Hormones That Can't Be Hidden - Chapter 21

Dong Junhao suppressed the churning emotions in his chest, forcing his voice to sound as steady as possible, even adding a touch of deliberate detachment. “Mr. Liu, you’re overthinking. Mr. Fang and I… have only met a few times. We can barely be considered acquaintances. Friends? I’m not in his league. Emotional entanglements? Even more of a joke.”

He paused, his Adam’s apple bobbing as that loathsome term nearly broke through his teeth, only for him to press it down harder, his voice turning even colder. “As for that… ‘fling’ you mentioned… between two men like us, how could that even be possible?”

He raised his eyes, his gaze appearing to land on Liu Wei yet seemingly piercing through him toward a void, leaking a hidden but resolute coldness. “What kind of person he is, or how many ‘pasts’ he’s had, has nothing to do with me. However…” A nearly sarcastic arc pulled at the corner of his mouth. “Today, I must ‘thank’ you, Mr. Liu, for your ‘kind reminder.’ You’ve certainly taught me a lesson.”

“You’ve made me realize just what kind of… disgusting face can be hidden beneath the polished skin of certain elites.”

Every word was ground out from between his teeth with a resentful disappointment, as if he were violently severing the dangerous vines in his heart that had begun to grow before he could even identify them.

“You can rest assured,” Dong Junhao snapped his gaze back, re-focusing on the patch of skin beneath his hands that had already been scrubbed red. His movements were mechanical and stiff, as if he were trying to scrub away his emotions as well. “I won’t have any further involvement with him. No contact. From now on, he is him, and I am me. Our paths won’t cross again.”

Liu Wei’s eyes suddenly sparked, like a hyena in the dark finally scenting the blood of wounded prey. The distorted malice and sharp mockery on his face receded like a tide, replaced by a carefully concocted mix of hypocritical sympathy, cheap understanding, and… an unmaskable, thrill-seeking excitement.

“It’s good that you think that way; it makes my trip here worthwhile!” His voice softened with a seductive quality. “Master Dong, it’s only because I saw how honest and sincere you are that I couldn’t bear to see you played by a veteran player. I didn’t want you to be tricked until your head was spinning, leaving you exhausted and scarred that’s why I couldn’t help but remind you.”

He adjusted his prone position and turned his head, his gaze becoming somewhat hazy as it lingered on Dong Junhao’s sweat-dampened temples, his tight lip line, and his bulging arm muscles.

“If it weren’t for our first meeting… the wrong setting and the terrible atmosphere… I never would have said those harsh things to you. Perhaps… we could have had a much more pleasant start.”

Seeing Dong Junhao remain as unresponsive as a stone carving, his brow furrowing even deeper, Liu Wei didn’t retreat. Instead, he pushed further, leaning in closer. His lowered voice was wrapped in a warm, unpleasant breath that brushed against the bare skin of Dong Junhao’s forearm. “Since you have no deep history with him, and I’ve sincerely apologized… shouldn’t our previous misunderstanding be considered settled?”

“I’d like to formally introduce myself and start fresh as friends. What do you… think?”

Dong Junhao finally reached his limit. He stopped all movement abruptly and looked Liu Wei in the eye, his gaze filled with undisguised fatigue, impatience, and detachment. “Mr. Liu, you said it yourself besides raw strength and scrubbing backs, I have no merits. We are not of the same world. Why… put on this act and waste your time on me?”

The rejection in his tone was as hard as a rock, leaving no room for negotiation.

“No, you’ve misunderstood; it’s not like that at all.” Liu Wei shook his head quickly, his eyes fervent. “Though I look down on Fang Mingxuan’s hypocritical ways, there is one thing I have to admit his eye for ‘people’ is incredibly sharp.”

His gaze swept like a searchlight over every contour of Dong Junhao’s body beneath his clothes. “I didn’t notice at first glance, but now that I’m close and taking a proper look… Master Dong, you truly have a unique attraction that you might not even realize one that makes people want to get close.”

He paused intentionally, admiring the way Dong Junhao’s body stiffened further at his words, before continuing slowly: “It’s not just that you have a good frame or great strength… it’s that solid scent of sun-baked skin and sweat on you. It’s something that’s nearly extinct in our circle. It’s pure, upright, and without hidden motives.”

“Being with you, I feel strangely… steady. I don’t have to be on guard; I can completely take off those hypocritical masks. And of course,” a low laugh escaped his throat, the tail end trailing off suggestively, “you’re also a real… feast for the eyes. So, I am truly sincere about wanting to be your friend. The kind that treats each other with total candor.”

Dong Junhao felt his stomach churn with a disgust so strong he nearly vomited. The convoluted, half-true games of these wealthy young masters were beyond his understanding, and he had no desire to learn. He wanted only to end this sickening “service” immediately and distance himself from everything associated with the name “Fang Mingxuan” including this bizarre ex-boyfriend and the chaotic, distorted world he represented.

“Mr. Liu, I can’t afford your ‘kindness,’ nor do I need it.” Dong Junhao took a step back, creating distance, his tone completely icy and final. “I believe I’ve made myself clear. I have nothing to do with Mr. Fang. Likewise, I have no desire to have any further intersection with his ‘past’ or anyone in it. Our relationship is limited to this scrubbing table and this single transaction. Now, the service is over. Please leave.”

He issued the ultimatum directly and turned around, snapping the water valve open. The cold stream rushed down with such force that the spray splashed everywhere, nearly soaking Liu Wei’s bathrobe. He kept his back to Liu Wei, his broad back muscles tensed every line screaming resistance and isolation.

Liu Wei stared at the resolute back, and the carefully faked warmth and fervor on his face melted and peeled away like a wax statue near heat, revealing the sinister, cold interior beneath. A flash of humiliated rage at being rejected and a deeper sense of resentment crossed his eyes. However, he didn’t erupt immediately. He sat up slowly and used his towel to dry himself with a posture that could even be called elegant.

“Fine… it seems I was too hasty before, and my words were too harsh, leaving you with a grudge.” Liu Wei’s voice returned to its initial calm, even carrying a perfect touch of regret. “Master Dong, you are an upright man with principles; I admire and respect your choice. But then again…” His tone shifted abruptly, becoming subtle and laced with a hint of temptation and a hidden needle.

“There’s one thing whose severity you might not have realized yet. Fang Mingxuan’s innate possessiveness and need for control are terrifyingly strong. Anyone or anything he sets his sights on if he can’t have it, he won’t let it go easily. He might even… resort to some unscrupulous means.”

He paced forward two steps, his voice dropping so low it was almost a whisper. He leaned in intimately, like someone discussing a secret: “To be safe, and to prevent him from coming back to cause you trouble when he won’t give up… I actually have a small proposal. A little method that might help you… and me. Interested in… hearing it?”

Dong Junhao’s movements in rinsing the table didn’t falter for a second. The rushing water drowned out everything. His back was straight, like a silent reef letting the waves crash against it, showing no reaction whatsoever. Liu Wei didn’t mind the silence. A calculated arc curled at the corner of his mouth as he continued to speak to himself.

The next day, at a private racetrack in the suburbs.

The roar of engines sounded like the screams of trapped beasts, violently tearing through the dull afternoon air. Luxury sports cars with dazzling paint and exaggerated designs crouched near the starting line like restless metallic predators, radiating a scorching mix of money and hormones. This was an open-air showroom for the scions of a specific social circle to vent their energy and flaunt speed and wealth.

Standing beside Liu Wei’s modified silver sports car was a particularly eye-catching man. He was tall and built, his black leather racing suit highlighting a powerful silhouette that showcased his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs to their full advantage. The leather suit shimmered with a cold, hard luster under the sun, tightly wrapping around his bulging muscle lines, looking full of wild power. A pair of large sunglasses covered half his face, leaving only the resolute, axe-carved jawline and tightly pressed lips visible.

He stood there in silence, a cold aura of “do not approach” radiating from him, looking like a black panther ready to strike at any second. His intense masculine hormones spread silently, attracting both overt and covert looks from the crowd.

Liu Wei leaned casually against the car door, chatting and laughing with others, yet his gaze was like a fishhook constantly darting toward his cool, hard male companion. The possessiveness and flaunting in his look were thick enough to overflow. Most people in the circle knew Liu Wei’s tastes; seeing this, they exchanged knowing looks, some with suggestive laughs and others with knowing arches of their brows. Bringing a new “favorite” out to show off was practically a tradition in this circle that thrived on thrills and novelty.

However, not far away, inside a matte black sports car with lines as cold as a blade, the air instantly froze. The temperature plummeted.

Fang Mingxuan’s fingers gripped the steering wheel so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands bulged beneath the skin. Through the dark window, his gaze was like an ice pick, fixed dead on the tall, sturdy, cold man beside Liu Wei. Even at a distance, and even with the man’s face mostly covered by sunglasses, a ridiculous yet sharp intuition allowed him to identify the man instantly.

But why is he here? And how did he end up with Liu Wei?

Countless questions exploded in his mind! And Liu Wei’s hand, intentionally resting on the man’s waist in a gesture of ownership… Every frame of the scene was like a red-hot steel needle stabbing into his pupils and brain!

Rage and scorching jealousy transformed into an uncontrolled inferno in his eyes. In the depths of his pupils, a scarlet light seemed to leap reflecting not the usual composed, cynical playboy, but a thoroughly enraged beast whose territory and property had been provoked, baring its fangs and ready to devour its prey!

Liu Wei seemed to instantly receive that gaze of nearly tangible murderous intent. Far from being afraid, he looked as though he had been waiting for it. He intentionally pulled his companion closer and raised his voice toward Fang Mingxuan’s car, his tone a piercingly cheerful drawl:

“Oh! Has the sun risen in the west today? Chairman Fang actually has time to come and play a few rounds? What a rare guest!”

The man he was holding tensed almost imperceptibly for a split second. His head turned away slightly, as if trying to break free from the overly intimate embrace. But for some reason, the struggle was minimal and stopped quickly, though his posture remained incredibly stiff and unnatural.

Nearby, someone who enjoyed watching drama piped up: “President Liu, seeing Chairman Fang is here, shouldn’t you dial it back a bit? Aren’t you afraid of being ‘disciplined’ when you get back?”

“Exactly, you two are such a perfect pair; how can you have eyes for anyone else!”

“This hunk you’ve got today is a new face. Introduce him to the brothers don’t be stingy!”

Liu Wei raised his brows triumphantly. His arm tightened demonstratively, nearly pulling the man into a full embrace. He squinted provocatively at the black car, his voice clearly cutting through the low growl of the engines to reach everyone nearby: “Our way of getting along isn’t as rigid as you think.”

“As for this one? He’s my private ‘specialty therapist.’ Top-tier technique he’s especially good at ‘relieving my pressure.’ As for the other details…” He trailed off with a suggestive smile. “I won’t reveal too much, lest you all get jealous and try to steal him from me. I couldn’t bear to let him go!”

With that, he intentionally turned his head toward his companion’s ear which was obscured by the sunglasses and whispered something with his lips nearly touching the skin. Immediately after, the two of them got into the car. Amidst the roar of the engine, Liu Wei didn’t forget to flash a victor’s mocking smile at Fang Mingxuan.

The next second, the silver sports car erupted like a beast out of a cage, letting out a violent roar as it carried the man away, leaving behind a trail of acrid blue smoke from the tires.

“Liu. Wei.”

Fang Mingxuan’s jaw was locked tight as he ground out the words from the depths of his throat, his voice low and terrifyingly cold. He slammed the engine to life, the black car letting out a growl deeper and more horrific than usual, as if suppressing a heaven-shaking rage. Fang Mingxuan floored the accelerator, and the black car shot out like a bolt of black lightning, chasing after the silver car with a reckless, desperate intensity!