Qi Ji guided Pei Yusheng out of the bar, where the driver was waiting.
Once inside the car, Pei Yusheng was surprisingly easy to manage. When Qi Ji said, “Let’s sit together,” the man quietly bent down and slid into the back seat.
Qi Ji followed, sitting beside him. As the car began moving, he turned slightly and caught Pei Yusheng’s gaze. Their eyes met, and the man reached out, wrapping an arm around Qi Ji’s waist.
Qi Ji shifted a little closer, resting against his lover.
He noticed that even drunk, Mr. Pei remained quiet and composed, content just to be near him—a state not unlike how Qi Ji himself felt when intoxicated.
Qi Ji had never been sure how he behaved when drunk, but after being tricked by Pei Yusheng so many times, he had pieced together a rough understanding.
Having been deceived repeatedly, Qi Ji now had a lingering distrust of alcohol and had recently sworn off anything with even a hint of it, refusing to fall for Pei Yusheng’s tricks again.
But this time, it was Pei Yusheng who was drunk; perhaps it would be different. As Qi Ji thought this, he felt the arm around his waist tighten, pressing him closer into Pei Yusheng’s chest.
“What’s wrong?” Qi Ji asked, puzzled.
Pei Yusheng didn’t answer. He lowered his head and gently inhaled Qi Ji’s scent. His sharp nose brushed against Qi Ji’s jaw and neck, eliciting an involuntary laugh.
“Don’t—ugh…” Qi Ji’s voice softened. “…ticklish!”
Pei Yusheng ignored his complaint and pressed him closer, preventing any escape.
The subtle contact along the back of Qi Ji’s neck gave him the strange sensation of being marked by a predator—held firmly in place, claimed as territory.
The faint warmth and breath against his sensitive skin sent shivers through him.
Qi Ji forced himself to remain calm. He reminded himself that Pei Yusheng was drunk, so unusual behavior was to be expected. The last time Pei Yusheng had returned home tipsy, nothing had gone too far. Surely, this would be the same—rest at home would settle him.
He tried to reassure himself, but he failed to notice the subtle changes in Pei Yusheng’s behavior. At first, the man only stared. Then he wanted to hold hands. Then, he wanted to embrace fully.
Step by step, Pei Yusheng’s advances were relentless, claiming more and more.
A warm brush against his ear teased Qi Ji, who, oblivious to danger, sighed in resignation. After nuzzling his neck, Pei Yusheng began nibbling at his ear. To soothe the drunk man, Qi Ji gave in, yielding willingly.
He ran a hand through Pei Yusheng’s hair resting on his shoulder, thinking that the man was like a drunk version of himself—clingy, but in a more assertive, demanding way.
The drive home felt increasingly long. Fortunately, Pei Yusheng didn’t cross any boundaries in the car. Once they arrived, Qi Ji finally exhaled. Another round of such closeness would leave his waist weak.
Once out of the car, Qi Ji wanted to carry Pei Yusheng as he had in the bar, but the man immediately reached for him, trying to lift him up.
Qi Ji stepped back. He wasn’t worried about holding him but didn’t want to add extra burden to the drunk Pei Yusheng—after all, it always seemed like the man carried him when drunk.
“Sir,” Qi Ji said gently, “may I just hold your hand and walk you inside?”
Pei Yusheng paused.
Qi Ji reached out, taking the man’s hand and bracing himself, fearing he might be lifted again. Fortunately, Pei Yusheng didn’t insist. He held Qi Ji’s hand in return, his other arm looping around Qi Ji’s waist, and quietly followed him inside.
Qi Ji relaxed—hand-holding was still effective.
But he barely had time to breathe. Once inside, the drunk Pei Yusheng tried again, pressing to be embraced.
Qi Ji could only laugh and coax him into the bathroom.
“Take a shower first,” he said, thinking the alcohol scent must be uncomfortable. “Can you manage on your own?”
Pei Yusheng looked at him but didn’t answer.
Seeing that he seemed coherent, Qi Ji planned to leave.
But just as he turned to exit, a strong arm brushed against his cheek, and the bathroom door slammed shut between them.
The muffled “bang” startled Qi Ji.
He found himself trapped between the door and Pei Yusheng, who exhaled warm breath against his ear. Despite the man’s usual slow reactions, the position triggered an instinctive sense of danger.
“What’s—?”
Before he could finish, Pei Yusheng’s hand gripped the back of his neck.
The heat pressed against him, and Qi Ji flinched. Trapped, he felt a surge of unease and tried to reason with him.
“Sir…?”
No reply came. The hand slid down, pressing into his slender shoulder, the warmth marking the pale skin. Pei Yusheng leaned down and lightly bit the prominent bone at the back of his neck.
“Ah—!”
The sharp teeth against sensitive skin drew tears from Qi Ji’s eyes. He knew this would leave a visible mark.
Panicked, he instinctively tried to pull away.
In the past, if he struggled enough, Pei Yusheng would stop, giving him a moment to recover.
But this time was different. Pei Yusheng didn’t relent; he bit harder, pinning Qi Ji firmly against the wall, like a predator claiming its prey.
The cold tile beneath and the burning heat of the man pressed together. Qi Ji swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he forced out a strained, shaky sound:
“Pei…”
But it was already too late.
Before he could even speak, Qi Ji’s vision went black, and he felt as if the overwhelming force pressed against him would tear him apart.
“…Ugh!”
In an instant, he was swallowed by a roaring tide, his scattered cries shattered beyond reconstruction.
Qi Ji had no idea when it had ended. When he came to, he was already back in his familiar bedroom, lying in bed.
Exhausted, his memories were too jumbled, and he could barely keep his eyes open. Clearly, Pei Yusheng had carried him back.
Honestly, Qi Ji had always considered himself physically strong. From a young age, He Xiu had trained him in agility and combat, and he had never neglected exercise. On the field trip to Qingpu Lake with his team, after a full day of walking, he had been the only one with neither sore legs nor aching waist—and still able to help carry the heaviest equipment for his colleagues.
But since being with Mr. Pei, that understanding had been completely overturned.
Every time they shared a bed, if he didn’t pass out in the process, it was considered lucky. Afterwards, he would sleep most of the day. By contrast, Pei Yusheng seemed unaffected, waking the next day refreshed and gentle, coaxing Qi Ji to eat.
Tonight was no different. Despite being drunk, Pei Yusheng’s stamina remained immense, while Qi Ji was utterly drained, barely able to keep his eyes open.
Yet, thinking back to when Pei Yusheng had cared for him during his own drunken stupor, Qi Ji forced himself to stay awake. He felt he had to look after the man, ensure he wasn’t uncomfortable in the night.
He tried to ask if Pei Yusheng wanted water, but his throat was sore and hoarse, and every attempt at speaking ended in a dry cough.
Pei Yusheng noticed. He looked at him, picked up a cup of warm water, and handed it over.
Qi Ji touched his nose, taking the cup and sipping. The sweet warmth soothed his aching throat, bringing some relief.
After finishing the water, the man at his bedside leaned in. Qi Ji assumed he was going to take the cup himself and held it out, ready to offer a sip.
But Pei Yusheng ignored it entirely, tossing the cup aside.
“Bang.” The cup clattered to the floor. Qi Ji froze. Just as he parted his lips to speak, they were immediately blocked.
“Ugh…mm!”
His eyes widened instinctively. He wanted to struggle, but even when he had some strength earlier, he had no chance—now, he was utterly powerless.
Pei Yusheng pinned his small arms, pressing both wrists with one hand, forcing Qi Ji down into the soft mattress.
Like a sudden torrential downpour, a fierce wave surged over him, scorching heat filling every corner of the room.
This wasn’t a kiss—it was more like a bite. When he was finally released, Qi Ji felt nearly suffocated. His lips bore the marks, vivid and raw, crimson and glistening.
Even without moving, his lips throbbed with pain. He struggled to speak.
“No…stop…”
He had to stop what the man was doing. The heat pressing against his legs made his heart race in fear.
Pei Yusheng lowered his gaze, icy light-colored eyes like lifeless crystal, staring at him without blinking, sending a chill deep into Qi Ji’s core.
“Hurts…really, not…next time…can we?” he tried to negotiate.
Perhaps moved by his pleading, Pei Yusheng’s intensity finally softened. He leaned down, kissed Qi Ji’s nose, then gently turned to press a soft kiss to his ear.
Seeing the gentleness, Qi Ji thought his words had worked and let out a small sigh of relief. He carefully shifted his legs to put some distance between himself and the scorching heat.
But before he could move far, the hardness pressed against him again, following him like a shadow.
At his cheek, Pei Yusheng kissed the reddened tip of his ear, leaning close. In a hoarse, low voice, he spoke for the first time tonight:
“The last time…didn’t go all the way in.”
All the way…?
Qi Ji froze. Danger sparked instinct. In a flash, he realized what the words meant—
He had never taken it all before.
It was too much, unbearable. Every time, he had cried from the pain before it could be fully inside. Pei Yusheng would soften, coaxing him not to insist on finishing.
But tonight, the drunk man showed no sign of mercy.
A chill ran down Qi Ji’s neck. He couldn’t imagine the outcome. He struggled wildly, and miraculously managed to escape half a step.
Half a step—that was all.
In the chaos, he didn’t notice that the heat he accidentally brushed against had grown even firmer. Before he could fully break free, a warm hand clutched his slender ankle.
A shiver ran through him, the heat shooting straight to his racing heart.
The next second, Qi Ji was dragged back, held firmly by that grip.