If it hadn't been for last night, when he saw Jiang Yi alone in the attic practicing dance steps, his solitary shadow on the floor, spinning awkwardly, with a faint, helpless smile at the corners of his mouth, patient expression, and earnest eyes like a diligent student—Ouyang might have continued to keep his distance. There was a hint of fatigue on Jiang Yi's face, but no sign of perfunctoriness.

Suddenly, Ouyang felt a strong, indescribable ache in his chest, as if Jiang Yi's unintentional vulnerability and loneliness had touched a chord in his heart. He no longer wanted to stand in the shadows as a bystander. He walked slowly to stand three meters behind Jiang Yi, and spoke in a deliberately relaxed tone.

Satisfaction—a very complex sense of satisfaction—arose when this beautiful man spun and smiled in his arms, when he used his perfect body to explore an unknown realm, when he looked at Ouyang with calm, excited eyes. In those moments, everything seemed to freeze.

Eye contact, embraces, kisses, intimacy—it was as if they were lovers who had known each other for years, growing more in sync with each passing moment. That ultimate experience was like a huge wave crashing onto the beach, taking everything with it as it receded—including some things they'd both held onto for so long.

Ouyang lifted the covers and got out of bed, and Jiang Yi woke up as well, turning on his side and squinting at Ouyang's Apollo-like figure, then burying his head in the pillow, refusing to get up.

Ouyang Jinghui, just out of bed, with messy hair, slightly red eyes, and elegant movements, exuded a lazy kind of sensuality. Jiang Yi felt a rush of mixed emotions, unable to suppress his anxiety and confusion, a kind of frantic uncertainty. But now, they were finally balanced; it was no longer a one-sided, hopeless burden. He wouldn't avoid Ouyang anymore, because he wasn't the only one who had broken the rules.

As Ouyang stepped into the bathroom, Jiang Yi tossed aside his pillow and followed, sliding open the door. Ouyang was showering, and when he turned, droplets splashed onto the mirror. The two of them stood there, naked, not too close or too far, gazing at each other for a long moment.

"This time, I'm not going to apologize to you," Jiang Yi said first, lowering his gaze to the anti-slip tiles.

The shower suddenly stopped, and the bathroom was unusually quiet. Ouyang was never one to beat around the bush, and since this all started because of him, he had no intention of denying it. "It wasn't just a moment of impulse for me. I... have a special feeling for you. I'm not sure what it is, but you know..."

"Don't say it," Jiang Yi interrupted. "I know. But you're still you, and I'm still me. You don't have to explain anything."

Ouyang Jinghui suddenly felt a little unhappy. "Are you this indifferent with everyone?"

Maybe it was because he was getting closer to Ouyang, but Jiang Yi just laughed dismissively, "Do you think I sleep around?"

Thinking of Jiang Yi's physical reactions, Ouyang's face flushed. He knew Jiang Yi wasn't that kind of person, but he suspected Jiang Yi had been intimate with other men before, and that made him a bit uncomfortable.

Ouyang changed the subject, "Did you have a lover in America?"

"I did. A dozen. Are you going to chase me to America? It's a pointless question." Jiang Yi suddenly felt like teasing him, and as he spoke, he walked over and turned the shower back on.

There was a faint trail of kisses along Jiang Yi's waist, and his movements were a bit stiff. Ouyang realized he was the cause, and his face turned even redder—they'd been too rough. Both of them were a bit worn out, but Jiang Yi's casual, unconcerned attitude tugged at Ouyang's heart. What kind of person was this...

Ouyang didn't know whether to laugh or be angry. For a moment, he was at a loss. The powerful Ouyang Jinghui, a titan in the business world, was suddenly at a complete loss for words.

Ouyang turned to leave, but Jiang Yi grabbed his hand. "Let's be lovers for a month."

"Huh?" Ouyang was stunned, but he heard him clearly. Looking at this handsome, water-dappled man making such a request, Ouyang's mind turned to mush for the first time.

"Okay?" Jiang Yi's tone and eyes were as calm as ever.

"Do you think this is fair to you, or to me?"

"It's not fair to either of us, but I still want this month. You're not incapable of accepting it, right?"

"This kind of game isn't fun."

"If it's not a game, then a month is enough for both of us. I'm not a greedy person."

"Can you really feel like a lover with me?" Ouyang found the question odd, but he really wanted to ask.

"Sometimes."

"Let me think about it for a day." With that, he stepped out of the bathroom.

Both were forced into this situation—one a man who never waited for others to "think it over," the other someone with no prior experience in same-sex relationships. For the moment, both were left flustered and unsure by this sudden passion.