The servants in the dining room had all withdrawn. Qin Mu sat down beside the round table, and Shen Liu personally served him a bowl of rice.
The dishes were all simple home-style fare. Stir-fried eggplant in soy sauce, scrambled eggs with tomato, braised pork with preserved mustard greens, fish ball soup with floating spinach leaves, and a small side dish of chopped chilli peppers. These everyday, down-to-earth dishes looked slightly out of place when served on Hermès Equateur Jungle1it refers to a fine porcelain dinnerware collection by Hermès, the French luxury brand tableware series, designed with lush tropical jungle motifs (leaves, animals, vibrant patterns).
Shen Liu didn’t care in the slightest. He held a piece of meat with his chopsticks midair and asked, “Should I be polite and offer it to you?”
“No need, I’ll do it myself,” Qin Mu replied.
Shen Liu nodded and dropped the meat into his own bowl, scooping up two mouthfuls of rice. “Didn’t eat properly at lunch, so hungry my waistline’s shrunk a whole inch.”
“If you have that much time to spare sending your personal assistant to figure out my preferences, maybe let him sort out your lunch instead,” Qin Mu said.
Shen Liu curled his lips into a smile. After quickly finishing half a bowl of rice, he slowed down and scooped some chopped peppers into his bowl.
Qin Mu was a little surprised. He remembered that Shen Liu used to avoid spicy food completely—his taste was as bland as a monk’s. Even a bit of Lao Gan Ma2Old Godmother is a brand of chilli sauces made in China would have him breathing fire. Qin Mu himself had a much heavier palate and always adjusted dishes to be lighter in oil and salt to accommodate him, only setting aside a small personal dish of chilli paste or fermented bean sauce during meals. Seeing Shen Liu now eat so naturally was truly unexpected.
“Been eating out a lot, my tastes have changed,” Shen Liu said, noticing Qin Mu staring at him. With a flick of his wrist, he slid the little dish in front of Qin Mu. “Want some?”
Qin Mu didn’t stand on ceremony and asked, “Did you grow this too?”
“Already visited my garden, have you?” Shen Liu said while eating. “This one isn’t homegrown. But if you want something extra spicy, I can go upstairs and pick a couple for you.”
“No need.” Qin Mu quipped, “Why are you growing vegetables? The ones in J City not good enough? Or is this a new rich-people fashion trend?”
Shen Liu glanced at him, smiling as he replied, “For a sense of accomplishment. There are so few things in life we truly get to choose. Of the few that remain, the most important are hobbies and lovers. Gardening helps me relax. Watching the plants flower and bear fruit, then eating them myself—that gives me a real sense of fulfilment.”
Qin Mu hadn’t expected him to answer so seriously, and for a moment didn’t know how to respond.
“What else are you curious about me? Ask anything—I’ll answer,” Shen Liu said as he continued eating.
The two things he just mentioned, ‘hobby’ had been answered, and the only thing left is ‘lover’. Given their history, Qin Mu absolutely wasn’t going to step on that sensitive and awkward landmine. He ended the conversation immediately, “Nothing else.”
“Then, in the spirit of reciprocity, it’s my turn to be curious.” Shen Liu’s lips curved into a graceful smile. “I heard the renowned Mr. Pharaoh has plenty of admirers, yet always hides behind the banner of celibacy to keep them at bay. Why is that?”
A straight ball without any bias, leaving no room for turning around and dodging.
Qin Mu’s chopsticks paused midair. He looked up. “What, your spies didn’t dig that up for you?” He had always disliked people prying into his private life, and this was clearly overstepping.
“All this time and still no one compatible?” Shen Liu carried on with mock innocence, dancing right on the minefield.
“I’m not good at getting along with others. Thought I should ask for some advice,” Qin Mu replied coolly. “How does President Shen handle all those admirers? Do you carefully screen them or just accept them all?”
Now he was angry.
Shen Liu smiled, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
Qin Mu had clearly placed him in the ‘old friend not seen in years’ category. They could talk about the weather, national affairs, everyday life and that’s where it should end. But Shen Liu insisted on pushing further.
The shared bedroom, the chatty housekeeper, the ambiguous teasing, the familiar dishes, the pried-open privacy… Shen Liu’s repeated provocations had finally roused the temper of a long-distance ex-lover.
And yes, he did it on purpose.
In their tender youth, love and hate were straightforward and intense. There was no need for games, no need for guarded words or second-guessing. But time had cruelly shaped them into more mature, more calculating versions of themselves. Like prickly creatures covered in barbs, they now hid all their true intentions deep inside, tiptoeing around each other, cautiously testing boundaries, trying to figure out how much space they occupied in each other’s hearts—then adjusting their own stance accordingly like two careful fencers locked in a standoff, trying to read each other’s minds, neither making the first move.
Qin Mu was content to be a familiar stranger.
But Shen Liu wasn’t.
He was determined to break the deadlock, to tear off the mask of false cordiality Qin Mu wore and force him to show his true self. Even if it meant making him angry, that was better than nothing.
Even when he was angry, Qin Mu wasn’t the type to charge around like a raging bull. He was more like a leopard locking in on its prey—striking cleanly and precisely at the sensitive point in the conversation, trapping Shen Liu in a rhetorical snare.
It was a question with no good answer.
Shen Liu had his ways of dealing with such questions. He shamelessly played dumb without batting an eye. “Too bad I don’t have many admirers, so there’s nothing for me to share.”
Qin Mu shot him a sidelong glance.
“Sometimes I don’t get it myself,” Shen Liu said, rubbing his chin in mock puzzlement. “I mean… I’m gentle, rich, charming, and devastatingly good-looking. How is it that no one’s throwing themselves at me? Do you think people these days have vision problems?”
Qin Mu paused for a moment before answering, “Have you considered the possibility that your face is so big it’s blocking their view of anything else on you?”
Shen Liu nodded in agreement. “Exactly. My face is just too captivating, and it hogs all their attention. The thing is, a man like me is a hidden gem that needs to be dug out slowly. Every part should be examined with a magnifying glass. Otherwise, it would be such a shame to miss out.”
Qin Mu’s gaze swept once over his lower half, and he said with biting sarcasm, “You need a magnifying glass even to see it?”
Shen Liu looked down at himself too, savouring the double entendre and then curled his lips into a smile. “If you’re curious, how about a bit of post-meal exercise?”
Qin Mu knew sparring words with this scoundrel would get him nowhere. He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and focused on eating. The thin slices of pork belly were rich but not greasy, melting in his mouth. The preserved mustard greens were full of flavour, and the meat juices mixed with soft white rice made an irresistible combination. It was enough to distract him from the infuriating idiot smiling beside him.
Shen Liu, having eaten his fill, rested his head on his hand and watched him. “It’s not as good as when you cook.”
Qin Mu ignored him. He finished the meal in silence, then put down his chopsticks and made to leave the table.
Shen Liu grabbed his arm and teased, “What’s the rush? We haven’t done our post-meal exercise yet.” Seeing Qin Mu’s cold expression, he finally added, unhurriedly, “It’s boring staying at home all day. Let me take you out for a walk.”
“I remember someone threatening me this morning, saying it wasn’t safe outside and I wasn’t allowed to leave.”
“With me around, the safety index goes up a lot. Don’t be scared.” The man shamelessly contradicted himself without a hint of guilt.
The night view of J City was stunning. It was like a glittering jewellery box, enticing the beasts lurking in the dark. They lay in wait, greedy ambitions stirring, wary of one another, scheming, all wanting to claim it as their own.
Shen Liu and Qin Mu brought four bodyguards with them into a black business van. The familiar long-faced man was among them. Once everyone was seated, the long-faced man turned around and glanced at Qin Mu.
“If you’ve got something to say, then say it,” Shen Liu said.
“News just came through. We’ve found them.”
“A day should be enough. They’re not that useless,” Shen Liu said as he tapped lightly on the car door’s armrest. After thinking for a moment, he added, “Have Tao Ze set up a trap. I’ll meet with him.”
The long-faced man looked grave as he advised, “The old man said we shouldn’t stir up trouble at a time like this.”
“This game is already a mess. To break out of it, we have to start over. Their path leads nowhere. So we’ll go with mine,” Shen Liu said, his profile flickering in and out of view beneath the streetlights outside the car window. Every word carried an unshakable authority, with a cold edge and latent menace that brooked no argument.
“Yes, sir,” the long-faced man said, and fell silent.
Qin Mu’s gaze lingered on Shen Liu for a moment, then shifted to the window. Even though he had tried to distance himself, that familiar closeness still clung to him like a shadow. Yet in a sudden moment, a sharp wave of unfamiliarity fell like a blade, severing every tangled thread between them. It cut a deep and invisible chasm, brutally reminding him that things were no longer the same.
The business van drove straight into the underground garage of a serviced apartment complex.
The twenty-seventh floor. Room 2703.
The room was very dark. Qin Mu had a natural aversion to darkness. He stood at the doorway and didn’t move. From behind, Shen Liu gave him a gentle push and chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, if there’s a female ghost in here, she’ll definitely come for me first.”
Qin Mu stepped inside and reached out to find the light switch. Shen Liu grabbed his wrist and spouted nonsense, “Don’t be in such a hurry to feel around. There are others here.”
Qin Mu’s temple twitched. He withdrew his hand, realising this was Shen Liu’s way of saying the lights should stay off, so he stopped moving.
The long-faced man pulled open half the curtain, letting in a mix of moonlight and city lights. Qin Mu could just barely make out the surroundings. The room was nearly empty, with almost no furniture. By the window stood three high-magnification monocular telescopes, their data cables connected to a nearby laptop.
The four men needed no instructions; they moved in practised efficiency. One dragged over two beanbag chairs from who knew where, another took a kettle and teacups from his backpack, a third quickly brewed two cups of jasmine tea and set them on a small side table, and the long-faced man adjusted the telescopes’ angles. Then, all of them quietly retreated, the sound of movement indicating they had entered the neighboring unit, Room 2704.
“Telescopes and monitors? What are we looking at? The moon? The stars?” Qin Mu asked.
“Something a bit more exciting than that. Come here,” Shen Liu said, motioning him over.
The telescope appeared to have night vision capabilities, with an extremely clear image. Through it, Qin Mu saw a window partially covered by a sheer curtain. Behind it was a white bed, and on the bed were two people. Bathed in warm yellow light, the two figures were entangled—a man and a woman. The man was thrusting his hips repeatedly.
Qin Mu abruptly stepped back, stared at Shen Liu, and said, “Peeping is illegal.”
Shen Liu smiled nonchalantly. “There are those who steal books and those who steal nations. Obsessing over book thieves while ignoring those who steal a country was also enabling evil.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Qin Mu frowned.
Shen Liu tilted his chin toward the telescope. “Keep watching.”
Qin Mu hesitated for a moment, then looked again through the telescope.
The intercourse behind the curtain continued. The man had changed positions and was now gripping the woman’s hair, thrusting his c0ck into her mouth. Her face was obscured by long hair, but she had a high-bridged nose. She was likely a young woman with sharp features. She seemed utterly limp, showing none of the typical responses of consensual sex, offering no resistance at all as the man manipulated her. She looked like…
A thought flashed through Qin Mu’s mind. In shock, he said, “Is this… drug-r4p3?”
“Shh—” Shen Liu wrapped an arm around his waist from behind, half-forcefully lifting Qin Mu’s chin. His breath brushed against Qin Mu’s ear. “Keep watching.”
Through the curtain’s gap, a third figure entered the frame.
It was another man, stark naked, with a bloated belly and ugly genitals.
They forced her into a kneeling position on the bed. One in front, one behind and they both entered her. Then they switched positions, spreading her legs and sandwiching her between them for another round of penetration. The two men finished quickly but refused to stop. They tormented her with new humiliating positions, slapped her genitals forcefully, and even urinated on her face.
Qin Mu couldn’t watch any longer. He broke free from Shen Liu and reached for his phone to call the police. Shen Liu seized the opportunity to pin his arm against the wall, using his body to press him there.
Qin Mu stared at him in disbelief. “You want me just to stand by and watch them…”
“What, upset now?” Shen Liu cut him off, his expression calm. “Didn’t you ask me to stand by and watch you walk into certain death?”
“…This is not the same thing.” Qin Mu frowned. “If we call the police now, at least we can catch those two beasts.”
“No one can be caught.” Moonlight reflected in Shen Liu’s eyes, giving off a cold, crystalline glint.
The crease between Qin Mu’s brows deepened.
Shen Liu let go of him, leaned lazily against the window, and said coolly, “A young woman, chasing the dream of overnight fame and fortune, comes to the entertainment industry only to find that there are countless others more beautiful, more hardworking, and more talented than her. She’s not exceptional. In fact, not even the best in her own group. She fears the brutal elimination that comes with this industry and dreads fading into obscurity. So, in her arrogance, she chooses what she thinks is a ‘shortcut’; she climbs into Zhao Jinchuan’s bed.
“She got what she wanted, but of course, she has to pay the price. Using her body to entertain Zhao Jinchuan’s guests is one such cost.”
He paused, then looked at Qin Mu. “Those guests hold power. They can open doors for Zhao Jinchuan. Once they take the bait of sex and money, they place the handle of their secrets in Zhao Jinchuan’s hands. From then on, they’re trapped and forced to keep working for him. That forms a perfect, closed-loop chain. Each part is bound tightly by vested interests, unbreakable. You can’t save someone who won’t reach for your hand. Reporting this will do nothing but alert the enemy and put us on their radar.”
He lifted a hand. “Now that I’ve explained, if you still insist, go ahead.”
Frustration and rage on Qin Mu’s face slowly gave way to dismay and sorrow. He stood frozen for a moment, then finally lowered his hand and put the phone back in his pocket.
The two of them stood silently in the dark room for a while. Then Shen Liu said, “Don’t you want to see who those two guests are?” He jerked his chin toward another telescope. “They’re about to leave.”
Qin Mu, still dazed, returned to the telescope.
The men, now fully dressed, looked perfectly respectable. It was a complete transformation from the beasts who had just satisfied their lust. When he saw their faces clearly, a chill shot up from the soles of his feet and locked his entire body in place.
“Now you understand why this case can’t be won.” Shen Liu’s voice was low and cold, like the wind that made people shiver in the night.
Support the author by buying the author’s works and/or giving some kisses here~
(It’s very easy to buy from myrics.com because they support Paypal payment in small amounts~)
We have a discord server for those who want to receive an update ping and various announcements~
Join here ^^
And please buy me some kofi if you like the translation~
Also leave some ratings if you like this series here~
Leave a Reply