CH 4

Chapter 4: Zhou Beiyang’s Secret

Zhou Beiyang stared at Jin Yanliu, a red-haired man who was too drunk to stand, and asked Xiao Pangzi with a somber expression, “What’s wrong with him?”

Xiao Pangzi was also in a state of panic and replied, “I… I really don’t know.”

Zhou Beiyang pulled Jin Yanliu’s arm and propped it on his shoulder. Jin Yanliu chuckled and reached out to remove Zhou Beiyang’s face mask. As soon as he saw his face clearly, his eyes lit up, and in his drunken state, he gazed at Zhou Beiyang and said, “You look so handsome.”

Moreover, he found the scent emanating from Zhou Beiyang quite pleasing.

A subtle fragrance wafted into his nostrils, evoking a strange sense of familiarity and comfort.

He thought this man was rather impressive.

Appearing tall and slender, it was only upon physical contact that Jin Yanliu realized Zhou Beiyang had broad, sturdy shoulders.

Encouraged, he leaned closer, attempting to kiss Zhou Beiyang.

Caught off guard, Zhou Beiyang found himself being kissed. He froze in place.

Beside them, Xiao Pangzi, with a flushed face, grabbed Jin Yanliu’s arm and said, “Yanliu ge, it’s… it’s Yang ge…”

Jin Yanliu had a poor tolerance for alcohol. Being someone who usually abstained from drinking, he was clearly intoxicated and disoriented. Persistently, he moved towards Zhou Beiyang’s neck and said, “Little brother, don’t evade me. I adore you.”

Zhou Beiyang: “…”

Xiao Pangzi: “…”

Realizing Jin Yanliu wouldn’t listen, Zhou Beiyang swiftly lifted him up in his arms. Xiao Pangzi hurriedly went to open the car door.

Zhou Beiyang settled him inside and prepared to get up, but Jin Yanliu had already hooked his neck. Sensing the situation, Xiao Pangzi quickly said, “I’ll drive, I’ll drive.”

With that, he promptly occupied the driver’s seat. The car remained unlit, and the backseat was particularly dark. Xiao Pangzi could vaguely make out some fumbling sounds from the back and the slurred voice of Jin Yanliu, who was intoxicated and unruly. Xiao Pangzi glanced back briefly, seeing them entwined like a mess, as if Jin Yanliu wouldn’t let go, playfully teasing Zhou Beiyang, who had no escape.

Startled, Xiao Pangzi hastily averted his gaze.

Jin Yanliu was completely inebriated. If he were to wake up tomorrow morning and learn of these events, it would likely lead to an explosion. It would be best for Xiao Pangzi to avoid witnessing any more.

Jin Yanliu continued to babble with a drunken fervor. His intoxicated state amplified his already fiery temperament, likely due to his unsuccessful attempts at making advances. Growing increasingly impatient, he exclaimed, “Are you going to make a move or keep hesitating?”

On the contrary, Zhou Beiyang remained silent throughout.

Seeing him so calm, gentle, and patient inside the car, it was hard to associate the current Zhou Beiyang with the radiant idol who commanded the stage. Onstage, amidst the screams of countless teenage girls, he appeared unfazed, nonchalantly pursing his lips—a gesture that only fueled their frenzy.

Xiao Pangzi understood that Zhou Beiyang’s aloofness was not merely a persona adopted for the entertainment industry; he truly possessed a cold demeanor.

The two brothers, one as cold as ice and the other as fiery as fire, one calm and the other lively, unexpectedly coexisted in harmony.

They didn’t head to a hotel but instead went straight to their villa on the hillside.

The hillside villa held great renown in the southern city. Nestled on Qiuming Mountain, this area boasted excellent Feng Shui and attracted top celebrities and affluent individuals who sought privacy. After Jin Yanliu ventured into the entertainment industry, he purchased a grand villa in this locale—a spacious residence with a small courtyard at the front. The car came to a halt in the courtyard, and Xiao Pangzi swiftly alighted, hurrying to open the car door.

Zhou Beiyang stood tall at 186 centimeters, while Jin Yanliu measured 180 centimeters. With considerable effort, Zhou Beiyang supported Jin Yanliu and helped him out of the car. Jin Yanliu still clung to his shirt, which had come undone, revealing his well-built chest, and the lower part that had been tucked into his pants now hung loosely.

Zhou Beiyang’s face flushed.

Xiao Pangzi had known Zhou Beiyang for several years, yet this was the first time he had seen him with such a flushed and disheveled appearance. It was evident that he had been taken advantage of quite a bit during their time in the car.

Fortunately, they were not strangers but brothers, thought Xiao Pangzi.

He swiftly aided in supporting Jin Yanliu, who was completely inebriated and unable to differentiate between individuals. Upon spotting Xiao Pangzi, Jin Yanliu extended his arm, attempting to embrace him, and slurred, “Handsome…”

Before his arm could reach Xiao Pangzi, Zhou Beiyang intercepted, pulling him back into his embrace.

Jin Yanliu collapsed against Zhou Beiyang, and one of his hands slipped beneath the loose shirt, grasping onto Zhou Beiyang’s back. Instantly, Zhou Beiyang’s back muscles tensed up.

Xiao Pangzi hurriedly stepped forward, retrieving Jin Yanliu’s hand.

Jin Yanliu arrogantly continued to exclaim, “I want… to…”

Before the word “love” could escape his lips, Zhou Beiyang quickly covered his mouth.

Blushing, Xiao Pangzi pondered for a while whether he should stay overnight here tonight.

The villa was spacious with multiple rooms. Jin Yanliu preferred a quiet environment and only hired a regular cleaning service. There were plenty of empty rooms, and most of their team members had stayed overnight here at some point.

However, those were matters from before Zhou Beiyang moved in. Ever since Zhou Beiyang arrived, Jin Yanliu, who couldn’t manage on his own, no longer needed anyone else.

In theory, with Zhou Beiyang present today, Xiao Pangzi shouldn’t need to worry.

But Jin Yanliu was drunk and continuously teasing Zhou Beiyang. Despite being brothers, if it went too far, it would undoubtedly become awkward.

Xiao Pangzi noticed that although Zhou Beiyang kept his thin lips tightly sealed, his face still showed a lingering blush.

With this “third party” present, things might become even more complicated.

Just as Xiao Pangzi was contemplating, he suddenly heard Zhou Beiyang say, “Thank you for your help. I can handle things from here. You can go back.”

Startled, Xiao Pangzi looked up at Zhou Beiyang. In the bright light, he finally noticed a clear kiss mark on Zhou Beiyang’s collarbone.

The intensity of the mark matched Jin Yanliu’s usual temperament… Given the circumstances, did Zhou Beiyang really not need any assistance here?

“Something’s off with Yanliu lately. We don’t know what’s going on, but when he wakes up, you should ask him. He’ll probably tell you,” Xiao Pangzi genuinely worried about Jin Yanliu, feeling that he had been acting unusually lately.

Zhou Beiyang responded with a grunt, seemingly feeling some discomfort, and rubbed his neck.

The starry sky on the hillside appeared even more radiant, and the night air felt slightly damp. Xiao Pangzi scratched his nose, glanced back, and saw the entire villa enveloped in darkness, with faint traces of light here and there.

Suddenly, he remembered that this was the first time Zhou Beiyang had spoken to him so gently and seen him off.

After bidding farewell to Xiao Pangzi, Zhou Beiyang opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of chilled mineral water. Tilting his head back, he took several big gulps, the sound of his throat swallowing resonating in the room. He then slumped onto the couch, his fingers showing prominent veins as he squeezed the water bottle, making a cracking sound.

Meanwhile, Jin Yanliu continued to shout from the bedroom, “Where’s the handsome guy? Hey, handsome!”

Zhou Beiyang turned off the lights, sat in the darkness for a while, and then got up to go to the bedroom.

Jin Yanliu had ceased his cries and was now emitting soft murmurs. Zhou Beiyang pushed open the door and was met with the sight of Jin Yanliu completely undressed. His slender and well-proportioned body lay sprawled on the bed, with one arm hanging down and fingertips barely grazing the floor.

Scattered across the room were the clothes he had recklessly discarded. A T-shirt had landed on the bedside table, partially obscuring a corner of a photo frame.

The photo was taken during the year of Zhou Beiyang’s high school graduation, when they embarked on a trip abroad with a group of friends. It captured the moment when fireworks illuminated the night sky during a grand fireworks festival in a foreign country. Jin Yanliu, donning a vibrant red scarf, stood slightly turned to the side, pointing at the dazzling fireworks with outstretched fingers. On the far right of the photo, separated by a few friends, Zhou Beiyang’s gaze was fixed upon him, serene yet bright with intensity.

Under the veil of night, their youthful features and distinct edges were brought into sharp relief.