Zhou Ruo An’s gaze went blank for a moment before he suddenly understood what Lin Yi meant. Bracing his hands on his knees, he shot to his feet and looked down at the man in the water.
“Lin Yi, I’m trying to talk business with you.”
The man addressed by name turned around, his broad back once again resting against the pool wall. His sharply defined features made him look imposing, and there was a faint sense of control in his tone. “Just watched some cartoons with Bai Ban. I’m restless right now—can’t talk business.”
Zhou Ruo An gritted his teeth in frustration, the sole of his shoe grinding against the tiles by the pool. “When will you be able to talk?”
Lin Yi lowered his eyelids, answering perfunctorily, “Hard to say. Why don’t you wait?”
Zhou Ruo An knew Lin Yi’s temperament well—this meant there was no room for negotiation. But the matter at the electronics factory was urgent, and Zhou Zhe was about to act. Time for Zhou Ruo An to seize the initiative was running out.
The air in the bathhouse was heavy, damp enough to weigh down the lungs. Zhou Ruo An steadied himself, then crouched again, trying to reason with him. “We’re talking business. If it’s business, it should benefit both sides. Hate me or resent me if you want—but can you put that aside for now?”
He hesitated before placing a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Lin Yi, you’ve always been someone who looks at the bigger picture. Stop messing around, alright?”
Water clung to Lin Yi’s shoulder, dampening Zhou Ruo An’s palm. In the past, he had often slung an arm around Lin Yi without a second thought. Now, even knowing Lin Yi was deliberately making things difficult out of spite, he still felt a trace of discomfort.
“How much do your clothes cost?” Lin Yi suddenly asked.
“What?”
“Your clothes—how much?”
Zhou Ruo An glanced at his suit. “About ten thousand yuan. If you like, I can take you to get one tailored—Lin Yi!”
Before he could finish, the hand resting on Lin Yi’s shoulder was suddenly seized and yanked forward!
Caught off guard while crouching at the edge, Zhou Ruo An lost his balance and plunged headfirst into the pool!
The water wasn’t deep—only waist-high when standing—but in his panic, he floundered briefly before a large hand lifted him up and steadied him.
Wiping the water from his face, Zhou Ruo An snapped angrily, “Lin Yi, are you fucking insane?!”
The next moment, a warm, masculine breath brushed against his soaked cheek. “Sorry for getting your clothes wet. I’ll deduct the cost from the three hundred thousand you owe me.”
Zhou Ruo An grabbed him by the throat, pressing his palm against the man’s Adam’s apple. “What the hell are you trying to do?” He stepped forward, nearly pressing against the bare chest before him. “Humiliate me? You think I care about that?”
His hand slid downward, brushing over the firm chest before swiftly pulling away the towel wrapped around Lin Yi.
“Settle accounts? Your ‘skills’ are just as bad as your billiards hall’s books—completely messed up. If the account can’t be settled, I’ll just add a little extra.”
Zhou Ruo An acted without hesitation, his grip forceful and aggressive.
He paused briefly, then quickly composed himself, curling his lips into a faint smirk as he leaned close to Lin Yi’s ear. “Three minutes. I’ll show you what real results look like.”
The water rippled sharply, and a low sound escaped Lin Yi.
Zhou Ruo An pushed his wet hair back, his face appearing even clearer after being soaked—almost like a proper young master now. His usual mocking tone returned. “Lin Yi, do you know what you look like when you act like this out of spite? Like a stray dog that’s been abandoned, constantly biting at its owner’s pant leg.”
“Your mouth is certainly sharp, Young Master Zhou,” Lin Yi said, his expression returning to its usual cold composure. “But your hands aren’t as impressive as you claim. Do you have some misunderstanding of what ‘ecstasy’ actually means?”
Zhou Ruo An’s expression darkened. His free hand stirred the water, sending ripples spreading outward.
Though they were engaged in such intimate contact, they weren’t close—there was still about a fist’s distance between their bodies. Zhou Ruo An’s back was held rigidly straight, while Lin Yi showed no sign of being affected, one arm still resting lazily on the edge of the pool.
“Three minutes,” Lin Yi said. “Where are these so-called results?”
Zhou Ruo An lowered his gaze slightly, looking through the shifting water at what was in his grasp.
The rippling surface distorted the view beneath, making it appear even more imposing—still tense, still waiting.
“Want me to teach you?” Lin Yi hooked a finger into Zhou Ruo An’s shirt collar and pulled him closer, then placed his hand on his shoulder, feeling the muscles beneath the fabric gradually stiffen. “Get closer. Relax your body. Look at me.”
“You…” For the first time, a trace of embarrassed irritation flickered across Zhou Ruo An’s usually composed face—but in the next instant, he was dragged into Lin Yi’s arms and held tightly.
Lin Yi’s hands wrapped around Zhou Ruo An’s waist, gripping the curve through the fabric. “Take off your suit.”
Zhou Ruo An leaned back, trying to put distance between them while gritting his teeth. “Lin Yi, you’re fucking perverted.”
Lin Yi’s gaze was softened by the misty steam, almost appearing gentle. He slid Zhou Ruo An’s suit jacket off his shoulders, letting it hang loosely over his arm.
Now, Zhou Ruo An was left in only his shirt—silk, light and thin. The damp fabric clung to his skin, sticky and uncomfortable, tightening against his body.
He kept watching Lin Yi’s expression, trying to find what rhythm or movement he preferred.
But now he saw Lin Yi’s eyes half-lidded, the pupils unguarded in the haze, fixed directly on his chest. Something dark and dangerous surged within that gaze.
Following his line of sight, Zhou Ruo An looked down at himself—the shirt pressed tight against his body, revealing faint outlines beneath.
He flew into a rage, his grip tightening sharply.
Only then did Lin Yi react, as if holding something back with great effort. He pressed Zhou Ruo An firmly against himself, the veins on the back of his hand tightening and rising.
“Faster,” he ordered, his body beginning to move, ripples spreading through the water like it was nearing a boil.
“Wait—don’t move!”
For some reason, Zhou Ruo An flushed. The force in his hand intensified, and being held tightly, the remaining force jolted against his abdomen again and again—the position unsettling.
He tried to push him away, but couldn’t.
Lin Yi lowered his head, biting onto the collar of Zhou Ruo An’s shirt and giving it a slight tug—another button snapped open.
As he wished, he buried himself into Zhou Ruo An’s neck, his breath brushing closer and closer, wrapping around him like an ever-tightening net, enclosing and binding him.
The desire hidden beneath the water surged even stronger.
Darkness churned in Lin Yi’s eyes, his breathing growing heavier.
“A stray dog that’s been abandoned doesn’t just bite pants—it bites necks too,” he murmured against Zhou Ruo An’s ear, his chest rising and falling deeply.
The arm around his waist suddenly tightened—pain flared sharply at Zhou Ruo An’s neck!
What followed was the sound of uneven breathing near his ear, and then a pull at his neck so forceful it felt like flesh and bone were being torn apart…
When Lin Yi finally relaxed, his full weight collapsed onto Zhou Ruo An like a soaked garment, and only then did he loosen his bite.
Zhou Ruo An shoved him away and immediately threw a punch.
The fist cut through the damp air straight toward Lin Yi’s face—but at the last moment, it was caught in a broad palm, seemingly relaxed yet firm enough to stop it completely.
Lin Yi had just steadied his breathing. Looking up at Zhou Ruo An, his expression returned to its usual cold indifference. “Beat me or talk business—pick one.”
Standing in the pool, Zhou Ruo An was disheveled—hair messy, clothes in disarray, a reddened bite mark on his neck. He looked just as miserable as last time.
He stayed silent for a long while before slowly buttoning his shirt, putting on his suit, then wiping his hand—though nothing remained—across Lin Yi’s face.
He pushed himself up onto the pool’s edge, stood straight, and looked down at him. “You might be a dog, but when you speak like a human, can you at least put on some clothes?”
“My bones are loose—no strength. Let’s talk like this.”
Zhou Ruo An couldn’t be bothered to argue and went straight to the point. “Stand for me, back me up. If trouble comes, handle it without hurting anyone. How much?”
“Twenty men—50,000 each. If they get injured, minor injuries double, major injuries get treatment plus another 200,000. Want Bai Ban? 100,000. If what he steals is worth over 100,000, that’s extra. Considering how hard you tried just now, I’ll give you a discount—800,000.”
Zhou Ruo An pulled a coin from his suit pocket, slowly rubbing the water off it. “Brother Lin, you’ve really got the nerve to ask for that much. You think I absolutely have to use you?”
“There are plenty of people you could hire—yet you still came to me.” Lin Yi tilted his head up toward him. From that angle, his jawline looked even sharper, more imposing. “Because you know I’m effective. And… I’ll never betray you.”
The coin tightened in Zhou Ruo An’s palm. Grinding his teeth, he said, “I’ll pay for your men and Bai Ban. Yours is too much—I’ll owe it for now.”
“Fine,” Lin Yi replied easily. “Sign an IOU. When you make it big, we’ll settle everything together.”
After hearing this, Zhou Ruo An turned and walked away. Water dripped continuously from his clothes, leaving a trail of stains behind him…
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Futile Devices Scans 
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