhao Shuyi! You’ve slept with plenty of men and women, haven’t you? Why are you pretending to be some pure, innocent white lotus? Is it interesting?”
Zhao Shuyi was expressionless: “Who I sleep with is my privacy, Young Master. I don’t have the habit of announcing it to the world, unlike you, who likes to date female celebrities and is constantly in the headlines.”
“…”
Sure enough, they couldn’t exchange more than a few sentences without resorting to mutual sarcasm.
But Zhao Shuyi didn’t understand what right Xie Qi, a person who loved to play around so much, had to mock him for being promiscuous?
Moreover, he didn’t consider himself promiscuous; he just had normal physiological needs and used it to relieve stress.
They were locked in a stalemate for a long time, neither speaking.
Although their conflicts were constant, they rarely erupted into full-blown arguments, because both felt that showing genuine emotion, even hatred, meant losing face.
The goal was to be polite, fake, and casually provoke the other person into “breaking down” to claim victory.
Zhao Shuyi looked closely at Xie Qi’s face and suddenly, and inappropriately, recalled the dream he had a few days ago.
Three years ago, they kissed in a KTV.
Xie Qi had a major breakdown and suffered symptoms of homophobia afterward, avoiding him for many days.
Of course, whether he avoided him or not made no difference; they rarely ran into each other anyway.
The atmosphere suddenly grew subtle in the silence. Following up on the previous topic, Zhao Shuyi said in a low voice: “Actually, I haven’t slept with many women. I prefer men.”
“…”
Xie Qi froze, his eyes rippling slightly like water stirred by the wind.
Zhao Shuyi silently closed the distance between them. That sentence was like a loaded hint, and Xie Qi received it keenly, visibly growing tense.
Zhao Shuyi, right in front of him, was almost expressionless, but the proximity was startling. Their breaths were close, the warmth brushing his face. Xie Qi was rigid, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Zhao Shuyi stared at him, his gaze subtly shifting, carrying a faint warmth as it slid from his eyes past his high nose bridge, landing on his lips.
Xie Qi abruptly took a step back.
Zhao Shuyi smiled, exposing him: “Xie Qi, you didn’t think I wanted to kiss you, did you?”
“…”
Xie Qi’s face darkened. “Furious” wasn’t enough to describe it: “Are you insane! That’s disgusting!”
“It is quite disgusting,” Zhao Shuyi agreed, “But I won again.”
Wounding the enemy a thousand times while damaging himself eight hundred, Zhao Shuyi hadn’t expected himself to be so ruthless.
“And,” he pressed his advantage, backing Xie Qi toward the sofa, “Your reaction is strange…”
—He looked like a pure, innocent college student being teased. He was like this three years ago, and he was still like this today, which truly didn’t match his usual impression.
But before he could finish, Zhao Shuyi’s throat tightened. A powerful force suddenly flipped him over. Xie Qi grabbed his neck and pinned him against the sofa, speaking coldly: “Zhao Shuyi, are you refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit?”
“…”
Zhao Shuyi was caught off guard and nearly twisted his waist. He immediately flared up: “Let go.”
How could Xie Qi obey? His grip tightened: “I advise you to stop provoking me in the future.”
Zhao Shuyi sneered: “Elementary school threats?”
“You!” Xie Qi was indeed enraged again, his emotional control completely collapsing. It seemed difficult for him to put on the polite mask again today.
However, Zhao Shuyi’s mask shattered quickly too.
—Xie Qi imitated the method he had once used to torment him, forcefully gripping his jaw, and, completely unexpectedly, lowered his head and kissed him.
Zhao Shuyi’s habitually cold, expressionless face flushed red from the suffocation. Xie Qi’s kiss was aggressive and disorganized, devoid of enjoyment, bringing only pain and disgust.
It was an outlet for frustration, a confrontation—anything but an intimate kiss.
Zhao Shuyi had no advantage in posture and struggled in vain. Xie Qi almost bit through his tongue. When he finished, his expression was unusually calm: “Are you satisfied?”
Xie Qi seemed to have overcome a mental obstacle, achieving transcendence: “It’s just a kiss. Why are you putting on an act?”
Zhao Shuyi: “…”