A Fatal Attraction from Lawyer A - Chapter 21

“What do you like to eat?”

In the supermarket, Luo Pan Zhi expertly found the fresh food section. He turned to look at Gu Yu Xi beside him, who looked like he was having an existential crisis, watching him with a strange expression. He suppressed a laugh.

Gu Yu Xi met Luo Pan Zhi’s gaze, saw the subtle curve of his lips, and instantly knew what the man was laughing about.

He quietly looked away. Luo Pan Zhi was definitely laughing at his lack of self-control.

…And he was right.

He was so confused by an apron that he brought the man home. He had no idea what might happen next, because he never knew what Luo Pan Zhi would do.

This Alpha always made unexpected moves.

Just like actually bringing him here to buy groceries and cook for him at his house.

“I don’t really like seafood.”

“Then I’ll make you Western food?”

“I don’t really like beef.”

“Cantonese cuisine then?”

“Too bland.”

“Hunan or Sichuan cuisine?”

“Too spicy.”

Gu Yu Xi caught Luo Pan Zhi’s helpless expression and felt a little relieved. He walked toward the fruit section.

Luo Pan Zhi was genuinely helpless. Seeing Gu Yu Xi walking slightly far away, he reached out and pulled the man back: “You’re a grown man. How can you be so picky?”

Gu Yu Xi looked over faintly: “I am picky.”

Luo Pan Zhi chuckled softly, taking in Gu Yu Xi’s deliberate pretense. He smiled and shook his head: “Fine, then I’ll make what you like to eat. What is it that you like?”

He’s already interested, yet still stubborn. Quite defiant.

“I want something spicy.”

“Huh?” Luo Pan Zhi leaned closer to Gu Yu Xi, thinking he misheard. He looked at Gu Yu Xi suspiciously: “Didn’t you say you don’t like spicy food?”

Gu Yu Xi looked at the beautifully red strawberries on the shelf, casually took two boxes and placed them in the cart. Seeing Luo Pan Zhi lean in to talk again, he subtly shifted his body: “I want it now.”

“Oh~ Are you pouting at me? Fine, I can never say no to you.” Luo Pan Zhi smiled. Seeing Gu Yu Xi grab strawberries, he mentally noted that this person likes strawberries.

Gu Yu Xi: “…”

In the supermarket, two grown men shopping was already uncommon, especially two men as attractive as they were.

Gu Yu Xi watched Luo Pan Zhi expertly navigate each section, picking up the items he needed. He felt a little curious. How could this man be so familiar with the supermarket? He didn’t seem like the type to grocery shop, and would an “it boy” from a privileged background like Luo Pan Zhi need to personally buy groceries?

“Do you shop for groceries often?”

Luo Pan Zhi placed the chosen ingredients into the cart: “Often.”

“Do you cook for yourself?”

“Yes, usually. Or I go to my brother’s place to cook for him,” Luo Pan Zhi said, looking at Gu Yu Xi, who seemed surprised: “In my family, Omegas aren’t allowed in the kitchen.”

The word “Omega” seemed to carry a subtle hint.

Gu Yu Xi frowned slightly.

“If my partner were an Alpha, I wouldn’t let him in the kitchen either. He doesn’t need to know what I know. One person is enough in the kitchen. Of course, if he wanted to do something in the kitchen, I wouldn’t mind.”

Gu Yu Xi: “…”

Maybe I shouldn’t ask any more questions.

“Do you have an apron at home?”

It wasn’t until they reached the lifestyle section, and Gu Yu Xi saw Luo Pan Zhi stop in front of a shelf, that he realized where they were. Then he heard Luo Pan Zhi’s question. He subconsciously glanced at Luo Pan Zhi, only to meet the teasing smile in the man’s eyes.

He was paying for his earlier moment of impulsive desire again.

“No.”

He immediately heard Luo Pan Zhi laugh again, a deep, slightly husky laugh that held an indescribable gentleness and indulgence.

Thump, thump.

“Then what color do you like?”

“Black.”

“What a coincidence. I like black too. It seems I’m just your favorite color.”

Gu Yu Xi regulated his breathing.

Yet, he couldn’t slow his wildly beating heart.

Luo Pan Zhi’s temptation was far beyond what he had imagined.

Unspeakable Intimacy

When they got to the self-checkout, Luo Pan Zhi casually grabbed two boxes of the largest size of small pink boxes. The full name was displayed on the large screen when he scanned the product barcode.

—Hyaluronic Acid Zero-Sensation Ultra-Thin XL Condoms

Gu Yu Xi: “!”

He quietly retracted his gaze, his fingertips trembling at his side. He tried hard to pretend he hadn’t seen anything, completely unaware that his earlobes had turned entirely red.

Nor did he know that the flush of his earlobes was perfectly visible to Luo Pan Zhi.

The car smoothly drove toward the Siji Peninsula where Gu Yu Xi lived.

“Attorney Gu’s boyfriend shouldn’t be coming home tonight, should he? Are you going to tell him that your superior is coming over for dinner tonight?”

Gu Yu Xi leaned against the seat back, listening to Luo Pan Zhi’s question. He felt like he was becoming immune to Luo Pan Zhi’s constant questioning: “Yes, I told him.”

He also felt that the role of “boyfriend” was becoming a tightrope walk.

But how to maintain the lie once it was told?

“That’s good. We don’t want your boyfriend to misunderstand that your superior is trying to take advantage of you through his position, right?”

“Yes, right.”

Luo Pan Zhi glanced at Gu Yu Xi as he turned a corner. Seeing the man’s determined, yet defeated, expression, the corner of his lips curved. It’s fine. It hasn’t started yet. There’s still time once it does.

He had endless patience for Gu Yu Xi.

If one apron was enough for Gu Yu Xi to let him into his house, he believed his own charm was even greater than the apron’s.

Night silently descended, the intoxicating deep blue sky wrapping around them like a ribbon tied around the soon-to-be-visible cold moon.

Gu Yu Xi’s home was on the 32nd floor, a large double-story penthouse apartment. Its prime location provided an excellent view from the floor-to-ceiling windows. The overall decor was minimalist and modern, dominated by subtle off-white and light gray tones.

Luo Pan Zhi’s first impression of the apartment was: This place really resembles Gu Yu Xi.

It makes a person want to hug it close and warm it up.

His gaze then landed on a wine cabinet. It was filled with a dazzling array of Brandy, clearly visible, as if afraid people wouldn’t notice the owner’s preference. Others might not notice, but he saw it instantly.

Because his pheromone was Oolong Brandy.

He couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

Gu Yu Xi turned sideways to close the door. When he turned back, he saw Luo Pan Zhi standing in front of his wine cabinet, looking at him with a smile. He instantly realized what kind of liquor, and even what kind of tea (Oolong tea) was placed beside the Brandy in his cabinet.

He suddenly felt a headache coming on.

“Oh~ So Attorney Gu likes Brandy,” Luo Pan Zhi chuckled knowingly: “Is it very tasty?”

Gu Yu Xi: “…”

Perhaps he shouldn’t have been so easily seduced by the apron and let Luo Pan Zhi in the door. He was likely to expose more flaws, and he could no longer maintain the increasingly clumsy lie.

Gu Yu Xi was about to tell Luo Pan Zhi to make himself comfortable, but before he could speak, the man had already taken off his expensive leather shoes, put on his slippers over his black socks, and walked into the kitchen nearby. Gu Yu Xi froze for two seconds.

“I’ll take care of the kitchen. You go take a shower and change first,” Luo Pan Zhi went into the kitchen, put down the evening’s ingredients, and then pulled out the newly bought black apron and put it on.

He was as familiar with the place as if it were his own home.

The kitchen was open-concept, allowing a clear view of the person inside from the outside.

Luo Pan Zhi’s shirt sleeves were half-rolled up. Perhaps because of the heat, two buttons on his shirt were casually undone. He put on the black apron and reached behind his waist to tie the straps. The waistline accentuated by the apron straps, the curve extending downwards, and the long legs encased in his suit trousers became the focal points of the sight.

His broad shoulders and narrow waist were perfectly highlighted by the apron, which, on his tall figure, took on an entirely different meaning.

Luo Pan Zhi, in his dress shirt and suit pants, expertly washed the fruits and vegetables in the sink. The image of him looking down, focused and gentle, was as if the usually dominant and imposing Little CEO Luo had been sealed away.

In this moment, this Alpha was simply a good, domestic man preparing a meal.

Gu Yu Xi stood at the bar, his gaze unable to leave Luo Pan Zhi’s every move. He was completely captivated by this Alpha who exuded charm—a feeling beyond the attraction to Luo Pan Zhi’s pheromones.

Luo Pan Zhi himself seemed even more intoxicating than the Oolong Brandy pheromone scent.

The nightly attempt to curb his addiction with alcohol seemed less effective than one close encounter with Luo Pan Zhi.

The closer he got, the more different he found Luo Pan Zhi to be.

His throat involuntarily moved.

The black apron really did look good.

What if he were wearing only that?

“Attorney Gu, come here and help me wash the broccoli.”

“Okay.”

Gu Yu Xi walked up beside Luo Pan Zhi, watching him quickly chop meat on the cutting board with a kitchen knife. The slices of meat were so thin they were almost translucent. He couldn’t help but admire the knife skills.

And his hands were beautiful, too.

He was completely unaware that he was watching with rapt attention.

Luo Pan Zhi glanced sideways at Gu Yu Xi, who was standing next to him watching him chop. He met Gu Yu Xi’s look of amazement, as if he’d never seen someone cook before. The expression was adorable.

He couldn’t help but rub the back of his hand against Gu Yu Xi’s face: “Why are you staring at me like that? Go help me wash the broccoli.”

Gu Yu Xi hadn’t expected Luo Pan Zhi to touch his cheek like that. The warmth of the hand and the gentle force of the touch made him momentarily dazed—it was the most normal behavior between a couple.

Thump, thump, thump—

He immediately shook off his daze, quickly lowered his eyes, rolled up his sleeves, and turned to take the chopped broccoli to rinse under the tap, trying to use the sound of the running water to conceal his abnormality.

“That’s not how you wash broccoli.”

Suddenly, Gu Yu Xi felt a warm, broad chest press against his back. A pair of long, large hands reached around him and covered his hands, which were immersed in the water. Luo Pan Zhi’s low, gentle voice sounded by his ear.

“I put some starch underneath. You need to mix the starch with the water, and then gently stir it. That way, the starch water can absorb the pesticides and bugs on the broccoli,” Luo Pan Zhi held Gu Yu Xi’s hands, turned his head, and guided his hands to wash the broccoli.

Two pairs of hands were folded over each other, washing a small head of broccoli.

In the clear, starchy water, the clasped hands and the broccoli stirred and merged. The water flowing through their fingers seemed to carry warmth, merging with the starch settling at the bottom, spreading and blending in his heart. It was a completely intimate distance, like the chest pressed against his back.

The faint Oolong Brandy pheromone scent brushed past his nose. Luo Pan Zhi’s breath landed on the side of his neck, causing waves of numbness.

How could this person be so seductive even when washing vegetables?

Gu Yu Xi stared at Luo Pan Zhi’s hands clasped over his in the water. As if something flashed in his mind, a ripple spread in his eyes. His already compromised resolve was collapsing. His voice trembled at the end:

“…Luo Pan Zhi.”

Just as he called his name, Luo Pan Zhi behind him released him. The sudden loss of warmth made him pause.

“Now just rinse it with clean water, and it’s good,” Luo Pan Zhi said, walking back to his cutting board to continue working.

Gu Yu Xi: “…” The words that were about to spill out were cut short. He silently turned his head, watching Luo Pan Zhi start cutting meat. After a few seconds, he lowered his head and rinsed the broccoli clean, the force in his hands driven by a sense of vent.

Luo Pan Zhi lowered his head to continue his task, feeling water splash onto his face. The corner of his lips curved.

This is just the beginning.

He was merely giving him a taste of his own medicine.

He wasn’t wearing this black apron for nothing. There must be effort before there’s reward.

A Seductive Dinner

About forty minutes later, dinner was ready.

“Dinner is ready,” Luo Pan Zhi called out from the kitchen, then began taking the dishes out.

Gu Yu Xi walked over from the living room when he heard Luo Pan Zhi. Seeing him carrying the dishes out, he said: “I’ll go get the bowls and chopsticks.”

Luo Pan Zhi brushed past him near the kitchen, glancing sideways with a smile: “Yes, you are better suited to get the bowls and chopsticks.”

Gu Yu Xi paused, then walked into the kitchen to get the utensils.

The dinner for two was simple: two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, plus a bottle of Brandy.

“Want a drink?” Luo Pan Zhi walked to the wine cabinet and casually took down a bottle of Brandy. He glanced at the expensive vintage: “This one is pricey. Let’s drink this one.”

“Sure, let’s drink,” Gu Yu Xi took two highball glasses from the nearby glass cabinet, grabbed the corkscrew hanging nearby, and beckoned to Luo Pan Zhi to bring the bottle over to open.

Luo Pan Zhi smiled, extending his free hand to hold Gu Yu Xi’s hand.

Gu Yu Xi gave him a look, then simply shoved the corkscrew into his hand: “You open it.” He then sat back down in his spot to eat.

As soon as he sat down, he saw Luo Pan Zhi place the wine and corkscrew on the table, reach down and pull the apron strings, and take off the black apron.

The moment the black apron was removed, perhaps because of the heat, or perhaps Luo Pan Zhi was naturally warm-bodied, Gu Yu Xi saw that the shirt on Luo Pan Zhi’s chest was nearly soaked with sweat. The definition of his muscles was completely visible, the sculpted lines radiating intense charisma beneath the barrier of the shirt. A drop of sweat then trailed down his neck.

The drop of sweat slipped from his Adam’s apple and disappeared into the slightly open shirt collar.

Gu Yu Xi’s hand holding the chopsticks froze.

But Luo Pan Zhi acted nonchalantly, rolling up the apron and tossing it casually onto a chair. Then he picked up the corkscrew to open the Brandy. As he inserted the screw into the cork, his arm flexed slightly, the muscles beneath his shirt rippling with effort.

With another push, the cork popped out of the bottle with a “pop.”

A drop of sweat from Luo Pan Zhi’s chin immediately dripped down.

The removal of the black apron, the sweat-soaked shirt, the sweat on his chin, the slight tension of his arm muscles when opening the bottle—all of it oozed an overwhelming charisma that was impossible to resist.

Gu Yu Xi’s throat moved. The hand holding the chopsticks trembled imperceptibly. He lowered his eyes, the cold lens concealing the uncontrollable craving in his gaze.

So incredibly sexy.

How could this person be so sexy?

Luo Pan Zhi held the bottle, slowly pouring the Brandy into the highball glass, then pushed the glass toward Gu Yu Xi: “Attorney Gu, drink a little.”

Gu Yu Xi looked up slightly, his eyes catching the sight of Luo Pan Zhi’s slightly open shirt collar and—

“I haven’t started drinking yet.” He put down his chopsticks, took the highball glass pushed toward him by Luo Pan Zhi, raised it, and tilted his head back to down the drink. The mellow flavor of the Brandy slid down his throat. The warmth of the alcohol began to work its magic right after he swallowed.

He was already drunk.

Only when drunk could he allow his head to heat up and do impulsive things.

Luo Pan Zhi sat down, resting his chin on his hand, watching Gu Yu Xi finish the drink in one go. He recalled Gu Yu Xi from that night at the bar: “Attorney Gu, do you often go to bars to drink?”

“Occasionally,” Gu Yu Xi put the glass down and reached for the bottle.

Luo Pan Zhi raised his hand and pressed down on the bottle cap: “Do you always drink so heavily?”

Gu Yu Xi saw him stopping him from taking the bottle. His face was expressionless. He gripped the body of the bottle: “I sleep better when I drink.”

“If you drink so much, won’t you feel unwell the next day?” Luo Pan Zhi immediately gripped the body of the bottle as well, not letting Gu Yu Xi take it. His fingertips brushed Gu Yu Xi’s hand: “Do you drink every day? Like you did at the bar that time?”

It was surprising to see someone who was usually so cold and aloof drink so much.

That wasn’t a good habit.

“It’s easier to sleep when I drink a lot. I’m fine when I wake up. I’m used to it,” Gu Yu Xi wanted to take the bottle but saw Luo Pan Zhi wouldn’t let go: “Didn’t you say we should drink? Why are you stopping?”

“Why can’t you sleep? Doesn’t your boyfriend comfort you to sleep?” Luo Pan Zhi didn’t let him take it, keeping the control of pouring the wine with himself. He picked up the bottle and poured a little more into Gu Yu Xi’s glass.

Gu Yu Xi didn’t answer. He took the glass and drank it down again, then placed the glass in front of Luo Pan Zhi, looking at him with his chin slightly raised.

Luo Pan Zhi chuckled at the man’s longing for the wine. Controlling the amount, he poured him a little more.

A few small shots—enough to get him slightly tipsy.

Between drunk and sober—maybe they could do something then.

The summer heat, even with the air conditioning on, made him feel warm all over after a few high-proof Brandies.

Gu Yu Xi felt a little hot after a few drinks. He looked at Luo Pan Zhi, his amber eyes behind the glasses misty and moist: “Aren’t you drinking? This Brandy is delicious.”

The moment the words left his mouth, he saw Luo Pan Zhi take the bottle and walk over to him, leaning on the table. His long legs were casually placed, slightly bent, as he looked down at Gu Yu Xi.

“You still haven’t answered my question. If you can’t sleep well, why don’t you ask your boyfriend to comfort you to sleep?”

Saying this, he poured a little more wine into Gu Yu Xi’s glass.

Gu Yu Xi held the highball glass, his fingertips rubbing the cool stem. He looked down at the Brandy in the glass. He swirled it gently, the Brandy going around twice in the glass, as if swirling himself into a daze.

He tilted his head back and finished the Brandy again.

Luo Pan Zhi watched as the corners of the man’s eyes gradually turned red. He drank in silence, stubbornly refusing to answer. Luo Pan Zhi smiled nonchalantly, bending down slightly and moving closer to Gu Yu Xi: “If you don’t like me, why were you peeking at me in the office?”

Gu Yu Xi’s drinking motion paused for a moment. He slowly put the glass down, his fingertips trembling. It was as if an inviolable secret had been dug up, a ripple spreading in his eyes.

“What did you see? Me losing my temper? Me working seriously?” Luo Pan Zhi leaned in a little closer, staring at Gu Yu Xi’s profile. His voice was soft and deep, laced with a seductive tone: “Or did you see me taking off my suit and adjusting my shirt? Did I look good?”

The lips so close to him opened and closed. The gentle, seductive tone of his voice was crushing the secret.

“You knew,” Gu Yu Xi lowered his eyes, stating it as a fact. He didn’t dare to look at Luo Pan Zhi. The glass made a soft ‘thud’ as he placed it back on the table.

Luo Pan Zhi didn’t move any closer, maintaining the current distance. His gaze caught Gu Yu Xi’s lightly trembling eyelashes. The tremor made his heart itch. Thinking this, he reached out and hooked the man’s glasses off, placing them casually aside.

Gu Yu Xi looked up in surprise.

Luo Pan Zhi looked at Gu Yu Xi. Without the glasses to hide them, his eyes were misty with slight drunkenness, and the surprise of having his glasses suddenly removed. Coupled with the red tinge of slight intoxication around his eyes, the man exuded a naive vulnerability that made one want to bully him.

He didn’t know why he used “naive vulnerability” to describe Gu Yu Xi, but after understanding his trick of flirting and then running away, he knew Gu Yu Xi was both craving and afraid.

He had considered waiting, waiting for Gu Yu Xi to say it himself.

But then he thought again: if he didn’t approach, Gu Yu Xi would only retreat faster. Perhaps some people needed to be pushed to recognize their true feelings—whether it was the pheromones at work or a genuine stir of the heart.

He didn’t care about the outcome of Alpha and Alpha relationships. Based on the fact that he found Gu Yu Xi’s pheromones intoxicating, and the fact that Gu Yu Xi liked him and needed his pheromones, what did it matter if two Alphas weren’t ‘suitable’?

Rules were always meant to be broken.

“So, in that mirror, seeing me take off my suit and adjust my shirt, did you like it?”

The voice beside his ear was husky and sensual. Gu Yu Xi looked up at the leaning Luo Pan Zhi. His vision was slightly blurry without his glasses, but the proximity was enough for him to clearly see Luo Pan Zhi’s eyes.

They were like a gentle, deep vortex, waiting for him to fall in and drown in the seduction.

“Hmm? Did you like it?”

“I liked it,” Gu Yu Xi reached out and grabbed the front of Luo Pan Zhi’s shirt, pulling the man closer. His eyes shimmered: “…I liked it.”