Chapter 7 – So Pure

Xie Chengyun watched the shift in Qi Yanze’s expression. One moment, he was offering Alex a gaze of feigned innocence; the next, his eyes turned predatory and sharp, cutting toward Xie Chengyun’s glass. Following that pointed look, Xie Chengyun’s eyes landed on his drink. Alex’s hand was resting against the rim, yet at a cursory glance, nothing seemed out of place.

"I didn't do anything… what are you talking about?" A flicker of panic crossed Alex’s features, but he smoothed it over with practiced ease as he pulled his hand back. "Besides, seats are for everyone. Since when did this one belong to you?"

"Lawyer Xie, I explicitly told you I was just heading to the restroom and asked you to wait for me," Qi Yanze said, his voice dropping into a pout as if truly wounded that Xie Chengyun hadn't guarded his territory.

Xie Chengyun looked at that handsome face and remembered his own plan to leave. A wave of awkward guilt washed over him, and he let out a dry cough. "I… forgot…"

"Oh, what do we have here?" Qi Yanze mused, crouching down. From a hidden crevice near the inner sole of Alex’s shoe, he pinched a tiny, white pill. He held it up to the light, a mocking lilt in his voice. "Do you have trouble sleeping at night, Lawyer Xie? This handsome fellow here is certainly attentive."

Xie Chengyun’s blood ran cold as he stared at the pill. His expression darkened instantly as he fixed a grim, icy stare on Alex. The other man met his eyes for a frantic second before jerking his gaze away.

"What is this?"

"Yeah, what exactly is this?" Qi Yanze echoed. He turned to a nearby young man—who seemed delighted to be addressed by someone so attractive—and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hi there. Do you recognize this?"

The young man took one look and flushed under the intern's gaze. "An aphrodisiac… FM2. Are you going to feed it to me? Honestly, with a face like yours, you wouldn't even need it."

"Thank you," Qi Yanze replied, ignoring the flirtation. He turned back to Alex, his smile sharp. "So, it wasn't a sleeping pill after all. And here I thought this gentleman was being so considerate of your rest, Lawyer Xie."

Alex’s face turned stony. "Just because he says so? What right do you have to say it’s mine? I have no damn idea what that is!"

"I have eyes, don't I?" Qi Yanze blinked slowly, his words coming out in a leisurely drawl. "We should compete fairly, shouldn't we, handsome?"

That single sentence sent a heat rising through Xie Chengyun’s neck and face, though he couldn't tell if it was the sting of embarrassment or the lingering haze of the alcohol.

"Vincent, I swear it wasn't me!" Alex reached out to seize Xie Chengyun’s hand in a desperate plea, but the younger man’s arm shot out, intercepting him with a firm, unyielding strength.

"How about we ask the bartender if there are security cameras?" Qi Yanze suggested. Alex’s lips trembled, the protest dying in his throat.

Xie Chengyun frowned, his patience exhausted. "There is nothing more to say. We only met today, and since we have mutual friends, I don't want to make this uglier than it is. But if you truly use such despicable methods, then Lucas was mistaken in his character judgment."

Alex turned deathly pale. He opened his mouth to speak, but the disdain in Qi Yanze’s eyes was absolute. Before another word could be uttered, the tall intern draped an arm around Xie Chengyun’s shoulders, steering him out of the crowd with an air of finality.

He led Xie Chengyun to the entrance where the air was thinner and cooler. Away from the suffocating crush of bodies, the music from various bars still bled into the street, a cacophony of rhythms that made one’s heart thrum in sync with the heavy bass.

"Thank you… for just now."

"It was nothing. I couldn't exactly let my boss become someone else's video material, could I?" Qi Yanze laughed, a bright, ringing sound. He released his hold and fished a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it with practiced ease.

"I thought you didn't smoke?"

"Ah, so Lawyer Xie was listening that day?" Qi Yanze appeared pleasantly surprised. "I am so happy. Did you hear my evaluation of you as well?"

Xie Chengyun felt a prickle of annoyance at himself for letting it slip that he’d been paying attention. "I just happened to hear it as I walked by. Only that one sentence."

"Oh, I see. So it was just like that…" The younger man drew out the words, winking with nonchalant charm. "Do you want to know what I said?"

"There is no need."

"A pity. I only smoke occasionally—socially, you know. Not a habit." Qi Yanze didn't press the issue, pivoting smoothly as he offered a fresh cigarette to Xie Chengyun. "Will you join me for one?"

The air inside had been stifling, and Xie Chengyun felt a desperate need to ground himself. He took the cigarette between his lips. Suddenly, Qi Yanze’s face was inches from his. From this vantage point, Xie Chengyun could see nothing but the flutter of the boy’s lashes and the sharp, arrogant bridge of his nose. He froze, about to pull back to regain his personal space, when a flame bloomed between them. As the tobacco caught, Qi Yanze suggestively brushed the tip of his own cigarette against Xie Chengyun’s.

Xie Chengyun’s body went rigid. Through the swirling ribbons of smoke, he met Qi Yanze’s eyes—hooded, predatory, and brimming with amusement.

"Lawyer Xie… you're so pure."

"I simply have standards."

The young man burst into laughter at the retort. "Standards are fine, but you should still keep your guard up."

"Mhm…" Xie Chengyun’s response lacked conviction. He was genuinely rattled by Alex’s depravity. If Qi Yanze hadn't returned when he did, he might have been ruined. The thought left a lingering chill in his bones.

"Regardless, I am very grateful to you for tonight."

"If you're so grateful, then Lawyer Xie should treat me to a meal." Qi Yanze turned to him, his expression shifting into one of eager anticipation. "Just the two of us… is that alright?"

He looked at Xie Chengyun with wide, expectant eyes, as if his entire world would crumble if the answer were no. "Surely Lawyer Xie isn't so stingy that he’d refuse a simple dinner? My heart would break."

Xie Chengyun didn't see the harm. Perhaps by comparison to Alex, Qi Yanze now seemed significantly more appealing. It wasn't love, but a deep sense of gratitude. After a moment, he nodded. "Fine. No problem."

The effect was instantaneous; Qi Yanze’s face lit up with that familiar, brilliant smile. For a second, Xie Chengyun found himself dazed. He couldn't wrap his head around how someone could toggle so effortlessly between a sunny student and a dangerous player.

"I’ve had such a wonderful time tonight," Qi Yanze said, his fingers brushing accidentally against Xie Chengyun’s hand as he stubbed out his cigarette. "I’d love to stay with you longer, but it seems my friends are paging me. My phone is vibrating."

"Then you should go back."

"Alright. But don't you dare forget about the dinner you owe me."

"What do you want to eat?"

"I'll eat whatever you like, Lawyer Xie."

Xie Chengyun turned his head away at the blatant flirting. "Just… go back already."

Qi Yanze chuckled. Having achieved his goal, he didn't linger. He offered a lingering, wistful look before disappearing back into the bar. Alone, Xie Chengyun looked up at the pale moon, letting the cool air wash over his brain. Once he felt more composed, he messaged Lucas saying he had a headache and was heading home, then called for a designated driver.

He wasn't sure how Lucas found out about the drugging attempt, but by mid-week, he received a frantic call. A barrage of apologies exploded through the speaker, startling Xie Chengyun as he was reviewing a contract.

"I am so sorry, Lawyer Xie! I knew he was a player, but I never thought he’d do something like that! I’ve already blocked him after a huge fight! Please don't be mad… I was wondering why you left so suddenly… Ugh!"

Lucas’s shrill voice made Xie Chengyun’s ears ring. He rubbed his temples and spoke softly. "It is fine. Nothing happened."

"Thank God! If something had happened, I would never have forgiven myself!" Lucas was still spiraling. "At least I finally saw him for what he really is!"

It was Xie Chengyun who ended up comforting Lucas. He let out a gentle laugh. "Really, it is fine. It's in the past. Don't worry about what-ifs…"

After another round of self-reflection, Lucas finally realized he might be interrupting work and hurriedly hung up. Xie Chengyun let out a breath as the line went dead.

"Lawyer Xie, you are so gentle with others. I am starting to feel a bit jealous."

Qi Yanze’s voice drifted from the doorway. He was leaning against the frame like a fashion model, adjusting his collar before placing a stack of documents on the desk. "Brother Chen is in a meeting; he asked me to hand these to you."

"Why didn't you knock?" Xie Chengyun frowned, realizing he hadn't even noticed the intern’s entry.

"I knocked for a long time. When there was no answer, I let myself in… only to hear you speaking so tenderly to someone else." Qi Yanze looked pouted and aggrieved. "You change faces so quickly, Lawyer Xie."

"My apologies. I was on the phone and didn't hear you." Xie Chengyun let out an embarrassed cough, pulling the legal opinion toward him to change the subject. "I will review this later."

"Fine." Qi Yanze turned to leave, his shoulders slumped in feigned sorrow.

"Xiao Qi," Xie Chengyun called out to his back.

"Yes?"

"I’ve booked a table at the Sichuan place on the fourth floor of the mall. Head over directly after work; just give them my name."

The eyes that had been dimmed with sorrow instantly blazed with light. "We aren't going together?"

"I have a few conference calls to get through first."

"You work too hard, Lawyer Xie." Qi Yanze adjusted his collar once more, a playful glint in his eye. "Then I shall wait there for you… obediently."