award

The word "boyfriend" is like an invisible yet incredibly clear boundary, officially falling in the spring breeze of the Awakening of Insects.

There was no grand ceremony, no superfluous vows, just an embrace and a simple "okay," which marked a new beginning for the long and winding road to getting closer between the two.

However, life doesn't instantly become a fairy tale just because a relationship is confirmed. Real changes often happen in the most mundane aspects of daily life, tinged with unexpected sweet troubles.

For example, Attorney Tan's sense of territory has quietly awakened.

Since that embrace and promise under the setting sun, Tan Huaiyu's clinginess towards Qi Shuo seems to have reached a new level.

Previously, it was the unwavering practice of feeding them three meals a day and spending as much time with them as possible. Now, there's an added, subtle, slightly domineering sense of territorial control.

For example, a young technician, a recent graduate from technical school, joined Qi Shuo's factory. He was energetic, curious about everything, and especially admired Qi Shuo, his skilled, quiet, but extremely reliable mentor.

He would often come over and ask all sorts of questions, calling Qi Shuo "Brother Shuo" affectionately, and occasionally "casually" handing him a tool or buying him a bottle of water.

In the past, Tan Huaiyu might have just thought that the child was quite diligent.

But now, when he went to the factory to find Qi Shuo, he saw from a distance the young technician circling around Qi Shuo, his eyes sparkling as he spoke. Qi Shuo, though still expressionless, would occasionally nod or offer a brief reply or two…

The sense of security that Attorney Tan had just felt because of the "establishment of their status" was like a small ripple on the surface of a lake, caused by the wind, which was called displeasure.

He didn't say anything, but walked over and stood naturally next to Qi Shuo, his arm brushing against Qi Shuo's arm almost imperceptibly. Then he looked up at the junior technician with his usual polite but distant smile: "Are you asking me a question?"

The junior technician, caught off guard by Mr. Tan's striking presence but strangely cold gaze, paused for a moment, then quickly nodded, "Ah, yes, hello Mr. Tan! I was asking Brother Shuo how to adjust this parameter..."

“Hmm, my law firm handled a related security assessment case for this model of machine last year, so I have some recollection of it.” Tan Huaiyu spoke calmly, casually mentioning two professional terms and precautions, clearly and accurately, immediately shifting the topic from “Brother Shuo is so amazing” to “this issue actually has industry standards.”

The junior technician listened in a daze, his admiration unconsciously shifting to Tan Huaiyu. Qi Shuo glanced sideways at Tan Huaiyu, who had suddenly switched to "professional mode" and whose jawline was slightly tense, a barely perceptible smile flashing in his eyes.

After the junior technician walked away, scratching his head as if he didn't quite understand, Tan Huaiyu gave a barely audible hum, secretly hooking his finger around Qi Shuo's hand hanging by his side, and muttered softly, "He was too close to you just now."

Qi Shuo didn't speak, but instead took his mischievous finger in his hand and gently squeezed it. His dry, warm palm enveloped the slightly cool fingertip, offering a silent comfort.

For example, the new definition of rewards.

The law firm was officially on track, and Tan Huaiyu was so busy that he barely had time to breathe. In addition, with the launch of the public welfare project, there were many departments and factories that needed to be contacted, and he often didn't even have time to eat.

Qi Shuo saw this but didn't say much. He just visited him more often, sometimes bringing simple meals he had made, and sometimes urging him to eat and rest on time.

That night, Tan Huaiyu worked overtime until after 10 p.m. and finally managed to crack a difficult contract clause.

He rubbed his throbbing temples, shut down his computer, and was left alone in the office. A wave of exhaustion belatedly washed over him. He leaned back in his chair, gazing at the city lights outside the window, but felt an emptiness in his heart, a strange sense of grievance washing over him.

My boyfriend is in the same city, but it feels like I haven't seen him at all all day, and he hasn't sent me a single decent message.

He took out his phone, tapped the pinned chat window, and hovered his finger over the screen, wanting to send something but wondering if it would be too clingy. Just then, there was a gentle knock on the office door.

"Please come in." Tan Huaiyu assumed that his assistant had forgotten something.

The door opened, and Qi Shuo walked in. He wasn't carrying anything, and he was only wearing a simple black jacket, still carrying the slight chill of the night air.

He saw the undisguised surprise on Tan Huaiyu's face and the instant light in his eyes, paused for a moment, and then closed the door behind him.

"Why are you here?" Tan Huaiyu immediately stood up, walked around the desk to greet him, his face beaming with undisguised joy, and his slight grievance vanished instantly.

"Just passing by, saw your light was still on." Qi Shuo said succinctly, his gaze sweeping over the pile of documents on his desk and the still-glowing glow of the computer screen. "Finished with work?"

"Yes! Just finished!" Tan Huaiyu nodded vigorously, like a child who had finished his homework and was waiting for praise, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Qi Shuo. "That contract, we've got it, and the terms are all as we expected."

As he spoke, his tone unconsciously carried a hint of boasting and a desire for affirmation.

See, I'm quite capable, aren't I? I didn't slack off, and I even solved a difficult problem.

Looking at him like this, Qi Shuo felt a pang of heartache for his exhaustion soften, turning into a gentler emotion. He took a half-step forward, closing the distance between them. The office was quiet, with only the faint sound of the central air conditioning running.

"Thank you for your hard work," Qi Shuo said, his voice low but exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

He raised his hand, not to rub his hair as usual, but to gently rub Tan Huaiyu's lower eyelids, which were dry from looking at the computer for a long time, with his fingertips.

This small, tender gesture made Tan Huaiyu's heart skip a beat. He blinked, his long eyelashes brushing against Qi Shuo's fingertips, causing a slight tickle.

Then, he saw Qi Shuo lower his head slightly. His handsome face loomed large before him, and warm breath brushed against his cheek.

Tan Huaiyu's mind went blank for a moment, and he could only stare blankly at those deep eyes that now only reflected his own image, getting closer and closer.

A kiss gently landed on his lips.

It was light, quick, like a dragonfly skimming the water, a fleeting touch. It wasn't even a kiss in the true sense of the word; it was more like a touch carrying warmth and breath, mixed with Qi Shuo's clean scent and the cool softness of his lips.

But this simple, almost innocent touch was like a faint electric current, instantly piercing through all of Tan Huaiyu's fatigue and thoughts.

He froze on the spot, his eyes wide open, his cheeks flushing red at a visible speed, even the tips of his ears turning crimson, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, making his eardrums buzz.

Qi Shuo... kissed him?

Although it was just... a touch?

Qi Shuo stepped back a little and looked at Tan Huaiyu's silly appearance, which seemed to be frozen in place, with a flushed face and a blank look in his eyes. The smile in his eyes could no longer be hidden and spread up.

He raised his hand and this time gently ruffled Tan Huaiyu's soft hair, his tone carrying a rare, clear gentleness and a hint of barely perceptible teasing:

"award."

After saying that, he turned around, as if he hadn't been the one who had just attacked him, walked to the sofa, sat down, picked up the financial magazine that Tan Huaiyu had left there, and casually flipped through it. Only a flushed, still-steaming Tan Huaiyu was left standing there, unable to recover for a long time.

award?

Because the contract was settled?

Or is it because... he didn't get jealous today?

Although he had just seen that the junior technician had liked one of Qi Shuo's posts about factory equipment on his WeChat Moments, he was still a little annoyed...

Tan Huaiyu's mind was in a mess, but her heart was filled with a huge, unreal sweetness and joy.

He slowly walked back to his chair and sat down, secretly glancing at Qi Shuo, who was calmly reading a magazine on the sofa.

Under the lights, Qi Shuo's profile was clearly handsome, with his slightly drooping eyelashes casting a small shadow on his nose, and a hint of a lingering smile on his lips.

As Tan Huaiyu watched, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He touched his lips, which still seemed to retain a faint trace of touch. The emptiness in his heart caused by being busy and not being able to meet was filled to the brim by this sudden, feather-light reward, almost overflowing.

It turns out that having the title of "boyfriend" makes even the rewards so...exciting yet overwhelming.

The night outside the window is gentle, and the city lights are dim.

In the office, one person pretended to read a magazine, while the other secretly chuckled.

That fleeting kiss stirred up a thousand waves in Tan Huaiyu's heart, and these waves continued to churn and grow, showing no sign of abating.

After the initial stunned silence and shock came an overwhelming ecstasy and a sweet, almost dizzying feeling.

Qi Shuo kissed him! Although it was a "reward," and although it was just a touch, it was a real, lip-to-lip contact! It was Qi Shuo who initiated it!

This realization made Tan Huaiyu's heart feel like it was being soaked in warm honey, both sweet and swollen, almost leaping out of his throat. He sat in his office chair, seemingly facing the screen, but actually not absorbing a single word. Out of the corner of his eye, he uncontrollably glanced at Qi Shuo on the sofa again and again.

Qi Shuo remained calm and composed, flipping through the financial magazine with an air of nonchalance. His profile was clearly defined under the light, and his expression was serene and unwavering.

But Tan Huaiyu was no longer calm. That slightly cool, soft touch seemed to still linger on his lips, carrying Qi Shuo's unique scent, tickling him all the way to his heart.

Looking at Qi Shuo's "nothing happened" expression, the sweetness in his heart gradually turned into a trace of... dissatisfaction and a desire to take advantage.

That's...that's it? That's all?

Shouldn't the reward be... a little more?

Once the thought popped into his head, it grew like wildfire. Tan Huaiyu couldn't sit still any longer. He pretended to stretch, rubbed his neck, and muttered, "So tired," before standing up and slowly making his way to the sofa.

Qi Shuo looked up from the magazine, glanced at him, and didn't say anything. He simply moved his long legs to the side to make room for him.

Tan Huaiyu sat down next to him, very close, her arm pressed against Qi Shuo's arm, her body heat passing through the thin fabric of his clothes.

He didn't look at Qi Shuo; his eyes were fixed on a pattern on the coffee table, while his fingers fidgeted with the hem of his clothes, and his ears began to turn red again.

Qi Shuo waited a while, but when he didn't hear him speak, he turned his gaze back to the magazine. However, the slight upturn of his lips betrayed that he wasn't entirely indifferent.

"Um..." Tan Huaiyu finally couldn't help but speak softly, her voice sticky and tinged with a hint of coquetry and guilt, "Just now... that reward..."

"Hmm?" Qi Shuo uttered a questioning syllable through his nose, his gaze still fixed on the magazine, as if it were some world-famous classic.

"Just...just for a moment?" Tan Huaiyu turned her head, her eyes wet as she looked at Qi Shuo, her amber pupils filled with "dissatisfaction" and "wanting more," like a cat that hadn't gotten its treat.

Qi Shuo finally put down the magazine, turned his head, and looked at him leisurely, a hint of amusement in his deep eyes: "Not enough?"

"Of course not!"

Tan Huaiyu blurted it out, then immediately realized it was too unladylike, her face turning even redder. But the words were already out, so she decided to go all in, snuggling closer to Qi Shuo, almost pressing herself against him. She tilted her head back, her eyes shining brightly, filled with a righteously eager desire, "What kind of reward is this so perfunctory… At least, at least it should be…"

He hesitated for a long time before finally saying "I want it too," but he was too embarrassed to say something like "I want to kiss you longer." He just looked at Qi Shuo with his expressive eyes, silently accusing and pleading.

Qi Shuo felt a gentle touch on a soft spot in his heart when he saw him like this.

He knew Tan Huaiyu was clingy, and that he had an extraordinary attachment and desire for him, but this was the first time he had asked for a kiss so directly, with a hint of grievance and greed.

It's fresh and irresistible.

He deliberately remained silent for a few seconds, watching Tan Huaiyu's eyes change from expectation to a little anxiety, and the blush on his cheeks grew stronger. He then sighed almost inaudibly, as if he were helpless, or perhaps indulgent.

Then, he reached out, not to embrace Tan Huaiyu, but to gently lift Tan Huaiyu's chin with the knuckle of his index finger. This gesture carried an undeniable air, forcing Tan Huaiyu to meet his gaze more closely.

The two were so close they could hear each other's breaths. Tan Huaiyu could even see Qi Shuo's individual eyelashes and his own somewhat flustered reflection in those deep, pool-like eyes.

"So greedy?" Qi Shuo asked in a low voice, which was deeper than usual and had a slightly gritty texture that rubbed against Tan Huaiyu's eardrums, making half of his body go numb.

Tan Huaiyu was captivated by his gaze and stirred by his deep voice, causing her heart to race. She couldn't utter a complete sentence and could only nod haphazardly on instinct, then shake her head rapidly. Finally, she closed her eyes in despair, her eyelashes trembling nervously, and tilted her head back, looking like a "heroic martyr" ready to be taken at will and facing death without fear.

Seeing how nervous he was, yet still trying so hard to get a kiss, Qi Shuo's eyes finally lit up with a smile. He stopped teasing him, lowered his head, and kissed him.

This time, it was no longer a fleeting touch.

His lips were warm and dry. He first gently covered Tan Huaiyu's lips, lingered for a moment, and felt the other's instant stiffness and then more rapid breathing.

Then, he tilted his head slightly, adjusted to a more suitable angle, and gently sucked on her soft lower lip with a hint of probing and comforting.

"Ugh..." Tan Huaiyu let out a short, startled whimper, her fingers suddenly clenching the fabric of Qi Shuo's chest.

The kiss was gentler than he had imagined, yet more aggressive. Qi Shuo's breath completely enveloped him, and the touch and warmth from his lips caused his brain to shut down completely, leaving only his most primal senses screaming wildly.

Qi Shuo didn't go deeper; he just held the lips in his mouth and gently kissed them for a moment, then tentatively licked Tan Huaiyu's lips with his tongue.

Tan Huaiyu felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his whole body trembling, and he unconsciously loosened his teeth. Qi Shuo's tongue then slipped in, gently yet firmly hooking his tongue, inviting him to dance with an irresistible force.

This was a true kiss. Tender, lingering, and imbued with an unmistakable possessiveness and tenderness.

Qi Shuo's hand slid from Tan Huaiyu's chin to the back of his neck, gently supporting him and making him tilt his head back in a more compliant arc, deepening the kiss.

From initial stiffness to awkward responses, and finally to complete immersion in this unfamiliar yet dizzying intimacy, Tan Huaiyu's arms unconsciously wrapped around Qi Shuo's neck, awkwardly and in a copycat manner.

The office was so quiet that only their ambiguous voices and their increasingly heavy breathing could be heard.

After an unknown amount of time, Qi Shuo slowly pulled away, ending the long kiss. His breathing was somewhat erratic, and his deep eyes were darker than usual, like a deep sea harboring a storm.

He looked at Tan Huaiyu, who was so close to him—her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were watery, her lips were slightly swollen from being kissed, and she was breathing heavily, looking like she was still in a daze from the kiss.

Qi Shuo gently stroked his moist, swollen lips with his thumb, his voice low and husky, carrying an even more dangerous allure than before: "Is that enough now, Attorney Tan?"

Tan Huaiyu blinked her hazy eyes, looking at Qi Shuo's handsome face so close to hers, feeling the lingering tingling on her lips and the pounding of her heart. Her mind went blank, leaving only one thought:

It seems... that's not enough.

But he didn't dare say it aloud. He just buried his burning face in Qi Shuo's neck and, like an ostrich, mumbled a soft "hmm," while holding Qi Shuo even tighter in his arms.

Qi Shuo felt the burning heat and slight trembling of the person in his arms, as well as the silent, even closer embrace. The mischievous teasing thoughts in his heart were finally replaced by a deeper tenderness and satisfaction.

He tightened his arms, pulling the person who had taken the initiative to kiss him but was too shy to do so, into his embrace even more tightly.

The city outside the window was still brightly lit, but inside this small office, a sweet and enchanting world had formed.

The reward may be a one-time event.

But the pursuit of compensation has only just begun.