Category: Surrender 4

       The door finally opened.

       The sky was overcast outside, and the room was dark due to poor lighting. The ceiling was low, making it cramped even for the 1.83m tall Qin Mu, let alone for the nearly 1.9m Gangzi, who had to stoop like he had a cervical spondylosis.

       The furnishings were simple and neat but carried a peculiar smell, reminiscent of medicine, musty smell of damp bedding, or the smell of an old person who’s been cooped up at home for a long time. There were two birdcages hanging on the wall, both empty. The floral curtains hung awkwardly, and the only sign of life was a row of plants on the windowsill.

       “Uncle, you raise birds? Here, let me help,” Gangzi quickly took the trembling teapot from Zhang Wenhua’s hand and poured water for both himself and Qin Mu. The old man, with his frail legs and lack of strength, managed a few steps before sitting down on a rattan chair, leaning on the armrest.

       “I used to. But then I got sick, I have no time to care for them, so I gave them away,” Zhang Wenhua looked at Qin Mu, hesitating before finally asking, “Lawyer Qin, tell me the truth, was Lawyer Xiao… because of my case…”

       “The perpetrator hasn’t been found yet; there’s no conclusion at the moment,” Qin Mu replied.

       Zhang Wenhua lowered his eyes, his thin fingers twisting together as he murmured, “He was kind-hearted, helping me without charging a penny, and now this has happened. I really…”

       “It has nothing to do with you,” Qin Mu said. His eyes were dark in colour, set behind glasses on a straight and high-bridged nose, giving his gaze a sincere and deep look. Due to his professional habit, he made eye contact while speaking, conveying a sense of earnestness.

       “Uncle Zhang, whether it was Teacher Xiao or me, we lawyers are just the blade you use to seek justice. Whether you want to draw that blade, when to draw it, and how to use it once drawn, it’s all up to you.” He paused, slowing his speech, “Going to court with a lawyer is to seek justice, but justice isn’t just a legal standard; it’s also a measure in people’s hearts. True justice is what brings peace of mind.”

       These words struck Zhang Wenhua hard. He furrowed his brows for a long time before saying, “Lawyer Qin, I really… don’t want any more trouble.”

       “I can understand your situation and your feelings, and I can guess the difficulties involved,” Qin Mu looked directly at him, “If you have a better option or can get satisfactory compensation, both Teacher Xiao and I could rest easy, even if this trip was in vain.”

       Hearing this, the old man’s eyes reddened slightly, “Lawyer Qin, I’ll be honest with you. The reason I’m just ‘letting it go’ is because I have no other choice. Us common folk at the bottom don’t have many options when something happens.” He sighed sorrowfully, “Life is hard… there’s the ‘not being able to do things’ kind of hard, and the ‘must not do things’ kind. Young Lawyer Qin, you’re young, you might not understand. This is my second marriage with my wife; xiao Ran was her child from before, already sixteen when she came to me. We weren’t close, and she had a falling out with her mother, and became independent early on. My wife had high blood pressure, had a stroke, and was bedridden for over three years until she passed away. I was terrified of ending up alone in my old age, so I sought health supplements to stay fit, to not rely on anyone or suffer. But it backfired, leading to this illness.”

       Zhang Wenhua pulled the corners of his wrinkled mouth and gave a bitter smile, “It’s terminal now, so whether I treat it or not, I don’t have long. But xiao Ran’s life is just beginning. She never had much fatherly love from her biological dad or from me; I owe her, and I can’t bring more trouble to her and her family.” As he spoke, he wiped his eyes, his voice trembling, “Lawyer Qin, I am grateful to Teacher Xiao and you. But… I can’t wield that blade anymore…”

       The message was clear.

       They had used Zhang Ran as leverage to threaten Zhang Wenhua, hitting his vulnerability with precision, leaving no further trouble.

       Seeing him wipe his tears, Qin Mu felt a bitter taste in his heart. He had intended to persuade the old man to continue with the lawsuit, but now all his prepared words seemed inadequate. Looking at the lonely Zhang Wenhua, he thought of Xiao Chengzong lying in the morgue, feeling like his heart was split into two desolate plains. On one side were thousands of miles of glaciers, and on the other side were endless raging flames, both emotions entwined inextricably. He adjusted his glasses, forcing calmness into his voice, “Did they offer you compensation?”

       Zhang Wenhua didn’t hide it and said honestly, “They gave me 80,000 yuan.”

       Only 80,000 yuan.

       The price of a life was only 80,000 yuan.

       Qin Mu clenched his fist on his knee, feeling a pang of sympathy, “If we win, I can get you 800,000 yuan back.”

       Zhang Wenhua seemed startled by the figure, looking at him blankly before shaking his head, “…Forget it, let’s forget it. It’s my bad luck; I’ll accept it.” He struggled to his feet, pulled out a stack of cash from a drawer, and handed it to Qin Mu, “Young Lawyer Qin, you took the trouble to come here. Take this money.”

       “You’re trying to send me away,” Qin Mu smiled helplessly, standing up to gently push the money back, “Uncle Zhang, I’ll be in J City for a few days. If you change your mind, feel free to contact me. I’m here not just for you but to finish what Teacher Xiao started.”

       Zhang Wenhua looked at the young man before him with guilt, hesitating several times before speaking. As Qin Mu was about to leave, he sighed deeply, “Wait a moment.” He took out a small address book from his pocket, flipping to the last page where a number was scribbled. The book had been wet, the ink smudged at the edges, making the digits and the words ‘Wu Guangming’ look fuzzy.

       “He used to live in this compound but moved out. He came to see me recently when he heard I was sick, saying his mother also had issues from taking the medicine. He asked if I wanted to join him in seeking justice. We went a couple of times, but my health couldn’t take it, so I stopped. He tried reaching out to authorities, media, and Baolijian company, but nothing worked. He also approached several law firms to sue, but none would take the case once they heard it was against Baolijian. Lawyer xiao Qin, you might want to contact him.”

       This was an unexpected gain. Qin Mu felt a warmth in his heart, gratefully holding the old man’s hand, “Thank you.”

       Leaving the stairwell, they found it had started to rain again. Gangzi asked, “Should we contact Wu Guangming now?”

       Qin Mu, feeling exhausted, shook his head, “Let’s go back to our accommodation to rest first.”

              The accomodation was a suite at the Hyatt, booked by his assistant.

       In truth, Qin Mu had no particular demands for accommodations. As long as it was clean and quiet, it was enough. Whether it was a five-star hotel or a business one, he was fine with both, just as he was with buffet meals or street food. He had endured all sorts of hardships running cases with Zhou Yi as a paralegal, so he wasn’t fussy.

       He ordered room service and sat on the sofa, lost in thought. Since Xiao Chengzong’s incident, Qin Mu’s mind had been racing, constantly reviewing the case, strategizing, and planning, not getting a wink of sleep on the plane. Now, with Zhang Wenhua’s case off the table, he needed to plan his next move. The air conditioning warmed the room, and Qin Mu relaxed, feeling the fatigue return. He fell asleep before lunch arrived, not even waking when Gangzi covered him with a blanket.

       After a nap on the sofa, his neck was stiff when he woke up, but he felt much better. He ate a few bites and then called Wu Guangming.

       “Hello, is this Wu Guangming? I’m Qin from Mu Xin Law Firm…” Before he could finish introducing himself, the other end of the line cursed, “Go fvck yourself!” and hung up. Subsequent calls went straight to busy signals, indicating he’d been blocked.

       Qin Mu said helplessly, “Do I sounds like a scammer?”

       Gangzi laughed, and handed over his cell phone.

       Qin Mu texted Wu Guangming, explaining that he got the number from Zhang Wenhua. After a while, he received a call back.

       “Sorry, really sorry,” the man on the other end apologized awkwardly, “My information must have been sold to someone; I keep getting spam calls, so I thought you were a scammer too.”

       “No worries,” Qin Mu understood, “I heard from Uncle Zhang that you want to sue Baolijian, is that right?”

       “You’d take the case?” Wu Guangming was surprised.

       Qin Mu briefly explained his connection with Teacher Xiao, Zhang Wenhua, and Baolijian. Wu Guangming hesitated, then said apprehensively, “Lawyer Qin, I won’t hide it from you, we’ve spent almost all our money on my mother’s treatment, and I have two kids to raise. I might not be able to pay much for legal fees. But… if you can help me win this lawsuit, I’ll give you half of whatever compensation we get, even all of it if you want! You don’t know how much I hate them! I wish I could burn that damn company to the ground!”

       “The fees aren’t important,” Qin Mu said, “Mr. Wu, if it’s convenient, can we meet?”

       “Sure, sure,” Wu Guangming agreed hastily, then added in a downcast tone, “Sorry, could you come to my place? I… can’t leave here.”

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       Zhao Jinchuan left the apartment and returned home.

       As soon as he stepped through the door, he heard Zhao Dongsheng’s furious voice coming from the study on the second floor, “What a bastard you raised! What else can he do besides causing trouble? A worthless piece of shit!”

       Zhao Jinchuan paused in his steps, a vicious chill flashing in his eyes. He had inherited his mother’s looks, which were naturally refined and handsome. Unfortunately, after spending too long indulging in debauchery, he had picked up a certain air of wantonness. Although he still gave off a sinister and ruthless vibe when he was stern.

       He slowly ascended the stairs and heard his mother, Fang Huiyun, softly pleading beside Zhao Dongsheng, “Why do you get so angry? Jinchuan is still young; everyone makes small mistakes. Why get so worked up over this?”

       “Small mistakes?” Zhao Dongsheng was furious, “Idiot! The Eldest has been struggling for so long with that Shen family over a position, and he’s finally about to make it—do you have any idea how many eyes are on the Zhao family right now? And at such a critical moment, your good-for-nothing son actually dared to hire someone to commit murder! Absolutely lawless!”

       Perhaps because they knew the topic was confidential, all the servants in the house had been sent away, and only Zhao Dongsheng’s personal secretary Yue Zhong was waiting at the door. Zhao Jinchuan pushed the door open and walked in. Fang Huiyun was afraid he would face Zhao Dongsheng’s wrath. She rushed forward and said, “There’s food downstairs, you should…”

       “I’m not hungry,” Zhao Jinchuan plopped down on the sofa, brushing his still damp hair back, “You called me back just to scold me, right? Go ahead.”

       This attitude choked Zhao Dongsheng so much that he threw a teacup from the table at him in anger, spilling tea all over Zhao Jinchuan. The cup rolled to the ground and broke into pieces.

       “Oh!” Fang Huiyun exclaimed in shock, wiping the tea off her son while glaring at Zhao Dongsheng with teary eyes, “It was freshly brewed tea! What if he gets burned?”

       Zhao Dongsheng scolded, “Look at his arrogant attitude! I’ve warned him repeatedly—running a company requires discretion, and the formula of health care products must be carefully examined. You assured me nothing would happen, but how many times has this been now?”

       Zhao Jinchuan brushed off his trousers nonchalantly and said slowly, “You’ve seen the annual report. For my first venture into business, this profit is pretty good. Health supplements go into people’s stomachs; it’s normal for a few with weak constitutions to react badly. That old man wouldn’t let go, so I just gave him a lesson. If he can’t take a hit, that’s his own bad luck, not my fault.”

       “Bullshit!” Zhao Dongsheng cursed, “Do you even know what time it is? The whole family has to think twice before moving a finger, and here you are, causing such a huge mess! Look at all the messed-up news online!”

       Zhao Jinchuan gave a disdainful laugh, “Those who jump around online are cowards who didn’t dare to even fart loudly in real life. Have the cyber police arrest a couple, and they’ll quiet down. As for impact, don’t worry about it. They’re like fish, one second they’re all for justice, the next they forget it all for some celebrity gossip. If you scatter some fish food, it will spread from one person to ten, and then to a hundred, and they’ll chase it around for a while. What waves can they make?”

       Zhao Jinchuan said dismissively, “I’ve already dealt with the guy who did the hit-and-run. The police won’t catch anyone, nor will it trace back to the Zhao family. Since it’s already happened, if you find it troublesome… what was that phrase? Oh, ‘sacrificing personal relationships for the greater good’. You can just send me to jail, earn a good reputation for being law-abiding, and help my uncle out. The Zhao family won’t miss me.”

       He extended his arms as if ready for handcuffs.

       Zhao Dongsheng snorted coldly, “So you’re playing the part of the broken jar now?”

       “Aren’t I just a broken jar? The old man can’t stand the sight of me, and neither can you. You both think I’ll never measure up to the one she gave birth to. I heard you even needed a paternity test before acknowledging me—am I wrong?”

       “What nonsense are you talking about!” Fang Huiyun quickly tried to stop him.

       Zhao Jinchuan leaned back on the sofa and tilted his head to avoid her hand, “I know exactly which shameless cowards have been egging you on behind the scenes for today’s scolding. This isn’t a big deal—I can handle it myself, which is why I didn’t bother coming to report it to you. If you still feel like yelling, go ahead and yell a bit more. If not, I’ll be on my way.”

       “You…” Zhao Dongsheng’s anger flared up again.

       Fang Huiyun poked her son’s head hard and said preemptively, “Don’t always talk back to your dad. He’s just worried about you. Go change your pants, they’re wet.”

       Zhao Jinchuan stood up, looking at Zhao Dongsheng.

       Zhao Dongsheng didn’t say anything, his face stern.

       He turned and left.

       Zhao Dongsheng was still angry, and scolded Fang Huiyun, “You make a great shield!”

       Fang Huiyun glared back, “What else should I do? Let you scold him, let those two belittle him? He’s my son, if you won’t cherish him, I will. I might not have taught him well, but who told you to keep him hidden for so many years?” Her eyes reddened before she finished, murmuring, “If you had spent more time with him when he was young, he wouldn’t be causing trouble all the time.”

       “Alright,” Zhao Dongsheng rubbed his brow in frustration, “Every time I say something, you have a pile of words waiting.”

       “You provoked me,” Fang Huiyun wiped her eyes and refilled a cup for him, “Jinchuan is still young, inexperienced. He’ll mature with more experience. Don’t always scold him in anger; he respects you the most, it’ll hurt him.”

       “Respect my ass,” Zhao Dongsheng cursed and took the the teacup, “You spoil him too much, and it’ll lead to trouble.”

       “He’s straightforward and wears his heart on his sleeve—out of all the kids, isn’t he the one most like you?” Fang Huiyun touched his temples, “Don’t get upset over these small things; you’ll get more wrinkles. How about I stew some ginseng for you?”

       “If your precious son doesn’t cause more trouble, I’ll stay young,” Zhao Dongsheng’s anger was finally dissipated by Fang Huiyun. “Call xiao Yue in, I have some things for him to do.”

       Fang Huiyun knew this meant her husband was going to help their son clean up the mess, and she felt relieved, smiling as she opened the door for Yue Zhong.

              After Xiao Chengzong’s death, a self-operated news account broke the story of ‘The mysterious poisoning case of Baolijian and the plaintiff’s lawyer dying in an accident’, which quickly went viral, garnering significant media attention. 

       Baolijian already had a bad reputation, and now it was linked to a premeditated murder. It didn’t take long for indignant netizens to uncover the identity of Zhao Jinchuan’s identity as a major shareholder, exposing the Zhao family’s extensive influence across politics and business.

       However, this wave of outrage was soon quietly quelled by an invisible net.

       Comments were prohibited, reposts were rendered invalid, topics disappeared, and hot searches were removed.

       In just three hours, all information related to Baolijian and Kuangmu evaporated, leaving only a few brave self-media outlets stubbornly keeping the issue alive, like small waves in an ocean after a stone has sunk.

              Qin Mu arrived in J City by ten in the morning. It had just rained, leaving the ground wet. Gangzi rented a car, navigating to the address in the old city district in the east.

       The houses here were built in the 1980s. They were generally low and cramped, making the area feel crowded. Because a leader was due to visit a key project in the eastern suburbs and might pass through, the district had spent considerable effort painting the walls white near the road. These old buildings looked like painted ghosts with pink faces but gray backs, which looked quite bizarre.

       Zhang Wenhua lived in one of these mismatched tube-shaped buildings. Going up the stairs to the second floor, there were torn Spring Festival couplets pasted outside the iron door, and the ‘0’ in the doorplate ‘205’ was leaning weakly to one side.

       Qin Mu knocked, but there was no answer. Calling led to a message that the phone was off.

       He furrowed his brows.

       Uncle Zhang lived alone. His wife had passed away long ago, and he only had a daughter he rarely saw. He was not very mobile and seldom left home, yet he had proactively contacted Qin Mu earlier to sign the power of attorney. Now, his phone being off was clearly a sign of trouble.

       Gangzi leaned against the door and listened. He then checked outside the corridor window before agilely climbing out, using the wall for support.

       Qin Mu was startled, peering out to watch.

       Gangzi climbed the external water pipe, stepping on the protruding edge of the wall to peer into the window of room 205, then climbed back in. His movements so silent for such a big man. Qin Mu now understood why Chu Yu insisted he bring Gangzi; his skills were indeed impressive.

       Gangzi typed ‘there’s someone’ on his phone to show Qin Mu, but loudly said, “No one’s here, let’s go. We’ll come back once we contact him.”

       Qin Mu understood, replying, “Alright.”

       They went downstairs, left through the front, then circled back from behind. They hid at the corner of the third floor of the building opposite to watch.

       Soon, they saw three people in suits emerge from room 205, talking as they left the courtyard and got into a black Audi.

       Gangzi took photos with his phone, saying, “I’ll send these back for checking.”

       “No need,” Qin Mu said, “They’re either from Baolijian or Kuangmu, here to silence him.”

       “Then we…”

       “Wait.”

       They waited a bit longer. Qin Mu’s phone received a message saying the number he had called was now in service. He called again, and it was answered after two rings.

       “Lawyer xiao Qin…” Zhang Wenhua’s voice was weak, like a flickering candle in the wind, “I’m not doing this lawsuit anymore.”

       Qin Mu showed no particular emotion and seemed surprisingly calm. He said slowly, “Uncle Zhang, I’m not here to force you into the lawsuit. Regardless of whether we proceed, I wanted to see you because Teacher Xiao was working tirelessly for you right up until his accident; he was always very concerned about you.”

       A series of coughs came from the other end, the old man struggling to speak, “I am very sorry for him.”

       Qin Mu said, “I want to see you. Can I?”

       The old man was silent for a while before agreeing.

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       Qin Mu sat in Xiao Chengzong’s room until dawn.

       Before his death, Teacher Xiao had been handling a case commissioned by an elderly man in his sixties named Zhang Wenhua, who had developed organ damage after long-term use of a nutritional supplement produced by ‘Baolijian’* under the banner of the Kuangmu Group. A month ago, he was diagnosed with liver cancer.

       This was not a first case incident. Since it was launched five years ago, there have been numerous reports of adverse effects on the products, which boasted ‘strengthening the body and rejuvenating youth’ and claimed to be ‘the culmination of traditional Chinese medicine, absolutely safe with no side effects’.

       ‘Baolijian’ contained a traditional Chinese herb with trace amounts of SBXD*, which could accumulate in the liver and increase the risk of cancer. Yet, the company never altered the so-called ‘secret traditional Chinese medicine formula’ and instead ramped up its marketing efforts, quietly settling the few lawsuits that arose.

       Last September, Xiao Chengzong represented a patient with liver cysts in a compensation case against Kuangmu Corporation. Although the compensation was kept low, it was the first time the lawsuit was won with difficulty. Following this, many others affected by ‘Baolijian’ sought Xiao Chengzong’s help for their rights. Xiao Chengzong began to gather evidence, consulting with famous experts in medicine and pharmacology to analyse the product and case studies, preparing extensive groundwork.

       The old man did this not for fame or fortune but for justice. Like a fearless needle, he wove together a thread of suffering, about to pierce through the glossy facade to expose the ugliness beneath. At last, Baolijian Company could no longer sit still.

       Afterwards, Xiao Chengzong received threatening letters written in blood, silent midnight calls, and was even pushed down a staircase. The police never found valuable leads and treated these incidents as pranks. The old man was afraid that his relatives and friends would worry and get involved, so he kept silent about it.

       Although the old friend had gone, the work remained. The neatly stacked materials and open notebooks on the old wooden desk seemed to await the old man’s return quietly. This was the brightest spot in the room, where the old man had worked long hours, smoothing the edges of the desk. Qin Mu slowly traced the wood’s grain with his fingers, as if silently communicating with the deceased. He sat there for a long time until his phone rang, then he packed up all the materials and left.

       He booked an early morning flight to J City to handle the change of attorney for Zhang Wenhua. Before leaving, he met with Chu Yu and obtained some information.

              The person in charge at Baolijian was Zhao Jinchuan, one of the famous ‘Four Young Masters’ of J City. There were many scandals and rumors about him, from drunk driving and hitting people, to beating a cohabitating actress to disability, to drug use and debauchery at parties… These evil acts that would land an ordinary person in jail for life had no effect on him.

       Because his last name was Zhao.

       The Zhao family was deeply rooted in J City. With General Zhao laying the foundation, the younger generation naturally could enjoy the shade. The Zhao family had numerous branches, extensive marriages, and intertwined business and political interests. It was like a giant spider entrenched in J City, stretching out its slender legs in the giant web, sensitively detecting the vibration of each silk thread.

       Among these many spider legs, the thickest belonged to Zhao Dongsheng. Zhao Dongsheng, Old Zhao’s youngest son, was sharp-minded and cunning from a young age, unlike his two older brothers. He leveraged the resources from his well-positioned father and brothers to make a name for himself in business. He later married Song Min, the daughter of a dairy industry magnate, to establish the powerful Kuangmu Empire.

       Their marriage was purely a business arrangement with no real affection. Song Min, who detested his philandering ways, moved to the US for recuperation after bearing twins. Having spent his life among countless women, Zhao Dongsheng eventually let one slip into his arms—Fang Huiyun. She was a folk singer who was reserved for grand occasions. She was more than ten years younger, had a pretty appearance, a keen mind, and the ability to adapt to any situation. Their fateful encounter led to the birth of a child.

       However, Old Zhao was vehemently against it, causing constant conflict. Zhao Dongsheng didn’t dare acknowledge the child, keeping the mother and child away for seven to eight years. Fang Huiyun waited patiently until Song Min passed away to bring Zhao Jinchuan into the family.

       The illegitimate child suddenly became a young master, but his inherent temper and character were extremely difficult to change. Zhao Jinchuan was both inferior and conceited, sinister and extreme. He could not tolerate any criticism from others and was very ruthless in doing things.

       Old Zhao disliked this grandson and never invited him to family dinners. Zhao Dongsheng was annoyed by his troublemaking nature but couldn’t disown his own blood, especially with Fang Huiyun’s constant persuasion. Zhao Jinchuan refused a nominal position in the corporation, demanding to start something big, so Zhao Dongsheng gave him startup funds. With some dubious health supplement formula, Zhao Jinchuan built Baoli Jian, beginning his path of making money through harmful means.

       J City’s complex web of interests included the Golden Eagle’s hidden lines. As its leader, Chu Yu couldn’t act openly but could assist Qin Mu privately. He provided detailed information, including relationship charts of key figures, distribution of interests, and other data. For Qin Mu’s safety, he assigned a capable bodyguard, disguised as an assistant, to accompany him.

       While waiting at the airport, Qin Mu received a message from Zhou Yi:

       —Arrived at the airport?

       —Arrived.

       —No new developments from the police. Teacher’s widow is in stable condition, and some classmates are helping with the funeral arrangements, don’t worry. Take care of yourself.

       Qin Mu replied with an ‘OK’ and rubbed his brow after taking off his glasses. He hadn’t slept for a day and night. His nerves stretched thin, showing signs of fatigue.

       Outside the glass wall, a massive airplane roared into the dawn sky, like an unruly bird disappearing into the horizon. The bodyguard, Gangzi, reminded him, “Lawyer Qin, it’s time to board.”

       Qin Mu packed his laptop into his bag and headed towards the boarding gate.

              At the same time, the bizarre night in J City was just ending.

       Zhao Jinchuan reached out from under the covers to silence the incessantly ringing phone, pulling the naked body beside him close, sucking at her breasts. The guest was woken up by his antics and caressed his head playfully, “So early in the morning! You wore me out last night.” Her voice was soft and sweet; it was the popular singer Yang Xue.

       Zhao Jinchuan, still playing with her nipple, moved his hand downwards, touching something that made her cry out. He chuckled, “Why are you squeezing so tight? Spread them, let me see if I’ve swollen you up.”

       “Ah, Young Master Chuan, I beg for mercy… Can I beg for mercy? I have a schedule today. If you do it again, I won’t be able to get up.”

       As they tangled in the sheets, the phone rang again. Yang Xue caught a glimpse of the caller ID and was filled with jealousy, “Oh, which ‘great beauty’ is this?”

       “My mom, why are you jealous for no reason?” Zhao Jinchuan slapped her buttocks hard, snatching the phone and answering it. After a couple of sentences, he grew impatient, “Alright, alright, I’m coming back.” The call killed his mood, and he was ready to leave after a shower.

       Yang Xue handed him a warmed cup of milk, “Have some, you drank so much last night…”

       Zhao Jinchuan pushed it away with a cold face, “Mind your own business.”

       He was an extremely emotional person. One moment he was in a sunny mood, the next stormy. It was obvious that he was in a bad mood at the moment. The milk spilled over Yang Xue’s hand, burning her. She placed the cup aside without saying anything, laughing it off, “It’s raining outside, let the driver pick you up.” She knew he had drunk a lot yesterday and was probably still over the limit. However, she didn’t dare advise him directly, only suggesting indirectly.

       Zhao Jinchuan caught on, raising an eyebrow, “Why? Afraid I’ll get arrested for drunk driving and won’t be there to support you?” He slapped her face a few times, “Don’t worry, your man can handle anything. Be good, don’t give me a headache.”

       The slaps were hard. Yang Xue’s face was tilted to the side, but she smiled good-naturedly, “I was worrying for nothing.” She owed it all to this man’s money, from being an unknown member of a girl group to a top-tier idol. She would rather endure his drunken beatings, rough sex, and sudden mood swings than fall from fame to obscurity. This was the path she chose.

       After seeing Zhao Jinchuan off, Yang Xue went to the bathroom to wash. Last night, in the heat of the moment, he had been rough with her at the table’s edge. She had a large bruise on her lower back, purple bite marks on her chest, and her lower body was sore. It stung when water touched it. She finished her difficult shower and stood in front of the mirror. Her reflection blurred by steam, like a nameless shadow. She wiped the mirror, revealing her reddened eyes. Her phone rang; her assistant was urging her downstairs. She quickly wiped her tears, responding, “I’ll be right there.”

 

*Note: All companies, cases, drugs, and characters mentioned in this text are fictional and do not allude to any real entities or individuals.

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T/N:
Sorry for the long update lol
I’ve been quite busy and honestly the first few chapters have heavy scenes (not smut heavy but content heavy) so I took longer time to process things lmao

I planned to release a few chapters to compensate for the absence of new chapter the past few weeks ><

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       Lu Cheng never called him by his name directly, yet he had silently recited those two words in his heart countless times. If he were a devout monk, chanting scriptures with such sincerity every day, he might have already attained enlightenment. Unfortunately, he had never been able to achieve true fulfillment.  

       He and Qin Mu had a contractual relationship. Every right and obligation laid out clearly in black and white. But emotions—those could never be written down with such clarity.  

       Lu Cheng had been introduced to a BDSM Club named ‘East Coast’, and upon stepping inside, he was instantly captivated by Qin Mu’s exceptional ropework. Rashly, he rushed over to flirt and strike up a conversation, only to be rejected. It was only then that he learned the man was a well-respected figure in the scene—known as ‘Pharaoh’. From that moment on, Lu Cheng did everything he could to get close to him, exhausting all his connections until he finally secured a favour from Fang Mingyan, which allowed him to become Qin Mu’s sub.  

       Qin Mu was a nearly perfect dom—highly skilled, versatile, professional, and trustworthy, with an impeccable sense of boundaries in their sessions. By the second time Lu Cheng underwent his training, he was already thinking about establishing a long-term intimate relationship. But he knew that Qin Mu had only taken him in as a favour to a friend. For Lu Cheng, their weekly Friday meetings were soul-stirring dates; for Qin Mu, they were probably nothing more than routine obligations.

       Lu Cheng was well aware of the principle that to spark a man’s desire, one must first capture his interest. But no matter how much effort he put in, he failed time and time again. Qin Mu remained unmoved—he adhered strictly to their contract, vanishing after every Friday session, ignoring Lu Cheng’s advances in real life, and never once crossing the line during their scenes. Frustrated, Lu Cheng began to doubt his own attractiveness. Only after asking around did he learn that ‘Pharaoh’ was famously abstinent—he rarely engaged in actual sexual relations with his subs.  

       Faced with such an unyielding man, Lu Cheng had no idea where to even begin. He hung his whip on the wall and let out a heavy sigh.

                     The days in late autumn were growing shorter, and by the time Qin Mu returned to his apartment, the sky had already turned completely dark. As he pushed open the door, the motion-activated lights gradually flickered on. Hearing the noise, two cats peeked out from their climbing frame. The white-haired, blue-eyed ragdoll leaped down gracefully; it walked up to him and let out a soft meow in greeting. The other cat, a chubby ginger tabby, lazily flicked its tail before flopping back down.

       Qin Mu changed into his indoor slippers and hung his suit on the coat rack by the entrance. After washing his hands, he grabbed a handful of cat food and poured it into their bowls. The ragdoll approached, its tail brushing lightly against his leg. Qin Mu reached down to stroke its head, eliciting a low and contented sound from its throat.

       Its name was Beiwei—North Latitude. It had been a gift, and he had raised it for five years. Affectionate and friendly, it loved human company. The ginger cat, Dongjing—East Longitude—had been a stray he had rescued a year ago. Back then, it had been nothing but skin and bones. Its left ear was torn from a fight with other strays, and its body was covered in scabs and patches of ringworm. Now, its skin disease had long since healed, and its orange fur was sleek and shiny, though it had grown absurdly fat. Likely a victim of human abuse in the past, it was wary of people and only got along with Beiwei. It barely acknowledged Qin Mu, not even bothering to look pleased during meals.

       Fortunately, Qin Mu was a laid-back owner. He let the cats roam freely and rarely forced interaction, allowing them to do as they pleased. Because of this, they got along harmoniously.  

       With the cats fed, it was time to take care of his own dinner.  

       Qin Mu tied on an apron and rolled up his sleeves. He took out ingredients from the fridge and began prepping.

       His stomach was sensitive, so even though he lived alone, he never skimped on proper meals. He diced button mushrooms, onions, and bacon, then sautéed them with peas and tomatoes into a thick and rich sauce. He poured it over perfectly cooked spaghetti, topped it with a layer of mozzarella, and slid it into the oven.

       220 degrees Celsius. Fifteen minutes.

       A piping hot and fragrant baked pasta emerged from the oven. The delicious aroma drew Beiwei over. It jumped onto the table and curled its paws in front of the bowl. Then, it watched him eat in silent expectation.

       Qin Mu lived in the heart of K City, in a spacious two-hundred-square-meter apartment on the fifteenth floor. His open balcony faced the river, where the dark waters of the Jialan River divided the city’s glittering skyline into two shores. The scattered lights from boats on the water looked like fallen stars from the heavens.  

       He ate dinner and browsed the news. He then went through case files sent by his legal assistant and secretary and reviewed the legal provisions and cases. After that, he exercised for an hour at the gym, took a shower, and was in bed before ten-thirty. He read before sleep, and when he had time, he played video games.

       On nights without court cases or social engagements, Qin Mu lived with a strict routine—like a train steadily moving along its tracks, neither fast nor slow, everything in its proper place.

       To him, solitude meant complete control over his life. There was no need to deal with unnecessary social interactions and no need to consider others’ thoughts or emotions. He felt relaxed and comfortable.

       Just as Qin Mu was reading with a cat in his arms, his phone rang. A familiar client was calling to consult about acquiring a private equity investment firm. By the time he had analysed the matter from the perspectives of cost, transition period, and regulatory review and had tactfully advised against the acquisition, more than half an hour had passed. The client trusted him and decided to put the proposal on hold.

       During the call, several missed calls had come through—all from Zhou Yi, his business partner. Qin Mu called back, and the call was answered almost instantly. Zhou Yi’s voice was tangled in chaotic background noise and was trembling slightly. It felt that even through the phone, Qin Mu could feel the barely suppressed panic.

       “Teacher Xiao had an accident. He was just sent to the ICU. His skull is fractured. It doesn’t look good.”

       Qin Mu’s mind went blank for several seconds. He shot up from his seat, knocking over his coffee cup. Brown liquid spilled onto his pants, but he had no time to care. Grabbing his coat, he rushed out the door.

              Xiao Chengzong was his and Zhou Yi’s professor—a renowned legal expert at K University. He was sixty-eight years old and had no children. His wife had suffered a stroke two years ago, leaving her with lasting impairments, unable to walk without assistance. The old man was a man of integrity and humility, and he was highly respected in the legal field. In addition to teaching and educating people, he devoted himself to pro bono legal aid, helping those who couldn’t afford lawyers seek justice. Qin Mu had received much guidance from him during his studies and frequently visited to check in on the elderly couple, helping with whatever he could. Just days ago, the old man had been laughing and chatting with him—and now, he had suffered such a terrible accident. Anxiety gnawed at Qin Mu as he rushed to the hospital, barely waiting for the car to stop before leaping out and striding toward the elevator.

       The Second Municipal Hospital was one of the best in K City. Even at night, the place was crowded with patients seeking treatment, their faces etched with exhaustion and pain. Qin Mu couldn’t afford to wait for the slow-moving, packed elevator and instead took the stairs two at a time. As he neared the emergency room, a gut-wrenching cry pierced through the air.

       His scalp tingled, and his steps halted abruptly.  

       “Old Xiao! Old Xiao…!”

       A woman with graying hair was nearly collapsing in her wheelchair. Her face was streaked with tears, and her voice was trembling and raw with grief. Several relatives knelt beside her, murmuring words of comfort. Zhou Yi stood nearby, gripping a sheet of paper, his face ashen as he spoke with a doctor. Two police officers stood beside him.

       Qin Mu felt like all the oxygen had been sucked from the room. His chest tightened painfully, and he couldn’t breathe. It was only when someone tapped him on the shoulder that he finally managed to surface from the suffocating haze.

       “He’s gone,” Zhou Yi said, his eyes red.

       Qin Mu stared at him and asked, “What happened?”

       “Car accident. When they brought him in, he was covered in blood. The main injury was to his head. I asked the best neurosurgeon here to operate…but they couldn’t save him.”

       “What about the perpetrator?”

       “They fled the scene. The police checked the surveillance footage—it was a CRV with a fake license plate. Last known direction was toward the southern suburbs, but pinpointing its location will take time.” Zhou Yi pressed a hand to his temple, suppressing his grief, then patted Qin Mu’s shoulder. “Go… check on Teacher’s wife.”

       Qin Mu nodded. Every step he took toward the wheelchair felt unbearably heavy.

       He knelt down in front of Teacher Xiao’s wife, taking her frail hand in his. His voice was soft. “Madam.”

       The woman who had once been so strong, who could still joke with him even after her stroke, now seemed to have aged all at once. Her words quivered with sorrow. “Xiao Qin… he didn’t even leave me a single word.”

       Resentment. Grief. Sorrow. Heartbreak. Despair.

       All those emotions were tangled within that one sentence, slamming into Qin Mu’s heart with unbearable force.

       It felt as if the mountains had collapsed and the world was caving in.

       The most painful thing about loss wasn’t just losing someone—it was watching the people left behind suffer and being unable to do anything to ease their pain.

       Behind his glasses, his eyes burned red, but he kept his voice steady. He gently squeezed her hand. “Teacher didn’t say anything, but you know… he would want you to take care of yourself. You have to stay strong. You still have us.”

       Tears streamed down her face. “I want to see him. Let me see him.”

       “Alright.”

       Qin Mu accompanied her to see Teacher Xiao one last time.

       The old professor, who had dedicated his entire life to teaching and nurturing students, now lay pale and still in the cold morgue. The bloodstains on his face had been carefully wiped away, leaving him looking as if he were merely asleep—peaceful and at rest.

       Qin Mu stood in silence, saying nothing.

       He temporarily arranged for Madam Xiao to stay with relatives, instructed his assistant to find a caregiver overnight, and handled all the necessary arrangements. Afterward, he headed to the police station to meet Zhou Yi and review the results of the investigation.

       By the time they stepped outside, the night was deep. Clouds drifted across the sky, shrouding the moon, leaving no stars, no light.

       Qin Mu didn’t get into the car. Instead, he asked, “Got a cigarette?” He had quit smoking long ago and didn’t carry any.

       Zhou Yi fished a Marlboro out of his pocket and handed it to him.

       Qin Mu held it between his lips and leaned in, lighting it against the flame of Zhou Yi’s lighter. He took a deep drag, coughed slightly, then exhaled a swirl of smoke.

       The two stood in silence for a while. Zhou Yi hesitated before finally speaking. “I know what you’re thinking, but… this could really just be an accident.”

       “Three days before trial. A car with fake plates. A hit-and-run driver who’s nowhere to be found. And that threatening letter left at his doorstep. There’s no way this is just a coincidence. They wanted him dead.”

       “Qin Mu—”

       “I won’t be around for a while. Keep an eye on my cat for me.”

       “Qin Mu!” Zhou Yi’s brows furrowed tightly. He lowered his voice and said, “That’s J City. The forces behind Kuang Mu run deeper than we can imagine. Don’t get yourself involved.”

       Qin Mu tilted his head back, gazing through the smoke at the vast, pitch-black sky. His eyes were as cold as ice. “Remember what’s carved at the entrance of our department? ‘With the law as our sword, we defend the land of justice.’”

       He stubbed out his cigarette and said calmly, “I will fight the case that Teacher Xiao took.”

---

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       As the sun sank in the west, the afterglow dyed the clouds red and gilded the edges of each yellow ginkgo leaf with a golden red, freezing it into a colorful painting on the second-floor window.

       It was deep autumn already.

       Lu Cheng tilted his head back, staring at a leaf near the window in a daze. The leaf was trembling and seemed about to fall because of the wind, but stubbornly, it refused to part from its branch.

       He watched for a long time, and his body started to stiffen. He subtly shifted his weight unconsciously and slightly relaxed his already numb legs from kneeling. Suddenly, a sharp crack of a whip sounded behind his ear, striking his bare back with a searing pain.

       He suppressed a cry of pain and let out a series of heavy breaths. He straightened his back to maintain his kneeling posture, not daring to move. He lowered his eyelids, saying, “I was wrong, Master.”

       “What did you do wrong?” The deep male voice carried a hint of coldness.

       “I moved without your permission.” Lu Cheng answered politely.

       The man’s leather shoes stepped silently in front of him on the thick carpet. The hard handle of the whip gently lifted his chin, forcing him to look up.

       His gaze moved from the man’s long legs encased in tailored trousers to his well-fitted suit, highlighting an imposing and full physique. The deep colours exuded a sense of solemnity and restraint.

       Lu Cheng couldn’t help but imagine what this man looked like naked—broad shoulders, narrow hips, well-proportioned muscles, and when those strong arms pressed him down… The vivid picture surged into his mind like waves, making his breath hot.

       In just a moment of distraction, the tip of the whip pressed lightly against his Adam’s apple, making him gasp. Lu Cheng gave a bitter smile in his heart, obediently tilting his head back, exposing his vulnerable neck.

       At this moment, he was kneeling, utterly naked, with his hands folded behind his back. He was like a devout believer looking up to a deity.

       This was a gesture of giving up submitting his bodily autonomy, expressing total submission to handing over everything to the other party. It is the attitude that a Sub should have when facing a Dom in the game.

       Yes, they were playing a BDSM game.

       The dominant person set the rules and controlled the punishment, and the submissive person obeyed the rules and offered their body. In this way, both parties satisfy each other’s desires and gain pleasure.

       The decadent light of the setting sun filled the room, outlining the curves of the two people’s bodies.

       Standing and kneeling. Whip and flesh. Intact clothes and naked. Dominance and submission formed a stark, sharp, painful, and cruel beauty.

       Lu Cheng loved this game. He had long lost interest in mundane sex. As a pure Sub, he had tried many Doms, but none had captivated him like this one. Just being close to this man could make him inexplicably excited.

       He looked in fascination at the man who had ensnared him—handsome features, an air of elegance, calm demeanor, and the oppressive aura usually kept in check was unleashed with the whip. It was a strong, sharp, and irresistible presence, like a cool woody scent. It was deep and calm yet distant, driving him to addiction. He willingly knelt at this man’s feet and placed himself in a humble position, offering both his body and soul.

       “You are easily distracted.” The man bent his knuckles and gently pushed the glasses on his nose, looking down at him condescendingly.

       “Please punish me, my Master,” Lu Cheng said. His throat was dry, and he needed something to relieve it.

       The man glanced at him indifferently, the whip handle sliding down from his neck to his chest, teasing one of his nipples as it slowly turned.

       Lu Cheng trembled slightly and took a deep breath.

       He mustn’t move.

       In the game, the Dom set the rules with commands, and the Sub must abide by the rules; or else, he would be punished. While pain could bring Lu Cheng some pleasure, he particularly enjoyed the feeling of being dominated, kneeling at another’s feet, begging for mercy, and becoming someone’s slave, pet, or object. This strange pleasure sprang from his core. It was suppressed for so long it had become an abyss in his heart—what he gazed into, also gazed back at him.

       BDSM games gave him fulfillment and release.

       His nipples were ravaged, causing both pain and itchiness, with a tingling sensation that could not be ignored. His body sensitively experienced the intermittent stimulation from this mixed feeling, and everything that happened next made him even more excited.

       The man lifted his foot and casually teased Lu Cheng’s genitals with the tip of his leather shoe. The alternating friction of the stiff leather made him groan. Lu Cheng didn’t dare dodge at all, allowing the other party to treat his most vulnerable part roughly. He was controlled and toyed with at will, yet still shamelessly desired more. The shame hidden deep inside his heart acted like a catalyst, making his already semi-hard c0ck fully erect. It felt like a fire had been lit within, and the fire spread beneath the skin, burning the flesh inch by inch.

       The man lightly kicked his scrotum. He heard the expected low whimper and mocked, “In heat, are we? Just a couple of kicks and you’re this hard.”

       “Master…” Lu Cheng called out hoarsely. His expression was one of desire and fear. He yearned for an outlet for his desires, the mercy of his Master and greater stimulation, yet he feared the powerful control, unknown methods and harsh punishment.

       The man stroked his Adam’s apple absentmindedly, “Tell me what you are.”

       “I am my Master’s dog.” Lu Cheng replied.

       This answer seemed to satisfy the other party, and he raised the corner of his lip, “Since you’re a dog, act like one.”

       Lu Cheng stretched out his tongue like a pet dog and wanted to lick the man’s fingers, but his head was pressed down. He obediently bent over the ground and licked the man’s spotless shoe tips.

       “Do you smell your own arousal?” the man asked.

       Long before the man’s arrival, Lu Cheng had washed himself clean inside and out. There was clearly nothing on the shoe surface, but the teasing words made him feel an indescribable lewd taste. He lay prone on the ground with his chest pressed against the ground and rubbed his face against the man’s legs as he said, “This worthless dog has soiled Master’s shoes. Please punish me.”

       “Go fetch what’s in the box by the door.”

       Lu Cheng crawled over on his knees, tore open the packaging tape with his mouth, and pushed open the white box lid.

       Inside was a ‘tail’.

       A half-meter long yellow fur tail with a silicone di-do at its front end, and the top of the column was a curved and convex shape. Lu Cheng knew that it could just press against the sensitive gland and make him feel like he was dying, and his body became uncontrollably excited. He crawled back with his ‘tail’ in his mouth. He knelt at the man’s feet and raised his head.

       “A gift for you, do you like it?” the man asked.

       Lu Cheng had something in his mouth and couldn’t speak, so he nodded.

       “Put it on yourself,” The man sat down on the only single sofa in the room and gave the order, “in a way that pleases me.”

       Lu Cheng hesitated for a moment, a flush of embarrassment on his face. He clenched his teeth and slowly lifted one leg backwards, making the same posture as a dog peeing. Then he inserted his wet fingers into the hole hidden between his buttocks and began to expand it.

       The man watched him quietly.

       The feeling of shame quickly fermented under such a gaze, and Lu Cheng’s whole body turned slightly red. That gaze seemed to have heat, igniting him bit by bit, burning him from the inside out. His breathing became disrupted, and his body tensed up uncontrollably, making the process more difficult and lengthy. He had already spent too much time and was afraid that his master would become impatient, so he hastily placed the di-do against the hole’s opening. He heard the order just before it entered.

       “Come over.”

       Lu Cheng stopped moving, looking a little panicked. He didn’t know what he had done wrong and didn’t dare to ask. He could only slowly crawl over with his tail in his mouth. The man stood up and grabbed his hair to force him to look up.

       It didn’t hurt much, but there’s a kind of pleasure in being tortured.

       “You didn’t even expand properly. So eager to fill your little hole?” The man’s voice was cold, “Why don’t you change to a thicker one so you can have a good time?”

       Lu Cheng admitted his mistake tremblingly, “This foolish dog was too stupid. Please punish me, Master.”

       “Show me that hungry little hole of yours.”

       Lu Cheng lay on the ground and turned around, with his pale buttocks raised high. He used his hands to spread his buttocks apart to expose his hole, showing the most humiliating posture to his master. There was a slight sound behind him, but he didn’t dare to look back. He just knelt down nervously and listened with his ears perked up.

       Unexpectedly, a slightly warm and slippery object pressed against his hole and then slowly entered.

       It was the man’s lubricated finger.

       Lu Cheng couldn’t help but groan when his sphincter was stretched. The human body instinctively resisted the invader, and his hole suddenly tightened. Then he was slapped on the buttocks, with a crisp ‘pats’ sound.

       “Relax, my patience is limited.” Although the words were firm, the movements were gentle. He carefully expanded his hole to accommodate three fingers before inserting the di-do. The entire di-do was inserted into Lu Cheng’s hole as he gasped, leaving only the furry tail hanging behind him.

       “Crawl around with your new tail on.” The man sat down again. He removed his medical gloves and threw them aside, and added slowly, “If it falls out, you won’t have a chance to climax tonight.”

       “Yes, Master.” Lu Cheng replied.

       The room had air conditioning and carpet, so his knees weren’t too painful when he crawled. However, executing the command was challenging. The tail had weight and kept swaying with each movement, making the di-do likely to slip out. This forced him to clench his hole tightly and caused the tip of the di-do to press repeatedly against his prostate. It sent electric shocks up his spine, causing full-body tremors. To make matters worse, when the long and dense fur of the tail swung, it would brush against his lower body, making him feel both numb and itchy. Before he could even crawl halfway, he was already sweating, and his erection prominent, with clear fluid leaking from the tip.

       The man watched calmly on the sofa as Lu Cheng struggled with desire, with dark and ambiguous light in his eyes.

       The desire in Lu Cheng’s body was boiling, but he couldn’t reach the climax. He stopped impatiently and tried to catch his breath when the device in his hole suddenly vibrated. The strong stimulation made him cry out, his muscles tensed, and his legs trembled. The electric shock-like feeling kept coming, almost destroying his sanity. “Master, ah ah… Master, please…” He fell to the ground and begged, his voice changing in tone.

       “Remember what punishment you received the last time you ejaculated without permission?” the man asked, fiddling with the remote control in his hand.

       “Twenty… twenty lashes.”

       “If you don’t want that again, don’t provoke me.”

       “…Yes, Master.” Lu Cheng replied breathlessly. He was almost on the verge of crying. The pleasure gathered in his lower body was about to burst out at any moment, but he could only endure it. He crawled on the ground like a dog with its tail between its legs and moved forward bit by bit.

       Amidst the torture was ecstasy. The moment he got permission to ejaculate, a dizzyingly intense pleasure suddenly exploded. His body suddenly relaxed, and he fell down softly.

       When Lu Cheng regained consciousness, he was held in the man’s arms. He nestled into the embrace, quietly enjoying this moment of peace. The pleasant cedar scent on that person and the body temperature that came through his clothes made him extremely greedy. He seemed to have found a sense of security in this embrace, like a baby returning to the mother’s womb.

       “Are you okay?” the man asked.

       Lu Cheng nodded, met those dark eyes, and couldn’t help but whisper, “Master.”

       The man touched his face soothingly, “Lu Cheng, we just played a game. All my insulting words and actions towards you were based on the game’s needs. You understand, right?”

       Lu Cheng’s eyes flickered.

       Yes, the game between them was over.

       The man and he were back on equal terms again.

       Hearing his name from the man’s lips filled Lu Cheng with disappointment and pain. He wished to always be a dog to this man, to be petted, punished, protected, and abused, as if that was the only way they truly belonged to each other.

       Lu Cheng lowered his gaze, hiding the many emotions hidden in them, and smiled, “Yes, I understand.”

       The man helped him up and gently put a bathrobe on him. The cold and strong feeling of oppression just now was subdued, and now he was similar a gentle lover.

       But it was just ‘similar’.

       “Don’t you need me to… do something?” Lu Cheng glanced at the man’s crotch, and there seemed to be no movement there. He was disheartened but used a teasing tone, “You have no interest in me at all? It’s really sad.”

       The man smiled but did not answer.

       “Let’s have dinner together tonight? I heard that there’s a new Cantonese chef in Nande Building, making Buddha Jumps Over the Wall¹Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, also known as Buddha’s Temptation or Fotiaoqiang, is a variety of shark fin soup in Fujian cuisine. This dish has been regarded as a Chinese delicacy known for its rich taste, and special manner of cooking.…” Lu Cheng tried again. However, under the man’s calm gaze, he couldn’t continue. He then reluctantly changed his words, “Then I’ll… see you off.”

       “No need.” The other party declined.

       Lu Cheng stood by the door, watching the GLS500 disappear in the shadow of the trees in the villa before returning to the room he had just stayed in with a sense of loss. He picked up the whip that had fallen on the ground and stroked it.

       He had this whip custom-made by a craftsman and gave it to that person as a birthday gift last year—to punish himself. The whip was one meter long and was made of three strands of soft sheepskin and one strand of gold thread. The ebony handle was engraved with the word ‘rule’ in fancy writing, and at the end was engraved with a small golden seal with the seal script of the word ‘Mu’.

       Mu of Qin Mu.

---

Notes:
So, Qin Mu’s name is written as 秦穆, with the Mu meaning solemn/reverent/calm.
The word ‘rule’ was written as it is (in English).

---

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I shall confine you in a cage,
I shall bind you with ropes,
I shall grant you suffering and pain,
I shall grant you desire and pleasure.

I am the serpent that lures you to fall,
I am the demon that watches your secrets.
I am the poison that makes you addicted,
I am the fire that burns your soul and flesh.

I hold an illusory scepter and kneel before you,
Awaiting the kiss you bestow upon me.

---

Notes:
Helloo, I’m back with volume 4~~
Now begins the last installment of this series! I hope you guys enjoy it!!!
The schedule will hopefully be 1x/week until I can figure out how fast I can translate this whole novel, so please bear with me ><
For those who come from NU, I translated from book 1 in this site and only uploaded book 4 links because I don’t want to ruin the NU numbering~

---

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And please buy me some kofi if you like the translation~

Also leave some ratings if you like this series here~