In Love With An Idiot

Chapter 6

Over the following days, Li Yu treated Jian Suiying with little more than cold looks. Jian Suiying, meanwhile, devised a different way to make life difficult for him almost every day, picking on him and putting obstacles in his path. Young Master Jian had never cared for such petty behaviour before, but he'd discovered that Li Yu was so distant that causing trouble was the only way to make him look at him a little longer or say a few more words. He became increasingly enthusiastic about tormenting the boy.

 

The holiday, just over a month long, soon came to an end. The two youngsters had worked efficiently, and the project involving Jian Suiying's idiot cousin had made progress. Of course, an asset with such serious problems couldn't be sorted out in less than a year or eighteen months. He'd originally given them the project simply to provide some experience. Now, though, it had become a reason to keep Li Yu tied to him. He no longer had to worry that Li Yu might suddenly walk away from the job.

 

Li Yu and Jian Suilin each began their university lives. Their universities weren't far apart, only twenty-odd minutes by car.

 

Jian Suiying hoped Li Yu would still come to work one or two days a week, but Li Yu seemed reluctant. He never gave a definite answer, and after term began, he didn't come in again. He only said he would continue following up on the project with Jian Suilin.

 

Little Lin, on the other hand, arranged his timetable enthusiastically so he could come in for a day and a half or two days each week.

 

Jian Suiying was terribly disappointed. He'd gone from seeing Li Yu every day to seeing him only twice in a month, and even those visits were because he'd invented various excuses to summon him back. It was genuinely difficult to get used to.

 

But before long, an opportunity presented itself.

 

Just before the National Day holiday, he received a phone call that delighted him. It was from Li Yu's older brother, Li Xuan.

 

Li Xuan began with some polite conversation, then told him he would be coming home for the Mid-Autumn Festival and wanted to invite him to dinner. Finally, he reached the real point of his call. He'd found a suitable piece of land in Beihai and wanted to know whether Jian Suiying would go and take a look with him during the National Day holiday.

 

The call couldn't have come at a better time. Jian Suiying's spirits soared. Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day break happened to fall together that year. In such a good mood, he decided to give those poor souls in his office a full nine days off.

 

When the news spread, his employees practically went mad with excitement. They were one step away from crying with gratitude.

 

In truth, Jian Suiying had his own reasons. Between delivering festival gifts and spending several days in Guangxi, he'd probably use up the whole holiday anyway. Without him there to keep an eye on the company, everyone's mind would be elsewhere, and their work would be inefficient. He might as well do them a favour and earn some goodwill.

 

The two men spoke on the phone for a little over twenty minutes. Li Xuan specifically asked how Li Yu had performed at work. Naturally, Jian Suiying praised him to the skies, making it sound as though the company would suffer a catastrophic loss without him. Li Xuan was delighted. Jian Suiying promptly took the opportunity to mention that he'd like to visit the Li family for Mid-Autumn Festival.

 

Li Xuan was, of course, delighted to welcome him.

 

After hanging up, Jian Suiying rubbed his hands together and began planning the holiday.

 

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

 

Jian Suiying took Little Lin with him, loaded the boot of his car with gifts and paid the Li family a grand visit. Li Xuan and Li Yu came out to greet them personally.

 

After driving into the courtyard, they unloaded the presents from the boot. Li Xuan smiled.

 

“Suiying, you're far too polite. Why have you brought so much?”

 

Jian Suiying laughed heartily. “We can't turn up and eat your food for nothing, can we?”

 

They went inside, laughing and chatting.

 

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

 

The moment Jian Suiying met Li Yu's father, he transformed into a humble and respectful younger man. He occasionally offered a little flattery and worked to strengthen their connection.

 

The Li family was equally interested in building ties with Jian Suiying. After all, the two families hadn't been particularly close before, and establishing a harmonious, friendly relationship could only benefit them.

 

During dinner, Li Yu's father thanked Jian Suiying several times for helping Li Yu gain work experience. Jian Suiying seized the opening and encouraged him to have Li Yu continue working part-time for him during university.

 

Naturally, Li Yu's father wanted his son to learn as much as possible. But Li Yu said calmly, “I've only just started university, so I'm quite busy. Let's talk about it again later.”

 

Jian Suiying was disappointed. He decided he'd have to work on Li Xuan instead. After several encounters, he'd noticed that Li Yu tended to listen to his older brother.

 

After the meal, all six of them sat in the living room and chatted for another hour or so. When Jian Suiying saw how late it was getting, he took Little Lin and said goodbye. This time, the whole Li family rose to see them to the door. Li Xuan also said he'd invite Jian Suiying to dinner two days later to discuss the land in detail. Jian Suiying couldn't have been more pleased.

 

Before leaving, he draped an arm over Li Yu's shoulder.

 

“Li Yu, you'd better come along too.”

 

Since their falling-out, the two hadn't touched each other again, much less spoken with such friendly familiarity. Li Yu stiffened for a moment before nodding.

 

“All right.”

 

Satisfied, Jian Suiying gave him another heavy pat on the back. Li Yu let out a muffled grunt, and Jian Suiying felt wonderfully vindicated.

 

On the way home, Jian Suilin asked, “Brother, are you really planning to go to Guangxi?”

 

“Of course. We have to inspect the site. The project has real potential to be developed and floated on the market.”

 

“Could I come with you?”

 

Jian Suiying refused out of habit. “What would you go for?”

 

“I'd like to learn more.”

 

Jian Suiying had been hoping to spend a couple of days in Guangxi enjoying himself with Li Yu. He didn't want Little Lin tagging along as a third wheel.

 

“Don't come…”

 

Having said that, he couldn't actually think of a reason to refuse him. Not that he'd ever needed a reason to turn Little Lin down.

 

Jian Suilin said, “Li Yu and I were originally planning to go to Tibet over the National Day holiday. Now that Li Xuan's invited you to Guangxi, Li Yu will have to go with him, won't he? That leaves me with nothing to do. Brother, please let me come with you.”

 

Jian Suiying kept his face stern.

 

“No. I'm not taking you.”

 

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

 

“Brother, I've noticed things have been rather unpleasant between you and Li Yu lately. Whatever the reason, don't hold too much against him.”

 

That reminded Jian Suiying that things between him and Li Yu were currently so awkward they could barely speak. Taking Jian Suilin along might genuinely ease the tension. It wouldn't look good if Li Xuan noticed anything was wrong.

 

He frowned. “Oh, all right. You can come after all. While we adults talk business, you youngsters can keep each other company. You won't be quite so bored.”

 

Jian Suilin smiled, though 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 old man that all the time.”

 

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

 

Major holidays left Jian Suiying exhausted every year. It wasn't just physical tiredness. They were emotionally draining too. He had to consider relatives on both his father's and mother's sides, make sure all the important people received gifts and entertain wave after wave of visitors bearing presents. He absolutely dreaded festive occasions.

 

The day after Mid-Autumn Festival, he took Little Lin to dinner with the Li brothers and gained a general understanding of the plot of land in Beihai.

 

Li Xuan was busy with work and had to return the following day. Jian Suiying decided to fly over the day after that.

 

Li Yu was deeply opposed to spending time with Jian Suiying, but he couldn't refuse. Meanwhile, the thought of being around Li Yu day and night again sent Jian Suiying's spirits soaring.

 

The following day, Li Xuan returned to Guangxi with Li Yu. When the Jian brothers arrived, he sent Li Yu and his secretary to collect them. They were accommodated in a government guesthouse. It was of a three-star standard, with somewhat dated facilities, but it was very clean.

 

Li Yu first showed Jian Suiying to his room. With Li Xuan nowhere around, Jian Suiying immediately revealed his true colours. He looked around with blatant disgust.

 

“What sort of rubbish room have you put me in? It's small, old, and it stinks. Go and open the window.”

 

Li Yu was furious. Given his brother's position, it would have been discourteous not to accommodate a visiting guest. But as a public official, Li Xuan couldn't lavish money on his guests either. Li Yu thought the man should be grateful for a free place to stay. Jian Suiying was a spoilt bastard who couldn't do without luxury.

 

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

 

Jian Suilin hurried to smooth things over.

 

“Brother, the room's all right. We can put up with it while we're here on business. Shall I go and buy you some new bedding?”

 

Jian Suiying had plenty of irritating habits, but he wasn't quite that delicate. He gave a dismissive snort.

 

“No need. Little Li, I'm hungry.”

 

Li Yu said coldly, “There's a restaurant downstairs. I'll take you both to eat. My brother has something on tonight, but he'll treat you to dinner tomorrow. We can just make do here for today, if that's acceptable to President Jian.”

 

Jian Suiying raised his eyebrows. “It's not acceptable. I'm not eating here.” He glanced at Li Yu with a provocative little smile. “What local food is good? I want to try something special.”

 

Li Yu replied stiffly, “It's my first time here too. I don't know.”

 

Jian Suilin quickly interjected. “Why don't we ask the driver who brought us here? He's local. Since there's nothing planned today, Li Yu, let's have a look around. We can treat it like a holiday.”

 

The muscles in Li Yu's cheeks twitched. He made an effort to soften his voice for Little Lin.

 

“All right. I'll take you two out for a look around.”

 

The three went downstairs. Instead of specifically calling the driver, they asked the young woman at the guesthouse reception desk for a recommendation. She'd never in her life experienced having three handsome men look at her all at once. Her head went fuzzy, and she stammered,

 

“The w-weather's nice. You could go to the beach and have a barbecue.”

 

Jian Suiying didn't have any strong preference about where they went. He just enjoyed disagreeing with Li Yu. It made him feel good. So he agreed readily.

 

“Sure, that sounds fun. Let's have a barbecue by the beach.”

 

Li Yu telephoned to arrange a car, and the three drove to Silver Beach.

 

The moment they stepped out, a sea breeze carrying the faint salty-fishy smell of the ocean brushed their faces, easing the summer heat considerably. Jian Suiying stretched and immediately felt refreshed.

 

The sun was about to set. The beach was crowded and lively.

 

Jian Suiying rubbed his stomach. “Let's find something to eat.”

 

Although coming to the beach for a barbecue had been his own spontaneous suggestion, he hesitated when he saw the food stalls, which didn't look especially clean.

 

Li Yu and Jian Suilin had no such reservations. They chose a busy stall and walked towards it, leaving Jian Suiying no choice but to follow and sit down.

 

Jian Suilin asked his brother, “What would you like to eat? Anything to drink?”

 

“What's there to have…? Just order whatever looks good. And get some beer.”

 

“All right. Sit here for a moment. Li Yu, shall we go and order?”

 

Li Yu stood and went with him.

 

Resting his chin on his hand, Jian Suiying watched the people coming and going. He was bored already and began wondering what entertainment he could arrange for that evening. It had been so difficult to get together with Li Yu again; he couldn't possibly do nothing. If he did, he wouldn't be Jian Suiying.

 

He was still thinking when a cautious young woman's voice sounded above him.

 

“Hello.”

 

Jian Suiying turned. Two girls of eighteen or nineteen stood looking at him, hopeful and anxious at the same time.

 

“What is it?”

 

One girl asked nervously, “Are you here on your own?”

 

Oh, they were chatting him up. Jian Suiying shook his head.

 

“No.”

 

The other girl was a little bolder. “Did you come with some male friends? Would you like to hang out together?”

 

Jian Suiying was just about to answer when Jian Suilin's voice came from behind him, sounding unusually cheerful.

 

“There's a spider on you.”

 

The two girls froze and stared blankly at Jian Suilin.

 

“What?”

 

As he set the beers he'd been carrying on the table, Jian Suilin looked at one of the girls.

 

“It might have crawled inside your clothes. It was about this big.”

 

He made a circle with his fingers about the size of a coin.

 

The girl's face went deathly pale. She began turning around nervously on the spot, repeatedly asking, “Where? Where is it?” Finally, the two of them shrieked and ran towards the toilets.

 

Li Yu frowned at Jian Suilin, looking a little puzzled.

 

Jian Suiying raised his eyebrows. “How come I didn't see it?” His eyesight was excellent.

 

Jian Suilin sat down with a smile. “Try some of the local beer.”

 

Jian Suiying took the bottle and gulped some down. The icy liquid slid down his throat into his stomach, wonderfully refreshing in the summer heat.

 

He was about to take another drink when Jian Suilin gently took hold of the bottle.

 

“Brother, you've got an empty stomach. Eat something before you drink any more.”

 

As he spoke, he slowly pushed the bottle down towards the table, watching Jian Suiying's expression.

 

For once, Jian Suiying was surprisingly cooperative. Told not to drink, he actually stopped mainly because his mind wasn't on the beer in the first place.

 

Watching Jian Suilin's thoughtful, attentive behaviour, Li Yu felt an unpleasant jealousy rise within him. His expression darkened.

 

What could be more frustrating and infuriating than watching the person you liked shower someone you despised with care and attention?

 

The nicer Jian Suilin was to Jian Suiying, the more Li Yu resented the older man. He honestly didn't know what he could do to make Suilin see sense. As children, they'd talked so earnestly about how to take revenge on Jian Suiying, how to make a fool of him, get him punished and let him experience what it felt like to be bullied and humiliated.

 

Yet now Jian Suilin seemed to have forgotten all of it, 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.

 

Feeling miserable, Li Yu lowered his head and stopped talking.

 

Before long, their food arrived. The table was covered with dishes, all steaming and giving off delicious aromas that made their mouths water.

 

Jian Suilin used his chopsticks to slide everything he could off the skewers and onto plates so that his brother could simply pick it up and eat.

 

Jian Suiying really was hungry. He bent his head and started eating at once.

 

The three soon demolished the large spread of barbecued food. Seven or eight empty beer bottles stood on the table. Jian Suiying reclined lazily in his chair, half closing his eyes as he gazed out to sea, looking thoroughly relaxed and comfortable.

 

Jian Suilin suggested, “Shall we go for a walk along the beach?”

 

Jian Suiying stretched. “All right. Let's move about a bit.”

 

The three strolled leisurely along the sand. After a while, they found themselves increasingly far from the crowds. There weren't even any swimmers around. Jian Suiying grew sleepy. He dropped onto the sand and lay straight back.

 

“Let's rest for a bit. Why am I so tired?”

 

The other two sat down as well. By now, the sky had darkened and the day's oppressive heat had faded. A gentle sea breeze blew across the sand. Lying there freely and doing nothing felt like a rare luxury.

 

Half asleep, Jian Suiying listened to Li Yu and Jian Suilin talking softly. They seemed to discuss everything: school in the past, university now, and the company's project. As they chatted, his awareness gradually blurred.

 

He had no idea how long he'd dozed before waking again. Falling asleep directly on the beach had felt wonderfully cool at first, but after a while, it became cold.

 

When he opened his eyes, he saw the deep blue night sky dotted with scattered stars. The wind whistled by his ears, and the sound of music and people talking seemed to come from very far away.

 

He turned his head slightly and found Li Yu lying beside him, arms folded behind his head as a pillow, eyes closed and breathing evenly. Little Lin was nowhere in sight.

 

The hair across Li Yu's forehead stirred softly in the breeze. Moonlight softened the sharp lines of his handsome profile and cast a rich, beautiful sheen across his full lips. They looked irresistibly tempting.

 

The secluded corner of the beach and its dim light made the scene even more intimate and alluring. Jian Suiying's breathing grew slow and careful. He wanted to get closer to Li Yu, yet he was afraid of disturbing such a peaceful, beautiful sight.

 

He didn't know how long he'd been looking when he finally moved and edged slowly towards Li Yu, wanting another taste of those lips.

 

He pressed down a kiss as light as a dragonfly touching water. His heart seemed ready to leap out of his throat. If anyone in Beijing knew that Jian Suiying could become so nervous and excited over one kiss, he'd never be able to show his face there again.

 

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

 

Just as Jian Suiying decided he hadn't taken enough advantage and might be able to steal another kiss, a chilling voice sounded above him.

 

“Brother…”

 

The voice frightened him so badly he almost jumped. He jerked his head up. Jian Suilin stood looking at them, his face icy and his expression full of disbelief.

 

He hadn't spoken loudly, but Li Yu was exceptionally sensitive to his voice. His eyes flew open at once. First he saw Jian Suiying's chin, only inches from his face. Then he noticed the hand braced beside his waist and the compromising position they were in. Looking up, he saw the strange, distorted expression on Jian Suilin's face.

 

His mind sparked into life. Recalling Jian Suiying's previous shameless behaviour, he understood what had happened in an instant.

 

He shoved Jian Suiying away and jumped to his feet, calling anxiously, “Suilin!”

 

Jian Suilin was trembling all over, apparently struggling to suppress something. He lowered his head so neither of them could see his expression.

 

Jian Suiying was embarrassed and furious.

 

“What are you staring at? Get lost!”

 

No sooner had he said it than Jian Suilin turned and ran.

 

Li Yu looked at Jian Suiying as though he wanted to devour him, too angry to speak. Jian Suiying met his glare with an expression that said, *What are you going to do about it?*

 

Li Yu shot him one last vicious look, then turned and ran after Jian Suilin.

 

Jian Suiying sprang up from the sand and hurried a couple of steps in their direction. Then he stopped. In the end, he kicked the sand several times so fiercely that it flew everywhere.

 

He finally took a taxi back on his own.

 

When he reached his room and took off his clothes, a whole pile of sand fell onto the floor. He stripped completely and went into the bathroom for a shower.

 

Afterwards, he sat on the bed and dealt with some work. Oddly, he wasn't sleepy any more. His mind was exceptionally clear. But although his eyes were fixed on his laptop screen, he couldn't concentrate on a single word.

 

He couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened.

 

The last thing he'd wanted was for Jian Suilin to witness that scene. Little Lin was his younger brother, after all. It wasn't just embarrassing for Li Yu; it was embarrassing for Jian Suiying too. There would probably be plenty of occasions in future when all three of them were together. He had no idea how to resolve the awkwardness.

 

In truth, if Li Yu hadn't been so resistant, and the two of them had ended up together, there wouldn't have been any problem. Jian Suiying wouldn't have cared what Little Lin thought. But he was actively chasing someone who couldn't stand him. If that got around, he'd lose face spectacularly.

 

He'd always regarded himself as a powerful, imposing older brother in Little Lin's eyes. How could he stand Little Lin finding out that he was pursuing one of his classmates and being rejected with such disgust? Where would that leave his dignity?

 

Just thinking about it gave him a headache. Jian Suiying couldn't help sighing.

 

He sat there in a daze for several hours. When he finally checked the time, it was already after one in the morning.

 

He closed his laptop, tossed it aside and prepared for bed.

 

He'd only been lying in the dark for a short while when an abrupt, violent knocking sounded at the door. In the silence of the room, it was startlingly loud and aggressive. Jian Suiying, who'd been drifting towards sleep, opened his eyes with a jolt.

 

He shouted angrily, “Who is it?”

 

Li Yu's low voice came from outside.

 

“Me.”

 

Jian Suiying blinked in the darkness and weighed up the consequences. Opening the door now would almost certainly lead to bloodshed. But refusing to open it would make him look afraid.

 

*Fuck that. As if I'm going to be scared of some wet-behind-the-ears brat!*

 

Jian Suiying jumped out of bed and rashly pulled the door open.

 

The instant it opened, a powerful blow struck him in the chest. Before he could cry out, Li Yu had shoved him viciously onto the floor.

 

The fall left him seeing stars.

 

Li Yu stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the corridor light, so Jian Suiying couldn't make out his expression. He caught the smell of alcohol. The light behind Li Yu made his tall figure seem strangely lonely, yet Jian Suiying also felt an inexplicable pressure that made it difficult to breathe.

 

Jian Suiying cursed, “Li Yu, are you fucking asking for a beating?”

 

He tried to get up, but Li Yu lifted a foot and kicked him in the shoulder, sending him sprawling onto the floor again.

 

Jian Suiying was almost mad with rage. He watched Li Yu kick the door shut. Only the dim yellowish light from the bathroom remained.

 

The two glared at each other. The atmosphere was so tense it felt ready to explode.

 

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

 

“What the fuck did you promise me that day? Huh?”

 

Jian Suiying scrambled off the floor, his face burning with humiliation. He was so furious his lips trembled.

 

“Only a fucking idiot like you believes everything people tell him. Did you really think I'd be that easy to get rid of?”

 

Li Yu slammed a fist into the wardrobe. With a loud crash, the unfortunate door fell off its hinges.

 

Gritting his teeth, he said, “Today, I'm going to make you give up for good!”

 

He rushed forwards and reached for Jian Suiying's collar.

 

Jian Suiying was prepared. He jumped back and lashed out with a kick to Li Yu's stomach.

 

The room was quite dark, so the two were judging each other's distance mostly by instinct. Jian Suiying clearly had the better eyesight. Li Yu lunged at empty air and received a powerful kick instead.

 

Li Yu clutched his stomach and retched several times. Then, like a pile of coal suddenly catching fire, he exploded. He almost flew at Jian Suiying, tackled him hard to the floor and punched him squarely in the face.

 

By now, Li Yu no longer cared how he would explain anything to Suilin. No explanation would change what had happened. Remembering the look Suilin had given him that evening, and the things he'd said, made Li Yu want to chop Jian Suiying into pieces.

 

The left side of Jian Suiying's face went numb. For a moment, he couldn't feel a thing, but then he tasted blood spreading through his mouth. Young Master Jian was terribly protective of his looks. By punching him in the face, Li Yu had crossed an intolerable line. He began flailing his fists and fighting back frantically.

 

When neither fighter has professional training, the outcome and injuries in a fight depend largely on body size, because size determines much of a person's strength. Two strong, fully grown men of similar build usually both suffer badly when they fight.

 

Li Yu had received professional training, but Young Master Jian had extensive experience of brawling. Although Li Yu held the upper hand throughout and kept Jian Suiying pinned beneath him, he himself had long since been beaten black and blue and was furious beyond measure.

 

They wrestled and rolled across the floor. The room was fairly spacious, and Jian Suiying had no idea how far they'd rolled before his hand suddenly touched something. By feel, it seemed to be the switch for a floor lamp. He turned it on without thinking.

 

He was ready for the sudden light, but Li Yu wasn't. He let out a startled cry and raised a hand to shield his eyes.

 

Jian Suiying seized the opportunity to throw him off. He grabbed the first convenient object he could find and struck Li Yu over the head with it.

 

The blow was vicious. A thin stream of blood immediately ran down Li Yu's forehead. Jian Suiying glanced at what he was holding: a glass ashtray shaped like a bird's nest.

 

Young Master Jian had never shown mercy to people who angered him. A little trickle of blood wasn't enough to arouse his sympathy. He threw the ashtray aside, charged forward, and kicked Li Yu several times.

 

“Fuck you, Li Er! That's for constantly opposing me! Nobody's ever dared provoke me like this. See if I don't fucking kill you today!”

 

Li Yu suddenly grabbed his foot and twisted it hard. Jian Suiying howled as he fell to the ground. Li Yu's gaze was savage, as though he intended to twist his leg right off.

 

Fortunately, ordinary human beings couldn't actually twist a grown man's leg off with their bare hands. Li Yu released him, climbed back on top of him and began cursing furiously.

 

“Fuck you, Jian! You picked a fight with me, so don't think you're leaving this room today! Who the hell do you think you are? Just because you've got some filthy money, you think you're so important. All you've done is live a few years longer than me! How dare someone like you make a move on me? Go to hell!”

 

He followed the words with another punch.

 

Jian Suiying shouted back, “So what if I make a move on you? Me wanting you is an honour! Listen carefully, Li Er. If I, Jian Suiying, don't get to have my way with you at least once in this life, I'll take your surname! Just you wait for that day. Don't go crying to your parents when it happens!”

 

Li Yu's eyes were bloodshot. He looked more like a wild animal than a person.

 

“Do you think you're capable of that? I'm the one sitting on top of you right now! How could an idiot like you ever lay a finger on me?”

 

Jian Suiying struggled to throw him off while provoking him recklessly.

 

“Take off your trousers, and you'll find out whether I can! I guarantee you'll enjoy the first time and spend forever thinking about the second!”

 

But he couldn't budge Li Yu. The younger man was planted on his stomach as firmly as a mountain. Jian Suiying was so furious that all he could think about was how to humiliate Li Yu even more than he'd been humiliated himself.

 

The more he thought about it, the more his hands began tugging at Li Yu's clothes.

 

Li Yu was stunned. He truly hadn't imagined that Jian Suiying would still dare do something so lecherous after being beaten half to death.

 

As he pulled at the clothes, Jian Suiying continued taunting him.

 

“Well, Li Er? You really don't want to try it?”

 

His free hand stopped striking Li Yu and slipped inside his shirt instead, stroking his waist without restraint.

 

A shiver went through Li Yu's entire body. He seized Jian Suiying's arm and tried to wrench it away. Jian Suiying responded by grabbing and groping at him with both hands, accompanying the movements with suggestive insults whenever he could.

 

He'd finally discovered that although he couldn't beat Li Yu in a fight, he had endless ways to disgust him. As long as it made Li Yu miserable, Jian Suiying was delighted to do it.

 

Their clothes had already become disordered during the brawl, especially Jian Suiying's. His silk pyjamas were soft and loose; after only a few movements, the top had practically fallen off him. Now his entire chest was exposed.

 

Jian Suiying had torn several buttons from Li Yu's shirt too, leaving his chest bare and his appearance a mess.

 

Still dissatisfied, Jian Suiying tried to reach inside his trousers.

 

Seeing Jian Suiying drenched in sweat, bruised and battered, yet still determined to molest him, Li Yu felt an explosive rush in his head. He was so furious that he lost his reason entirely.

 

Taking advantage of Li Yu's momentary distraction, Jian Suiying gathered all his strength and suddenly heaved him onto the floor. In an instant, their positions were reversed, with Jian Suiying astride Li Yu. Now he was in his element.

 

To tell the truth, he wasn't feeling lustful at all. No matter how much he'd wanted Li Yu before, looking at his face now, swollen and bruised like a pig's head, left him with no appetite whatsoever. The only thing on his mind was how to take revenge on the man who'd humiliated him so thoroughly.

 

Li Yu was young, hot-headed and inexperienced. His face changed from blue to red and back again, its battered expression almost impossible to describe.

 

Jian Suiying gave a mocking laugh.

 

“Oh, look at you. So full of energy. What can you do besides act like a proper little gentleman, you idiot? You look so respectable with your clothes on. And yet I wonder who was enjoying himself that day.”

 

Mentioning that was like pouring oil onto the fire. That incident was Li Yu's greatest humiliation. He'd already been close to losing his mind, and now Jian Suiying had made him even angrier.

 

Jian Suiying seemed blind to the inhuman fury in Li Yu's eyes. He grew more brazen, running his hands back and forth across Li Yu's chest. The smooth, firm feeling was so pleasing that he didn't want to stop.

 

Li Yu seized Jian Suiying's wandering hand in an iron grip, squeezing harder and harder. For an instant, Jian Suiying thought his wrist was going to snap. He gritted his teeth and struggled against the hold.

 

Li Yu cried out in pain, his face flushing deep red. He stared fiercely at Jian Suiying.

 

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

 

Jian Suiying glared back. “I was just about to say the same thing to you.”

 

Li Yu's eyes looked ready to bleed. He suddenly arched his body, raised one leg and kicked Jian Suiying hard in the back of the head.

 

Jian Suiying hadn't expected him to be so flexible. The kick might well have given him a concussion. The world blurred before his eyes. His head spun, and he collapsed onto Li Yu, unable to control his body.

 

Through the haze, he felt Li Yu push him face down onto the floor. Then he suddenly felt cold around his lower body.

 

Alarmed, he instinctively tried to look back, but Li Yu's hand pressed his head firmly against the floor, leaving him unable to move. He realised Li Yu had pulled down his trousers, and fear abruptly rose inside him.

 

“Li Yu, what are you doing?”

 

Li Yu's voice was as cold as ice chips.

 

“What am I doing? Why don't you guess?”

 

By now, Li Yu was in a state of extreme agitation. Both the physical desire in his body and the rage in his mind demanded release.

 

And the most obvious target for that release was the person who'd stirred up all that heat and anger in him.

 

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

 

“Li Yu, have you got water on the brain or something… Fuck!”

 

Li Yu tied Jian Suiying's hands behind his back.

 

Now Jian Suiying really panicked.

 

“Li Yu, have you lost your mind? What the hell are you planning to do?”

 

Li Yu thought perhaps he really had gone mad, and it was entirely because Jian Suiying had driven him to it. If he didn't teach this bastard a lesson today, he'd despise himself for the rest of his life.

 

Their violent fight had sent his blood racing through his body. The alcohol was still strong in his system, and he felt recklessly bold.

 

“Ah! Fuck you, Li Yu! If you lay a hand on me today, don't expect to live until tomorrow! You… ah!”

 

Li Yu patted Jian Suiying on the head and gave a cold laugh.

 

“Just wait.”

 

He got up and went into the bathroom, returning with a bottle of the hotel's cheap shampoo.

 

Jian Suiying was in pain, shocked and terrified. His whole body trembled as he struggled desperately.

 

“Li Yu! Let me go! Just for what you've done today, I could kill you a hundred times over. Let me go!”

 

Li Yu looked down at him as though he were watching his prey.

 

Jian Suiying hated the fact that his body was so resilient. He couldn't even lose consciousness quickly under the torment. Instead, he remained in a state somewhere between awareness and confusion throughout, remembering and feeling everything.

 

From childhood, Li Yu had always been a sensible, easy-going boy who did things calmly and never gave anyone cause to worry. It was Jian Suiying who'd stirred up the violent side of him. He'd provoked Li Yu over and over, mocked him and harboured sexual fantasies about him, driving his anger higher each time. Finally, after what had happened with Jian Suilin the previous night, it had erupted completely and led him to commit such an outrageous act.

 

At that moment, Li Yu wanted only to make Jian Suiying suffer so badly that he'd regret everything he'd done. He wanted to see whether Jian Suiying would ever dare harass him again.

 

But things had already spun out of control. Li Yu had become increasingly caught up in what was happening, losing sight of his original purpose of humiliating and taking revenge on him.

 

The ordeal of dominating and being dominated went on for a very long time. Eventually, Jian Suiying lost consciousness. Li Yu was utterly exhausted too, and fell asleep lying on top of him.

 

By the time Jian Suiying woke the next day, Li Yu had long since disappeared.

 

As his mind cleared and he recalled what had happened in the early hours, it was as though he'd been struck by lightning. He couldn't believe that someone had dared force himself on Jian Suiying.

 

He discovered he was still lying on the floor, without so much as a bloody sheet covering him. Li Yu had left him exposed like that all night.

 

If Li Yu had been standing in front of him then, and somebody had handed Jian Suiying a knife, he'd have driven it straight into the man's heart.

 

Jian Suiying kicked the floor and let out a furious roar. The movement pulled at every muscle in his body, and he immediately went limp with pain.

 

The savage fight had already left him badly injured. After that, having a strong young man on top of him for half the night had nearly broken his body apart. He'd always been as sturdy as an ox and had never spent a day in hospital. Looking back over his life, this was certainly the worst injury he'd ever suffered, both physically and psychologically.

 

Jian Suiying's powerful, arrogant pride had taken an unprecedented blow. Trying to molest somebody only to be forced himself was unquestionably the greatest humiliation of his life.

 

Only now did he admit that he'd underestimated Li Yu. The composed, reserved young man who'd always behaved like a well-bred gentleman was apparently capable of something so spectacularly vicious. Jian Suiying genuinely wondered just how far he'd pushed the boy. Judging by the severity of what Li Yu had done, it was as though Jian Suiying had committed some terrible offence, like betraying his teacher and ancestors.

 

But when all was said and done, hadn't he only flirted with him a few times? For fuck's sake, was all this really necessary?

 

The thought that he'd been forced because of something so trivial made Jian Suiying regret it bitterly.

 

He rolled around on the floor for ages but couldn't find the strength to get up. The curtains were still closed, yet light leaking through the gaps made it clear that morning had long since arrived. If anyone dared come in and see him in such a disgraceful state, he'd gouge their eyes out.

 

Jian Suiying struggled to sit up against the bed. When he looked down at his body, the sight was unbearable.

 

Rage nearly made him cough up blood. He kicked the floor and howled in frustration. Even chopping Li Yu into pieces and disposing of his body a hundred times wouldn't relieve the pain and hatred in his heart.

 

By the end of his shouting, he was almost in tears.

 

He'd truly suffered a crushing defeat and lost every scrap of dignity this time. How had he, Jian Suiying, fallen so low? If news of this ever got out, he might as well hang himself. If he didn't take revenge, he'd be a bloody fool for the rest of his life.

 

Just as Young Master Jian was rolling about the floor in fury, someone knocked cautiously at the door.

 

His nerves tightened at once. He steadied his breathing and demanded, “Who?”

 

The attempt made him hate Li Yu even more. His voice was so hoarse it was barely recognisable. He'd thought he'd shouted loudly enough, but in reality it was no stronger than the buzzing of a mosquito. He wasn't even sure the person outside had heard.

 

Before he could try again, he suddenly heard a beep outside. It was unmistakably the sound of a key card unlocking the door.

 

Jian Suiying gathered every last ounce of strength and tried to spring onto the bed so he could cover himself. Unfortunately, his backside had barely left the floor before he dropped heavily back down.

 

The jolt made him want to die of humiliation.

 

The door opened and quickly shut again.

 

Jian Suiying looked up. Standing in the doorway was the very man he wanted to rape and then kill: Li Yu.

 

Li Yu's face was clearly awkward and stiff. Jian Suiying almost admired his own ability to recognise embarrassment beneath all those bruises on the younger man's face.

 

Only moments earlier, he'd imagined countless ways to destroy Li Yu. Yet now the man was standing before him, and Jian Suiying hadn't had enough time to build his hatred back to its peak. Instead, he found himself momentarily stunned.

 

Remembering that he looked as wretched as a stray dog, he wished he could vanish on the spot.

 

Li Yu watched him warily, apparently expecting him to launch an attack. But although Jian Suiying was baring his teeth with an expression that suggested he wanted to devour someone, he was clearly having difficulty moving. Li Yu slowly approached.

 

Jian Suiying stared so fiercely he might have burned holes through him. Pointing at him, he said through gritted teeth,

 

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

 

His expression was ferocious, but given his present condition, he was already losing in terms of intimidation.

 

Li Yu could only hide his own embarrassment behind a blank expression. But when his gaze fell on Jian Suiying's body, heat rushed to his head, and he had to look away.

 

After the madness of the previous night, he'd woken that morning with his head buzzing and realised he'd caused serious trouble. He hadn't imagined that in a blind rage he could do such a thing. He'd originally only wanted to beat Jian Suiying badly enough to send him to hospital. Somehow, it had turned into something utterly absurd, and by the end he'd lost his reason completely.

 

How had things developed that way? At the time, Li Yu had been at a loss and practically fled in panic. After returning to his room and spending ages in the shower, he'd finally calmed his body and mind.

 

Life was a continuous process of problems arising and being solved. He had to minimise the consequences of this one before either Suilin or his older brother appeared.

 

He called reception, asked them to send some anti-inflammatory medication, and arranged to get a key card for Jian Suiying's room. When the young receptionist delivered the items, Li Yu hadn't even dared open the door to her. He'd frightened himself enough when he looked in the mirror that morning.

 

With the medicine and key card in hand, he walked to Jian Suiying's room. Only two or three rooms separated them, but each step seemed to require an immense effort of will.

 

All sorts of jumbled thoughts rushed into his mind. By the time he stood outside Jian Suiying's door, his face felt burning hot.

 

After a long time spent mentally preparing, he finally composed his expression and used the card to enter.

 

The moment he stepped inside, he saw Jian Suiying sitting naked against the edge of the bed, his body covered in marks Li Yu had left the previous night.

 

Li Yu's vision darkened, and his whole body grew hot. He didn't dare look at him again. He roughly pulled a sheet off the bed and threw it over Jian Suiying, then approached to help him stand.

 

Jian Suiying aimed a punch straight at the spot on Li Yu's head that he'd made bleed the night before and struck it hard once again.

 

Li Yu clutched his head and glared at him angrily.

 

“You're already in this state. Are you ever going to stop?”

 

Like a monkey whose backside had been set on fire, Jian Suiying shrieked,

 

“What fucking state am I in? Li Yu, fuck you! You're not leaving this room alive today!”

 

He had no idea where the strength came from, but he suddenly threw himself at Li Yu and raised a fist to strike him.

 

Li Yu caught his arms and struggled to restrain him.

 

Compared with Jian Suiying, Li Yu was clearly much less badly injured. It took him only a few movements to pin the older man down. His face was so red it looked ready to drip blood, and he said hoarsely,

 

“Don't… rub yourself against me like that.”

 

Jian Suiying froze. Any dignity he'd had left might as well have fallen all the way to an underground car park.

 

“Fuck you!”

 

He gathered his strength and kicked Li Yu with his free foot. The movement pulled at his injuries, making him twitch with pain.

 

Li Yu struggled upright, hauled Jian Suiying to his feet and deposited him on the bed. He tossed the medicine at him.

 

“You should… put some of that on. Then I'll take you somewhere else. You can't let them see you like this.”

 

Enraged, Jian Suiying kicked the anti-inflammatory cream under the bed.

 

“So it's all right for you to see me like this, is it? You shameless rapist.”

 

Li Yu's face went instantly pale. Humiliated and furious, he replied stiffly,

 

“You brought it on yourself. I warned you not to provoke me.”

 

“If I'd known you had the blood of a rapist in you, I'd have stayed as far away from you as possible.”

 

Hearing himself called a rapist over and over made Li Yu's proud heart feel as though it were frying in hot oil. He hadn't originally felt guilty about humiliating Jian Suiying in revenge. He genuinely thought the man deserved it.

 

The trouble was that what he'd done went completely against the way he'd been educated and the standards he'd held himself to for years. It would be a lie to say he didn't regret it. But now that things had reached this point, he absolutely couldn't show a trace of remorse.

 

Jian Suiying was the sort of man who took a mile the moment someone gave him an inch. If Li Yu let slip the smallest sign of weakness, the man would seize on it and use it to attack, mock and torment him mercilessly.

 

Li Yu said coldly, “Jian Suiying, I've already told you. You brought all this on yourself. I rejected you again and again. You're the one who insisted on harassing me.”

 

Jian Suiying was so furious he nearly coughed up blood. Then he laughed bitterly.

 

“Li Er, there's bad blood between us now. Just wait. I'll make sure you never have another peaceful day for the rest of your life.”

 

Li Yu barely registered the threat. Mainly, Jian Suiying's current appearance made him utterly unthreatening. Li Yu picked up the tube of medicine and threw it back onto the bed.

 

“Are you going to use it or not? Or do you want to go to the hospital?”

 

“Fuck your hospital. Go and get your impotence treated.”

 

He snatched up the tube and hurled it straight at Li Yu's face.

 

Li Yu was still seething with anger himself. If Jian Suiying didn't have such a vicious mouth, perhaps the previous night's events wouldn't have happened at all. He couldn't be bothered arguing with him any more.

 

“Call my brother now,” he said coldly. “Tell him there's been an emergency and you've had to go back to Beijing. I've arranged a car. It'll take you to a different hotel shortly. I'll deal with everything else.”

 

Jian Suiying knew perfectly well that this was the best solution, but he was determined not to make things easy for Li Yu. Narrowing his eyes, he studied the younger man's expression. He could tell Li Yu was every bit as worried as he was about his older brother finding out what had happened.

 

*You little bastard. Just watch me torment you to death.*

 

He gave a vicious grin.

 

“Leave? Where am I supposed to go? You're right, I do need to call your brother. I'll tell him his little brother raped me and ask what he thinks ought to be done. How about you marry me to make it right? Hey, where's my mobile? Hurry up and find it for me.”

 

Li Yu's face turned purple with rage.

 

“What a load of fucking rubbish.”

 

Panic surged through him, but he quickly calmed himself. After thinking it over, he concluded that Jian Suiying had even more to lose from public humiliation than he did. Still, he couldn't quite relax. Knowing Jian Suiying, nothing was too embarrassing or outrageous for him to do.

 

The two remained locked in a standoff, testing each other's patience and resolve.

 

Li Yu asked through gritted teeth, “Are you leaving or not?”

 

“No, I'm not. Go and get your brother. We've already done what a husband and wife do. If you won't take responsibility, I'll go and make a scene at your family home.”

 

Jian Suiying spoke with a perfectly straight face, taking a twisted pleasure in watching Li Yu's expression grow uglier and uglier.

 

Li Yu sneered. “The moment word gets out that the great President Jian was fucked by another man, it'll spread across Beijing. Are you really that desperate to be famous?”

 

Jian Suiying sneered back. “I've got no problem with that. Let's call a doctor right now and have them examine me. I'm the victim here, and you're the animal who committed the rape. How about it? Shall we give it a try?”

 

Li Yu was young, after all, and someone as seasoned as Jian Suiying could easily provoke him. He forced a few words between clenched teeth.

 

“What the hell do you want?”

 

That was exactly what Jian Suiying had been waiting to hear. He answered immediately.

 

“Simple. Take off your trousers and let me fuck you once, and we'll be even.”

 

Li Yu replied without hesitation, “Fuck you.”

 

Negotiations had clearly broken down. Both men continued facing each other with grim expressions, and the atmosphere in the room became unbearably strange.

 

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

 

Li Yu picked it up, stared at the screen and pressed his lips together.

 

Seeing his expression, Jian Suiying guessed, “Li Xuan?”

 

Li Yu glanced at him, silently confirming it.

 

Jian Suiying laughed coldly. “What, scared now? If you dared do it, you ought to dare admit it.”

 

Li Yu looked at him for two seconds, then tossed the mobile to him.

 

“Answer it.”

 

Now it was Jian Suiying's turn to lose his composure. He'd assumed Li Yu would be so guilty he'd hang up the call. But the phone was right in front of him. He glared fiercely at Li Yu and had no choice but to answer.

 

Li Xuan's hearty voice came through the line.

 

“Suiying! How did you sleep? I heard you went to the beach yesterday. Did you enjoy yourself?”

 

“Oh, it was all right. Quite lively.”

 

Li Xuan was about to say something else, but Jian Suiying interrupted hurriedly.

 

“Li Xuan, I was just about to call you.”

 

“What's happened?”

 

“It's such bad timing. Something urgent's come up in Beijing, and all my staff are on holiday. I absolutely have to go back and deal with it myself. Otherwise, it'll be difficult to sort out.”

 

“Oh, what unfortunate timing.”

 

Li Yu stood with his arms folded, a cold smile tugging at his lips as he watched Jian Suiying make up the story.

 

Jian Suiying kept glaring at him while talking into the phone.

 

“Exactly. What a mess. I'm just about to head to the airport. I didn't call earlier because I thought you might be busy. I've travelled all this way only to cause you trouble and waste your time. I feel awful about it.”

 

Li Xuan hurried to reassure him. “Don't say that. If something urgent has happened, go and deal with it. The land isn't going anywhere. I'm keeping it for you. Whenever you're free, come over, and I'll show you around.”

 

“Thank you for understanding. How about this? I'll leave my younger brother here. You can have one of your people show him the land, and he'll report back to me. I'll take your younger brother back to Beijing to help with the emergency. What do you think? We can swap little brothers. Ha ha!”

 

Li Xuan laughed too. “All right. Take him along.”

 

Li Yu glared coldly at Jian Suiying, who responded by giving him the middle finger.

 

After hanging up, Jian Suiying considered calling Little Lin, but he felt rather guilty. In the end, he sent him a text instead, explaining the arrangements for the land and asking him to give a detailed report when he returned.

 

Li Yu pulled two items of clothing from Jian Suiying's suitcase and threw them onto the bed.

 

“Get dressed. We're leaving.”

 

Jian Suiying kept his head down, typing his message.

 

“What did you say to Little Lin yesterday?”

 

At the mention of it, the little flame of hatred in Li Yu's heart flared up again. He gritted his teeth.

 

“You've still got the nerve to ask? Go and explain it to him yourself.”

 

Jian Suiying snorted. “Explain what? There's nothing going on between us. We're completely innocent, aren't we?”

 

Li Yu's face alternated between red and white, making for quite a spectacle.

 

Jian Suiying grabbed the trousers and threw them in Li Yu's face.

 

“Are you fucking blind? Do these trousers even go with this shirt? You can't even look after someone properly. What use are you?”

 

Li Yu felt his blood pressure rise every moment he spent with the man. Jian Suiying had probably never learnt the meaning of weakness or knowing when to give way. He was forever putting on an arrogant *I'm the most important person here* attitude.

 

Thinking about it that way, Li Yu suddenly felt a deep satisfaction. Having humiliated Jian Suiying so thoroughly and knocked down his arrogance felt even better than conquering a mountain or winning a competition.

 

He said mockingly, “Perhaps having no clothes on would suit you best?”

 

Jian Suiying was wrapped tightly in a bedsheet now, his former showy confidence nowhere in sight. He'd covered every inch of himself. Even so, he bristled like an angry cat.

 

“Can't you even get me a glass of water first?”

 

All the talking had left his throat bone dry. It burned painfully.

 

Li Yu froze. Looking at Jian Suiying's red, swollen eyes, dishevelled hair and fierce expression that seemed to warn, *Come near me, and I'll bite you to death*, he suddenly felt somewhat helpless.

 

Where was the imposing company president now? Jian Suiying resembled a wounded beast driven into a corner, baring its teeth and trying desperately to look fierce. Even when utterly exhausted, he refused to submit to his enemy.

 

Just how stubborn was this man? Losing the upper hand seemed to be more unbearable to him than death.

 

Li Yu's shoulders slowly relaxed. He turned and poured a glass of water. Looking directly at Jian Suiying, he approached little by little, keeping his expression as calm as possible to lower the man's guard.

 

Jian Suiying's sharp eyes stayed fixed on him. Only when the glass reached his lips did he take a small sip, and even then he didn't look away from Li Yu's face.

 

Li Yu stood watching him. Jian Suiying took the glass and drank all the water in several gulps, then wiped his mouth.

 

“Another.”

 

Li Yu poured him a second glass. He was beginning to understand the way Jian Suiying's mind worked. This was someone who would suffer any amount of pain rather than lose face, who responded to gentleness but not to force.

 

After Jian Suiying had finished drinking, Li Yu said, “Get dressed. I'll come back for you in a little while.”

 

He quietly shut the door behind him.

 

Jian Suiying endured the aching pain throughout his body and managed to put his clothes on. Then he sat on the bed, hissing in pain for quite some time.

 

When Li Yu returned, Jian Suiying stood up on his own and pointed unceremoniously at his suitcase.

 

Li Yu had been handling his various little errands for more than a day or two. At this point, there was nothing he couldn't bear. He went over, packed the suitcase neatly, then handed Jian Suiying a hat and a pair of sunglasses.

 

“Put these on.”