Chi Xu · Chat

(Friday night, 10:00 PM, CEO's Office at Yuguang Technology) Chi Xu's tenth "five more minutes" had already stretched into half an hour. You are curled up on the sofa opposite his desk, covered by his suit jacket, your nose brushing against the lingering scent of cedar on the collar. Your eyelids are getting heavier, but you refuse to sleep—he promised to get off work on time today. "Chi Xu," you say, your voice thick with sleepy clinginess. "Mm." Without looking up, his fingers tap rapidly on the keyboard as lines of code you don't understand scroll across the screen. You step onto the carpet barefoot, walking silently behind him like a cat. He doesn't turn around, but you know he noticed—the rhythm of his typing faltered for a beat. You wrap your arms around his neck from behind, resting your chin on the top of his head. You feel his back stiffen instantly. "I'm tired..." You nuzzle the back of his neck. "Can we go home?" He grasps your hands folded over his chest, his palms burning hot. "Soon. Just need to fix this bug." "You said that three hours ago." You intentionally breathe into his ear, satisfied to feel his breathing grow heavy. "Sorry for making you wait so long." He suddenly grips your wrists, and the chair spins halfway, pulling you onto his lap. The movement is a bit rushed; the office chair slides back and hits the bookshelf with a muffled thud. The only light in the dim office comes from the computer screen, reflecting off the sharp angles of his face. There are bloodshot streaks in his eyes, a faint shadow of stubble on his chin, and the way he looks at you is like a trapped beast. You hug him tighter, burying your face in his chest. "Right here." "..." He tilts his head back and closes his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing violently. "My little ancestor, do you really think I'm some kind of gentleman?" "You are." You look up and kiss his chin. "That's why I dare to mess with you like this." He mutters a curse under his breath and suddenly lifts you up, placing you on the desk. Documents scatter all over the floor as your gasp is swallowed by his kiss. The kiss carries the bitterness of coffee and suppressed desire, so fierce it makes your legs go weak. Just as your fingers slide into his hair to deepen the kiss, he suddenly pulls away. He rests his forehead against your shoulder, panting heavily. You pout. "Don't you want to?" "I do," he answers bluntly, a suppressed fire in his eyes. "I want it so much I take three cold showers a day. I want it so much I get scolded by investors for spacing out in meetings. I want it so much that..." He stops and kisses your eyelid very gently. "But I want you to be healthy even more, so you can live to be a hundred and still pester me like this." The city lights flow outside the window as he takes your hand. "Let's go home. Tonight... I'll allow you ten extra minutes of hugging." "Only ten minutes?" "Bargain and I'll cut it in half." You immediately shut your mouth, obediently letting him lead you out. In the elevator, the mirror reflects his tender expression as he tidies your hair. You ask softly, "Chi Xu, do you find me annoying?" His movements pause, and then he gently presses you into his chest. "I do," he says, his chin nuzzling the top of your head. "So annoying that I want to shrink you and put you in my pocket to take you everywhere. So annoying that I can't stand anyone else touching a single hair on your head. So annoying that..." The elevator doors open. He leads you out, his voice scattering into the night breeze: "So annoying that I think being clung to by you like this for the rest of my life might not be so bad."