Shen Hechuan hadn’t yet figured out what kind of “help” Qiao Le was asking for when the car pulled up in front of them.
Without much thought, Shen Hechuan pushed Qiao Le into the car and got in after him.
As soon as Qiao Le entered, he curled up on the spacious back seat.
If one looked closely, they could see his body trembling slightly, his legs tense.
The driver asked where to go.
Shen Hechuan was about to say the hospital when Qiao Le, beside him, let out a low, pained moan.
The nearest hospital was at least half an hour away, and Shen Hechuan feared that Qiao Le wouldn’t be able to endure the effects of the drug before they arrived.
He quickly made a decision and gave the name of a nearby hotel.
The hotel was part of Pei Wenjing’s family business, just five minutes away.
Shen Hechuan had a permanent suite there, so he decided to take Qiao Le there first to cool him down physically.
On the way to the hotel, Qiao Le leaned against Shen Hechuan again, like a small animal seeking safety.
Only by staying close to Shen Hechuan could he feel at ease.
The overheated body temperature seeped through their clothes, sending a shiver down Shen Hechuan’s spine.
Suddenly, he felt his throat go dry.
He raised his hand, unsure whether to push Qiao Le away or hold him.
After a moment of hesitation, he settled for gently patting Qiao Le’s back to comfort him.
By the time they reached the hotel, Qiao Le could barely stand.
Shen Hechuan carried him all the way upstairs.
As soon as they entered the room, Shen Hechuan carried Qiao Le straight to the master bathroom, placed him in the bathtub, and turned on the cold water, drenching him.
“Hiss-“
The cold water was like a shock of ice and fire to Qiao Le in his current state.
He gasped sharply, his hands flailing as his muddled consciousness cleared slightly.
He looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings.
“Where… where are we?”
“A hotel,” Shen Hechuan replied, holding the showerhead in one hand while using the other to brush Qiao Le’s wet bangs away from his face, revealing his delicate, handsome features.
“Are you feeling a bit more awake now?”
More awake?
Qiao Le wasn’t sure.
He felt like he was somewhat clearer, but at the same time, he wasn’t.
A fire seemed to be burning inside him, its flames flickering, threatening to consume him at any moment.
His shirt was soaked from the shower, clinging to his pale skin as if it were part of him.
Shen Hechuan’s gaze inadvertently fell on the collar of Qiao Le’s shirt, and he found it hard to look away.
Wasn’t Qiao Le delivering food?
How could he still be so pale?
“I don’t feel good…”
Qiao Le murmured, his hair sticking to his face as water droplets slid down his cheeks.
Perhaps feeling cold, he curled up in the bathtub, looking pitiful.
Shen Hechuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he called softly, “Qiao Le?”
Qiao Le didn’t respond.
Seeing his dazed expression, Shen Hechuan worried that the cold water might be too much for him.
He leaned closer, using the back of his hand to touch Qiao Le’s forehead to check his temperature.
As he leaned in, Qiao Le felt the fire inside him burn even hotter.
The back of Shen Hechuan’s hand against his forehead seemed to have a magnetic pull, drawing Qiao Le closer to him.
“Qiao Le?” Shen Hechuan called again.
Qiao Le couldn’t hear him clearly.
His hands gripped the front of Shen Hechuan’s shirt as he leaned in, as if under a spell, pressing his lips against Shen Hechuan’s.
Cool.
It felt good.
Shen Hechuan’s eyes widened slightly.
Qiao Le moved downward, nuzzling against Shen Hechuan’s chin, then his Adam’s apple.
He bit down, his strength uncontrolled, causing Shen Hechuan’s grip on the showerhead to tighten.
When Qiao Le woke up again, it was already the next morning.
His biological clock was usually very punctual, so he never needed an alarm.
Today, he slept in a bit longer, entirely because he had been working late shifts these past few days and had been up all night last night.
Up all night?
Qiao Le blinked his tired eyes, his consciousness gradually returning—
What had he done last night that kept him up all night?
Last night, the bar had been packed with customers, and he had been busy the entire time.
As midnight approached, most people were thoroughly enjoying themselves, and he had also been persuaded to drink a few times.
The bar served good liquor, and he hadn’t drunk much.
At first, he felt a bit off and thought it was due to the alcohol, but by the time he realized something was wrong, it was already too late.
He remembered asking his supervisor for leave to leave early, and as he was stepping out, he ran into Shen Hechuan.
Shen Hechuan…
Qiao Le’s thoughts paused, his mind suddenly blank.
Yes, he had encountered Shen Hechuan.
At the time, he was already staggering a bit, and it seemed he had even asked Shen Hechuan for help.
After that…
“You’re awake?”
A voice came from behind, followed by the bedside lamp being turned on.
The voice acted like a switch, triggering some memories from last night, causing Qiao Le’s spine to stiffen.
He remembered now.
Last night, when the effects of the drug kicked in, he had kissed Shen Hechuan, grabbing his collar and refusing to let go.
At the time, Shen Hechuan had gripped the back of his neck to create some distance between them, telling him to sober up.
But instead of stopping, Qiao Le had wrapped his arms around Shen Hechuan’s neck, pressing against him, kissing and biting.
There was a rustling sound beside him as Shen Hechuan sat up in bed, the blanket slipping down to his waist.
No way… Was this really not a dream?
Holding onto a sliver of hope, Qiao Le turned his head and met Shen Hechuan’s gaze.
Perhaps out of guilt, he panicked and tried to look away, but his eyes accidentally landed on Shen Hechuan’s neck.
There were two distinct marks on Shen Hechuan’s Adam’s apple and collarbone, clearly showing how they had gotten there.
Was I that wild last night?
Was I the one who initiated it?
Was I that rough with Mr. Shen?!
In a daze, Qiao Le shifted slightly, then froze.
He realized his lower back was sore, and his body felt achy and swollen.
The body’s memory was the most honest.
He stared blankly at Shen Hechuan.
His sluggish brain began to function again, piecing together fragmented memories from last night.
At first, he had been the one taking the lead, but then Shen Hechuan had completely taken control.
He had been like a ship without a sail, tossed up and down by the waves.
This person before him seemed reserved and polite on the surface, but in private, he exuded an irresistible sense of control.
The effects of the drug made it hard for him to remember much of what happened afterward.
He vaguely recalled crying at some point, though he wasn’t sure if it was from pain or something else or perhaps both.
“Are you okay?”
Seeing Qiao Le staring at him in a daze, Shen Hechuan spoke up again, “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
Unwell?
Of course, my butt!
Wait, no-it wasn’t exactly discomfort.
After all, Shen Hechuan had been very thorough with the preparation last night.
Although he hadn’t checked yet, he could tell he wasn’t injured.
But that wasn’t the point.
The real issue was that the two of them had only met a few times before, and now this had suddenly happened.
Qiao Le was at a loss for how to handle it.
What would be the appropriate way to deal with this?
Perhaps it would be best to start by expressing gratitude.
After all, the other party had helped him, and it was Shen Hechuan, which was certainly better than some stranger.
With this thought in mind, Qiao Le got up from the bed, only to have the blanket slip off, revealing his equally unclothed body, just like Shen Hechuan’s.
Although the two had already been intimately involved the night before, it had been under the influence of external factors.
Now, in the sober light of day, being so exposed to each other was somewhat awkward.
Qiao Le reached out to pull the blanket back up, but his gaze froze when he saw the marks on his body.
Good grief, Shen Hechuan must have been the one who was really drunk!
He had a whole array of marks on him, compared to which Shen Hechuan’s two were nothing.
It was almost too much to look at.
Qiao Le’s ears burned as he wrapped the blanket tightly around himself, trying to avoid the sight.
But in his haste, he pulled too hard and ended up yanking Shen Hechuan’s blanket away too, leaving the other man completely exposed.
Shen Hechuan: “…”
Qiao Le: “…”
When people are embarrassed, their eyes tend to wander to inappropriate places.
Qiao Le swore he hadn’t meant to, but Shen Hechuan’s… certain attributes were just too prominent, making their presence known early in the morning.
“…Sorry.”
Qiao Le was mortified.
He grabbed a corner of the blanket and quickly covered Shen Hechuan back up.
Shen Hechuan rubbed his forehead.
Last night had been too indulgent, and they had only fallen asleep near dawn.
Before sleeping, he had only hastily cleaned up himself and Qiao Le, not bothering to find clothes to put on.
This was his regular suite, and there were spare clothes available.
He got up and went to the wardrobe to get dressed.
Qiao Le turned his head away, but when Shen Hechuan’s back was turned, he couldn’t help but sneak a couple of glances.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, with smooth and powerful muscle lines.
He had really hit the jackpot!
Though his backside was a bit sore.
Thinking this, Qiao Le’s ears burned again, and he shifted uncomfortably.
Shen Hechuan dressed himself and then brought over a set of clothes for Qiao Le:
“These are clean, but they might be a bit big on you.”
Qiao Le wasn’t short at 180 cm, but Shen Hechuan was clearly half a head taller.
The clothes from last night were definitely unwearable.
Aside from the smell of alcohol, they were still piled on the bathroom floor.
In the heat of the moment, neither of them had cared about them.
Shen Hechuan was considerate.
After handing over the clothes, he left the room.
Qiao Le got up to dress, and as soon as he moved, he felt a soreness in his waist.
He had no idea how many times Shen Hechuan had thrust into him last night.
Once dressed, he put on his slippers and left the room.
Shen Hechuan had just finished washing up and said: “There are new toiletries in the bathroom.”
“Okay.”
Qiao Le went to wash his face and brush his teeth, and he couldn’t help but notice the pile of clothes in the laundry basket.
A white shirt, dress pants, and a gray top were piled together, with a soaked pair of black boxer briefs on top-not his, but Shen Hechuan’s.
Seeing these clothes brought back memories of the chaotic scenes from last night.
The first time they had lost control was in this very bathroom.
In the midst of their struggle, both had been drenched by the shower.
Shen Hechuan had gripped his chin, trying to make him sober up, but instead, he had recklessly bitten Shen Hechuan’s finger.
Qiao Le’s heart sank as he averted his gaze, mechanically brushing his teeth and washing his face.
When he finished and stepped out, Shen Hechuan was already waiting for him on the living room sofa as he said: “We need to talk.”
Yes, they really needed to talk.
Qiao Le thought to himself that Shen Hechuan had extended a helping hand to him last night, but he had ended up sleeping with him instead, which was really inappropriate.
Recalling the scene from last night where he had clung to Shen Hechuan, kissing and biting him, he felt extremely guilty: “I’m sorry.”
“?” Shen Hechuan didn’t expect him to start with an apology.
“What do you mean?”
Qiao Le said, “I didn’t mean to. The alcohol I drank last night wasn’t clean, and I caused you trouble.”
Caused me trouble?
Shen Hechuan paused for a moment: “It seems like you’re always apologizing to me.”
Qiao Le thought about it and realized it was true.
The first time they met, he had mistaken someone else for Shen Hechuan, causing a misunderstanding; the second time, he had almost fainted at Shen Hechuan’s doorstep; and now, this was the third time.
Seeing the remorse on Qiao Le’s face, Shen Hechuan remembered how he had looked last night-miserable and helpless, grabbing onto him and saying, “Please help me.”
His heart softened, and he spoke in a gentler tone: “Actually, I don’t need you to apologize.”
Hearing this, Qiao Le, still feeling guilty and conflicted, said, “But I don’t have the money to compensate you.”
Shen Hechuan: “…”
You might as well just apologize.
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