When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 142: Not As Sweet

Chapter 142: Not As Sweet

Shen Nianzu’s breath caught in his throat.

From the bedroom, the song continued to play in the background; a soft yet haunting melody filled with hope, nostalgia and melancholy.

Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?

Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul?

Jin Jiuchi’s thumb gently brushed away the droplets of soda clinging to Shen Nianzu’s lips before bringing it to his own mouth, his tongue darting out briefly to lick it away. As if that provocative move was not enough, he added, "It’s sweeter than mine. How can Nian’er be so sweet?"

Shen Nianzu found his gaze fixed on that little glimpse of tongue poking out between white teeth, unable to look away. Jin Jiuchi’s lips looked particularly moist and soft after drinking the soda, and the slight curve on the corner was so sinful that it made him dizzy. Driving him crazy in more ways than one and oh... Jin Jiuchi was truly an expert in that, wasn’t he?

"We drink the same soda," he heard himself saying, his tone slightly breathless. "So how can it taste different?"

He could still feel Jin Jiuchi’s feather-soft caress on his lips, making it tingle all over. To hide his fluster, he brought the can to his lips and took another sip, while his eyes inadvertently flicked upwards to meet Jin Jiuchi’s, who had not taken his gaze off him ever since. The cold soda fizzled in his mouth, almost searing in its intensity and it made his tongue feel numb as a result.

"I don’t know..." came Jin Jiuchi’s casual answer. "Perhaps it’s because of Nian’er’s lips?"

Shen Nianzu’s breath hitched and he felt a surge of heat rush through his body from those words alone. It was fortunate that he had swallowed the soda in his mouth or else he would have choked for sure. T–This crazy pervert... did he really not understand the implications of his words, or was he doing it on purpose to tease him?!

Alas, before he could decide whether he should confront the man and demand answers once and for all, Jin Jiuchi continued speaking,

"When I first met you, I thought you smelled sweet because of the flowers in your house. But I was wrong," Jin Jiuchi’s smile revealed his sharp canines, yet also brimming with innocence that made people unable to find fault in him. "Nian’er doesn’t plant flowers, so the sweetness can only come from Nian’er himself..."

Shen Nianzu quickly averted his gaze away, his heart racing a million miles per second. "W–What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"

Jin Jiuchi tutted, "Nonsense? How mean, Nian’er. I have always been telling the truth, okay? See?" With that, he reached out and delicately ran his fingers through Shen Nianzu’s silver hair, exposing his neck. The light touch sent a jolt of electricity through Shen Nianzu’s body, and he let out a sharp gasp.

"Your scent is becoming sweeter, Nian’er," Jin Jiuchi whispered, his voice filled with a mix of desire and longing. "How can you be so..." His words trailed off into a sigh, leaving Shen Nianzu bewildered and overwhelmed.

Shen Nianzu’s pupils dilated when he realized Jin Jiuchi was leaning closer. W–What did this crazy pervert want to do?! Panic surged through him, and he instinctively tried to create distance between them. However, as though sensing his intention, Jin Jiuchi wrapped an arm around his waist and trapped him in place, keeping him right where the man wanted him to be. Jin Jiuchi’s warm breath grazed against his neck, causing Shen Nianzu’s grip on the can to tremble. "J-Jin Jiuchi..."

"Hmm?" Came the low, distracted hum. They were close, so close now that Shen Nianzu could feel the tip of Jin Jiuchi’s nose on his neck, taking a deep inhale of the sweet skin as if he could not get enough.

Hot summer days, rock and roll

The way you’d play for me at your show

And all the ways I got to know

Your pretty face and electric soul

The atmosphere around them grew increasingly charged with tension. The rustling leaves, the cicadas’ chirping, the soft music, and the lingering sweetness of soda in his mouth... all of it were akin to gasoline that sparked the electricity on Shen Nianzu’s nerves.

He subconsciously placed his hands in front of him to keep Jin Jiuchi from coming closer, but it did little to deter the man’s approach. Jin Jiuchi was akin to a predator who had set his eyes on his prey, and was currently waiting to sink his claws and fangs in. The thrill brought about by the sense of danger sent a zing of shivers down Shen Nianzu’s spine, making his toes curl up.

A gasp escaped Shen Nianzu’s lips as Jin Jiuchi’s warm lips made contact with his neck. His mind spun, searching for something to distract the man. He had to say something— anything! "Y-Your soda!" he blurted out, seizing on the first thought that came to mind. "And mine too... It’s going to spill if you keep this up!"

As expected, Jin Jiuchi froze. Having experienced extreme hunger before, he was not one who would waste food. He began to pull away from Shen Nianzu’s neck, but before Shen Nianzu could feel relieved about it, Jin Jiuchi threw his head back and chugged down his soda with a few large gulps.

Shen Nianzu’s gaze remained stuck on his bobbing jugular and the liquid that seeped out from the corner of his lips to flow down the column of his throat, enthralled. His throat felt extremely dry all of sudden.

Jin Jiuchi crushed the empty can in his hand and tossed it aside, then he proceeded to reach for Shen Nianzu’s soda.

This time, though, he did not consume it hastily like he did earlier. Instead, he took the time to press his wet lips against the opening and savor the drink slowly. After that, as if he still could not get enough, he licked the rim of the can and the corner of his lips, making them appear redder and softer.

All that grace, all that body

All that face makes me wanna party

He’s my sun, he makes me shine like diamonds

"Sweet," he commented. Raising his eyelids to meet Shen Nianzu’s hooded gaze, he added, "But still not as sweet as Nian’er."

Shen Nianzu was certain he had been put under a spell without him noticing, or else how come he could not bring himself to push Jin Jiuchi away? How come he could only stare, transfixed, as Jin Jiuchi closed in on him once again? With both arms wrapped around Shen Nianzu’s waist, Jin Jiuchi leaned his head against the crook of the jade doll’s neck, his breathing uneven, "Nian’er, my mouth feels numb and burning. It’s uncomfortable. What should I do..."

Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?

Shen Nianzu’s brain short-circuited like an overheated computer. Even the breath he exhaled was scorching. It seemed like he had come here for a purpose, but now he could not remember it anymore. He did not even know what he was saying. "Drink more wat—ah!" He let out a startled cry when Jin Jiuchi suddenly opened his mouth and bit down. He did not actually use any force, just lightly holding Shen Nianzu’s neck with his teeth, but that alone was already enough to make Shen Nianzu tremble. His hands instinctively gripped onto Jin Jiuchi’s shoulders.

It felt as though he was tethering on the edge of a blade, standing at the precipice of a cliff with the vast abyss before him, where one misstep was all it took for him to fall...

Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul?

I know you will, I know you will

He could no longer tell if the shudder that coursed through his body was due to fear or thrill. "W–What do you want to do?" He demanded, his voice thin and shaky.