Chapter 39.2 (1/2)
Deep in the Act
Translator: Kotoni
Editor: Isalee
Quality Check: Isalee
First Published on Chaleuria
Chapter 39.2
Three to four platinum studs sat in the younger man's palm. While the fancier ones had hollowed-out designs, or sparkled with embellishments, Chen Hsin found himself drawn to the least eye-catching of them all: a tiny fish curled up on itself. Upon closer examination, one could see that it had the tip of its tail in its mouth.
A sharp sting shot through Chen Hsin's ear. Realizing that Zhang Zhun had pulled out his stud, Chen Hsin handed the tiny fish to the older man. Then, a sudden heat enveloped his earlobe - and it took his throbbing nerves several moments to register the source of his pain as Zhang Zhun's moist, warm mouth.
Cradling the lobe between his lips, Zhang Zhun began lapping at the aching flesh; like the swis.h.i.+ng fin on a fish, the tip of his tongue teased at the tender nub with flick after flick. Chen Hsin swallowed, and lifted his arms to encircle the straight, lean waist before him. His breathing quickened, his muscles trembled, and his hold tightened unconsciously until the man in his arms, too, was short of breath. Panting a little, Zhang Zhun touched Chen Hsin's face, brus.h.i.+ng his fingers across the brow bone, the bridge of his nose, the philtrum… Chen Hsin caught those fluttering tips with a single bite, and drew them hard into his mouth like a starving, suckling babe.
Goodbye my almost lover, goodbye my hopeless dream…
Chen Hsin ignored the call, but Zhang Zhun paused and bent himself over the younger man with tender, affectionate eyes. He watched Chen Hsin swallow around his middle and index fingers, and felt him lave the gaps at the base of those digits with heated strokes of his tongue. Zhang Zhun was now little more than a lotus pod ripe for the plucking. A glisten came into his eyes, and he started to pull his hand away from Chen Hsin's mouth.
I'm trying not to think about you, can't you just let me be…
”Go on,” Zhang Zhun muttered, ”answer your phone.” At this, Chen Hsin finally took out his mobile. He turned on the speakerphone instead of picking up the call directly, and Feng Yunting's voice rang out in the room: ”Honey, turn on the TV. Southern Entertainment.”
Chen Hsin caught Zhang Zhun's hand, unwilling to let it go, and nibbled at the soft underside of his fingertips as if he could never have enough of the man. Meanwhile, Zhang Zhun got up with a swing of his leg, picked up the remote control, and turned on the TV. Images flickered and shuddered as he sped from channel to channel with rapid clicks, until Feng Yunting's face appeared at last on the screen.
The young woman's styling was impeccable: her makeup was exquisite, and her outfit was put together with just as much meticulous care. In the sea of camera flashes, she looked dazzling and resplendent. ”Chen Hsin and I have never considered marriage,” Feng Yunting said. ”As of now, the police have already begun their investigation into the false rumors on Weibo.”
The reporters remained unconvinced. Dissatisfied with her answer, they continued to bombard Feng Yunting with their loaded, aggressive questions. ”This is a rather one-sided account, isn't it? Does Chen-laos.h.i.+ share the same view?”
Instead of answering at once, Feng Yunting responded with a meaningful pause and allowed the silence to grow heavy with implication. Then, once she was certain that she had left enough room to the imagination, she took a deep breath and broke the moment of suspense. ”The truth is…” she replied, looking rather resigned, ”Chen Hsin and I have decided to break up.”
This was truly explosive news. Even the viewer on the other side of the screen could feel the palpable tension on site. Camera flashes became frantic, and reporters scrambled to thrust their mics towards the young actress. Despite the mounting pressure all around her, Feng Yunting kept up her natural acting with ease. ”The fake news really got us thinking - about us, about our relations.h.i.+p - and we both need some quiet time to ourselves.”
Immediately, someone shot back at her from the crowd, ”Can you tell us whose idea it was, Miss Feng?”
It was a very incisive question; after giving it a quick thought, Feng Yunting answered, ”It was my idea. He agreed after I brought it up.” There was a certain self-possession about her, a certain poise that allowed her to retain control over the situation despite her youth. ”Perhaps there are many people out there who are convinced that we have an unequal relations.h.i.+p, and I'm the one who's at a disadvantage. When they hear about the breakup, they'll see me as a victim and a.s.sumed that I've been toyed with. I'd like to use this opportunity to say that Chen Hsin and I were just another ordinary couple. We simply fell in love. There was no transaction between us, and there were no sordid secrets to mar our relations.h.i.+p. He is someone who is worthy of respect. It is my sincere wish that the media will take our decision as it is, and treat it with the dignity it deserves.”
”But Miss Feng, it's only been days since your relations.h.i.+p became official! Besides, even though you claim that there are no transactions, sources say that you've just signed off on a luxury car endors.e.m.e.nt deal. What do you…?” Although the reporters refused to let up, Feng Yunting declined to answer any further questions. As she took her leave, escorted by staffers, a news ticker appeared at the bottom of the screen, and a voiceover concluded the footage: ”Proudly brought to you by Southern Entertainment.”