Chapter 217: Don't be caught in the act

Han Yu practically drags Xi Zirui into his own quarters, pulling him after him by the sleeve like an excitable child.

The way he slams Xi Zirui against the wall as soon as the doors close behind them is not at all childlike, however.

"Is shixiong weakened after depleting his qi reserves," Han Yu asks, purring the words against Xi Zirui's neck. "Shidi can fill you right up."

Xi Zirui is halfway amused by Han Yu's terrible attempts at dirty talk, and decides to give him some face.

He also has his own face to consider, so he compromises by hooking a finger under Han Yu's waist sash and dragging him towards the bed.

"Don't blame me for taking you up on your offer," Xi Zirui says, climbing on top of Han Yu and undoing his sash.

"I'm at shixiong's disposal," he says, leaning back with his hands behind his head, observing Xi Zirui work his robes open.

Xi Zirui wonders if Han Yu expects him to do all the work, and then decides there is some merit to the idea. He didn't get to ride Han Yu for as long as he wanted the first time they fucked.

He has just gotten Han Yu's robes all the way off his shoulder when a sharp knock outside makes his hands freeze on Han Yu's hard abdomen.

His eyes wide, Han Yu pulls the rolled up comforter pushed up against the wall and throws it over Xi Zirui and himself on the bed.

Sitting up straight in bed, he clears his throat, and calls, "Come in."

The door opens and Han Chang walks inside the room, his pale robes fluttering behind him. 

"Why are you in bed at this hour?" Han Chang asks, his voice cutting.

Beneath the comforter, Xi Zirui goes deathly still, afraid of breathing too loud.

"I was feeling tired after the events of the day."

Even without seeing his face, Xi Zirui can feel Han Chang's disdain come off him in waves.

"Maybe if you hadn't spent your day watching over that Xi Zirui's trial you wouldn't feel tired."

"Shixiong-" Han Yu starts.

Han Chang silences  him with a grunt. "I've indulged your whim to acknowledge Su Xueyi as your shizun, but don't think even for a moment that I'll allow you to grow any closer to that disciple of unknown roots."

Under the cover of the comforter, Xi Zirui allows a smirk to take over his lips. If only Han Chang knew of his current location.

Emboldened, he stretches out his fingers and closes them over Han Yu's bare thigh, dangerously close to his groin.

Han Yu flinches and lets out choked off little yelp.

If Han Chang notices his odd behaviour he doesn't comment on it.

"Father doesn't  need to worry, shixiong and I have the usual brotherly relationship expected of sect siblings."

As far as Xi Zirui knows it's exceedingly common for sect siblings to become romantically and sexually entangled, so Han Yu isn't lying about that.

"Don't be petulant boy. I have half a mind to anticipate your wedding to Golden Mountain's sect leader's daughter."

Ah, so that is Han Yu's mysterious intended. Xi Zirui has no idea who she is, but he wishes them both well. Han Yu can do what he wants as soon as Xi Zirui has no more need of him.

Which is why he doesn't understand the sudden impulse to pinch Han Yu's thigh again, or the desire to tear Han Chang's throat with his teeth.

"Have you done something to help him pass his trial?" Han Chang asks, voice thick with suspicion.

Xi Zirui can feel Han Yu's muscles tense up, and goes even more still.

"No father, all of shixiong's accomplishments are his own merits."

There's the sound of wide strides crossing the room, as Han Chang goes to stand beside Han Yu. Xi Zirui holds his breath, afraid that Han Chang can hear him even under all the covers.

"If I find out either you or Su Xueyi helped him overcome the trial in any way, I won't be merciful." His tone grows even sharper, colder. "I don't care that you are my son."

"Of that I have no doubt," Han Yu replies, his coldness matching Han Chang's.

There's a thick, tense silence after that exchange, and then Xi Zirui finally hears Han Chang's footsteps growing distant, and then the sound of the door being loudly opened and then slammed shut.

He waits for a moment before shimming out of the covers. "I thought he'd never leave."

Han Yu meets his flushed face with a smirk. "Shixiong teased me."

Xi Zirui tightens his fingers on Han Yu's bare thigh. "What if I did?"

"Now it's my turn."

Before Xi Zirui can get another word in edgewise, Han Yu grabs him by the shoulders and slams him down on the mattress. After that, Xi Zirui is too busy doing other things with his mouth beside complaining.

---

The next morning Xi Zirui wakes up feeling refreshed after yet another night of athletic fucking. Like the first time, so does Han Yu, which continues to be a surprise.

"You should be growing more tired and weaker," Xi Zirui says, admiring the healthy flush across Han Yu's cheeks. "How can look fresher than dew?"

Han Yu's grin is catlike. He pulls Xi Zirui down into a kiss. "Maybe it's true love's power."

Xi Zirui disentangles himself from him with a frown. "What would young miss Golden Mountain think if she heard you speak like that?"

Han Yu's grip slides from Xi Zirui's shoulders down to his waist, tightens. "I'm not marrying her." His voice is filled with childish determination. Xi Zirui snorts and slips out of bed, picking up his discarded robe from the floor and wrapping it around himself.

"Don't get any funny ideas."

"What does shixiong mean?"

Xi Zirui ties his waist sash with sharp movements, making the silk sing as it tightens around him. "Don't talk about love with me. That's not what this is about. I need something from you, and you want to fuck me -- that's all."

Han Yu opens his mouth on an aggrieved protest, Xi Zirui silences him with a single look. "If you can't keep up with our initial agreement, I'll have to find someone else."

Something shifts in Han Yu's gaze, his eyes grow shuttered, his shoulders tense. "Understood."

Xi Zirui nods tensely and finishes getting dressed to go meet his next trial.

---

Hours later, trying to keep sane despite the heat boiling under his skin, he wishes he'd stayed in bed with Han Yu.