Shi Jiufeng had a lingering suspicion that the drink he had just consumed might have been spiked with something like a hallucinogen, causing him to experience all these unrealistic illusions.
Perhaps there was no mocking or sneering from Ling Xiao and the others downstairs, and this tall, handsome man wasn’t standing beside him. Maybe he was still safely lying on the rattan chair, looking at the stars in the crisp night breeze.
Shi Jiufeng closed his eyes tightly and muttered to himself, It’s all fake. I don’t know anything, I didn’t hear anything…
Jin Cixu was startled, amused by this self-hypnotic routine. He pulled Shi Jiufeng’s wrist and turned to walk inside.
Jin Cixu kicked the balcony door shut behind them.
With a clear bang, the sound resonated sharply through the night air.
Hearing the noise, Ling Xiao looked up and frowned, asking, Is someone upstairs?
Xu Kaize replied, The upstairs rooms are all lounges.
Fu Linchuan gave an ambiguous smile. Let’s go. Otherwise, people will think we’re eavesdropping.
In recent years, various banquets and parties in elite circles had gradually become exclusive to the younger generation.
Finding the social activities cherished by their elders, like horseback riding or golf, boring, these chronically spoiled young masters saw nothing wrong with their own inclinations.
Swapping partners or sharing them, it was all the same.
Everyone understood the unspoken rule.
Ling Xiao had been wrapped in soft fragrance and warm jade just the night before, and having forced himself to stay chaste for so long today, his frustration was mounting, making it hard to hold back much longer.
Ling Xiao asked, Are they drinking next door?
Lu Jingsi answered, The ones who came back with Jin Cixu took people in there. Probably.
Ling Xiao said, Let’s go take a look.
Drinking was just a polite excuse. Everyone present knew what Ling Xiao really wanted to see. Chuckling softly, they walked out of the empty room, which was set up with a few mahjong tables, and headed next door.
Pushing open the door to the adjacent room, however, they did not find the decadent scene they had anticipated.
The secretary was standing by a projector, while the screen displayed a PowerPoint presentation filled with German text. Judging from the illustrations, it appeared to be about smart vehicles.
Hearing the door open, Yu Zhibai and the others turned toward the entrance.
Ling Xiao said awkwardly, Sorry, wrong room.
Yu Zhibai replied, Since you’re already here, why not stay and take a look?
Ling Xiao blinked. Huh?
Zhou Jingzhi added, It’s a car manufacturing project Cixu has been eyeing recently. I heard you guys are all car enthusiasts.
Lu Jingsi modestly said, We just like to join the fun. If we’re talking about real expertise, it has to be Ling Xiao.
Hearing this, Ling Xiao didn’t display false modesty. Across the entire capital, you won’t find a second person who understands cars better than I do.
Wen Heyi pushed up the silver-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, the corners of his lips curling into a smile. Is that so? Then we’d appreciate it if Young Master Ling could help us analyze it.
This was a precious signal. Even though they lived dissolute lives, they knew how many benefits could be reaped by cooperating with the Jin family.
Exchanging glances, Ling Xiao and his companions filed into the room. The secretary thoughtfully stepped outside and closed the door tightly behind them.
Upstairs in the lounge, Jin Cixu pulled Shi Jiufeng in close with a slight tug. The alcohol already surging to Shi Jiufeng’s head made him genuinely dizzy, and he bent over and let out a dry heave.
Jin Cixu instinctively reached out his hand to catch anything, but after retching for a long time, Shi Jiufeng produced nothing, his face turning bright red from the strain.
With no other choice, Jin Cixu carried him over to the bed. At that exact moment, Jin Cixu froze, staring in shock at the person in his arms with lowered eyelashes.
Why are you so thin?
This was nowhere near the weight a grown man should have.
He was so light that a sudden gust of wind could scatter his soul to the winds.
Jin Cixu’s hand tightened involuntarily, causing Shi Jiufeng to let out a muffled groan of discomfort.
Shi Jiufeng narrowed his eyes, hiccuped, and looked up at the hard, sharp line of the man’s jaw, asking with confusion, What did you say?
Jin Cixu said coldly, I don’t talk to little drunkards.
Shi Jiufeng gave a dazed Oh and, without a shred of temper, replied slowly, It doesn’t matter. No one talks to me anyway.
Jin Cixu ground his back teeth together. He laid Shi Jiufeng flat on the bed, but fearing that lying flat would make him uncomfortable, he piled several throw pillows together to prop up his frail torso. Turning around, he strode quickly to the bathroom, grabbed a clean, damp towel, and poured a glass of warm water.
Shi Jiufeng stared dazedly at all this, only snapping back to reality when the towel pressed against his face.
He hurriedly whispered, I can do it myself.
Jin Cixu pulled his hand back, dodging Shi Jiufeng’s attempt to take the towel. Don’t move.
Gently, Jin Cixu wiped Shi Jiufeng’s face clean and tried to feed him a sip of water, but this time Shi Jiufeng firmly refused.
As a gay man, being alone in a room with someone who wasn’t his legal partner was already way out of line. On top of that, the man had previously made ambiguous remarks and was now acting this tender and attentive.
This made Shi Jiufeng extremely uneasy.
I can drink it myself. I really can, Shi Jiufeng insisted stubbornly.
Jin Cixu had no choice but to hand him the cup.
Shi Jiufeng had just filled his stomach with alcohol, and his stomach now felt uncomfortably bloated, making it impossible to swallow anything. Yet Jin Cixu’s gaze was piercing, filling Shi Jiufeng with a sense of dread.
He took a few tiny sips, feeling as though the water was stuck in his throat and refusing to go down. Looking distressed, he glanced at Jin Cixu. Can I… not drink anymore?
Jin Cixu responded with a helpless hum. Shi Jiufeng hurriedly placed the cup back on the nightstand, letting out a tiny, relieved sigh, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
An instant later, distress washed over him again.
Based on his past experiences, Shi Jiufeng deduced that in gatherings without elders present, the true revelry was likely just beginning at this hour.
Therefore, the tenderness and consideration Jin Cixu was showing him right now- was it because he assumed Shi Jiufeng was also a willing participant in this debauchery?
Shi Jiufeng’s face paled a fraction more. Twisting his knuckles against the duvet cover, he pondered how to explain himself to the other man.
Jin Cixu said, What I said earlier was serious.
Shi Jiufeng’s knuckles tightened abruptly. His guess had been spot on; the other man had indeed misunderstood him.
Shi Jiufeng had no desire to judge other people’s lifestyles, but he absolutely refused to be misunderstood in such a manner.
He was already forced to bear the reputation of being a pathetic, clinging doormat, a title he reluctantly accepted solely for the sake of his marriage to Ling Xiao. But if another label of this sort were added on top, he felt as though ten thousand ants were crawling all over his body.
Biting his lower lip until he almost tasted iron, Shi Jiufeng said with bitterness, You’ve misunderstood. I…
Scratching his brain for a more polite phrasing, he added, I don’t accept open relationships.
Jin Cixu asked, Is it really not okay even if I promise your husband won’t find out?
Shi Jiufeng shook his head firmly. No, it’s not.
He could not accept this kind of dirty transaction, nor was he willing to let desire dictate his life.
Sincerity filled Shi Jiufeng’s voice as he said, Aside from me, I’m sure many people would be willing to accommodate you. There’s no need to waste your time on me.
Jin Cixu replied, What if I said I only want you?
Shi Jiufeng stared fixedly at Jin Cixu, his long eyelashes damp, his voice exceptionally dry as he answered, I have no way to do that.
Given Jin Cixu’s status, if he were to mention this to Ling Xiao, Ling Xiao would probably be more than eager to deliver Shi Jiufeng straight to the man’s bed.
Jin Cixu gave a self-deprecating laugh, shifting his question instead: What kind of person do you like?
Shi Jiufeng was momentarily stunned, a vague sensation dawning on him that this didn’t seem to be a scenario of forced coercion.
After all, if someone truly intended to use power and status to threaten another person, there would be no need to ask what kind of partner they preferred.
Averting his gaze, Shi Jiufeng said softly, I’ve never thought about it.
Shi Jiufeng was lying.
As a normal person, before his family suffered its devastating downfall, he had naturally envisioned what his future partner might be like.
In his imagination, the other person might be a photographer, a screenwriter, or perhaps even a director. They should share his passion for writing and cinematic art, holding the most sincere enthusiasm for all kinds of stories.
Yet, in reality, his husband Ling Xiao preferred action movies.
On their wedding night,
Ling Xiao had pulled up a video for Shi Jiufeng to watch, demanding that Shi Jiufeng replicate the submissive role of the person on screen.
Shi Jiufeng would never forget how arrogant Ling Xiao’s orders had been, nor how furious the man became, slamming the door and walking out when Shi Jiufeng flatly refused.
Jin Cixu asked, Are you refusing to say, or do you think I can’t pull it off?
Shi Jiufeng remained silent, keeping his lips tightly sealed.
Based on his past experiences, Shi Jiufeng guessed that Jin Cixu would immediately fly into a rage, curse him for being a wooden block devoid of romance, and then slam the door as he left.
Shi Jiufeng was actually looking forward to that scene playing out.
Because if that happened, he would finally be granted a moment of relief.
At least until the banquet ended, he would be able to rest here alone.
Instead, Jin Cixu merely nodded, saying, I understand. Get some rest.
Shi Jiufeng watched in a daze as Jin Cixu stood up and walked away.
It really ended just like that? Unexpectedly, Jin Cixu turned out to be quite polite.
Just before the door clicked shut, Jin Cixu paused in his steps.
Shi Jiufeng’s heart plunged straight to the bottom. Here it comes. As expected, people like them are all the same.
Jin Cixu stated, You can leave now if you want, or you can wait until the end. If you stay here, no one will come to disturb you again.
Throughout these words, Jin Cixu kept his back turned to Shi Jiufeng.
In that lingering silhouette, Shi Jiufeng sensed a trace of sadness.
Jin Cixu added, Though you may not look forward to it, I still hope we can meet again.
With those words, Jin Cixu walked out without a shred of hesitation. From beginning to end, he seemed to have placed himself in the position of the one being chosen, never once entertaining the thought of forcing Shi Jiufeng.
In the blink of an eye, only Shi Jiufeng was left alone in the room.
Complex emotions churned within Shi Jiufeng’s chest. Under this intricate state of mind, the feeling of being respected manifested in a somewhat twisted way, yet it felt exhilarating, causing his dormant, aching heart to beat with an uncontrollable rhythm.
As midnight approached, the banquet finally drew to a close.
A few guests who had drunk too much intended to stay the night, but the butler had them dosed with hangover medicine, loaded into cars one by one, and sent back to their respective homes.
Shi Jiufeng waited at the entrance for a little while. Seeing Ling Xiao and his crew leaving with arms wrapped around various companions, he slipped into the back of the Bentley and instructed Wu Chang’an to drive him home.
The next morning, the reprimands Shi Jiufeng had anticipated failed to materialize.
Shen Biyun was not home. The butler explained that she had received a last-minute invitation to an industry summit and would be away on a business trip for at least half a month.
The butler reminded him, Madam asked you to remember to visit the sanitarium and check on Mr. Ling on her behalf.
The Mr. Ling he referred to was Ling Xiao’s father, Ling Yuehua.
Shi Jiufeng didn’t suspect anything amiss. He breathed a sigh of relief, quietly finished his breakfast, went upstairs to change his clothes, and headed to the hospital to see Shi Jiuyao.
Inside the private hospital,
Shi Jiufeng stood in the hallway, looking through the window at his younger brother inside.
Shi Jiuyao was lying on the hospital bed, reduced to skin and bones. His eyes were closed in a deep slumber, and his chest rose and fell with a faint, shallow rhythm.
If not for the heart monitor displaying his vitals, Shi Jiufeng would have suspected that the person lying on the bed was just a dummy.
The doctor said, We are adjusting the treatment plan, but given his current physical condition, I’m afraid he won’t even be able to endure a few necessary examinations.
Under normal circumstances, a doctor would certainly not be this blunt; even if they weren’t afraid of liability, they would at least consider the family’s emotional state.
However, knowing Shi Jiufeng’s background, the doctor was more than willing to speak a few harsh truths.
Shi Jiufeng asked, Didn’t they say there’s a new miracle drug in Switzerland?
The doctor replied, That’s still just a clinical concept.
The implied meaning was that even if it were truly available, Shi Jiuyao’s current body was simply too weak to withstand it.
Shi Jiuyao nodded. I understand.
The doctor continued, During this time, you and the child’s father should come visit him more often. The nurse mentioned yesterday that he kept calling out for his father in his sleep.
Shi Jiufeng’s brow twitched. Hasn’t my dad come to see him?
The doctor confirmed, He hasn’t shown up for quite some time.
Shi Jiufeng let out a heavy sigh, his voice weighed down with distress. All right, I understand.
Ever since Shen Biyun injected funds into the business, the Shi family company had been run by a proxy manager, leaving Shi Yinghan with nothing to do except punch in and out on schedule.
Trapped within the Ling family, Shi Jiufeng’s own actions were heavily restricted, allowing him to visit only every other day. But as a figurehead with no real responsibilities, why wasn’t Shi Yinghan showing up?
Anger flared in Shi Jiufeng’s chest, making him want to rush home right then and there to interrogate Shi Yinghan.
Ever since his marriage to Ling Xiao, the frequency and timing of his visits back to the Shi household were strictly regulated.
Shen Biyun had once declared: If you run back every few days, how is that any different from a disgruntled wife storming back to her maiden home? Don’t make the Ling family lose face.
According to Shen Biyun’s rules, Shi Jiufeng was only permitted to return home once every quarter, and his autumn visit wasn’t scheduled until the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival.
If he rashly returned to the Shi home now, Wu Chang’an would undoubtedly report it to Shen Biyun. Once she found out, she would surely lock him up at home, forbidding him to step outside for at least a month.
If Shi Jiuyao’s condition weren’t so critical, he could endure it and let it slide.
But right now, Shi Jiuyao’s life hung by a thread…
Walking over to the hallway window, Shi Jiufeng looked down at the parking lot, where Wu Chang’an was smoking in the designated smoking area, and began calculating the feasibility of slipping away past his surveillance and calling a cab.
The hospital had a side exit. He could sneak out through the side exit, hail a car back to the Shi residence, and since it was Saturday, Shi Yinghan would definitely be home. As long as he hurried back with Shi Yinghan in tow, he might avoid Wu Chang’an’s notice.
With that thought in mind, Shi Jiufeng briskly walked toward the elevator.
The elevator descended at a steady pace. When it reached the first floor and the doors slid open, Shi Jiufeng caught sight of a tall man standing listlessly right by the entrance.
With a look of feigned surprise, Jin Cixu greeted him, A-Feng, what are you doing here?