Unmatched Chapter 11
byZhao Shuyi was not particularly lustful. When he sought company for the night, satisfying physiological desires was secondary; the main reason was companionship.
He liked to confide in his lovers.
Since none of his relatives were close—it was difficult enough not to resent each other—and his friends envied him, they would think he was ungrateful if he complained about his life. He had never had a true lover, as that kind of emotion felt like a burden. If he fell in love with someone, there might be sweet moments, but the burden would definitely outweigh the benefits.
Only lovers were different. They feared him, admired him, and perhaps envied or disliked him. In any case, they wouldn’t take his true feelings seriously, nor would they dare spread them around. They were qualified sounding boards who would also gently offer endless comfort, provided he didn’t tell them to stop.
Occasionally, he met someone clever with whom he could have a decent conversation. Like him, they were just going through the motions, mixing truth with lies. When a certain phrase suddenly resonated, he could experience the illusion of finding a confidant.
It was fleeting, but good. He didn’t need permanence.
About an hour later, Little Zhou brought the person over.
It was a familiar male celebrity, not his first time here. Zhao Shuyi remembered the person but not his name.
When the man entered, Zhao Shuyi was wearing a bathrobe, reading in bed. He had just taken his medication, and his stomach no longer hurt as much.
This was Zhao Shuyi’s own bedroom. He and Xie Qi had separated rooms the morning after their wedding, each having their own space, mutually undisturbed.
Little Zhou left after delivering the guest, leaving the male celebrity alone with him. The man’s breathing was tight. He walked to the bedside, smiling as he greeted him, “Shuyi Ge, long time no see.”
“Sit,” Zhao Shuyi lifted his chin slightly.
Unlike sugar daddies who often verbally or physically abused their lovers, Zhao Shuyi was generally polite. But he was too aloof, his emotions hard to read, and he wasn’t overtly eager, making him harder to gauge and leaving people feeling very anxious.
The male celebrity said, “I’m Little Li. Do you still remember me?”
“Li what?”
“Li Wang.”
“I remember now.”
Li Wang was nervous. He had just sat down when he suddenly stood up again, asking for instructions, “Should I go shower first?”
Zhao Shuyi nodded, returning his gaze to the book.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Li Wang washed quickly, as if he dared not make him wait for even a minute. He wrapped a towel around his waist and hurried back to the bedroom.
Having been intimate once before, there was no need for lengthy instructions. Little Li was an idol actor in his early twenties. Because he was backed by Zhao Shuyi, he received resources that his peers envied.
However, Zhao Shuyi himself was largely unaware of these details. He was so busy with work that Little Zhou wouldn’t dare bother him with trivial matters.
Zhao Shuyi’s principle was discretion; nothing could reach Zhao Fengli’s ears. Therefore, Little Zhou had repeatedly warned Li Wang that if he wanted to continue associating with Zhao Shuyi, he needed to keep his mouth shut and not reveal his sugar daddy’s identity to anyone.
For a popular young actor, his face was paramount. Li Wang was handsome and had a good physique. Usually pampered by fans, his confidence was inflated. But every time he slept with Zhao Shuyi, the pressure was immense, and he felt a subtle anxiety about his appearance.
Perhaps because Zhao Shuyi himself was so exceptionally good-looking, he didn’t find beauty remarkable. The way he looked at Li Wang was as calm as still water, as if the face that captivated countless fans was nothing special.
When a person selling their looks couldn’t even compare in appearance to their patron, how could they feel secure?
Li Wang was even starting to confuse who was paying whom.
He also harbored a fantasy—if only Zhao Shuyi could like him.
Li Wang quietly climbed onto the bed and moved closer to Zhao Shuyi. Before the latter could put down his book, Li Wang couldn’t help but press against him, carrying a mix of flattery and genuine infatuation as he lightly kissed Zhao Shuyi’s neck.
Zhao Shuyi didn’t respond or stop him. Li Wang, failing to fully entice his patron, got carried away himself. Forgetting the rules for a moment, he presumptuously took the book away and pressed his entire body against Zhao Shuyi, intending to kiss those aloof lips.
Zhao Shuyi, however, grabbed his jaw, pushed his approaching head away, and slapped his flushed cheek with displeasure. It wasn’t painful, like a gentle warning, but it instantly made Li Wang nervous.
Li Wang’s heart clenched. “Shuyi Ge…”
“Are you serving me, or am I serving you?” Zhao Shuyi frowned. “Don’t you know what to do?”
“…I know.”
Li Wang retreated to the foot of the bed, grasped Zhao Shuyi’s ankle, and began massaging him from the soles of his feet, using both his fingers and lips, kissing inch by inch upward until he knelt between Zhao Shuyi’s legs and lowered his head.
Zhao Shuyi’s bathrobe was mostly undone. His brow relaxed, and he exhaled. “Talk to me for a bit.”
“…”
It was somewhat difficult to talk while serving him, but Li Wang willingly complied, tightly holding his feet, as if he wished Zhao Shuyi would kick him in the chest a couple of times.
“What should we talk about? You tell me.”
“Do you have anything troubling you lately?”
“Yes, I’m troubled every day, but it’s nothing compared to the pressure you face.”
“How do you know I have pressure?”
“The higher the position, the greater the pressure. I understand that much.” Li Wang spoke sweetly. “But you are blessed by heaven and so outstanding. No matter how big the trouble you face today, you will surely resolve it tomorrow.”
Such auspicious words held little substance, but Zhao Shuyi liked the compliant attitude.
Just as he was starting to feel comfortable, Li Wang added, “I went on location for a shoot recently and passed by Enci Temple. I took the opportunity to light an incense stick for you, praying for the Buddha’s blessing—”
Before he could finish, Zhao Shuyi kicked him away.
The young actor fell off the bed, caught completely off guard. He didn’t know what he had said wrong. He scrambled up in a panic, standing with his hands at his sides, his face pale.
Zhao Shuyi was silent for a moment, pressing the bridge of his nose. Under Li Wang’s distressed gaze, he said, “Forget it, it’s not your fault.”
Li Wang offered an awkward smile, barely daring to look him in the eye. But Zhao Shuyi, having lost his temper inappropriately, reached out to him as if to compensate, showing a rare hint of tenderness. “Come here.”
Li Wang obediently approached.
Zhao Shuyi said, “My mother is a Buddhist. It makes me a little sick. Don’t mention it again.”
Li Wang quickly nodded. “Understood, I’ll remember.”
He then returned to the bed and resumed the task he hadn’t finished.
Zhao Shuyi wasn’t highly aroused, but desire was something that could be manipulated. Once started, hormones secreted rapidly, like a bursting dam, instantly flooding all unwanted emotions and granting him temporary release.
Li Wang served him diligently. Just as Zhao Shuyi reached a critical point, he suddenly heard the sound of a door opening outside, followed by footsteps.
—Someone had returned.
Zhao Shuyi froze, realizing it was Xie Qi.
Before he could react, the footsteps approached the room—this was the only bedroom with a light on.
Xie Qi called out, “Zhao Shuyi, you…”
The second half of the sentence caught in his throat. Xie Qi reached the bedroom door, saw everything happening before his eyes, and his face changed. “What the hell are you doing?!”
“…”
Zhao Shuyi peaked at that exact moment. Physiological dizziness swept over his brain, and his consciousness blurred for a few seconds. He opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.
Li Wang was no stranger to Young Master Xie’s appearance. He was terrified into a stupor, frozen like a stone. He watched as Xie Qi walked over, clearly intending to hit him, but then retracted his hand as if disgusted, pointing toward the door. “Get out. Don’t make me say it twice.”
The sound of the door opening, closing, and footsteps fleeing in panic… like a chaotic gust of wind. It took Zhao Shuyi a while to fully regain his senses, though only a few seconds had passed. Xie Qi’s face suddenly loomed large before him, his anger undisguised. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Does it concern you?” Zhao Shuyi was unhappy; having his pleasure interrupted made him unhappy too.
“This is my home! It doesn’t concern me?!” Xie Qi was so furious his eyebrows seemed to be burning. His normally cold face looked like it was about to catch fire.
But the anger was only superficial. He was trembling all over, as if he had suffered an incredibly severe betrayal, and his eyes held a hint of grievance.
It was only a Marriage Alliance, a hollow marriage devoid of any affection. Why was he feeling wronged?
Zhao Shuyi was annoyed. “It was a special circumstance today, so I chose the nearest location. My mistake. I won’t bring anyone back next time.”
He pulled his bathrobe closed to cover his body. His perfunctory attitude was like pouring oil on the fire. Xie Qi grabbed his arm and yanked him violently off the bed.
Zhao Shuyi nearly fell. “What are you doing?!”
Xie Qi said nothing, dragging him toward the bathroom.
Zhao Shuyi couldn’t break free. Xie Qi’s strength was terrifying. He shoved him into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and cold water poured down over Zhao Shuyi’s head. Zhao Shuyi exploded. “I didn’t even go to your room! What the hell are you going crazy for!”
Water splashed onto Xie Qi’s nose. He wiped it away and turned the shower on even harder. Zhao Shuyi’s bathrobe was soaked. Xie Qi roughly ripped it off and tossed it into the corner.
The next second, Zhao Shuyi was slammed against the wall.
Xie Qi coldly gripped his neck, his eyes fierce, as if he wanted to kill him with his own hands. Zhao Shuyi, unable to resist, fell into a state of suffocation. He coughed violently twice, struggling to lift his arm and punch Xie Qi.
Xie Qi turned his head to dodge, using both his hands and legs to pin him down tightly. “Apologize.” Xie Qi’s voice trembled, his Adam’s apple bobbing from excessive emotion. He seemed not to want this, but his eyes were already red, so all of this could only be Zhao Shuyi’s fault.
It was all Zhao Shuyi’s fault.
It was undeniable, inexplicable.
But Zhao Shuyi didn’t care whether he was right or wrong. He just thought Xie Qi was a lunatic with violent tendencies, resorting to physical force so easily.
“Let go,” Zhao Shuyi said with disgust. “I never complained about how impolite you usually are. Have you ever respected me? Why must I cater to you? If you can’t stand it, then drop it. Let’s get divorced tomorrow.”
“…”
Xie Qi froze. “What did you say?”
His hands slowly loosened. Zhao Shuyi regained his freedom and said coldly, “Didn’t you already know my style? Is this surprising?”
Xie Qi was silent for a moment, then sneered, “Your style is messing around, being unable to control your lower body, being frivolous and unfaithful, promiscuous, and shameless—”
“Slap!” Zhao Shuyi slapped him across the face.
Xie Qi was utterly enraged and disbelieving, stunned for several seconds. But Zhao Shuyi suddenly grabbed his face and kissed him fiercely.
It couldn’t be called softening the blow with a kiss. It wasn’t sweet at all; Zhao Shuyi was full of malice. “Disgusted? I just kissed someone else and now I’m kissing you.”
Xie Qi was practically going insane, but Zhao Shuyi was determined to disgust him completely tonight. His slender fingers reached for Xie Qi’s belt, swiftly unbuckled it, and then grasped him.
Xie Qi stiffened completely.
Zhao Shuyi tested the feel. “So you’re not sick after all.”
“…You’re the one who’s sick.”
Xie Qi pushed the hand away, but Zhao Shuyi took the opportunity to wrap his arms around his waist and intimately kissed the cheek he had just slapped. “Does it hurt?” he asked, feigning concern.
Whether it hurt or not, Xie Qi was trying to pull away completely.
He had been so violent just now—Zhao Shuyi was no match for him in a fight—but his homophobia seemed to flare up again. His aggressive stance collapsed, turning him into a paper tiger, outwardly strong but inwardly weak.
“Since you chased away my person,” Zhao Shuyi said seriously this time, without a hint of jest, “you will take his place—”
“?”
“Xie Qi, I’m going to sleep with you.”