He had slept for a long time. When he woke, it was pitch black, as if something was tied over his eyes. Still groggy, Liang Chu absentmindedly reached up and pulled it off. It was a sleep mask.
The night was deep, and a soft, gentle desk lamp was lit in the room. Its light was so mild that even after such a long sleep, it didn’t hurt his eyes.
Liang Chu frowned, muddle-headed as he wondered how he could have slept until dark. Sleeping so much during the day would surely lead to insomnia at night—reversing day and night wasn’t a good habit. Only then did he realize he was thirsty. The sound of rustling paper reached his ears, and he turned his heavy head to see Xie Shenxing, dressed in casual loungewear, sitting properly as he reviewed case files. Sensing Liang Chu was awake, Xie Shenxing turned to look at him, a warm smile on his face.
Xie Shenxing set aside his work and sat on the edge of the bed, asking, “Thirsty?”
Liang Chu nodded.
Xie Shenxing picked up the water glass from the table. Liang Chu instinctively reached out for it, but Xie Shenxing lowered his gaze, not handing it over. Instead, he watched the ripples in the water and smiled faintly. Liang Chu froze.
He had seen Xie Shenxing smile before. With sharp, severe features and a personality that rarely smiled, such a person, when they did smile, was like the melting of winter snow and the return of spring—like a red plum blossom after a heavy snowfall, the only splash of color in a vast expanse of white.
But at this moment, that smile jolted Liang Chu’s muddled mind awake. In the past, Xie Shenxing’s smile would crinkle his eyes, full of tenderness and affection. Now, it was like a wolf finally revealing its true nature. Memories slowly returned, and as Liang Chu recalled what had happened before he fell asleep, he propped himself up and sat straight. Putting the pieces together, he understood the situation and, ignoring everything else, stared at Xie Shenxing warily.
Xie Shenxing lifted his eyes and asked softly, “Scared?”
Liang Chu’s throat was dry and hoarse as he retorted sharply, “Scared of you, my foot!”
Unfazed, Xie Shenxing swirled the water glass in his hand and asked with a smile, “Did you sleep well?”
Truthfully, he had slept deeply and soundly, without any chaotic dreams. Aside from feeling a bit dizzy upon waking and taking a while to fully regain his senses, once he was completely alert, he felt refreshed and full of energy!
But there was no way he could admit that. Liang Chu glared at him, filled with vigor and fury, and said, “You’ve gone too far! What kind of person drugs someone else? That’s such a despicable move! I never thought you’d become this kind of person. I’m so disappointed in you.”
Xie Shenxing replied expressionlessly, “Oh? Would you rather I tied you up instead? Wouldn’t that be uncomfortable?”
Liang Chu lectured him, “Of course not! It’s either drugging or kidnapping. Can’t your thoughts be a bit purer? Can’t we just sit down and talk properly?”
“Trying to trick me again,” Xie Shenxing raised his eyes.
“Where were you planning to hide at noon? If you ran off, I wouldn’t even be able to see you, let alone talk to you.” The man’s gaze turned cold. “Didn’t you tell me to never look for you again? Cocoa, it seems your memory isn’t so good.”
Xie Shenxing spoke as if he had been forced into this. Liang Chu thought, Well, I wasn’t wrong either. Isn’t that how people usually reject others? I learned it from someone else.
Xie Shenxing didn’t wait for his reply and continued, “Still feisty, I see. It looks like you slept well.”
Liang Chu turned his face away without a word. Xie Shenxing’s attitude seemed to have undergone a drastic change overnight. Just yesterday, he had been excessively attentive—cooking and fetching water—but now, even with the water cup in hand, he refused to offer it. Still feeling thirsty, Liang Chu turned his head back and said, “Give me water. I’m thirsty.”
Xie Shenxing spoke slowly, “It’s good that you have energy. You probably won’t be sleeping tonight.”
Before Liang Chu could grasp the meaning of those words, Xie Shenxing brought the cup to his lips. Liang Chu tried to take it himself, but the cup didn’t budge. Instead, Xie Shenxing tilted it higher, pouring warm, sweet water into his mouth. Parched, Liang Chu felt for the first time that water could taste so delicious, almost as if it had a hint of sweetness. After gulping down several mouthfuls, the cup was nearly empty. Just as Liang Chu was about to finish it in one go, Xie Shenxing withdrew the cup, twirled it in his hand, and then licked the rim where Liang Chu had just drunk.
Liang Chu paused, cursed him as a pervert, and tried to get out of bed to leave. At that moment, Xie Shenxing finished the last remaining drops of water, set the cup aside, and leaned in closer. One hand cradled the back of Liang Chu’s head, making his hair stand on end as he recalled the kiss in the car. Knowing the disparity in their strength and that he stood no chance against Xie Shenxing, he didn’t resist head-on. Instead, he tried to twist away to avoid him. But Xie Shenxing seemed to anticipate his move, pressing an arm against his side. Liang Chu ended up colliding with it, effectively trapped. The man flipped him onto his back again, looming over him. Realizing what was about to happen, Liang Chu instinctively covered Xie Shenxing’s mouth. The man froze for a moment, then chuckled, gently stroking his head as if amused. But in the next instant, he seemed like a different person. His right hand clamped around Liang Chu’s raised wrist, pinning it above his head. Then, his face loomed closer, and his lips pressed against Liang Chu’s, transferring the sweet water into his mouth. Liang Chu blinked, trying to spit it out, but his lips were sealed shut. The water swirled in his mouth, refusing to be expelled. Xie Shenxing had anticipated his defiance and seemed to relish the idea of him holding the water in his mouth. He wouldn’t let go until Liang Chu swallowed it. Kissed breathless, Liang Chu gasped in short, frantic breaths. Xie Shenxing’s kiss enveloped him like a tight net, their saliva mingling. In the end, he couldn’t hold out against the man and slowly, reluctantly, let the water trickle down his throat.
Xie Shenxing released him, rubbing their noses together. His eyes were dark and intense as he couldn’t resist pecking his lips again. “Our Keke is so sensitive. Just a kiss and you react like this.”
Liang Chu felt embarrassed. He knew exactly what Xie Shenxing meant… because he was hard again.
The heat rushed downward, making Liang Chu unbearably uncomfortable. His cheeks flushed slightly as he wished to touch himself, but he couldn’t. His wrists were too weak to lift, leaving him only able to wiggle his fingers. Xie Shenxing showed no intention of helping him either. Liang Chu sighed inwardly, lamenting, Why, oh why, am I someone ruled by my lower half?
He blamed it on all those years of living a chaste and restrained life—no indulgence, hardly any self-gratification, and now, in the prime of his youth, the slightest touch felt like a floodgate bursting open. He didn’t want to react this way, but he couldn’t control it. Ah, if only I could start over, I’d take care of myself every single day.
Xie Shenxing watched his pitiful expression, growing fonder by the second. Any lingering guilt he’d felt vanished completely at this moment. Seeing Liang Chu lying beneath him, obedient yet troubled, filled Xie Shenxing with immense pleasure. All other emotions faded away, leaving only an overwhelming fondness. This person was here, by his side, in his sight and would remain part of his life every day from now on. He couldn’t go anywhere else. Compared to the joy and satisfaction of this moment, any price seemed worth paying.
Desire burned in Xie Shenxing’s eyes, yet he remained patient. The longer he restrained himself with such a tempting prey, the more exquisite the eventual taste would be. Lowering his voice, he murmured, “Why the long face? This is normal. It just means Cocoa has grown up.”
He’s ready for me.
Liang Chu refused to look at him, fixing his gaze on the ceiling instead. He focused on calming the restlessness within, well aware that he was an adult. He simply resented that unruly part of himself. Springing to attention without his permission, so disobedient.
Feeling slightly more at ease, Liang Chu tried to pull his hand back, but Xie Shenxing held him firmly in place. Even as a teenager, Xie had been able to carry hundred-pound bags of cement; restraining Liang Chu now was effortless. Unable to move his wrist, Liang Chu wasn’t without options. He raised an elbow, ready to strike. Xie Shenxing smirked and loosened his grip slightly. Seizing the opportunity, Liang Chu shoved him off by the shoulders.
Xie Shenxing let go willingly, and Liang Chu shot him a glare, delivering a kick for good measure. He then leaped off the bed from the other side. The soft carpet beneath his feet felt like stepping on the fluffy belly of a small animal, incredibly comfortable.
Liang Chu glanced down, curling his toes.
He scanned the unfamiliar room but had no time to examine it closely. His attention was immediately captured by the massive floor-to-ceiling window beside him. The curtains were drawn back, and the glass spanned nearly the entire wall. For a few seconds, Liang Chu forgot to breathe. Outside lay a spacious terrace. He walked over slowly, standing before the window, his mind slightly dizzy.
It wasn’t city lights or neon signs beyond the glass, it was the roaring waves. The night was deep, and the terrace was wide enough to reveal the endless ocean in the distance. Though the beach wasn’t visible, Liang Chu could imagine the gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore.
The Milky Way glittered across the sky, its starlight sparkling like diamonds.
Liang Chu’s fingers brushed against the glass window, the slight chill at his fingertips snapping him back to reality. Finally, with belated awareness, he realized that something was terribly wrong. It seemed he had stirred up a hornet’s nest. After all, cities didn’t have these many stars, nor such a beautiful, untamed night sky.
A loose arm wrapped around his waist from behind. The hornet’s nest crouched at his feet and said softly, “Lift your foot.”
Liang Chu glanced down and saw a pair of shoes placed beneath him. He paid no attention, instead pulling open the window like a transcendent hermit detached from worldly affairs and stepping out onto the balcony. True masters wore straw sandals, but since he had none, he’d make do barefoot.
It was summer, and even at night, the air wasn’t cold. A gentle breeze blew in from the sea, not humid but refreshing against his skin. Liang Chu couldn’t quite describe his emotions neither panicked nor fearful. The world was too quiet, as if he were the only person left, far from the noise and crowds. His mind felt serene, and standing in this space, all his worldly worries seemed to fade away. In his memory, it had been a very, very long time since he had felt so close to nature.
Amid this picturesque scenery, Liang Chu felt he ought to sit and meditate, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the essence of the sun and moon. Yet, just moments ago, he had inexplicably gotten aroused—how vulgar, how shameful! It felt like a desecration of this tranquil paradise. In a place like this, he should have remained utterly unresponsive.
But Liang Chu didn’t have long to lament. A tall figure pressed close from behind, tripping him at the feet. With a startled “Aiya!” and flailing arms, he tumbled backward, only to be caught around the waist by the very instigator. Just as Liang Chu tried to steady himself and stand, the hornet’s nest scooped him up, one hand supporting his neck, the other under his knees, and strode forward, saying, “Didn’t I tell you to wear shoes when you step down? Are my words just wind past your ears?”
For a moment, Liang Chu couldn’t think of a retort because he realized that Xie Shenxing really did live by the sea now, and people who lived by the sea always had a way of meddling in everything.
On the balcony stood a dark-colored chaise lounge, casually strewn with a few soft pillows—perfect for stargazing at night and, perhaps, a few other activities. Liang Chu disliked being held in this manner, the kind used for cradling young girls. He twisted, trying to leap to the ground, but Xie Shenxing firmly gripped his knees, holding him securely in his embrace. Allowing him to squirm and struggle, Xie only released his hold when they reached the edge of the chaise, letting Liang Chu break free as intended. Liang Chu tumbled from mid-air onto the bed; the soft chaise bounced him slightly, the brief weightlessness leaving him dazed for a few seconds. Sensing Xie Shenxing’s predatory intensity, Liang Chu instinctively felt danger. Before his mind could fully process it, he scrambled blindly in a random direction, desperate to escape.
Xie Shenxing chuckled softly, circling around the chaise to intercept his path. He waited until Liang Chu crawled close before lifting him by the shoulders. Kneeling on the bed, his upper body supported, Liang Chu found himself being pushed backward by Xie’s grip on his shoulders. He straightened his bent legs and kicked out, but Xie effortlessly caught his unruly calf, gently massaging the soft muscle before bringing it to his lips and kissing his toes. Stunned beyond words, Liang Chu could only watch as the man firmly guided his leg downward. Regret twisted in his gut, and he strained to pull his foot back. Xie Shenxing met his gaze, and Liang Chu’s sole finally made contact with that even through clothing, he could feel its rigid, vibrant energy. At the touch, Xie let out an involuntary gasp, his voice husky as he breathed, “Coco, it’s yours.”
“I don’t want it!”
Eyes wide, Liang Chu clutched the sheets tightly. Whether it was because he had also pressed against the man’s thigh, he hazily felt that the thing seemed longer than his own foot—utterly terrifying. Desperately scrambling backward, he glanced around for something to throw, but even the soft pillows were out of reach. He raised his voice in a threat, “How dare you touch me! Xie Shenxing, this is illegal! The sea of suffering has no bounds. Turn back before it’s too late! Otherwise, I’ll haunt you even as a ghost!”
“I hadn’t planned on moving this quickly,” Xie murmured, his voice low and heavy as he kneaded Liang Chu’s calf. “That night you slept beside me, I just watched you. And you, heartless thing, showed no consideration—how could you sleep so soundly? You had no guard up against me, sleeping so peacefully, unaware of how much I was holding back.”
Since their reunion, they had only shared a bed once. Liang Chu thought to himself, I clearly fell asleep later than him. Was he pretending to be asleep?
Xie Shenxing paid no mind to his thoughts, speaking with deliberate slowness, “I’ve loved you with all my effort, restraining myself from touching you. And you, ungrateful little thing, still rush headlong into danger. Do you not want to see me happy? Saying you don’t want me to come see you—how dare you speak such words.”
“Where were you trying to run off to at noon?” Xie slowly pulled him forward across the bed. Clutching the sheets, Liang Chu was dragged right up to the man. Xie gazed at him obsessively, his blood boiling, voice laced with a chilling intensity. “You didn’t even want to see me again. How cruel.”
Trembling, Liang Chu tried to placate him, “I did it for your own good, truly for your own good…”
But Xie Shenxing would accept no explanations, passing his own judgment: “You’ve brought this upon yourself.”
Xie Shenxing gazed into his eyes, pulling him closer. He forcefully parted Liang Chu’s legs, but Liang Chu twisted, trying to clamp them shut, desperately suppressing the panic in his heart. Seeing the pitiful, moist look in his eyes, Xie Shenxing’s heart softened slightly. Still, he only loosened his grip, gently but firmly holding each of Liang Chu’s legs and placing them at his sides, encircling his own sturdy waist.
Liang Chu was completely unprepared. With his legs restrained, only his hands remained free. Sitting on the bed, he straightened up, intending to strike, but Xie Shenxing abruptly released his legs and caught him in an embrace, murmuring softly, “Throwing yourself into my arms?” Liang Chu’s eyes were red, and he remained seated on the bed with his legs spread, while Xie Shenxing stood between them, a thick, intimidating presence pressing against him. Not only had his legs not been freed, but his arms were now also captured. Xie Shenxing held his wrists with a leisurely expression and planted a kiss on his lips.
Liang Chu trembled slightly. Since struggling with his hands was futile, he stopped wasting effort. Bending his knees, he stood up from the bed, grabbed Xie Shenxing’s forearm, and pulled him onto the bed. “Fine, let’s do it. You get up here!” Xie Shenxing looked at him in surprise but complied, lifting a leg onto the bed. Standing before him, Liang Chu watched as Xie Shenxing knelt on one knee, embracing him. Encouraged by his small success, Liang Chu grew bolder. He wrapped his arms around Xie Shenxing’s neck and pushed him back onto the bed, straddling him like a feisty young wolf. “I’m on top,” he snarled, “and I’m going to wreck you!”
Xie Shenxing couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time, holding him tightly as if embracing a delightful surprise. “So fierce, are you?”
Liang Chu muttered, “Yes, just wait. You’ll soon find out how fierce I am.”
Xie Shenxing spread his arms in a welcoming gesture. Realizing he’d been tricked, Liang Chu chuckled and tried to turn and run. But Xie Shenxing had anticipated his deceit. Before Liang Chu could even turn around, he was pulled back by the arm, pressed down onto the bed, and pinned. “Look at you, so full of yourself.”
Liang Chu met his deep, intense gaze. Xie Shenxing gently stroked his hair, soothing him, “Don’t be afraid. It won’t hurt. I’ll make sure you feel good.”
Liang Chu’s eyes were filled with disbelief, as if to say, “Do you think I can’t feel that thing pressing against me?” He whispered tentatively, “Then let me be on top. I’ll make sure you feel good too.”
Xie Shenxing’s voice was hoarse, as if he was straining to hold back. “Challenging such a difficult position on your first try? Wait a little longer. Once you’re used to it, you can have any position you want. We have plenty of time.”
Liang Chu swallowed hard, thinking to himself, I’m about to sacrifice myself for the mission. How dedicated I am.
Xie Shenxing gave him no further chance to speak, continuously pecking kisses on his lips while his fingers undid the buttons of his clothes and rested on his shoulders. Liang Chu realized the city gates had fallen—first his clothes, and next would be his chastity. The thought of Xie Shenxing’s inhuman monstrosity still frightened him, and he unconsciously pushed against the man. When that failed, he tried to climb upward. Xie Shenxing caught him by the waist, pulled off his T-shirt but didn’t remove it completely, leaving the fabric tangled around Liang Chu’s wrists. With a few casual twists, Xie Shenxing bound his hands as if tied, then pushed them above his head. Liang Chu lay there, upper body bare, trembling slightly.
Xie Shenxing admired the body that drove him to lose control, his fingertips tracing downward along the skin, teasing his nipples. Liang Chu’s breathing grew rapid, a mix of pleasure and shame washing over him. He closed his eyes tightly, refusing to open them. Xie Shenxing chuckled softly, his fingers moving lower to rub his already erect member through the fabric. Liang Chu had never experienced such provocation before; his lower back went numb instantly, and his entire body turned soft and pliant.
A large hand slipped beneath him, lifting his hips as both his shorts and underwear were stripped away. Liang Chu opened his eyes, his toes curling and uncurling, forgetting even how to offer the slightest resistance. The man’s hand directly touched his member, and Liang Chu distractedly wondered if he had washed his hands. Soon, he had no capacity to think further as his lower body arched high, waves of tingling pleasure spreading throughout him. Xie Shenxing gripped the stiff length, stroking up and down. Liang Chu’s waist suddenly tensed for a few seconds before going limp after the peak of pleasure subsided. He lay on the bed panting, smacking his lips, thinking how incredibly good it felt. But once the pleasure faded, it was just that.
“So quick,” Xie Shenxing examined the fluid on his hand. “Your first time?”
Liang Chu glared at him, unsure whether to nod or deny it. If he admitted it was his first time, wouldn’t that make him seem foolish—so old and still untouched? But denying it would lead to an even bigger misunderstanding, implying he had premature ejaculation. So, he decided to stay silent.
Xie Shenxing didn’t care for a response, bringing the fluid to his nose to sniff. Liang Chu stared wide-eyed, his heart pounding wildly. Xie Shenxing met his gaze and sensually licked his lips. Liang Chu’s breath hitched; he curled his legs and rolled to the side on the soft couch. This was no match—Xie Shenxing wasn’t human. He didn’t want to play anymore. The man wouldn’t let him escape, wedging himself between Liang Chu’s legs. Another failed attempt to flee. Xie Shenxing said, “You satisfied yourself and now you’re leaving me hanging?” Liang Chu felt like crying. Only equals can play together—2 with 2, 3 with 3. But here I am a 0.01, and you’re a 10.0. How am I supposed to handle you? Liang Chu shrank back, trying to hide, but Xie Shenxing pulled him back, lifting his legs to expose the entrance between his buttocks. The man, still fully dressed, took out a prepared ointment, squeezed a large dollop between the cheeks, then rubbed some more in his hands to warm it before tentatively probing the entrance. Liang Chu was too tense to speak, clenching his buttocks to avoid it. “It… it won’t fit…”