ACMS 11

Chapter 11: A Deep Conversation After Drinking

Shen Hechuan hadn’t even figured out what kind of “help” Qiao Le meant when the car pulled up.

Without thinking too much, he helped Qiao Le into the back seat and got in himself.

As soon as he got inside, Qiao Le curled up on the spacious back seat. If one looked closely, they could see his body trembling slightly, his legs tense.

The driver asked where they were headed. Shen Hechuan was about to say “hospital,” but Qiao Le let out a low, painful moan beside him.

The nearest hospital was at least thirty minutes away. At this rate, Qiao Le might completely lose it before they even got there.

Making a snap decision, Shen Hechuan gave the name of a nearby hotel.

It was one of Pei Wenjing’s properties, just five minutes away. Shen Hechuan had a permanent suite there. He’d have to take him there first and try to bring his fever down.

On the way to the hotel, Qiao Le kept leaning into him, like a small animal seeking comfort—he only felt safe when pressed against Shen Hechuan.

The burning heat from Qiao Le’s body seeped through both their clothes, sending a strange shiver through Shen Hechuan. He suddenly felt parched.

He lifted his hand but wasn’t sure whether to push Qiao Le away or hold him tighter. After a brief hesitation, he placed his hand on Qiao Le’s back and gently patted it, trying to comfort him.

By the time they reached the hotel, Qiao Le couldn’t even stand anymore. Shen Hechuan carried him all the way up.

As soon as they entered the suite, Shen Hechuan carried him straight to the master bathroom and placed him in the tub, turning on the cold water and dousing him without hesitation.

“Hiss—”

The sudden chill was like torture for Qiao Le’s overheated body.

He gasped, hands flailing a bit, and the fog in his mind lifted slightly. Looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings, he asked, “Where is this?”

“Hotel,” Shen Hechuan said as he held the showerhead in one hand and brushed Qiao Le’s wet bangs back with the other, revealing delicate, handsome features. “Are you feeling more clearheaded now?”

Clearheaded?

Qiao Le wasn’t sure. He felt like maybe a little, but also maybe not. There was a fire burning inside him, its flickering flames threatening to consume him entirely.

His shirt, soaked by the cold water, clung to his overly pale skin, almost becoming transparent.

Shen Hechuan’s gaze unintentionally lingered at his collar and couldn’t seem to move away.

Wasn’t Qiao Le just a food delivery guy? Why was he this pale?

“…It hurts.”

Qiao Le murmured as water dripped down his face, strands of hair clinging to his skin.

Maybe from the cold, he curled up a bit in the tub, looking pitiful.

Shen Hechuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He called out in a low voice, “Qiao Le?”

Qiao Le didn’t respond.

Seeing the dazed look in his eyes, Shen Hechuan worried the water might be too cold. He leaned closer and touched Qiao Le’s forehead with the back of his hand to check his temperature.

As he approached, the fire within Qiao Le surged even stronger.

Shen Hechuan’s hand on his forehead felt like it had some kind of magnetic pull—Qiao Le couldn’t help but lean in closer.

“Qiao Le?” Shen Hechuan repeated.

Qiao Le couldn’t hear what he was saying. He grabbed Shen Hechuan’s shirt and, as if possessed, leaned in and pressed his lips against his.

Cool. Very comforting.

Shen Hechuan’s eyes widened slightly.

Qiao Le moved lower, rubbing against his chin, then down to his Adam’s apple.

He opened his mouth and bit down—not hard enough to injure, but definitely enough to make Shen Hechuan’s grip on the showerhead tighten.

…

By the time Qiao Le woke again, it was already the next morning.

His biological clock was usually precise; he never needed an alarm. Today, he’d overslept slightly, only because he’d been working late for several days straight—and because of what happened last night.

Last night?

Qiao Le blinked, eyes bleary, and his mind slowly returned to him—

What had he done last night that wore him out?

Last night, the bar was packed with customers. He’d been running around nonstop. Around midnight, people were getting tipsy, and he couldn’t avoid drinking a little.

The bar only served quality alcohol, and he hadn’t had that much, so at first he assumed the discomfort was from drinking. But by the time he realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

He remembered asking his supervisor for leave to go home—and running into Shen Hechuan on the way out.

Shen Hechuan…

Qiao Le’s mind froze for a second.

Right—he’d run into Shen Hechuan. At that point, he could barely walk straight. He remembered asking Shen Hechuan for help, and after that…

“You’re awake?”

A voice came from behind him, followed by the wall lamp at the bedside being switched on.

That voice was like a switch—it triggered a flood of memories from the previous night, making Qiao Le’s back stiffen.

He remembered now. Last night, when the drug took over, he kissed Shen Hechuan… and even clung to his collar, refusing to let go.

At the time, Shen Hechuan had gripped the back of Qiao Le’s neck to put some distance between them and help him sober up a little. But not only did Qiao Le not stop, he even wrapped his arms around Shen Hechuan’s neck, pressing close and kissing and biting him all over.

Rustling sounds came from the side as Shen Hechuan sat up on the bed, the blanket slipping down to his waist.

No way… This is just a dream, right?

Qiao Le turned his head, clinging to a sliver of hope—only to meet Shen Hechuan’s gaze.

Perhaps out of guilt, he panicked and tried to look away, but his eyes accidentally landed on Shen Hechuan’s neck.

There were two distinct marks on Shen Hechuan’s Adam’s apple and collarbone. It was obvious how those got there.

Was I really that wild last night?

Wait, was I the one who took the initiative? Was I that rough with Mr. Shen?!

In a daze, Qiao Le shifted slightly—then froze.

He realized his lower back was sore, and his body felt achy and tense.

The body never lies. He stared blankly at Shen Hechuan.

His fried brain finally began working again, and fragmented memories from the previous night slowly came together. He had been the one to start it, but Shen Hechuan took complete control afterward. He had felt like a boat adrift in the sea, tossed up and down by the waves.

This man in front of him—polite and restrained on the surface—was, in private, terrifyingly dominant.

Due to the effects of the drug, Qiao Le couldn’t remember everything clearly, but he vaguely recalled crying at some point. He wasn’t sure if it was from the pain or something else… maybe both.

“Are you okay?” Shen Hechuan asked again when he saw Qiao Le staring dazedly at him. “Anywhere uncomfortable?”

Anywhere uncomfortable?

Of course it hurts like hell!

Wait, no—not exactly uncomfortable. Shen Hechuan had taken great care with foreplay. Even though he hadn’t checked, he could feel that he wasn’t injured.

But that wasn’t the point.

The point was, they’d only met a few times, and suddenly this happened… Qiao Le had no idea how to handle it.

How was he supposed to deal with this?

Maybe start by thanking him. After all, Shen Hechuan had helped him—better him than some total stranger.

With that thought, Qiao Le sat up—only for the blanket to slip off, exposing his equally bare body.

Even though they had already “gotten intimate” last night, now that the alcohol had worn off, facing each other fully sober was still unbearably awkward.

He quickly reached to pull the blanket back up, but his gaze dropped to his own body and froze.

Damn. Mr. Shen’s the one who was supposed to be drunk, wasn’t he?!

He was covered in marks. Compared to him, Shen Hechuan’s two little bruises were nothing.

It was honestly a bit hard to look at.

Qiao Le’s ears turned red. He quickly wrapped himself tightly in the blanket to hide, but he tugged too hard and accidentally pulled Shen Hechuan’s blanket off too, exposing the man’s completely bare body.

Shen Hechuan: “…”

Qiao Le: “…”

In moments of embarrassment, your eyes always seem to wander where they shouldn’t.

Qiao Le swore he really hadn’t meant to look—it was just that some parts of Shen Hechuan were way too noticeable, especially in the early morning light.

“…Sorry,” he said, mortified. He grabbed the corner of the blanket and gently covered Shen Hechuan back up.

“…”

Shen Hechuan rubbed his forehead. They had gone at it for so long last night that it was nearly dawn by the time they finally fell asleep. Before bed, he had only done a quick cleanup for both of them and didn’t bother putting on clothes.

This was his regular hotel suite, so he had spare clothes here. He got out of bed and walked to the wardrobe.

Qiao Le quickly looked away, then—when Shen Hechuan turned his back—snuck another glance.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, firm and defined muscles.

Wow, I really scored last night…

Even if his ass was still sore.

Blushing, Qiao Le shifted uncomfortably.

Shen Hechuan put on some clothes, then brought another set over. “They’re clean, but they might be a bit big for you.”

Qiao Le was 180 cm—tall, but Shen Hechuan was still half a head taller.

There was no way he could wear last night’s clothes again—aside from the alcohol smell, they were probably still crumpled on the bathroom floor. In that kind of situation, no one had time to care about clothes.

Shen Hechuan thoughtfully stepped out of the room after handing him the clothes.

Qiao Le got dressed. As soon as he moved, he felt the soreness in his back and couldn’t help wondering just how many times Shen Hechuan had pounded into him last night.

He slipped on some slippers and walked out of the bedroom.

Shen Hechuan had just finished freshening up. “There are new toiletries in the bathroom.”

“Okay.”

Qiao Le went to wash his face and brush his teeth, catching sight of the laundry hamper nearby.

White dress shirt, suit pants, gray jacket—all piled together. On top of it, a soaked pair of black boxer briefs. Not his. Shen Hechuan’s.

Just seeing the clothes made the chaotic images from last night come flooding back.

The first time he lost control had been in that very bathroom.

During their struggle, they had both gotten drenched under the showerhead. Shen Hechuan had gripped his chin to snap him out of it, but instead he had foolishly bitten the man’s fingers.

Qiao Le pulled his gaze away in despair and numbly went through the motions of washing up.

When he came out, Shen Hechuan was already sitting on the living room sofa waiting for him. “We need to talk.”

Yeah… they definitely needed to talk.

Qiao Le thought bitterly: Mr. Shen reached out to help me last night, and I repaid him by dragging him into bed. How awful of me.

Thinking of how he had clung to Shen Hechuan, kissing and biting him all over, guilt flooded his chest. “I’m sorry.”

“?” Shen Hechuan wasn’t expecting that to be the first thing out of his mouth. “What do you mean?”

Qiao Le said, “I didn’t do it on purpose. The wine I drank last night must had something in it. I’ve caused you a lot of trouble.”

“You caused me trouble?”

Shen Hechuan paused for a moment. “It seems like… you’re always apologizing to me.”

Qiao Le thought about it—and realized it was true.

The first time they met, he mistook Shen Hechuan for someone else and caused a whole misunderstanding; the second time, he nearly collapsed at Shen Hechuan’s doorstep; and the third time… was now.

Seeing the frustrated look on Qiao Le’s face, Shen Hechuan remembered how helpless he’d looked last night, clutching him and saying “Help me”. His heart softened, and he lowered his voice.

“Actually, you don’t need to apologize to me.”

Hearing that, Qiao Le looked even more guilty and said awkwardly, “But… I don’t have the money to compensate you.”

Shen Hechuan: “…”

You might as well have just apologized.