It was only after Jiang Yi left that Ouyang realized how much he meant to him.
That night, Ouyang had drinks with a businessman from the north. Normally, he was very restrained, but for some reason, he lost control that night. The guest wanted him to stay at the hotel, but Ouyang insisted on going home. He called a cab back to Xiaozhu Courtyard, took a hot shower to sober up, and gave a bitter smile at his reflection in the mirror.
He saw Menghai off in the morning, but the sadness he felt now wasn’t for her. Ouyang didn’t realize how much losing someone could affect him. In just a short time, Jiang Yi had captured his heart. Even if he didn’t want to admit he had fallen for another man, the truth was undeniable. Whether or not that love was strong enough, he could feel it—real, not an illusion, not a momentary confusion, but genuine resonance.
Feelings need to be reciprocated. He had missed his chance to respond to Jiang Yi before, and now Jiang Yi didn’t want to respond to him. But it shouldn’t have ended just like that.
He pulled on a bathrobe and lay down, exhausted, on the sofa where Jiang Yi used to sit, thinking back to the first time he covered Jiang Yi with a blanket—how Jiang Yi had looked surprised but tried to act calm. Ouyang couldn’t help but smile, then slowly pressed his palm to his forehead, covering his eyes, trying to suppress the headache brought on by the alcohol.
He shouldn’t have missed him this much, shouldn’t have regretted things so deeply—but reality rarely goes as we wish.
Ouyang couldn’t stand the unbearable silence. He wondered if he should stop coming back now that Jiang Yi was gone, and there was nothing left to hold on to. Still, he hesitated, and ended up calling an industry friend in Hong Kong. The friend was surprised and asked what was up. With a slightly hoarse voice, Ouyang said, “If there’s any coverage about the Citibank Building’s upcoming celebration next week, let me know in advance. I might come over.”
From that day on, Ouyang pulled himself together and finally understood what he truly needed.
The review for the Yunxi Phase II project would be completed in three days, and the authorities had already sent their congratulations. There shouldn’t be any problems. But the engineer who oversaw everything was still missing. Ouyang decided to dig deeper into Jiang Yi—he didn’t want things to begin and end so inexplicably. He needed an answer; it was no longer optional for him.
He had people gather all kinds of information about Jiang Yi from the media, even details like his individual scholarship amounts in school. But one thing surprised him—Jiang Yi was adopted.
The report confirmed his unusual background. Jiang Yi didn’t avoid the sensitive topic, but his strength and drive showed how much he cared—he never wanted to fail. Jiang Yi was Chinese by birth, adopted by an American professor couple at age seven. That’s why he had black hair and eyes, but brown-haired, blue-eyed parents.
Ouyang Jinghui suddenly felt powerless. He knew so little about Jiang Yi’s past, while Jiang Yi had already shared his richest experiences with him. Jiang Yi never hid his setbacks, always appearing strong and stubborn, with a touch of neurosis—sensitivity and intelligence had become his trademarks.
Did he remember anything from before he was seven? Why did he become an orphan? It was like a modern legend, and Ouyang felt a strange sense of loss. How much about Jiang Yi did he still not know—including this sudden disappearance?
Ouyang started staying in the hotel’s executive suite again. The first night he moved, he felt uncomfortable, his arms empty, unable to grasp any warmth.
That night, Ouyang dreamed of Jiang Yi, seeing him walking out of the bath toward him. Even though it was their first meeting in the dream, it didn’t feel unfamiliar at all.
Jiang Yi’s damp hair clung to his forehead and temples, his wet, tempting upper body emerging from the water—healthy bronze skin, smooth collarbones, perfectly defined abs, impossible to look away from.
His eyes were both hazy and clear, as if trying to see through all their secrets. When those sharply defined lips pressed down on him, Ouyang’s whole body reacted, and he woke up, not knowing where he was, his chest filled with a fierce, rushing wind.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yi had just arrived in Hong Kong, checking into a five-star hotel on the island. He had been away from S City for exactly twelve days. This was supposed to be the last day of their one-month agreement, but he had chosen to end it early, feeling there was no reason to continue.
Yet, time and distance couldn’t sever his longing for Ouyang Jinghui. At night, alone in a strange hotel room, his intense desire would crash over him, often leaving him unable to bear it. The tidal wave of longing would take over his body, his trembling fingers seeking relief, frantically imagining the feeling of that man’s sharp thrusts inside him, that fierce, urgent touch…
His movements sped up, his mind filled with images of Ouyang—his sexy naked body, those eyes that could be deep and cold one moment, gentle and passionate the next. It didn’t take long before his taut desire exploded in a feverish climax. As the pale sheets were stained, as his body trembled uncontrollably, as he lay back, weak and spent, all the memories—good and bad, admitted and denied—were stirred up again, launching a new assault on his fragile nerves. Finally, Jiang Yi covered his face and whispered, “Jinghui—”
If true feelings really could create a psychic connection, both sides could let go of their doubts and pain. Sometimes, admitting your feelings means taking a risk—that’s never easy.
In the days that followed, Jiang Yi was busy with work, barely able to think of anything else. But whenever he was alone, wandering around Statue Square, brushing past groups of Filipino maids, he felt himself slipping back into his solitary ways. Maybe only that person was truly suited to be his companion, but that chapter was over—life could never be perfect.
Until the day of the new bank building’s launch celebration, when government officials and top financial figures were invited to the ballroom for the evening gala. As one of the project’s engineers, Jiang Yi chose to stay in the background, not wanting to be pulled on stage for a three-minute speech. Still, a magazine reporter recognized him and chased him for an interview.
He had no choice but to stop for photos and answer a few questions about the project’s features. Just as he was about to deal with the next reporter, his eyes locked on a striking figure ahead. The words stuck in his throat, his body frozen in place, staring at the man striding toward him—was it really him?! How could it be?!
When that man looked at him with those persistent yet helpless eyes, reached out, and grabbed his shoulder—skillfully blocking the reporters—he spoke in a deep, commanding voice: “Excuse me, I need to speak with Mr. Jiang first.”
Not a single reporter dared follow. Everyone was stunned by his imposing presence. Someone in the crowd whispered, “That’s the chairman of Longtai!”
“You mean Ouyang?”
“One of this year’s Top Ten Business Leaders?”
“Mr. Ouyang! Can I ask you a few questions—?”
The crowd surged forward, but before they could catch up, Ouyang had already led Jiang Yi upstairs to the guest lounge.
He shut the door with a bang and got straight to the point. “Who said you could end our agreement early?”
“Do you care if I break it?”
“Shouldn’t I care? Or are you planning to make a sacrifice? Do you think I was just using you for a life experiment?”
The questions caught Jiang Yi off guard, his mind in chaos. He could only retort, “Why are you here?”
“To attend your project’s celebration, to share your joy. Aren’t you happy I came?”
“What do you want from me? For me to keep clinging to you until you get sick of me?”
“I came here just to tell you—the agreement is now open-ended.” Seeing Jiang Yi’s shocked expression, Ouyang added, “You don’t want to keep it?”
Jiang Yi finally reacted, pushing Ouyang away and stepping back, turning to look at the standing lamp by the chair. His mind was a mess, his ears buzzing. He frowned, taking a long time to refocus on Ouyang’s face. “Are you… sure this isn’t just a whim?”
“Do I look like it?”
“It’s impossible, you just—” He sighed. He’d told himself so many times not to hope, so why was he still completely defenseless when Ouyang appeared? “You don’t even understand what that means. You’re Ouyang Jinghui—how could you possibly go crazy with me?”
Ouyang remembered the days of tangled longing and guilt, and his voice softened. “I just got used to having you around. I need… this feeling.”
“There are other people who can give you that feeling.”
“Menghai broke up with me and went to Europe.” Seeing Jiang Yi’s shocked and confused look, Ouyang quickly explained, “It’s not because of you—just that our feelings ran dry.”
“So you came to find me?” Jiang Yi bit his lip, a flash of pain in his eyes, turning away to hide the sudden tears. He had never cried in front of anyone, and he didn’t want this man to see.
Ouyang didn’t soften, but pressed on. “Jiang Yi, how could you think you’re just a substitute? How could you think I’d fly to Hong Kong to bring you back just for fun? How could you think I’d confuse love and friendship between men and women? Is that really what you think of me?”
“I just can’t trust your feelings, Ouyang. More than anyone, I want to hear you say it, but I don’t want you to regret it later. So I’m the one who needs time to think.” Jiang Yi gave himself a reason to stay calm—he needed the strength to face whatever came next.
“I’m leaving now, until you’re ready to come back to S City to see me.” Ouyang stepped forward and hugged Jiang Yi from behind, holding him tighter and tighter. “I don’t take feelings lightly—you should know how much courage it took for me to admit our relationship. If you still think I’m not trustworthy, I have nothing more to say. Before you, I never bowed my head to anyone, never hoped someone would change their path for me. You and I are the same—we always put pride first. But I’ve realized, after you left, that true feelings matter more than pride. If anyone else had even half your qualities, I wouldn’t have come looking for you. I’m not as tough as I look.”
Suddenly, the pressure in Jiang Yi’s heart eased. “I never realized you could be a therapist.”
“Now you’re mocking me? That’s not good.” As he spoke, he bit Jiang Yi’s neck, making him cry out in pain. “Remember to come back before this bite mark fades.”
Jiang Yi rubbed the spot and shot back, “Want to bet on it?”
“I won’t bet with you. In gambling, someone always loses. I don’t want you to lose.”
“You arrogant man.”
They embraced and kissed, passion flaring instantly, their breathing tangled, unable to let go. That familiar electric feeling surged between them again, making both their hearts tremble. Ouyang carefully pushed Jiang Yi away, trying to keep his composure. “I’m leaving now. If I stay any longer, something’s going to happen.”
“Then let it out.” Jiang Yi suddenly stepped forward, grabbed him, closed the lock behind them, and pressed Ouyang against the door.
Chapter 14
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