In Love with an Idiot (你却爱着一个他)

Chapter 21

As they fought, Jian Suiying cursed Li Yu inwardly for hitting so bloody hard. He'd been holding back, afraid of seriously hurting him, but Li Yu wasn't showing him the slightest consideration. Eventually, his own fury erupted, and he began throwing heavy punches in return.

They rolled back and forth over the thick wool carpet, one pinning the other down before their positions reversed.

Li Yu kicked Jian Suiying in the stomach, sending him crashing backwards into a solid wooden desk leg. The impact was agonising. Young Master Jian curled up and went silent, unable to recover for a long time.

Clutching his stomach and rubbing his thigh, Li Yu hauled himself off the floor, grimacing. He stood panting over Jian Suiying, whose face was contorted with pain.

Both were covered with shoe prints, especially on their trousers. They looked a complete mess.

Li Yu's fists were powerful, and Young Master Jian had definitely come off worse. Everything hurt so badly he hardly dared move. Never in his life had he been so humiliated in a fight. He was convinced he'd lost because he couldn't bear to hit Li Yu properly.

*Fuck, how humiliating.* Jian Suiying felt so awful he wanted to stay on the floor and never get up.

Li Yu flexed his arms and legs, then pulled Jian Suiying off the carpet and dumped him on the leather sofa. Looking at him with contempt, he asked, ‘Want to carry on?’

Jian Suiying swore, grabbed an ashtray from the coffee table and hurled it at him.

Li Yu dodged, but the water inside splashed all over him. Looking at the state of his clothes and remembering how he'd lost control, he grew even angrier.

Gritting his teeth, Jian Suiying sprang off the sofa, ready to attack again.

Li Yu was prepared. He shoved him straight back down and leaned over him, one hand pressing his chest while the other closed around his throat. His thumb rested against the artery in Jian Suiying's neck. He hadn't yet applied much pressure, but the threat in his eyes was unmistakable.

‘From now on, wipe every one of those disgusting thoughts out of your head.’

Jian Suiying burned with humiliation. Li Yu's undisguised revulsion was the greatest blow his pride had ever suffered. To pursue someone only to be hated this much was a first in his life—perhaps his greatest failure.

He'd always been a proud man who needed to be handled gently. All the restraint he'd shown towards Li Yu finally broke. *You've made me lose so much face. Do you think I'll let you feel comfortable?*

He narrowed his eyes. Things had deteriorated so badly that any hope of winning Li Yu over seemed gone. In that case, why hold back? He could say whatever made him feel better. He decided to disgust Li Yu as thoroughly as possible to vent his anger.

With a leering smile, he said, ‘You think you can control what goes on in my head? I'm imagining all sorts of ways to fuck you. Would you rather ride me or lie on your side? What are you going to do? Crack my skull open and dig the thoughts out?’

Li Yu's eyes blazed. His thumb began pressing harder, and his lips trembled with rage.

‘You… you… Have you no fucking shame?’

Jian Suiying's face turned red.

‘Cough… I'll think… whatever I want. You can't… stop me… Me fancying you… is an honour…’

Li Yu genuinely wanted to strangle him. No one had ever provoked such fury in him. He'd been right about Jian Suiying since childhood: the man was not only petty and bullying, using his position to intimidate others, but shameless beyond belief.

Remembering years of mistreatment towards Jian Suilin, and now all the obscene thoughts Jian Suiying had about him, Li Yu felt that leaving such a man alive would be a danger to everyone.

Red-faced and struggling for breath, Jian Suiying slammed his knee into Li Yu's side. The pain drained the colour from Li Yu's face, and his hand loosened.

Jian Suiying seized the chance to throw him off the sofa. Coughing, he scrambled to his feet and stood facing Li Yu across the coffee table. After judging the distance and the obstacles, he decided Li Yu couldn't leap across and kill him. Then his wicked mouth opened like a floodgate.

‘Second Young Master Li, what the fuck is so wrong with me? Isn't everything about me exceptional? Look at this face, this body. I can even last longer in bed than most men. You seriously don't want to try? Everyone who's tried has loved it.’

Watching Li Yu's face twist almost beyond recognition gave him a perverse rush of pleasure.

‘That bit of oral last night was good, wasn't it? That's nothing compared with what I can do. If you got together with me, I'd keep you satisfied every day. But seriously, weren't you a bit quick yesterday? What are you, the Flash? Hey, you haven't got a medical problem, have you? Maybe you should go to the hospital. No, that'd be embarrassing. Tell you what, I know an old Chinese doctor who treats impotence and premature ejaculation. Shall I introduce you? Look how red your face is. Don't be embarrassed—Brother Jian's just concerned about you.’

Li Yu's usual composure had vanished. He was nothing more than an enraged young man, desperate to beat the other party into submission and release all his fury.

The word *fear* had never belonged in Jian Suiying's vocabulary. He'd never truly been afraid of anyone. Li Yu's expression was frightening, but it couldn't silence him. No one could stop him from finding pleasure in tormenting Li Yu as a way to soothe his broken heart.

Though he would never show it, he genuinely was sad. He now knew that Li Yu was the person he'd liked more than anyone else in his life.

Compared with Li Yu, all his previous lovers were nothing.

At first, he'd approached him merely intending to have some fun. But after getting to know him, he'd discovered that Li Yu was far more than a beautiful face. Young though he was, he would surely be someone capable of standing beside Jian Suiying as an equal in a few years. Such a person couldn't be treated like a toy.

Perhaps… perhaps what he wanted was to have an actual relationship with Li Yu.

The thought struck him as faintly ridiculous. Li Yu was too young. Jian Suiying liked younger men for their fresh skin and youthful figures. The idea of developing real emotional ties with someone that age was unsettling even to him.

But now, as things stood, nothing could develop between them at all. Beyond anger and frustration, he couldn't help feeling genuinely hurt.

Li Yu had clenched his fists and was trying to circle around the table towards him. Jian Suiying moved in the opposite direction, keeping the table between them and deliberately infuriating him.

‘You shameless bastard!’ Li Yu cursed. ‘You think someone like you can… You… you actually dare imagine… Fuck you! Go to hell!’

He'd never encountered anyone who dared entertain such intentions towards him. He'd been harassed by men before, but they had always been obviously effeminate boys. He had never felt the way Jian Suiying made him feel—so deeply insulted.

With a pretty, almost feminine-looking boy like Jian Suilin, Li Yu had always imagined himself taking the more masculine role, though he meant no disrespect. And now Jian Suiying wanted… wanted to do that to *him*…

Li Yu's head felt like it was about to explode.

He urgently wanted to prove, through force, which of them could dominate the other, which had the right to put the other beneath his feet and do as he pleased. He had to make this idiot understand that all his disgusting fantasies were impossible and presumptuous. Otherwise, his anger would never subside.

Jian Suiying didn't have such complicated feelings. Wanting sex with an attractive person was an animal instinct. Becoming furious when that person rejected him was even more instinctive.

While they remained at an impasse, Li Yu's phone rang cheerfully.

Neither reacted at first. After several rings, the familiar tone suddenly pulled Li Yu back to his senses.

It was the special ringtone he'd assigned to Jian Suilin.

Following the sound, Li Yu searched for his phone and finally found it beneath the desk. He answered in a hurry, his voice changing instantly from a raging storm to a gentle breeze.

‘Hello, Suilin.’

Jian Suiying hadn't taken his eyes off Li Yu's face. The instant the young man's expression and voice changed, he froze.

Suddenly he felt that Li Yu was being rather… rather too gentle with Little Lin.

He didn't know whether he was being oversensitive, but he couldn't help remembering all the times he'd seen the two together. Li Yu had always treated Little Lin with extraordinary care. Wasn't it perhaps a little… excessive?

Jian Suiying's heart tightened. A string of questions rang through his head like a bell. *Could Li Yu be in love with Little Lin? Impossible. He doesn't like men, does he? That's impossible. Isn't it? Could it be true?*

Perhaps young people simply treated their friends that way these days. Maybe he was seeing gay men everywhere because he himself was gay.

Whatever the case, he couldn't bear the idea of Li Yu liking Little Lin. He didn't know how he could even begin to accept that possibility.

He heard Li Yu say, ‘Not yet. I still have work to finish. Go and eat first.’

‘All right. Bring me some takeaway, then.’

‘…Yes, I'm with your brother.’ Li Yu shot Jian Suiying a cold glare.

Jian Suiying swore inwardly. *You change your face faster than a prostitute takes off her clothes. You can roll your eyes right out of your head, and it won't cost me a single hair.*

Controlling his voice, Li Yu asked, ‘Suilin wants to know what you'd like for lunch. He can bring you some takeaway.’

Jian Suiying shouted, ‘Eat my arse! You've got unfinished work, and you still want lunch? Go and live on air!’

Li Yu furiously ended the call.

‘Jian Suiying, I'll fucking kill you today!’ He strode towards him.

Still aching all over, Jian Suiying wasn't eager for another fight. He continued circling the coffee table, keeping Li Yu chasing him like someone walking a dog.

Before long, there was a cautious knock at the door.

‘Who is it?’ Jian Suiying roared.

Jian Suilin's gentle voice came from outside.

‘President Jian, whatever you're busy with, you should still eat lunch.’

Anxiety flickered across Li Yu's face. He looked helplessly at the state of his clothes and Jian Suiying's. If Suilin walked in now, how could he explain?

He couldn't exactly say, *Your brother wanted to do something indecent to me, so I beat him up.*

Jian Suiying calmed down as well. Looking at himself and then Li Yu, he realised that fighting with an eighteen-year-old intern in the boss's office was hardly something he could admit to.

He shouted through the door, ‘Go and eat. Leave us alone. We'll eat when we're finished.’

Jian Suilin hesitated. ‘Brother…’

‘Get lost. Don't make me say it again.’

Li Yu glared angrily at him, then softened his voice as much as he could.

‘Suilin, don't worry about me. We'll be finished soon. You eat first.’

The corridor was silent for several seconds. Finally, footsteps receded.

Jian Suiying ran a hand through his hopelessly dishevelled hair, looked at Li Yu sidelong and snorted.

‘What now?’

Li Yu stared back coldly.

‘You tell me.’

Jian Suiying pointed towards the inner rooms. His office had a restroom and a bathroom.

‘Wash your shirt and trousers, then dry them with the hairdryer before you go out.’

Knowing there was no other choice, Li Yu went into the bathroom, still seething with anger.

Jian Suiying changed into a fresh set of clothes in the restroom. Afterwards, he lay wearily on the bed, listening to the water running in the bathroom and feeling the pain growing worse in several places across his body.

Chapter 22

Li Yu spent half an hour in the bathroom.

For both of them, that half-hour felt interminable.

Although Li Yu was still furious, he'd recovered much of his composure. He wasn't afraid of offending Jian Suiying. In fact, after suppressing his anger for so long, finally being able to swear at him and hit him had felt wonderful. What worried him was how to explain matters if Jian Suilin discovered that their relationship had deteriorated so badly.

He absolutely couldn't allow Suilin to find out what sort of feelings Jian Suiying harboured towards him. Otherwise, Suilin would certainly distance himself.

All these troubles and worries caused by Jian Suiying alone filled Li Yu with frustration and resentment.

Meanwhile, Young Master Jian changed slowly into fresh clothes, lit a cigarette and lay on the bed, unwilling to move.

He'd begun to regret going too far that day. But Li Yu had started it. Jian Suiying couldn't stand being provoked and had never been someone who quietly swallowed an insult.

Still, he'd been the one to do that to Li Yu first…

He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. After thinking it over, he decided that the most hateful thing of all was Li Yu's terrible eyesight. How could he not be attracted to someone as impressive as Jian Suiying? His eyes must be full of shit.

Did it really matter so much whether someone was male or female? Life was short; wasn't the point to enjoy yourself?

He was even beginning to question his earlier assumptions. Maybe there really were straight men who could never be turned, no matter what, and he'd happened to find one in Li Yu.

That was the only thought that could soothe his battered pride.

He smoked several cigarettes in succession before managing to sort out his thoughts and get off the bed.

The hairdryer was still running in the bathroom. He strode over and hammered on the door.

‘Are you ever going to finish? You think this is a room you've rented by the hour? Hurry up and get out when you're done!’

The hairdryer stopped immediately. Li Yu opened the door with an icy expression.

Jian Suiying inspected his clothes. They were probably still a little damp, but it wasn't obvious. Looking at Li Yu's beautiful face, attractive even in its coldness, Jian Suiying felt a pang of sadness.

‘Come out. We need to talk.’

Seeing that Jian Suiying didn't seem about to attack him, Li Yu lowered his guard slightly and followed him.

Jian Suiying settled into his executive chair and looked at him arrogantly.

‘Second Young Master Li, I can't be bothered arguing about what happened before. I admit I did some things wrong, but the main problem was your narrow-mindedness…’

Li Yu's eyes slowly widened. Jian Suiying coughed and hastily changed course.

‘Forget it. There's no point deciding who was right or wrong. Since you dislike me so much, I won't keep pestering you. Do you really think you're that irresistible? Look how nervous you are. Is it necessary?’

Li Yu fought desperately against the urge to lunge forward and bite him. Both hands had become clenched fists inside his trouser pockets.

Jian Suiying was a bastard of the highest order. Every last part of him seemed to be made of arrogance, bullying and shamelessness.

Li Yu couldn't help thinking of Suilin. How could two people with such similar blood and genes turn out so differently?

Jian Suiying tapped his fingers on the desk, looking thoroughly reasonable.

‘From now on, let's forget everything that happened. All right? We'll just be employer and employee. I'll teach you properly, and you'll work hard for me.’

The muscles in Li Yu's face tightened visibly.

‘That would be for the best,’ he said coldly.

Although Jian Suiying knew perfectly well how Li Yu felt, hearing it so plainly still disappointed him. He waved impatiently.

‘All right, go back to work. Oh, and buy me lunch. That claypot rice you got last time was good. Bring the whole pot back.’

Li Yu wanted to slap him across the face with the sole of his shoe. He forced himself to hold back and left without a word.

Watching him go, Jian Suiying laughed coldly. He wasn't someone who could be discouraged so easily. Everything he'd just said was merely a delaying tactic to keep Li Yu in place. The boy's rejection only fed his determination to conquer this seemingly unassailable mountain and prove himself.

Two hours passed, and his lunch never arrived. By the end, he was so hungry he ate the little biscuits served with his coffee, crunching them savagely between his teeth and swallowing them along with his grievance and resentment.

He didn't leave the office all afternoon. Everyone outside seemed aware of his foul mood, and nobody came in. Li Yu certainly wouldn't. He spent hours brooding, unable to concentrate on a single piece of work.

At last, just before the end of the day, someone knocked.

‘Who?’ he demanded irritably.

‘President Jian, it's me,’ Jian Suilin replied from outside.

‘Come in.’ Jian Suiying rubbed his face and rearranged his stiff features into something normal.

The moment Jian Suilin entered, he spotted the papers, cup and telephone scattered across the floor. He frowned slightly, bent to pick them up and asked, ‘Brother, what happened? Why were you so angry? You've always seemed quite friendly towards Li Yu.’

Jian Suiying coughed.

‘We're friends privately, of course, but work is work. I know how to separate business from personal affairs.’

Jian Suilin gathered everything onto the desk and arranged it neatly.

‘Can you tell me what happened? Li Yu won't say either. Maybe I could help him.’

‘There's no need. I gave him a proper telling-off, and he's learnt his lesson. He shouldn't make that mistake again. It's over.’

Jian Suilin gave him a doubtful look. Then he softened his voice.

‘Brother, did you skip lunch?’

‘I ate. Of course I ate.’

‘You look exhausted. Shall I massage your shoulders?’

Jian Suiying yawned and relaxed against his chair.

‘Go on, then.’ He closed his eyes.

Jian Suilin began massaging his shoulders with practised skill. If there was one thing he was good at, it was looking after his older brother. He'd spent plenty of his childhood bringing tea, running errands and waiting on him.

Jian Suiying took it entirely for granted. Ever since Little Lin had learnt how to make himself useful, life had become much easier for both of them.

As Jian Suilin kneaded his shoulders with just the right pressure, his eyes lingered on the little patch of skin and the slightly raised collarbone showing above Jian Suiying's collar. If he lowered his head a fraction, he could smell his brother's fresh aftershave. A little closer, he could easily touch his face.

Jian Suiying rested with his eyes closed, his thick eyelashes trembling faintly, his nostrils moving with each soft breath. His profile was like a fine sculpture, every detail nearly perfect.

Jian Suilin swallowed involuntarily. A dark, mysterious mist seemed to settle over the eyes that normally wore such a bright and gentle smile.

He bent slowly, drawing closer bit by bit until his lips were almost touching Jian Suiying's ear. Then, trembling, he whispered, ‘Brother, don't fall asleep.’

Jian Suiying really had nearly dozed off. Only when Little Lin called softly beside his ear a couple of times did he jolt awake.

‘Hm? What? Did I fall asleep?’

Jian Suilin controlled his slightly ragged breathing.

‘Almost. If you're that tired, go and sleep inside. You won't be comfortable here, and you might catch a chill.’

‘It's all right. I should have had a nap at lunchtime…’ Jian Suiying yawned again and checked his watch. ‘Go and fetch Li Yu. I'll take you both to look at a construction site.’

Over the following days, Li Yu generally regarded Jian Suiying with cold indifference. Jian Suiying, meanwhile, invented new ways to make things difficult for him every day, giving him awkward assignments and petty punishments.

Normally, Young Master Jian wouldn't stoop to such low tricks. But he'd discovered that Li Yu was so distant that causing trouble was the only way to get him to look at him or say a few extra words. He became increasingly enthusiastic about bullying him.

More than a month of the holidays soon passed. The two boys had worked efficiently, and his idiot cousin's project had made some progress. Of course, an asset with so many defects couldn't be straightened out in less than a year or eighteen months. At first, he'd assigned it simply to give them experience. Now it had become a convenient reason to keep Li Yu tied to the company, so Jian Suiying no longer feared he would suddenly quit.

Li Yu and Jian Suilin started university. Their campuses weren't far apart—only about twenty minutes' drive.

Jian Suiying hoped Li Yu would continue working one or two days a week, but Li Yu seemed reluctant. He never gave a direct answer and hadn't returned since term began, saying only that he would keep overseeing the project with Jian Suilin.

Little Lin, by contrast, enthusiastically arranged his timetable so he could spend one and a half or two days a week at the company.

Jian Suiying was terribly disappointed. He'd gone from seeing Li Yu daily to seeing him only twice in a whole month, and both times he'd had to invent an excuse to summon him back. It was a difficult adjustment.

Then, quite suddenly, an opportunity presented itself.

On the eve of the National Day holiday, he received a call that delighted him. It was from Li Yu's elder brother, Li Xuan.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Xuan explained that he'd be home for the Mid-Autumn Festival and wanted to treat Jian Suiying to dinner. Then he reached the important point: he'd found a suitable piece of land in Beihai and wanted to know whether Jian Suiying would come to inspect it over the National Day holiday.

The timing couldn't have been better. Jian Suiying's spirits soared. That year, Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day fell close together. In such a good mood, he decided to give his unfortunate office staff nine full days off.

The news sent the employees into a frenzy; they were practically moved to tears.

Naturally, Jian Suiying had his own reasons. Between festival visits, gifts and a few days in Guangxi, he expected to use up the entire break. Without him there, his staff probably wouldn't be concentrating anyway, so they might as well have the holiday and thank him for it.

He and Li Xuan talked for twenty minutes. Li Xuan made a point of asking how Li Yu had performed. Jian Suiying praised him extravagantly, as though losing him would be a disaster for the company. Li Xuan was delighted.

Jian Suiying took the opportunity to mention that he hoped to visit the Li family during Mid-Autumn Festival. Li Xuan naturally welcomed the idea.

After the call, Jian Suiying eagerly began planning his holiday.

Li Xuan returned from Guangxi the day before Mid-Autumn Festival.

Jian Suiying took Little Lin, loaded the boot with presents and drove straight to the Li family's home.

Li Xuan and Li Yu came out personally to welcome them.

They drove into the courtyard and unloaded mooncakes, cigarettes, alcohol and a mountain of supplements. Li Xuan laughed.

‘Suiying, you're far too generous. Why bring all this?’

Jian Suiying laughed too.

‘We can't just turn up and eat your food for nothing!’

They went inside chatting and laughing.

Li Yu hadn't seen Jian Suilin for more than two weeks. He barely spared Jian Suiying a glance before heading straight towards Little Lin.

Both of Li Yu's parents were at home.

The moment Jian Suiying met Li Yu's father, he became a modest, respectful younger man, occasionally flattering him and strengthening their bond.

The Li family were equally keen to cultivate a relationship with Jian Suiying. The two families hadn't been especially close before, and a friendly relationship would benefit everyone.

During dinner, Li Yu's father repeatedly thanked Jian Suiying for giving his son experience. Jian Suiying seized the chance to encourage him to let Li Yu keep working part-time during university.

Naturally, Li Yu's father wanted his son to learn as much as possible. But Li Yu said smoothly, ‘It's very busy at the start of term. Let's talk about it again later.’

Jian Suiying was disappointed. He decided to work on Li Xuan instead. From their meetings, he'd noticed that Li Yu listened to his elder brother.

After dinner, the six of them chatted in the living room for another hour or so. When it grew late, Jian Suiying took Little Lin and said goodbye.

The whole Li family rose to see them to the door. Li Xuan also invited Jian Suiying to dinner in two days' time to discuss the project in detail.

Jian Suiying was delighted. Before leaving, he caught Li Yu by the arm and gave his shoulder a familiar squeeze.

‘Li Yu, you must come too.’

Since their falling-out, they'd had no physical contact, nor spoken so warmly. Li Yu stiffened a little before nodding.

‘All right.’

Satisfied, Jian Suiying gave his back another hearty slap, making Li Yu grunt. Jian Suiying felt wonderfully avenged.

On the way home, Jian Suilin asked, ‘Brother, are you really going to Guangxi?’

‘Of course. I need to inspect the land in person. The project has real potential to be developed and listed on the stock market.’

‘Can I come with you?’

Jian Suiying rejected him automatically.

‘What would you go for?’

‘I… I want to learn more.’

Jian Suiying had been looking forward to spending a couple of days enjoying himself in Guangxi with Li Yu. He genuinely didn't want Little Lin tagging along.

‘Don't come…’ He couldn't think of a good reason immediately, but he didn't usually need one to refuse his brother.

Jian Suilin said, ‘Li Yu and I were planning to go to Tibet over National Day, but now Li Xuan has invited you to Guangxi. Li Yu will have to go too, won't he? That leaves me with nothing to do. Brother, let me come with you.’

‘No. I'm not taking you,’ Jian Suiying said firmly.

Jian Suilin pressed his lips together and stole a glance at him.

‘Brother, you and Li Yu haven't seemed very happy with each other lately. Whatever the reason, try not to hold it against him.’

That gave Jian Suiying pause. He and Li Yu were barely on speaking terms. Taking Jian Suilin might actually ease the awkwardness. It wouldn't look good if Li Xuan noticed something was wrong.

He frowned.

‘Fine. You can come. While we adults discuss business, you children can keep each other company so you don't get bored.’

Jian Suilin smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

‘Brother, you still think of me as a child.’

Jian Suiying glanced at him.

‘When I was your age, I used to ask our father the same thing.’

Jian Suilin fell silent, smiling faintly as he concentrated on driving.

Every year, holidays such as Mid-Autumn Festival and New Year's Eve left Jian Suiying exhausted.

It wasn't only physical. Emotionally, they were worse. He had to remember relatives on both his father's and mother's sides, deliver gifts to everyone important, and entertain waves of visitors who brought gifts of their own. He dreaded festivals.

After finally enduring Mid-Autumn Festival, he'd been forced to spend the night at the family home. The following morning, he fled after breakfast like a bird released from its cage.

That evening, he took Little Lin to dinner with the two Li brothers, gaining a general understanding of the Beihai land.

Li Xuan was busy with work and had to return the next day. Jian Suiying decided to take Jian Suilin and Li Yu down to see him the day after that.

Li Yu appeared reluctant but couldn't refuse. The thought of spending day after day with him again made Jian Suiying feel as though his heart were floating.

Chapter 23

The following day, Li Xuan returned to Guangxi with Li Yu. Jian Suiying and his younger brother arrived two days later.

Li Xuan sent Li Yu and his secretary to collect them and arranged accommodation at a government guesthouse. It was roughly equivalent to a three-star hotel. The facilities were a little dated, but everything was very clean.

Li Yu showed Jian Suiying to his room first. With Li Xuan nowhere to be found, Jian Suiying immediately revealed his true colours, looking at Li Yu with obvious disdain.

‘What sort of rubbish room have you given me? It's tiny, ancient and smells funny. Open the window.’

Li Yu was furious. Given his brother's position, it would be improper not to accommodate guests, yet as a government employee he couldn't entertain them too extravagantly either. They were lucky to have a free room at all. Jian Suiying really was a spoilt bastard who couldn't live without luxury.

In fact, Jian Suiying was deliberately picking on him. He loved seeing Li Yu furious but unable to retaliate.

Jian Suilin hurried to smooth things over.

‘Brother, the room's all right. We're here on business, so we can make do. Shall I buy you some new sheets and bedding?’

For all his faults, Jian Suiying wasn't quite that fussy. He gave a dismissive snort.

‘No need… Little Li, I'm hungry.’

Li Yu said with a cold face, ‘There's a restaurant downstairs. I'll take you both to eat. My brother has something on tonight. He'll treat you tomorrow, so we can make do here for today. Is that acceptable to President Jian?’

Jian Suiying raised an eyebrow.

‘No, it isn't. I'm not eating here.’ He glanced at Li Yu and smiled challengingly. ‘What's good locally? I want to eat something special.’

Li Yu answered stiffly, ‘It's my first time here too. I don't know.’

Jian Suilin quickly intervened. ‘We could ask the driver. He's local. Since we don't have anything to do today, why don't we look around? Treat it like a holiday.’

Li Yu's jaw tightened. He made an effort to soften his voice when replying to Little Lin.

‘All right. I'll take you around.’

The three went downstairs. Rather than call the driver, they asked the girl at reception for suggestions. She'd never experienced three handsome men looking at her expectantly all at once, and her head practically spun.

‘The weather… the weather's nice. You could go to the beach and have a barbecue,’ she stammered.

Jian Suiying didn't care much where they went; he simply enjoyed disagreeing with Li Yu.

‘Sounds good. A barbecue by the sea, then.’

Li Yu arranged a car, and they drove to Silver Beach.

As soon as they stepped out, a sea breeze with a faint salty, fishy scent brushed their faces, taking away some of the summer heat. Jian Suiying stretched, feeling refreshed.

The sun was about to set, and the beach was full of people. It was lively everywhere.

‘Oh, it's busy here.’ Jian Suiying rubbed his stomach. ‘Let's get something to eat first.’

He'd suggested barbecue on impulse, but the stalls didn't look especially clean, and now he hesitated.

Li Yu and Jian Suilin had no such reservations. They picked a crowded stall and headed over. Jian Suiying had little choice but to sit with them.

Jian Suilin asked, ‘Brother, what do you want to eat? Anything to drink?’

‘What have they got…? Order whatever looks good. Bring some beer.’

‘All right. Sit here a moment. Li Yu, let's go and order.’

Li Yu got up and followed him.

Resting his chin on his hand, Jian Suiying watched people pass and wondered what activities to arrange that evening. He finally had Li Yu in his company again. Surely he had to do *something*, or he wouldn't be Jian Suiying.

While he was thinking, a nervous girl's voice sounded above him.

‘Hello.’

He turned to see two girls of eighteen or nineteen, looking both expectant and frightened.

‘Hm? What is it?’

One asked nervously, ‘Are you here alone?’

*Oh, they're chatting me up.* He shook his head.

‘No.’

The other girl seemed bolder.

‘Are you here with other guys? Would you like to hang out together?’

Jian Suiying was about to answer when Jian Suilin spoke behind him, sounding unusually cheerful.

‘There's a spider on you.’

The girls froze and stared at him.

‘What?’

As Jian Suilin set the beers down on the table, he looked at one girl and said, ‘It might have crawled into your clothes. About this big.’ He used his free hand to make a circle the size of a one-yuan coin.

The girl went white and began turning frantically on the spot, asking, ‘Where? Where is it?’ Eventually, both girls screamed and ran towards the toilets.

Li Yu frowned at Jian Suilin, puzzled.

Jian Suiying raised an eyebrow.

‘How come I didn't see it?’ His eyesight was excellent.

Jian Suilin smiled and sat down.

‘Try the local beer. I bought a few cans of Wanglaoji too, so you don't get overheated.’

Jian Suiying accepted a beer and took a long gulp. The cold liquid flowing down his throat was wonderfully refreshing in the summer heat.

He was about to drink again when Jian Suilin gently caught the bottle.

‘Brother, your stomach's too empty. Eat something before drinking more.’

He slowly pressed the bottle towards the table, watching Jian Suiying's expression.

To his surprise, Jian Suiying cooperated and stopped drinking.

Mainly because his mind was elsewhere.

Watching Jian Suilin take such thoughtful care of his brother made Li Yu bitterly jealous.

What could be more depressing and infuriating than seeing the person you loved lavish affection on someone you detested?

The kinder Jian Suilin was to Jian Suiying, the more Li Yu hated the older brother. He had no idea how to make Suilin see sense. As children, they'd often discussed ways to get revenge on Jian Suiying: how to embarrass him, get him punished, and make him feel the humiliation of being bullied.

Now Suilin seemed to have forgotten it all, while Li Yu still remembered it on his behalf. It was almost laughable, as though Li Yu were the only one who hadn't grown up.

He lowered his head, feeling miserable, and said nothing.

Soon the dishes arrived, filling the table with steaming, delicious-smelling food.

Using his chopsticks, Jian Suilin removed whatever he could from the skewers and placed it on a plate so his brother could eat without fuss.

Jian Suiying really was hungry and immediately tucked in.

The three soon demolished the barbecue. Seven or eight empty beer bottles stood on the table. Jian Suiying leaned lazily back in his chair, half closing his eyes as he looked at the sea, utterly relaxed.

Jian Suilin suggested, ‘Shall we go for a walk along the beach?’

Jian Suiying stretched.

‘Come on, let's move about.’

They strolled slowly along the sand. Jian Suiying wanted to go swimming, but decided it wouldn't feel good so soon after eating.

After a while, they were a long way from the crowded parts of the beach. There weren't even any swimmers nearby. Growing sleepy, Jian Suiying dropped onto the sand and lay flat on his back.

‘Let's rest. Why am I so tired?’

The other two sat beside him. By now the sky was darkening, the daytime heat had faded and the sea breeze blew gently. Lying on the sand with his eyes shut felt wonderfully restful.

Through his drowsiness, he heard Li Yu and Jian Suilin talking quietly about all sorts of things—school memories, university life, the company project. Eventually, their voices faded as his awareness blurred.

He didn't know how long he'd dozed before waking again. Falling asleep on the beach had been cool and pleasant at first, but after a while it grew cold.

When he opened his eyes, he saw a deep blue night sky dotted with a few stars. The wind roared past his ears, mingled with distant voices and music.

Turning his head slightly, he discovered Li Yu lying beside him, arms folded beneath his head for a pillow, eyes closed and breathing evenly. Little Lin was nowhere to be seen.

The breeze stirred Li Yu's fringe. Moonlight softened the strong lines of his face and gave his full lips a beautiful sheen, making Jian Suiying ache to taste them.

The deserted stretch of beach and dim light made the scene even more intimate and tempting. Jian Suiying's breathing slowed and became cautious. He wanted to get closer but feared disturbing such a peaceful picture.

After watching for who knew how long, he shifted and slowly leaned towards Li Yu, wanting another taste of those lips.

He pressed the lightest kiss against them, his heart pounding so violently it seemed ready to escape his chest. If anyone in Beijing knew that he, Jian Suiying, could become this nervous and excited over a mere kiss, he'd never be able to show his face again.

Li Yu didn't react. His breathing remained steady.

Just as Jian Suiying decided he hadn't taken enough liberties and might try again, a chilling voice spoke above him.

‘Brother…’

He nearly jumped out of his skin. Looking up sharply, he saw Jian Suilin staring at them in disbelief, his face icy.

Although he hadn't spoken loudly, Li Yu was extremely sensitive to his voice and woke instantly. He first saw Jian Suiying's chin inches from his face, then the hand braced beside his waist and their suggestive position. Looking up farther, he saw Jian Suilin's distorted expression.

His mind flashed through all Jian Suiying's previous behaviour, and in an instant he understood what must have happened.

He shoved Jian Suiying away and leapt to his feet.

‘Suilin!’ he called anxiously.

Jian Suilin was trembling all over, evidently struggling to suppress something. He lowered his head so nobody could see his expression.

Jian Suiying felt embarrassed and angry.

‘What are you staring at? Get lost!’

The words had barely left his mouth when Jian Suilin turned and ran.

Li Yu pointed at Jian Suiying with a look that could kill, too furious to speak. Jian Suiying stared back as though daring him to do something.

Li Yu shot him one final vicious glare and chased after Suilin.

Watching them disappear, Jian Suiying scrambled to his feet and hurried several steps in their direction. Then he stopped and kicked the sand furiously, sending it flying.

In the end, he took a taxi back alone. Fortunately, he still remembered the guesthouse's name.

Once in his room, he took off his clothes and shook a pile of sand onto the floor. He stripped completely and went for a shower.

Afterwards, he sat on the bed with his laptop, trying to deal with work. He was no longer sleepy; his mind was painfully clear. Yet although his eyes were on the screen, he couldn't take in a word.

All he could think about was what had happened on the beach.

He'd never wanted Jian Suilin to witness that. Little Lin was his brother, after all. It was awkward for both Jian Suiying and Li Yu. They would surely be together on many future occasions, and Jian Suiying had no idea how to make those meetings less uncomfortable.

If Li Yu hadn't rejected him so thoroughly and they'd become a couple, there would have been no problem. He wouldn't have cared what Little Lin thought. But pursuing someone who openly disliked him was humiliating enough without the whole world hearing about it.

He'd always imagined that Little Lin saw him as a strong, imposing older brother. How could he bear his brother finding out he was chasing his classmate and being rejected at every turn?

The thought gave him a headache, and he sighed.

He sat there for several hours before checking the time. It was already past one.

He switched off the laptop, threw it aside and prepared for bed.

He'd hardly been lying in the dark before a series of violent knocks suddenly shattered the quiet. Just as he was drifting off, the noise startled him wide awake.

‘Who is it?’ he shouted angrily.

Li Yu's low voice came from outside.

‘Me.’

Jian Suiying blinked in the darkness, weighing his options. Opening the door now might lead to a bloody confrontation.

But refusing would make it look as though he was afraid. *Fuck that. As if I'm scared of some brat!*

He jumped off the bed and rashly opened the door.

The instant it swung open, a violent blow struck his chest. Before he could cry out, Li Yu shoved him hard onto the floor.

His head spun from the impact.

Li Yu stood in the doorway. With the light behind him, Jian Suiying couldn't make out his expression, but he could smell alcohol. The corridor light outlined Li Yu's tall, lonely figure, and Jian Suiying felt an inexplicable pressure that made breathing difficult.

‘Li Yu, are you looking for a beating?’ he cursed, trying to get up.

Li Yu kicked him in the shoulder and sent him back to the floor.

Jian Suiying was nearly mad with rage. He watched Li Yu kick the door shut, plunging the room into thick darkness.

Chapter 24

Jian Suiying regretted drawing the curtains so tightly. He always liked to sleep in complete darkness. Now, however, they could barely make out anything except each other's eyes, glaring with rage. The atmosphere was stretched to breaking point.

Li Yu's voice was hoarse and low, thick with fury.

‘What the fuck did you promise me that day? Tell me!’

Jian Suiying climbed off the floor, his face burning with humiliation. His lips trembled with anger.

‘Only a simple-minded idiot like you believes everything people tell him. Did you really think I'd be that easy to get rid of?’

Li Yu punched the wardrobe. The unfortunate door came crashing down with a tremendous bang.

‘Today I'll make you give up for good!’ he said through gritted teeth, lunging forward to grab Jian Suiying's collar.

Jian Suiying was ready. He sprang backwards and kicked Li Yu hard in the stomach.

In the darkness, they could judge distance only through blurred shapes and instinct. Jian Suiying seemed slightly better at it. Li Yu missed his first grab entirely and received a vicious kick instead.

He doubled over, retching. Then, like a heap of coal suddenly catching fire, he erupted, launching himself at Jian Suiying and slamming him onto the floor. His fist struck Jian Suiying squarely in the face.

He no longer cared how he'd explain things to Suilin. Whatever explanation he offered, the damage was already done. Thinking of Suilin's expression and words that night, Li Yu wanted to tear Jian Suiying apart.

The left side of Jian Suiying's face went numb. For a moment, he couldn't feel anything, but soon the taste of blood flooded his mouth. Young Master Jian treasured his face above almost everything. This blow drove him wild, and he began swinging his fists furiously.

In an ordinary untrained fight, size and strength largely determined the outcome, and two sturdy adult men of similar build usually injured each other rather badly.

Li Yu had received professional training, but Jian Suiying had considerable experience in fights. Although Li Yu generally held the upper hand and kept him pinned down, his own face was already swollen and bruised, and he was raging too.

They wrestled and rolled across the floor. The room was large, and neither knew how far they'd gone when Jian Suiying suddenly felt something beneath his hand. It seemed to be the switch for a floor lamp. Without thinking, he pressed it.

He'd braced himself for the light. Li Yu hadn't. With a startled cry, Li Yu shielded his eyes.

Jian Suiying seized the opportunity to throw him off, grabbed the first thing within reach and smashed it against his head.

The blow was fierce. A narrow stream of blood immediately ran down Li Yu's forehead. Jian Suiying glanced at his weapon: a glass ashtray shaped like a cheap imitation of the Bird's Nest stadium.

Young Master Jian never showed mercy to people who angered him. Such a little trickle of blood wasn't going to inspire his sympathy. He tossed the ashtray away and kicked Li Yu repeatedly.

‘Fuck you, Second Young Master Li! That's for always opposing me! No one's ever dared provoke me like this. I'll fucking kill you today!’

Li Yu suddenly caught his foot and twisted it viciously. Jian Suiying cried out and fell. Li Yu's expression was murderous, as though he intended to twist his leg right off.

Fortunately, an ordinary person couldn't twist a grown man's leg clean off by hand. Li Yu released it, climbed astride Jian Suiying again and swore furiously.

‘Fuck you, Jian! You won't leave this room alive after provoking me! Who do you think you are? Having a little money doesn't make you special. You were just born a few years earlier. In a few more years, you'll be nothing! You dare have those thoughts about me? Go to hell!’

He followed the words with another heavy punch.

Jian Suiying cursed back.

‘So what if I fancy you? It's an honour! Listen carefully, Second Young Master Li: if I, Jian Suiying, don't fuck you at least once in this lifetime, I'll take your surname! Just wait for that day. Don't start crying for your mum and dad when I do!’

Li Yu's eyes were bloodshot, his whole manner savage.

‘You fuck me? Do you have the ability? You're the one pinned beneath me now! How could an idiot like you ever lay a hand on me?’

Struggling to throw him off, Jian Suiying provoked him recklessly.

‘Take off your trousers and I'll show you whether I've got the ability! You'll be satisfied the first time and dreaming of it the second!’

But Li Yu sat solidly on his stomach, as immovable as a mountain. Unable to break free, Jian Suiying desperately searched for a way to humiliate him even more.

His hands began tugging at Li Yu's clothes.

Li Yu was astonished. He hadn't imagined Jian Suiying would still dare behave so obscenely when he'd already been beaten half to death.

‘Well, Second Young Master Li? Don't you want to try?’ Jian Suiying taunted, pulling at his clothes. His free hand stopped striking and slipped under Li Yu's shirt to stroke his waist.

Li Yu shuddered and grabbed his arm, trying to pull it free. Jian Suiying began touching him wherever he could reach, accompanying the contact with suggestive insults.

At last he'd discovered that although he couldn't defeat Li Yu in a fight, he had an endless supply of ways to disgust him. Anything that made Li Yu uncomfortable was worth doing.

Their clothes were already dishevelled from fighting. Jian Suiying had started in loose silk nightclothes, and his top had nearly come off during the struggle. Now his chest was exposed altogether.

Jian Suiying had pulled buttons off Li Yu's shirt too, leaving his upper body partially exposed and his appearance equally disordered.

Still unsatisfied, he tried to reach inside Li Yu's trousers.

Seeing Jian Suiying drenched in sweat, bruised and swollen, yet still intent on molesting him, Li Yu's head seemed to explode. He was so furious he'd lost his reason.

Taking advantage of Li Yu's momentary shock, Jian Suiying gathered all his strength and hurled him onto the floor. Their positions reversed, and now Jian Suiying was straddling Li Yu.

In his element again, he reached down expertly and seized Li Yu's penis.

To tell the truth, he had no sexual desire at that moment. However much he'd lusted after Li Yu, one look at his battered, swollen face was enough to extinguish his appetite. All Jian Suiying wanted now was revenge for the humiliation he'd suffered.

Young and inexperienced, Li Yu became aroused after only a little touching.

His face shifted through shades of anger and humiliation; with the bruises and swelling, it was an indescribable sight.

Jian Suiying snorted.

‘Oh, look at that. You're pretty eager, aren't you? Apart from pretending to be respectable, what are you good at? You look so proper when you're dressed, but I wonder who it was that came so hard the other night?’

That was precisely the memory Li Yu found most humiliating. His control was already hanging by a thread, and Jian Suiying's words poured fuel on the fire.

Jian Suiying failed to notice the almost inhuman look in Li Yu's eyes. Thinking he held the boy's most vulnerable part, he grew even more reckless. He continued teasing him through his trousers and stroking his chest with his other hand, reluctant to stop touching the smooth, resilient skin.

Li Yu clamped one hand around Jian Suiying's wrist, gripping like a vice and slowly tightening. Jian Suiying felt as though the bones would snap. He gritted his teeth and threatened, ‘Want to find out what's stronger—my wrist or your cock?’

He squeezed hard.

Li Yu cried out, his face red with pain.

‘Let go, or I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life.’

Jian Suiying glared back.

‘That's exactly what I was going to say.’

Li Yu ground his teeth.

‘Jian Suiying, I'm telling you one last time. Let. Go.’

Jian Suiying gave him a challenging smile and began touching him with calculated gentleness, feeling his arousal grow beneath his palm.

Li Yu looked ready to bleed from the eyes. Suddenly he arched his body, raised a leg and kicked Jian Suiying hard in the back of the head.

Jian Suiying hadn't known he was so flexible. The blow nearly concussed him. His vision blurred, his head spun and he collapsed across Li Yu.

Through the haze, he felt Li Yu force him face-down onto the floor. Then he felt a sudden coolness around his lower body.

Alarmed, he desperately tried to turn his head, but Li Yu pressed it firmly against the floor.

Only then did he realise that Li Yu had removed his trousers. For the first time, fear rose inside him.

‘Li Yu, what are you doing?’

Li Yu's voice was as cold as ice.

‘What am I doing? Take a guess. You've always wanted to fuck me, haven't you? Today I'll show you which one of us is going to get fucked.’

As he spoke, Li Yu stripped Jian Suiying naked from the waist down.

He was in a state of extreme agitation, and his erection still throbbed. Both physical desire and psychological rage demanded release. The obvious target was the man who had provoked both.

Jian Suiying still couldn't believe Li Yu would dare do such a thing. He mocked him.

‘Li Yu, have you gone mad? Have you even grown all your pubic hair yet? And you're pretending you know how to fuck someone—fuck!’

His body stiffened. He could feel Li Yu's erection pressing against his backside through the fabric of his jeans. The utterly unfamiliar sensation frightened him.

Li Yu picked up Jian Suiying's discarded silk top and tied his hands behind his back.

Now Jian Suiying really panicked.

‘Li Yu, are you out of your mind? What do you think you're doing?’

Li Yu thought he might genuinely have gone mad, and that Jian Suiying was entirely to blame. If he didn't force this bastard into submission today, he'd despise himself forever.

After the violent struggle, his blood was racing and the alcohol was affecting him strongly. Reckless with rage, he pulled down his own trousers, exposing the erection Jian Suiying had provoked, and tried to force himself into Jian Suiying.

‘Ah! Fuck you, Li Yu! If you dare touch me today, you won't live to see tomorrow! You—ah!’

Li Yu had no experience and knew only to push. It wasn't somewhere he could simply force his way into. Jian Suiying grimaced with pain, while Li Yu suffered from the pressure too. He managed only a little penetration before finding he couldn't advance.

Li Yu patted Jian Suiying's head and laughed coldly.

‘Just wait. If I don't fuck you senseless today, I'll slit my own throat.’

He got up, went to the bathroom and returned with a bottle of cheap hotel shampoo.

Jian Suiying shook with pain, shock and terror.

‘Li Yu, let me go! For what you've done today, I could kill you a hundred times over. Let me go!’

Li Yu looked down at him like a demon regarding its prey. Under Jian Suiying's gaze, he unscrewed the shampoo and squeezed out the green liquid, letting the cold drops fall onto his backside.

He crouched again, coated his penis with some of the liquid and forced it brutally into Jian Suiying's anus.

Jian Suiying wished desperately that he could pass out. Never in his life had he been so humiliated. If he could have moved, he truly would have fought Li Yu to the death.

Soon the air carried the faint metallic smell of blood, and blood ran down Jian Suiying's thighs.

Against the red streaks, his skin appeared starkly pale. As Li Yu felt the unfamiliar, overwhelming pressure around his penis, the sensation almost made him cry out.

He understood that he could no longer bring himself to stop. Gripping Jian Suiying's lean waist, he began thrusting.

Jian Suiying gasped with pain and cursed until his voice turned hoarse, but Li Yu ignored him.

He'd never imagined that forcing himself on a man he hated could produce such intense pleasure. The heat and constriction around him sent shocks through his body with every movement. He kept repeating the motion, driven by a mounting urge that nothing seemed able to satisfy.

Beyond the physical sensation, there was the satisfaction of seeing a man who had bullied and humiliated him for so long now pinned beneath him, suffering and degraded. That too inflamed him.

His movements grew faster, the sound of their bodies striking together filling the room. He felt as though he were burning.

He'd never imagined such frightening pleasure existed. No wonder people could become addicted to it.

Jian Suiying felt as though his waist were breaking. The initial pain had grown distant because his lower body was nearly numb. He continued cursing defiantly.

‘Are you ever going to fucking finish? Li Yu, I won't let you get away with this! Aren't you supposed to come too quickly? Hurry up and pull out, you bastard!’

Instead of slowing down, Li Yu moved faster, driving Jian Suiying's body forward again and again.

‘I'll let you find out for yourself whether I finish too quickly.’

It turned out Jian Suiying had judged him wrongly.

He was nearly unconscious from the ordeal, yet Li Yu showed no sign of finishing. He kept moving with a relentless, obsessive rhythm, occasionally releasing heavy, satisfied breaths.

Jian Suiying hated the strength of his own constitution, which kept him from losing consciousness quickly. Instead he remained in a muddled, half-aware state, remembering and feeling everything.

After an indeterminate length of time in that position, Jian Suiying felt himself lifted and turned over to face Li Yu.

Li Yu was sweating heavily, his cheeks flushed. Apart from the bruises and swollen patches on his face, he looked almost invigorated, which made Jian Suiying hate him even more.

Li Yu panted, ‘Well? Which one of us can make the other cry for his parents? Can I satisfy you the first time and leave you wanting more the second?’

The bastard was inflicting an assault that had left Jian Suiying bleeding, and still using his earlier taunts against him.

Jian Suiying rolled his eyes furiously.

‘Just wait, Li Yu. One day when you fall into my hands, I'll fuck you to death. I'll make sure you never think of another man but me!’

Li Yu gave a vicious smile.

‘Still fantasising? Clearly you haven't learnt your lesson.’

He forced Jian Suiying's thighs apart, pulled his hips towards him and slowly penetrated him again, tormenting him while watching his expression of utter humiliation. A sharp cry of pain escaped Jian Suiying's throat before he swallowed the rest.

From childhood, Li Yu had always been an even-tempered, sensible boy who seldom caused trouble. The cruelty in him had been stirred up, he believed, entirely by Jian Suiying. The man had provoked, mocked and fantasised about him repeatedly, stoking his anger until the incident involving Suilin the previous day had finally pushed him over the edge. That was what had driven him to commit rape.

All Li Yu wanted was to make Jian Suiying suffer and regret everything. He wanted to see whether, after being forced to submit, Jian Suiying would still dare harass him.

But things were no longer going quite as he'd intended. He'd never imagined sex could be so intoxicating and addictive. He hadn't set out to have sex with Jian Suiying, yet the sight of his suffering, his flushed skin and sweat-covered body only heightened Li Yu's arousal. He had become absorbed in the physical act itself and almost forgotten his original desire for humiliation and revenge.

The painful struggle between domination and submission went on for a long time. At last, Jian Suiying lost consciousness. Li Yu, too, was finally exhausted and fell asleep on top of him.

Chapter 25

When Jian Suiying woke the following morning, Li Yu was long gone.

As his head cleared and he remembered what had happened in the early hours, he felt as though lightning had struck him. He couldn't believe anyone had dared force themselves on *him*, Jian Suiying.

He discovered that he was still lying on the floor without so much as a sheet covering him. Li Yu had left him exposed all night. If Li Yu had been standing in front of him, Jian Suiying would have driven a knife straight into his heart if someone handed him one. He kicked the floor furiously and let out a roar. The movement strained every aching muscle, and he immediately collapsed again in pain.

The vicious fight had already left him badly injured. Add to that being pinned down and assaulted for half the night by a strong young man, and his entire body felt broken. He'd always been healthy as an ox and had never spent a day in hospital. This was unquestionably the worst he'd ever been hurt, physically and psychologically.

Jian Suiying's powerful, arrogant pride had taken an unprecedented blow. Trying to take liberties with someone only to end up being raped himself was the greatest humiliation of his life.

Only now did he admit that he'd underestimated Li Yu. The reserved, steady young gentleman from a distinguished family had somehow been capable of such an outrageous, depraved act. He even wondered what he'd done to provoke the boy that badly. Judging by the punishment, you'd think he'd committed some terrible offence against Li Yu's teachers and ancestors.

All he'd done was harass him a few times. Was that really enough to justify this?

Thinking that he'd been assaulted over something so trivial filled Jian Suiying with bitter regret.

He rolled about on the floor for ages, unable to summon the strength to get up. The curtains were still closed, but the light leaking through the gap made it obvious that dawn had long passed.

He couldn't stay on the floor forever. Yet if anyone dared come in and see him in this condition, he'd gouge their eyes out.

Using the bed for support, Jian Suiying barely managed to sit upright. He looked down at his body. It was a horrifying sight.

Li Yu really was a fucking animal. Normally, he looked so refined and respectable, yet during sex he'd bitten and mauled him. Jian Suiying had apparently been the one to introduce him to that particular experience, and the bastard had left his backside utterly ruined.

Overwhelmed by anger, Jian Suiying felt close to vomiting blood. He kicked the floor and howled. Even chopping Li Yu into pieces a hundred times wouldn't ease his hatred.

By the end, he was almost in tears.

He'd suffered a terrible defeat and lost every shred of dignity. How could Jian Suiying have sunk this low? If the news got out, he'd be better off hanging himself.

If he didn't take revenge, he'd consider himself a coward for the rest of his life.

While Young Master Jian was still writhing with fury, someone knocked cautiously at the door.

He went rigid, steadied his breathing and demanded, ‘Who?’

The sound of his own voice made him hate Li Yu even more.

He was so hoarse that what felt like a forceful shout came out scarcely louder than a mosquito's buzz. He wasn't even sure the person outside had heard him.

Before he could try again, he heard the distinctive beep of a key card unlocking the door.

Jian Suiying gathered all his strength to jump onto the bed and cover himself. Unfortunately, he'd barely lifted his backside off the floor before collapsing onto it again.

The impact made him feel an unpleasant warm trickle from his injured backside. He wanted to die of shame.

The door opened and quickly shut again.

Looking up, Jian Suiying saw none other than Li Yu—the man he wanted to violate and then murder in revenge.

Li Yu looked visibly stiff and embarrassed. That Jian Suiying could still read embarrassment beneath all the bruises on his face was almost impressive.

He'd spent the last several minutes imagining countless ways to destroy Li Yu. Yet the young man had unexpectedly appeared before his anger reached its peak, leaving him briefly stunned.

Remembering how he looked, naked and wretched as an abandoned dog, he wished he could disappear on the spot.

Li Yu watched him warily, evidently expecting an attack. But seeing that Jian Suiying, for all his snarling, could barely move, he approached slowly.

Jian Suiying glared as though trying to burn holes through him.

‘Li Yu, if I don't kill you, I'll take your surname. Just you wait!’

Although his expression was ferocious, the sight of him naked and plainly violated undermined every bit of his intimidation.

Li Yu could only conceal his discomfort behind a blank face. But when his eyes fell on Jian Suiying's body, his head grew hot, and he had to look away.

After the night's madness, when he'd woken to find Jian Suiying beneath him, frowning even in sleep and looking thoroughly miserable, his mind had gone blank. He knew he'd caused serious trouble.

He'd never imagined that rage could make him do something like that. Originally, he'd only wanted to beat Jian Suiying badly enough to send him to hospital. Instead, things had turned into something utterly absurd, and in the end he'd been so overwhelmed by pleasure that he'd lost all reason.

How had it come to this? At the time, he'd been so bewildered that he'd practically fled.

Back in his room, he'd spent a long time showering before his body and mind settled.

Life was a constant process of encountering problems and solving them. He had to minimise the consequences before Suilin or his elder brother discovered anything.

He rang reception and asked for an anti-inflammatory and a spare key card for Jian Suiying's room. When the receptionist delivered them, he barely dared open his door. One glance in the mirror that morning had shocked him enough.

With the medicine and key card, he went towards Jian Suiying's room.

Only two or three doors separated them, but every step seemed to demand all his willpower.

Memories kept intruding: Jian Suiying's slender, supple waist beneath his hands, the smooth sweat-dampened line of his back and his strong thighs.

By the time he stood outside the door, his face was burning.

It took a long while to prepare himself. Finally, he controlled his expression and let himself inside.

The first thing he saw was Jian Suiying sitting naked against the bed, his body covered with marks Li Yu had left the night before.

Li Yu's vision darkened and heat rushed through him. He couldn't bear to look again.

He roughly snatched a sheet from the bed and threw it over Jian Suiying, then stepped forward to help him up.

Jian Suiying aimed a punch straight at the spot on Li Yu's head where he'd made him bleed during the fight.

Clutching his head, Li Yu looked at him furiously.

‘You're in that state and you still won't stop?’

‘What state am I in?’ Jian Suiying shrieked like a monkey whose backside had caught fire. ‘Fuck you, Li Yu! You're not leaving this room alive!’

Finding strength from nowhere, he lunged at Li Yu and raised his fist.

Li Yu seized his arms and struggled to restrain him.

He was clearly much less injured than Jian Suiying and subdued him after only a few movements. His face flushed scarlet.

‘Stop… rubbing yourself against me,’ he said hoarsely.

Jian Suiying froze. His dignity seemed to sink right through the floor into the underground car park.

‘Fuck you!’ He gathered his remaining strength and kicked him again.

Li Yu struggled upright, hauled Jian Suiying onto the bed and tossed him the medicine.

‘Put some medicine on… that injury. Then I'll move you somewhere else. You can't let the others see you like this.’

Jian Suiying kicked the ointment under the bed.

‘But it's all right for you to see me, is it? You shameless fucking rapist!’

Li Yu went deathly pale. Then indignation hardened his voice.

‘You brought it on yourself. I warned you not to provoke me.’

‘If I'd known you had the instincts of a rapist, I'd have stayed as far from you as possible.’

Every repetition of the word *rapist* stung Li Yu's pride like hot oil. He'd initially felt no guilt about humiliating or taking revenge on Jian Suiying, believing the man deserved it. But what he'd actually done went against everything he'd been taught and the values he'd always held. To say he regretted nothing would be a lie.

Yet now, he absolutely couldn't show any regret. Jian Suiying was the sort to exploit the slightest weakness and punish him mercilessly for it.

Li Yu kept his face cold.

‘Jian Suiying, I've told you already: you brought this on yourself. I rejected you countless times, but you insisted on being shameless and pestering me.’

Jian Suiying was so angry he nearly vomited blood. At last, he laughed furiously.

‘Second Young Master Li, you've made an enemy for life. Just wait. I'll make sure you don't enjoy a single peaceful day for the rest of it.’

Li Yu didn't take his threat seriously. In his current condition, Jian Suiying simply didn't look frightening.

He picked up the ointment and tossed it onto the bed.

‘Are you going to use this or not? Do you want to go to hospital instead?’

‘Fuck your hospital. Go and get your impotence treated!’ Jian Suiying threw the tube straight at his face.

Li Yu was seething himself. If Jian Suiying's mouth hadn't been so vicious, perhaps none of the previous night's events would have happened.

He couldn't be bothered arguing any further.

‘Call my brother and tell him something urgent has come up and you have to go back to Beijing. I've arranged a car. It'll take you to another hotel shortly, and I'll handle everything else.’

Jian Suiying knew perfectly well that this was the best solution. But he had no desire to make things easy for Li Yu. He narrowed his eyes and watched his expression, knowing Li Yu was at least as afraid as he was of Li Xuan finding out.

*You bastard. I'll make you suffer for this.*

He smiled wickedly.

‘Leave? Where am I going? You're right, I do need to call your brother. I'll tell him his little brother raped me. What do you think we should do about that? Marry me to make an honest man of yourself? Hey, where's my phone? Find it for me.’

Li Yu's face turned purple with rage.

‘Fuck off with that nonsense.’

Panic rose inside him, but he quickly forced himself to think calmly.

Considering Jian Suiying's position, he had even more to lose if the story became public. Still, Li Yu couldn't relax completely. From what he knew, Jian Suiying was capable of any shameless, outrageous behaviour.

The two faced each other in silence, testing one another's patience.

Through gritted teeth, Li Yu asked, ‘Are you leaving or not?’

‘No. Go and get your brother. We've already been husband and wife in everything but name. If you won't take responsibility, I'll turn up at your family home and make a scene.’

Jian Suiying sounded perfectly serious. Watching Li Yu's expression worsen gave him a twisted satisfaction.

Li Yu sneered.

‘The moment word gets out that the great President Jian was fucked by another man, it'll spread across Beijing overnight. Are you really so desperate to become famous?’

Jian Suiying sneered back.

‘That wouldn't bother me at all. Let's get a doctor here to examine me right now. I'm the victim, and you're the animal who committed the rape. How about we put that to the test?’

Li Yu was still young and struggled to withstand such provocation from a seasoned operator like Jian Suiying. He forced the words between his teeth.

‘What the hell do you want?’

That was exactly what Jian Suiying had been waiting for.

‘Simple. Take off your trousers and let me fuck you once. Then we're even.’

‘Fuck you,’ Li Yu replied immediately.

The negotiations had broken down. They continued staring at each other, pale with fury. The atmosphere in the room was utterly bizarre.

Just then, Jian Suiying's mobile began ringing forlornly from a corner.