"This—this isn't—" Churong had tears in the corners of his eyes. His face was ghastly pale as he stared in horror at Chen Yi's blue eyes—too shocked for his mind to register the visible worry and anxiety they held.
Chen Yi wanted to push it a bit further, but seeing him looking so pitiful, his heart ached, and he couldn't continue. "Xie'er, calm down—"
Churong bolted a step away from his outstretched hand. "No—!" His heart was terribly shaken, and he stumbled on his own feet, dragging the tablecloth in his misery.
A series of clangs followed, and chaos ensued as the small plates dropped simultaneously to the floor.
Churong closed his eyes and waited for the impact—that never came. Cautiously, he opened his eyes and found Chen Yi above him. His back was drenched in disordered food, some accompanied by sauce. A smile was still ever-present on Chen Yi's face. He even chuckled, which left Churong dumbstruck.
"Y-Yi?"
Chen Yi chuckled and beamed a smile. "Xie'er, do you know how happy I am right now?" He slid the back of his fingers along Churong's red cheeks, pinching them with great care.
Happy? Churong was even more speechless. He had been terrified that he was found out, then distraught that Chen Yi got splashed by the food because of him. Now, he was simply stunned. Why is he happy? The expected disgust was nowhere to be seen, and he didn't know how to react.
"Mn, happy! Very happy!" Chen Yi buried his head in Churong's neck. "I'm glad. I'm glad it's you." All the pent-up stress eased as those words left him. He was indeed very glad that Churong was his Xie'er all along. Now he didn't have to suppress his emotions in fear of getting the one he loved hurt.
Chen Yi had realized. He loved Xie'er. If not, then who could explain why his heart recognized Xie'er when his brain was still muddled? He was convinced.
"Y-you a-aren't di-disgusted?" Churong stammered, his voice faltering.
Chen Yi quickly looked at him in shock. "Why would I be?"
"Be-because a-a guy like me is dressing like a g-girl." Churong couldn't stop his tears from falling.
Chen Yi suddenly found himself at a loss for words. Desperate to comfort him, he blurted out his honest thoughts. "I'm not disgusted. Rather—" he hesitated, "I have nothing but impure thoughts looking at you like this."
"Impure...?" Churong was still in the process of taming his emotions. He repeated the word softly, over and over, until its meaning finally sank in. His eyes widened. "Impure?!"
Chen Yi leaned in and kissed the corner of his teary eye.
Churong flinched and instinctively shut them.
"Xie'er," Chen Yi whispered, his voice hoarse, laced with endearing drunkenness. "I love you."
Churong froze, breathless. His heart pounded violently, overwhelmed by waves of emotions that left him faint. His mind was a tangled mess. Chen Yi. The Chen Yi... loves me?! Not just likes me but loves me?! He couldn't believe it.
"T-this is too sudden," Churong stammered, clutching Chen Yi's shirt tightly in his fists.
"I know." Chen Yi kissed his other teary eye. "But it's true."
He hovered above Churong's face, gazing at his red, trembling lips. Desire flickered in his dark eyes as he inched closer, testing the waters.
Churong watched Chen Yi's face draw nearer and reflexively squeezed his eyes shut.
Their lips met.
Chen Yi was overjoyed by the moment. He started with a gentle kiss, sucking on Churong's lips lightly, savoring the softness. Then, he deepened it, his tongue brushing Churong's lips.
Churong jolted at the unexpected sensation and gasped in surprise.
Chen Yi immediately leaned in, their hot breaths mingling as he took the lead, their tongues entwining in a heated kiss.
Churong whimpered when Chen Yi caught his tongue, sucking on it hard. Chen Yi was so lost in the intoxicating sweetness of Churong that he forgot to hold back, pressing himself closer until their bodies were glued together. He deepened the kiss, his passion relentless.
Neither of them could tell how long they spent in this fervent exchange. Churong's breaths came in short gasps, forcing Chen Yi to pull back every now and then to let him catch his breath—only to dive back in before Churong could say a word.
When Chen Yi was finally satisfied, he pulled away, his gaze falling on Churong's swollen, glistening lips. He licked his own, savoring the lingering aftertaste. Then, his eyes traveled upward to meet Churong's, now glazed and accusing.
Chen Yi chuckled softly. "I swear I'm trying my best to restrain myself."
Churong puffed his cheeks in a silent protest, the doubt in his eyes unwavering. He gave Chen Yi a light push and tried to stand, his movements unsteady as he finally recalled how they'd both ended up on the floor.
"Y-Your clothes, Chen Yi…" he murmured, lowering his head guiltily.
Chen Yi leaned in and stole a quick peck from his lips, his mischievous grin making Churong's heart skip a beat. The mirth in Chen Yi's eyes was almost blinding, leaving Churong momentarily dazed.
"I'll go change real quick," Chen Yi said. Finally, he stood up, offering Churong a hand to help him to his feet.
Still unsteady, Churong stumbled slightly as Chen Yi guided him to stand against an empty section of the wall. Then, to his astonishment, Chen Yi pressed a camouflaged button, revealing a hidden door.
Churong's jaw dropped at the sight. In all his life, he never imagined secret rooms or passages in a restaurant. He could understand their existence in houses or headquarters, but a restaurant?
He turned to Chen Yi, his eyes wide with confusion. "W-What is this?"
Chen Yi smirked, clearly amused by Churong's reaction.
"I had initially planned to leave after college, so I decided to build a private room in one of my restaurant chains for convenience. But—" he paused, gently patting Churong's blonde hair, his voice softening, "then I met you."
Churong felt as though Chen Yi's surprises would never end. His heart continued to pound relentlessly, the echoes of Chen Yi's confession still lingering in his mind, even as the memory of their kiss made his cheeks burn.
He liked it.
He liked it so much that it scared him.
The fear crept in, unshakable and raw. What if, after this initial rush, Chen Yi's affection began to fade? What if this love, which now felt so intoxicating, turned out to be fleeting—just like a drug that brought euphoria, only to leave him feeling hollow and broken afterward?
He hesitated, uncertain whether he should take the risk and allow himself to fall in love again. Churong knew better than anyone that love was bittersweet. It had the power to elevate him, but it could just as easily shatter him.