Xia Liu Yi lay upon the bed and leisurely finished a cigarette. Actor He had been both sucking and fondling, nearly drawing his very soul out of him.
After one was done, Actor He grew restless, hands wandering as though he wished to “smoke” something else. Xia Liu Yi promptly seized him by the ear and hauled him upright, swiftly pulling up two layers of trousers. Actor He looked most regretful, lowering his gaze toward the helpless A’Si below.
Yet within his heart, Xia Liu Yi felt even more desolate. In truth, he did not mind battling He Chu San for another three hundred rounds—no, three hundred was excessive, three would suffice—and he dearly wished to gather He Chu San into his arms and sleep soundly together. But reason told him clearly that he must not allow the other to linger any longer.
Seeing the wounded expression upon He Chu San’s face, he let out a helpless sigh.
“Lie down.”
“Huh?” He Chu San had yet to react.
Xia Liu Yi seized his collar and pressed him onto the bed, his movements rough as he tore off his trousers and pushed his upper garments up to his chest. Staring at that aroused member, he gave himself but the briefest instant to prepare—yet before he was ready, he hardened his heart, lowered his head, and took it into his mouth.
The stimulation struck He Chu San like lightning; his face flushed crimson in an instant! Grasping the bedsheets in panic, his body trembled under Xia Liu Yi’s sucking and licking, the faint lines of muscle along his waist tightening into quivering curves.
Drifting as though upon a sea of clouds for a long while, he could endure no longer. Panting, he let out a low cry of “Brother Liu Yi,” and Xia Liu Yi, still holding him, lifted his gaze. That single glance pushed He Chu San over the edge—he gave a hoarse shout and released all at once!
Xia Liu Yi had not expected the boy to finish so quickly; caught off guard, he choked and turned aside, coughing.
Once he had recovered, He Chu San came from behind and embraced him, sniffling softly, rubbing his face against Xia Liu Yi’s shoulder without speaking. When Xia Liu Yi turned to look, the boy’s eyes were faintly reddened, mist gathering within them.
“Brother Liu Yi, you don’t have to do this,” he said, both moved and distressed.
Xia Liu Yi pressed his head over, resting their foreheads together in quiet intimacy, then rose and went next door to rinse his mouth. When he returned, He Chu San had already tidied his clothes and sat obediently at the bedside waiting.
Xia Liu Yi sat beside him; the two leaned together and kissed for a while longer.
“When can I come see you again?” He Chu San asked.
“Don’t come again,” Xia Liu Yi said. Seeing the dimming of He Chu San’s gaze, he kissed him once more and coaxed gently, “Silly boy. Once matters are settled, I’ll return home immediately.”
He Chu San nodded expectantly, then looked Xia Liu Yi over from head to toe. Noticing the bruises and marks, he said with concern, “Qin Hao was that ruthless? You’re his Boss.”
Xia Liu Yi let out a scoff. “He didn’t fare much better!”
“That’s true… when I first saw him just now, I thought those were love bites. I was really upset,” He Chu San muttered, lowering his head gloomily before raising it again with a wounded look—only to find Xia Liu Yi calmly watching as though enjoying a play.
“They haven’t called CUT yet. Keep acting a bit longer,” Xia Liu Yi said.
He Chu San broke into a mischievous grin.
Their brief warmth came to an end. Xia Liu Yi escorted He Chu San all the way to the main door. Clinging to the doorway, reluctant to leave, He Chu San said, “Next Saturday, my father and Aunt Wu are hosting a wedding banquet at Jin Xi Restaurant; can you spare time to come? My father cares about you—he even asks about your teeth now and then. My younger sister also wants to meet you…”
Xia Liu Yi gave a noncommittal hum. “We’ll see.”
“Don’t bring an extravagant gift, just something symbolic,” He Chu San continued to nag. “The most important thing is that you come to congratulate him—it’s his big day.”
“I’ll try,” Xia Liu Yi replied, then resolutely pushed him out in one firm motion—if he did not, he feared he would drag He Chu San back upstairs and kiss him three hundred more times.
After bidding farewell, he quickly shut the door. Leaning against it, he stood in a daze for a moment—then suddenly slapped himself hard across the face!
He was terrified of his own loss of control, of how he had sunk into such tender indulgence. The grudges of Azure Dragon and Xiao Man remained unresolved—what right did he have to love, to enjoy himself? Next week he would depart for Thailand; Golden Maitreya was a figure of terrifying renown—how could he afford distraction or carelessness now?
His palm still pressed against his cheek, the door suddenly opened from outside with a key. Xia Liu Yi turned sharply in alert—and saw He Chu San rushing back, breathless.
“How—mmph!”
Before he could finish speaking, He Chu San had already pressed him against the door, his tongue sweeping fiercely through his mouth. After thoroughly plundering him, He Chu San spoke indignantly:
“The moment I got into the car, I regretted it! I don’t want to play the understanding, virtuous main wife! Fine if you don’t come home—but you’re even living with another man behind my back! He’s handsome, he trains with you, and he gets to live with you openly, while I’m like some illicit affair—barely staying a moment before being driven out! I’m dying of jealousy!”
“You damn brat! I already let you ‘smoke’—what more do you want?!” Xia Liu Yi cursed fiercely as he pulled him into an embrace.
“I want to live here.”
“No.”
“Then send him away.”
“….” Xia Liu Yi.
He pulled He Chu San tighter into his arms and sighed. “Fine. I’ll have him pack up and leave at once, alright?”
“And you must come to my father’s wedding. I have something important to tell you.”
“Can’t you say it now?”
“No. It has to be then.”
“Alright, alright—I’ll come. Satisfied now?”
He Chu San was satisfied. He leaned in, rubbing his face against Xia Liu Yi’s ear and temple in a clingy, almost shamelessly affectionate manner. “Sorry, Brother Liu Yi. I didn’t want to be this jealous. I thought I could be reasonable—I’m always reasonable. But I like you too much. I like you so much I don’t even have the strength left to be reasonable.”
Xia Liu Yi felt his ears soften at those words, his heart melting like a bowl of almond cream. Even if He Chu San turned into a jealous, unreasonable shrew, he would still happily marry him—marry him first, and beat him later!
“Love is terrifying,” He Chu San sighed.
Xia Liu Yi held him tightly and silently echoed in his heart: Indeed.
The two of them, trapped by love, remained in each other’s arms in silence, filled with countless emotions. Only after a long while did Xia Liu Yi come to his senses! He swiftly steeled his heart and ruthlessly pushed He Chu San out the door once more—That’s enough of your clinginess—get lost!
He shut the door, locking it for good measure. His face burning, Xia Liu Yi slid down along the door and crouched on the ground, hands buried in his hair as he tugged hard. Feeling himself fallen and degenerate, he sank into deep frustration, lacking even the strength to slap himself again.
Love was truly terrifying!
……
Qin Hao stood in a corner of the garden, watching He Chu San drive away from the village house for the second time. Instead of entering, he returned to the training room and began a series of low-intensity stretches.
Before long, the bodyguard A’Nan entered, tactfully conveying, “Brother Hao, the boss has arranged for you to move to another house nearby for a few days. Come over punctually each day to accompany him in training.”
Qin Hao asked directly, “That Mr. He just now—is he the boss’s boyfriend?”
A’Nan’s eyes widened, mouth agape—though all the bodyguards had seen it, none dared say it aloud. Yet Qin Hao had spoken it so bluntly. After stammering for quite some time, he said, “Ahem… he… you… ahem… you must absolutely, absolutely, absolutely not tell anyone. Especially don’t ever ask the Boss like that.”
“I won’t,” Qin Hao said. “I only asked you.”
“…Why?”
“Because you look like you can’t keep secrets.”
“….” A’Nan.
Before leaving the training room, Qin Hao patted A’Nan’s shoulder, offering sincere comfort: “I’m praising you—you’re a good man, Brother Nan.”
“….” Brother Nan, not comforted in the slightest.
That very night, Qin Hao moved out of Xia Liu Yi’s village house. It brought him some relief—living day and night with the Boss was not only immensely stressful, but also inconvenient. Yet it also brought new troubles, for it made it even harder to discern the reason behind the Boss’s recent unusual behavior—Xia Liu Yi had only said he would soon assign him an important task and instructed him to remain vigilant and strengthen himself.
Late that night, living alone, he was finally free to move about. He took a car across the harbor to Hong Kong Island, to Master Qiao’s territory—one of the discos under the He Sheng Society.
Inside the disco, the night was at its most frenzied peak. To the pounding rhythm of music, he strode through the wildly dancing crowd toward a small table in the corner.
Seated there was a man wearing sunglasses, clad in ripped jeans and a black vest, revealing fierce tattoos coiling along both arms. His features were sharp as if carved by blades, exuding a cold, striking handsomeness. A pretty girl passing by, taken by his looks, boldly approached to flirt—only to be casually pushed away. Though displeased, she dared not provoke him further and left with a sway of her hips, muttering coquettishly.
Qin Hao brushed past her and took a seat.
The man lifted his gaze upon seeing Qin Hao; the rigid line of his lips softened slightly. Removing his sunglasses, he revealed eyes dark as a bottomless abyss. Though his expression remained stern, his gaze toward Qin Hao was filled with concern.
“How is the situation?” Xie Jia Hua asked.
This senior inspector of the Major Crimes Unit—who had already dismantled multiple triad organizations such as the Sha Family Gang and He Sheng Society—had personally designed Qin Hao as an undercover operative tailored for Xia Liu Yi. Based on his own investigation, as well as intelligence from the undercover A’Biao who had once served as Xia Liu Yi’s bodyguard, he crafted Qin Hao to match Xia Liu Yi’s preferences for a trusted subordinate: a resemblance to Azure Dragon, a tragic background, a steady temperament, sharp wits, capable combat skills, and unwavering loyalty.
More importantly, Qin Hao’s background was entirely real—his past, his parents, even his half-sister were genuine. After his mother’s death, he came to Hong Kong to seek his father, only to fall out with his father and stepmother, nearly becoming a street thug. He was later reformed by Xie Jia Hua, entered the police academy, and was selected as an undercover agent. He successfully infiltrated and helped dismantle the Temple Street syndicate of “Old Five,” then staged an escape to Thailand—while actually being sent to the United States for further training—before returning to Hong Kong to infiltrate Xiao Qi Hall.
He used his real name, Qin Hao. Not even his own family knew of his identity as a police officer. To everyone else, he was nothing more than an uneducated street thug—leaving no trace for even the triads to uncover.
Qin Hao ordered two beers. Amid the deafening music, the two men spoke quietly, blending perfectly into the chaos.
“Xia Liu Yi trusts me deeply,” Qin Hao said. “Recently, he even had me stay at his house, training with him day and night.”
“Why is he training?” Xie Jia Hua asked sharply.
“I suspect he’s preparing for something dangerous—something that cannot be resolved with money or influence, something that requires him personally. It may involve other gangs… or his ‘handler’ in Thailand.”
“You’re new. He won’t bring you to his handler.”
“I agree. But Xia Liu Yi has kept a low profile in recent years and hasn’t made major enemies. I can’t yet determine his purpose.”
“Report when you do.”
“Also—he’s been under surveillance lately. To avoid it, he moved out of the apartment he shared with his boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” Xie Jia Hua frowned.
“The one mentioned in your files—He Chu San. The two are, in fact, in a romantic relationship.”
Xie Jia Hua frowned. Though Lu Guang Ming had once hinted at this, and though he had long known the relationship between Xia Liu Yi and He Chu San was unusual, he had never believed they were truly lovers. Xia Liu Yi showed no signs of liking men, and He Chu San seemed like a proper young man who knew his boundaries—not someone who would entangle himself in bed with an underworld boss. He found it hard to comprehend. “Xia Liu Yi likes men?”
“Yes.”
“And toward you…?”
“He has no such thoughts toward me. In fact, he seems somewhat displeased that I resemble Azure Dragon. He is very cautious about this relationship and protects He Chu San extremely well.”
“How much is He Chu San involved in his affairs? Has he entered the inner circle of power?”
“Nominally, He Chu San is an investment consultant for Xiao Qi Hall, but in reality, he only provides advice on real estate, stocks, and funds. He holds no actual power and does not participate in underworld dealings. The core of Xiao Qi Hall’s power lies with Xia Liu Yi and Cui Dong Dong. Their relationship is extremely close, with absolute trust between them. Ma Ru Long ranks just below them—he’s well-liked among the brothers, but is ultimately just a subordinate who follows their orders. The elders have been completely sidelined by Xia Liu Yi. After two major internal purges in recent years, all splinter factions have been eliminated, leaving only Xia Liu Yi’s direct forces. His position as leader is firmly secured. For now, there is no clear point of entry.”
The two continued speaking quietly for a while longer. At the end, Qin Hao asked, “If Xia Liu Yi really takes me to Thailand to meet his ‘handler,’ should we coordinate with Interpol and Thai authorities for an arrest?”
“No rush,” Xie Jia Hua replied calmly. “To catch a big fish, one must cast a long line. Arresting him in Thailand would leave us without control, and back in Hong Kong, Deputy Hall Master Cui Dong Dong would remain—Xiao Qi Hall would not collapse. Our ultimate goal is to dismantle the entire organization in one sweep. You must be patient. Earn his complete trust.”
“Understood.”
After finishing his report, Qin Hao stood to leave, then suddenly leaned close and whispered into Xie Jia Hua’s ear, “Brother Jia Hua… if anything happens to me, you must move my sister immediately and ensure her safety. I entrust her to you.”
“I understand. Don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
Xie Jia Hua gripped his shoulder and gave it a firm pat. “No—I should be thanking you. Take care of yourself. Know your limits. Your safety comes first.”
“Understood.”
……
Qin Hao departed in haste. Xie Jia Hua remained behind, finishing the remaining half-bottle of beer at a leisurely pace. Suddenly, he smashed the empty bottle against the edge of the table, then strode forward and pressed the jagged glass against the throat of a young man seated at another nearby table, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him onto the table.
The young man, with narrow eyes and a playful smile, was dressed like a pleasure-seeking hooligan as well. Raising both hands in mock surrender, he pressed his face to the table and glanced up at Xie Jia Hua.
“Brother Jia Hua, that was quite a convincing performance. Planning to fight me here? No need, no need—I surrender.”
“The show’s over. Why are you still here?” Xie Jia Hua said coldly.
“It’s rare to see you perform, Brother Jia Hua. I had to offer a few closing remarks. That fellow just now—your new informant? You seemed quite close.”
“None of your business, Lu Guang Ming. My informants will never be lent to you. And don’t ever appear in front of me again!”
He shoved Lu Guang Ming aside and turned to leave.
Lu Guang Ming called out behind him, “Hey, is that any way to treat someone after you’ve turned on them? Don’t forget, the hospital bills from last time are still on your tab!”
Xie Jia Hua stopped abruptly and turned back expressionlessly. “How much?”
Lu Guang Ming narrowed his eyes with a grin. “Give me your home address—I’ll send you the bill.”
“Try sending it to my office.”
Lu Guang Ming raised his voice, laughing, “We’ve already slept together—wouldn’t you know whether I’ve got the guts, Inspector Xie?”
Xie Jia Hua rushed back and clamped a hand over his mouth. After struggling free, Lu Guang Ming continued teasing, “Ran into that nurse on the street yesterday—she still feels sorry for me. Even asked if the police had caught that rapist yet…”
“Shut up!” Xie Jia Hua roared.
Lu Guang Ming made a zipping motion across his lips and blinked mischievously. “Your home address?”
“Get lost!”
“So I will send it to your office, then?”
“Get lost!”
……
That very night, Lu Guang Ming returned home and went straight into his darkroom. He spent the night developing photographs secretly taken with a palm-sized spy camera—images of the conversation between Xie Jia Hua and his “informant.” He cut out the figure of the informant and studied it under the light for a long time, confirming he had never seen this person before.
From a hidden compartment in the corner of the room, he retrieved a small wooden box engraved with the word “Pandora.” Inside were a mobile phone and a stack of documents.
After searching through them, he selected one file and dialed a number.
It rang for a long time before a gruff voice answered, “Are you insane? Who calls in the middle of the night?!”
Lowering his voice, Lu Guang Ming adopted the eerie, hoarse tone of a shadowy mastermind from crime dramas. “Who I am is not important. What matters is that from 1990 until now, you have concealed criminal evidence for Huifa Finance Company and accepted bribes totaling 2,856,000 Hong Kong dollars. That figure is correct, isn’t it?”
The voice on the other end turned wary. “Who are you? What do you want?”
“Tomorrow morning at nine, a photograph will be delivered to your office. You will have twenty-four hours to use your authority to identify the person in it. Otherwise, a report will be sent to the ICAC.”
After hanging up, he carefully stored the photograph and documents back in the compartment, then went to wash up. While bathing, he noticed a faint sting on his neck. Standing before the mirror, he wiped away the steam and tilted his chin up, revealing a shallow cut across his throat—left by the broken beer bottle.
“How heartless, Brother Jia Hua,” he murmured with a curved smile at his reflection.
He stepped out of the bathroom, still damp. The room was cold and empty, furnished only with necessities. The curtains were tightly drawn, shutting out all daylight. The sheets and blankets were heavy and dark gray. He sank into them, curling into himself as he fell asleep.
……
Twenty-four hours later, he obtained a thin file:
Qin Hao. Unemployed. Thai-Chinese. Previously imprisoned for five months for assault. After release, he served under Xiao Qi Hall.
—On the surface, nothing more than an ordinary underling.
He studied the file for a moment, then flipped through his phonebook and dialed another number.
“Hello? Officer Zhang, this is Xiao Lu from the ICAC. We met at Chief Qiu’s retirement party… hahaha, yes, that’s me! Your memory’s as good as your drinking! Haha… I need a favor—regarding an inmate who was held in your prison this year. I’d like to check the list of his cellmates…”
After a long while, he thanked him repeatedly and hung up. Looking again at Qin Hao’s photograph and file, a sly smile spread across his face.
“Got you now, Brother Jia Hua.”
Elio’s Notes: That’s it for today, guys. Will continue again tomorrow. By the way, you’ll notice inconsistencies with the terminologies used in the previous chapters. We’re working on editing and proofreading the previous chapters to ensure consistency of the terms and titles used. Thanks for reading!
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