Wen Jiang wasn’t home this weekend. Gu Xing had only returned for a few days and had been staying at a hotel, saying he would go back to find his Papa once he “came to his senses.” But even with his toes, Xu Yizhou could tell these two had definitely had a fight.
Still, he didn’t pay it much mind—after all, Gu Xing and Day would make up sooner or later.
What he was more concerned about was the method Gu Xing had mentioned.
He took a taxi to the location Gu Xing sent him and spotted Gu Xing by the roadside as soon as he got out of the car. This area was the most bustling part of City A, dominated by service industries, each one among the most renowned. Gu Xing was too far from here, so not only did the taxi ride cost him a lot, but he also arrived late.
Fortunately, Gu Xing hadn’t been there long either.
“Seriously, bro, you’re wearing this?”
Gu Xing looked Xu Yizhou up and down, his expression far from satisfied. Xu Yizhou was simply dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans—anyone who didn’t know better would think he’d brought a student along.
“You expect me to dress up when I’m out with you? I’m not your Papa—I don’t have that kind of preference.”
Xu Yizhou crossed his arms and cracked a joke.
“By the way, why did you ask me to meet here?”
Gu Xing didn’t pay it any mind, just hooked an arm around him and led him toward “Sin” behind them.
“Taking you to solve your problem.”
“Sin” was actually just a bar, but the name always gave off a sense of unknown darkness and mystique, which was why many people came to indulge in the feeling of revelry under the dim lights. In Xu Yizhou’s impression, it was probably just that kind of place.
“You’re taking me drinking?”
Xu Yizhou looked puzzled. “This is your great idea?”
“Who said I’m taking you drinking?”
“Hey, don’t ask questions. Just follow me—I know what I’m doing.”
Gu Xing led Xu Yizhou inside Sin. The server at the entrance seemed to recognize Gu Xing.
“Mr. Gu, bringing a friend for a drink?”
The lighting was dim, so Xu Yizhou couldn’t make out the server’s face clearly, only catching a glimpse of the strong muscles barely contained by the formal uniform, as if they were about to burst out. The lines of those muscles made it hard to associate them with such a gentle voice.
“Yeah, Sin’s eighteenth floor, the usual.”
Gu Xing nodded and said something Xu Yizhou didn’t understand. The server hesitated visibly, glancing at Xu Yizhou beside Gu Xing.
“Mr. Gu, you should know our rules here. Minors aren’t allowed on Sin’s eighteenth floor.”
A moment of silence was drowned out by the heavy metal music inside.
“I told you not to dress like this, but you wouldn’t listen.”
Gu Xing shot Xu Yizhou a disdainful look before turning back to the server.
“He’s an adult. Do you need to see his ID or something?”
The server gave Xu Yizhou another skeptical glance, forcing a dry laugh.
“Since Mr. Gu says so, I’ll take our esteemed guest there right away.”
“Hey, what the hell is Sin’s eighteenth floor?”
Walking behind the server, Xu Yizhou nudged Gu Xing, feeling uneasy about what was to come.
“Relax, you’ll find out soon enough.”
Gu Xing was shorter than Xu Yizhou, but he liked draping an arm over Xu Yizhou’s shoulders—it made him feel more like the boss. The music within the den of sin was almost deafening. The gilded chandeliers overhead shimmered with multicolored lights, casting beautiful patterns on the polished ceramic tiles. The air was thick with the scent of smoke, alcohol, and various perfumes. They entered an elevator at the very back, where a waiter politely gestured for them to proceed.
To be honest, Xu Yizhou had never set foot in a bar in all his years. As a child, he was the well-behaved student in the teacher’s eyes; as an adult, he had become a good-for-nothing.
But the root cause was simply his laziness. The elevator descended floor by floor, revealing glimpses of different levels. Some floors were pitch black, devoid of light, yet they didn’t feel entirely quiet.
This was Xu Yizhou’s first time in such a place, and he immediately felt out of place.
The elevator stopped at the eighteenth floor underground. With a “ding,” the doors slid open, revealing nothing but darkness ahead. There was no visible path. He could only follow the waiter.
After what felt like an eternity, the waiter finally stopped. He seemed to trigger some mechanism, and a door-like structure slowly opened. Inside, even more dazzling multicolored lights and a massive crowd awaited.
The deafening music grew louder, and even before stepping inside, the sheer intensity of the atmosphere was palpable. The waiter produced two masks from somewhere and respectfully handed them to Gu Xing with both hands.
“Moon, have a good time in heaven.”
Gu Xing took the two half-face masks and passed one to Xu Yizhou.
“What kind of place is this, Yu Yan?” Xu Yizhou asked, astonished by everything before him. This was no ordinary bar—it could almost be called an underground city. The sheer scale of the construction was mind-boggling.
“Don’t ask. Just try to feel it and blend in,” Gu Xing replied, already wearing his mask. “By the way, Moon is my name here. Think of one for yourself to use once we’re inside.”
“No one uses their real name here.”
Xu Yizhou put on his mask and followed Gu Xing inside. If what he heard outside was overwhelming, what he saw inside shattered his worldview. Naked men walked freely through the crowd, some even sitting on others’ laps, their chests rising and falling rhythmically. The scene was utterly debauched. Xu Yizhou felt this was no decent place and wondered how Gu Xing knew about it. The waiter earlier had seemed particularly respectful toward him.
Yet, his eyes were involuntarily drawn to the bold and unrestrained atmosphere of this open space.
“Well, well, Moon? Long time no see.”
A man holding a wine glass in one hand and embracing another man dressed in a maid outfit approached. The skirt was hiked up to the thighs, and a fluffy tail swayed with the man’s movements.
“Oh, I was wondering who it was. It’s L. Long time no see, indeed,” Gu Xing replied calmly, engaging in conversation without a hint of discomfort.
“What’s this, changed your taste after all this time? Now you’re into the innocent college boy type?”
The man was drunk, his narrow little eyes squinting as he leered at Xu Yizhou from head to toe.