0024 Accelerated Expiration

The tall building behind them is the Renaissance Hotel.

This was Zhai's first time visiting her, and she took him to a nearby hotel.

It was also a place she jokingly referred to as a place where a moment of passion was worth a thousand pieces of gold.

Now Qu Zhong has invited him there again.

More and more people were leaving get off work, some walking hand in hand, chatting and laughing, while others were alone and looking hurried. No one paid any attention to the two people around the corner.

Zhai made a quick assessment and noted that her tone was not without sullenness and provocation.

After a very brief wait, his brow relaxed, and he obediently lowered his eyes, taking in the last silhouette of the setting sun: "Okay."

Upon entering, Zhai immediately took off her coat and threw it onto the bed. Then, step by step, he pinned her against the wall, bracing himself against it with his left hand and forcefully pulling her waist with his right knuckles, and began to kiss her.

Unlike the first time they met in a hotel room, when he was biting and nibbling, this time he just pecked at her skin, one peck after another. Like a student unfamiliar with sheet music, and her face was like a smooth piano surface. From her eyes to her nose to the corners of her mouth, he explored and felt every inch of her skin, carefully striking out single, disjointed notes.

It had been a while since they had kissed, and Qu Zhong was quickly aroused by his kiss. She closed her eyes in ecstasy, moaning uncontrollably. Gradually, she reached out and stroked his chin. Her hand moved upwards, kneading his flushed cheeks, ears, and soft hair, until finally she could no longer hold him and draped her arms around his neck.

His breath quickly filled the area behind her ears, her neck, and her collarbone, lingering on these areas with affection.

Qu Zhong could hear his urgent breathing.

In the blink of an eye, Zhai Shi's right hand had already slipped under her shirt and slipped into her back. Her bra clasp was undone in an instant, and her upper body was instantly exposed.

She seemed to suddenly lose her balance and slumped limply towards him.

Zhai rested his chin on the back of her head, gently inhaling the sweet fragrance in her hair, unusually reluctant to take the next step.

She leaned against him in a submissive manner, gently stroking his back with both hands.

This gentle gesture was like a cup of fine wine that could make people speak their true feelings. Zhai Shi's breath became heavier as a result, urgently focusing all his attention on her ear. His voice was low and husky: "Qu Zhong, do you still want to continue this relationship?"

The person he called was still softly pressed against his chest, squinting and rubbing against his clothes, seemingly enjoying the texture of the yarn. Unable to clearly hear his request, they mumbled, "Hmm...what?"

Zhai kissed the tip of her ear and said clearly, "I want to redefine our relationship."

Qu Zhong then realized something was wrong. She became more alert, stepped out of his embrace, and looked up at him: "What do you mean? How do you want to define this?"

Zhai was forced to break free from the entanglement around her neck. His eyes gradually cleared, and he habitually threw the question back at her, his tone somewhat agitated: "Do you want things to continue like this?"

Seemingly anticipating the direction the conversation would take, Qu Zhong distanced herself from him, unwilling to let him touch her again, her expression indifferent: "What else do you want?"

The word "still" shone like a blinding beam of light into Zhai Shi's heart. It seemed to be accusing him, laughing at him for ever wanting more from her.

Her attitude was clear and uncompromising. Zhai's breathing became unsteady, and his voice rose: "Haven't you considered our future at all?"

Qu Zhong gave an incredulous sneer, then casually uttered the following words: "What later, marriage?"

"Is this what you want?"

"Oh, civil servants, they like stability."

Qu Zhong believed that what she said was true, but Zhai Shi's expression seemed to be hurt.

He was seriously injured.

When he spoke again, his voice was tinged with an undeniable soreness. He circled back to her, repeatedly asking, "Is this all there is to our supply and demand relationship?"

Qu Zhong got annoyed by the questions: "What supply and demand relationship? Zhai, explain yourself clearly, who is the supplier and who is the demander?"

"It's clearly a mutually beneficial arrangement, so what's with your emotional outburst?"

Qu Zhong thought he must have taken the wrong medicine. What kind of relationship did they have that he couldn't make public? How could he start dreaming about the future and having plans to be with her forever?

Her resolute attitude caused Zhai Shi's chest to heave. He gave a cool, curt smile and bluntly stated, "To you, I'm just a yellow light you use for transition and amusement. It just so happens that I appeared at the right time when you needed me. Actually, anyone would have been fine, right?"

He described himself as an unspecified species, with the generic term "friends with benefits," the kind of unspecified majority in crimes endangering public safety that can be replaced at any time.

Qu Zhong's gaze was fixed on him, too lazy to say another word: "Think whatever you want."

She hadn't expected him to be such a spoilsport when she arrived, and Qu Zhong didn't want to be in the same space with him for another second. She quickly buttoned her bra, picked up her coat, and prepared to leave.

For a moment, Zhai felt he should stand up and try to keep her. But he didn't know what to say; he couldn't utter a single word. He felt a heavy, unbearable pressure slowly eroding his heart.

He could hold her in bed, kiss her, and do the most intimate things with her, but at this moment he couldn't hold her back at all.

Because he knew very well that his relationship with her was an unwritten agreement. In legal terms, which they were both familiar with, it was a mutual consent.

One party makes the offer, and the other party agrees; it's a mutually agreeable arrangement.

The core elements of the agreement are threefold: first, mutual confidentiality obligations; second, both parties have the right to terminate the agreement unilaterally and immediately; and third, disputes cannot be brought to court or be enforced.

Confidentiality means their relationship is unwitting and hidden from public view. The unilateral right to terminate means both parties have absolute freedom. Either party can, if they become bored, terminate the relationship without unconditional notice to the other, bearing no responsibility. And this last point means that all risks are borne by the individual, and no recourse is available.

During the period when the agreement is in effect, both parties can enjoy the benefits as long as these three principles are followed.

Qu Zhong did it perfectly, so no matter how much they argued, she remained carefree and unrestrained.

But Zhai did not. He made new demands beyond what was agreed upon, but she rejected them one by one.

He was like a passenger who had reached the final stop of the train journey, while she was a conductor on official business. She smiled and walked to his seat, politely and respectfully asking him to get off the train.

Therefore, if she insists on leaving, then any attempt to stop her will be pointless.

Zhai Shi's eyes welled up with tears. Watching her retreating figure without hesitation, he gasped and said, "Qu Zhong, if you leave today, we're finished."

The words were like a cold, sharp icicle, piercing her eardrums.

Upon hearing this, Qu Zhong paused for a moment, but only for a moment.

Ha, threatening her, huh? She's a lawyer, and the thing she hates most is being threatened.

Qu Zhong turned around, raised an eyebrow at his last words: "It's over? When did we ever really start anything serious?"