The massage made Shi Lan feel drowsy, creating a hazy, pleasurable sensation. However, while he was enjoying it, Miao Yang was suffering. He was using so much force that his arms ached and his whole body grew hot. The man was simply too big, making the massage difficult to perform. It started off easy, but the longer it went on, the more exhausting it became. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his face, already fair, flushed a deep pink.
Miao Yang dug his elbows into Shi Lan’s shoulders and back, silently cheering himself on: one, two, one; one, two, one; one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
168 remained silent. Since the situation remained relatively innocent, 168 did not retreat to the black room. But listening to Miao Yang count so nonsensically, it felt like it might start counting along with him. Furthermore, the way the boy was scrubbing Shi Lan’s back as if he were hand-washing laundry was truly a terrifying sight, and it was almost impossible to look at. Soon, however, 168 retreated to the black room quite abruptly.
Despite Miao Yang’s laundry-scrubbing technique, the physical contact caused Shi Lan’s muscles to tense and his veins to bulge. Had he not been suppressing his urges, he surely would have flipped the boy over. Shi Lan’s breathing grew increasingly ragged. Through the massage, the effects of the alcohol had indeed dissipated, but the tension remained.
Miao Yang was quite diligent. It must be said that Shi Lan’s broad back was scrubbed completely red. Miao Yang’s massage skills were not professional, but they were barely sufficient. It was just a pity he lacked any medicated oil, which would have made it more effective.
“Brother Lan, does that feel good?” Miao Yang wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. His back was also slick with sweat. This is exhausting. Miao Yang thought that if he ever had to work in a massage parlor—no, he did not want to work in a massage parlor, thank you very much. He would not do this job for anything less than a small fortune.
Shi Lan’s voice was muffled as he commanded, “It is fine. Continue.”
Miao Yang almost rolled his eyes. Suppressing his irritation, he said sweetly, “Alright! But let me look for some essential oil or medicated wine. Your body must be worn out from work, so this is just right to loosen up your muscles.”
He rummaged through the cupboards and finally found a bottle of unidentified essential oil in the bathroom. It appeared to be for bathing and was brand new, never opened. Oh, I never noticed this before; otherwise, I would have enjoyed it myself! I have not used such things in my twenty years of life!
Miao Yang walked over. “Here I come, here I come!”
Shi Lan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. This kid was truly a mix of love and hate. I do not want to kill him anymore. I will kill him in a few days instead! Thinking this, Shi Lan allowed Miao Yang to continue the massage and enjoyed the fatigue-relieving effect of the pressure. It was, surprisingly, more comfortable than the massages he got at the public bathhouse.
As Miao Yang applied pressure, his entire body shifted with the rhythm, and the technique required all his strength. He was drenched in sweat again. He glanced at Shi Lan, wondering if he was asleep, but the man suddenly said, “Continue.”
Continue? Continue your mother. Miao Yang gritted his teeth, but said with a gentle tone, “Brother Lan, you need to rest for half an hour after a massage like this. Wait a moment, let me knead your shoulders instead.”
So, Miao Yang began kneading Shi Lan’s shoulders with great force. He asked with feigned trepidation, “Is this pressure too light for Brother Lan?” while screaming internally: I will hammer you to death, you big pervert!
Shi Lan replied slowly, “It is acceptable.”
After this ordeal, Shi Lan had indeed calmed down significantly. At the very least, he no longer harbored thoughts of blood and chaos.
Miao Yang’s hands were shaking, and his forearm muscles were so tight they felt like they would burst. Finally, he crawled off the sofa and collapsed onto the rug on the floor. He shouted weakly, “I am finished. I am completely finished.”
Shi Lan turned his head, propped his upper body up, and looked down at the person lying on the floor. Miao Yang was sprawled out between the coffee table and the sofa, his face flushed, sweat beading on his temples, his long eyelashes casting shadows of despair. The youth had his arms spread out, his fingers curled and trembling slightly.
I am exhausted. In the next world, can you make me a rich person? I have not felt the joy of being wealthy in this life! Thinking that this was a possibility, Miao Yang felt his passion for the mission return slightly. He checked his progress bar: 6/100. He sighed deeply.
Suddenly, he asked 168, “Hey, am I really going to have to give the main characters CPR to absorb luck more effectively?”
168 replied, “Well, er, there is no explicit requirement for that, but you could try it! Who knows, you might get a pleasant surprise!”
Miao Yang fell into a state of self-isolation.
Shi Lan stood up and nudged him with his foot. “Get up.”
Miao Yang did not move. Just as Shi Lan was about to kick him, the boy, who had been acting like a corpse, scrambled up with lightning speed. He clung to Shi Lan’s long legs, pressing his cheek against the man’s knee. “Brother Lan, I am so tired. Ying ying ying.”
Shi Lan looked down at the person clinging to him as if attached. The youth’s forehead was damp, his cheek rubbing against his knee to create a patch of pinkish-white soft flesh. For some inexplicable reason, Shi Lan’s heart skipped a beat. The boy’s voice was weak, but it carried a strange, tingling sensation. Of course, if Miao Yang had not added that “ying ying ying” at the end, Shi Lan might have felt even more pity for him. That was the truth.
“Yangyang,” Shi Lan said, patting his head as if he were a pet. “You should talk less in the future. I will treat you like Yingyu.”
Yingyu was a blue-golden shaded cat. It was very docile and charming.
Miao Yang suddenly looked up, his eyes shining as he looked at Shi Lan. “Brother Lan, you are so different!”
Shi Lan’s brows furrowed, feeling a bad premonition.
He heard Miao Yang giggle. “So you like cats? Your taste is so perverted, so cool, so impressive. Hehe, I like it.”
“Aoooo!”
That night, Miao Yang’s screams echoed throughout the villa; they sounded as miserable as one could imagine. A security guard returning from patrol heard the tragic sounds and clicked his tongue: “Big Brother plays very roughly.”
“That is too intense. Can that kid Miao Yang take it?”
“Hey, why are you worrying? Do not ask about Big Brother’s business.”
However, there were only two screams before silence returned. The house’s soundproofing was quite good.
Miao Yang had been beaten again. He huddled at the foot of the bed. “Ah, ahhh, I cannot go on! Domestic violence! Help! Murder!”
This time, Shi Lan had been ruthless. After a few slaps, the area immediately swelled up. Miao Yang was in too much pain to sit down. He crouched in the corner, eyeing the tall man opposite him with caution. His eyes were wet, and he glared at the man with resentment.
It is too much. This is really too much. Miao Yang was heartbroken. His fingers were still shaking. He felt as if he had poured his heart out for nothing. Not only did this big brother not appreciate him, but he also beat him senseless. Miao Yang was angry and aggrieved; his eyes were red, and the corners of his eyes were glistening with tears.
Shi Lan stood with his hands on his hips, looking at the person cowering on the ground. He chuckled. “I think I have been too lenient with you, causing you to lose your sense of boundaries. If you cannot speak properly in the future, I will find a doctor to stitch your mouth shut, one stitch at a time. Or, I will do it myself.”
The last sentence was chillingly sinister. Miao Yang began to panic again. He forced a smile. “Oh, Brother Lan, you have no sense of humor at all. I was just joking with you.”
He stood up, feeling as though the bruised area were numb. His expression twisted slightly, and he grumbled pitifully, “You hit me so hard, you scared me! But I know, you just did not control your strength well.”
As he spoke, he walked over and threw his arms around Shi Lan’s arm, using his practiced skill of making jokes to deflect the situation. No one was more skilled at this than he was.
Shi Lan raised his hand and patted his face. “If I had not controlled my strength, you would be in the hospital or buried in the dirt.”
Miao Yang swallowed hard.