He struggled again, then gave up, pouting like a child denied dessert. He reached out, clasping Yu Xi's hand.
"Please help," he whispered.
Yu Xi's breath caught. That voice soft and vulnerable, tugged at something deep inside him. His heartstrings felt like they'd been plucked by a master musician.
Yu Xi crouched down, fingers deftly working to untie Jian Ci's laces. He pulled off the boots and socks with quiet care, each movement deliberate. When he looked up, Jian Ci's hand reached out, fingers threading through Yu Xi's hair with a reverence that made Yu Xi's breath stall.
A drunk Jian Ci was dangerous and not in any physical sense, but in the way he unraveled Yu Xi's composure.
Yu Xi lowered his head, trying to hide the flush rising in his cheeks, but Jian Ci gently lifted his chin, eyes hazy but sincere. "You are so good to me," he murmured.
Yu Xi's ears burned. He helped Jian Ci out of his pants, trying to stay focused. "There. You can go take a shower."
