AMBTICBPIB Chapter 40

 

Chu Yi didn’t know what had happened. He only saw Shen Jin and Gu Jin go off to talk, and he assumed something important must have occurred, judging by Gu Jin’s serious expression.

That day, Chu Yi had a wonderful time playing and eating.

Although he’d exhausted himself in the afternoon, he devoured plenty of grilled meat that evening, stuffing himself until he was full.

He’d expected Shen Jin to be gone for a while, but he returned in less than a minute.

Earlier, seeing Gu Jin’s solemn expression, Chu Yi had wondered if something was wrong. But when Shen Jin returned, his face was calm, showing no sign of any trouble.

Gu Jin, still worried, glanced their way several times. When he caught Chu Yi’s eye, he forced a smile and shook his head with a hint of helplessness.

Chu Yi immediately said to Shen Jin, “If you have something to take care of, go ahead. I can get back on my own later.”

“It’s nothing,” Shen Jin replied, his tone slightly apologetic. “Chu Yi, we might have to head back earlier than planned.”

Chu Yi sprang to his feet. “Okay, let’s go back now.”

He had actually wanted to leave earlier. He couldn’t quite understand or fit in with the games the others were playing.

Watching Shen Jin and Chu Yi leave, Gu Jin remained deeply worried. He knew Shen Jin would never go to the hospital, preferring to endure the pain himself rather than seek medical help.

He also knew Shen Jin would never force Chu Yi. It was clear that Chu Yi was still clueless about his feelings for Shen Jin, not even understanding what it meant to like someone.

The only solution was to keep dousing himself with cold water, but that was both unpleasant and bad for his health.

The boy who had caused the trouble approached Gu Jin, his voice filled with concern. “Mr. Gu, will he be okay?”

Gu Jin glanced at him. “It’s fortunate Chu Yi didn’t drink that wine. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to protect you.”

On the way back, Shen Jin’s expression remained normal, but he didn’t say a word.

The car was silent, with Chen Ye driving dutifully in the front.

Yet Chu Yi, sitting beside Shen Jin, could sense that something was different about him.

Chu Yi and Shen Jin weren’t sitting too close, but Chu Yi could still feel Shen Jin’s unusually high body temperature. The intense heat seemed to penetrate their clothes and radiate onto Chu Yi.

He also noticed that Shen Jin’s breathing sounded heavier than usual.

Chu Yi turned to study the man beside him. “Are you feeling unwell? Should we go to the hospital?”

Chu Yi carried a faint, sweet milky scent that Shen Jin found even more pronounced than usual.

Because they were so close, Shen Jin only had to lower his gaze slightly to see Chu Yi’s delicate neck and the pale, luminous collarbones peeking out from his shirt. The whiteness was almost dazzling, and even Chu Yi’s breathing seemed amplified, clear and distinct.

“I’m fine,” Shen Jin said.

Chu Yi remained skeptical. Shen Jin’s gaze lingered on Chu Yi’s pink lips as they moved. “Are you sure? You look like you’re in some discomfort.”

“Really, I’m fine,” Shen Jin said with a smile, gently turning Chu Yi’s face forward.

“Oh,” Chu Yi replied. He could still feel the burning heat of Shen Jin’s fingertips on his cheek, even after Shen Jin had withdrawn his hand. His face felt flushed.

Chu Yi blurted out, “But your fingers are so hot.”

Shen Jin replied softly, “That’s because your body temperature is lower.”

Shen Jin leaned back in his seat with his arms crossed, closing his eyes as if resting, his coat casually draped over his lap.

Chu Yi instinctively glanced at the bracelet on Shen Jin’s wrist. It was completely still. Was he really okay?

Seeing Shen Jin’s closed eyes, Chu Yi fell silent.

When they arrived home, Shen Jin told Chu Yi to go to bed early. After saying this, Shen Jin went upstairs.

Chu Yi watched Shen Jin’s retreating figure, his confusion deepening. Shen Jin was acting differently than usual. Was he truly alright?

After returning to his room, Shen Jin immediately took a cold shower.

In the confined car, the air had been thick with Chu Yi’s sweet scent. The more Chu Yi spoke to him, the harder it became for Shen Jin to maintain his composure.

His extraordinary self-control had prevented Chu Yi from noticing anything amiss.

The icy water cascading over him failed to quell the burning heat within him; instead, it seemed to intensify the inferno.

Shen Jin was a proud man. He would never go to a hospital and let others witness his current state, not even a doctor.

The bathroom had become an icebox, but the cold water had no effect on Shen Jin. As time passed, his reactions grew increasingly intense.

Shen Jin bit his lip, but a gasp still escaped his mouth.

Chu Yi checked the time. Over half an hour had passed, and Shen Jin still hadn’t replied to his WeChat message.

This made him worried. Was Shen Jin really okay? Before, Shen Jin had always responded to his messages almost immediately, no matter the time.

Chu Yi decided to wait another ten minutes. If Shen Jin still hadn’t replied by then, he would go check on him.

Ten minutes later, Chu Yi went to find Shen Jin.

There was no response to his knock. Growing increasingly concerned, Chu Yi pushed the door open and entered.

He didn’t see Shen Jin in the room. Just as he was about to head to the study, he faintly heard a muffled groan coming from the bathroom.

Chu Yi felt his heart race. He was about to quietly slip out when Shen Jin emerged from the bathroom, their eyes meeting.

In his own room, Shen Jin was wearing only a white towel wrapped low around his waist. The towel was tied so low that Chu Yi could clearly see Shen Jin’s abdominal muscles and his alluring V-line.

Chu Yi had already been stunned by Shen Jin’s physique when he saw him in his racing suit earlier that afternoon. Now, seeing Shen Jin half-naked, Chu Yi’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. This was the legendary “looks slim in clothes, ripped out of them” physique.

Chu Yi noticed droplets of water still clinging to Shen Jin’s muscular body, some even dripping down, as if he had only roughly dried himself with a towel before wrapping the bath towel around his waist.

After a moment of stunned silence, Chu Yi remembered why he had come. “I texted you earlier, but you didn’t reply,” he explained. “I was worried, so I came to check on you. Are you feeling any better?”

Shen Jin replied in a low voice, “I’m fine. Go back to sleep.”

But he clearly wasn’t fine. Chu Yi moved closer, concern etched on his face.

Without the barrier of clothing, Chu Yi could feel Shen Jin’s body temperature was even higher than it had been in the car.

Chu Yi reached out and touched Shen Jin’s arm. “You’re burning up,” he said.

During winter, Chu Yi’s body temperature tended to run low, his hands and feet often icy cold. When his cool touch met Shen Jin’s arm, Shen Jin felt a sudden wave of relief. The emotions he had barely managed to suppress were now easily stirred by Chu Yi’s touch, like a spark igniting a raging fire.

Shen Jin’s gaze deepened as he tried to persuade Chu Yi to leave. “Go back. I’m fine.”

He didn’t want Chu Yi to get close, but Chu Yi only moved closer.

This time, Chu Yi was certain Shen Jin wasn’t fine. “You’re burning up.”

Shen Jin gripped Chu Yi’s wrist, his eyes slightly reddened, his voice low and husky, yet carrying an indescribable heat. “Chu Yi, I’m giving you a chance. Get out.”

A cool sensation spread from Chu Yi’s palm to his chest, a soothing relief.

Chu Yi looked at him. “Are you in pain right now?”

“None of your business. Get out,” Shen Jin snapped.

Hearing this only made Chu Yi more worried. “Where does it hurt? Should I call a doctor?”

Unfortunately, Uncle Wen wasn’t home. If he were, he would know what was wrong with Shen Jin and how to handle it.

The temperature on Chu Yi’s wrist continued to rise. “Let me call a doctor,” he urged anxiously.

With a sudden tug, Shen Jin effortlessly pulled Chu Yi into his arms.

Just like the previous day, they stared at each other in silence.

Chu Yi was like a delectable cake, utterly irresistible, every part of him drawing Shen Jin in.

Especially now, as Chu Yi blinked at him, completely unguarded, making Shen Jin’s heart tremble.

Chu Yi felt a hot breath against his neck, Shen Jin’s breathing brushing against his skin.

This embrace was different from the one the night before. Shen Jin’s entire body was frighteningly hot, leaving Chu Yi flustered. He called out Shen Jin’s name, “Shen Jin.”

The man’s gaze fixed on Chu Yi’s lips, catching a glimpse of his pink tongue as he spoke.

Shen Jin’s breathing grew heavier. He suddenly lowered his head and kissed Chu Yi.

The searing, soft warmth spread across Chu Yi’s lips. His eyes widened in shock—was Shen Jin kissing him?!

Clinging to the last shred of his rationality, Shen Jin’s voice deepened to a husky whisper, “If you don’t want this, you can push me away.”

Chu Yi’s mind went blank, his thoughts grinding to a halt.

He instinctively pushed against Shen Jin, but found him as immovable as a wall. No matter how hard he pushed, he couldn’t budge him.

Before he could process what was happening, Shen Jin forced his lips apart. When their tongues met, Chu Yi felt a jolt like an electric shock. He let out a soft moan and involuntarily gripped Shen Jin’s arm.

Feeling Shen Jin’s wrist vibrating, Chu Yi managed to gasp out between ragged breaths, “Your phone…”

Shen Jin impatiently ripped off his wristband. “No phone.”

Their lips remained locked together as he spoke.

Shen Jin was like a raging fire, while Chu Yi was like a block of ice. Chu Yi felt completely enveloped by the flames.

This was a sensation he had never experienced before—dizzying, disoriented. His hands had somehow found their way around Shen Jin’s waist, and Shen Jin’s kisses grew more fervent.

Chu Yi didn’t even realize how they had ended up on the bed. He clearly remembered they had been nowhere near it moments ago.

Before he could figure out how they had moved, Shen Jin leaned down and kissed him again.

The towel around Shen Jin’s waist finally slipped off. As he kissed Chu Yi, Shen Jin unbuttoned his pajamas.

A mere graze left pink fingerprints on Chu Yi’s shoulder.

Suddenly, tears began to fall from Chu Yi’s eyes like pearls, the corners of his eyes quickly reddening. Shen Jin lowered his head to kiss away the tears.

Everything felt like a dream—tumultuous, chaotic, a relentless back-and-forth.

Chu Yi only felt himself being held tightly by someone whose body burned with heat.

Until finally, he drifted into a deep sleep.