APR 6

When Zhong Su caught up downstairs at the pool hall, Chen Huan had already started his motorcycle, the engine roaring loudly.

“Chen Huan.” Zhong Su called out to stop him: “Wash the blood off your hands before you go, or you’ll scare the neighbors.”

Without waiting for Chen Huan’s response, he unscrewed the bottle cap, lifted Chen Huan’s bloodstained right hand, and poured mineral water over it.

The cold stream of water flowed through his fingers, washing away blood and skin debris, revealing several minor abrasions on his knuckles, Chen Huan hadn’t held back at all, even injuring his own hand in the process.

Zhong Su raised an eyebrow and asked, “This isn’t like your usual style. Why did you hit so hard?”

As the water continued to flow, Zhong Su’s index finger unconsciously pressed against Chen Huan’s pulse, feeling his heart beating powerfully, even somewhat irregularly.

“Why does there need to be so many reasons?” Chen Huan curled his lips: “I couldn’t stand that guy’s green hair. Too arrogant.”

“…Just for that reason?” Zhong Su seemed skeptical.

“What’s wrong? Is that not allowed?”

Chen Huan licked the corner of his mouth, watching Zhong Su’s focused profile as he carefully cleaned his hand, like an unsatisfied beast eyeing its favorite prey.

Zhong Su was helpless against Chen Huan. He paused for a moment: “It’s not that it’s not allowed… Whatever you want to do, who could possibly criticize you anyway.”

He felt like he was holding the leash of a mad dog, superficially controlling the direction, but whether this guy would charge or bite depended entirely on his own mood.

He wiped the blood and water droplets from Chen Huan’s hand with tissue paper, checked to make sure no bloodstains remained, and said: “Alright, this will do for now. Apply some anti-inflammatory ointment when we get home.”

Zhong Su gathered the used tissues and water bottle, threw them in the trash, then returned to sit on the back of the motorcycle.

This time he’d learned his lesson, before Chen Huan could complain, he firmly wrapped his arms around Chen Huan’s waist.

After reporting the incident to Wen Xiong, by the time they returned to their rental apartment, it was already midnight.

The old residential area had long fallen into dark silence. Zhong Su turned on the light and changed his shoes at the entrance while saying to Chen Huan: “You reek of blood. Go wash up first. I’ll check the kitchen to see if there’s anything we can eat for a late-night snack.”

“Running around outside all night today was really exhausting.”

His back turned to Chen Huan, his sweat-dampened thin white shirt clung to his spine, revealing his skin tone while outlining his lean, muscular waistline. Even through the fabric, it evoked thoughts of how resilient it would feel to touch.

Chen Huan abruptly said, “Su Er, you should wear darker colored clothes from now on. They suit you better.”

Zhong Su glanced at him, not understanding what Chen Huan was nitpicking about now: “Since when do you get to decide? Are you the Pacific Ocean police? If you’re not going to shower, then I will.”

Chen Huan’s mouth tightened slightly, but he didn’t say anything more. He grabbed his change of clothes and went into the bathroom.

During this time, Zhong Su opened the refrigerator and found only a case of beer, a few bottles of sauce, and a small bunch of wilted green onions, not even a single egg remained.

Disappointed, he checked the cabinets instead, where he had more success, five or six cup noodles bought from the convenience store last month were still piled in the corner.

He took out two seafood-flavored cup noodles, tore open the packaging, filled the kettle with water, and placed it on the stove to heat.

Just as he finished these tasks, Chen Huan emerged from his shower and called from the living room: “Su Er, I’m done. Your turn.”

“Coming.” Zhong Su arranged two cup noodles and added, “Also, I boiled some water. When it starts boiling, remember to turn off the stove.”

He didn’t bother checking if Chen Huan responded, grabbing a towel before heading into the bathroom.

Damp air saturated with the scent of lemon soap filled the bathroom. Zhong Su’s nose twitched, detecting traces of a cold, metallic blood odor mixed with Chen Huan’s distinct personal scent.

It wasn’t particularly pleasant, but he’d grown accustomed to it.

Zhong Su routinely undressed. The broken water heater only produced cold water, sending shivers across his skin as it hit him.

He cursed under his breath, “Damn this piece of junk… Lucky it broke now. If this happened in winter, it’d be a real pain.”

Out of habit, Zhong Su finished showering in just a few minutes. Tossing his dirty clothes into the hamper, he walked into the living room while drying his hair.

Chen Huan lay shirtless on the sofa, his skin radiating warmth like steam.

Spotting Zhong Su, Chen Huan lazily remarked, “A bet’s a bet. Come here and massage my shoulders.”

“Knew you’d pull this.” Zhong Su pressed between his eyebrows, unsurprised by the request. When he’d lost at pool to Chen Huan earlier, the other had made this same demand.

Back then, Zhong Su had refused, making Chen Huan quite displeased. Half-joking, half-annoyed, Chen Huan had pinned his wrists and held him down for a long time, forcing him to reluctantly agree.

Just remembering it made Zhong Su’s shoulders ache faintly. That time Chen Huan manhandled him, his whole body had hurt terribly.

Scratching his neck, Zhong Su said, “Just so we’re clear, ten minutes only. No throwing another fit at me.”

The tanned young man responded carelessly, “Su Er, take it seriously. Why would I make things difficult for you?”

Zhong Su sat astride Chen Huan’s lower back. Chen Huan’s wheat-colored skin felt feverish, his muscle lines flowing smoothly like a golden-maned lion radiating restless wildness.

Even someone as uninterested in gossip as Zhong Su knew Chen Huan was popular with women. Even the most calculating bar girls would compete to accompany him for free, some even offering to pay for his company.

But Chen Huan remained utterly indifferent to such affairs. After rejecting several blunt invitations, fewer women threw themselves at him so eagerly.

While massaging Chen Huan’s shoulders, Zhong Su noticed some stiffness, the muscles were resistant to manipulation. “What’s this? Did you strain yourself during the fight earlier?”

Chen Huan dismissed it casually, “Got it a couple days ago, helping the gang with something.”

“What kind of thing?”

Chen Huan didn’t answer, merely glancing faintly at Zhong Su.

Just then, the kettle in the kitchen started boiling, its whistle cutting through their conversation.

Zhong Su frowned at Chen Huan. “You forgot to turn it off again.” He pressed Chen Huan’s shoulder. “Stay put. I’ll get it.”

The kitchen had already filled with billowing steam. As Zhong Su reached to turn off the stove, several drops of scalding water splashed onto his hand. He pressed his lips together, enduring the sting.

After turning off the heat, he prepared two cup noodles with the hot water and brought them to the living room. “Make do with this. Only instant noodles are left in the kitchen, no ingredients. Can’t be bothered to go shopping.”

Chen Huan offered no objection, calmly picking up some noodles with chopsticks. After one bite, he commented, “Too much water.”

“Yeah, I’ll use less next time.” Zhong Su responded, tacitly avoiding further discussion about the gang matter.

After finishing their noodles, Zhong Su gave Chen Huan a shoulder massage to aid digestion before they each retired to their rooms.

---

Since being thoroughly dealt with, the Zero Gang had completely vanished without a trace. For over half a month, there had been no news of them, as if they had never existed.

Zhong Su didn’t pay much mind to the matter. Currently, the most talked-about topic within the organization was no longer the attack on the elder generation but the joyous occasion of Wen Xiong marrying off his daughter.

The wedding banquet was held on an auspicious day at a seafood restaurant, with fifty tables set up in a grand display. The entire organization was invited to attend, and naturally, Chen Huan and Zhong Su were also present.

To dress appropriately for the occasion, Zhong Su specifically pulled out the black suit he had only worn once from the bottom of his wardrobe.

He combed his hair back, revealing his smooth forehead, which made him look neat and handsome, with far less of his usual delinquent aura.

However, when it came to tying the tie, Zhong Su struggled. His fingers fumbled clumsily as he tried several methods, but none of them looked right.

“Su Er, the red envelopes are ready. Yours is 3,800, mine is 3,800. We’ll give them to A Tian at the entrance of the hall later, he’s in charge of collecting the gifts,” Chen Huan said softly as he entered the room without a sound.

“Mm, you decide,” Zhong Su replied, not looking up as he focused on his task. Suddenly, his tie tightened, the end pulled back by someone.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“When I’m talking to you, you’d better look at me, Su Er.” A faint smile played on Chen Huan’s lips as he undid Zhong Su’s messy tie and slowly retied it properly.

Chen Huan had thick eyebrows and deep-set eyes, handsome yet wild. Even in a suit, he didn’t appear as harmless as Zhong Su. Instead, he resembled a sharp blade sheathed in elegance, exuding an even more startling chill.

Zhong Su, choked by the tightness, complained irritably, “I was busy tying my tie, but it’s not like I ignored you… Do you have too many pet peeves or what?”

“Only realizing it now?” Chen Huan smoothed out the wrinkles on the tie and said unapologetically, “So, pay more attention to me.”

With a remark like that, Zhong Su found himself at a loss for words.

They stood very close, and Zhong Su could clearly see Chen Huan’s long eyelashes, almost brushing against his own face, his gaze intensely focused. Zhong Su couldn’t always read Chen Huan’s emotions, especially at such close range.

Zhong Su spoke up, “By the way, have you heard? Wen Sheng’s son-in-law is a top graduate from Harvard Law School. Rumor has it he’ll soon take over Qin Shu’s position and help Wen Sheng manage the organization’s affairs.”

Chen Huan’s fingers brushed lightly against Zhong Su’s neck as he said leisurely, “I’ve heard something like that too. What about it?”

“The whole organization is focused on going legitimate. Sooner or later, they won’t need enforcers like me anymore.”

Zhong Su paused, his voice lowering slightly, “I’ve saved up some money. I plan to take this chance to ask Wen Sheng if I can leave, cross the harbor, and open an auto repair shop—do you… Want to come with me?”

“Leave?”

Chen Huan suddenly gripped the back of Zhong Su’s neck, pressing their foreheads together. His breath was hot, but his voice was chillingly cold, “Su Er, today is a joyous occasion. Don’t say such unlucky words. I don’t like hearing them.”

In an instant, the distance between them closed, and Zhong Su could even see the shadows swirling in Chen Huan’s eyes, like dark vortices threatening to swallow him whole.

His throat tightened, and he irritably slapped Chen Huan’s hand away. “Stop messing around.”

Having been provoked repeatedly, even a clay figure would show some temper. Zhong Su’s tone hardened: “If you want to climb higher in the gang, I won’t stop you. But I don’t want this anymore. After muddling through all these years, it’s time to settle down.”

He said seriously, “Be realistic, Chen Huan. I’m different from you. I have no parents, served a year in juvenile detention, and my record is already tainted. There’s no future for me in Yan Harbor, no decent employer would hire me. Only by moving to another city can I start over.”

Truth be told, during his school days, Zhong Su had been the model student type. Even though he came from an orphanage, he worked hard to get into a good high school and won scholarships every year.

If not for that incident in his second year of high school when he was extorted by local hoodlums and defended himself excessively, stabbing a pen into the assailant’s left eye, resulting in a one-year prison sentence, he would have long since been admitted to medical school, waiting to graduate and become a doctor.

For someone like him, not wanting to remain a gangster forever was perfectly natural.

But Chen Huan wouldn’t accept it. He looked at his slapped hand: “Settle down, and then what? Get married, have children, spend your whole life revolving around them?”

Chen Huan sneered: “Su Er, I’ll give you one more chance. Think carefully before mentioning such ideas to me again.”

“You’re impossible to reason with, too domineering.” Zhong Su lost patience arguing with Chen Huan and fell silent.

He loosened his tightened tie slightly, finally feeling like he could breathe again.

The atmosphere in the room froze completely. Just then, the pager conveniently beeped, reminding them it was time to leave for the wedding banquet.

As Chen Huan went to turn off the device, Zhong Su watched his back and ultimately conceded.

“Hey, forget it. Let’s consider this my fault. If you don’t like hearing about this, we’ll stop here. From now on, I won’t mention it again.”

Zhong Su stepped forward, put his arm around Chen Huan’s shoulder and patted it, saying, “Don’t overthink it. I just had the thought of quitting, but we’re still far from that point.”

Chen Huan didn’t respond, but his gaze fell heavily on the back of Zhong Su’s hand, the cold white skin making the small red mole on the inner wrist bone particularly striking, like a drop of blood splashed on snow.

He gripped Zhong Su’s hand back, his shark-like teeth bared: “You’d better not think about it. I guarantee it won’t happen.”

Zhong Su withdrew his hand, muttered an indistinct response, and didn’t argue with him further.