PD Chapter 35: Duel (Part 1)

Wen Xunchuan had to admit—he was a classic hedonist.

In a way, He Linzhou’s accusation that he didn’t want to take responsibility wasn’t entirely wrong.

Since realizing his own orientation a good ten years ago, Wen Xunchuan had gone through phases where he entertained fleeting, unrealistic fantasies about love. But after witnessing so many breakups within the circle, enduring a few imperfect relationships himself, and getting exhausted by the overwhelming closeness and the endless responsibilities that came with a relationship, he grew weary. He preferred the quick, casual release within the circle—an affair that felt all-consuming while in bed, but was easy to walk away from the moment he put his clothes back on.

In comparison, this approach felt far more comfortable and liberating to him.

To him, love had never even counted as an accessory to life.

But, at the same time, he also had to admit that sometimes He Linzhou could be quite…attractive. The kind of attraction that stirred a physical response in him—just like now.

In the flashing, shifting lights of the dance floor, He Linzhou stood tall and magnetic, surrounded by people. The buttons on his shirt had been loosened by someone, revealing a firm chest in a warm tan beneath his half-open collar. His raised arms moved fluidly, his body swaying naturally to the rhythm of the music, graceful and easy.

A shirtless boy swayed up to him, wrapping his arm around He Linzhou’s neck and pressing his chest firmly against him. He Linzhou, whether intentionally or by chance, turned his head to glance in Wen Xunchuan’s direction.

Their gazes met sharply, and neither one looked away.

He Linzhou was the first to raise an eyebrow, a clear challenge in his eyes. Under Wen Xunchuan’s heated gaze, he wrapped his arms around the boy’s waist and moved seductively with him, his hand slipping down the boy’s back, provocatively squeezing his firm backside.

Wen Xunchuan’s lips curled into a faint, playful smile. He fixed his gaze on the two on the dance floor, picked up his glass from the table, and took a slow sip.

A hand, brimming with mischief, pressed intimately against Wen Xunchuan from below, and someone leaned in close to his ear, blowing gently and speaking in a flirtatious tone, “Brother Chuan, you’re hard.”

“Mm.” Wen Xunchuan slipped an arm around the person beside him, whispering close to his ear while keeping his gaze locked on He Linzhou in the distance. “Wanna join me in the bathroom?”

He Linzhou watched as Wen Xunchuan, half-embracing someone, got up and started walking toward the restroom. Suppressing a curse in his heart, he pushed off the clingy person hanging on him and quickly followed them out of the crowd.

Wen Xunchuan strolled casually into the restroom with the person, subtly turning his head under the guise of chatting and catching sight of a familiar silhouette following behind. He chuckled to himself.

“What’s funny?” his companion asked, confused.

Wen Xunchuan just shook his head, but before he could answer, the hand around the other person’s waist was suddenly grabbed from behind.

Wen Xunchuan turned, glancing down at the hand gripping him before his gaze slowly trailed up the arm and finally met He Linzhou’s dark, smoldering eyes. Feigning innocence, he asked, “What’s the matter?”

He Linzhou, unfazed by Wen Xunchuan’s poor acting, used his height to his advantage, placed a firm hand on the confused boy’s head, and gently spun him around. Then, he gave him a light push on the shoulder, shooing him away with a casual, “Private matter, please excuse us.”

The boy took a few steps toward the door before turning around, “Chuan…” His voice trailed off as he noticed Wen Xunchuan’s finger hooked onto He Linzhou’s remaining shirt button, stepping closer until their faces nearly touched. The two men stared into each other’s eyes with what seemed like an unmistakable air of intimate, intense affection.

The boy immediately recognized he’d been cut out, and, frustrated, stomped his foot before turning to leave.

Wen Xunchuan’s slender fingers toyed with the last few buttons on He Linzhou’s shirt, slipping his hand down along his open collar and over his waist, eyes drifting downwards. “I wasn’t aware we had any ‘private matters’ between us?”

Wen Xunchuan’s hand brushed over He Linzhou’s stomach through the thin fabric, igniting a heat within him. He Linzhou slid his hand around Wen Xunchuan’s waist, fingers pressing into the smooth skin of his lower back, his voice low and deep, “You still owe me a session.”

The two stumbled backward into an open stall, Wen Xunchuan’s back pressing against the cold wall. He hooked his finger into He Linzhou’s belt and flipped the stall lock shut.

He Linzhou pressed his body against him, lowering his head until his lips grazed Wen Xunchuan’s ear. “Tonight’s the night to pay up, isn’t it?”

The warm breath by his ear ignited a burning desire within Wen Xunchuan. His long, narrow eyes lifted with a slight haze as he slipped his hand into He Linzhou’s waistband with a soft chuckle, his voice a low murmur.

“Whoever comes first will be the bottom tonight.”