Paranoid Love

After a project meeting, Lu Chen arrived at Nebula Tech in his capacity as an investor. In front of Lu Xiao, he engaged Shen Mo in conversation, his tone laced with ambiguity and his gestures overly familiar—patting Shen Mo's shoulder with a deliberate air of intimacy. Lu Xiao's gaze turned icy in an instant, the pen in his hand creaking under his grip, but he forcibly suppressed his rage, refraining from an outburst on the spot.

Once the meeting adjourned, Lu Xiao stopped Shen Mo, his voice low and strained. "What did he want with you?"

Shen Mo faltered, replying softly, "Just some talk about cooperation."

Lu Xiao's eyes darkened as he stepped closer. "Shen Mo, you're lying."

Shen Mo bit his lip, avoiding his gaze. "Lu Xiao, I don't owe you an explanation."

Those words ignited Lu Xiao's fury. He seized Shen Mo's wrist, yanking him into a nearby lounge and locking the door behind them. His breathing was ragged, his eyes blazing with a dark fire as he growled, "Shen Mo, you dare get close to him? Don't you know he's using you?"

Shen Mo struggled to break free, but Lu Xiao pinned him against the wall. His heart pounded like a drum, his voice trembling. "Lu Xiao, let go! What right do you have to control me?"

"What right?" Lu Xiao's expression turned manic. He gripped Shen Mo's chin, his tone low and menacing. "Because you're mine, Shen Mo! You can only be mine!"

Shen Mo froze, stunned by the mix of obsession and anguish in Lu Xiao's eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but Lu Xiao cut him off with a fierce kiss. It was aggressive, as if he intended to devour Shen Mo whole. Shen Mo pushed against him, but Lu Xiao pressed harder, their breaths tangling until Shen Mo could barely breathe.

"Lu Xiao… you're insane…" Shen Mo's voice broke through the kiss, spilling out in fragments.

Lu Xiao released him, panting heavily, his forehead pressed against Shen Mo's. "Yes, I'm insane," he rasped. "Shen Mo, if you dare go to him, I'll destroy you both."

Tears welled in Shen Mo's eyes as he shoved Lu Xiao away, his voice hoarse. "Lu Xiao, I'm not your possession. Keep this up, and I'll really hate you."

Lu Xiao stood rooted to the spot, watching as Shen Mo stormed out. His hands clenched into fists, knuckles whitening, a flicker of pain and madness flashing in his eyes.

Lu Chen's meddling shattered Lu Xiao's last shred of restraint. He became like a beast unleashed, determined to reclaim Shen Mo at any cost. That night, he drove alone to Lu Chen's villa, a dossier of evidence detailing Lu Chen's illicit dealings in hand. He barged into the living room, slamming the papers onto the table before Lu Chen, his voice icy and low. "Touch him again, and I'll make sure you lose everything."

Lu Chen lounged on the sofa, smirking provocatively. "Lu Xiao, you'd turn against me over a man? Is he worth it?"

Lu Xiao lunged forward, grabbing Lu Chen by the collar and yanking him off the couch. His eyes burned with a crazed fury. "Lu Chen, listen carefully. Shen Mo is mine. Anyone who dares touch him dies!"

Lu Chen flinched under the intensity, though he quickly regained his composure, sneering. "Lu Xiao, you've lost it. He's just a pawn—do you actually take him seriously?"

That snapped Lu Xiao's last thread of control. He swung a fist at Lu Chen, the blow smashing into the wall with a dull thud as Lu Chen dodged. Panic flickered across Lu Chen's face. Lu Xiao panted, his voice raw. "A pawn? He's the one I'd give my life to protect. Come near him again, and I'll make you regret being born into this family."

Lu Chen's gaze turned cold, realizing Lu Xiao meant every word. He wiped his mouth and muttered, "Fine, Lu Xiao. We'll see how this plays out."

Meanwhile, Shen Mo sat alone in his apartment, haunted by the memory of Lu Xiao's frenzied eyes. He knew Lu Xiao's feelings were real, but they suffocated him. He picked up his phone, intending to message Lu Xiao, but his fingers hovered, unable to press send.

Then the doorbell rang. Shen Mo opened it to find Lu Xiao standing there, reeking of alcohol, his eyes brimming with desperation. He stumbled inside, pulling Shen Mo into a tight embrace, his voice breaking. "Shen Mo, don't leave me… I'm begging you…"

Shen Mo stiffened, caught off guard by the raw vulnerability and madness in Lu Xiao's plea. He wanted to push him away but couldn't bring himself to do it. Lu Xiao buried his face in Shen Mo's neck, his voice ragged. "I'd kill Lu Chen if it meant you'd stay…"

Shen Mo's heart jolted. He realized this entanglement had reached a point of no return. Lu Xiao's madness was both his deepest love and his undoing.

"Shen Mo…" Lu Xiao pulled back from his lips, murmuring hoarsely, his forehead resting against Shen Mo's. "Don't reject me."

Shen Mo gasped, cheeks flushed, his eyes clouded with panicked haze. He tried to speak, but Lu Xiao's hands slid down his waist, pulling him closer until their bodies pressed together.

"Lu Xiao… don't…" Shen Mo's voice faltered, laced with helplessness, but his body softened involuntarily under Lu Xiao's touch. His shirt, soaked from the rain, clung to him as Lu Xiao's fingers traced his waist through the fabric, the heat of his touch making Shen Mo tremble.

Lu Xiao let out a low, husky laugh, sensual and rough. "You want me too, Shen Mo. Why do you keep running?" His lips brushed Shen Mo's ear, warm breath sending shivers down his spine. Shen Mo bit his lip, trying to stay grounded, but Lu Xiao's fingers undid the first button of his shirt, revealing the pale curve of his collarbone.

"Not here…" Shen Mo finally managed, his voice faint, almost pleading.

Lu Xiao paused, a glint of amusement in his eyes. He released Shen Mo briefly, whispering, "Alright, the bed then."

His movements were urgent and commanding, kisses falling like a storm—from Shen Mo's lips to his neck, each one carrying an undeniable force. Shen Mo's breathing quickened, his hands clutching Lu Xiao's shirt, fingers trembling. His shirt was torn open, buttons scattering across the floor with sharp clinks.

"Lu Xiao… slow down…" Shen Mo's voice was hoarse, tinged with resistance, but his body was slipping out of his control under Lu Xiao's touch. Lu Xiao's palm slid down his spine, fingertips igniting hidden sparks across every inch of skin. Shen Mo's waist arched instinctively, pressing against Lu Xiao's chest, his breaths a fractured melody.

"You're mine, Shen Mo," Lu Xiao murmured against his collarbone, leaving shallow red marks. His hands gripped Shen Mo's waist, lifting him effortlessly as he carried him toward the bedroom. Shen Mo's lightness stirred a pang in Lu Xiao's chest, but that softness only fueled his deeper desire.

The mattress dipped slightly as Lu Xiao pressed Shen Mo beneath him. His suit jacket lay discarded to the side, his shirt half-unbuttoned, revealing a taut chest. Shen Mo lay on the bed, wet hair clinging messily to his forehead, lashes lowered, casting faint shadows. His skin glowed porcelain-white under the dim light, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths.

"Lu Xiao…" Shen Mo's voice was faint, tinged with struggle, "Is this… really okay?"

Lu Xiao leaned down, silencing his doubts with a kiss. His hand slid up the inside of Shen Mo's thigh, fingers gentle yet carrying an undeniable force. Shen Mo's body jolted, a soft moan escaping—delicate and stirring, like a drop of water rippling through Lu Xiao's heart, sparking endless waves.

"Shen Mo, don't be afraid," Lu Xiao murmured, his voice low and tender. His kisses trailed from Shen Mo's lips to behind his ear, teeth grazing the soft skin, making Shen Mo clutch the sheets instinctively. His fingers ventured deeper, slow but invasive, silently staking his claim.

Shen Mo's awareness blurred, overwhelmed by Lu Xiao's scent and touch, like a tide swallowing him whole. His resistance crumbled bit by bit, replaced by an unfamiliar yearning. He gripped Lu Xiao's shoulders, nails digging into skin, whispering, "Lu Xiao… don't let me regret this…"

Lu Xiao's gaze darkened. He kissed the corner of Shen Mo's eye, tasting a hint of saltiness. His movements softened, yet they carried an unrestrained fervor. He stripped away Shen Mo's last piece of clothing, leaving him bare before his eyes. In that moment, Shen Mo's body was like a painting—pale, fragile, and impossibly captivating.

"You won't, Shen Mo," Lu Xiao rasped, his voice a guttural growl. "You're mine. No one can take you away."

The night deepened, the rain outside fading to silence. The bedroom filled with their mingled breaths and murmurs, the creaking bed forming a clandestine rhythm. Lu Xiao's touch shifted from gentle to fierce, each thrust branded with possessiveness. Shen Mo trembled beneath him, sweat trickling down his brow, his eyes clouded with a misty haze.

"Shen Mo…" Lu Xiao called his name, forehead pressed to his, sweat dripping onto Shen Mo's collarbone. His hands gripped Shen Mo's waist, the force nearly crushing, as Shen Mo bit his lip to stifle whimpers that still spilled out in broken, helpless gasps.

Consciousness ebbed and flowed like a tide. Shen Mo's every inch awakened under Lu Xiao's touch, only to drown in the heat. Lu Xiao's breaths were heavy and scorching, a storm pulling Shen Mo into an inescapable vortex. Their bodies entwined tightly, like vines twisting together in the dark—ambiguous, intense, and alive.

When dawn seeped through the curtain gaps, Shen Mo awoke. His body ached as if it had been torn apart and reassembled, dull pain radiating from his waist and thighs. He shifted, intending to turn, but an arm beside him held him back. Lu Xiao slept next to him, breathing evenly, his features still edged with dominance.

Shen Mo glanced down at the scattered red marks on his skin, pressing a fingertip to one—a mix of sting and numbness surged through him. He closed his eyes, and last night flooded back: Lu Xiao's kisses, his whispers, that blazing, unstoppable love.

From that day, Shen Mo let down his guard, accepting Lu Xiao and their relationship. No longer a vague push-and-pull, they became true partners. Lu Xiao tempered his near-obsessive possessiveness, growing gentler and more considerate, while Shen Mo began to willingly close the distance with the man he'd once loved and feared.

At work, their synergy peaked. The collaboration between Nebula Tech and Jiangbei Group neared completion. Shen Mo led his team in refining systems, while Lu Xiao provided resources and strategic input. In the meeting room, Shen Mo stood at the whiteboard, explaining technical details, his fingers sketching complex algorithms. Lu Xiao sat nearby, eyes focused, occasionally offering sharp, precise suggestions.

"Can we reduce the delay in this real-time feedback module further?" Lu Xiao tapped the table, voice low. "Would edge computing boost response speed?"

Shen Mo nodded, quickly sketching lines on the board. "It's possible, but we'd need extra servers. I'll run a test with the team and get you results tomorrow."

Lu Xiao chuckled, a hint of indulgence in his tone. "Thanks for the hard work, wife."

Shen Mo's ears flushed, muttering, "Don't call me that." Colleagues snickered quietly, but no one dared comment. Their chemistry was undeniable, driving the project to a smooth, early completion. Hengyuan Group's head praised the results effusively, and Lu Xiao and Shen Mo's names spread through the industry as an enviable power duo.

That evening, after a shower, Shen Mo curled up in bed. Lu Xiao entered with a steaming bowl of chicken soup, flecked with goji berries and ginger, its faint aroma wafting through the air. Shen Mo looked at him and couldn't help but laugh. "Mr. Lu, are you switching careers to chef?"

Lu Xiao raised a brow, handing him the bowl. "For you, I'd be a chef too. Your stomach's weak—drink up." He sat on the bed's edge, watching Shen Mo sip the soup with a soft gaze, his lips curving slightly.

Shen Mo drank slowly, warmth spreading from his throat to his stomach. He glanced at Lu Xiao and murmured, "It's pretty good. Teach me next time?"

Lu Xiao smiled, wiping a drop of soup from Shen Mo's lip with his thumb. "Sure, we'll make it together." His touch lingered a moment, his eyes darkening, before he withdrew casually.

Shen Mo's ears burned as he lowered his head to finish the soup, a sweet warmth blooming in his chest. He cherished these moments—mundane yet tender, as if all conflict lay beyond their door. But as he set the bowl down, his gaze drifted to the window, catching a vague figure under a garden lamppost. He frowned, murmuring, "Lu Xiao, is someone out there?"

Lu Xiao stood immediately, pulling the curtains aside. The garden was empty, only the rustle of wind through leaves breaking the silence. He turned back to Shen Mo. "Probably just a shadow from the wind. Don't worry."

Shen Mo nodded, but an unease lingered. He said nothing more, slipping under the covers as Lu Xiao turned off the light and joined him, his arm naturally encircling Shen Mo's waist. In the dark, Shen Mo listened to Lu Xiao's steady breathing, but Lu Chen's cold, mocking face flashed in his mind. He knew this peace wouldn't last.