Pretend to be crazy - Chapter 76

He could hide Shen Yan.

Once that thought emerged, it spread like wildfire.

As long as the eye seal wasn’t removed, Shen Yan would never be able to see. He couldn’t roam freely, couldn’t do most jobs. He’d need someone with him constantly, someone to care for him.

He’d cling to that person’s hand, anxiously calling their name, wholeheartedly dependent—maybe even fall in love with them.

Who would that person be?

Blaze’s lips moved slightly, silently mouthing his own name.

Then clarity returned.

Getting Ruan Zhixian to give up on Shen Yan? Impossible.

Ruan Zhixian had spent two years fundamentally upending the ecosystem of District One. Yet the moment Shen Yan said, “I have someone,” he tossed aside all that success and came racing to Red Star, eager to seize him.

Warren and Falson—those two fools—couldn’t see through it.

They really thought Ruan Zhixian was an honorable man who brought them here to let them personally take revenge.

They didn’t even realize they were being used.

Ruan Zhixian was just using their hands to push Shen Yan into taking the initiative to be with him.

He shouldn’t have come.

But if he hadn’t, he might never see Shen Yan again.

So he endured, pretended to be indifferent, told himself it didn’t matter.

He knew exactly how fake that was. It was like scooping water with a sieve—useless.

Blaze knelt beside the bed, reaching out, outlining Shen Yan’s features in the air.

Past his dark lashes, the deeply set eyelids, the straight nose, the brick-red lips…

“You’re touching me,” Shen Yan suddenly said.

Blaze jerked his hand back. Shen Yan sat up, turned toward him, reached out—and touched his face.

He traced Blaze’s shoulder, arm, and wrist, and placed Blaze’s hand firmly on his own face. With a helpless smile, he said, “If you want to touch me, just do it. I never said you couldn’t.”

Shen Yan paused, then added, “Ruan Zhixian was here earlier. He said you all can talk to me now. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”

Blaze still didn’t react.

Shen Yan tilted his head and smirked mischievously.

“Hey, are you trying to touch somewhere else but too embarrassed to say it?”

Blaze: !!!

Shen Yan pulled Blaze’s hand lower. Blaze’s arm went stiff like rebar, resisting internally but unable to pull back.

Just as the hand was about to touch Shen Yan’s chest, Shen Yan suddenly let go, instead touching Blaze’s face again.

“Where is this? Why is it so warm?” he teased.

Blaze kept his lips tightly shut.

Shen Yan tapped his lips lightly.

“Open sesame. Oh great mountain spirit, will you let Blaze speak to me?”

A long silence passed before Blaze finally rasped, “Shen Yan.”

“Oh? The mountain spirit answered!” Shen Yan perked up. “Can I make one more wish?”

Blaze: “Okay.”

He didn’t want Shen Yan to leave.

But if he asked now, he couldn’t say no.

Shen Yan softly said, “Let Blaze be a little happier, please.”

Blaze’s breath hitched.

An overwhelming surge of emotion coursed through him. He stared at Shen Yan, throat clogged like with cotton, wanting to speak but afraid.

Afraid Shen Yan would think he was breaking his word.

He had already promised.

But happiness shouldn’t feel like crying.

Shen Yan noticed anyway. He felt the tears on Blaze’s face and gasped. “It’s okay if you’re not happy! Whatever you feel is fine!”

Blaze lowered his lashes, feeling something collapse within him. He gave up and whispered, “Shen Yan, I like you.”

Shen Yan: “I…”

Before he could finish, Blaze kissed him.

He wrapped his arms around Shen Yan’s waist and gently laid him back on the bed. His kisses were soft, brushing over Shen Yan again and again.

Shen Yan laughed from the affection, turning his head away. Blaze trailed kisses along his cheek, ear, and finally below the jaw, sucking hard and leaving a mark.

It stood out starkly on Shen Yan’s fair skin—a declaration of possession.

Not enough.

If Blaze broke Ruan Zhixian’s rules, he’d be disqualified. But he had already glimpsed his own future, so he became bolder.

His lips and tongue roamed Shen Yan’s skin, each kiss paired with a whispered, “Shen Yan, I like you.”

Still not enough.

He licked Shen Yan’s abs until they were slick, then leaned close to whisper in a husky voice, “Shen Yan… I want you…”

Shen Yan, soft and breathless from the kisses, gasped, “No.”

“You don’t want to? Or are you scared of what Ruan Zhixian will do to me? Why think of others? Shen Yan, I’m the one kissing you. I am with you.”

“I know, I know,” Shen Yan said weakly. “I’m not confusing you with anyone else.”

Blaze panted, overwhelmed, and let go completely. He pressed close, their bodies tight, kissing him again—no longer soft or shy.

This time, he pried open Shen Yan’s lips and invaded fully, his tongue fiercely tangling with his.

It was aggressive—like he wanted to devour him.

Shen Yan had hesitated for too long and missed the perfect moment to escape. Blaze clung like a python, wrapping tightly around him, pulling him into a daze.

Mind and body alike.

The boundaries he had once drawn for Blaze blurred under his relentless confessions. Emotion drowned out reason, and a small voice rose up:

Don’t you like Blaze a little too?

After all this, are you really going to keep calling him just a friend?

Then what about Warren? Falson? You’ve kissed them too. What are they to you?

And let’s not even talk about Ruan Zhixian.

If Ruan Zhixian can do it, why can’t Blaze?

If Blaze can, why not Warren and Falson?

They all love you.

You made them fall in love. Aren’t you responsible?

By that count… you’ve played all three of them!

(Not counting Ruan Zhixian—he’s in a category of his own.)

Shen Yan stared blankly, thinking:

I’m so screwed. Totally, utterly screwed.

And to make it worse: pants went flying.

Blaze held Little Yan and Little Blaze, letting them “collaborate.”

Little Yan and Little Blaze were overcome with emotion, thrilled, whispering excitedly, trembling with joy. Under Blaze’s guidance, they became intimately united.

A successful partnership.

Blaze cupped the fruits of their union in his palms, letting their “secondary product” mingle, giving it a chance to learn and communicate too.

Then he spread his hand open, intending to show Shen Yan the result, only to realize Shen Yan couldn’t see.

So, very thoughtfully, he smeared it back onto Little Yan—so Little Yan could feel it on Shen Yan’s behalf.

Little Yan was thrilled, acting up again, eager to keep bonding.

Blaze was equally ecstatic, nibbling Shen Yan’s ear, still breathless.

“Shen Yan, not enough.”