Yang Guangsheng rose from the crowd and headed out of the private room. Someone tried to follow him, but he refused. A moment later, Jiang Xinbai also stood up and left the room.

The place Yang Guangsheng had chosen was hardly respectable. Smoke filled the air, raucous cries echoed, and the lighting was dim. In the hallway, both men and women exposed flesh, their eyes sharp as hooks. Jiang Xinbai walked straight through the scene without a sideways glance, following Yang to the restroom.

The restroom was comparatively bright and quiet, like a small oasis in this hedonistic hell.

When he entered, Yang Guangsheng was just emerging from a stall and washing his hands at the sink. Seeing Jiang Xinbai behind him in the mirror, Yang smiled. “Following me?”

Jiang Xinbai replied, “No. I came out for some air. It’s too noisy inside.”

He noticed Yang was still wearing the chain-style collar pin today, its rose-gold diamond pendant trembling and shimmering with his movements as he washed his hands. It suddenly reminded Jiang of some past events.

ʿ*Damn it.*ʾ

He felt uncomfortable all over. Turning away, he walked to the sink and began washing his hands. He scrubbed vigorously.

“Scrubbing so hard. Do you have OCD?” Completely unaware of being physically repulsive to someone, Yang Guangsheng shook the water off his hands and turned to look at Jiang Xinbai, speaking affectionately. “You came so late. Were you really working overtime?”

Jiang Xinbai turned to look at Xiao Yang. “Our company has been quite busy lately.”

“Your company?” Yang Guangsheng dried his hands with a paper towel, still watching Jiang. “Which company? Who are you working for now?”

Jiang Xinbai fell silent for a moment before answering, “Industrial Park Two. My old unit.”

“Huh?” Yang Guangsheng looked somewhat shocked. “You went back?”

“Mm.” Jiang Xinbai didn’t elaborate.

But Yang stopped drying his hands. He glanced at the hand soap, then back at Jiang. “You went from being the assistant to the young master of the group back to being a small employee at a branch? That’s like bungee jumping.”

Jiang Xinbai remained expressionless, calm. “There’s nothing unreasonable about it, Xiao Yang. Since I didn’t do well in the assistant role, I returned to my original job.”

“It’s not that you didn’t do well… you actually did quite a good job.”

Yang Guangsheng moved closer, letting Jiang catch a whiff of that long-unfamiliar peach scent.

Yang asked quietly, “General Manager Lin placed you by my side, but when the plan to plant a spy failed, he just sent you back the way you came. Is he really that unrefined?”

Jiang Xinbai’s eyes widened slightly. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. He said nothing. Yang Guangsheng took his reaction as confirmation.

He chuckled twice. “As expected. He sure knows how to pick people. You really are my father’s favorite type.”

Jiang Xinbai still said nothing. So Yang continued.

“At the very least, he could have transferred you to headquarters and given you a higher-paying job. You’re quite capable – though a bit dull, you’re diligent and thorough. My father likes you too. Even if you’re not with me, you’d still have opportunities and a future. Why just toss you back like that? What a waste. And you didn’t even tell me all this time. If you had, I would’ve helped arrange something for you.”

Jiang Xinbai remained silent. Yang Guangsheng snorted. “What, did I hit the nail on the head?”

“…Did Xiao Yang fire me because of General Manager Lin?”

Yang Guangsheng raised an eyebrow at him.

"I've been thinking these past two months about where I went wrong." Jiang Xinbai also took a tissue, lowering his head to wipe his hands. "If that's the reason you're not using me, thank you for telling me today. I feel much better."

Yang: "....."

"Don't worry about the job." Jiang Xinbai said, "My current job is a good fit, and I'm doing quite well. The minimum requirement for a full-time position at headquarters is a master's degree. Even if I got in, I wouldn't be well-received. I don't want to go."

Yang Guangsheng studied his face. After a moment, he moved closer. His voice softened.

"Silly. If you're my person, even graduating from elementary school is fine. That company belongs to my family."

Jiang Xinbai: "Really, it's not necessary."

"Don't worry." Yang Guangsheng said, "I'll take care of your job. I promise to transfer you to a suitable and satisfying position."

"Then isn't being your assistant suitable?" Jiang Xinbai asked directly, "While working as your assistant, I've actually been learning a lot about game companies."

Yang Guangsheng was taken aback. Then he chuckled softly. He reached out and slapped the back of the tall guy's head.

"You little rascal, you're not teaming up with Lin Shufeng to play the victim card with me, are you?"

"I don't understand what you mean." Jiang Xinbai said, "Manager Lin recommended me as your assistant because Old Yang always thought I was suitable, not because I have any other relationship with Manager Lin. Do you not get along well with Manager Lin?"

"....." Yang Guangsheng stared at him. Finally, he smiled and said, "No. We're actually relatives. We get along fine."

Jiang Xinbai didn't say anything more. He threw the tissue into the trash can and stood aside, waiting for Yang Guangsheng to leave first. But Yang didn't move. Instead, he asked, "Do you want to go to Jiangcheng with me?"

Jiang: "I think I can handle the assistant job."

Yang: "Aren't you afraid I'll harass you again?"

Jiang: "You don't like my type. You said so yourself."

Yang Guangsheng looked at him meaningfully. Then he turned and walked out of the restroom.

"Let's go back."

Jiang Xinbai followed behind, taking out his phone. He saw a message from Lin Shufeng.

💬: ⦍Did he approach you first?⦎

💬: Lin Shufeng: ⦍How did it go?⦎

Jiang Xinbai replied: ⦍Smoothly⦎

Everything was proceeding according to his thoughts and plans.

Jiang Xinbai felt that his suspicions and judgments about Yang Guangsheng's reactions were correct, and his estimates of his personality, preferences, and way of doing things weren't far off. Most importantly, it seemed luck was also on his side.

Like fishing for big fish. You have to use your brain, sometimes you need to bait the hook, and you can't be afraid to wait. Bait, perseverance, destiny. He probably had all of them. The closer the prey gets, the steadier you must be.

Yang Guangsheng, walking ahead, was also thinking.

ʿ*The kid is quite cute. Got me interested. Want to reel him in and devour him.*ʾ

The two men, each with their own calculations, turned the corner. Jiang Xinbai put down his phone and looked up. Suddenly, he intuitively felt someone's gaze on him, making him extremely uncomfortable. He glanced around and saw a figure disappearing at the end of the hallway.

Yang Guangsheng turned back to look at him: "What are you doing? With legs that long, you walk so slowly."

"....." Jiang Xinbai withdrew his gaze and caught up with Yang Guangsheng's pace.

After returning to the private room, a few of Yang Guangsheng's cronies, under his direction, pressured Jiang Xinbai to drink. Jiang Xinbai showed strong resistance but couldn't completely refuse, ultimately unable to avoid the fate of being forced to drink.

Last time, the complete blackout was indeed an act. It was an excuse to flirt with the boss and retreat unscathed without breaking character.

But he genuinely hated drinking – it made him feel awful, and that wasn’t an act. After just a few glasses, he started feeling dizzy and decided to stop. However, in his daze, he saw a man wearing a hat offering him a toast. He said he wouldn’t drink anymore, but the man was overly enthusiastic, pushing the glass right in front of his mouth and lowering his voice amid the noisy entertainment: "You should at least give some face."

Although Jiang Xinbai didn’t know everyone here, they were at least all friends of Xiao Yang. Suppressing his anger, he drank it, then pushed the glass away.

But the man grabbed his hand, seemingly trying to pull him up.

Just as Jiang Xinbai was puzzled and wanted to take a closer look at the hat-wearing man’s face, Yang Guangsheng walked over at the right moment and sat down beside Jiang Xinbai. The hat-wearing man quickly stood up and left.

Yang had been drinking, but not too much – just a bit tipsy. His hand subtly slid up Jiang Xinbai’s thigh from the knee: "Xiao Bai, I’m tired. Call a designated driver and take me home."

"....."

Jiang Xinbai felt the hairs on the touched area stand on end. That electric current continued upward along his leg, stirring a tingling numbness throughout his body. That disgusting yet strange feeling was back. After two months, the memories he had been avoiding resurfaced, as if summoned.

Yang Guangsheng was staring straight at him, playfully observing his expression. So he ignored the feeling, calmly took out his phone, and called a designated driver.

A few minutes later, the driver arrived. Yang Guangsheng bid farewell to his friends, got into the car, and sat beside Jiang Xinbai. Jiang Xinbai shifted slightly away in the opposite direction.

"What’s wrong, afraid I’ll eat you?" Yang Guangsheng leaned over, filling the gap Jiang Xinbai had just created. He smiled and whispered to Jiang, "Didn’t you firmly say I wasn’t interested in your type? So what are you afraid of…"

Yang Guangsheng suddenly sensed something was off. He stopped speaking and carefully observed Xiao Jiang. If someone drank too much, their face would turn red, and their eyes would grow hazy. But they probably wouldn’t sweat or breathe rapidly.

"What’s wrong with you? Not feeling well?" He raised his hand and touched Jiang’s face with concern.

Jiang Xinbai grabbed his wrist like a vise. Yang Guangsheng couldn’t help but cry out in pain: "Fuck, take it easy!"

He saw Jiang Xinbai frowning, his eyes looking abnormal as well.

Startled, he asked, "What’s wrong? Really not feeling well? Let me take you home first."

"...It’s nothing." Jiang Xinbai released his hand. "I’m really sorry, Xiao Yang. I’m a bit dizzy."

He leaned to the other side, closed his eyes, and pretended to sleep. Ever since getting into Yang Guangsheng’s car, Jiang Xinbai had started reacting.

Was it because he had hooked up with Yang Guangsheng here last time after drinking too much, and now it was a conditioned reflex?

His body felt so hot too…

ʿ*Damn it. Disgusting.*ʾ

...Something’s off. This shouldn’t be happening.

Jiang Xinbai’s body grew increasingly restless and feverish. He began to realize things might not be as simple as they seemed. This feeling… it seemed somewhat familiar… He opened his eyes and turned to look at Yang Guangsheng. Yang was also leaning drowsily against the other window, resting with his eyes closed, looking as if nothing was on his mind.

It probably had nothing to do with him. Yang Guangsheng unbuttoned his collar with his fingers, tugging it slightly to reveal his fair chest.

"....." Jiang Xinbai looked away.

Fuck. Nothing good ever happens when I'm with Yang Guangsheng. Jiang Xinbai figured this was probably the second time in his life he'd been drugged.

He was baffled. Those were all Xiao Yang's friends, there to welcome him back – who would do something like this? And to me? Or was it random poisoning? No way. That's too far-fetched.

Confused, he pressed a hand to his muddled head and tried to think. After a moment, he recalled a figure – the man in the hat. He thought about that guy's build and his voice. Suddenly, it clicked.

It was just a guess, not certain. So he pulled out his phone and turned it on. The harsh light sped up the foggy, hallucinatory process in his mind. He felt even dizzier, squinting as he sent a message to the number he'd called before: ⦍Fuck your mother.⦎

Peter quickly replied with a: ⦍ :) ⦎

138xxxxxxxx: ⦍Gave you triple the dose today⦎

138xxxxxxxx: ⦍Enjoy⦎

138xxxxxxxx: ⦍Mua⦎

↫────────────────∰───────────────↬

TL/ᴇᴅɪᴛɪɴɢ/ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ/ʟᴏᴄᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: Ꮆ𝓇𝒾𝓂𝓂Ή𝒶𝓃𝑒𝓊𝓁

The weather had cleared up briefly, with clouds drifting constantly overhead.

Chaoxi walked along the path back to his dormitory, weaving through the farmlands. After yesterday’s incident, the elderly villagers still carried on as if nothing had happened, diligently working in the fields. They raised their hoes and brought them down again - thump, thump, thump - plowing the land with a rigid rhythm, their movements so uniform it was like watching a play, a puppet show.

Chaoxi didn’t like that association.

As Chaoxi passed by them, the withered elderly villagers all looked up, each smiling and waving at him, greeting him and asking if he had eaten.

Friendly, enthusiastic - so much like the puppet shows Chaoxi had watched as a child, their movements also slow and peculiar…

Chaoxi paused, then raised his hand to mimic their greeting. The elderly villagers laughed again. As the clouds drifted by, sunlight and shadows alternately fell on their wrinkled, aged faces. For a moment, Chaoxi couldn’t tell who was who. It felt as if… he were standing among a group of scarecrows swaying in the wind, engaging in meaningless interactions with them.

Why was he thinking this way? Chaoxi scolded himself inwardly. After exchanging greetings, his pace back to the dormitory quickened.

After a long day and night, returning to the dormitory gave Chaoxi a sense of disconnection, as if he had stepped into another world. Coming from Shen Hui’s warm, clean, and bright house, the dormitory felt cold, damp, and gloomy. Dark clouds loomed overhead, threatening a heavy downpour.

Chaoxi stared at his little nest in Dusk Village. When he first arrived, he hadn’t thought the dormitory was this bad, but now the entire place seemed dilapidated and somber. He was about to open the door when he noticed it was covered in moss, with snails crawling all over it.

Frowning, Chaoxi had no choice but to pick up a nearby branch and sweep away the snails, which left trails of slime on the doorknob.

What bad luck. Fighting back his disgust, Chaoxi opened the door. As soon as he entered, he washed his hands, but the water still felt slippery and sticky. He sighed, dried his hands, and went to his room to change into his new uniform.

However, the damp, chilly air in the room made him shiver.

Chaoxi found the window wide open. The rain from last night had seeped inside, soaking his bed and saturating the floor mat.

Adding insult to injury.

Chaoxi closed the window and reluctantly pulled out his new uniform from the damp wardrobe. The clothes felt cold and clammy, extremely uncomfortable. He sighed again, beginning to regret his decision from this morning.

When Shen Hui had suggested living together, Chaoxi hadn’t agreed right away. Shen Hui seemed displeased by his refusal but didn’t say much, only coaxing him a little more with a hint of acting cute.

A Shen Hui, acting coy, was truly hard to refuse, but Chaoxi still insisted he needed more time to think. Even though being with Shen Hui felt so good, and Shen Hui’s house was so comfortable, Chaoxi hesitated.

What was he worried about? Chaoxi stared blankly at the cold, gloomy room. The corners were so damp it felt like mushrooms might sprout at any moment.

After changing into his uniform and gathering everything he needed to bring, Chaoxi caught sight of his phone on the table. He couldn’t remember how long it had been since he last turned it on. He powered it on, only to be disappointed - there were no messages, and there was no signal at all.

He felt like it had been ages since he last contacted his other colleagues. He wondered if they had thought of him, talked about him, or tried to message or reach out to him.

Chaoxi found himself missing his colleagues a bit.

There was no signal in the dormitory, but perhaps other places might have it. Chaoxi tucked his phone into his pocket.

Before heading to work, Chaoxi stopped by Aunt Xiufen’s house to check on the elderly couple.

Uncle Axian and Aunt Xiufen lived in a low, concrete single-story house. With just the two of them, aside from farming and gathering bamboo shoots, they relied on raising chickens to make ends meet.

When Chaoxi arrived at Uncle Axian and Aunt Xiufen’s home, the two elders were sitting in the small living room, which was only a few square meters in size. Uncle Axian still appeared quite dazed, staring blankly at the wall and occasionally scratching his face. Aunt Xiufen, on the other hand, looked much better, completely unlike the elderly woman who had been folded in half and stuffed into a tree trunk the day before. Her small frame stood straight, and her face was filled with smiles.

Chaoxi received Aunt Xiufen’s enthusiastic thanks and a round of praise. The elderly woman seemed full of vitality, as if she were a different person altogether.

Chaoxi didn’t take credit for it, only reminding her that it would be best to go bamboo shoot gathering with companions in the future. Whether Aunt Xiufen took his advice to heart was unclear, as she immediately turned to praising Shen Hui, who had treated her, saying that doctors could always solve all their problems and that Dusk Village couldn’t do without the two of them in the future.

Chaoxi should have smiled - Aunt Xiufen meant well - but instead, he frowned.

When he finally managed to leave Aunt Xiufen’s house, he was handed a large basket of fresh eggs. He felt a bit troubled, but Aunt Xiufen insisted he share them with Dr. Shen Hui.

In the end, Chaoxi had no choice but to accept the basket of eggs. However, as he left Uncle Axian and Aunt Xiufen’s home, he noticed there wasn’t a single chicken in their backyard. The chicken coop stood empty, like a mere decoration.

He only glanced at it before leaving, not allowing himself to dwell on it too much.

Sitting at his desk, Chaoxi repeatedly dialed the familiar police station number, but no one ever answered, or the call was disconnected the next second. Frustrated, he bit his nails and turned his attention back to his phone. Sitting at his desk, he kept opening his phone, trying several different spots, even standing on the table, but his phone still had no signal.

Chaoxi frowned. Was Dusk Village’s police station really this isolated from the world? He hadn’t heard about it before.

He still remembered what his seniors and superiors had said: Dusk Village was just an ordinary rural area with poor reception, but there were always one or two places where you could get a signal.

Could it be that he had been deceived?

Chaoxi wasn’t exactly an internet addict. Back at the police station in the city, he rarely scrolled through his phone or visited social media sites, and he seldom even replied to messages. But now, Chaoxi felt… he urgently needed to connect with people outside Dusk Village, though he couldn’t quite explain why.

“What are you doing up so high?” Shen Hui’s voice suddenly broke the silence.

Chaoxi, who had been holding his phone while searching for a signal, startled and nearly fell. Shen Hui, who had appeared out of nowhere, steadied him.

“Be careful,” Shen Hui said.

“Sorry, sorry. I was looking for a phone signal,” Chaoxi replied as he climbed down from the table, watching Shen Hui skillfully clean the desk he had dirtied with his shoes.

“There’s no signal here,” Shen Hui said, looking down as he took out a steaming lunchbox from his bag. As usual, preparing lunch for Chaoxi had become his habit.

Chaoxi watched Shen Hui set out the utensils and asked again, “Do you know where I can get a signal?”

Shen Hui looked up, his expression blank as he inquired, “What do you want to do?”

"I just wanted to contact a colleague with my phone." Chaoxi didn't know why he was speaking so cautiously.

"Can't you use the landline?" Shen Hui pointed at the old telephone on the table.

"It hasn't been connecting." Chaoxi said.

"Is that so...? Maybe it's because of yesterday's rain. It might be fixed in a few days." Shen Hui comforted, smiling as he sat in his usual spot waiting for Chaoxi to eat. "Do you have something urgent?"

"Not really, just wanted to catch up." Chaoxi silently sat down and began his meal under Shen Hui's gaze.

Today's dishes were still those Chaoxi liked - plentiful and nutritious. Shen Hui didn't seem displeased or awkward about Chaoxi refusing to live together this morning, which made Chaoxi relieved.

"I thought you, Li Chaoxi, didn't have any particularly close colleagues besides Rì Huī." Shen Hui teased, propping his chin on his hand.

"Why do you make it sound like I have terrible social skills?" Chaoxi laughed, though what Shen Hui said was true. He got along well with his colleagues but wasn't particularly close to any of them.

Chaoxi had always been a quiet person. His parents were gone, he had no siblings, and he was used to being alone. Sunshine was the only exception - he thought Sunshine was someone he was truly close to.

But now it seemed he was still alone.

"It's okay, I won't dislike you. Even if everyone else abandons you, I'll still want you." Shen Hui said with a smile.

Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui, nodded with a smile, then lowered his head to eat the warm dishes Shen Hui had made. Curiously, he asked, "What about you, Shen Hui? I've never heard you mention your hometown. How do you keep in touch with your family or friends here?"

Shen Hui didn't respond. Chaoxi looked up to see the man just staring at him. After a long silence, Shen Hui finally smiled and said, "There's no one. Only you."

When he heard this, Chaoxi instinctively laughed but stopped immediately. Shen Hui gazed at him, a smile on his face, but his eyes held no emotion, as if he were merely mimicking Chaoxi's laughter.

"Are you... joking?"

"No, why would you say that?"

"Because you're a good person, Shen Hui. There must be someone waiting for you down the mountain."

"Really, there isn't. My parents passed away early, and I have no siblings. I studied hard, became a doctor, and have been working almost nonstop since then. I came to Dusk Village long ago." Shen Hui said without changing his expression. "Believe it or not, but honestly, I've always felt like I was alone... very lonely."

He lifted his eyes to look at Chaoxi.

Chaoxi listened quietly. Shen Hui's experience was almost identical to his own. He never imagined they could be so similar - so similar it felt as if Shen Hui had read his mind and copied it word for word.

Chaoxi frowned. He hated making these strange, suspicious guesses. Besides, how could Shen Hui possibly read his mind? He rubbed his temples, guilt lingering in his chest, making him speak to Shen Hui in a gentler voice. "I sometimes feel that way too, especially after Sunshine left."

Last night, he had already confessed everything to Shen Hui. Talking about Sunshine in front of him had become a little easier, and sharing this made him feel relieved.

"But I don't feel that way anymore." Shen Hui said, relaxing as he leaned back in his chair.

Chaoxi fell silent, watching Shen Hui.

"Ever since you came, everything has been different. I no longer feel lonely or bored. You make me feel accompanied, and that's truly wonderful," Shen Hui smiled, his foot under the table gently nudging Chaoxi.

Chaoxi propped his flushed face with his hand, feeling rather embarrassed.

"Are you saying all this just to trick me into living with you?"

"Not just that - I also want to trick you into having children with me."

"You're so silly..." Chaoxi laughed out loud.

Shen Hui chuckled without refuting, instead rubbing his foot against Chaoxi's calf until Chaoxi glared at him resentfully. "It's work hours, sir."

Only then was Shen Hui willing to pull his foot back.

"But what about you, Li Chaoxi?"

"What about me?" Chaoxi lowered his head to eat, while Shen Hui watched his eating habits with satisfaction.

"Since I appeared, have I made you feel less lonely?" Hearing this, Chaoxi paused, but before he could answer, Shen Hui spoke again: "It's okay if not. It's fine. I'll keep trying, even though I can't be like sunshine..."

Shen Hui's words and his eager-to-please demeanor filled Chaoxi with deep guilt.

"I've said it before - you don't need to be like Rì Huī. Just be yourself," Chaoxi emphasized again. The person before him now was Shen Hui. He couldn't cling tightly to someone who was gone - that would be too unfair to Shen Hui.

Besides, it was you who couldn't hold back your emotions and decided to reach out to him, wasn't it? A voice in Chaoxi's mind scolded him.

Shen Hui curled his lips, seemingly amused by Chaoxi's words, and said in an exaggerated tone, "If I were completely myself, I might scare you to death, Li Chaoxi."

"You haven't forgotten I'm a police officer, have you?"

"So?"

"So if you were some kind of deranged serial killer, I'd arrest you and handcuff you myself."

"But then no one would cook delicious meals for you, and the children would be fatherless." Shen Hui clutched his chest, wailing dramatically, which made Chaoxi laugh.

"That's true - my own cooking isn't great," he said, covering his mouth as he laughed until Shen Hui urged him to finish his lunch.

After Chaoxi had eaten his fill, Shen Hui tidied up and said, "Think about this morning's proposal, Li Chaoxi. Live with me. Your little maid will serve you well, master."

Chaoxi scoffed twice and waved Shen Hui away.

The sky grew dark, the sunset gradually sinking into the clouds, casting a strange purple twilight across the sky.

Chaoxi rode his bicycle. On the way back to the dormitory, he didn't take his usual route but chose to turn a corner, trying to find a spot where his phone might have a signal. Yet, there was still no signal along the way.

He sighed, somewhat defeated, wondering if he should simply head down the mountain. Perhaps moving farther away from Dusk Village would bring a signal.

Chaoxi pedaled hard, trying to ride in the direction away from the village, but after circling the fields a few times, he grew confused - he couldn't remember the way out of the village.

All the roads looked both familiar and blurry.

A fine layer of cold sweat broke out on Chaoxi's forehead. Thinking he was on the road leading out of the village, he rode forward only to find himself back in Dusk Village, scattered with low, small houses. It was as if he were a hamster running on a wheel, unable to escape the cage no matter how hard he tried.

Chaoxi anxiously rang his bicycle bell. Ding. In the empty fields, an identical sound echoed - yet it wasn’t an echo. It came clearly and distinctly from a certain direction... Chaoxi turned his head. It was the road leading into the deep mountains.

That narrow path slowly ascended uphill; he hadn’t even noticed its existence earlier. There wasn’t a single streetlamp along it, and it was shrouded by dense woods, making the area beneath deeply shadowed. The darkness gathered into a mass, resembling both tree shadows and human figures - yet whichever it was, it appeared unnaturally large.

Chaoxi stared at that vague shadow, and the longer he looked, the more he felt something lurking within it. Goosebumps erupted wildly on the back of his neck. He kept reminding himself it was just an illusion.

Gazing at the dark road leading into the mountains, Chaoxi rang his bell again.

Ding.

This time, there was no echo. The fields were quiet - so quiet that even the sounds of wind, birdsong, and rustling grass had vanished. Chaoxi could only hear his own breathing.

He held his breath.

Yet the sound of breathing continued - inhale, exhale - steady, coming from the far end of the road.

Chaoxi froze in place, scalp tingling, unable to move. His body felt as if submerged in icy water, a sudden chill washing over him. He feared a pair of gleaming eyes might appear in the darkness, staring back at him.

〝Li Chaoxi.〞

Someone called his name. Chaoxi watched as the shadow shifted. Unbeknownst to him, tears had welled up in his eyes, and his body trembled - until a withered, bony hand rested on his shoulder.

“Officer Li.”

Chaoxi turned. The gaunt, shriveled Village Chief Huang stood before him, smiling with narrowed eyes as he stared. All the sounds returned - the wind, the rustling leaves.

Chaoxi glanced once more at the road into the mountains. Beneath the shadows, there was nothing - only trees swaying naturally.

“Why are you wandering alone at this hour? What if you get lost like Aunt Xiufen?” Village Chief Huang said.

The hand on Chaoxi’s shoulder smelled of damp earth, its skin covered in fine cracks, like dried clay.

The short old man, wearing a conical hat and a raincoat, looked more like a scarecrow in the fields. When had Village Chief Huang appeared? Chaoxi hadn’t seen him at all earlier.

“Hurry back, Officer Li. It’s about to rain again,” Village Chief Huang said, handing Chaoxi an umbrella. “It wouldn’t be good to get caught in the rain. You must keep yourself healthy now.”

Chaoxi frowned. The latter part of that sentence struck him as odd, but he still accepted the umbrella.

“Thank you.” As he took it, a raindrop landed on his forehead.

Chaoxi looked up. Light rain had begun to fall from the sky. Village Chief Huang withdrew his hand beneath his conical hat and raincoat, lowered the brim, and turned to leave.

Chaoxi initially wanted to call out to him, but the rain intensified, accompanied by thunder. He could only open the umbrella and walk his bicycle through the mud, but Village Chief Huang had already vanished.

Along the way, Chaoxi dared not look back again.

Dusk Village was once again engulfed in a torrential downpour, thunder rumbling.

'When it rains, it pours.'

By the time Chaoxi returned to his dorm, nearly half-soaked, he found his small quarters even damper and gloomier than during the day.

His window was open - again.

Chaoxi tossed aside the umbrella and rushed forward, almost angrily, to close and lock the window. Leaning against it, he took a deep breath. Outside, the heavy rain continued, pitch black, with faint shadows swaying over the rice paddies.

It's just the shadows of trees, Chaoxi reminded himself. He closed the curtains and turned to inspect every corner of the dormitory. Everything remained intact, with no signs of disturbance or intrusion.

"You just forgot again," Chaoxi said to himself.

His small bed, dampened by the open window, had become like a waterlogged sponge. Chaoxi knew he couldn't sleep there tonight. Hands on his hips, he pondered what to do next.

There was, in fact, a simple solution to all his troubles, but Chaoxi chose to ignore it. He pulled an equally damp blanket from the wardrobe and squeezed uncomfortably onto the narrow sofa in the living room - a space too small for him to even lie down fully.

That evening, Chaoxi took a hasty shower, as the dormitory suddenly had no hot water, and the water felt oddly sticky. Nothing seemed to go right tonight. When he opened the refrigerator to prepare dinner, he found all the vegetables inside had rotted, and the eggs had begun to smell.

He had only spent one night away, yet the food in the refrigerator looked as if it had been left for two or three weeks.

Chaoxi cleaned out the refrigerator, sweeping all the spoiled food into a trash bag and tossing it outside the door with a hint of resignation. As dinnertime approached, his stomach growled, and both his mind and his belly longed for Shen Hui's warm, comforting meals.

But tonight, Chaoxi decided to skip dinner. Wrapped in his damp blanket and curled up on the uncomfortable sofa, he resolved to endure the night and deal with everything else tomorrow.

Chaoxi didn't even know what he was holding onto. He could simply tell Shen Hui, "My dormitory is uninhabitable. Can I stay at your place?"

Shen Hui would likely be delighted. He was such a kind person - generous, understanding, and always willing to help. Chaoxi had that option, yet he acted like a stubborn child, preferring to suffer hunger and cold in his damp dormitory rather than accept someone else's kindness.

'Why?'

Chaoxi couldn't find an answer, nor did he have the energy to delve into the reasons. Perhaps his frustration stemmed from being unable to contact anyone down the mountain. In any case, today had been utterly miserable, and he just wanted it to be over.

Wrapped tightly in his blanket, Chaoxi closed his eyes and drifted into an early sleep.

In the dead of night, black shadow creatures rose from the fields, one after another. They floated like balloons, yet their shapes resembled a row of scarecrows, moving in eerie unison toward the same direction in the silence... toward Chaoxi's dormitory.

Chaoxi jolted awake from his sleep, still disoriented from the strange dream. He noticed the wind and rain seeping in - the window was open again. Stumbling in the darkness, he got up and went to close it. But just as he was about to lock the window, he saw a row of shadowy figures walking through the fields, swaying rhythmically from side to side like bobblehead dolls on a car dashboard.

The figures moved forward in a straight line. As they drew closer, Chaoxi realized their feet weren't touching the ground. He bit his lower lip, pretending he hadn't seen them. Hastily confirming the window was locked, he drew the curtains and curled up on the sofa like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, covering himself entirely with the blanket.

There was no escape, and no one to call for help.

Trembling, Chaoxi prayed the creatures wouldn't notice his presence - that they would simply pass by. But then he heard a strange, rhythmic swaying sound coming from outside, growing louder and louder.

Those dark figures gathered outside. Chaoxi dared not look, yet he knew - the figures encircled the dormitory, doing nothing but staring at the walls, as if watching him within.

The scent of earth and rain drifted in, along with the sound of wind and rain battering the house - thump, thump, thump - more like the sound of many hands slapping against the walls.

Chaoxi was terrified they would come in, opening his window one by one, invading. He squeezed his eyes shut until a "ding" sounded - the ring of a bicycle bell - followed by a familiar breathing sound.

〝Li... Chao... Xi...〞

Someone was calling his name, exactly like the voice from the deep mountains, as if trying to lure him out.

Chaoxi heard the window being blown open by the wind. The heavy storm shook the entire house, as if something enormous was rocking it from outside while calling:

〝Li... Chao... Xi...〞

'Stop it!'

Chaoxi silently covered his ears and screamed, but the voice grew louder and louder, no longer human-like, more like an unknown low hum from a cave, buzzing, vibrating until his eardrums ached.

He curled up with all his strength, trembling with fear. Terror made him whimper like a child, helplessly crying.

Yet at that moment, everything around him fell silent. The house stopped shaking, and even the sound of wind and rain ceased. All was quiet, leaving only Chaoxi's own breathing.

Trembling, Chaoxi cautiously lifted the blanket covering his head, peeking through a gap. Outside the blanket was pitch black, nothing visible, but at this moment, it felt less like being in a dark room and more like sinking in a bottomless sea.

Something was in the darkness - huge, beyond imagination.

〝Li Chaoxi.〞

A sound dropped from above. Chaoxi saw an eye open in the darkness, its color like the purple sky at sunset in Dusk Village.

Chaoxi jolted awake from his dream again. The air was cold and damp. He sat up; it was already daylight.

A pattering sound came. He turned to look - the window he had locked last night had somehow been blown open by the wind again. This time, Chaoxi felt no anger, only exhaustion. The damp dormitory was in disarray, mud covering the floor and walls as if a group of crazed monkeys had thrown field mud everywhere.

Chaoxi stood dazed in the filthy dormitory. The muddy water had cleverly avoided the spot where he slept, and he had slept through the night in such conditions, completely unaware of what had happened.

Outside, it was still raining, with no sign of letting up.

This time, there was no way to clean the interior, as the mud and sand had seeped into every crevice with the rainwater. Chaoxi could only choose to wash up first, pack a simple bag, and leave.

Before leaving, he glanced at the dormitory. The walls looked as if they had been bombarded with muddy water, yet everywhere else was fine. The small, empty storage room next door didn’t even have a speck of mud splashed on it.

It seemed very much like a human act, but who could cover the entire room with so much mud without waking Chaoxi? Even the roof had mud - how tall would this person have to be...

Chaoxi didn’t want to investigate or think about it.

When Chaoxi appeared at Shen Hui’s doorstep, clutching his bag and holding his bicycle, he looked somewhat disheveled. Before he could ring the doorbell, the man seemed to sense it and opened the door first.

“So early, why all the bags? What’s wrong, Li Chaoxi?” Shen Hui widened his eyes, smiling as he asked. For some reason, Chaoxi felt teased, as if Shen Hui clearly knew why.

But how could the man possibly know.

"Hmm..." Chaoxi lowered his head, lightly kicking the gravel underfoot. "Is that thing about living together still on? I think I might need a place to stay."

"Of course!" Shen Hui flashed an overly radiant smile, his eyes like the purple evening glow at dusk. Chaoxi recalled last night's dream, but his stomach chose that moment to let out a very inappropriate gurgling sound.

"I might also need some breakfast," Chaoxi said, scratching his cheek a bit sheepishly.

"It's already prepared," Shen Hui winked at Chaoxi, taking the luggage from his hands. Chaoxi noticed the man's hands and sleeves were also stained with some mud... It must have gotten dirty from the luggage, it had to be. "Come in, boyfriend."

Chaoxi hesitated for a moment before finally stepping inside.

A new day had begun again.

A new one...

How many days had it been already?

When Chaoxi returned to Shen Hui's house covered in mud, confusion in his heart, he wearily took off his mud-caked shoes. Rainwater dripped from his raincoat all over the entryway.

Dusk Village had been hit by continuous heavy rain for several days, and Chaoxi returned to Shen Hui's house in this state every day after work. Feeling apologetic, he hurriedly looked for something to wipe it up.

"You've worked hard! Finally home, Li Chaoxi."

Shen Hui appeared at that moment, the tall man wearing a pink apron that looked a bit funny but also very cute. Behind him, the house was filled with warm yellow light, completely different from the overcast, rainy, damp, and muddy scene outside. The air was also filled with the aroma of food, making Chaoxi's mouth water. He knew Shen Hui had already prepared a lavish dinner for him, all his favorite dishes.

"It's fine, just leave it. I'll take care of it later," Shen Hui stopped him.

At Shen Hui's house, Chaoxi hardly needed to do any chores. Shen Hui took care of everything for him. It was a bit embarrassing to say, but Shen Hui was like a gentle and devoted husband.

Every day, there was someone waiting for him at home. This was an experience Chaoxi had never had before. As a child, he was a latchkey kid, always waiting for others. In the past, he had fantasized about having sunshine at home, someone who would smile and welcome him back every day, but it never happened.

Now, his fantasy had been realized by Shen Hui. Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui leaning against the wall, smiling at him. It was like a dream come true.

It was good he moved in. Chaoxi really didn't understand why he had been so stubborn before, why he was unwilling to accept Shen Hui's kindness. Wasn't this much better now? Although... it felt so unreal...

Chaoxi blinked, shaking off those awkward feelings. He really didn't know how good he had it. Guiltily, he looked up and smiled at Shen Hui, who seemed very happy. Shen Hui walked over and helped Chaoxi take off his heavy raincoat.

"Your face is covered in mud. Were you helping repair roads and houses again today?" Shen Hui wiped the dirt from Chaoxi's face, even using a handkerchief to clean it, as if taking care of a child.

Chaoxi nodded somewhat awkwardly. "Yes, I didn't expect to get so busy all of a sudden."

The continuous heavy rain in Dusk Village had caused leaks and damage to a row of old small houses. As one of the only two able-bodied men in the village and a Guardian of the Homeland, a line of elderly folks queued up at the police station asking him to help repair their homes.

Chaoxi's primary task of searching for a signal was suddenly interrupted; he had been busy with repairs these past few days.

"My precious baby is working so hard." Shen Hui held Chaoxi's face and kissed him.

Chaoxi rolled his eyes but couldn't stop laughing. Even though it was such a cheesy, silly joke, the feeling of having someone waiting at home, someone to interact and spend time with, was truly wonderful. Chaoxi found himself somewhat indulging in it.

"The more troublesome issue is that Village Chief Huang said the road down the mountain is blocked by mudslides and fallen branches. It might take some time to clear," Chaoxi said. This was the most frustrating news of the day. At this rate, who knew how long it would take to clear a path? He couldn't contact anyone down the mountain either. Would anyone even realize that Dusk Village was trapped in the mudflow?

"Oh, that's really troublesome," Shen Hui agreed, but his attention remained fixed on Chaoxi's face, as if he were gazing at some rare treasure.

Chaoxi fell silent for a few seconds before adding, "I noticed it seems like I'm the only one worried about this. When I mentioned it to the villagers, they acted as if it were completely normal."

"It really is a common occurrence here," Shen Hui said.

"How is it usually handled? Do the elderly clear it themselves, or do people from down the mountain come to help? But there's no way to contact anyone here..."

"Don't rush, Officer Li. The rain is going to last for several more days. Let's wait until the sun comes out first."

"I should go check tomorrow to see just how severe the collapse is."

"No, it's too dangerous with the heavy rain. Wait until the sun comes out, Li Chaoxi," Shen Hui insisted.

But what if the sun never comes out! Chaoxi felt an inexplicable urge to yell at Shen Hui. His rationality told him to stop - he was acting like a petulant child - but deep down, he was genuinely afraid of that possibility.

Chaoxi blamed it on the nightmares from the past few days.

"If something happened, it wouldn't be good for you to have to take care of me and a bunch of elderly folks," Shen Hui said, patting his back as if soothing a child.

Chaoxi clenched his fists to calm himself down. Shen Hui was right; he shouldn't be so unreasonable.

"Okay," Chaoxi said.

Shen Hui smiled contentedly, placing both hands on Chaoxi's shoulders and tilting his head to study him.

"So, what now?"

"What do you mean, what now?"

"Your stomach is growling; you're starving. But you're also covered in mud, so dirty. Should I let you eat first or take a bath first?" Shen Hui tilted his head even further, like a confused big dog, but then a sly smile spread across his face. "Or a third option - make love first?"

Chaoxi flushed red.

"What are you talking about! That would never be the option, no matter how you think about it. I'm going to take a bath first, let go of me..."

He pushed Shen Hui, who was clinging to him, and tried to head toward the bathroom, but Shen Hui stubbornly hung onto him. The two of them stumbled and shoved their way into the bathroom.

Shen Hui insisted on helping Chaoxi out of his uniform. Chaoxi annoyedly swatted his hands away, but they kept coming back, so in the end, he gave in to Shen Hui's wishes.

Of course, after the playful struggle, once Chaoxi was stripped bare, Shen Hui still showed no intention of leaving the bathroom. He pressed Chaoxi against the sink and kissed him, the pink apron crumpled and tossed aside.

Although this was something he should have expected after moving in together, Chaoxi had never imagined they would become so unrestrained.

"Uh... let me breathe, Shen Hui." Chaoxi pressed his hands against Shen Hui's face to push him away. He gasped for air, then looked at Shen Hui's face and laughed.

Shen Hui didn't struggle, instead asking innocently, "Had enough air?"

Chaoxi didn't answer. He lowered his hand, revealing Shen Hui's beautiful eyes. But when Shen Hui opened them, Chaoxi was reminded of the eyes from his dream - those eyes in the darkness.

"Enough." Chaoxi didn't know whether he was saying this to Shen Hui or to himself. He reminded himself not to dwell on that dream and leaned up to kiss Shen Hui.

Shen Hui wrapped his arms around Chaoxi's waist, his hands sliding over his hips and thighs. They held each other like two lovers deeply in love... No, they were lovers deeply in love, weren't they? Li Chaoxi, the voice in his heart emphasized.

"Oh, someone's hard." Shen Hui flicked his fingers twice against Chaoxi's genitals, which were trapped between them.

"Don't play like that." Chaoxi's ears flushed crimson this time. His lower abdomen tingled - it was always like this with Shen Hui. His rear entrance seemed to know what was coming next, contracting eagerly. Chaoxi pushed Shen Hui away, making one last attempt: "Let me... let me shower first."

Since Chaoxi wasn't pushing seriously, Shen Hui of course wasn't easily moved. He laughed and said, "I have a better idea. How about we shower and make love at the same time?"

Chaoxi was rubbed against, sweat beading on his skin, yet his fine hairs stood on end.

This isn't bad, Chaoxi told himself. As Shen Hui kissed him, he glanced at the bathtub beside them - at least he wouldn't be soaking in it alone, and strange things never happened when Shen Hui was around.

"Close your eyes." Shen Hui's voice came from above.

Warm water poured over his head. The temperature wasn't too high, yet Chaoxi's skin flushed as if scalded. He sat on the edge of the bathtub while Shen Hui, also naked, stood before him washing his hair.

"I can wash it myself." Chaoxi raised his hand, but Shen Hui gently pushed it aside.

"Let me do it. I like taking care of you."

"I'm not a child."

"But you're my boyfriend." Shen Hui said proudly, his fingers threading through Chaoxi's hair, massaging gently as the scent of shampoo filled the air.

Chaoxi didn't reply, instead fidgeting as he used a towel to cover himself between his legs. Shen Hui hummed a familiar tune, his fingertips gliding over Chaoxi's scalp. The simple touch sent shivers through his entire body.

"Someone's feeling quite frisky. Do you like it when I touch you like this?" Shen Hui chuckled.

"N-no, that's not it..." It's clearly because someone keeps teasing me. Chaoxi wanted to look up and blame him, but more warm water poured down. He held his breath until Shen Hui lifted his face, wiping away all the water.

The moment Chaoxi opened his eyes, he was met with Shen Hui's smiling face. Shen Hui leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips.

"You clearly like it." The steam in the bathroom made Shen Hui appear slightly blurred. He crouched down to look at Chaoxi, his voice soft: "You don't have to hold back or hide in front of me, Li Chaoxi. I'll accept everything about you."

"I really don't understand how you can always say things like that so openly..."

"Because I love you."

Shen Hui answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Chaoxi stared at the man before him, saying nothing, and instead chose to kiss him. He had to admit, Shen Hui made him realize how good it felt to have someone by his side - like some kind of addiction...

Supporting Chaoxi's weight, Shen Hui kissed back more actively, his hands clinging to him tightly like vines. Chaoxi felt he was suffocating yet couldn't break free.

Shen Hui sucked on his lips, then nibbled at his chin. Chaoxi held the other's head, fingers delving into his soft hair. The man's kisses continued down - ard - his chest was gently bitten, while his abdomen received an overly solemn kiss, like some kind of blessing.

Chaoxi laughed from the kisses, and Shen Hui also smiled, stroking Chaoxi's abdomen as he whispered softly, "I'll love you too."

'Who was he speaking to?'

Before goosebumps could crawl up his spine, Shen Hui lifted the towel covering Chaoxi's legs, interrupting his thoughts. The man parted Chaoxi's legs, reached out to grasp his erect genitals, and lowered his head to swirl his tongue around the tip.

Chaoxi tensed his waist and hips - the pleasure came intensely.

"Mmm... wait!" Chaoxi felt ashamed. His genitals were enveloped in a warm, wet mouth, the heat making him instinctively clamp his legs together, but Shen Hui pressed against them, refusing to let go.

The man's head moved between his legs, the wet sounds making Chaoxi's ears burn. He curled up, embracing Shen Hui's head. Closing his eyes, the darkness made images of something winding around his body surface in his mind - sticky, wet, huge, terrifying... Chaoxi remembered the shadows in the mountains, the snails crawling at the door.

"Ah!"

He opened his eyes in shock. The room was still steamy, with only Shen Hui's head rising and falling between his legs.

Chaoxi didn't know why he had associated it with those frightening things. He didn't dare close his eyes again, and soon the erotic sensation below drew all his attention. Shen Hui gently squeezed his thighs, his genitals wrapped and teased by a soft tongue in the scorching mouth. Chaoxi soon trembled and came.

"Shen Hui... hah... Shen Hui."

Chaoxi leaned weakly against the edge of the bathtub, watching as Shen Hui lifted his head, holding his semen in his mouth before swallowing. Coming too quickly made Chaoxi cover his face in embarrassment, but Shen Hui straightened up and kissed his face through his fingers.

"As long as it feels good, right? No need to feel ashamed - that's unnecessary masculinity," Shen Hui laughed, acting nonchalant as he applied shower gel to Chaoxi's body.

"It's not you who came too fast." Chaoxi curled up. It was hard not to care in this situation; his body seemed to lose control as soon as it was in Shen Hui's hands.

"This isn't coming too fast - it's just your body becoming more sensitive," Shen Hui said with a cheeky grin, his hands wrapping around Chaoxi's waist and buttocks, shamelessly kneading his flesh with the lubrication of the shower gel. "It's great, you know. It means your body is becoming more suitable for fertilization."

"You really... can't you stop making these dirty jokes? This is sexual harass-" Just as Chaoxi pretended to hit Shen Hui, the other poured hot water over his head, then, while Chaoxi wiped the water from his face, lifted him by the waist and carried him over his shoulder.

The supposedly frail doctor carried him as easily as a sack of rice. Chaoxi was placed into a bathtub filled with hot water, and Shen Hui climbed in afterward. Two grown men squeezed inside - the originally spacious bathtub suddenly looked like a small tub, with hot water overflowing everywhere.

Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui squeezed opposite him and couldn't help but laugh.

"Why are you laughing like that, Li Chaoxi?"

"No, it's just funny having someone as big as you squeezed into the bathtub with me." Chaoxi couldn't stop laughing.

"As long as you're happy, I'm willing to do anything for you - even squeeze myself into this tiny skin." Shen Hui smiled, rubbing his foot against Chaoxi's leg, then began saying things that were hard to make sense of: "Isn't this human love? Sacrifice and devotion." He splashed water.

Chaoxi was still laughing. He splashed water back, and Shen Hui lunged forward. Chaoxi caught him, the man nearly pressing him entirely into the bathtub, hot water eventually splashing all over the floor.

Shen Hui cupped Chaoxi's face, stroked his wet hair, and kissed him, teasing the roof of Chaoxi's mouth with his tongue. A musky, erotic scent drifted from Shen Hui's mouth.

Chaoxi reached out and pressed his hand against the back of Shen Hui's neck. For a moment, he thought of pulling him away - as if that would be the right thing to do - but in the end, Chaoxi only deepened the kiss.

'Don't overthink it. Right now, I'm happy. There's nothing to resist.'

'Yes, just focus on liking me.'

Shen Hui spoke the words into his mouth as their lips parted - or maybe he didn't? Chaoxi wasn't sure. The man's erect genitals pressed and rubbed against him, making it hard to concentrate.

"Hah... If we do it in here, I'll drown." Chaoxi's whole body felt feverish. He reached down to stroke Shen Hui's genitals; the thick, long shaft twitched twice in his hand, ready and waiting.

A tingling ache spread through Chaoxi's lower abdomen, and his anal opening contracted as if in anticipation. Shen Hui didn't respond, instead wrapping his arms around Chaoxi's waist and slipping a hand between his buttocks, his thumb gently massaging the anal opening.

"Mmm..." Chaoxi clung tightly to Shen Hui to keep from sliding into the bathtub. He was like a dog in heat, his anal opening easily accepting Shen Hui's fingers without even needing lubrication.

"So soft, Li Chaoxi. I told you your body is ready for fertilization." Shen Hui laughed.

"Stop laughing, it's not funny..." Chaoxi's words were swallowed by Shen Hui's mouth. The man pressed him against the bathtub wall, inserting two more fingers. Hot water rushed in, and Chaoxi squirmed restlessly. His anal opening swallowed Shen Hui's fingers, looking utterly desperate.

His recently spent genitals slowly stiffened again. Chaoxi pressed his face against Shen Hui's sweat-dampened body - wet and slippery, the hot water seeming to grow thick and sticky. Chaoxi felt he must have soaked his brains out in the bath, worrying that Shen Hui might eventually melt in the tub and something terrifying would emerge from it.

Chaoxi gasped sharply, pushing Shen Hui away slightly to nervously check on him.

"What's wrong?" Shen Hui asked.

Chaoxi looked up at Shen Hui and let out a dry laugh, making up an excuse: "Let's go back to bed. It's too cramped in here."

"Such a troublesome human." Though Shen Hui said this, he still lifted Chaoxi out of the bathtub. Holding him like a child, Shen Hui whispered in his ear: "Then dinner will have to wait."

Chaoxi clung to Shen Hui without saying a word, his anal opening dripping water onto the floor.

Since moving in together, Shen Hui had been passionate and proactive. Sometimes, Chaoxi felt a bit overwhelmed.

Several fingers moved in and out of his anal opening, producing loud, wet sounds. Lying on the bed, Chaoxi didn't know what to do, but his body seemed to enjoy the treatment.

"It's so hot inside... already this wet..."

Shen Hui let out a sigh of admiration as he inserted three fingers into the deepest part.

Chaoxi covered his face; just the fingers alone had already moistened his lower body, and his genitals stood erect once more. He didn’t know what was happening to him - his body had become strange, and his rear hole moistened easily, much like a woman’s.

“Mmmph, mmmph!”

The finger pad buried deep inside his body suddenly ground against the spot that made his whole body go numb. Chaoxi tilted his head back, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

"Clamping my finger so tightly, do you want me that much? Li Chaoxi." Shen Hui looked up from between his legs. His purple eyes were clear and exceptionally beautiful. The man stuck out his tongue, erotically licking his taut, smooth scrotum.

"Enough... that’s enough..." Chaoxi pressed against the other’s head, trying to push him away from his crotch. However, Shen Hui sucked on Chaoxi’s scrotum even harder, even causing him pain. "Ugh, Shen... too hard..."

The pain made the heat surging in his lower abdomen even more apparent. As the finger pad stirring in his rear hole slid over a particularly soft spot within the anal cavity, Chaoxi felt a surge of heat gush out from within him.

A transparent liquid sprayed out, coating not just Shen Hui’s fingers, but even sticking to his face.

Chaoxi stared at the ceiling, panting. A numbing, electric pleasure spread through his lower abdomen. Even though he was a man, how could his body have such a reaction?

"Wonderful... Li Chaoxi, you’re wonderful," Shen Hui said happily. When he withdrew his fingers, transparent lustful fluids followed, thick threads tracing an arc in the air.

Chaoxi watched as Shen Hui put his wet, sticky fingers into his mouth, sucking and swallowing them erotically.

"No, don't... I don't know what’s happening..."

Chaoxi's cheeks burned with heat. He grabbed Shen Hui’s hand, but Shen Hui spoke to him in a gentle voice: "No, I told you not to think. Just give yourself to me and enjoy the process, Li Chaoxi."

When those words fell, like a feather brushing over his entire body, Chaoxi’s thoughts became sluggish. He watched as Shen Hui stuck out his tongue again, licking his dripping wet rear hole.

The tip of the tongue probed into the soft flesh, and another surge of heat gushed out.

"Ugh, ah!" Chaoxi arched his waist, his genitals twitching as the tongue probed deeper.

Shen Hui probed deep with his tongue, thrusting it in and out repeatedly while sucking on the tender flesh with his lips. Chaoxi couldn't help but clamp his legs tight, and amidst his gasps and groans, he shot out two more bursts of semen.

But it still wasn't enough. His insides felt as if they were burning, and Chaoxi greedily wanted more. He had never been like this before, but now, like a bitch in heat, he rubbed his lower body against Shen Hui.

"Do you want more? Li Chaoxi." Shen Hui called out his full name, his fingers almost sinking into the flesh of his thighs.

Chaoxi was covered in a hot sweat, his body flushed red as if he had just been fished out of hot water.

His lower abdomen craved it to the point of pain. Slippery, hot fluids soaked the space between his thighs and drenched the bedsheets.

"Want... I want you..." Chaoxi finally surrendered to instinct and desire.

Shen Hui grinned. He loomed over Chaoxi like a thick, dark cloud before a rainstorm. Chaoxi could no longer see the man’s features; backlit, Shen Hui’s face fell into darkness once more.

Yet Chaoxi crazily believed that was the man’s true face.

"I love you, Li Chaoxi." Shen Hui leaned down to kiss him, his handsome features returning to his face.

"Mnn... ah..." Chaoxi’s lips were sucked and kissed as the man’s tongue slid into his mouth.

Their lips rubbed and joined together; Chaoxi’s rear hole began to leak water, contracting excitedly.

Tears fell at some point. Chaoxi opened his eyes dazed, murmuring amidst Shen Hui’s kisses: "Want... I want... Shen... Hui..."

Shen Hui lifted his head, releasing his lips.

"Very well, Li Chaoxi. Say you love me." The man folded Chaoxi’s waist, placing his legs over his shoulders.

A thick, long, hard object pressed against Chaoxi’s buttocks, grinding within the wet cleft but hesitating to enter.

"Say it," Shen Hui demanded again. He bit Chaoxi’s lower lip and whispered, "Say you love me. Say you’ll stay by my side forever..."

Chaoxi wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand. His hips deliberately moved to meet the hard object beneath him, but the other party only lingered and teased, refusing to enter.

Chaoxi spoke with difficulty, as if the words were being forced out of him: "I... I love you... I will stay by your side forever."

"That is your promise. We have a deal." Shen Hui’s voice sounded very satisfied. He smiled, and the hard glans finally pressed against the soft flesh that was constantly contracting and leaking fluid.

"Ngh, haah!"

Shen Hui’s entry was slow yet forceful, as if he wanted Chaoxi to be fully aware of his presence. Chaoxi’s body was stretched open; that hard, thick male organ plunged to the deepest depths all at once, knocking open the soft, tender flesh.

A moan of aching pain came from his lower abdomen. Chaoxi briefly wanted Shen Hui to pull out, but just as Shen Hui had said, perhaps he liked the pain more than he imagined.

His genitals, which had been limp and red amidst his wet pubic hair, stood erect once more.

Chaoxi felt exhausted. He was forced to endure the heat before the climax once again. Shen Hui pressed down on his waist and began to thrust rhythmically.

The muffled sound of flesh hitting flesh mixed with the sound of the rain outside.

Chaoxi panted, moans constantly escaping his mouth. Shen Hui diligently swung his hips, kissing him as if he were kissing something precious.

"Li Chaoxi..."

"Mnn... yes?"

The numbing pleasure was interspersed with the sharp pain of his muscles being stretched. Chaoxi’s mind was a mess of mush as he stared blankly at Shen Hui’s face.

Shen Hui kissed his face, his voice barely a whisper in his ear.

〝We will be a wonderful family.〞

He wasn't even sure if Shen Hui had actually said it.

The man pressed him down tighter, his thrusting becoming faster and more ferocious. The meat-stem inside pushed deep with force, making Chaoxi’s abdomen feel full and bloated.

"Ah! Slower, Shen Hui... slower, it’s too deep!" Chaoxi finally cried out, unable to take it. The fear that his body would be pierced through persisted, even though it was a fear that shouldn't exist.

"It’s okay... you can take it, Li Chaoxi..."

Shen Hui kissed Chaoxi’s jaw, coaxing him like one would a child.

Chaoxi’s tears fell incessantly. He shifted his body uncomfortably, trying to escape, but their lower bodies seemed to be fused together; there was nowhere he could run.

Through tear-blurred eyes, the genitals squeezed between them began to ache and itch again. The pleasure accompanied the feeling of his abdomen being filled, and because of one gentle thrust from Shen Hui, he abruptly erupted.

Chaoxi came again. The semen had become thin, sticking cloyingly between the two of them. He tightened his legs draped over Shen Hui’s shoulders, trembling as he straightened his arches.

He took a deep breath. The afterglow of the climax, which had overridden the pain, made him lose focus, but Shen Hui’s laughter pulled him back from the daze.

"Don't space out... it's not over yet, Li Chaoxi."

Will there ever be a day when it ends?

Chaoxi wanted to ask, but the thing inside his stomach began to twitch again.

⋪⌘⌘⌘⋫

Chaoxi sat kneeling naked in a world of darkness.

His chest felt tight and painful, and there was a strong, heavy downward sensation in his abdomen. He stroked his lower belly; the area that was once flat had somehow become rounded and heavy, like a balloon about to burst at any moment.

It reminded Chaoxi of a case from a long, long time ago. A runaway teenage girl with arms full of needle marks had been beaten black and blue by her violent boyfriend, yet she still pleaded for him in front of Chaoxi and Rì Huī, simply because she didn't know what to do if it was just her and the child.

The girl's belly was also so large and round, looking strangely abrupt and discordant against her thin limbs and body. Chaoxi and Rì Huī had arrested the boyfriend anyway, and the girl had cried and screamed hysterically - then her "balloon" burst.

Chaoxi still remembered the floor covered in water and blood. Amidst her screams, the girl collapsed into the fluids she had spilled.

Rì Huī quickly rushed forward to help, while Chaoxi, as he called for an ambulance, felt a terrifying image in his mind of something crawling out from inside. The strange, alienated scene made Chaoxi unable to control his thoughts.

The ambulance felt like it took a lifetime to arrive. They were forced to watch the girl give birth in agony, unable to help at all.

What terrified Chaoxi even more was that the girl eventually gave birth to a purplish thing. It had hair and eyes, but everything else was indistinct - like a lump of raw meat.

It was a stillborn.

Rì Huī knelt in the girl’s blood holding the stillborn, his expression so sorrowful, while the girl’s boyfriend sat handcuffed to the side, his face blank.

And Chaoxi - Chaoxi only felt terror, because now it was his turn to carry the balloon.

'Why?'

'How could this be?'

Chaoxi held his heavy belly. He was a man; he couldn't understand why this was happening to him, but it "already" had. He looked at his rounded stomach; something inside seemed to be moving against the skin, ready to burst out of him at any moment.

Chaoxi felt like throwing up. He thought of the stillborn in Rì Huī's arms - purplish, a lifeless lump of flesh. Would his belly also explode in the end, with the same thing flowing from his lower body?

It won't. Our child will be the most lovely life, not a lump of meat... unless you want a child like that, Li Chaoxi.

The voice came from behind. Chaoxi turned his head; Rì Huī was holding him from behind, his expression not as sorrowful as when he held the stillborn. His face wore a pleasant smile Chaoxi had never seen before, and his beautiful, deep eyes were purple.

But Rì Huī's eyes weren't purple.

This person wasn't Rì Huī.

Wearing Rì Huī’s skin, he tenderly embraced Chaoxi and that swollen, terrifying abdomen, saying as if it were a matter of fact:

"We will be a wonderful family. No longer lonely, no longer solitary."

Goosebumps began to prickle on Chaoxi’s neck. He didn't want this; he was so afraid; he wanted it all to stop.

"But this is what you wanted, isn't it?"

The person behind him asked coldly.

Chaoxi’s body was squeezed tight. The other party forced the air out of his lungs. He looked at his protruding belly; the thing inside seemed like it was about to be squeezed out too...

"Ugh!"

Chaoxi startled awake. The light returned, and he was back in the familiar room, shaken awake by the movement of the man behind him. He dazedled wiped the sweat from his face, immediately clutching his abdomen.

His lower belly was flat, not heavy and round like a balloon. Chaoxi breathed a sigh of relief, but it was quickly shattered by the aching pain inside his gut.

"Li Chaoxi... wake up..." the person behind him said.

Chaoxi blinked his tired eyes and looked back. Shen Hui was embracing him from behind, a beautiful mistiness in his purple eyes. He leaned down to kiss Chaoxi’s cheek, his movements gentle and intimate.

"You fell asleep... are you too tired today, or was my performance not good enough?" Shen Hui chuckled, lightly nibbling on the back of Chaoxi’s neck.

Chaoxi stroked his abdomen, belatedly noticing that Shen Hui was still inside his body. They were tangled together, their bodies sticky and covered in dried semen.

"Ngh..." Chaoxi let out a moan, his insides feeling hot and numb. He pressed his feverish head into the pillow. "Your energy is just too much... for a frail doctor... aren't you?"

Shen Hui laughed, kissing his back without a word.

The prickling sensation skipped along his spine because Chaoxi soon realized that the thing inside him was still hard, firmly wedged within. He tried to move his body, but Shen Hui quickly pressed against him again.

The glans knocked against his insides, leaving his lower abdomen feeling sore and bloated.

"So it’s not because my performance was bad?" Shen Hui acted spoiled from behind, burying his face in the crook of Chaoxi’s neck.

"It’s not... it’s just because... mnn!" Chaoxi let out a soft hum when Shen Hui began to gently sway his hips.

Discreet wet sounds filled the room, as if to remind Chaoxi just how lubricated and well-fucked his underside had become. The hard object inside was packed tight; Shen Hui acted as if he wanted to trap him in his arms for a lifetime.

Chaoxi breathed with his mouth wide open, his lower abdomen feeling bloated. He looked worriedly at his belly, which bulged slightly with each of the man’s thrusts.

"Really... are we still doing this...?" Chaoxi used his fingers to gently pry at Shen Hui’s hand wrapped around his abdomen, but his strength was like he was merely playing, and in the end, he was simply caught in Shen Hui’s palm.

"Not doing it? But your body is clearly so happy..."

Shen Hui grabbed Chaoxi’s fingers and guided them to stroke his own genitals lying limp on the bedsheets. His large hand enveloped Chaoxi’s, comforting the meat-stem that had already ejaculated many times, then grinding his thumb against the glans.

"Mmm..." Chaoxi knit his brows. His genitals had become far too sensitive; as soon as Shen Hui’s thumb rubbed against them, pleasure and pain blurred together until they were indistinguishable.

"No... I can't come anymore... ngh..." Chaoxi curled his body, only to deliver himself further into Shen Hui’s embrace. "Are you really... trying to kill me?"

"No, never."

Shen Hui’s tone was serious, his voice deeper than ever before.

"Forever," he emphasized.

Chaoxi recalled Shen Hui’s joke about making him stay alive for a long, long time until they were the only ones left in the world, and he swallowed hard.

"Just a joke..." Chaoxi wasn't sure if he was saying this to Shen Hui or to himself.

Shen Hui didn't respond further. He continued to hold Chaoxi while thrusting slowly, though he stopped tormenting his poor genitals. Chaoxi panted, his lower body numb and aching, pleasure wrapped within the dull pain, flickering in and out of focus.

Their legs were intertwined, and the only sounds left in the room were Chaoxi’s pants and the lewd, wet slaps.

Even though the movements were gentle, Chaoxi felt a heavy sensation as if his body were stuck in a quagmire, unable to escape no matter what. The genitals inside him began to grow harder, and the force of the strikes against his interior gradually intensified.

Chaoxi knew Shen Hui was about to come.

"Shen, Shen Hui..."

"Hmm?" The man’s voice didn't sound like he was about to reach climax.

"Pull... pull it out? Come outside... my belly... feels very full already." Chaoxi made the request in embarrassment. He was so worried his belly would swell up round, just like that girl’s.

"The fuller the better... you can take it, Li Chaoxi." Shen Hui kissed Chaoxi’s shoulder, pinning his body down with both hands, his waist pressed tightly against Chaoxi’s buttocks.

The meat-stem pushed into his depths, the glans knocking open the swollen, soft flesh. Chaoxi moaned tremulously, and his limp genitals sprayed out the last bit of thin, transparent fluid.

When the man ejaculated, Chaoxi was forced to accept it. He panted, his abdomen bulging slightly once more, while the man behind him simply stroked his belly gently and kissed the back of his neck as if in worship.

↫────────────────∰───────────────↬

TL/ᴇᴅɪᴛɪɴɢ/ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ/ʟᴏᴄᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: Ꮆ𝓇𝒾𝓂𝓂Ή𝒶𝓃𝑒𝓊𝓁

Yang: "Oh? >.< You really did black out."

Jiang Xinbai: "Xiao Yang, I can't drink, I told you. I don't, I don't remember anything."

Yang Guangsheng giggled at this, laughing for quite a while. When he'd had his fill of laughter, he said: "What a shame."

Jiang Xinbai: "Please don't joke with me like that in the future."

Yang Guangsheng's laughter drifted softly through the receiver again, as if carrying his breath with it. Jiang Xinbai held the phone a little farther away.

Yang: "Alright, sleep first. Good night."

After hanging up, Jiang Xinbai put his phone back in his pocket, exhaled, and stood up too. He unfastened the belt from Peter's body and slowly threaded it back through his own waistband. Peter cowered in the corner, red-eyed and staring at him, sobbing in terror.

"See you again if fate allows, bro," Jiang Xinbai said. Peter burst into wailing sobs.

By the time Jiang Xinbai got home, it was nearly three in the morning. The room he shared with his younger brother Li Zihan had originally been a single room with a partition in the middle; later they'd installed a sliding door at the partition, making it into two separate rooms. Li Zihan lived in the inner half, he in the outer half. His brother was already asleep. He went in as quietly as possible, washed up in the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and got into bed.

Li Zihan still woke up.

"Ge, why are you only getting back now?" He sniffed. "Huh, you smell like alcohol today. Ge, did you drink? Until now?"

"Go to sleep already," Jiang Xinbai said.

Li Zihan watched him in the darkness, unmoving.

"Are you okay?" his brother asked again.

"I'm fine," Jiang Xinbai said.

Li Zihan pulled the sliding door shut and went back to sleep. He lay down too, covered himself thoroughly with the blanket, and buried his face in it as well.

〝You kissed your boss first. Xiao Bai.〞

Jiang Xinbai threw off the blanket and glared fiercely at the ceiling. His fingers gripped the blanket tight.

↫─∰─↬

In the morning, Li Zihan brushed his teeth hastily, swish-swish-swish, finished quickly. Then he came in and squatted by Jiang Xinbai's bedside.

"Ge, is the new job very hard?"

Although Jiang Xinbai hadn't actually blacked out like he'd pretended, he really didn't like drinking much, and he hadn't slept well. He had a headache and didn't feel like dealing with anyone, so he didn't speak.

Li Zihan poked him again. A muffled voice came from the pillow: "Stop bothering me."

"Ge." Li Zihan squatted closer, his voice nearer, "My studies have been intense these past two years. In two more years I'll be in university, and then I can work to support you."

Jiang Xinbai finally showed his face, narrowing his eyes and studying him suspiciously.

"But, ge, you should also think about the good side." Li Zihan stood up and sat on the edge of the bed. "Your new job is a bit harder than before, but your salary went up too, so isn't this hardship meaningful? You'll have quite a bit more money every month from now on, right? Couldn't you even get a new computer?"

Jiang Xinbai: "....."

He looked up at the secondhand computer on the desk that he'd collected from someone discarding it at an internet café.

Li Zihan: "I'm not greedy for comfort or pursuing material things, ge. I just feel a bit bad for it. Look at our computer, it goes whir-whir as soon as you turn it on, all dark and gloomy, looking pitiful. Like a miner with tuberculosis being forced down the mine shaft."

Jiang Xinbai replied: "I was demoted. I'll be going back to work at my original unit."

"....." Li Zihan gave him a sympathetic look, said nothing more, patted his shoulder, and left for school. Jiang Xinbai got up, ran a hand through his hair, and stepped into his slippers.

He splashed cold water on his face twice, then squeezed toothpaste onto his fraying toothbrush. Then he opened the front door and went out, leaning against the railing in the open-air, cluttered corridor and looking down. Li Zihan had already reached the first floor, fetched his bicycle from the shed, and looked up at him. Jiang Xinbai stuck his toothbrush in his mouth and waved his brother off.

Li Zihan rode away.

While brushing his teeth and looking at the dilapidated buildings in the morning light, Jiang Xinbai thought about the hundred yuan he'd given the bartender last night. He began to wonder if spending money to vent his anger was a form of illness.

Then there was the taxi fare for returning to Rainbow Tree late at night. And the time. The answer was yes.

"Stupid Jiang Xinbai." He cursed through the foam, then brushed his teeth like he was scrubbing shoes.

When Jiang Xinbai finished brushing his teeth and went back inside, his phone rang right on cue – an unfamiliar number. He answered. The caller said they were from Shengsheng Yigou's delivery point, asking where Mr. Jiang's ordered air conditioner should be installed, and what time would be convenient today.

"...What air conditioner?"

After a while, he realized this must have been ordered for him by Yang Guangsheng.

He thought for a moment, then said: "After evening."

Customer service: "Ah, sorry sir, the installation technicians get off work in the evening. Or, tomorrow is Saturday – would daytime be convenient for you?"

Jiang Xinbai: "No need for installation."

Once Yang Guangsheng left, he was completely unleashed. May passed, June passed, the weather grew hotter and hotter, university students were all on summer break – and he never once returned to Haicheng.

Of course, he didn't contact his former assistant Jiang Xinbai either.

Lately their newly launched online game was about to enter beta testing, incredibly busy. Forget contacting him – whether he even remembered this person was unknown.

One day after work, Yang Guangsheng dragged himself back from the game company to his duplex apartment in the city center of Jiangcheng. He pushed open the door, stepped inside and into slippers first, then twisted open a bottle of water and drank. Someone upstairs heard the noise and came down: "Ge, you're back."

Yang Guangsheng froze, turning to look. The person calling to him was his current young boyfriend, a beautiful-voiced, sweet little streamer. He wore only tight briefs below, visible through the hem of his shirt.

"Huh? Baby, why are you here?"

The little boyfriend also froze: "Guangsheng ge... you said you had something last night, so you asked me to come over today. You forgot?"

Yang Guangsheng looked at him, slowly screwing the water bottle shut as if his reactions were delayed.

"...Uh."

The little boyfriend's face showed displeasure: "Then I'll leave. You rest well."

Yang Guangsheng set down the water bottle, walked over, and spread a smile as he hugged him: "Ha, how could I forget? I was teasing you. Where are you going?"

Yang caught the scent of his shower gel, kissed his ear: "So fragrant. Baby washed himself all clean waiting for me, how could I sleep well without holding you."

The little boyfriend's face showed a spoiled expression, pouting: "I'm this fragrant every day, I didn't wash specially for you. I'm leaving. Since you don't remember anyway, just pretend I never came."

"You're really angry?" Yang Guangsheng let him go, unbuttoning his shirt collar as he went toward the inner room: "I had meetings all day today, I feel so tired."

The little boyfriend stood behind him for a while, his aura weakening. He walked over and nuzzled into Yang Guangsheng's embrace, rubbing against his body: "I know... but I missed you."

Yang Guangsheng hugged him: "Then don't leave. I missed you too."

He sat on the sofa, relaxing his body. Then he drew out a cigarette, lit it, and held it to his lips to inhale and exhale smoke.

The little boyfriend knelt beside the sofa, eyes full of spring, and reached out to rub between his legs. Yang Guangsheng encouragingly stroked his hair, and he opened Yang's belt buckle, pulled down the zipper, and obediently took the still-soft bundle between his legs into his mouth.

The little boyfriend's oral skills were excellent. Yang Guangsheng quickly hardened. He lowered his eyes to look at the little boyfriend, caressing the other's slender throat and small Adam's apple with his fingertips very affectionately, gripping once, then letting go.

"Take it deeper, baby."

The little boyfriend obediently took it in deeper, thrusting at the depth of his own throat. But Yang Guangsheng felt it still wasn't enough. He grabbed his hair and slowly thrust his hips in himself. The little boyfriend's body immediately twitched and spasmed reflexively, both hands gripping his legs tight. Yang Guangsheng pressed down hard on the top of his head, not letting him spit it out, until he had completely swallowed his penis, thrust to the deepest part of his throat.

"Good, hold it."

Unlike the violent force of his hands, Yang Guangsheng spoke in a gentle, soft voice.

After several rounds of this, the little boyfriend's saliva flowed down his chin, tears also brimming in his eyes, but he didn't show any unwillingness. He just looked up at Yang Guangsheng with glistening eyes, obedient.

Yang Guangsheng said: "You look so beautiful like this, like a little baby bunny... alright, come up. Bunny babe."

The little boyfriend with red-rimmed eyes climbed up, straddled him, grasped his upward-curving meat rod, put on a condom, then thrust his hips to slowly sink down. When he reached the bottom, he worked hard rotating his hips, and the sofa made rhythmic slight sounds.

Yang Guangsheng leaned back, cigarette between his fingers, brows furrowed, breathing lightly – and yet his mind drifted back to the internal beta plan they'd been arguing about in the meeting earlier.

After moving for a while, the little boyfriend suddenly asked: "Ge, do you still like me?"

Yang Guangsheng raised his half-lidded eyes, as if this question surprised him.

"Huh?" Then suddenly Yang Guangsheng seemed to remember something, and said: "Right, about that game endorsement we mentioned last time – don't take it for now."

The little boyfriend clearly froze, his movements nearly stopping completely, staring at Yang Guangsheng with wide eyes.

Yang: "I work in a game company too, I know some inside information. Their team has some problems right now, hasn't been exposed yet, but it's only a matter of time. Don't get involved."

"....."

Seeing that his emotions were clearly battered, Yang Guangsheng promised again: "Don't worry, there's always better work."

Little boyfriend: "Really?"

Yang: "Mm. My word counts."

He hugged the little boyfriend's back and turned them over, laying him down on the spacious sofa, kissing his mouth. Only then did he answer the previous question.

"Of course I like you. My little bunny baby."

"I don't know." The little boyfriend hugged Yang Guangsheng's shoulders, looking at him worriedly. "I really don't know. I'll be 26 next month... I can't compete with those young girls even more. Ge. Do you actually like guys or girls more?"

"....."

Actually, Yang Guangsheng also very much enjoyed and was attached to the feeling of being liked, not just pursuing sexual pleasure. But – these little boyfriends and girlfriends clearly knew he played at life, flirted with everyone, every relationship was a fragment. If they accepted this by default, fine. But if they still showed this kind of state, Yang Guangsheng would feel an inexplicable pressure.

Yang Guangsheng pulled down the tie hanging loosely around his neck and covered the little boyfriend's aggrieved, almost tearful eyes with it. He whispered in his ear: "Focus on making love."

Yang Guangsheng suddenly thought, after this game launched, he should probably return to Haicheng for a while.

In mid-July, the new game officially launched on schedule after its open beta, and he returned to Haicheng one hot afternoon. His fair-weather friends decided to throw a welcome-back party that night. When one of his hangers-on vulgarly said "drink till we drop" in the group chat, Yang Guangsheng's mind suddenly flashed to a tall fool with no alcohol tolerance.

After so long apart, he nearly couldn't even recall his former assistant's name at first. But after only a moment's pause, he fully reconstructed this person's voice and appearance.

"Jiang Xinbai." He murmured to himself. "A big kid, tall in height and big in bird."

He suddenly felt a bit excited, picked up his phone and found this person to send a message: ⦍Cat emoji]

About half a minute later, Jiang Xinbai's message came back: ⦍Hello Xiao Yang⦎

💬Yang Guangsheng (username: Being surnamed Yang is amazing): ⦍I'm back⦎

As he typed, his memories grew clearer too. Yang Guangsheng thought of how this young assistant had shot off in seconds in his car, all virgin-like, and then that humiliated look after sobering up at his place, terrified of being sexually harassed by his superior. His interest greatly improved.

Yang Guangsheng really was a scumbag boss, and he still messed around with his subordinate. Haha.

He sent again: ⦍Free tonight? Come to my gathering, let's meet up⦎

💬Jiang Xinbai: ⦍Working overtime⦎

💬Yang Guangsheng: ⦍Who are you working for now, I'll get them to give you time off⦎

💬Jiang Xinbai: ⦍I understand. Xiao Yang. I'll come after work. Where will you be?⦎

That evening, Yang Guangsheng met his friends in a private room at a high-end entertainment club. They were called friends, but hardly equal. It had always been stars surrounding the moon, especially tonight with this welcome-back party for him. He was surrounded, toasting and chatting idly for quite a while, before his gaze swept to a corner near the door in the dim light. There sat an office worker in white shirt and tie with black-framed glasses, sitting upright in a way completely at odds with the atmosphere.

Jiang Xinbai was staring at him with those black-and-white eyes behind his lenses. After meeting Yang's gaze, he tugged at the corner of his mouth in a smile. That seemingly dull expression instantly became vivid.

Yang Guangsheng: "....."

After not seeing him for so long, he seemed to suddenly understand the appeal that had made this fool, this tall dummy, get hit on by girls and gay guys at bars.

So it was true – once people had a physical relationship, their feelings toward each other became different.

Physical relationship.

The scumbag boss's interest was piqued. He mouthed at Jiang Xinbai: Wife.

The smile at the other's mouth instantly froze. Yang Guangsheng smiled very happily.

↫────────────────∰───────────────↬

TL/ᴇᴅɪᴛɪɴɢ/ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ/ʟᴏᴄᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: Ꮆ𝓇𝒾𝓂𝓂Ή𝒶𝓃𝑒𝓊𝓁

Shen Hui's voice drifted down softly from above. Chaoxi watched as the man bent down, leaning over his belly, and lowered his head to kiss his lower abdomen in a posture of near-worship.

Chaoxi trembled a few times, trying to sit up, but Shen Hui wouldn't let him have his way.

"It's not just perfection; you are too wonderful. It's really great that the one who walked in was you." Shen Hui looked up, a small dimple appearing on his cheek when he smiled, just like Rì Huī's.

Chaoxi's face grew hot. The tea he had drunk earlier turned fiery in his stomach, making his entire lower abdomen and head burn along with it.

Shen Hui continued to plant many kisses on his abdomen. The moist, warm sensation made Chaoxi’s entire body tense up, a flush spreading across his skin with the heat.

Chaoxi couldn't focus his thoughts; his entire attention was fixed on Shen Hui's lips and tongue. That vivid red tip of the tongue licked upward along the grooves of his abdomen, lightly poking his navel before continuing to lick further up.

His genitals grew shamelessly erect, and there was a sticky sensation between his legs. Was it sweat? Chaoxi wasn't sure; he was finding it very difficult to think.

"Don't think too much, Xiao Xi. Just feel it. I promise I'll make you very comfortable." Shen Hui placed his palm over him, covering Chaoxi's vision. The palm pressed against his forehead made Chaoxi's thoughts drift even further.

"Ugh... Shen Hui," he called out the other man's name.

Shen Hui’s hand on Chaoxi’s forehead paused for a moment, but soon his fingers slid into his hair, gently massaging his scalp.

"You didn't get it wrong even in this state," Shen Hui said, his tone full of pleasant surprise.

Chaoxi didn't understand what Shen Hui meant. He looked at him and asked in confusion, "Get what wrong? You are you."

Though they were similar, they were still different. Even though his brain was a muddled mess right now, Chaoxi could still tell the difference.

"In the end, can no one replace Rì Huī?" Shen Hui’s tongue continued to lick Chaoxi’s abdomen, sucking and kissing gently.

"You don't need to replace him, just be yourself..." Chaoxi rubbed his burning face distractedly.

He usually didn't have many strong desires. He was good at enduring things, including sexual desire. But after coming to Dusk Village, everything was different - those bizarre erotic dreams, the nocturnal emissions that happened almost every day, and the tingling itch burning in his belly right now.

"Uhn..." Even the breath Chaoxi exhaled became stiflingly hot. He didn't know what was happening to him.

Shen Hui crawled over him, blocking out the light. As he became a patch of shadow, he looked giant and distorted. Shen Hui’s mouth split into a wide grin, his eyes curving. At this moment, he looked just like that black shadow creature, writhing.

Chaoxi let out a whimper and recoiled in fright, but his hands were pinned down. When he looked up again, the one over him was still that handsome and wonderful Shen Hui, only his purple eyes had turned dark and gloomy.

Was he going crazy? Chaoxi blinked, watching Shen Hui squeeze closer, pushing between his legs.

"You say such cute things, Li Chaoxi." Shen Hui leaned in, pressing his forehead against Chaoxi's. "Being this cute is no good; it's dangerous."

"What are you talking about...?" Chaoxi trembled, his genitals pressed tightly against his own abdomen by Shen Hui's lower body.

Shen Hui didn't answer him, gripping his wrists so tightly it almost reached the point of pain.

"I'm saying that I like you too."

Shen Hui’s voice sent a wave of numbness through Chaoxi’s neck. He stared at Shen Hui’s lips, and before he realized it, he had already leaned in proactively.

After a two-second pause, Shen Hui opened his mouth and kissed back, his warm, cool tongue darting into Chaoxi's mouth.

The roof of Chaoxi’s mouth was licked, his tongue entangled. The man’s kiss was so comfortable it made him groan.

"Mmph..."

The heat in his lower abdomen felt wrong. Chaoxi's waist and hips tensed again, and a certain muscle inside his anal opening began to contract violently. That persistent heat kept expanding inside his body, swelling until his abdomen began to ache.

Chaoxi actually started rubbing against Shen Hui’s lower belly. His head was a mess, and he couldn't stop his own behavior.

When Shen Hui lifted his head, their kissing lips made a loud sound. Chaoxi breathed out hot air, lifting his chin as he tried to continue seeking a kiss.

"You like kissing, don't you? But you have to wait a bit longer..."

"Wait for what?"

Chaoxi's voice was hoarse and sticky. He felt so unlike himself; that layer of necessary rationality had vanished to parts unknown. He only wanted more, more physical contact...

"We need to get your body ready." Shen Hui lowered his head and continued to kiss Chaoxi's body.

Shen Hui sucked and kissed Chaoxi's collarbone and chest, then bit down on Chaoxi's right breast. The pink nipple was taken into the man's mouth, flicked by his tongue and pressed hard.

Chaoxi's whole body shook. He clenched his fists, watching in disbelief as the handsome man repeatedly sucked and bit his nipple. He had never been played with there before. The nipple was licked wet and shiny, nipped by teeth. The stinging and itchy stimulation made hot sweat break out all over Chaoxi's body.

"Shen... Shen Hui! Don't, don't keep..."

"Don't you like it? But that's not what you're thinking. Xiao Xi, don't lie."

Shen Hui flicked Chaoxi's swollen nipple with the tip of his tongue.

"This... this is strange... uhn... it hurts." As a police officer with a good physique, this was honestly a bit embarrassing, but Chaoxi couldn't pull his hands back from Shen Hui's grip, and his nipples being licked and bitten left him at a loss.

His chest felt swollen, and his nipples were painful yet extremely itchy at the same time.

"You have to get used to it," Shen Hui said.

"A... a grown man... get used to what?" Chaoxi couldn't endure it and began to writhe.

Shen Hui chuckled and gave Chaoxi's nipple a hard nip with his teeth. Chaoxi arched his back. Even though it hurt, his genitals became even more agitated and erect, pressing against the other man's abdomen.

"Ugh... haah..."

Chaoxi felt like his body was becoming very sticky, even the area between his buttocks was gradually becoming moist.

"Are we... are we really not going to sleep?" The bodily reactions were so foreign that Chaoxi began to shrink back. But Shen Hui blocked all his paths.

The man sat up on his waist like a heavy stone; Chaoxi couldn't move.

"No sleep. I'm going to make you happy, Xiao Xi." Shen Hui took off his trousers and underwear. His genitals popped out - that towering, erect, heat-radiating deep red rod hung heavily over Chaoxi’s waist, making him restless.

Shen Hui was too attractive, like the physical embodiment of Chaoxi's desires.

Chaoxi swallowed hard. The scrotum pressed against his abdomen and the thick erection made his lower belly ache even more. Something was flowing out from between his buttocks; he was ashamed and embarrassed, not understanding why his body was reacting this way.

"It's too big... I, I'm not ready yet," Chaoxi said. He covered his face with his hands, only to find obvious finger marks on his wrists.

Was Shen Hui's strength really this great?

"That's why we're preparing now. Didn't I say so?"

Shen Hui finally moved off his waist. Chaoxi’s body felt light, but his thighs and waist were easily lifted. Shen Hui pried his legs apart, leaving Chaoxi's genitals and buttocks exposed before the man.

"So nice, Xiao Xi. This place is so beautiful." Shen Hui draped Chaoxi's legs over his shoulders, his palms prying apart the buttocks.

Chaoxi's anal opening contracted under the dim light, looking so soft.

With his waist forcibly lifted, Chaoxi covered his face with his hands in shame.

Slender fingers crawled over the buttocks - they were slightly cold. The pads of the fingers pressed lightly against the contracting soft flesh.

"Ah... Xiao Xi, you're wonderful."

The man praised him with satisfaction. Chaoxi saw him stick out his vivid red tongue through the gaps in his fingers.

"Wait... wait! Shen Hui... ugh!"

The moist tip of the tongue squeezed between the soft flesh, applying pressure along the indentation, gradually stretching and probing into the tight anal opening. Chaoxi arched his back, hot sweat soaking his body, as he shifted uneasily.

"Shh... shh, stay still. I won't hurt you." Shen Hui pinned Chaoxi's waist firmly to himself, prying open the two reddened buttocks once again before his eyes.

Shen Hui’s tongue probed in again. Chaoxi felt himself being dilated with a shiver. His passage became incredibly moist, even without the aid of lubricant.

"Xiao Xi's place here is so soft..." Shen Hui withdrew his tongue and licked his lips. His cold index finger pressed against the glistening anal opening, squeezing inward bit by bit.

Chaoxi watched as Shen Hui's index finger was slowly swallowed by him. It was as if his body had a will of its own, greedily and shamelessly sucking on the other man's finger. A smile appeared on Shen Hui’s face, looking somewhat blurred under the dim yellow light, his handsome features turning into something like a shadow.

"Shall we take another one, okay?" Shen Hui said.

Chaoxi's body felt numb. The man's deep voice reached into his very bones. The place where the finger had entered tightened, though whether in agreement or rejection, he couldn't tell. Shen Hui’s middle finger probed in, and the anal opening grew taut as it clamped around two fingers.

"Relax..." Shen Hui kissed the inside of Chaoxi’s thigh. His smile looked very pleasant, and his skin tone was gradually becoming similar to the flush on Chaoxi's body.

Two fingers stretched the tender soft flesh, yet the anal opening kept tightening. Shen Hui didn't give up, patiently thrusting and stretching until he could add a third finger. Hearing those strange and loud wet sounds, Chaoxi's head began to go wrong along with his body. He didn't know how he could have become so... moist.

"Ugh, mmm... lubricant... did you use lubricant?"

"Yes."

'Had he? When?'

Chaoxi lifted his face from his palms. Noticing his gaze, Shen Hui gave him a smiling look and used three fingers to stretch open the now glistening anal opening in front of Chaoxi. The vivid red tender flesh was dilated, unable to close. Shen Hui stuck out his tongue, saliva sliding along the tip into his anal opening.

"Uhn..."

"Endure it."

Shen Hui continued to insert his fingers until Chaoxi could swallow all three of them.

"Hngh, no..."

"It's okay, relax."

Shen Hui thrust his fingers slowly, going in to the deepest part, stretching, then sliding the finger pads out along the walls. Bizarre and loud wet sounds rang out stickily. Soon, Shen Hui's fingers could move in and out freely.

"Ah, hah..." Chaoxi pressed his palms tightly over his eyes. Those three fingers were wreaking havoc inside him, the pads squeezing against the flesh.

Chaoxi's genitals stood erect with agitation, hanging there and radiating the heat of a craving for affection. But Shen Hui didn't touch his front; instead, he obstinately thrust with three fingers in Chaoxi's anal opening until that place was soft and wet, allowing the fingers to invade.

"You've done very well. It's like you were born for me; it makes me so happy." Shen Hui withdrew his fingers, all three slick with glistening fluid, and he stuck out his tongue to lick them.

Chaoxi panted and tried to turn over, but Shen Hui still wouldn't let him go.

"Now, let me in, alright? Xiao Xi." Shen Hui hugged Chaoxi's legs tightly, not letting him escape.

Chaoxi was in a daze; he had seen a similar scene in his dreams before - or rather, it was exactly the same.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Shen Hui smiled at him. That heavy and hard meat blade squeezed between his legs, first pressing against his scrotum, then rubbing against his genitals.

"Ugh! Uh..."

His genitals were crushed and intimately rubbed by the heavy cock. Chaoxi’s scalp felt numb; lust was making him lose his reason.

"Do you like this, Xiao Xi?" Shen Hui thrust his hips, his magnificent desire sliding between Chaoxi's thighs.

"Wuh! Mmph, mmm..."

Chaoxi was rubbed until he clamped his legs shut, yet he couldn't stop the other man from continuing to grind against him with his cock.

Their genitals snuggled together, sticking together clammily. Hot fluid kept welling up from the cleft of his buttocks. Chaoxi felt as if it were being secreted from inside his own body; he was truly going mad.

"Let me in, alright?" Shen Hui said, one hand pressing against Chaoxi's chest as he whispered, "Li Chaoxi, let me in. I want to satisfy you, and you want to satisfy me too, right?"

"Shen Hui..."

Shen Hui leaned down, pressing Chaoxi's thighs toward his chest.

"You like me, you want to satisfy me, that will make you feel better - the lovely nature of humans." Shen Hui kissed Chaoxi's leg, that faint smile making Chaoxi feel dazed and fascinated. "Let me in, Xiao Xi, okay?" he asked again.

"Mmh..." Chaoxi let out a sobbing sound; he couldn't resist Shen Hui's request.

This time might just be a dream too. Chaoxi took a deep breath and exhaled, his fingers trailing over his sweat-drenched face and hair. However, when he closed his eyes and opened them again, he didn't wake up in his own damp, small dormitory.

Shen Hui crawled before him, his mouth stretched in a smile. It was such a beautiful smile, yet goosebumps spread across Chaoxi's skin, his heart thumping wildly. Chaoxi couldn't tell if it was excitement or fear.

He had no idea where the latter feeling came from.

"I'll be very gentle, I promise you... don't be afraid." And Shen Hui could see through even his fear.

Chaoxi's legs were pried apart, and Shen Hui squeezed his body in. His skin was cool, smooth, and flawless. The man’s waist was wedged between Chaoxi’s legs. The heat of his body and the weight of the meat blade made Chaoxi pant.

"Wait..." Chaoxi placed his hand on Shen Hui's chest, but he could only hear his own heartbeat.

'There's still time.'

He thought.

'There's still time...'

"Xiao Xi... please." Shen Hui softened his voice, gently pressing his forehead against Chaoxi's.

Being kissed in the most gentle way, Chaoxi whimpered, the sound captured in Shen Hui's mouth. Shen Hui pulled on his legs and gave a light thrust, that hard object sliding between his buttocks.

"I like you, Li Chaoxi." When Shen Hui said that, Chaoxi fell for it.

"Mmh... mmm." A moan of consent escaped his throat.

Chaoxi's hands wrapped around Shen Hui's neck, and he kissed the man back. Shen Hui’s eyes looked deep and beautiful.

Having received Chaoxi's approval, Shen Hui joyfully stroked Chaoxi's abdomen, then his waist and buttocks. Chaoxi's buttocks were cupped and pried apart by two large palms, and the hard instrument pressed against him, thrusting forward steadily through his moist entrance.

"Ugh, ah!"

"Endure it, Li Chaoxi, endure it... You're the best at enduring, aren't you?" Shen Hui's voice carried a hint of delight, but there was no mercy in his movements as he entered.

Chaoxi's insides were stretched open, then stretched further. His scalp felt numb as the hard, thick, rounded glans successfully pried open the soft flesh inside, thrusting into the depths, as if going in endlessly.

Beyond the fulfilling sense of being stuffed full, the aching pain of his lower abdomen tightening made Chaoxi point his toes. He hugged Shen Hui's neck and back tightly.

"It hurts... it's hurting a bit... mmmgh, Shen, Shen Hui!"

Mist gathered in Chaoxi's eyes, but Shen Hui didn't stop his movements.

It wasn't that it felt painful because his lower body was being stretched; Shen Hui's dilation had been very thorough, as if he were afraid of hurting him. So when he was being entered, Chaoxi actually didn't feel much pain.

However, after Shen Hui entered, he kept thrusting deeper into his body. He could feel his lower abdomen being crushed, his interior being stretched apart.

Chaoxi felt like he was being pierced through.

"Shen Hui, Shen Hui! I... I can't take it... it hurts!" Tears began to fall one by one. Chaoxi couldn't help but hug Shen Hui, who was pressing down on him.

Shen Hui was very quiet; not even the sound of breathing could be heard. The genitals clamped inside him were very thick and long, and he was still entering. Chaoxi felt as if the muscles in his abdomen were being twisted with pain; the thing inside felt sharp and pointed.

Sex shouldn't be like this.

"No, I don't want it... no more!" Chaoxi began to beat against Shen Hui's back.

Only then did Shen Hui seem to react. He stopped his movements, gently holding Chaoxi and kissing his temple.

"Sorry, sorry... because it felt too good inside Xiao Xi, I went a bit overboard." Shen Hui's kisses didn't stop. He sucked the tears off Chaoxi's face, swallowing them, and then as if it weren't enough, he stuck out his tongue to lick him.

His face was repeatedly licked by the moist, cool tongue, and that feeling of his abdominal muscles being twisted tight eased slightly. Panting, he said to Shen Hui, "It's too deep... it hurts."

"It's been too long, you're not used to it, right?" Shen Hui pressed his hand against his abdomen, saying in a gentle voice, "You'll be fine once you get used to it. I'll make you get used to it every day from now on, until you..."

'Until what?'

Before Chaoxi could think, Shen Hui lowered his head again to suck on his swollen nipple, his fingers also grinding and rubbing against it.

"Ugh, mmmgh! I said don't, don't keep licking there..." Chaoxi grabbed the hair on the back of Shen Hui's head.

"But you like it."

Shen Hui ignored him, playing with Chaoxi's nipple with the tip of his tongue, his fingers crawling to his genitals to stroke them. His genitals, which had gone limp from the pain, soon became erect and hard again. It was as if Shen Hui understood Chaoxi's body perfectly, better than he did himself.

Chaoxi's dilated anal opening tightened because of this, and the original pain was no longer as obvious.

"It doesn't hurt as much anymore, does it? Your body adapts so quickly... down there is even starting to eat me." Shen Hui let out a chuckle, his fingertips tracing a line on his abdomen. Shen Hui always loved touching his belly.

"Ugh, mmm... don't say it." Chaoxi's ears burned, and he blocked his eyes with his arm.

"Can Xiao Xi feel me? In your belly, can you?" Shen Hui deliberately pressed down on Chaoxi's abdomen. The usually refined and elegant doctor was now saying such filthy things.

Chaoxi's lower abdomen still felt an aching pain, but it wasn't as unbearable as before. He could certainly feel the other man; the hard glans was firmly crushing his inner walls without moving, as if locked inside.

"Heh, mmm..." Chaoxi's mouth was open, and he had no time to worry about the saliva flowing from the corner of his lips. "Can... can you withdraw a bit? It's... it's uncomfortable."

The sensation of pain began to take on a trembling numbness and itch that sent electric shocks up Chaoxi's spine. His body suddenly became very hard and stiff.

Shen Hui didn't respond. He leaned in and began to lick the saliva from the corner of his mouth, sucking on his lips. As Chaoxi wished, he slightly withdrew the meat stalk buried inside him... then thrust back in again.

"Ah! Ahhh..." Chaoxi straightened his feet. His lower abdomen was aching and sore, but at the same time, that unignorable tingling itch became even more apparent.

"It doesn't look like you're uncomfortable..." Shen Hui finally took his hand off Chaoxi's abdomen. He gripped Chaoxi's erection, his thumb rubbing against the groove on the top.

The sensation of being rubbed made Chaoxi's whole body tense up. The tip being rubbed was terrifyingly tingly; he felt dizzy and sweaty all over, curling up in Shen Hui's arms.

"No, no..." Chaoxi's legs couldn't help but lock around Shen Hui's waist, tears falling again. He felt embarrassed because he was acting just like a virgin having sex for the first time.

"Mmm... you look so delicious, but it would be a waste to swallow you down whole." Shen Hui murmured, opening his mouth to suck on Chaoxi's face.

"I think, I think I'm... going to ejaculate... stop, stop first!"

"It's okay for you to ejaculate. I said I'd make you comfortable." Shen Hui licked Chaoxi's chin, pulling him up from the bed.

They changed positions, and Chaoxi was forced to sit in Shen Hui's lap. The genitals that had been slightly withdrawn thrust even deeper because of his own weight.

"Wuh-ugh... uh!"

But just as Shen Hui had said, he was no longer so uncomfortable that he couldn't breathe. His body had already grown used to the sensation of the foreign object inside him; his inner walls were even tightly wrapped around the other man, refusing to let go.

"Has it become comfortable?" Shen Hui looked up at him, his purple eyes very clear.

Chaoxi bit his lower lip hard, looking down at their lower abdomens. His genitals stood tall between their bellies, screaming to release his desire.

"Too... too deep..."

"Deep is good. If I nail you this deep, you can't run away."

Shen Hui’s fingers tapped lightly below Chaoxi's lumbar vertebrae. Chaoxi jolted, arching his waist to pull away slightly, only to be pulled back into Shen Hui's arms. He slumped back down, and the glans inside him struck so hard his scalp felt numb.

"Wuh-ugh! Uh!"

"It's comfortable now, isn't it? You're biting so tight down there..."

Shen Hui grabbed Chaoxi's hands, and his waist began to thrust upward gently. Every hit made Chaoxi's toes curl uncontrollably. It was very painful, but also-

It felt good. The thick, long organ continuously ground against his sensitive spots; his lower abdomen throbbed in waves, reacting to every breath and movement Shen Hui made.

"W-What are you... some kind of monster...?" Chaoxi’s voice was choked with sobs. He felt humiliated.

Shen Hui’s palm, which had been rubbing up and down his back, paused for a moment before he burst into laughter.

"Is that a compliment?"

"Stop... laughing."

Chaoxi hugged Shen Hui tightly. The vibrations traveling through the man’s body as he laughed made Chaoxi feel as if his eyes would roll back and he would faint. Chaoxi’s genitals kept twitching, as if Shen Hui simply staying buried inside him without moving was enough to make him come.

"If you want to come, just do it." Shen Hui began kissing Chaoxi’s face again, his voice turning soft.

Chaoxi panted. Regaining his senses, he turned his head to reciprocate Shen Hui’s kiss.

Shen Hui paused.

"What is it?" Chaoxi asked. He wiped his sweat-drenched face, his teeth chattering again from the sensation of the giant object throbbing inside him.

"Nothing... I just realized I like you like this." Shen Hui smiled, the corners of his mouth pulling up high.

"The kissing?"

"Mhm."

Receiving his answer, Chaoxi kissed him again, mimicking the way Shen Hui kissed him. Shen Hui let out a hum, and the giant thing that had entered Chaoxi’s belly began to throb and leap once more. Chaoxi’s hands, resting on Shen Hui’s shoulders, gripped tight. He looked down at his own abdomen, feeling as though the thing inside had grown another size larger.

"I’m truly satisfied," Shen Hui said.

"...Hm?"

Chaoxi couldn’t figure out what Shen Hui was talking about. The man cupped his buttocks and thrust upward heavily. Chaoxi let out a whimper, arching his back in discomfort, yet his genitals began to twitch, dripping clear fluid.

Shen Hui extended his tongue and licked Chaoxi’s Adam’s apple. Chaoxi heard the man laughing against his neck, and a brief image flashed through his mind - the black shadow creature waving at him on the mountain, accompanied by that strange laughter whistling in the wind.

Chaoxi’s toes curled. He huddled in Shen Hui’s arms like a child, his tears flowing uncontrollably.

This was so shameful; he was clearly a tall, resilient man. Once, while on patrol, he had accidentally fallen and broken his arm, yet he hadn't cried once on the way to the hospital. Rì Huī had even praised him for it.

But now, he couldn't stop his tears.

Strangely, Chaoxi wasn’t crying because of pain or distress. Making love with Shen Hui was as if all his emotions had been magnified; perhaps some of his tears were shed out of joy and a terrifying sense of pleasure.

"Ugh... ah! Shen, Shen Hui!"

Chaoxi’s buttocks were hoisted up and dropped back down. The thick, long meat-stick slammed into his depths again and again. He could hear the wet, sticky sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing in the room, and all he could do was cling tightly to Shen Hui.

The muscles deep within his abdomen were being pressed hard. That aching, bloated sensation made Chaoxi want to flee several times, but Shen Hui wouldn't let him run. He was pinned firmly by Shen Hui, the man's genitals buried so deep within him that they seemed stuck. Chaoxi looked down at his belly; he wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but his abdomen was actually bulging slightly in an exaggerated manner.

Saying Shen Hui was like a monster wasn't a joke.

"Does it feel good, Xiao Xi...?" Shen Hui’s palm pressed down, covering the bulging area.

The moment that cold palm applied pressure, Chaoxi felt a sudden, intense ache and swelling in his lower abdomen. The hard object inside pressed and ground forcefully against his internal walls.

"Ugh... ah! N-No... I can't!"

Chaoxi’s bright red genitals held their head high, the glans glistening with secreted fluid. Shen Hui only had to press down firmly a few times before Chaoxi’s legs trembled and his waist arched. A cloudy white liquid sprayed out, a few drops even splashing onto Shen Hui.

"Ugh... nngh..." Chaoxi collapsed weakly against Shen Hui, panting, his head spinning.

Shen Hui stared at him silently, as if observing him.

"You feel good, better than you've ever felt... That's good, that's wonderful." Shen Hui murmured to himself, his palm stroking Chaoxi’s sweat-slicked back.

Chaoxi felt extremely embarrassed. He didn't know how Shen Hui could read his inner thoughts; sometimes it terrified him. Chaoxi pressed his face and lips against Shen Hui’s shoulder. Shen Hui’s skin was still cool and smooth, unlike his own sweat-drenched body; that fair skin only held a faint hint of pink.

Chaoxi kissed the crook of the man's neck. There was a hard-to-describe, cold scent on the tip of his tongue - the scent of the mountains.

"Is it my turn now?" Shen Hui asked.

Chaoxi lifted his head. It was only when his anal cavity constricted that he realized the thing inside him was still rock-hard and erect, impaling him.

"Can we... change positions?" Chaoxi’s lower abdomen was very sore; he was struggling.

"We can." This time, Shen Hui agreed readily, and in the next second, he laid Chaoxi down on the bed.

As Shen Hui’s genitals withdrew slightly from his body, Chaoxi trembled all over. His body felt a slight sense of relief, yet also a sense of emptiness. He pressed a palm to his forehead; he had never known that making love could be such hard work.

Watching Shen Hui’s genitals withdraw, coated in glistening fluid and white foamy bubbles, Chaoxi’s anal cavity constricted uncontrollably. He covered his face with one hand, only realizing something belatedly.

"Shen, Shen Hui..."

"Mm?" Shen Hui placed a pillow under Chaoxi’s waist. His genitals stood tall, rounded but tapering at the tip, the glans looking full of desire, yet his own expression remained composed and indifferent.

"Aren't you going to wear a condom?" Chaoxi’s legs hooked slightly tighter around Shen Hui’s waist.

Shen Hui stared at him. After a long while, he let out a loud laugh. "Isn't it a bit late to think of that now?"

Chaoxi felt humiliated. Earlier, he had been like a creature in heat, not thinking about much of anything.

"I promise I'm clean, but if you want me to wear one..." Shen Hui’s palm began to knead Chaoxi’s lower abdomen again. He thrust his hips up, and the sticky, heavy meat-stalk pressed against him, rubbing against the cleft of his buttocks.

Shen Hui’s voice sounded a bit aggrieved.

"I’m just afraid of making the sheets dirty..." Chaoxi was easily swayed. Looking up, he saw that Shen Hui’s chest and abdomen were already covered in his semen; everything that could get dirty was already dirty.

Chaoxi wiped his face and let out a deep sigh. He reached out to push lightly against Shen Hui’s chest, reminding him: "Be gentle... I just came."

Shen Hui pursed his lips, an expression that suggested he was holding back a laugh.

"Alright." Shen Hui’s voice was very soft. He pulled Chaoxi’s legs apart and draped them over his shoulders.

The anal cavity, having been thrust into and stretched, was red, swollen, and wet. It had become soft and vivid red. Chaoxi felt a sense of foreignness toward his own body, as if it had become something ready to be entered at any time.

Once Shen Hui had settled Chaoxi’s legs and waist, his thick genitals rubbed against him again. When he thrust into the body once more, Chaoxi’s jaw clenched. He didn't know how his body was capable of swallowing the other man whole.

"Because you're amazing. You've adapted, you've endured..." Shen Hui said, as if answering the question in Chaoxi’s heart. 'How is this possible?'

"Look... it's all swallowed down there." Shen Hui thrust his hips powerfully, his scrotum pressing against the cleft of Chaoxi’s buttocks. The anal cavity was stretched to its limit, yet it dutifully took in and pushed out the invading genitals.

"Ugh, ugh... so... so full..."

Chaoxi pressed his hand against his own abdomen. The sensation of pressure had returned, but it wasn't as painful as before. Moreover, as Shen Hui performed gentle thrusts, that hard, rounded tip ground against his sensitive spot once more.

His previously limp genitals stood erect again, and Chaoxi’s bodily reactions became faster and more intense.

"Ah, hah... ugh, ugh... slower, slower..." Chaoxi helplessly covered his face with both hands.

"Does Xiao Xi want me not to move? But it seems this part of you doesn't mean that..." Shen Hui gave two short laughs, toying with Chaoxi’s glans with his fingers before thrusting forward with force.

"Ugh! Nngh... nngh-nnn!"

Chaoxi came again. Within just a few minutes, the white liquid splashed onto Shen Hui’s fingers and cheek this time. Shen Hui looked at the semen on his fingers and smiled as he put them in his mouth to suck on them.

"Nngh... ugh..."

Chaoxi panted, his body like a puddle of soft mud, completely unable to stop Shen Hui from consuming his semen.

His entire body was as hot as if he were in a steam sauna. What was worse was that the pleasure within Chaoxi didn't recede with ejaculation. The magnificent genitals embedded in his body remained erect and hard, continuously striking a certain patch of soft flesh inside.

"Li Chaoxi..." Shen Hui’s entire body moved over him, blocking out all of Chaoxi’s light.

Chaoxi’s legs were pressed close to his chest. The genitals inside felt as if they were going to impale him right through. His abdomen ached, and his internal muscles felt as if they were being twisted hard.

"Too... too deep... pull... pull out..."

"Chaoxi..." Shen Hui interrupted him. He kissed Chaoxi’s sweat-soaked face and lips tenderly and thoroughly, breathing hot air as he said, "Can I ejaculate inside? Hm?"

Chaoxi shuddered all over. His waist was gripped by Shen Hui’s hands with a strength that seemed to remind him he had no way to escape.

"Can I?"

Chaoxi’s consciousness was gradually blurring; he was simply unable to cope with the weight on top of him and the sensation of those violent, crashing impacts.

"Ugh... slow... slow!" The words from his mouth were fragmented; Chaoxi didn't even know what he was saying.

His genitals began to throb with pain again right after ejaculating - or perhaps it was pleasure; Chaoxi could no longer tell the difference. The thick, long giant thing thrusting inside him stole all his attention. His lower abdomen had originally been very sore and painful, but after a series of deep, slow, deliberate thrusts from Shen Hui, it felt as if something inside Chaoxi had been smoothed out.

The pain was no longer prominent, replaced gradually by a bloated pleasure. His lower body was slick and wet; Shen Hui no longer met any resistance.

"Truly marvelous... this emotion." Shen Hui gripped his waist, his lower body thrusting continuously. Throughout the long act of sex, he didn't pant, nor did he even break a sweat, occasionally murmuring words Chaoxi couldn't understand.

The terrifying thing was that Shen Hui ensured Chaoxi remained mired in the quagmire of pleasure. Even though Chaoxi was already exhausted, he made sure Chaoxi stayed conscious.

"Ugh! Ugh! Shen, Shen Hui!"

Shen Hui increased the speed of his thrusting. The loud sound of flesh slapping against flesh made Chaoxi break down, yet he couldn't stop his body from continuing to react with joy.

"Nngh... I'm going to come. Can you feel it? Li Chaoxi." Whenever Shen Hui called his full name, Chaoxi would feel a shiver.

He could indeed feel it.

The thing in his belly was twitching, the glans pressing against the walls of his flesh, tightly embedded within. A sudden surge of fear washed over Chaoxi; a ridiculous thought entered his mind that he was going to be pierced through.

"S-So scary... ugh! Ugh!" Chaoxi cried out, only to have his face cupped by the man's palm.

The force was light and gentle, yet it held Chaoxi’s face still, forcing Chaoxi to look at him properly. Chaoxi opened his tear-filled eyes. Shen Hui’s eyes were like the inescapable purple glow of the sky in Dusk Village.

"It’s okay... Xiao Xi, you’re so strong... you can take it." Shen Hui nailed himself into Chaoxi’s body again and again. With a tender smile on his face, he leaned down to kiss Chaoxi.

"Ugh... waah..." Chaoxi started crying again.

Shen Hui let out a laugh, opening his mouth to catch Chaoxi’s lips, stifling his sobs within his own mouth. He pressed down on Chaoxi’s legs, his hips thrusting up heavily as the genitals embedded in Chaoxi’s body began to leap.

"Mph... mph-nn!"

"Hnngh..."

Warm liquid sprayed inside him. Chaoxi’s legs, draped over Shen Hui’s shoulders, gripped the man helplessly. His lower abdomen became bloated, the aching pain becoming unbearable.

'Stop! Pull it out!'

Chaoxi wanted to scream, but Shen Hui’s kisses kept coming, blocking all his words. Tears flowed incessantly, and the bloated pain in his lower abdomen was inescapable. Chaoxi found it hard to breathe, yet under the stimulation of the pain, his genitals began to drip clear fluid once more, splashing onto his own body.

"Yes, accept me, take it all in..." Shen Hui murmured, his hot breath entering Chaoxi’s mouth as he sucked on the tip of Chaoxi’s tongue. "Xiao Xi, you're wonderful. You'll make a wonderful-"

'A wonderful what?'

Shen Hui thrust upward with even more force, squeezing the heat within him even deeper. Chaoxi’s mind was completely scrambled. His genitals sprayed a thin white liquid, splattering all over himself. He was drowned in immense pleasure and pain. At some point, the surroundings had turned pitch black, and even the Shen Hui on top of him had turned into a mass of black shadow creature.

Chaoxi only noticed his flat abdomen bulging, as if he were pregnant.

"Li Chaoxi."

Chaoxi heard Shen Hui call his full name again. Something massive and soft slid over his body - cold and sticky, like the surface of a tongue.

What was that thing on top of him? Was that still Shen Hui?

'Impossible, it’s just a dream,' Chaoxi thought in his final moment of consciousness.

⋪⌘⌘⌘⋫

Chaoxi had another similar dream. He was standing barefoot on a mountain peak; the horizon was a dark purple, with black clouds drifting rapidly.

The cold wind gave him goosebumps. He looked toward the opposite mountain peak with trepidation. This time, the massive black shadow creature wasn't standing there, swaying and shaking its body to wave at him.

Chaoxi breathed a sigh of relief. Then he thought: 'I should leave this place.'

He prepared to take a step, but the cold wind that had been blowing behind him suddenly stopped. The rustling of the leaves also vanished.

Something was standing behind him.

He didn't need to look back; he could just feel it - an intense sense of pressure. That thing was staring down at him from above, leaving Chaoxi frozen and unable to move.

Tears welled in his eyes. Chaoxi suddenly realized that the black shadow creature hadn't disappeared; it was standing behind him, practically pressed against his back.

In the silent woods, the sound of breathing emerged from behind his ear, growing increasingly hurried and loud, as if the black shadow creature was extremely angry simply because Chaoxi had thought about leaving.

The black shadow creature seemed unwilling to let him go.

Chaoxi felt fear, a fear unlike any he had ever known. The breathing in his ear grew louder and louder, the vibration causing his ears to ring. He wanted to cover his ears, but his body wouldn't move. It wasn't until he couldn't help but cry that the massive sound of breathing gradually slowed down.

But following that was the sound of wailing.

As if mimicking Chaoxi, that wailing began with sobbing before turning into loud crying. The cry was very young, like that of an infant in swaddling clothes.

The crying came from all directions. Chaoxi instinctively sought the source of the sound, only to finally realize the crying seemed to be coming from his side. He looked down...

〝Waaah! Waaah! Waaah!〞

The loud crying was coming from inside his belly.

〝Waaah! Waaah! Waaah!〞

Then the thing behind him made the same sound.

⋪⌘⌘⌘⋫

Chaoxi was startled awake by a cold wind. Faint morning light from an open window fell across his face.

The air smelled damp and cold, with that scent of soil unique to Dusk Village.

Chaoxi hadn't particularly liked this scent before, but smelling it now actually brought him some peace of mind, because it proved that he had just had a nightmare. This was the true reality.

Rubbing his dry eyes, Chaoxi stared at the ceiling for a long time. Unlike the ceiling of his dormitory, which was covered in yellow spots and stains, the ceiling here was high and clean - very different. There was also the cold fragrance unique to Shen Hui on the pillow... It took his brain a moment to start functioning before Chaoxi remembered where he was.

"Ugh!"

The moment Chaoxi sat up, a pulling, aching pain shot through his lower back and thigh muscles. His anal cavity also felt swollen and slightly wet.

Recollecting Shen Hui’s kisses from last night, the savage genitals, and those scalp-tingling orgasms, Chaoxi wiped his face in disbelief, his face and body becoming burning hot in an instant.

He rubbed his head stiffly with his palm and sighed. Chaoxi didn't understand how something that was supposed to be just staying the night had turned into this...

'And you said you could hide your feelings well, Li Chaoxi.'

Chaoxi mocked himself in his heart, feeling his body with some embarrassment. Under the sheets, he was still naked, but unlike the sticky mess of last night, he was very dry. He seemed to have been carefully tended to; even the sheets were new.

Presumably, Shen Hui had cleaned him up while he was asleep.

Chaoxi rubbed his nose, feeling a bit self-conscious. He looked around but didn't see any sign of Shen Hui. He tried to ignore the aching in his body to get out of bed, but the sensation of fullness in his lower abdomen made him pause.

Subconsciously touching the place Shen Hui had been stroking yesterday, Chaoxi stared at his lower abdomen. It was very flat; he was probably just overthinking it.

However, when Chaoxi actually staggered into a sitting position on the bed, wet liquid began to flow out of his body. He clamped his legs together in embarrassment as the white, musky body fluid ran down his thighs.

As luck would have it, a man dressed neatly and wearing an apron pushed the door open and entered at that exact moment, greeting him with a bright voice: "Good morning! Li Chaoxi."

Shen Hui looked very happy and enthusiastic, just like usual - nothing seemed different.

Shen Hui was wearing a casual top and trousers with an apron over them. The aroma of food wafted in the air; one look and it was clear he had just finished making a sumptuous breakfast.

Chaoxi, however, was standing by the bed bleary-eyed and naked, unable to even stand steadily.

And to think his profession required physical strength.

Chaoxi was so ashamed he couldn't look the other man in the eye.

"Uh, morning..."

Shen Hui didn't wait for him to finish. He strode forward, grabbed a piece of clothing to drape over him, and then considerately and intimately reached out to pull him close.

"Why aren't you wearing clothes? It wouldn't be good if you caught a cold."

"Sorry... I just got up."

"Why are you apologizing? Did you get enough sleep? You didn't even wake up last night when I was changing the sheets and wiping your body. Are you tired?" Shen Hui asked softly, leaning down, his palm roaming over Chaoxi’s waist.

"Uh... yeah." Chaoxi still felt very self-conscious. He had been like a creature in heat last night; it was very unlike him. "That is, about last night..."

The way Shen Hui lightly pressed his abdomen made Chaoxi fall silent instantly, because that bloated, aching pain appeared again, and hot fluid surged out from behind.

"What about last night?"

"No, uh... sorry... I need to... go to the bathroom first."

Chaoxi hurriedly pulled Shen Hui’s hand away. The sensation of his thighs being splashed made his whole body turn red with shame. He tried to push Shen Hui away, but the man didn't budge; rather than just being strong, it felt more like Shen Hui was a heavy statue.

"What's wrong?"

Shen Hui’s tone, by contrast, was relaxed. He held Chaoxi by the waist as if they were an intimate couple.

"Stop it! Let me go for a second..." Clamping his legs was useless; Chaoxi’s legs were becoming wet, but he couldn't pull Shen Hui away. Fearing he would mess up the floor, Chaoxi had no choice but to admit: "Something is about to leak out!"

There was a moment of silence. Chaoxi was red-faced, but Shen Hui, who was leaning against him, abruptly burst into laughter.

"It's not funny! Let me go, quick..."

"Sorry, sorry. It's because Xiao Xi is just too cute, so I went a bit overboard last night." Shen Hui’s hand moved to Chaoxi’s buttocks, kneading them with moderate force and prying the flesh apart, causing more hot liquid to flow down. "You were sleeping too soundly later, so I didn't help you clean out..."

The kneading motion began to turn erotic. Shen Hui whispered in his ear: "Do you think you'll get pregnant after having my stuff inside your belly for so long?"

"Don't say such idiotic things..." Chaoxi finally managed to push the man away with a flurry of hands and feet.

Shen Hui leaned in again with a smile. "It's not idiotic. I hope you get pregnant. That way we’ll be a daddy and a mommy, and you can even name the child."

"Ugh, I can't be bothered with you!" After breaking free from Shen Hui, Chaoxi turned and ran awkwardly toward the bathroom, not forgetting to slam the door behind him.

Taking a deep breath, Chaoxi leaned his forehead against the cold door. The temperature of his face and body wouldn't go down. The guy outside even tapped on the door, intentionally asking him, "Do you need any help? Li Chaoxi."

"I don't! Just go away!" Chaoxi pressed his body against the door; for some reason, he was actually afraid the man would burst in.

"Alright, come out quickly, or breakfast is going to get cold." The sound of footsteps receded.

Chaoxi listened to the sound of Shen Hui walking away, leaning against the door for a good while before finally relaxing. He looked at the nail marks on his palm; he hadn't even noticed when he had clenched his fists so tightly.

Chaoxi let out a long sigh. When he looked up, he was startled by a shadow on the frosted glass outside, as if something enormous was occupying the space beyond the door - and hanging upside down.

Chaoxi pictured the scene in his mind. Holding his breath, he knocked on the door and called out, "Shen Hui?"

No response.

His fingertips icy, Chaoxi silently placed his hand on the doorknob and turned it gently. After swallowing hard, he opened the door, only to find nothing outside. The hanging potted plants in the room rustled in the cold breeze, and Chaoxi belatedly realized it might have just been their shadows.

He sighed in relief and closed the bathroom door again, avoiding the now-shadowless frosted glass. Turning around, he gazed at the empty bathtub, hesitating for a moment before stepping in after confirming there was nothing inside.

Turning on the showerhead, he let the hot water wash over his body. Amid the steam, Chaoxi glanced down at his lower abdomen - the swollen feeling hadn’t subsided, prompting him to press lightly against it.

To his embarrassment, the pressure caused more warm fluid to gush from within, trickling down his thighs.

"What…?"

Chaoxi wiped the seam of his buttocks in astonishment, his palm coated with thick, white semen. It reminded him of his experience in the dormitory bathroom - the white liquid spraying from the showerhead had the same texture.

A sweet, fishy scent lingered in the air.

"No, Li Chaoxi… don’t lose your mind."

Letting the hot water wash the semen from his hand, Chaoxi reminded himself not to overthink it.

He cleaned his body, hesitating briefly before inserting his fingers into his rear entrance to scoop out the remnants. The inside felt unnaturally soft, as if he had just been penetrated moments ago.

Semen continued to flow from within him. Chaoxi found it hard to believe - the usually gentle and refined Shen Hui became almost a different person in bed.

"How much did he even…?"

Standing under the hot water, Chaoxi lowered his head in shame and embarrassment.

Shen Hui had prepared a lavish, steaming breakfast early in the morning.

Chaoxi dried his damp hair as he sat at the dining table, staring at the spread of food. He tilted his head - Shen Hui’s meals were always visually appealing, aromatic, and delicious, sometimes looking almost unreal, like the meticulously styled dishes he’d once seen in magazines.

"You took so long. The breakfast is about to get cold."

A voice came from above as fingers brushed the nape of Chaoxi’s neck. He looked up to meet Shen Hui’s smiling face. The doctor was still wearing an apron and sat down beside him to sip his coffee.

"Were you up to something naughty in the bathroom?" Shen Hui asked with a suggestive smile.

Chaoxi stared at him and huffed in annoyance, "You should be glad you’re so good-looking."

"What do you mean?" Shen Hui remained all smiles, as if he hadn’t done anything the night before, and kept piling food onto Chaoxi’s plate.

"I don’t want to talk about it," Chaoxi shook his head and began eating the food on his plate in large bites.

He was hungry, and this meal was Shen Hui’s way of making it up to him. The breakfast was delicious - the bread was fragrant and crispy, the eggs tender, and the vegetables and fruits fresh, without the damp, earthy taste of his own cooking. Chaoxi worried that if he got used to Shen Hui’s cooking, he’d never be able to survive on his own bland meals again.

"Is it good?"

"Yes."

"Then I’ll cook for you every meal from now on."

There it was again - Shen Hui seemed to read his mind. Chaoxi glanced at him, a cherry tomato stuffed in his mouth.

"Sometimes I think you can read minds, Doctor."

Shen Hui fell silent for a moment, then placed his fingers on Chaoxi's hand, tracing patterns on the back of it with his fingertips.

"Isn't it nice to have a boyfriend who understands you so well?"

Boyfriend.

"Cough! Cough! Ahem!" Chaoxi choked on his scrambled eggs, struggling to catch his breath.

"Don't like that term? I thought you people liked defining relationships." Shen Hui withdrew his hand, staring expressionlessly at Chaoxi's flustered state.

Boyfriend.

Chaoxi coughed until his cheeks flushed red. Shen Hui moved closer, patting his back.

"Or do you just want to sleep with someone and then ignore them?" Shen Hui hooked an arm around Chaoxi's shoulder, leaning in to whisper the accusation in his ear.

Chaoxi tilted sideways under the man's weight.

"That's not it..."

"You're so cruel, Li Chaoxi. A real heartbreaker, right? That's how you people describe guys like that." Shen Hui's choice of words was sometimes odd. He always said "you people," as if he existed outside of everything.

"I told you, it's not like that!" Chaoxi finally caught his breath, grabbing the tea on the table and downing it in one gulp.

Shen Hui watched him silently, never removing his hand from him.

"Then what is it?" Shen Hui rested his other hand on the table, propping his chin as he looked at him.

"It's nothing, just..." Chaoxi tried to figure out how to explain. Before coming to Dusk Village, he never imagined things would turn out like this. He hadn't expected to meet someone like Shen Hui in such a place, let alone fall in love or whatever this was.

Everything last night had been abrupt too, as if his mind had suddenly malfunctioned, unable to suppress the desires in his heart. Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui. His face really did resemble sunshine, but when sober, it still felt completely different.

"Just... I never thought I'd meet you when I came here to work, and then..." Chaoxi covered his flushed face, feeling a bit flustered. "You know, it's been a long time since I've been with anyone, and how long have we even known each other?"

Chaoxi started counting the days since he arrived in Dusk Village, but then he frowned. He realized he couldn't actually remember - when had he come to Dusk Village? What month and day? His memory was so hazy.

"So you don't like me, you just wanted to sleep with me?" Shen Hui interrupted his thoughts, frowning with a hurt expression, like the stray cats and dogs Chaoxi had once seen on the streets.

"What? No, of course not!" Chaoxi blinked, rushing to explain. "I just think... it feels a bit sudden, but I don't dislike you!" Unfortunately, the more he explained, the worse it seemed.

Shen Hui stared at him, tightening his grip around Chaoxi's waist.

"Really! I swear, didn't I say everything yesterday?" All his innermost thoughts had been squeezed out, laid bare before Shen Hui.

Chaoxi stared nervously at Shen Hui, who blinked, his previously cold face suddenly softening into gentleness as he smiled.

"Just kidding."

Chaoxi shot Shen Hui a glare and couldn't resist throwing a punch at him, which only made the other man laugh and pull him into an even tighter embrace.

"But the boyfriend thing - I'm serious about that, Li Chaoxi." Shen Hui's hand pressed against the back of Chaoxi's neck. "I like you. I want to take care of you, keep you with me forever."

Chaoxi's ears turned red as he covered his face. "Like you take care of your fish?"

Shen Hui smiled at him, leaning against Chaoxi, his hand sliding from his waist to his abdomen.

"You're more than just that."

"That's too exaggerated."

"Not at all."

Shen Hui kissed Chaoxi's neck, and for some reason, the hairs on the back of Chaoxi's neck stood on end. He brushed away the fleeting sense of fear, dismissing it as an illusion.

"What about me? Li Chaoxi, would you stay by my side forever, keeping me company?"

Chaoxi didn't know what to say; the words seemed stuck in his throat, as if agreeing to this would leave no room for regret. But shouldn't he agree? Chaoxi felt terrible.

Shen Hui continued chattering, "Through thick and thin, sickness and health. Of course, I'm a highly skilled doctor. I'll make sure we live a very, very long life together, until only the two of us are left in this world, maybe along with our descendants."

Chaoxi imagined the scene, but an unsettling image appeared in his mind: deep in the mountains, desolate, with only himself and that enormous black shadow creature.

Chaoxi blinked, snapping out of his wild thoughts. He looked at Shen Hui, whose animated expression was endearing, gentle, and kind.

"Will you? Li Chaoxi."

Chaoxi took a deep breath.

"You sound like you're proposing," he tried to joke lightly, but the man just stared at him. Chaoxi couldn't read his thoughts. "Alright," Chaoxi finally said, forcing a smile.

He really did like Shen Hui. There was no harm in agreeing to such a playful remark, right?

The answer made Shen Hui laugh. He extended his hand, "Then... boyfriend?"

Chaoxi stared at the large hand before him, amused by the gesture, and reached out to shake it. "Boyfriend."

"Deal!" Shen Hui cheered happily, then began serving Chaoxi more food, though he ate very little himself.

Chaoxi was stuffed.

"By the way, what about Aunt Xiufen?" Chaoxi asked while Shen Hui was clearing the dishes. He rubbed his stomach; he had been eating well lately, and it seemed like he was slowly gaining weight. He needed more exercise.

When it came to Aunt Xiufen, Chaoxi always had the illusion that it had happened a long time ago, even though it was only last night.

"Ah, she went back a while ago."

"Went back? Was she able to go back like that? Shouldn't we have called an ambulance or had me escort her down the mountain..."

The dishes clattered loudly. Chaoxi watched Shen Hui's back until the man turned around with his usual cheerful smile.

"No need. It was just a minor sprain. Aunt Xiufen rested for a bit and was walking briskly again. You don't know how skilled my medical techniques are - I just adjusted her, and she was back to her original shape."

Chaoxi frowned but then laughed. "Sometimes the way you describe things is really strange."

"Is it?" Shen Hui seemed indifferent. "Anyway, don't worry. She's fine and went back long ago."

Even though Shen Hui said so, Chaoxi still found it hard to imagine Aunt Xiufen, who had been folded in half, resting briefly and then returning home safely.

"You're full. So, what are you going to do for the rest of the day, Li Chaoxi?"

Shen Hui's face suddenly appeared in front of him, startling Chaoxi.

"Hmm..." Chaoxi glanced at the time. He felt this morning had dragged on forever, yet the clock showed it was only eight o'clock. "Go home to change clothes and then head to the police station for work?"

"And then?"

"Patrol and such..."

"I mean after that."

After that, he wanted to go home, return to the city, go back to his old life... Such thoughts surfaced in Chaoxi's mind. But as he looked at Shen Hui, at his "boyfriend," what he said aloud was: "After that, I guess I'd go back to the dorm."

Shen Hui didn't seem satisfied with his answer.

"Didn't you say the dorm was freezing cold and growing mold?"

"It really is..."

"Do you like it here?" Shen Hui gestured around his own house with his fingers.

"I do." It was indeed much better than the old dorm. Chaoxi thought to himself, his gaze sweeping around the surroundings before settling back on Shen Hui's face.

There was a certain expectation in Shen Hui's eyes.

"Move in with me?"

"Live together?"

"Yeah, live together. Didn't you say you'd let me take care of you?"

Chaoxi's body felt warm, yet his shoulders were inexplicably cold.

↫────────────────∰───────────────↬

TL/ᴇᴅɪᴛɪɴɢ/ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ/ʟᴏᴄᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: Ꮆ𝓇𝒾𝓂𝓂Ή𝒶𝓃𝑒𝓊𝓁

His phone vibrated twice in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw two WeChat messages from his younger brother, Li Zihan.

💬: ⦍Brother.⦎

💬: ⦍This late?⦎

He replied: ⦍Overtime. Go to sleep.⦎

After sending it, he noticed others had also messaged him and even called a few times. It was already past one in the morning. He didn’t call back, only sent a text: Sorry, I was with Xiao Yang the whole time, just saw this. Soon, a call came through – a man’s voice.

“Assistant Jiang.” The other person paused. “Still with Guangsheng?”

“No.”

“I heard he’s returning to Jiangcheng tomorrow. In such a hurry?” the man asked again.

“Mm.”

“…..” After a moment of silence, hearing only that single “Mm” with no further response, the man could only ask, “Didn’t you suggest he take you along?”

The question seemed to catch Jiang Xinbai off guard. He hesitated before answering, “He doesn’t need me because he doesn’t like me. It’s useless even if I say it.”

The man clicked his tongue.

“Xiao Jiang, why do you insist on making him dislike you? Guangsheng is easy to please, soft-hearted too. Why can’t you make him like you? Didn’t you say before that you could handle this?”

Jiang Xinbai fell silent for a moment. “I know what to do.”

“Know what?” the man retorted. “Your job as his assistant is to stay by his side first and foremost. Old Yang said you should keep an eye on him, but did you really think you could control him? How long can you control him? If you really want to stick with him, you have to learn to please him, not oppose him.”

The man lowered his voice slightly. “Do you even know what you’re there for, Assistant Jiang?”

“I know,” Jiang Xinbai said. “Just wait a little longer.”

The man snorted. “You know nothing. Don’t let the old man’s praise go to your head. Don’t forget you-”

“I said, wait a little longer,” Jiang Xinbai replied coldly. “I know what I’m doing. And don’t treat Yang Guangsheng like a fool.”

“…..” The man’s tone relaxed a bit. “Then tell me, what’s your plan next?”

After the call ended, Jiang Xinbai put his phone back in his pocket. He began to replay the events in the car and in the room earlier. He reviewed his actions, considering whether they were thorough, reasonable, and in character. Inevitably, he thought of the details.

Yang Guangsheng’s body, Yang Guangsheng’s voice, Yang Guangsheng’s fingers and mouth…

He casually reached down and touched himself. Even after all this time, it still seemed hard. But it was merely a physiological reaction – an uncontrollable instinctive disgust and anger from a normal man toward homosexual acts. This anger made Jiang Xinbai’s muscles tense, his blood flow faster, filling him with a strange, unrestrained excitement born of self-loathing.

He felt a few dried stains on his pants. Without looking closely, he knew what they were.

He began to scrape at one of the dried white spots with his fingernail, turning it into powder that spread into a larger stain. Staring at the stain, he started rubbing it fiercely with both hands.

His eyes were fixed only on the increasingly blurred and spreading stain at the edge, violently tormenting his trousers. He rubbed for who knows how long, until the rough fabric of the suit pants retaliated against his abuse, making his fingers bleed. But he didn’t feel any pain, continuing to jerk his arm silently and intently in the dark flower bed.

Even he didn’t notice when a startled, high-pitched female voice suddenly came from nearby: “Pervert!”

Then came the sound of hurried footsteps retreating. Jiang Xinbai stopped his movements, turned to look at the figure stumbling away in the opposite direction, and after a moment of daze, gradually regained his composure.

He stood up and walked out. When he reached the street, he took out his phone and changed his mind while selecting a ride-hailing destination. He set the destination to Rainbow Tree, the gay bar Yang Guangsheng had taken him to before.

It was already past midnight. Although Rainbow Tree wasn’t as lively as earlier in the night, small groups of patrons still gathered under the dim lights, and the background music felt more languid and ambiguous. Jiang Xinbai approached the bar, where the bartender gave him an extra glance before smiling in greeting.

Seeing his expression, Jiang Xinbai sat down and ordered a glass of juice. After a while, when the bartender was free, Jiang Xinbai gestured him over and said, “Um…”

The bartender leaned against the bar in a flamboyant manner and looked at him. “What’s up, handsome? Any requests?”

Jiang Xinbai took a sip of his juice, then held the glass with both hands.

“I remember you,” Jiang Xinbai said. “Last time I was here, you were the one mixing drinks. You gave me a blue one.”

The bartender smiled and looked at him. “I’m the bartender here, so of course it was me. The drink’s called ‘The Water in a Whale’s Brain Is Still the Ocean.’ It’s my own creation.”

“..…” A slightly surprised expression flickered in Jiang Xinbai’s eyes behind his black-framed glasses. He looked at the other man and smiled. “Sorry, I didn’t drink it.”

“I know,” the bartender shifted his weight to the other foot, leaning a little closer. “You had a glass of apple juice. I remember.”

Jiang Xinbai: “If you can remember customers, you must have a good memory. Do you remember most of the regulars?”

The bartender chuckled, lightly tapping Jiang Xinbai’s slender but firm arm with his finger before tactfully withdrawing it. “Not really. Your looks are pretty memorable. Even glasses can’t hide that. Plus, your ‘type’ isn’t common.”

“What type?” Jiang Xinbai looked at him. “Top? But I’m not.”

The bartender raised an eyebrow in surprise, then burst into hearty laughter. “That line of yours is very ‘that.’”

Jiang: “What?”

Bartender: “Straight.”

“..…” Jiang Xinbai seemed to deliberately correct him. “Just looks ‘straight.’ But I’m not.”

“Hahaha…” The bartender laughed even more happily, tapping the bar with his fingertips. “Right. That’s exactly it. Looks straight – that ‘type’ is the most popular. That’s why I remember you.”

Jiang Xinbai adjusted his black-framed glasses. “If I’m so popular, why am I sitting here alone drinking juice?”

"Haha, you just said it yourself – clearly it was that guy who offered you a drink, and you refused..." The bartender trailed off as a customer at the next seat ordered a drink, so he gestured and walked away.

"That guy." Jiang Xinbai repeated the phrase in his mind. That wasn’t a term used for strangers. Sure enough.

When the bartender returned, Jiang Xinbai spoke first, "Last time I was here, that big brother offered me a drink and pestered me for quite a while."

"Hey, Peter, he’s just..." The bartender’s eyes shifted briefly, but his expression quickly returned to a professional one, hinting at something as he said, "Handsome, this bar is different from others, as you know. People who come here are mostly here to have fun. Don’t take it too seriously."

"Peter." Jiang Xinbai repeated the name. "He seems like a regular."

The bartender didn’t respond.

"I’m not taking it seriously. Actually, I think he looks pretty good, quite sturdy." Jiang Xinbai paused, also hinting at something as he said, "I broke up with my boyfriend."

He picked up his glass and took a sip of juice, his eyes peering over the rim as if testing the bartender’s reaction.

Jiang: "I’m feeling a bit... sad."

The bartender looked at him.

"....." Jiang Xinbai stared at him for a few seconds before putting down his juice. "Well, I’ll be going then."

The bartender said, "Peter isn’t here today. Maybe come back tomorrow or the day after?"

"Is that so." Jiang Xinbai changed the subject. "Forget it, let it be."

The bartender smiled. He looked Jiang Xinbai up and down again, this time chuckling softly, "Hah, you’d be at a huge disadvantage with him."

"It’s fine. I’m not exactly a good person either." Then Jiang Xinbai stood up, pulled a hundred-yuan bill from his wallet, and firmly pressed it under his glass before getting to his feet. "Thank you."

"...Hey," the bartender thought for a moment, pulled out the bill from under the glass, took out his phone, and showed him a number. "Take down this number."

Jiang Xinbai glanced at the phone number. Then he went to the restroom, washed his face, entered a toilet stall, took out his phone, and dialed the number.

"Hey, big brother. You’re still up so late? I was just thinking of you too... Who is this? Guess? Hmph, you’ve forgotten me so quickly. Last time, you said you’d look for me again, but you didn’t even save my number? Hehe... Guess where I am? Right at the bar where we did it last time, big brother. Come in through the back door, and it’s right there..."

Then he sat on the toilet lid, waiting for big brother. He waited for over twenty minutes – not too long, but not too short either.

Finally, the target walked into the restroom, cautiously pushing open the doors of the toilet stalls one by one. The muscular, broad-chested man looked confused when he saw him. "...You?"

"I’ve been waiting for you. I’m really glad you could come today." Jiang Xinbai said, "Come in, let’s talk."

The man didn’t move.

He was puzzled, crossing his muscular arms. This guy was good-looking, so of course he remembered him. But he and this guy had no physical history – in fact, they even had some bad blood. This was clearly a deliberate trap. What was the intention?

...But Peter had failed to pick anyone up tonight, and his body was restless. Now, looking at his own well-built muscles and then at Jiang Xinbai’s clean, upright face behind those utterly plain glasses, his doubts gradually faded, his lust grew, and his mood lightened.

ʿ*The one who should be nervous isn't me.*ʾ

He asked again, "Why is it you? Are you alone?"

Jiang Xinbai took off his glasses and tucked them into his inner suit pocket. "What else? Am I not enough on my own?"

Then he looked up and stared directly at Peter. Without the glasses blocking them, Jiang Xinbai's dark eyes were bright with wickedness, wicked with honesty, and honest enough to seem like an illusion.

Peter was stunned for a moment, but he still leaned back dismissively. "Come on. Didn't you say you were straight? What are you doing looking for me in the middle of the night? Still want revenge? Just you?"

"You're not even worth my revenge," Jiang Xinbai said. "Today, I'm just in a bad mood and want to vent. I really feel like playing with a pervert who's obsessed with stabbing men in the ass. You can think of it as emotional projection."

Peter looked at him in surprise.

"Oh, you're oddly cute when you're straightforward," he said, walking closer to Jiang Xinbai. "So, how do you want to 'project'? I'm game."

Jiang Xinbai didn't say another word and started unbuckling his belt. Peter watched and smiled, then began undoing his own pants. "Little brother, tell me the truth – did you want it last time too? And you were still pretending, making excuses. Were you just afraid your 'master' wouldn't allow it? Honestly, that's too much. He was over there getting cozy with some young guy while making you watch. How can you stand that? Is having money really that great?"

Hearing this, Jiang Xinbai lowered his head and let out a vague, mocking laugh. Once the belt was off, Jiang Xinbai gripped both ends, folded it into a double strand, and gave it a couple of testing tugs. Then he stood up, suddenly towering over the other man by half a head.

Peter went from looking down to looking up at Jiang Xinbai. This guy was tall, handsome, and had a straightforward, rugged toughness that Peter really liked. He reached out and touched Jiang Xinbai's face.

"Honestly, your man looks impressive, but I could tell at a glance he's all show and no substance – definitely can't satisfy you- Ah!!" Suddenly, the belt lashed hard across his face. His cheek swelled instantly, and Peter's head spun. "Fuck! Fuck you! What are you doing?!"

Jiang Xinbai remained silent and struck again with a backhanded blow. Peter covered his head and scrambled to escape, but Jiang Xinbai delivered a vicious, full-force punch to Peter's unprotected stomach. Peter staggered back, crashing into the stall door, his vision darkening as he nearly lost consciousness.

As he spun and began to collapse, Jiang Xinbai caught him, dragged him into the cramped restroom, and, like lassoing a horse, wrapped the belt around his body and arms, tightened it, fastened it, and shoved him hard, sending him tumbling to the floor. Only then did Jiang Xinbai turn back to lock the door.

"Help! Help!"

Jiang Xinbai frowned at him, thought for a moment, then pulled the remaining toilet paper from the simple metal dispenser. Kneeling down, he twisted the paper roll and shoved it into Peter's mouth. Peter's cries for help turned into strange, ambiguous, incomprehensible "ah-ah-ung-ung" sounds.

Jiang Xinbai stood up and gave him a few punches and kicks. Peter howled in pain.

With his upper body bound by the belt, his body wedged between the toilet and the wall, and his legs unable to stretch out, Peter had no chance to even roll halfway over and stand up. He could only take the beating passively.

Occasionally, when someone came into the restroom, Peter would howl even louder. Jiang Xinbai played along, saying, "Brother, you sound like you're enjoying it. Want me to go harder, huh?"

Then Peter would let out an even more genuine, louder scream.

"You sick pervert. Did my little brother fuck you good, huh?"

Jiang Xinbai vented his anger with punches and kicks, and soon the human punching bag was sobbing and crying.

Not long after, Jiang Xinbai's phone vibrated. He figured it must be Li Zihan urging him to come home. If he answered, there’d be no end to it; if he ignored it, she’d only worry more. So he simply didn’t pick up. After all, if Li Zihan thought he was busy, she wouldn’t call again.

But the phone kept ringing, vibrating persistently, as if it would keep going until he answered. Irritated, Jiang Xinbai stopped, took a few breaths, and pulled out his phone. He froze.

It was Yang Guangsheng.

He glanced at Peter, thought for a moment, then shoved his head and shoulders into the toilet, closed the lid, trapping Peter’s head and shoulders inside like a Venus flytrap, and sat on top to keep him pinned. Peter’s wails grew louder, echoing, and he struggled.

"Quiet down," Jiang Xinbai said, giving him a hard kick. "Or I’ll use a pump on your ass later."

Peter fell silent, only unable to control his heavy, sobbing breaths, nasal and choked. Jiang Xinbai steadied his own breathing and answered the call.

"Xiao Yang."

"Xiao Bai, why didn’t you answer my call?" Yang Guangsheng’s voice was lazy and hoarse, followed by a yawn. His voice replayed those scenes in Jiang Xinbai’s mind.

"....." Jiang Xinbai covered the microphone with his palm to block out the noise and whispered, "I was about to sleep."

Yang: "Huh? Already home?"

Jiang: "Mm."

Yang Guangsheng sniffled, his voice muffled as if his face was buried in a pillow. "What’s that weird whooshing sound on your end?"

Jiang Xinbai looked down at Peter and said, "It’s the air conditioner. My AC is faulty."

"Oh." The rustling of blankets came from Yang Guangsheng’s side. "If it’s faulty, replace it. Give me your address, and I’ll have someone send you a new one tomorrow. How big is your room? Do you want a wall-mounted or a floor-standing one?"

"... Are you starting to treat me the same way you treat your so-called friends, Xiao Yang?" Jiang emphasized, "I’m your subordinate."

Yang Guangsheng said he didn’t mess around with subordinates. But they had just messed around. Hearing this, Yang Guangsheng wasn’t embarrassed; instead, he laughed softly. "You kissed your boss first, Xiao Bai."

↫────────────────∰───────────────↬

TL/ᴇᴅɪᴛɪɴɢ/ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ/ʟᴏᴄᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: Ꮆ𝓇𝒾𝓂𝓂Ή𝒶𝓃𝑒𝓊𝓁

The bulb needed replacing.

Chaoxi glanced up at the ceiling, then hurriedly stripped off his pajamas and underwear. His hands were sticky with the shameful residue of semen.

Perhaps his mind had gone awry from too much boredom - he’d actually had such a bizarre and eerie wet dream, even masturbating in his sleep… Chaoxi turned on the faucet to wash his hands, frowning at his reflection in the mirror. He’d never had a history of sleepwalking.

“How pathetic, Li Chaoxi. Are you that desperate?”

After muttering to himself and finishing washing his hands, Chaoxi noticed his body still felt sticky, as if a thin layer of moisture clung to his skin. It had been like this for days - he often found tacky traces on himself. He ran his hands over his body, where small bluish-purple spots scattered across his skin, extending into his pubic hair.

They looked like insect bites but didn’t itch.

Chaoxi had considered asking Shen Hui to take a look, but the thought of exposing his lower body to the very person from his wet dream made him dismiss the idea.

He was afraid Shen Hui would laugh at him.

Just remembering how Shen Hui had gripped his legs in the dream made Chaoxi’s entire body flush with heat, his inner depths tightening faintly.

“What am I even doing?” Chaoxi shook his head, cutting off his own internal monologue.

Maybe all he needed was a dehumidifier and a way to renovate and thoroughly clean this old dorm room. Chaoxi stepped into the bathtub, turning on the showerhead to rinse off quickly before heading to work. But as soon as he turned it on, the showerhead sputtered and sprayed out streams of thick, milky-white water. Chaoxi nearly slipped and fell in the tub, the sticky, cloudy liquid covering his body. It smelled sweet and fishy, almost like…

Chaoxi hurriedly wiped the slimy fluid from his face. When he looked up again, the water had returned to normal. Warm water poured steadily from the showerhead as if nothing had happened, washing away the mucus on his body.

“Disgusting…”

What was that? Mold buildup? Chaoxi stared, puzzled, as the liquid slid off his fingertips, feeling nauseated as he began washing himself.

Probably just old pipes. It seemed the entire bathroom needed replacing, Chaoxi told himself.

He ended up showering three times before he could somewhat shake off the disgust of being sprayed with strange liquid first thing in the morning.

For breakfast, he drank coffee and ate the eggs Village Chief Huang had given him, along with a few slices of toast. The bizarre wet dream that had frightened him last night still troubled him intermittently.

Distractedly, Chaoxi opened the window to let sunlight into the room, but unfortunately, it was gloomy outside today. Thick, pale purple clouds gathered overhead, as if heavy rain could start at any moment.

The damp air made Chaoxi frown. A drop of water fell from above, splashing onto his cheek. Chaoxi touched his face - it was that same repulsive stickiness. He pulled his head back inside, closing the window and drawing the curtains.

Not in the best mood, another new day had begun.

As usual, Chaoxi rode his bicycle to the police station, wondering how much longer until his next day off to go down the mountain. How many days had he been on duty now?

But before he could calculate the exact date, Chaoxi noticed that Dusk Village today was quieter and more silent than ever before.

The villagers who should have been working in the fields at this hour were nowhere to be seen.

The fields remained lush and green, but there was no one in sight.

Where had everyone gone?

Chaoxi had just arrived at the police station when he found the answer. The villagers, wearing conical hats, along with Village Chief Huang, were gathered in front of the station. Each of them faced the station, their backs turned to him, standing motionless and arranged in neat, orderly rows.

Chaoxi braked sharply, the screeching sound finally causing the villagers to turn around. Their movements were eerily synchronized.

Brushing away the goosebumps on his neck, Chaoxi quickly dismounted his bicycle and asked, "What's going on?"

"We're here to file a report, Officer Li," Village Chief Huang said, stepping forward with a squinting smile.

Such a grand display just to file a report? Chaoxi glanced at the villagers. Aside from Village Chief Huang, everyone stared at him expressionlessly, their faces blank and their dull, sunken eyes unmoving.

"A report?" Chaoxi forced himself to focus on Village Chief Huang.

"Officer Li, this is Uncle Axian," Village Chief Huang called over one of the elderly men wearing a conical hat. His face was similarly wrinkled and dry, his head shaped as if it had been kneaded unevenly, with features that were sparse and flat.

Chaoxi had been here for a few days now, but he still found himself sometimes unable to remember the villagers' faces. He could recall their names, nicknames, even who was married to whom, but if asked what someone looked like, he simply couldn't picture them.

Uncle Axian stood before him, mouth agape as if trying to speak but unable to form words.

"You know Uncle Axian's wife, Xiufen, right? They often farm near your dormitory, the one who greets you in the mornings," Village Chief Huang continued, his smile unwavering.

Chaoxi remembered the elderly woman who always stood in the fields wearing a conical hat and greeted him in the mornings. He hadn't seen her for the past two days.

"Axian says she went into the woods to gather bamboo shoots yesterday and never returned. She was gone all night," Village Chief Huang said with a laugh, patting Uncle Axian gently on the back.

Uncle Axian opened his mouth, his few remaining teeth making him look like a fledgling bird begging for food as he let out a few "ah, ah, ah" sounds. Then, his flat face crumpled, and he burst into loud, wailing sobs.

"It's alright, it's alright, don't worry. Officer Li will help us find Xiufen," Village Chief Huang continued to smile, comforting Uncle Axian with concern before looking up at Chaoxi.

All of them were staring at Chaoxi, including Uncle Axian, who had just been wailing inconsolably. Despite his heartbroken appearance, there were no tear stains on his face. Like the other villagers, he smelled of earth.

Chaoxi's stomach churned, a sudden wave of nausea washing over him.

"Right, Officer Li Chaoxi?" Village Chief Huang called back his attention.

"Ah... yes," Chaoxi clenched his fists, inwardly scolding himself for the feeling that had just surfaced.

He comforted the tearless Uncle Axian, "Don't worry, Uncle Axian, we'll find Aunt Xiufen."

Uncle Axian rubbed his eyes and nodded repeatedly, continuing to make choked sobbing sounds, but it was as if all the moisture in his body had been drained - not a single tear could be squeezed out.

"Yes, yes, we'll help," the villagers chimed in one after another.

Watching the scene before him, a sense of detachment lingered ambiguously in Chaoxi's mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was participating in a poorly performed play.

But thinking this way was truly too much. Chaoxi felt that he was the one who was truly clumsy. He shook his head - now was not the time to dwell on such thoughts.

Soon, Chaoxi began investigating the areas Aunt Xiufen frequently visited among the villagers and organized teams to search for her.

Suddenly, the day became busy.

As he prepared to go out searching for Aunt Xiufen with a flashlight and raincoat, Chaoxi remembered how just yesterday he had complained to Shen Hui about having nothing to do at the police station and feeling utterly idle. He never expected something would happen today. He really shouldn’t have spoken carelessly.

“Great, we finally have something to do,” Village Chief Huang said with a beaming smile to Chaoxi before they left.

Rain began to fall from the sky.

Chaoxi wiped the rainwater from his face. Whether it was the lingering effects of last night’s nightmare or the shadow of being frightened by the filth in the showerhead this morning, he couldn’t help but feel that even the rain in the village smelled fishy and felt sticky to the touch.

Today’s weather was a stark contrast to the clear skies of the past two days. The dark, thick clouds loomed overhead, and the raindrops fell heavily and urgently. Early in the morning, they had to don heavy raincoats and boots, and everyone carried a flashlight to navigate through the forest smoothly.

The villagers enthusiastically gathered to help search for the missing Aunt Xiufen. Chaoxi divided the group of thin, elderly villagers into several teams to conduct the search.

The villagers cooperated well with Chaoxi’s instructions, but the lively atmosphere made him somewhat uneasy. It was as if everyone was relieved to finally have something else to do, seeing him busy as a result.

'Great, we finally have something to do.'

Not only Village Chief Huang had said this to him, but almost every villager he met would utter the same phrase.

The most painful part of work is having nothing to do, so having something to do is naturally good. Yet, no matter how Chaoxi thought about it, it felt inappropriate. How could someone’s disappearance be described as a good thing?

Chaoxi followed Uncle Axian to the area where Aunt Xiufen usually gathered bamboo shoots to search for her.

“Xiufen - Zhang Xiufen-”

Calls for Aunt Xiufen’s name echoed through the forest. Uncle Axian shouted the most vigorously, but each call sounded devoid of emotion, without a trace of anxiety or sorrow, like a repeatedly played answering machine.

Maybe they were just tired, or perhaps some people were naturally like this.

“Xiufen - Zhang Xiufen-” Chaoxi joined in the calls. Every time he shouted, the villagers would follow suit.

The bamboo forest was dark, damp, and cold on this rainy day. The crisscrossing bamboo branches resembled human arms, and occasionally, their shadows could be mistaken for people. They had to use flashlights to search carefully.

The rain poured down in torrents, sometimes heavy, sometimes light, and the temperature was so cold that even a grown man like him began to shiver.

“I’m really worried Aunt Xiufen won’t make it through such heavy rain. We need to hurry,” Chaoxi said anxiously to Village Chief Huang beside him as he shone his flashlight on the grass on the ground.

Village Chief Huang nodded. His conical hat obscured his face, making his expression invisible. He was doing the same thing as Chaoxi. It might have been just a coincidence, but when Chaoxi aimlessly shone his flashlight in a certain direction, Village Chief Huang did the same, as did the other villagers following him.

It was as if they were mimicking his actions.

Chaoxi swallowed hard, suppressing a wave of nausea, and continued speaking to himself, “Perhaps we should consider going down the mountain to seek help.”

"Go down the mountain?" Village Chief Huang said, "Down the mountain, down the mountain, down the mountain." Like a skipping record.

"Right, if we still haven't found her by dusk." Chaoxi looked at Village Chief Huang. He and the villagers were all bowing their heads, a sea of conical hats facing him, no one lifting their heads to speak to him.

Chaoxi felt cold again. He didn't like this feeling. He called out, "Village Chief Huang?"

Only then did Village Chief Huang slowly raise his head. Chaoxi was afraid he'd see a livid face, but beneath the conical hat was just that wrinkled, withered face, wearing a kindly, amiable smile.

"Let's put in a bit more effort to search. We'll definitely find her before dusk," Village Chief Huang said to Chaoxi.

The villagers behind him nodded in agreement, and everyone started moving again. For a moment, the bamboo grove was filled with the beams of flashlights.

"Xiufen - Zhang Xiufen-"

The shouts rose and fell once more. Chaoxi didn't say much else, just privately planned to contact people down the mountain for backup. How long had it been since he last contacted his colleagues?

Chaoxi's memory was like watercolor paint smudged on paper. Just as he was seriously trying to recall, he suddenly noticed several patches of flattened grass behind the bamboo grove, as if someone had passed through.

This was it. Chaoxi's spirits lifted. Following those footprints, he ventured deeper into the woods. It seemed as if heaven was helping him too - the rain stopped just then, making it easier for him to see the clues.

Chaoxi followed the footprints, only to end up circling within the woods.

If those were Aunt Xiufen's footprints, that would be really strange, Chaoxi thought, because he was following the old woman's steps, wandering aimlessly through the woods, meaninglessly tracing figure eights around a few tall trees.

When Chaoxi returned to his starting point again, he felt confused. Because along the way, he hadn't seen any footprints leading out of the woods. So either Aunt Xiufen had circled around and then turned into a bird and flown away, or she was still inside.

But Chaoxi didn't see her.

Maybe he'd missed something. Chaoxi entered the woods again, but the more he circled, the more something felt off. He lowered his head, staring at the flattened, muddy ground beneath him, and stepped onto it.

His foot looked so small in that hollow. It seemed like a very, very large footprint. Could Aunt Xiufen's feet really be that exaggeratedly big?

No matter how he thought about it, it was impossible...

Chaoxi stood with his head bowed in the mud, frowning. An idea surfaced in his mind: leave.

Taking a deep breath, Chaoxi turned to leave, but his gaze caught sight of a conical hat he hadn't noticed at all before, now hanging conspicuously on a tree branch.

The conical hat dangled from a withered branch, right about at Chaoxi's head height. He should have noticed it when he passed by, but he truly hadn't seen it earlier.

Chaoxi walked toward the tree with the hanging conical hat. He glanced at it - the hat only had a few water droplets on it, as if it had just been placed there.

He took down the conical hat but noticed a hole in the tree trunk. After he removed the hat, perhaps wind blew into it, making a strange, wailing sound, like a person crying.

Chaoxi knocked on the tree trunk. The wood sounded hollow; the tree was completely dead.

The tree hole wailed again, sounding too much like a human voice, making Chaoxi unable to resist continuing to knock randomly along the trunk.

Knock, knock, thud. Near the rotting roots, it sounded solid.

Chaoxi frowned, shining his flashlight around the tree trunk carefully. When the light hit a severely decayed large hole at the base of the tree, a pale face covered in muddy water and cloudy eyes were revealed inside.

At first, Chaoxi thought someone had casually stuffed an old doll into the tree trunk, until one of those eyes rotated in its socket and its gaze settled on his face.

Chaoxi jerked his hand back in fright, stumbling and falling with the flashlight onto the muddy grass.

"Wuwu..." The tree hole continued to make sounds.

Chaoxi stared at the mud-covered person in the tree hole. Aunt Xiufen, whom they had been searching for all morning, was crammed inside the tree hole, folded up like a dirty rag doll and stuffed into a trunk space even a child would struggle to hide in.

Chaoxi had found her.

Chaoxi's hands were still trembling as he sat on a chair, covered in mud. His pants, soaked with moisture, dripped water onto the clean white tiles, forming dirty puddles.

The image of the old woman crammed into the tree hole remained vivid in his mind - folded in half in an unnatural position, chest pressed against thighs, perfectly fitted into the hollowed-out tree branch.

Chaoxi wiped his face. When he and the villagers worked together to drag Aunt Xiufen out of the tree trunk, he had worried she might tear apart, her organs and intestines spilling out like stuffing from a doll, scattering across the ground.

It was a terrifying thought.

Fortunately, that didn't happen. Aunt Xiufen was still alive, though covered in scrapes and bruises. She seemed mostly dazed, spending most of her time just staring at Chaoxi without saying a word.

When he saw his wife had been found, Uncle Axian cried out "Wah! Wah!" without shedding a single tear, patting Chaoxi's back and even giving him a hug.

The villagers applauded and cheered beside them, like a bunch of rowdy monkeys.

The atmosphere was unnerving to the point of being almost eerie, but Chaoxi didn't have time to dwell on it. He hurriedly carried Aunt Xiufen back to the village to find Shen Hui.

Shen Hui proved especially precious and reliable at that moment. When Chaoxi, covered in filth, carried the nearly weightless Aunt Xiufen to him, Shen Hui didn't act confused like the other villagers. Instead, he immediately took Aunt Xiufen and brought her into a room for treatment.

Meanwhile, Village Chief Huang was still patting his shoulder, saying, "This is truly wonderful. You found Aunt Xiufen. So reliable - Dusk Village can't do without you."

Chaoxi felt deeply uncomfortable. For Village Chief Huang and the villagers, praising him seemed far more important than their own friends and relatives. But of course, Chaoxi said nothing. It seemed too harsh to call the villagers maliciou - perhaps they just didn't know how to react.

Perhaps.

Shen Hui's small clinic was warm. Inside, it didn't feel so cold anymore. At one point, Shen Hui came out once without saying anything, simply handing Chaoxi a thin blanket. Chaoxi was very grateful for this.

Sitting beside him was Uncle Axian, a thin, hunched old man with a vacant stare fixed on the wall. Every few seconds, he would reach up and scratch his face. This action itself wasn't unusual, but when Chaoxi noticed how rhythmic it was - repeating constantly as if programmed - he couldn't help but fixate on it.

Chaoxi wiped his face again, thinking his own paranoia was idiotic.

No longer observing Uncle Axian's behavior, Chaoxi turned to look around the small clinic: white walls, wood-toned decor, warm lighting, and a fish tank on the table.

Chaoxi hadn't noticed the fish tank earlier because he had been shamelessly busy exchanging flirtatious glances with Shen Hui.

Inside the small fish tank, a beautiful little fish swam leisurely, surrounded by fake aquatic plants, with a cute little house at the bottom. It seemed the doctor was taking good care of the fish.

Chaoxi stared at the fish tank, where a few tiny plastic toy fish floated on the surface. He wondered if Shen Hui had placed them there, worried the fish might feel lonely...

"Chaoxi."

Speak of the devil. Chaoxi turned around to see Shen Hui walking out of the room, drying his hands with a towel.

"How is Aunt Xiufen?" Chaoxi asked.

Uncle A-xian beside them was still staring at the wall.

"She has some minor scrapes and hypothermia, but overall, she's fine. Thanks to you finding her so quickly, otherwise who knows how long an elderly person could hold on." Shen Hui smiled gently, glancing at Uncle A-xian.

"Xiufen... Xiufen!" Uncle A-xian seemed to remember his wife only then. He hurriedly stood up, thanked Shen Hui, and went into the small room.

Through the open door, Chaoxi saw Aunt Xiufen sitting upright on the sickbed, surprisingly straight, and she even looked quite alert.

Just as Shen Hui had said, aside from still appearing somewhat unwell, she only seemed to have minor scrapes.

Uncle A-xian knelt by Aunt Xiufen's feet, repeatedly saying, "Thank goodness, thank goodness." Aunt Xiufen, however, stared blankly at the wall, then turned her gaze toward Chaoxi.

Chaoxi was taken aback, but the door was promptly closed by Shen Hui.

"She seems to be in pretty good condition..." Chaoxi said dazedly, somewhat incredulous. He looked at Shen Hui, shadows still clouding his mind. "Do you know that when I found Aunt Xiufen, she was stuffed inside a tree trunk? The trunk was so narrow, and she's an elderly woman - her body was almost folded in half. I thought..."

"It's fine, she's fine." Shen Hui walked up to Chaoxi, crouched down, and comforted him. "You saw it - I fixed her up."

Shen Hui's voice was so gentle, so soothing, yet Chaoxi was still puzzled by his use of the word "fixed," as if Aunt Xiufen were just a doll in need of mending.

"Are you underestimating the elderly? The old folks here have very flexible joints. They've been farming since childhood, so their physical condition is definitely better than you think." Shen Hui brushed it off with a lighthearted laugh, reaching out to pat Chaoxi's knee, easing the tension that had built up.

"I really don't understand how Aunt Xiufen got inside there." Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui, who was crouched before him, utterly perplexed. "She looked like she was stuffed in. Did she say how she got inside?"

Shen Hui shook his head. "The elderly lady was probably frightened, so she isn't talking much."

"I see..." Chaoxi lowered his head, looking at the large hand resting on his knee. Warmth seeped through the damp, cold fabric.

"Don't overthink it either. Aunt Xiufen is getting old - it's likely her mind is deteriorating, causing dementia. She probably had an episode while picking bamboo shoots." Shen Hui explained. "She might have lost her way home for a moment, and with the rain, she crawled into the tree trunk, mistaking it for shelter from the storm."

But that still didn't explain why she looked like she had been stuffed inside. Chaoxi thought to himself. The dream from that night surfaced in his mind - the enormous black shadow creature, clutching a doll wearing a conical hat. Could it be that the doll was...

"There are many elderly folks in Dusk Village, and this sort of thing isn't the first time it's happened. Once, someone was found hanging from a tree after an entire night had passed." Shen Hui gently rubbed Chaoxi's knee with his palm.

"Really?"

"Really. So this place isn't as boring as you imagined, right? When the elderly run into trouble, the rush to help can be quite overwhelming."

"Yeah..." Chaoxi covered his face with his hands. He really was overthinking things.

"It's a good thing you're here, reliable Officer," Shen Hui said, his hand moving upward to gently pinch Chaoxi's thigh.

Chaoxi lifted his face, his lower abdomen tightening for a second. He stared at Shen Hui's impossibly handsome face, those purple eyes appearing both eerie and beautiful under the light, distracting him.

He recalled last night's erotic dream - Shen Hui parting his legs and nestling into his embrace, just like now...

"Chaoxi?" Shen Hui tilted his head, looking at him with amusement.

"S-sorry, your eyes are just so distracting. It feels like my soul is about to be sucked right out," Chaoxi joked. Shen Hui played along, his eyes crinkling into a smile.

"People say that often," Shen Hui patted Chaoxi's thigh.

Chaoxi glanced worriedly at his crotch, closing his legs as Shen Hui stood up, and casually changed the subject: "As much as I hate being idle, it's better if things like this happen less often."

"Bored when you're free, overwhelmed when you're busy - you really are hard to please," Shen Hui reached out and affectionately hooked a finger under Chaoxi's nose.

Chaoxi rubbed his nose, feeling ashamed of the brief tightening deep in his abdomen.

"If Aunt Xiufen is okay, then I should probably head back," Chaoxi made to stand up, but Shen Hui draped a towel over his head, wiping away the rain and grime.

"Why not take a hot shower first? You look freezing and absolutely filthy," Shen Hui said.

With his hair being roughly towel-dried, Chaoxi couldn't stand up immediately. And the moment Shen Hui mentioned he was cold, his body, which had just started to warm up, began to shiver.

He suddenly felt so cold, an aching chill that seeped into his bones.

"Is that okay?"

"Of course."

Shen Hui cupped Chaoxi's face. Chaoxi gazed into his eyes - beautiful irises like purple marbles. His mouth went dry, his heart trembling along with his body.

Hot water cascaded over his head, and Chaoxi felt as if he had come back to life.

Unlike the small, windowless, damp, and dim bathroom in his dorm, Shen Hui's bathroom was spacious and bright, with ample hot water and a clean bathtub.

After washing away the filth from his body, Chaoxi immersed himself in the bathtub filled with hot water. The tension from the earlier shock gradually eased in the comforting warmth.

Chaoxi gently stirred the hot water in the tub. Though the texture still felt oddly slippery, he had nothing left to complain about.

Touching his own face, he recalled the shiver that ran through his body when Shen Hui had cupped it earlier, and felt embarrassed. Thankfully, Shen Hui didn't seem to have noticed. If he knew Chaoxi was constantly fantasizing about him, even turning him into the lead in bizarre erotic dreams, Chaoxi wondered if they could still remain friends.

It must just be loneliness, Chaoxi told himself silently. He stared blankly at the wall, deciding to close his eyes and stop thinking about it.

The horrifying image of Aunt Xiufen stuffed into the tree trunk was no longer so vivid. Though strange, after Shen Hui explained that Aunt Xiufen might have been confused due to dementia or some acute delirium, which led her to stuff herself inside, the whole thing didn't seem as terrifying anymore.

Chaoxi remembered back when he was still a police officer in the city - he had actually encountered similar situations before.

Such incidents. An elderly person goes missing in the middle of the night, walking barefoot for over ten kilometers to a completely unfamiliar place, only to be found in a filthy trash bin; or suddenly vanishing from home, discovered days later in the water tank on the roof of their own building...

Back then, Chaoxi was still a rookie, but fortunately, his partner was experienced and steady.

〝Don’t be nervous, don’t scare yourself, Xiao Xi.〞

A man’s gentle voice echoed in his mind, and Chaoxi recalled how someone had comforted him after a bizarre case. The man’s handsome face wore a kind smile - he always smiled at Chaoxi, looking so relaxed and carefree, so reassuring. It seemed nothing could ever break this man, but...

'Why...?'

Before the handsome face in his memory began to swell and turn purple, Chaoxi opened his eyes. He sat up and splashed hot water on his face. He kept rubbing his stinging eyes, irritated by the water, when something suddenly brushed against the sole of his foot.

"Ugh!" Chaoxi jerked his foot back, staring into the rippling water below. Nothing.

He was really getting more and more jumpy.

Chaoxi shook his head and was about to stand up when his foot was yanked hard again. A cold sweat broke out all over his body as he looked into the bathtub - the hot water had turned pitch black, appearing bottomless.

Instinctively, he scrambled out of the bathtub to escape, but something from inside wrapped around his ankle and dragged him back into the water. Chaoxi struggled but was pulled deeper and deeper. The bathtub was clearly shallow, yet he felt as if he were being dragged into the depths of the ocean, surrounded by darkness, unable to see anything.

Chaoxi tried to swim upward but only sank further. What truly terrified him, however, was the feeling that something was hiding in the darkness - something massive, unnervingly massive.

Chaoxi couldn’t see it; it was just a feeling. There was no scent or sound, yet his primal instincts told him that some enormous entity was pressed right in front of him, observing him in the darkness.

Chaoxi couldn’t breathe. The thing wrapped around his ankle coiled up his legs, and even as he clenched them tightly, it continued to slither between them.

Slippery, sticky tentacles clung like octopus suckers, the intense tugging hurting his skin. Chaoxi struggled, but his limbs were pulled apart. He tensed his thighs and buttocks in panic as the thing began to burrow into the crevice between his buttocks.

Chaoxi cried out, water flooding his nose and mouth. He closed his eyes in agony, then with one final effort, lifted his face upward.

"Cough! Hah..."

Light returned. Chaoxi clung to the edge of the bathtub, sitting perfectly fine inside. The hot water was clear, and he was alone in the tub - no other strange things in sight.

Still shaken, Chaoxi wiped the water from his face until someone knocked on the bathroom door.

"Are you alright, Li Chaoxi?" It was Shen Hui’s voice.

"I’m fine! I’m coming out!" Chaoxi practically tumbled out of the bathtub, not even caring that he was still naked. He opened the door to find Shen Hui standing outside, holding a towel.

"Did something happen?" Shen Hui stared at him, looking concerned.

"Just now, inside..." Chaoxi pointed toward the bathroom.

The bathroom was brightly lit, the bathwater clear, with only a faint trace of steam lingering.

"What's wrong? Are there cockroaches or something in my bathroom?" Shen Hui asked with a look of alarm, apologetically calling out, "Sorry, I make sure to clean thoroughly every day."

"No, it's not that. I just..."

"Had another nightmare?" Shen Hui inquired gently.

"Nightmare?"

"Yeah, you might have fallen asleep. You were in there for so long that I started to worry something had happened to you, so I came to knock and check on you."

"But I was only in there for a little while..."

As Chaoxi turned his head, he noticed the sky outside the window had already grown completely dark. Had it really gotten dark just from him taking a bath?

"What time is it now?"

"Almost dinnertime," Shen Hui replied vaguely.

Chaoxi rubbed his temples. He distinctly remembered it had only just passed noon when he returned, yet the time he spent in the bath felt as if it had been completely severed. How deeply had he slept?

Chaoxi shook his head, water droplets falling to the floor. He stared at the puddles on the ground and his own toes when suddenly, that feeling of being watched by something crept over him again.

He looked up, only to meet Shen Hui's gaze.

Those purple eyes were fixed on his lower abdomen, even lingering on his genitals nestled among the hair. The obvious stare made Chaoxi belatedly realize he was standing there completely naked.

"Great figure, Officer," Shen Hui whistled at just the right moment, breaking the awkward and strange tension.

Chaoxi flushed with embarrassment, about to search for something to cover himself, when a dry towel was already draped over his head.

"Though I don't mind, staying naked might give you a cold," Shen Hui said naturally, beginning to dry Chaoxi's hair for him.

"Sorry, I don't know how I... slept so deeply I lost track."

Giving up the struggle, Chaoxi let Shen Hui towel his hair.

"And had a nightmare?"

It felt too real to be just a nightmare, but Chaoxi nodded anyway. The doctor's words couldn't be wrong.

"You must have been exhausted from searching for Aunt Xiufen today," Shen Hui smiled, thoughtfully offering Chaoxi a reasonable explanation. He wrapped him in the towel and handed him clean clothes to change into.

Wrapped in the towel, Chaoxi looked up at the other man sheepishly.

"By the way, how about having dinner here tonight?" Shen Hui suggested.

"I couldn't possibly impose..." Almost at the same time, Chaoxi caught the aroma of food. His stomach growled, and saliva pooled in his mouth. He missed Shen Hui's cooking deeply - like a well-trained puppy, conditioned by Shen Hui to crave food as soon as mealtime arrived.

Chaoxi had missed out on his lunch today.

"Don't be polite. It's my responsibility to feed you - didn't we agree on that?" Shen Hui crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. He didn't avert his gaze even as Chaoxi dried himself. "Besides, it's an honor to cook for our hero."

"I'm just doing my job."

Chaoxi's words drew a laugh from Shen Hui, sending a ticklish sensation through his abdomen. Chaoxi hoped his face wasn't too red.

Turning his back to Shen Hui, he dressed as quickly as possible, all the while feeling as if Shen Hui's eyes were still glued to him.

But when he turned around, the other man had already walked away.

"Come on."

Shen Hui stood at the end of the hallway, beckoning to him. His figure appeared dark and elongated in the narrow, dimly lit corridor.

Chaoxi ignored that familiar sense of déjà vu and quickly followed, but the splattering sound outside the window caught his attention. The sky wasn’t just dark - it was tinged with a gloomy purple, and it seemed heavy rain had started pouring again outside.

He hoped the rain would stop later. He didn’t want to return to his damp, cold little dormitory soaked through, only to face those strange dreams alone again.

Chaoxi glanced back at the bathroom. Under the light, it appeared bright and clean, with nothing inside.

Don’t be nervous, don’t scare yourself. Chaoxi repeated in his mind the words Sunshine had once used to comfort him, when a large hand suddenly pressed against the back of his neck.

Pressed forward by the hand on his neck, Chaoxi nearly stumbled into the other’s embrace.

“What are you still looking at? Didn’t you say it’s time to eat?”

Chaoxi looked up. Backlit, Shen Hui appeared imposing, his voice flat and steady. For a moment, it sounded devoid of emotion, almost inhuman.

Chaoxi liked Shen Hui - was even deeply drawn to him. Shen Hui was handsome and gentle, but the occasional look in his eyes or the steadiness of his voice would make Chaoxi tense.

Sometimes, Shen Hui didn’t seem so warm. Instead, he felt like this mountain, this village - damp and chilly.

Shen Hui’s other hand rested lightly on Chaoxi’s abdomen.

Chaoxi’s hairs stood on end one by one, as fear and a sense of alienation crept over him for no reason.

He looked up and met Shen Hui’s gaze. For a moment, he actually worried that the other might turn into something else - like the enormous black shadow creature that haunted him in his dreams, clinging to him on the mountain peak.

Breaking this silence and meaningless suspicion was the sound from Chaoxi’s stomach - his gut rumbling.

Shen Hui laughed, the familiar gentleness returning to his face, proving that Chaoxi had just been overthinking again. He really worried that if this continued, he might go mad. Perhaps it was time to find a chance to go down the mountain and see a psychologist.

“Come eat. It’s not good to be hungry.” The hand gripping the back of Chaoxi’s neck finally released, and Shen Hui placed his hand on Chaoxi’s shoulder, warmly ushering him into the dining area.

Shen Hui’s home was typically small but fully equipped. The front housed the clinic and patient rooms, while the back was his living quarters. Every necessary area was present in the small dormitory; he had even managed to squeeze out a cozy little dining space.

Chaoxi sat at the dining table, faced with a spread of hot dishes. The pendant lamp was warm and bright, and the surroundings were filled with a cozy yet indistinct feeling - a strange warmth he found hard to describe.

Chaoxi only felt as if his brain had been relaxed by some kind of anesthetic.

“How are you so good at cooking?” Chaoxi watched as Shen Hui served the food. The aroma made his mouth water, eager to dig in.

“Living alone for so long, how could I survive without some cooking skills?” Shen Hui piled a small mountain of white rice into Chaoxi’s bowl.

“I don’t have any. Work in the city is too busy; I almost always rely on convenience stores.” Chaoxi could only make simple things, like fried eggs. He licked his lips, seemingly casually changing the topic: “Speaking of which, have you never had a girlfriend?”

“No.” Shen Hui didn’t look at him, but Chaoxi saw the corner of his mouth curl up.

Waiting for Shen Hui to prepare the chopsticks and spoon, Chaoxi asked another question: “Boyfriend?” The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it, but there was no taking them back. He scolded himself for asking such a question.

“Not now, either,” Shen Hui replied again.

Chaoxi lowered his head to look at the small mountain of white rice in his bowl, telling himself not to feel happy about such a thing. He picked up his chopsticks, not daring to look up at the other man, and began stuffing the dishes on the table into his mouth. Chaoxi mumbled indistinctly, "How could that be? You're so good-looking, and a doctor too."

The glossy stir-fried leeks and pork liver mixed with rice grains in his mouth tasted delicious, and Chaoxi realized he was truly hungry.

"Just not very interested, I suppose. In most humans," Shen Hui said, his tone flat once again.

Chaoxi found it amusing how Shen Hui used the word "humans." Before he could finish swallowing the food in his mouth, several more hot dishes were added to his bowl. He glanced up at the man who had served him - Shen Hui seemed determined to fatten him up.

"But I find you quite interesting, Li Chaoxi," Shen Hui said with a smile, making it hard to tell how sincere his words were.

Chaoxi felt he should drop the topic, but curiosity got the better of him. "What's interesting about me? I'm just like everyone else."

"You're vibrant, full of emotions," Shen Hui said. Chaoxi noticed the doctor's bowl was empty.

"Full of emotions?" Chaoxi laughed. "That's the first time I've heard someone say that about me. My colleagues always say I'm very steady and composed..."

"You hide it inside," Shen Hui interrupted, pointing to his chest.

Chaoxi fell silent, his chopsticks pausing. The quiet lingered for a while until Shen Hui served him more food.

"What's with your obsession with fattening me up like a pig?" Chaoxi said, using humor to break the awkwardness.

"Fattening you up a bit will give you the energy and a strong body for the tasks ahead," Shen Hui ignored his remark, continuing to pile glossy, fragrant, and hot dishes into Chaoxi's bowl. "I don’t want something like an old man squeezing himself into a tree trunk to happen again."

Shen Hui smiled without saying a word, and Chaoxi, resigned, picked up his chopsticks again.

"Why aren't you eating anything yourself?"

"I've already eaten, so you need to finish all of this."

"Unbelievable. And you say you're not fattening me up like a pig. Did you and the villagers conspire to sacrifice and devour me or something in the future?"

"Something like that, but we won't devour you. I'm too fond of you to eat you," the doctor joked earnestly, clutching his chest and winking at Chaoxi.

Chaoxi laughed to cover his embarrassment, hiding his flushed face. He didn't ask any more questions, instead lowering his head to shovel rice into his mouth, bite after bite, until his stomach was full and round.

After dinner, Chaoxi was about to leave and return to his damp, cold, and shabby little dormitory, but Shen Hui lured him to stay with dessert.

Originally planning to say goodbye after dessert, Chaoxi ended up chatting with Shen Hui late into the night. Chaoxi discovered they shared many common interests. Sometimes, he felt as though the doctor had investigated his preferences - whenever Chaoxi casually mentioned a book, Shen Hui could respond fluently.

What Shen Hui said even aligned perfectly with Chaoxi's own thoughts and feelings, making him suspicious that the other man might have mind-reading abilities.

"Why don't you just stay here tonight?" Shen Hui suggested when Chaoxi was about to leave.

For no apparent reason, Chaoxi instinctively wanted to decline the offer, even though he didn't particularly like his own shabby little dormitory. But before he could refuse, heavier rain began pouring outside, making the road nearly invisible.

"What if something urgent comes up in the village?" Chaoxi was still a bit worried.

"Don’t worry, everyone knows you’re here," Shen Hui said.

Chaoxi hesitated, but Shen Hui had already headed into the room first.

"Come in," he said, his voice sounding like a command, wrapped in the rumbling thunder.

'It would be better to go back.'

This thought lingered in his mind. Chaoxi stood still for a while until Shen Hui poked his head out again, holding a game controller, and said to him, "Want to play a round? Li Chaoxi."

Hearing Shen Hui call his name, Chaoxi relaxed again. He turned to look at the familiar joystick, unsure how long it had been since he last touched such entertainment. He snapped back to reality and nodded at Shen Hui, then turned and followed him into the room.

The moment he stepped into the room, Chaoxi couldn’t understand why he had insisted on going home earlier.

Shen Hui’s room was clean and tidy. Besides the basic furniture, there was a large bed inside. The simple white decor felt familiar to Chaoxi, as if he had seen a similar room before.

"Sit here," Shen Hui said, sitting on a beanbag chair in front of the TV and patting the spot beside him enthusiastically.

Chaoxi walked over and sat down, his thigh almost touching Shen Hui’s. Today, the doctor smelled like flowers and herbs. Chaoxi stared at their pressed-together legs, feeling an inappropriate sense of delight, but he pretended it wasn’t there.

Chaoxi hid his emotions, just as Shen Hui had said...

"Do you know how to play? Zelda," Shen Hui said, shoving the controller into his hands.

That familiar feeling surfaced again - not just a sense of déjà vu, but as if he were reliving days from the past, the days when Rì Huī was still alive.

"I do. I used to play often with a colleague," Chaoxi said.

"Oh? A good colleague?"

"Yeah, his name was Rì Huī. He was once my best friend."

'And someone I liked.'

"You look a lot like him, you know?" Chaoxi said, unable to stop talking. He suddenly realized why the room felt so familiar - it was very similar to Rì Huī’s room, down to the game they were playing.

Chaoxi stared at Shen Hui, feeling confused.

"So, was he also a drop-dead gorgeous super hunk?" Shen Hui asked, leaning toward Chaoxi as he casually set up the game.

"Yeah..."

"But what do you mean by ‘once’?" Shen Hui asked casually, almost resting his head on Chaoxi’s shoulder.

Shen Hui’s body warmth made Chaoxi’s throat tighten. He stiffly held the game controller, unsure if he was ready to talk about Rì Huī. As if seeing through his thoughts, Shen Hui reached out and took Chaoxi’s hand, guiding him to operate the controller.

"Let’s start. Move your character, Li Chaoxi."

The game began, and the earlier topic was forgotten. Chaoxi’s character wandered aimlessly through the rain-soaked mountain forest.

Shen Hui isn’t Rì Huī, Chaoxi reminded himself, yet he didn’t move his thigh away from Shen Hui’s.

Just a little longer.

Shen Rì Huī was Chaoxi’s senior, both in school and during his rookie days at the police station.

Rì Huī was a tall, handsome, reliable, and cheerful man. He never lost his temper with Chaoxi or anyone else when they made mistakes, instead calmly and patiently teaching everyone the right way to do things.

Everyone at the police station liked Rì Huī, and Chaoxi was no exception—except his feelings ran a little deeper.

Chaoxi would notice the little details about Sunshine that no one else paid attention to - like how Sunshine would silently pick at the label on his drink cup with his thumb when he was anxious, how he always deliberately picked out the scallions when eating, how he would clutch his stomach when laughing, and how he was always especially gentle when treating him...

The sunshine seemed to know all his worries, understood his sensitivity and unease, and would stand behind him offering support whenever Chaoxi needed it.

It was hard for Chaoxi not to like Sunshine, not to develop feelings beyond friendship for him. He believed he shared a wonderful rapport with Sunshine; they were partners who understood each other best, connected by a special emotional bond.

"That's what I originally thought…"

The sound of the television being turned off interrupted Chaoxi's thoughts. He groggily lifted his head to see the man who looked so much like Sunshine walking toward him, gently taking the game controller and handing him a cup of hot tea.

Chaoxi stared at the tea in his hand. Its color was somewhat murky, like white muddy water. He looked up in confusion, remembering that just a moment ago they had been playing video games - how had he suddenly started recounting these old memories?

"Drink some hot tea first; it's good for you," the man said, his palm gently stroking Chaoxi's knee, warm and soft. The man's tone was just like Sunshine's.

"Hurry, drink, Li Chaoxi."

"Shen Hui," Chaoxi remembered the other's name.

"Yes?" Shen Hui's expression was kind and gentle.

"Why am I telling you all this? It must be boring," Chaoxi wiped his face, unsure of what he was doing.

"It's not boring. I said I enjoy getting to know you," Shen Hui replied, his large hand moving from Chaoxi's knee to pat his thigh lightly, urging him to drink the tea.

Chaoxi gazed at Shen Hui, obediently lowered his head, and took a sip of the hot tea. The tea was strong, with a hint of sweet, fishy flavor and the earthy taste of herbal medicine, but it warmed him as he drank, the heat gathering in his lower abdomen - a strange sensation.

Shen Hui wore a satisfied expression, which made Chaoxi feel light.

"You originally thought that, and then? What happened between you two?" Shen Hui continued to ask.

"I… I noticed my feelings for Rì Huī. I couldn't control them, but I didn't know… if I told him honestly, would it harm our friendship? What if Rì Huī left me because of it?" Chaoxi went on, his ears burning, his body sweating, feeling utterly uncomfortable. It was as if his body was resisting talking about this, yet his mouth couldn't stop.

Shen Hui's beautiful purple eyes were filled with a watery glow, encouraging him to continue.

"I didn't know what to do, so I chose to hide my feelings and interact with him as usual. That way, Rì Huī would still be my closest friend, my best partner. As long as things stayed the same, I was content…"

"Sometimes I really don't know whether to call you hard to satisfy or easy to satisfy," Shen Hui sighed, his gaze fixed on Chaoxi, full of affection.

Chaoxi didn't understand Shen Hui's meaning.

"And then? What happened between you?" Shen Hui pressed on, his expression as if he had heard this story countless times before, yet still urging the storyteller to reveal the climax and the ending.

"And then…" The mug in Chaoxi's hand was taken away by Shen Hui. This time, all he held was Shen Hui's hand. "One day, Rì Huī called me a few times before his shift. I happened to miss the calls, thinking I could talk to him at work."

Chaoxi wiped his face again, beginning to fidget. What followed was the part he least wanted to recall.

He remembered it vividly, that cold and damp weather, like a rainy day in Dusk Village. The heater they had bought together for the police station roared loudly, and the station was unusually quiet, without even a single phone call.

Chaoxi saw the mug Rì Huī always used, placed neatly on the desk alongside his phone - almost too neatly - but Rì Huī himself was nowhere to be seen.

The bad feeling came suddenly, like an instinct, and he just knew something terrible had happened.

Chaoxi remembered standing before the tightly closed door of the break room the next moment, unable to ignore the dark, clutter-like shadow behind the frosted glass. He remembered how loud his heartbeat was, how cold his body felt, and then he reached out and opened the break room door. Something behind it swayed with the movement.

Rì Huī was hanging there, like a decoration. His swollen, bluish face looked both familiar and strange, almost unrecognizable. Rì Huī’s eyes met Chaoxi’s, empty and vacant.

“The memories after that are a bit hazy. I only remember how heavy Rì Huī was - how could one person be so heavy?” Chaoxi said, hanging his head as the memories flashed through his mind like pages being rapidly flipped. “I tried to save him, pressing hard on his chest, but he didn’t respond.”

It was too late.

Someone nearby shouted, over and over.

“I couldn’t save him. Rì Huī just left so suddenly,” Chaoxi said, gripping Shen Hui’s hand tightly. “Rì Huī’s death felt like… he just decided on a whim to end his life today, so he did it, without even a sign or a note to explain.”

Shen Hui squeezed Chaoxi’s hand back firmly.

“Later, when we investigated, we found out that Rì Huī had been struggling with depression all along, but he never mentioned it to his colleagues, or even to me,” Chaoxi said. “It’s hard to imagine someone who usually smiled so brightly could have such a problem. I’d heard Rì Huī complain a few times about the stress of being a police officer, but I thought it was just casual venting between us.”

Chaoxi laughed, but it sounded more like crying.

“I thought our relationship was different from others, but it seems it wasn’t. I didn’t understand Rì Huī at all…” Afterward, Chaoxi felt deeply guilty and despised his own self-importance.

“He kept secrets, and you keep secrets too. Humans…” Shen Hui sighed, playing with Chaoxi’s fingers between his own.

“Sometimes, late at night, I keep thinking - when I was worrying about trivial romantic matters, afraid Rì Huī would leave me, was he suffering from depression? When he called me, was he trying to ask for help? If I had answered the phone, would the outcome have been different?”

Chaoxi had too many questions, but there was no chance for answers anymore.

A drop of water fell on the back of his hand. When Chaoxi snapped back to reality, his eyes were filled with tears, and he hurriedly wiped them away.

“Sorry for rambling on about the past and crying like this. It’s so useless…”

“No need to apologize. I said I like getting to know you. It’s really good that you’re willing to share these hidden emotions,” Shen Hui said without a hint of impatience, his expression genuinely joyful.

Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui. The man squatting between his legs really did resemble Rì Huī. Chaoxi knew it was despicable, but when Shen Hui, with that face, said to him, "Don't blame yourself too much. None of this is your fault."

As if by compensation, Chaoxi breathed a sigh of relief, as though he had been forgiven by Sunshine himself.

Chaoxi didn't know how Shen Hui did it - how those secrets buried deep in his chest were so easily unearthed and laid bare for examination. He should have felt uneasy, vulnerable, or uncomfortable, but at this moment, he only felt relaxed.

"Does it feel better to say it out loud?"

As if reading Chaoxi's thoughts, Shen Hui grinned at him, revealing a row of white teeth.

Chaoxi nodded honestly. In the blink of an eye, tears followed, dripping down. He wanted to wipe them away, but Shen Hui used the pad of his thumb to catch his tears.

The teardrop glistened like a precious crystal on the man's finger. Chaoxi watched as Shen Hui placed his thumb into his mouth, licking the tears with his crimson tongue and sucking them with his thin lips.

It was such an inappropriate gesture. Chaoxi's rationality screamed, but he couldn't look away. Through Shen Hui, Chaoxi could almost taste the saltiness of his own tears.

"That's great, Xiao Xi."

Shen Hui's voice was both deep and resonant. When Shen Hui called him Xiao Xi, Chaoxi suddenly grew restless. By the time he realized it, he and Shen Hui were already too close, yet Chaoxi didn't want to pull away.

After Rì Huī left, Chaoxi hadn't broken down emotionally or become hysterical. It was just that everyone could see he wasn't himself.

Losing an excellent colleague and partner so suddenly, it was only natural for him to react this way. His superiors and colleagues could understand, but Chaoxi's mourning period was far longer than anyone else's.

Everyone thought it was because Chaoxi and Rì Huī were such good friends, and because he was the first to discover the body, that he was in such deep grief. Only Chaoxi knew it wasn't just that. Rì Huī had never been just a friend to him...

"After that, I could hardly continue working in my original unit. My superiors thought temporarily transferring me to a small rural village like this would be better for my condition. I didn't refuse." Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui before him, speaking in a calm tone. His gaze unconsciously lingered on Shen Hui's lips - those thin, rosy lips.

The shape of those lips was similar to Rì Huī's, beautiful to the point of unreality.

"Good thing you didn't refuse. You even got lost on the way up." As if mimicking Chaoxi's actions, Shen Hui's gaze also rested on Chaoxi's lips. Those violet eyes, like the sky over Dusk Village, conveyed an unmistakable message.

Chaoxi couldn't help but wonder if it was because he himself was showing the same look.

"Lost..." Chaoxi repeated Shen Hui's words. Shen Hui's palm was warm, and it distracted him. "How did you know I got lost?" Chaoxi frowned, trying to focus.

"You told me."

"Did I?"

"Yes, Xiao Xi." Shen Hui laughed.

He shouldn't question Shen Hui's words. Chaoxi thought to himself, maybe he really had mentioned it. Recalling the journey up the mountain, he had driven alone. The road to Dusk Village was much farther than he had imagined. He might have gotten lost. Along the way, people told ghost stories, trying to scare him into a better mood, but it only gave Chaoxi nightmares for a while. And then, he...

“So you made it here in the end.” Shen Hui interrupted Chaoxi’s thoughts.

“Yes.” Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui.

Right, he had arrived safely at Dusk Village. Village Chief Huang had come to welcome him, so warmly, but where was the car? Where had he parked the important official vehicle?

“And then you met me.” Shen Hui interrupted Chaoxi’s thoughts again. Chaoxi’s face was forcibly lifted by Shen Hui. “Right?”

Chaoxi’s gaze met Shen Hui’s once more. Shen Hui’s smile was gentle and kind. He thought of Rì Huī - these two men had very similar smiles, which made him nostalgic.

“Right.”

“Then did meeting me make you happy?”

Shen Hui asked again. Chaoxi’s left hand was grasped by his right, their fingers interlacing.

“Yes…” Chaoxi answered honestly. At this moment, he seemed unable to restrain his true feelings: “Because you really, really resemble him.” His throat felt dry, his voice choked.

Shen Hui took a deep breath, pursing his lips. Chaoxi thought Shen Hui might be displeased, but Shen Hui looked like a contented cat.

“Sorry, that must sound strange.”

“Not strange. What matters is that you like it.” Shen Hui’s tone was soft, his gaze never leaving Chaoxi’s face. Shen Hui lifted Chaoxi’s hand to his lips, bowing his head to kiss his fingers.

The soft, damp sensation made Chaoxi tremble. Tiny goosebumps rose on his skin along with warm sweat. He couldn’t think; the sticky feeling from those strange spring dreams at night crept over his body once more.

“Now tell me, you like me, don’t you?” Shen Hui asked in a low voice.

Chaoxi opened his mouth, as if only this could release the heat inside him. The hand gripping the back of his neck pressed his entire body downward until his nose was almost touching Shen Hui’s.

Chaoxi clutched Shen Hui’s clothes with both hands. Shen Hui’s warm breath brushed his face, intimate enough to send shivers down his spine.

“Do you like me, Li Chaoxi?”

Shen Hui asked again, his voice calm and steady.

'Don’t answer.'

A rejecting thought sprang up in Chaoxi’s mind again, like some kind of alarm bell, but the voice grew very faint. Instead, he heard a hum escape his own throat, honestly expressing: “I… like you.”

Chaoxi watched as the man’s lips curved into a smile. Though it resembled Rì Huī’s smile, for some reason, what surfaced in Chaoxi’s mind was the image of a massive black shadow creature standing at the far end of the mountain ridge. That black shadow creature kept trembling, approaching him. Its pitch-black face had nothing, yet one could clearly sense a terrifying joy…

Chaoxi gasped sharply, desperately pulling his thoughts back.

“Shen Hui.”

“Hmm?” Shen Hui’s responding voice was deep and soft.

“It’s… it’s late… shouldn’t we sleep?” Chaoxi struggled to force the words from his throat. His gaze couldn’t tear away from Shen Hui’s eyes; he felt as if he were drowning in those pools of purple.

'Don’t sink in.'

That voice still kept bubbling up in his mind, but when Shen Hui, with that face so reminiscent of sunshine, said, “I like you too, Xiao Xi,” Chaoxi trembled.

To say he wasn’t happy would be deceiving himself. This was something he had longed for but never received - Rì Huī couldn’t give it to him, but Shen Hui did. As if knowing exactly what he wanted, Shen Hui always gave it at the right time.

The back of Chaoxi’s neck was pressed forward, and those rosy lips finally kissed him, just as soft, damp, and wonderful as he had imagined.

The voice in his head finally ceased. Chaoxi closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, their lips parted as well. Chaoxi lingered, licking his own lips, and for a moment, only the sound of his and Shen Hui’s breathing remained in the air.

“Let’s not sleep, Li Chaoxi. Let’s do something else, like two humans who like each other…” Shen Hui’s voice danced against Chaoxi’s eardrums, seeping into his mind. “How about it?”

Shen Hui’s tone and volume were so gentle that Chaoxi felt as if he were being cradled and softly coaxed.

“Like each other…” Chaoxi murmured.

“Yes,” Shen Hui said, his eyes shimmering with moisture.

Chaoxi was deeply drawn in. He heard himself say yes, his body leaning forward almost involuntarily. By the time he regained his senses, he had already cupped Shen Hui’s face and kissed him.

He sank into that pool of purple, not even a finger left outside.

Shen Hui let him kiss freely. Chaoxi could feel the man’s arms encircling his waist, lifting him from the sofa.

It was hard to imagine that the seemingly gentle and frail doctor could lift him so effortlessly. Chaoxi couldn’t dwell on it too much - he was laid on the bed, and Shen Hui climbed over him, covering him like a black shadow creature.

Chaoxi found the scene all too familiar. Everything felt just like that night’s dream. Could it be he was dreaming again?

“Xiao Xi, look at me.”

Yet Shen Hui’s fingers gripping his chin reminded him this was no dream. The man’s slender middle and ring fingers slipped into his mouth, gently pinching the tip of his tongue.

Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui. His tongue was held, a slight pain tingling, but his lower body reacted in response.

“Do you like a little pain?” Shen Hui said. He withdrew his saliva-dampened fingers, a transparent, sticky strand of fluid stretching from his fingertips to Chaoxi’s face. “Adorable.”

Chaoxi wiped the saliva from his face with the back of his hand, while Shen Hui removed his shirt in front of him. The man’s skin was a healthy shade of white, his muscle definition reminiscent of magazine models Chaoxi had once seen - provocative, perfect to the point of unreality.

Backlit, Shen Hui appeared tall and imposing, his shadow pressing down on Chaoxi as if bearing weight. Chaoxi felt an inexplicable sense of oppression. Yet Shen Hui’s smiling expression was so tender. He reached out to undress Chaoxi, stripping him until he was completely bare, his body fully exposed before Shen Hui.

Shen Hui extended his index finger, tracing a path down Chaoxi’s chest before lingering on his abdomen.

“You’re truly perfect, Li Chaoxi.”

↫────────────────∰───────────────↬

TL/ᴇᴅɪᴛɪɴɢ/ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ/ʟᴏᴄᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: Ꮆ𝓇𝒾𝓂𝓂Ή𝒶𝓃𝑒𝓊𝓁

"Is this lunar rock?"

"It's Artificial Lunar Rock."

The boy clasped his hands together, gripping Chen Yin's hand tightly.

"Professor Eon, can I keep it as a memento? I'm really interested in astronomy."

"No." Chen Yin withdrew his hand, leaving no room for hope.

"Alright." The boy replied with a pout, placing the earring into Chen Yin's palm, his fingertips lightly scratching his hand.

Chen Yin ignored him, put the earring back on, and restarted the car. The car fell back into dead silence. Chen Ye bit at a piece of dry skin on his lip. Were his tactics too childish?

Wasn't Chen Yin supposed to be a "repressed gay man who'd been holding back for years"? How could he show no reaction at all to his advances? He glanced sideways at Chen Yin, his gaze landing on the man's slender hands resting on the steering wheel, then noticing the watch on his wrist. His eyes widened – the watch face was half stars, half moon. It was actually the DB25 Starry Sky Observatory Tourbillon edition.

Earlier this year, he had asked the old man for this very watch. The old man had promised to give it to him as an eighteenth birthday gift, but who could have guessed that before that day arrived, the old man had passed away. Envy gnawed at him, and he wished he could snatch the watch right off Chen Yin's wrist. He crossed his arms.

"Brother, your watch is so cool. Did you buy it yourself?"

Chen Yin gave a noncommittal "Hmm."

"Did you buy it in Russia?"

"Hmm."

So rich. He thought resentfully. Even without the old man's inheritance, Chen Yin was already wealthy enough. He didn't need more money – it would be put to better use if spent on him.

"Brother, can I take a look at your watch?"

"No." The man refused coldly and reached over to turn on the car radio, probably finding him too noisy.

After listening to a few seconds of boring weather forecast, he couldn't help but twist the dial, switching stations.

《This is KCBC 106.9... San Francisco police are investigating a new teenage homicide, the third local high school student victim in California this year. A police spokesperson stated that the method of this case bears unsettling similarities to the murder of an 18-year-old boy in the Portola District, raising the possibility of a serial killing. The unified school district urges all parents to remain vigilant, especially during the full moon...》

Another homicide? And involving teenagers around his age? What kind of pervert targets teenagers – Slender Man? Remembering the uncensored, bloody photo of the 18-year-old boy's throat circulating on Instagram, Chen Ye felt a chill run down his spine and switched to another channel.

The car soon arrived at their destination. Getting out of the car, Chen Ye hugged his backpack and followed closely behind Chen Yin. Seeing his presence, the servants who had previously chased him out of the castle looked surprised but, out of deference to Chen Yin, dared not stop or question him.

Chen Zhe Xiong's coffin was no longer in the hall, and of course it wasn't – the space felt empty. As they reached the second floor, he tugged at the hem of Chen Yin's shirt from behind.

"Brother, it's already very late. Can I stay here tonight? There have been homicides in San Francisco recently, and the victims are all teenagers."

Chen Yin paused for a moment but didn't turn around. "Only tonight."

Meaning he would be kicked out first thing tomorrow morning.

"...Got it." Chen Ye darted upstairs, familiar with the route as he headed straight for the largest room at the end of the second floor.

Pushing the door open, he breathed a sigh of relief. The furnishings inside hadn’t changed much, and his precious belongings hadn’t been cleared away by the servants yet. He threw himself onto the bed he’d been dreaming of day and night, hugging his favorite Qiqi squirrel plushie, and let out a long breath as he stared at the ceiling.

So comfortable... It was nothing like the cheap apartment outside.

Thinking of the cramped room he now shared with his mother – where the window wouldn’t shut properly, the corners leaked, and cockroaches roamed the bathroom – made him shudder with discomfort.

He had to find a way to stay here for good. He needed to make Chen Yin develop feelings for him. First pity, then affection.

But this guy didn’t seem like a normal human being with empathy. What should he do? Burying his face in the squirrel plushie’s belly, he pondered, but drowsiness washed over him faster than any ideas. He yawned.

Buzz– his phone vibrated.

💬: ⦍Lusian, where on earth have you gone? Weren’t we supposed to attend summer school together? I told you, I’d look out for you and help you sort out your college tuition. You don’t need to worry about anything.⦎

Swiping away the new message and ignoring the video call request that popped up, Chen Ye decided to keep playing dead.

He didn’t want to rely on An Kexia. Back in the fraternity, they were equals – in fact, An Kexia often followed his lead. And putting aside pride, depending on An Kexia was far from a wise move. That guy was domineering by nature. The only reason he’d put up with being strung along before was because of Chen Ye’s status as the Young Master of the Chen Family. Now that things had changed, would An Kexia still treat him the same? Chen Ye had long seen through it – that guy wanted him, badly, and wouldn’t miss this chance to take advantage of his situation.

He wasn’t gay, and selling himself for tuition was hardly worth it. Putting on an act to reclaim the inheritance was a much safer, more profitable deal.

💬: ⦍Hey, Lusian, I heard you’re Professor Eon’s brother?⦎

It was a message from Hans, the Chinese guy he’d met during the day. Chen Ye replied with a simple ⦍Yeah⦎ and scrolled through the linked Instagram profile in the other’s bio. The latest photo was taken during Chen Yin’s public lecture earlier – a hand gesture in the foreground, with Chen Yin lecturing on stage in the background.

A fanatic. Chen Ye made his judgment.

💬: ⦍Could you... take a photo of Professor Eon for me?⦎

He was about to refuse when another message popped up.

💬: ⦍I can pay you. I know you’re probably not short on money, but... how about this Venom Hulk statue?⦎

A photo flashed on the screen, and Chen Ye’s eyes widened instantly. Hans was a Marvel fan just like him. Chen Ye had collected the entire Sideshow series – except for this one piece. Its market price had skyrocketed, and what’s more, it was nearly impossible to find. The one Hans had was a truly unique collectible.

⦍Fine⦎ he replied, pursing his lips as he sat up.

Hans replied instantly: ⦍Yeah! If possible...⦎

💬: ⦋?⦎

💬: ⦋Take a photo of... that...⦎

💬: ⦋?⦎

💬: ⦋You know, without clothes on. Just the upper body is fine. If you can get it, I also have a Venom Hulk keychain – also a limited edition.⦎

Chen Ye nearly choked on his own saliva. Just as he’d guessed – among these students fanatically obsessed with Chen Yin, a good portion weren’t there for astronomy. They were just lusting after his face and his body.

Troublemaker.

Take compromising photos of Chen Yin in exchange for a limited edition figurine? No cost involved, it's a pretty good deal.

Licking his lips, he typed a few words: ⦍Can't guarantee, but I'll do my best.⦎

After replying to the message, Chen Ye jumped off the bed. Not forgetting his primary task, he stuffed the valuable figurines, designer clothes, sports watches, and other items from the room into his suitcase.

Although it pained him, some of it had to be sold. With only expenses and no income lately, his mother's private savings and his own stash were visibly dwindling.

💬: ⦍How's it going, Xiao Ye?⦎

A message from his mother.

💬: ⦍I followed that damn gay back to the castle. He allowed me to come back and pack my things.⦎

💬: ⦍Great, get Mom's jewelry out too.⦎

💬: ⦍Got it.⦎

After packing his own belongings, he went to the next room, only to find his mother's dressing table completely empty – the expensive jewelry was gone. Stunned for a few seconds, he opened the wardrobe. At least the clothes were still there.

He packed his mother's clothes into the suitcase, then stood there for a moment, thinking. He decided to ask Chen Yin about it. These were his mother's personal belongings, and neither Chen Yin nor the castle staff should have touched them without permission.

But which room did Chen Yin stay in? He walked into the hallway. The castle was quiet, with no lights on, only moonlight streaming through the windows. The servants were probably all asleep.

He remembered that when they parted, Chen Yin had gone upstairs. He climbed to the third floor, where the doors to several rooms were open and empty. Only the door at the far end was closed. So, Chen Yin was sleeping in the old man's former bedroom.

Approaching the door, he pressed his ear against it, trying to eavesdrop on any sounds inside. He couldn't hear anything. Was Chen Yin asleep?

His phone vibrated in his pocket again, reminding him of the reward Hans had promised – the limited edition Venom Hulk figurine beckoning to him. And then there was the other possible will.

He swallowed dryly, gripped the doorknob, and twisted it. The door wasn't locked and opened a crack, revealing the sound of running water. Chen Yin was taking a shower.

He scanned the room. The layout hadn't changed much, except there were many more books on the bookshelf beside the sofa. On the desk sat a ring-shaped metal device he hadn't seen before, something like a model of the galaxy or similar.

ʿ*Boring academic.*ʾ

Did the other will his mother mentioned really exist? If it did, where would the old man have hidden it?

Walking over to the desk, he suddenly heard a faint hissing sound. Looking down, he was startled – under the desk... there was a snake. Thankfully, it was kept in a glass tank. The snake had a black back and a silver belly, its scales sharp like thorns. On its head grew a pair of horns, giving it a strange appearance. He remembered seeing it in a magazine before – it was called a horned viper, or something like that.

The horned viper flicked its bright red tongue at him. He kicked the glass, nudging it further inside, then rummaged through the drawers. Except for one that was locked, the others were all empty.

Could it be in the locked drawer? Where would the key be?

He pursed his lips, his eyes darting around until they landed on the coat rack beside the sofa, where Chen Yin's clothes were hanging. Tiptoeing inside, he walked straight to the coat rack and slipped his hands into the clothes. He checked the pockets of the trench coat and suit jacket. Aside from a car key, there was only Chen Yin's wallet.

There were many cards inside – credit cards, membership cards, and the like – along with a fair amount of cash. After a moment’s consideration, he only took two $100 bills before stuffing the wallet back. If he were discovered right away, he’d lose any chance to get close to Chen Yin. Sacrificing small gains for greater plans – there would be plenty of time ahead.

Just as he tucked the bills into his pocket, the sound of running water from the bathroom stopped. He scanned the room and swiftly slipped into the large wardrobe beside the bed.

Crouching in a corner, curled up and hidden behind clothes, he peered through a gap. Within seconds, the bathroom door swung open. He instinctively held his breath, his pupils dilating slightly.

The man emerging from the bathroom was naked except for a towel wrapped around his waist, revealing broad shoulders and a narrow waist – a physique that was both slender and elegantly muscular. As he moved, his damp, pale skin shimmered under the light, and his waist-length, platinum blond hair, still dripping with water, made him look almost inhumanly beautiful, like a moonlit spirit… It was visually striking.

Though Chen Yin’s clothed appearance had already hinted at a lean frame with hidden muscle, the sight before him still exceeded his expectations.

Before he could pull out his phone, Chen Yin had already approached the wardrobe. He had no choice but to freeze, tucking his feet in and hugging his knees tightly. With a creak, the wardrobe door was pulled open. Through the gaps in the clothing, he caught a glimpse of the man’s chin.

A drop of water traced a path around his Adam’s apple, trickling down his neck and chest before disappearing along the line of his abs into the edge of the towel. The next moment, a long, slender hand rested where the drop had vanished, pulling the towel open.

With a soft thud, the damp towel slipped to the floor just as a drop of water landed on the tip of his nose. His gaze, unable to avoid it, fell directly on a certain area right in front of his face. Chen Ye inhaled sharply.

Though Chen Yin had what he himself possessed, and seeing it shouldn’t have been a big deal, he was still deeply shaken. He glanced down at his own – a fully grown man of mixed Slavic heritage compared to someone like him, a pure Asian with a naturally smaller build – they were simply two different types.

As the clothes hanging in front of him were shifted and one was pulled out, he looked up to see Chen Yin slipping into a bathrobe, reminding him of his purpose for being there. Once the wardrobe door closed, he carefully retrieved his phone, propped the door open a crack, and aimed the camera at the man sitting on the bed drying his hair.

Click.

His phone emitted a deafening noise in the silence. Chen Ye froze, his hair standing on end. Through the crack, he saw Chen Yin put on his glasses, stand up, and scan the room.

He silently prayed Chen Yin wouldn’t suspect someone was hiding in the room, but against his hopes, after surveying the area, Chen Yin’s gaze locked precisely on the wardrobe, and he began walking over.

ʿ*This is bad.*ʾ He hugged his arms and curled his legs, trying to shrink into the smallest possible ball, but it was futile. Two seconds later, the wardrobe door was pulled open, and with a rustle, the clothes shielding him were pushed aside. The man’s shadow fell over him completely.

Perhaps it was too bizarre to find a living person in the wardrobe in the middle of the night. After several seconds of dead silence, he finally heard the man’s voice: “What are you doing here?”

↫────────────────∰───────────────↬

TL/ᴇᴅɪᴛɪɴɢ/ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ/ʟᴏᴄᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: Ꮆ𝓇𝒾𝓂𝓂Ή𝒶𝓃𝑒𝓊𝓁

The walkie-talkie crackled with static, followed by a voice tinged with a local accent.

⋞If you come across any odd strangers on the mountain who offer you food, whatever you do, don't eat it, okay?⋟

Laughter erupted from the same channel, mingling with more static as the volume spiked unbearably loud. Chaoxi had no choice but to pull the old police vehicle over to the side of the road and give the walkie-talkie a firm thump.

⋞I don't... don't want to have to go up the mountain to search for you.⋟

"A Fu, please don't use the police channel for casual chat," Chaoxi said, picking up the walkie-talkie.

The noise inside the car finally quieted down. He sat there, gazing at the overcast sky and the faint drizzle, taking a deep breath before exhaling slowly. Before officially heading up the mountain and cutting himself off from the world, he got out of the car and visited the last convenience store he saw, buying a cup of coffee before returning to the vehicle.

But it seemed his colleagues weren't about to let him off that easily. He had only taken a few sips of his coffee when his phone screen lit up, followed by a group call. The group had apparently been chatting for a while already, with unread messages piling up into the hundreds.

Chaoxi thought it over for a moment. The long mountain road ahead would leave him completely alone. The chilly, rainy weather and the buildup of carbon dioxide in the car were making him drowsy, and the coffee didn't seem to be helping much. With a sigh, he opened the group call and switched it to speakerphone.

The old police car continued its journey along the wet mountain road.

⋞..A former colleague of mine also served at a remote mountain police station for a while. He said the deeper you go into the mountains, the weirder things get," A Fu continued in the group, with other colleagues chiming in agreement.⋟

Chaoxi wasn't particularly inclined to believe in supernatural tales. He glanced at the time, only concerned with how much longer it would take to reach his destination. About two or three more hours.

⋞People always go missing suddenly, and no matter how hard you search, you can't find them. Then you have to go to temples, praying and asking the gods for answers.⋟ A Fu went on.

⋞A distant relative of mine experienced something like that. Their family went on a group trip to the mountains. They were all walking on the same path, but just after turning a corner, the mother walking ahead suddenly vanished.⋟ another colleague added dramatically.

⋞Just like that, she disappeared?⋟ A Fu asked, sounding like a radio show host.

⋞In just a few seconds.⋟ the colleague replied. ⋞They searched everywhere but couldn't find her. They called her name, but there was no response.⋟

⋞That's terrible. I've heard that you shouldn't casually call out someone's full name in the mountains - it makes it easier for certain things to notice you.⋟ A Fu interjected, then quickly pressed. ⋞What happened after that?⋟

⋞When they couldn't find her no matter what, they called the police and asked for a search and rescue team. They searched for three days but found nothing, even though the mountain path wasn't particularly long.⋟

⋞And then? Did they ever find her?⋟ A Fu asked.

Chaoxi took a sip of his coffee, listening quietly. The car wound its way along the mountain road, and he had to keep his attention on the driving conditions.

⋞Later, they went to pray and ask the gods for guidance. Every time they asked if she could be saved, the answer was no. Finally, they changed their approach and asked if they could at least find her body. And that time... for the first time, they got a positive answer.⋟

⋞Wow, so... so... so...⋟

The signal grew intermittent as Chaoxi's car drove deeper into the mountains. The area seemed utterly deserted, with not even a jogger or cyclist in sight.

But then again, who would come to the mountains on a rainy day?

⋞-Later on...⋟ Chaoxi was confirming he hadn't taken the wrong road when the signal suddenly returned, and people in the group chat continued talking: ⋞It's so strange, the person who couldn't be found no matter how hard they searched for three days suddenly turned up. Do you know how weird that is? They'd already combed the area thoroughly, but they found him right beside the mountain path they'd searched not long before - such a big guy! Just hanging there, and no one noticed.⋟

⋞Was he alive?⋟

⋞Sadly, no. And the most regrettable part is that when they found him, his body wasn't even stiff yet.⋟

⋞Ah, just missed him, huh? Must be really frustrating not being able to save him.⋟

Chaoxi felt a bit dazed. The shadows of the trees by the roadside looked like human figures, but he knew he was mistaken.

⋞Hey! Don't talk about these things with Chaoxi...⋟ a female colleague's voice came through, filled with caution.

⋞Ah, sorry, Xi Ge, I didn't notice... I didn't mean it that way.⋟ A Fu's tone was full of apology.

Chaoxi tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He shook his head, making his voice sound casual: "I'm not overthinking it. Don't worry about me. Keep going, or I'll fall asleep soon. I woke up really early today."

It went quiet on the other end of the phone for a while until the story continued.

⋞Alright, anyway, that's not even the scariest part. The scariest part is that later, when they performed an autopsy, they found the victim's stomach, esophagus, and mouth were all stuffed with dirt and earthworms. He died from being overfilled.⋟

Another stretch of silence followed, with no one speaking for a long time until A Fu broke it: "Died from being filled with dirt?"

⋞Yeah, it's like someone had been feeding him this stuff all these days, and when he finally died and it wasn't fun anymore, they just casually tossed him onto a tree. But that tree is so tall, it's hard for even one person to climb.⋟

⋞He was probably placed up there like a doll. So creepy... That's why I say deep mountains are terrifying, filled with things unknown to humans." A Fu said, "Xi Ge, you should be careful. You're so handsome - don't get kidnapped.⋟

Laughter erupted in the group chat, some of it particularly sharp, and even the phone signal started to falter.

"What does that have to do with looks?" Chaoxi replied with a helpless laugh.

⋞It's like he's going to climb the Bermuda Triangle or something... you...⋟

⋞Places with no-- no signal are--⋟

⋞Xiao Xi.⋟

A clear male voice suddenly emerged. Chaoxi glanced at his phone.

Who was calling him? Chaoxi looked at his phone - the screen was black. He vaguely thought it was that person calling him, because only that person called him that way, but it couldn't be him.

⋞Damn! Dusk Village isn't some impossibly remote place, there should still be some signal, right? Uh... if you try hard enough, maybe? Look for nearby base stations...⋟ a colleague's voice returned.

"It's fine, I brought a bunch of books I never had time to read before," Chaoxi laughed, realizing he'd just been overthinking it.

⋞Who even reads physical... physical books these days? Play the game console we gave you... play, play... you're already acting like an old man, don't get completely assimilated by the elderly folks in the village after you settle there, thinking about retiring and living out your days there, huh.⋟ A Fu said.

Another round of laughter followed.

"No worries, I'll come back to see you all soon when I have time off." Chaoxi smiled, his coffee finished at some point - had he been driving for this long? "Or you could come up to visit me? Dusk Village police station is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., right on schedule."

⋞Ha, ha... sure-- we'll-- we'll charter a tour bus--⋟

The car fell into complete silence, with no further sound.

Chaoxi glanced at his phone, guessing the car had officially entered an area with no signal. Perhaps later, on some mountain road section, his colleagues' voices would reappear.

He looked at the winding mountain peaks along the road, the fog growing denser, a vast expanse of white. He hoped to reach the village before visibility disappeared entirely.

The car twisted and turned along the road for a while longer, but his colleagues' voices never returned. Even the radio couldn't pick up any station signals. The sound of rain and the rhythmic swish of the windshield wipers became the only noises inside the car.

The destination still felt far away - he shouldn't have taken this long.

Chaoxi stopped the car to check his location and reset the in-car navigation, but it kept displaying error messages. He sighed; old police cars had these drawbacks. Maybe he really would get stranded on the mountain and have to wait, embarrassed, for his colleagues to rescue him.

Chaoxi chuckled self-deprecatingly and tapped the navigation screen. Instantly, the screen returned to normal.

⋞Resuming navigation. Destination...⋟

Chaoxi breathed a sigh of relief and was about to release the brake when he heard the navigation clearly call out his name:

⋞Li Chaoxi, Xiao Xi.⋟

Goosebumps crawled up Chaoxi's neck, his mind momentarily unable to process what had just happened. Maybe it was just a boring prank by his colleagues. Ever since that incident, they had tried everything to distract him.

But would they go this far with a joke?

Chaoxi looked up blankly. Ahead on the deserted road, a figure had appeared out of nowhere. The car's headlights pierced through the fine drizzle, illuminating the person.

The man stood in the middle of the road, facing away from the car. His head hung low, tilted to one side, shoulders slumped, and his feet unnaturally poised on tiptoes. The rain had soaked his uniform - a police uniform identical to Chaoxi's.

Chaoxi froze, the car's air conditioning suddenly feeling too cold. Though the man's back was turned, an image of a swollen face flashed through Chaoxi's mind.

〝Xiao Xi.〞

The radio crackled to life again, calling out his nickname - the nickname only that person used.

〝Xiao Xi.〞

Chaoxi's throat felt constricted. His heart raced, his limbs stiffened, and he gently released the brake. The police car slid forward. The headlights shone through the misty drizzle onto the figure. In height and build, it resembled someone Chaoxi knew.

"Rì Huī."

But in the blink of an eye, the figure distanced itself from the police car again. Even as Chaoxi stepped on the accelerator to catch up, the person remained far ahead, head bowed, just out of reach.

〝Too late, Xi Ge.〞 A Fu's voice came coldly from the phone.

〝His face is already swollen, it's too late.〞 Other colleagues' voices chimed in.

Chaoxi did not respond, merely pressing down hard on the accelerator, but no matter how fast he drove, that person always maintained a certain distance from him. He clasped his hands together, anxiously honking the horn - once, twice, three times - hoping for some response from the other, but the person remained silent.

Suddenly, Chaoxi slammed on the brakes, and the figure actually began to float upward, like a toy doll being lifted from the ground by an invisible hand.

"Rì Huī!" Chaoxi began shouting the other's name from inside the car, tears streaming down his face before he even realized it.

〝Xiao Xi!〞

〝Li Chaoxi!〞

The walkie-talkie and phone simultaneously emitted voices, continuously calling out Chaoxi's name.

Chaoxi watched as the familiar figure kept floating higher, like a balloon, unsure where it was headed.

"Rì Huī!" Chaoxi continued shouting toward the sky, terrified that the other would keep rising, only to eventually burst like a balloon, then lie on a cold operating table, stiff and pale, face covered with a white cloth, body cut open.

Chaoxi stared at the sky. The rain had stopped at some point, and an orange-red light appeared on the horizon - not as beautiful as a sunset, but more like some apocalyptic scene.

The body shrank into a tiny dot. Chaoxi kept shouting the other's name until the thing he feared most happened.

Pop!

A loud explosion erupted in Chaoxi's mind. He tightly shut his eyes as something from the sky rained down, splattering all over his face...

Chaoxi jolted awake.

He opened his eyes, staring at the old, stained ceiling. The electric fan beside him spun noisily, blowing out a somewhat chilly breeze.

Sitting up from the bed, his heart still pounding violently in his chest, Chaoxi surveyed the simple dormitory room before him until he wiped his face.

His face felt sticky, covered in the dried traces of tears.

"Just a dream..."

Chaoxi sat dazed on the bed for a while before his thoughts truly returned to reality. He glanced at the time, got up, and walked into the small bathroom to wash up, cleaning away all the tear stains from his face.

After a cold shower to refresh himself, Chaoxi changed into his uniform, leisurely brewed himself a cup of coffee, and toasted a few slices of bread.

Sipping the fragrant coffee, Chaoxi pulled open the curtains of the balcony's sliding glass door, hoping to bask in the sun and chase away the cold dampness clinging to him. Unfortunately, the outside was just as gray and chilly as the room, the sun trapped behind thick clouds, invisible.

Chaoxi sighed and took another sip of coffee, which tasted somewhat watery.

This was his third day serving as a stationed police officer at the police station in Dusk Village. Moving from the city to such a remote mountain village, there were still many things he found hard to adjust to, especially the weather up here.

Long before arriving, Chaoxi had heard that Dusk Village's weather was quite unique - due to the angle of the sun's rays or something similar, the sunsets here were particularly red and beautiful, hence the name.

Unfortunately, the weather since his arrival this week had been rather poor, with frequent overcast skies or rain in the mountains. He hadn't yet seen Dusk Village on a truly clear day.

"If it weren't for the location being so remote, it would probably become a tourist attraction." Chaoxi remembered A Fu saying that to him.

Taking another sip of coffee, Chaoxi placed his hands on his hips and looked out the window. The gloomy sky showed a strange pale purple hue, not at all like morning. The vegetable fields planted by the villagers, however, were lush and green.

Although the journey was long, Chaoxi's arrival at Dusk Village went more smoothly than he had imagined. It was almost a miracle that he managed to find the place without even using navigation.

Chaoxi only remembered the endless road and listening to too many ghost stories and rural legends from A Fu and his colleagues along the way, which had already given him nightmares for several nights about failing to arrive.

In his dreams, he kept repeating the journey of the day he arrived, but unlike reality, he could never reach Dusk Village, and that person's figure would always appear on the road...

Chaoxi pressed his temples and smiled self-deprecatingly. When he looked up again, a figure suddenly appearing in the middle of the fields startled him so much that he nearly spilled the coffee in his hand.

A few drops of coffee splashed onto his uniform. Before Chaoxi could wipe them off, the figure in the field began waving at him in a friendly manner, forcing him to smile and wave back.

Too many nightmares had made him start scaring himself.

Looking at the friendly old woman in the field wearing a conical hat and a scarf, holding a hoe and waving at him, Chaoxi's smile became unbearably awkward - especially as the old woman kept waving at him relentlessly.

Pulling the curtains shut and finishing his coffee, Chaoxi headed out.

Dusk Village was a small village with a low population density, consisting of only about seventy people.

Chaoxi rode his bicycle along the uneven road, surrounded by vast, interconnected fields, with the occasional elderly person diligently working in the farmland.

He wondered what they were planting.

Chaoxi greeted every elderly person he saw. They all looked very old, their faces wrinkled. Though their smiles were kind and their skin was tanned, their spirits seemed lively, but their bodies appeared thin and frail.

The way they swung their hoes looked somewhat strenuous. Chaoxi wondered where their children had gone - were they struggling alone in the big city?

There were no young people in Dusk Village, not even any vibrant signs of life. It was indeed a very peaceful place, almost too peaceful.

Chaoxi looked up at the sky, which still glowed with a strange purple hue, with no sun in sight. The vast sky and surrounding woods reminded him of the figure in his dream, being grabbed and lifted, floating toward the sky, and then...

Pop!

Chaoxi's bicycle slipped on the uneven road, and he tumbled into the field.

'What a mess.'

Brushing the dirt off his clothes, Chaoxi leaned against the wall of the police station, where his bicycle's wheel was twisted and crooked.

Even though there wasn't anything particularly urgent to do, things hadn't been going smoothly since he started working just a few days ago.

Chaoxi sighed, spinning in his office chair, which emitted an unpleasant creaking sound. He suddenly noticed that the ceiling of the police station looked exactly like the one in his dormitory, with several yellowish water stains.

Dusk Village was more humid than he had imagined. Even though it was the tail end of summer, it turned cold and damp after noon, with mist hanging in the air. This was quite different from what everyone had described. He didn't know if it was because they were afraid he would back out at the last minute, but his superior had clearly described it as a picturesque little village when introducing the place.

Unlike the noisy city police station, where calls for help rang almost constantly and there were always miscellaneous tasks to handle, Chaoxi's third day of work remained idle and boring.

In a peaceful little village full of elderly people, it was truly difficult for anything major to happen.

On the first and second days, Chaoxi had already gone through almost all the materials in the police station.

The paper records were old, wrinkled from dampness, with the handwriting on them blurred and difficult to decipher.

Perhaps he should conduct a census to properly get to know the people here.

Pondering what he could do, Chaoxi propped his chin on his hand and stared at the telephone on the desk. It was even a retro rotary-dial model, and he doubted whether it still worked.

Just as he was about to pick up the receiver, someone interrupted him.

"Mr. Li."

Standing at the door was an elderly couple, both short and small in stature. They smiled kindly and looked very much alike, their faces wrinkled. If not for the context, one might have mistaken them for siblings. They held a basket of eggs.

"Village Chief Huang." Chaoxi quickly stood up and nodded in greeting.

Village Chief Huang was the first person to receive Chaoxi when he arrived in the village. He and his wife were always inseparable, like a pair of twins.

"Getting used to things here?" Village Chief Huang asked with a smile. His teeth were yellow, and when he squinted, his eyes were almost invisible. He carried the scent of soil.

A farming family, of course.

"Ah, not bad. It's just that with the sudden change of environment, I haven't been sleeping well at night," Chaoxi answered honestly.

"Having nightmares?" Village Chief Huang asked. His slightly opened eyes, with cloudy pupils pointing in different directions, lacked focus.

That startled Chaoxi slightly, but he quickly forced a smile - it would be impolite otherwise.

"Just a few dreams, that's all."

"You'll sleep well once you get used to it," Village Chief Huang said, squinting his eyes again with a smile. When he smiled, everything seemed so normal again. "By the way, this basket of eggs is for you."

"Chief, you're too kind..." Chaoxi tried to decline, but the village chief's wife firmly handed the basket of eggs to him. It was heavy, and he had no idea how many eggs were inside.

"Not at all. Our chickens have laid so many eggs. If you don't help eat them, they'll just go bad. So, do us a favor and have some?"

Chaoxi stared helplessly at the eggs before him. He really shouldn't accept such things, but refusing would seem unkind. From the very first day he arrived, the village chief and his wife had been giving him rice, eggs, cabbage, and the like, always in large quantities. He hadn't even had a chance to go down the mountain to a store.

In the end, Chaoxi had no choice but to accept it reluctantly.

"Do you know how to cook them?" the village chief's wife asked warmly with a smile. "Do you need my help?"

"No, no, thank you. I can cook them myself," Chaoxi said, declining the idea of letting a woman in her seventies cook for him - such a decadent act.

"Really?"

"Really."

Chaoxi nodded vigorously. Village Chief Huang and his wife stared at him and laughed heartily. To the people of Dusk Village, smiling and giving seemed like virtues that should be supplied in unlimited quantities. The only drawback was that they didn't know when to stop.

Chaoxi smiled along until his face ached. He explained to himself that perhaps his arrival was something fresh for the elderly. They might not have seen someone as young as their own children or even grandchildren in a long time.

Thinking this, Chaoxi couldn't help but feel a bit sad for the elderly of Dusk Village.

"Hiss..." The sharp pain in his knee made Chaoxi frown. He set the egg on the desk and looked down, only to notice that besides the mud stains on his uniform trousers, there were also dark red bloodstains he hadn't noticed before. A deep red patch had soaked through the fabric at his knee.

"Sorry, I tripped on the way here..." Chaoxi looked up, but Village Chief Huang and his wife remained with their heads bowed, their expressions blank yet intently focused on the bloodstain on his knee.

Chaoxi shifted uncomfortably and patted his knee. When the elderly couple weren't smiling, their wrinkled faces appeared vacant, as if nothing was going on inside their heads.

"A band-aid will do."

"No, no, you should go see a doctor!" Village Chief Huang suddenly lifted his head, his face once again breaking into that beaming smile.

"Yes, yes, wasn't it said that you haven't been sleeping well at night? You should also go see the doctor for a check-up while you're at it," the village chief's wife chimed in.

Chaoxi's mind was a bit muddled; he hadn't known there was a village doctor here. His knee really did hurt, and he wasn't sure how badly it was scraped. With the village chief and his wife strongly recommending it, he found it hard to refuse their enthusiasm and finally agreed.

"Alright."

If there was a village doctor, he should go and get acquainted, just in case something happened in the future.

"Great, great. Such a healthy body should be well taken care of," the village chief's wife said, reaching out with her thin, veiny hand to pat his stomach.

Unaccustomed to the warmth of rural people, Chaoxi tensed his abdomen uncomfortably but kept a polite smile on his face.

"Eggs are very nutritious, remember to eat them," the village chief and his wife reminded him before he left.

Looking at the basket of eggs on the table, Chaoxi scratched his head in frustration. It seemed he'd be eating eggs for several days in a row. A sharp pain shot through his knee again, and he glanced down - the bloodstain seemed to have spread further.

He patted his pant leg, but the mud stains wouldn't come off no matter how hard he tried.

Chaoxi hadn't even noticed that Dusk Village had a small clinic, located right near the dormitory and the police station.

The small clinic had white walls and a charming red roof, with green vines climbing outside, looking clean and cozy. But precisely because of this, it stood out starkly among the row of damp, grayish-green low houses in Dusk Village.

Lanternfish.

For some reason, that creature popped into Chaoxi's mind. The small clinic looked just like the lantern on a lanternfish's head - beautiful and radiant, glowing amidst a sea of plain appearances, luring people into a trap.

Shaking his head, Chaoxi realized he'd been overthinking a lot since arriving in Dusk Village. He pushed open the clinic door, and inside, the windows were bright and the room spotless, as if even the lighting was particularly brilliant.

"Is anyone here?" Chaoxi knocked.

A man in a doctor's coat emerged from inside at the sound. He walked leisurely with his hands in his pockets, and his entire face lit up when he saw Chaoxi.

Surprisingly, the village doctor wasn't the elderly, wrinkled, hunched-back old man Chaoxi had imagined. The man was tall, quite young, and had an exceptionally handsome face.

"How rare. It's been a long time since I've seen a young person with such delicate skin," the doctor said, flashing a row of white teeth. Chaoxi noticed the name "Shen Hui" embroidered on his coat.

The young doctor's hair was light in color and looked very soft. Holding a cotton swab, he bent down to disinfect the wound with great care and gentleness, as if cleaning something precious.

For some reason, Chaoxi was reminded of that person - even the doctor's name made him think of him.

"This might hurt a bit," Shen Hui said.

"It's fine. Someone who's afraid of pain can't be a police officer," Chaoxi replied.

The young doctor chuckled.

"Or do you prefer it a little more painful, Officer?"

"No..." Chaoxi's face felt a bit warm, and the pain in his knee made him tense up. He watched as the doctor covered the wound with gauze and wrapped it tightly - almost too meticulously.

"All done. Please be careful when riding your bicycle in the future. Don't look around too much - the roads here aren't as smooth as in the big city," Shen Hui said, looking up at Chaoxi with a smile.

Chaoxi had to admit that this doctor was really good-looking, just like his small clinic - clean and beautiful.

"Your eyes..." Chaoxi stared, captivated. "They're purple."

In this small village full of elderly people, encountering such a young doctor was already quite remarkable.

Shen Hui smiled warmly and explained simply, "It's a genetic trait from a few generations back."

"Were your grandparents foreigners? So you're not originally from Dusk Village?" Chaoxi was full of curiosity but felt he might be coming on too strong.

It couldn't be helped - meeting someone his own age in a remote mountain village like Dusk Village was as thrilling as finding a rare treasure. Chaoxi had thought his only future social activities would be playing Gomoku with the village elders and listening to their old stories.

He hoped the doctor didn't find him strange.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Shen Hui, the village doctor. Yes, some ancestor of mine was likely a foreigner, and I'm not originally from Dusk Village, but I've been here for a while now," Shen Hui said, his gaze fixed on Chaoxi. "Mr. Li Chaoxi."

"You know my name?"

"Of course. It's rare for someone new to come to the village - your arrival was like a superstar event..." Shen Hui swayed in his swivel chair, his playful demeanor reminding Chaoxi of that person who always made others feel relaxed and at ease. The doctor tapped Chaoxi's chest with a finger. "Plus, your name is written right here."

Chaoxi looked down - his uniform did indeed have his name embroidered on it. He instinctively covered it, his ears growing warm.

"Sorry, I didn't expect to find such a young doctor here. It's quite surprising."

"To serve the elderly in these remote areas, just like you, right?"

That was true. Chaoxi rubbed his neck, though he had been assigned here by his superiors, not solely out of a desire to serve.

"So, how are you settling in?" Shen Hui changed the subject.

"It's alright, though it's a bit different from what I imagined..."

"How so?"

Shen Hui's attitude was very easygoing, and Chaoxi had a good first impression of him.

"I thought it would be more... sunny and dry?" Chaoxi shrugged.

Shen Hui stared at him, his eyes like glass, resembling the color of the sky - unnaturally beautiful.

"It's been cloudy and rainy these past few days, that's why. Dusk Village is often like this during this season," Shen Hui said, removing his gloves with a smile. "Maybe the sun will come out tomorrow."

The doctor lightly patted Chaoxi's thigh twice - a gesture that felt a bit too intimate, perhaps influenced by Dusk Village's customs, Chaoxi thought. He stared at the neatly bandaged knee, his lower back tingling slightly from the touch.

Chaoxi hoped he didn't look as red as a boiled shrimp.

"Alright, you did great, little Chaoxi," Shen Hui said in a childlike tone, taking a lollipop from a glass jar on the table and handing it to Chaoxi. "Next time you ride your bike, remember to watch the road, okay? Take good care of such a healthy body."

Chaoxi felt too embarrassed to refuse and accepted the candy.

"Thank you. As for the consultation fee..."

"Oh, don't worry about it. Consider it helping a friend," Shen Hui waved his hand dismissively.

A friend?

Chaoxi hadn't expected to make friends with someone his age here. He had prepared himself for a life without social interactions...

"Thank you," Chaoxi said, feeling rather pleased. He pulled down his pant leg, not quite ready to leave yet. "By the way, I was wondering if you have any sleep-aiding medicine?"

"Just call me Shen Hui." Shen Hui gave Chaoxi a rather charming smile before asking, "Having trouble sleeping lately?"

"Probably just adjusting to the new environment. I've been having a lot of nightmares."

Chaoxi looked up to find Shen Hui gazing at him intently, as if trying to see right through him.

"That won't do," Shen Hui said with an air of seriousness, casually handing Chaoxi a few packets of medicine. "A healthy body needs sufficient sleep."

The people of Dusk Village seemed to place great importance on physical health. This wasn't the first time Chaoxi had heard them say something like this. He found it somewhat amusing - perhaps this was the secret to the villagers' longevity.

"This isn't sleeping pills," Chaoxi remarked, looking at the packets in his hand. They looked more like herbs, traditional medicine. He joked, "I thought you were a Western doctor."

"I'm a bit of everything here." Shen Hui patted Chaoxi's thigh again, his fingers lightly brushing over it. "Besides, this is a type of herbal medicine unique to Dusk Village. Brew it with some hot water and drink it. I guarantee it's more effective than sleeping pills. Trust me, you'll sleep soundly tonight."

The doctor's playful wink made Chaoxi's face flush with warmth. He wasn't sure what he was doing - finding a friend his own age in this aging village was already a stroke of luck. He didn't want to ruin this budding friendship over unnecessary misunderstandings.

Chaoxi smiled sheepishly and tucked the medicine packets into his pocket.

"Thank you... Shen Hui."

"You're welcome."

"Well, I should get back to work," Chaoxi said, almost reluctantly.

"Alright, feel free to come by again when you have time," Shen Hui offered cheerfully, his youthful energy making him stand out too brightly, too uniquely in Dusk Village. "Or I could come find you. We're friends now, right? As the only two young people in this village."

"Of course."

Chaoxi forcefully suppressed the little spark in his heart. He had always been good at hiding things, and equally good at snuffing them out.

Another day passed.

For dinner, Chaoxi ate the eggs, rice, and vegetables the village chief had given him - quite a hearty meal, with plenty more left in the fridge. In just a few days, Chaoxi had fully experienced what it meant to be "fed by the elders." He had a feeling he'd gain weight, and his colleagues might not even recognize him when he returned to the city.

His phone still had no signal. After dinner, Chaoxi passed the time by reading a book he'd brought with him. Nights in Dusk Village were quiet, without even the sound of barking dogs.

The book wasn't particularly interesting, so Chaoxi stopped halfway through. With nothing else to do, lying in bed, he thought of Shen Hui. He dug out the lollipop Shen Hui had given him, popped it into his mouth, and opened the window to gaze at the stars and get some fresh air.

Unfortunately, the sky remained shrouded in mist, with only that strange deep purple hue.

Leaning on his cheek, Chaoxi daydreamed, sucking on the lollipop and wondering what work he should do tomorrow. If he went to see that doctor again, would he find it annoying? As he pondered, something moving in the pitch-black fields caught the corner of his eye.

At first, he thought it might be some kind of animal, but the black shadow creature was upright and kept repeating the same motion - it was waving at him.

A prickling chill crawled up Chaoxi's spine. The figure was short and stout, with a strange, zongzi-like shape on its head. He recognized it as the elderly woman who had waved at him that morning. Startled, he stumbled backward, the lollipop in his mouth falling out the window and rolling into the dark grass.

Chaoxi trembled as he climbed to his feet. When he cautiously peered out the window again, the fields lay in perfect stillness - no old woman waving her hand.

After triple-checking, a relieved Chaoxi buried his face in his hands.

Of course it couldn’t be real.

It was eight in the evening - the old woman from this morning wouldn’t still be waving at his window, would she?

“Idiot, scaring yourself,” Chaoxi muttered. He glanced once more at the tranquil rice paddies, swallowed hard, then reached out to close the window and draw the curtains. He buried himself back in that uninteresting book until the night grew deeper.

Before bed, Chaoxi followed Shen Hui’s advice and brewed tea with the herbs he’d given. He didn’t ask what kind of herbs they were, but the drink wasn’t unpleasant - it tasted like herbal tea, though with a faint earthy aftertaste… much like the people here.

After downing it in one go, Chaoxi brushed his teeth and went to bed. He curled up under the blanket, and whether it was due to Shen Hui’s herbs or not, even though he’d gone to bed much earlier than usual, he fell asleep quickly.

That night, Chaoxi did not dream again of endlessly driving up the mountain, listening to his colleagues’ intermittent chatter and jokes over the walkie-talkie, and finally encountering the “balloon.”

Instead, his dream that night was brief. Chaoxi dreamed of a distinct black shadow creature standing on a distant hilltop, smiling and waving at him incessantly.

In the dream, he felt no sense of alarm. Chaoxi waved back at the figure, but in less than a second, the black shadow creature appeared right before him. A massive black hand reached out and brushed against his stomach.

Chaoxi was awakened by sunlight.

He stretched lazily, his hair sticking up in all directions as if someone had tousled it.

Just as Shen Hui had said, after drinking the herbal packet he’d given, Chaoxi had slept soundly through the night - no endless mountain roads, no constant static from the walkie-talkie, no balloon… For the first time since arriving in the village, Chaoxi had slept well.

Satisfied, he stretched again, but a chilly sensation made him look down. His shirt had somehow ridden up, leaving his abdomen bare and exposed.

Chaoxi froze, touching his cold stomach. It felt slightly sticky. Frowning in confusion, he rubbed his palm and fingertips. He didn’t remember getting anything on himself before bed - could he have drooled onto his stomach in his sleep?

A cool breeze from the window caught his attention. He turned to look outside. The sky was unusually bright, and the curtains fluttered gently - but hadn’t he firmly closed the window last night?

Chaoxi got up and walked to the window in disbelief. The old woman wasn’t there today, not standing in the fields waving at him.

Shen Hui seemed almost prophetic - the morning sun was dazzling, a clear and sunny day, though deep purple clouds still lingered at the horizon, as if the sun shone only over the dormitory.

“Such strange weather…”

Chaoxi murmured, only then realizing his stomach was still exposed.

He had no idea what had gotten on him during the night. As he pulled down his sleep shirt, he noticed an unnatural stiffness on the fabric, almost like it had been soaked in saliva or some other bodily fluid and then dried.

Unsettled, Chaoxi took off his sleep shirt, tossed it into the laundry basket, and headed for a shower. But as soon as he entered the bathroom, something felt off. He looked down - the pain from the scrapes he’d gotten from yesterday’s fall was completely gone, without a trace of discomfort.

He bent down and tore off the gauze stuck to his knee. The scrapes that had looked quite noticeable at the small clinic yesterday were now only faint pink marks, as if they had already passed the stage of healing and scabbing.

Chaoxi scratched his head in confusion.

Perhaps he hadn’t been as badly injured as he’d imagined.

Shaking his head, Chaoxi went into the bathroom to shower.

Another day began anew.

For breakfast, Chaoxi had simple fried eggs and rice porridge, along with pickled cucumbers sent over by the neighbor next door.

They were always giving him things - food they grew themselves or made at home.

With their wrinkled, thin, and bony hands, they would smile warmly and enthusiastically hand him these gifts.

It had almost become a daily routine, and Chaoxi found it hard to refuse, so he accepted them every time. The refrigerator was packed full of supplies. If this kept up, he might never have to go down the mountain and still never starve.

"Sigh."

Chaoxi sighed, twirling the pen in his hand. He was in the process of recopying the population records of Dusk Village.

Unlike the busy urban police stations, in Dusk Village, there were no traffic accidents, no disputes between people, no theft, no robbery, not even lost cats or dogs...

It was so peaceful that Chaoxi occasionally felt as if... he were the only person in the village.

With just a few dozen elderly couples, once he finished recopying the old records, he would have to rack his brains to find something else to do. Chaoxi slumped over the desk, staring out the window, listening carefully to the sounds outside... but there was nothing.

Sometimes Chaoxi found it strange. Even though he received so many eggs every day, he never heard a single rooster crow in the morning. Where on earth were the villagers hiding their chickens?

Could it be that this village was hiding some unspeakable secret?

'Overthinking it.'

Chaoxi closed his eyes, and the voice, smile, and the motion of someone lightly tapping a pen against his head surfaced in his mind. If he told that person, they would probably laugh at him like this, right?

Chaoxi tried hard to recall that person’s appearance - their eyes, nose, and lips - but what gradually emerged in his mind was only a swollen, cyanotic face...

"Are you slacking off, Mr. Li Chaoxi?"

A gentle male voice startled Chaoxi, causing him to bolt upright from the desk and accidentally slam into the other person’s chin.

"Ouch, ouch!"

Chaoxi rubbed the back of his head, while the newcomer covered his handsome chin, tears welling in his eyes, looking utterly pitiful.

"Sorry, sorry!" Chaoxi quickly apologized, looking at the man before him who wore a white coat but had the physique and looks of a movie star.

Even with his chin embarrassingly reddened from the impact, Shen Hui still looked so handsome and vibrant that he seemed out of place in this old, small village.

"Are you okay?" Chaoxi stepped forward to check on him.

"How cruel, just a little joke and you attack me like that," Shen Hui looked up, his tone reproachful but his face wearing a mischievous smile.

What a likable person, Chaoxi thought. The tips of his fingers resting on Shen Hui’s back tingled with a strange sensation.

"I didn’t mean to, I was just startled."

"Didn’t sleep well again last night?"

"No, thanks to your medicine, I slept very well," Chaoxi said, noticing Shen Hui’s satisfied smile in response.

That smile was delightful.

"By the way, what brings you here?"

"Nothing much, just bored, so I came to have lunch with you." As if knowing what he was thinking, Shen

Shen Hui smiled even sweeter, his purple eyes like colored glaze, like some kind of gemstone, like starlight, like...

Sunshine¹.

[TN¹: Rì Huī [日辉] also translates to "Sunshine"]

"Chaoxi?"

"Sorry," Chaoxi snapped back to attention, feeling a bit disoriented. "Looking for me for lunch?"

"Yes, my friend." Shen Hui smiled meaningfully, shaking the lunch bag in his hand.

Chaoxi looked at the lunch box on the table. It was almost like the fake food displayed in a Japanese restaurant showcase - colorful and unbelievably beautiful.

Stir-fried carrots with eggs, pan-fried meat patties, spinach with sesame dressing, chilled tofu... all dishes Chaoxi loved. He frowned.

"What's wrong?" Shen Hui, sitting across from him, asked as he ate heartily.

"Have you been stalking and investigating me? These are all my favorite dishes." Chaoxi pretended to ask seriously but soon indulged in the meal, giving face.

"If I told you that besides saving people, I can also read faces, would you believe me?" Shen Hui laughed.

Chaoxi chuckled and shook his head, eating with relish, not even noticing that Shen Hui had already put down his bowl and chopsticks, staring at him motionlessly.

The food was too delicious.

"You're really good at cooking, it's very tasty." Chaoxi praised, far better than the haphazard things he cooked up in the kitchen. "Such sweet words. It seems I'll have to bring you lunch every day from now on." Shen Hui laughed.

Chaoxi wasn't sure if he was joking. If it were true, having a lunch companion in the future wouldn't be bad.

"Eat more." Shen Hui then pushed his own dishes toward him.

Chaoxi was about to decline, but Shen Hui changed the subject: "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Thanks to you."

"Hmm... any more nightmares? Or did you dream of anything?"

Chaoxi looked up. For some reason, he felt a hint of expectation in Shen Hui's tone. He thought back carefully; last night's dream was already a bit hazy.

"Can't really remember." Chaoxi shrugged but noticed Shen Hui's smile instantly vanished, just staring at him.

Shen Hui seemed angry.

"What's wrong?" Chaoxi asked, puzzled, only to see Shen Hui lean his upper body closer.

When enveloped by the other's black shadow, Chaoxi froze. Suddenly, he couldn't move. Goosebumps inexplicably crept up the back of his neck, and that sticky sensation on his abdomen returned - hadn't he showered this morning? His heartbeat grew loud until Shen Hui's fingers touched his face, wiping a grain of rice from the corner of his mouth.

"Li Chaoxi," Shen Hui called his full name, the smile returning to his face. "You brought lunch."

Chaoxi watched as the doctor put the grain of rice from his fingertip into his mouth, licking it off with his tongue. A wet, sticky feeling spread downward, as if his own body had been licked.

No, what was he thinking? Chaoxi swallowed hard. Only when the chopsticks in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter could his body move again.

Shen Hui became Chaoxi's lunch partner.

Chaoxi felt a bit foolish about it, but secretly, he was happy about it because spending time with Shen Hui had become his only entertainment in Dusk Village.

In this remote little village where days passed with nothing to do, phone reception was poor, and the villagers were all elderly, having a friend of the same age was truly a rare and precious thing.

Moreover, Shen Hui was incredible. They had only known each other for a few days, yet Chaoxi felt as if they had been friends for years. They got along well, and their interests were similar.

"You'll turn me into a fat pig," Chaoxi mumbled through a mouthful of lunch.

Shen Hui had once again prepared a spread of Chaoxi's favorite dishes today - it was almost mystical how he always knew exactly what Chaoxi liked to eat.

"Getting a bit chubbier is good; you're too thin," Shen Hui said from the other end of the desk. He held the book Chaoxi had recommended to him, reading as he spoke.

Chaoxi and Shen Hui sometimes exchanged books to read, but the books Shen Hui recommended were often ones Chaoxi had already read and greatly enjoyed. Their tastes in book selection were astonishingly similar.

Discussing book content with Shen Hui was also a comfortable experience, as Shen Hui seemed to have read his mind - they frequently shared the same perspectives or opinions.

"Have you been assimilated by the village elders? Always feeding me like I'm your grandson."

"It's different. They feed you because they see you as a grandson. I feed you because I love you."

Shen Hui looked up from his book and winked at him, nearly making Chaoxi choke. Chaoxi lowered his head and stuffed food into his mouth without responding, unable to hide his reddening ears.

Shen Hui sometimes made these harmless jokes, which Chaoxi found quite troubling.

"Sleeping well lately?" After a moment of silence, Shen Hui finally set his book down.

"Pretty good, just still having strange dreams," Chaoxi said.

Since Shen Hui had given him the sleep-aiding medicine, Chaoxi had been sleeping better and better. Sometimes he could even sleep through the night without issue, though dreams still occurred. However, he no longer had the nightmare of wandering on the mountain. Instead, he began dreaming from time to time of a waving black shadow on the mountain beckoning to him.

"Another dream about the waving black shadow?"

"Yes... Did I tell you about it?"

"You did," Shen Hui said with a smile.

How strange - Chaoxi had no recollection of it, but since Shen Hui looked so certain, he felt too embarrassed to say otherwise. After all, they had been spending their days chatting together constantly lately. Maybe he really had mentioned it to Shen Hui?

"How adorable. Sounds like that thing in your dream probably likes you a lot."

"Adorable?" Hearing Shen Hui describe the black shadow as adorable, Chaoxi couldn't help but laugh, thinking he was joking.

If it were up to him, he would never use "adorable" to describe that thing.

At first, dreaming of the black shadow waving didn't evoke any particular feeling - it was just an unclear figure on the mountain greeting him in the dream. But recently, the shadow had been getting closer day by day. Sometimes in the dream, it would leap across a mountain peak, waving to him from a nearer mountaintop.

Chaoxi began to worry that one day he would dream of the black shadow standing right in front of him, allowing him to see its true form clearly.

"Right, maybe it's actually a cute big doggy like me?" Shen Hui interrupted Chaoxi's thoughts, mimicking dog paws with his hands, tilting his head, and sticking out his tongue playfully.

Amused by Shen Hui's antics, Chaoxi laughed again. He shook his head and changed the subject. "Let's not talk about this for now. How did you pass the time before I came here?"

"Why ask? Do you find the village boring?" Shen Hui inquired.

"It's not exactly boring... just nothing to do," Chaoxi said.

Having been here for several days, Chaoxi had done everything he could. He had even counted how many fields and houses were in Dusk Village and observed when the villagers would get up and what they would do.

The elders in Dusk Village were unbelievably simple and routine-driven, like a repeating film - everyone did the same things day after day.

Village Chief Huang and his wife would deliver basket after basket of food every morning at 7:30. An elderly couple working in the nearby fields would labor from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. At exactly 10 o'clock, the two elders living next door would go out to greet each other...

Right on the dot, just like the cuckoo bird in a cuckoo clock.

"You want something to do?" Shen Hui crossed his arms and leaned forward on the table. His eyes were an unusual, translucent purple under the light. "Isn't it best if nothing happens at a police station?"

"That's true..."

Chaoxi couldn't help but mimic Shen Hui's posture, crossing his arms and leaning forward as well. He knew he shouldn't do this, but he wanted to get closer to the other man, as if bewitched by those purple eyes.

"It's just that time drags when you're bored. Having something to do is better than just staring into space."

Almost imperceptibly, their elbows were nearly touching.

Shen Hui's face was hidden behind his arms, but Chaoxi could tell from the slight curve of his eyes that Shen Hui was smiling at him.

Chaoxi's heart raced, and a strange, prickly, itchy pain bloomed in his abdomen.

"How sad. Are you still bored even with me here?" Shen Hui lightly poked Chaoxi with his fingertip, letting it slide gently down his arm.

Chaoxi jolted upright as if shocked.

The pain in his abdomen vanished. He widened his eyes, looking somewhat awkwardly at Shen Hui, who had also sat up straight, hoping Shen Hui didn't find his sudden movement rude.

Shen Hui simply watched him, expressionless and unreadable.

"That's not what I meant..." Chaoxi hurried to explain. "Of course I'm glad you're here. You're the reason this place isn't so boring."

Shen Hui fell silent for two seconds. Chaoxi thought he might be angry because of his earlier recoil, but then the doctor broke into a wide smile and placed his hand on Chaoxi's again.

"Li Chaoxi, you love me too, don't you?"

Seeing Shen Hui back to his usual playful self, Chaoxi unconsciously relaxed. He didn't understand why he sometimes felt afraid of this warm and friendly doctor.

"Cut it out. Back to my question - weren't you bored all alone before I came?"

"Well... I was bored. My daily work was just patching up the old villagers, keeping them running smoothly. But after a while, even that gets tiresome to watch."

Chaoxi laughed because Shen Hui made the villagers sound like toys or dolls.

"So I'm really glad you came." Shen Hui looked at Chaoxi, smiling with genuine sincerity.

Chaoxi sighed. "Thanks. You're such a smooth talker. You must have been really popular with girls before, right?"

Shen Hui shrugged, his confident, noncommittal expression making Chaoxi chuckle.

"You remind me of a friend I had a long time ago, you know?" Chaoxi suddenly said, looking at Shen Hui.

"Who?"

Chaoxi gazed at Shen Hui, the man before him overlapping with the face of that man deep in his memories.

〝Xiao Xi.〞

He could almost hear that person's voice again, and see his bruised, swollen face... The alarm on Chaoxi's phone rang, interrupting his thoughts.

"I'll tell you another time. Lunch break is over; time to get back to work." Chaoxi pointed at his watch.

"Didn't you just say you had nothing to do?" Shen Hui rolled his eyes.

"Well, I am still getting paid." Chaoxi smiled, preparing to see his guest out. Before Shen Hui left, Chaoxi confirmed, "Same time for lunch tomorrow, then?"

Shen Hui turned back and rolled his eyes again.

"I cook for you every day, yet I don't even get a title. And what about my payment?" The tall man pretended to be pitiful, looking unexpectedly cute.

Amused, Chaoxi scratched his head and deliberately sighed loudly, "I have no money, so I can only sell my body and labor. Do you want it?"

Shen Hui looked at him, grinning widely, his eyes curved into arcs, and finally said, "Sure."

This time, the black shadow creature stood motionless on the opposite hilltop.

Chaoxi stared at the black shadow creature. Its limbs appeared stiff and somewhat disproportionate. Its arms were too long, and its legs stood apart, like a person half-squatting, but its head was longer and squarer than a typical human's, resembling some kind of animal.

Chaoxi looked around in confusion. He didn't know why he was in the mountains so late at night; he should go home. When he turned back to look at the black shadow creature on the hilltop, he realized it was also staring at him.

Chaoxi remained still, and so did the black shadow creature. Chaoxi slowly raised his hand, and the black shadow creature slowly raised its hand as well.

As if it were his shadow, the black shadow creature was mimicking his movements.

Chaoxi swallowed, and the thing mimicked a swallowing motion; he stepped forward, and it stepped forward too... But when Chaoxi took a big step back, the thing instead took a big step forward.

Goosebumps crawled up his spine in an instant. Chaoxi's hands and feet turned cold, and once fear spread, it was hard to calm down. For some reason, Chaoxi was terrified of the thing getting close to him, but when he tried to step back again, the black shadow creature took another huge step forward.

Chaoxi noticed that each of its steps seemed enormous - the towering mountains appeared like small hills to it. It moved forward with ease and liveliness, leaping in a way no human should.

Too scared to move, Chaoxi hoped the black shadow creature would mimic him and stop, and indeed, it did. Just as he was about to sigh in relief, he sensed the thing was laughing.

Its face was a blur of darkness, impossible to make out clearly, but Chaoxi just knew it was laughing. Its chest contracted, its shoulders shook, and the ground trembled with its movements.

'No...'

Chaoxi whimpered in fear, trembling all over as he watched the thing run down the mountainside toward him, taking two steps at a time.

'Don't come closer...'

The closer the black shadow creature got, the larger it grew, but it was neither a bear nor a deer. It had already surpassed any enormous animal Chaoxi could imagine. Along the way, it clenched its fists, raised its hands high, and waved them at him incessantly, as if trying to show off something.

Chaoxi saw it was holding something in its hands - small, wearing a conical hat, like a toy or a person...

Tears welled up in his eyes from fear, and by the time Chaoxi regained his senses, he was already weeping uncontrollably, screaming hysterically at the black shadow creature that gradually enveloped the entire hilltop, "No! Don't come closer!"

The black shadow creature raised its hands high, looming over Chaoxi, and stopped moving amidst his screams. Chaoxi closed his eyes and collapsed to the ground, but when he opened them again, he was back in his dormitory.

Chaoxi blinked, staring in confusion at the damp ceiling, where the stains resembled the black shadow creature. A drop of water fell from the ceiling, landing on his eyelid.

Chaoxi wiped away the droplet. It smelled fishy and salty, and felt sticky on his fingers.

"Don't cry, Xiao Xi," a man's familiar voice whispered in his ear.

Chaoxi slowly turned his head. There was a man in the same quilt with him, lying on his side with his back facing Chaoxi. Looking at the man’s overly long black hair, casually tousled ends, and broad back, Chaoxi recognized whose silhouette it was at a glance.

“Don’t cry, Xiao Xi.” The man with his back to him repeated the words in a flat, emotionless voice, like a wind-up doll, the sound seeming to emanate from his chest.

Chaoxi stared at him but cried even harder, terrified that when the man turned around, he would hang his head, stick out his tongue, and blame him with that swollen, cyanotic face - why had he come so late?

He was so afraid, so afraid.

“Please don’t…” Chaoxi pleaded with his eyes closed, but the man slowly turned around, facing him up close.

“Don’t cry, Xiao Xi.” The man said again.

Chaoxi trembled as he opened his eyes. Through his tears, it was Shen Hui who appeared, not that swollen, terrifying face.

“Shen Hui.” Chaoxi called his name.

Shen Hui smiled faintly, a smile that brought Chaoxi comfort. He let out a soft breath, and his stiff body relaxed.

“Don’t cry.” Shen Hui said, reaching out with both hands to cup Chaoxi’s face, gently wiping away his tears with his thumbs.

Chaoxi gazed at Shen Hui. The layer of purple in the man’s eyes was like the afterglow of a sunset. He sobbed twice and nodded in agreement.

Shen Hui smiled. Rumbling, as if a train were passing by, the bed trembled slightly.

Shen Hui leaned in closer, kissing Chaoxi’s forehead, the tip of his nose, and his cheek.

Chaoxi didn’t resist, not even when the other kissed his lips.

Shen Hui smelled like morning dew - damp yet refreshing, very different from the earthy, fishy scent that always lingered in Dusk Village. It was incredibly alluring.

“Open your mouth.” Shen Hui pressed his thumb lightly against Chaoxi’s chin to make him open his mouth, and Chaoxi complied.

Shen Hui’s tongue was warm, wet, and sticky, slowly and teasingly licking along the surface of his tongue, the roof of his mouth, and the inside of his oral cavity, gradually reaching deep into his throat.

“Mmm…” Chaoxi let out a pained moan, but his lower abdomen grew warm in response.

The short hair on the back of his head was gently tugged. Shen Hui’s large hands, smooth as snakes, slid along his back toward his waist, then his abdomen.

Chaoxi hardened, aching with a painful thirst.

“Ah… Shen…” He finally managed to lift his head to draw in air, allowing Shen Hui’s tongue to withdraw from his mouth.

Shen Hui laughed again, sucking on Chaoxi’s lips and the saliva he couldn’t retract, then licking and kissing his way up from Chaoxi’s chin. The slight pain stimulated Chaoxi, forcing him to spread his legs to accommodate Shen Hui’s entire body.

“Xiao Xi.” Shen Hui called his nickname between kisses.

“Shen Hui… wait…” Watching the man who was kissing his abdomen as if in worship, Chaoxi tried to slow down the out-of-control situation, but his limbs felt tightly bound by something, unable to move. Shen Hui lowered his head again, opening his mouth to take Chaoxi’s erect genitals inside.

Chaoxi’s arched body burned with heat. He watched as Shen Hui gently and erotically took his flushed, moist genitals in and out, his two large hands gripping Chaoxi’s buttocks tightly, roughly kneading them.

It made Chaoxi dizzy. He moaned and looked up at the ceiling, where a stain like a black shadow creature grew larger and more distinct. More droplets fell, dripping onto Chaoxi’s body.

“Shen, Shen Hui... slower, stop, stop...” Chaoxi cried out, lowering his head only to see Shen Hui lifting his buttocks, his genitals slipping from Shen Hui’s mouth, still shamelessly erect.

Shen Hui stared at him, eyes curved in a smile, his lips tormenting the base of the hardened shaft, even sucking on his taut scrotum.

“Ah, ah... Shen Hui...”

“Let me in, okay?”

Chaoxi didn’t answer. He watched as Shen Hui stuck out his crimson tongue, the tip sliding from the scrotum all the way down to the perineum, then toward the contracting anal cavity between his buttocks.

“Let me in, let me ejaculate, okay?” Shen Hui’s voice was low and cheerful. When he laughed, the entire dormitory began to rumble again.

Chaoxi still didn’t reply, until that wet tongue tip pressed bit by bit against his anal opening, slowly invading his body...

“Hah!”

Wet fluid splashed onto Chaoxi’s abdomen. He gasped sharply, squeezing his eyes shut until they were struck by light, forcing him to open them and see what was happening.

Chaoxi looked at the same ceiling as before, now illuminated by daylight. The yellow stains had returned to scattered dots, no longer resembling terrifying black shadow creatures, and there was no other man in his bed.

This time, he was truly awake... Chaoxi turned his head toward the wide-open window beside him. The curtains fluttered as wind continuously poured in, chilling his abdomen.

Chaoxi looked down and only then noticed his pajamas had been pulled up to his chest again, and this time even his sleep pants and underwear hadn’t been spared, messily kicked to the foot of the bed.

Embarrassed, he sat up, about to rub his forehead in distress when he realized his palm and abdomen were coated in sticky, milky white fluid.

Chaoxi stared in confusion at his own body. His genitals lay limp and askew among the hair matted with semen, while his skin was dotted with small bluish-purple marks.

“What the...?”

Springing from the bed, Chaoxi practically leaped as he rushed into the bathroom.

↫────────────────∰───────────────↬

TL/ᴇᴅɪᴛɪɴɢ/ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ/ʟᴏᴄᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: Ꮆ𝓇𝒾𝓂𝓂Ή𝒶𝓃𝑒𝓊𝓁

⟡ 深山裡的夕暉 | Twilight in the Hidden Hills
✎ 碰碰俺爺, Raws Complete

⚠️ ⦂ Cthulhu-themed Horror Romance | Non-human | Manipulation | Mpreg

🏷️ ⦂ Modern, Mystery, Supernatural Fantasy, Horror, Monsters, Countryside, Calm -> Serious, Hardcore, Officer x Doctor(?)

★ A spectacular collaboration between best-selling author Pengpeng Anye and super-popular illustrator Daisuke.

★ The strange and elegant clinic doctor X the lonely and paranoid new police officer.

★ A mysterious, sweet, and incredibly steamy Cthulhu-esque Boys' Love (耽美) romance!

There was always a strange, fishy smell in the air…

Unable to overcome the trauma of his partner’s suicide, police officer Li Chaoxi is dispatched to a remote mountain village to recover. There, he meets the village doctor, Shen Hui, who bears a striking resemblance to his late partner. The two quickly become friends. However, a bizarre wet dream shatters the peace, revealing Chaoxi’s hidden desire for Shen Hui.

Tall, handsome, gentle, and considerate, Shen Hui absolutely adores Li Chaoxi. He seems almost tailor-made for him. Fully captivated by the man's purple eyes and nurtured by gourmet food and incredible sex, Chaoxi fails to notice the subtle, silent changes taking place within his own body…

Lost signals, endless days of rain, over-enthusiastic villagers—some things, once seen, can never again be ignored. This seemingly peaceful mountain village is rife with anomalies. What’s more terrifying is that the eye of this storm of strange occurrences is Li Chaoxi himself.

He tossed and turned for a whole night.

When they met again the next day, Jiang Xinbai felt a momentary uncertainty about how to face his boss after the intimate contact in the bar restroom. However, Yang Guangsheng didn't look like anything was out of the ordinary; he was the type to play and forget, acting exactly as he always did.

Such contact seemed all too common for Yang Guangsheng, leaving no room for awkwardness. Thus, Jiang Xinbai did his best to wipe his memory clean and act as if nothing had happened.

That day, Yang Guangsheng happily told Jiang Xinbai, "From what my dad says, he might let me go back to Jiangcheng soon. I have to put on a show for a while."

And he truly did put on a show. For the next few days, he was exceptionally quiet, no longer going out to run wild. He even occasionally loitered around the headquarters, giving Jiang Xinbai a task: "See if there's anything I can get my hands on."

Jiang Xinbai took this question to the Chairman's secretary. Secretary Wang looked a bit conflicted before telling him, "If young Mr. Yang wants to work, there are things to do. But if he actually starts working, Old Mr. Yang might get so happy that he won't let him go back to Jiangcheng. Is he willing to risk that?"

Jiang Xinbai thought about it and said, "He probably only wants to perform so he can return to Jiangcheng."

Secretary Wang quirked an eyebrow and said reluctantly, "Then... let young Mr. Yang buy some fruit for the front desk."

When Jiang Xinbai relayed this answer to Yang Guangsheng, the young CEO didn't feel insulted at all. He cheerfully purchased many boxes of high-end fruit to be placed at the headquarters, distributing them as a mid-year benefit for the staff.

A few days later, Yang Guangsheng went back to Old Yang's house for dinner, mentioning that his company had a new game launching and many activities to manage. Old Yang felt it had been long enough; after giving him a lecture and some instructions, he officially lifted the ban.

"One more thing," Yang Guangsheng said obediently. "Regarding the assistant, I still need to find someone who understands my work over there. I need to find them within my own company. Is that okay, Dad? If you just want someone to watch me, I promise I'll be good. I won't see anyone on your blacklist. From now on, I'll only associate with respectable people – I'll choose my friends from the Top Ten Outstanding Youth lists, and I'll be as low-profile as dirt. But for an assistant, work has to come first, wouldn't you say?"

"Did your last assistant put work first?" Yang Zhixing shot him a look.

"...Dad, my work over there is piling up. It's a critical moment. You're a master of talent management; how could you use a disciplinary committeeman as a study minister right now? Huh?"

Yang Zhixing pondered for a moment and said indifferently, "Make your own choice. But keep your word."

That night, Yang Guangsheng held another party at an entertainment club, gathering friends for a celebration that was also a farewell. It seemed he wanted to make up for all the "good behavior" of the past few days.

Jiang Xinbai ordered a glass of juice as usual, sitting far away and watching the group enjoy themselves.

Some of Yang Guangsheng's friends were truly talented singers – professionals, really, just missing a chance to debut. These people wouldn't miss any opportunity to showcase themselves. Others were already somewhat famous in the industry; those individuals were noticeably more reserved. But if Yang Guangsheng spoke up, they would certainly give him face and sing.

He didn't quite understand how the thirty-three-year-old Yang Guangsheng still had so much energy. What was the point of drinking and talking nonsense with people every day? And what the hell was the point of refusing to take over such a massive commercial real estate empire just to run a small game company?

He saw someone from the party walking toward him again. This time it was a group of three. Yang Guangsheng was also watching him from his seat, smiling. He guessed his boss was playing another game of "whoever can get that dullard over here gets a gift."

Jiang Xinbai didn't feel guilty about those people failing. Yang Guangsheng wouldn't take back whatever he’d promised anyway; it didn't matter if he went over or not, they would get their reward. Yang Guangsheng just had money to burn.

When the group was still halfway to him, Jiang Xinbai quickly sucked down the rest of his juice, stood up, and turned toward the public restroom. He walked through the dim, smoke-filled corridors, passing private rooms that were either filled with laughter and clinking glasses, howling like ghosts, or perfectly silent. Just as he reached the restroom door, the three people caught up to him.

"Assistant Jiang! You! You aren't allowed to run away today. Are you really that big of a deal? Your boss is going to Jiangcheng tomorrow; if you don't even offer a farewell toast, aren't you being a bit out of line as a subordinate?"

"..." He found himself speechless. "Ah."

"No matter what, you have to have a drink with us today. Let's go, let's go!"

He was dragged away.

"Mr. Yang, I really can't drink," he said in front of Yang Guangsheng.

Yang: "Allergic?"

Jiang: "No."

Yang: "Then why won't it work, wifey?"

Everyone who heard him laughed.

"I'll..." Jiang Xinbai said seriously, "I might do strange things."

Yang: "Like?"

Jiang Xinbai: "Black out. Lose control."

A few more people laughed. "No shit!"

Yang Guangsheng also gave a nonchalant laugh.

Yang Guangsheng didn't force him to drink anymore, but he was still intentionally pressured into it by the others. He had no tolerance for alcohol naturally, and after just a few glasses, he was completely dazed. Soft bodies leaned against him, and sweet voices whispered in his ear, their breath hot.

Then, he felt a soft touch brush against the corner of his mouth. He instinctively turned his face away, and suddenly, a warm hand reached over and covered his mouth.

It was that familiar voice, always laced with a bit of a mischievous smile. "No kissing the mouth. This little guy of mine is pure; he still has his first kiss. He's saving it for someone he likes."

Unsurprisingly, Yang Guangsheng stayed out late that night.

"Wifey. Wifey," Yang Guangsheng called out, hanging his weight on Jiang Xinbai. "Did you call the driver? Take me and Xiao Guang to the hotel. We’re going to go night-night."

"....." Jiang Xinbai was leaning against a sofa, dozing in his drunken stupor. Hearing the voice, he sat up to support him and took the car keys from him. "I'll call one now."

The designated driver arrived. The two of them sat slumped in the back seat as the driver started the car.

The car traveled through the flickering, dim streetlights. It was very quiet.

Yang Guangsheng's tie clip and collar button had mysteriously disappeared, revealing his collarbone. Jiang Xinbai watched him in a daze. He remembered that light blue gemstone that had sparkled because of those quick, skilled, and expert movements. Had it been given away too?

"What are you looking at?"

"...Where's Xiao Guang?" Jiang Xinbai asked.

"...Ah. Oh shit," Yang Guangsheng said. "Where's Xiao Guang? Why the hell didn't you let him in the car? Then who am I going to sleep with? You?"

"....." Jiang Xinbai scratched his face.

"Idiot," Yang Guangsheng muttered, calling Xiao Guang. "Hello? Ah. Oh, I forgot, baby. Well, let's meet in a bit. Yeah, the usual place. Mwah. I've got a big surprise for you. Hmm~ I won't say. Guess..."

After hanging up, Yang Guangsheng said, "Xiao Bai, I won't miss you when I'm back in Jiangcheng. You're so dull."

Jiang: "....."

Yang Guangsheng leaned closer. "But will you miss me? Wifey. You've been managing me for so long, are you addicted yet?"

"...Mr. Yang, stop calling me 'wifey.' People look at me strangely," Jiang Xinbai said.

"Then what would be less strange?" Yang Guangsheng pitched his voice higher. "Hubby, hubby~ Then will you miss me, hubby?"

Jiang Xinbai used his last shred of logic to force himself not to tell the truth while drunk. "I will miss you, Mr. Yang."

"Hahaha... liar." Yang Guangsheng answered for him, "Even if you do, you'll only miss my 'handiwork.' Because you don't even know how to jerk yourself off."

Jiang Xinbai: "....."

"Next time I'm back, if there's a chance, I'll teach you," Yang Guangsheng said.

The car drove smoothly, and Yang Guangsheng drifted off into a muddled sleep.

Despite the smooth ride, Jiang Xinbai, who couldn't handle alcohol at all, still felt like vomiting. He squeezed his eyes shut.

↫─∰─↬

"Bosses, wake up. We're here," the driver said.

Yang Guangsheng was the first to open his bleary eyes. He tried to sit up and slapped the face of Jiang Xinbai, who was leaning on him. "Hey, hey, we're here. Get up, holy shit you're heavy."

But Jiang Xinbai just frowned, unmoving. Yang Guangsheng looked out the window at the bright, spacious underground parking lot.

"-?"

An underground parking lot? Why? Weren't they going to a hotel? Does that hotel even have an underground lot? The layout and signage looked strangely familiar...

"Sir," he rubbed his dry eyes, "is this the Begonia Life Hotel?"

"What? Hotel?" The driver looked in the rearview mirror. "The GPS was set for Luning Apartments. We've arrived. Do you want to check the location again?"

Yang Guangsheng: "Huh?"

The driver pulled into an open spot and stopped. He took his phone out and showed it to Yang Guangsheng. "Sir, it's correct, right? Luning Apartments."

Yang Guangsheng looked with vacant eyes.

"...Fuck!"

Yang Guangsheng yanked the hair of the soundly sleeping Jiang Xinbai.

He scolded him with a thick tongue, "I-idiot... hurry up, get up! I told you to take me to the hotel, why the hell did you set the GPS for home? I only asked you to do one damn thing today, and you still messed it up. Is your main job just specializing in drinking juice?"

With his hair a mess, Jiang Xinbai frowned and tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids only fluttered. His nose brushed against Yang's neck, and he took a deep breath before burying his face deeper.

Yang: "...Sir, could you help me carry this dead pig inside? Thanks."

"Oh, well..." The driver glanced back. Whether he was intimidated by the unmoving tall guy or really had another job, he said, "I'm really sorry, I'm rushing to pick someone else up and I'm already late... I really can't... I'm sorry, boss."

Since the man had already said so, Yang Guangsheng didn't push it or offer extra money; he just let him go.

But he couldn't move this completely unconscious person himself. He rubbed his face, looking helplessly at the assistant who was currently a burden on his shoulder. He pushed Jiang Xinbai hard to the other side so he was leaning against the window. Jiang Xinbai's head hit the glass, and his glasses slid halfway off.

Yang Guangsheng drunkenly scooted over and simply took the glasses off for him. This was probably the first time Yang Guangsheng had seen Assistant Jiang without his glasses. He wasn't dull; in fact, he looked quite youthful. A clean, upright "first love" face.

Yang Guangsheng looked at Assistant Jiang with curiosity, and after a while, he laughed. No wonder he insisted on wearing those old-fashioned glasses to maintain appearances. He really was just a kid.

"What kind of assistant are you? Idiot. You must have graduated from the Juice Department of Ocean University," he whispered into Jiang Xinbai's ear.

Jiang Xinbai shuddered and shook his head.

"....."

ʿ*Oh. That worked.*ʾ

He continued to blow air into that ear. Sure enough, Jiang Xinbai's head moved again. After blowing twice, Jiang Xinbai moved, but not significantly.

Yang Guangsheng went for it, sticking out his tongue and lightly licking the auricle of his ear.

Jiang Xinbai suddenly jolted, lifting his face and breathing deeply. Yang Guangsheng ran the tip of his tongue back and forth over the back of the ear, causing Jiang Xinbai's whole body to writhe as he sat up. He opened his eyes in a daze, turned, and saw Yang Guangsheng right in front of him. He inhaled sharply.

Without the lenses in the way, Jiang Xinbai's eyes were bright but filled with the aimless confusion of drunkenness.

Yang Guangsheng was happy the trick worked, but he put on an angry face.

"Damn it, you're finally awake... Are you going to call a car and get lost, or come home with me? Hmm?" he said.

Jiang Xinbai didn't answer. His dark pupils dropped, as if he were looking at something.

"Speak to me. Are you that drunk? Your tolerance is truly pathetic. A few glasses and it's like you've been poisoned."

Jiang Xinbai leaned in and began to lick the red mole on the side of Yang's neck.

Caught off guard, Yang Guangsheng's entire scalp went numb. He cursed with a shaky, out-of-control voice, "Mmm, fuck! You... you go for the sensitive spot right away..."

His eyes quickly grew wet. He propped one hand against the car window, curling his fingers, while the other hand slid into Jiang Xinbai's hair, gripping it gently.

After being licked for a while, Yang Guangsheng's whole body felt hot. Jiang Xinbai's breathing was also getting heavier. He lifted his head from Yang Guangsheng's neck, looked at his face, and leaned in to kiss his mouth. Yang Guangsheng turned his face away, but Jiang followed to chase the kiss. Yang Guangsheng could only push him back.

"Little virgin, you're losing it from the booze. You touch me, and I'll touch you, how about that? I don't want you waking up saying I bullied you."

He unzipped his pants and pulled out his already semi-hard member to show Jiang Xinbai. "Not as big as yours, but the shape is pretty good, right? A precision strike, a G-spot miracle tool."

He shakily straddled Jiang Xinbai's lap, his dick with its large, upturned head right in front of Jiang Xinbai's face.

"I'm the boss, you touch me first."

Jiang Xinbai looked at the thing and pulled his face back, showing little interest. Instead, he stared at Yang's open shirt, reaching out to undo the buttons and look at his small nipples.

"Haha. So you like these," Yang Guangsheng laughed again. "I knew it. Is that why you came the moment you saw them in the restroom? And you wouldn't even admit it. You little pervert."

Yang Guangsheng grabbed Jiang's hand and wrapped it around his own penis. "Be good, you touch me first, then I'll touch you. I'll even let you lick what you like. It's only fair."

Seeing Jiang Xinbai still staring blankly at his chest, Yang Guangsheng reached down and rubbed Jiang's cock through his pants. Jiang Xinbai stiffened for a moment, then eagerly thrust his hips into Yang's hand.

Yang Guangsheng immediately pulled his hand back. "You touch me first. Then I'll touch you. Idiot..."

"I... I'm not good at it," Jiang Xinbai finally responded, speaking slowly.

"I'll teach you." Yang Guangsheng reached back to the glove compartment, pulled out a tube of lubricant, squeezed some into Jiang Xinbai's hand, then gripped his hand tight. He used the webbing between Jiang's thumb and forefinger to rub against his glans while his other hand gripped the base and stroked downward.

The lubricant made a lewd, squelching sound in Jiang Xinbai's hand. It was his first time touching someone else's penis – slick, burning hot, and small... no, not small, it just felt smaller than his own when he handled it. Yang Guangsheng's tongue was like a slippery little fish, constantly twisting and turning inside Jiang Xinbai's ear, exhaling lewd gasps and muffled moans.

Jiang Xinbai trembled all over from the licking, his toes curling. His lower back instinctively arched upward, and Yang Guangsheng used that momentum to lean back, propping himself against the driver's seat. He braced his hands behind his head on the front seat support, his waist thrusting rapidly into Jiang Xinbai's hand. "Just like that, grip it tight..."

Jiang Xinbai's technique faltered, so Yang Guangsheng moved his own hips to provide the friction.

The swollen, glistening pink glans was right in front of Jiang Xinbai's face, sliding out of his wet, lubricated hand with every thrust and then retreating. Using the light from outside the window, he could clearly see the small, watery opening that was being stretched open by his tight grip. After watching for a moment, he took it upon himself to cover the opening with his thumb, rubbing it in circles.

Yang Guangsheng let out a trembling cry.

His flat belly tensed up, twitching from the stimulation. He lifted his hips and then slammed them down hard, landing right against Jiang Xinbai's member, which was already strained to its limit.

Jiang Xinbai's muscles all locked at once. He pinned Yang Guangsheng down with his arms and thrust his lower body hard into the crevice of his buttocks. Yang Guangsheng was forced to arch his back and lift his chin, moaning softly as if he were actually being penetrated.

"....."

Watching this scene, Jiang Xinbai panted and shuddered a few times, a wave of numbness traveling from his tailbone straight to his neck. He felt a chaotic sense of panic, but he couldn't hold it back. A surge of heat spread through his lower abdomen, and he came.

He reached down to undo his belt and zipper, pulling his member out of his pants, then grabbed some tissues to stuff into his underwear and wipe himself.

Yang Guangsheng, who had been building toward a climax only to be cut short, felt miserable. He demanded, "Jiang Xinbai! You bastard, are you an idiot? I told you to hold on tight, and you couldn't even do that?"

His voice still carried a light, airy breathiness that wasn't part of his usual tone; rather than a demand, it sounded more like acting spoiled. He grabbed Jiang Xinbai's hand and tightened it around his penis again.

"I told you to hold it and don't move!"

Yang Guangsheng commanded him. Then he continued to brace himself against the seat, rapidly thrusting his hips into Jiang's hand. "Harder, a little harder. I'm going to... come... mm..."

As the body in front of him thrust into his hand, Yang's buttocks also slammed against Jiang's cock over and over, as if they were having sex. Jiang Xinbai quickly became hard again. His penis rubbed against Yang Guangsheng's half-lowered pants, the sensation rough and stimulating. After rubbing like this for a while, the pants were pushed aside by Jiang Xinbai's massive member, and the head of his cock made direct contact with the smooth, warm skin of the inner thighs. Jiang Xinbai's dick was pressed into the crevice of the buttocks, thrusting between the warm thighs.

He shuddered, let out a low groan, and stopped again. This time he wanted to reach for the tissues early.

The penis in his hand was already as hard as an iron rod, on the verge of ejaculation. Yang Guangsheng cursed, "Don't let go! Letting go and grabbing on again are you fucking playing at edge-control with me? I won't let you touch me later!"

Yang Guangsheng forcefully held Jiang's hands over his penis, refusing to let him let go as he made the final sprint. At the moment of climax, he clamped his legs together, his waist thrusting forward in a sexual motion. Thus, Jiang Xinbai's burning organ, caught between his legs, erupted at the same time. Yang Guangsheng used one hand to block his own urethra, and the milky white semen flowed down over the glans, spilling wantonly over his and Jiang Xinbai's hands.

Jiang Xinbai stared blankly at the white fluids. Then he looked up, his gaze hazy as he watched Yang Guangsheng. Yang Guangsheng leaned his head lightly on Jiang's shoulder, calming his breathing.

"Mmm. That felt so good. Your hands are so hot. Get some tissues," Yang Guangsheng said.

Jiang Xinbai took several tissues and wiped away the messy, viscous fluids. A phone vibrated. Yang Guangsheng grabbed it and saw it was Xiao Guang calling.

"...Shit. It's Xiao Guang. Shh."

He answered the phone.

"Hello, baby, I..." His voice was even more drunken than before, with a bit of acting involved. "My idiot assistant... he called a driver, and the guy ended up navigating to my house. I was too drunk; I only realized it when I woke up at home... yeah, I just arrived... now? My driver said he had another job and left already. It's just... I know! It's ridiculous, yeah, yeah... mm~"

The last "mm" changed pitch.

Yang Guangsheng looked down and saw Jiang Xinbai looking up at him with bright, clear eyes, his tongue out to lick his nipple. Yang's eyebrows knit together slightly. In his expression of hazy pleasure, there was a trace of a frivolous, wanton smile. He ran his fingers through Jiang Xinbai's hair, stroking it slowly as if petting a dog.

"Mm, how about I make it up to you tomorrow? I feel so bad, baby. I'll definitely give you double the compensation tomorrow, okay? Why are you so well-behaved..." His tone on the phone remained relaxed. After hanging up, he pinned Jiang Xinbai down on the spacious back seat. "It's my turn to help you out."

Jiang Xinbai looked at him and tried to kiss his mouth, but Yang avoided it once more. Jiang Xinbai retreated and latched onto the red mole on the side of his neck, embracing him tightly and rubbing against him, as if he wanted to press Yang into his own body.

His breathing was deep and long, as if he were inhaling something forcefully. His voice was low and hoarse: "I want to eat you up."

"Holy shit, how are you so lecherous? I couldn't tell at all." Yang Guangsheng gave a soft gasp. "Mmm, don't lick there, you greedy little dog. I'm going to get hard again in a second."

He kissed his way down Jiang Xinbai's neck: "You came just from rubbing against me earlier, didn't you? Then let me show you something even better."

He kissed from his chest, to his abdomen, to his lower belly, to his waist, sucking bit by bit with his tongue, lingering longer on the spots that made Jiang Xinbai tremble, in no rush to get to the main event. Meanwhile, Jiang Xinbai's breathing grew heavier and heavier, nearly losing control and crying out. He twisted his body, aggrieved, and touched Yang Guangsheng's shoulder with his hand.

"Can't take it anymore?" Only then did Yang Guangsheng grasp his thick cock, his thumb playing with the string of pre-cum dripping from his slit.

"Do you want me to blow you, or jerk you off?" Yang Guangsheng looked at Jiang Xinbai, leaned down, and licked the pre-cum off his thumb with his tongue: "I'm pretty amazing at giving head too. Want to try?"

Jiang Xinbai watched as Yang Guangsheng put the finger stained with his bodily fluids into his mouth. He opened his mouth, a sound came from his throat, and his already thin cum shot out high, splattering all over Yang's face.

"....." Yang Guangsheng was stunned.

"Holy shit. Impressive," he finally said after a long while. "Can you have an abstract consciousness orgasm or something?"

"....."

Yang Guangsheng took the silent Jiang Xinbai home, reeking of cum. Jiang Xinbai saw the sofa and threw himself onto it, losing consciousness.

Yang: "...?"

To prevent him from vomiting in the middle of the night and accidentally choking to death, Yang Guangsheng positioned him on his side. Then he quickly rinsed himself off in the bathroom and flopped onto the bed in the bedroom to sleep.

In the latter half of the night, he woke up parched, and stumbled shirtless to the kitchen for water. Passing through the living room, he glanced at Jiang Xinbai – he was actually sleeping peacefully. Maintaining the same position, sleeping deeply.

...Except there was something large bulging from his crotch.

"Oho. In the dead of night, someone's in heat," Yang Guangsheng said, squinting. "Young people have such great bodies. After shooting several times, little brother can still stand at attention. Hahaha."

He walked over, plopped down kneeling beside the sofa, watched for a while, then mischievously poked it.

The thing twitched.

He covered it with his palm and rubbed in circles, and the thing visibly tented his pants. Jiang Xinbai rolled over, face up, and thrust his hips upward. That thing got even fuller.

"Look how uncomfortable your second brother is, let me take him out to air," Yang Guangsheng said.

He unbuckled the belt, pulled down the zipper, and the outline of his cock was already visible through the tight underwear, casually stuffed to one side. He tugged the waistband down, and the semi-hard, hammer-shaped meat sprang out, swaying heavily.

"Ooh~" he exclaimed in admiration. He gripped the foreskin and stroked once toward the base, and the thing showed its fully engorged form even more, glistening fluid at the tip dripping in strings.

Jiang Xinbai let out a heavy breath and thrust his hips upward. The thing stood up stiffly, curving upward. This kid's endowment was truly impressive. It was just that his premature ejaculation was pretty severe.

Earlier in the car it had been too dark to see clearly, so this time Yang Guangsheng used his fingers to measure the length. Mm. Impressive. But this wasn't even at its longest. You had to measure when it was at its hardest and most aroused for accuracy.

ʿWhat a shame.ʾ

Could this quick shooter even last long enough to enjoy it? But he was still young, he could practice slowly.

ʿ*Oh, could he deepthroat it?*ʾ

He had mentioned blowing him earlier, but hadn't gotten to it. He compared the length of the rod with his hand, then opened his mouth against it to measure the depth from his lips to his throat.

ʿ*Doubtful. Might die.*ʾ

He closed his sore mouth and sucked in a mouthful of drool that had been flowing out, then heard Jiang Xinbai's wary voice: "What are you doing."

Yang Guangsheng turned to see Jiang Xinbai staring at him.

"...You're hard again," Yang Guangsheng said, spreading his hands. "I was just looking."

"....." Jiang Xinbai remained silent. He fixed his gaze on Yang Guangsheng's naked body, his eyes sweeping over the small pinkish-brown nubs on his chest. Then he immediately looked around: "Why am I at your place?"

Yang Guangsheng was stunned; he didn't even know how to answer.

"The fuck? What are you talking about?"

Jiang Xinbai looked at him for a moment, then lowered his gaze to his own exposed lower half, finally showing some expression. His nostrils flared, his mouth pressed tightly in humiliation. The veins on his neck bulged, but he only slowly tucked himself back in, pulled up the zipper, and drew up his legs.

"What's with that? Is it a bit late to be embarrassed now?" Yang Guangsheng teased.

Jiang Xinbai continued staring at him. In the middle of the night, Yang Guangsheng was starting to feel unnerved by his gaze. For a moment, Yang Guangsheng even thought he might suddenly jump up and beat him.

"Oh. Then sleep well."

He stood up, turned off the light, and returned to the bedroom. He had just lain down when he heard the front door open and then slam shut loudly. Jiang Xinbai had left.

"Fucking psycho," Yang Guangsheng muttered, closing his eyes.

He got up again, turned all the lights on, then went back to bed and continued sleeping.

↫────────────────∰───────────────↬

TL/ᴇᴅɪᴛɪɴɢ/ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ/ʟᴏᴄᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: Ꮆ𝓇𝒾𝓂𝓂Ή𝒶𝓃𝑒𝓊𝓁