Fishing-Type Beauties Will Never Love Crematorium - Chapter 8

The boy was still sniffing, his shallow breathing spraying against Shen He’s ear. Shen He clenched his hands, suddenly turned around, and quickly pushed Chen Qingtang away. They were now sitting face to face.

Their gazes collided and tangled. Shen He inappropriately recalled what Wei Yan had said: “He definitely wants to sleep with you; he has ulterior motives.”

Something surged and swelled in his chest, amplified by the fermented alcohol, crashing about like a high tide. Shen He’s lips parted, as if he were about to say something, but at the last second, he forced himself to stop. He could not say it. What would he say? Should he ask Chen Qingtang if he wanted to sleep with him? He could not say it. Once spoken, there would be no retreat for either of them. He did not want to alienate Chen Qingtang or make things awkward.

They stared at each other in silence. An inexplicable atmosphere, itching and maddening, grew like vines in a dark cave, quickly filling the small space and shrouding them completely. Chen Qingtang took in his reaction, his smile fading into the shadows.

This man, even with words on the tip of his tongue, could still hold them back? Fine, I will change my strategy.

When Chen Qingtang looked up again, his eyes held an incomprehensible grievance, filled with a wet mist stirred by the alcohol. “Why did you push me?”

Shen He replied dryly, “Too close.”

Chen Qingtang slowed his tone, intended to play up the drunkenness, which gave his voice an alluring ambiguity. “You smell good, and I want to be closer to you. A little closer, and I will feel more comfortable.”

Shen He held his breath. “Do not do that.”

Chen Qingtang leaned forward, one hand braced between them. “Shen He, what perfume are you wearing?”

Shen He’s back was already against the car door; he had nowhere left to retreat. He looked away, his voice deep. “I do not wear perfume.”

Chen Qingtang whispered, “But you smell so good. My nose is sensitive, and I have rhinitis; I cannot handle many scents, but you are an exception. The car smells so bad that it makes me dizzy. I only feel comfortable when I am close to you.”

These words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a small but impossible to ignore ripple in Shen He’s heart. Shen He suddenly realized something, and his expression froze for a moment.

Chen Qingtang gently tugged at the corner of Shen He’s shirt. “You smell so good. You really smell good. Are you sure you do not wear perfume?”

Shen He’s voice was strained. “So you smelled me before?”

Chen Qingtang replied, “Hmm? Oh, yeah. Did you notice?”

“Every time I forgot to wear a mask, I would lean in a bit closer to you. You smell so good, and you cover up other scents, which makes it easier for my nose. I have always wanted to ask what perfume you use.”

Although this excuse was partially based on fact—Chen Qingtang truly was dependent on and loved Shen He’s scent—it sounded a bit far fetched to others. He decided to stick with it and see if Shen He believed him.

In that instant, Shen He’s expression became a mosaic of colors; his “I see” was mixed with the embarrassment of having misunderstood someone. There was also an indescribable guilt that was exposed, like a small fish that had swum too slowly and been caught.

So Chen Qingtang smelled me only because he thought I wore perfume, liked the scent, and wanted to ask about the brand.

Chen Qingtang pressed down a subtle smile. “What is wrong?”

It seemed he believed it. Shen He’s lips moved, looking at Chen Qingtang with complex feelings, unable to speak. However, his ears turned even redder.

A moment later, Shen He heard the boy suddenly give a light “ah,” his eyes shifting as he looked at him, innocent and hurt. “I understand. Did you think I was intentionally playing games to get close to you?”

To ensure Shen He had no time to react, Chen Qingtang went on the offensive. Shen He looked mechanically to the side. Chen Qingtang leaned forward. “Is that it? Did you think I had ulterior motives toward you?”

He forced Shen He into the narrow space, leaving him breathless, further scrambling the man’s thoughts. Shen He did not answer, but his breathing became shallow. Chen Qingtang tracked his gaze to force eye contact. “No words? Do you know what expression you have right now?”

Shen He took a deep breath and simply closed his eyes, refusing to look at anything or let Chen Qingtang explore the emotions in his eyes. Chen Qingtang offered a wicked smile, his gaze stripping Shen He bare from top to bottom, appreciating the way this man tried to maintain his composure.

“Even though you have your eyes closed, your breathing is unsteady, which means you are nervous.”

“Every time I say something, your hands grip tighter, which means everything I say is right.”

“Even so, you remain silent, which means you do not know how to refute me.”

Shen He was defeated and stripped of his armor. Before Chen Qingtang, he felt completely exposed. His chest felt tight and full, as if molten lava were surging and about to burst through his ribcage.

Chen Qingtang chased him relentlessly. “Your ears are so red. Is it hot in the car?”

“Why does your Adam’s apple keep moving? Are you thirsty?”

He laughed. “Why do you not open your eyes? Are you afraid of me, Shen He?”

Under such relentless pressure, Shen He’s suppressed emotions finally rebounded, erupting in the silence. The veins on Shen He’s forehead throbbed as he opened his eyes, his gaze deep. “No.”

Chen Qingtang raised the corner of his mouth, as if asking “Is that so?”

Shen He tumbled into those pitch black phoenix eyes and trembled. In the boy’s mocking gaze lay hidden aggression, as if he intended to break through his armor, strip away and devour his soul inch by inch, dragging him into some abyss of desire to drown until he died. This seductive and dangerously addictive sensation was something Shen He had felt several times while being around Chen Qingtang.

Previously, Shen He had chosen to ignore it and avoid the sharpness. But this time, Shen He did not want to avoid it. As if to refute the question “Are you afraid of me?”, Shen He stared back at Chen Qingtang stubbornly amidst the sound of his own heartbeats, as if trying to reclaim a captured city.

Silence reigned in the car. Gradually, their entangled gazes became glued together. Shen He’s back began to warm, and a tingling sensation spread from his fingertips to his heart. He suddenly felt like a beast thirsting for blood.

Chen Qingtang saw that Shen He seemed ready to fight back, so he decided not to give him the chance. It was time to pull back. Chen Qingtang increased the distance, retreated to his seat, and continued to feign drunkenness: “So uncomfortable.”

The boiling emotions, the evenly matched clash, the hot atmosphere, everything came to an abrupt end. It was as if nothing had happened. Shen He was still immersed in the state of having his nerves held high, but hearing Chen Qingtang say he was uncomfortable, he quickly regained his senses. After hesitating for two seconds, Shen He carefully leaned over Chen Qingtang and helped him open the car window.

Chen Qingtang peeked at him through half closed eyes. The coat. He had hinted enough; why had he not taken off his coat to give to him?

Just then, the two who had gone to the adult store returned, holding a pile of miscellaneous items. Having been blown by the cold wind, they were quite sober. Wei Yan happily shared with Shen He, “Shen Ge, I am telling you, you will regret not coming. I just snatched up two good gadgets; I will show them to you when we get back.”

Shen He was distracted. “No need.”

Wei Yan: “You will regret it if you do not look!”

Shen He: “.”

Because they returned so late, the dormitory was already past closing time, so the four simply stayed at Shen He’s house. Shen He’s rental was large enough, with two bedrooms, enough for everyone. As for the sleeping arrangements, Shen He and Wei Yan shared one, while Luo Xin and Chen Qingtang shared the other. Luo Xin was truly exhausted that day and had drunk so much that he fell into a deep sleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

Chen Qingtang, however, was not sleepy. He leaned against the headboard, staring at the ceiling, reminiscing about the way Shen He had been pressed into a corner by him in the car, on the verge of exploding yet trying his best to endure it, like a poor string stretched to its limit, ready to snap. In his past life, where had Chen Qingtang ever seen Shen He like this? It was like a royal banquet. In his past life, Shen He was always calm, composed, and impeccable, as if nothing could evoke a single emotion from him. It was only when reaching the peak during sex that he would show even a hint of loss of control.

Shen He, oh Shen He, you have fallen into my hands in this life.

Chen Qingtang happily opened WeChat and posted to his Moments. He shared a picture of fishing, with a fishing rod suspended over a calm lake.

Caption: Do not pressure the fish too hard when fishing, or the hooked fish will still struggle and escape.

He blocked Shen He and his two roommates from seeing this post. Chu Xi, also a night owl, commented instantly: Then what should you do?

Chen Qingtang raised his eyebrows: Loosen the line when necessary.

Only then would the fish proactively pursue, eat the bait with peace of mind, and once it was in its stomach, it would be too late to run.

Chu Xi: Profound.

Chu Xi: How is the fish you are catching doing? What stage is it at?

Chen Qingtang: Time to loosen the line.

Then, once the fish pursued and bit the bait, he could move to the next step.

The next day, Shen He discovered that Chen Qingtang had suddenly started distancing himself from him.