MCL CH45

Chapter 45: The Brain, Under Excessive Stimulation, Momentarily Shut Down…

Before anything else in his mind could stir, Lin Xi was the first to silence that troublemaking, chaos-seeking intruder.

His body was lifted slightly, pressed half-suspended against the floor-to-ceiling window. At this closeness, every touch of every cell became sharply distinct. The culprit who forced this private scene with such a suffocating sense of voyeurism, however, only lowered his gaze with composed calm.

That calmness carried the usual air of someone always in control. Yet, from the tension in their skin-to-skin contact, it was easy to perceive that this man was hardly unruffled either.

Meeting that gaze, Lin Xi’s eyes flickered with mocking ridicule—this was simply the man suffering from his own stubbornness.

He steadied his breathing, trying to compose himself enough to answer the call still waiting on the other end of the line. But just as he was about to speak, the strength pressing at his waist suddenly tightened. His entire body shuddered violently, and the choke that almost tore from his throat was forced back, locked behind his clenched teeth.

His fingers clutched tighter at Yan Xingzhou’s clothes, crumpling the fabric into sharp creases. Every emotion that threatened to burst free was ruthlessly held down. A few fragments of dizzying light flashed silently before his golden eyes, only to sink back into the extreme restraint that bound him still.

But Yan Xingzhou hadn’t stopped. The regular, unrelenting rhythm of his movements swallowed every sound Lin Xi almost made. As the air grew heavy with stolen intimacy, every suppressed breath only sharpened the edge of thrilling danger.

Lin Xi’s fingers curled tighter, his mismatched pupils unfocusing, gold irises faintly tinged by the unstable shimmer of crimson.

Other than the sound of friction, the room was silent.

Perhaps because he’d waited too long without reply, Gu Beiqiu’s polite voice came again on the phone:
“Hello?”

The sound cut into the atmosphere like a fractured signal, dangerously stimulating in its intrusion.

“Executive Officer Gu… hello, this is Lin Ni.”

All of Lin Xi’s remaining strength was now braced against Yan Xingzhou’s body. Though his voice wavered by the tail end, through the receiver it was barely noticeable unless one listened too closely. Yet, as if dissatisfied with how Lin Xi had addressed “Executive Officer Gu,” Yan Xingzhou’s movements pressed down heavier at that very moment, nearly ripping a broken cry from his lips.

In retaliation, Lin Xi buried his face into the crook of Yan Xingzhou’s neck, biting down sharply. He lifted his gaze in warning.

Yan Xingzhou inhaled roughly at the sting, but the corners of his lips curled, silently mouthing: “Continue.”

There was no question what he meant.

As the pace quickened, their breathing broke apart further, ragged and uneven.

Gu Beiqiu’s calm voice floated from the phone, becoming the only steady thread through the chaos:
 

“Mr. Lin, I’ve already confirmed with the Administration. The appearance of a new S-class ability user will be officially announced three days from now, and we’ll also report to the International Ability Council. You may be required to come to headquarters personally. But please rest assured—details of all S-class ability users are top-level confidential. Your personal information will remain completely secure.”

“…Mm…”

Lin Xi forced out a sound, strangled low amidst the surging waves that wracked his entire body.

But the reply was too soft.

“Mr. Lin?” Gu Beiqiu asked again. “Did you hear what I said?”

“…I heard.”

Grinding the words out between clenched teeth, Lin Xi felt his mind numbing under the unbearable strain, each bit of data from the conversation digested with painstaking, agonizing slowness.

Yan Xingzhou conveniently raised the phone to his ear, the cool press of the device against flush skin provoking another tremor through him. “I… will be there… as scheduled…”

“That’s good.” Gu Beiqiu paused briefly, perhaps sensing something amiss. Then: “Are you… free to speak right now?”

Lin Xi was in complete disarray, his body trembling, breath broken. Even Yan Xingzhou, for all his control, was barely holding tension back. For Lin Xi, it had been far too long since he’d felt so close to snapping. Scarlet flared again in his eyes as he hissed hoarsely:
 

“…Free.”

“Are you with President Yan right now?”

Lin Xi noted the sidelong glance Yan Xingzhou gave him at that, before replying:
 

“…No. What is it you need to discuss?”

Whether Gu Beiqiu believed it or not, he continued anyway:
“Since you expressed interest in joining the United Administration, I’ve spoken with the Personnel Administration. There just so happens to be an opening in the Third Division…”

At those words, Yan Xingzhou’s rhythm grew yet more forceful, each impact against the glass window loud and deliberate, speaking volumes of his displeasure.

Lin Xi all but lost control of his breath.

He was going mad.

“The Third Division is lacking people at the moment. By the time you arrive in J City, I’ll likely be away. Vice-officer Su can escort you to review the situation.”

The Third Division.

For a moment, Lin Xi’s brain simply shut down under the onslaught. It took a full seven or eight seconds before he remembered who led the Third Division now—Su Qiuyin.

So Gu Beiqiu had set him under that person’s command… clearly, he did not trust him.

Lin Xi wanted to answer, but no words could escape his throat amidst the storm ravaging him.

Finally, unable to endure it further, he snatched the phone from Yan Xingzhou’s hand and forced through broken gasps:
“U-understood… I still have… matters to attend to. I’ll contact Vice-officer Su later… to confirm J City timing.”

Without waiting for Gu Beiqiu’s response, he hung up.

The phone fell onto the sofa, discarded. Pinned at his limit, he turned and met Yan Xingzhou’s lips fiercely, the violent kiss shattering both of them against each other.

At the same time, in an airport lounge, Gu Beiqiu stared silently at the ended call.

Beside him, the adjutant hesitated. Since following the Execution Officer, he had never seen anyone dare to so abruptly hang up on him.

Judging Gu Beiqiu’s quiet expression, the subordinate quickly handed him a new briefing:
 

“Sir, these are the latest rift statistics. Several locations have issued urgent support requests again.”

Glancing briefly, Gu Beiqiu’s brows furrowed. “The count is much too high.”

“Compared to the incidents in N City, the others are already somewhat stable.”

At those words, Gu Beiqiu instinctively recalled the red-haired, heterochromatic figure. Something about that earlier call gnawed at him—but he said nothing. Checking the time, he ordered:
“Boarding soon. Let’s return and prepare—the real battle will be reporting to the International Council.”

“Yes, sir.” The adjutant hesitated, remembering the chaos at the funeral previously, then ventured: “Sir… about assigning Mr. Lin to the Third Division… were you serious?”

“I was.” Gu Beiqiu looked faintly amused. “I want to see if that man is even willing to let him go. If Lin Ni can truly persuade Yan Xingzhou to allow his joining, it may not be bad for us. Keeping a stable relationship with X-class ability users is vital. Given Yan Xingzhou’s obvious attachment of late, Lin Ni joining might just turn years of hostility into a breakthrough.”

The adjutant frowned. “But if… Mr. Lin is his pawn?”

Gu Beiqiu smiled faintly, gaze distant on the horizon:
“Then it’s perfect—I’ll finally see what game they intend to play.”

With that, he strode toward the boarding gate, not looking back.

Back at the villa’s study, with the tension finally unmasked, all restraints ripped apart. Power surged like a flood, filling every corner of the room as two men lost to each other again and again, every suppressed desire unleashed.

In the end, locked tightly together on the floor, gasps torn from both throats, they collapsed against the glass.

Breath still ragged, they kissed, silent and relentless, before drawing back, eyes locked.

Finally, Yan Xingzhou closed his eyes with reluctant compromise, rubbing his forehead:
“I’ll have Ju Ze book the tickets to J City.”

Lin Xi had meant to settle accounts afterward, but at that helpless tone, laughter spilled out. “Congratulations, President Yan, so you’ve come to terms at last.”

“Your decisions never change. I’ve no choice but to adjust mine.”

He lifted Lin Xi’s chin, kissing him once more. “So—”

Lin Xi gazed at him, questioning.

Yan Xingzhou’s thumb brushed gently across his still-reddened lips.
“So, I’ll have to make some modifications to my plans.”

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