🍒 Chapter 27: Made Him Want to Devour Him Whole
That night in the changing room, Shen Shuyi once again found himself fretting over what he should wear to the upcoming “Summer Evening Gala.”
He didn’t have a performance scheduled, but he had been chosen to represent the outstanding students of his year and give a speech. This sort of gala wasn’t the same as his second sister’s birthday banquet.
More importantly, after the gala there would be a dance held in the school auditorium.
It was a bit like a “prom,” the kind of event that usually interested many of his classmates. Shen Shuyi had never cared about these things before. Yet, for some reason this year, he actually wanted to go.
He had never been to such a dance in his life.
The truth was, Shen Shuyi’s daily routine used to be painfully dull, just shuttling back and forth between school, his dorm, and the Shen household.
He had very few friends, and not many classmates he could truly talk to.
Which was odd, since he wasn’t the aloof or unapproachable type.
This year’s dance would even allow students to invite family members, and participants could wear masks so no one would know who was who.
Shen Shuyi thought of Mr. Xie. He was different from everyone else. Aloof, reserved, ruthless in business. Many feared him. The only similarity they shared was that Mr. Xie didn’t seem to have many friends either, maybe none at all.
If Mr. Xie was willing, Shen Shuyi thought he could invite him. With masks and pheromone-blocking patches, no one would ever guess who they were.
Every year this masquerade was popular at Z University. Outsiders, or students from other years, would sneak in under masks, and no one really bothered to check.
The hall would be filled with Omegas and Alphas, many of them disguised with patches that could temporarily mask their secondary gender.
But for someone of Mr. Xie’s level, this was still socialising downwards. There was no benefit to him. Would he even be interested?
Xie Chen Zhou had already done so much for him. The only thing Shen Shuyi could offer in return were these small, shabby gestures.
In resources, vision, status, ability, he was nowhere near Xie Chen Zhou’s level. But what else could he do?
His reason for inviting him was simple: to draw him into a kind of socialising without pressure, without masks of another kind.
Socialising with people beneath one’s level had one advantage. There were no expectations, no burden.
Perhaps Mr. Xie was simply wound too tight sometimes.
That was why he always seemed so stern, rarely smiling.
He needed an outlet.
And in this regard, Shen Shuyi did have some expertise in psychology.
After picking out an outfit, Shen Shuyi went to find him.
The last time, Xie Chen Zhou’s judgment had proven reliable. He had a good eye for these things.
He headed down to the basement.
This time, he hadn’t sent a message ahead. He had simply forgotten.
Every time before, whenever he texted that he wanted to come down, Mr. Xie would reply immediately, either with “I’m free” or “Just come down.” Never once had he refused him.
Shen Shuyi had grown careless with manners.
Halfway down the stairs, he belatedly realised it might be impolite. But since he was already here, he deliberately made his footsteps heavier.
He even called out ahead of time, “Mr. Xie, I’m coming down?”
Xie Chen Zhou was sitting on the sofa in the home theatre, reading through the research papers Zhao Jian had found for him.
As for the horseback riding photo, he had already asked Zhao Jian to scan it into a high-definition electronic version.
Right now, that very photo was projected across the massive movie screen.
He was so absorbed in reading that he didn’t notice Shen Shuyi approaching.
By the time he heard the voice, it was too late.
He turned and saw Shen Shuyi standing at the doorway.
“Um…” Shen Shuyi froze, staring at the high-definition projection of his own teenage face.
He had been in puberty then, with even a small pink pimple by the corner of his mouth.
And now, that image was spread across a cinema-sized screen in Mr. Xie’s basement.
Shen Shuyi stiffened.
Embarrassment and awkwardness washed over him. “Mr. Xie… this photo… when did you…”
Sitting down here looking at his photo?
Why?
He hadn’t known Mr. Xie had such a hobby.
With perfect composure, Xie Chen Zhou turned off the projection. “The projector was acting up. I just used a random photo to test the resolution.”
“Then… why is there an electronic version?” Shen Shuyi noticed at once. The scan had been made from the physical copy he had given Mr. Xie. The four corners still showed faint yellowing from age.
Without changing expression, Xie Chen Zhou explained, “I didn’t want to damage the original. And I wanted to display it in a few more places, so I scanned it. Easier to print that way.”
Shen Shuyi’s face flushed. “Mr. Xie, if you wanted more photos you could just ask me… I actually have plenty. They’re still on my old Ins account, though I don’t really use that platform anymore.”
He was older now. He didn’t take photos as often.
He didn’t dare say that out loud though. Mr. Xie was older than him.
“You’d give them if I asked?” The dark, unreadable eyes locked on him.
Shen Shuyi faltered.
And just like that, the matter was brushed aside.
He didn’t dwell on it. He was here for something else. “Mr. Xie, could you help me take a look at this outfit?”
He unzipped the garment bag.
It was the new suit Mr. Xie had personally ordered for him.
Shen Shuyi’s wardrobe already contained several of these tailored suits. Each one took time and care to wear. Yet Xie Chen Zhou never tired of it. He never let the wardrobe fall behind. Each season, he ensured Shen Shuyi had something new.
Every single outfit looked good on him.
The studio sent fashion catalogues each quarter. Not just suits, but casual wear, sportswear, everything.
Xie Chen Zhou would flip through each page slowly, lingering on the clothes that suited Shen Shuyi best, picturing how he would look in them.
He had imagined it countless times. Too many times. To the point where just imagining was no longer enough.
Seeing it in person was all he craved.
When Shen Shuyi brought this suit over, his thoughts darkened.
Wearing it meant nothing.
Taking it off was what mattered.
This time, unlike before, he didn’t rise from the sofa. Instead, leaning lazily with one hand against his cheek, he said, “Take it off. Put it on for me.”
“…Ah?” Shen Shuyi blinked, unsure why those words sounded slightly ambiguous.
But his grasp of Mr. Xie’s attitude was always dull and uncertain. After thinking it over, he decided it was just his own dirty imagination misinterpreting him.
“Then I’ll change in the dressing room,” he said, picking up the clothes.
“Change here.” Mr. Xie stopped him. “You’ll probably need my help anyway, won’t you?”
There was a thread of dominance in his voice.
Shen Shuyi, oblivious, agreed. If he couldn’t manage the clothes, Mr. Xie would help.
But he hadn’t realised what he was agreeing to: that meant undressing right here, in front of him.
He turned his back shyly and began to change.
The sight was intoxicating.
Xie Chen Zhou swallowed without thinking.
Until now, he had only ever watched through surveillance footage. Seeing it with his own eyes was an entirely different shock.
He forced himself to breathe evenly, crossing one long leg over the other in a show of elegance and restraint.
From this posture, he looked relaxed, casual. Which only heightened Shen Shuyi’s embarrassment as he undressed.
The air grew thick with pheromones again, the floral scent wrapping Shen Shuyi completely.
Xie Chen Zhou guided the flow deliberately, letting it follow his gaze, caressing Shen Shuyi’s body in place of his own hands.
The shirt came off, revealing a waist so slim it could be spanned with one hand, skin pale and flawless. The impact of seeing it in person was overwhelming compared to a high-definition monitor.
His hand twitched with the urge to touch. He barely restrained himself, his expression never betraying a thing.
As Shen Shuyi reached for his shirt, his bare chest was briefly exposed.
It would taste sweet if he kissed him there.
His tongue ran over his lower lip unconsciously.
Then Shen Shuyi began to remove his trousers.
As he did, Mr. Xie casually slid the garment bag closer to himself, so that when Shen Shuyi reached back for the clothes he thought he’d left on the sofa, he came up empty.
Puzzled, he stepped back until he finally found them in the bag.
At this distance, his natural scent was even stronger, sweet and enticing.
It made Xie Chen Zhou want to devour him whole.
“Mr. Xie…” Once the trousers were on, Shen Shuyi began fumbling with the buttons of the shirt. His lips pressed together in frustration. “Why is this outfit so hard to wear?”
“Come here,” Xie Chen Zhou said with quiet amusement.
What a wonderful design. Clothes complicated enough that Shen Shuyi always needed his help. He would have to buy more of these in the future.
As he fastened the buttons, he tugged deliberately, pulling the fabric downward each time. From this angle, slouched lazily on the sofa, he didn’t bother to stand.
As expected, Shen Shuyi lost his balance and fell straight into his arms.
Their pheromones mingled, wrapping him completely.
And in that moment, Mr. Xie’s hand slipped lower, brushing his waist, his hip.
Of course, from Shen Shuyi’s perspective, it only looked like a kind gesture to steady him.
“Th-thank you, Mr. Xie…” Shen Shuyi’s face flushed crimson, one hand braced against his abdomen to keep his balance. “I didn’t stand properly.”
“No need to thank me.” One large hand pressed lightly against him. “It’s only right.”
Translator’s Corner:
- Poor Shuyi still thinks Mr. Xie is “just being kind” while steadying him. Sir, that hand was not steadying. That was exploring.
I'm excited for their mascarade ball!
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