Xu Yining has “disappeared.”
To be more precise, he hadn’t exactly vanished, as Shi Zhi still received several WeChat messages from him every day. He would ask what Shi Zhi was doing, if he was eating well, and complain about how much work the company had and how busy the business was.
It was as if the argument and the showdown from that day never happened; as if they were still the same as before—Xu Yining busy with work outside, and Shi Zhi at home waiting for him to return. He continued to play the role of Shi Zhi’s boyfriend and fiancé as if nothing were wrong, reporting every trivial detail. However, whenever Shi Zhi replied asking him to come back to discuss canceling the engagement, he would disappear again.
Xu Yining used this method to confront Shi Zhi, acting as if the problems between them didn’t exist as long as he didn’t face them—as if his deception and betrayal had never occurred. Shi Zhi felt both distressed and helpless.
What Shi Zhi didn’t know was that on the day Xu Yining left home, he had a massive argument with Yu Chongyao. That day, after leaving the apartment, Xu Yining drove over the speed limit all the way to Yu Chongyao’s residence. This apartment was one that Xu Yining had bought for him.
Xu Yining wasn’t entirely lying; he truly had broken off contact with Yu Chongyao for a period while he was with Shi Zhi. He had met Yu Chongyao during his freshman year, a time when he could finally confront his own sexuality. Having escaped the control of his mother, Wang Suzhen, Xu Yining had completely let himself go.
He and Yu Chongyao were a perfect match; Yu Chongyao was very “wild” in bed and accepted all of his kinks. It was through him that Xu Yining experienced a different kind of sexual pleasure during his first time. Yu Chongyao was greedy for money, and Xu Yining was after beauty; the two of them each got what they wanted, and their physical relationship lasted for a long time. It wasn’t until Xu Yining met Shi Zhi—two years his junior—that he began a frantic pursuit.
He truly liked Shi Zhi, so much so that he cut off all his previous messy relationships for him. Xu Yining once thought he could spend his whole life committed only to Shi Zhi. Yu Chongyao had sought him out a few months before the engagement. At that time, Xu Yining had just taken over the company and, combined with his lack of sexual harmony with Shi Zhi, he was feeling extremely stifled. Yu Chongyao showed up at just the right time, and like dry wood meeting a flame, they easily fell back into a physical relationship.
Xu Yining didn’t feel much of a burden; in his view, it was just satisfying a physical urge. He hadn’t “betrayed” Shi Zhi because his heart still belonged to him. Keeping Yu Chongyao around was just to satisfy his XP and vent his lust. That was all. Besides, Shi Zhi didn’t care about those things anyway.
Everything was fine, but Yu Chongyao shouldn’t have gone to Shi Zhi. He shouldn’t have laid everything bare.
After finishing a cigarette in his car, Xu Yining went upstairs and knocked on Yu Chongyao’s door. Without a word, he first gave him a slap.
Smack—!
A trace of blood seeped from the corner of Yu Chongyao’s mouth. He wasn’t angry, only looking at Xu Yining provocatively. “You found out? What did your ‘wife’ say to you? That I’m shameless? That I went to show him up?”
“Show him up?” Xu Yining sneered. “Are you even worthy? Who do you think you are?”
“Since I don’t count for much, why did you come here in such a rage? Could it be you didn’t get enough f*cking last night and came for a second round?” Yu Chongyao mocked. “Does your wife know? Does he know the first thing you did after coming back from your ‘business trip’ was sleep with me? Does he know you spent the whole night with me?”
Xu Yining grabbed Yu Chongyao by the throat and said fiercely, “I warned you, didn’t I? Don’t go provoking him. Why didn’t you listen? Why did you go to him? Why did you make him sad!”
“Cough, cough—” Yu Chongyao struggled to pry Xu Yining’s hand away, gasping out, “Is he sad or are you sad? Would he really be sad for you? Xu Yining, after all these years, can’t you see clearly? Shi Zhi doesn’t love you at all… cough… he has no love for you.”
“Bitch!” Xu Yining slapped Yu Chongyao again, using ten parts of his strength this time. Yu Chongyao wobbled for a few moments before standing firm. He touched his numbed mouth and sneered, “What, did I hit the nail on the head? Turning into a rage because of embarrassment? You can’t handle it?”
Xu Yining’s hands were clenched into tight fists, his chest heaving. Yu Chongyao softened his tone then. “Brother Yining, don’t you see? I’m the only one who truly loves you. I’m the only one who fits you best. Break up with Shi Zhi and be with me, okay? I’ll make you happier than you are now.”
“With you?” Xu Yining scoffed. “As if. What makes you think that if I break up with Shi Zhi, I’d be with a ‘seller’ like you? Why would I, Xu Yining, want a bitch like you when I can have anyone I want?”
Perhaps those words stung Yu Chongyao, as he pulled back a mocking smile. “Yes, Shi Zhi is the best match for you. You want him, but he doesn’t want you! Xu Yining, Shi Zhi looks down on you! He’s disgusted by you!”
“You think Shi Zhi won’t find out about your disgusting side just because you keep your ‘kinks’ hidden?” Yu Chongyao sneered. “But Xu Yining, you can hold back from touching him before marriage, can you hold back for a lifetime?”
He continued under Xu Yining’s glare: “Even if you coax Shi Zhi into sleeping with you, can he handle it? Can you be compatible in bed? Can you make it so Shi Zhi feels no pain, only pleasure?”
“Xu Yining, you can’t,” Yu Chongyao said with certainty. “Ordinary sex can’t satisfy you. Shi Zhi will get tired of you sooner or later. Even if he can bear it once or twice, what about a year, two years, or ten years from now?”
“Xu Yining, you will cheat sooner or later. No matter who you’re with, you’ll cheat eventually.” Yu Chongyao stroked Xu Yining’s face, his tone full of seduction. “Brother Yining, only I… only I can bear all of you. You’ll only ever be truly satisfied if you’re with me, won’t you?”
Xu Yining brutally dragged Yu Chongyao into the bedroom and threw him onto the bed. “Whore, you’re just f*cking asking for it!”
Yu Chongyao twisted his waist, assuming a crawling position, and wailed lasciviously: “That’s right, I’m asking for it. Brother Yining, come and do me.”
“Bitch, I’ll f*cking do you to death.” Xu Yining pulled out his belt and lashed Yu Chongyao viciously. Yu Chongyao let out groans of pain and pleasure from his throat. Xu Yining ripped off Yu Chongyao’s pants and slapped him several times; Yu Chongyao let out a cry of pain. Watching Xu Yining spit into his own palm, Yu Chongyao’s body reacted before his mind, struggling to pull away…
Xu Yining remained deaf to Yu Chongyao’s pleas for mercy, grabbing his hair with heavy force. (Editor’s note: They are fighting, please don’t lock this again!)
When it was over, Xu Yining rarely skipped his usual “tricks.” He wiped himself with a wet wipe, buckled his pants, and stood by the bed, looking down at Yu Chongyao. “I’ll let it slide this time. If there’s a next time, look out for yourself.” With that, he left without looking back.
Yu Chongyao gave a cold sneer. Enduring the tearing pain, he got out of bed, found the camera he had placed beforehand, and began scrolling through the footage.
Buzz—
The phone rang again. From the day Xu Yining left home, Shi Zhi received several “anonymous” text messages every day. They contained only bed photos with the faces obscured; no text.
Shi Zhi was beyond annoyed. He couldn’t figure out Yu Chongyao’s purpose—was it to show off or to intimidate? Regardless, it had nothing to do with him. He had already proposed a breakup; it was Xu Yining who was evading and refusing to settle it.
Shi Zhi sighed, put down his palette, and picked up his phone. He thought if this continued, he’d just forward them to Xu Yining and let him handle it. He was truly fed up; those photos were an absolute eyesore.
【Zhi, don’t stay cooped up at home. Come to the shop. I’ve developed a new cake; come and have a taste. [Seductive.jpg]】
The message was from Fu Yumeng. Shi Zhi instinctively breathed a sigh of relief. He looked out the balcony; the spring colors were in full bloom. He might as well go for a walk.
“The spring colors are in full bloom, why not come out for a walk?” Xiang Jing dragged Fu Yuchu to the coffee shop he frequently visited.
Fu Yuchu looked foul-faced. “They’ve already broken up, why are you still buying cakes?”
“That’s something you ‘single dogs’ wouldn’t understand.” Xiang Jing pushed open the coffee shop door. “Love always arrives when you’re least guarded. If you’re hurt in one relationship, there will always be another waiting to heal you. I’m currently searching for the relationship to heal me. Hi—Boss Fu, good afternoon!”
Fu Yuchu: “…”
“Welcome.” Fu Yumeng looked up from her phone and said politely, “Mr. Xiang, good afternoon.”
Xiang Jing leaned over the counter, smiling like a peacock showing off its feathers. “Boss Fu looks so happy; did you develop another new product?”
Fu Yumeng: “Yes, a new one just came out today. The usual? Should I pack it for you?”
“I’ll trouble you then, Boss Fu.”
“It’s no trouble, just as it should be.” Fu Yumeng processed the order and had the server pack it. She said with a smile, “Mr. Xiang’s girlfriend is truly lucky to eat cakes personally bought by her boyfriend every day after work.”
Hearing this, Fu Yuchu looked at the shop owner and raised an eyebrow.
Xiang Jing: “Girls, you have to coax them a bit. It’s mainly because Boss Fu’s skills are so good; my girlfriend just loves your cakes.”
Fu Yumeng burst out laughing.
Fu Yuchu rolled his eyes inwardly. They’ve been broken up for over six months and he’s still using ‘my girlfriend loves them.’ He couldn’t approve of Xiang Jing’s way of pursuing people; with this snail-like, roundabout strategy, there was likely a long march ahead before he could actually win the owner over.
“Oh? Is there a new coffee in the shop too?” Xiang Jing created an opportunity for himself. “I’m off work early today and I’m not in a hurry to get back. Yuchu, why don’t we sit and have a cup of coffee before we go? What do you think?”
Fu Yuchu didn’t think much of it. He had been in a bad mood lately. For days, he hadn’t received the “consultation” he was waiting for, and now he had to play along with Xiang Jing’s acting. He felt a bit unwilling and planned to find an excuse to leave.
“Drinking coffee at night causes insomnia, and I still have a case to handle…”
The crisp sound of a wind chime came from the shop entrance as the door was pushed open from the outside. Fu Yuchu looked at the person walking in against the light and naturally finished his sentence:
“…it requires staying up late quite a bit, so a cup of coffee is perfect right now. Shall we find a seat?”