GDRG CH20

Xing Jun stood beside Shi Xueqing.

The sun reflecting off the sea was too blinding. His mouth, usually so formidable in the business world, felt as if it had been sealed shut by the sticky seawater. No matter what, he couldn’t get out the words, “These are for you.”

Fortunately, seeing that he wasn’t answering, Shi Xueqing had already opened the bag in front of him.

Ten limited-edition Hello Kitty figures were lined up on the sand, including a Hello Kitty & Daniel Wedding Set valued at $250. The two dark-skinned cats, dressed in Hawaiian attire, were holding hands, getting married.

Shi Xueqing stared at them, his expression turning strange.

Why would Xing Jun buy these, and then just toss them in front of him?

Could it be that Xing Jun… bought them for him?

As the thought crossed his mind, Shi Xueqing tested the waters, “Brother Xing, back at the store, I thought you didn’t like Hello Kitty.”

“…”

“You shouldn’t just leave them scattered on the sand. Let me help you put them on the table so you don’t forget them when we leave…” Shi Xueqing said, putting on an act as he picked up the bag, pretending he was going to move them to the table.

It was pretty heavy.

“Just take it yourself.”

Xing Jun’s voice was so cold it could drip ice.

His guess confirmed, Shi Xueqing was now truly dumbfounded.

Xing Jun really bought these for him?

“Why did you buy these for me?” he asked cautiously.

This whole bag must have cost over a thousand dollars. Looking at the bag full of dark-skinned, cute cats, Shi Xueqing’s mind was rapidly doing the math.

“…”

“Brother Xing, I feel bad accepting this,” Shi Xueqing said again.

Though his words expressed reluctance, he didn’t continue moving the bag to the table. Watching his phony act, Xing Jun felt his own impulsive purchase was becoming more and more irrational.

A tightness grew in his chest, even overpowering his gaze on Shi Xueqing’s sand-dusted thighs.

“Don’t you love posting things people give you on Ins or your social media feed?” Xing Jun said with a hint of mockery. “Here’s your chance.”

He thought of the postcard Lu Yimeng had given Shi Xueqing. And the photos Shi Xueqing had taken with Xing Wei during their trip to Seattle.

…This rich guy’s tone was dripping with sarcasm, but for the life of him, Shi Xueqing couldn’t understand how he was supposed to feel insulted by a gift worth nearly two thousand dollars. All he could say was that Xing Jun’s insults were rather unique.

Still, he made a show of protesting, “Actually, I don’t really want it, it’s not my style… I was just a little disappointed earlier when I didn’t buy one and couldn’t be in the photo with everyone…”

…Shi Xueqing was really laying it on thick. With a dark expression, Xing Jun reached out his hand. “Give it back.”

Shi Xueqing said, “Thank you, Brother Xing. They’re so cute. You’re so nice, Brother Xing.”

“…”

Though he couldn’t figure out the rich guy’s peculiar insult, the thought of the price of these dark-skinned cats made Shi Xueqing very happy. He tried to flatter Xing Jun a little more, but seeing the sudden delight on his face, Xing Jun’s expression seemed to darken even further.

…What did that mean? Did he need to act sadder to show he was properly insulted and make Xing Jun happy? Shi Xueqing decided to just shut up.

He made an excuse to take the cats back to his room. As he was leaving, Xing Jun suddenly spoke from behind him, “Shi Xueqing, you really like money, don’t you.”

Was this another one of the rich guy’s insults?

If anyone else had been around, Shi Xueqing would have definitely said he preferred art over money. But on the white sand beach, there was only the moody rich guy. Shi Xueqing paused and decided to be frank. “Yeah, who doesn’t like money?”

“So, you’ll like whoever can give you more money?”

Shi Xueqing wondered if he was using Lu Yimeng and Xing Wei to make a sarcastic dig at him. He turned back. “That’s right, but…”

He didn’t finish. He saw a meaningful smile appear on Xing Jun’s handsome, gloomy face.

Shi Xueqing: …

What was happening? He felt a shiver run down his spine.

He quickly hurried toward his room with the bag, and Xing Jun didn’t follow. But he had only taken a few steps when he heard Xing Wei and the others returning.

!!

He was going to run right into them. Shi Xueqing quickly turned around to leave the beach from another direction. He ran headfirst into Xing Jun, who was still on the beach. Xing Jun had his head down, lost in thought, a faint smile on his lips.

Upon seeing him turn back, Xing Jun was first taken aback. But then, after spotting Xing Wei and the others in the distance, he seemed to realize something, and his face turned grim.

Seeing the change in his expression, Shi Xueqing’s heart skipped a beat.

He didn’t have time to think. He left the beach before Xing Wei and the others could spot him.

“Where’s Cyan?” Jason asked after returning to the beach. “Where’d he go?”

Xing Jun didn’t speak. In Jason’s eyes, Xing Jun’s lips were pressed into a thin line, a storm brewing in his eyes.

Shi Xueqing must have provoked Xing Jun, he thought with a bit of schadenfreude. Serves him right.

Xing Jun, however, was still thinking about Shi Xueqing’s hurried retreat.

Shi Xueqing was that desperate not to be seen by the others while holding something he had bought for him.

Taking his things, yet wanting to appear completely innocent in front of others.

Xing Jun thought coldly.

The fire burning inside him was becoming more and more unbearable.

He was suddenly reminded of the scarf that Shi Xueqing had sold. The flames leaped up, soon engulfing the plains.

Meanwhile, Shi Xueqing quickly put the large bag back in his room and looked up their resale value. They were so expensive. If he had a way to sell them back in China, he could make an extra 400 yuan on top of the original price for each one.

His heart was pounding. Finally, with his muddled head, Shi Xueqing had the energy to think about Xing Jun’s strange behavior.

Suddenly, he felt like he understood.

Xing Jun wanted others to see him accepting his gift! To… to ruin his image.

Shi Xueqing finally got it. He grimaced. He knew Xing Jun was up to no good.

If he hadn’t run so fast, he would have fallen into the trap.

Vicious rich guys were terrifying.

Shi Xueqing didn’t know if Xing Jun had been badmouthing him. He hesitantly came out of his room and saw Lu Yimeng on the phone with someone. She glanced at him and suddenly asked, “You can wear a size L, right?”

Huh?

Before Shi Xueqing could respond, he noticed Xing Jun’s gaze on him—colder and more inscrutable than before. He subconsciously nodded.

Xing Jun seemed even scarier than before. Could it be because his plan had failed? Shi Xueqing no longer dared to sit with the group. He found a spot to sit by himself, pretending to watch the sea.

After watching the sea all afternoon, it was time for dinner. Shi Xueqing walked slowly at the back. He heard Jason chattering away at Xing Jun and felt a sense of relief.

Xing Jun walked behind them. He barely responded to Jason, his eyes fixed on Shi Xueqing’s calves.

They were fair and dotted with sand, just like Shi Xueqing’s thighs when he had been watching the sea on the beach.

Xing Jun found that he no longer intended to hide this kind of gaze from Shi Xueqing.

Shi Xueqing didn’t notice. His mind was solely focused on riding in the SUV—he couldn’t believe Xing Jun had managed to cure him of his Ferrari obsession. It was a medical miracle. But when the SUV appeared, he heard his name called again: “Shi Xueqing.”

Shi Xueqing pretended not to hear, quickly getting into the SUV and shutting the front passenger door behind him.

He saw the Ferrari drive off in the distance and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In the end, it was Lu Yimeng who went in the Ferrari. The Ferrari was fast, but the SUV group arrived at the restaurant first. The other three hadn’t arrived yet. Just as Shi Xueqing was wondering, the three of them finally showed up.

The one who stood out with his tall frame was Xing Jun. The sight of him made Shi Xueqing a little nervous, but this time he couldn’t look away.

Xing Jun was carrying a pile of Stussy bags.

“Zheng Songtao said a friend asked him to help buy this T-shirt, so he hired a line-waiter and bought one for each of us while he was at it,” Xing Wei said casually. She wasn’t interested in streetwear brands that had nothing to do with her idol.

Shi Xueqing’s face instantly lit up. Tao Shu asked Zheng Songtao how much the line-waiter fee was. Zheng Songtao smiled sheepishly and said that since they were all out having fun together, he couldn’t be bothered to calculate it. It was a gift for everyone.

Xing Jun stood at a distance. He watched as Shi Xueqing also asked Zheng Songtao for his Zelle. Zheng Songtao waved his hand, saying they were all US college students, why bother with such a small amount of money.

During dinner, Shi Xueqing returned the favor by pouring water and serving food for Zheng Songtao, who sat beside him. He did it as if it were an afterthought, with an elegant posture, yet his every move was attentive and caring.

They drank a little during the meal, and Shi Xueqing was slightly tipsy. He couldn’t hold his liquor well. It didn’t show on his face, but he was already feeling dizzy.

When dinner ended, he went to the restroom. While washing his hands, he used his phone to find Zheng Songtao’s Zelle with his number and transferred the money for the T-shirt.

They all flew business class; there was no need to fleece each other.

Just as he stepped out of the restroom, he was startled. Xing Jun was standing by the adjacent wall, looking at him.

“…”

Shi Xueqing lowered his head, about to walk away, but he heard Xing Jun say, “You’re quite simple.”

“…”

“You like whoever gives you something nice.”

Oh, he was being passive-aggressive about the Zheng Songtao thing. The alcohol was in Shi Xueqing’s veins, and his head was spinning. He looked back at Xing Jun and said deliberately, “That’s right, I’m very fair. I don’t care if they’re male or female, old or young, tall or short…”

As he spoke, he even gave Xing Jun a deliberate smile.

But he quickly saw Xing Jun’s expression become very strange. In his tipsy vision, Xing Jun first paused, as if surprised, or perhaps as if a guess had been confirmed.

And finally, his face darkened.

“Really?” he heard Xing Jun say in a low voice. “Male or female, it doesn’t matter?”

“Mhm…”

Does helping someone depend on whether they’re male or female? Was Xing Jun a bit too old-fashioned?

After Shi Xueqing spoke, he found a hand blocking his way. Xing Jun pressed one hand against the wall next to him, his eyes burning darkly as he stared at him.

His sense of smell had also become dull from the alcohol. It took a while for Shi Xueqing to feel the heat and the overwhelmingly strong masculine scent.

It was too intense.

It was almost enough to drown him… and Xing Jun’s face was so close.

“I bought you something too,” the man’s voice said slowly. “…Why didn’t you refill my water?”

“…”

Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Shi Xueqing’s perception of danger had become extremely dull. His tongue felt clumsy as he said, “You weren’t sitting next to me…”

“Xing Wei wasn’t sitting next to you either.”

“She’s a rich beauty… you’re a guy,” Shi Xueqing said woozily. “Besides, a few toys… I can’t show them off, so I don’t want them.”

Something cold tapped his lips.

“If it’s something you can show off, that would be okay, right?”

A yellow car key was under Shi Xueqing’s lips.

Shi Xueqing slowly lowered his eyes. He was extremely dizzy and could only see a bright yellow blur. He tried to widen his eyes to see clearly.

Xing Jun looked at his incendiary appearance, his mind flashing back to the scene from his dream.

And what he had seen on the beach that afternoon: Shi Xueqing’s damp calves, soaked by the seawater.

And his pinkish knees.

A thought slowly rose from his lower abdomen to his mind.

He wanted Shi Xueqing to hold the luxury car key in his mouth, kneeling as he fucked him from behind.

“What’s wrong with Xiao Shi?”

“He’s drunk.”

“His tolerance is that bad…”

Shi Xueqing barely remembered how he got back to the hotel. It wasn’t until he entered the hotel lobby that he sobered up, chagrined and wondering if he had done anything foolish while drunk.

A cultured youth should be able to hold his liquor. Like that quote, “Bring me more wine, for life is but an emptiness.” Shi Xueqing had always wanted to use that as a caption for a social media post to show off his melancholy mood and good taste in wine. Unfortunately, he was a lightweight.

Just as he was worrying about this and trying to remember what he had done while tipsy, Zheng Songtao patted him and handed him a box.

“What’s this?”

“A bracelet. Xing Wei bought them on the way back, a limited Hawaiian edition, one for each of us,” he said. “She said we should all wear the T-shirts and these bracelets for a photo tomorrow. We’re going skydiving in the morning.”

!!

Shi Xueqing returned to his room. He looked at the logo on the box, searched for the price, and immediately felt dazed by the sweet wine of life. He looked at the moonlit ocean outside his window, then at the bracelet and the hundreds of photos in his album, and finally, he posted on his feed again.

“I need an embrace as sure as the wind, and a kiss like the sea.”*

The accompanying pictures: The ocean, the white sand beach, the bracelet, clinking glasses, and what were clearly very expensive restaurants.

No Hello Kitty.

At that very moment, Xing Jun was also sitting on the sofa in his suite. He had taken a cold shower, but the intense heat in his body refused to subside.

What kept replaying in his mind was the image of Shi Xueqing, tears in his eyes, biting a car key.

Even though it was just a fantasy.

What should he do? he wondered.

His stubborn pride and Shi Xueqing’s shallowness when it came to money battled in his mind.

And in the lobby, he had seen from afar the bright expression on Shi Xueqing’s face when he received the bracelet.

He was the one who had paid for those bracelets. Shi Xueqing had been drunk at the time, asleep in the SUV.

Such a lightweight.

Without realizing it, he had opened Shi Xueqing’s profile picture again.

A new post.

The first one since arriving in Hawaii.

He swiped through the photos one by one.

Xing Jun: …

He stared coldly at the sea outside the window for a while, and finally, made a WeChat call to Xing Wei.

“What’s up, bro? I’m getting ready for bed,” Xing Wei grumbled.

“Let’s go to that bar tomorrow night.”

“Huh? Didn’t you say you didn’t want to go before?” Xing Wei was pleasantly surprised.

Xing Jun glanced out the window.

“I changed my mind,” he said.

A slow and steady approach was never Xing Jun’s style. Besides, what about Shi Xueqing was worthy of a slow and steady approach? What Shi Xueqing liked was instant money, instant gratification, wasn’t it?

When it came to things he wanted, Xing Jun had always been direct, seizing them without hesitation.

Whether it was for things, or for people.

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