CTS 51

Shen Mo was momentarily stunned, standing there without saying a word.

The man also remained silent. It was as if he were seeing Shen Mo for the first time. His gaze swept over him from head to toe before finally settling on his face. Then he asked, “You spent New Year alone?”

This was what people meant by bringing trouble upon yourself. Tell one lie, and you have to keep lying to cover it up.

Shen Mo couldn’t explain, so he braced himself and said, “Yes. My parents… they decided to travel at the last minute, so I came back early.”

The man nodded. It was unclear whether he believed this clumsy lie or simply didn’t care to expose it. He walked inside and glanced at the bowl of noodles still left on the table. “You had this for dinner?”

Shen Mo regretted slacking off the night before. If he had cooked a few more dishes, it wouldn’t have looked so pitiful. He muttered a vague reply and quickly started clearing the table.

The man sat down on the sofa and watched him quietly. Wherever Shen Mo went, his eyes followed.

Shen Mo felt that something about him was very different today.

Just as he finished cleaning up the dishes in a hurry, the man called out, “Shen Mo, come here.”

Shen Mo had always listened to him. He walked over obediently. Just as he reached the edge of the sofa, the man suddenly stuck out a foot and tripped him. Shen Mo stumbled forward in surprise, and the man reached out and caught him firmly in his arms.

Only then did Shen Mo realize it was intentional. He lay against his chest, not daring to move.

The man’s hand slid slowly down his back. Like last night on the phone, he spoke his name in a voice full of restrained tension. “Shen Mo.”

Shen Mo let out a soft sound in response.

The man lowered his head and kissed his eyes, his movements incredibly gentle. His warm lips brushed lightly over Shen Mo’s lashes.

It felt like he had kissed the very center of Shen Mo’s heart. His body trembled slightly.

But the man suddenly stopped. He pressed his chin against Shen Mo’s shoulder and held him even tighter, his breathing a little rough.

Shen Mo was afraid he would come up with another excuse like he had not recovered yet, so he asked quickly, “Didn’t you say you were going to stay abroad for a few more days? Why did you come back so early?”

“There was something urgent. I changed my schedule at the last minute.”

“What was it?”

The man finally lost his self-control and kissed Shen Mo’s eyes again. “You already know.”

Shen Mo’s heart felt so sweet it hurt. “How did you know I didn’t go home and spent New Year alone? Did your assistant tell you after helping me book the ticket?”

“I only found out right before calling you last night. It was already a little too late.”

“It’s not too late at all.” Shen Mo guessed he must have rushed back right after. “Was it even possible to get a plane ticket that late?”

The man gave a small smile. “It’s the kind of problem money can solve.”

Shen Mo looked at his expression. It felt like he was implying something else. He couldn’t help but ask, “And what is it that money can’t solve?”

“There is,” the man said, looking straight at Shen Mo. His voice was so low it was barely audible. “For example… how to make someone fall in love with me.”

Shen Mo leaned forward and bit his chin. “Isn’t my love enough? Who else do you need?”

The man gripped Shen Mo’s waist and said in a low, steady voice, “Say it again.”

Shen Mo knew exactly what he wanted to hear. He leaned close to his ear and whispered more than once, “I like you, I like you, I like you…”

Just as Shen Mo was about to call his name, the man turned his head and pressed his lips over Shen Mo’s mouth.

“Shh.” His gaze was soft as water. Looking at Shen Mo that way, he murmured, “Don’t speak.”

Shen Mo obeyed and didn’t say another word. He only kissed him back with even more urgency.

They kissed messily on the sofa. Shen Mo’s legs had gone weak, and he nearly slipped off. The man caught him in and pressed him down against the cushions.

Stopping now would have been unbearable. Afraid the moment might slip away, Shen Mo wrapped his legs tightly around the man’s waist. The man let out a quiet laugh, then reached into Shen Mo’s pajamas. His cool fingers slid over his chest, making Shen Mo’s body tighten involuntarily.

Then the man deliberately pressed down on one sensitive spot and started rubbing it slowly, not too hard, not too soft.

“Ah…” Shen Mo cried out, his voice trembling.

The man kissed the corner of his eye, then pulled his hand back, only to lower his head and lick at his chest through the fabric. The thin fabric quickly turned damp. Shen Mo arched his back and twisted uncomfortably, moaning, “Ngh… don’t…”

The man begin to undo his buttons, one by one. He didn’t go back to teasing his chest. Instead, his hand moved downward and soon wrapped around his most vulnerable part.

Shen Mo’s back tingled all over. It felt like something had caught fire deep inside him.

And the only antidote was the person above him.