Chapter 37#

Call me husband.#

Si Jingheng stared at that line of words for a full half-minute. At first, fury blazed within him, but then he suddenly let out a low laugh.

Standing up, Si Jingheng dialed another number. The man on the other end sounded like he had just woken up: “Jingheng? What made you think of calling me?”

“Help me look someone up,” Si Jingheng said through gritted teeth. “Qi Xu. I want to know where he is right now.”

“Mm… Huh?” The person on the other end of the line paused for a moment before continuing, “Let me take a look then.”

“Send it to me as soon as you find out.”

“Okay.”

Afterward, he called his assistant and had him arrange for a housekeeper and a nanny.

Having arranged all this, Si Jingheng suddenly remembered that Si Yuhong had told him yesterday to make time to go home sometime in the next couple of days. He figured he might as well just do it today.

An hour later, Si Jingheng returned to Linyue Villa.

“Young Master, you’re back. The Master is waiting for you,” the butler immediately came forward to greet him.

Si Jingheng nodded and walked straight into the villa. In the living room, Xue Lan was sitting on the sofa. Seeing him enter, she immediately stood up, a gentle smile on her face: “You’re back?”

“Dad asked me to come back.”

“Alright.”

Si Jingheng walked up the stairs, the wooden steps making a soft creaking sound. Arriving at the study door, he knocked gently.

“Come in,” Si Yuhong’s voice came from inside.

Si Jingheng pushed the door open and walked in. The study was filled with the faint aroma of ink and tea.

Si Yuhong sat behind the desk, wearing a gray Zhongshan suit. His hair was already graying, but he still looked high-spirited. He looked up at Si Jingheng and pointed to the chair opposite him: “Sit.”

Si Jingheng sat down as told, his eyes falling on the tea set on the desk. Si Yuhong picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of tea. The tea was clear, emitting a light fragrance.

“Taste it, this year’s new tea,” Si Yuhong said.

Si Jingheng picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

The temperature of the tea was just right, the fragrance spreading across his tongue, and then he set the teacup down.

Forget it, if I drink any more, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.

Si Yuhong glanced at him, put down the teapot, and lightly tapped his fingers on the desktop. “Lately, quite a few old friends at the company have told me that your state of mind isn’t right.”

Si Jingheng didn’t speak, only lowering his eyes to look at his fingers. He knew his recent condition: irritability, insomnia, lack of concentration, and even spacing out during meetings.

“Has something gone wrong lately?” Si Yuhong probed further.

“It’s nothing,” Si Jingheng raised his head, his face expressionless. “This is my own business, you don’t need to worry about it, Dad.”

He was never in the habit of sharing his thoughts with others, even his family.

Si Yuhong sighed, picked up the cigarette pack on the desk, and pulled out a cigarette. He didn’t light it, merely twirling it between his fingers. “I know you’ve been independent since you were a child, and you like to carry everything on your own shoulders. But you are the heir of the Si family. Your state of mind doesn’t just concern you; it concerns the entire company.”

He paused, his gaze landing on Si Jingheng’s pale face. “I heard you’ve scolded and driven away quite a few employees at the company lately?”

Si Jingheng remained noncommittal.

“Look at you, why can’t you be more like Xiao Xu?” Si Yuhong’s tone carried a hint of lament. “He’s been well-behaved and sensible since he was a kid, never causing anyone to worry.”

“Well-behaved since he was a kid?”

Si Jingheng looked as if he had heard something unbelievable. He abruptly raised his head, a flash of astonishment in his eyes.

Which of those four words had anything to do with Qi Xu?

No matter how you arranged them, they didn’t describe Qi Xu at all.

Not even a single character.

When Qi Xu was still just a tiny tot, he had already started stealing Si Jingheng’s clothes to wear, running around the yard. As a result, he accidentally fell into a mud pit. When caught, he would blink his large, wet eyes, looking at him pitifully. Then, he would take off his mud-covered coat, stuff it into Si Jingheng’s hands, and run away.

During equestrian lessons, Qi Xu had the nerve to directly slap his horse’s rump, sitting off to the side and giggling non-stop.

Later in school, Qi Xu’s grades were always poor. Every time he came home after an exam, he would get scolded, only for him to twist his mouth and dare to say it was because Si Jingheng hadn’t set a good example.

Clearly, it was his own lack of effort, yet he could always find an excuse to shift the blame onto Si Jingheng.

And…

Si Jingheng’s thoughts were like a floodgate opening; those details he thought had been forgotten in the depths of his memory emerged clearly one by one. He had thought he had long forgotten, but as it turned out, he remembered all of it, remembering every single detail with crystal clarity without even realizing it.

As Si Jingheng thought, the smile on the corner of his lips grew deeper and deeper.

Looking at Si Jingheng’s borderline neurotic expression, a hint of disgust surfaced in Si Yuhong’s eyes.

Did this kid lose his mind from working too much?

“Alright, don’t think too much about it,” Si Yuhong waved his hand. “Go back and adjust your state of mind before you come back.”

Si Jingheng nodded and stood up. “Then I’ll head back first.”

“Mm.”

By the time he got home, the housekeeper and nanny had already arrived. The house had been tidied up until it was spotless. The clutter in the living room had been put away, and everything was arranged in an orderly fashion.

Clearly, he would have found this kind of environment extremely comfortable before, but now, for some reason, it felt somewhat bothersome to look at.

Si Jingheng walked into the bedroom. The room had also been tidied up very neatly, as if he had always been the only person in this room.

Yes, like this… this way, he wouldn’t remember anything anymore.

Si Jingheng stood up, took out the prescription Dr. Chen had written from his pocket, poured a cup of warm water, took out a pill, put it in his mouth, took a sip of water, and swallowed it.

The medicine tasted very bitter—a bitterness that reached all the way to his heart.

Lying in bed, Si Jingheng closed his eyes and forced himself to fall asleep.

Before he could fall asleep, Si Jingheng felt as if the door had been pushed open. Then, he felt someone pressing against him. It wasn’t the usual posture from his memory of wrapping arms around his waist from behind; instead, the person threw themselves face-forward into his embrace. The soft body carried a faint milky scent, like a kitten that had just basked in the sun.

Subconsciously, he raised his hand to hold them. The skin his fingertips brushed against was incredibly delicate. Sliding up along the waistline, he could feel the exquisite curve of the man’s scapula, and further up, the slightly trembling shoulders.

“It’s so cold, hold me, please?”

Si Jingheng’s breath hitched. He tilted his head back slightly. Right now, Qi Xu was smiling and acting spoiled in his arms. This was the first time he had faced Qi Xu so clearly. In the past, they had always done it from behind, where he could only hear Qi Xu’s gasps. But at this moment, the person in his arms raised his head.

Qi Xu’s face was incredibly red, the flush spreading from his cheeks to the tips of his ears, and even his neck was flushed with a pale pink, like a ripe peach, exuding an enticing sweetness. His eyes were half-squinted, his usually gentle eyes now clouded with moisture, the corners of his eyes tilting up slightly, tinged with a vibrant color. His wet eyelashes trembled like fluttering butterfly wings, brushing against Si Jingheng’s heart, causing an intense itch.

Only now did Si Jingheng realize with a shock that Qi Xu was truly beautiful. When his eyes curved in a smile, he looked gentle and docile, but now, with his cheeks flushed with passion, he actually looked somewhat seductive, tugging tightly at the strings of his heart.

“Hu… husband…” Qi Xu’s voice was soft and mushy, like a feather gently tickling Si Jingheng’s eardrums.

These two words were like a clap of thunder, sending a jolt of numbness through Si Jingheng’s entire body, his blood instantly rushing to his limbs.

He had never heard Qi Xu call him that before. In the past, at most, it would be with a bit of a tearful, aggrieved voice, crying out “Jingheng” when he couldn’t take it anymore. But this “husband” was as soft as candy, so sweet that even his breath became scorching hot. He looked down at the reddened corners of Qi Xu’s eyes, at his slightly parted lips—full and with a moist sheen—and couldn’t help but tighten his arms, pulling him even closer.

Qi Xu let out a muffled groan from the tight embrace, his body subconsciously shrinking further into his arms. His soft body pressed completely against him, the sensation of every inch of skin incredibly clear.

Si Jingheng leaned down, pressing down on his legs, his gaze greedily tracing Qi Xu’s features—from his flushed eyes to his petite nose, and down to his slightly trembling lips—every single part of him was mesmerizing.

Why hadn’t he noticed before that Qi Xu’s skin was so white and tender? Just a gentle touch would leave a faint red mark, like a blooming little flower.

“Jingheng…” Feeling his gaze, Qi Xu’s face grew even redder. He raised his hand, wanting to cover Si Jingheng’s eyes, but Si Jingheng grabbed his wrist and pinned it to his side. His fingers were long and powerful, easily subduing Qi Xu’s struggles. His fingertips rubbed against the delicate skin of Qi Xu’s wrist, feeling the gentle pulsing of his heartbeat.

“Call me husband,” Si Jingheng’s voice was low and hoarse. He lowered his head, his nose rubbing against Qi Xu’s, their breaths entangling. He could smell the faint milky scent on Qi Xu, mixed with his own scent, making the atmosphere exceptionally intimate.

Qi Xu’s face turned even redder. He turned his head slightly to avoid his gaze, yet the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve up into a shy smile. He didn’t speak, only reaching out his other hand to wrap around Si Jingheng’s waist, tightening his arms to press himself even closer to him, his voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz: “I like you… Jingheng, I like you…”

This “I like you” set Si Jingheng’s heart racing even more than the “husband” from earlier.

The blood in his entire body was boiling, a powerful possessiveness rising from the depths of his heart. He wanted to rub Qi Xu completely into his flesh and blood, to make him belong to him forever, never to leave again.

He lowered his head and kissed Qi Xu’s lips. The moment their lips met, the soft sensation made him tremble all over. The kiss was sticky and wet, carrying each other’s breath. Qi Xu was a bit stiff at first, but gradually relaxed, awkwardly responding to him, his tongue gently probing, halting and starting like a startled little deer.

Si Jingheng’s heart was beating incredibly fast. He had never kissed Qi Xu like this before. Their past intimacy had always carried a hint of punishment, but at this moment, he only wanted to savor this softness.

His hand slowly slid down Qi Xu’s back, feeling the delicate skin of Qi Xu’s waist, feeling Qi Xu’s heartbeat, only to realize that every single one of Qi Xu’s expressions was addictive to him.

A shallow curve formed on the corner of Si Jingheng’s lips as he watched Qi Xu’s dazed appearance, watched his eyes gradually cover with a layer of mist, watched his lips part slightly to spill soft, broken cries. The sense of satisfaction and possessiveness in his heart reached its peak.

Who knew how much time had passed.

The shower water fell from above, wetting both of their hair.

Si Jingheng held Qi Xu as they stood under the showerhead, the warm water trickling down Qi Xu’s strands of hair, sliding past his flushed cheeks and flowing over his delicate collarbones.

“One more time, okay?” He lowered his head and asked softly in Qi Xu’s ear, his voice carrying a hint of pleading.

He was greedy for this feeling, greedy for Qi Xu’s softness in his arms, greedy for the lingering tenderness when he called his name. He wanted to prolong this moment indefinitely.

Leaning against his chest, Qi Xu heard his words, and his originally docile expression suddenly changed.

Raising his head, the mist in Qi Xu’s eyes gradually dispersed, replaced by a strangeness that Si Jingheng had never seen before. Qi Xu reached out and wrapped his arms around Si Jingheng’s neck, his movements still intimate.

Si Jingheng’s heart stirred. He subconsciously lowered his head, wanting to kiss his lips, but Qi Xu slightly tilted his head and dodged it.

The warm lips brushed against his cheek, landing in empty air. Si Jingheng froze, an inexplicable panic rising in his heart.

“Why?” Si Jingheng frowned. “You don’t want to kiss me? Do you think my kissing skills are bad?” He tried to explain, “This is also my first time kissing like this. If you don’t think it’s good, I can learn slowly…”

He wanted to hold Qi Xu, wanted to bring him back to the warmth from just now, but Qi Xu merely looked at him, a smile on his face that didn’t reach his eyes, carrying a cold, almost icy detachment.

“No,” Qi Xu said softly. “Si Jingheng.” He paused, looking up at him, and said word by word, “Because, I don’t like you anymore.”

“I don’t like you anymore.”

Author’s Note: Wrote this to my own satisfaction!