Don’t Ignite It chapter 22

Still beautiful

That evening, as expected, Lu Zhao came to pick him up.

That evening, Xia Yu left work late, and the gallery was already empty when Lu Zhao came upstairs to see him.

It was Lu Zhao’s first time at Xia Yu’s gallery, even though he had passed by it countless times from the outside.

The gallery at night was very quiet, with most of the precious artworks stored in the warehouse. However, there were still some paintings on display outside. Lu Zhao wasn’t particularly interested in art, having only been influenced by his grandmother to some extent.

But as he walked through, the red and blue oil paints, winding and twisting lines extending in all directions, under the bright and clear light, created a fascinating and dreamy realm.

At the end of this realm stood Xia Yu.

Xia Yu smiled at him and said, “Wait for me a moment while I lock up the office.”

Lu Zhao followed Xia Yu into the office.

Lu Zhao silently assessed his surroundings.

Xia Yu’s office was very neat, with white walls, a white desk, a modern and minimalist design, clean and tidy, with only a splash of brightness from the potted greenery on the windowsill.

But didn’t Xia Yu used to have a different style?

When they were together, Xia Yu was still a university student, often looking dispirited because of assignments. Their college was known for its lively and free-spirited style, but it also had a lot of prodigies, and Xia Yu felt a lot of pressure. He would sometimes throw a tantrum and scatter paint on the floor.

Lu Zhao still remembered Xia Yu lying on the studio floor, with watercolor on his face and white shirt stained in a few places, looking like a small, dejected kitten, saying he didn’t want to do it anymore.

“Maybe I should drop out,” Xia Yu had said in frustration, sitting up from the floor again, barefoot with red marks on his ankles from pinching himself, pouting. “I’ll go home and let my brother take care of me. My brother is so talented; he probably won’t mind one more little failure like me.”

Lu Zhao sneered at this.

But at the same time, he thought it was in line with Xia Yu’s pampered personality. Xia Yu truly resembled a precious pet, only suitable for being surrounded by warmth and flowers.

However, three years had passed, and Xia Yu had already graduated and started his own career. He could stand on his own now.

Sitting across from Xia Yu, Lu Zhao watched him work busily, organizing some sort of list. Suddenly, he realized that even though Xia Yu loved him so much back then and wanted to be with him, he never said anything about Lu Zhao taking care of him. Instead, he always mentioned his brother.

In Xia Yu’s heart, he had probably already drawn a clear boundary. His brother was someone he could rely on, but not Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao lowered his gaze and felt that the office was a bit stuffy.

“I’m ready,” Xia Yu said, packing up his things and looking up. “Shall we go?”

They left the building together.

It had started raining outside, and Lu Zhao held an umbrella while Xia Yu was bundled up in his coat as they walked towards the car.

Xia Yu could smell a faint woody fragrance from Lu Zhao, making the cold evening air feel restrained yet comforting.

He asked Lu Zhao, “Aren’t you busy with work lately? Do you even have time to come and pick me up?”

Lu Zhao replied, “It’s manageable.”

In truth, he was quite busy, but he had squeezed out this time for Xia Yu. After Xia Yu left, he spent most of his time working and had compressed his sleep to the minimum.

However, he didn’t want to brag about it or use it to gain favor with Xia Yu. It was simply his duty.

He opened the passenger door and said, “Get in.”

Xia Yu got into the car, shivering slightly.

The weather was getting colder, and the Mid-Autumn Festival had already passed. Most of the osmanthus flowers in the city had fallen, signaling the approach of winter.

From the backseat, Lu Zhao took out a cake box and placed it on Xia Yu’s lap. “If you’re hungry, have some.”

Xia Yu opened the box and found a chestnut puree cake inside.

He looked at Lu Zhao and asked, “Did you buy this?”

“Yep,” Lu Zhao replied, looking ahead. “There’s a bakery downstairs from the company, and I heard it’s really good, so I picked one up.”

He had heard about it from his secretaries and decided to use this as an excuse. When he came to pick up Xia Yu, he had taken the last piece.

Xia Yu raised an eyebrow.

He took a spoonful and put it in his mouth. The taste of chestnut mixed with cream melted on his tongue.

Due to the rain, the traffic was a bit congested, and by the time they arrived at Lu Zhao’s house, an hour had passed.

When they got out of the car, Lu Zhao took Xia Yu’s hand and noticed that Xia Yu had just finished eating the cake. He looked like a small kitten, sticking out his tongue to lick the corner of his mouth.

But he didn’t quite manage to clean it all.

There was still a bit of chocolate residue at the corner of his lips, like a tiny mole on his snow-white skin.

“What’s wrong?” Xia Yu noticed Lu Zhao’s gaze.

Lu Zhao wiped away the crumbs for Xia Yu with his cold fingers, his touch gentle.

“You got some on your lips,” Lu Zhao said.

They went upstairs together, and the villa was still empty. Lu Zhao had specifically instructed the servants not to come over. Although the domestic staff would not gossip, he knew that Xia Yu was still sensitive about being seen here for their rendezvous.

So they had ordered takeout for dinner tonight.

Xia Yu ordered two large pizzas, as he loved high-calorie foods and had a naturally fast metabolism, making him immune to gaining weight. He found joy in eating.

He bit into the pizza, stretching out the cheese into long strings, his cheeks bulging like a small hamster. Despite having a sofa, he preferred to sit cross-legged on the carpet while watching TV and eating.

He believed that pizza was meant to be enjoyed this way.

It was all absurd, but Lu Zhao had always indulged him in such matters.

Before, when Xia Yu would eat potato chips in his room, leaving crumbs all over the bed, Lu Zhao would only furrow his brow, move Xia Yu to the side, and fetch the vacuum cleaner himself.

But now, he and Xia Yu were sitting together on the floor, and Xia Yu handed him a cheese stick.

Lu Zhao moved away slightly. “I don’t like cheese.”

“I know,” Xia Yu said confidently, “If you liked it, I wouldn’t have given it to you.”

Lu Zhao couldn’t help but smile. He looked at Xia Yu for a moment, then opened his mouth and ate the hot dog with thick cheese wrapping it.

“Tastes bad,” he commented, his expression mild despite his words.

Xia Yu didn’t mind. He looked back at the TV, finding the program quite interesting, even though he recognized only half of the young idols and actresses in it.

Finally, when he saw a familiar face, he thought for a moment, then said with a muffled voice, “What’s this guy’s name? Chen Yue, right? He looks pretty good.”

Lu Zhao didn’t really care about the entertainment industry, but he was somewhat bothered by Xia Yu praising someone else’s looks.

“What’s good about him?” he asked indifferently. “He’s short, narrow-shouldered, and hardly stands out in a crowd.”

“Come on, you don’t get it,” Xia Yu continued to praise the idol. “He’s going for the cute and endearing image. Being too masculine wouldn’t suit him.”

Suddenly, Xia Yu noticed Lu Zhao’s icy expression.

His voice stopped abruptly.

He stared at Lu Zhao, and after a moment, said, “What’s the matter?”

Lu Zhao continued to gaze at Xia Yu. “Who could be more good-looking than the person right here next to you?”

Lu Zhao relied more on his mother’s genes, with handsome and deep facial features. He exuded a sense of sophistication and had a striking presence. He looked more like a star on stage, capturing the attention of the audience.

Xia Yu smiled suddenly and corrected himself, “Yeah, you’re right, this group of young idols isn’t particularly outstanding.”

He looked at Lu Zhao with appreciation. Lu Zhao was, after all, the most good-looking person he had ever seen.

He reached out and kissed Lu Zhao lightly on the lips, then said, “It’s still you who’s the most beautiful.”

If it were someone else praising his appearance, Lu Zhao would have been indifferent and uninterested. However, when Xia Yu said it, he didn’t mind at all. He held Xia Yu’s waist and pulled him into his arms, asking softly, “Is it true?”

“Of course,” Xia Yu replied, touching his face gently and smiling. “Otherwise, how could I have been captivated by you the moment I saw you at the library?”

Lu Zhao blinked, his eyelashes brushing gently against Xia Yu’s palm. He had heard Xia Yu talk about their first encounter at the library many times, which was when Xia Yu had fallen in love with him. It had been almost seven years since that day, but he still remembered the scene vividly. Back then, Xia Yu had been a bit shorter and had fair skin with a hint of baby fat on his cheeks. He had worn an oversized white T-shirt, and his black hair had been slightly messy. He had hidden behind his desk, watching Lu Zhao with unwavering eyes.

At first, Lu Zhao had been annoyed by the intense gaze. However, when he raised his head and met Xia Yu’s clear and innocent eyes, he had felt captivated. Xia Yu’s gaze had been like that of an adorable puppy, innocent and endearing, making it impossible to feel annoyed. Lu Zhao’s anger had gradually faded away.

He held Xia Yu’s hand and pressed it against his cheek. “I remember you staring at me for a long time. You stared at me so intently that I couldn’t ignore it. Yet, you never approached me.”

Xia Yu pouted. “It’s because you looked so intimidating back then.”

He was afraid, even though it was his first time meeting Lu Zhao. He had felt like he had a beautiful but cold face, like a frozen mask.

Despite his usual demeanor, Xia Yu didn’t like dealing with people like Lu Zhao, who seemed to naturally distance themselves from others. However, Lu Zhao had smiled at him later, like a gentle senior student, and even touched his head and gave him a piece of candy. That smile had dispelled his aloofness and ruthlessness, leaving only a trace of tenderness and laziness that had drawn Xia Yu in.

Xia Yu sighed and said, “You shouldn’t have smiled at me back then.”

“Don’t smile and just act tough with me, treat me harshly, so I know it’s impossible,” Xia Yu said, almost incoherently.

He was speaking unclearly.

But Lu Zhao somehow understood.

He touched Xia Yu’s slender back as the rain outside drizzled continuously, falling on the sycamore trees in the courtyard and tapping on the transparent glass windows.

He cradled Xia Yu’s face and kissed his nose gently.

“I should have smiled more charmingly back then,” he said.

He was well aware of the charm of his appearance. At the beginning, what had captivated Xia Yu was no doubt his looks. That’s why he believed Xia Yu’s affection was shallow and immature, thinking that it was merely love at first sight driven by physical attraction.

But now, he didn’t care.

It didn’t matter how Xia Yu saw him.

All that mattered was keeping Xia Yu by his side.

He held Xia Yu’s hand, lowered his head, and placed a light kiss on Xia Yu’s forearm. It was gentle, like a feather brushing against the skin, yet it felt like sealing a promise with a kiss.

Then they continued their intimate moments, going all the way up.

He kept looking at Xia Yu, his face showing no expression as if he had no emotional fluctuations at all, as cold as a statue in a temple, untouched by the worldly dust.

But he kissed Xia Yu’s wrist, palm, and even his fingertips with devotion.

His eyelashes fluttered lightly, and his gray-blue eyes were deeper than usual, reflecting only Xia Yu.

Xia Yu’s breath became heavier.

Lu Zhao was seducing him, and Xia Yu was undoubtedly being seduced.

But then Xia Yu’s gaze shifted slightly downward, noticing Lu Zhao’s bulge.

He couldn’t help but smile mischievously, reaching behind to hook his arm around Lu Zhao’s neck. He moved to sit on Lu Zhao’s lap, swaying his waist playfully.

“Do you want to do it?” he asked Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao replied with a soft, “Yes.”

They locked eyes, and on the TV, the variety show had ended, replaced by a music program with a nostalgic theme. An old love song was playing, sung by a female voice, recalling the past.

Outside, the sounds of wind and rain mingled together, while indoors, it was warm enough to make them sweat.

Xia Yu’s gaze fell on Lu Zhao’s lips.

He had kissed those lips many times before.

Beautiful, soft.

Lu Zhao had uttered words that had cut his heart, but when he kissed him, it was tender and passionate.

He smiled, lowered his head, and kissed Lu Zhao again. Their lips entwined, and Xia Yu’s hand gripped Lu Zhao’s collar. When they finally separated, both of them were breathless.

“Then carry me upstairs,” Xia Yu whispered in Lu Zhao’s ear.

……………………………..

After they were done, Xia Yu lay there for a while, unwilling to move. He opened his arms, allowing Lu Zhao to carry him to the bathroom for a shower.

Lu Zhao was tall and well-built, while Xia Yu wasn’t exactly short, but Lu Zhao carried him effortlessly.

Xia Yu lay by the edge of the bathtub, allowing Lu Zhao to wash him. His gaze wandered, lifting slightly, and he observed Lu Zhao’s well-defined and powerful muscles. Warmth surged in his chest, and he couldn’t resist reaching out to touch.

At first, Lu Zhao didn’t mind, but as Xia Yu’s hand began to get more adventurous, he gently restrained it.

“Do you want to go another round?” he asked calmly.

It didn’t matter to him, but Xia Yu might not be able to get out of bed tomorrow.

Xia Yu weighed the pros and cons and felt the price was too high, so he withdrew his hand.

He pursed his lips, resembling a cat that had lost its toy. Despite his age and experience, he still felt a bit helpless in such situations. Although he was no longer young, he had a certain animalistic instinct. Yet, despite his initial reluctance, he eventually succumbed.

Lu Zhao’s fingers brushed against Xia Yu’s cheek, and although he appeared calm on the surface, his heart wasn’t as calm.

He still remembered the first time Xia Yu lay in his bed when he was nineteen. Back then, he was overwhelmed by desire mixed with frustration and didn’t hold back, even though Xia Yu was clearly in pain and trembling. However, Xia Yu bit his lip and tried to accommodate him, appearing eager to please.

He had intentionally been rough, hoping Xia Yu would find it too much to handle and back away. But he had to admit that Xia Yu looked very charming when he was lost in desire.

Lu Zhao’s gaze darkened, and his fingers toyed with Xia Yu’s lips. He leaned in and kissed Xia Yu again.

But in his mind, he couldn’t help but think, had Xu Zhan kissed Xia Yu like this? Was he gentle with Xia Yu in bed during their honeymoon?

This thought was almost masochistic, like a sharp knife that almost cleaved him in two.

But he couldn’t help but think about it.

Xia Yu vaguely sensed that Lu Zhao’s mood was not quite right.

He opened his eyes and rubbed his face against Lu Zhao’s, acting like a soft, affectionate cat as he softly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Lu Zhao also looked at Xia Yu.

His thick eyelashes hung down for just a few seconds, but he quickly suppressed his emotions, acting as if nothing was bothering him.

“Nothing.”