Chapter 7

Faced with the cab driver’s sharp gaze, Xu Heng didn’t dare say a word. All he could do was obediently rattle off his home address. The ride remained silent all the way. When they arrived, Chen Ang calmly pulled out his phone and paid the fare. His tie was already undone, tossed together with his suit jacket over one arm. He stepped out first and started walking ahead.

Xu Heng lugged his heavy makeup case and hurried after him, nearly jogging just to catch up. That was when he realized Chen Ang was walking straight toward his building, like he knew exactly where to go.

“Wait, wait a second…”

Xu Heng was panting, face flushed from the rush. Chen Ang turned back and, without a word, took the makeup case from him and carried it himself.

Damn. That was kind of hot.

Xu Heng stood there dumbfounded for a moment before snapping out of it. He jogged to catch up again, muttering under his breath.

“What are you doing at my place? I’ve got stuff to do tonight. You really shouldn’t come over.”

“Stuff to do?” Chen Ang asked. “Got a date?”

“No, I just—”

“Good.”

“Good what? No, it’s not good—”

Chen Ang raised an eyebrow.

“What, just a few days and you’re already out of commission?”

“No, that’s not it. I didn’t say I couldn’t—”

“Great. Let’s go, then.”

Xu Heng choked on his words. He wanted to protest more, but just then a few neighbors came down the stairs for their evening walk. He immediately shut his mouth, put on a polite smile, and greeted them with a nod.

Soon enough, both he and Chen Ang were sitting on the sofa inside.

Chen Ang started unbuttoning his cuffs and rolling up his sleeves.

“Got anything to eat? I’m starving after all that running around.”

Truthfully, Xu Heng was pretty hungry too. He picked up his phone to order food.

“What do you want?”

Chen Ang thought for a moment.

“Steamed rice cake.”

Xu Heng gave him a complicated look but placed a big order anyway. He didn’t use a delivery app. Instead, he called the nearby snack shop directly. He was a regular, and the owner came by in person to drop everything off. Besides rice cakes, they got coconut chicken, lai fun noodles, double-skin milk pudding, and a whole spread of local favorites.

The moment the food was laid out, Chen Ang’s chopsticks made a beeline for the rice cakes, reaching for Xu Heng’s favorite red bean.

“Hey, one each!”

Xu Heng panicked and shoved the whole thing into his mouth before it could be stolen. His cheeks puffed out round and tight, eyes wide like a startled hamster. Chen Ang burst out laughing. Not the usual polite, fake-ass office laugh. Not the smug, mischievous kind either. It was a real laugh. Pure and bright.

Xu Heng looked away quickly, stuffed himself to about eighty percent full, then shoved the food aside and sat up straight.

“Seriously. I’ve got something to do tonight. You need to leave.”

Chen Ang blinked with fake innocence.

“I haven’t even finished eating.”

Xu Heng glanced at the time, getting anxious.

“Fine. But you have to stay quiet. Not a single sound. If you mess this up, I’ll throw you out.”

Chen Ang, now curious as hell, raised both hands in mock surrender.

“Promise.”

Xu Heng had a beauty stream scheduled tonight, and he had already promised to do a cute girl look. He felt a little embarrassed about it, but there was no backing out now. Putting on a serious face, he adjusted his camera and lighting, laid out his tools, and shot Chen Ang a sharp warning glance, silently telling him not to make a sound. Then he went live.

Chen Ang sat back with great interest, watching him prep his makeup gear while explaining the steps out loud.

Xu Heng wasn’t the cutesy type when he streamed. He spoke little, kept things professional, and his soft droopy eyes gave him a cool, detached look.

Chen Ang quietly cleaned up the food, sat down on the couch, and watched him work from across the table and computer. Because of the girly makeup theme, Xu Heng put extra effort into contouring, softening the sharpness of his face. The eye makeup and lip tint took the most time. Under the soft glow of the mirror lights, he really did look a bit like a girl.

When he tilted his chin slightly and parted his lips to line them, Chen Ang shifted on the couch. Xu Heng caught the movement and shot him a warning glare.

“Okay, the makeup’s more or less done,” Xu Heng said, voice uncertain. He glanced at Chen Ang and added in a small voice, “Once I change clothes… I’ll look like a proper girly girl.”

Chen Ang held out his hand in a graceful gesture, like saying “after you.”

This was a promised fan reward. No matter how awkward it felt, Xu Heng had to follow through. He stood up and went to his room to change into the dress he had prepared earlier. His frame was slim and his skin was pale. He had that half-long hair that, once let down, covered the curve of his jaw and cheeks. The dress exposed his delicate collarbones. Even the tips of his ears were red as he stepped back out and sat down stiffly in front of the camera, avoiding eye contact with Chen Ang completely.

The chat exploded.

Xu Heng forced himself to talk through a few more beauty tips, pushing down the shame. Suddenly, he felt something nudge the top of his foot beneath the table. It was Chen Ang’s foot, sliding up along his smooth calf with a lazy smile on his face.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Xu Heng tried to stay calm, but the hairs on his legs were standing on end. And the stream wasn’t over. There was still the Q&A segment he had promised.

Then Chen Ang bent down, grabbed him by the ankle, and pulled.

Xu Heng’s bare foot was suddenly pressed right onto the bulge of Chen Ang’s slacks.

Xu Heng gasped, almost tipping his chair.

A comment popped up in chat.
“Xiao Heng, are you okay?”

Xu Heng blurted the first thing that came to mind.

“N-no, it’s nothing… my cat, um, just rubbed against me…”

The stream went wild.

“Wow, Xiao Heng has a cat!”
“Show us the cat!”
“A clingy cat? So jealous!”

Xu Heng scrambled to change the topic, heart pounding. He didn’t dare pull his foot away. Chen Ang held his ankle in place, fingers wrapped tight, pressing the arch right over his hard-on. He even started rubbing, small movements up and down, letting out a low breath that made Xu Heng’s brain go blank.

His heart felt like it was about to explode.