APR 18

Chen Huan’s warm palm pressed against his back, nails scraping lightly like tiny thorns piercing the skin, easily throwing Zhong Su’s breathing into disarray.

Zhong Su grabbed Chen Huan’s mischievous hand, his ears slightly warm, and said, “Hey, don’t just touch me randomly. I just finished watching a movie and I’m not in the mood.”

“But I’ve been wanting to touch you since we were watching the movie,” Chen Huan’s voice was slightly hoarse as he leaned in, his fingers lifting Zhong Su’s T-shirt to reveal his supple waistline.

He pressed against the hollow of Zhong Su’s ribs, his calloused fingertips rubbing over the sensitive spot. Zhong Su’s body instantly went soft, pleasure sparking up his spine like electricity.

Zhong Su hissed sharply, grabbing the back of Chen Huan’s neck as he struggled to speak, “If… if you want to do it, you have to help me out first.”

He knew Chen Huan’s troublesome nature all too well. If he let him have his way, he’d likely end up frustrated today.

“Hah, you like being serviced by me?” Chen Huan licked his sharp teeth, pressed down on Zhong Su’s thigh, and removed his pants, facing him directly. He smirked provocatively, then without hesitation, took him in his mouth.

Sharp teeth lightly sank into tender flesh, like a dull blade grinding against bone. The pain made Zhong Su tremble, yet he couldn’t bring himself to push him away.

Zhong Su gripped the sofa armrest tightly, suppressing a moan, “Ah, ah… ease up with your teeth, why are you biting so deep again?”

Feeling Zhong Su tremble beneath his touch, his brows tinged with desire, Chen Huan said delightedly, “Su Er, you sound so lewd. I love hearing it.”

He could tell Zhong Su had a slight masochistic streak, enjoying rougher treatment. He intensified his movements, taking him deeper.

Under the intense stimulation, Zhong Su was rendered speechless, breathing erratically, no longer able to hold back his sounds.

“Hah…” Zhong Su soon couldn’t hold back, releasing onto Chen Huan’s face, some even splashing into his eyes. The dark-skinned youth’s eyes reddened from the irritation, making his gaze appear even more intense and compelling.

Chen Huan greedily wiped the fluid from his face, rubbing his fingers together to form a glistening strand that soon broke apart.

“Su Er, did you enjoy it?” he asked, reaching for his belt buckle and unfastening it with a series of clicks.

Zhong Su watched as Chen Huan tossed aside his tank top. Even in the dim light, he could clearly see the wheat-toned abdomen, its muscle lines sleek and powerful.

For some reason, Zhong Su felt his throat go dry. He swallowed and nodded.

Chen Huan’s eyes curved into a smile, “Good. Turn over and lie down. It’s my turn now.”

Zhong Su’s mind was still hazy as he turned and lay face down on the sofa. Soon, he felt Chen Huan lean over him.

“Ah—be gentle,” Zhong Su winced as his shoulder stung. He turned his head to see Chen Huan biting his right shoulder, teeth sinking deep into the flesh, leaving a distinct mark.

“Are you a dog? Why do you always bite! How many times have I told you?” Zhong Su kicked Chen Huan in dissatisfaction.

Lately, whenever they were intimate, Chen Huan would always bite his right shoulder, sometimes hard enough to draw blood. After healing, it left a faint brownish scar, like an engraved mark.

Even after being kicked, Chen Huan stubbornly clung to him, chuckling softly, “If you say so, then I’ll only be your dog.”

He grabbed Zhong Su by the waist and pulled him down beneath himself, saying, “Su Er, stop acting coy. Tighten your legs a bit more.”

“Fuck.” Zhong Su’s expression darkened as he cursed, but he still arched his back cooperatively, enduring the pain as he pressed his legs together, doing his utmost to make Chen Huan comfortable.

The heavy, feverish weight of a man’s body pressed down on him, making Zhong Su feel as if he and Chen Huan were truly— He tried his best not to dwell on this awkward sensation.

Perhaps because it was daytime, Chen Huan was in high spirits, so this act of comfort lasted unusually long. It wasn’t until Zhong Su could no longer hold himself up and his waist gave way that Chen Huan finally. Then, he slumped entirely onto Zhong Su, his shallow breaths spraying against the hollow of his neck.

Zhong Su disliked the ticklish sensation from his neck, but he was so exhausted he couldn’t even lift a finger, let alone push the man off him.

Sprawled on the sofa, he lazily ordered Chen Huan, “If you’ve rested enough, stop crushing me. I’m all sticky, tired, and hot. Go boil some water for a bath. You go first; I’ll wash after I catch my breath.”

“Hmm? That tired?” Chen Huan kissed his sweat-dampened neck, his movements unusually gentle, though his words remained teasing. “You’re worn out after just a little while. So delicate.”

Zhong Su’s lips twitched as he forced a cold smile, about to retort, when Chen Huan continued, “While you were still asleep this morning, Wen Sheng called. He said the negotiations with Sun Chengzhi from the Longhua Gang aren’t going smoothly. We’ll have to stay here a few more days before we can return.”

Hearing this, Zhong Su turned his head and asked, “So how many more days?”

Chen Huan shrugged indifferently. “Hard to say. Wen Sheng said he’ll arrange another meeting with Sun Chengzhi as soon as possible.”

Zhong Su gazed at the handsome face so close to his, sensing that Chen Huan seemed quite pleased with their current situation.

Just then, a clamor of shouts erupted outside the house, faintly mingled with their names, carried through the curtain of rain into the room.

Someone hesitantly asked, “Are you sure they really live here? It doesn’t look like anyone’s home…”

“Stop nagging. Where else could it be?”

“The rain’s getting heavier. Quit dawdling and knock on the door already. I’m about to drown out here.”

Someone banged loudly on the courtyard gate, calling out warmly, “Brother Chen, Xiao Zhong Ge, are you home? Open up! Wen Sheng sent us to bring you some things.”

Zhong Su barely made out some of the words and looked at Chen Huan in confusion. “Did Wen Sheng mention sending anyone with supplies in his call?”

“No.”

“Then the people outside…?”

Chen Huan pressed Zhong Su down, listening intently to the commotion outside, his expression turning grim. “Su Er, stay here. I’ll go check it out.”

Chen Huan went into the bedroom and emerged moments later with a Black Star pistol in hand, its metal surface gleaming coldly.

With a sharp “click,” he smoothly chambered a round, tucked the gun into the back of his waistband, and stepped out the door.

Seeing this, even the most oblivious person would realize something was wrong.

Zhong Su hastily pulled on his trousers, tucking his shirt haphazardly into the waistband. When he looked up, Chen Huan’s figure had already vanished into the rain, growing indistinct.

His heart tightened, and without a second thought, he rushed after him. “Wait, I’ll come with you to answer the door!”

Outside, the men were still pounding on the gate, their voices filled with ingratiating laughter. “It’s really good stuff, Brother Chen, Xiao Zhong Ge! Come out and see for yourselves!”

“Wen Sheng knows you’ve had a tough time these past months, so he specifically ordered us to deliver some tonics—cordyceps, ginseng, and a large box of white fish maw, perfect for making soup.”

The courtyard gate, already dilapidated from years of neglect, rattled violently under the relentless pounding, its hinges groaning as if on the verge of collapse.

Chen Huan glanced sideways at Zhong Su, who understood the signal and lifted the latch to open the door.

The moment the gate swung open, Chen Huan raised his pistol and aimed it outside: “Hands up!”

“Whoa—!” The delivery boy shrieked in terror at the sight of the dark gun barrel, dropping the gift box with a thud and instantly raising his hands high above his head. “We’re on the same side, really! Brother Chen, what… what’s this about?”

Zhong Su recognized the boy’s face and gave a slight shake of his head at Chen Huan, pressing down his gun-wielding hand. “I’ve seen him at the hall meeting, he’s with Uncle Dong. He’s clean.”

He then turned to the boy, his expression turning cold. “Didn’t you think to call ahead before coming? Bullets don’t have eyes. If you break the rules like this again, you won’t have enough lives to spare.”

The boy forced an awkward smile and nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, we’ll be more careful next time—”

“Careful enough to send you to your graves!” No sooner had he spoken than his expression shifted dramatically, pulling a gun from his inner pocket and aiming it at Zhong Su’s chest.

Zhong Su had no time to react, but Chen Huan was faster, without hesitation, he pulled the trigger. The gunshot exploded, the bullet instantly piercing the boy’s arm and sending a spray of crimson blood.

The boy collapsed with a howl of pain, his screams alerting the assassins lying in wait outside.

They leaped from their hiding spots in the grass, brandishing blackened guns and shouting sharply, “Take them out! Hall Master Sun’s orders, Chen Huan and Zhong Su must not return to Yan Gang alive!”

Zhong Su kicked the gift box on the ground, sending it flying light and empty into the distance.

Zhong Su: “Chen Huan, they’re assassins sent by the Longhua Gang.”

“Loud and clear. Tch, a bunch of scum. Get behind the door.” Facing bullets flying straight at him, Chen Huan fired several shots without pause, hitting three of them.

“Don’t back down, he’s out of ammo too—!” the lead assassin yelled. “Capture them and report back!”

The assassins exchanged knowing glances, tossing their empty pistols to the ground in unison. They smoothly drew knives from their waistbands, targeting the two men before them.

Chen Huan swung the butt of his gun hard against the forehead of an oncoming attacker, annoyed. “Will this never end?”

“This courtyard’s too small to deal with them properly!” Zhong Su, equally overwhelmed by the number of assassins, kicked over a ladder leaning against the wall to block their path. Grabbing Chen Huan’s arm, he shouted, “Let’s break out first and talk later!”

Rain poured down like madness, seeping into their eyes and stinging so badly they could barely keep them open, blurring the path ahead.

Zhong Su and Chen Huan stumbled and ran along the muddy road to the dock, quickly leaving the assassins behind. In the distance, they spotted over a dozen fishing boats sheltering from the storm, empty and rocking violently with the waves.

Zhong Su leaped onto one of the larger fishing boats first, reaching out to Chen Huan on the shore. “Hurry, let’s hide on this boat.”

Chen Huan didn’t hesitate to place his hand in Zhong Su’s, who gripped it firmly and was about to pull him up when a glint of cold steel flashed in his peripheral vision from behind Chen Huan.

“Behind you!” Before the words fully left his mouth, Zhong Su was already moving. He shoved Chen Huan aside, but had no time to dodge himself, leaving his upper body exposed. The blade plunged straight into his chest with unerring accuracy.

Shhhlick— The sound of sharp metal tearing through flesh was terrifyingly clear even through the rain.

Zhong Su looked up in stunned disbelief, meeting the eyes of the assailant who wore an expression of surprise, as if equally unprepared for the blade to have pierced his heart directly.

…Damn, this is really it.

Clutching the hilt, Zhong Su staggered backward, his foot missing solid ground as he tumbled into the sea.

The moment he hit the water, bitter saltwater flooded his mouth and nose. Zhong Su choked violently, feeling blood continuously gush from the wound in his chest, watching the seawater before him stain crimson as the blood rapidly spread.

His body stiffened and grew cold, sinking uncontrollably. Through the churning waves, he saw Chen Huan leap into the sea and swim toward him.

That perpetually calm face was now filled with a panicked, intense emotion.

Some of those emotions were even too complex for Zhong Su to decipher.

Chen Huan reached out his hand, voice nearly cracking over the wind and waves: “Zhong Su, grab my hand!”

“Chen Huan…” Zhong Su mustered his final strength to lift his hand, but grasped nothing except the water flowing through his fingertips before everything went black and he completely lost consciousness.