Chapter 4 – Irresistible

Lin Zifan glanced at Qi Yanze, clicking his tongue as he shook his head. "Not bad at all," he remarked.

The group lingered over their meal for a short while longer. As they began to disperse, several suggestions were made to head to a club for more drinks. Seeing Lin Zifan preparing to get into his car, Qi Yanze offered a brief farewell to the group and turned to walk away.

"Really not coming, Theo?" a voice called out from behind him.

"Of course he isn't. When has he ever gone?"

"A good student is simply cut from a different cloth, I suppose."

"Wait, is it because you have a date with Selena?"

Qi Yanze paused and turned back. "You caught me."

"You two are still keeping that up?" Even Lin Zifan looked genuinely surprised.

Qi Yanze wore a smile that appeared almost innocent, his eyes blinking softly. "It is safe, isn't it?"

"Damn. You really are something, kid. Let’s go, let’s go." Lin Zifan looked at that seemingly pure expression and curled his lip, quickly signaling the driver to pull away.

Qi Yanze watched the exhaust fumes fade into the night air. After a moment, he turned around, lowered his head, and typed a reply: It is fine. I am just happy to see that Lawyer Xie likes it~

…

Under the dim, amber glow of the night, the room was thick with the lingering aftermath of intimacy.

"What? Leaving right after we're finished?" The woman on the bed drew on her cigarette, her gaze fixed on his retreating back. Her striking, biracial features appeared exotic and seductive in the shadows. As she spoke, the duvet slid down, revealing the breathtaking curves of her body. "It has been a year. Won't you stay with me a little longer?"

"I have work tomorrow." Qi Yanze fastened the third-to-last button of his shirt, turning back with a tone that bordered on indifferent.

"Tch. You're as heartless as ever." Selena tossed her hair, seemingly unbothered. "You don't seem as afraid of the dark as you used to be."

Qi Yanze did not respond to the remark.

"I thought you might be a bit more enthusiastic since we haven't seen each other in so long. By the way… have you found anyone else while I was away?"

"No."

"No needs?"

"The coursework was too heavy."

"Right, you're the 'good student' after all." Selena reached for her bra and began to hook it. "Though this past year, I’ve found quite a few high-quality ones myself."

Qi Yanze merely nodded. Selena searched his eyes, desperate to find a flicker of dissatisfaction or jealousy, but to her disappointment, there was nothing but a void.

"Aren't you angry?"

"About what?" Qi Yanze looked at her, genuinely confused.

"About me and other people."

"We are adults. Sexual freedom," Qi Yanze replied with a smile. The warmth, however, never reached his eyes; they remained cold and detached. "Besides, we were always just friends with benefits, weren't we?"

Selena let out a sharp laugh. She and Qi Yanze had met during their freshman year through a mutual friend. Back then, she was already a somewhat famous biracial influencer on IG with no shortage of suitors. Upon entering university, she had heard of the star student from Stern who graduated early to apply for a JD. She also knew that, compared to the other international students, he wasn't exactly wealthy. His family had encountered issues, and he relied on his uncle’s financial support. Yet, he never lacked for anything, as his scholarships covered most of his tuition.

Back then, the two beautiful and privileged individuals had been drawn to one another. Selena was never one to seek a stable romantic relationship, and Qi Yanze seemed to have no interest in love whatsoever. He spent most of his time following a disciplined routine of studying and campus activities, only joining his friends when he was free. In New York’s most famous party school, he stood out as something unique. Thus, for the sake of "stability and safety," becoming FwB had been a natural progression for them both.

There were moments when she had caught feelings and regretted the arrangement, wishing for something more, but Qi Yanze was always far more rational and clear-headed than she was. Fortunately, she was high-status enough that she never lacked for admirers, so her attitude toward Qi Yanze was merely one of slight disappointment.

"You're right, Theo. You really don't have a heart."

Qi Yanze gave no confirmation or denial as he prepared to push the door open.

"I say… let’s end it here. Consider this trip back home our last time." Selena exhaled a plume of smoke from the bed. The room was filled with the sickly-sweet scent of peach-flavored double-burst cigarettes. Given her own desirability, she had no wish to keep warming a stone that refused to heat up, especially when she received no special treatment in return.

"Fine." Qi Yanze paused for only a fraction of a second before walking away without looking back.

——

"Achoo!"

Chen Xinyu sat at his workstation and let out a loud sneeze. Just as he reached for a tissue, a well-defined hand extended one toward him. He looked up to find Qi Yanze watching him with a look of deep concern.

"Are you alright, Brother Chen?"

"Thanks, Xiao Qi." Chen Xinyu took the tissue and wiped his nose, feeling that Qi Yanze was truly an angel. "The seasons are changing; I think I’ve caught a bit of a cold."

"Drinking more hot water might help," Qi Yanze suggested with a thoughtful smile. "Brother Chen, I’ve finished reviewing those legal documents. I’ve already sent them to your inbox."

"You're so efficient. I'll take a look later."

"Great. By the way, when is Lawyer Xie coming back? I haven't seen him for the past couple of days."

"Today, most likely. He’s been quite busy lately." Chen Xinyu rubbed his nose again. "You really seem to care about Lawyer Xie. You even gave him that pen the other day."

"I heard his birthday was just the day before I arrived. I wanted to make up for it."

"How thoughtful of you."

As they spoke, Chen Xinyu happened to look up and saw Xie Chengyun walking their way. "Lawyer Xie, you're back?"

"Yes. We're going to City C for a site stay next week. The other two will be back shortly as well."

"Sister Liu and Xiao Zhou still think that hotel in City M was the most comfortable. They even got to see some sights at night," Chen Xinyu remarked, remembering the photos the other two had sent.

"It seems they weren't busy enough this time." Xie Chengyun arched a brow. "It is fine. The stay in City C will also be at a five-star hotel."

He then remembered Qi Yanze. "Xiao Qi, come into my office for a moment."

"Understood."

Once inside the office, Xie Chengyun closed the door and took a seat.

"I really like the fountain pen you gave me the other day, but it is far too expensive. You didn't need to spend that kind of money." Xie Chengyun sounded reasonable and kind, though it was merely a routine check-in. "I’ve been quite busy these past few days with the firm’s cultural development, so I haven't been able to pay much attention to you. How has your first week of interning been?"

"It is just as you said, Lawyer Xie—full of dirty work." Qi Yanze blinked. "But my colleagues have been very helpful. I think the atmosphere is wonderful. It is just…"

"Just what?"

"It is just that I haven't seen you for a few days, Lawyer Xie. I missed you."

Xie Chengyun vaguely recalled Qi Yanze’s slightly suggestive behavior from their first meeting. He arched a brow, pushing aside his wandering thoughts. "Is that so? We’ve only met once. Does anyone really miss their boss?"

"Lawyer Xie is handsome, and we only met briefly that day. Of course I would miss you." He spoke with total frankness. "Wouldn't you?"

Xie Chengyun’s pulse throbbed at his temples. For the first time, he wondered if the intern shared his sexual orientation. He furrowed his brow slightly, unwilling to let the conversation continue down that path, and quickly changed the subject.

"Regarding the dirty work you mentioned… non-litigation is quite dull and consists mostly of text-heavy tasks. To put it bluntly, those of us doing IPOs are like marketing packagers. We find the loopholes for the client, package them up neatly, and then market them to the Stock Exchange for listing. The process is indeed quite tedious, but you have to learn to find joy in the struggle."

Qi Yanze nodded, looking thirsty for knowledge, appearing as though he were a truly innocent student eager to learn. "And how do you usually find joy in the struggle, Lawyer Xie?"

Xie Chengyun was left momentarily speechless by the question. "The gym, playing golf with clients, a small drink at night."

"Do you not have a partner, Lawyer Xie?"

He was so direct that Xie Chengyun nearly choked.

Qi Yanze immediately followed up with an innocent explanation. "No, it's just that being in love is also a way to relax. I was just curious and it slipped out. After all, someone as high-quality as you, Lawyer Xie, must be very sought after."

"That isn't important. I am not particularly sought after, and there are many ways to relax." At his age, Xie Chengyun would have to be incredibly dull not to sense that Qi Yanze’s intentions were likely not pure. However, because the other’s advances were so blurred—sometimes direct, sometimes indirect—it was difficult to pin down and confirm.

"You aren't sought after?" Qi Yanze sounded genuinely puzzled, yet his voice carried a strangely seductive quality. "But the moment I saw you, I felt a sense of… pleasant surprise."

He was telling the truth, though the surprise didn't stem from love at first sight. It came only from the fact that the prey was more perfect than he had imagined.

"I have another meeting soon. Is your work finished?"

Looking at that face as pure and handsome as an angel’s, Xie Chengyun could now be certain he wasn't just imagining things. While beauty was indeed a temptation, Xie Chengyun felt he wasn't so hollow that he would lay a hand on an intern. He moved quickly to cut off the other’s transgressions.

"I just finished and sent it to Brother Chen." Qi Yanze looked somewhat aggrieved. "I thought you wanted to talk to me about my progress, so I accidentally said a few extra words."

"We've finished talking. Time to get back to work. If something comes up this afternoon, I will call for you." Xie Chengyun picked up the files on his desk, heading toward the printing room. "I'll walk out with you."

Qi Yanze shrugged and walked ahead. Xie Chengyun’s gaze casually traced his back. Just like that day, the young man was perfect, with nothing to criticize. If they weren't in the same workplace and if he weren't a college student—and quite so tall—perhaps Xie Chengyun would have truly considered giving it a try. But there were no "ifs," and he felt a restrained sense of regret.

Perhaps his gaze was too obvious, for Qi Yanze suddenly turned around and narrowed his eyes, offering a gentle yet playful smile. "Lawyer Xie, you can look at me openly, you know."

"What?" Xie Chengyun’s adam’s apple bobbed as he chose to play dumb.

"Nothing. Just that… it doesn't have to be limited to just looking."

"Don't overthink it. There was something on your shirt."

"How do you know what I am thinking, Lawyer Xie?" Qi Yanze blinked.

Xie Chengyun cleared his throat, a sudden sense of awkwardness blooming within him. It was the discomfort of someone his age being outmaneuvered by a younger man.

Having achieved his goal, Qi Yanze stopped teasing him. Instead, he pouted slightly, looking aggrieved. "And yet, you saw it but didn't help me take it off."

"It was there a moment ago. It has already fallen off."

There had been nothing there, but Xie Chengyun truly didn't want to deal with him anymore. The pressure was inexplicably high. He turned immediately and entered the printing room.

By the time he finished copying the massive stack of files, it was break time. The other two members of their team who had been on-site returned, and the group was chatting animatedly at their workstations.

Qi Yanze seemed to have a knack for pleasing people. The two employees looked delighted to be around him. The older one, whom they called Sister Liu, had been practicing for eight years. The other, Xiao Zhou, was similar to Chen Xinyu—a recent graduate who was still quite young.

"What a coincidence, Xiao Qi! I also went to university on the East Coast." Xiao Zhou was quick to find common ground once she heard his background.

"A coincidence between New York and Durham? You've got guts calling that a coincidence."

"That is why I said 'East Coast'!"

"Were you at Duke? The campus is beautiful, like being in a forest," Qi Yanze said with a smile.

"Well, we were a university in a 'village.' We can't compare to having classroom buildings in Manhattan."

"By the way, Xiao Qi, do you smoke? We can go to the terrace later."

"I don't smoke."

"How rare. There are so few men who don't smoke these days."

"Does Lawyer Xie smoke?"

"Rarely, I think. I haven't seen him much, though I’ve seen him smoking in the early hours during the peak of the filing season," Sister Liu recalled carefully.

"I’ve noticed Xiao Qi is particularly fond of Lawyer Xie. He always has him on the tip of his tongue." Chen Xinyu tapped his pen on the desk. Since Qi Yanze had mentioned he already had a target, Chen Xinyu’s straightforward mind didn't wander toward any other possibilities. "I’d say we're the best-looking team in the firm now."

"I agree!"

Xiao Zhou raised her hand. When she first saw the new member today, her passion for work seemed to double. Most importantly, Qi Yanze didn't have a beauty that felt aggressive; instead, he looked like a clean, pure college student with a very approachable smile. "By the way, you must have met Lawyer Xie. Isn't he handsome? Do you know how many legal beauties in City A dream of our Lawyer Xie?"

"I can imagine. And yet, Lawyer Xie says he isn't sought after." Qi Yanze smiled, pretending to be uninformed as he asked, "Is Lawyer Xie single?"

"He is. I can't even remember the last time I saw him with a partner. You know how hard it is to balance life and work in this profession, especially for partners who are even busier."

"With so many legal beauties pursuing him, how is he still single?"

"Matters of the heart are hard to say. Who knows?" Sister Liu was about to mention that it was a pity he didn't like women, but decided against it. "Do you have a partner?"

"Xiao Qi said he has a target already."

Sister Liu let out an "Ooh," while Xiao Zhou immediately made a mock-crying face, joking that she had lost her chance.

"May I ask… are you straight?" Xiao Zhou couldn't accept the idea of the firm’s second-hottest guy also liking men.

"Hmm… sexual orientation can be fluid." Qi Yanze smiled warmly but didn't say anything explicitly.

"So you're bi. Seems like there’s still a bit of a chance." Xiao Zhou cheered herself up, trying to gauge if Qi Yanze leaned more toward men or women. She asked tentatively, "What do you think of Lawyer Xie?"

Xie Chengyun happened to walk out just as he finished binding the documents. A pair of silver-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, lending him a gentle, intellectual air. His lips were set in a firm line, and his perfectly tailored suit accentuated the curves of his well-exercised physique. Every movement exuded a potent "Daddy" aura that would drive certain youngsters wild.

Qi Yanze happened to catch his eye. Just before Xie Chengyun could pretend to look away with indifference, he saw the younger man offer him a suggestive wink.

"Irresistible."