ITOTIABSAM | Interstellar Orcs | 125
As the words fell, Gu Cong finally realized what he had done.
Perhaps deep down, there was an underlying anxiety that Xie Ye would leave and a belief that the young man staying here was just a matter of necessity. Acting before thinking, his subconscious reaction was to lock the door, as if afraid that the "cat" would escape through the "window."
The young man who looked over at the sound seemed to be caught off guard by the question. A fleeting look of surprise flashed in his eyes, unsure if his subtle movements had been noticed.
Gu Cong changed into his slippers and softened his tone: "Have you checked your body with the treatment device? It's better to be cautious. I'll go get it for you."
—His attitude was so natural, as if he hadn't asked anything when he walked in just now.
Unfortunately, there was a system in his consciousness that Gu Cong couldn't sense, dismantling his facade: "Report to the host, the door is locked."
Of course, Xie Ye could see it all.
The strong possessiveness displayed by Gu Cong, though slightly offensive, made Xie Ye feel deeply satisfied. He was also very certain that if he truly wanted to leave, no matter how conflicted he felt inside, Gu Cong would let him go, perhaps even opening the door himself.
After all, deep down, someone always showed him extraordinary indulgence and respect.
Being spoiled led to arrogance, most likely.
Just like at this moment, despite being worried that this "scoundrel cat" of his would turn around and leave after healing, Gu Cong still hadn't made any alterations to the treatment device. He was now half crouched in front of the sofa, saying, "Your hand."
The tiny probe manipulated by 1101, invading and piercing the soft fingertip of the young man, drew a drop of dark red blood. The wound was so small that Xie Ye hardly felt any pain, but the man across from him immediately assumed a defensive posture, taking the cotton swab with alcohol to press on his hand. "Does it hurt?"
Xie Ye shook his head.
The 1101, disguised as a treatment device for the nth time, dutifully refrained from issuing any warnings about "residual illegal drugs."
"Today, we need to discuss a very important cooperation, so I changed into formal attire," Xie Ye said seemingly casually.
The hand holding the cotton swab paused for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. Gu Cong lowered his head and replied, "Okay."
It was as if he had never doubted for a moment that Xie Ye would leave until he heard the explanation.
However, the more indifferent the other party appeared, the more Xie Ye felt inclined to tease him. He deliberately glanced towards the direction of the apartment door and quirked his lips. "Are you trying to keep me here?"
Gu Cong, completely caught off guard by the instinctive question, remained silent, uncertain of how to give Xie Ye a sufficiently normal and reasonable explanation. In his hesitation, the young man casually presented new evidence: "I heard it."
"The sound of the door locking."
"Did you not hear it? Or did I misunderstand?" Seeing the man's silence, Xie Ye made as if to stand up, heading towards the entrance.
With hair and eyes of colors uncommon in regular people, Xie Ye's features remained unchanged in this life, but the aura of coldness seemed even heavier. When not smiling, he could be considered the epitome of aloofness, emanating a palpable sense of distance.
Yet Gu Cong, unsure of where his courage came from, raised his arm and grabbed the young man's wrist.
"I didn't intend to keep you here," the cotton swab fell as he lifted his head, admitting, "but I do want you to stay a few more days."
It wasn't just because he had gotten used to having a new roommate at home. It was because the new roommate was Xie Ye.
After all, he had always lived alone. If anything, solitary living was his normal routine.
"What's the difference?" Xie Ye asked knowingly, tilting his head.
Gu Cong replied firmly, "The difference is that the latter is just my wish and won't go against your will."
Immediately, he saw Xie Ye raise an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because you're not currently able to show yourself. Cameras and reporters, big and small, could ruin the plan at any moment," Gu Cong analyzed the pros and cons as objectively as possible, showing a seriousness greater than that of an interview. "Xie Tianhua's people probably haven't given up on finding the cat. With the arrow on the string, if he's pushed to the brink, what if he goes mad and actually makes you die for real?"
However, the new "interviewer" with white hair and green eyes was clearly dissatisfied with his answer, furrowing his brow slightly. "Is that all?"
Then, he pulled away from Gu Cong's grasp. "It's okay, Anna will handle it."
Suddenly, the string of rationality in Gu Cong's mind tightened and then snapped under the weight. In three swift steps, he bypassed the young man reaching the entrance and, with long legs, blocked the door.
"What’s this?" Almost colliding with him due to inertia, Xie Ye managed to brake in time and raised his eyes. "Didn't you say you wouldn't go against my will?"
Gu Cong replied, "I don't know."
His thoughts were in disarray, like a ball of yarn that had been scratched by a cat. He was certain that he had no intention of deceiving Xie Ye, yet his actions seemed to contradict this, as if he were arrogantly proclaiming lies.
"Do you like cats?" Solely in terms of physical strength, the small stature of the cat couldn't push Gu Cong aside, especially since Xie Ye didn't intend to. Leaning slightly against the wall of the entrance, he deliberately added fuel to the fire, skirting around the main issue. "As a token of gratitude, I can give you one, or perhaps an entire pet store."
"Give me one?" Such a casual attitude made Gu Cong's anger rise in an instant.
In the impressions of most classmates and colleagues, he was considered to have a very good temper. Gu Cong himself thought so too. However, it wasn't until this moment that he realized he simply lacked something to care about. At least, Xie Ye in front of him could easily stir up his emotions, whether positively or negatively.
"Can Mr. Xie really give me an identical one?" Due to the posture of the young man leaning against the wall, Gu Cong, who was already slightly taller, took a step forward, effortlessly enveloping him in his shadow. "The eyes, fur color, and ears that will twitch playfully..."
Emphasizing his point, his index finger brushed a strand of hair from the young man's forehead, then moved downward, grazing the corner of his eye, and finally turning toward the fully human-shaped ear behind him.
The skin in that relatively lightless area was more delicate and sensitive than other parts, and being caressed by fingertips with slightly higher body temperature, it immediately caused the owner to tremble lightly.
Having been a real cat for almost a month, Xie Ye was too accustomed to the "care" from the other side. With restraint, he leaned back and pursed his rosy lips, suppressing the comfortable and almost revealing hum in his throat.
To Gu Cong, this seemed like the young man's aversion to himself.
His rational mind told him to stop, shrug it off, and joke about it to avoid evoking Xie Ye's more obvious disgust.
But in reality, his fingertips traced along the back of the young man's ear, winding their way down, delineating the beautiful line of his slightly turned neck, then crossing over the collar, counting the slight protruding vertebrae of the young man one by one through the thin fabric. Then, suddenly recalling something, he said, "Oh."
"And there's the tail."
The body beneath his palm instantly stiffened, as if encountering a mortal enemy, appearing quite nervous.
Fortunately, the wandering hand finally stopped behind the waist. Under the light, looking into the emerald-colored pupils, Gu Cong saw his own exposed malicious expression, thinking, ‘After all, no matter how much I pretend, I'm still a wolf.’
Thinking couldn't bring answers, so he decided to solve the puzzle with action.
Forget about reason, do what he wanted most in this moment.
"Give me one," persistently, Gu Cong repeated, "There are no two identical leaves in the world. Cloning is illegal. Is Mr. Xie planning to give himself to me?"
Without waiting for the other to respond, he continued, almost to himself, "That would be... "
"Exactly what I want."
As the last syllable fell, Gu Cong's hand on the young man's waist suddenly tightened. His gaze locked onto the young man's lips, which were even more brilliant and vivid than usual. When he lowered his head, only a cautious and light kiss fell beside that delicate rose, on that petite chin.
He didn't want to be pushed away by Xie Ye.
If it was just this small taste of sweetness, perhaps Xie Ye would be confused, but fearing he might do something more inappropriate, he might just behave.
Most importantly, he didn't want Xie Ye to genuinely dislike him.
The instinctive desire couldn't be deceived. The first time he saw the young man lying on the floor, looking up at him and pulling at his pant leg, he had decided that the other was enchanting, soul-stirring. Subconsciously, he had already told himself the answer.
Unfortunately, he only realized it when Xie Ye was about to leave.
He was not just a friend, not just a subordinate and boss, no one would want to kiss their same-sex friend or boss to validate their relationship, let alone enjoy it and want more.
Nuzzling affectionately and reluctantly against the corner of the young man's lips, Gu Cong straightened up. "I'm sorry."
"You're leaving..."
Unexpectedly, Xie Ye's slender fingertips climbed up and fiercely grabbed his collar, choking off his unfinished words.
"Leaving? Where would I go?" Taking advantage of the other's guilt, the white-haired youth let go of the fabric in his hand, stepping forward one by one, bringing with him an invisible pressure. "Didn't you say it's dangerous outside?"
No matter how angry he was, no matter how reincarnated he might be, when it came to Xie Ye, Gu Cong always maintained a certain degree of restraint. At this moment, the young man's shirt was still clean and neat, with only a few slight wrinkles around the waist. In contrast, he himself was disheveled, his collar colliding with the shoe cabinet with a loud bang.
With no retreat possible, Gu Cong could only rely on his long legs and sit on the slightly elevated wooden shoe cabinet, his body leaning back slightly.
It was a very dangerous position, but the young man showed no restraint, standing straight and squeezing himself between Gu Cong's knees. Slim and tall, he seemed to have the upper hand, but in reality, he willingly nestled himself into Gu Cong's embrace.
Gulping audibly, Gu Cong's Adam's apple bobbed.
He was thirsty, and very aware of how to quench that thirst, but afraid of provoking Xie Ye, he forced himself not to touch the other, gripping the edge of the shoe cabinet with his fingers curled, leaving behind hidden traces of restraint.
"You closed me in, touched me, and even kissed me." His skin was whiter than usual, and even the warm light in the hallway couldn't conceal the invisible coldness.
Listing the man's "crimes" one by one, the young man raised his hand, the slender fingertips straightening his sleeves.
His lashes curled downward, concealing any hint of emotion, making him appear dangerous yet irresistibly tempting.
Just like on that moonlit night when he was awakened by the cat demon, Gu Cong looked up at the young man again, unable to tear his eyes away.
He thought he would receive a crisp slap.
To his surprise, the cool hand did not move roughly, but gently hooked under his chin, lifting it up. Finally, it was the young man's cool and soft lips that descended:
"Mr. Gu."
"Has no one ever taught you that kissing shouldn't be done halfway?"
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