After Ghost Marriage with My Arch-Rival - Chapter 22.2

Neither spoke, but with a silent understanding, one tilted his head up while the other leaned down, their lips sealing together.

Simply pressing against each other wasn’t enough. Soon, two wet, nimble tongues were entwined. Having kissed many times before, they both knew exactly how to push the other to their limit.

Liu Xiangyi hovered over Zhong Qinhuai, starting with a moist, gentle sequence of lingering kisses. The entire process was tender, sweeping, and slow.

It felt as though they were lying on a small boat, drifting on a calm lake. A stray breeze ruffled the spring water, sending ripples outward in circles as the boat rocked lazily with the tide.

It was comfortable. Effortless. Languid.

After a few moments of this tender tongue-kissing, pleasure began to bud and accumulate. The tide of passion within their bodies slowly awakened.

Yet they were both competing. They were even intentionally holding back, as if whoever lost their composure first would be the loser.

Even though they were both pressing tightly together, their breathing growing ragged, the kiss remained “gentle.”

That was, until Liu Xiangyi intentionally licked the base of Zhong Qinhuai’s tongue. Under that intense stimulation, Zhong Qinhuai finally lost control.

Liu Xiangyi was inwardly smug for a split second, only to have the world spin as he was pinned to the bed.

Immediately, the kiss descended again.

Zhong Qinhuai’s lips were cool, but the kiss was searing. He kissed deeply, as if trying to reach Liu Xiangyi’s very soul.

Pressing down on Liu Xiangyi’s shoulders, he shoved his entire body into the mattress. The expensive, soft mattress Liu Xiangyi had spent a fortune on sank deeply under the force, burying half of Liu Xiangyi’s frame.

This was no longer a gentle spring breeze; it was urgent, restless, and craving. Soon, a bolt of pleasure shot up from his tailbone like an electric current, sending a numbing tingle through every part of his body.

Moonlight slanted across the windowsill, but the large bed sat in the shadows of the master bedroom. Soon, the wet, messy sounds of deep kissing, the suction of tongues, and erratic breathing intertwined, echoing through the room.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Zhong Qinhuai was the one to finally pull away. He leaned against Liu Xiangyi’s cheek, panting slightly.

His nose brushed against Liu Xiangyi’s cheek repeatedly—a silent, animalistic display of affection. Then, his nose trailed from the cheek to Liu Xiangyi’s ear, where he gave a gentle bite.

He whispered into Liu Xiangyi’s ear like a lover sharing a secret: “Don’t we still have a ‘procedure’ to finish?”

Liu Xiangyi was also breathless. Hearing the implication in Zhong Qinhuai’s words, he understood instantly what “procedure” he meant.

He froze, then forced a calm smile as he replied, “Don’t you think it’s too fast, President Zhong?”

“How is it fast?”

Zhong Qinhuai bit his ear again. “Don’t normal humans go through this procedure on their first day of marriage? We’ve been married for over a month!”

As he spoke, he couldn’t resist letting his hands wander again. His fingertips brushed against Liu Xiangyi’s delicate collarbone. Liu Xiangyi reached up, caught his hand, and arched an eyebrow.

“Does President Zhong even know how to do it?”

The fingertips caressing his collarbone froze instantly.

Liu Xiangyi let out a silent laugh.

Hah. Zhong Qinhuai really didn’t know.

As for how a man and a woman did it, Liu Xiangyi had at least learned the basics in biology class; he wasn’t entirely ignorant. But as for how two men did it? He had never looked into it.

In this regard, Liu Xiangyi was slightly better off. Though he hadn’t sought out specific knowledge, he at least knew the general idea.

Liu Xiangyi cleared his throat and continued, “So, we should probably look into it first and be prepared. That way, nobody gets hurt, right?”

As he said this, his heart was racing. With their bodies pressed together and Zhong Qinhuai wearing only a single silk robe—which had long since become a disheveled mess during their heated kissing, Liu Xiangyi was all too aware of his current state.

Fortunately, Zhong Qinhuai didn’t press the issue. He simply pulled Liu Xiangyi into a tight embrace.

His arms tightened inch by inch. For a moment, Liu Xiangyi had the illusion that he was being crushed into the ghost’s very body.

Zhong Qinhuai held him so hard it actually hurt. Yet, within that intense, bone-deep embrace, Liu Xiangyi felt a different kind of thrill. Unlike the kiss from before, this was a sharp pleasure born from the slight pain and the feeling of being on the verge of breathlessness.

Pressed tightly together, their lips soon met again. Zhong Qinhuai lost himself in the kiss once more, as if using it to vent his inner restlessness and a certain unquenchable longing.

They kissed fitfully until the middle of the night. Eventually, Liu Xiangyi retreated to the bathroom. The showerhead released a fine mist of water, washing over his sweat-drenched hair and body.

But soon, a pair of hands circled his waist. A cold chest pressed against his back.

Zhong Qinhuai had followed him in soundlessly, hugging him from behind and leaning down to kiss his shoulder. It was as if all that kissing earlier hadn’t been enough.

Kiss after kiss fell—cool like snowflakes landing on his skin, making soft, rustling sounds.

It was actually quite comfortable.

Liu Xiangyi had just “released,” and he felt languid in both body and mind. He couldn’t be bothered to argue with Zhong Qinhuai about this breach of boundaries. For a while, the only sounds in the bathroom were the rhythmic spray of the shower and the soft, wet noises of Zhong Qinhuai’s kisses.

The atmosphere fermented into something subtle.

Zhong Qinhuai kissed his ear, then trailed down the smooth line of his jaw to his pale, handsome cheek. He moved to the neck, kissing his way across from the left side until he took Liu Xiangyi’s Adam’s apple into his mouth.

Liu Xiangyi’s breath hitched sharply.

Zhong Qinhuai let out a low chuckle, as if he had discovered a new world. Instead of moving on, he lingered there, his tongue swirling and teasing the sensitive cartilage as if he were licking a lollipop.

Liu Xiangyi’s breathing grew ragged. His eyes slid shut, and his head was forced back at a steep angle. Zhong Qinhuai buried his face in the crook of his neck, and Liu Xiangyi’s hands instinctively found their way into the ghost’s hair.

He kneaded the silky strands—cool and wet between his fingers. He gripped the hair, intending to push him away, but then Zhong Qinhuai gave his Adam’s apple a firm suck.

The strength left Liu Xiangyi’s hand. The tight grip relaxed into a soft, indulgent stroking—an unspoken encouragement.

Zhong Qinhuai chuckled and continued to mouth the Adam’s apple before giving it another sharp pull with his lips.

Liu Xiangyi’s fingers tightened in the ghost’s hair again. His head remained tilted back, exposing the long, elegant curve of his throat to Zhong Qinhuai’s ministrations. He had never realized his Adam’s apple was this sensitive. He smoothed and tugged at Zhong Qinhuai’s hair by turns, caught between enjoyment and a frantic urge to hurry him along.

The sound of the wet kisses echoed through the bathroom. It made Liu Xiangyi flush with embarrassment, but his entire body was trembling from the overstimulation.

His breathing was a total wreck. Luckily, Zhong Qinhuai held his waist firmly, allowing Liu Xiangyi to collapse his weight against him, eyes closed, breathing deeply. The fine mist from the shower fell gently over his hair. He drifted in a state of weightless relaxation, and it seemed Zhong Qinhuai was right there with him.

Liu Xiangyi was eventually woken up by the chirping of sparrows outside. He opened his eyes dizzily. The curtains hadn’t been drawn last night, and a few beams of sunlight were streaming in.

He lay in bed feeling refreshed, though his limbs felt heavy and lazy. He stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, his mind blank, before the images of last night came rushing back.

Liu Xiangyi bolted upright.

Too much. Way too much!

He only needed to kiss him to absorb Yin energy. Why did he end up doing all that extra stuff?

He turned to look beside him. Sure enough, once daytime arrived, Zhong Qinhuai vanished.

Just as Liu Xiangyi was about to throw back the covers, a voice suddenly rang out from the side.

“Does President Liu plan on just leaving like this?”

Liu Xiangyi followed the sound. On the nightstand sat a bouquet of white roses. One of the tightly closed buds swayed slightly, and a cool voice emanated from it.

“President Liu, normal human couples give each other goodnight kisses. Being this cold, aren’t you acting a bit like a ‘scumbag’?”

Liu Xiangyi: “…”

Is this what he’s like when he’s dating? So clingy?

He arched an eyebrow. “Normal human couples are like that. But whose fault is it that President Zhong isn’t exactly normal? You can’t even manifest during the day, so whose problem is it really?”

The white rosebud drooped, mimicking a human hanging their head. The voice dropped lower.

“Kiss here.”

Liu Xiangyi: “…”

Fine. There was no one else in the bedroom anyway; he’d just treat it like playing a game with the ghost.

Liu Xiangyi leaned over and gave the rosebud a quick, fleeting peck. “Satisfied?”

In the next second, the previously closed bud bloomed shyly and tremulously into full flower.

Liu Xiangyi found himself smiling for some reason. Then, he reached toward the rose. “So, President Zhong, can I have my jade back now?”

The rose swayed lazily. “Is President Liu in such a hurry? Just who gave you that jade that you treasure it so much?”

Liu Xiangyi didn’t want to answer, so he immediately changed the subject. “What about last night?”

He arched an eyebrow. “I performed well last night, didn’t I?”

He only needed a kiss to absorb energy, yet he had let Zhong Qinhuai kiss and touch him all over in the bathroom. He had made a huge sacrifice!

To his surprise, the rose tilted upward as if proud. The voice said languidly, “President Liu, wasn’t I the one performing last night?”

Liu Xiangyi: “!”

A delayed memory surfaced. In the bathroom, he had mostly just focused on enjoying himself, completely ignoring whether Zhong Qinhuai was getting anything out of it.

He felt a sudden pang of guilt.

Mentioning last night made the rose petals curl back inward, as if it had suddenly become shy. “So, was my performance good?”

Liu Xiangyi blinked, then let out a snort.

“President Zhong doesn’t even know ‘how’ to do it. I’d say your service attitude was good, but you lack experience and technique. In short, you aren’t good enough to finish the ‘procedure’ yet.”

He then got out of bed and headed into the bathroom to wash up.

The rose turned around to watch him. Liu Xiangyi had been raised with impeccable manners; even the simple act of brushing his teeth looked aesthetically pleasing because of his tall, straight posture.

The rose watched him secretly the whole time.

When he finished, Liu Xiangyi leaned over the sink and splashed water on his face. As he bent over, his waist formed a supple, powerful curve—like a drawn bow. It radiated a stubbornness that said no one could make him bow his head unless he chose to.

Yet, that same waist had shown a different side last night. When Zhong Qinhuai had stroked it, it had trembled like a willow branch swaying in a spring breeze.

It wasn’t until Liu Xiangyi finished his routine, put on his sunglasses, and prepared to head out that the rose finally looked away reluctantly.

A wisp of black mist drifted out of the flower and followed after him.

Back at the office, a busy day began.

In the quiet of the CEO’s office of the Liu Group, a strange rustling sound suddenly broke the silence.

Liu Xiangyi’s hand paused over his files. He composed himself and looked toward the sound. In the corner of the office sat a Money Tree plant, its leaves suddenly growing at a freakish, frenzied pace.

The leaves grew to two or three meters long, coiled around his phone on the desk, and snatched it away with a shloop. Then, two leaves—moving as nimbly as human fingers—easily unlocked the phone.

Liu Xiangyi: “?”

He hadn’t realized Zhong Qinhuai had followed him. Assuming the ghost was just bored and wanted to play on his phone, and since there were no secrets on it, he let him be.

Liu Xiangyi went back to his files. Half an hour later, there was a knock at the door.

“President Liu, your delivery is here,” the secretary called.

Liu Xiangyi: “?”

Before he could get up, the leaves of the Money Tree suddenly stretched to five meters, wrapped around the door handle, and yanked it down. The door clicked open.

The moment the door opened, the leaves retracted with a whoosh. The secretary only saw a shadow flash by like lightning.

“Huh?”

The secretary rubbed his eyes. Before he could see what it was, the thing had vanished with eerie speed. He poked his head in suspiciously, but the office looked normal. Liu Xiangyi was alone.

Must be seeing things, the secretary thought. He left the delivery on the table and departed.

The scent of food wafted from the delivery bag. Liu Xiangyi’s appetite was piqued. He checked his watch, it was already 1:00 PM. He realized he hadn’t eaten lunch yet and was indeed hungry.

As he went to open the bag, he turned to confirm, “Did you order this for me, or for yourself?”

“For you, of course.”

The leaves of the Money Tree spoke: “Don’t normal human couples do this? Ordering takeout for their partner.”

He paused for a moment, then added:

“Remember to order for me next time. Whatever other couples have, I want too. I want to enjoy this service as well.”

Liu Xiangyi: “…”

He hadn’t expected the brat to be using his phone to order takeout. Amidst a swirl of complex emotions, Liu Xiangyi felt a flicker of curiosity about what had been ordered. He opened the bag and froze.

Stir-fried squid.

Shrimp with edamame.

And a pot of crucian carp and tofu soup.

Every single dish was a personal favorite. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

Immediately, the Money Tree spoke up smugly:

“So, maybe some people know President Liu likes seafood, but does anyone know that these three are your absolute favorites?”

Liu Xiangyi: “?”

It took him a moment to realize that the “someone” Zhong Qinhuai was referring to was likely Xia Qing. He didn’t know how Xia Qing had found out he liked seafood, prompting their dinner together a few days prior.

But that was days ago. This brat still remembered?

Liu Xiangyi cleared his throat, choosing not to take the bait. He started eating and changed the subject: “So, what do ghosts eat?”

“Ghosts who died recently can still eat human food. But the longer you’ve been dead, the less you like it. You have to eat what ghosts are supposed to eat.”

The Money Tree paused, then adopted a lingering, mysterious tone: “Want to know what ghosts eat? I’ll tell you when I’m hungry.”

Liu Xiangyi: “…”

Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

As 8:00 PM approached, Liu Xiangyi prepared to leave the office. He was a notorious workaholic who had even built a lounge inside the CEO’s suite so he could sleep there during late-night grinds.

But today, he was leaving early.

As he exited the suite and took the elevator down to the lobby, he drew the gaze of numerous employees. Two receptionists working overtime watched his departing back and began whispering excitedly:

“Why is President Liu leaving so early today?”

“Could there be a situation?”

“Definitely not! Don’t you know President Liu? He’s always said he’s not interested in dating or marriage. Otherwise, every man and woman in this company would have pounced on him by now!”

Even as he walked away, their idle chatter reached his ears. Liu Xiangyi ignored it, but the sapphire brooch pinned to his jacket wobbled.