Don’t Ignite It chapter 18

Choose One

Xia Yu stood still for a moment, not knowing why everyone was rushing to this closed-off terrace.

He had always known that Xu Zhan had a good and gentle personality, but it was the first time he heard Xu Zhan’s voice sounding so sweet and affectionate, his character so restrained and subtle, yet tender and affectionate when speaking loving words to the other person on the other end of the phone.

Xu Zhan whispered, “I’ve been drinking, but not much. I’m here with friends, and I’ll be heading back in a bit… you don’t know them.”

This made even Lu Zhao freeze for a moment.

His gaze darkened as he stared at Xia Yu in his arms. Xia Yu appeared just as shocked, his lips slightly parted, and his face filled with confusion.

This displeased Lu Zhao.

In just a few seconds, Xu Zhan spoke again, “I promised to take a leave to be with you. Isn’t that sincere enough? The cancellation of our date today isn’t just my decision. Don’t you have something to attend to as well?”

It wasn’t clear what was said on the other end, but Xu Zhan paused for a moment, seeming a bit embarrassed. After a long silence, he mumbled, “…if you want, you can do anything to me.”

Now everyone knew who was on the other end.

Xia Yu was completely dumbfounded.

It was as if he had glimpsed another side of Xu Zhan for the first time.

He felt a strange mix of embarrassment, like when he had found love letters written by his older brother to his sister-in-law in his brother’s study.

Xia Yu’s silence and astonishment were both interpreted by Lu Zhao as something else.

He moved even closer to Xia Yu, their noses almost touching.

“So, this is your husband,” Lu Zhao said, a mixture of jealousy and anger in his heart. It was the same person who, despite having reconciled with Xia Yu, couldn’t let go of his affair on the side. Even with Xia Yu by his side, he was planning to meet his lover.

Lu Zhao, far from inexperienced, keenly sensed something from Xu Zhan’s tone.

He sneered bitterly.

He leaned in close to Xia Yu’s ear and asked in a low voice, “Do you really not mind this? Can Xu Zhan truly satisfy you? Has he even touched you recently?”

Bastard.

Xia Yu was infuriated and almost slapped Lu Zhao. But he thought of Xu Zhan still being there and restrained himself, glaring at Lu Zhao with anger.

It was absurd.

Xia Yu thought that just on the other side of the wall, Xu Zhan was whispering sweet nothings to his lover, while on this side of the wall, he was entangled in the shadows with his ex-lover.

Lu Zhao stared at him for a moment, then kissed him again.

This time, Xia Yu didn’t hesitate to open his mouth and bit down on Lu Zhao’s lips forcefully. He bit so hard that he tasted a hint of blood.

But Lu Zhao didn’t seem to feel any pain and continued to kiss him relentlessly, as if the world would end in the next moment.

Lu Zhao’s actions became increasingly passionate.

Xia Yu struggled silently but was easily held by Lu Zhao.

“Don’t move,” Lu Zhao warned.

The hair on Xia Yu’s back stood on end, and he felt like Lu Zhao might really have gone mad. If he made any noise, Lu Zhao wouldn’t hesitate to let Xu Zhan discover them.

He couldn’t help but freeze.

Lu Zhao actually seemed to want Xu Zhan to find out.

After staring at Xia Yu for a while longer, Lu Zhao slowly released his grip on him and knelt down on one knee.

…

When Xia Yu felt what Lu Zhao was doing, he was so shocked that his legs almost gave way. He was on the verge of collapsing but was held up by Lu Zhao’s hand.

He wanted to make Lu Zhao stop, but the words wouldn’t come out.

His soul felt like it had been split in two. One half was tense and worried, hovering above the terrace, afraid of being discovered. The other half had surrendered and melted into Lu Zhao’s palm.

He frowned, his expression unable to convey whether he was in pain or pleasure. He bit his lip hard, not daring to make a sound.

This was madness.

His husband was just on the other side of the terrace, the person he had walked down the aisle with, even if there was no love left between them. But now he was hiding in the shadows, tormented by his ex-lover, almost melting into a puddle.

To say that lust had clouded his mind wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Xia Yu didn’t know when Xu Zhan had left, but as his senses gradually cleared, only he and Lu Zhao remained on the terrace.

His appearance must have been quite disheveled, his cheeks flushed, leaning against the wall, looking blank, and consumed by desire.

But Lu Zhao was composed, neat in appearance, except for a few wrinkles on his shirt.

Lu Zhao wiped the corner of his mouth with his finger and said calmly, “You look like you’ve been holding back for a long time.”

This remark directly provoked Xia Yu. Unable to bear it any longer, he struck Lu Zhao with a fist.

“You bastard,” he gritted his teeth.

It was a forceful punch.

Lu Zhao touched the inside of his cheek with his tongue, feeling that his cheek might be swollen, but he didn’t mind. He bent down to straighten Xia Yu’s clothes and buckle up his belt.

Stepping back a bit, Lu Zhao ran his fingers along Xia Yu’s slightly swollen lips, down to his throat, and his collarbone.

From their intertwined kisses earlier, Xia Yu’s exposed skin bore the marks of their passion, and his lips were bitten, and as long as they both appeared at the same time, everyone would know that they had just been fooling around.

Lu Zhao looked at Xia Yu with an air of mystery and calmness.

“Choose one, Yu Yu, leave with me tonight or go back to your husband.”

In the end, Xia Yu chose to leave with Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao had also been drinking, so a driver from the Lu family had come to pick them up.

The driver was unfamiliar to Xia Yu; he had never seen him before. He was probably newly hired by Lu Zhao after his return. Like his predecessor, this driver seemed obedient and unassuming, never prying or asking questions, resembling a silent sculpture, only responsible for his assigned duties.

Xia Yu sat in the backseat with Lu Zhao.

He was wrapped in Lu Zhao’s coat, feeling a strange annoyance, especially when he was on the phone with Xu Zhan.

Lu Zhao sat beside him, listening to Xia Yu and Xu Zhan’s lies.

Xu Zhan couldn’t find Xia Yu back at the bar, so he called to ask where he was.

Xia Yu’s voice was low and reluctant, but perhaps because he was familiar with the person on the other end of the call, he unconsciously sounded a bit playful, soft and gentle.

Lu Zhao’s hand unconsciously tightened.

Awkwardly, Xia Yu tried to come up with an excuse, “I just went up to the rooftop for some fresh air. I wasn’t feeling well, so I left early. I won’t be coming home today.”

He couldn’t outright say that he was with Lu Zhao, so he spoke vaguely, “I’m going to a friend’s place to spend the night. Which friend? You don’t know them.”

A friend.

Lu Zhao thought with a cold expression, which friend would press Xia Yu against a wall and kiss him passionately?

Xu Zhan felt that something was off, “Is that so?”

Xia Yu’s friend, whom Xu Zhan didn’t know, but probably guessed was the person Xia Yu had been dating recently.

“Are you with that person right now?” Xu Zhan carefully chose his words, “The one you sneak out to meet… your lover.”

Xia Yu felt his ears flush for no apparent reason.

“Yeah,” he admitted.

On the other end of the phone, Xu Zhan chuckled, “You heartless little thing.”

He said, “I was worried that Lu Zhao might cause you trouble, but you sneaked away instead.”

But this was for the best.

He added, “It seems that Lu Zhao and his brother have left too. There are only a few people left at the table now. I’ll leave in a while too; Jiang Ti and the others will probably stay late. Since you’re on a date, I won’t disturb you.”

Xu Zhan gave a few more instructions over the phone before hanging up.

Xia Yu stared at his phone in a daze. He thought, if Xu Zhan knew that Lu Zhao was right beside him, he probably wouldn’t be so at ease.

Thinking this, he found it somewhat amusing.

Out of the blue, Lu Zhao asked, “Do you find this amusing?”

Xia Yu didn’t catch on immediately, “What do you mean?”

Lu Zhao said, “You and Xu Zhan, both with your lovers on the side, just heard him sweet-talking someone else, yet you’re still trying to maintain this marriage. Don’t you find it funny?”

Xia Yu adjusted Lu Zhao’s coat on his shoulders, still carrying a hint of the cologne Lu Zhao used.

He rubbed his face against the collar and whispered, “I find it quite amusing.”