Chapter 68: Clavicle Kiss
The next morning, Shen Shuyi was dug out from under the covers.
He had been sleeping soundly and was still a bit groggy when awakened.
Zhao Yuheng was sitting by his bed, dressed in a casual suit. The faint scent of soap he used to wear in college was gone; now there was a subtle floral-fruity fragrance.
Shen Shuyi couldn’t identify the exact scent, but it felt fresh and pleasant, instantly refreshing, evoking memories of those hot, green summers.
Of course, the smell was addictive.
“Baby, get up and eat, okay? Skipping breakfast is bad for your stomach, alright?”
Bad for his stomach? Who is it that’s supposedly sick?
But Shen Shuyi was still half-asleep and didn’t argue.
“I’m so sleepy…”
“Wash your face and you’ll wake up.”
Shen Shuyi flopped into Zhao Yuheng’s arms like a limp noodle, closing his eyes to snatch a few more minutes of sleep. “Zzzzzzz.”
Zhao Yuheng chuckled: “Shall I carry you?”
Shen Shuyi’s brain couldn’t process anything.
Instinctively, he buried his face in Zhao Yuheng’s chest. A lightness came over his body—a feeling of weightlessness.
Something felt off, but he was too sleepy to think.
Carried from the bedroom to the bathroom, Shen Shuyi was placed on the huge sink counter. As soon as toothpaste was stuffed into his mouth, the minty taste jolted his brain awake for a moment.
He opened his eyes slightly and looked at Zhao Yuheng.
Shen Shuyi: ?
Zhao Yuheng spoke leisurely: “Do you want me to brush your teeth for you?”
Not that it was impossible—Shen Shuyi’s teeth were perfectly straight and white, wrapped in soft, plump lips.
His lips were so beautiful that even without any gloss, they looked like something out of a lipstick ad, complete with a prominent lip bead.
Two years ago, their kiss had been too rushed; Zhao Yuheng had barely had a chance to savor it properly.
His gaze darkened, circling that lip bead, his tongue tingling against his molars.
“No wait… why are you here?”
Shen Shuyi and Zhao Yuheng stared at each other.
“I got discharged today, so I came to see you,” Zhao Yuheng said naturally. “Want some water?”
Shen Shuyi’s mouth was still foaming with toothpaste. For a moment, he didn’t know whether to rinse first or question Zhao Yuheng.
“Rinse first,” Zhao Yuheng decided for him.
Shen Shuyi muddled through rinsing and then washed his face.
The three-tiered cabinets above the sink were crammed with perfumes and skincare products. Zhao Yuheng looked over and thought, perfect—he didn’t recognize a single one.
“What do you usually use for skincare?”
Shen Shuyi, leaning over the sink, was about to ask how Zhao Yuheng had suddenly appeared in his hotel, acting like the host, waking him up, and brushing his teeth.
But Zhao Yuheng’s proactive question interrupted his train of thought.
“The first one in the second row on the left.”
“This one?” Zhao Yuheng picked up a black bottle.
He fiddled with it, realizing he didn’t even know how to open it.
After a few seconds of hesitation, seeing Shen Shuyi still waiting with eyes closed, Zhao Yuheng decisively snapped the bottle open.
“Click.” Shen Shuyi seemed to hear an imaginary scream of some poor child.
He opened his eyes—Zhao Yuheng had placed the broken bottle in his palm.
Shen Shuyi: …?
“This cost thirty thousand.”
“I know. I’ll pay for it.”
Unbelievable!
Who opens a skincare bottle like that? Why not just twist it open?
Shen Shuyi felt as if he’d just heard a child scream for their father—turns out it was his precious serum bottle getting snapped!
He wanted to complain, but Zhao Yuheng squeezed some onto the back of his hand: “Still want to use it?”
Forget it.
Might as well smear it.
Why bother quibbling with a straight man who could barely wash his face with just soap?
Shen Shuyi finished applying the cream. Zhao Yuheng watched as he pulled out more bottles from the cabinet, rubbing on some liquid that looked like baby oil. Even without knowing what these products were, Zhao Yuheng memorized them silently.
Shen Shuyi had squeezed out a bit too much, leaving just a little. Washing it off would be wasteful, so he generously spread it on Zhao Yuheng’s face in mock revenge.
Hah.
Only a tasteless straight man deserves leftover essence from Shen Shuyi.
By the time they finished the morning routine, forty minutes had passed.
Zhao Yuheng finally understood why it took Shen Shuyi three hours to prepare every time he went out—this didn’t even include styling or choosing clothes.
Back in the living room, Shen Shuyi finally remembered to confront Zhao Yuheng.
“Why are you here?!”
Zhao Yuheng, sitting by the island counter, unwrapped a small cake for him: “Cake first?”
Shen Shuyi: ?
He wasn’t someone easily bought off!
Shen Shuyi (eating cake): “Don’t think I won’t ask—you broke my serum just now!”
“Yesterday I saw a watch on social media that would suit you perfectly. I wanted to customize it but feared it wouldn’t arrive in time. Today I had Chen Fang pick it up for you. Want to try it on?”
Vacheron Constantin. Seven million.
Shen Shuyi glanced at the gift box on the counter, his voice softening: “Flattery won’t work now. This counts as trespassing…”
“On the way here, I contacted the SA at the Beijing boutique. That day I saw your wardrobe—didn’t you forget a bag? I remember you liked backpacks. Later I’ll send some options to your WeChat, you can pick what you like, okay?”
Shen Shuyi: …
A masterclass in sugar-coated weaponry.
Seeing he said nothing, Zhao Yuheng felt unsure if he had gained Shen Shuyi’s favor.
The night before, he had downloaded all the apps Shen Shuyi frequented, studied dating tips on Little Red Notes, and even called Zhao Ci at 3 a.m.
Zhao Ci, half-asleep, said: “Brother, are you calling me at 3 a.m. to ask how to woo my fiancé?”
Straightforward as ever, Zhao Ci immediately went to confirm with Zhao Yuheng after Shen Shuyi told him Zhao Yuheng was his ex.
Zhao Yuheng admitted it. Now, in front of Zhao Ci, he no longer had to pretend.
Zhao Ci hesitated: “Aren’t you going a bit far?”
Zhao Yuheng sent him a photo of a Ferrari, along with several other luxury cars.
“Pick one yourself.”
“I’ve been too indulgent!” Zhao Ci realized immediately: “Brother, if you trust me enough to call at 3 a.m., how can I complain? Tell me, I’ll confess everything!”
Zhao Yuheng asked about Shen Shuyi’s hobbies in America.
Zhao Ci barely knew Shen Shuyi but didn’t want to lose a Ferrari, so he made something up: “Bags, diamonds… Little Shu likes these.”
“Little Shu?”
“Brother-in-law!” Zhao Ci corrected himself sternly: “Brother-in-law!”
He quickly amended himself but added hesitantly: “Better ask him yourself. If you want to woo him, asking me isn’t appropriate…”
Of course not! He would have pursued him himself if he could!
Zhao Yuheng, feeling a bit desperate, hung up.
“Not interested?” Zhao Yuheng asked.
No problem—he could give luxury cars or yachts.
Not interested?
Shen Shuyi jolted back to reality. Who doesn’t like bags and diamonds?
“Of course not,” he said sweetly, even sharing a small dumpling with Zhao Yuheng: “Zhao, where’ve you been striking it rich?”
Now it was Zhao Yuheng’s turn to feel helpless.
“Shen Shuyi.”
“Tch.” Shen Shuyi teased with cake, pretending to be hard to handle. “When will your SA send me the bag options?”
Zhao Yuheng’s heart sank but he smiled: “Now. Pick any you like.”
He realized he might have found the way to tame Shen Shuyi.
Zhao Yuheng realized Shen Shuyi was like a cat.
If you pulled him from his “cat nest” in the morning, there was a 50% chance he’d get annoyed.
But place him by a bowl full of treats and he’d forget to be angry. Attention immediately diverted to the treats.
After finishing, the anger naturally disappeared.
Zhao Yuheng used this tactic daily, almost as if living in Shen Shuyi’s hotel.
Day one: Shen Shuyi was shocked upon seeing him.
Day two: he began to get used to it, even nodding “good morning.”
Day three, four, five…
Shen Shuyi got used to being carried from his bed to the sink, eyes closed, following their routine. Zhao Yuheng even knew which products to apply in what order.
Shen Shuyi, eyes closed, no longer wanted to apply cream himself. Zhao Yuheng applied it gently in circles.
Ah, Shen Shuyi! This is Zhao Yuheng’s sugar-coated nuke! Today on your face, tomorrow on your butt!
No explosion in silence, or vanish in silence!
Shen Shuyi, you cannot be this lazy. Decide!
“Water next.”
“Okay.”
…but not having to move was too good. TwT
Decisions can start tomorrow.
This went on for about two weeks.
Around 7 a.m., Zhao Yuheng would wake him and they’d have breakfast. Initially, he brought food from outside. Later, he quietly took over the hotel’s open kitchen.
Breakfast was customized Hong Kong dim sum; sometimes he even started making soups at 3 a.m., so Shen Shuyi could have hot bird’s nest milk in the morning.
One night, Shen Shuyi woke up for water and saw someone in the kitchen. He thought it was a thief—turns out it was Zhao Yuheng in a suit.
At 3 a.m., what are you doing in my hotel?
He asked and learned Zhao Yuheng was cooking.
Shen Shuyi was shocked: “You really love cooking.”
Zhao Yuheng leaned on the island: “Do I love cooking? What I love, you don’t know.”
Shen Shuyi thought: “Could it be… loving being your servant?”
Zhao Yuheng: “…Fine, I love being your dog, okay.”
Helpless, he pulled Shen Shuyi into his arms for a quick kiss, then peppered his cheek with intense, controlled kisses, grinding his teeth in restraint: “It’s late, sleep now. I made soup; eat it in the morning, okay?”
“Oh… okay.” Shen Shuyi nodded, confused, and went back to sleep without drinking water.
Halfway through sleep, he recalled: did Zhao Yuheng just kiss me?
Does that even make sense? They weren’t on that level… he’s still pursuing me…
The thought spiraled, but sleep won, and he passed out again.
Other than that night, Zhao Yuheng behaved himself, leaving Shen Shuyi wondering if he had dreamt the kisses.
In the following days, Zhao Yuheng would invite Shen Shuyi out whenever he was free.
At first, Shen Shuyi refused.
After one outing, though, he embarrassingly enjoyed it.
Shen Shuyi loved fun but had no friends in Beijing and couldn’t lower himself to attend the rich kids’ parties.
Back in Hong Kong, he was celebrated; in Beijing, he was still “Third Master Shen,” but he couldn’t connect with anyone—taste, play, and even meals were mismatched.
The rich kids drank douzhi (mung bean juice) [1]; Shen Shuyi loved milk tea. One sip of douzhi left a lifelong bitter memory.
Imagine marrying into Beijing and drinking this every day—he’d rather die.
Zhao Yuheng was different.
Also raised in Hong Kong, he took Shen Shuyi to movies, horseback riding, sightseeing, and golf.
Shen Shuyi almost forgot the world, waking each morning: “Where are we going today?”
Following the schedule, today was rock climbing!
He had lived in Hong Kong and North America for years, but never went out this often.
With the plastic rich kids, every outing was staged—fashion shows, auctions, yacht trips, wine tastings. Boring after decades.
The places Zhao Yuheng took him were entirely new!
He wouldn’t mock girls fooled by cheap street food again.
Shen Shuyi felt he was following their footsteps.
Zhao Yuheng helped him put on socks: “Busy this afternoon.”
Shen Shuyi: “Your company?”
Zhao Yuheng helped him into shoes: “Not the company—Zhao family. Zhao Qing’s birthday banquet tonight.”
Shen Shuyi remembered Zhao Ci asking about gifts, subtly requesting Zhao Yuheng pay, as he had spent all his money spoiling his wife.
Shen Shuyi knew Zhao Ci probably spent all his allowance on modified cars—millions per car, hundreds for modifications.
He remembered replying: “Brother, you need money to spoil your wife :)” and promptly blocked Zhao Ci.
Suddenly, he realized he hadn’t bought a birthday gift either!
Zhao Yuheng: “I already prepared your gift; Chen Fang will deliver it tonight.”
TUT! Thanks, big brother! Wait, husband? Husband-brother?
Shen Shuyi wanted to say thanks, but their messy relationship left him unsure what to call Zhao Yuheng.
Brother? Not right. Husband? Not that close. Boyfriend? Still in the trial phase.
“Everything good?” Zhao Yuheng asked, kneeling with one knee, tying shoes for Shen Shuyi.
“Don’t want to go?”
Shen Shuyi shook his head: “Your family’s a bit stifling. If I go, I’d have to stay overnight—I wouldn’t get used to it.”
“Should I bring you back tonight?”
“…Better not.”
Shen Shuyi wasn’t that naive.
After a pause, Zhao Yuheng said: “I don’t want you to go either. At Zhao’s, you’re Zhao Ci’s fiancé—I have no status.”
Oh, right.
Shen Shuyi: “Who says no status? Looks like you have plenty, big brother?”
Mentioning it, Zhao Yuheng’s face darkened.
Shen Shuyi, oblivious: “You see, at Zhao’s, your generation is higher. Why be unhappy? I’ve only called Shen Lu ‘brother’—you got lucky—hey, you!”
“Zhao Yuheng!”
Caught off guard, Zhao Yuheng suddenly lifted Shen Shuyi onto the bed.
Shen Shuyi’s world spun; he saw the ceiling light, then Zhao Yuheng pressing over him.
“Who’s your big brother?”
Knee pressing, Zhao Yuheng spread Shen Shuyi’s legs. Shen Shuyi tried to bend them, giving Zhao Yuheng access, pinning him down.
“What are you doing!” Shen Shuyi cried, powerless. Zhao Yuheng pinched his waist, tickling him.
“Answer me—who’s your big brother?”
Shen Shuyi laughed, tears forming, struggling to escape but trapped, as the tall man “tormented” him.
“I won’t say… I won’t say…”
Zhao Yuheng snorted, letting go.
Shen Shuyi cheekily called out: “Big brother!”
He tried to crawl away, but Zhao Yuheng grabbed his ankle and pulled him back.
Trapped, Shen Shuyi panicked—he’d made a reckless call and couldn’t escape!
Zhao Yuheng easily curled him into his arms, grinding his teeth: “Someone needs discipline, you?”
“Who? You’re chasing me!” Shen Shuyi glared.
They locked eyes, neither blinking, as if the first to look away lost.
Seconds in, the tension shifted.
Shen Shuyi, trapped and face-to-face, felt the closeness was too much.
He licked his lips nervously: “I-I’m thirsty… let go…”
He struggled, Zhao Yuheng didn’t budge.
“Zhao Yuheng?”
“Hmm.” Zhao Yuheng’s voice was low, hoarse: “Shen Shuyi… can I kiss your face?”
Shen Shuyi’s face burned, body overheating!
“Just the face, not together. I’ll still pursue you tomorrow, okay?” Zhao Yuheng coaxed.
“You… you…” Stammering, Shen Shuyi: “That night, you kissed me without permission…”
“You remember?”
“…Could I pretend to forget?”
Zhao Yuheng swallowed, throat moving, and gently pressed a wet kiss on Shen Shuyi’s cheek.
Shen Shuyi flinched at the heat but didn’t move away.
He didn’t!
Zhao Yuheng’s heart raced; next, like losing control, he peppered Shen Shuyi’s face with rapid, intense kisses.
He pressed Shen Shuyi into his neck, kissing from cheek to clavicle. Shen Shuyi’s sweater was pulled down, revealing smooth, fair shoulders like cooked boiled eggs.
Shen Shuyi tilted his head, eyes dreamy, breathing fast, heart tangled, chest heaving.
The kiss at his clavicle grew hot and wet, trailing downward…
Knock knock.
The door opened. Chen Fang reminded: “Young master, it’s time to head back to the Zhao residence.”
Shen Shuyi snapped out of his daze and pushed Zhao Yuheng away.
Footnotes:
[1] Douzhi (lit. ‘mung bean juice’) is a traditional fermented drink in Beijing cuisine, with a recorded history of over 300 years.
