After taking his sweet time washing He Chu San, Xia Liu Yi wrapped him in a bathrobe, slung him over his shoulder like a sack of goods, carried him back, and dumped him onto his own bed. Then he called someone over to ask what was going on—only to discover that the guest room still had not been cleaned after an entire afternoon!
“Reporting to the Boss! The bed is broken!” A’Nan said.
“Is your brain broken too?! Do you want me to split it open and check?! Don’t you know how to buy a new one?!”
Remembering Brother Sen’s teachings, A’Nan cautiously tried to interpret the Boss’s true wishes. “Reporting to the Boss, the furniture shops… Uh, they’re probably all closed at this hour?”
“Closed, my ass!” Xia Liu Yi hurled a pillow at him and drove him out. “Nothing but bullshit! Clean up the sofa! Move this brat over there!”
“Yes!”
Clutching the pillow, A’Nan fled downstairs in a sorry state and asked Brother Sen, “What do we do? Are we really moving him?”
Having already heard the commotion upstairs, A’Sen calmly replied, “Tell the Boss that someone accidentally spilled beer on the sofa.”
“Huh? Who was that careless?!”
A’Sen shoved the empty beer can in his hand into A’Nan’s. “You.”
After the empty beer can was taken upstairs, Xia Liu Yi enforced the household rules by picking up a stick and thoroughly beating the two clever fools. He Chu San lay on Xia Liu Yi’s bed with a pillow supporting his plastered leg, listening to the crisp smacks of the stick striking backsides downstairs and the heroic pair’s ghostly howls. Silently, he raised a hand and made the sign of the cross for the two brothers he had never met but who had nevertheless assisted him, then closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.
Still furious, Xia Liu Yi pushed open the bedroom door. He Chu San immediately began breathing slowly and deeply.
“Stop playing dead. Get up and drink your milk.” Xia Liu Yi kicked the bed.
He Chu San obediently sat up and accepted the cup from his hand.
Once He Chu San had finished drinking, Xia Liu Yi shifted him farther toward the inside of the bed, brought over another quilt, removed his outer clothes, shoes, and socks, and collapsed beneath the covers without even bathing. He had spent the entire previous night consumed by anxiety and then endured several rounds of scheming and confrontation throughout the day. He was utterly exhausted.
He slept on his side with his back toward He Chu San. With furtive hands and feet, He Chu San painstakingly shifted closer. Xia Liu Yi immediately moved his backside away, putting a wide distance between them.
“Stay the fuck away,” he muttered with his eyes closed.
He Chu San’s skin was thicker than a city wall. Relying on his injuries to lower the chance of being beaten, he persistently tried to inch closer again. Xia Liu Yi impatiently thrust an elbow backward and murmured half asleep, “Get lost. I turn over in the middle of the night. I might crush your injur—” Before finishing, he began snoring.
Behind him, He Chu San froze. So the reason Xia Liu Yi refused to share a bed with him was because of that.
He stared at Xia Liu Yi’s back for a while and suddenly felt his eyes grow sore and tight.
He did not know what Xia Liu Yi had experienced during the past night and day. He had merely sensed the uncontrollable trembling inside that fierce, rough kiss at the hospital—the other man’s terror and wild joy. The intensity of those emotions had far exceeded anything He Chu San imagined. He genuinely had not known that he had already come to occupy such an important place in Xia Liu Yi’s heart.
He was like a little rabbit crouching outside the big bad wolf’s door and singing, Little rabbit, be good, secretly peeking around as he searched for a chance to enter. Yet without his realizing it, the impatient wolf had already dragged him inside, chained him up, and locked him within its heart.
He had always longed for this moment and had never expected it to arrive with such speed and intensity. Yet now that they had truly reached this point, he felt far more lingering fear and unease than Xia Liu Yi did. He had not been gambling with only his own safety. What if he had failed to find an opportunity to escape? What if the police officer had not helped him along the way? What if he had been more seriously injured, or even killed? If something had truly happened to him, how cruel would that have been to Xia Liu Yi? Perhaps the man would have sealed himself tightly inside a shell and never opened his heart to a third person for the rest of his life.
He did not feel the slightest relief at surviving. He only felt foolish and impulsive, weak and incapable of protecting himself. He was supposed to pull Xia Liu Yi out of that bottomless mire, not become a burden that dragged him deeper.
While Elite He lay awake, tossing beneath the weight of countless worries, Boss Xia was not so idle after eating his fill and had no time for such wild thoughts. He slept soundly, releasing tiny snores. As he slept, he truly rolled over and smacked He Chu San across the chest, nearly knocking his lungs out.
Painfully yet happily, He Chu San experienced firsthand what Xia Liu Yi meant by “turning over in the middle of the night.” To regulate the man’s sleeping posture and ensure a peaceful night, he seized the opportunity to pull Xia Liu Yi entirely into his arms and encircle him. Xia Liu Yi, finding the position uncomfortable, drove an elbow into He Chu San’s stomach. He instantly curled like a shrimp, nearly choking, and was now completely unable to sleep.
…
Xia Liu Yi slept deeply until the sun was high in the sky and awoke feeling remarkably refreshed, although his chest felt strangely constricted. Opening his eyes, he looked down. He Chu San’s plastered foot was still propped on the pillow at the foot of the bed, but his entire upper body had curled into Xia Liu Yi’s embrace. Both arms encircled his waist, and his face rested against his chest—the very picture of a delicate bird relying upon its master.
“…” Boss Xia shuddered and shoved He Chu San away with one hand.
He Chu San had not fallen asleep until nearly dawn. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and even being roughly pushed aside failed to wake him. With his eyes closed, he clingingly moved back while keeping his lower body motionless, trying to bury his head against Xia Liu Yi’s shoulder. One hand brushed across Xia Liu Yi’s chest and accurately caught the tiny peak between two fingers.
Xia Liu Yi shuddered a second time.
…
At noon, He Chu San stood unsteadily before the sink on one leg, brushing his teeth while half asleep. As he brushed, he noticed a dull pain in his cheekbone. Half of his face was faintly red, as though someone had slapped him while he slept.
He felt that he had suffered fewer beatings while being kidnapped than he had the previous night. While sighing over this realization, he heard an engine roar downstairs as Xia Liu Yi’s car sped away.
After smashing another man’s establishment and burning his subordinates, Xia Liu Yi openly invited Master Qiao to meet at a bathhouse the very next day. Master Qiao was also an important underworld figure. Despite Fat Seven’s fate serving as a warning, he still dared meet Xia Liu Yi alone. The two bosses wrapped towels around their waists, strode boldly into the bathing pool, dismissed their attendants with a wave, and began discussing business amid the rising steam.
In terms of seniority, identity, and standing, Master Qiao surpassed Fat Seven. Even Azure Dragon had respectfully addressed him as Second Master while alive. This time, Master Qiao had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used as bait, leaving his dignity reduced to paste. He badly wanted to employ some poisonous scheme and make Xia Liu Yi disappear without a trace. However, Xia Liu Yi had come prepared and had captured his interest with a single sentence over the telephone. Once they met and Xia Liu Yi calmly laid out the advantages and risks, Master Qiao’s expression remained dark, but he had to admit that Xia Liu Yi was correct.
Although the incident had grown from old grudges between the two sides, the spark that ignited it was extremely suspicious—someone had tried to use a hostage to make them fight like a snipe and clam, allowing a fisherman to profit afterward. They truly could not act from wounded pride, fight endlessly, and foolishly fall into another person’s trap.
In Master Qiao’s eyes, Fat Seven had been a complete fool without the slightest ability, capable only of shouting and provoking trouble. Even after watching Boss Sha go to prison in chains, he had remained entirely unwary, started a conflict with Xia Liu Yi, and then attempted to discard Inspector Hua after using him. What newly appointed police inspector would dare associate with the He factions after that? Fortunately, Xia Liu Yi had eliminated Fat Seven. Not only had this spared Master Qiao from becoming stained by that piece of filth, it also allowed him to place all blame and resentment upon Xia Liu Yi. He felt no grief over Fat Seven’s death. What truly enraged him was that the previously unknown Xia Liu Yi had openly challenged the He faction and humiliated him. Master Qiao had originally intended to use revenge as an excuse to tear apart Xiao Qi Hall and devour its power. Yet after yesterday’s farce and Xia Liu Yi’s current explanation, he realized that this seemingly inexperienced young man was genuinely not someone to underestimate. Wiping out Xiao Qi Hall would not be as easy as he had imagined.
Despite his youth, this man was meticulous, decisive, and ruthless. Yet he could also yield when necessary, endure humiliation, and remain calm. Even after such an intense clash, he could coolly analyze their mutual interests and attempt to transform hostility into peace. No wonder he had led Xiao Qi Hall out of Kau Lung Walled City and expanded its power to its present level in only two or three years.
Master Qiao studied Xia Liu Yi’s upper body with interest. It had turned red from soaking in the steaming water, while overlapping scars crossed the firm, smooth muscles. He wanted to see how great this newborn calf’s ambition truly was—and whether it possessed the ability to bite a tiger to death.
Xia Liu Yi calmly met his gaze, appearing to wait patiently for a response. In reality, his attention had wandered, and he was calculating how he would drag He Chu San into a bathing pool once the brat’s injuries healed.
He would soak the brat until he softened, steam him thoroughly, then find a masseur to torment him until he cried for his father and mother. Once his skin was soft and his bones had gone limp, Xia Liu Yi would chop him up and feed him to the dogs! Little bastard! Fucking spending every day making his Boss worry!
“Thirty percent,” Master Qiao finally said.
Xia Liu Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. “You?”
“You.”
Xia Liu Yi chuckled. “Master Qiao, in recent years Kau Lung Walled City was demolished, and the government intensified its antinarcotics efforts. Many supply routes have been cut off. I heard that after Sha Jia Jun was arrested, you began obtaining goods from ‘Monk.’ You presumably know how poor their quality is. My goods are highly pure, and there are few suppliers in all Hong Kong capable of matching them. I’m sincerely proposing cooperation, so please show some generosity and leave a little benefit for the brothers beneath me.”
Master Qiao narrowed his eyes. “How much do you want?”
Xia Liu Yi smiled again, although his tone remained respectful. “Forty-five percent. That remaining five percent is a junior’s tribute to you. I hope we’ll cooperate pleasantly in the future.”
“Agreed.”
“Master Qiao is certainly straightforward.”
“The younger generation inspires awe. You’re not bad yourself.”
Their negotiations complete, both bosses rose from the water. The bodyguards waiting outside immediately entered and draped bathrobes over them. Master Qiao narrowed his eyes at Xia Liu Yi. Xia Liu Yi respectfully gestured. “Master Qiao, after you.”
He watched Master Qiao leave the bathhouse surrounded by several subordinates. The curve of Xia Liu Yi’s lips immediately fell, and his expression darkened. Xiao Ma slipped in from outside and spat in the direction Master Qiao had gone. “That goddamn bastard! He’s only fit to lick our Boss’s feet!”
“Enough,” Xia Liu Yi said, finding him noisy. He casually removed his bathrobe and entered the water again. “Call a bath attendant to scrub me.”
“Heh-heh, Boss, shall I scrub you?”
“Get back and watch the establishments! Also, assign two nightclubs to Big Scarhead. You concentrate on headquarters, and come with me to Thailand at the end of the year.”
“Yes!”
Xiao Qi Hall and He Yi Society, which had appeared ready to destroy one another, laughed away their grievances the very next day. This left the many underworld figures crouching nearby in anticipation of entertainment utterly astonished. Yet when the news reached Xie Jia Hua, his movements merely paused slightly before he expressionlessly finished the plain water in his glass.
“Master Qiao and Twin-Blade Xia made peace, and you aren’t surprised at all?” asked his informant, a young thug whose ears, nose, and eyebrows were covered in silver studs. They were inside a disco belonging to He Yi Society. The music shook the floor, and crowds writhed wildly across the dance floor, making it impossible for anyone to hear their conversation.
Xie Jia Hua wore a black leather jacket and torn jeans, with pungent hair gel slicked across his head, making him resemble a thug as well. He calmly shook his head. “Second Master Qiao and Xia Liu Yi are both deeply calculating men. A conflict at this moment would harm both sides. Neither of them would act so impulsively.”
“That’s true! Master Qiao must have lost his senses for a moment. He actually believed that brat was Twin-Blade Xia’s lover and kidnapped him to threaten Xia! Hahaha! How could Twin-Blade Xia possibly like men? I wonder who invented such a stupid rumor to fool Master Qiao!”
Xie Jia Hua placed a roll of cash beneath his glass and stood. “Thank you for discovering where they were keeping the hostage. You didn’t merely save an innocent civilian; you prevented an underworld war that could have implicated countless people. I’m leaving. We’ll arrange another meeting. Be careful.”
“Hey! What could possibly happen to an insignificant person like me?”
That night, demons danced wildly and celebrated until late. Beneath the hazy moonlight, the drunken thug hummed as he staggered along the wall. When he passed an alley, several dark figures suddenly sprang out and dragged him inside.
In the dim light, only the muffled impacts of fists and feet striking flesh could be heard, together with faint screams stifled behind a covered mouth. Before long, the only remaining sound was that of a burlap sack containing something heavy being dragged across the ground.
…
After Xia Liu Yi made peace with Master Qiao and the security threat disappeared, he sent men to He Chu San’s rented apartment to collect his daily necessities. He Chu San specifically requested the stack of books beside his bed and the camera hidden inside the wardrobe.
The bodyguard returned and reported every detail to Xia Liu Yi. The moment Boss Xia heard the word camera, he became furious. That evening, he found a traditional bonesetter and had He Chu San thoroughly tormented. The brat stubbornly refused to cry for his father and mother, but judging by the cold sweat covering him, he had undoubtedly suffered terribly. After the brutal treatment, He Chu San truly felt as though several blocked channels had opened. His hearing and vision sharpened, and his mind no longer felt as foggy as it had during the previous days.
Once his energy returned, he began planning his employment. Xia Liu Yi kept evasively sparring with him and consistently refused to let him join the company to manage its accounts. He Chu San therefore began approaching the people around Xia Liu Yi, probing indirectly in hopes of learning more.
Sitting in a wheelchair, he cooked two simple meals for A’Nan, the bodyguard assigned to care for him, and extracted many details about the Boss’s work and daily habits. However, A’Nan did not know much. Xia Liu Yi usually appeared carefree and lazy, seemingly mingling freely with his subordinates, but he never allowed the slightest leak regarding confidential matters and enforced strict discipline.
With no other choice, He Chu San could only probe someone higher in the hierarchy.
While chatting with the Boss in his office one day, Cui Dong Dong mentioned, “What’s going on with Sammy Boy lately? He keeps asking me about the company. Are you planning to use him?”
With a cigarette between his lips, Xia Liu Yi snorted. “Ignore him.”
“I genuinely need people,” Cui Dong Dong said. “There aren’t many educated brothers in the Society. I need an assistant to manage the accounts.”
“Find someone yourself.” Xia Liu Yi flicked away some ash. “Tell that little bastard to get as far away as possible!”
“I know you’re trying to protect him,” Cui Dong Dong said. “But he’s too close to you. Sooner or later, someone will discover your relationship. Today it was Master Qiao kidnapping him; tomorrow it’ll be someone else. Letting him continue working outside will never put your mind at ease. It would be safer to keep him where you can see him. Besides, he genuinely is clever and capable. You could at least let him manage our legitimate businesses—”
“Enough!” Xia Liu Yi interrupted impatiently. “Discover what?! There’s nothing between us! Don’t mention this again!”
Cui Dong Dong deeply despised this blatant lie, but she could not openly argue with the Boss. She left filled with contempt. Later, she frankly repeated the conversation to He Chu San, who showed no surprise whatsoever.
“Mm. I understand, Sister Dong Dong,” he said meekly with lowered eyes. “It’s fine. I’ll simply find another job.”
“He’s stubbornly keeping up the pretense!” Cui Dong Dong said disdainfully. “When it comes to feelings, he always hides himself away and hesitates over everything! So what if he likes men? I’ve been dating women for more than ten years. Who would dare say anything unpleasant to my face?”
He Chu San soothed her. “Very few people can live as openly and freely as you do, Sister Dong Dong.”
Even He Chu San himself, despite having swallowed the courage of a bear and leopard and boldly pursued Xia Liu Yi with relentless attacks, did not possess the courage to go home immediately and come out to Father He.
Cui Dong Dong proudly lifted the corner of her mouth and snorted. After receiving such sincere praise, she found Sammy Boy increasingly pleasing to the eye. “You’re a brave and careful child. Listen to your sister—some matters must never be delayed or approached with hesitation. Have you and the Boss done ‘that’ yet?”
“Done what?” He Chu San looked completely confused.
“Oh, that!” Wearing an expression that clearly said, Why are you pretending?, Cui Dong Dong poked one finger through a circle formed by her other hand.
He Chu San bashfully lowered his head. “Mm, no. My injuries haven’t healed yet.”
Cui Dong Dong revealed a smile that said, Just as I expected, and narrowed her foxlike eyes. “Sister Dong Dong has some good things to give you. Keep them and study them first. Once your body has recovered… Heh-heh.”
Best Actor He smiled along with her, looking shy and bashful. “Thank you, Sister Dong Dong. Heh-heh.”
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