In the dead of night, Cheng Min curled up in Lu Bingxun’s arms, his body covered in bruises. One arm was tightly wrapped around his waist, holding him close, making it impossible to break free and escape. He sighed, about to close his eyes when a burning pain crept up his arm. His body stiffened, and he tentatively spoke to Lu Bingxun, who was holding him tightly from behind, “Xiao Chi.”
“Hmm?” Lu Bingxun kissed his neck, his voice a bit hoarse, “What’s wrong, my dear? I’m right here with you.”
Cheng Min already had an answer in his heart, but hearing it from Lu Bingxun’s mouth made him feel a surge of anger, “You’re such a bastard.”
“Yeah, I know.” He reached out a hand, pinching Cheng Min’s cheek, “Stop fussing, go to sleep.”
Cheng Min’s whole body ached, and any slight movement was painful, making it impossible to sleep. Now, discovering that the rogue who had been pestering him all along was the same person, he felt like he was going crazy. Cheng Min grabbed Lu Bingxun’s hand and bit down hard.
“Hiss.” Lu Bingxun pulled away, pinching Cheng Min’s waist, “Are you a rabbit? So quick to get angry.”
“Shut up,” Cheng Min shouted at him.
Now, in human territory, lying on Lu Bingxun’s bed, held tightly in his arms, he could only take a step back and choose to compromise on the surface. Cheng Min closed his eyes again, ignoring the man behind him, thinking of a solution in his heart.
He had originally stayed by Lu Bingxun’s side, but now that he knew Lu Bingxun and Xiao Chi were the same person, and they were soulmates, if he stayed here, the contract would eventually be discovered. Once the contract was fulfilled, they would be inseparable in spirit and body, forever loyal to each other, and would have to stay together.
But now, Cheng Min wasn’t ready to make a contract with Lu Bingxun. Forget it, he should leave for a while, think things through, and then come back to find Lu Bingxun. He would be back soon.
With his eyes open until dawn, Cheng Min moved his body slightly, not receiving any reprimand. Lu Bingxun was sleeping soundly behind him. Cheng Min knew the opportunity had come. He placed his hand on Lu Bingxun’s arm, holding his breath, moving slowly while constantly watching the man’s expression, ready to stop if anything seemed off.
Fortunately, Lu Bingxun slept like a log. Successfully removing Lu Bingxun’s arm from his waist, Cheng Min slowly left his embrace, picking up his clothes from the floor and putting them on. Cheng Min’s clothes had long been thrown away by Lu Bingxun, under the pretense that they didn’t suit him, but in reality, it was just his twisted sense of humor. He liked beautiful elves curled up in bed, covered with a blanket.
Lu Bingxun’s clothes were too big, making Cheng Min look like a child wearing adult clothes, but now he had no choice. After putting on the clothes, he opened the window and climbed out.
The camp was completely silent, everyone was asleep at this time, and no one would notice a beautiful, frail elf running out. The early morning temperature was a bit low, and Cheng Min pulled his clothes tighter, the lingering scent of the man making him frown and show a disgusted expression. It was unpleasant, disgusting.
Cheng Min didn’t dare linger too long, randomly choosing a direction and heading straight, planning to find a temporary place to stay for a while, and return when he was ready. The road was long, and as he went further, it gradually opened up. When he was still the young master of the Cheng family, he traveled by spaceship and never had to walk.
The farthest he had walked was within the manor. Cheng Min panted, feeling his feet were sore and he couldn’t walk any further. Not caring about the dirt, he found a large stone by the roadside and sat down. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, unbuttoned his shirt, letting the cool breeze blow inside.
Without a terminal, he didn’t know where he was, but he was sure that staying here for a long time was unsafe. After a short rest, Cheng Min stood up, gritting his teeth and continuing forward.
After an unknown amount of time, a dilapidated little house appeared ahead, with a crooked sign hanging on it, surprisingly a hotel. Cheng Min was delighted and quickened his pace. Who would have thought that the once noble young master of the first district would now be reduced to staying in such a place?
Upon closer inspection, the small hotel was even more rundown than it appeared from a distance, with rusty stains and unknown liquids on the door, and the doorknob hanging halfway in the air. The wooden steps creaked with every move. Cheng Min covered his nose, took a deep breath, and unable to use his hands, chose to kick the door.
The door wasn’t locked, and it opened with a light kick. Inside, the lighting was dim, the tables and chairs were in disrepair, and near the door sat a man with a cup of murky liquid beside him. His voice was rough, joking with a skinny woman, neither of them noticing Cheng Min.
Instinct told Cheng Min something was off. After a moment of hesitation, he lifted his leg and walked in. “Creak… creak…” The two chatting people stopped their conversation, finally noticing Cheng Min, turning their heads, their gazes fixed on him, scrutinizing him.
Cheng Min saw a flash of light in the man’s eyes. Just as he was about to speak, a rich aroma wafted through the air. Cheng Min hadn’t eaten much at night and had been chased by enemies. The smell made his stomach growl. He couldn’t help but swallow.
“Are you hungry?” the man asked him. “The corn porridge here is pretty good, I recommend it.”
Cheng Min nodded, planning to buy the corn porridge the man mentioned, but when he reached into his pocket, it was empty. Lu Bingxun didn’t have the habit of carrying money. It seemed this meal wouldn’t happen. He sighed and turned to leave.
“Don’t go,” the man’s voice called from behind.
Cheng Min turned around, and the man glanced at the woman, who immediately understood, leaving the counter and heading to the kitchen. Shortly after, she came out with a bowl of porridge, placing it on a table, “Come and eat while it’s hot.”
Cheng Min forced himself to look away, not moving.
“Eat,” the man said, “I feel sorry for you, this meal is on me.”
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, but Cheng Min was too hungry after his “escape.” If he didn’t eat, he wouldn’t get far before collapsing from exhaustion. After thinking it over, Cheng Min accepted his kindness.
“Thank you.” It was the first time the young master had said such words, feeling a bit awkward.
“Eat while it’s hot,” the man said.
Sitting at the table, Cheng Min picked up the spoon, covered in grease, making him feel sick, but he couldn’t care about that now. He scooped a spoonful of corn porridge and put it in his mouth. Then, he couldn’t stop, devouring it like a glutton.
This scene startled the two people not far away.
“How many days has it been since he ate?” the woman shook her head, feeling a bit sorry, “Poor thing.”
The bowl of thin corn soup quickly disappeared, and Cheng Min licked his lips, placing the bowl on the table.
“Still hungry?” the man asked, sitting beside him.
Cheng Min shook his head, indicating he didn’t need more.
“You’re really pretty, like a doll,” the man’s gaze lingered on Cheng Min, his tone changing, “Are you an elf?”
Due to his energy being depleted, Cheng Min’s appearance had undergone some subtle changes, and the mark symbolizing an elf had disappeared. From the outside, he looked like a beautiful human. Having grown up in the manor, well-protected, Cheng Min had no idea about humans’ dislike for elves, and the man’s kindness made him lower his guard.
He nodded, answering, “Yes, I’m an elf.”
“I thought so,” the man laughed, “I’ve been in this business for years, I wouldn’t mistake it.”
Cheng Min’s heart skipped a beat, sensing something bad.
Sure enough, the next second, the man said, “Little elf, you ate my food, can I ask you for a small favor?”
His tone was gentle, but Cheng Min felt that the “small favor” he mentioned wasn’t a good thing. He clenched his fists, forcing a smile, “What?”
“What do you think a hunter would do to a precious elf?” he said slowly.
Cheng Min picked up a nearby plate, quickly smashing it towards the man, buying himself a few seconds to escape. He turned to run. A cold object pressed against the back of his neck, and he was roughly pulled back, a hand gripping his face, lifting it. The man praised, “What a fine specimen, selling you to District A would make a fortune.”
Cheng Min never expected to escape one trap only to fall into another, truly unlucky.
The man picked up a rope, looping one end around Cheng Min’s wrist, holding the other end in his hand, “If you don’t want to die, follow me obediently.”
With that, he started walking forward. To stay alive, Cheng Min had no choice but to stumble along, afraid that if he was too slow, he’d be shot dead.
Near the door, a figure appeared in front of him, none other than Lu Bingxun, who had held him in his arms just a few hours ago. He leaned against the doorframe, a laser gun at his waist, glancing at the man in front, then shifting his gaze to Cheng Min, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
“This doesn’t seem to be yours,” he said lightly, leaving no room for negotiation, “What do you think, my dear?” He emphasized the last two words.
With someone coming to his rescue, Cheng Min naturally wouldn’t miss the chance. Compared to the man, Lu Bingxun at least wouldn’t throw him into District A, which sounded like a bad place.
“Lu Bingxun,” he said softly, almost like a plea, “I want to go home.”
Hearing this, Lu Bingxun was pleased, showing a smile, “Whatever you say, Cheng Min.”
“You’re Lu Bingxun?” the man exclaimed.
Lu Bingxun glanced at him, saying nothing, walking straight to Cheng Min, untying the rope, and draping his coat over him.
Lu Bingxun rubbed Cheng Min’s slightly red wrist, his tone full of concern, “Why is it so red?”
“It’s nothing,” Cheng Min snuggled into his arms, “Can we go home now?”
“Yeah,” he held Cheng Min tightly.
Lu Bingxun seemed busy, sending Cheng Min back to the room, kissing his face before leaving.
Cheng Min sat alone on the bed, unsure of what he was about to face. Before, when Cheng Min hadn’t fallen into Lu Bingxun’s hands, his possessiveness was terrifying. Now, staying by the man’s side, choosing to be his elf, but sneaking out and almost getting into danger, he must be furious, and there’s no way he’d let him off easily.
Thinking of this, Cheng Min hugged his knees, curling up in the corner, his body trembling slightly.
“Creak.”
Footsteps approached, announcing Cheng Min’s final verdict. He was pulled into Lu Bingxun’s arms, the familiar scent making his nose tingle. He wanted to cry but couldn’t.
“What’s wrong?” Lu Bingxun rubbed his head, not showing any anger in his tone, but Cheng Min knew it was all just a facade. He continued, “Does your wrist still hurt?”
Cheng Min shook his head, not speaking.
“Cheng Min,” he rarely called his name, “I love you.”
Cheng Min was stunned, then looked up at Lu Bingxun, seeking the truth in his eyes. Wasn’t this a joke? Cheng Min wasn’t very nice to him, yet Lu Bingxun, upon their reunion, told him. He loved Cheng Min, loved him to the bone.
The funny thing was, Cheng Min didn’t love him.
“My dear,” Lu Bingxun kissed his lips, “I can’t bear to see you suffer.”
Before Cheng Min could speak, Lu Bingxun continued, “Since your identity as a fake young master was exposed, many people have been looking for you.”
“Many people?” Cheng Min frowned, not quite believing Lu Bingxun’s words, “Are you sure there are that many people who dislike me?”
“You misunderstood,” Lu Bingxun laughed, “You’re so beautiful, who wouldn’t like you?”
It wasn’t pure hatred, just coveting a beautiful elf.
Cheng Min pursed his lips, not speaking.
“It’s dangerous outside,” he said, as if afraid Cheng Min wouldn’t believe him, pulling out some photos from his pocket and handing them to Cheng Min, “Look.”
Cheng Min took them, seeing other elves in similar situations, their energy depleted, living a wandering life, he couldn’t believe it. Once powerful elves, now reduced to scavenging for scraps to fill their stomachs.
“Do you want to wander too?” Lu Bingxun asked, “Not having enough to eat every day, no pretty dresses to change into.”
Honestly, he didn’t want to live like that, nor could he accept it.
Cheng Min shook his head, obediently answering, “I don’t want to.”
“Then do you want to stay by my side?” Lu Bingxun asked, “Live like before.”
“Like before?” Cheng Min thought for a moment, negotiating, “Can I not have children?”
Being together for a long time would definitely lead to children, and Cheng Min wanted the right to choose in this matter.
“Yeah,” he replied, “Whatever you want.”
“I agree,” Cheng Min nodded.
He had made up his mind.