From CEO to Concubine-Chapter 113: Delicacy

"Yan Yun’s tastes run sweet right? I asked the kitchens to prepare a squirrel mandarin fish (1) for you, here, try some and see if it’s to your liking."

Yan Zheyun hadn’t tried the piece Liu Yao placed in his bowl yet but he could already feel a sweetness in his heart that radiated warmth to the rest of his body. Neither of them spoke about why a ’Northerner’ like Yan Yun would develop staunch preferences from the south or any of the other strange little quirks about him he was certain Liu Yao had picked up on. But these small secrets that Yan Zheyun had no choice but to keep didn’t really seem to be a problem anymore. He could tell that there was a slight shift in Liu Yao’s attitude towards him, a genuine acceptance in the soft affection in his eyes that used to be more reserved until...

Until recent events.

Yan Zheyun bit into the crispy skin of the fish and closed his eyes happily as he savoured the tender flesh beneath. This was a favourite dish of his, which his mother had spent hours traumatising the family chef in the kitchen so that she could learn to make it for him. And although this version now wasn’t the same as the one he was used to, the one that tasted like home, it was ordered for him by Liu Yao and that was something he could learn to get used to.

"It’s very good," he said, turning to Liu Yao with a smile. "Thank you."

Liu Yao reached out and tucked Yan Zheyun’s fringe behind his ear. "I’m glad."

The rest of the meal continued with light conversation. None of the strict rules that should have been observed when dining with the emperor were being enforced, with Liu Yao leading the way in breaking them by referring to himself without his formal self-address. The servants had been dismissed too, Head Eunuch Cao ushering them out of the chamber such that the two of them were alone in here, helping to fill each other’s bowls with favourite foods and commenting on the cooking.

It felt like family. Yan Zheyun clung to the atmosphere with greedy longing, wanting to bask in this comfortable acceptance for as long as he could. He had never been able to just sit down with Liu Yao like this and enjoy dinner together; they’d always had something pressing hanging in the background like a guillotine over their necks. But—he sneaked a glance at Liu Yao, whose stance was at ease—it seemed like the troubles in court had been cleared up at least, even if Liu Yao hadn’t shared all the details of it with him.

Yan Zheyun knew better than to ask. Liu Yao might have given him more liberties than he knew what to do with, but there would always be a limit, and poking his nose into state affairs might very well be that last straw. If Liu Yao wished to share, he would listen eagerly. Otherwise, Yan Zheyun was going to treat this as a separation of powers within a company’s division.

Do what he was assigned and do not attempt to do the CEO’s job for him.

Fingers tugged on his cheek gently, drawing his attention back to Liu Yao, who raised an amused eyebrow at him.

"It’s just the two of us and yet Yan Yun’s mind has wandered off somewhere else?" Liu Yao joked. "Should I be jealous?"

Yan Zheyun choked. "Yan Yun’s mind didn’t stray far," he managed, graciously accepting the cup of tea Liu Yao handed him.

"Oh?"

He washed down the grain of rice lodged in his throat and nodded. "You should know," he murmured. "It was on you."

Perhaps Liu Yao had been expecting more shyness from him because a flicker of surprise passed over his face before his eyes darkened; Yan Zheyun had always played the role of the shy concubine well, the host body’s natural looks lending his act an ironic amount of credibility. But in reality, Yan Zheyun was not subservient in the least, had to reshape himself to fit the mould so that his personality wouldn’t appear incongruous with that of a slave, someone who’d had their wings ripped from them and their legs broken by their lot in life.

But it didn’t matter anymore, Yan Zheyun thought because it seemed to him like Liu Yao might actually enjoy it whenever he was a bit more...forward.

"Yan Yun is thinking of me? Mm?" he asked, his words a soft rush of hot air against the shell of Yan Yun’s ear—and when had Liu Yao moved so close? They were seated next to each other around a round table but there should still have been a respectable distance between them.

Not anymore though. Yan Zheyun felt his breath hitch in his throat as Liu Yao’s lips brushed against his sensitive skin every time his mouth moved as he spoke. He made it seem unintentional, like he didn’t know the effect he had on Yan Zheyun, didn’t notice the smallest of shudders coursing through Yan Zheyun’s frame, which had gone completely rigid.

But Yan Zheyun would eat the jade-bead headdress before believing that.

He forced himself to meet Liu Yao’s eyes, which were so intent in their scrutiny that an uncontrollable flush spread across Yan Zheyun’s cheeks. It was one thing to have the undivided attention in a conference room and another thing wholly to be looked at like that by someone like Liu Yao.

Liu Yao, whose eyes he could see himself reflected in, who currently made him feel like he was the centre of the universe. It wasn’t the same as the tentative crushes or even aggressive agenda-filled approaches that he used to get from some women or even men back in his own world.

This was the most powerful man in the kingdom, looking at him like he was more precious than the rarest of treasures that adorned the halls and chambers of the inner palace.

It left him feeling heady.

"Your Majesty--"

Liu Yao clicked his tongue and Yan Zheyun quickly corrected himself.

"Liu Yao."

A hint of playful amusement flickered in those dark depths.

"Yes, Ah Yun?"

Ah Yun. That sudden pet name flustered Yan Zheyun further. He felt his ears burn as he forced his gaze back down onto his bowl, flattening his lips on purpose to hide the smile creeping unbidden onto his face.

This was ridiculous. He wasn’t a high school boy--even though this was, strictly speaking, his first love--and he wasn’t dating the cute school grass senior in the year above. He’d had Liu Yao’s cock in his mouth before, he had no idea why he felt shyer now than he ever had before--

Or maybe he did and just didn’t want to acknowledge it.

Once his feelings became irrevocably tangled up with Liu Yao’s, he could no longer convince himself whatever they had between them was just another business transaction.

"You’re doing it again."

This was all the warning Yan Zheyun received before strong fingers tilted his chin and a demanding mouth covered his own. His lashes quivered as his fingers tightened in the folds of the silk tablecloth, palms sweaty with a nervous anticipation that made his heart gallop wildly in his chest like it was a wild horse fighting to free itself from the cage restraining it. Perhaps it wanted to join Liu Yao’s, Yan Zheyun thought faintly, but that was the last thing to cross his mind before a tongue licked past his lips, asking for entry with a firmness that he didn’t have it in his to deny.

For the last couple of weeks, neither of them had had the time or energy for anything more than a quick peck or a comforting hug, both wound too tightly around the nervous anticipation that came with navigating scheme within complicated scheme that was part and parcel of the life they led. Yan Zheyun had shoved all thoughts of romance out of his mind but now that Liu Yao had emerged, well, on top so as to speak, in this latest round of underhanded court politics, it seemed like the emperor was now in the mood to explore their relationship further.

A hand snaked around Yan Zheyun’s waist to pull him closer and he let out a muffled noise of protest as his chopsticks clattered noisily against his bowl, slipping out of his fingers that had slackened as a tingling thrill spread slowly through his body.

Was he really protesting? Probably not. He could taste the lingering sweetness over where Liu Yao’s tongue slid around his, coaxing and teasing out a tentative response. The thought of kissing anyone halfway through a meal was off-putting but if it was Liu Yao...

Yan Zheyun pressed closer, eliciting a hot huff of laughter against his chin as Liu Yao, whom Yan Zheyun was starting to realise had a slightly sadistic streak beneath the stern veneer he liked to keep up, backed away despite Yan Zheyun’s best efforts to chase after his lips.

Liu Yao clucked his tongue and shook his head. "How remiss of me, I have kept Ah Yun from finishing his meal," he said, although the distinct lack of remorse in his tone and the slight pleased curve to his annoying mouth betrayed how he really felt.

With a slight pout that he didn’t even notice he was doing, Yan Zheyun shot Liu Yao a pointed look before picking up his chopsticks again and dumping another piece of fish into Liu Yao’s bowl, one that had obvious bones in it and would have given Eunuch Cao an aneurysm if he had been around to witness Yan Zheyun’s audacious behaviour.

Arrogance as a result of being doted upon (2).

Yan Zheyun had never thought that this phrase, which to him should only be used on pampered spoilt princes and princesses like his little siblings or like the women in those harem dramas that threw hissy fits at every minor detail, would one day apply to him too.

It didn’t feel as embarrassing as he thought it would. He’d already known that being the emperor’s—no, with the emperor, now—would require him to take on a certain role in the relationship, that no matter how fond Liu Yao could grow of him, the fixed ideals and expectations of the era would push Yan Zheyun towards a more submissive stance than he had ever been used to.

But...it didn’t feel...bad. He held sway in a different way and maybe, just maybe, he didn’t want to be in control all the time anymore.

Liu Yao’s chuckle distracted him from his musings. Contrary to what anyone in the inner palace—and possibly the morning court too—would believe, Yan Zheyun wasn’t immediately banished to the cold palace for daring to serve the emperor fish that had not yet had the bones removed from its succulent flesh. Instead, Liu Yao picked the tiny sharp pieces out one by one with an interested patience that gave away just how little he’d had to do such a boring, arduous task before, if ever. When he was done, he picked it up casually and placed it back in Yan Zheyun’s bowl with a smile of satisfaction, as though he had completed a monumental task like solving the floods that constantly plague the riverside villages instead of, well, feeding his able-bodied concubine.

Yan Zheyun couldn’t help it. He laughed. It was a quiet sound, nothing like the bright innocent mirth he was used to portraying on Yan Yun because that was what people expected from him when they looked at his face. It was soft with a gentle delight at having Liu Yao’s attention and he was so caught up in basking in it that he didn’t see the way Liu Yao’s eyes turned darkened at the noise, a myriad of conflicting emotions in them as he struggled to conceal his excitement.

Possessiveness, desire, pining.

"Ah Yun," Liu Yao murmured. "Play the guqin for me once more?"