Futile Devices Scans

Xia Liu Yi’s hospital room had been placed under a strict no-smoking rule. Forget Xia Liu Yi himself—even the bodyguards on duty could hardly endure it. They were all hardened smokers; go even an hour without a cigarette, and their whole bodies itched, their insides clawed with restless craving.

By afternoon, several bodyguards gathered around the bedside, keeping the Boss company with a few rounds of cards. After each card was played, every one of them would unconsciously lift two fingers to their lips, mimicking the absent cigarette.

At last, the veins on Xia Liu Yi’s forehead throbbed violently. Unable to bear it any longer, he snapped, “A’Nan—go out and buy some.”

A’Nan flinched instinctively. “But Mr. He said—”

“Is he the boss, or am I the boss? Go!”

A’Nan dashed off, both thrilled and terrified, and returned in one breath carrying a lighter and more than a dozen packs of cigarettes. Soon the room was thick with smoke, a choking haze filling every corner—everyone smoking to their heart’s content, utterly satisfied.

Yet that very night, Xia Liu Yi realized he had made the most foolish decision possible—whoever he sent would have been fine, but he should never have sent A’Nan.

That evening, He Chu San worked overtime and did not return until ten. With a faint smile, he took just two steps to press A’Nan into a corner.

“Brother Nan,” he asked gently, “did the Boss smoke this afternoon?”

A’Nan shook his head frantically. “No. Absolutely not.”

“But I can smell smoke in the room.”

“Impossible! We aired it out for half an hour!”

“…?”

A’Nan scrambled in panic. “N-no, not today—that was yesterday! Yesterday we aired it out for half an hour!”

He Chu San sighed softly. “Weren’t the cigarettes and lighters confiscated? Who brought them in?”

“An-anyway, it wasn’t me who bought them!”

“……”

Behind them, Xia Liu Yi rolled his eyes on the bed, utterly devoid of hope, his face dark as storm clouds as he burrowed beneath the blanket.

He listened as He Chu San politely dismissed the bodyguards, the sound of the door closing and locking echoing in his ears. Footsteps moved first toward the washroom, then slowly approached the bedside. He Chu San’s voice was calm and gentle.

“Brother Liu Yi, get up and wipe down. It’s time to sleep.”

Xia Liu Yi stewed under the covers for a moment, indignation boiling—what the hell am I afraid of him for?—and with a surge of temper, he flung the blanket aside and sat up. The moment he surfaced into the light, he was pressed back against the pillow and kissed hard!

In just a few short months, no one knew where He Chu San had acquired such consummate skill—his kiss fierce and controlled, fingers gripping Xia Liu Yi’s jaw as his tongue pressed deep. Xia Liu Yi struggled with muffled protests, trying to glare at him, only to have his eyes covered by a hand. The touch between lips and tongue shifted between forceful and tender, leaving him dizzy for lack of air; in that suffocating, cloying closeness, he could only gasp desperately through his nose.

At last, unable to endure, he bit down on He Chu San’s tongue—only to groan in pain the next instant, for He Chu San bit him back in return!

They broke apart together with stifled groans—one sticking out his tongue, the other clutching his lips.

Xia Liu Yi wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Seeing the trace of blood, he flared up. “You actually bit me?!”

He Chu San licked his finger, noting the faint streak of blood mixed with saliva. He did not blame him, merely said calmly, “Your mouth smells like smoke.”

“You really think you can control me?!”

He Chu San said nothing. Rising to his feet, his shadow fell over the bed. One by one, he unbuttoned his suit jacket and tossed it aside.

Looking up from below, Xia Liu Yi suddenly realized that at some unknown point in these past years, the boy had grown into a tall, broad-shouldered man. The thin shirt could not conceal the firm lines of his chest; his arms had become strong and steady, and the contours of his face sharpened into those of a fully grown man.

He Chu San loosened his tie, then unfastened two buttons of his shirt with deliberate calm.

“I truly can control you,” he said at last, his tone even. “You don’t know how to take care of yourself—I will take care of you. You don’t know how to restrain yourself—I will restrain you. From now on, every cigarette you smoke… we’ll settle it like this.”

“The hell are you—” Xia Liu Yi had not finished cursing before the blanket was thrown aside, his trousers stripped away, and a warm, damp cloth pressed suddenly against him. “Damn it!”

He Chu San moved with practiced ease, using the cloth to wipe him down, swift and thorough.

Xia Liu Yi grabbed a pillow, about to hurl it at him, but He Chu San ducked smoothly, lunging forward to pin him. In one swift motion, he seized Xia Liu Yi’s wrists and bound them tightly with his tie.

“Damn it!” Xia Liu Yi was truly enraged this time. “What the hell are you doing?!”

“Shh.” He Chu San gestured toward the door. “Do you want the bodyguards to see you like this?”

Xia Liu Yi’s face darkened—his hospital trousers had been stripped clean away, his hands bound above his head, his clothing disheveled—of course he did not want to be seen!

“What exactly are you trying to do?” he growled in a low voice, attempting to kick him with his uninjured leg, only for He Chu San to catch it effortlessly and hoist it over his shoulder.

He Chu San, ever the efficient man of action, did not waste words. He simply lowered his head—

Xia Liu Yi shuddered violently, his voice trembling. “You… what madness is this…”

It was not that he could not fight back—only that in all his life, the thought of truly raising a hand against He Chu San had never once taken root. Now, caught utterly off guard and forced into such a humiliating position by this little madman, shame and fury burned through him alike. His face flushed red as he struggled, the only movement left to him futilely driving him deeper into He Chu San’s grasp.

He Chu San bent his head and licked and tasted him from top to bottom for a long while, drawing on him like savoring an icy treat, soft sounds escaping with each teasing pull. At length he lifted his head, fingers idly toying with the half-aroused flesh, his fingertips tracing and pressing with deliberate mischief. With a faint sigh, he murmured,

“Brother Liu Yi, while you were in prison… did you ever think of me?”

Xia Liu Yi had just opened his mouth to curse—think of you, my ass—when He Chu San leaned in again, sealing his lips with his tongue. The tip of that tongue, freshly bitten, struck against Xia Liu Yi’s teeth, drawing a muffled groan of pain. Pulling back, he said with quiet certainty,

“I knew it—you missed me.”

“Bullshit!” Xia Liu Yi snapped under his breath, only to have one side of his chest seized and kneaded in retaliation, forcing a sharp intake of breath as he turned his face aside.

He Chu San followed, pressing kisses along his cheek and earlobe, one hand still idly teasing him as he murmured close to his ear, voice low and clinging,

“When you missed me… did you ever touch yourself here?”

“No.”

“And here?” He tugged lightly again.

“No!”

“What a pity.”

Avoiding his injured leg, He Chu San climbed carefully onto the bed, bracing himself above him. With measured ease, he loosened his belt, revealing the unmistakable tension he had been holding back. Pressed close, he moved slowly, deliberately.

“I think of you every day,” he murmured. “Every day… like this.”

Xia Liu Yi’s ears flushed red under the kisses, irritation breaking through his breath. “If you’re going to do something, then do it! Stop talking nonsense!”

“But I think,” He Chu San replied, unhurried, “that talking makes you more… responsive.” His hand drifted lower again. “So—did you ever touch yourself here?”

Xia Liu Yi snapped, turning his head to bite down on his lips in retaliation. Damn brat—so damn annoying! Sooner or later I’ll bite that tongue off. Yet He Chu San only seemed more stirred by it, his touch continuing with unrelenting familiarity.

“Where did you even get that?” Xia Liu Yi managed between breaths, voice rough.

“I always carry it,” He Chu San replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “In case you need me, I have to serve you properly, Boss.”

“Get lost!”

He Chu San chuckled softly, his movements smooth and practiced. Xia Liu Yi’s body tensed instinctively, then gradually yielded under the persistent rhythm, his breathing turning uneven, low sounds escaping him—unclear whether of discomfort or reluctant pleasure.

“Relax,” He Chu San murmured, his breath warm against his ear. “There’s more to come.”

Though he had endured this before, Xia Liu Yi still burned with humiliation, jaw clenched as he forced himself to endure. When a familiar point was pressed, his entire body jolted, breath breaking loose from his lips.

“Ha…!”

“Really never touched yourself?” He Chu San whispered, heat brushing against his ear. “Not even once?”

“…Shut up…”

“At night… didn’t you ever think of me?”

“No… ah… no…”

“Mm. That hurts,” He Chu San said lightly, though his hand moved faster, firmer. “Lying deserves punishment.”

“Damn it—!” Xia Liu Yi arched sharply, his body drawn taut as a bowstring, hands straining against their restraint. He tried to pull back, but the relentless pressure followed, leaving him nowhere to escape.

His breath grew ragged, body trembling, caught between rising tension and denied release. Instinctively he shifted, seeking friction, urging without words.

He Chu San himself was no less strained, yet he held back, forcing restraint upon himself. Even so, he had not forgotten his purpose tonight—Xia Liu Yi would not be allowed an easy end.

He lowered his head again, the sudden sensation drawing a muffled groan from Xia Liu Yi, his breath growing heavier, his entire body flushed red.

He dared not open his mouth, fearing what might escape, yet the tension coiled tighter and tighter, hovering at the brink. At last, abandoning restraint, he pushed weakly against He Chu San, signaling wordlessly.

Seeing his state, He Chu San finally relented slightly, his hand closing around him.

A low, satisfied breath escaped Xia Liu Yi, his body instinctively pressing closer, chasing that final edge—only for He Chu San to halt him at the last instant.

Xia Liu Yi’s vision darkened with frustration, breath coming in sharp bursts as he glared downward.

He Chu San only smiled faintly, leaning in to brush his ear. “Want to finish?”

“Let go…”

“First tell me—did you think of me?”

At a time like this, who the hell cares about that?! Xia Liu Yi shook his head violently in refusal—only to cry out sharply as the pressure intensified again, his body shuddering uncontrollably.

“Did you?” He Chu San coaxed, voice soft, almost teasing.

Xia Liu Yi had never been able to withstand softness over force. Driven half-mad by the closeness, he finally broke, voice hoarse and frantic,

“Yes! Damn it, yes! I thought about you—ah… enough already…!”

“And what did you do when you thought of me?”

“Nothing—ah!” His voice cracked, face flushed, breathing ragged. “Let go… I’ll take a cold shower…”

“How pitiful,” He Chu San said softly. “You’d rather endure that than take care of yourself. Looks like I’ll have to take proper care of you.”

“Fuck off! That’s enough—let go—!”

“Will you still smoke while you’re recovering?”

“…I won’t! I won’t, alright?!” Xia Liu Yi sounded nearly desperate.

“Then from now on… can I control you?”

“Yes—yes! Damn it—you’re the boss’s wife, alright?! Just let go—!”

Only then did He Chu San finally release him, guiding him through the last crest. Xia Liu Yi bit down on a groan as the tension broke, breath unsteady, his mind drifting.

He lay there dazed, barely aware even as He Chu San freed his hands. Leaning over him, He Chu San sought his own release as well, the restraint finally breaking.

The two of them remained entangled, breathing heavily, neither able to recover for a long while. The clock on the wall ticked on—ten minutes passed before Xia Liu Yi, still weak, muttered hoarsely,

“He Chu San… damn you… just you wait…”

A soft laugh answered him, followed by a sudden yelp of pain.

“Hey—my ear—my ear! It’s going to get bitten off—!”

The next day, Cui Dong Dong came by idly to play cards with the Boss, only to find him dressed in his hospital gown buttoned tightly, a mask covering his face. She blinked in surprise.

“What’s this… caught a cold?”

Xia Liu Yi rolled his eyes, lifting the mask just enough for her to see.

Cui Dong Dong exploded into laughter.

“Hahahaha—! Hahaha—!”

“Damn it, are you done?! What, are you singing now?!”

“Sammy boy—hah—he bit you way too hard! You look like you’ve got sausages hanging there! Hahahaha!”

“Shut up—!”

“What about the rest? Let me see?”

She lunged forward teasingly, only to be chased off with a pillow. After a bout of laughter and scuffling, she finally went outside, still suppressing her laughter, to call A’Nan in.

A’Nan dutifully brought in cigarettes and a lighter—only for Xia Liu Yi to frown immediately.

“Take it away!”

“Boss, not smoking anymore?” A’Nan asked, confused.

“I quit!” Xia Liu Yi snapped viciously, only to catch Cui Dong Dong shaking with suppressed laughter. “What the hell are you laughing at?! Laugh again and get out!”

“Hahahaha—!”

…

Thus Xia Liu Yi spent over a month confined to the hospital room, living a bitter existence—daily drips, medicine, treatments, He Chu San’s carefully prepared meals, massages, rehabilitation exercises. No freedom, no indulgence, no cigarettes, no alcohol—tormented beyond endurance.

At last, one morning, the doctor declared his recovery excellent and suggested he could return home to recuperate. Xia Liu Yi immediately sprang into action, insisting on discharge without delay.

He didn’t even wait for He Chu San to finish work. Calling Cui Dong Dong and Xiao Ma, he gathered a crowd of brothers. By afternoon, they triumphantly escorted the Boss back to his own nightclub—naturally, to celebrate his release!

The rabble seized the excuse for revelry, booking out the entire venue, summoning dancers, drinking and carousing in wild abandon. When He Chu San heard the news, he rushed back early—only to be nearly overwhelmed by the crowd upon entering. The vast hall was packed with over a hundred people, noise roaring like boiling oil.

He had barely stepped inside before colliding with a burly man, who immediately turned with a scowl.

Xiao Ma pushed through from the side. “What are you doing? This is Xiao Qi Hall—our own people!”

“Our own people?” the man sneered. “Since when did He Sheng Society become your people?!”

“How about it—looking for trouble?” Xiao Ma rolled up his sleeves. “You want to argue it out? Your Master Qiao’s upstairs—I can take you up to reason it out with him.”

The man cursed under his breath, face dark, then swallowed his anger and squeezed back into the crowd, disappearing on his own. Xiao Ma spat and muttered another curse.

“Causing shit on my turf—got a death wish. If it weren’t for the Boss’s orders today, I’d have you strung up and skinned alive.”

“Brother Ma,” He Chu San said, “many thanks. May I ask where the Boss is?”

“The Boss is upstairs in a meeting,” Xiao Ma replied calmly. “He told me to take you to dinner, and then make sure you get home safe.” Seeing He Chu San about to ask more, he added impatiently, “He said for you to go home and wait for him. He’ll be back later.”

He Chu San fell silent, glanced at the riotous crowd, and followed Xiao Ma out without another word.

……

Telling Xiao Ma to accompany the “Sister-in-law” to dinner had only been an offhand remark from Xia Liu Yi. On one hand, he wanted Xiao Ma to build some rapport with He Chu San instead of constantly griping about “that He fellow” and stirring trouble. On the other, he also meant for Xiao Ma to keep an eye on him—tonight, under no circumstances could He Chu San barge in and show his face.

At that very moment, upstairs, Xia Liu Yi was hosting a banquet for over a dozen influential bosses from the underworld.

Nominally a “dinner,” in truth it was a declaration: that Boss Xia had returned to the game in full force, his prestige undiminished, the Xiao Qi Hall surging strong as ever. Those willing could continue to work together; those unwilling had best not overestimate themselves and try to take advantage of the situation.

There was also another matter—while in prison, he had sworn brotherhood with Boss Sha, and had since absorbed Sha’s scattered men. From now on, the two factions were one family, and he expected the others to show due consideration.

This meal was crucial. Cui Dong Dong, as Deputy Hall Master, was present as well, making a point for all to see the seamless bond between leader and second-in-command—when the Dragon Head fell, the deputy held the fort; now that the dragon had returned, the deputy respectfully stepped aside. Any thoughts of sowing discord could be put to rest.

Among the assembled bosses, some were allies of Xiao Qi Hall, others rivals. Seeing Xia Liu Yi emerge from prison intact, each harbored their own calculations. Beneath the surface, tension churned; yet outwardly, it was all laughter and camaraderie. Glasses were raised, congratulations exchanged, idle chatter flowing.

Master Qiao of the He Yi Society, long a collaborator with Xiaoqi Hall, was especially cordial with Xia Liu Yi.

“Twin-Blade Xia, I figured there was more to your imprisonment this time. To walk into jail just to flush out traitors—now that’s a ruthless move.”

“You flatter me, Master Qiao. I heard that after Pao Zai took power, the first person he wanted to treat to a meal was you—but you didn’t give him the time of day.”

Master Qiao let out a dry chuckle, wrinkles creasing his sallow face. “What is he? Some nobody. Do small fry deserve my face?”

“Hahaha! Then I must thank Master Qiao for giving me, Xia Liu Yi, that face!”

The two laughed heartily. Lowering his voice, Master Qiao added, “A few days ago, your deputy mentioned that after the New Year, ‘business’ will proceed as usual?”

“As usual.”

“But I heard you were injured in prison…”

“Master Qiao worries too much. Just a minor injury. If you doubt it, we can trade a few rounds.”

Master Qiao waved his hand with a grin. “Trade blows with you, Blood Asura? I’ve no interest in that. But I do run a Muay Thai ring. Recently a real expert showed up. If you’re interested, come have some fun with him?”

Xia Liu Yi only smiled noncommittally. He knew full well that Master Qiao’s operation was an underground black-market fight ring—booming business, filled with undocumented fighters from Southeast Asia bound by contracts, risking their lives for money. Brutal, ruthless men—killing someone in the ring was nothing unusual.

As the dignified head of a syndicate, Xia Liu Yi had no intention of lowering himself to brawl with such caged beasts.

……

While the two bosses chatted merrily, Xiao Ma on the other side was bored out of his mind. He had never liked He Chu San to begin with—always felt the kid had ulterior motives toward the Boss. Who would’ve thought that after all that scheming, he’d level up into the “Sister-in-law”?

A damn queer turning their mighty, heroic, handsome Boss—utterly outrageous!

But Xia Liu Yi protected his own to the extreme. No matter how much resentment Xiao Ma swallowed, he didn’t dare lay a finger on He Chu San. So he dutifully drove him out for dinner, though the ride was painfully awkward. He had nothing to say to him at all. If he’d known, he would’ve brought A’Nan or A’Mao—at least they could keep the conversation alive.

—At that thought, inspiration suddenly struck. Xiao Ma slammed the brakes.

He Chu San lurched forward slightly from the back seat, looking at him in confusion.

“What do you want to eat? Steak sound good?”

“Sure.”

“If we’re having steak, mind if I bring someone along? She likes it too.”

“Sounds fine.”

Elio’s notes: That’s it for today. We’ll be back tomorrow for more. Good night!

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