The Beautiful Top Being Pursued Relentlessly [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 6

Reward.

Xie Cheng gazed at the greedy little “puppy” before him. His hand, which had been resting at his side, reached up. His soft fingertips brushed against Jiang Yi’s exposed skin, feeling the younger man’s body gradually grow rigid under his touch.

“You can barely handle this much, yet you’re asking for a reward?” Xie Cheng asked, his voice teasing as he deliberately pressed his palm against the small of Jiang Yi’s back.

The surrounding wall of fire seemed to weaken slightly, allowing a gentle breeze to filter in. Xie Cheng leaned back, propping himself up with his left hand, and narrowed his eyes to observe him. His gaze was playful; wherever his eyes landed, Jiang Yi’s muscles would twitch and tighten in a nervous, instinctive reaction.

It was an entertaining response. Xie Cheng was willing to grant him a little more patience just to see what kind of reward he truly desired.

Jiang Yi could only pant heavily, unable to find his voice. He was utterly entranced.

The “Immortal” was reclining there, a few strands of silver hair falling over his loosely parted collar. In the flickering firelight, the hair and his pale, cold skin combined to create a breathtaking contrast. His eyes, usually sharp and piercing, were now lowered and bathed in the soft glow, giving him an air of rare languor.

This version of Xie Cheng was undoubtedly relaxed. More importantly most importantly Jiang Yi saw his own reflection mirrored in those silver-gray pupils.

His heart throbbed violently against his ribs. Jiang Yi’s throat tightened, and he unconsciously held his breath. Wrapped in the faint, lingering fragrance of the other man, Jiang Yi leaned forward with his lips slightly parted, waiting for a miracle to happen.

Just as he was about to make contact, Xie Cheng suddenly pressed a finger against his lips, holding him back. “Good boy, Jiang Yi. I don’t believe I’ve agreed to anything yet.”

“I’ll be good. I’ll be good” Jiang Yi murmured, struggling to restrain himself.

Xie Cheng was satisfied, but the hot breath puffing from Jiang Yi’s mouth washed over his face. The “puppy” seemed desperate to bury his own scent all over Xie Cheng’s body. Driven by a restless anxiety, Jiang Yi leaned in and carefully nuzzled Xie Cheng’s neck.

“Then what is the reward for a good Jiang Yi?”

Xie Cheng remained silent for a long moment. “Do you know how to kiss?”

The puppy snapped his head up. “I can learn!”

“Ha” Xie Cheng couldn’t help but chuckle. He patted the boy’s head. “You’re like a walnut that’s been crushed by a door.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’ve started to crack open, but you’re not quite enlightened yet.”

Jiang Yi muttered aggrievedly, “I really can learn.”

“When you’ve actually learned, then come back and ask for a reward.” Xie Cheng gave him a nudge, but Jiang Yi didn’t budge.

“If I’m going to learn, don’t I need to practice?”

Jiang Yi’s round eyes were glued to Xie Cheng; his inner thoughts were transparent. Xie Cheng liked those eyes large and round, like two perfect gemstones. He reached out to cut the back of Jiang Yi’s head, his tone turning slightly firm. “Come here.”

Jiang Yi, who was sitting on Xie Cheng’s lap, shuffled forward. He did so slowly, intentionally wiggling about while asking a question he already knew the answer to: “Come here for what?”

“To kiss.” Xie Cheng sat up straight, using his core strength to pull Jiang Yi deeper into his embrace. “If your technique is good, I’ll let you practice.”

“Mmh!” Jiang Yi looked up excitedly.

The first kiss was a mess of pure adrenaline. There was no technique involved; the puppy simply charged in head-first. Once he managed to catch Xie Cheng’s lips, he began to gnaw on them relentlessly, refusing to let go.

He was actually biting.

The experience was far from pleasant. With a darkened expression, Xie Cheng peeled the boy off him.

As night deepened, Xie Cheng showed no mercy and retreated back into the car.

The battered car sat parked against the wall of fire. The heat from the continuous flames warded off the chill, making the interior feel like a giant steamer basket. Xie Cheng lay inside, feeling like a piece of dough slowly rising in the heat.

Outside the window, a “starving puppy” was huddled against the glass, watching with longing eyes waiting for the steamer to open so he could snatch the bun inside.

Under the weight of that intense gaze, Xie Cheng opened his eyes and glanced toward the window. Almost the instant his eyelids fluttered, Jiang Yi’s face was already pressed against the glass, flattening his features. His squashed lips moved, silently mouthing: “Can I come in?” followed by “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Xie Cheng took a moment to compose himself before opening the door and pulling the now-clothed Jiang Yi inside.

The front seat became cramped instantly, even with the seats pushed back as far as possible. Jiang Yi’s legs were jammed into the gaps as he leaned over Xie Cheng in an awkward posture.

“I set up a bed on the second floor. Do you want to go in?”

In the darkness, Jiang Yi’s eyes blinked repeatedly. He lowered his head, his nose brushing against Xie Cheng’s cheek. Xie Cheng’s eyelashes were longer than average, though people usually noticed the slight upward tilt of his eyes first. Now, those lashes fluttered softly, brushing against Jiang Yi’s already restless heart. Jiang Yi felt an unbearable itch throughout his body; he pressed closer, rubbing against him.

“Always fidgeting. Were you actually a dog in a past life?”

The crown of Jiang Yi’s fuzzy head rubbed against Xie Cheng’s chin. He then looked up, his face flushing as he let out a soft, “Woof.”

Xie Cheng: “…”

“Xie Cheng, can I ask you a question?”

Xie Cheng: “Ask.”

“Why don’t you. have a reaction?”

Xie Cheng found his train of thought difficult to grasp. “Why should I have a reaction?”

“But” Jiang Yi swallowed his words and tried a different angle. “If I kept doing ‘this and that’ to you, would you eventually have a reaction?”

Xie Cheng’s face went cold. “I would kick you out.”

“I  want you to have a reaction.”

Xie Cheng: “?”

How could he say something like that so bluntly?

“Because… because… because you helped me before.” Jiang Yi’s eyes darted away. “It’s called ‘reciprocity’.”

What kind of twisted reciprocity is this?

Xie Cheng pressed a hand against the boy’s soft chest. “First of all, I need to emphasize one point: I never ‘helped’ you.”

“No, no,” Jiang Yi argued, his voice dropping even lower. “Just letting me look at you counts as helping me.”

Xie Cheng: Pervert.

In the middle of the night, in such a confined space, with their lower halves pressed against each other, it was hardly the place for this conversation. Under Jiang Yi’s persistent “nuzzling,” Xie Cheng finally pushed the clingy puppy away and unlatched the car door.

With a crisp click, Xie Cheng stepped out toward a dark path. This path led to a crumbling outer wall. He stepped onto the remaining few stairs and climbed up to the second floor.

In a corner of the second floor a spot perfectly shielded from the wind several layers of mattresses had been laid out. Soft blankets were folded neatly, and a bouquet of wildflowers sat to the side.

They were the flowers Jiang Yi had picked earlier.

Jiang Yi caught up, panting. “How is it? Isn’t it decorated beautifully?”

“It’s fine,” Xie Cheng replied simply.

To Jiang Yi, an “it’s fine” from the Immortal meant he loved it. He successfully brainwashed himself, jumped onto the large bed, rolled around in the blankets, and then smoothed them out.

“I don’t recall saying I would share a bed with you.”

Jiang Yi whispered, “It’s just what I was hoping for.”

“You certainly have a vivid imagination.”

Jiang Yi just gave him a silly grin.

Xie Cheng: 

“It’s very cold at night. I can warm the bed for you,” Jiang Yi invited, patting the spot next to him. He emphasized, “It’s very soft and warm!”

Xie Cheng looked back at the pitch-black path and the dirty ground outside. He compromised. They had already kissed; being picky about sleeping arrangements now seemed a bit pretentious.

Xie Cheng took off his shoes and lay down, adjusting his pillow. The large, soft blanket soon covered him, and immediately after, the heat-radiating Jiang Yi rolled into his arms.

“Goodnight,” Jiang Yi said with a smile in his voice.

Xie Cheng forced himself to lie still, trying his best to ignore the person draped over him. After a long silence, he let out a sigh and replied, “Mm.”

When morning came, the lack of a roof and the constant rustling sound by his ear woke Xie Cheng up quickly. He opened his eyes to find the culprit behind the noise.

A handsome face was suddenly very close. Xie Cheng looked at him calmly, then shifted his gaze to the comb in the boy’s hand.

“What are you doing?”

This had become Xie Cheng’s catchphrase; every time Jiang Yi approached, he asked the same thing.

Jiang Yi didn’t say a word. He picked up a lock of Xie Cheng’s hair as if he were tackling a difficult puzzle, frowning slightly as he gently teased out a tangle with the comb.

“Don’t move, or I might pull on it.”

Jiang Yi was attempting to smooth out Xie Cheng’s messy, long hair.

“Why do you keep your hair so long?” Jiang Yi asked sincerely. “And why don’t you comb it if you’re going to keep it long?”

Xie Cheng gave a two-word answer: “No time.”

He was busy; he didn’t have the luxury to worry about such things.

“Well, you can leave it all to me from now on.” Jiang Yi held the comb in one hand and patted his chest with the other. “Starting today, I’m your exclusive hairstylist.”

He wasn’t joking. Jiang Yi’s gaze was firm and serious, laced with a bit of stubborn silliness. Xie Cheng didn’t think his hair was worth the effort, but in the end, he just said, “Suit yourself.”

“You promised, so you can’t take it back!”

“What is there to take back.?”

Xie Cheng’s voice trailed off. As he sat up, he felt something swaying on his head. He glanced to the side and saw two clumsy braids resting on his shoulders.

The “stylist” was clearly an amateur. One braid was higher than the other, and one was thicker, yet they looked strangely harmonious.

“You did this?” Xie Cheng’s tone sharpened slightly.

Jiang Yi looked at him innocently. “Doesn’t it feel much more comfortable with it tied up like this?”

“Undo them.”

“No. it took me so long to braid them.” Jiang Yi reached out and tapped the two braids, looking very satisfied with his handiwork.

“Jiang Yi.”

Jiang Yi covered his ears, grabbed the comb, and bolted downstairs. “I can’t hear you! It’s late! I’m going to go make breakfast!”

Xie Cheng’s gaze cooled as he stared at Jiang Yi’s retreating back. He reached up and rubbed the two braids into a frizzy mess.

The kid was dead.

Immortal New Leader, may I disturb you now? System 222, sensing that the new leader was in a decent mood, asked tentatively.

What is it? Speak.

It’s like this, New Leader. It’s not a huge deal, but… the protagonist shou is about to die.

222 was extremely nervous in front of Xie Cheng, which usually resulted in it rambling. Xie Cheng listened patiently until he caught the key point.

You’re saying Xu Le is dying?

Yes, yes, yes!

Xie Cheng felt a wave of exhaustion. He was surrounded by people and systems who weren’t quite right in the head all of them stupid in their own unique ways.

Wearily, he gave a simple reminder: Next time something like this happens, remember to tell me sooner.

222:!

222: Understood, Immortal New Leader!

Support The Beautiful Top Being Pursued Relentlessly [Quick Transmigration]