In a way that felt incredible, this was the first time in either his past or present life that Chen Shu had truly seen Jiang Xi. Although the man, like Zhuang Yihan, was one of A City's famous young talents, and there was no shortage of related information in financial reports and online, Chen Shu had never once actively searched for him. Even if he stumbled upon it, he would deliberately skip over it.

Chen Shu didn't know if he was worried he would feel inadequate upon seeing the real person, or if he didn't want to rip open his already painful wounds and make them bleed afresh. In short, all his understanding of Jiang Xi came from the accounts of others.

Of a noble family, a celebrity in the city, he had once lent Zhuang Yihan a helping hand during his most difficult time, thus becoming the untouchable white moonlight in his heart.

Because he had never seen him, Chen Shu had imagined what Jiang Xi looked like in his mind more than once. Tall? Handsome? Dashing? Mature and steady?

He fell into his own uneasy imagination, applying almost every perfect word to the man. After all, how could a person Zhuang Yihan had kept in his heart for over a decade not be outstanding?

But no matter how uneasy and helpless he felt, that was all in his past life.

Perhaps it was because Chen Shu had already given up on his love for Zhuang Yihan, or maybe he had learned to hide his emotions flawlessly. In any case, upon seeing the man named Jiang Xi at this moment, his heart was surprisingly calm.

The man was around thirty years old, dressed in a suit, with a mature and steady temperament. Although his features were slightly stern, he did not lack handsome charm. Judging by appearance alone, he was undoubtedly a remarkable figure.

As he got closer, Chen Shu noticed a woman with delicate features following him, her long white dress trailing on the ground. She was probably the "fiancée" that had caused such a stir around Jiang Xi recently.

Chen Shu observed them carefully for a few moments, somewhat surprised because, in his previous life, she didn't seem to have attended with him. His gaze lowered slightly, his thoughts unreadable. Finally, without a word, he tilted his head back and drained the red wine from his glass, a sudden sense of release washing over him.

He had been too caught up in appearances in his past life.

No matter how outstanding Jiang Xi was, he was still just a "person." Two eyes, one nose, one mouth—how special could he be? It was merely Zhuang Yihan's admiration that had coated him in a layer of golden light, making him seem so mysterious and unattainable.

Chen Shu wasn't overly disappointed, just had a feeling of 'so that's how it is.' After the clouds parted, everything that had made him feel insecure and anxious in his past life turned out to be nothing more than the most common people and things around him.

On the other side, Xue Miao's expression was one of astonishment. The reason was simple: Jiang Xi had been vacationing in Paris with his fiancée and logically shouldn't have been able to make it to today's birthday banquet. The man had even called specifically to apologize, so why had he suddenly appeared?

Xue Miao discreetly glanced at Zhuang Yihan and, as expected, saw the smile on his lips gradually fade away. His gaze was fixed icily on Jiang Xi, his expression ugly beyond words.

Xue Miao sighed internally and said in a low voice, "It's Chen Shu's first time here. Go keep him company. I can handle things here."

After speaking, he gave Zhuang Yihan a covert push, wanting only to separate these two quickly before a fight broke out.

No matter how much Zhuang Yihan held a grudge against Jiang Xi for what happened last time, he would never do anything improper in public. Hearing Xue Miao's words, he finally tore his gaze away from Jiang Xi, letting it drift lightly over the woman beside him before saying in an emotionless tone:

"Then you entertain the guests. I'll go back and sit down."

Seeing this, Jiang Xi moved his feet slightly as if to follow, but Xue Miao calmly stepped sideways to block him. Beneath his gentle exterior was a quiet aloofness as he said pointedly, "President Jiang, what a rare guest. I thought you wouldn't be able to make it back from abroad. Had I known you were coming, I would have booked a bigger hotel, so as not to seem so stingy today."

Jiang Xi heard the barb in Xue Miao's words, but his expression remained unchanged. He was perfectly polite: "I was thinking that I've attended your birthdays in previous years, so I couldn't miss this one. I booked a flight from Paris yesterday. I hope I haven't been too presumptuous?"

As he spoke, his gaze drifted vaguely into the distance, not at Zhuang Yihan, but at the somewhat unfamiliar Chen Shu beside him.

The circle was buzzing with rumors that Zhuang Yihan was keeping a little lover, and it seemed Jiang Xi had caught wind of it too.

Xue Miao wondered if Jiang Xi was genuinely clueless or just playing dumb. Their friendship was built entirely on Zhuang Yihan. He had invited him to birthdays in the past because they hadn't fallen out yet. Now that things were so tense between Jiang Xi and Zhuang Yihan, wasn't it awkward for him to show up?

And he didn't just show up; he brought his fiancée too. Was he trying to piss Zhuang Yihan to death?

Xue Miao looked at the delicate woman in the crook of Jiang Xi's arm and felt a toothache coming on. He lost all mood for pleasantries and forced a smile. "Not at all. All who come are guests. President Jiang, please, have a seat inside."

As luck would have it, there were only two tables in the private room, and only Zhuang Yihan's table had a few empty seats. With so many people watching, it would have seemed abrupt and deliberate for either party to switch tables, so Xue Miao could only watch helplessly as Jiang Xi sat down at Zhuang Yihan's table with his fiancée.

Those on better terms with Zhuang Yihan stayed put, but many of the other guests were acquainted with Jiang Xi and had no conflicts of interest. They rose one after another to greet him. Jiang Xi nodded in response to each of them. When someone who didn't know the situation asked about his companion, he would smile gently and explain:

"My fiancée, Min Rou."

Anyone could see that the two of them were very much in love.

Unfortunately, one man's joy is another's sorrow. The scene was incredibly jarring to Zhuang Yihan, and he even had an absurd thought—

Had he been too good-natured in front of Jiang Xi, giving the other man the false impression that he was weak and could be bullied? The score from last time hadn't even been settled, yet the man dared to parade his fiancée in front of him. Did he take him for a pushover that anyone could squeeze?

Zhuang Yihan was so enraged he almost wanted to laugh, his dark eyes filled with a chilling coldness.

"Screech—"

While Jiang Xi was exchanging pleasantries, someone at the table suddenly pushed back their chair and stood up. The harsh sound of the chair legs scraping against the floor made the other guests frown and look over, wondering who was being such a killjoy. But when they saw it was the unoffendable Zhuang Yihan, they instantly swallowed the complaints on the tips of their tongues.

"President Jiang, your engagement was so sudden last time that I didn't get a chance to congratulate you properly. Today, on Xue Miao's turf, I'll toast you with three glasses. You have to give me this face."

After speaking, Zhuang Yihan picked up an already opened bottle of red wine from the table, pulled out the cork, and poured two full, large glasses. The rich, ruby-red liquid flowed into the crystal glasses, making everyone around exchange glances.

Red wine was meant to be savored; a small amount at the bottom of the glass was usually enough. Who chugged a glass that large like it was beer? Besides, the few bottles on the table today were said to be from Xue Miao's private collection—aged and potent. Someone with a low tolerance would be drunk after half a glass. You couldn't compete in drinking like this.

Zhuang Yihan was picking a fight with Jiang Xi.

In that instant, this thought popped into the minds of almost everyone who knew the inside story. Fang Yiting stood up worriedly to intervene, but Zhuang Yifan slapped a hand on his shoulder and forcefully pushed him back down. "Stay out of Jiang Xi's business. It's not like my brother is going to eat him alive."

Fang Yiting frowned slightly, still unable to hide his worry. "What if Chen Shu finds out?"

Zhuang Yifan froze at his words, only then remembering Chen Shu was still at the table. He subconsciously looked over at him, only to see Chen Shu sitting quietly in his chair with his legs crossed. His handsome profile seemed almost unreal under the crystal lights. He showed neither the gossipy expression of someone watching a good show, nor a look of confusion. All he had was a calm that was as still as water.

That's right, calm.

As if he had long guessed the relationship between Zhuang Yihan and Jiang Xi.

But that indifferent attitude was unsettling to the core, as if he didn't care at all who Zhuang Yihan liked.

Zhuang Yifan smacked his lips and frowned unconsciously, unable to pinpoint the feeling. "He probably can't guess, right?"

On the other side, Jiang Xi, perhaps feeling guilty about his actions last time, surprisingly did not refuse Zhuang Yihan's blatant provocation. He gave him a deep look, then, under Min Rou's worried gaze, raised his glass in a toast. "We've known each other for so many years. We're friends and brothers. There's no need for empty pleasantries like others. But these three glasses from you, I will definitely drink."

Jiang Xi's alcohol tolerance was clearly good. After speaking, he actually finished three full glasses of red wine in front of everyone. And Zhuang Yihan, perhaps really wanting to vent his anger, matched him with three full glasses. However, his tolerance was poor, and after drinking, he was clearly struggling to hold it together, his eyes even turning red.

But it wasn't over. Seeing the wine on the table was finished, Zhuang Yihan had someone bring two more bottles. Though his long, narrow eyes were tinged with drunkenness, their sharpness was hard to hide. Staring coldly at someone, it was enough to send a chill down one's spine.

"Those three glasses were to congratulate you on your engagement. But today is Xue Miao's birthday. You're late. Shouldn't you also drink three penalty glasses?"

Min Rou didn't know the history between them and just found Zhuang Yihan to be acting strangely. What was this about, constantly forcing Jiang Xi to drink? She couldn't help but frown slightly, stepping forward to stand in front of Jiang Xi. Her voice was just loud enough for everyone to hear:

"Is President Zhuang saying Jiang Xi should drink another three glasses? How is that any different from force-feeding him alcohol? If you want him to drink, fine. Why don't you join him for three glasses too, President Zhuang, and see who has a better tolerance?"

Her meaning was clear: if Jiang Xi was going to drink, you weren't getting away with it either.

"Min Rou!"

Jiang Xi reprimanded her in a low voice, pulling her directly behind him protectively. Zhuang Yihan was not a good-tempered person.

Zhuang Yihan watched this scene with cold eyes, his thoughts unreadable. In the end, this was someone he had once loved. Seeing Jiang Xi protect another person so fiercely, he felt an indescribable sense of irony and a dull ache in his heart.

However, this matter had nothing to do with Min Rou in the end. Even if Zhuang Yihan was angry, he wouldn't take it out on a woman. He curled his lips into a cold smile. "Of course. President Jiang drinks three, I'll accompany him for three. How about it? If you can't handle it, just admit defeat. I'm not the type to pester endlessly."

Seeing this, Zhuang Yifan couldn't sit still any longer. Did he not know his own brother's alcohol tolerance? He was practically drunk after a single glass. He couldn't possibly stand after another three. He pushed back his chair and was about to get up to block the drinks for Zhuang Yihan, but someone else stood up before him.

"Miss Min, you've misunderstood. President Zhuang was just joking. After all, if this drinking competition continues, Young Master Xue will start to feel bad about his treasured red wine. How about this, I'll drink three glasses on behalf of President Zhuang. You two can drink as you please."

A deep, clear voice suddenly rang in everyone's ears, like a sound from heaven in this awkward situation. Chen Shu had stood up at some point and was now standing in front of Zhuang Yihan. In front of Min Rou, he poured three full glasses of wine and drank them down without a change in expression. Afterward, he tilted the empty glass upside down with a flick of his wrist and smiled gracefully. "Today is Young Master Xue's birthday. It's best not to spoil the mood."

His face was truly stunning. After drinking, a layer of shimmering light appeared in his eyes. When he looked at people with a smile, no one could possibly stay angry.

Seeing him down three glasses in a row, Min Rou lowered her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking slightly embarrassed. Her face flushed as she mumbled, "That's not what I meant either. President Zhuang just poured way too much. If it comes to it, I can drink three glasses for Jiang Xi."

But Chen Shu picked up a glass, poured her half a glass of juice, and handed it to her with a faint smile. "I think juice is better. It wouldn't be good if you both got drunk. Don't you think so, Miss Min?"

What else could Min Rou say? She took the glass with a blush and drank it all down.

A tense conflict was thus quietly resolved. Everyone simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts. Watching a show was one thing, but they didn't really want to see Zhuang Yihan and Jiang Xi come to blows.

President Zhuang must have hit the jackpot to find a little lover like this. After all, it's easy to find someone beautiful, but finding someone with a brain is harder than reaching the heavens. Add to that his gentle and elegant demeanor, it's no wonder the high and mighty Zhuang Yihan took a liking to him. Didn't you see Miss Min, who already has a fiancé, was almost completely charmed?

Watching Chen Shu stand in front of him and drink those three glasses, Zhuang Yihan's expression became incredibly complex. His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched into fists, his jaw tight. He couldn't understand why he had to pick that fight with Jiang Xi just now. Perhaps it was unwillingness—unwilling that so many years of heartfelt devotion would end up as a joke, a topic of idle gossip after dinner. Even more, he was unwilling to have been played by Jiang Xi for so long, only to be the one abandoned in the end.

It was unclear whether it was the alcohol rising or something else, but Zhuang Yihan closed his eyes, feeling an indescribable bitterness in his throat. Even his vision began to blur. His body swayed slightly, and he stumbled for a moment, only to fall into a familiar, warm embrace the next second.

"You're drunk. I'll take you outside for some fresh air."

Chen Shu didn't ask why Zhuang Yihan had lost his composure like that. He gave a slight nod to Fang Yiting and the others, then supported Zhuang Yihan out of the private room through the back door, shielding him from the probing gazes of the crowd. Jiang Xi, who had been speaking quietly with Min Rou, seemed to sense something and turned to give them a deep look.

Outside the private room was a corridor, quiet and deserted, with only a half-open window. The night breeze blew in from outside, clearing one's head a little. But Zhuang Yihan seemed to be using the alcohol as an excuse to act up, burying his face in Chen Shu's neck and refusing to let go.

Chen Shu tugged twice but couldn't pull him off, so he just let him be. With one arm around Zhuang Yihan's waist and the other pushing the half-open window wider, he took out a lighter and lit a cigarette. His posture was nonchalant, as if he didn't care why Zhuang Yihan was in a bad mood.

Zhuang Yihan waited for a long time, but instead of the expected comfort, he smelled the faint scent of smoke. He finally couldn't help but lift his head to look at Chen Shu. His eyes were red, whether from drinking or from crying in sorrow, it was hard to tell. A lock of hair fell messily, making him look somewhat wretched and fragile. His voice was hoarse:

"Chen Shu, I'm in a bad mood."

Chen Shu grunted in acknowledgment, thinking, 'What does that have to do with me?' He took the cigarette from his lips, holding it between his fingers, and gently stroked the back of Zhuang Yihan's head. "If you're in a bad mood, I'll stay with you for a while."

Zhuang Yihan looked at him, stunned. "You're not going to ask why?"

Chen Shu found this amusing and almost laughed out loud. Zhuang Yihan's bad mood was, to put it bluntly, his own doing. What was there for him to ask? He flicked the ash from his cigarette, his tone gentle and coaxing, and reached out to touch Zhuang Yihan's cold cheek. "It's okay. If you don't want to say it, you don't have to. Just don't drink so much next time, okay?"

Zhuang Yihan felt the warmth on his cheek and couldn't help but close his eyes. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but the urge to cry became even stronger. He lowered his head and hugged Chen Shu's waist tightly, burying his face in the other's neck. It was unclear if he was talking about the drinking or about Jiang Xi: "I won't..."

Never again.

He would never again let himself be covered in scars for someone unworthy. Today's farce had finally extinguished the last lingering thought in Zhuang Yihan's heart. But after all, he had loved that person for a full nine years. At this moment, an indescribable pain still enveloped him, shrouding him in an endless gloom.

This was the best nourishment for a demon.

A Black Snake materialized from Chen Shu's wrist, flicking its scarlet tongue, ready to strike. However, before it could feast on Zhuang Yihan's pain, another black shadow suddenly appeared from the hotel ceiling, sucking away the black gloom called pain that surrounded Zhuang Yihan with lightning speed.

Seeing this, the tip of the Black Snake's tail, which had been swaying excitedly, abruptly froze. Its serpentine head actually managed to convey a look of astonishment and bewilderment: '?'

Someone dared to steal its food?!!!

All this happened in a flash. The Black Snake keenly sensed that this shadow was unusual and immediately retracted into Chen Shu's sleeve, leaving only its scarlet eyes to peek out in secret.

The shadow, however, was completely oblivious, greedily devouring the emotion called pain from around Zhuang Yihan. Its body swelled up like a balloon until it had consumed all the emotion. Only then did it turn to leave in satisfaction.

The Black Snake silently followed, its gaze sinister and filled with killing intent, so hateful it nearly shattered its fangs.

Damned piece of mud, how dare it steal his food. Just watch, he'll tear its mouth apart!!

However, as the Black Snake angrily followed the shadow back to the private room where the birthday party was being held, it was surprised to see the shadow suddenly turn into a wisp of black mist and quickly drill into the body of a man at the banquet table, disappearing as if it had evaporated into thin air.

At that moment, the man was smilingly raising his glass in a toast to the crowd. He was dressed in a light-colored suit, looking dashing under the lights. His left arm was around a beautiful woman in a long white dress, undoubtedly one of the focal points of the party.

Everyone else called him...

President Jiang.

In the late autumn, the weather grew colder. Chen Shu and Zhuang Yihan stood by the corridor window for a while, and it wasn't long before he felt a chill. He stubbed out his cigarette in the trash can, closed the window halfway again, and then patted Zhuang Yihan's back.

"It's about time. Let's go back."

Perhaps because he had smoked, his voice was a little hoarse, carrying a cool sexiness. Zhuang Yihan didn't know if he was drunk or something else, but he was finding it harder and harder to stand steadily. A faint blush spread across his cheeks. He looked at Chen Shu, his lips moving for a long time as if wanting to say something, but in the end, only one sentence came out:

"I want to go home."

"Then let's go home."

Chen Shu made the decision for him decisively.

The birthday party had been thrown into chaos by Jiang Xi's arrival. There was no need to stay any longer. Zhuang Yihan sent Xue Miao a text message, and then left with Chen Shu.

Since they had both been drinking today, their secretary, Yan Kai, was driving. He might have mistaken them for living together, as he didn't ask where Chen Shu lived and drove directly towards Zhuang Yihan's residence. Occasionally, while waiting at a red light, he would curiously raise his eyes to sneak a glance at his boss's "little lover" in the rearview mirror.

Zhuang Yihan's alcohol tolerance was already poor, and the aftereffects were kicking in. He was drowsily lying on Chen Shu's lap, looking exceptionally quiet.

Chen Shu took off his jacket and draped it over Zhuang Yihan, then turned his head to look at the rapidly passing scenery outside the car window, lost in his own thoughts. The words Chen Chuyao had said in the private room today kept replaying in his mind, bringing with them a faint sense of unease.

Of course, it was uneasiness for Duan Chengcai; Chen Shu himself wasn't too concerned.

Matters of life and death—you fear them before you experience them. After you have, it's just that.

Just as Chen Shu's thoughts were drifting, a polite inquiry pulled him back to reality.

"Mr. Chen, we're here. Would you like me to help you get President Zhuang upstairs?"

Yan Kai stopped the car steadily by the roadside and glanced at Chen Shu in the rearview mirror, awaiting his answer. If Chen Shu's identity were currently a friend or brother of Zhuang Yihan's, he would have directly offered to help. But with an ambiguous relationship like "lover," it wasn't convenient for him to be proactive.

In their circle, those little lovers often had an absolute possessiveness over their patrons, not allowing anyone else to even lay a finger on them. If you accidentally did something that could be misinterpreted, the pretty little canary would instantly become more vicious than a dog whose bone was stolen.

That Yan Kai could reach his current position might not prove how smart he was, but it certainly proved his prudence and caution.

However, unexpectedly...

"Okay, I'll have to trouble you then."

Chen Shu thanked him faintly, then opened the car door and got out. In this life, Zhuang Yihan had only been drunk a handful of times, and every single time was related to Jiang Xi, and every single time, he was the one left to clean up the mess. Did he look like some kind of benevolent person?

Chen Shu chuckled softly. Of course not, he thought. He got out of the car and stood by the road, the breeze helping him sober up a bit. Who would have thought that when he turned back, he would find Yan Kai sitting in the car, staring at him with a look of astonishment. He belatedly realized his actions just now might have been a bit inappropriate.

"..."

Chen Shu fell into a subtle silence for a moment, then found a reasonable excuse for himself: "Sorry, I've been drinking. I'm a bit unsteady."

Yan Kai was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said it was no problem, got out of the car, helped Zhuang Yihan out, and together with Chen Shu, they went upstairs.

"Mr. Chen, I'll leave President Zhuang in your care then. It's getting late, so I'll be heading back."

"Mm, be careful on the road."

Chen Shu nodded, then took the drunk Zhuang Yihan from Yan Kai and helped him into the room. He was so familiar with the layout that he could navigate flawlessly in the dark without turning on the lights. In a daze, Zhuang Yihan only felt himself being placed on a bed. A familiar scent enveloped him, giving him some courage to act up under the influence of alcohol.

"Chen Shu..."

Zhuang Yihan opened his hazy, drunken eyes and found the man sitting by the bed with him. A thought stirred in his heart. His messy black hair fell forward, making his skin appear even fairer, but it was nowhere near as captivating as the faint blush at the corners of his eyes.

Zhuang Yihan's lips moved, and what came out was finally not Jiang Xi's name, nor was it a heart-stabbing phrase like "Chen Shu, even without him, it would never be your turn." Instead, it was...

"Kiss me..."

He pleaded in a low voice, his ink-jade eyes seeming to hold shattered starlight, so broken yet so bright. He even took the initiative to wrap his arms around the man's lean waist and entangle himself with him.

This was a charm that the Chen Shu of his past life was never worthy of glimpsing.

Zhuang Yihan pressed his burning cheek tightly against Chen Shu's neck, a faint scent of mint and smoke filling his nostrils. He felt as if he were bewitched, desperately craving the touch of the man before him. Rules like no kissing and no sleeping together were all thrown to the winds, never to be remembered again.

"Chen Shu... kiss me..."

Zhuang Yihan knelt on the bed, hugging Chen Shu's waist from behind. His usually deep voice was now hoarse and urgent. He kissed the man's neck messily, fumbling to undo the buttons of his shirt.

But Chen Shu remained unmoved. He stared blankly at the black silhouettes of the two of them on the floor. After a long moment, he closed his eyes silently, suddenly feeling an indescribable sorrow and jealousy.

Yes, jealousy.

He was actually jealous of his current self, on behalf of his past self.

Even though it was completely irrational.

He let Zhuang Yihan clumsily unbutton his shirt. One, two, three... at the fourth button, Chen Shu suddenly stopped his hand and pushed him away.

"Thud—"

Zhuang Yihan fell back onto the bed, stunned for a moment, then immediately crawled back up to hug Chen Shu. Fueled by the alcohol, he muttered a dissatisfied grumble and continued to unbutton the other's shirt.

Chen Shu's expression was indifferent as he pushed him away again. Zhuang Yihan tenaciously hugged him once more. After this repeated several times, Chen Shu finally lost his patience. He grabbed Zhuang Yihan's wrist and asked coldly, "Do you have any idea what you're doing?!"

"Ngh..."

Zhuang Yihan frowned and grunted but didn't struggle. Instead, he looked up at Chen Shu in the darkness. This posture made him seem too obedient and submissive, and his red-rimmed eyes held a kind of indescribable brokenness, as if you could do anything to him at this moment.

Chen Shu looked down at him, a playful glint in his eyes. "Didn't you say you wouldn't sleep with me?"

Zhuang Yihan couldn't answer, merely staring blankly at Chen Shu. Then, emboldened by the alcohol, he tried to kiss his handsome face, his tongue lightly licking over the skin, bringing about an indescribable tremor.

Chen Shu had to use a bit of force to pull Zhuang Yihan off his neck. He pinched the man's chin, and his gaze inadvertently fell on his reddened lips. He rubbed them lightly with his fingertip, as if to see if any color would come off. His voice was low and husky, asking with undisguised malice:

"Want me to fuck you?"

The question was slightly insulting, and even a drunken Zhuang Yihan could sense it. The previously docile rabbit suddenly turned into a sharp-toothed wolf, turning its head and biting viciously at Chen Shu's fingertips.

Chen Shu didn't dodge, letting Zhuang Yihan get a good bite. He had initially thought the man was just posturing, but it wasn't until a sharp pain accompanied by the taste of blood emerged that he realized Zhuang Yihan truly had a fierce streak in his bones.

But if he was so proud and couldn't be insulted, why hadn't he gotten angry after being manipulated by Jiang Xi for so many years, only baring his teeth at him?

Chen Shu expressionlessly pulled his fingers back, glanced at the bloody teeth marks on them, and then pinched Zhuang Yihan's chin again. He watched as his own fingers stained the other's fair skin with blood and let out a soft, low laugh, its emotion unreadable:

"Angry already?"

Zhuang Yihan stared at him coldly in the darkness, his face pale with humiliation from Chen Shu's words. He gritted out, word by word, "You deserved..."

Before the last word was out, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his lips. Chen Shu had bent down without warning and kissed him, his five fingers threading through the other's hair and tightening their grip, deepening the rough kiss to its limit.

"Mmph..."

Zhuang Yihan frowned and gripped his shoulders, struggling desperately at first. But later, for some reason, his fingertips grew slack, and he instead wrapped his arms around Chen Shu's neck, returning the kiss with fervor. Their two hot bodies pressed tightly together. In the chaos, it was unclear who ripped off whose clothes. Buttons popped and scattered on the floor, leaving only the final thin layer of paper between them.

Zhuang Yihan had a proud personality; even drunk, he would never be able to say something like "I'm begging you to fuck me." He could only rub against Chen Shu's body with some impatience, then look up at him with pleading eyes. His rapid, low pants sprayed against his neck as he whispered his name over and over in the dark:

"Chen Shu... Chen Shu..."

His eyelashes were damp, his voice broken and full of unbearable desire, making it seem like he was about to cry.

Chen Shu listened silently for a moment, his gaze cool, showing no sign of passion. In the end, perhaps annoyed by the drunkard's pestering, he frowned slightly, pulled the man into his arms, and carried him towards the bathroom in the suite. The translucent frosted glass door slid shut, and only the faint sound of water could be heard from inside.

Zhuang Yihan was already disoriented, and the steam in the bathroom made it impossible for him to even stand. He breathed heavily, his body sliding down powerlessly, only to be held firmly by the waist by Chen Shu.

It was said that drunk people can't get hard.

But Zhuang Yihan... it was unclear whether this person was truly drunk or just pretending. He clung tightly to Chen Shu, whispering in his ear over and over again, his cool brows furrowed slightly as he mumbled incoherently about how uncomfortable he was, his skin flushing a rouge-like red.

The sound of splashing water continued, and two entangled figures could be seen behind the glass door.

An unknown amount of time passed, perhaps half an hour, perhaps an hour, before Chen Shu finally came out. He was carrying Zhuang Yihan, who had long since melted into a puddle of water, it was unknown what had happened. Both of them were soaking wet, water still dripping from them.

Chen Shu tossed the man onto the bed, then went back into the bathroom to change into a set of clean clothes. Zhuang Yihan lay nestled in the blankets with a flushed face, his eyes half-closed as he whimpered softly, clearly having been tormented quite a bit just now.

...Actually, it wasn't really torment, since they didn't go all the way.

But even just using his hand was enough for a novice like Zhuang Yihan.

Chen Shu had no interest in spending the night with him. He turned off the lights, left the master bedroom, and planned to crash on the living room sofa for the night. However, he had barely laid down when the Black Snake, which had been out, returned, wagging its tail.

'Hiss hiss~'

The subtext: 'Come on, ask me.'

Chen Shu didn't really want to bother with it, but he still asked, "Where did you go?"

The Black Snake slithered onto Chen Shu's body and coiled around his shoulder, its cold, sharp scales feeling slightly uncomfortable. It hissed out an unexpected answer: 'I went to follow Jiang Xi.'

Chen Shu paused. "Why were you following him?"

The Black Snake said out of the blue: 'He is a Parasite.'

"..."

Now it was Chen Shu's turn to be stunned. Although he didn't understand what a "Parasite" was, the literal meaning alone told him it wasn't a good word. He frowned unconsciously. "What is a Parasite?"

'A type of evil spirit that roams outside the jurisdiction of the space station.'

'They don't have endless life and must feed on human suffering to survive. So they usually wear human skin to blend in among humans, and then randomly select a host.'

'This choice is for life; they cannot change hosts midway. As long as the host lives, they must remain bound, only able to replace them after the host dies. This means they will cling to that human for a lifetime, constantly creating pain for them, devouring their emotions until the end of their life, just like a disgusting parasite.'

'After the host dies, the Parasite will change its appearance and identity, move to another world, and continue to find its next host, repeating the same trick over and over again.'

The Black Snake went on a long tirade, finally moving closer to Chen Shu's ear and hissing, asking meaningfully: 'At the banquet just now, I discovered that Jiang Xi is a Parasite disguised as a human. So, can you guess... who his bound host is?'

Chen Shu was so shocked by this series of revelations that he had trouble processing it. Meeting the Black Snake's gloating gaze, he seemed to think of something. His expression changed, and he slowly spat out three words: "Zhuang Yihan?"

'So smart. It's him.'

Hearing this, Chen Shu's mind felt as if it had been hit by something heavy, a constant ringing in his ears.

So it was Zhuang Yihan?

It was actually Zhuang Yihan?

Chen Shu felt as if a restraint that had troubled him for years in both his past and present lives was suddenly shattered by an external force. All of Jiang Xi's strange behaviors finally had an explanation.

No wonder. No wonder in his past life, even though Jiang Xi clearly didn't like Zhuang Yihan, he always liked to pop up out of nowhere just when Zhuang Yihan was about to forget him, sometimes being caring and considerate, other times cold and heartless, making it impossible for him to truly let go for over a decade.

No wonder Jiang Xi would deliberately do things to cause Zhuang Yihan pain. For example, he had a hundred excuses not to attend today's birthday banquet, but he insisted on making a high-profile appearance with his fiancée, making Zhuang Yihan watch their intimacy with his own eyes.

So that was why, so that was why...

Chen Shu felt an extreme sense of irony. He didn't even know when he had fallen from the sofa to the floor. His face was grim as he stared fixedly at the Black Snake slithering on the carpet and asked:

"So Jiang Xi was manipulating Zhuang Yihan from the very beginning? Using him as a tool to extract pain, until the day he dies?"

The Black Snake flicked the tip of its tail elegantly: 'What else?'

"..."

No one spoke. The air was deathly silent.

Chen Shu stared blankly into the endless darkness, his thoughts unreadable. He suddenly wanted to laugh, yet felt a sense of absurdity. Was this the kind of person Zhuang Yihan had loved with all his heart for over a decade in his past life? A scam from beginning to end? A case of exploitation?

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, stared at the Black Snake, and asked mockingly, word by word, "I lost to him in my past life?"

He lost to a Parasite like that in his past life?

A hypocritical Parasite who manipulated Zhuang Yihan's life like a toy?

No real feelings, no love, only manipulation, taking that sincere heart he had yearned for but could never obtain in his past life and repeatedly trampling and toying with it like mud, only to be freed on the day of his death?

The Black Snake's swaying tail gradually stilled. It didn't understand why this human was so angry. It thought Chen Shu would be gloating, since Zhuang Yihan was also an object of his hatred.

But in reality, an endless gloom appeared around Chen Shu, surging and dark, like the cold river water that had drowned and swallowed him in his past life, so dark that not even light could penetrate it.

This emotion was called pain.

Was Chen Shu actually in pain?

The Black Snake slowly slithered in front of Chen Shu. It saw an almost imperceptible wet spot on the carpet—a tear from this human. 'Why are you crying?'

"Because of the pain..."

'Then why are you in pain?'

Chen Shu closed his eyes silently. "You wouldn't understand..."

There are many people in the world who live like rats in a sewer, who can never touch something called a "sincere heart" in their entire lives. Others possess it so easily yet discard it like a worn-out shoe. How could that not be painful?

Even someone as vile as Chen Shu knew that such a thing should not be trampled upon casually. He slowly raised his head in the darkness, his bangs covering the scarlet in his eyes, a cold, ironic curve to his lips. "So I'm supposed to become like Jiang Xi this life, is that it?"

'How can that be the same?'

The Black Snake used the tip of its tail to gently lift Chen Shu's chin, thinking that if that Parasite hadn't used its energy to bewitch Zhuang Yihan in the last life, perhaps this human might have lived a good life. With such a stunning face and a heavy, sincere heart, who wouldn't like him?

'He will vilely cling to Zhuang Yihan for a lifetime, extracting endless pain, while we only need to kick Zhuang Yihan away and obtain the pain from that single moment of abandonment. The two are fundamentally different.'

No, there was actually no difference. Both were equally vile, equally high and mighty, enjoying playing with the fates of the innocent.

He who feels joy at the sight of another's pain is Satan.

Chen Shu looked at the Black Snake and said out of the blue, "We've known each other for so long, but I don't think I've ever known your name."

The Black Snake spoke in a human voice, its tone low: 'Samle.'

In Western mythology, this name represents death and suffering, but also turning points and rebirth. It is said he is one of the nine fallen angels sealed by God's right hand, holding power over desire, luring human souls to their fall.

'You must be careful of Jiang Xi. He's become wary of you.'

Hearing the name, Chen Shu finally detached from his previous emotions and gradually calmed down. "What is his weakness?"

'Pain. If he can't get enough pain from Zhuang Yihan, he will age quickly.'

"Just age? He won't die?"

The Black Snake paused at his words and subconsciously looked at Chen Shu, only to see him looking back, his slightly upturned fox-like eyes dark and filled with nothing but an icy chill.

It had almost forgotten.

In the previous life, Jiang Xi had disrupted more than just Zhuang Yihan's fate; he had also disrupted Chen Shu's own. His originally stable life had been hijacked by hatred, becoming absurd and laughable. How could he not hate Jiang Xi?

"..."

The Black Snake said meaningfully: 'It's not hard to kill him. If he dies, all memories and traces of him in this world will be automatically erased, and his body won't exist. But I don't recommend you kill him.'

Chen Shu narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

The Black Snake slithered up his arm and whispered something close to his ear. Chen Shu froze upon hearing it, and it was a long moment before he uttered a single sentence:

"...I understand."