Chapter 136: I Am Taken

The next morning.

Zhou Yili’s long legs were slightly bent as he leaned against the headboard, his black pajamas pushed up to reveal half of his firm abs. A pale, delicate wrist rested lightly on him.

The long night ticked slowly by, and only two words echoed in Zhou Yili’s mind:

It’s over.

He hadn’t been able to resist Xiao Zuixing.

Shen Jixing would surely kill him upon waking!

“…” The person in his arms made a slight sound, causing Zhou Yili’s strong body to shudder. His long fingers naturally stroked the other’s chin. “Awake, baby?”

Shen Jixing met a pair of wild, tired eyes.

He didn’t understand why Zhou Yili’s eyes were bloodshot. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly covered his lips and frowned lightly. “...Hiss.”

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

Zhou Yili wrapped one arm around him, lowering his gaze cautiously to open his mouth. “Let me see what’s hurt. I didn’t find any injuries last night…”

“Check what?”

A cold, crisp voice fell.

In his heart, Zhou Yili let out a slow “oh no.”

Great, before Shen Jixing could realize anything, he had already blown his own cover in less than three sentences.

Rarely, Zhou Yili let his wit shine instead of his usual bluntness.

He gently pried open Shen Jixing’s lips. “Checking for cavities. Clean and healthy, no wonder the obsessive-clean Emperor of Shadows. Well done.”

Shen Jixing’s thoughts wavered slightly upon hearing this.

In a daze, it was as if someone had whispered in his ear last night, breath ragged yet restrained, saying:

“It’s done. Get up. With your level of cleanliness where everyone looks dirty, are you planning to get rid of yourself or me tomorrow?”

His nape was gently gripped and suddenly pressed down as the clock chimed.

Before Shen Jixing could react, Zhou Yili pulled him up and forced a kiss.

“…”

Drunken thoughts never truly fragmented for Shen Jixing.

Now most memories had returned, each scene vivid.

“Why is there really a cut?”

Zhou Yili pried his jaw open, spotting a small wound inside the thin lips, his face full of surprise and innocence. “How did this happen?”

Shen Jixing: “…”

He coldly brushed away Zhou Yili’s hand. “The dog did it.”

Then he turned over, got off the bed, and headed to the bathroom.

Zhou Yili was stunned for two seconds before laughing softly. “You remember?”

Shen Jixing didn’t look back. “Am I a fish?”

It wasn’t like he only had seven seconds of memory.

Zhou Yili seized the advantage; how could he let the Emperor of Shadows wash up alone? He immediately jumped down, lifting the pajama collar to serve his majesty as he freshened up and changed.

“Just so you know, this has nothing to do with me.”

---

Zhou Yili carefully brushed Shen Jixing’s teeth, avoiding the injured spot. White foam covered half of Shen Jixing’s face, yet he did not resist.

“You insisted on making up with empty promises. I would have pushed you away immediately and said that’s a different price.”

Zhou Yili wore a relaxed yet expensive expression, unflinching as he said, “You say you have enough money to buy me for the rest of my life.”

“…”

He even embellished his lies beautifully.

Shen Jixing opened his mouth, coldly laughing and blowing a bubble.

“…”

The air was silent.

Shen Jixing immediately shut up, leaving Zhou Yili to laugh continuously. “Damn, why are you so cute, little star? Come on, blow another bubble. I’ll take a photo and post it on my Moments.”

Shen Jixing’s ears flushed red as he pushed him away. “Scram.”

A bubble floated in the air; Zhou Yili raised his hand and gently popped it.

As Shen Jixing bent over to rinse, Zhou Yili wrapped his arms around his slim waist.

“I love you.”

Zhou Yili wished he could hold him tight in his arms, hiding him away for only his eyes to see. “Don’t be mad at me.”

Shen Jixing wiped the water from his face with a towel, allowing the big, powerful lion to cling to him the entire time.

“Alcohol only amplifies my emotions and senses.”

His long lashes drooped as he looked at the head resting on his shoulder.

“It won’t make me oppose my own decisions.”

In other words, he consented silently.

He wanted to soothe Zhou Yili too.

…

Zhou Yili’s year-end concert was approaching.

Today was rehearsal, and the manager rushed in hurriedly.

“Has Zhou Yili arrived?”

“On the way, almost here.” A staff member covered his mouth as if thinking, “Bro, I heard Zhou was injured. Can the concert still happen? It’s the first in two years. What if his condition isn’t good…”

The manager sneered inwardly. Condition not good?

One word from Shen Jixing was enough to boost his energy; condition—

The doors of the venue suddenly burst open.

Zhou Yili strolled in with long legs, one hand still wrapped in bandages, his expression lazy and luxurious, “Good morning, workers.”

The staff tightened their lips.

“So casual.”

He was teasing.

The huge venue lit up at his arrival. Even dressed casually, his rebellious spirit was unmistakable. Just standing on stage, he was the undisputed king controlling the entire scene.

Then the king was pulled aside. “You all plan ahead. I need a word with him.”

Zhou Yili was baffled but was dragged backstage, lazily thinking the manager was probably still upset about last night.

---

“Still not recovered? If I told you last night Shen Jixing rewarded me with…”

This was something better left unspoken lest it get him silenced. Zhou Yili still had some limits.

“Lots of things—money, love, hands, mouth.”

The manager snapped sharply, “Nobody asked about Shen Jixing. You better die.”

Dog in love.

Zhou Yili leaned against the wall with long legs, pulling out his phone. “What’s up?”

“Do you know Mars?” the manager asked quietly, hesitating.

Zhou Yili casually swiped his screen, sending Shen Jixing a few little stars mixed with hearts.

He lazily typed: Sent to wrong person.

[S]: Mm.

[S]: Filming an ad, don’t bother me.

A question mark slowly appeared over Zhou Yili’s head.

You still say you’re soothing me?

[S]: Good boy.

Fine then.

Be good.

The manager smiled as he watched everything unfold, grinding his teeth and whispering devilishly into Zhou Yili’s ear: “Do… you… know… Mars?”

Zhou Yili shivered, “Stay away from me.”

He coldly replied to Shen Jixing with a kissing emoji, then, receiving no response, lost interest and put away his phone.

“Do I even need to answer this? With my English, what foreigners could I possibly know?”

Zhou Yili finally seemed to listen to the manager seriously. “Who did you say? Marx?”

“…”

The intelligence didn’t seem acted.

The manager couldn’t even get mad. “Your outfit sponsor this time suddenly changed their mind. Now they insist you meet with him face to face.”

The costumes had been decided early on. With two days left before the concert, there was no time to make new ones. The manager suspected something fishy.

Could Mars have taken a liking to Zhou Yili…

Zhou Yili was indifferent. “Then just wear a sack.”

“Ridiculous! This is a concert two years in the making!” The manager couldn’t guess his thoughts but only insisted Zhou Yili go. He tried, “Why don’t you go check out the situation first?”

“No.”

Zhou Yili turned around casually. “What you should do right now is get him to leave quickly. And also tell him this—”

“I’m already taken.”