The knife in Yu Lang’s hand fell with a sharp clang, striking the floor cleanly and decisively.
His gaze dropped, then lifted again.
Chi Jianqing was actually smiling.
It was as if he were laughing and saying, ‘How did it fall again?’
Bang! bang! bang!
The hotel room door behind Yu Lang shook with heavy, urgent pounding.
Chi Jianqing said calmly, “Come in.”
In that instant, every hair on Yu Lang’s body stood on end.
Not long ago, a murder had taken place in this very room. The corpse was still lying cold and stiff on the floor and the killer was something neither fully human nor fully inhuman.
There was no need to worry about finding a murder weapon, because Yu Lang’s arrival had brought into this silent crime scene a brand-new, razor-sharp knife.
Today, he had already been saddled with so many labels, now it seemed he was about to be given yet another one: Murderer.
Uneasily, Yu Lang lifted his gaze. Chi Jianqing’s body had already followed the twist of his head, turning from facing away to facing him directly.
No different from an ordinary person.
At that moment, someone outside the door stepped in, their footsteps stopping right behind Yu Lang.
Yu Lang turned his head to look. Between his brows and eyes, the same gloom that clung to Chi Jianqing had spread to him as well.
The man was dressed in a neat suit and leather shoes, in no hurry to speak.
Yu Lang hardened his heart, thinking that he might as well be dragged in and silenced before the truth was exposed.
He crouched down, quietly feeling for the handle lying on the floor.
“Boss, the tasks you assigned have all been completed.”
The man took a small step into the room, carefully stopping at the boundary between inside and outside the doorway.
“Hm?”
Yu Lang was puzzled.
That couldn’t be right. No matter who came in, the moment their eyes swept inward, they should have seen the corpse, swollen, pale, already approaching the grotesque state of bloat.
Yu Lang twisted his head back toward the room and froze.
It was empty.
The horribly dead, pallid corpse that had been lying on the floor was gone. Almost in the blink of an eye, between the man’s report and his departure, less than fifteen seconds had passed.
Now there was nothing left. Not even ash. It was more like water vapor, dissolving swiftly into the air.
He felt dizzy. Yu Lang thought it was probably because he hadn’t eaten and had been squatting too long, hypoglycemia kicking in.
Just as he swayed and prepared to stand, a support appeared behind him. Someone bent down, one hand settling under his left arm, the other bracing the front of his right forearm.
Yu Lang was helped up and at the same time fixed firmly within the man’s arms.
Chi Jianqing leaned close and murmured into his ear: “I am him. There won’t be a second ‘him’ seen.”
“Boss, is there anything else you need to instruct?”
“What do you need?”
Chi Jianqing asked Yu Lang.
The back of Yu Lang’s head rested against Chi Jianqing’s chest. Every time the man spoke, the vibration made Yu Lang’s head buzz.
He had no intention of answering Chi Jianqing’s question. He was afraid, afraid that the other’s unpredictable temper would turn that blade onto his neck.
But just as the man was about to leave, Yu Lang, acting on the principle of not wasting what he could get, hurriedly called out:
“I want an iPhone 16 Plus Pro Max in desert color and then twenty thousand in cash. Also, go stir-fry four dishes and make a soup. Deliver it tomorrow morning.”
“Yes.”
The door closed.
The room returned to being a gladiatorial arena with only Yu Lang and Chi Jianqing left inside.
Yu Lang always harbored hostility toward Chi Jianqing. That hostility was exposed, vented openly yet because of the disparity in force, it twisted into a strange, probing scrutiny.
The sharp knife was held in Yu Lang’s hand, only to be dropped at his feet under Chi Jianqing’s lofty gaze.
“I won’t cut you.”
Yu Lang pushed Chi Jianqing away and walked deeper into the room.
Under Chi Jianqing’s watchful eyes, he walked while beginning to undo his buttons and strip off his clothes.
First came the coat, collapsing onto the floor in a small curled heap.
Then the shirt buttons, undone one by one. The shirt hung open, the collar loosely draped over his shoulders.
Two more steps and the collar slid down to hang at his elbows, revealing rounded shoulders and a wide expanse of pale back.
Yu Lang stopped at the center of the living room carpet and turned to face Chi Jianqing.
Raising his brows, he explained cheerfully:
“I owe the boss a lot of money, so I’ll repay it with my body.”
The words came easily, without the slightest reluctance, even faintly carrying anticipation, anticipation of becoming a gilded canary under a rich man’s control.
“Don’t worry, it’s my first time. My first kiss was given to you too.”
Yu Lang pulled out his belt. His pants collapsed like a sudden landslide, pooling around his ankles like shackles used on prisoners.
“I’m very clean. It’s not just anyone I’d lower myself for.”
Yu Lang’s body was far cleaner than his face, no piercings, no tattoos.
Under Chi Jianqing’s gaze, he slowly turned in a full circle, openly displaying every detail of his body, from chest to back.
“As long as you pay, you can do anything to me.”
Yu Lang spread his hands, placing the choice squarely in Chi Jianqing’s grasp.
He was a bitch with no bottom line.
The meaning was perfectly clear.
Yu Lang had seen Chi Jianqing transform into a wealthy man and his eyes had lit up at the sight of money. He crawled into bed to become a lover, a lapdog.
There was no emotional foundation, only the most primal worship of wealth and power.
Chi Jianqing did not make any move but neither did he refuse.
He looked on as though appreciating a piece of art, distant, cold, as if separated by an invisible yet tangible pane of glass.
He watched and only watched.
There was no emotion beyond that.
Including desire.
Being observed so coldly with an objectifying gaze enraged Yu Lang.
He grabbed the ashtray from the table and hurled it straight at Chi Jianqing, fingers suspended in the air, pointing directly at Chi Jianqing’s eyes.
Frowning, he cursed loudly:
“If you keep fucking looking at me like that, I’ll gouge your eyes out and crush them!”
Bang!
The ashtray smashed precisely into Chi Jianqing’s forehead, tearing open a bloody wound. Fresh blood flowed downward like ghostly hands reaching.
Chi Jianqing tilted his head slightly, lowering his line of sight by half an inch.
He was neither hurried nor angry, letting the blood run freely, as though it were the red thread between them, being slowly drawn out, inch by inch.
Under Yu Lang’s provocative words and the wash of blood-red color, the meaning in Chi Jianqing’s pupils gradually became intrusive.
Appreciation, like cells infected with cancer, rapidly and viciously mutated, collapsing into a filthy, concentrated stare.
Yu Lang’s existence was completely objectified. The glass barrier was removed and the observer freely toyed with every curve of muscle on the body before him.
Only arrogant commentary was missing, as though on an artwork laid out for judgment.
For example: a gaudy toy, unworthy of being called art.
Yu Lang was thoroughly furious now. As he furrowed his brows, the eyebrow piercing tugged at his skin, flushing it red.
“Get over here!”
The canary could no longer keep up the act.
Hearing the command, Chi Jianqing finally stepped forward.
Like a massive, impassive divine mountain, he loomed heavily above Yu Lang’s head.
A vast shadow enveloped Yu Lang entirely.
Like a black plastic bag, ready to wrap him up and take him away at any moment.
“Touch me.”
Yu Lang issued the order, casting a domineering glance at Chi Jianqing.
Chi Jianqing complied. His hand fell on Yu Lang’s exposed skin, mechanical, like wiping glass.
As if this step hadn’t been programmed, he was tense and at a loss, only able to go through the motions of touching.
“Kiss me.”
Chi Jianqing did the same. He lifted Yu Lang’s hand to his lips, brushing a faint mint scent.
Yu Lang’s voice suddenly stopped. He leaned in until he was directly in front of Chi Jianqing’s eyes, simply looking, saying nothing.
In the black-mirror pupils that awaited commands, a two-headed snake was reflected, teasingly admiring its own form in the mirror.
Chi Jianqing’s breathing grew rapid, as if he were about to inhale all the scant remaining oxygen between them into his lungs.
The snake’s tongue crossed the last bit of distance between them, winding and circling yet with unmistakable intent, arriving before the black mirror.
Leaning forward, it gave a single lick.
He spoke two words, two words dizzying enough to make one’s head spin.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
You enjoyed the chapter. Now pay the translator. 😌☕
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Dead HusbandChapter 2 · Ghost ChaseChapter 3 · I’ve been fooled againChapter 4 · I need lots and lots of loveChapter 5 · I’ll kill you!^^Chapter 6 · Haha, really!Chapter 7 · This is what it means to be love-struck.Chapter 8 · We meet again, my loveChapter 9 · The little snakeChapter 10 · I’ve been fooled againChapter 11 · The daily routine of sasaeng fans following othersChapter 12 · Inferiority complexChapter 13 · It hurtsChapter 14 · Want to go out? Sure!Chapter 15 · Damn it!Chapter 16 · My wife hitting me is a reward for meChapter 17 · Licking sweatChapter 18 · The vinegar was friedChapter 19 · What a clever tactic, Chi Jianqing!Chapter 20 · Loving me is a very painful thing.Chapter 21 · The words may be rough, but the principle is soundChapter 22 · It wasn’t just two hitsChapter 23 · Turns out I’m not 3, I’m 1!Chapter 24 · Easy To CoaxChapter 25 · Confessing loveChapter 26 · DearChapter 27 · Honey, it felt so good when you scolded me.Chapter 28 · Let’s go after tearing off the human skinChapter 29 Part 1 · Honey, I caught you!Chapter 29 Part 2 · Honey, I caught you!Chapter 30 · Little Blind CrippleChapter 31 · How could I give up? I’ve given you my heart.Chapter 32 · The gloomy CEOChapter 33 · X-harassmentChapter 34 · Little third wheelChapter 35 · I am Chi JianqingChapter 36 · I am his husband, and you are?Chapter 37 · CarChapter 38 · Broken carChapter 39 · I want to kiss youChapter 40 · Silly babyChapter 41 · Chop off hands and feetChapter 42 · Ships and DeathChapter 43 · Chi Jianqing participated in the battle royale and finally obtained a ticket to meet Yu Lang.Chapter 44 · You bastard, get out of here!Chapter 45 · Bad cats can only be forced to love.Chapter 46 · Circle the fox’s tail and rub it back and forthChapter 47 · It hurts so muchChapter 48 · The Second World EndedChapter 49 · Brainless and grumpyChapter 50 · I don’t like you anymoreChapter 51 · I haven’t thought of a title yetChapter 52 · You smell so good, let me hug you and pet youChapter 53 · A big dog bit a kitten’s muzzleChapter 54 · Captive canariesChapter 55 · Male Ghost StrikesChapter 56 · I told you to be quiet!Chapter 57 · I have decided to bestow upon you the title of my wife.Chapter 58 · We’re talking about loveChapter 59 · I really, really like you!Chapter 60 · I want to eat your noodlesChapter 61 · Don’t abandon your puppy!Chapter 62 · What a blissful ending!Chapter 63 · Extra 1Chapter 64 · Extra 2Chapter 65 · Extra 3