I’m Face-Blind, But I Devoted Myself To Three Guys - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: “Kiss you? Me?”

Xie Chengyan leaned against the doorframe, holding the thin business card between his index and ring fingers. He stared at Qi Xu for a long time before letting out a sharp, amused laugh.

If it were anyone else holding a psychologist’s card, making an issue of his sexual addiction and suggesting treatment, he would never let that person off easy for such a blatant provocation.

However, Qi Xu’s expression was exceptionally sincere, as if he truly cared for his well-being.

Xie Chengyan lowered his eyelashes. His gaze swept downward, passing over Qi Xu’s slender white neck and finally landing on the corner of the bandage peeking out from under the collar.

With a nimble flip of his fingers, he rotated the card and used its corner to gently poke the sterile patch on Qi Xu’s collarbone. His gaze returned to Qi Xu’s face, his low voice carrying a bit of a chill: “Young Master, I think you’ve missed the point.”

The sharp corner of the card poked the skin through the thin bandage, causing an itch. Qi Xu blinked, reached up to scratch it, and stared back without saying a word.

While he was curious about why the man had bitten him, from Xie Chengyan’s perspective, curing the “illness” should be the priority, right? Qi Xu didn’t see anything wrong with this logic.

Xie Chengyan watched the silent boy, assuming he had finally realized the gravity of the situation. However, in the next second, Qi Xu spoke, still missing the mark: “So, that night in the lounge… were you having an episode then, too?”

Qi Xu recalled the man’s burning body temperature and the heavy breathing against his ear that day.

“…Yes.” Xie Chengyan pulled the corner of his mouth into a forced smirk.

“This illness must be very uncomfortable, right?” Qi Xu’s own physiological needs weren’t high, so he didn’t quite understand the feeling of being consumed by desire.

“…” Xie Chengyan didn’t want to answer this time.

But Qi Xu didn’t need an answer; just seeing how Xie Chengyan had endured his episodes until the veins popped on his forehead was enough to know it wasn’t pleasant.

Since opening the door, Qi Xu had been asking random questions, making Xie Chengyan wonder if his decision to confess the illness had been correct. He stared at the small mole below Qi Xu’s cheekbone, and as he recalled the sensuous scenes from the previous night, his gaze darkened.

While Qi Xu was feeling sympathetic, he looked up and met that scorching gaze. He froze; this wasn’t the first time he’d seen this emotion in Xie Chengyan’s eyes. But upon reflection, it seemed to happen every time the man had an episode.

Viewed this way, the heat in his gaze was easy to understand: Xie Chengyan saw him as a sexual object.

Thinking of this, Qi Xu blinked and reflexively covered his lips with his hand, trying to keep his voice neutral: “Um… is it, like, anyone will do for you?”

He had asked the system; sexual addiction was also called compulsive sexual behavior disorder or hypersexuality. Literally speaking, during an episode, even if one isn’t completely animalistic, they are likely to take whoever is available.

Was that why Xie Chengyan asked a person he barely knew to help him ‘manually’ back then?

Just as Qi Xu was subconsciously pigeonholing him as someone with a messy private life, Xie Chengyan’s gaze suddenly sank. His fist clenched tightly at his side, and his tone grew colder than before:

“Do you take me for some trash that eats anything dirty?”

Qi Xu keenly caught the word “also” in his speech, realizing that this illness might have subjected him to many prejudiced looks. Seeing the veins bulging on the back of Xie Chengyan’s hand, Qi Xu realized his words had been rude. He immediately reached out and grasped Xie Chengyan’s wrist, explaining:

“I didn’t mean that. I think I said the wrong thing. Please don’t be angry.”

Qi Xu felt regretful for his slip of the tongue, and Xie Chengyan’s irritation vanished the moment Qi Xu touched him. The contact on his wrist was cool, and a faint, warm fragrance wafted to his nose; the familiar sense of fulfillment dispelled the rising irritability.

Xie Chengyan closed his eyes, the heavy thoughts in his gaze gradually receding. He let out a slow breath: “I haven’t let anyone get close to me.”

Qi Xu was slightly stunned, looking up at him, not reacting immediately.

Xie Chengyan stared into Qi Xu’s eyes and repeated: “I don’t let anyone near me when I’m having an episode.” His eyes were deep, his voice layered with an unidentifiable emotion.

Qi Xu looked directly into those intense eyes and blinked. Then blinked again.

After a long pause: “Um, actually…” Qi Xu felt a bit embarrassed and corrected him in a small voice, “I am also a person.”

Xie Chengyan: “…” Xie Chengyan: “………”

“…You must just be face-blind, right?” Xie Chengyan looked at him deeply; it was hard not to question it. Yet Qi Xu always focused on the wrong thing.

“How did you know I’m face-blind?” Qi Xu asked. He remembered only telling Jiang Ying-shen about it.

“…Probably because I have eyes,” Xie Chengyan paused, then sighed, “and a brain.”

Qi Xu automatically filtered out the subtle mockery, scratching his chin: “Oh.”

Xie Chengyan glanced down at him, unsure if he was playing dumb. Just as he was about to speak, the boy opposite him asked matter-of-factly:

“So, why did you bite me last night?”

Praise be, after going in circles, he finally found the main point.

Xie Chengyan raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over Qi Xu’s face. Seeing nothing unusual, he countered with a question: “Do you really have no memory of last night?”

Qi Xu thought hard for two seconds, confirmed his memory ended with him sitting on the man’s lap, and shook his head: “No.”

“You weren’t very well-behaved after you fell asleep,” Xie Chengyan said, crossing his arms with a half-smile, a look of amusement in his eyes.

Qi Xu tilted his head, unsure. Since graduating from primary school, he had never shared a bed with anyone, so this was the first time he’d heard such a thing.

“You were very clingy and seemed to intend to kiss me.” Seeing no rebuttal, Xie Chengyan dropped another bomb, silently observing the response.

He saw the “bombed” Qi Xu immediately point at himself, looking completely lost: “Kiss you? Me?”

Xie Chengyan raised an eyebrow, the meaning clear.

Qi Xu hurriedly lowered his eyes, suddenly feeling guilty. If he was influenced by his usual “lickspittle” tasks, it wasn’t impossible that he might subconsciously seek a kiss from a protagonist. But I thought I was quite dignified in my ‘licking.’ Did I show my true colors as soon as I fell asleep?

Seeing that the boy in front of him was convinced, Xie Chengyan narrowed his eyes. It was true that Qi Xu was clingy when asleep, but the part about wanting to kiss him was a lie—

…

Last night, it wasn’t yet late, about half an hour before midnight. Most people’s nightlife was just beginning. Of course, “most people” did not include the person in Xie Chengyan’s arms.

Qi Xu fell asleep quickly, but the bright overhead light made his sleep restless. Curled in Xie Chengyan’s embrace, he shifted uncomfortably, trying to bury his head in the man’s shoulder to hide from the stinging light.

Xie Chengyan, who had been lost in thought, was brought back to reality by the movement. He looked at the defenseless sleeper, let out a soft snort, and reached out to turn off the main lights.

The room plunged into darkness, leaving only the soft glow of a warm yellow bedside lamp. Without the annoying light, Qi Xu’s head tilted to the side, facing Xie Chengyan’s neck.

Even, warm breath brushed against his shoulder and neck—once, then again—carrying Qi Xu’s unique warm scent. It triggered a subtle but undeniable spark of electricity.

The restlessness he had just managed to calm surged again. Xie Chengyan’s breathing grew heavy, and his muscles tensed uncontrollably. After Qi Xu’s arm relaxed, it stayed draped across the man’s waist, his fingers slightly curled. As they breathed, his fingertips occasionally brushed against Xie Chengyan’s side, torturing the already sensitive man.

Xie Chengyan swallowed, his throat dry. The movement was incredibly loud in the silent room. A familiar, scorching current rose from where they were pressed together, spreading to his limbs and finally coiling in his lower abdomen with a burning desire.

Xie Chengyan gasped for air and looked down helplessly at the culprit. But the oblivious boy was sleeping soundly, his long lashes casting small shadows and his lips murmuring a short, soft sound. This lack of defense felt like an invitation.

Xie Chengyan stared at those supple lips. He instinctively raised a hand to tilt Qi Xu’s chin, slowly lowering his head.

“Mmm.” Qi Xu frowned uncomfortably and let out a soft groan.

Xie Chengyan froze. He stared intensely at the sleeper for a moment before closing his eyes and silently letting go. He moved to place Qi Xu on the bed, but before he could let go, Qi Xu’s arm suddenly tightened around his waist.

Xie Chengyan: “…” Now he was the one being used as a body pillow.

He let out a bitter laugh and slowly tried to pry Qi Xu’s arm away. But the boy was exceptionally clingy in his sleep; as soon as one hand was moved, the other grabbed his clothes and continued to climb. When disturbed by Xie Chengyan, he let out soft, whiny protests like a kitten that hadn’t had enough sleep.

After several rounds of this, Xie Chengyan gave up. Qi Xu ended up lying back in his arms. However, the adjusted position made them press even closer together. Qi Xu’s restless hands and feet would occasionally brush against him, stoking the fire in Xie Chengyan even hotter.

Xie Chengyan covered his eyes with his hand and let out a deep breath, his teeth gritted: “Young Master, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

The person addressed just rolled over in response. Qi Xu’s cotton pajamas were loose and soft; after their scuffling, the top button had come undone. As he turned, his collar fell open, revealing his thin collarbone.

Xie Chengyan stared at that smooth, delicate skin, then at the peacefully sleeping boy, and couldn’t help but grind his teeth.

“Didn’t you promise to help me?”

The boy remained oblivious. Xie Chengyan pursed his lips and swallowed unconsciously. Finally, with a hint of retaliation, he held the back of Qi Xu’s neck steady and lowered his head.

“Ugh…” The bitten person didn’t wake up immediately as expected. Instead, he let out a soft moan and slowly opened his eyes. They were misty, clearly not yet conscious.

Xie Chengyan glanced at him, slowly released his teeth, and covered Qi Xu’s eyes with his hand: “Shh, go to sleep.”

Sure enough, Qi Xu obediently closed his eyes. Later, Xie Chengyan also fell asleep surprisingly quickly.

…

The memory ended. Xie Chengyan looked at Qi Xu thoughtfully. The fact that his casually made-up lie wasn’t questioned suggested that Qi Xu wasn’t entirely without feelings for him.

Xie Chengyan curled his lips, leaned in close to Qi Xu’s ear, and whispered enticingly: “Do you want to continue helping me?”

“Just like last night, stay by my side. As long as you don’t want to, I won’t do anything to you. Just hugging, holding hands.” He watched Qi Xu’s expression, his gaze sweeping over him with interest and urgency.

Qi Xu pursed his lips, still immersed in the revelation that he was clingy and sought kisses in his sleep. He looked up at the smiling man, and his attention shifted again.

…This protagonist seems a bit too cooperative?

But as a qualified “lickspittle,” if someone offers themselves up to be “licked,” there’s no reason to refuse.

Qi Xu hesitated for only two seconds before nodding: “Okay.”

He was eager to establish a deeper connection with the protagonists anyway. If he could earn Lickspittle Points just by lying down, that would be for the best.

The two of them, having achieved their goals, simultaneously lowered their brows, each hiding their own thoughts.

—The target who walked right in / The lamb that jumped into the net.