Futile Devices Scans

“Don’t struggle. The more you move, the harder it is to stand steady, and the tighter the rope will bind,” Lin Yi reminded him.

“Go to hell!” Zhou Ruo An had already been cursing for more than ten, twenty minutes. While he cursed, Lin Yi ate. Each occupied a corner, not interfering with the other.

“Lin Yi, it’s true I locked you up for three days, but I got you a bed, laid out brand-new bedding, even added a heater because I was afraid you’d freeze to death. If you want to vent, fine—but was there any need to tie me up?”

Lin Yi poured the remaining soup over his rice, mixed it with his chopsticks, and finished everything in a few quick bites.

Only after setting down the meal box and tossing aside the chopsticks did he reply, “You know me. When I take a loss, I always pay it back with interest.”

He wiped his mouth with the napkin that came with the meal, stood up, and walked toward Zhou Ruo An.

“Got a cigarette?” Stopping in front of him, Lin Yi kicked aside an empty bottle at his feet and reached to search Zhou Ruo An’s pockets.

His hand landed directly on Zhou Ruo An’s chest.

The shirt pocket lay flat and empty, obvious at a glance—but Lin Yi lingered there deliberately.

“Lin Yi! You—” The rope hanging from the beam swayed violently as Zhou Ruo An stretched onto his toes and leaned back, trying to escape the heat and pressure against his chest.

“Don’t move.” Lin Yi tugged the rope and easily dragged him back. “You’ll hurt yourself like that.”

“I’ll kill you!” Zhou Ruo An bit down hard on Lin Yi’s ear, teeth gripping the soft cartilage as he growled, “Let me go, or I’ll make sure you end up with one ear.”

With his ear caught, Lin Yi had no choice but to stay close—so close their cheeks brushed faintly. He patted the younger man’s back lightly. “Haven’t bathed in three days. Dirty.”

“Even if you were covered in filth, I’d still bite you like a dog.”

Lin Yi laughed. The hand on Zhou Ruo An’s chest suddenly moved upward, gripping his jaw.

“Sorry I didn’t let you play the dog.”

Zhou Ruo An’s mouth was forced open, his jaw aching. Just as he was about to curse again, he abruptly fell silent.

That hand that had searched his chest pocket had now moved to the back pocket of his trousers, gripping firmly through the fabric.

“Is the cigarette here?” Lin Yi asked calmly.

This time Zhou Ruo An didn’t retreat. He lowered his head and slowly clenched his bound hands. “Do you know why I wanted to cut ties with you?” He gave a faint, contemptuous smile. “Because not only is your appetite too big—you’re also gay.”

He chewed the last word between his teeth before finally spitting it out. Then he lifted his head to meet Lin Yi’s gaze. “I’m not like that. And I’m not like the escorts sent to your room. Lin Yi, take your hands off me.”

Zhou Ruo An wasn’t sure if he saw a flicker of something dim in Lin Yi’s eyes—but he could clearly feel the tightening grip behind him.

After a moment of silence, a thin chill surfaced on Lin Yi’s face. He seemed impatient now, his hand slowly kneading as he said, “You’re talking too much. Zhou Ruo An, you know how I shut people up. Don’t make me do it to you.”

Meeting his furious gaze, Lin Yi’s hand moved again, sliding over the lean waist, tracing it shamelessly before muttering, “Not here either?”

“Lin Yi, I’ll kill you.”

“Even if I’m going to die, I need a cigarette first. I’ve been craving one for a long time.”

His gaze dropped between Zhou Ruo An’s legs. The fabric there bulged slightly.

His heated hand moved down. “Here?”

“Lin Yi!” Zhou Ruo An’s voice changed pitch. “You bastard, don’t touch me!”

The hand pressed against the inner thigh. “Call me ‘bro.’”

“…Bro!” Zhou Ruo An trembled, instantly backing down. “Don’t…”

Lin Yi lifted his hand slightly. “Scared?”

“…Yes.”

His thumb pressed lightly. “Don’t like it?”

“…No.”

Seeing the sudden fear in Zhou Ruo An’s eyes, Lin Yi fell silent for a moment. Then he slowly withdrew his hand, his voice lowering. “Where’s the cigarette?”

“In my coat pocket.”

After retrieving the cigarette, Lin Yi sat back on the camp bed, lit it, and took a drag. “How did you deal with Zhou Zhe’s DNA test?”

“Want to know? Then let me go.”

Lin Yi bit down on the cigarette and loosened the rope a little. “This is as far as I’ll go. If you’re not satisfied, I can hang you up again.”

Zhou Ruo An’s feet finally touched the ground firmly. He shifted his sore, numb feet before answering, “They sneaked into my room and picked up a few strands of hair from my pillow for the test.”

Lin Yi paused, cigarette between his fingers, and looked at him. “That hair belonged to Zhang Jin?”

“Yes. Every morning I clean the sheets and floor thoroughly with a lint roller, then place a few strands of Zhang Jin’s hair on the pillow. After brushing my teeth, I take my own toothbrush away and replace it with one Zhang Jin used before. I was guarding against exactly this.”

Lin Yi let out a short laugh. “So, Young Master Zhou wins again?”

“Of course.” Zhou Ruo An tugged at the ropes binding his hands, confirming again that escape was impossible, and said with some disappointment, “After the results came out, Zhou Zhe was extremely frustrated. He didn’t make it public—but I had to force him to say it. Only then would my identity be fully confirmed, and no one would question it again.”

“Very calculating.” Lin Yi wound the rope in his hand. “Did you calculate that you’d end up locked here by me?”

“Lin Yi, you just said that once we settle accounts, we go our separate ways.”

“That’s right.” Lin Yi tied the rope to the bedframe, put on his coat, and walked toward the door with his back turned. “But you still owe me. Outside there are wild cats, inside there are rats. Rest well. I won’t disturb you.”

He opened the door, grabbed the steel pipe beside it, and pulled the chain attached to it—dragging Ren Yu out from the corner where he had been crouching in fear.

Gripping him by the back of the neck, Lin Yi forced him to face Zhou Ruo An.

“Assistant Ren, if I let you go, will you call the police?” Lin Yi asked casually.

“I…” Ren Yu looked helplessly at his boss, unsure how to answer.

“Why don’t Young Master Zhou instruct your subordinate?”

Zhou Ruo An’s eyes burned with anger, but in the end he could only give in, sighing. “When you get out, don’t call the police. I’m fine. Lin Yi and I… we’re just joking. I’ll be back in a few days.”

“If anyone asks,” Zhou Ruo An said slowly, staring at Lin Yi, “just say I fell into a cesspit and need to clean up before coming back.”

Lin Yi smiled faintly and asked Ren Yu, “Understood?”

Ren Yu glanced between the two of them and nodded uncertainly. “I… think so.”

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