ASA Ch35: Tenant

Chapter 35: “Be obedient.”

Qin Ge was left dazed by Xie Zijing’s kiss, his fingertips landing on Xie Zijing’s earlobes, sliding down, and grazing his unshaven chin.

Today, Xie Zijing was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood strings tied in two knots, swinging in front of his chest. Qin Ge hooked the hood strings and pulled Xie Zijing close to him. But that wasn’t enough for him; he let go and instead embraced Xie Zijing around the waist. Xie Zijing’s tongue brushed over his, causing him to shiver slightly, and his fingers tightened their grip.

“You’re really something,” Xie Zijing licked his lips and said softly.

Qin Ge, with a dreamy look, extended his tongue, still seeking a kiss. Xie Zijing pressed his finger to Qin Ge’s lips, and Qin Ge obediently licked the tip of Xie Zijing’s finger.

“What’s making you confused?” Xie Zijing simply withdrew his hand and embraced him, planting a kiss on his forehead. “Do you know what you just said?”

“I do.” Qin Ge lay on his chest, taking a deep breath, and then kissed the prominent Adam’s apple on Xie Zijing’s neck. “Let’s do it… please.”

Xie Zijing rolled over and pinned him down. Qin Ge couldn’t move and only knew that both of them were extremely excited, with their bodies getting hotter with each passing moment as they played together. Xie Zijing unbuttoned his shirt and kissed his body, and due to the overwhelming excitement, when Qin Ge finally released, he was panting, his body tense, and covered in sweat.

He reached to pull Xie Zijing’s clothes, but Xie Zijing held his shoulders, preventing him from getting up, then turned to bring a glass of warm water.

“Have some water first,” Xie Zijing said in a tone used to soothe a child, “and then we can continue.”

Qin Ge blushed, and his fear was buried deep beneath the surging emotions that filled his body. He looked at the glass of water suspiciously. “Sleeping pills?”

“Yesterday was the last one.” Xie Zijing reassured him and took a sip to prove there were no drugs in the water. “You’ve sweated a lot; you need to rehydrate.”

Qin Ge obediently finished the water, which had a slightly sour taste of lemon. He handed the empty glass to Xie Zijing and watched as he placed it back on the table. Xie Zijing turned off the room’s lights, leaving only the dim light from a desk lamp. In that hazy light, his profile looked handsome.

Qin Ge’s heart raced, and he recalled the first day he had seen Xie Zijing.

Xie Zijing took off his clothes and wrapped him in a blanket, then rolled onto the bed. He nuzzled Qin Ge’s brow with the tip of his nose, and soft, gentle laughter escaped from his lips. Qin Ge struggled from within the blanket, reaching out to hug him, but Xie Zijing caught his hand and kissed the palm. His movements made Qin Ge flustered, and he said, “What are we waiting for?”

“We’re waiting for you to be a bit more clear-headed,” Xie Zijing embraced him and kissed him without much thought, pressing his fingers against Qin Ge’s chin and encouraging him to open his mouth.

Qin Ge couldn’t utter a single word. Xie Zijing’s kisses seemed to stir up all the desires hidden deep within his body. He wriggled under Xie Zijing’s control, quickly growing soft again, only able to breathe heavily. Xie Zijing kneaded his ears, causing Qin Ge to involuntarily shrug his shoulders, wishing he could just bury himself in Xie Zijing’s arms. The entire room was filled with the scent of the sentinel, overwhelming him like an all-encompassing wave, leaving him no room for measured words. He cried out in a pleading, sobbing tone, “Don’t wait anymore… Take me.”

“…Stop talking.” Xie Zijing’s voice turned husky as he feigned a threat. “Or I might just eat you for real.”

In his mind, Qin Ge thought, ‘Alright, come on, that sounds good.’ He desperately needed this. However, he noticed his tongue was getting numb, and his reactions were slowing down. His mind felt hazy, as if someone had just delivered a powerful blow. He thought about the glass of lemon water he had consumed, which was supposedly free of sleeping pills.

“…Xie Zijing!” Qin Ge angrily shouted.

In reality, his shout sounded more like a moan. As soon as he finished uttering Xie Zijing’s name, he closed his eyes and fell asleep, and Xie Zijing finally breathed a sigh of relief. He lay on the bed, gazing at Qin Ge’s sleeping face, and it took him over ten minutes to cautiously pull back the blanket and change Qin Ge’s clothes and pants. Once everything was settled, he quietly slipped under the covers. Qin Ge’s body temperature was higher than Xie Zijing’s, and he dragged Qin Ge’s hand, pulling him into his embrace and kissing his hair.

“Sigh,” Xie Zijing whispered softly, “be a bit more obedient.”

Qin Ge woke up at around five in the morning, and Xie Zijing was still curled up in the blanket, with his eyebrows, eyes, and messy hair exposed.

As soon as Qin Ge moved, Xie Zijing woke up, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Qin Ge hiding back under the blanket, even covering his face.

“Are you shy?” Xie Zijing found it amusing and reached out to grab Qin Ge’s waist from under the blanket. Qin Ge immediately dodged and kicked him in the stomach under the covers.

Xie Zijing clutched his belly and laughed while lying on the bed. Qin Ge’s face was completely red, and he forcefully threw back the blanket and punched him.

“Damn it…” Xie Zijing was still laughing. “Fortunately, I didn’t do anything else; just kissing you can make you punch me like that. If it were something else…”

“Just kissing?!”

“And a little touching,” Xie Zijing corrected. “Oh, I see. Because I didn’t do as you wanted, you’re angry.”

“How many sleeping pills did Yan Hong give you?” Qin Ge demanded angrily. “Give them to me!”

“They’re really all gone, no more.” Xie Zijing sat up and continued to laugh. “I promise, I’m not lying to you. I’m a bastard if I do.”

Qin Ge stormed into the bathroom. Meanwhile, Xie Zijing was still lying in bed, laughing. Suddenly, something fluffy crawled into his arms. He fished out a plush rabbit from under the covers and gave it a little kiss.

As Qin Ge brushed his teeth, he stared at himself in the mirror. He remembered everything that had happened at home the previous night. However, when those words were spoken in a clear state of mind, he couldn’t believe he had said them.

During his university days, Yan Hong, who was enthusiastic about confessing immediately to anyone he liked, had a famous saying: “Adults should be honest with their desires.” Qin Ge couldn’t figure out if he was so upset now because of his loss of control the previous night or because of Xie Zijing’s withdrawal. He felt like he had been quite honest already; his affection for Xie Zijing had grown strong enough to be willing to develop a closer relationship with him. Yet he still felt like something was missing, and there was a faint voice in his heart asking, ‘Is it too fast?’

After brushing his teeth, Qin Ge still couldn’t figure out what was missing, and it was the first time he had ever faced such a situation. He couldn’t help but feel awkward and uncertain.

Breakfast was very simple. Qin Ge fried eggs and toasted bread, pouring a glass of milk for Xie Zijing and grabbing a cup of hot water for himself.

“Still angry?” Xie Zijing added two drops of milk to the table and let Qin Ge’s rabbit lick it. The rabbit showed no interest in the food, sniffed it a couple of times, and then leaped back into Xie Zijing’s arms.

Qin Ge ate his bread with a gloomy expression and only spoke after a while. “No.”

Xie Zijing placed the fried egg and toast on his plate. “Eating just this won’t do. I’ll go fry some meat.”

Qin Ge looked up at him, and as Xie Zijing stood up with a plate in one hand and the rabbit in the other, their eyes met. Xie Zijing smiled.

“You said we should be serious, so let’s be serious,” he said. “So, about that… wouldn’t it be better if we did it when we’re both fully awake?”

He said it openly, and Qin Ge felt only a limited amount of embarrassment. It still felt strange to him, and his cheeks turned slightly red.

Xie Zijing went into the kitchen with the plate and the rabbit, but then he came back, leaned in quickly, and kissed Qin Ge’s cheek.

Qin Ge: “…”

Xie Zijing: “Ah, satisfied!”

He exaggeratedly shouted and stepped into the kitchen, carrying the rabbit. Qin Ge also smiled, and at that moment, he didn’t feel embarrassed anymore. Xie Zijing’s every move gradually became intriguing to him, even though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He found it interesting to watch him.

Being liked by someone and loved seriously. For Qin Ge, Xie Zijing’s feelings for him were completely unexpected, like countless starstones crashing into his “sea.” Qin Ge’s hand approached the glass of water; the glass was hot, and the water was hot. He gazed at the glass as if he were looking at himself. Just as the ice-cold glass had its temperature changed by the hot liquid, his heart was filled with clear water, and it was boiling with blush-inducing warmth.

Coincidentally, the first batch of “sea area” tests for students was completed, and Qin Ge was granted two days of sick leave. Xie Zijing still had to go to work every day, so he could only slip into Qin Ge’s home to visit him after work. However, Bai Xiaoyuan and Tang Cuo also arrived, and Qin Ge didn’t want to display any intimacy with Xie Zijing in front of them, so he secretly reminded Xie Zijing not to touch him.

“Does the Crisis Management Office not allow office romances?” Xie Zijing asked Bai Xiaoyuan, setting aside his phone.

Bai Xiaoyuan thought for a moment and then turned to Tang Cuo. “Is it allowed?”

Tang Cuo was trying to separate the fighting sand cat and panda. “I don’t know. Qin Ge, can we?”

Qin Ge, who had been concentrating on his work materials, remained silent.

Bai Xiaoyuan suddenly clapped her hands and exclaimed happily, “We have an answer now. Maybe it’s allowed, but Qin Ge doesn’t want it.”

Xie Zijing responded, “Just eat your food!”

After a busy day, Bai Xiaoyuan and Tang Cuo, who weren’t skilled at cooking, and Qin Ge, who had been away, all brought takeout to visit their leader. The three of them chatted away, while Qin Ge sat on the side, reading case reports sent by the head of the Criminal Investigation Division.

Bi Fan’s parents had come from out of town, but Bi Fan didn’t want to return home. They planned to stay and accompany her for a while. Bi Xingyi had been arrested, and the specific details of the case were still under investigation. The Criminal Investigation Division found a large number of surveillance videos on Bi Fan’s computer and phone, showing that he had installed cameras in every corner of Bi Fan’s home, constantly monitoring her life. However, occasionally, Bi Xingyi allowed her to go out briefly.

Even when she did go out, Bi Fan dared not go far. In her eyes, everyone around her was Bi Xingyi’s accomplice, all watching her. She happened to run into Tang Cuo, a complete stranger. It was then that she finally dared to seek help, grabbing onto Tang Cuo.

In addition to the case report, the head of the Criminal Investigation Division showed Qin Ge a piece of information.

When Bi Fan graduated, the “sea area” test was conducted by Lu Qinglai, which happened in June of the previous year. When Bi Xingyi joined, the “sea area” test was also done by Lu Qinglai, which occurred in January of this year.

These two events were separated by nearly six months. How could Lu Qinglai have guessed that Bi Fan would later meet someone like Bi Xingyi?

The only plausible explanation was that Lu Qinglai’s hints to Bi Fan were vague, and he had planted a bomb without knowing who might detonate it. Upon meeting Bi Xingyi, Lu Qinglai realized that he was the perfect trigger, so he gave Bi Fan’s address to Bi Xingyi, creating an opportunity for their encounter.

But this raised another question: why did Lu Qinglai choose Bi Fan to plant the “bomb”?

A shiver ran down Qin Ge’s spine.

Bi Fan’s mental disorder made her “sea area” full of vulnerabilities that could be exploited.

There was also another possibility: while patrolling the “sea area,” Lu Qinglai might have planted “bombs” indiscriminately. As long as the person accepted his hints, he could leave some kind of hidden danger in their “sea area.”

“Xie Zijing!” Qin Ge couldn’t help but shout. The thought of Xie Zijing’s “sea area” being explored by Lu Qinglai sent a shiver of fear through him. He really wanted to try entering Xie Zijing’s “sea area” again, especially now that they had grown to trust each other, but his mental state had not fully recovered yet, and it wasn’t the best time.

Xie Zijing, who was snatching the last piece of spicy duck paw from Tang Cuo, immediately put down his chopsticks and moved to Qin Ge’s side. “What’s the matter?”

“…” Qin Ge didn’t really know what to say. “I just wanted to shout.”

Xie Zijing gave him a mysterious smile and said, “I understand.”

Qin Ge said, “Do you understand what? Don’t stay at my place tonight; go home and pack your things.”

Xie Zijing’s smile disappeared, “Why?”

Qin Ge said, “I have work to do tonight. The second batch of tests is about to begin, so I need to make some arrangements.”

Xie Zijing responded, “Alright.”

He returned to the dining table with a disgruntled expression. Tang Cuo had already started eating the spicy duck paws. Xie Zijing, determined to involve Tang Cuo in the discussion, said, “Tang Cuo, why haven’t you been going to the gym these past few days? You only went once.”

Tang Cuo suddenly choked on the wasabi sauce, coughing uncontrollably. The sand cat and panda, whether fighting or playing, rolled into a ball under the table. Tang Cuo tried to mediate, saying, “Hey, stop fighting. The cats might get hurt…”

“Scars are my little cat’s medals. It’s not afraid,” Bai Xiaoyuan held him in place and said with a determined look. “Now, answer Xie Zijing’s question.”

Tang Cuo, feeling embarrassed, said, “I just didn’t want to go.”

Neither Xie Zijing nor Bai Xiaoyuan continued eating, waiting for his explanation. Tang Cuo looked up, wanting to seek help from Qin Ge, but to his surprise, Qin Ge was also on the other side, staring with keen interest.

With three opponents, Tang Cuo retreated.

“…I went there,” he said, his voice tense. “But I’m embarrassed to go now.”

The incident happened on the evening of Tang Cuo’s first day at the gym.

Tang Cuo’s physical test results were quite good, except that he had relatively little muscle mass and his physique was rather thin. Gao Shu explained that his main training focus would be muscle building, so he needed to emphasize weightlifting and ensure he was getting enough protein in his diet.

That day, the counselor gave Tang Cuo a brief introduction to the equipment, but Tang Cuo had already forgotten the names, and he had no idea how to use the different machines. Gao Shu took him to the weightlifting area, and as soon as they entered, several other trainees and coaches who were working out there began to move away.

Tang Cuo asked, “Are they afraid of you, Coach?”

Gao Shu replied with a smile, “No, they respect me.”

His reassuring demeanor made Tang Cuo trust him instantly. After Gao Shu demonstrated a few machines for training shoulder and back muscles, he led Tang Cuo to the area with barbells. Rows of barbells of different sizes were laid out in front of them. Tang Cuo felt dizzy and completely lost. He stood in front of the mirror, with Gao Shu right beside him, making him feel inferior. In the mirror, he saw himself standing next to Gao Shu, and he felt embarrassed. Gao Shu had a tall, muscular body with smooth and beautiful muscle lines—not the abrupt muscles built from excessive protein consumption, but a well-proportioned and attractive physique.

He was so entranced that he realized Gao Shu was also looking at him in the mirror. He blushed immediately and said, “Um, Coach, your muscles look really good.”

Gao Shu flexed his arm and said, “Touch them.”

Tang Cuo asked in surprise, “Huh?”

Gao Shu grabbed his hand and pressed it against his upper arm. “Look, when the muscles flex… see? This part is the biceps, and here is the triceps. The part you’re touching now is the deltoid muscle.”

He explained and pointed as he spoke, all with a confident demeanor. Tang Cuo didn’t remove his hand from Gao Shu’s arm, as he felt like touching the muscles was perfectly normal in the gym, and Gao Shu’s muscles were genuinely firm and not like his own at all. For a moment, he even felt a reluctance to let go.

“And the back.” Gao Shu turned around, showing him his back. Gao Shu was wearing a tight-fitting workout outfit, and when he slightly bent forward, his back muscles immediately stood out, one muscle after another rubbing against Tang Cuo’s palm. For some inexplicable reason, Tang Cuo blushed again. Gao Shu watched him in the mirror and suddenly laughed.

Tang Cuo quickly withdrew his hand and said, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay; it’s okay. You can continue,” Gao Shu said with a smile. “Oh, and there’s also the abdominal muscles.”

Tang Cuo replied, “You really don’t need to show me that…”

“Mr. Tang, your muscle strength is quite weak, even though it’s functional, but it lacks aesthetics due to being too thin,” Gao Shu said, assessing Tang Cuo’s physique.

Tang Cuo reminded him, “Just call me by my name.”

Gao Shu smiled again and said, “Sure.”

He asked Tang Cuo to face the mirror and pointed out the issues with his muscles. Tang Cuo’s heart suddenly raced. Gao Shu stood behind him, a head taller than him, and when he made movements, Tang Cuo found himself experiencing an illusion of being held in Gao Shu’s embrace.

At that moment, he felt a warmth on his back as Gao Shu’s hand rested on his waist.

“Mr. Tang, people who work in offices often experience discomfort in these areas.” Gao Shu spoke seriously and began moving his hand on Tang Cuo’s back, tapping his shoulders, moving down to his waist, and then sliding further down just above his buttocks, almost making contact but not quite. “You should also work on your gluteus muscles. After you train them well, your buttocks will look great… Tang Cuo?”

As Tang Cuo shared this part of the story, his face turned as red as if he had been in a sweltering sauna for three hours.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Xiaoyuan asked, puzzled.

“I… I had a nosebleed,” Tang Cuo said, holding his nose. “I don’t know if he really touched my butt… but I definitely had a nosebleed.”

For a moment, both Bai Xiaoyuan and Xie Zijing fell into silence, and there was no sound of mouse clicks or keyboard typing coming from Qin Ge’s side. Tang Cuo waited for their laughter, but no one laughed. Bai Xiaoyuan extended her arm to hug him and said, “Oh, my poor little one.”

From that day on, Tang Cuo never dared to go to the gym again. After the nosebleed incident, Gao Shu immediately took a suppressant from his own locker and gave it to Tang Cuo, explaining that having initial reactions like that was common. The gym was always equipped with advanced suppressants, included in the expensive membership fees. Tang Cuo didn’t care about the explanation; he just wanted to disappear into the treadmill’s belts. He sat in the resting area with his eyes covered for a while, hearing the laughter and conversations of people around him. He felt like they were all making fun of him. Before Gao Shu returned, he decided to flee.

After a weekend, Tang Cuo’s mood had improved slightly. They were starting the second round of the college entrance exam tests on Monday, and Qin Ge had asked them to arrive at the office early for work assignments. Tang Cuo, holding his coffee, ran all the way and entered the Crisis Management Office, only to see Gao Shu.

Gao Shu was wearing casual clothes and appeared quite impatient while talking to Gao Tianyue. Gao Tianyue was furious, and Gao Shu put his hands in his pockets, letting out an exaggerated yawn.

Then he noticed Tang Cuo.

Tang Cuo froze. He saw Gao Shu smile at him, waving his hand and getting ready to approach him. Tang Cuo quickly covered his face with his coffee cup, rushing into a side door, and entering the Crisis Management Department’s office, slamming the door shut.

Bai Xiaoyuan jumped in surprise. “Did Cai Yi come to pick a fight again?”

“Gao Shu!” Tang Cuo panted. “He saw me!”

“It’s not like he’s going to eat you,” Xie Zijing said, biting into a bun. “Don’t be afraid of him. If he sexually harasses you again, just let the panda attack him.”

Tang Cuo sat down, feeling dejected. Bai Xiaoyuan had told him that Gao Shu was Gao Tianyue’s son, so his feelings toward Gao Shu were complicated. On one hand, he was attracted to Gao Shu’s appearance, body, muscles, and voice—basically everything about him. On the other hand, he felt ashamed of himself, given Gao Tianyue’s intimidating presence. He couldn’t bring himself to face Gao Shu again.

“Xiaoyuan, it’s so hard to fall in love,” he said.

Bai Xiaoyuan responded, “What kind of dream were you having? What you described isn’t really falling in love, Tang Cuo.”

Just as she said that she sneezed.

Meanwhile, in the parking lot, Lei Chi intercepted Qin Ge. “Chief Qin, I have a question to ask you.”

“Captain Lei, please go ahead,” Qin Ge responded politely.

Lei Chi said, “Last week, I suddenly started to see spiritual bodies.”

Qin Ge responded, “Oh?”

What Lei Chi mentioned as “last week” began with his encounter with Bi Xingyi at 267th Hospital. During that encounter, he saw Bi Xingyi’s octopus and the spiritual bodies of the original field agents. It was an experience he had never had before.

Thinking about previous reports of special individuals seeing the spiritual bodies of sentinels or guides, Qin Ge didn’t think it was anything out of the ordinary. “This has to do with the structure of everyone’s eyeballs and optic nerves, and some people can indeed see these forms of matter. However, there’s usually a precondition, which is a strong, subjective desire to see spiritual bodies. Under the influence of psychological suggestions and physiological factors, it can finally be achieved.”

Lei Chi was taken aback, and Qin Ge found that this was a fresh expression on his face.

“Do you have a strong desire to see the spiritual body of someone?” Qin Ge casually asked.

Lei Chi hesitated for a moment and then spoke candidly, “Yes, a little cat.”

Qin Ge said, “…”

For the first time in his life, he felt like he had been possessed by Bai Xiaoyuan’s soul and had ignited a strong curiosity from the inside out.

“Is it our department’s Bai…” Qin Ge began, barely suppressing his laughter. But Lei Chi clearly didn’t want to discuss the topic of the cat any further and immediately interrupted Qin Ge’s questioning, bringing up a new topic. “I heard our department head say that you plan to visit Lu Qinglai at New Hope?”

Qin Ge nodded, “Yes, I’ll be going there after work today.”

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