Andre caught the man before he slid completely to the floor, holding him upright. Even after the jolt, Zhen Yichen didn't wake—he just stayed there, sleeping without a care in the world.
Is he really that tired? Andre wondered, adjusting him to lean back against the couch.
…
A few minutes later, a knock came at the office door.
In walked a man in a sharp suit—likely the chief secretary, though Andre had never learned his name.
The secretary's eyes scanned the room, clearly looking for the president to get a document signed and to inform him they'd be leaving in fifteen minutes to meet with the Mo family about the deal. But then his gaze froze.
The president… was sleeping. In the arms of the young man he had brought with him today.
For a second, the secretary questioned his own eyesight. Wait—am I hallucinating? But no, the scene was real. And suddenly, the rumors around the company saying the young man is someone special made a lot more sense. Maybe this young man really was the president's lover.
Andre noticed the secretary staring. He could practically see the man's assumptions forming, and from the way his expression shifted, there was no doubt in Andre's mind that the misunderstanding had taken root.
"Ahem…" The secretary cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence. "I'll… come back later, but I'll just leave the documents here."
Andre said nothing, but his eyes narrowed slightly.
The secretary placed the folder on the desk, gave a polite nod, and backed toward the door. "Alright, I'll leave you two to… your moment."
Andre's lips twitched. Yep. Definitely misunderstood.
Turning his gaze to the man still sleeping against him, he muttered silently, This is your fault.
…
An hour later, in the CEO's office—
Zhen Yichen stirred awake, blinking against the light. He was stretched out awkwardly on the couch, clearly too tall for it. For a moment, confusion clouded his features.
Why am I here?
Then his gaze softened. I fell asleep again… and it's him.
There was a fleeting gentleness in his usually cold eyes. He rose slowly, scanning the room until he found Andre—slumped over his work desk, fast asleep.
He noticed the dark circles under the young man's eyes and felt a pang of something dangerously close to guilt. He doesn't deserve this. I'm doing more harm than good to him… He's Celia's whole world. But… I can't let go.
He's mine.
The thought startled him. His stomach tightened in unease, but the feeling wouldn't go away. What am I doing? How can I think this way about Andre? He's… my— No… It doesn't matter. The fact that he's Celia's son should be enough to stop me. But… I can't stop. I know if I try, I'll go insane.
Moving quietly, Zhen Yichen stepped closer to the desk. He stood over the sleeping boy, eyes shadowed with something darker than he wanted to admit.
He crouched down, until they were at eye level—so close their faces were barely an inch apart. He studied the boy's features with an intensity that bordered on dangerous.
I love those silver, cold eyes the most. Too bad they're closed right now.
His gaze drifted lower, tracing the sharp line of Andre's nose, then down to his lips—soft, flushed, and infuriatingly tempting.
When did my thoughts change? When did he stop being just my sleeping pill and start becoming… something I can't understand?
Zhen's jaw tightened. He's not even my type. Almost as tall as me, more muscular, and yet… this face. I can't look away.