Not Even Pretending Anymore
The man before me had completely shed his gentle facade.
I’d never felt life could be this dark.
The sunlight was blinding, slicing through the sheer curtains and landing mercilessly on my face. My whole body ached, like I’d been taken apart and reassembled—each pulse of soreness reminding me of last night’s madness.
I slowly sat up. The other side of the bed was already empty, only an indented pillow and the lingering scent of citrus remained.
Zhou Shou’s scent.
The bathroom door opened. Zhou Shou walked out in a bathrobe, water dripping from his hair, trickling down his neck and chest. That’s when I realized—this man’s body was unfairly good.
Damn it. So unfair.
He walked to the bed, touched my forehead, pinched my cheek, then grabbed the thermos on the bedside table and poured me a glass of warm water. He handed it over.
I didn’t take it. I just glared at him, full of anger.
But this same useless glare had appeared too many times last night. Zhou Shou just said calmly, “Don’t look at me like that, little obedient one.”
Great. He’s not even pretending anymore. One night and his true colors are out in full force.
I glared even harder.
And got kissed again until I forgot where the sky was.
I sat on the bed, breathing hard.
Zhou Shou opened the drawer of the bedside table, took something out, and stuffed it into my hand. “Here. Don’t go to your convenience store job anymore. No need to stay in the dorm either. Move in with me—or I’ll get you a better apartment near your school. Whatever you need, just tell me.”
I finally looked down. It was a bank card.
The chaos, pain, and humiliation from last night hadn’t even faded, and now this knife called “humiliation” stabbed me again, right in the chest.
When Zhou Shou kept saying he wanted to sleep with me, at least that was blatant—it was just raw, shameless possession.
And when he talked about wanting to “pursue” me, it was a joke.
But now, this card, those light, careless words—this was a clear, priced transaction. Turning me back into exactly who I was the first time we met.
My ears rang.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” My voice came out dry and raspy.
Zhou Shou frowned slightly but stayed patient. “Ji Chi, being with me—you don’t need to struggle anymore. I’ll take care of you.”
“Take care of me?” I laughed bitterly, like I’d heard the world’s biggest joke. Throwing off the blanket, I revealed the bruises and marks all over my body. “Zhou Shou! What the hell do you take me for? You forced me to sleep with you, and now you hand me a card? What, are you trying to make me your kept man?”
“Ji Chi!” Zhou Shou’s face darkened. “I’m giving you a better life.”
“I don’t want it!” I shouted, throwing the bank card at him. “You f***ing raped me! Zhou Shou, can’t you understand human words? I said no—over and over! You dragged me here against my will—”
The rest of my words got stuck in my throat, choked by anger and shame.
I just wanted to curse this man to hell.
Damn this stupid tear reflex—every time I get mad, my eyes just start leaking on their own.
Zhou Shou grabbed my chin, his grip so tight it hurt, forcing me to look up at him.
I turned my head away, dodging his attempt to kiss away my tears.
“Ji Chi, stop pretending to be so innocent,” he said coldly. “Think carefully—didn’t you enjoy it last night? From the moment you got in my car.”
“Get away from me!” I shoved him with all my strength, grabbed the crumpled mess of clothes from the floor, and hurriedly pulled them on.
My fingers were shaking so hard I couldn’t even button my shirt.
“Come here, I’ll help you,” Zhou Shou said, regaining his composure. “Eat first, I’ll drive you to school after. If you don’t listen, I’ll just take you again.”
As someone who could handle soft words but not hard threats, that warning worked—I surrendered for a few minutes.
Survival first.
The problem between me and Zhou Shou was far from over—but I didn’t care anymore.
After shoving down breakfast without tasting a thing, I grabbed the door handle, stormed out without looking back, and bolted down the stairs to the street.
Standing by the roadside, I prayed from the bottom of my heart—please, let there be a taxi without an app booking. Save this pitiful college boy, please.