Author: hoenimochi (Page 3 of 95)

       Shen Liu could recite Qin Mu’s home address from memory—which street, which residential complex, which building, which unit, which apartment number—yet this was the first time he had actually stepped through this door.

       Hearing the noise, Beiwei came out of the cat bed as usual to greet. Upon seeing it was a stranger, it stopped two steps away, tilting its head to examine him warily. Dongjing let out a rough meow as well and stood up, glaring fiercely at this unfamiliar intruder. Its plump fur exuded a particularly imposing aura.

       One man and two cats stared at one another for several seconds.

       Shen Liu squatted down, crooked his finger at them, and called out with a smile, “Meow.”

       Qin Mu did not return until well past midnight. The sofa in the living room was completely occupied. The tall, long-legged Shen Liu was wearing Qin Mu’s T-shirt, cradling Beiwei in his arms, with Dongjing curled at his feet. Half the blanket was dragged on the floor, and he was sleeping soundly.

       Qin Mu smiled helplessly and gently tried to cover him properly with the blanket. Unexpectedly, the moment he moved, Beiwei woke up. Seeing that it was him, the cat wriggled free and leapt to the floor. Shen Liu was jolted awake, his foot bumping into Dongjing and provoking the chubby orange cat to shake its paw with a dark expression to protest.

       “What time is it?” Shen Liu squinted sleepily at his phone, still unable to resist mouthing off. “Why are you staying up so late at your age?”

       Qin Mu glanced at him. “You’re the oldest one in this house.”

       “…,” The old man Shen stood up and casually slammed the blanket down over Dongjing like Mount Tai pressing down, forcing the cat to struggle for a long while before wriggling free, letting out an indignant yowl.

       “You’re way too fat,” Shen Liu said without the slightest guilt, patting its backside. “Move around more. It’s good for body and mind.”

       Dongjing bristled, glared, rolled off the sofa, and retreated back to its nest.

       “You’re getting along quite harmoniously,” Qin Mu said as he took a bottle of mineral water out of the fridge.

       “They’re your cats. Of course we should love each other.” Shen Liu curved his lips in a smile, one hand in his pocket as the other plucked the bottle straight from Qin Mu’s hand.

       Qin Mu thought he was going to drink it and was about to grab another. Instead, Shen Liu found a cup, poured him some hot water, mixed in a small amount of cold mineral water, and handed it over. “Drink it warm.” After that, he leaned in to sniff and asked, “Was the case tough? Why did you smoke so much?”

       Qin Mu laughed. “Are you a cat or a dog?”

       “I’ll be whatever you want me to be.” Shen Liu smiled as he leaned against the fridge. “But let’s call it a night. We’re both getting on in years. We should focus on staying healthy; staying up all night indulging in debauchery isn’t good for you.”

       Qin Mu had not been thinking in that direction at all. He shot him a sideways look. “If that’s the case, then for the sake of both our health, you’ll sleep in the guest room.”

       “…,” Shen Liu, having hoisted a rock only to smash his own foot, hurriedly tried to salvage the situation, slipping smoothly into a pitiful act. “Then I’ll just sleep in the living room. At least I’ll have two cats for company.”

       Qin Mu knew he was playing his familiar retreat-to-advance trick again and deliberately did not indulge him. He curved his lips. “Suit yourself.” With that, he set the cup down, gently patted Beiwei on the head, and went to take a shower.

       Since his scheme failed, Shen Liu complained to Beiwei, “It’s bad enough he won’t let me into the bed, but we’re both cats. Why does he only pet you and not me?”

       Beiwei probably thought this man had something wrong with his head. It ignored him and walked away with a feline gait.

       When Qin Mu came out of the shower, he discovered that the someone who had claimed he would sleep in the living room had already seized his bed. He even curled up guiltily under the blanket, eyes shut, pretending to be asleep. Qin Mu did not expose him. He turned off the light, lay down on the other side facing outward, and silently began counting down in his head.

       “Ten, nine, eight… four, three…”

       Before he even reached ten seconds, the person behind him had already pressed close, an arm lightly dr4p3d around his waist, pulling him into an embrace.

       In the darkness, the corner of Qin Mu’s lips lifted slightly, and he closed his eyes in quiet contentment.

       After Shen Liu moved in, he showed no intention of leaving.

       Qin Mu was swamped with merger-and-acquisition cases to pay attention to and had no time to spare, so he simply let him be. With this tacit permission, a certain Mr Shen lived quite contentedly in Qin Mu’s home, not treating himself like an outsider in the slightest. Today he planted a row of flowers, the next day he raised two fish, and the day after he tinkered with discarded small appliances. From time to time, he went to the law firm to drop by, and before long, he had gotten familiar with everyone there. At first, people thought Shen Liu was coming by so often because he had his eye on one of the young women at the firm. After analysing it back and forth and seeing that he showed no particular attentiveness to anyone, they eventually began to sense something unusual—

       Whenever Shen Liu came, no matter how busy Qin Mu was, he would always carve out a bit of time to sit alone with him.

       When Qin Mu got busy, he often forgot to eat. No one else dared to urge him, but whenever Shen Liu brought food, he would eat every single meal.

       Whenever Shen Liu delivered food, Qin Mu’s portion was always packaged separately, with extra ingredients added.

       Whenever it rained, no matter how late it was, Shen Liu would come to pick Qin Mu up. It was said that Qin Mu had night blindness. Although it was not severe, he had trouble seeing clearly on rainy nights.

       When Shen Liu was around, Qin Mu’s normally austere and chilly presence seemed to soften a little. The younger staff who usually did not dare joke around in front of him occasionally found the courage to crack a few jokes.

       Combined with Lawyer Qin’s usual cold, distant demeanour and his complete lack of romantic rumours involving women, the onlookers arrived at a very bold conjecture. This conjecture was eventually confirmed by Lawyer Zhou letting something slip. Upon hearing that the two of them had fallen for each other in their youth and then been separated for a full ten years, the gossiping crowd sighed with emotion and began actively creating opportunities for Shen Liu, steering him right into Qin Mu’s path.

       Qin Mu said, “…Are you that free?”

       Shen Liu replied, “Mm. Very free.”

       Qin Mu said, “If you’re free, go find a job.”

       Shen Liu said, “That makes sense.”

       That afternoon, Shen Liu appeared again, holding a cup of coffee.

       Qin Mu frowned. “Why are you still here?”

       Shen Liu set the coffee beside his hand, tugged at his shirt, and revealed the badge on his chest that read Special Assistant. He smiled brilliantly. “I just started at noon. The badge was made on the spot. Does it look good? From today on, I’m your special assistant.”

       He even put extra emphasis on the word ‘special’.

       Qin Mu nearly snapped the pen in his hand. “…Call Zhou Yi in here.”

       Shen Liu’s job as a ‘special assistant’ lasted less than an hour before he was relieved of duty. In truth, he had only wanted to tease Qin Mu a bit and help him relax. He had no intention of actually disturbing him or diverting his attention.

       After more than a month of relentless work, the formal merger contract was finally signed. That evening, Zhou Yi treated the entire law firm to dinner at a unique restaurant. Hotpot and barbecue paired with ice-cold beer were served, and everyone drank themselves into high spirits. Qin Mu could not handle alcohol. He could not withstand the constant toasts, cup after cup, but out of courtesy, he had no choice but to keep up appearances, forcing himself to hold on until Shen Liu came to pick him up, at which point he finally allowed his drunkenness to show.

       Shen Liu dr4p3d Qin Mu’s arm over his own shoulder and wrapped an arm around his waist as they walked toward the parking lot. Qin Mu leaned his weight over softly, his steps swaying, walking in a crooked line. Seeing him this drunk, Shen Liu worried his stomach would feel unwell and gave him a punitive pinch at the waist, saying, “You’ve really gotten bold, drinking this much.”

       Qin Mu felt the pain, let out a sound, and threw a tantrum. “I can do it myself.”

       Shen Liu chuckled and loosened his grip. “Sure. Go back by yourself.” Though he let go, his hands still hovered protectively at Qin Mu’s sides.

       With the support gone, Qin Mu stepped forward only to feel the world spin. He staggered half a step backwards, his back pressing against Shen Liu’s chest.

       “Still talking tough?” Shen Liu asked.

       “Then just leave me here if you’ve got the guts.” Lawyer Qin, who usually convinced others with reason, was now throwing an unreasonable drunk fit.

       Shen Liu laughed and coaxed him into conceding. “I don’t have the guts. I wouldn’t dare. Lord Qin, I’ll take you home.”

       It took some effort to get him into the car and buckle his seat belt. Afraid that Qin Mu would feel dizzy and uncomfortable, Shen Liu drove very slowly. The air-conditioning was on inside the car, and a song was playing.

       “…Hot summer nights, mid-July,

       When you and I were forever wild,

       The crazy days, the city lights,

       The way you’d play with me like a child,

       Will you still love me?”

       Qin Mu tilted his head and leaned against the car window. Under the night curtain, the lights blurred his outline. His closed eyes hid their usual sharpness, making his entire face look unusually gentle. It was hard to tell whether he was listening or already asleep.

       When the car came to a stop, Shen Liu called him softly, “Log.” Qin Mu answered, opening his eyes. “Are we there?”

       “En.” Shen Liu supported him upstairs and brought him home. Qin Mu, however, refused to go straight to bed and stubbornly insisted, “I smell all over. I need to shower.”

       “Sure. Go wash.” Shen Liu curved his lips and directly scooped him up around the waist, carrying him into the bathroom.

       Before Qin Mu could recover from his dizziness, his clothes had already been stripped off. The showerhead overhead roared as water poured down, steam fogging everything before his eyes. The man pressed him against the wall, pinched his chin, and kissed him.

       “Mmh…” Qin Mu grew even dizzier from the kiss. His footing faltered, and he had to cling tightly to the other man’s body. Their tongues entwined, and the shameful sounds were masked by the rush of water, while desire rose brazenly and unchecked. His remaining shred of reason still resisted. Qin Mu struggled to push him away. “You’re taking advantage of me…”

       “How could I be? I’m just paying back what I owe.” Shen Liu poured shower gel onto his chest and gently rubbed it in, giving special attention to the two sensitive protrusions. His voice was exceptionally tender. “You kissed me while you were drunk. Of course I have to return the favour, right?”

       “Right my ass…” Qin Mu was dizzy but not completely out of it. He tried to grab the two misbehaving hands, but his willpower was not enough. His body swayed as Shen Liu pressed him and washed him from his upper body down to his lower. Unable to endure it any longer, he gritted his teeth. “Get out. I’ll do it myself.”

       Shen Liu caught his hand and pressed it against his half-hard c0ck, smiling ambiguously. “Sure. Do it yourself.”

       Qin Mu reacted sluggishly and tried to pull his hand back, but the man encircled him from behind. Shen Liu pinned him to the wall, licking and biting his ear as he threatened softly, “If you won’t do it yourself, I’ll help.”

       The weak resistance was subdued in moments. Shen Liu held Qin Mu’s hand, half forcing and half coaxing him to grip his c0ck and stroke back and forth, luring him little by little into the rushing current of desire. Qin Mu panted and tilted his head back. Water droplets fell like rain, sliding over his trembling Adam’s apple, taut neck line, solid chest…all the way down. When Qin Mu had sunk into desire, and the movement of his hand became instinctive, Shen Liu released his hold and lightly kissed the corner of his lips. “Good boy. Let me see you climax.”

       Pleasure shot forth like an arrow loosed from the bow, like a fire that burned through the body, already impossible to stop. Qin Mu stroked himself a few quick times and came with a low gasp, dizzy and dazed as he collapsed into Shen Liu’s arms, cursing weakly, “Bastard…”

       “I’m still hard.” Shen Liu thrust his hips forward and poked him in grievance.

       “Serves you right.” Qin Mu turned ruthless after the fact.

       “Mm, I deserve it. You’re the master. What you say goes.” Shen Liu kissed his damp forehead, dried his body, blow-dried his hair, and carried him to bed. Just as he was about to go back to the bathroom to clean up, his wrist was caught.

       “Sleep,” Qin Mu said with his eyes closed. “Hold me.”

       Shen Liu froze for a moment, then smiled. “As you command.”

Translator/Author’s Note:
The song is Young and Beautiful — Lana Del Rey

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       Shen Liu understood the meaning in those words and curled the corner of his lips. “I agree.”

       “Good.” Qin Mu said expressionlessly, “You understood your own physical condition, you were familiar with the rules of BDSM play, and you had the ability to foresee the intensity and risks of the activities I might have carried out last night. But during the routine pre-scene questions, you did not tell me you were tired or unwell, and during the scene, you did not take the initiative to call for a stop. Therefore, for the current result, you should bear the primary responsibility.”

       His reasoning for assigning responsibility was sound and well-founded. Shen Liu nodded. “En, it’s my fault…” He had wanted to hold back his cough but could not. He choked as he tried to cover his mouth, looking a bit dishevelled.

       Qin Mu silently waited for him to finish coughing. He half-lowered his eyes and said, “In a scene that requires cooperation between two people, failing to fully understand the sub’s physical condition and applying physical pressure beyond their tolerance is negligence and error on the Dom’s part. So I also share some of the responsibility. Besides that, I was under your care while in J City. Now that you have come all this way, I should fulfil my duty as host. All things considered, while you are ill, I will do my best to take care of you.”

       This turn was so sharp and sudden that Shen Liu’s sickly, foggy mind could not keep up. Before he even had time to react, Qin Mu had already stood up. He adjusted the head of the bed to a comfortable angle so Shen Liu could lean back, pulled the tray table into place for him, and then took a lunch box out of the paper bag he had brought.

       Inside was a soft and steaming hot plain congee paired with two light, palate-cleansing side dishes.

       Shen Liu froze, staring at him without blinking.

       Being looked at like that made a faint, suspicious flush appear at the tips of Qin Mu’s ears. His face remained stiff as he said, “I worked overtime today and didn’t have time to go home. I bought the congee on the way. Just make do with it.”

       He had come… to take care of him.

       Shen Liu felt dazed, overwhelmed by unexpected favour, as if he were in a dream.

       A beautiful dream he had waited far too long for.

       A gentle smile appeared in his eyes, growing richer and richer, like spring wind sweeping across a barren field and turning thousands of miles of emptiness lush in an instant. The heart inside his chest, numb for so long, fluttered like a fledgling learning to flap its wings, beating in chaotic bursts. The intermittent fever, the heavy drowsiness, the weakness, the agonising pain in his throat—all of it seemed to vanish, leaving only a faint sting at the tip of his nose.

       “Log…”

       “Eat quickly.” Qin Mu cut him off, his stiffness hiding a hint of shy embarrassment, as though afraid Shen Liu would say something that would embarrass him.

       Shen Liu dropped the subject. He picked up the spoon and tasted a mouthful. “It’s good.”

       It was nothing more than ordinary white congee. How good could it be?

       Qin Mu asked, “Did you burn your brain with fever?”

       Shen Liu laughed. The airflow tickled his throat, making him cough again.

       Just then, someone knocked. It was one of Chu Yu’s secretaries, the one surnamed Yang, whom Qin Mu had met a few times. She placed several large and small bags on the side table, her eyes crinkling with a smile as she said, “Our boss was worried that President Shen wouldn’t be used to the hospital’s nutrition meals, so he specially asked me to bring some food over. But he also told me, if I saw Lawyer Qin here, I should take all this back, because with you around, President Shen definitely won’t go hungry.” She deliberately paused and asked with a smile, “So should I… leave these, or take them back?”

       “Leave them.”

       “Take them back.”

       Qin Mu and Shen Liu spoke at the same time.

       “Eh?” Secretary Yang blinked. “The two of you don’t agree. Who should I listen to?”

       “Listen to him.” The ailing Shen immediately stepped back.

       “Then I won’t disturb you both. I’ll be on my way.” Understanding and efficient, Secretary Yang withdrew neatly.

       Qin Mu unpacked the various food boxes; inside were assorted pastries and abalone congee.

       “I’m only eating this.” Shen Liu did not even glance at the other food. He buried his head in his own bowl of white congee, gulping it down as if someone were about to snatch it from him.

       Qin Mu found it amusing. The corner of his lips curled up unconsciously, but he immediately forced it flat and turned his gaze aside as if nothing had happened. He stood up to refill the electric kettle with water, then placed the pillows and blanket from the cabinet on the sofa bed reserved for accompanying family members next to the hospital bed.

       Shen Liu froze. “You’re going to sleep here?”

       “En.”

       “No.” He grew a little anxious, speaking faster as he coughed and wheezed, “This thing is contagious. And I’m not sick enough to need someone accompanying me overnight. Even if I were, the hospital has caretakers. I’ll just sleep and be fine tomorrow. You should go.”

       “This isn’t your territory. You don’t get to decide.” Qin Mu pushed up his glasses and said calmly, “I’m giving you the treatment of a sub right now. Think it over. You only get this chance once. Don’t say I didn’t offer.”

       Shen Liu choked, calling out, “Log…”

       “Do you want it?” Qin Mu gave him no room to back out.

       Shen Liu admitted defeat helplessly. “…I want it.”

       “Then stop talking nonsense and keep eating your congee.”

       Obediently, Shen Liu lowered his head and finished all the congee and side dishes until the bowl was spotless. He wiped his mouth and said hoarsely, “I’m full.”

       “Do you need the bathroom?”

       “I can go myself.”

       Qin Mu placed the slippers neatly at his feet. Shen Liu got up and pushed the IV stand toward the bathroom. When he returned, he saw the bed had been tidied, and the window left open a crack for ventilation. He sat back down on the bed and switched to a roundabout strategy to persuade him. “You said you worked overtime today. You must have important cases on hand. If you catch the flu, it’ll delay things. And with you lying beside me, I won’t sleep well either. How about… moving to the outer room? Please, my dear Master?”

       This hospital suite had a small lounge with a three-seater sofa where one could sleep. Qin Mu glanced at him, considered it, then carried the blanket out.

       Shen Liu let out a breath of relief and finally lay down with ease. The little energy he had just been forcing out drained instantly. His high fever surged back with a vengeance, and he drifted into a heavy sleep. For half a year, he had been exhausting himself battling others, nearly wearing out what was left of his health. This time, the illness hit him like a collapsing mountain; he truly could not withstand it.

       His condition worsened at night, and his fever rose repeatedly without breaking. Every so often, Qin Mu checked his ear temperature. When it reached thirty-nine degrees Celsius, he fed him fever-reducing medicine and water. Seeing the heat still refuse to drop, he soaked a towel in warm water and wiped his body to cool him down.

       It was late at night, and the cicadas chirped outside. Inside the room, only the soft hum of the air conditioner remained. The nurse came to remove the IV needle, and the sleeping patient remained asleep. His face was flushed bright red, as if he had gotten drunk. Qin Mu suddenly remembered that night when he had received his admission letter from K University—he had thought Shen Liu was drunk beyond consciousness and, emboldened, had done something a bit out of line. Who would have thought this guy had not been drunk at all? He had been perfectly aware, pretending to be confused, quietly watching Qin Mu struggle in his secret crush. Later, Shen Liu explained that back then, he felt Qin Mu was still too young, had seen little of the world and of men, and he did not want him to be hung up on him. So even if he had been moved, he did not respond.

       That was exactly how he was—always making decisions ‘for his sake’ on his own. Over the years, he had done everything, whether he should or shouldn’t, and sometimes it really made one grit their teeth in frustration. Qin Mu had finally gotten the chance to torture him a little, yet now he had fallen sick and needed personal care. It was hard to tell who was torturing whom. After weighing between ‘giving him a proper beating’ and ‘taking naked photos to blackmail him’, Qin Mu noticed the ring hanging on Shen Liu’s chest. In the end, he could not bring himself to do either. Sullenly, he pressed a fever patch with a cartoon pig’s head onto his forehead.

       At dawn, Shen Liu’s high fever finally receded reluctantly. When he woke, he saw Qin Mu asleep, slumped over the edge of his bed. His heart felt as though it were soaking in sweetness to the point of bubbling, swelling with tenderness. Afraid that his cough would wake him, he carefully pulled the blanket up to cover half his face, leaving only his eyes peeking out to look at him.

       At seven-thirty, an alarm rang. Qin Mu woke in a daze, instinctively reached out to feel Shen Liu’s temperature, then withdrew his hand in slight embarrassment when he saw his eyes open. He straightened his collar and stood up.

       “I’m much better,” Shen Liu said. “You didn’t sleep well last night. Don’t drive today.”

       “Zhou Yi will pick me up on his way.” Qin Mu set down the hospital breakfast. “I’ll come back this evening. If you want to eat anything or need anything, message me.”

       “Finally took me off the blacklist?” Shen Liu laughed softly. “This illness was really worth catching.”

       Qin Mu ignored him and left. In the evening, he received a message from Shen Liu.

       Call Me Brother and I’ll Give You Candy: I asked Tao Ze to come. Don’t come to the hospital. Go home and rest.

       Given Shen Liu’s usual behaviour, who knew whether he was telling the truth? Qin Mu did not feel at ease, so he still went to the hospital. He pushed the door open quietly and saw Shen Liu inside, leaning against the pillow, talking to someone.

       It really was Tao Ze.

       Sick as he was, Shen Liu’s voice was thick with congestion, his tone lazy and languid. “Don’t ask me. I’m not handling anything right now. Let Shen Rong decide on his own.”

       “Oh.” Tao Ze responded, then after holding back for a long while, could not resist asking, “Boss… that thing stuck on your forehead… Do you know it’s there?”

       “Of course. Qin Mu put it on.” Shen Liu answered with complete calm, with even a hint of showing off. “It’s for fun. You wouldn’t understand.”

       Tao Ze was speechless, silently cursing him: sick bastard.

       At that very moment, outside the room, Qin Mu was also silently cursing: sick bastard. And he could not help wanting to laugh. Of course he was sick, he was in hospital after all. After confirming that Tao Ze was indeed taking care of him, Qin Mu quietly backed out.

       Shen Liu stayed in the hospital for four days and walked out lively and full of energy.

       That night, Qin Mu was buried in overtime work and lost track of time. The receptionist suddenly said someone was asking for him. No clients should be coming at this hour, so he stepped out in surprise. Shen Liu was leaning against the front desk with his hands in his pockets, chatting and laughing with the young receptionists.

       Qin Mu quickly looked him over and asked, “Why did you come?”

       “To deliver supper.” Shen Liu jerked his chin at the two delivery staff behind him, each carrying large bags of food.

       That night, the entire law firm ate an ultra-luxurious Japanese meal. Zhou Yi stuffed a sea urchin into his mouth with a grin. “Senior Shen, long time no see. You show up and immediately spend so much—how embarrassing.”

       “Don’t mention it. It’s nothing.” Shen Liu smiled and naturally placed a box of grilled eel rice in front of Qin Mu. He knew Qin Mu’s stomach was weak and could not handle raw or cold food, so he had chosen fully cooked dishes for him. Qin Mu accepted it, ate a few bites, then answered a phone call and said, “Take your time eating. I’m going to organise some materials to send to a client.”

       “I’ll go with you.” Shen Liu stood up as well.

       A few legal assistants under Qin Mu also tried to follow, but Zhou Yi tapped each one on the head with his chopsticks. “You guys eat your food.”

       Qin Mu’s office was not large, but everything was orderly. The pothos on the bookshelf grew lush, and there was a small fish tank on the desk. It was Shen Liu’s first time there. He did not disturb the work and wandered around on his own to look.

       Even though the man barely made a sound, Qin Mu still found it difficult to concentrate fully. Eventually, he issued an eviction order, “Aren’t you leaving?”

       “I’m waiting for you.”

       “You should go first. I’ll be a long time.”

       “I have nowhere to go.”

       Qin Mu raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

       “Staying alone in a hotel is too lonely. I just recovered from a serious illness and still need someone to take care of me. Could I trouble you to take me in for a few days?” Shen Liu slipped effortlessly into a pitiful act.

       “No.” Qin Mu refused without hesitation.

       “Sigh, then I’ll have to sleep here. Does the firm have any spare offices? If not, your sofa is fine. Considering our many years of history, you wouldn’t really make security throw me out, right?” Shen Liu looked at him with a bright, shameless fearlessness.

       A vein throbbed on Qin Mu’s forehead. “…What is your face made of?”

       “Love and sincerity.”

       He really…asking to be beaten up.

       The office door was made entirely of transparent glass. Any big commotion inside would definitely draw a crowd of people peering over. At a time like this, if he actually had security drag the man out, by tomorrow he would become the centre of gossip for everyone in the building.

       Qin Mu rubbed his forehead, suppressing the urge to beat him up, fished his access card out of his pocket, and threw it at him, gritting out, “Get lost.”

       Shen Liu slipped the card into his pocket and said softly, with a smile, “Dear Master, I’ll be waiting for you at home.” 

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       The light that fell into Shen Liu’s eyes was like the wavering shadows of trees, flickering bright and dim before his lowered lashes hid it away. That faint, dazed “Master…” sounded half like a plea for mercy, half like a confession of longing, carrying an indescribable emptiness and desolation, as if someone stood at the mouth of a dark alley, whispering into an impenetrable fog.

       The hand caging the back of his head withdrew without mercy, leaving behind only a trace of lingering warmth. “The game is over.” Qin Mu gave him a brief glance, then turned and stepped off the stage. He ordered the staff with an expressionless face, “Untie him. If you can’t, cut the ropes.” It was the first time in all his years as a Dom that he let someone else handle a sub’s aftermath.

       Shen Liu silently watched that departing back disappear through the door, then let out a soundless sigh under the mixed gazes of the crowd. This kind of full-body binding exerted intense pressure on blood circulation, leaving his limbs completely numb. Even after the ropes were removed, he couldn’t stand steadily for quite a while, like a robot that had broken down. Chu Yu supported him onto a sofa, asking, “Do you want me to help explain?”

       “No need.” Shen-the-crippled sprawled out on the sofa, long arms and legs half-reclined as he stretched out his joints. “I owed him.”

       Chu Yu curved his lips. “Repaying a debt like this to him will surely cause you a lot of suffering.”

       Shen Liu laughed, unbothered. “He held back. Otherwise, you would be looking for a stretcher to carry me out.”

       “What are you planning next?”

       “No rush. I still have most of my life ahead of me,” the man said with his eyes closed.

       The rain had stopped at some unknown time. Qin Mu walked alone along the river. He couldn’t drive after drinking, and he didn’t feel like talking to strangers, so he simply chose to walk back.

       Lu Cheng’s sudden departure had weighed on him. For the first time, he took the initiative to message Lu Cheng to ask what had happened—he wanted to know what Shen Liu had done this time. The other party was probably busy; there was no reply for a long while. Qin Mu slipped his phone into his pocket and continued forward, filled with speculations.

       The rain had subdued the daytime’s heat, and the oleanders by the road bloomed in full vigour. A thin crescent hung pale in the sky, and the clouds drifted lazily. Both water and sky were ink-dark, mingled with the haze of the mortal world. A faint mist hovered over Jialan River; blurred outlines of boats layered and hid within. Starlight and the boat lanterns were hazy, making it difficult to tell whether it was the Milky Way or earthly waters carrying the boats along. The river wind, damp with moisture, slipped into the night and brushed away the heat on his body, yet could not scatter the vexation in his heart.

       The streetlights were dim. Qin Mu wasn’t paying attention and stepped right into a shallow puddle left by the rain, soaking his shoes and socks. A little girl passing by must have found his startled expression amusing and laughed openly. Qin Mu also smiled, very gently. The young mother holding the child’s hand looked slightly embarrassed and pulled a tissue from her bag to offer him. Qin Mu accepted it, thanked her politely, and watched them leave.

       He didn’t bother with his wet shoes and socks. He tucked the tissue into his pocket and kept walking.

       Heracl-tus had said that one could not step into the same river twice, yet fate always enjoyed playing jokes with coincidences. Years ago, in heavy rain in Tingyun Town, his shoes had been soaked through; tonight, his feet were wet again from a roadside puddle. In this world, what one couldn’t escape included not only unexpected puddles but also men who went back on their word.

       No one knew that Qin Mu’s first instinct upon seeing Shen Liu had been to run.

       Because he didn’t know what attitude he should use to face him.

       That man was the one who had stolen heavenly fire to light his way, and also the one who had gripped his hand and forced him to face the darkness; the one who had wagered everything for him without counting the cost, and also the one who had drawn him into a web as a chess piece; the one who had silently guarded his steps all along, and also the one who had manipulated things in the shadows to shatter his principles; the one he had used all his strength to walk away from, and also the one whose single glance could make his resolve waver.

       He was the deity of his life, and also the heart-devouring demon he could not escape.

       Qin Mu had put in enormous effort to suppress the rising panic and helplessness, forcing himself to appear calm and composed. Yet that person had still brazenly laid hands on Lu Cheng. In that moment, a wave of immense disappointment roared through him like a violent wind, fanning the flames in his heart into an eruption.

       —What gave you the right to interfere in my life again and again? Have you ever respected my choices or my way of living? Do you think my life is a toy for you to manipulate at will?

       Qin Mu knew a Dom should not begin a scene under the influence of intense emotions, yet he still failed to hold back. He had wanted to teach Shen Liu a harsh lesson, but even that he had not managed to do. Not even the thin facade of cold composure he used to maintain appearances lasted to the end; he had been forced to flee in embarrassment. Those three questions—he dared to ask them of Shen Liu, but he did not dare to ask them of himself.

       Did he feel anything?

       He did.

       He hated this uncontrollable version of himself. But what should he do? What could he do?

       The rain from Tingyun Town had been falling in his heart for many years, and just when it had finally quieted, the snowy night of J City had come back into his dreams. Everyone said a tangled mess needed a swift blade to cut through. He had swung that blade twice, and each time he had split his own heart to pieces along with it. Now the knife in his hand had already dulled; he could no longer cut anything. All he could do was hold it and stand at one end of a dark alley, waiting for a dawn that he did not know when, or if, would arrive.

       Qin Mu returned home with a head full of thoughts. He fed the cats, took a shower, and lay down on the sofa. Beiwei probably liked the gr4p3fruit scent of his body wash; it burrowed into his arms of its own accord, finding a comfortable position to lie on his chest and watch him play tile-matching games. Dongjing sauntered over out of boredom to join the fun, and after some serious consideration of the sofa’s height and its own weight, sensibly chose to flop down on the carpet instead.

       One man and two cats, each in their own place.

       Qin Mu was focused on his game when a message from Lu Cheng arrived.

       Lu Cheng: Sir, I apologise for the late reply. There was a sudden landslide on Dongping Mountain. My medicinal herb plantation suffered significant damage, and some people were injured. It may take quite some time to handle everything. I’ll make an appointment with you again when I return to K City.

       Qin Mu stared at the lines for a moment before replying: Handle it properly. Stay safe.

       Lu Cheng replied quickly: Thank you.

       Qin Mu no longer had the mood to keep playing. He tossed his phone aside and stared up at the ceiling.

       This was a natural disaster, not human harm.

       He had misunderstood Shen Liu.

       And that bastard had simply let him misunderstand, offering not a single explanation, sitting tight and waiting for his guilt to come afterwards.

       …Bastard.

       He knew he had fallen into Shen Liu’s calculations again, yet strangely, the heavy stone pressing on his chest had suddenly vanished. His whole being felt lighter. Qin Mu rested his arms behind his head and thought of how that man, bound in five-flower rope, had been tormented until he begged for mercy. He murmured to himself, “Serves you right.”

       Beiwei stared at him with innocent sapphire-blue eyes. Qin Mu chuckled softly and lightly scratched its chin. “Not talking about you. I mean that bad cat out there—clingy, sly, full of tricks—not cute like you two.”

       Beiwei, satisfied, closed its eyes and remained still in comfort, purring generously as it forgave his treasonous mention of ‘a cat outside’. Dongjing looked jealous, propped its front paws on the sofa, and let out a rough meow. Qin Mu lifted it onto the sofa too and stroked it a few times. The two cats rested heavily and warmly on his chest, as if pushing away all the emptiness in the room.

       The next morning, Qin Mu rushed to the law firm to meet a client. He had been busy with pro bono cases recently, and Zhou Yi had threatened him that if he didn’t start making money, the firm would go bankrupt, and his phone number would be plastered all over the city on ads offering large sums for surrogacy. Qin Mu obeyed and ‘returned to proper work’. As soon as he came back, he landed a major cross-border corporate merger case, and the entire office had been spinning like tops ever since.

       Towards evening, he was buried in contract documents, working overtime, when he received a call from Chu Yu.

       “I thought I should let you know,” Chu Yu said directly. “Shen Liu is in the hospital.”

       Qin Mu’s heart tightened. He blurted, “What happened?”

       “Nothing too serious, don’t panic,” Chu Yu said. “He started running a fever last night. He forced his way through the day, but the fever never came down, so we just dragged him to the hospital. The doctor said it’s a viral infection with some signs of pneumonia. He needs rest. He came in such a hurry this time that he didn’t bring anyone with him, so I admitted him for now—it’s easier to take care of him.”

       Qin Mu was silent for a moment before asking, “Why did he come to K City?”

       “As far as I know,” Chu Yu said, “Shen Liu voluntarily resigned from his position as the group’s vice president during an internal Shen family meeting, which means he handed over real power. At the moment, he’s basically a wealthy idler, with only a few unfinished projects left in his hands. As for why he came to K City, I think you know very well.”

       Qin Mu was taken aback. His brows knitted tightly as he asked anxiously, “Is he insane, giving up power at a time like this?”

       He had been worried since the great war between Shen and Zhao. The Old Man Shen would never tolerate an heir who might lose control at any time. Even if he hadn’t acted back then for the sake of the family’s interest, he would inevitably settle scores later and suppress Shen Liu. Qin Mu knew that if he stayed, he would only be a burden, so once he received permission to leave, he did. He had believed that with Shen Liu’s abilities, he would stabilise the situation and hold his position firmly. Yet, he never expected that man to hand over his power so easily.

       “There was no need to worry about that,” Chu Yu said slowly. “On the surface, it looked as if Shen Liu had lost real power, but in truth, all the key positions in the corporation were held by his people, including the newly promoted vice president, Shen Rong. He had already laid out the entire arrangement before leaving. The Shen family’s lifeline remained under his control. If he wanted it, he could take everything back at any time; if he did not want it, no one would dare touch him lightly.” He paused. “Besides, he has me behind him.” These words were steady and forceful, carrying a kind of strength that settled the heart.

       Qin Mu stood before the floor-to-ceiling window and let out a faint breath. The thousands of city lights reflected in his eyes like scattered stars. He suddenly remembered that moment back in J City—the two of them sitting side by side in the back seat of the car. While he had rambled on with all those admonitions, what expression had Shen Liu worn then?

       Restraint, helplessness, bitterness, relief, and a hint of guilt.

       That man had never truly submitted to money, nor had he ever truly coveted power. He was like a lone traveller walking through the depths of night with a sword at his side, willing to stain his hands with blood and move mountains for a belief he could not speak aloud. Even if thousands looked up to him, he remained utterly alone.

       Only now did he truly understand him.

       “The message has been delivered. I’ve sent you the hospital address and his bed number. Whether you go or not is up to you,” Chu Yu said. After a short pause, he added, “You tied him up a bit too hard yesterday. It took him half a day to stand.”

       After hanging up, Qin Mu paced back and forth in front of the window with a stern face. The curious interns poked their heads around the doorway of his office, whispering among themselves.

       “I told you this case was tough. Look, even Lawyer Qin is getting anxious.”

       “Could it be that there’s something wrong with the opinion letter I submitted? I’m doomed. I’m going to get scolded.”

       “Lawyer Qin never scolds anyone, but every time I stand in front of him my legs turn to jelly. I don’t even know why—I just get nervous.”

       “My legs turn to jelly too when I see him. He looks so good in a suit, especially with those long legs…”

       “Aiya, look at you, acting like a lovestruck fool.”

       “No, really, I love Lawyer Qin’s whole cold and ascetic vibe. Especially when he looks at me from behind his glasses—my heartbeat shoots up to two hundred and eighty.”

       “You’re brave. I don’t even dare look him in the eyes. I would blush.”

       Just as their discussion was heating up, Qin Mu pushed the door open and stepped out. The room went silent at once. Qin Mu swept his gaze across the group with a solemn expression, and everyone swallowed nervously in unison.

       “Go clean up and get off work,” the icy Lawyer Qin said before striding out with his long legs. The others exhaled in relief and hurried to gather their things and go home.

       Chu Yu had arranged for Shen Liu to stay at Golden Eagle’s private hospital, in the largest single room—it was easy to find. When Qin Mu walked in, Shen Liu was leaning weakly against the bed, coughing. He froze for a moment upon seeing him, then couldn’t help coughing again as he rasped, “Why did you come?”

       Qin Mu set down the fruit basket and a paper bag on the bedside table, keeping a stern face. “You resorted to a bitter-meat ploy. I should at least show up to support your performance.”

       Shen Liu gave a small laugh and leaned back against the pillow with little strength, covering his mouth as he coughed. “Go back. It’s contagious.”

       Qin Mu glanced at him once, then turned and left.

       Seeing that he had actually left, Shen Liu felt his heart go hollow. He stared at the doorway in desolation—only for the man to push it open again moments later.

       Qin Mu was wearing a mask he had gotten from the nurse. He took a seat in the chair by the bed, as proper as when he was presenting an argument in court. “Last night I misunderstood you. Some of it was due to my own assumptions, and some of it was caused by your intentional concealment and inaction. I thought it over—let’s call it even. Do you agree?”

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       Shen Liu’s gaze shifted slightly, and a few seconds later, he stood up.

       He took off his clothes very quickly. He placed his shoes and socks neatly beside the sofa, unfastened his belt, and pulled down the zipper. His movements were smooth and efficient, without the slightest hesitation, as if he did not mind exposing his body to others. In fact, his physique was indeed impressive with tight, evenly proportioned muscles and a beautiful Adonis belt that disappeared beneath his jeans, stirring the imagination. When he reached for the waistband button, he heard Qin Mu’s voice.

       “Leave the pants.”

       The corners of Shen Liu’s lips lifted almost imperceptibly. He fastened the button back into its hole, then walked toward Qin Mu while casting a faint sideways glance at Chu Yu.

       Chu Yu understood and said, “The performance is about to begin. Let’s go sit near the stage.”

       Xu Ye was still immersed in gossiping, having already imagined a full tragic romance between ‘the pharaoh and his favoured concubine’. He was waiting to see what would happen next and muttered reluctantly, “There aren’t any high-level performers today. Nothing worth watching.”

       “If you’re not interested, we can always go play in one of the rooms upstairs for a while,” Chu Yu offered instead.

       Sensing danger, Xu Ye shuddered and instantly yanked Zhuo Yue up as if his seat were on fire. “I’ll go, I’ll go, let’s go. I just remembered something I need to talk to you about.” He took the lead, the others exchanging knowing smiles as they followed him out.

       The circular sofa area was left with only two people.

       Facing Qin Mu, Shen Liu slowly sank to his knees. He first lowered one knee, then both, his posture as solemn as if he were worshipping a deity. His body descended, his gaze shifting from level to upturned, and the infatuation in his eyes grew heavier and heavier. It was as if all disguise, all concealment, and all clothing had been shed together, leaving nothing but bare desire, direct, unrestrained, and burning hot. He was clearly in the submissive one, yet he radiated possessiveness, like a fierce animal crouched in tall grass, baring the most primal wildness toward its prey.

       “Master,” he said. His deep voice made the title even more seductive, like a teasing feather brushing across the heart, sending ripples through it.

       Qin Mu sat motionless, his gaze resting on the hollow between Shen Liu’s collarbones—a silver ring hanging from a red cord, glinting under the light. His expression was calm, his tone equally calm, as he asked with routine detachment, “Anything you can’t accept?”

       “With you, nothing,” Shen Liu answered without hesitation.

       Qin Mu looked at him for two seconds, then raised his hand and pressed the red call button beside the seating area. A server hurried over and asked, “Pharaoh, what do you need?”

       “Bring me rope number 4 from the second shelf of the cabinet in my room, and arrange the performance stage for me tonight.” Qin Mu handed him the black keycard.

       “Certainly, sir.” The server checked the program schedule and asked, “The first performance is ready to go on stage. Is it acceptable to place you second?”

       “That’s fine.”

       “We’ll prepare it immediately,” the server said, stepping away with professional composure.

       This meant it would be a public play. Tonight likely would likely not going to go easily.

       But Shen Liu did not care. Before coming, he had already braced himself mentally. Whatever Qin Mu chose to do to him did not matter. Humans, as social creatures, always imposed certain standards and boundaries in their interactions, yet Qin Mu was the one person for whom he had no standards at all. Shen Liu did not kneel to anyone, did not call anyone ‘Master’, and would never accept being trained or played with in public. But as long as it was Qin Mu, every boundary could shift. Even if the thing in Qin Mu’s hand were not a whip but a knife, Shen Liu would let him drive it straight into his heart without flinching or dodging.

       To submit was simply to offer up both body and heart, no longer belonging to oneself.

       “Slave.” Qin Mu took a sip of his drink and tilted the glass in his hand. “I need a table.”

       It seemed the waiting period before going onstage would not be dull. Shen Liu lowered his gaze. “Yes, Master.” He moved to the man’s side, leaned forward, and braced himself on his arms, keeping his back as flat as possible.

       Objectifying the submissive as a tool was part of the play, a way to more easily evoke the satisfaction of being ‘needed’ and the sense of being ‘possessed’. Qin Mu casually set his glass on the dip of Shen Liu’s spine between his shoulder blades and said concisely, “If it falls, ten lashes.”

       “Yes, Master,” Shen Liu replied.

       It was a crystal wine glass with a large bowl but a narrow base. Even a slight unevenness could throw off its balance. A human body was not a real table; it had natural curves and reflexive reactions. Shen Liu slowed his breathing, tensed his muscles, and tried to maintain as much stability as he could.

       But Qin Mu had no intention of letting him off that easily. He removed the leash from the collar Lu Cheng had worn earlier and hooked it directly onto the red cord at the back of Shen Liu’s neck. The leash pulled tight along his spine, slid down along his cleft, wrapped once around the root of his right thigh, and was tied off in a knot. The tightened red cord dragged the ring against his throat, forcing Shen Liu to tilt his head back. The reversed curve of his neck made the ‘tabletop’ unstable, and the leash’s movement nudged the glass stem, setting the bowl trembling. Shen Liu stiffened his back, doing everything he could to steady it.

       “If it breaks, the game ends,” Qin Mu’s cold voice drifted from above.

       Shen Liu’s gaze trembled.

       He understood very clearly that Qin Mu was referring to the red cord around his neck that held the ring. The cord was thin, and even the slightest force would snap it. And once it broke, the ring would fall away from his body.

       People were always good at using certain objects to express emotion, tucking their true feelings inside in subtle, implicit ways. In this moment, the ring and the red cord were no longer just themselves; they had been given meanings unspoken yet mutually understood. Qin Mu knew exactly why Shen Liu had come, and he had given an equally clear reply—this is my territory, and you must obey my rules, or nothing else will be discussed.

       His body was bound, his throat was restricted, and no movement was allowed. Obedience alone was the only truth. Shen Liu closed his eyes briefly and answered, “Yes, Master.”

       Time moved forward at an unhurried pace. Twenty minutes passed, and he still maintained the same motionless posture. His back, shoulders, and neck had gone stiff, and his breathing grew increasingly laboured.

       As the first performance was about to end, a server came over to notify Qin Mu to get ready. When the restraints were finally released, it felt as if his heart had settled safely back into his chest along with the ring. Shen Liu drew a deep breath and returned to a kneeling posture.

       “Does it hurt?” Qin Mu asked.

       “As long as it pleases you, everything is a reward to me.” A standard answer.

       Qin Mu’s lips curved faintly, neither acknowledging nor dismissing it. He raised his hand and tilted the wine glass slightly above Shen Liu’s head, saying, “Finish it.”

       The angle was awkward; kneeling, he could only reach the rim of the glass by stretching his neck and lifting his face. Shen Liu drank the remaining wine from this position, then licked his lips and said, “Thank you, Master.”

       Qin Mu set the glass aside, tugged lightly on the leash, and said, “Stand up. Follow me.”

       A pair of Master and slave who looked as striking as they did naturally drew attention. The stage lights cast a cool silver sheen over Qin Mu, adding to the quiet, sharp aura in his every movement. He unhooked the leash and commanded, “See that circular area? Go kneel over there.”

       “Yes, Master.” Shen Liu obeyed without question.

       After checking the rope bindings, Qin Mu pressed a button on a remote. The circular area began to rise slowly, lifting Shen Liu to an appropriate height. It turned out to be an adjustable display platform. Four cameras pointed at the two of them from different angles, projecting every detail onto the electronic screens.

       The Pharaoh was a major figure in the scene, and opportunities to see his performances were rare. This time, he had brought an unfamiliar new sub onto the stage, drawing even more curiosity. The seats beside the stage were packed. In the front row, Fang Mingyan let out a provocative whistle, eager for chaos.

       Qin Mu’s performance contained no unnecessary theatrics. He worked while explaining key points, like a guest professor, maintaining his usual precise and ascetic style.

       Tonight, he used a full-body rope bondage known as ‘bundled binding’. He first crossed Shen Liu’s wrists behind his head and tied them together, then secured the wrists to the upper arms to complete the lock. “This ‘hands-behind’ tie forces the slave to keep the chest open, with the elbows raised and unable to straighten,” he said, looping the rope around Shen Liu’s neck, crossing it over his chest, and winding it around his bare torso in a beautiful ‘tortoise armour bondage’ pattern. He deliberately tied two flat knots pressing over the nipples and said, “Knots placed on sensitive spots allow the slave to feel more stimulation, similar to friction or caressing.” Finally, he instructed Shen Liu to sit back on his heels, knees spread as wide as they would go, then used a rope passing beneath the crotch to bind his thighs and ankles.

       Qin Mu’s handling of the rope was exceptionally clean, with almost no superfluous movements, and the final result was beautiful. In his hands, the rope seemed to transform into something alive; every knot, every crossing, every line of tension moved according to his will. Shen Liu’s striking body became his canvas, and the red rope bondage became curved strokes painting a scene both cruelly violent and stunningly erotic.

       “Do your legs hurt?” Qin Mu adjusted the ropes’ tension again, his expression focused and meticulous.

       “They don’t hurt, Master,” Shen Liu replied. Maintaining such an unnatural posture for so long had left a thin layer of sweat on his back. The slightly long ends of his hair fell forward and covered his eyes, and his gaze looked even deeper beneath the shifting play of light and shadow.

       Performing in front of an audience tests not only skill, but also a Dom’s control over their sub. The more spectators there were, the easier it was for a sub to be distracted and drift away from the proper emotional state. Qin Mu’s steady stage presence was well known. What surprised people was that this newcomer sub, Sphinx, also behaved with remarkable composure, completely unaffected by outside influences. Throughout the entire tying process, he remained quiet and obedient, with excellent endurance.

       From a technical standpoint, this was a textbook-level bondage demonstration, impressive in every way. Yet it lacked emotional interaction. Sphinx’s gaze had followed the Pharaoh the entire time, but the Pharaoh never once gave him a response.

       Qin Mu finished the full binding and lowered the display platform until it was level with the stage. He examined his work at close distance and said slowly, “This type of full-body tie creates a strong sense of restraint and pain. Aside from the head, the slave can barely move at all, so it’s not suitable for long-term use. The interlacing rope strands affect one another; even a slight movement will pull on various parts of the body, tightening the throat and creating friction on the nipples and crotch. It can allow slaves who enjoy bondage to feel pleasure, like this…” As he spoke, he hooked a finger around the rope looped at Shen Liu’s neck and pulled lightly.

       The sudden tug caused all the ropes on his body to tighten at once. The knots at a few key points scr4p3d hard across sensitive areas, making Shen Liu shudder uncontrollably. A mix of numbness and itchiness blended with pain. He shifted, unable to endure it, attempting to adjust his posture.

       “Did I give you permission to move?” Qin Mu asked without expression.

       “Master, I was wrong.” Shen Liu knew how to bend and yield.

       Qin Mu pinched his jaw and lifted it, forcing his head back in a punitive arc. This movement bent Shen Liu’s arms, which were tied behind his head to their extreme limit. The stretched muscles pulled so tight that even the bones hurt. He started to gasp sharply, broken sounds spilling from his throat.

       “Does it feel good to be controlled?” Qin Mu looked at him through his lenses.

       Shen Liu’s arms and legs were already going numb. He forced himself to answer with difficulty, “As long as the one controlling me is you, I’m willing to offer everything with both hands.”

       “Your hands are already tied,” Qin Mu said, letting go of his jaw, unhurried. “Controlling someone really is addictive, especially when you watch them obey helplessly in your hands. It’s amusing, isn’t it?” As the last word fell, the hand that controlled everything slid to Shen Liu’s chest. Qin Mu picked out a rope and gently hooked it, as if flirting.

       Shen Liu’s whole body went rigid. He could clearly feel exactly where that rope led. Flustered, he said, “Master, I was wrong…”

       Last-minute apologies usually didn’t work. Even though Shen Liu wore jeans, Qin Mu still had ways to make him keenly feel the pressure and friction on his genitals deeply. The rope tugged again and again, like a web woven of numbness and pain wrapping around his entire body. The pleasure that appeared at some unknown moment tormented him until he was overwhelmed and falling apart. At first, it felt like tiny electric currents, pricking and wandering everywhere. Then it turned into little mice scurrying through him, occasionally leaping up to bite hard at a sensitive spot, making his body tremble uncontrollably from the stimulation. His nipples were already hard, scr4p3d raw by the rope, and something was beginning to stir between his legs. Shen Liu tensed, breathing unevenly and shallowly. A mist of tears gathered in his eyes as he begged, “Master, please…”

       The man who was usually lofty, forceful, and ruthless now showed rare vulnerability and submission—an extreme, contradictory kind of sensuality.

       “Your eyes look much prettier now.” Qin Mu used a finger to lift the hair from his forehead, his gaze half-lowered as he looked down at him. “Take a guess. Have you pleased me? Do I desire you? Or, rather, does training you give me pleasure?”

       Heaven always came full circle; no one escaped retribution. The three questions he had once used to crush Lu Cheng returned to confront him now. Shen Liu gave a bitter smile in his heart, his chest rising and falling as he answered in broken breaths, “As long as Master…give me a chance to take the initiative… I can do my best to give you pleasure.”

       A faint, mocking smile tugged at Qin Mu’s lips. He cupped the back of Shen Liu’s head with one hand and leaned in. Slowly, closer and closer. The movement made the bound man tense instantly, nerves stretched tight, his heart pounding wildly.

       “You thought I would kiss you?” Qin Mu stopped just a hair’s breadth before touching his cheek. His deliberately softened voice brushed his ear like a warm, blurred mist. “Sphinx, I don’t like people who assume too much. If you want to be my cat, you should at least learn to behave first.”

Author’s Note:
Sphinx: besides being a mythical creature, it is also a breed of cat — yes, the hairless kind.

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        Qin Mu had never taken the initiative to bring up Shen Liu. That youthful relationship was, to him, like a long-festering injury that had damaged tendon and bone—an old illness that still ached faintly to this day. These friends had known one another for many years and understood each other’s boundaries; since he did not wish to speak of it, they did not ask. They only vaguely knew that ‘he once had a lover, and later they broke up’.

        The only one who likely understood the truth was Chu Yu. And even he had not heard it from Qin Mu, but had sensed it from the other end instead. As the most powerful local figure in K City, nothing that happened on this land could escape his notice; even if Shen Liu acted from afar, it would have been impossible to evade his ears and eyes.

        Why would Shen Liu, one of the most influential and ruthless among the younger generation of the illustrious Shen family, repeatedly cast his gaze on a completely ordinary lawyer living thousands of miles away?

        A simple inquiry would reveal the connection between the two.

        Chu Yu saw through it but did not expose it. He did not hinder Shen Liu in any way, tacitly permitting everything he did in K City. He was a smart man who knew how to assess the situation and who understood the importance of preparing for the future. Since the Old Master Chu’s generation, the Chu family had ridden on the coattails of the Shi family. The Shi family once wielded dazzling power, but internal strife among its heirs led to a decline in its strength, and its influence had fallen to the bottom among the Four Great Families, leaving it with no choice but to cling to the Zhao family.

        By quietly extending Shen Liu some courtesy, Chu Yu established a connection with the Shen family. And later, during the fierce political battle between the Shen and Zhao factions, he seized the moment and joined forces with the Shi family’s widow, Shen Jiahe, to fully push the Shi family into defecting. Facts proved that he had chosen correctly. Today, Golden Eagle Group has already become one of the Shen family’s footholds in Jiangnan—its position secure and its influence unparalleled.

        Now that the overall situation was settled, Shen Liu was finally free to step away, and the first thing he did was fly to K City. Chu Yu could guess his purpose and brought him directly to the East Coast.

        The few people present all scrutinised the newcomer with curious eyes. Everyone knew that the East Coast had extremely strict standards for admitting members, requiring multiple layers of review and final approval by collective signatures from upper management. Only a few veteran investors had the authority to grant direct admission. Back then, in order to sneak Zhuo Yue in without Fang Mingyan noticing, Xu Ye had pestered Chu Yu for ages.

        Yet this Mr. Shen had been personally brought here by Chu Yu and taken straight to meet them. Combined with the Chu family’s recent moves and that sensitive surname, Fang Mingyan and Xu Ye could more or less guess something.

        Others in the hall were also glancing over. Even putting aside his background, Shen Liu himself was striking enough. Broad shoulders, narrow hips, long legs, and matched with that face—he could easily stir desire in a place as hedonistic as this. Gazes drifted toward him from all directions, sticking lightly to his body. People speculated about his identity while imagining what he would look like once he stepped into the role—someone like him, whether holding a riding crop or kneeling naked on the ground, seemed delicious either way.

        Shen Liu ignored all those desire-filled looks, greeting them calmly with a composed smile. “Hello, everyone.”

        After they sat down, Chu Yu introduced him one by one. When he reached Qin Mu, he paused. “I suppose there’s no need for me to say more about this one.”

        Shen Liu curved his lips. “Lawyer Qin, long time no see.” After a slight pause, he added, “Should I be calling you—Mr. Pharaoh—while we’re here?”

        Qin Mu had already recovered from his earlier shock, regaining his mountain-like stillness.

        This scene was painfully familiar. The person he had thought he would never see again was now standing right before him. The thread he believed had long been severed was suddenly tied together once more. What could not be cut cleanly only tangled further; what could not be explained only grew messier; what he could not escape was once again inescapable.

        Truly, a fated misfortune.

        He gave a silent, bitter laugh in his heart.

        This was a public setting, with friends beside him; he could not abruptly get up and walk away. No doubt Shen Liu had calculated that, which was why he chose to appear in this manner.

        The few seconds their gazes met felt like a silent, hidden confrontation. Qin Mu kept the accusation in his heart, ‘You promised with your own mouth that we would never meet again, so why break your word now?’, and answered with restrained distance, “It’s just a form of address, nothing more. It doesn’t matter.”

        Shen Liu swept his eyes toward the man kneeling at Qin Mu’s feet and asked, “And this is?”

        “My slave.” The reply was concise, to the point of sounding stiff, and carried a defensive posture.

        “Well-trained.” Shen Liu praised with a smile, all gentle harmlessness on the surface.

        “You flatter me.”

        One probed, the other defended. In that brief exchange, an undercurrent of subtle tension rippled. Everyone present was astute enough to catch the unusual details. Xu Ye, unable to hold back his curiosity, shot Chu Yu a questioning look and received a faint, knowing smile in return.

        *Tsk, these two are definitely up to something.

        Xu Ye’s eyes lit up as he arched his brows at Zhuo Yue. Zhuo Yue received the signal and, without batting an eye, lightly scratched at Fang Mingyan’s palm. Fang Mingyan curled his lips and threw a look at Xia Ran. Xia Ran nudged Sima Jun beside him with his leg.

        A silent spark of gossip quietly ignited and spread through the entire seating area, and everyone sat there with great interest, ready to watch the situation unfold.

        It was understandable that they were curious; after all, it wasn’t every day that there was something to gossip about when it came to Qin Mu.

        After all these years of circling around, the few of them had all paired off, leaving only this ‘Pharaoh’ to move through the world alone. He didn’t enjoy socialising; most of the people around him were work colleagues. Though he was in the scene, he rarely took subs, and the few he interacted with for longer never developed into anything emotional.

        When Fang Mingyan introduced Lu Cheng to him, he originally thought Lu Cheng’s persistence might eventually win him over, but Qin Mu treated him entirely like a client—aside from their routine, clockwork Friday sessions, where Qin Mu provided the scheduled service and sharpened his technical skills in the process, they had no private contact at all.

        Fang Mingyan joked that Qin Mu was like a Bodhisattva untouched by mortal desire, and only a fox spirit who had cultivated for a thousand years might be able to enchant him.

        As for this Mr. Shen in front of them… his looks were close enough to that description, but no one knew how deep his cultivation ran, or whether he could actually charm this block of ice.

        “You two know each other?” Xu Ye, who always loved to be on the front lines of eating melon¹to gossip, asked eagerly.

        “We’ve known each other for a long time,” Shen Liu answered.

        “Then…”

        A sudden series of electronic chimes cut off Xu Ye’s questioning.

        East Coast had just been renovated last year, and four large electronic screens had been installed at the central ceiling of the main hall, each facing a different direction. They were used to display member information and provide multi-angle live streams of stage performances and classes.

        At this moment, all four screens simultaneously flashed the routine welcome animation for new members—at the centre of an interwoven rope-knot appeared several conspicuous characters:

        [Welcome, new member ‘Sphinx.’]

        Sphinx, the monster of ancient Egyptian mythology. Its most famous image was the Great Sphinx beside the Pyramid of Khafre—ancient, origins obscure, weather-worn and broken, yet still standing. It was said to be the Pharaoh’s guardian, protecting his slumbering soul for lifetime after lifetime.

        Others might not understand the specific meaning behind this name, but the people on the sofa certainly did. They all revealed expressions full of layered meaning.

        Qin Mu sat calmly. From the moment he saw Shen Liu, he knew this man would definitely create trouble, so he had been mentally prepared and wasn’t particularly surprised.

        After the welcome words came the newcomer’s profile display; the East Coast had plenty of oddballs, but this Sphinx managed to stand out with a style entirely his own. He had chosen sub as his role, yet every single field was marked ‘Not accepted’. Only the final remarks section contained one line: ‘If the other party is Mr. Pharaoh, all above conditions may be changed.’

        The connection in their names could still be loosely explained as a coincidence, but this profile was blatantly announcing to everyone exactly who he had come for—so high-profile it was practically outrageous.

        Unrequited crushes from subs toward doms were common in the club, but no one ever went this far. This was the equivalent of placing oneself at the edge of a cliff with no retreat. If he were rejected, it would be nearly impossible to find another dom. Competent doms were already scarce, and they often possessed strong personalities and possessiveness; almost none would choose a sub who openly has someone else in their heart.

        A wave of murmurs swept through the hall. The members’ gazes toward them now carried traces of sympathy. Everyone in the scene knew that Pharaoh was not someone who could be won over with mere affection and courage. They all sat back, ready to watch this reckless newcomer crash into a wall and end up covered in metaphorical bruises.

        Shen Liu didn’t care what anyone thought. Neither did Qin Mu. At this moment, the VIP section felt like the eye of a storm amid the howling winds and rain—unnaturally calm. The two men at the centre of the commotion sat facing each other, their gazes locking across the space.

        After a moment of silence, Qin Mu spoke. “You saw it. I have a sub.”

        Shen Liu replied unhurriedly, “That isn’t important.”

        Lu Cheng’s eyelid twitched. His fists tightened.

        From the moment he learned Shen Liu had come specifically for Qin Mu, a suffocating sense of threat had pressed down on him. And this near-dismissive attitude completely infuriated him. He couldn’t stop himself from turning toward Shen Liu and glaring sharply, “What do you mean by that?”

        When acting in the role of a slave, speaking to others without the master’s permission was an extremely low-level mistake. Qin Mu frowned slightly and tapped the sofa armrest with a bent finger in warning. Realising he had fallen into a trap, Lu Cheng felt both angry and ashamed. His face flushed red as he acknowledged his mistake, “I was wrong, Master.”

        Shen Liu smiled with an effortlessly composed expression and added insult to the injury, “At least when it comes to following rules, I think I can do better than him.”

        “I have no intention of taking on another sub for the time being,” Qin Mu rejected.

        “Does he satisfy you?” Shen Liu asked.

        The bluntness of the question caught Qin Mu off guard. He froze for a moment.

        “Do you desire him?” Shen Liu looked deeply at him, unblinking. “Or rather—do you feel any pleasure when you train him?”

        This was an intensely private matter. Outsiders didn’t know, but Lu Cheng knew very well. His expression turned extremely ugly as he clenched his teeth. The onlookers hadn’t expected Shen Liu to drop such a bomb suddenly, and the atmosphere instantly grew awkward. But it was too late to leave now, and it wasn’t the right time to interrupt, so they had no choice but to sit still, eyes lowered, pretending to contemplate their noses and hearts.

        “These things have nothing to do with you,” Qin Mu replied calmly. “You asked to establish a relationship with me, and I have clearly refused. That is enough.”

        He really wasn’t giving him a chance.

        Even though Shen Liu had expected this outcome, he still felt a faint ache in his chest. He let out a helpless laugh. “All right.”

        Just then, a staff member hurried over and handed Lu Cheng a black envelope. To protect the venue’s privacy, phones and other electronic devices were not allowed inside the club. If there were an urgent matter, the front desk would send a server in with a message.

        After reading it, Lu Cheng’s brows tightened. He leaned toward Qin Mu and whispered, “Master, something happened at home. I must go back right now.”

        Qin Mu nodded and unfastened the collar around his neck. Lu Cheng stood up quickly, shot Shen Liu a fierce glare, and strode away. Shen Liu gave a small amused curl of his lips, but the moment his peripheral vision caught Qin Mu’s gaze, his heartbeat instantly faltered.

        Qin Mu’s gaze was cold, as if frozen.

        He had misunderstood.

        He thought Shen Liu had done something to Lu Cheng, forcing him to leave.

        Shen Liu opened his mouth to explain that the matter had nothing to do with him, but swallowed the words again. The timing was far too coincidental; even he wouldn’t believe it if the situation were reversed. And besides, he had a long list of similar incidents in his past—he was practically a repeat offender. Qin Mu’s misunderstanding of him wasn’t entirely unjust.

        Shen Liu sighed silently in his heart and simply looked at him without a word.

        “Since you’re so eager to be my sub, I’ll indulge you once.” Qin Mu toyed with the collar in his hand, his voice low and cool. “Take off your clothes and come kneel.”

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On the night of December 31, 2019,

A group chat named ‘East Coast Council’ lit up.

Ye-ge: Friends, it’s the last day of 2019. What are you all doing?

Outstanding Original Joy: On set. I’m miserable, shooting a major night scene tonight. (crying face¹😭)

Ye-ge: Where’s Lion?

Lion Doesn’t Eat People: On set. Filming a long night shoot with him.

Ye-ge: Great, I shouldn’t have asked. Can the two of you stop stuffing dog food²public displays of affection into my face everywhere, all the time?

Lion Doesn’t Eat People: What, Chu Yu isn’t around?

Ye-ge: Mm. He’s in a meeting, hasn’t come back yet.

Lion Doesn’t Eat People: He might be out fooling around. Just go to sleep. Tomorrow isn’t only a new day—it’s a new year. Let what’s past stay in the past.

Ye-ge: [Kicking an egg img³] Get lost.

Cat Catching Mouse: Hahahahaha, I think so too. Someone who isn’t even with you on New Year’s really ought to be dumped. Xu Ye, I’ll introduce you to someone new.

Mouse Teasing Cat: There was a fitness coach the other day who was pretty good—great body. Why don’t you come over to our place now? We’re playing at the club.

Ye-ge: Not going. [kicks over your dog food img⁴]

The Log Has Become a Boat: Need a divorce lawyer?

Ye-ge: …Qin Mu, you’re joining in too.

The Log Has Become a Boat: Making money is important.

Ye-ge: [Old man on the subway looking at his phone img⁵]

Lion Doesn’t Eat People: [Ate my melon and forgot that guy img⁶]

Ye-ge: [You dare fight meme with me? you’re tired of living img⁷]

Cat Catching Mouse: [Lonely night, lonely you img⁸]

Ye-ge: [If you keep bullying me I’m going to cry img⁹]

Outstanding Original Joy: How long is his meeting supposed to last?

Ye-ge: Who knows. I’m pissed. I’ll kick him straight out later.

Yu: ?

Ye-ge: …

Lion Doesn’t Eat People: Hahaha.

Cat Catching Mouse: Hahaha.

Mouse Teasing Cat: Hahaha.

Outstanding Original Joy: [Brother, take care img¹⁰]

The Log Has Become a Boat: Xu Ye, domestic violence is illegal. Remember to gather evidence. I can make sure he leaves with nothing.

System message — Group owner Yu invited [Water Carries the Boat] to join the group chat.

Water Carries the Boat: Thanks.

Lion Doesn’t Eat People: Yo, who’s this?

Cat Catching Mouse: Judging by the name, someone we know.

Mouse Catching Cat: Exactly.

Water Carries the Boat: Be good, Log. Open the door. I’m outside—let gege come in.

Ye-ge: Puhahaha, here we go, the husband-chaser has arrived.

The Log Has Become a Boat: Get lost.

Water Carries the Boat: [crying img¹¹]

Water Carries the Boat: [want a hug img¹²]

Water Carries the Boat: [if you ignore me I’ll pout img¹³]

Two minutes passed.

Water Carries the Boat: I’m inside now. Wishing everyone a happy 2020 together with Wood.

Mouse Teasing Cat: Happy New Year.

Cat Catching Mouse: Happy New Year.

Lion Doesn’t Eat People: Happy New Year.

Outstanding Original Joy: Happy New Year.

Yu: Happy New Year.

Ye-ge: …If you’re that busy, don’t bother coming back today.

Yu: On the way.

Ye-ge: [I’m about to die so I’m out img¹⁴]

Ye-ge: Almost forgot—Happy New Year.

Qingcheng and all colleagues of East Coast wished everyone a happy 2020!

In the new year, he would try his best.

T/N:
Truth to be told for this chapter it took me a very long time because I was debating just to show the meme or let it be in words
But I thought it won’t be fun if there’s no meme, so I took some time to do it despite being a short and uneventful chapter lol
As you all know
Ye ge = Xu Ye (MC in Surrender 1)
Yu = Chu Yu (ML in Surrender 1)
Outstanding Original Joy(Zhuo Ye Ben Ye) = Zhuo Ye (MC in Surrender 2)
Lion Doesn’t Eat People = Lion (ML in Surrender 2)
Cat Catching Mouse = Tom
Mouse Teasing Cat = Jerry
The Log Has Become a Boat = Qin Mu (MC in Surrender 4)
Water Carries the Boat = Shen Liu (ML in Surrender 4)

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       Zhou Yi drove over to pick up Qin Mu and went straight from the airport to the cemetery.

       In the still black-and-white photograph, the old man smiled gently and kindly. The tombstone was piled high with fresh flowers and fruit. During the waves of exposure surrounding the Baolijian case, the media had reported on this humble lawyer who had always fought for the victims’ rights. This old man, who had lived his life quietly, changing the fate of so many people without ever seeking attention, had finally appeared before the public in this way. His integrity, persistence, chivalry, and tender heart were praised, respected, and remembered by the people.

       Qin Mu stood before the grave for a long time. Zhou Yi saw that he had lost quite a bit of weight and feared he would catch a chill from the cold wind, so he found an excuse of ‘visiting their Teacher’s wife’ and pulled him away.

       They went to the supermarket to buy some fruit and vegetables to take there, and then sat down to chat with her. Madam Xiao had recovered from the blow and was in fairly good spirits. She had hired a caretaker auntie who was excellent at cooking and insisted on having them stay for lunch.

       In the afternoon, Qin Mu went to the law firm, but he didn’t receive any clients. Instead, he simply organised his current work. He had his legal assistant contact the legal aid centre, proactively requesting a case involving a left-behind girl who had been sexually assaulted, and spent a considerable amount of time studying it.

       By the time he went home, it was already dark. Beiwei and Dongjing, who hadn’t seen him in a long while, stayed at a distance at first, watching him warily. After staring for quite a while, Beiwei recognised him first. Beiwei walked over with its cat’s light steps, rubbed its head against his leg, and gave a gentle meow. Qin Mu picked it up and petted it.

       Dongjing watched coldly for a moment, then let out a reluctant ‘meow’. Its voice was deep and resonant; after meowing, it seemed to feel embarrassed, lazily rolling over and turning its plump backside toward him. Qin Mu laughed and stroked its back a few times.

       Small animals always had a magical power, calming and soothing a person from the heart. The mess in his mind was quietly set down. Qin Mu lay on that long-unseen bed and slept his first peaceful sleep in many days.

       Life returned to its proper track, rushing forward, and in the blink of an eye, it was Chinese New Year. The Chinese Lunar New Year was all about lively, joyous family reunions. Qin Aihua called two days in advance, saying Zheng Yan missed him very much, and carefully asked whether he could come home for the New Year. Qin Mu hesitated for a moment, then agreed. On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, he bought some holiday goods and returned to his parents’ home, which he had not visited in a long time.

       The place was still as it had been. The old stairwell felt like some kind of time-travel passage; every step backwards pulled him back into the dreams he had long since lost. He knocked on the door and sat down amid Qin Aihua and Zheng Yan’s overly enthusiastic welcome, looking at their greying hair and busy figures. Suddenly, he felt out of place—as though he were some foreign intruder disrupting their peaceful life.

       Ever since Qin Mu had left home, the couple’s relationship had actually softened. Zheng Yan had grown plumper over the years; ordinarily, she either knitted sweaters or danced square dance with her old friends. Qin Aihua’s eyesight had deteriorated significantly, so he didn’t dare watch TV too much and often went fishing with Old Wang from next door, getting tanned by the sun. The braised carp on the table was his catch.

       Zheng Yan worked busily in the kitchen while Qin Aihua kept her company, chatting. Most of the time, it was Qin Aihua who talked; Qin Mu responded simply. The atmosphere was neither awkward nor relaxed.

       Zheng Yan brought out the dishes and instructed, “Go take out the liquor and pour some—just sitting there like a fool.”

       Qin Aihua quickly went to fetch it; he opened a bottle of Wuliangye.

       “Since we knew you were coming back, we bought it specially.” Zheng Yan rubbed her hands against her apron, passed him the chopsticks, and said somewhat nervously, “I just made a few simple dishes, not sure if you’ll like them. Try them.”

       Qin Mu took them and thanked her politely. The table was filled with dishes he had loved as a child, though now they no longer looked as enticing as before. He sat quietly, listening to Qin Aihua talk about funny fishing stories. The feeling was both new and strange that the person sitting beside him, drinking with him and chatting casually, was not his business partner, friend, client, or mentor, but his father. In his entire life, he had never had this experience—an equal, almost friendly conversation with his father.

       Because she was happy, Zheng Yan had a few extra drinks. Her face flushed red, and she kept repeating that he should come home often. She said that the old worker dormitory of the electric cable factory was going to be demolished soon; they had drawn lots and gotten a three-bedroom one-living-room resettlement apartment. Renovation would begin next spring, and they would leave him a sunny room.

       She pressed her lips together, holding back for a while, then finally couldn’t hold it in and asked whether Qin Mu had found a partner and whether he could bring them home to meet them sometime.

       After speaking, a hint of unease crept in. She seemed to realise she had crossed a line and hurriedly added that she didn’t mean to meddle. It was just that no matter whether it was a man or a woman, having someone by your side was always a good thing.

       Seeing Qin Mu remain silent, Qin Aihua immediately changed the subject. “Ahem, at his age, his career is just taking off; he’s already too busy with work. Where would he find time to date? You really have no foresight.”

       Zheng Yan stopped pressing the issue and went to the bedroom to take out a red booklet¹saving accounts and handed it to Qin Mu. She said haltingly, “All the money you sent us is in here. From the very first deposit you transferred after you started working, up until the six thousand from last month—I saved it all. I always wanted to return it to you in person someday. Back when you were in university, we didn’t even pay your tuition because we wanted to force you to come back… Thinking about it now, we really wronged you.”

       Her eyes turned slightly red. She sighed and continued, “We both have our pensions, and we’ll get compensation from the demolition too; we have enough to live on. Your expenses are high, you’re taking cases and running a law firm, working day and night. With this money, things might be a little easier for you.” She placed the passbook gently beside him.

       Qin Mu froze when he heard the words, ‘we didn’t even pay your tuition to force you to come back’.

       He recalled the moment Shen Liu had thrown a stack of cash onto the table—how that man had curved his eyes and delivered the lie ‘your parents gave it to you’ so naturally and convincingly that Qin Mu had never doubted it for a moment.

       That swindler had paid his tuition for him.

       Now, Qin Mu understood why Shen Liu had told such a lie. It was to leave a thread connecting him to his parents, giving him the chance to reconcile many years later. And just as that man had predicted, he was indeed sitting here face-to-face with them now.

       A tight, suffocating pressure built in Qin Mu’s chest, swelling but unable to burst. He stood up. “It’s getting late. I still have something to take care of. You should keep the money—I don’t need it.”

       Seeing they couldn’t keep him, Zheng Yan hurried into the kitchen and packed smoked meat, braised snacks, and side dishes, insisting he take them.

       Once the car door closed, Qin Mu let out a breath of relief amid the lingering aroma of food. He really wasn’t good at handling situations like this. The unfamiliar yet suddenly pressing parent-child relationship left him unable to advance or retreat, making him want to flee.

       He looked up from the car toward the third floor. The window was empty. The prison that had trapped him for years now looked like nothing more than an ordinary, painfully ordinary window.

       The older one grew, the more frightening the time became. Its cruelty lay not only in its endless forward march, but in how it blurred the past—like a cheap eraser with no real force. At first, it did nothing, so you paid it no mind. But after countless days of rubbing, the handwriting began to fade, quietly disappearing. By the time you suddenly realised it, only the indented marks remained on the paper.

       The deep hatred of yesteryear had become blurred; the people he once vowed never to forgive no longer seemed all that intolerable.

       Qin Mu didn’t know whether this was good or bad. Perhaps life was simply a path where one kept losing things—the important, the desired, the things you want to remember —until all were forgotten, including the person once buried deep in his heart.

       He returned home, put the various containers of food in the fridge, opened a can of beer, and drank while watching a movie.

       It was an award-winning one, ‘Green Book’, an interesting and thought-provoking movie. People divided themselves into types and hierarchies; race, skin colour, religion, hobbies, gender, and sexual orientation could all become traits to be discriminated against.

       Discrimination itself was like a greedy snake, slithering along, swallowing little squares and making them part of its body, then using them to swallow other squares. Just as those who had once been discriminated against might, after joining the majority and gaining the power of speech, become new perpetrators of discrimination themselves. A cycle repeated endlessly, ceaseless in its regeneration.

       The clock hand quietly touched midnight. Someone, ignoring the prohibition, secretly set off a firework, bursting into a spray of bright and glittering sparks outside the window.

       Beiwei was startled. It jumped off his lap and ran to hide beside Dongjing. Qin Mu’s phone vibrated, flooded with New Year greetings—from his colleagues at the firm, alumni, and even his mentor’s wife.

       The WeChat groups were lively as well—especially the “East Coast Elders Council,” which flashed nonstop. For some reason, Xu Ye and Fang Mingyan were competing with middle-aged tacky emoji packs—one glittering golden rose after another, truly an assault on the eyes.

       Qin Mu was just about to reply when another message popped up.

       Call me gege and I’ll give you candy: Happy New Year.

       He stared at it for a moment, took a screenshot, and tapped ‘Add to Blacklist’.

       After the Spring Festival, the weather gradually warmed. A timely rain knows its season; when spring arrives, life begins to grow. When the Rain Master fell silent and lonely, summer called upon the Thunder God.

       In June, K City was stiflingly hot; thunderstorms rolled in one after another, with a kind of boldness that seemed intent on either striking you dead or drowning you.

       Qin Mu stepped through the rain into East Coast and shook off the water on his umbrella. Ever since he had begun doing pro bono law work, he had been constantly busy. Cases lined up one after another, flights back and forth, barely any free time. Today’s gathering had been arranged by Chu Yu, who said they hadn’t hung out in a long while and should have some fun.

       East Coast was a discreet, high-end BDSM club, members-only, with strict entry requirements and rules. Chu Yu, Fang Mingyan, and Qin Mu were not only the founders and shareholders of the club but also the guardians of the community’s norms.

       They required that all members’ BDSM play adhere to the principles of safety, sanity, informed knowledge, and consent, while offering maximum protection of members’ privacy. Most people here used pseudonyms; for example, Chu Yu was ‘The Earl’, Fang Mingyan was ‘The Lion’, and Qin Mu was ‘The Pharaoh’.

       It wasn’t that he had any special fondness for Egyptian mummies; Fang Mingyan had chosen the name for him, saying that since he worked in law and lived like an old man, the name suited him perfectly. Qin Mu didn’t care what he was called and simply adopted it.

       It was Friday night, and the club had a performance. A Dom on stage demonstrated how to use toys to spark a sub’s desire while forcing them to obey commands and endure their desire.

       Qin Mu walked through the main hall toward the VIP section, chatting a bit with a familiar female Dom along the way. Her female submissive wore sexy lace lingerie, her blue eyes quietly fixed on her mistress, kneeling on all fours without moving.

       “Your slave is very well-behaved,” Qin Mu said.

       “To receive praise from the Pharaoh is no small thing,” she laughed, then noticed the red leash in his hand and blinked. “Looks like you have someone tonight.”

       “Yes.”

       “Then I won’t disturb you.” She made a gesture inviting him to go ahead.

       Qin Mu reached the built-in sofa area; Xu Ye and the others were already there.

       A half-naked man stood near the window, not far away. When he saw Qin Mu, his eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over and kneeled, calling softly, ‘Master’.

       It was Lu Cheng.

       Qin Mu patted his head. “Waited long?”

       “Not long, Master.”

       Qin Mu gently lifted the man’s chin and clipped one end of the leash onto his collar, giving the command, “Stand up. Follow me.”

       “Yes, Master.”

       Lu Cheng’s face was slightly flushed from shame and excitement. He obediently followed Qin Mu into the seating area and knelt by his leg once Qin Mu sat down.

       “Long time no see,” Fang Mingyan said, with Zhuo Yue leaning against him. “What’ve you been busy with lately?”

       “A case involving a left-behind girl who was abused,” Qin Mu answered.

       “I heard you’ve been taking one pro bono case after another?” Xia Ran sat beside Sima Jun, biting into a piece of watermelon as she asked.

       “Mm.”

       “There’s too much injustice in this world,” Xu Ye sighed, then added, “All right, since we’re out to have fun, stop thinking about work. Relax.”

       Qin Mu smiled and told Lu Cheng, “Go open a bottle of wine.”

       Lu Cheng chose a low-alcohol sparkling wine from the table, poured it into a tall glass, and brought it over to Qin Mu. Just then, Chu Yu arrived.

       And there was someone beside him.

       That person was tall, wearing a dark-blue short-sleeve polo shirt and jeans. His slightly long, wavy hair was casually tied back behind his head. The sharpness hidden in his gaze was softened by the faint smile at the corner of his lips, giving him a lazy, unruly air.

       The wine froze at Qin Mu’s lips as he stared at the man approaching step by step.

       There was something almost like sympathy in Chu Yu’s eyes. He cleared his throat lightly and said, “Let me introduce—this is Shen Liu, a new member who just joined.” 

T/N:
I also recommend watching Green Book, it’s a very well-made movie in my opinion (ദ്ദി ๑>؂•̀๑)

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