“We’ll talk about that later,” Nie Jun said, glancing at the time on his phone. “I’ve got something going on right now.”
Pang Ding could tell from his tone that it didn’t sound too urgent. “Alright. When are you free?”
Nie Jun estimated quickly. “Ten minutes.”
A sharp knock came at the door. Nie Jun ended the call and went to open it.
Kong Wenyu stood there, completely drenched. Rain streaked his expensive suit, and the carefully styled hair had been pushed back in frustration, exposing his rain-slicked face.
The two of them locked eyes at the doorway. Kong Wenyu stepped in without a word and kissed him—hard—on his lowered lips.
Nie Jun was pushed back, his spine pressing into the cold wall behind.
It was a rough, cold kiss, full of rain and unspoken feelings.
The only sounds in the tiny living room were the ticking of a wall clock and the hum of the fridge. Caught in that moment, Nie Jun responded, lifting his arms to pull Kong Wenyu in by the waist.
Kong Wenyu pulled back slightly, grabbing Nie Jun’s collar. Beneath rain-soaked lashes, his dark eyes locked onto him.
“Other than this—what haven’t I given you?” he asked, voice low and sharp. “Twenty-four-hour access to the Kong house, the study’s passcode, everything physical you need—have I ever denied you, Nie Jun?”
Nie Jun didn’t resist. He didn’t get angry. He just paused, then leaned in to kiss him again.
Kong Wenyu turned his head, avoiding it, his gaze sliding over sharply. “Answer me.”
They were so close their breaths tangled—one quick and heated, the other steady and cold.
Nie Jun raised his hand to touch his face, but Kong Wenyu turned away again.
Their eyes locked. The tension thickened between them in this small, cozy living room, surrounded by neatly paired everyday items.
Nie Jun held his gaze for a moment and said quietly,
“I won’t be the other man.”
Kong Wenyu’s eyes widened, stunned.
He looked down, struggling to come up with a response, but nothing quite fit. “You’re not the other man. I’m not married to her. We’re not getting a license. It’s just an engagement.”
“You’ll get married when it’s convenient, just like you got engaged,” Nie Jun said softly, eyes unwavering. His fingertips, denied before, now gently brushed Kong Wenyu’s damp hair. “Maybe you’ll even have a kid.”
Kong Wenyu opened his mouth to speak. He wanted to promise something—but the words wouldn’t come together.
Nie Jun let go, arms falling to his sides in total surrender. His voice was quiet but firm:
“Kong Wenyu, I can be your secret lover, but I’ll never be your side piece.”
Kong Wenyu’s grip on his collar tightened.
“Even if I wanted to marry you, it’s not legal here. But I swear—I won’t get married. I won’t marry any woman.”
“There are over twenty countries where same-sex marriage is legal. That wouldn’t be hard for someone like you.”
Nie Jun’s tone didn’t change, but there was pressure hidden in the calm.
“You never even considered it—because I can’t give you what a marriage alliance would.”
“No, Jun—no, that’s not it.” Kong Wenyu looked at him, flustered and almost desperate.
“I never thought of using you. I just… I just want to be with you. Like we’ve been, this whole time.”
Nie Jun reached up to wipe the dried water from Kong Wenyu’s face, brushing away the lingering rain near his eyes.
Kong Wenyu turned his face away, but the next second, Nie Jun grabbed his jaw and locked him in place.
Forced to meet his gaze, Kong Wenyu stiffened.
“This isn’t like you, Kong Wenyu. You’ve always been above it all—doing whatever you please,” Nie Jun said quietly.
He grabbed a handful of Kong Wenyu’s hair at the back of his head and tilted his face upward, fully exposing his vulnerable throat.
“What are you afraid of?”
Kong Wenyu didn’t resist. His throat moved with a hard swallow, too obvious to miss.
Nie Jun studied his face closely, then kissed the corner of his lips.
“You’re afraid I’ll leave you. You know as well as I do—once you get married, we’re done.”
Kong Wenyu’s breathing turned uneven.
Nie Jun remembered clearly that he had wiped the rain from Kong Wenyu’s lashes just moments ago.
He wasn’t sure when they’d gotten wet again.
Nie Jun looked at him for a while, then turned his eyes away.
But Kong Wenyu’s breathing, and that quiet, choked sound of suppressed emotion, kept drifting into his ears.
The silence was broken by a sharp vibration. Kong Wenyu’s phone was always on loud, but this time, it was Nie Jun’s that rang.
Grateful for the distraction, Nie Jun pulled it out and answered.
“Jun-ge, you done now?” Pang Ding’s voice rang loud and clear through the living room.
“Have you thought about what we talked about earlier?”
Nie Jun walked a few steps toward the balcony, his back to Kong Wenyu.
Kong Wenyu stayed still, eyes fixed on his silhouette.
“What was it again?” Nie Jun asked.
Pang Ding noticed his tone had completely changed and lowered his voice.
“About that person from our last assignment—the one you protected? He’s looking for a personal bodyguard and specifically asked for you. The go-between reached out again—says the pay’s flexible.”
Kong Wenyu’s gaze darkened. He wasn’t looking at Nie Jun anymore—he was staring at the phone by his ear.
“We’ll talk later,” Nie Jun said, glancing at Kong Wenyu from the corner of his eye. “Anything else?”
“You’re still busy?” Pang Ding asked, then tried to persuade him again,
“Think about it, bro. It’s a great offer. While you’re still young—earn what you can.”
Just a few steps away, Kong Wenyu stood silently, eyes rimmed red.
Nie Jun barely paid attention. “Mm. Talk later.”
He hung up.
Then, without looking at Kong Wenyu, he opened the bathroom door.
“Take a shower. You’ll catch a cold if you stay wet.”
Kong Wenyu didn’t move.
Nie Jun knew what he wanted to hear. He’d felt the subtle way Kong Wenyu had been holding onto him for some time now.
He turned and walked to the balcony, fishing a cigarette from a box and placing it between his lips.
Behind him, Kong Wenyu finally spoke, his voice low:
“If it mattered that much to you… why didn’t you say something sooner?”
Nie Jun paused. There was a soft click as he lit his cigarette.
He pushed open a window, letting the damp wind sweep in and carry the smoke away.
“Say something,” Kong Wenyu urged.
Nie Jun took a drag, exhaling slowly. “You don’t need to keep testing me. This is my line. That’s it.”
Kong Wenyu watched him. The drifting smoke blurred part of his view, but the wind cleared it just as quickly.
Nie Jun stared out at the gloomy weather. “Even if I said it, nothing would change.”
The Long family held shares in the Kong family’s business. And in the silent war between uncle and niece, they were firmly on Kong Wenyu’s side. Long Zhu was their only daughter—their pride and joy. There was no way the Longs would let anyone disgrace her.
If Kong Wenyu burned that bridge now, who would ever trust him enough to marry into his family again?
“It can change.” Kong Wenyu began unbuttoning his shirt. “I’m not going anywhere tonight. I’m staying here.”
He slipped off his jacket. His phone, inside, started ringing. He glanced at the screen and declined the call.
The phone rang again almost immediately. His brows knit as he finally answered.
“Boss?” Hai Ming’s anxious voice came through. “Where are you? The guests upstairs have already asked twice—it’s time for the toasts. When are you coming back?”
Kong Wenyu snapped, “I’m not coming back. Handle it.”
He hung up. The phone buzzed again. He ignored it.
Across the room, Nie Jun looked at him. “You should go back.”
Kong Wenyu went into the bathroom to wash his hands. The sound of running water clashed with the rhythm of the rain outside, intensifying the chaos in the air.
Nie Jun sighed and stubbed out his cigarette.
Kong Wenyu came out, hands still damp, and stood by the door. “I won’t let you go be someone else’s bodyguard. Call him now and turn it down.”
Nie Jun’s voice was calm. “I knew this day would come, the moment I decided to come back to you.”
Kong Wenyu pressed his lips together.
Nie Jun added, “It’s fine.”
“You’re lying,” Kong Wenyu shot back, not buying it. “Then why did you buy this apartment when you came back? You didn’t even think about a backup plan. If it’s really ‘fine,’ why leave the hotel? Why walk away into the rain? And now, why are you trying to sell this place?”
Nie Jun didn’t move for a long while. Outside, everything was gray. Inside, the lights were off. It felt like the ceiling might start leaking at any second.
His composure only made Kong Wenyu more frantic. The contrast between them was unbearable.
Kong Wenyu’s chest heaved, soaked clothes clinging to him. His eyes were red.
“You want to be someone else’s bodyguard, don’t you?”
Nie Jun started to reach for his face, fingers twitching slightly, but he didn’t move from the balcony.
Kong Wenyu blinked once.
“You’re not going anywhere. Stay with me. I can give you everything you want.”
“Everything?” Nie Jun asked.
“Everything.”
“And what does that include?”
Kong Wenyu hesitated. Nie Jun pressed again, his voice calm but unrelenting:
“You said you went looking for me. Who can prove it?”
Kong Wenyu’s mind was a mess. Names flashed through his head, but he rejected each one.
He was used to being untouchable—above questions, above explanations. He never needed to justify himself to anyone, never had to account for where he went or why.
But now, more than anything, he needed someone who could vouch for him.
“…No one can prove it.”
“Then why should I stay by your side?”
Nie Jun stepped toward him—an overwhelming presence, sharp and unyielding, closing in like a wall.
“You knew exactly what I wanted. And you still got engaged to someone else.” He advanced, forcing Kong Wenyu to retreat. “What am I to you?”
“Jun-ge…”
Kong Wenyu tried to stop him with words, but they failed. Step by step, he backed into the sink.
Nie Jun stared at him, unwavering—like a predator studying trapped prey.
Their faces were inches apart. Kong Wenyu turned his head and leaned in for a kiss, but Nie Jun leaned back just out of reach.
As he tried to pull away, Kong Wenyu caught his arm in desperation and blurted, “I like you…”
Nie Jun exhaled sharply, like the air had been knocked out of him.
His back hit the faucet handle, and suddenly water rushed from the tap with a clatter. He reached behind and shut it off.
Kong Wenyu looked rattled, as if the fight had drained from him. “Don’t… go work for someone else.”
“What does that mean?” Nie Jun braced one hand on the sink, leaning down slightly. “You’ll only be with me in secret?”
Kong Wenyu’s head was nearly pressed against the smooth surface of the mirror.
“I’m only allowed to be one person’s bodyguard?” Nie Jun’s voice was low and sharp. “You buy me a place, hand me a check—are you trying to keep me? How long is this arrangement supposed to last? Until you get married and toss me aside?”
Kong Wenyu tried to push him away, but Nie Jun didn’t move. He turned his face, barely breathing. “No.”
“Then what is it?” Nie Jun demanded.
“You flew to the island to find me. Gave me your study’s passcode. You comforted me. Slept with me. Kissed me. And now today, you’re skipping out on your own engagement—for me. Why?”
The small bathroom felt suffocating with heat and tension. Their pounding heartbeats filled the space, as if the air itself might shatter.
Cornered, Kong Wenyu had nowhere left to run.
“…Because…”
His shoulders dropped, his breath shaky. Finally, he gave up resisting.
“I want to be with you.”
In the next instant, Nie Jun surged forward and kissed him.
This kiss was nothing like before.
It was fierce, heavy—charged with control and possession.
Kong Wenyu could barely breathe, struggling to push him back. But Nie Jun caught both his wrists and pinned them behind his back, holding him still.
Forced to tilt his head up, Kong Wenyu had no choice but to weather the storm of Nie Jun’s kiss. Saliva he couldn’t swallow spilled down his chin. The mirror behind them shook under the force, as if it might shatter any second.
Kong Wenyu’s phone started ringing again.
Nie Jun let go of him, reached over to grab the phone, and murmured through the heat and damp of their kiss, “Your mom’s calling you.”
Kong Wenyu glanced at the screen, still breathless, but ignored it.
The call ended on its own, only to start ringing again almost immediately—relentless, urgent. Nie Jun pulled back slightly, brushed a thumb along the corner of Kong Wenyu’s lips, then answered the call and held it to his ear.
Kong Wenyu scowled deeply.
“Where are you?” Man Mingzhi’s voice was sharp, crackling with fury.
Kong Wenyu took a deep breath, forcing his heartbeat and ragged breathing under control.
But Man Mingzhi cut him off coldly. “I don’t care where you are or what you’re doing. Get back here right now!”
“I’m not going back,” Kong Wenyu said flatly, eyes locked onto Nie Jun. His lips were red, his gaze crazed with possession. “I’ll handle the Long family. Detain all the reporters who showed up. Tell them—not a single word gets out about what happened today.”
“You’ve lost your mind!” Man Mingzhi snapped. “What about Kong Lingru—”
“She can do whatever she wants.” Kong Wenyu’s eyes were wild, obsessive. He pressed down on Nie Jun’s head, gave him a firm kiss, then pulled back and spoke with unwavering resolve. “She’s already married. If she wants out, let her file for divorce. I’ll step down from the board and let her be the heir to the Kong family.”
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