Warm breath tickled his skin, the voice soft and coaxing. For an instant, Xie Ling felt like his ears were about to burst into flames.
He clapped a hand over his reddened earlobe and whispered emphatically, “I didn’t touch it! It was just an accidental bump!”
“You didn’t touch it?” Qin Han chuckled, clearly in no mood to let him off the hook. “Then how did you know my size was pretty impressive back then?”
“I guessed!” Xie Ling tried to explain. “It was a little more than brushing against it, but not quite touching…”
His mouth usually wouldn’t shut up, but now it was stumbling over nonsense in embarrassment.
Qin Han stifled a laugh, tempted to tease him a bit longer. Right then—
“Aaaah! So handsome! This body—I could climb it!!” Xia Yu’s shriek erupted from the computer.
Xie Ling perked up at the sound of the main event starting, caught between a rock and a hard place, when Xia Yu suddenly let out an “Eh?” “This guy doesn’t look like the photos of Miyagi Seiya online.”
The guy in the video had a strikingly handsome face, chiseled and rugged, as if carved by a master sculptor. His bare upper body rippled with solid, fluid muscles, and a tattoo snaked across one arm, giving him an air of sharp intensity and raw wildness.
“Miyagi who?” The man’s voice was low and gravelly. “Who are you people? Where’s Xie Ling?”
Xie Ling blinked, then turned to the screen. “Yu Rong?”
Qin Han’s pupils contracted at the name, and he instinctively glanced at the computer screen.
“What’s going on?” Xie Ling walked over to his own computer and stared at the figure on the screen. “How did you end up in the porn we’re about to watch? You gone into porn or something?”
Yu Rong shot back, “Like hell I did! Didn’t you connect the video call yourself?”
Only then did Xie Ling notice that his QQ had somehow initiated a video chat.
Zhang Chengrui scratched his head nearby. “Uh, I think I accidentally clicked something earlier.”
“…” Xie Ling jabbed a finger at his temple and said to Yu Rong, “My little bro here took a hit to the head a while back. Not all there anymore.”
Yu Rong played along. “I get it.”
Zhang Chengrui: “???” That hurt!
Xia Yu blinked rapidly, his attention glued to the hot guy on screen. He couldn’t resist tugging at Xie Ling’s sleeve. “Little Lingling, who’s he?”
Xie Ling replied, “Junior high classmate of mine.”
Yu Rong spotted Xia Yu’s hand on Xie Ling’s arm and frowned slightly. He stressed, “I’m clearly your childhood sweetheart.”
Xia Yu: “!!!” Childhood sweethearts? That sounded like there was a story there!
Xie Ling quirked his lips carelessly. “Got it, son. What’s up? Dad’s in the middle of a class reunion here.”
“You’re still calling it a class reunion? If my dad hadn’t heard from your dad…” Yu Rong trailed off abruptly. He peered through the camera at the people around Xie Ling, his frown deepening.
Before he could say more, Xiao Yanfei cut in. “Mu Yin and the others said in the group chat they’re almost back. Let’s head down first.”
Zhang Chengrui: “When did they say… Mmph!”
His mouth got covered for the second time as he was dragged away.
Qin Han brought up the rear. As he left, he saw Xie Ling lean back in his chair, casually crossing his legs and flashing a lazy smile at the guy on screen.
Bang—
The door shut tight, blocking out all light from the room. The hallway was pitch black, mirroring the darkness in Qin Han’s eyes.
~~~
Once everyone else had left, Xie Ling said to Yu Rong, “You could’ve just said it outright. They’re all my bros, and they already know I’m an Omega.”
“They’re your bros, and they all know but I don’t?” Yu Rong said coolly. “If I hadn’t reached out first, would you even remember my name?”
“Aw, come on. How could a dad forget his son’s name?” Xie Ling joked shamelessly.
Yu Rong snorted. “By the way, was that Qin Han I spotted in that group earlier?”
Xie Ling let out an “Ah.” “He transferred back from the States and now he’s in my class.”
“What?!” Yu Rong exploded. “Why is he always sticking to you like a bad penny?!”
“What do you mean sticking to me?” Xie Ling laughed. “The guy’s here for a proper education. Just so we’re clear, yeah, we had some bad blood back in the day, but that was just youthful ignorance. We’ve made up, and now he’s one of my bros.”
Youthful ignorance?
Something crossed Yu Rong’s mind, and he snorted inwardly.
But hearing Xie Ling put it that way, he couldn’t push further. He knew how much Xie Ling valued his friends, so he just scowled and said, “Everyone’s your bro. So what am I?”
“You?” Xie Ling grinned. “You’re my son.”
Seeing Yu Rong about to blow a fuse, Xie Ling quickly added, “Alright, kiddo, you’re a bro too. How are you still so childish after being abroad so long?”
Xie Cheng and Father Yu were old buddies, so the families had hung out a lot when Xie Ling was little. That meant he and Yu Rong had crossed paths plenty too. Yu Rong was two years younger and always acted tough around everyone—except he loved tagging along with Xie Ling.
“You’re the childish one,” Yu Rong retorted. “Just to be clear, I don’t wanna be your bro.”
Xie Ling feigned surprise. “What? Not even a bro? You’re that set on being my son? I mean, I do think I’d make a pretty great dad…”
An anger vein practically popped on Yu Rong’s forehead. “I don’t wanna be your bro, and I’m not being your son!”
Xie Ling watched him bristle and couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Okay, okay, simmer down. So what do you wanna be?”
“I…” Yu Rong hesitated. “Forget it. You’ll find out eventually.”
“Oh, right—how’s your condition these days? I heard from my dad your physiology’s kinda unique. Domestic suppressants probably don’t cut it for you. I’ll mail some over later.”
Father Yu did business abroad involving ABO physiology reagents, and the stuff Xie Cheng had given Xie Ling before had come from him too.
“No need. Uncle Yu gave me plenty last time.”
“Don’t forget to carry them with you all the time—the suppressants and the barrier agent. And that…” Yu Rong coughed. “When’s your next heat period? Tell me, so I can call.”
Xie Ling cracked up. “What the heck?”
Yu Rong’s gaze flickered evasively for a second before locking eyes with him frankly. “To remind you to take your suppressants. With how spacey you are, you’d probably forget nine times out of ten.”
“You got nothing better to do? What’s the time difference between France and here? You calling me in the middle of the night?”
Yu Rong: “I feel like it.”
“I don’t.” Xie Ling laughed. “Fine, I’ll remember.”
Besides, if he forgot, there was always Qin Han.
The thought hit Xie Ling like a jolt, startling him.
Why’d Qin Han pop into his head right now?
Though, come to think of it, there had been a few times he’d forgotten his suppressants, and Qin Han had covered for him.
With that in mind, Xie Ling absently rubbed his nose.
Suddenly, his ears felt hot again.
~~~
By the time Xie Ling finished chatting with Yu Rong, twenty minutes had passed.
He shut down the computer and headed downstairs, only to spot Qin Han standing at the foot of the stairs, his back to him.
“What’s up? Why didn’t you go with them to the multimedia room?”
Qin Han turned around, a cigarette glowing faintly red between his lips.
Xie Ling paused. “Didn’t peg you for a smoker, bro. You, the model student?”
“Once in a while.” Qin Han smiled, his stunningly handsome face hazy in the smoke.
For some reason, Xie Ling found himself staring.
Until Qin Han added softly, “I smoke when I’ve got some little mood going on.”
“Little mood?” Xie Ling slung an arm around Qin Han’s shoulders like old pals. “Spill it, bro. Family stuff or what? Don’t tell me you’re pining after some little Omega you can’t have.”
Qin Han glanced at him, a half-smile playing on his lips. “What if I said I was?”
Xie Ling whistled. “No way—you’re crushing on someone? You confess yet?”
“Nah. I don’t think he likes me.”
“…Bro, have some confidence.” Xie Ling blurted it out with total sincerity. “With your looks and all, even if you fell for some celestial hunk or babe up in the heavens, they’d rip out their own immortal bones and descend just to be with you.”
“Really?” Qin Han eyed him. “Do you like me?”
Xie Ling blinked, not overthinking it. “Nah, it’s different for me. I’m a single-life guy—no dating. Plus, we’re bros.”
Qin Han: “…”
Xie Ling looked puzzled. “What? C’mon, who is it? Do I know ’em? Bro’s got your back to make it happen.”
“Yu Rong…”
Xie Ling: !!!
“You like Yu Rong?! That’s a tall order. And he’s an Alpha like you—top-tier, from what I hear…”
“I don’t like him.” Hate wasn’t even strong enough.
Qin Han grumbled inwardly while his mouth spun a web of cunning words: “I was just hung up earlier, thinking about some crappy stuff I pulled on him back in junior high. Haven’t apologized yet.”
Yu Rong had transferred into their junior high class in the second semester of first year. From day one, he’d stuck to Xie Ling like glue—a spark that lit Qin Han’s twisted obsession.
His obsessive possessiveness toward Xie Ling made it utterly impossible for him to accept someone clinging to Xie Ling like that—especially since Xie Ling doted on Yu Rong so much as his childhood friend. Whether it was during breaks, skipping class, or heading home after school, Yu Rong was always glued to Xie Ling’s side. Back then, Qin Han had abused his authority. It wasn’t so much about obstructing Xie Ling and limiting his freedom; it was more about preventing him from spending time with Yu Rong.
“It’s fine. All that’s in the past. Look, we’ve buried the hatchet, so I’m sure you two can too.”
Qin Han: “Really?”
It might not actually be that simple.
Thinking back to Yu Rong’s attitude during that video call earlier, Xie Ling felt a twinge of guilt.
But whatever—the kid was studying abroad now, so they wouldn’t even run into each other. He could just bullshitting his way through it.
“Really, really.” Xie Ling slung an arm around Qin Han’s shoulders and steered him toward the multimedia room.
Qin Han: “I thought he’d go to high school with you.”
In his memory, Yu Rong’s grades weren’t great, but given how he’d stuck to Xie Ling back then, even if he couldn’t get into First High School, he’d probably force his way in as a transfer student.
“His family had some issues. They moved their business overseas, so he had to go with them.”
Xie Ling explained as he pushed open the door to the multimedia room. Inside, Mu Yin and her best friend were belting out a duet. Zhang Chengrui and the others were huddled together playing UNO.
“Ling Bro, Qin God—you’re here! Come on, join us quick!”
Xie Ling naturally pulled Qin Han down onto the big sofa in the middle and asked, “You know how to play?”
“Nope.” Qin Han was perfectly docile. “Will you teach me?”
“Sure, I’ll teach you.”
Xie Ling ran through the basic rules for Qin Han, but while his ears were listening, Qin Han’s mind kept replaying all those little moments of Xie Ling and Yu Rong together from back in the day. By the time Xie Ling finished explaining, he hadn’t absorbed a single word.
Fifteen minutes later, Qin Han had lost five rounds in a row.
The penalty was simple: lose a round, down a cup of liquor.
As Qin Han knocked back his fifth cup of baijiu, Zhang Chengrui couldn’t help clapping from the sidelines. “Whoa, what a tolerance—as expected of you!”
Xie Ling, who’d won five in a row beside him, grinned broadly. “Didn’t expect this, Qin God. You actually have something you’re bad at.”
“There are plenty of things I’m bad at.”
Like how he had no idea how to win you over, how to help you shake off the psychological scars from your past, or how to make your eyes see only him.
Qin Han stared intently at Xie Ling.
The look in his eyes made Xie Ling’s heart inexplicably flutter. He blurted out, “You okay? This baijiu’s no joke. If you’re gonna get wasted, how about we switch to beer?”
“I’m fine.” His gaze stayed glued to Xie Ling. “The only thing that could get me drunk… isn’t the booze.”
Xie Ling: “?”
Why did that sound like he hadn’t quite caught it?
That restless feeling lingered in his chest. Xie Ling averted his eyes and reached for the cards on the table.
The next second, someone grabbed his wrist from the side.
Xie Ling froze for a moment, still processing, when the world suddenly spun around him. In an instant, Qin Han had pinned him firmly into the sofa.
Mu Yin and her best friend had just finished a song. They turned around to this explosive scene and immediately shrieked uncontrollably, forgetting they were even holding the mic. “Aaaahhhhh!”
The screams startled everyone in the room, but what shocked them even more was Qin Han’s behavior.
Xia Yu clapped a hand over his mouth. “Oh my God! What a position—I love it!”
Mu Yin frantically yanked at her best friend, babbling incoherently in excitement. “Quick, quick—phone, phone!”
Xie Ling stared blankly up at Qin Han, whose hands were braced on either side of his head. From where they’d been sitting earlier, the lighting had obscured things, but at this angle, he could see Qin Han’s face crystal clear.
Five cups of baijiu had flushed Qin Han’s face and neck, turning his fair skin a deep red. Those usually clear phoenix eyes were now hazy, like they’d been veiled in mist, looking dazed. His thin lips were parted slightly, still glistening with traces of liquor.
For some reason, Xie Ling’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
He’d never seen Qin Han like this. The guy was always so effortlessly composed, like an aloof flower on a high mountain peak. But right now, from head to toe, he exuded this alluring… seductiveness.
Xie Ling startled himself with the word he’d come up with.
What the hell? He hadn’t even drunk anything—why was his brain getting foggy too?!
“Friend? You said you wouldn’t get drunk, but look at you—wasted as hell.” Xie Ling pushed at Qin Han but couldn’t budge him.
No matter what, Qin Han was a top-tier Alpha. With the booze firing him up, he was even stronger. Xiao Yanfei stepped up to help pull him off, but the moment his hand touched Qin Han, he got flung aside with such force that he nearly lost his balance.
“Whoa…” Xiao Yanfei was stunned. “Who knew Qin God got so wild when drunk.”
“Me, me—I’ll do it!” Zhang Chengrui tried next, only to get shoved even farther away.
Just as he geared up for another go, Mu Yin suddenly leaped over and grabbed him. “Do what? Don’t ruin my shipping bliss!”
Xie Ling hadn’t expected drunk Qin Han to be like this. Force wasn’t working, so he curved his lips into a smile, softening his voice to coax. “Little one, how about getting up first? Later, big bro will make you some hangover soup.”
“Big bro…” Qin Han mumbled ambiguously.
He stared at the lips opening and closing beneath him, then shifted his body slightly.
Xie Ling thought he’d gotten through. He started to relax and sit up—only for Qin Han to press down again.
This time, he sealed Xie Ling’s lips with his own, then slipped his tongue out to lick at the soft curve of Xie Ling’s mouth.
