Entanglement and Struggle

Shen Mo's breathing grew rapid and erratic in Lu Xiao's embrace. He could feel the heat radiating from Lu Xiao's body, a searing intensity that threatened to consume him. He tried to push Lu Xiao away, pressing both palms against his chest, but that feeble resistance seemed futile in Lu Xiao's eyes. Lu Xiao's arms, like forged iron, held him firmly in place. Shen Mo's heart pounded like a drum, his mind a chaotic mess.

"Lu Xiao…" Shen Mo's voice was barely audible, trembling slightly, "If you keep this up, I'll hate you."

Lu Xiao's movements faltered for a moment, a flicker of complex emotion passing through his eyes. He loosened his grip but didn't fully step back, standing silently before Shen Mo, gazing down at him. Sunlight streamed in from the window, illuminating Lu Xiao's face and highlighting his sharp, defined features. That handsome face now carried a trace of exhaustion Shen Mo had never noticed before.

"Hate me?" Lu Xiao's voice was low and hoarse, his lips curling into a faint, self-mocking smile. "Shen Mo, if you could truly hate me, I'd actually feel relieved."

Shen Mo froze, caught off guard by the mix of obsession and tenderness in Lu Xiao's gaze. It tightened his chest. He bit his lip and turned away, trying to put some distance between them, but the soreness in his legs made him stumble, nearly falling. Lu Xiao swiftly caught him by the waist, murmuring, "Careful."

"Don't touch me," Shen Mo snapped, his voice sharp with urgency. He pushed Lu Xiao's hand away and steadied himself against the bed, his eyes flashing with stubborn defiance. "Lu Xiao, I need time. I… I can't accept you treating me like this."

Lu Xiao's hand hung in the air before slowly retracting. He fell silent for a few seconds, then turned to the window and lit a cigarette. Amid the swirling smoke, his voice was low and steady: "I'll give you time, Shen Mo. But don't expect me to let go."

Shen Mo looked down at his hands, his fingertips still trembling faintly. He knew Lu Xiao's nature—his dominance and persistence were forces he couldn't overcome. Though he'd harbored a secret affection for Lu Xiao for years, he refused to become a mere plaything in his hands. He took a deep breath, his voice hoarse but resolute: "Lu Xiao, I have my own life. I'll keep working on the project, but beyond that, we need distance."

Lu Xiao exhaled a plume of smoke and turned, his gaze cutting through the haze to land on Shen Mo's face. He didn't respond immediately, just watched him with eyes so deep they seemed to dissect him entirely. After a long pause, he said softly, "Fine, I'll agree to that."

Shen Mo let out a breath of relief, though an indescribable weight lingered in his chest. He picked up his clothes from the bedside, dressing slowly, and murmured, "I'm heading back. We'll talk about the project later."

Lu Xiao didn't stop him, simply watching his retreating figure until Shen Mo stepped out and gently closed the door. The moment it shut, Lu Xiao's gaze darkened, and he crushed his cigarette into the ashtray with force.

Back at his apartment, Shen Mo collapsed onto the sofa, utterly drained. He closed his eyes, and images from the previous night flooded his mind—Lu Xiao's kiss, his overpowering presence, and that haunting declaration, "You can't escape." He liked Lu Xiao; he couldn't deny it. But that affection was laced with fear and unease, making him feel trapped in an invisible web.

His phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence. It was his assistant, Xiao Wang. Shen Mo answered, his voice tinged with exhaustion: "What is it?"

"Mr. Shen, Jiangbei Group just sent an email. There's a project meeting next week, and they need you to attend in person," Xiao Wang replied, her tone as efficient as ever.

Shen Mo rubbed his temple and said quietly, "Got it. Send me the time and place."

After hanging up, he leaned back on the sofa, his gaze falling on a business card tucked into his wallet on the coffee table. It was from Chen Jiang, with Lu Xiao's name prominently displayed. He stared at it for a long time before picking up his phone and dialing a number.

"Wang Quan, it's me," Shen Mo said, his voice low. "For next week's project meeting, can you go in my place? I have some things to take care of."

Wang Quan, on the other end, paused before chuckling. "What's up, Mr. Shen? You're the soul of this project. Dropping out now?"

Shen Mo gave a bitter smile. "I just need a few days to rest. Don't overthink it."

After ending the call, Shen Mo shuffled to the bathroom. Hot water cascaded over his body, the marks from last night standing out starkly in the steam. He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself, but Lu Xiao's shadow clung to him like an unshakable nightmare.

At the project meeting the following week, Lu Xiao arrived punctually in the conference room. Dressed in a black suit, his commanding presence was as strong as ever, but his eyes scanned the room, finally settling on Wang Quan.

"Where's Mr. Shen?" Lu Xiao's voice was low, a subtle hint of displeasure lurking beneath his tone.

Wang Quan smiled and explained, "Mr. Shen hasn't been feeling well these past few days, so he asked me to step in for him. Don't worry, Mr. Lu, I'm fully up to speed on the project."

Lu Xiao's expression darkened slightly, but he said nothing more, nodding to signal the start of the meeting. Throughout, he spoke less than usual, his gaze drifting occasionally to Shen Mo's empty seat, as if lost in thought.

After the meeting, Lu Xiao stopped Wang Quan. "How's Mr. Shen doing?"

Wang Quan hesitated before smiling. "It's probably nothing serious. He's just tired and needs a few days to recover."

Lu Xiao grunted in acknowledgment, adding quietly, "Tell him to rest well and not push himself."

After Wang Quan left, Lu Xiao lingered in the conference room, staring out the window. His fingers tapped lightly on the table as Shen Mo's defiant expression from that day replayed in his mind. He knew Shen Mo was avoiding him, but that avoidance only fueled the fire burning within him.

"Shen Mo," Lu Xiao muttered to himself, a faint, meaningful smile tugging at his lips. "You think you can escape me like this?"

Meanwhile Shen Mo arrived alone at a hot spring inn on the outskirts of Jing City. He needed a quiet place to sort through his tangled thoughts. Soaking in the hot spring, surrounded by rising steam, he closed his eyes, but Lu Xiao's face still lingered in his mind.

He recalled high school—the boy who watched him from afar. Back then, Lu Xiao had been dazzling yet carried a trace of solitude. Shen Mo remembered a physics competition where they were paired together. As Lu Xiao focused intently on calibrating the equipment, Shen Mo had stolen a glance at him, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of his chest. That was the moment he first realized his feelings for Lu Xiao were different.

But now, that boy had grown into a man who controlled everything, and Shen Mo had become the object of his pursuit. Shen Mo let out a bitter laugh, murmuring to himself, "Lu Xiao, what exactly do you want?"

Just then, his phone rang. He picked it up and saw an unfamiliar number. After a moment's hesitation, he answered.

"Shen Mo." Lu Xiao's deep voice came through the line. "Where are you?"

Shen Mo paused for a few seconds before replying quietly, "I'm out resting for a few days. If it's something urgent, we can talk when I'm back."

"Resting?" Lu Xiao's tone dropped slightly. "Shen Mo, you're avoiding me."

Shen Mo clenched his jaw, his voice trembling. "Mr. Lu, I just need some time."

There was a brief silence on the other end before Lu Xiao spoke again, his voice low. "Fine, I'll give you time. But Shen Mo, don't make me wait too long."

After hanging up, Shen Mo leaned against the edge of the hot spring pool and closed his eyes. Lu Xiao's voice echoed in his ears like a spell. He knew that no matter how far he ran, this entanglement was far from over.

A few days later, Shen Mo returned to Jing City. He tried to throw himself back into work, but every time he opened his computer and saw project-related files, Lu Xiao's image surfaced in his mind. He knew he couldn't completely avoid Lu Xiao—the project was ongoing, and their professional ties couldn't be severed so easily.

That day, an unexpected visitor arrived at Nebula Tech's office. Lu Xiao pushed the door open, a document in hand, his gaze landing directly on Shen Mo, who was immersed in his work.

"Mr. Lu?" Shen Mo looked up, his heart racing at the sight of Lu Xiao. "What brings you here?"

Lu Xiao approached, placing the document on the desk, his voice low. "I came to see you and discuss a new direction for the project."

Shen Mo hesitated, then took the file and began flipping through it. He tried to focus on the text, but Lu Xiao's gaze felt tangible, pressing down on him and making it hard to breathe.

"Mr. Shen," Lu Xiao suddenly spoke, a hint of teasing in his tone, "how have you been resting these past few days?"

Shen Mo's fingers paused, and he replied softly, "Pretty well. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Lu."

Lu Xiao chuckled lightly and stepped closer, leaning down. "Is that so? You don't look too well to me."

Shen Mo instinctively leaned back, but the chair stopped him. He looked up into Lu Xiao's deep eyes, his heart pounding. "Mr. Lu, let's stick to business."

Lu Xiao didn't respond right away, simply watching him. The office fell silent, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning. After a long moment, he straightened up and said quietly, "Alright, business it is."

In the discussion that followed, Lu Xiao was unusually professional, his questions sharp and precise, forcing Shen Mo to muster all his focus to keep up. But whenever Shen Mo looked down to take notes, he could feel Lu Xiao's gaze on him—intense, secretive, and enough to make his ears burn.

After the discussion ended, Lu Xiao didn't leave immediately. Instead, he stood by the window and said softly, "Shen Mo, are you free tonight? Let's have dinner."

Shen Mo froze, instinctively wanting to decline, but Lu Xiao's unwavering gaze left no room for retreat. He bit his lip and murmured, "Okay."

Dinner was at a highly private restaurant, just the two of them in a secluded room. The table was laden with exquisite dishes, yet the atmosphere felt heavier than ever before.

"Shen Mo," Lu Xiao raised his glass, his eyes fixed on Shen Mo's face, "have I been making things difficult for you lately?"

Shen Mo paused, then gave a bitter smile. "Mr. Lu, you know the answer."

Lu Xiao chuckled softly and said, "I know. But I don't want to let go. Shen Mo, I like you—I've liked you for a long time."

Shen Mo's heart jolted, and the chopsticks nearly slipped from his hand. He looked up at Lu Xiao, panic flickering in his eyes. "Mr. Lu, don't say that. We… it's impossible."

"Why not?" Lu Xiao's voice was low and resolute. "Because of status? Position? Or because you're afraid of what others might think?"

Shen Mo clenched his jaw and said quietly, "Lu Xiao, I don't want to be your accessory. I have my own life."

Lu Xiao fell silent for a few seconds before standing and walking to Shen Mo's side. He leaned down, gripping Shen Mo's chin and forcing him to look up. His gaze was fierce and commanding. "Shen Mo, I've never seen you as an accessory. What I want is all of you."

Shen Mo's body stiffened, and he tried to push Lu Xiao away, but the strength pinning him left no escape. His heart raced, his voice trembling. "Lu Xiao, let me go."

Lu Xiao didn't release him, instead leaning closer. "Shen Mo, you like me too, don't you?"

Shen Mo's breath hitched, a flicker of struggle in his eyes. He wanted to deny it, but the word "yes" stuck in his throat, refusing to come out.

At that moment, Lu Xiao kissed him. This kiss was gentler than any before, yet it carried an undeniable resolve. Shen Mo's body froze, his hands pressing against Lu Xiao's chest, but this time, he didn't push him away.

When the kiss ended, Lu Xiao looked down at him, his voice low and tender. "Shen Mo, stop running. I'll give you everything you want, as long as you stay by my side."

Shen Mo's eyes welled up slightly. He looked at Lu Xiao, his voice hoarse. "Lu Xiao, I'm scared… I'm scared I'll regret this."

Lu Xiao smiled softly, pulling him into his arms. "You won't, Shen Mo. I'll make sure you see that choosing me will never be a regret."

Their breaths intertwined, emotions swirling like a vortex that held them captive. Shen Mo knew he could no longer escape this entanglement, and Lu Xiao had already become an inseparable part of his life.