ABOES 102: It’s Not That I’m Not Impatient

Duan Zhiyan arrived home an hour later but when he got out of the car, he didn’t see any sign of Chi Yunxing at the door.

So he’s really mad, huh?

Duan Zhiyan couldn’t help but smile faintly. It looked like he was going to have to coax him for a good while.

As soon as he entered, the aroma of food hit him square in the face.

He set his luggage down and glanced around the house but still no trace of Chi Yunxing.

He walked into the dining room and was greeted by an absolutely lavish spread on the table but still, no Chi Yunxing.

His shoes were by the door, though, so he definitely hadn’t left.

Duan Zhiyan’s lips curved again. He pulled out the gift he had prepared and headed upstairs.

The bedroom door was open, but still no Chi Yunxing inside. Then he noticed the balcony door was ajar, so he walked over.

The sunlight was beautiful today. Chi Yunxing was sprawled in a reclining chair out on the balcony, dressed in a cozy fleece pajama set, basking in the warmth. A thick stack of script pages was in his hand—Scapegoat, at a glance.

Duan Zhiyan smiled again and leaned down, intending to plant a kiss on his forehead but Chi Yunxing seemed to sense it. He turned his head away just in time, dodging the kiss.

Tilting his face up, Chi Yunxing’s pale, elegant neck stretched out like a swan’s. The sunlight falling on his skin made him seem to glow.

“You’re back?” Chi Yunxing said calmly.

Duan Zhiyan fought back a laugh, keeping a straight face. “You’re sunbathing right on the balcony. You didn’t see me coming in the front gate?”

“I was reading the script,” Chi Yunxing said, waving the pages a little. “Didn’t notice.”

The bedroom balcony faced the main gate directly. You didn’t even have to look—just the sound of the car would’ve been enough.

He had noticed. He just didn’t want to acknowledge it.

Duan Zhiyan’s eyes glimmered with amusement. He reached out, trying to pick Chi Yunxing up in that position, but Chi Yunxing stood up first and brushed past him toward the bedroom.

As he walked, he asked without turning back, “Do you want to eat first or shower? You’re probably hungry—let’s eat first.”

Duan Zhiyan paused, then understood.

He really was mad.

No kisses, no hugs, not even a touch. It looked like he would have to be on his best behavior if he wanted to earn back any affection.

“Okay, let’s eat first,” Duan Zhiyan sighed inwardly and followed him.

Chi Yunxing nodded, not even glancing back, and headed downstairs.

Duan Zhiyan glanced at the gift box still in his hand, gave a faint laugh, and followed.

The dishes on the table were still steaming. Duan Zhiyan couldn’t help but suspect that Chi Yunxing had timed everything perfectly. He just finished cooking, then headed upstairs to pretend he was deeply focused on reading the script.

The thought made him smile. His Yunxing was way too cute.

During the meal, Duan Zhiyan handed him the gift he’d brought.

Chi Yunxing looked at the beautifully wrapped box with no change in expression. He took it casually and said a flat “thanks” before continuing to eat.

He looked exactly like a proud cat—accepting the food but refusing any affection. If you crossed the line, he’d flash his claws.

What Chi Yunxing didn’t know was that those so-called “claws” didn’t scare Duan Zhiyan one bit. Even if they left scratches, they’d be nothing more than a tickle.

In fact, Duan Zhiyan kind of wanted to reach out now and let Yunxing scratch all he liked.

Unfortunately, as catlike as he seemed, Chi Yunxing wasn’t actually a cat. If Duan Zhiyan really reached out, he’d just dart away.

The more he thought about it, the itchier Duan Zhiyan’s heart felt. He sighed internally—why hadn’t he just resisted the urge to tease Yunxing earlier?

Across the table, Chi Yunxing appeared focused on eating, but his gaze was constantly flicking over to Duan Zhiyan.

When he noticed Duan Zhiyan hadn’t touched his food, his brow furrowed slightly and he finally asked, “Does it taste bad?”

Duan snapped back to attention and gave him a warm smile. “Not at all. I love your cooking the most.”

Chi Yunxing rolled his eyes so subtly it was almost invisible, then ignored him.

After they finished eating, Chi Yunxing stood and said, “I’m going upstairs to keep reading.”

Before Duan Zhiyan could respond, he’d already headed up.

Reading was just an excuse but once he actually sat down with the script, he quickly got absorbed in it. He didn’t even notice when Duan Zhiyan sat beside him.

“Still reading?” Duan Zhiyan said, wrapping an arm around him suddenly.

Chi Yunxing hadn’t seen that coming and let out a soft gasp, eyes widening slightly as he turned his head. But in the end, he didn’t push him away.

It had been a few days since they’d seen each other. They were still in the honeymoon phase so how could he not miss him?

Duan Zhiyan chuckled and kissed his cheek. “I come home and all you want to look at is your script?”

“Of course,” Chi Yunxing said instantly. “It’s more interesting than you.”

“Tch,” Duan Zhiyan released him and sighed dramatically. “So it’s my fault. I’m not charming enough to hold your attention.”

Chi Yunxing knew he was being coaxed, but he hadn’t forgotten the video call earlier and he didn’t want to forgive him that easily.

So he played along and nodded. “Exactly. Your fault.”

Duan Zhiyan stared deeply at him.

Chi Yunxing stared right back.

A moment passed, then Duan Zhiyan burst out laughing.

“In that case, I guess I’ll have to work harder,” he said. “Make sure all your attention’s on me.”

Chi Yunxing didn’t reply. He was curious to see how Duan Zhiyan planned to do that.

He flipped to the next page of the script, pretending to keep reading.

Duan Zhiyan stood up and slowly went around the room—turning on the light, closing the windows, drawing the curtains, and turning on the air conditioning.

Chi Yunxing was still looking at the script, but his mind was now completely distracted.

What was he doing?

Was he going to shower?

That made sense. Duan Zhiyan was a bit of a clean freak. He always showered after coming home but earlier he’d skipped it just to eat first. Now that the meal was done, of course he’d want to clean up.

Chi Yunxing refocused on the script.

Don’t think about him. Don’t think about him!

He heard the wardrobe open. Duan Zhiyan was getting clothes to change into.

Chi Yunxing glanced down at his own fuzzy pajamas. He’d brought a pair of matching couple’s pajamas today—soft white fleece that looked like a lamb—and put them in the closet.

They were hard to miss. Duan Zhiyan should’ve seen them. Would he wear the matching set?

Chi Yunxing smiled slightly, then looked back down but he couldn’t absorb a single word.

He marked the page number in his mind and flipped to the next one.

Even if he wasn’t reading, he could at least pretend.

Then Duan walked out—not toward the bathroom, but toward him.

Footsteps approached. Chi Yunxing resisted the urge to look up and flipped another page.

A shadow fell over him.

“You’re reading fast,” Duan Zhiyan said from above. “That’s two pages in a minute.”

Chi Yunxing’s fingers clenched around the script, nearly crumpling the page.

“I just wanted to see what happens next,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm.

He snuck a glance up and noticed something odd. Duan Zhiyan wasn’t wearing the matching pajamas. Instead, he was just wearing a light button-up shirt.

Chi Yunxing frowned slightly. What was he doing?

He’d already read Scapegoat because Duan Zhiyan had given him the script ages ago.

Duan Zhiyan, watching his every expression, didn’t call him out. Instead, he sat down beside him.

Chi Yunxing gave him a puzzled look.

Then Duan Zhiyan smiled faintly and began unbuttoning his shirt from top to bottom.

Chi Yunxing’s breath hitched.

What… what was he doing?

From the side, Duan Zhiyan’s sharp features looked even more striking. His strong jawline, prominent Adam’s apple, and now, his long fingers slipping one button open after another.

One.

Two.

Three.

Chi Yunxing’s eyes widened. He glanced toward the air conditioning.

The room was definitely warm enough, so it wasn’t just that.

He licked his lips, unable to stop himself from glancing again.

By the time Duan had unfastened down to his chest, Chi Yunxing could already see a tantalizing glimpse of what was underneath.

Duan Zhiyan had that “slim in clothes, built underneath” type of body. He worked out regularly. Chi Yunxing had felt those muscles firsthand and he knew how they felt.

His fingers itched. He curled them into fists, digging his nails into his palm.

Resist, he told himself.

Yet the resolve didn’t last.

Duan Zhiyan’s shirt was now wide open, his abs clearly defined and rising gently with his breath. His sharp V-lines seemed to silently beckon Chi Yunxing forward.

His face flushed hotter and hotter. He suddenly understood what Duan Zhiyan was trying to do.

He hated to admit it but this seductive display of physical allure really worked on him.

Chi Yunxing swallowed hard. At some point, he’d put the script down without realizing.

Just then, Duan Zhiyan turned to him. His high nose bridge and deep eyes were impossibly gentle and when he met Chi Yunxing’s gaze, it clung to him like warm molasses.

“You…” Chi Yunxing stammered, turning his head away. “Aren’t you going to shower?”

His ears, red enough to drip blood, peeked out from under his hair like two flashes of crimson in a black forest—impossible to miss.

The flush spread from his ears down his entire visible neck.

Duan Zhiyan’s eyes lingered there, full of amusement, but he didn’t say anything.

His gaze burned so hot behind him that Chi Yunxing could barely breathe. A sheen of sweat began to form on his nose.

“Go shower already!” he barked. “What are you doing stripping out here?”

Finally, Duan Zhiyan spoke. “Didn’t Yunxing say I wasn’t attractive? I wanted to test that theory.”

Chi Yunxing gave up the act. “Fine, I admit it—you’re attractive. Now go shower!”

No way was he letting anything happen during the day but of course Duan Zhiyan wasn’t going to let him off that easily. He wrapped an arm around Chi Yunxing’s waist and whispered, “Come with me?”

Chi Yunxing refused instantly. “No. Go by yourself.”

“Why not?” Duan Zhiyan asked, smiling, eyes locked on his face.

Under the heat of that gaze, Chi Yunxing got flustered and forgot why he was mad in the first place. “Didn’t you say I was the impatient one earlier? Well, I’m not impatient, so I’m not showering with you.”

Duan Zhiyan let out a low laugh, his chest rising and falling with amusement.

Chi Yunxing flushed again. He tried to push him away, but then Duan Zhiyan’s searing kiss landed on his lips, swallowing all his words.

As their breaths grew faster, Chi Yunxing struggled to push him off, but Duan Zhiyan only held him tighter.

Growing a little annoyed, he finally shoved him harder and snapped breathlessly, “Didn’t you say you weren’t impatient? Then what the hell are you doing?!”

Duan Zhiyan looked at him, his voice hoarse: “Who said I’m not impatient?”

Chi Yunxing froze.

Duan Zhiyan’s voice dropped even lower: “I am extremely impatient. Even more impatient than you.”