He Played Emotional Games With His Arch-Enemy - Chapter 3

The auction continued for a while before finally coming to an end. Duan Jinghuai stepped into the main hall, where he was immediately surrounded by several guests eager to strike up a conversation. He handled them with practiced nonchalance, raising his glass perfunctorily while his gaze swept the room for a familiar silhouette.

Shi Yu was standing by the floor to ceiling windows, engaged in conversation. His fingers were remarkably pale, long, and clean as they held his wine glass with an easy grace. The amber liquid shimmered, swaying against the transparent glass like a pale crescent moon. He looked elegant and noble.

Duan Jinghuai furrowed his brow.

The wine being served tonight was the strongest variety at the banquet. Even someone like himself, often teased for being able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, could not handle more than a few.

Business partners approached him to exchange pleasantries. Duan Jinghuai responded politely, chatting and laughing for a moment. But when he turned back, Shi Yu was gone.

Outside the window, the night was thick and devoid of light. The rain showed no signs of stopping, and heavy black clouds rolled across the sky. Duan Jinghuai felt a sudden tightness in his chest, a wave of inexplicable irritability washing over him. He bid farewell to the guests, hurriedly set down his glass, and pushed against the crowd to find him.

Inside the extravagant hall, a world of decadence unfolded. The air was thick with laughter and the scent of alcohol, while bow-tied waiters navigated expertly between guests. Duan Jinghuai pushed past the shimmering crowd and finally found his target at a corner bar in the outer foyer.

The light was dim. Shi Yu sat on a high stool, his well tailored suit hugging his slender frame. Under the soft glow of the lamps, his sharply carved profile looked as cold and pure as moonlight.

Duan Jinghuai let out a quiet sigh of relief. Feeling a bit flushed, he loosened his tie and slowly walked over.

As he drew closer, he noticed four half finished cocktails sitting in front of Shi Yu. None of them were low in alcohol content.

He could not help but scoff. “Shi Yu, what on earth are you doing with your free time?”

The word “acting” died in his throat as Shi Yu looked up.

Half of Shi Yu’s face was cast in shadow, his cheeks flushed with a deep crimson. His eyelids were half raised, and his already alluring eyes looked as clear and translucent as water. The corners of his eyes were tinged with red, creating a look that was simultaneously innocent and full of desire, a breathtakingly seductive sight.

Duan Jinghuai’s heart skipped a violent beat.

Those clear, enchanting eyes blinked slowly. Thick, long lashes swept lightly over his eyelids like a hook, scratching at one’s heart before moving away, appearing cold and distant.

Duan Jinghuai was speechless. His very soul felt ensnared and bewitched, as if he had lost his senses.

He remained frozen until the tuxedo-clad bartender reminded him in fluent English: “He is drunk, sir.”

He snapped back to reality.

Realizing his loss of composure, Duan Jinghuai curled his hand into a fist and cleared his throat.

Not far from the bar stood a fountain statue, the water bubbling and gurgling with a rhythmic tinkling sound.

Shi Yu gave him his back, his beautiful fingertips idly playing with the rim of his glass. Under the light, his neck was a stark, cold white, like fallen snow, exquisite and fragile.

It stirred an uncontrollable urge to reach out and touch it.

Duan Jinghuai’s throat moved involuntarily as his gaze darkened.

His hand clenched and unclenched. Finally, after a long moment of restraint, he stepped forward and firmly took Shi Yu’s wrist, pulling the glass away. “Stop drinking.”

Having his glass taken, Shi Yu looked up in confusion. His pure yet seductive eyes, hazy with intoxication, drifted toward him.

Duan Jinghuai felt like his fingertips were burning where they touched Shi Yu’s wrist. He closed his eyes, his voice strained and husky. “Where is your assistant?”

Shi Yu ignored him, reaching out to get back the glass. When he could not reach it, he leaned forward.

His trouser leg brushed against Duan Jinghuai’s, and his knee pressed against his own. His cold fingertips brushed rhythmically against Duan Jinghuai’s palm.

Yet the glass remained out of reach.

“Duan Jinghuai.” Shi Yu looked at him with a hint of anger, unreasonably raising a leg to give Duan Jinghuai’s shin a kick.

Even when drunk, he was exactly as he used to be, like a child.

Distant memories flooded Duan Jinghuai’s mind, trembling, lingering, and ambiguous, making his breath hitch.

Duan Jinghuai felt that this was the Shi Yu he knew, a far cry from the unapproachable “Ice Queen” he had been minutes ago.

“Stop it.” Duan Jinghuai’s voice softened involuntarily. He gripped Shi Yu’s wrist with one hand and handed the glass back to the bartender with the other.

Shi Yu watched as the glass returned to the bartender’s hand. He immediately turned back and held up a single finger, his voice lazy and soft. “Give me another cup, hic.”

He could not help but let out a small wine hiccup. After doing so, he covered his mouth with his hand, leaving only his clear eyes visible.

Duan Jinghuai gave the bartender a look; the man understood and tactfully withdrew.

“I will find your assistant to pick you up.”

Regaining his composure, he picked up Shi Yu’s phone from the bar and swiped the screen open. The wallpaper was a photo of a basketball court.

Duan Jinghuai frowned, thinking for a moment. The image looked familiar, but he had no time to dwell on it.

Shi Yu’s toes were swinging restlessly, slowly and agonizingly rubbing against his shin.

At some point, his tie had been pulled off. His shirt collar was slightly open, revealing a large expanse of cold, white skin hidden beneath the black silk. Further down, there were intoxicating depths waiting to be explored.

Everything about him screamed temptation, nearly setting Duan Jinghuai’s reason on fire.

“Shi Yu.”

The veins on the back of Duan Jinghuai’s hand bulged. He was acutely aware of the changes in his own body, yet the person responsible remained oblivious. Shi Yu merely kept his cat like, drunken eyes fixed on him, looking dazed, innocent, and confused.

“Hmm?” His voice was soft and drawn out, mulling over words like a child in a nightmare.

Duan Jinghuai’s heart was beating out of rhythm. He suddenly raised his hand, using his palm to cover Shi Yu’s eyes.

With the light blocked, Shi Yu protested, frowning and trying to pull Duan Jinghuai’s hand away.

His slender fingers felt delicate and soft, yet slightly cold to the touch.

Duan Jinghuai took a deep breath. “Forget it. I will take you home.”

He pulled out his phone to message his assistant: “I am sending you the location. Bring the car around.”

Just as he finished, Shi Yu suddenly stood up. His face was burning, and his legs were weak. Before he could even take a step, his body gave way, and he tumbled straight into Duan Jinghuai’s arms.

Duan Jinghuai’s back stiffened. Even through his suit jacket, he could feel how slender and soft that waist was. His throat tightened instantly.

“Ugh, so dizzy,” Shi Yu murmured like he was talking in his sleep. He fumbled around, trying to find something to lean on, but his vision was a complete blur. After a long while, he finally saw the person in front of him. “Duan Jinghuai.”

The corners of his eyes were tinged with a vivid red, and his skin was alarmingly hot. That unique, soft, and lingering tone was practically an aphrodisiac.

Duan Jinghuai’s gaze darkened further, a restless danger brewing in his eyes.

He felt a sudden sense of relief.

It was lucky that he had been the one to find him. If it had been anyone else, who knew what would have happened?

With a ding, his assistant replied.

Duan Jinghuai picked him up in a princess carry. Shi Yu, feeling lightheaded, instinctively grabbed onto his collar.

Since the bar was in a side hall, he carried him straight out the back door. They encountered a few guests along the way; they had intended to say hello, but seeing Duan Jinghuai’s dark and brooding expression, they wisely kept their mouths shut.

Once in the car, Duan Jinghuai carefully placed him in the back seat. No sooner had he closed the door than Shi Yu leaned against his shoulder like he had no bones, letting out a couple of soft, compliant whimpers.

A faint, cold scent of mint drifted beneath Duan Jinghuai’s nose, warming a spot in his chest.

Feeling restless, he tugged at his tie and opened the car window. The damp, muggy scent of plants and soil after the rain drifted in.

Looking at Shi Yu’s flushed profile, Duan Jinghuai frowned and called Jiang Yu. He got straight to the point: “Send me Shi Yu’s address.”

There was a burst of deafening heavy metal music on the other end, which only quieted after a while. Jiang Yu choked on some smoke and coughed several times. “What are you doing? Breaking and entering is a crime.”

Duan Jinghuai rubbed his brow, exhausted. “He is drunk. I am taking him home.”

“Oh?” Jiang Yu sounded amused. “You are being quite the Good Samaritan.”

“Keep talking and I will shut down your bar tomorrow.”

“Fine, fine.” Jiang Yu shifted his cigarette to his other hand and typed out an address. He added sycophantically, “You are the boss. Whatever you say.”

Duan Jinghuai hung up impatiently.

He looked down to find those innocent, seductive eyes staring at him without blinking, his dark pupils brightened by the streetlights.

“Who are you calling?”

For a moment, he thought Shi Yu had sobered up. His heart skipped a beat. “Jiang Yu.”

“Oh,” he nodded blankly and added, “I want to go too.”

“Go where?”

“Are we not going camping?”

Duan Jinghuai froze.

Camping?

He suddenly realized Shi Yu was talking about ninth grade.

Shi Yu was still very much drunk.

During that camping trip years ago, they were caught in a heavy snowfall. The whole group had to stay at a hotel. After everyone was settled, only one room was left with two single beds. Jiang Yu was a big guy and took one for himself, so Duan Jinghuai had to share a bed with Shi Yu.

Snowflakes swirled as the cold wind rattled the windows. The room was filled with Jiang Yu’s thunderous snoring.

Duan Jinghuai had kept his eyes open, looking down somewhat helplessly at the person curled into his arms.

Shi Yu was a restless sleeper. Although he looked well behaved, he kept burrowing into Duan Jinghuai’s embrace. That slim, soft waist pressed against Duan Jinghuai’s palm, and those fair, smooth legs unintentionally brushed against his increasingly sensitive nerves.

Duan Jinghuai would try to push him away, only for Shi Yu to cling back on. His hot breath brushed against Duan Jinghuai’s neck. In the moonlight, he could see Shi Yu’s full, pale lips pressed against his shoulder, burning hot.

His muscles had been tense, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and his heart rate off the charts.

That was the first time he felt an intense physical desire for someone, a heat and longing so difficult to suppress, yet accompanied by a cautiousness that made him afraid to touch, roasting him like fire.

He had not had the heart to wake him up. He just lay there, wide awake the entire night.