Don’t Ignite It chapter 98

Difficult to Escape Blame: Xu Zhan × Ruan Sen(27)

Xu Zhan stumbled and fell to the floor after getting in the apartment together with Qin Sheng. The rain outside was still pouring, and both of them were soaking wet, dirtying the spotlessly clean floor.

Qin Sheng propped himself up on his arm, kneeling on the floor with his legs spread apart, looking down at Xu Zhan. He reached out and gently brushed the wet strands of hair from Xu Zhan’s face. Xu Zhan’s face was icy cold, unlike its usual softness. The rain had turned him pale and frigid, making him resemble a porcelain sculpture.

But it didn’t matter; Qin Sheng would warm him up soon. Qin Sheng leaned down to kiss Xu Zhan’s lips again. Both of them were lying on the floor, and it was slightly uncomfortable for Xu Zhan as his back was aching from the hard surface. However, Qin Sheng’s hand quickly reached over to support his shoulders, causing Xu Zhan to lift his neck slightly, with misty eyes and damp eyelashes, as if offering a kiss.

“I was very angry,” Qin Sheng said. “When you left with him, I was really angry.” He felt like he could have killed that person, what was he even thinking? Someone who was just a high school crush, not even counting as an ex, coming back to steal Xu Zhan from him. But he was also so miserable.

“Xu Zhan, why are you so ruthless?” He pinched Xu Zhan’s chin, and his eyes, possibly from the rain or maybe from shedding tears, were red. “I’m not leaving this time, but I need to hear your explanation. When you were with me, did it have anything to do with that person, your high school crush?” He remembered the resemblance between himself and Fang Xieyi 

He had stumbled in his emotions before. When he was waiting downstairs in the rain, he felt so desperate that he thought he should turn and leave, to at least save some face for himself. But he couldn’t do it. Now that Xu Zhan had come downstairs and picked him up, his possessiveness and pride were suddenly reactivated.

He thought that Xu Zhan probably didn’t really love that person; it was all an act. But he had to hear Xu Zhan say it with his own mouth, admit that he only loved him, and promise never to leave him in this lifetime.

Xu Zhan’s eyelashes quivered. He was soaking wet, and his white shirt clung to his body, nearly translucent, revealing the graceful lines of his waist.

“No, it doesn’t have anything to do with him,” he said, lowering his eyes. He hesitated for a few seconds before saying softly, “When I liked you, I never considered you as someone else.”

He glanced at Qin Sheng lightly, his eyes moist and it seemed like he had warmed up a bit.

Qin Sheng stared at him intently. Xu Zhan had used the word “like” again, but it wasn’t enough. He asked, “Do you still love me now? Why did you let me come home with you? Are you going to kick me out again?”

As he said these words, he lifted Xu Zhan from the floor and made him sit on his lap, looking up at him.

He held Xu Zhan’s waist firmly, giving the impression that he could do whatever he wanted with him. However, his arms were tight, and he had no intention of letting go.

Xu Zhan was really at a loss. He lightly sighed and, despite knowing it was wrong, he gave in to all the indulgence he could give himself.

“As long as you don’t want to leave, I won’t chase you away,” Xu Zhan said. “I still love you, whether it’s now or in the future.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Sheng kissed him again, as if he had been waiting for this moment. He pressed Xu Zhan against the wall, forcing him to lean against it. Qin Sheng’s weight bore down on him, as if he was imprisoning him in this small space.

“I love you too,” he heard Qin Sheng say. “Xu Zhan, I love you.”

Qin Sheng kissed him passionately, almost wanting to devour him. Young people were indeed passionate, and within moments, Qin Sheng’s body was already quite hot.

Xu Zhan felt like he was going to get burned.

“No matter how many people like you, I won’t let anyone take you away. Don’t even think about it,” Qin Sheng said between kisses. “I know I’m not good, but please don’t leave me.”

Xu Zhan let out a soft hiss because Qin Sheng had bitten his neck.

But he still gently stroked Qin Sheng’s back as if soothing him. “Mmm.”

………………..

Qin Sheng placed Xu Zhan in a bathtub filled with warm water and joined him. He was a bit worried that Xu Zhan might catch a cold, even though he had a strong immune system and didn’t mind getting soaked for a while. But Xu Zhan was different.

Xu Zhan seemed fragile and gentle, like a bird with damp feathers. In fact, he should have brought Xu Zhan to the bathroom as soon as they entered the apartment, but they were both so impatient after their reconciliation that they ended up on the floor first.

He had thought about stopping in the middle.

But unexpectedly, Xu Zhan held his hand, lifted his head, bit his lip, and his eyes were moist. “Don’t stop.”

He froze on the spot.

Xu Zhan lowered his eyes slightly and whispered, “But be gentle.”

How could he have resisted that?

Now, Qin Sheng sat in the hot water, holding Xu Zhan, and sighed when he saw Xu Zhan was tired.

He held Xu Zhan’s fingers, watching as he grew tired and drowsy. He couldn’t help but kiss his cheek gently. Xu Zhan, half asleep and half awake, muttered softly, “Stop messing around.”

Qin Sheng had no intention of teasing him.

Even though he had made ginger soup for Xu Zhan and coaxed him into drinking it, when Xu Zhan woke up the next day, he still felt a bit dizzy and weak. It wasn’t a severe cold, just fatigue and dizziness. He lay in bed, with only his fair-skinned hands exposed, looking oddly delicate.

At least that’s how Qin Sheng saw it.

Having reunited with Xu Zhan, it felt like he had found a precious treasure, and he wanted to keep Xu Zhan hidden.

With Xu Zhan snuggled up in the bed like this, relying on him for everything—taking medicine, drinking water, eating meals—he couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

He had never taken care of anyone before.

Who else could receive his intimate care? He was the youngest in the family, and his fiancée Aurora was more like a genderless buddy than a romantic partner. He never bothered to be a gentleman around her or take care of her.

But Xu Zhan was different.

Xu Zhan was like a pearl inside a clamshell—white, round, and exquisite. He deserved to be cherished.

He stared too intensely, and his eyes were too passionate. Xu Zhan felt a bit embarrassed.

He had drunk the clear porridge that was brought to him, eating several shrimp dumplings and rice noodle rolls. His appetite wasn’t bad.

In fact, Qin Sheng didn’t really like such light flavors, but he ate with Xu Zhan.

“Don’t keep staring at me,” Xu Zhan whispered. “Aren’t you tired of looking at me yet?”

Qin Sheng had finished lunch a long time ago, and he couldn’t sit still. He reached under the blanket, grabbing Xu Zhan’s ankle. “Not tired at all, I just feel like it’s not enough.”

He was shameless.

Xu Zhan had no choice but to relent. In fact, after suddenly getting back together, he wasn’t used to being so close to Qin Sheng again. It was like a dream, and he felt like he had woken up too quickly. Now he had to immerse himself in it again, and there was always a subtle anxiety, as if he would be abandoned at any moment.

But Qin Sheng was sticking to him too closely kissing him endlessly, which actually diluted his sense of insecurity.

After finishing his lunch, Qin Sheng cleared the dishes and came back to sit by Xu Zhan’s bedside, watching over him as he slept.

Xu Zhan’s eyelids were getting heavy, and Qin Sheng was holding his hand. Xu Zhan, half-asleep and half-awake, thought that Qin Sheng hadn’t been this clingy before.

As he was thinking, he suddenly heard Qin Sheng say, “I’m sorry.”

Xu Zhan was taken aback, his mind a bit sluggish, and he struggled to open his eyes. Qin Sheng looked at his face, his heart filled with guilt and remorse. This person, as pure as white porcelain, as warm and beautiful as a pearl, had still not been able to bring himself to blame him for everything that had happened.

 But he couldn’t pretend that nothing had happened. “The things I said when we broke up were too hurtful and I didn’t mean them,” he said. “You’re actually really great, but I was crazy at the time. I thought you didn’t love me, and I wanted to hurt you, to make you suffer. I did something really terrible. I thought you wouldn’t accept me back last night.”

Xu Zhan should have slapped him and made him leave at that time. That would have been fair. That would have been the right thing to do. But Xu Zhan didn’t. Even now, after the two of them had tangled all night, Xu Zhan still didn’t mention that chaotic night.

He bent down and pressed his forehead against Xu Zhan’s and apologized again, “I’m really sorry. You fell in love with a scoundrel.” “But it won’t happen again, I promise.” He felt a bit annoyed with himself. He didn’t want to be a scoundrel, at least not to Xu Zhan. His mother’s teachings had actually had an effect on him. He could be wild and carefree, freely roaming in the world of romance, but he didn’t want to use his emotions as a weapon to hurt anyone, that would be too despicable. 

The only time he crossed the line was with his own lover. Truly a scoundrel and shameless. Xu Zhan touched Qin Sheng’s soft hair. Although he had a tolerant personality, there were times when he could be cold and distant, especially when it came to issues that crossed the line. But when he brought Qin Sheng back from the rain last night, he had already forgiven him. He wasn’t a flawless saint himself; he had also made mistakes.

 “Just don’t do that again next time,” he whispered, like any other ordinary afternoon, calm and gentle.