What If I Ended Up Marrying My Enemy? - Chapter 16

Chapter 17: Ambiguous Flirtation

 

Yu Zhixue first noticed something off about Yu Wenxuan starting the night before.

 

He had just finished some tasks, rolled his shoulders a little to relax, and went downstairs.

 

Originally, he was heading to their usual meeting spot to wait for Yu Wenxuan, but as soon as he took a few steps downstairs, something in his peripheral vision caught his eye, and he stopped dead in his tracks.

 

The man was wearing a simple black jacket over a plain white shirt. A baseball cap was pulled low on his head, and a mask covered his face. He was tall.

 

He looked like a student who had just walked out of a college campus.

 

Yu Zhixue found it hard to believe.

 

No other reason — he was just too familiar with this look. Back in college, whenever he ran into Yu Wenxuan, the other guy would dress exactly like this.

 

Now standing outside the Yu Corporation building, Yu Wenxuan took off one of his earbuds. He wasn’t wearing glasses, so his vision was blurry, and his way of identifying people was pretty crude — he just looked for the most beautiful one.

 

Once he locked onto his target in the sea of people, he waved.

 

Yu Zhixue calmly walked over to him. Yu Wenxuan grabbed his hand and gave it a quick squeeze, then stuffed it into his coat pocket.

 

Yu Zhixue had wanted to ask why he was waiting outside the building today, but the moment his hand felt that familiar warmth, he forgot everything.

 

Like a sunbathing cat, he squinted his eyes slightly.

 

But the comfort didn’t last long. His wrist was suddenly pulled out of the pocket.

 

Yu Zhixue blinked in confusion.

 

Yu Wenxuan chuckled as he looked at Yu Zhixue, dressed so prim and proper, and reminded him: “President Yu, this might look bad. You’re making it seem like you’re some sugar daddy.”

 

Only then did Yu Zhixue notice the curious glances of passersby. He was still dressed in his formal attire, tie fastened to the very top — a stark contrast to Yu Wenxuan’s laid-back, youthful student look.

 

From the outside, it really did look like some drama about a rich CEO keeping a pretty college student.

 

Yu Zhixue had no idea what kind of weird roleplay Yu Wenxuan was performing, but he played along, putting on his best sugar daddy face with a deadpan expression.

 

“What if I do want to keep you?” he said.

 

Yu Wenxuan let out a low whistle, then leaned on his hand like he was seriously thinking about it.

 

Yu Zhixue watched Yu Wenxuan, whose outfit and demeanor hadn’t changed much from five years ago, and for a moment, he really felt like he was about to drag the college version of Yu Wenxuan home to spoil him.

 

Then Yu Wenxuan finally responded — not directly — but with a sly pull of his mask:
“Do you like me, senior?”

 

Yu Zhixue had no idea what strange setup he was trying to play into now.

 

Yu Wenxuan stared straight into his eyes, spouting nonsense with no shame whatsoever:
“No wonder senior wanted to support me… you had ulterior motives…”

 

Before he could finish, Yu Zhixue slapped a hand over his mouth in exasperation. “I’m done playing with you.”

 

Yu Wenxuan laughed into his palm, the warmth of his breath brushing across Yu Zhixue’s skin.

 

Then he dropped the bit, returning to his usual self. His fingers brushed along the back of Yu Zhixue’s neck. “Let’s go.”

 

Once in the car, Yu Wenxuan buckled up and casually said, “You really don’t want to consider keeping me?”

 

Yu Zhixue turned his head to look at him, his long hair flowing and settling neatly behind his shoulders.

 

But Yu Wenxuan acted like he hadn’t said anything at all and started the car.

 

…

 

The next day, Yu Zhixue still hadn’t managed to get the idea of “sugar daddy” out of his head.

 

He hadn’t slept well. Thankfully, there was no need to go to the office, just one online meeting in the afternoon.

 

Yu Wenxuan was behind him, occasionally adjusting his drooping head. After helping tie up Yu Zhixue’s hair, he reached out for a hair tie — but the person in front of him wasn’t responding.

 

Most likely, Yu Zhixue was holding the hair tie, still half-asleep. He wasn’t good with cold weather, so the colder it got, the harder it was for him to wake up.

 

Yu Wenxuan didn’t call out to him.

 

When Yu Zhixue finally cracked open his eyes, the first thing he saw was Yu Wenxuan cupping his face, their distance nearly nonexistent.

 

“Is there something on my face?” he asked groggily.

 

“No,” Yu Wenxuan replied, yet he still wiped at his cheek dramatically. “Just worried you were really going to fall asleep.”

 

His hand brushed from Yu Zhixue’s cheek to his chin, lightly teasing it like one would pet a cat, making the other man squirm slightly from the ticklish touch.

 

Seeing the dazed look in his eyes, Yu Wenxuan gave a playful tap on his face before finally pulling back and leaving the room.

 

Once alone, Yu Zhixue touched the spot that still retained Yu Wenxuan’s warmth. His ears were flushed.

 

So strange — Yu Wenxuan was acting even weirder than he was last night.

 

…

 

In the afternoon, the online meeting proceeded as usual.

 

Since it was just a voice call, Yu Zhixue hadn’t bothered to change clothes. With the heater on, he wore a dress shirt and a pair of casual shorts, his slender legs exposed.

 

Silently, Yu Wenxuan draped a thin blanket over his lap.

 

The meeting began.

 

When Yu Zhixue was in work mode, his entire aura changed — sharp, unapproachable, and sparing with words.

 

The voices from the other end kept coming, but he only replied occasionally:

 

“Rejected.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“Is this really something you need to ask me about?”

 

Yu Zhixue was entirely focused until he felt a nudge on the back of his hand. Looking up, he found Yu Wenxuan leaning over with a cup of water.

 

Perhaps it was because of the holidays, but Yu Wenxuan seemed especially laid-back today. He placed the glass beside Yuzhi Xue and gave him a smile that felt ridiculously flirtatious.

 

Yu Zhixue was momentarily dazzled and completely missed what the people on the call were saying.

 

All he could see was Yu Wenxuan’s face.

 

Yu Wenxuan straightened up and pointed at the laptop, mouthing, “They’re calling you.”

 

Snapping out of it, Yu Zhixue responded a couple of times, but his head was still full of that smile — making his replies half-hearted.

 

Something really wasn’t right.

 

If it had happened just once, maybe he could chalk it up to misreading things, but three times? That couldn’t be a coincidence.

 

Yu Wenxuan was definitely flirting with him.

 

Once that thought took hold, all of Yu Wenxuan’s recent odd behavior suddenly made sense.

 

Yu Zhixue rushed to end the meeting, closed his laptop, and went downstairs. Just as he reached the stairs, he saw Yu Wenxuan sitting alone in the hanging chair on the balcony.

 

Sunlight streamed through the windows as he turned the jade pendant over in his fingers, carefully admiring it.

 

Yu Zhixue quietly crept over. Yu Wenxuan didn’t notice — not until his eyes were suddenly covered, and the world went dark.

 

Startled, Yu Wenxuan chuckled. “Are you a kid or what?”

 

The hands over his eyes pressed tighter. Yu Zhixue said calmly, “I am younger than you.”

 

“Oh? What are you trying to say — that you’re still a baby?” Yu Wenxuan leaned his head back against the chair and easily slipped from Yu Zhixue’s grasp, teasing him in return.

 

Yu Zhixue ignored him and turned to walk toward the couch.

 

But before he could take a step, someone tugged on his braid.

 

Today, Yu Wenxuan had helped him braid it in a fishtail style — making it very convenient for pulling.

 

“You cause trouble and want to run?” Yu Wenxuan drawled behind him.

 

“I didn’t,” Yu Zhixue retorted, holding his hair protectively.

 

Yu Wenxuan came down from the chair, wound the braid around his finger, and lowered his head beside Yu Zhixue’s ear. “Going to cuddle your pillow again?”

 

“Sometimes, I wonder if you actually married that pillow.”

 

At first, he’d thought Yu Zhixue looked really cute hugging something on the couch.

 

But the more time passed, the more that pillow irritated him.

 

Yu Zhixue couldn’t see his expression but could feel his breath growing closer, until his lips brushed lightly against his earlobe.

 

Sure enough, his ears burned red.

 

He reached up to cover them, but before he could, Yu Wenxuan caught his hand and bit his knuckle.

 

His slightly sharp teeth pressed against the joint — not hard, but just enough to sting. Then, as if mocking a past drunk encounter, he licked it.

 

Yuzhi Xue spun around.

 

Yu Wenxuan calmly let go, looking completely unbothered — as if nothing had happened — and even had the audacity to ask, “What?”

 

It looked innocent, but a few days ago, Yu Wenxuan would’ve jumped five steps back by now.

 

Now Yu Zhixue was sure — Yu Wenxuan was seducing him.

 

…

 

But even knowing that didn’t help much, because Yu Zhixue couldn’t figure out why he was suddenly doing this.

 

He considered messaging someone to ask for advice, but Yu Wenxuan was especially clingy today.

 

Just as he unlocked his phone and started typing, Yu Wenxuan leaned over.

 

Afraid he’d see, Yu Zhixue quickly locked the screen and glared at him.

 

They went back and forth like this for a while until Yu Zhixue finally gave up. There was no sending that message today.

 

Next to him, Yu Wenxuan watched TV like he was genuinely interested — but Yu Zhixue knew better.

 

He thought:

 

So annoying… what do I do?

 

Frustrated, he stared for a few seconds, then leaned forward and buried his face in Yu Wenxuan’s chest — like he was trying to suffocate himself in the other man’s arms. He stuck very close.

 

“So annoying, so annoying,” he muttered.

 

Yu Wenxuan gently pulled him out, looked at his flushed cheeks, and asked, “Who’s annoying you now?”

 

Yu Zhixue leaned against his shoulder and enunciated each word clearly: “You are.”

 

But unfortunately, it had no bite at all.

 

Yu Wenxuan laughed, pinched his cheek, and decided not to tease him further. He glanced at the time and said softly, “I’ll make you dinner, okay? So don’t be mad at me?”

 

After all, it was about time to make up for the meal he missed when Yuzhi Xue was sick.

 

As soon as he heard this, Yu Zhixue immediately climbed off him and watched Yu Wenxuan walk into the kitchen.

 

He quickly sent a message to his contact, arranging to meet the next day. Then he tossed the phone aside and followed him step by step.

 

He was the one complaining earlier, but now he was trailing him like a puppy.

 

“What’s for dinner tonight?” he asked.

 

“Hmm… we’ve got plenty of ingredients, so pretty much anything,” Yu Wenxuan replied, thoughtfully examining the fridge.

 

Watching him seriously analyze meal options, Yu Zhixue’s eyes curved into a smile.

 

Yu Wenxuan gently flicked his forehead, exasperated: “Are you even listening to me?”

 

Yu Zhixue dodged the question and answered with a grin: “You’re the best.”

 

Even if Yu Wenxuan was a little annoying today —
He was still a perfect 100.