The rest of the day dragged in a haze of meetings and stolen glances.
Guàn Jǐngchén kept Lin Yuè close — too close. During the afternoon strategy session, he pulled the younger man's chair right beside his own, one arm draped casually over the backrest so his fingers could occasionally brush the nape of Lin Yuè's neck. Every touch sent sparks racing across Lin Yuè's skin, but he maintained the soft, slightly flustered expression, blushing whenever their eyes met.
By 7 PM, the office had emptied again. Only the two of them remained on the 42nd floor, the city lights beginning to sparkle through the windows like scattered diamonds.
Guàn Jǐngchén finally closed his laptop and stood. "We're going back to the penthouse. Now."
Lin Yuè nodded obediently, gathering his things with small, careful movements. "Yes, sir."
The car ride was thicker with tension than the morning. Guàn Jǐngchén drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting high on Lin Yuè's thigh, thumb stroking slow, absent circles through the borrowed trousers. Neither spoke, but the air crackled.
Once inside the penthouse, Guàn Jǐngchén didn't bother with lights. He backed Lin Yuè against the closed elevator door the moment it opened, hands framing his face.
"I couldn't stop thinking about you all day," he admitted, voice low and rough. "That smile you gave Li Wei. The way you looked in my shirt." His lips brushed Lin Yuè's ear. "You're driving me insane, and you don't even know it."
Lin Yuè's hands came up to rest on the CEO's chest, feeling the rapid heartbeat beneath the suit. "I… I didn't mean to."
Guàn Jǐngchén kissed him then — deep, hungry, pressing their bodies together until there was no space left. Lin Yuè melted into it, a soft whimper escaping as the CEO's hands slid under the borrowed shirt, palms hot against bare skin.
They stumbled toward the bedroom, shedding jackets and ties along the way. Guàn Jǐngchén lifted Lin Yuè effortlessly onto the edge of the bed, stepping between his legs. Fingers worked open the buttons of the white shirt with surprising patience, revealing pale skin inch by inch.
"You're so soft," Guàn Jǐngchén murmured against his collarbone, pressing open-mouthed kisses down the center of his chest. "So fucking responsive."
Lin Yuè arched with a gasp, fingers threading into dark hair. The sensation was overwhelming — heat, pressure, the scrape of teeth followed by soothing tongue. For a moment the innocent mask slipped completely; his eyes fluttered shut and a quiet, needy sound left his throat.
Guàn Jǐngchén pulled back just enough to look at him, pupils blown wide. "Say my name."
"Jǐngchén…" Lin Yuè whispered, voice trembling.
The CEO groaned and claimed his mouth again, hands roaming possessively. Just as things grew more heated, a soft notification chime sounded from the bedside tablet — Guàn Jǐngchén's private security feed.
He ignored it at first, but the chime repeated, insistent.
With a frustrated growl, Guàn Jǐngchén reached over and tapped the screen.
A single line of text appeared:
**ANOMALY DETECTED — OLD ECLIPSE SIGNATURE MATCH (87% SIMILARITY) IN TODAY'S PROBE TRACES.**
Guàn Jǐngchén froze.
Lin Yuè's heart nearly stopped.
The CEO stared at the screen for several long seconds, then slowly turned his gaze back to Lin Yuè — who was still flushed, shirt half-open, lips swollen, looking every bit the innocent, overwhelmed boy.
"Something wrong?" Lin Yuè asked softly, voice perfectly pitched between concern and shyness.
Guàn Jǐngchén's eyes narrowed slightly, searching his face. The possessive heat was still there, but now layered with sharp suspicion.
"Nothing that can't wait," he said finally, voice carefully controlled. He leaned down and pressed one last slow kiss to Lin Yuè's lips — gentler this time, almost testing. "We'll continue this later."
He stood, buttoning his own shirt with steady hands, but his mind was clearly racing.
Lin Yuè sat up, pulling the shirt closed around himself, expression worried and small. "Did I do something wrong?"
Guàn Jǐngchén paused at the doorway, back turned. "No. You've been… perfect."
But as he walked out to his study, Lin Yuè caught the subtle tension in his shoulders.
Alone on the bed, Lin Yuè let out a shaky breath. His fingers trembled as he re-buttoned the shirt.
The old signature had been a mistake — a tiny leftover fragment from the distraction probe. Nothing critical, but enough to make the CEO's hunter instincts flare.
Lin Yuè stared at the empty doorway, big doe eyes reflecting the city lights.
*He's starting to suspect.*
A small, dangerous smile curved his lips in the darkness — the brief flash of Eclipse breaking through.
*Good.*
*Let him chase.*
*Because when he finally catches me… I want him too addicted to ever let go.*
End of Chapter 9