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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