Chapter 13

Xu Heng placed the makeup case in the back seat and was about to get in when Chen Ang looked at him through the rearview mirror and said coolly, “Sit in the front. I’m not your driver.”

Left with no choice, Xu Heng climbed into the front seat with the bouquet in his arms and buckled his seatbelt.

The streetlights outside looked like glowing moons, round and bright, flying past behind them and dragging faint trails of yellow light in their wake. With each bump in the road, the pink hydrangea petals trembled lightly. Xu Heng, bored, reached out and tapped this petal, then another.

Chen Ang had quit smoking for a while but couldn’t resist today and had one earlier. There was now a lollipop in his mouth, crunching between his teeth. One hand rested on the steering wheel. From time to time, he glanced sideways at Xu Heng.

Xu Heng had the bouquet in one hand, his phone in the other, typing away on WeChat. The profile picture looked a lot like He An’s.

Chen Ang said with a hint of meaning, “Didn’t get a chance to catch up today?”

Xu Heng frowned slightly. “What?”

Chen Ang’s handling of the wheel was smooth and practiced. His movements were precise. He flicked the lollipop stick between his fingers and said casually, “Your ex.”

“We’re friends.” Xu Heng immediately got what he meant and didn’t bother to explain. He pursed his lips and continued replying to messages. He An had said he was too busy today and hadn’t had time to say hello. Xu Heng replied politely that it was fine. And that was that. He An really was irritatingly courteous. Never too cold, never too warm, just enough to avoid awkwardness or misunderstanding.

Xu Heng glanced out the window and said, “This isn’t the road to my place. Drop me off. I’ll get a ride.”

Chen Ang replied, “Let’s be friends with benefits.”

Xu Heng stayed silent.

“You’re single, I’m single. We can help each other out when we need it.” Chen Ang smirked at the thought of something, the corner of his mouth lifting. “You seemed to enjoy it too.”

Xu Heng’s face warmed. “What enjoy? Don’t be gross.”

Chen Ang said, “That’s not what you were saying in bed. ‘So thick, so full, feels so good’…”

Xu Heng snapped, “Shut up.”

Chen Ang leaned in slightly. “How about it?”

“Not happening,” Xu Heng said seriously, brows furrowed. “Aren’t you going on blind dates?”

Chen Ang didn’t even question how he knew. After a brief pause, he said, “I don’t want to. It’s boring. I’ll let you know if I actually go.”

Xu Heng looked conflicted. At a red light, Chen Ang brought the car to a smooth stop right before the line, unbuckled his seatbelt with a sharp click, and leaned over.

Xu Heng was caught off guard, lips sealed before he could react. He tried to pull away but the seatbelt held him tight. A hand pressed against the back of his head. As soon as he loosened up just a little, Chen Ang took the chance to part his lips and slipped his tongue in, licking and pulling.

Chen Ang had just eaten candy. His tongue tasted sweet, and tiny bits of sugar were still on the surface, brushing against the tip of Xu Heng’s tongue. It tickled. Xu Heng couldn’t close his mouth. His tongue kept pulling back, and a few muffled hums escaped from his nose.

Only when the light turned green did Chen Ang pull back. He wiped the corner of his mouth with one hand and smoothly restarted the car.

Xu Heng sat in the passenger seat, heart racing, face burning. He turned his head and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. The car merged into traffic in silence. Eventually, it pulled into the underground garage of Chen Ang’s apartment building. Xu Heng got out, nearly stumbling. He coughed lightly into his hand, covering the awkward flush on his face.

Chen Ang opened the back door, picked up Xu Heng’s makeup case, locked the car, and led the way.

The place was close to Chen Ang’s office, a property he had bought a couple of years ago. He was still paying off the loan. It wasn’t big, just a split-level studio with an open kitchen. The space had a minimalist feel, cold-toned in black, white, and grey. Everything was spotless. The walls were bright white, and the floors were polished to a shine. Xu Heng stood awkwardly at the entrance before quietly changing into house slippers.

Chen Ang tossed his keys into the glass bowl on top of the entryway shoe cabinet and said, “Make yourself at home. I’m gonna shower.”

Xu Heng sat down on the sofa, then suddenly stood up again. “Do you have a small bucket? Or a big vase would work.”

When Chen Ang came out from his quick shower, he saw Xu Heng crouched on the floor. The big glass jar that used to hold dried flowers was now filled with water. The bridal bouquet had been taken apart. The drooping hydrangeas were soaked inside. Xu Heng was bent over with his back curved, the hem of his T-shirt lifted, revealing a strip of bare waist. A tattoo snaked along his spine, stretching all the way to his lower back. In a soft voice, he said, “Let it soak overnight. Once it drinks up enough water, the flowers will look fresh again. You can put them in a vase tomorrow.”

Forget the vase. I want to put something in you.

That thought ran wild in Chen Ang’s head. He immediately gave an order. “Go shower.”

Xu Heng carefully moved the jar aside and headed into the bathroom. He took a hot shower. As he stared at the pile of dirty clothes, he hesitated. Outside the door, Chen Ang raised his voice. “Leave the clothes there. I’ll wash and dry them later. I’ll hand you something to wear.”

Xu Heng opened the door just a crack. His hand, washed pale pink from the heat, reached out to take the clothes, then pulled back and closed the door.

Chen Ang had actually given him a white dress shirt. No underwear.

Xu Heng felt his whole body heating up like he was about to combust. As if that wasn’t enough, Chen Ang called out lazily from outside, “Hurry up. Don’t catch a cold.”

Tch.

Xu Heng barely had time to feel embarrassed. The moment he opened the door, Chen Ang pushed him back onto the sofa. His hand slid beneath the long hem of the dress shirt, yanked it up, and exposed his freshly showered, still warm bare thighs and lower half. He smelled faintly of lemon body wash.

Xu Heng braced himself against the sofa and tried to scoot back, but it was pointless. Chen Ang grabbed him, pulled him in, and spread his legs over the back of the sofa. He tugged off his own tank top, then gripped Xu Heng’s ankle, kissing and biting from his knee downward, inch by inch. When he reached the inside of Xu Heng’s thigh, the heat of his breath poured straight against the sensitive spot between his legs.

Xu Heng let out a muffled groan. His hand tugged the shirt’s hem, trying to cover the half-hardened cock between his legs.

Chen Ang sucked hard on the inside of Xu Heng’s thigh, leaving a red mark, then opened his mouth and took Xu Heng’s cock in.

“Ah-”

Xu Heng nearly screamed. Chen Ang wasn’t particularly skilled, but Xu Heng had never been given a blowjob before. The moment that hot, wet mouth wrapped around him, his calves tensed and his waist trembled as he instinctively thrust upward.

Chen Ang had hardly ever given head either, and Xu Heng’s reaction made him pause for a second. He gripped Xu Heng’s ass and kneaded it roughly. His tongue slipped into the slit at the tip. One finger, slick with lube, pressed into Xu Heng’s hole and began to dig. Xu Heng had never experienced this kind of double stimulation before. His hands searched blindly for something to hold on to, sliding all over the sofa. The collar of the white dress shirt was askew, revealing part of his areola. His moans came out in choked sobs.

Just as Xu Heng was about to come, Chen Ang let go.

Xu Heng whimpered, the sound sticky and wet. His cock, leaking pre-cum, brushed against Chen Ang’s chin.

Chen Ang pulled his soaked fingers out of Xu Heng’s hole, wrapped an arm around his waist, and pulled him down onto his chest. He yanked off his own shorts and tossed them to the floor. His thick, hard cock pressed firmly against Xu Heng’s stomach.

He coaxed softly, “Come on, turn around. Give me a lick too.”

Xu Heng’s mind was foggy. His hole was twitching and dripping, the front still hard and aching for release. Chen Ang flipped him over. The swollen, flushed head of Chen Ang’s cock rubbed right against Xu Heng’s lips, the smell sharp and heavy. Xu Heng spread his legs, lowered his waist, and knelt on either side of Chen Ang’s head. From Chen Ang’s point of view, he could see the tattoo stretching from Xu Heng’s thighs up to his ass.

Chen Ang pushed his hips upward, smearing pre-cum all over Xu Heng’s face. His voice dropped low as he coaxed, “Good boy, open your mouth.”