Qi Mu’s first reaction was: Since when do I have a boyfriend?
Does Jiang Shao even count as a boyfriend?
Those three words made the tips of Qi Mu’s ears heat up. The term felt unfamiliar and strange.
Only his second reaction concerned the words first love.
Theoretically speaking, Xu Wei Ran really was the only person Qi Mu had ever dated, but he always felt that calling Xu Wei Ran his first love was neither accurate nor appropriate.
Because whether back then or now, whenever he thought of Xu Wei Ran, he had never experienced his heart suddenly racing, nor had he ever been unable to forget her.
How can someone be your first love when you were never actually in love?
Besides, they were only friends now.
Still… Qi Mu cautiously glanced at Jiang Shao. Judging from his tone, he actually sounded a little jealous. Long Aotian can get jealous too?
Forget it. If Jiang Shao wanted to call himself his boyfriend, then boyfriend it was.
Qi Mu merely wanted to escape this position, where he was at someone else’s mercy, as quickly as possible. Naturally, he would not contradict him. He vaguely coaxed and placated him with a perfunctory answer. “Of course I didn’t forget you…”
Jiang Shao looked coldly at Qi Mu.
Naturally, he could hear how perfunctory the answer was.
Even though…
They had already kissed so many times.
They had already become this intimate.
Qi Mu still did not think of Jiang Shao as his boyfriend and possessed absolutely no awareness that they were a couple.
How can this man be so infuriating?
He always knew exactly how to make Jiang Shao angry.
Jiang Shao’s teeth itched with frustration.
He badly wanted to simply have his way with Qi Mu right there and teach him a proper lesson, but he barely restrained himself and mocked in an even voice, “Really? You looked like you were having a wonderful time talking to her.”
Qi Mu: .
What are people supposed to do while eating if they don’t talk? Stare at each other in silence?
Could you please stop being unreasonable?
Qi Mu naturally would not say what he was actually thinking. He understood perfectly that the wise man knew when to yield, so he lowered his voice. “If you don’t like it, I won’t talk to her anymore…”
Jiang Shao’s jaw tightened, his expression cold and irritated.
He had no intention of interfering with Qi Mu’s friendships, nor was he truly unreasonable enough to control whom Qi Mu was allowed to speak to.
He simply could not stop himself from feeling jealous…
Yet Qi Mu’s obedience made Jiang Shao feel as though he had punched cotton.
All his pent-up frustration had nowhere to land.
He wanted to know about Qi Mu’s past too, every tiny detail about him.
Wanted to know everything that had ever happened between Qi Mu and Xu Wei Ran.
Rather than stand there like an outsider, knowing nothing while watching them chat and laugh with ease.
Jiang Shao suddenly asked, “You and Xu Wei Ran dated before, didn’t you?”
Qi Mu was so startled by the question that his breath caught. He did not know what Jiang Shao meant by it, but instinct immediately warned him of danger, and he did not want to answer.
Jiang Shao calmly watched him with expressionless dark eyes. He did not continue pressing him verbally.
He merely thrust his hips forward once.
Qi Mu’s face turned even paler. Jiang Shao isn’t planning to do something here…
The mere possibility made Qi Mu’s scalp prickle with fear. No way. No way, right?
But he could not stop remembering Jiang Shao’s outrageous behavior in the parking lot that night. With this bastard’s personality, what wouldn’t he dare do…?
Qi Mu’s entire body stiffened. The word no nearly escaped his lips, but he swallowed it at the last moment.
Qi Mu’s relationship with Xu Wei Ran had never been a secret. Plenty of people knew about it.
Since Jiang Shao was asking, he probably already knew. If Qi Mu lied or tried to conceal it now, he would merely give Jiang Shao another excuse to punish him.
Under tremendous pressure, Qi Mu slowly and reluctantly nodded. “Yes…”
Jiang Shao’s dark eyes watched him quietly. “Which one of you made the first move?”
Qi Mu thought, Who remembers something like that? It happened so long ago. I only remember that somehow, for no particular reason, we just naturally ended up together…
He genuinely had no idea how to answer.
But the muscles of Jiang Shao’s waist and abdomen were burning hot. Even through their suit trousers, the heat stung the insides of Qi Mu’s thighs, and with every breath Jiang Shao’s abdominal muscles shifted slightly, almost as though rubbing against him…
Qi Mu felt his face heating up.
His eyes flickered. Lowering his gaze, he said quietly, “She made the first move.”
Sorry, Xu Wei Ran. I don’t have another choice right now, so I can only say this…
Don’t worry. Jiang Shao would never go around repeating it, so it won’t damage your reputation.
Jiang Shao looked up at Qi Mu coolly.
The moment he saw Qi Mu’s evasive gaze, he knew he was not telling the truth.
It had to be said…
Qi Mu was truly terrible at lying.
But Jiang Shao did not expose him. He merely continued asking calmly, “How long were you together?”
Qi Mu remembered this one.
He hurriedly answered, “A little over a month.”
Jiang Shao narrowed his eyes.
So you were the one who pursued Xu Wei Ran, and then she dumped you a little over a month later?
The corner of Jiang Shao’s mouth twitched faintly.
His sharp gaze fixed on Qi Mu. In a low, husky voice, he asked word by word, “How far did the two of you go?”
Qi Mu could sense Jiang Shao’s displeasure. His body stiffened slightly, and he swallowed. “W-we only held hands…”
Jiang Shao’s tone rose slightly as he slowly questioned him, “No kissing? Never slept together?”
Qi Mu immediately said, “Of course not!”
Jiang Shao looked into Qi Mu’s eyes. After a long moment, his expression finally eased slightly.
Apparently, this time Qi Mu was telling the truth.
But even the fact that they had only held hands was enough to make Jiang Shao unhappy. He badly wanted to chop off Xu Wei Ran’s hand.
He placed his palm over the back of Qi Mu’s hand and slowly stroked it with his thumb. Then he pried Qi Mu’s fingers up one by one and slid his own fingers between them until their hands were tightly interlocked.
Only he was allowed to hold Qi Mu’s hand now.
And only he would ever be allowed to hold Qi Mu’s hand in the future.
Jiang Shao held both of Qi Mu’s hands firmly. His palms were scorching, and the pressure was nearly painful, but Qi Mu did not dare struggle free, especially with Jiang Shao still pressed firmly against him…
Qi Mu’s cheeks burned.
He did not understand why Jiang Shao had to ask him all of this. He only wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible…
Qi Mu lowered his lashes, drew a quiet breath, and asked in a weakened voice, “Can you let me down now…?”
I answered all your questions.
But Jiang Shao continued looking at him with deep, unreadable eyes. He neither retreated nor released him. His thin lips parted, and he spoke in a calm but dangerous voice. “One last question…”
“Do you still like her?”
Sensing danger, Qi Mu immediately shook his head. “No!”
Strictly speaking, he had never truly liked her in that way to begin with.
He did not want some tiny misunderstanding to make this menace go insane again. Whenever this menace went insane, Qi Mu was ultimately the one who suffered!
Qi Mu had answered without the slightest hesitation, firmly and decisively. He looked at Jiang Shao with such sincere urgency, almost as though terrified Jiang Shao might not believe him…
Exactly like when Qi Mu had insisted aboard the cruise ship that he had absolutely no feelings for Jiang Shao.
The same urgent need to explain and prove himself.
Jiang Shao instinctively judged this answer to be true.
The answer immediately eased much of the raging jealousy inside him. He could accept Qi Mu not liking him. What he could not accept was Qi Mu liking someone else.
If Qi Mu liked nobody…
Wasn’t that good news for Jiang Shao?
But Jiang Shao’s reason quickly began questioning him again. If Qi Mu truly no longer liked Xu Wei Ran, why had he agreed to Jiang Shao’s conditions for her sake? Why had he paid such an enormous price for her? Why did he insist on protecting Xu Wei Ran no matter what?
Could an ordinary friend really do all of that for another person?
Too many things did not make sense.
And if two people could remain friends after breaking up, generally at least one of them still had unresolved feelings. If it was not Xu Wei Ran, then it had to be…
Reason told Jiang Shao that Qi Mu’s answer was false, but this time Qi Mu looked completely sincere.
So sincere that even Jiang Shao could not detect the slightest flaw.
And Qi Mu was obviously a terrible liar.
Faced with a conflict between reason and instinct, Jiang Shao hesitated for only a single second, then chose to believe his instinct.
After all, this was the answer he wanted to hear.
Since Qi Mu had already given him the answer he wanted, why bother digging any deeper?
In any case, from now on Qi Mu could only have him.
At last, a faint smile appeared on Jiang Shao’s lips. He raised an eyebrow lazily, his tone relaxing into teasing amusement. “Remember what you said today. And since you’ve agreed to be with me, don’t get tangled up with anyone else in some ambiguous way.”
Qi Mu was utterly speechless.
When have I ever been tangled up with anyone like that?
What kind of ridiculous Long-Aotian possessiveness is this? You’re allowed to have an entire harem, but everyone in it has to remain perfectly chaste for you?
Fine, fine. You’re Long Aotian. You’re amazing.
Qi Mu grudgingly accepted it. “Mm…”
One glance at Qi Mu’s expression and tone told Jiang Shao he was being perfunctory again. But now Jiang Shao was in a much better mood, so he could tolerate more.
Qi Mu had been held there and interrogated for ages. Finally seeing a glimmer of hope, he thought, He has to be finished now, right?
He really did not want to remain in this position any longer…
And he had been gone too long.
He was extremely worried Xu Wei Ran would become suspicious.
Perhaps Heaven had always enjoyed opposing him, because the instant Qi Mu worried about something, it happened. The phone in his trouser pocket suddenly began ringing.
Someone was calling!
Jiang Shao released one of Qi Mu’s hands, reached into his trouser pocket, and took out the phone.
One glance was enough. He smiled coolly at Qi Mu. “Your first love is calling.”
Qi Mu’s face immediately flushed with humiliation. If you’ve got the nerve, stop holding me like this while saying things like that! He suppressed his anger and muttered, “I answered all your questions. You should let me go back now.”
Jiang Shao merely raised an eyebrow leisurely. “When did I promise I’d let you go once I finished asking?”
Qi Mu’s pupils widened slightly, and his expression went blank for a moment.
What?
Wasn’t I supposed to be released once the questions were over?
You’re planning to do something else?!
Qi Mu immediately felt as though he had been tricked. Anxiety and panic followed. Jiang Shao isn’t really going to mess around, is he? This is absolutely not a place where that can happen!
Jiang Shao naturally had no intention of doing anything here.
He would never disrespect Qi Mu like that. After all, this was the person he cared about most. For their first time, he would wait until the right moment.
Looking at the fear on Qi Mu’s face, Jiang Shao sighed inwardly. In the end, he could not bear to keep teasing him and mercifully said, “Kiss me once, and I’ll let you go back.”
He was Qi Mu’s boyfriend, after all. A secret boyfriend was still a boyfriend, yet Qi Mu had never once initiated a kiss. Jiang Shao had been dissatisfied about that for a long time.
So he took this opportunity to make his demand.
He had always been very good at taking a mile once given an inch.
Qi Mu’s face instantly burned at the words.
Normally, a request like this would embarrass him enormously, and he would never agree so easily. But now… compared with Jiang Shao actually having his way with him here, merely kissing him once suddenly seemed much easier to accept.
Apparently, a person’s bottom line really could keep sinking lower and lower…
The phone on the counter kept ringing and vibrating, like some life-or-death countdown…
No matter what…
Getting out of here is the immediate priority.
Qi Mu closed his eyes, steeled himself, lowered his head, and kissed Jiang Shao on the lips.