His Venomous Former Boss Chased Him And Beat Him Fiercely Chapter 35

To Itch or to Hurt?

Kong Xunwen followed behind Qiu Zhijie, pondering what he had originally intended to say, when he saw the man ahead pause.

Oh, they had reached the living room. The front door had closed at some point. The room was brightly lit, and the large screen ahead was paused on a vividly colored scene from an anime, looking beautiful, like a decorative painting.

Qiu Zhijie set the fruit plate down and sat on the sofa.

Kong Xunwen walked over to sit beside him, leaving a small gap between them. Qiu Zhijie was highly displeased, reaching out to pull him closer until they were pressed tightly together.

Looking up, Kong Xunwen saw Qiu Zhijie offering him fruit on a fork: “Eat some fruit.”

Kong Xunwen had no choice but to open his mouth and eat it in one bite.

Chew, chew, chew. Only then did he open his mouth to speak: “I’ve been thinking about something.”

Qiu Zhijie used the same fork to spear a piece of fruit for himself. Hearing this, he turned his head, nodding seriously: “Tell me.”

“The live streaming was suggested by my teacher. His idea was for me to stream first, and then start taking commissions, but…”

Kong Xunwen looked hesitant.

“That’s fine too. With your skill, you’ll definitely get commissions. Are you unsure how to proceed?” Qiu Zhijie stopped what he was doing, adopting a professional demeanor. He clasped his hands together, though his expression softened considerably as he tilted his head.

Kong Xunwen nodded, still very hesitant: “I guess so.”

Although he sensed something was off, Qiu Zhijie first offered advice on the matter: “A friend of mine runs a commission website that’s quite good. They now have a corresponding app. They are currently running an event where users vote to determine the rankings. Those with high rankings get varying levels of exposure. You can try it.”

“The voting will be based on your portfolio. You can upload your previous paintings and give it a shot. You might even receive commissions during the voting phase. You can take and submit commissions through the app; you don’t need to worry about the rest. This website has been around for a long time, but they only recently launched the app, which is why they’re holding this event.”

“Also, if you don’t know how to set prices, there’s a feature to help you. But I recommend using the auction section. You can set a maximum and minimum price to prevent unreasonable bids. Bidders are required to pay a deposit first, so you don’t have to worry about people backing out after winning the auction.”

Kong Xunwen listened intently, lowering his gaze. He seemed to recall hearing about this website, though he hadn’t paid much attention before.

However.

Qiu Zhijie was being so serious that Kong Xunwen wasn’t sure how to respond. What he was truly worried about wasn’t this, nor was it that he genuinely didn’t know what to do.

The young man bit his lip, then leaned his head against the man’s shoulder, avoiding looking at his face. His voice was very low: “Thank you. But…”

Qiu Zhijie loved it when the young man acted this way toward him. Therefore, in the place Kong Xunwen couldn’t see, he didn’t get angry about the hesitation. Instead, he struggled to suppress the urge to smile.

He reached out and pulled Kong Xunwen into his embrace, almost dizzy with the feeling of being relied upon. He pursed his lips before managing to speak: “What is it?”

Following the young man’s lead, his voice also became very soft.

Kong Xunwen almost thought it was his imagination, yet the words spoken close to his ear were so clear, as if he could even hear the sound of the man’s breath.

But this feeling also gave him a sense of security, allowing him to voice his true concern: “Taking commissions requires painting according to the themes they provide. I don’t know if I…”

He pursed his lips, then bit his lower lip again, as if tasting blood: “What if it’s like when I was at the studio?”

Qiu Zhijie instantly understood the young man’s meaning and apprehension.

He thought for a moment before answering: “You mean your design drafts?”

“This is different. There’s a big difference between fashion design and painting… Forget it, me saying this is meaningless. Instead of listening to me, why don’t you try it yourself?”

Kong Xunwen looked up in surprise.

The man, who had looked resolute moments ago, frowned the moment he saw him. Kong Xunwen had a slight fear of that expression. The recent conversation reminded him of submitting “homework” at the studio, and he involuntarily backed away, about to purse his lips again.

But his lower lip was pressed, stopping him from pursing it.

The next moment, a slightly rough fingertip pressed against his lower lip, gently wiping it with a lightness that suggested he was handling something precious, treating it with utmost care.

It tickled a bit. Kong Xunwen wanted to retreat further, but the back of his neck was held down. He grabbed the man’s wrist and opened his mouth: “It tickles a little…”

Qiu Zhijie looked up.

Kong Xunwen saw his somewhat stern eyes: “Don’t move.”

Like a teacher… No, neither his teachers nor his father had ever treated him like this.

Qiu Zhijie stood up.

Kong Xunwen stayed put obediently, remembering what Qiu Zhijie had just said: Try it myself?

How?

His eyes were confused.

“I don’t have ointment, so let me wipe it first. Didn’t you notice? You bit it until it bled.” Qiu Zhijie returned with a damp tissue, sat down again, and frowned, applying that same ticklish pressure.

Kong Xunwen wanted to purse his lips again. He grabbed Qiu Zhijie’s hand: “It’s so itchy.”

Qiu Zhijie retorted crossly: “To itch or to hurt?”

Despite his words, his movements remained very gentle.

Kong Xunwen was still very itchy. Enduring it, he heard Qiu Zhijie mutter: “I never kiss you this hard. You’ve gone and done this to yourself…”

It was too itchy. Without thinking much, Kong Xunwen spoke up defensively: “You’ve been kissing me so much these past few days, maybe that’s why it broke.”

This unreasonable argument made Qiu Zhijie laugh. He pinched Kong Xunwen’s cheek: “This is my fault too?”

Kong Xunwen found an opportunity to argue back, shaking his head slightly, feeling a little smug.

The tissue was finished at some point, a tiny smear of red blood blooming on it. Kong Xunwen shifted his gaze, and a familiar breath approached.

Qiu Zhijie kissed him, but only lightly sucked on his upper lip.

The next moment, he pulled away.

Kong Xunwen blinked, still processing what happened.

“Hurry up and heal, I still want to kiss you.” Qiu Zhijie’s eyes held a hint of faint dissatisfaction. He tilted his head and kissed Kong Xunwen’s cheek. Finally, as if still annoyed, he bit him lightly.

Kong Xunwen’s eyes widened: “What are you doing?”

“It’s because A’Wen is preventing me from kissing him. This is compensation,” Qiu Zhijie stated matter-of-factly.

Kong Xunwen was speechless.

“Alright, alright, eat some fruit. This one is sweet, eat this.” Qiu Zhijie speared a piece of apple: “Don’t touch the injury on your lip.”

Kong Xunwen still opened his mouth and ate it, considering it a truce. Chew, chew, chew. He frowned seriously: “What did you mean by ‘try it’ just now?”

Qiu Zhijie wrapped one arm around the young man’s waist, his knuckles rubbing the youth’s clothing. He watched him eat very intently, finding it adorable, and smiled: “I mean drawing in the manner of taking a commission. Don’t commissions come with requirements?”

He tilted his head closer: “I volunteer myself.”

“No.” Kong Xunwen glanced at him, understanding his intention—he wanted to be his commissioner. Impossible. How desperate would he have to be to ask Qiu Zhijie to be his commissioner?

Wouldn’t that be almost the same as submitting homework at the studio back then?

The man’s eyes drooped: “Why?”

“Can your requirements be the same as others? I won’t give you that chance again,” Kong Xunwen said expressionlessly: “Absolutely not.”

“How are they different?” Qiu Zhijie understood, but still wouldn’t give up: “I promise I’ll be very gentle this time.”

“Then I definitely shouldn’t ask you,” Kong Xunwen insisted.

He thought for a moment: “I know. I’ll pick a few fans in the live stream and draw something simple for them.”

Seeing that the young man had made up his mind, Qiu Zhijie finally stopped pestering him, burying his head on the youth’s shoulder: “Fine.”

He was actually contemplating the possibility of entering the fan draw himself.

“Don’t enter the draw in my live stream.” Kong Xunwen had already anticipated this. The person on his shoulder played dead and didn’t speak. He shrugged his shoulder: “Did you hear me?”

“I heard you,” came a muffled voice.

Kong Xunwen suddenly felt a little hesitant, wondering if the man was genuinely sad. He raised his hand and stroked the man’s head, changing the subject: “Right, are you busy lately?”

Qiu Zhijie lifted his head. Although he couldn’t have his boyfriend draw for him, his boyfriend actively caring about him improved his mood: “I’m fine now, but I might have to go back for a few days soon.”

Kong Xunwen’s hand paused.

Qiu Zhijie felt it and tilted his head to kiss the young man’s cheek: “Just one or two days.”

But.

He sighed, remembering the other thing that made him worried: “But in two weeks, preparations for my new themed show will have to start. I’ll be very busy then and will need to go to the studio.”

He rubbed his chin against the young man’s neck: “You know, when the time comes, I have to start preparing. I haven’t even decided on the theme yet.”

Kong Xunwen looked distracted upon hearing this, but nodded first.

He knew that Qiu Zhijie held one fixed themed show every year, in addition to the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter shows. The themed show, as the name suggested, had a different theme every year, and the clothes on the runway were generally not suitable for daily wear.

The Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter collections were slightly more everyday, with some ready-to-wear pieces being mass-produced and sold, while also attracting custom orders from clients.

The Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter shows were Qiu Zhijie’s shows, but it was more accurate to call them Zhijie Studio’s shows. The designers in the studio would contribute designs, and sometimes a bright new designer might even make it onto the runway.

Therefore, the most important event for Qiu Zhijie was the annual themed show.

It required a lot of time each year and consumed a great deal of Qiu Zhijie’s energy, something Kong Xunwen had witnessed over the past three years.

Back then…

“Will you come with me then?”

Kong Xunwen turned his head. Qiu Zhijie’s voice carried a plea, a softness, though his voice, no matter how soft, remained deep, only adding a touch of tenderness.

The man’s eyes mirrored the emotion in his heart.

He wanted to purse his lips again, but stopped just before doing so. Kong Xunwen wanted to say yes, but could he promise something that even he wasn’t sure about? He didn’t want to break his word.

“If I can then.”

Moreover, he wasn’t sure if he could leave this place. It hadn’t been long since he returned, and already the time he spent studying and working outside felt like a dream.

Although Qiu Zhijie only received an uncertain answer, he didn’t mind, continuing to kiss the young man’s cheek: “Good.”

He smiled while kissing: “You have to remember, I really can’t live without you.”

Kong Xunwen lowered his gaze, one hand still resting on the side of the man’s head, gently stroking his slightly stiff black hair.

*

After finishing the fruit, the two went upstairs. Kong Xunwen showered first and lay in bed, suddenly realizing with clarity: wasn’t his room downstairs?

The man, having also showered, came over, carrying the scent of steam. He lowered his head to kiss him. His black hair was still slightly damp, soft and drooping after washing, making him look somewhat obedient.

…Kong Xunwen wanted to bite his lip again, but his mouth held two fingers, so he could only leave marks on those fingers that weren’t his own.

A warm breath reached his ear: “A’Wen, see, I can’t even kiss you now.”

Kong Xunwen felt a little stimulated. Although he had started it, the initiative wasn’t his. Even the kissing that used to provide him some relief now only acted as a catalyst, and he couldn’t get the kiss he wanted.

It stopped after just one time. Kong Xunwen was held cleanly in the man’s arms and glanced at the time.

They had started early; it was only a little past eleven, still within his acceptable range.

He was turned around to face Qiu Zhijie, intertwined with him. Dense kisses fell on his cheeks, the corners of his lips, and light kisses on his upper lip.

His lower lip was gently touched, followed by a soft sigh: “When will it heal…”