Unmatched Chapter 23
byChapter 23 Heart-Stirring
Zhao Shuyi’s words were tantamount to a confession.
But usually, when people confess, they just say, “I like you,” or “I think I’m falling for you.” No one says it in an almost declarative tone like he did: I have decided to start liking you.
It was as if he were the master of love, choosing to love or not to love at will. Xie Qi was completely stunned. Pinned against the car seat and kissed, it took him a long time to catch his breath. He asked uncertainly, “So… we’re starting?”
“Yes, we’re starting.”
Zhao Shuyi’s good mood recovered significantly. He bit Xie Qi’s lip, kissing him again and again.
They kissed for nearly ten minutes before reluctantly separating. The plan to go to the restaurant wasn’t canceled, but because the kissing had been so intense, the meal was rushed. Neither of them tasted anything, and they quickly paid the bill and went home to “sleep.”
It was just past noon, the peak of the sun’s intensity. Xie Qi opened the door first, with Zhao Shuyi following behind. Just as Xie Qi stepped inside, Zhao Shuyi suddenly pushed him against the wall, closed the door with one hand, and wrapped the other around him for a kiss.
“…”
Zhao Shuyi loved playing this game, acting like the “domineering CEO” male lead in an idol drama, skilled at wall-slams, forceful kisses, and sudden attacks.
Yet, even though they had been through it many times, Xie Qi was surprised every time. It took him a few seconds to react, and then he would belatedly counter Zhao Shuyi, pinning him down to save face.
Even when violently flipped over, Zhao Shuyi didn’t get angry. Since entering the door today, he had smiled three or four times.
His smile had a unique characteristic: low, cold, and brief, receding quickly, never allowing a friendly expression to linger on his face for more than three seconds.
While kissing him, Xie Qi mocked, “Domineering male lead, aloof heartthrob.”
“…” Zhao Shuyi laughed, leaning back.
They kissed from the entryway to the sofa, clothes scattered everywhere. Zhao Shuyi failed in his attempt to dominate Xie Qi and was instead restrained by brute force.
Xie Qi retrieved the auxiliary items from the drawer, made thorough preparations, and finally got down to business.
The sofa shook and trembled. Zhao Shuyi couldn’t help but close his eyes.
As if stealing a moment of peace from a cold storm, his entire body relaxed, and he rarely entered a state of pure enjoyment.
His lips were also closed, only occasionally letting out low nasal sounds. When he couldn’t breathe, he was forced to part his lips, letting out muffled, broken syllables from his throat.
Zhao Shuyi didn’t like making noise, believing that any sound during intimacy sounded like begging for mercy, which was undignified. But when things got intense, he couldn’t control himself, his gasps growing shorter with each sound.
Xie Qi was highly passionate today, pressing close and quickly breaking into a sweat. His shirt, which he hadn’t removed, clung damply to his chest, the fabric nearly transparent.
Zhao Shuyi half-opened his eyes, staring blankly at the wet mark. He suddenly remembered Xie Qi’s sweaty hand on the steering wheel earlier in the car.
He hadn’t thought much about it then. Why was that?
Was it just because of the heat?
But after the National Day holiday, it wasn’t actually hot anymore.
Was it because of nervousness?
What was Xie Qi nervous about? Was it the topic they were discussing?
Zhao Shuyi wasn’t sure if he was overthinking things. Not every detail necessarily held a special meaning. Xie Qi was probably just affected by external factors—the exaggerated amount of money had sent his adrenaline soaring, making him more sensitive and impulsive than usual. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have suddenly decided to turn their fake relationship into a real one.
But whether due to physiology or psychology, hormones were definitely surging, and dopamine was pumping furiously. Xie Qi’s sweat was like a sudden ripple on a calm lake—not a storm, but a subtle, heart-stirring force that made him even more excited.
Zhao Shuyi didn’t hold back his expression, calling out “Xie Qi” emotionally, wrapping his arms around his waist, and repeating his name.
Xie Qi’s excitement was only amplified. Being seduced like this made him even harder to restrain. He suddenly picked up Zhao Shuyi without separating, walking step by step into the bedroom.
This process was agonizing, but what followed was even more intense. They didn’t leave the bed for the entire afternoon. By the time they finished, the sky was nearly dark, and a setting sun hung in the window. Zhao Shuyi admired it for a while, then yawned sleepily.
“So tired,” he said.
But very comfortable.
Xie Qi hummed in response, lazily holding him, his hands constantly making clingy little movements, kneading his waist affectionately. He cooed, “Should I carry you to the bath?”
Zhao Shuyi smiled again. “You really are a good boyfriend.”
“I’m a good husband,” Xie Qi stated plainly. “What, are you too embarrassed to call me husband?”
Zhao Shuyi: “…”
“Never mind. We just started today, I won’t force you. You can call me that later when you get the chance.”
For some reason, Xie Qi seemed even happier than Zhao Shuyi. His voice was high-pitched, the end of his words curling up, impossible to suppress. Zhao Shuyi gave a vague reply, gripping the hand wrapped around his waist, still looking at the sunset.
The feeling of post-coital satisfaction lingered, and Zhao Shuyi suddenly felt like having a cigarette. The day had been so tumultuous that even as the sun set and everything was settled, he still felt a little dazed.
The worst thing is to dwell on details. The moment he detached himself from the sweet atmosphere of romance, his thoughts drifted back to the headquarters meeting room. He recalled Qin Zhi’s head constantly bowed when facing him, and Zhao Huaicheng’s back as he finally dropped his hypocritical mask and left in a fit of rage.
Now, Zhao Shuyi only had these two relatives left.
And it had to be those two.
But fortunately… there was someone standing on his side.
As soon as the emotional thought surfaced, Zhao Shuyi quickly extinguished it, feeling an awkward sense of embarrassment.
He wasn’t very used to accepting kindness from others; he preferred giving.
Because “giving” was an active behavior, the beginning and end of which he controlled. “Accepting,” however, was not up to him. It was the other person casting bait from the riverbank, raising his expectations, making him crane his neck toward the shore, praying for the next bite—pitiful and disgusting.
But Zhao Shuyi was deeply moved today. No matter how much one tries to restrain it, humans are emotional creatures.
This was where the benefit of dating showed itself. He didn’t need to thank Xie Qi repeatedly and make them both awkward; he only needed to personally block Xie Qi’s mouth and kiss him hard. Those emotions, which were hard to articulate and which he didn’t want to articulate, naturally flowed out.
He didn’t know if Xie Qi received the message. Perhaps he was dazed by the frequent kisses, as he didn’t move for a long time. Zhao Shuyi told him to stay put and got out of bed to shower.
Just as he left the bedroom, he heard footsteps following closely behind.
“Zhao Shuyi… Hey, I’m calling you.”
Xie Qi’s tone was indescribably clingy, impossible to conceal even when feigning coolness, like a pool of water flowing toward him, unable to resist gravity.
“What is it?” Zhao Shuyi turned back.
Xie Qi said, “Did you mean everything you said today? You better like me, not my money.”
Zhao Shuyi: “…”
“That’s hard to say,” Zhao Shuyi replied, sounding like a gigolo, completely justified. “If you didn’t have money, how would we have started?”
Xie Qi choked on his words, annoyed.
Zhao Shuyi chuckled, coaxing him, “But if I were to swap you for your father, I wouldn’t like him.”
Xie Qi: “…”
The session had been intense, and Zhao Shuyi found it difficult to clean himself up. Xie Qi joined him in the shower and helped him take care of things. They messed around so much that they almost got carried away again in the bathroom.
Zhao Shuyi was genuinely tired and hungry, desperate to eat.
The house was too messy, so they didn’t feel comfortable calling the maid over. Since neither of the two pampered young masters was capable of cooking, they ended up ordering two takeout meals and ate dinner on the balcony, accompanied by the sunset.
Zhao Shuyi used to live like this when he lived alone.
He didn’t like living in villas, finding them too large and desolate. But a single-floor apartment made it inconvenient to keep a chef living in, and he preferred having no outsiders in the house. The maid would come at fixed times, cook, and leave without disturbing him.
Xie Qi, however, used to live with Xie Jianhe, surrounded by servants. They had a team of over ten chefs, skilled in various domestic and international cuisines, capable of making anything he wanted.
This wasn’t unusual; wealthy families generally paid great attention to their diet. It was the Zhao Family that was unusually “simple” in this regard, making them stand out in their circle.
Fortunately, Xie Qi wasn’t picky about food; otherwise, Zhao Shuyi wasn’t sure he wouldn’t argue with him.
From this perspective, Zhao Shuyi suddenly realized that their married life was surprisingly harmonious, with no friction arising from their different living habits.
—Xie Qi looked like a high-maintenance person at first glance, but in reality, he was no trouble at all.
“What are you thinking about?” Zhao Shuyi had been distracted for a long time, and Xie Qi glanced at him abruptly.
Zhao Shuyi said, “I suddenly realized that we actually suit each other quite well.”
“We always did. You’re just slow to realize it.”
“Is that so?”
Zhao Shuyi answered casually, noticing that Xie Qi was looking at him with an unusual expression, seemingly wanting to say something.
“What is it?”
“I…” Xie Qi was inexplicably short of breath, his breathing unnatural. “I have something I want to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“A secret.”
“That mysterious? What kind of secret, whose secret?”
“Mine, of course.” Xie Qi lowered his head, gripping his chopsticks. The courage he had just mustered suddenly deflated. “Forget it. I’ll tell you another day.”
Zhao Shuyi: “…”
Was it fun to keep him in suspense?
If he didn’t want to say it, Zhao Shuyi couldn’t press him. If he wanted to forget it, then forget it.
But Xie Qi was clearly tormented. He didn’t want to say it, yet he couldn’t resist the urge to speak. After struggling for a long time, nearly snapping his chopsticks, he suddenly asked, “Zhao Shuyi, your birthday is coming up soon, right?”
“Yes.” Zhao Shuyi wasn’t surprised that Xie Qi remembered his birthday; he remembered Xie Qi’s too—Young Master Xie’s annual birthday parties were always spectacular and known to everyone.
Xie Qi seemed to have finally made up his mind. He calmed himself and said, “Then wait a little longer. I will definitely tell you on your birthday.”
“Is it a special surprise?” Zhao Shuyi asked curiously.
“Perhaps,” Xie Qi sighed guiltily. “It might also be a joke that will make you laugh for a long time.”