The Domineering CEO's Vain Trophy Husband 13

This was the first time Ming Yao felt what it meant to let his imagination run wild. The unbidden, entangling fantasies made him frown, even at himself.

"Then have someone replace the sofa at home."

Ming Yao said it instinctively, and the moment the words left his mouth, he sensed something was off. It was an all-too-obvious signal of concession, inconsistent with his usual attitude.

Even so, Ming Yao had no intention of taking it back. He simply watched Lin Zhi's reaction.

Since he had already decided to move forward, what he needed to consider now was how to steer things in the direction he wanted – to take control.

Ming Yao still couldn't fully understand why he felt no physical aversion toward Lin Zhi whatsoever — if anything, he found himself having certain... desires.

Perhaps it was the sheer novelty and curiosity of the first time, which had rendered his current thoughts impossible to control.

He had considered whether to redirect his attention to someone else to regain that sense of control, but the moment that notion surfaced in his mind, it was met with fierce rejection — a dual resistance, both physiological and psychological. It proved that he had never wavered. Lin Zhi alone was the variable in this equation.

Lin Zhi's expression showed genuine surprise upon hearing his reply. Ming Yao didn't wait for him to speak and cut straight to the point: "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Lin Zhi had his legs crossed, leaning against the sofa, his gaze drifting toward Ming Yao.

It was an excessively relaxed posture, as though the topic he intended to raise was something thoroughly informal.

Ming Yao heard him say: "I wanted to discuss changing my position."

Hm?

Ming Yao looked up, not having expected Lin Zhi to be the one to raise this first.

It had originally been his own intention — but he had just talked himself out of it moments ago.

Did Lin Zhi know about what had happened this morning? Was this move meant to distance himself?

Yet, knowing Lin Zhi's personality, avoidance didn't seem like his style when faced with such a situation.

Ming Yao couldn't be certain. His thoughts were in disarray.

"During this time, I've learned a great deal from Mr. Ming, and Grandfather has also mentioned the possibility of a transfer."

Lin Zhi gave a brief summary of his observations regarding the company's structure and his assessment of its prospects over recent days. The implication was clear: there wasn't much more value he could contribute by staying at Ming Yao's side. Since Ming Yao had finished his evaluation, it was time to let him go and put his abilities to use.

Ming Yao listened to everything he said and was silent for a moment.

He truly could not refuse. Lin Zhi's thoughts aligned perfectly with what he himself had previously planned.

Talent came in many forms, and placing people in the right positions was the only way to bring out their potential — this was something Ming Yao understood well.

His evaluation of Lin Zhi had concluded long ago, and he had already mapped out exactly what role Lin Zhi should occupy.

But because he had briefly allowed himself a moment of indulgence this morning, he couldn't help feeling somewhat... In the end, reason made the decision for him. Ming Yao spoke: "Arrangements will be made tomorrow for you to report to your new position."

"Thank you, President Ming."

Lin Zhi rose to his feet and offered his thanks.

Hearing the form of address and seeing Lin Zhi's movement to leave, Ming Yao understood that there was nothing more he wished to discuss.

"Wait-" Ming Yao called out, stopping Lin Zhi, his eyes meeting his. "What you said before, does it still stand?"

Ming Yao was a man of strong initiative and decisive follow-through. Having reached the heights he had, he had no need to beat around the bush when it came to wanting something.

Lin Zhi raised an eyebrow. "What are you referring to?"

Of course Lin Zhi knew perfectly well. He waited with a hint of amusement for Ming Yao to continue.

This man could be genuinely awkward when he was being difficult, truly rigid when he was putting on airs — but when he was direct, he was very direct indeed.

"You told me that if I ever had any such thoughts, you should be my first consideration."

It was clearly a matter of flirtation and desire, yet coming from Ming Yao's mouth, it carried the air of a business negotiation.

"Of course... it no longer stands. I recall that Mr. Ming previously made it explicitly clear he wasn't interested, and afterward used a dog in exchange to get me to drop the subject. You can't force these things — so naturally, I let it go."

Lin Zhi paused briefly on the first word of his reply, watching the light in Ming Yao's eyes flicker faintly — brightening, then dimming.

Ming Yao, without so much as blinking, said: "One million."

Lin Zhi had offered him one hundred thousand. He was offering ten times that.

"Is this Mr. Ming's idea of sincerity? Quite the grand gesture — buying one night with me for a million?"

Lin Zhi was somewhat surprised, though he wasn't offended. After all, given the vain persona he played, Ming Yao spending money was precisely catering to his tastes.

"It isn't a purchase. What I mean is that if we try once, I will give you one million. Naturally, we each retain the right to refuse the other."

Ming Yao had no desire at present to develop any sort of arrangement with Lin Zhi, apart from the marital contract that bound them.

He wasn't certain whether this was a passing impulse. It was possible that he wouldn't even need to go all the way before his aversion resurfaced, or that after one time he'd lose all interest. In any case, this remained an experiment — more physical data was needed before any conclusions could be drawn.

The meaning in Ming Yao's words was clear to Lin Zhi. The shifting of initiative and the open-ended terms were, rather interestingly, quite compelling.

Put simply: he could sleep with Ming Yao once, pay nothing, and walk away with a million — and if he didn't feel like it, he didn't have to. All at his discretion.

By the same token, Ming Yao could refuse if he lost interest — though given that it was Ming Yao himself who had proposed this, the likelihood of him refusing was low. At least for the first time.

"I still remember the look on Mr. Ming's face when he said he wasn't interested. Has he suddenly taken a liking to me?"

Lin Zhi didn't agree or refuse immediately. Instead, he brought up the past.

Lin Zhi wanted Ming Yao to be fully aware that it was he who had drawn him into the safe zone with his own hands — he who had permitted, indulged, and even actively reached for all of this.

"At the moment, yes. As for what I said then — I've changed my mind."

Ming Yao admitted it with remarkable ease, his composure so natural it seemed as though this were simply the way things ought to be.

Lin Zhi found himself almost amused — not out of smugness, but because Ming Yao reminded him of something familiar.

For those who did business, what did face matter? Sometimes you had to go back on your word. Even those who had climbed to the very top of the capitalist ladder would selectively choose when to be men of their word.

Successful businessmen were never afraid of rejection. When it came to achieving a goal, what did pride matter?

Lin Zhi walked over to Ming Yao and leaned down to look at him.

"Mr. Ming's terms are truly difficult to refuse. Even so, I'd like to clarify — is it one million per instance, or per night?"

Lin Zhi's vain persona held firm. He loved money with unabashed shallowness.

"Per instance."

Ming Yao didn't find Lin Zhi greedy in the least right now. He preferred clarity in all things, and if something could be measured in monetary terms, all the better.

His gaze traced the line of Lin Zhi's waist outlined by the tailored suit, and he pressed his fingertips together.

"How generous. It's a shame I'm not in the mood right now."

Lin Zhi's expression held a faint note of regret — whether for not being in the mood, or for not being able to collect the money sooner, it was hard to say.

System No. 01 didn't understand, and in its agitation began spinning in frantic circles. They had come this far — it desperately wanted to just shove them both onto the sofa right then and there.

But it knew the Host always had his own plans. Afraid that speaking up would disrupt his performance, System No. 01 was nearly dying of suppressed urgency.

Lin Zhi wasn't deliberately stringing Ming Yao along to make himself seem hard to get. He genuinely wasn't in the mood.

Setting aside the fact that it was broad daylight, he had only just recovered from his illness and his body wasn't fully restored. Interest wasn't something that existed twenty-four hours a day — toys were for playing when he felt like it. When the mood wasn't there, even his most prized little treasures were products he wouldn't spare a second glance.

"But, given Mr. Ming's sincerity..."

The murmured words trailed off between his lips and teeth. Lin Zhi's curved eyes seemed brimming with starlight — an expression of feigned innocence laced with deliberate, practiced allure that made one lose themselves in it.

Bright eyes, a glancing radiance — nothing more and nothing less than that.

If Lin Zhi was a predator in the rainforest, skilled at spinning webs, then Ming Yao was the one who seized dominance with absolute force even when caught in them.

There was no finesse to speak of. Ming Yao's typically cold and severe face held an excessive, concentrated focus — absolute exhilaration causing a sharp ringing in his mind before a brief, numbing silence.

Far less of an aversion than he had imagined. If anything, an urge to take everything entirely.

This office, which usually felt as sharp as blades, now seemed as though a sprite were dancing on those very edges, softening them into flowing gauze.

The tailored suit sculpted the young man's waist into a new moon's curve when he leaned — and was held firmly by another's hands.

Lin Zhi found it difficult to bear. The ever-thinner air made his naturally gentle, unassuming face take on a startling quality of fragility, his eyes filling with a watery mist.

"Wait..."

Only after hastily learning how to breathe again did everything settle back into the easy fluency Lin Zhi was familiar with. When the phone rang for the second time, its owner finally answered.

Lin Zhi picked up Ming Yao's cup and took a sip to clear his throat. The excessively bitter coffee made him wrinkle his brow slightly.

Lin Zhi spoke to the person on the other end: "Hello?"

Ming Yao watched as Lin Zhi moved to step away to take the call, and instinctively reached out and took hold of his hand.

Lin Zhi stilled, and maintained that position as he took the call while standing before Ming Yao.

Ming Yao's emotions had yet to subside. When Lin Zhi pushed him away to answer the phone, his expression darkened for a fleeting moment — before gently easing by the sight of Lin Zhi wincing at the bitterness of the coffee.

His gaze passed over Lin Zhi's lips, which had been drawn to a too-deep shade of red. He lowered his eyes with an unconscious satisfaction and pleasure — the kind one felt at the sight of one's own handiwork — and looked down at Lin Zhi's hand.

At the center of Lin Zhi's wrist was a small black mole, strikingly visible against the pale skin.

Ming Yao toyed with it idly, kneading it between his fingers, listening as Lin Zhi told the person on the other end of the call: "Alright, I'll meet you after work. See you then."

"My apologies, Mr. Ming. Consider that a token of reciprocal sincerity — and that's as far as it goes."

Lin Zhi withdrew his hand and gave Ming Yao a small smile.

He smoothed out his hair and his clothes, pressing a finger to his lips with a slightly troubled expression.

"Going out like this might raise some eyebrows. Rest assured, Mr. Ming — I’d never forget our agreement. I'll sit inside for a bit before heading out."

This time, Lin Zhi didn't settle into the single-seat sofa. Instead, he sat properly in the visitor's chair across from the desk.

How well-behaved, how perfectly suited as a partner under contract. Without a word being said, he had already understood the boundaries that follow intimacy, and everything proceeded according to Ming Yao's wishes. And yet, a shadow settled into the depths of Ming Yao's eyes.

He attributed all of it to the incompleteness of an unsatisfied attempt, and felt a certain wariness at his own greed.

"Who are you meeting?" Perhaps to redirect his emotions, Ming Yao asked the question almost unbidden. He added, almost instinctively: "Do you need me to have someone drive you?"

"No need. He's coming to pick me up."

The young man smiled beautifully, the lips that had just kissed him parting to give the answer.