Chapter 11: Bite

Three hours later, the cruise ship’s horn blared long and loud as it slowly pulled into the dock amid the twilight.

Yan Xinfeng leaned against the railing, his cigarette flickering faintly in the salty sea breeze.

The bride stepped onto the gangway in flat shoes, followed by two bridesmaids dressed just as prettily and refreshingly. The hem of her dress lifted slightly in the sea wind, revealing her slender ankles, like a white bird about to spread its wings.

Lu Zhao hurried forward to greet her, his smile radiant.

He and the bride were perfectly in sync, having gone through great effort to reach this day, and the grin on his face couldn’t be suppressed.

Yan Xinfeng silently watched his friend step toward another endpoint in life when he suddenly felt someone approach from beside him and deftly pluck the cigarette from between his fingers.

“If you smoke, we won’t kiss anymore,” Wei Tingxia said.

Yan Xinfeng’s thoughts snapped back. He stared at the smile tugging at Wei Tingxia’s lips, feeling a slight dryness in his throat.

A moment later, he said softly, “We won’t kiss.”

“Why not?” Wei Tingxia countered.

He pressed out the cigarette, and the last wisp of smoke scattered in the sea wind. Wei Tingxia brushed his disheveled hair back, revealing his smooth forehead and eyes sparkling with amusement.

Yan Xinfeng asked, “Do I have to pay?”

“No need,” Wei Tingxia blinked, his tone meaningful. “At least not this time.”

Yan Xinfeng’s gaze darkened.

He reached up to cup Wei Tingxia’s cheek, his fingers tangling in the strands of hair. With a slight pressure on his wrist, he forced Wei Tingxia to tilt his head higher, stretching his neck into a beautiful line.

Their breaths mingled as the distance closed, until they were almost pressed together. Yan Xinfeng could see his own reflection growing larger in Wei Tingxia’s eyes. Their noses touched, and the space between their lips nearly vanished.

Yan Xinfeng turned his head and inhaled deeply by Wei Tingxia’s ear, feeling him tremble for that instant.

“Is this some kind of perk?” he murmured into Wei Tingxia’s ear, his voice low and husky. “Or pity?”

Pity for that carefully prepared wedding that ended before it began, pity that he wouldn’t get another one.

Wei Tingxia smiled in his grasp, his eyes provocative.

“Think whatever you want,” he said. “Yan Xinfeng, are you going to kiss me or not?”

Before the last syllable faded, Yan Xinfeng had already gripped the back of his neck and pulled him in. The kiss came fierce and urgent, like a long-suppressed plunder.

Wei Tingxia let out a muffled grunt, his fingers clutching Yan Xinfeng’s shirt collar, wrinkling the fabric in his fist. His breathing grew erratic, but he refused to yield. Instead, he tilted his head up and grazed Yan Xinfeng’s lower lip with his teeth—a provocation, or perhaps silent indulgence.

The air thickened, every breath entwining with the other’s scent. Yan Xinfeng’s hand slid from the nape of his neck to his waist, his palm sensing the curve even through the fabric.

Yan Xinfeng pressed harder, pulling Wei Tingxia closer into his embrace. At the same time, they both shifted toward the corner. When Wei Tingxia’s back hit the cold wall, the kiss had ignited into a fire burning between them.

By the time they finally parted, the sky had darkened further. Wei Tingxia’s lips were swollen and vividly red, a flush spreading across his face. He leaned against the wall, gazing into Yan Xinfeng’s eyes, filled with desire.

“You’ve gotten even better,” he rasped in evaluation.

Yan Xinfeng’s throat bobbed at the words, which felt like both praise and a taunt. He bent down.

But this time, his target wasn’t Wei Tingxia’s lips.

A shadow fell, and Wei Tingxia felt his broken brow get nipped.

It wasn’t hard, but the sensation was distinct, the stimulation even sharper than their tangled lips and tongues—like a temporary brand.

“What are you doing!”

He tried to dodge, but the wall blocked him behind. With no escape, he could only cover his brow and glare.

Yan Xinfeng: “Leaving a mark.”

His voice was soft, but his gaze fixed intently on Wei Tingxia, trailing from his fingertips down to the disheveled buttons at his chest.

The light green knit shirt suited his skin well, taking on a fluid, delicate softness in the dim light. Yan Xinfeng’s throat moved again as he reached out to straighten Wei Tingxia’s collar, his thumb brushing his neck.

Thump thump thump. A knock sounded.

The bride had boarded, so there must be a party.

Yan Xinfeng invited, “Want to join?”

“…”

Wei Tingxia still clutched his forehead. Hearing this, he sneered, “Why didn’t you think of that earlier?”

Go to the party with a bite mark on his head? Did he have no shame?

“Let me see.”

Yan Xinfeng pulled him into the suite and pried away his hand to inspect it in the light.

Since the bite hadn’t been hard, the mark had already faded, leaving only a faint redness that wasn’t obvious.

“It’s fine now.”

Wei Tingxia didn’t believe him. He dashed into the bathroom, stared into the mirror for a long time, then stormed back out with thudding steps. Without a word, he punched Yan Xinfeng in the waist.

It wasn’t hard, but Yan Xinfeng still cooperated with a muffled grunt.

Hearing the sound made Wei Tingxia feel much better. He withdrew his hand and grumbled, “We were kissing just fine. What’s with the biting?”

“Don’t act like you’ve never bitten me.”

Wei Tingxia had even bitten harder; the next day in bed, everyone had seen the mark on Yan Xinfeng’s neck.

But Wei Tingxia was never one to take criticism lying down.

“That was foreplay. What do you know?” he argued righteously. “Yours is at best… a case of your biting fetish flaring up.”

Yan Xinfeng replied without thinking, “I won’t allow you to talk about yourself like that.”

Wei Tingxia raised his hand again, but Yan Xinfeng dodged.

Actually, there was one thing Yan Xinfeng didn’t say: he thought Wei Tingxia covering his brow like that was adorable.

Others might not care, but Wei Tingxia hated being called cute—he’d get annoyed every time. Yan Xinfeng saw no need to stir trouble.

He pushed open the door, and the waiting server entered carrying neatly pressed clothes. Wei Tingxia glanced over and recognized them as his own size.

“Xu Wei considers you a friend,” Yan Xinfeng said. “She’ll be thrilled if you go.”

Wei Tingxia: “We’ve only met a few times.”

“That’s enough for her.”

Yan Xinfeng waved the server away. His slender fingers undid the dust bag, laying out the full casual suit on the bed. The light-colored gauze fabric looked fresh under the lights, perfect for summer.

He thought for a moment, then added, “She doesn’t know about the past.”

Xu Wei had been abroad pursuing her career and rarely returned. Plus, Yan Xinfeng had deliberately concealed it, so she at most thought they’d parted amicably, unaware of all the twists and turns.

Wei Tingxia found it odd and asked, “Why didn’t you tell her?”

Yan Xinfeng’s fingertip paused at the suit’s lapel, shadows pooling along his brow bone. The air suddenly thickened, as if invisible threads had tightened between them.

After a silence, he said, “Probably because I have some pride too.”

Back then, Wei Tingxia wasn’t just a boyfriend. He’d worn the ring Yan Xinfeng gave him—he was a fiancé.

Wei Tingxia’s departure wasn’t merely being dumped by a lover; it was a betrayal.

Yan Xinfeng would have to be crazy to turn that scar into gossip.

Wei Tingxia nodded thoughtfully. “…Alright.”

From his return until now, this was the first time they’d touched on the past, even if just skimming the surface in a few short sentences.

Yan Xinfeng’s gaze weighed heavily on him, all the unspoken accusations condensed in that look. He never uttered the word “betrayal,” but every syllable dripped with the bitterness of memory.

Wei Tingxia met it head-on, without flinching.

……

……

By the time they arrived, the party was already underway amid laughter and chatter. Xu Wei spotted them first.

“Xiao Xia!” she called out in delight, rising to greet him. “It’s been so long!”

Wei Tingxia smiled too and hugged her. “It has.”

“I had no idea you were here—he didn’t tell me.” She shot Lu Zhao a mock glare before turning back with a grin. “Is this a surprise?”

Wei Tingxia: “Of course.”

Xu Wei laughed and pulled him toward the booth. Yan Xinfeng tucked one hand in his pocket and followed leisurely behind them.

Some people along the way greeted Wei Tingxia warmly.

Once they sat, the music from the corner swelled again. Wei Tingxia leaned back beside Yan Xinfeng, observing the little gestures between the couple across from them.

As he watched, something occurred to him. He reached out, hooked an arm around Yan Xinfeng’s neck, and whispered in his ear, “I didn’t prepare a gift.”

Wei Tingxia was broke now, his only possessions two phones, a worn and tarnished silver ring, and a few hundred thousand in his account—none suitable as a wedding gift.

Yan Xinfeng heard him clearly and gripped his neck in return, murmuring back, “I can lend you one.”

Lend?

Had they really reached the point of loans between them?

Wei Tingxia twisted on the sofa to meet Yan Xinfeng’s eyes, trying to gauge if he was serious.

Yan Xinfeng’s gaze said he was dead serious.

【System 0188 gave a reasonable speculation: [He might give an expensive gift to trap you.]】

Wei Tingxia’s total assets didn’t exceed a million. If Yan Xinfeng meant mischief, gifting something worth tens of millions would leave him helpless, even if he sprouted kidneys all over.

With that in mind, Wei Tingxia said resolutely, “No need. I can handle it myself.”

“Really?” Yan Xinfeng confirmed.

“Really,” Wei Tingxia said firmly.

“Alright.”

Yan Xinfeng looked away. Wei Tingxia could’ve sworn he glimpsed a hint of regret in his eyes.

Really planning to trap him with usury?

Wei Tingxia stood up, deciding to put some distance from this scheming businessman for now.

He strolled to the deck and leaned lightly against the railing. The night breeze carried the faint salt of the sea, brushing his face and tousling the stray hairs on his forehead.

“Hello?”

A unfamiliar female voice sounded from beside him. Wei Tingxia turned his head and saw one of Xu Wei’s bridesmaids standing not far away. The girl wore a knee-length casual dress, its hem swaying gently in the sea wind.

Wei Tingxia greeted politely, “Hello.”

The bridesmaid had noticed the man on the deck from earlier. The light had been dim and the distance far then, so she hadn’t seen him clearly. Now up close, she realized he was as handsome as she’d imagined.

Curious, she asked, “Are you one of the groomsmen too?”

The man paused briefly, a faint smile rippling at his eye corners. “You could say that.”

“I didn’t see you before.”

“Because I was hiding in my room.” Wei Tingxia curved his lips, his tone laced with just the right self-deprecation. “I finally mustered the courage to come out.”