Hesitation

Jiang Xu finished the remaining half of his cigarette in the corner of the staircase before returning to the office. However, before he could even sit down, Fan Jiajia called out to him, "Designer Jiang, I was just looking for you. Manager Gu just said for you to go to his office."

Jiang Xu was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then he reacted and said, "Alright, I'll go in a bit."

He wondered why Gu Qingzhou had suddenly summoned him and was also worried it might be urgent, so he didn't delay. He pushed open the office door and went in. However, before he could get a clear look at the situation, someone grabbed his shoulders and pinned him against the side of the door. The lock clicked shut.

Jiang Xu knew it was Gu Qingzhou and took the opportunity to pull the man into his arms, smiling with some helplessness. "Aren't you afraid it might be someone else coming in? If it were a woman, she'd be yelling that Manager Gu is a hooligan."

Gu Qingzhou, who had been resting his face on Jiang Xu's shoulder, looked up upon hearing this and said, "I'm not an idiot."

He had seen Jiang Xu coming in through the window before opening the door.

"You're so clever."

Jiang Xu reversed their positions, pinning Gu Qingzhou against the door. He held him and kissed him thoroughly as usual, only then asking in a low voice, "What did you need me for, hmm?"

Gu Qingzhou hugged him without speaking, kicked the toe of Jiang Xu's shoe, and then pointed to his own ear, a smile gracing his lips. "My ear piercing has healed. Shouldn't you be returning my thing?"

During this period, the wound had gradually healed. The original earring had been thrown away after getting blood on it. Hearing Gu Qingzhou's words, Jiang Xu pinched his earlobe and saw that there was indeed no issue. He then took off the stud from his own left ear and put it on for him. The movement was meticulous, unlike Jiang Xu's usual character.

Gu Qingzhou looked up, watching him with concentration. His breathing unconsciously slowed, as if Jiang Xu wasn't putting on an earring for him, but rather a ring of great significance.

Jiang Xu adjusted the stud's position, took another careful look, and then stroked the back of Gu Qingzhou's head. "It looks very nice."

Gu Qingzhou's eyes crinkled into a smile at his words. He usually wasn't one for emotional fluctuations, and even his smiles were faint, so it was clear he was very happy right now. He wrapped his arms around Jiang Xu's neck, forcing him to lower his head, and then kissed him in a way that was half a kiss, half a bite, his voice low, "Jiang Xu..."

Jiang Xu had never seen Gu Qingzhou so happy before. His dark, lustrous eyes were shining; it was a pure and simple joy. He found himself momentarily lost in a daze but could still devote part of his mind to responding to Gu Qingzhou's kiss. Cupping his face, he nuzzled his nose and asked, "Hm? What is it?"

Gu Qingzhou said, "I just wanted to say your name."

Jiang Xu thought he was being a little silly, yet he couldn't do anything about it. For the first time in his life, he became indecisive. He really wanted to sort through his thoughts and make the right choice, but he just couldn't find any answer.

Gu Qingzhou wasn't quite satisfied with his daze. The hand on his waist tightened inconspicuously. He glanced at Jiang Xu, pursed his lips, and said, "Coming to my place today?"

Although it was a question, his tone was faintly domineering, leaving no room for refusal.

Jiang Xu thought, 'If I go to his place, we'll have to sleep in the same bed.' Although nothing had happened the last few times, there was no guarantee for this time. During this period, Gu Qingzhou had been subtly breaking through Jiang Xu's boundaries. Right now, aside from the final step, they had pretty much done everything else.

Two men...

Two men...

Jiang Xu still felt it was a bit risky. He touched his face in a half-joking manner and said, "Manager Gu, can we be a little more reserved?"

Gu Qingzhou raised an eyebrow faintly at that, dismissing the words. What was being reserved? Could you eat it? If he had been reserved, he would've had nothing to do with Jiang Xu in high school. Why would you need to be reserved with someone you like?

You can't be reserved when chasing a little hooligan like Jiang Xu!

Gu Qingzhou, dissatisfied, bit Jiang Xu's Adam's apple. Only after hearing the other's muffled groan did he let go, snorting coldly. He said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "If you were a little more proactive, I would naturally be reserved."

In the end, it was all Jiang Xu's fault for not being proactive.

Jiang Xu didn't speak, just raised a hand to touch his Adam's apple, where a faint bite mark remained. He had never been one to dress properly, always leaving the top few buttons of his collar undone. Now, to avoid being seen by others, he had no choice but to button up his collar, covering his neck completely.

Jiang Xu felt his neck was a little constricted. Before leaving, he flicked Gu Qingzhou on the forehead. "You part dog or something!"

It was probably because their relationship had been so tense when they first joined the company that their colleagues all basically assumed Jiang Xu and Gu Qingzhou didn't get along well. Seeing that Jiang Xu had been in the office for at least ten minutes before coming out, Li Si'ao dragged his chair closer and said, "Hey, let's grab dinner after work tomorrow night. Barbecue or hot pot, you choose. Don't say your bro isn't looking out for you."

Jiang Xu smiled and said, "Sure. As long as you're treating, I don't care what we eat."

Sometimes, fate was truly a magical thing. No one else thought Li Si'ao could successfully pursue Fang Qia, but he did it anyway. Seeing no one else around, Jiang Xu idly spun his pen and asked, "Hey, now that you're no longer single, any thoughts on it?"

Li Si'ao was stunned for a moment, his refined and gentle appearance looking a little goofy. "No particular thoughts, it's just... it feels like a dream, quite unreal."

When he was pursuing Fang Qia, many people called him a simp, but actually, he just couldn't help but want to be a little kinder to the person he liked. How could he have thought about so much else?

Jiang Xu didn't speak, just patted his shoulder and then fell into his own thoughts.

He was no longer a reckless youth of seventeen or eighteen. Whatever decision he made had to be carefully considered, especially a lifelong commitment. Once decided, it was for a lifetime. It couldn't be like the young couples in their student days, getting together and breaking up, one after another.

Being with a man—Jiang Xu needed to think about it properly.

When it was time to get off work in the evening, he and Gu Qingzhou stayed until the end as usual. The corridor was quiet all around, and the lights were somewhat dim. The slightest sound would echo. Jiang Xu had one hand in his pocket, waiting for the elevator with Gu Qingzhou. A bank card was in that pocket, and he kept fiddling with it, the edges of the card rubbing his palm until it was a little red.

Jiang Xu was lost in thought, pondering how to return the money without starting a fight, when the other hand hanging by his side was suddenly taken. He looked up and met Gu Qingzhou's dark, serene eyes. Although there was no expression on his face, you could still make out a faint, elusive smile within them.

Jiang Xu suddenly felt he was being a little cruel. He paused, then said, "What are you grinning foolishly about?"

Gu Qingzhou could only secretly hold his hand when no one was around, letting go again after a short while. Gazing at the flashing neon lights outside, he unconsciously touched his left ear again. "I just feel that things are pretty good right now..."

Commuting to and from work together every day, eating together, and then cuddling up on the sofa to watch TV together—it was really nice.

Jiang Xu was used to seeing his cold and indifferent side, his extremely withdrawn side, and had even seen him curled up in a corner, crying silently. But he had never seen him look so peaceful and content, as if all his sharp edges had been worn smooth.

He seemed truly satisfied with everything he had now, even though Jiang Xu had given him nothing.

Jiang Xu subconsciously raised his hand, wanting to touch his face. However, before he could touch Gu Qingzhou, the elevator chimed with a 'ding', and he instinctively pulled his hand back.

The elevator doors opened, and there was a cleaning lady inside. Gu Qingzhou noticed Jiang Xu's small movement just now, and his eyes lit up with a smile. He subtly moved closer to Jiang Xu's ear, pursed his lips and chuckled, "I'll let you touch me when we get back..."

Jiang Xu glanced at him, then closed the elevator doors, thinking that Gu Qingzhou acting like a hooligan was truly a rare sight.

They had been in the office all day, and only when they came out did they discover a light drizzle falling outside. The sound was too soft to be clearly heard. Puddles on the roadside reflected the towering buildings, and both the sky and the ground were a sea of neon colors, creating a bit of a visual illusion.

Jiang Xu took off his jacket, held it over Gu Qingzhou's head, and walked quickly with him to the parking spot. Half of his shoulder was soaked through by the rain, turning a darker shade.

The weather was getting colder and colder. After getting in the car, Jiang Xu shook the rainwater from his jacket, turned on the heater, and sighed, "It rains at this time every year. I don't know where all this rain comes from."

Gu Qingzhou took out a tissue and wiped the rain from Jiang Xu's face. Seemingly remembering something, he looked at the scenery rushing past the car window and said, "I think it's pretty nice."

Because of the rain, there weren't as many food stalls on the street as usual, only a scattered few selling barbecue or congee. Wisps of white steam rose into the night, only to be scattered by the evening wind, disappearing into the bustling, rainy night.

Jiang Xu parked the car downstairs and remembered they hadn't sorted out dinner yet. "How about we buy something to eat on the way back?"

Gu Qingzhou glanced at the rain, which was getting heavier. "Let's order takeout when we get back."

For some reason, Jiang Xu smiled when he heard that. He got out of the car, shook his jacket open, and held it over Gu Qingzhou's head as before, shielding him completely. Gu Qingzhou shifted and said, "Should I take off my jacket for you?"

Jiang Xu said, "Why are you being so silly."

Gu Qingzhou also felt he was being a bit silly, so he didn't say anything.

The two of them hurried home. Both were more or less a little wet. Gu Qingzhou's pant legs were splashed with some rainwater, while Jiang Xu was almost completely soaked. His thin shirt clung to his body, and the tips of his hair were clumped together in strands, dripping with water.

Gu Qingzhou found a dry towel for him. "Go take a shower, so you don't catch a cold."

Jiang Xu carelessly wiped his hair a couple of times, then draped the towel around his neck, feeling too lazy to move. "I won't catch a cold. I'm not Sister Lin."

Gu Qingzhou turned on the AC's heat. Seeing that Jiang Xu's hair was still dripping, he took the towel and started drying his hair for him. However, he had probably never done this for someone else before, as his movements were a bit clumsy.

Jiang Xu watched him quietly, his gaze traveling from the top of Gu Qingzhou's head, inch by inch over his features, his brows and eyes.

This person was actually very handsome.

At twenty-five or twenty-six, he was no longer boyishly green, nor was he overly mature. It was the perfect age; everything was just right. At first glance, he seemed cold and prickly, difficult to approach, but in reality, he was always good-tempered in front of Jiang Xu.

Jiang Xu didn't know if his heart had softened. He also didn't understand what it felt like to like someone. He only knew that he was very hesitant right now, yet he couldn't say what he was hesitating about.

As if sensing his gaze, Gu Qingzhou's movements unconsciously slowed. He looked up at Jiang Xu, his eyelashes trembling slightly, the corners of his lips curving up. A bewitching smile spread like ripples, and then he leaned in and covered his lips.

The two of them were too compatible when it came to kissing. They didn't even need their brains to command it; their bodies already had the most instinctive reaction. The towel that was for drying hair fell to the floor, and their entangled embrace stumbled unknowingly from the sofa to the bedroom.

Gu Qingzhou didn't notice that Jiang Xu's movements were a bit sluggish today. He just held his neck tightly, and then his slender fingertips moved down, unbuttoning Jiang Xu's soaked shirt one by one. His voice was hoarse and suggestive, "Jiang Xu..."

Gu Qingzhou felt it was time, but Jiang Xu wasn't ready to take the next step. In the chaos, he touched the bank card in his pocket, and his muddled thoughts suddenly cleared. Almost instinctively, he turned his head, avoiding Gu Qingzhou's kiss.

Gu Qingzhou was sensitive and noticed his small movement. He paused for a moment, then continued to lower his head to kiss him. But the next second, a force of resistance suddenly came from his shoulder, gently pushing him away. At the same time, Jiang Xu's deep voice sounded by his ear.

"I'm sorry..."

Gu Qingzhou froze upon hearing that. An inexplicable sense of unease rose in his heart. He suppressed the feeling, looked up at Jiang Xu, and then forced a smile. "What are you apologizing for? If you're not ready, I won't force you..."

Jiang Xu had actually thought it through very clearly. Regardless of whether he wanted to be with Gu Qingzhou or not, this relationship maintained by money had to end, and the money had to be returned. He was silent for a moment, then took the bank card out of his pocket and placed it gently on the bedside table. "Your money."

Just two simple words, yet they plunged the air into a dead silence.

At these words, Gu Qingzhou couldn't even maintain the most basic smile. The curve of his lips faded bit by bit until his face became expressionless. In the depths of his originally serene eyes, a darkness began to churn. "...What do you mean?"