Chapter 47: Try Provoking Me Again, If You Dare

The first episode’s recording had come to an end.

Online, fierce arguments erupted over Shen Jixing’s final choice.

“See? I told you Shen Jixing is an extreme egoist—he’ll do anything to win.”

“He was just following the rules. What’s wrong, did all you hopeless romantics get your hearts broken?”

“My boy’s upset. Did you see how dark his face was when he left? Clearly, he couldn’t stand the injustice for our little mermaid.”

“I never realized he was the lovesick type…”

“Lovesick? The mermaid clearly didn’t want to forget—can’t you see that? If Shen Jixing just wanted to win he should’ve said so, but he insisted on erasing someone’s memory. Well, I hope he’s happy now, because no one else is.”

But Shen Jixing wasn’t happy at all.

Xiong Xiong tried to comfort him at his side. “Bro, don’t listen to all that nonsense online. They’re just used to bashing you. If you hadn’t erased the memory, they’d say you did it on purpose to save your image…”

At these words, Shen Jixing glanced up at him.

“Growing a brain, are you?”

Xiong Xiong scratched his head a little sheepishly. “After hearing them rant so much, I can pretty much predict what they’ll say next. Whatever we do, it’s always wrong…”

In truth, Shen Jixing didn’t care about what was said online.

What he cared about, perhaps, was the look Zhou Yili gave him before leaving.

When the hunter vanished and the task was complete, Zhou Yili was bold and unrestrained, convinced that they were the only true victors in this game.

But when it came time to make a choice, he stopped in his tracks, standing where he was and watching Shen Jixing, waiting for his final decision.

It was as though, across the length of time, he was looking at the person he once was.

In the end, Shen Jixing still chose to give up.

To give up the memories of a love that once was.

And so, Zhou Yili was angry.

“Shen, Mr. Shengque says you agreed to have dinner with him. Once you’ve changed, you can go straight to the hotel lobby to meet him.”

Shen Jixing nodded, rose, and went to the bathroom.

Half an hour later, he arrived at the hotel lobby and saw Shengque absorbed in a mobile game.

“By yourself?”

Shengque looked up briefly. “My uncle’s here too, in the car. Wait a sec, big bro—I’m in a promotion match.”

Shen Jixing sat down. “Alright.”

He pulled out his phone and idly scrolled through his messages, finally opening his chat with Zhou Yili.

He sent a simple message.

[Dusk Star]: Dinner. Will you join me?

In the chilly night, Zhou Yili lowered his gaze to the glowing phone screen.

This man always had a way of making his words sound cold and distant. Even if he softened it to “Shall we have dinner?” it would still carry more warmth than the way Shen Jixing phrased things.

[ZYYYYYY]: Already have plans.

Shen Jixing paused, his fingers hovering in hesitation, when Shengque suddenly lost his temper. “Ah—damn it! How could they backdoor us? I’m done with this game!”

Shengque jumped up. “Bro, let’s go.”

Shen Jixing closed his phone. “Alright.”

Shengque’s taste in cars was on par with Zhou Yili’s—both drove flashy, latest-model sports cars. If anything, Shengque’s was even more ostentatious: pink.

Through the window, Shen Jixing caught sight of a cool, aloof silhouette in the distance.

It was Fu Chen.

As Shen Jixing opened the back door, ready to get in, he realized someone was already seated there.

The man, eyes glued to his screen, glanced up, closed his phone, and said, “Sit on the other side.”

Unperturbed, Shen Jixing was about to close the door when Zhou Yili shifted over, making room for him.

Zhou Yili said coolly to Shengque, “Driver, hurry up. I’m starving.”

Having just lost his promotion match, Shengque was in a foul mood. “You’re the driver! Your whole family’s drivers!”

The man in the passenger seat shot him a placid look.

Shengque immediately changed his tone. “Civilized people speak in a civilized manner.”

He threw a playful wink at his friend in the back seat. “I’ll let it slide this time, but not next time, okay?”

Zhou Yili replied tersely, “Save it. Don’t be disgusting.”

Shen Jixing sat quietly on one side, never joining their banter, maintaining his usual air of refined aloofness.

Zhou Yili, too, remained silent, his long legs taking up most of the space.

His mood was so obvious that even Fu Chen noticed, glancing at the two of them in the rearview mirror.

“Rough day at the game?”

Before Zhou Yili could answer, Shen Jixing replied, “Not bad, but some people weren’t very happy.”

A pointed jab, if there ever was one.

Zhou Yili finally turned to look at him. “Was he talking to you? Then you answer him.”

Shen Jixing met his gaze. “We know each other.”

Zhou Yili: “…”

Even Fu Chen, usually so reserved, couldn’t help a faint smile as he glanced at the pair.

Zhou Yili seized on the topic, his tone casual, “How long have you known each other?”

Surely not as long as I have, he thought.

Shen Jixing replied, “Since we were four.”

Zhou Yili: “…”

Damn it, you two are the real brothers.

“Since you were four?” Shengque was surprised; he blurted out without thinking, “So you met at the orphan—Ow! Who just kicked the driver’s seat?”

Zhou Yili’s voice was cold. “Just drive.”

Shengque had booked a private restaurant and, considering their identities, reserved the entire night-view floor.

“Uncle, can you walk? Do you need my help?”

The man got out of the passenger seat, face pale, features serene.

“Yes.”

As the guilty party, Shengque dutifully helped him inside.

Zhou Yili got out leisurely, lingering by the car, tapping a cigarette from its pack and holding it between his lips.

Shen Jixing glanced at him. “I thought you didn’t smoke.”

When releasing a new album, Zhou Yili always took special care of his voice, never letting anything affect it.

Cigarette unlit, Zhou Yili’s features were sharp and handsome under the moonlight.

“None of your business.”

He strode toward the restaurant.

The night-view dining room was on the second-floor terrace. As Zhou Yili was about to step through the door, Shen Jixing caught his arm and pulled him back—

In the dim corner, separated from the world by a single wall, the sky was strewn with stars.

Shen Jixing reached out and took the cigarette from his mouth.

“I’m hungry, too.”

Zhou Yili’s lips parted. “?”

Shen Jixing tossed the cigarette into the trash. His demeanor was as calm as ever, his features ink-sharp and beautiful.

“Let’s clear the air before we eat, so no one leaves upset.”

Zhou Yili couldn’t stand his frosty arrogance, as if he were the one being unreasonable and making things difficult.

He let out a cold laugh. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

He slid his hands into his pockets, intending to walk away. But as he brushed past, Shen Jixing caught his arm, and in that instant, it was as if a fuse inside Zhou Yili was lit.

He spun around and pressed Shen Jixing against the wall, every movement radiating an irresistible force.

“Try provoking me again and see what happens.”

Trapped between Zhou Yili and the wall, their bodies pressed close, Shen Jixing could even feel the hard muscle of Zhou Yili’s abdomen beneath the silk shirt.

He frowned slightly, uncomfortable. “Fine, don’t talk then, just—”

Before he could finish, Zhou Yili’s hand gripped his jaw, tipping it up forcefully.

And then a searing, possessive kiss crashed down—